A He wished to show that he acts not unjustly. He then leads him away, that he might be an example to those who should come after.
Vers. 18. *Coronam, et lebetes.* He calls the lattice-work, which was about the columns, the crown.
Vers. 19. *Et thymiateria, et libatoria.* He calls the golden bowls, through which they poured wine and cast incense upon the fire, libatoria; and he calls the Aphoth the water-receptacles, which are the vessels in which the cups are washed; and the Masmaroth, the instruments with which the blood was sprinkled; and the cyathi, he calls the small sextarii, in which they held the wine drawn from the large vessels.
Vers. 20. *Et columnarum duarum, et maris, quae fecerat rex Salomon in domo Domini.* B It is evident that these things were set forth; for it appears that this had already been lifted up by the descendants of Solomon, so that the laver, which the Scripture called the sea, stood upon a stone base.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE HOMILIES ON THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS
C *Sancti Joannis Chrysostomi ex interpretatione Epistolae ad Romanos.*
*Ei autem qui potens est vos confirmare juxta evangelium meum et prædicationem Jesu Christi, secundum revelationem mysterii temporibus æternis taciti; nunc autem manifestati per Scripturas propheticas secundum præceptum æterni Dei, ad obeditionem fidei per gentes omnes.*
By saying "the preaching of Jesus Christ," that is, what He Himself preached, the discourse demonstrates that the matter is worthy of faith; for the preaching is His, he says; the evangelical dogmas are not our invention. And, he says, to no one among those before us was this mystery made known. For it was indeed ordained of old, but has now been manifested through prophetic Scriptures. Do not fear, therefore, to depart from the law; for the law itself desires this, this it foretold from of old. Do not, therefore, curiously inquire why it was manifested now; for this has happened according to the command of God, and one must not be over-curious about this mystery, D but obey. For faith requires obedience, not curiosity, especially when God commands.