CHAP. VI.
1926 anthology with historical English translations and Crane introduction
William Wake and Frank Crane
CHAP. VI.
The scape-goat an evident type of this.
UNDERSTAND then my beloved children, that the good God hath before manifested all things unto us, that we might know to whom we ought always to give thanks and praise.
2 If therefore the Son of God whet is the Lord of all, and shall come to judge both the quick and dead, hath suffered, that by his stripes we might live: let us believe that the Son of God could not have suffered but for us. But being crucified, they gave him vinegar and gall to drink.
3 Hear therefore how the priests of the temple did foreshew this also:[641] the Lord by his command which was written, declared that whosoever did not fast the appointed fast he[642]should die the death: because he also was himself one day to offer up his[643] body for our sins; that so the type of what was done in[644] Isaac might be fulfilled, who was offered upon the altar.
4 What therefore is it that he says by the prophet?[645] And let them eat of the goat which is offered in the day of the fast for all their sins. Hearken diligently (my brethren,) and all the priests, and they only shall eat the inwards not washed with vinegar.
5 Why so? because[646] I know that when I shall hereafter offer my flesh for the sins of a new people, ye will give me vinegar to drink mixed with gall; therefore do ye only eat, the people fasting the while, and lamenting in sackcloth and ashes.
6 And that he might foreshew that he was to suffer for them, hear then how he appointed it.
7[647] Take, says he, two goats, fair and alike, and offer them, and let the high priest take one of them for a burnt offering. And what must be done with the other? Let it says he be accursed.
8 Consider how exactly this appears to have been a type of Jesus.[648] And let all the congregation spit upon it, and prick it; and put the scarlet wool about its head, and thus let it be carried forth into the wilderness.
10 And to what end was this ceremony? Consider; one was offered upon the altar, the other was accursed.
11 And why was that which was accursed crowned? Because they shall see Christ in that day having a scarlet garment about his body; and shall say: Is not this he whom we crucified; having despised him, pierced him, mocked him? Certainly, this is he, who then said, that he was the Son of God.
12[651] As therefore he shall be then like to what he was on earth, so were the Jews heretofore commanded, to take two goats fair and equal. That when they shall see (our Saviour) hereafter coming (in the clouds of heaven), they may be amazed at the likeness of the goats.
13 Wherefore[652] ye here again see a type of Jesus who was to suffer for us.
14 But what then signifies this. That the wool was to be put into the midst of the thorns?
15 This also is a figure of Jesus, sent out to the church. For as he who would take away the scarlet wool must undergo many difficulties, because that thorn was very sharp, and with difficulty get it:[653] So they, says Christ, that will see me, and come to my kingdom, must through many afflictions and troubles attain unto me.