CATALOGUE OF TESTIMONIES
                   Both of Scripture and Orthodox Antiquity
             
                                      X.

 177] But since in this article such teaching is especially directed to the end
 that we may know where we should seek and may apprehend the entire person of
 the Mediator, God and man, the Book of Concord, as also all other holy
 fathers, directs us, not to wood or stone or anything else, but to that to
 which Christ has pointed and directed us in and with His Word.

 178] CYRIL, lib. 2, John, cap. 32 (t. 3, p. 1063, ed. cit.): "The garments of
 Christ were divided into four parts, and His mantle alone remained undivided,
 which, I may say, was a sign of a mystery.  For the four quarters of the
 world, brought to salvation, have shared the garment of the Word, that is, His
 flesh, among themselves in such a way that it has not been divided.  For the
 Only-begotten, passing into each so as to be shared by each, and sanctifying
 their soul and body by His flesh, is in all indivisibly and entirely, since,
 being one, He is everywhere in no manner divided."

 179] THEOPHYLACT, on John cap. 19 (f. 825, ed. cit.): "Therefore the holy body
 of Christ is indivisible, being divided and distributed among the four
 quarters of the earth; for both being distributed among them individually, and
 sanctifying the soul of each one with the body, the Only-begotten is by His
 own flesh entirely and indivisibly in all, being everywhere; for He has been
 in no wise divided, as Paul also exclaims."

 180] CHRYSOSTOM (t. 4, p. 1773, ed. Basil. and t. 6, f. 846, ed. Frankf.),
 Homil. 17, Ad Ebr., p. 16 (and Ambrose, cap. 10, Ad Hebraicos): "Since He is
 offered up in many places, are there many Christs?  Not at all.  But the one
 Christ is everywhere, being completely here and completely there, one body. 
 For as He who is offered in many places is one body, and not many bodies, so
 is He also one sacrifice.  He is that High Priest of ours who has offered the
 sacrifice that cleanses us.  We also now offer that which, having been then
 offered, was not consumed.  This is done in remembrance of that which was then
 done.  'This do,' says He, 'in remembrance of Me.' For we do not make another
 sacrifice, as the high priest, but always the same.  We rather bring about a
 remembrance of the sacrifice." (Note: Against the propitiatory sacrifice of
 the Mass of the Papists.)

                                  CONCLUSION

 181] Christian reader, these testimonies of the ancient teachers of the Church
 have been here set forth, not with this meaning that our Christian faith is
 founded upon the authority of men.  For the true saving faith is to be founded
 upon no church-teachers, old or new, but only and alone upon God's Word, which
 is comprised in the Scriptures of the holy prophets and apostles, as
 unquestionable witnesses of divine truth.  But because fanatical spirits, by
 the special and uncanny craft of Satan, wish to lead men from the Holy
 Scriptures -- which, thank God!  even a common layman can now profitably read
 -- to the writings of the fathers and the ancient church-teachers as into a
 broad sea, so that he who has not read them cannot therefore precisely know
 whether they and their writings are as these new teachers quote their words,
 and thus is left in grievous doubt, -- we have been compelled by means of this
 Catalogue to declare, and to exhibit to the view of all, that this new false
 doctrine has as little foundation in the ancient pure church-teachers as in
 the Holy Scriptures, but that it is diametrically opposed to it.  Their
 testimonies they quote in a false meaning, contrary to the will of the
 fathers, just as they designedly and wantonly pervert the simple, plain, and
 clear words of Christ's testament and the pure testimonies of the Holy
 Scriptures.  On this account the Book of Concord directs every one to the Holy
 Scriptures and the simple Catechism; for he who clings to this simple form
 with true, simple faith provides best for his soul and conscience, since it is
 built upon a firm and immovable Rock, Matt. 7 and 17; Gal. 1; Ps. 119.

                                   +   +   +


 (... concluded)

       _________________________________________________________

       This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by
       Rev. Thomas Von Hagel and is in the public domain.  You may freely
       distribute, copy or print this text.  Please direct any comments
       or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at
       Concordia Theological Seminary.
       
                        E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu
          Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft.  Wayne, IN 46825 USA
       Phone: (260) 452-2123                        Fax: (260) 452-2126
       ________________________________________________________________


 file: /pub/resources/text/wittenberg/concord: augsc-10.txt
 .