Notes, Critical and Explanatory, on the Holy Scriptures

The rudiments of religion — the multiplicity of rites and observances. This may be understood of the Jews. The Gentiles also served the visible world, mis- taking its conspicuous parts for divinities.

The supernatural character of His conception, without human agency, is intimated. " He named the holy and blessed mother of the Lord a woman, rather than a virgin ; for it was not necessary that he should always, as it were cau- tiously and timidly, style her a virgin, since woman marks rather the sex, than sexual intercourse." St. Jerome.

The Holy Ghost, who is the Spirit of the Son, as well as of the Father, descends into the hearts of the faithful, and moves them to pray.

G. P. "heir of God through Christ." The Vulgate reading is conformable to the Alexandrian and Vatican manuscripts, and is adopted by Lachmann.

As the law prescribed. "Some one," observes St. Jerome, " may say : If it be vmlawful to observe days, and months, and seasons, and years, that we incur the same guilt, observing the fourth day of the week, and the Parasceve, and the Lord's day, and the Lent fast, and the festival of Easter, and the solemnity of Pentecost, and various local festivals established in honour of the martyrs. To which it may be simply answered, that we do not observe the same di^ys as the Jews."

G. P. "my temptation, which was in my flesh." Most of the Uncial manu- scripts support the Vulgate reading, which is adopted by Lachmann. The ap- pearance and infirmities of the apostle were a trial to their faith. " Yet you were not scandalized, nor did you reject me on account of my sufferings and persecutions." St. Chrysostom.

When the apostle was persecuted, they were put to trial whether to abandon him through fear, or embrace him with love. And 'ye did not despise,' he says, 'since ye regarded that trial as useful, nor did ye refuse to share my danger.' " St. Augustin.

G. P. "But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing." Many manuscripts contain the reading of the Vulgate, in the imperative. The apostle urges them to cherish constant uniform zeal, whether he be absent or present.

Until they be fully enlightened with His doctrine, and animated with His Spirit. " Until they reach the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ, that they may no longer be moved by every wind of doctrine." St. Augustin.

G. P. "For this Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia." The Vulgate reading is found in three Uncial manuscripts, and in the Latin fathers generally. Agar, the mother of Ismael, was a figure of the law given oil Sina, which inspired ser- vile fear, and produced bondmen.