Salutation / Introduction

Respecting such a power, also, the Saviour says, “I came to send fire upon the earth,” indicating a power to purify what is holy, but destructive, as they say, of what is material; and, as we should say, disciplinary.  Now fear pertains to fire, and diffusion to light.

Some say that He deposited the Lord’s body in the sun, as Hermogenes.  And “His tabernacle,” some say, is His body, others the Church of the faithful.

Our Pantænus used to say, that prophecy utters its expressions indefinitely for the most part, and uses the present for the future, and again the present for the past.  Which is also seen here.  For “He hath set” is put both for the past and the future.  For the future, because, on the completion of this period, which is to run according to its present constitution, the Lord will come to restore the righteous, the faithful, in whom He rests, as in a tent, to one and the same unity; for all are one body, of the same race, and have chosen the same faith and righteousness.  But some as head, some as eyes, some as ears, some as hands, some as breasts, some as feet, shall be set, resplendent, in the sun.  “Shine forth as the sun,” or in the sun; since an angel high in command is in the sun.  For he is appointed for rule over days; as the moon is for ruling over night.  Now angels are called days.  Along with the angels in the sun, it is said, they shall have assigned to them one abode, to be for some time and in some respects the sun, as it were the head of the body which is one.  And, besides, they also are the rulers of the days, as that angel in the sun, for the greater purpose for which he before them migrated to the same place.  And again destined to ascend progressively, they reach the first abode, in accordance with the past “He hath set:”  so that the first-created angels shall no longer, according to providence, exercise a definite ministry, but may be in repose, and devoted to the contemplation of God alone; while those next to them shall be promoted to the post which they have left; and so those beneath them similarly.

“The judgments of the Lord are true,”—sure, and incapable of being overturned; and giving rewards according to what is right, bringing the righteous to the unity of the faith.  For this is shown in the words, “justified for the same.”  “Such desires are above gold and precious stone.”

Ps. xix. 12, Septuagint.