159 The allusion is to Heb. vii. 9.
160 [See Gelasius, in his Treatise against the Pelagians.]
162 See above, Book i. chs. 21-23.
164 Catechumens received the sacramentum salis-salt placed in the mouth-with other rites, such as exorcism and the sign of the cross; the Lord's Prayer and other invocations concluding the ceremony. See Canon 5 of the third Council of Carthage; also Augustine's De Catechiz. Rud. 50; and his Confessions, i. 11, where (speaking of his own catechumenical course) he says: "I was now signed with the sign of His cross, and was seasoned with His salt."
168 See below, Book iii. ch. 21; and his Sermons. xxix. 4.
173 We follow the reading, lex [scil. peccati] concupiscentialiter, etc.
174 Compare Augustine's Contra Julianam, vi. c. 22.
176 Rather to Joseph, Mary's husband; Matt. i. 21.
179 Col. ii. 14. Chirographa, i.e. "handwritings."
181 1 Thess. iv. 17. Compare Retrac. ii. 33 and Letter 193.
182 Augustine constantly quotes this text with the active participle sperantium, instead of sperandorum. The Greek e0lpizome0nwn is not always construed passively in the passage; some regard it as of the middle voice.
195 See also his treatise, De Naturâ et Gratia, ch. xxiii.
197 Same verse [in the Latin and Septuagint; the clause does not occur in the Hebrew].