DE CIBIS JUDAICIS EPISTOLA.

 CAPUT PRIMUM. Novatianus presbyter Romanus in secessu suo, tempore persecutionis Decianae, variis fratrum litteris provocatus, adversus Judaeos post s

 CAPUT II. In primis Legem spiritalem esse tradit et proinde cum cibus primus hominibus, solus arborum fructus fuerit, et usus carnis accesserit: Lege

 CAPUT III. Non culpanda itaque immunda animalia, ne in Auctorem culpa revocetur: sed quando irrationale animal ob aliquid rejicitur, magis illud ipsum

 CAPUT IV. His accessisse et aliam causam, cur multa a Judaeis ciborum genera tollerentur ad coercendam nimirum intemperantiam populi, uni Deo servitu

 CAPUT V. Et vero fuerit tempus aliquod, quo istae umbrae vel figurae exercendae: postquam autem finis legis Christus supervenit, omnia jam dici ab Apo

 CAPUT VI. Sed non ex hoc quia libertas ciborum concessa, luxuriam permissam esse, aut continentiam sublatam et jejunia: haec enim vel maxime decere Fi

 CAPUT VII. Cavendum etiam esse ne quis licentiam istam in tantum putet profusam, ut ad immolata idolis possit accedere.

Chapter VII. Argument.—Moreover, We Must Be Careful that No One Should Think that This Licence May Be Carried to Such an Extent as that He May Approach to Things Offered to Idols.

But it must be very greatly guarded against in the use of food, and we must be warned lest any should think that liberty is permitted to that degree that even he may approach to what has been offered to idols. For, as far as pertains to God’s creation, every creature is clean. But when it has been offered to demons, it is polluted so long as it is offered to the idols; and as soon as this is done, it belongs no longer to God, but to the idol. And when this creature is taken for food, it nourishes the person who so takes it for the demon, not for God, by making him a fellow-guest with the idol, not with Christ, as rightly do the Jews also.38    Scil. abstain. [But see 1 Cor. viii. 4, etc.]  And the meaning of these meats being perceived, and the counsel of the law being considered, and the kindness of the Gospel grace being known, and the rigour of temperance being observed, and the pollution of things offered to idols being rejected, we who keep the rule of truth throughout all things, ought to give thanks to God through Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord, to whom be praise, and honour, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

A letter written to Cyprian by Novatian the Roman presbyter, in the name of the Roman clergy, will be found translated (Ep. xxx.) at p. 308, this volume.

CAPUT VII. Cavendum etiam esse ne quis licentiam istam in tantum putet profusam, ut ad immolata idolis possit accedere.

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Sed quod in usu ciborum vel maxime custodiendum sit, cavendum est ne quis licentiam istam putet in tantum profusam, ut et ad immolata simulachris possit accedere. Quantum enim ad creaturam Dei pertineat, omnis munda est: sed (I Cor. X, 20, 21) cum daemoniis immolata fuerit, inquinata est tamdiu, quamdiu simulachris offeratur: quod mox 0964A atque factum est, non est jam Dei, sed idoli; quae dum in cibum sumitur, sumentem daemonio nutrit, non Deo, convivam illum simulachro reddendo, non Christo: ut merito faciunt et Judaei: quorum ciborum ratione perspecta, et consilio Legis considerato, et Evangelicae gratiae beneficio cognito, et temperantiae rigore servato, et simulachris immolatorum inquinamento repulso, regulam veritatis per omnia custodientes, Deo gratias agere debemus per Jesum Christum Filium ejus Dominum nostrum; cui laus et honor et claritas in saecula saeculorum. Amen