Apocryphal New Testament — Historical English Collection

Apocryphal New Testament — Hone/Wake/Jones — Section 12

14 He who has put the en- grafted gift of his doctrine within us, knows that I never taught to any one a more ^^ certain truth ; but I trust that ye are worthy of it. CHAP. IX. That the commands of Moses concern- ing clean and unclean beasts, dec, were all designed for a spiritual signification. BUT why did Moses say " Ye shall not eat of the swine, neither the eagle nor the hawk ; nor the crow ; nor any fish that ^Psalms xxxiii. xxxiv. ^ Isaiah, 1. 10. ^Isaiah, i. 2. "^ Isaiah 1. 10. 5 Isaiah, xl. 3. ^ Angel. ' Jer. iv. 3, 4. ^ jer. iv. 4. ^Deut. x. 16. ^o That people. ^^ Vid. Cot. in loc. center. Orig. ad Rom cap. ii. 25. ^'-^That many others of the ancient Fathers have concurred with him in this, see Cot. in loc. Add. Eund. p. 34, 85, ibid. Ed., &c., &c. '^ Genuine. ^^ That in this he goes on the received opinion of the ER. Vid. Annot. Cot. and Ed. Ox. in loc. Lev. xi. Deut. xiv. Add. Ainsworth on Lev. xi. 1, and Deut. xiv. 4. 154 beasts under the > BARNABAS. law of Moses. has not a scale upon him? — answer, that in the spiritual sense, he comprehended three doctrines, that were to be ^ gath- ered from thence. 2 Besides which he says to them in the book of Deuteron- omy, And I will give my statutes unto this people. Wherefore it is not the command of God that they should not eat these things ; but Moses in the spirit spake unto them. 3 Now the sow he forbade them to eat ; meaning thus much ; thou shalt not join thyself to such persons as are like unto swine ; who whilst they live in pleasure, forget their God ; but when any want pinches them, then they know the Lord ; as the sow when she is full knows not her master ; but when she is hungry she makes a noise ; and being again fed, is silent. 4 Neither, says he, shalt thou eat the eagle, nor the hawk, nor the kite, nor the crow ; that is thou shalt not keep company with such kind of men as know not how by their labour and sweat to get themselves food : but injuriously ravish away the things of others ; and watch how to lay snares for them ; when at the same time they appear to live in perfect innocence.