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to enrich the covering of their arguments, and to hunt for something profitable. But they gained nothing, having become naked of the covering from above. And he who is about, it says, to eat of their eggs, having crushed one, found it to be a wind-egg. He speaks of those eggs about which he said: "They have hatched the eggs of asps." Those, therefore, who are perfect in wickedness, having hatched what was brought to fruition, received it into 2604 themselves. But the more imperfect, eating of these before they are brought to fruition, are destroyed. Therefore the rest have rendered it, "He who eats of their eggs will die." But the prudent man, able to refute these things with conviction, discovered what was in them to be a wind-egg, and rotten, and foul-smelling, and the basilisk hidden within them, destructive by its gaze alone. According to Aquila: "And that which is warmed is split into a viper." According to Symmachus: "But that which is crushed will break forth an asp;" and according to Theodotion: "That which is warmed hatched an asp." Thus for the Jews, what was plotted against Christ has become unprofitable, like for those who hatch such an egg, and rather even a cause of all destruction. And some say that to eat of the eggs which sinners lay is to be persuaded by their words; as Abel was by the word of Cain, from which came death. For to this deed their word leads, which is what "and that which is warmed is split into a viper" signifies. And having said, "They weave the web of a viper," he sets forth the account of this more broadly, saying: "whose web will not be for a garment." For, as has been said, they composed teachings, the commandments of men, having despised the law. Therefore he says, "It will not be for a garment." This is, some say, what they do will not bring them adornment, just as what was done without God did not bring adornment of the body to Adam. Then he explains what the web is. "For their works are works of iniquity." Because those who through divine words compare spiritual things with spiritual weave a divine tunic. But these waste their time on useless Judaic mythologies, composing a web like a spider's for the hunting of the more simple. And he recounts in detail the things concerning them, showing the justice of their rejection. "But their feet run to evil;" since the members of the body also acquire a readiness of movement for that to which they are accustomed. "they are swift to shed innocent blood." For the others have rendered it thus. Therefore, from this they proceeded to the truly innocent blood. Just as Judas, from love of money, was led by practice to the worst love of money. "And the way of peace they have not known." For which reason the Savior also wept over Jerusalem, saying: "If you, even you, had known the things that make for your peace. For days will come upon you when your enemies will set up a barricade around