st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

86 ST. JOHN OF DAMASCUS.
if counted separately. The double ones are :
(i) Judges
and Ruth; (2) First and Second Books of Kings (our
I. Samuel and II. Samuel) ; (3) Third and Fourth
Books of Kings (our I. Kings and II. Kings) (4)
First and Second Books of Chronicles ; (5)
First and
Second Books of Esdras (our Ezra and Nehemiah).
The Book of Judith is not named by him, while
Ecclesiasticus and the Book of Wisdom are not made
canonical. In the New Testament his list agrees
with our own, except that he adds to the number the
Apostolical Canons, drawn up, as he supposes, by
Clement. Returning to a subject discussed before
the twofold nature of Christ he enquires into the
application of various texts of Scripture to that
doctrine. The origin of evil is then treated of, but
at no great length ;
as also the Manichean theory of
two co-ordinate principles, one good, the other bad
(cc. xcii., xciii.)
In what he says of the Sabbath
(c. xcvi.), there are some striking remarks, coupled
with much that is merely fanciful. God, knowing the
coarse and fleshly nature of the people of Israel, 1
ordained for them this outward observance, that their
slaves and cattle might rest as well as they. Had
they been able to realise the higher position of sons,
and not servants, of God, the Israelites would not
a fraction of
have been thus commanded to set apart
their time for the special service of Him to whom
they owed all. In this respect, as in others,
was not made for a righteous man, but for the
the law
lawless
1
In taking this tone, Damascenus may
remind us of Dean
Colet s "Letters to Radulphus"
on the same subject.