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Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching
St Irenaeus of Lyons, tr. Robinson, 1920
Chapter 93
And that this race was to become an holy people was declared in the Twelve Prophets1 by Hosea, thus: I will call that which was not (my)2 people, my people; and her that was not beloved, beloved. It shall come to pass that in the place where it was called not my people, there shall they be called sons of the Living God. This also is that which was said by John the Baptist: That God3 is able of these stones to raise up sons to Abraham. For our hearts being withdrawn and taken away from the stony worship4 by means of faith behold God, and become sons of Abraham, who was justified by faith. And therefore God says by Ezekiel the prophet: And I will give them another5 heart, and a new spirit will I give them: and I will withdraw and take away the stony heart from their flesh, and I will give them another heart of flesh: so that they shall walk in my precepts, and shall keep my ordinances and do them. And they shall be to me for a people, and I will be to them for a God.
Notes
- Cf. c. 77. For the quotation cf. I, iv. 1; IV, xxxiv. 12.
- Rom. ix. 25 f. (Hos. ii. 23, i. 10).
- Matt. iii. 9.
- IV, xiii. 1: “a lapidum religione extrahens nos.”
- Ezek. xi. 19 f.