The City of God, Books XVII–XXII

Contents

CONTENTS BOOK SEVENTEEN Chapter Page I Concerning the period of the Prophets. . . . . 17 2 Concerning the period when God's promise touching Chanaan was made good, and how carnal Israel came to possess that land . 18 3 On the three meanings of the prophecy as related to the earthly, or to the heavenly, or to both . 20 4 How Anna, Samuel's mother, prefiguring the Church, prophesied the transformation of the Jewish kingdom and priesthood. 23 5 On the prophecy addressed by a man of God to the high priest Heli, to the effect that the priesthood of Aaron would come to an end . 34 6 The fact that the Jewish kingdom and priesthood did not endure, although they were called abiding when established, shows that it was to some other kingdom and priesthood that everlastingness was promised 40 7 That the breakup of the kingdom of Israel was a prefiguration of the everlasting division between the carnal and spiritual Israel . 43 8 That the promises made to David regarding his son remained unfulfilled in Solomon, but were perfectly fulfilled in Christ . 47 1 Chapter Page 9 On the similarity between the prophecy of Christ in Psalm 88 and that of Nathan in the Book of Kings 50 10 On the discrepancy between God's promises and the actual history of the earthly Jerusalem, showing that such promises envisaged a different Kingdom and another King . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 1I In what sense the Incarnate Christ was the 'substance' of God's people, and the only one empowered to rise from the dead. . . . . . . . . . . . 54 12 On the verse, 'Lord, where are thy ancient mercies,' and the identity of those seeking redemption of the pledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 13 Whether or not the promised peace, in its true sense, can be ascribed to the days of Solomon. . . . . 59 14 On David as Psalmist; the authenticity and meaning of the Book of Psalms. . . 60 15 That the nature of this work does not call for a discussion of all the prophecies in the Psalms which concern Christ and His Church. . . .. 62 16 What Psalm 44 has to say, whether literally or figuratively , concerning Christ and His Church.. 63 17 Concerning the priesthood of Christ in Psalm 109, and His Passion in Psalm 21. . . . .. 66 18 The Lord's Death and Resurrection in Psalms 3, 15, 40, and 67. . . . . . . . . . . . 68 19 On the stubborn refusal of the Jews to believe, as revealed in Psalm 68. . . . . 72 20 On the reign and fame of David, and on those prophecies of his son Solomon . 73 21 Concerning the Kings of Juda and Israel who succeeded Solomon. . . . . . . . . . 77 22 Concerning jeroboam's idolatry, which was imposed on his people, and God's providence in inspiring Prophets who protected many of the people from the sin of idolatry . . . . . . . . . . 79 2 Chapter Page 23 Concerning the vicissitudes of both Jewish kingdoms up to the time of their separate captivities, and how Juda, after its restoration, finally came into the power of Rome . 80 24 Concerning the last of the Prophets accepted by the Jews, and those who were contemporary with Christ's birth and are mentioned in the Gospels. 81 BOOK EIGHTEEN 1 On the distribution of material in the first seventeen Books of this work . 83 2 Concerning the rulers in the city of the world who were contemporaries of the saints in the periods from the birth of Abraham on . 84 3 Secular rulers in Assyria and Sicyon contemporaneous with the promised birth of Isaac, when Abraham was 100 years old, and with the birth of the twins, Esau and Jacob, begotten of Rebecca, when Isaac was sixty 87 4 Concerning the days of Jacob and his son Joseph. 89 5 How the Greek king Apis, became the Egyptian god Serapis 90 6 On the Greek and Assyrian rulers who were contemporaneous with Jacob's death in Egypt. 91 7 On the rulers who were contemporaneous with Joseph 's death in Egypt . 92 8 On the kings contemporaneous with Moses' birth, and the origin of new cults at that time. 92 9 On the foundation of Athens, and Varro's explanation of the name of the city. 94 lO On Varro's account of the naming of the Areopagus and his dating of Deucalion's flood. 95 lIOn the date of the Exodus led by Moses, and the rulers contemporary with the death of Josue 97 3 Chapter Page 12 On the pagan rites established by the Greek kings between the...