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Among the writings which remain from that time are the Homilies of Afrahat, called "The Persian Sage." * The sharp dividing line between the Roman Empire and the countries outside of it is illustrated by the fact that these "Homilies", which contain an exposition of doctrine and practice, do not even mention the Council of Nicaea nor Arius nor Athanasius, though written at the very time when there was such violent agitation about them among the churches of the West.
The first homily is on Faith, and teaches: "For this is Faith: When a man shall believe in God the Lord of all, that made the heaven and the earth and the seas and all that in them is, Who made Adam in His image. Who gave the Law to Moses. Who sent of His Spirit in the Prophets. Who sent moreover His Messiah into the world. And that a man should believe in the coming to life of the dead. And believe also in the mystery of baptism. This is the Faith of the Church of God. And that a man should separate himself from observing hours and sabbaths and months and seasons and enchantments and divinations - see glossary and chaldaism - see glossary and magic and from fornication - see glossary and from revelling - see glossary and from vain doctrines the weapons of the Evil One, and from the blandishment of honeyed words, and from blasphemy and from adultery - see glossary . And that no man should bear false witness and that none should speak with double tongue.
These are the works of the Faith that is laid on the true Rock, which is the Messiah, upon whom all the building doth rise. " Afrahat condemns the teachings of Marcion and of Mani; he points out that there are many things which we are not able to understand, acknowledges the mystery of the Trinity but deprecates curious questions, saying: "Above the heavens, what is there-who doth suffice to tell? Beneath the earth, what is laid? There is none to say! The firmament upon what is it stretched out, or the heavens- upon what are they hung? The earth -on what is it pillowed, or the deep-in what is it fixed? We are of Adam, and here, with our senses, we perceive little. Only this we know: that God is One, and His Messiah One, and One the Spirit, and one the Faith and one Baptism. More than this far it doth not help us to speak; and if we say more we fall short, and if we investigate we are helpless."
{* "Early Christianity outside the Roman Empire " F. C. Burkitt M.A.}
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