Sigalion in the Shield of Croesiades or Apologetic Dialogue for the Mystery of Detected Syncretism

exposed to contempt and derision, endures to this day through almost all the regions of the world, whereas all other religions, except the Christian (WHICH IS as it were THE PERFECTION of the JEWISH) have vanished, etc.

the JEWISH antiquity of succession in the hierarchy, of breadth scattered among the nations, of long duration, of Unity, of holiness in doctrine and life, of prophetic light, of the glory of miracles, of happiness still not entirely withered at that time; but, at the coming of the Savior himself, adulterated, long since strayed from the patroa hodos ancestral way and the ancient faith of Abraham, ignorant of the true Messiah, a host, a persecutor, ambitious for the false. Its capital opinion was this: Faith in a Messiah illustrious with earthly glory, joined with the Mosaic legal observance according to the entire Levitical liturgy, is necessary, with the necessity of cause and merit, for attaining beatitude. The recent and novel opinion—CHRISTIAN—was obscure from the outside, a scandal to the Jews, a mockery to the gentiles; but illuminated from within, by the profession of a faith in accordance with the scriptures, whose opinion was this—diametrically contrary to the former—defined in the Apostolic Council, illustrated by the Doctor of the Gentiles, vindicated, and most strongly defended: Faith in JESUS of Nazareth, the spiritual Messiah, (b) alone, without the works of the law by whatever name they come, saves. And thus, legal observance is indeed necessary to the one being saved as an ornament, as a matter of divine order, as a way of the kingdom, but not as necessary for the epiteuxin attainment of salvation.

(b) Rom. 3:28, 4:4-5, 16, 11:6. Gal. 3:9, 5:4. Eph. 2:8. Tit. 3:5. No one will see GOD without holiness, yet legal holiness is not therefore necessary for the beatific vision; just as without touching the fringe the woman with an issue of blood was not healed, yet touching the fringe was not therefore necessary for the cure; without color no one tastes an apple, for every apple is colored, yet color is not therefore necessary to taste; it is impossible to avoid loss in household affairs without prudence, yet prudence is not therefore necessary for profit in household affairs (Eccles. 9:11). The Apostle indeed says that in Christ JESUS neither uncircumcision avails, nor circumcision, but faith which is effective through charity; but this pertains to synhyparxin co-existence, not to synergeian co-operation that is salvific. Similarly, you may say Joseph did not promote to honors through Hebrew lineage, nor servile faith, but only the wisdom of Joseph’s fine garments. Will you then conclude that the cleanliness of the garments themselves promoted him to honors? Likewise, to obtain divine aids, neither David’s handsome form availed, nor his skill in warfare, but faithful prayer through sonorous musical strings. Therefore, do musical strings obtain divine aids?