Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsGenesis 8
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Genesis 8 in the BibleOriginal Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
English College of Douai–Rheims
Read Genesis 8 in the BibleOriginal Douay–Rheims Annotations — English College of Douai–Rheims. CC0 1.0
Genesis 8:20
Built an Altar.
[1] Noe without express commandment, and without delay, offereth Sacrifice to God, for the benefit received in his and his families conservation, with the other living creatures, in that general deluge of the world, Well knowing (saith S. Ambrose) [2] that to be true thanks-giving, which is presented, not commanded [3] : therefore he made no delay [4] . For the virtue of a grateful mind excludeth doubtful deliberation, and he that expecteth till the debt of thanks be exacted, is an ungrateful person. [5] For more solemnity, he dedicated an apt and permanent place, for this peculiar divine service, building an Altar to our Lord. The Hebrew word Mizbeach (of the verb Zabach, to kill, or make sacrifice) and the Greek Thysiasterion, signify an Altar to sacrifice on [6], not a common table for meat. He offered of the [7] clean and best things: because pure and devout Sacrifice is due to God. Moreover, it was large and bountiful [8], for he offered of all the kinds of clean beasts and fowls. Finally, he offered them in Holocausts [9] , where all was burned and consumed in the honour of God. [10] How grateful all this was to God, Moyses signifieth saying: Our Lord smelled a sweet savour: not that either any sweet corporal savour could of it-self delight God, who is the most spiritual substance, or that the burning of flesh, bones, and bowels of beasts could yield sweet savour; but the devout mind declared by such external duty greatly pleased God. For God requireth both, but specially a sincere heart. As not only divine Scriptures and holy Fathers [11], but also moral Philosophers teach us. It were a grievous thing (saith Plato writing of sacrifices) If God had respect rather to the gifts and sacrifices of men, than to their mind. lib. peri tes proseuches.