He speaks moreover concerning our ears, how He hath circumcised both them and our heart. The Lord saith in the prophet, “In the hearing of the ear they obeyed me.”[561] And again He saith, “By hearing, those shall hear who are afar off; they shall know what I have done.”[562] And, “Be ye circumcised in your hearts, saith the Lord.”[563] And again He says, “Hear, O Israel, for these things saith the Lord thy God.”[564] And once more the Spirit of the Lord proclaims, “Who is he that wishes to live for ever? By hearing let him hear the voice of my servant.”[565] And again He saith, “Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth, for God[566] hath spoken.”[567] These are in proof.[568] And again He saith, “Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of this people.”[569] And again He saith, “Hear, ye children, the voice of one crying in the wilderness.”[570] Therefore He hath circumcised our ears, that we might hear His word and believe, for the circumcision in which they trusted is abolished.[571] For He declared that circumcision was not of the flesh, but they transgressed because an evil angel deluded them.[572] He saith to them, “These things saith the Lord your God”—(here[573] I find a new[574] commandment)—“Sow not among thorns, but circumcise yourselves to the Lord.”[575] And why speaks He thus: “Circumcise the stubbornness of your heart, and harden not your neck?”[576] And again: “Behold, saith the Lord, all the nations are uncircumcised[577] in the flesh, but this people are uncircumcised in heart.”[578] But thou wilt say, “Yea, verily the people are circumcised for a seal.” But so also is every Syrian and Arab, and all the priests of idols: are these then also within the bond of His covenant?[579] Yea, the Egyptians also practise circumcision. Learn then, my children, concerning all things richly,[580] that Abraham, the first who enjoined circumcision, looking forward in spirit to Jesus, practised that rite, having received the mysteries[581] of the three letters. For [the Scripture] saith, “And Abraham circumcised ten, and eight, and three hundred men of his household.”[582] What, then, was the knowledge given to him in this? Learn the eighteen first, and then the three hundred.[583] The ten and the eight are thus denoted—Ten by I, and Eight by H.[584] You have [the initials of the name of] Jesus. And because[585] the cross was to express the grace [of our redemption] by the letter T, he says also, “Three Hundred.” He signifies, therefore, Jesus by two letters, and the cross by one. He knows this, who has put within us the engrafted[586] gift of His doctrine. No one has been admitted by me to a more excellent piece of knowledge[587] than this, but I know that ye are worthy. CHAP. X.—_Spiritual significance of the precepts of Moses respecting different kinds of food._