Chapter IX.—Recapitulation.64    Here comes in the Codex Ambrosianus, with the title, “Here begins a treatise of Tertullian of divers necessary things;” and from it are taken the headings of the remaining chapters. (See Oehler and Routh.)

In summaries of so few words, how many utterances of the prophets, the Gospels, the apostles—how many discourses, examples, parables of the Lord, are touched on! How many duties are simultaneously discharged! The honour of God in the “Father;” the testimony of faith in the “Name;” the offering of obedience in the “Will;” the commemoration of hope in the “Kingdom;” the petition for life in the “Bread;” the full acknowledgment of debts in the prayer for their “Forgiveness;” the anxious dread of temptation in the request for “Protection.” What wonder? God alone could teach how he wished Himself prayed to. The religious rite of prayer therefore, ordained by Himself, and animated, even at the moment when it was issuing out of the Divine mouth, by His own Spirit, ascends, by its own prerogative, into heaven, commending to the Father what the Son has taught.

CAPUT IX .

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Compendiis pauculorum verborum, quot attinguntur edicta prophetarum, Evangeliorum, apostolorum, sermones Domini, parabolae exempla, praecepta? Quot simul expunguntur officia ? Dei 1165A honor in Patre, fidei testimonium in nomine, oblatio obsequii in voluntate, commemoratio spei in regno, petitio vitae in pane, exomologesis debitorum in deprecatione, sollicitudo tentationum in postulatione tutelae. Quid mirum? Deus solus docere potuit ut se vellet orari. Ab ipso igitur ordinata religio orationis, et de spiritu ipsius, jam tunc cum ex ore divino ferretur, animata suo privilegio ascendit in coelum, commendans Patri quae Filius docuit.