you, and surround you, and they will dash your children to the ground." "But neither is there judgment in their ways," but every lack of judgment and injustice. And David thus called the commandment through Moses: "You have executed judgment and righteousness in Jacob." "But also their paths are crooked." For evil is the perversion of what is right. "And they do not know peace." For they did not receive the Prince of peace, concerning whom 2605 it is said, "For he himself is our peace." And who says, "My peace I give to you." And for all these reasons, he says: "Judgment is far from them." concerning which he said: "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased, he will bring forth judgment to the nations." This judgment, therefore, which was given to the nations, is far from them, and the righteousness given to them through saving grace. And otherwise injustice took hold of them, so that they were punished by the impious; for instance, by the Assyrians. "When they waited for light, there was darkness for them." For being occupied only with the letter of Scripture, they seem to grope like for a wall. Therefore it will say, "they will grope for a wall like the blind." And again: "They will fall at noonday as at midnight, and as those who are dying." For at the time of the noonday light of the nations, when the Church of God is illuminated by the evangelical rays, they alone have fallen, as having sinned unto death, and they live as if in midnight. Such fruits have they had from the aforementioned works. For they were expecting the illumination from Christ, with the prophets crying out: "Be enlightened

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ἐπιχειρημάτων πλουτῆσαι σκέπην, καὶ λυσιτελές τι θηρᾷν. Οὐδὲν δὲ ὥνησαν γυμνοὶ τῆς ἄνωθεν γενόμενοι σκέπης. Καὶ ὁ μέλλων, φησὶ, τῶν ὠῶν αὐτῶν φαγεῖν, συντρίψας οὔριον εὗρεν. Αὐτῶν λέγει, περὶ ὧν ἔφη τό· Ὠὰ ἀσπίδων ἔῤῥηξαν. Οἱ μὲν οὖν ἐν κακίᾳ τέλειοι, διαῤῥήξαντες τὰ τελεσφορηθέντα εἰς 2604 ἑαυτοὺς ὑπεδέξαντο. Οἱ δὲ ἀτελέστεροι, πρὶν τελεσφορηθῆναι τούτων ἐμφαγόντες ἀπόλλυνται. ∆ιὸ ἐξέδωκαν οἱ λοιποὶ, Ὁ ἐσθίων ἐκ τῶν ὠῶν αὐτῶν ἀποθανεῖται. Ὁ δὲ συνετὸς, καὶ ἀνατρέπειν ἐλέγχῳ ταῦτα δυνάμενος, τὸ ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐξεῦρεν ἀνεμιαῖον, καὶ οὔριον, καὶ δυσῶδες, καὶ τὸν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐγκρυπτόμενον καὶ ἐκ μόνου φθοροποιὸν τοῦ βλέμματος βασιλίσκον. Κατὰ δὲ τὸν Ἀκύλαν· Καὶ τὸ θαλφθὲν ἐσχίσθη ἔχιδνα. Κατὰ δὲ Σύμμαχον· Τὸ δὲ συνεστραμμένον ἀποῤῥαγὲν ἔσται ἀσπίς· κατὰ δὲ Θεοδοτίωνα· Τὸ θαλφθὲν ἐῤῥάγη ἀσπίς. Οὕτω τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις τὸ κατὰ Χριστοῦ μελετηθὲν, ἀνόνητον γέγονεν, ὡς τοῖς τοιοῦτο κλῶσιν ὠὸν, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ παντὸς ὀλέθρου πρόξενον. Φασὶ δέ τινες ὡς τὸ ἐσθίειν ἀπὸ ὠῶν, ὧν τίκτουσιν οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ, τὸ πείθεσθαι λόγοις αὐτῶν· ὡς ὁ Ἄβελ τῷ λόγῳ Κάϊν, ἐξ οὗ θάνατος. Εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ τοὖργον ὁ λόγος αὐτῶν καταντᾷ· ὃ δηλοῖ, καὶ τὸ θαλφθὲν ἐσχίσθη ἔχιδνα. Εἰπὼν δὲ, Ἱστὸν ἐχίδνης ὑφαίνουσι, πλατύτερον τὸν περὶ τούτου λόγον ἐκτίθεται φάσκων· Οἵς τις αὐτῶν οὐκ ἔσται εἰς ἱμάτιον. Συνετίθεσαν γὰρ, ὡς εἴρηται, διδασκαλίας, ἐντάλματα ἀνθρώπων, τοῦ νόμου καταφρονήσαντες. ∆ιό φησιν, Οὐκ ἔσται εἰς ἱμάτιον. Τοῦτ' ἔστι, φασί τινες, Οὐκ οἴσει κόσμον αὐτοῖς ἃ πράττουσιν, ὡς οὐδὲ τῷ Ἀδὰμ ἤνεγκε κόσμον τοῦ σώματος τὸ ἄνευ Θεοῦ πραχθέν. Εἶτα ἑρμηνεύει τίς ὁ ἱστός. Τὰ γὰρ ἔργα αὐτῶν ἔργα ἀνομίας. Ὅτι οἱ διὰ λόγων θείων πνευματικοῖς πνευματικὰ συγκρίνοντες, χιτῶνα θεῖον ὑφαίνουσιν. Οἱ δὲ εἰς ἄχρηστον ταῖς Ἰουδαϊκαῖς μυθολογίαις κατατρίβονται, συντιθέντες ἱστὸν ὥσπερ ἀράχνης ἐπὶ θήρᾳ τῶν ἁπλουστέρων. Κατὰ λεπτὸν δὲ διηγεῖται τὰ κατ' αὐτοὺς, τὸ δίκαιον ἐπιδεικνὺς τῆς τούτων ἀποβολῆς. Οἱ δὲ πόδες αὐτῶν εἰς κακίαν τρέχουσιν· ἐπεὶ καὶ τὰ σωματικὰ μέλη κινήσεως ἐπιτηδειότητα λαμβάνει πρὸς ὃ συνεθίζεται. Ταχεινοὶ ἐκχέαι αἷμα ἀναίτιον. Οἱ λοιποὶ γὰρ οὕτως ἐξέδωκαν. Ἐντεῦθεν οὖν ἐπὶ τὸ ὄντως ἀναίτιον αἷμα προῆλθον. Ὡς Ἰούδας ἀπὸ τῆς αἰσχροκερδίας, ἐπὶ τὴν χειρίστην αἰσχροκερδίαν διὰ μελέτης προσήχθη. Καὶ ὁδὸν δὲ εἰρήνης οὐκ ἔγνωσαν. ∆ιὸ καὶ ὁ Σωτὴρ ἀπεκλαύσατο τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ εἰπών· "Εἰ ᾔδεις καί γε σὺ τὰ πρὸς εἰρήνην σου, ὅτι ἥξουσιν ἡμέραι ἐπὶ σοὶ, καὶ περιβαλοῦσίν σοι οἱ ἐχθροί σου χάρακα, καὶ κυκλώσουσί σε, καὶ τὰ τέκνα σου ἐδαφιοῦσιν." Ἀλλ' οὐδὲ κρίσις ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν, ἀκρισία δὲ πᾶσα καὶ ἀδικία. Καὶ τὴν διὰ Μωσέως δὲ ∆αβὶδ οὕτως ἐκάλεσεν ἐντολήν· "Κρίσιν καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἐν Ἰακὼβ σὺ ἐποίησας." Ἀλλὰ καὶ αἱ τρίβοι αὐτῶν διεστραμμέναι. ∆ιαστροφὴ γὰρ τοῦ ὀρθοῦ τὸ κακόν. Καὶ οὐκ οἴδασιν εἰρήνην. Οὐ γὰρ προσεδέξαντο τῆς εἰρήνης τὸν πρύτανιν, περὶ οὖ 2605 τὸ, "Αὐτὸς γάρ ἐστιν ἡ εἰρήνη ἡμῶν." Καὶ ὅς φησιν· "Εἰρήνην τὴν ἐμὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν." ∆ιὰ ταῦτα δὲ πάντα φησίν· Ἀπέστη ἡ κρίσις αὐτῶν. Περὶ ἧς ἔλεγεν· "Ἰδοὺ ὁ παῖς μου ὃν ᾑρέτισα· ὁ ἀγαπητός μου, εἰς ὃν εὐδόκησεν ἡ ψυχή μου, κρίσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἐξοίσει." Αὐτὴ τοίνυν ἡ τοῖς ἔθνεσι δοθεῖσα κρίσις ἀπέστη ἐξ αὐτῶν, καὶ ἡ τούτοις δοθεῖσα δικαιοσύνη διὰ τῆς σωτηρίου χάριτος. Καὶ ἄλλως ἔσχεν ἡ ἀδικία χώραν κατ' αὐτῶν, ὥστε ἀπὸ ἀσεβῶν ἀθῆναι· οἷον, ὑπὸ Ἀσσυρίων. Ὑπομεινάντων αὐτῶν φῶς ἐγένετο αὐτοῖς σκότος. Περὶ μόνην γὰρ τὴν λέξιν ἀσχολούμενοι τῆς Γραφῆς, ὥσπερ τινὰ τοῖχον ἐοίκασι ψηλαφᾷν. ∆ιὸ λέξει ψηλαφήσουσιν, ὡς τυφλοὶ τοῖχον. Καὶ πάλιν· Πεσοῦνται ἐν μεσημβρίᾳ, ὡς ἐν μεσονυκτίῳ, καὶ ὡς ἀποθνήσκοντες. Κατὰ γὰρ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦ τῶν ἐθνῶν μεσημβρινοῦ φωτὸς ταῖς εὐαγγελικαῖς αὐγαῖς τῆς Ἐκκλησίας τοῦ Θεοῦ καταλαμπομένης, ὡς ἂν τὰ πρὸς θάνατον ἡμαρτηκότες μόνοι πεπτώκασι, καὶ ὡς ἐν μεσονυκτίῳ διάγουσι. Τοιούτους τῶν εἰρημένων ἔργων ἐσχήκασι τοὺς καρπούς. Προσεδόκων μὲν γὰρ τὸν παρὰ Χριστοῦ φωτισμὸν, προφητῶν βοώντων· "Φωτίζου