“For, tell me, did God wish the priests to sin when they offer the sacrifices on the Sabbaths? or those to sin who are circumcised, or do circumcise, on the Sabbaths; since He commands that on the eighth day—­even though it happen to be a Sabbath—­those who are born shall be always circumcised?” (Dial. ch. xxvii.)

Again, St. John represents our Lord, when similarly harassed by the Jews, as appealing to the upholding of all things by God on the Sabbath as well as on any other day, in the words, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” (John v. 17.) And Justin very shortly after uses the same argument:—­

“Think it not strange that we drink hot water on the Sabbath, since God directs the government of the universe on this day, equally as on all others; and the priests on other days, so on this, are ordered to offer sacrifices.” (Dial. ch. xxix.)

It is very singular that Justin, whilst knowing nothing of St. John, should, on a subject like this, use two arguments peculiar to St. John, and not to be found in disputes on the very same subject in the Synoptics.

Again, St. John alone records that Jesus healed a man “blind from his birth,” and notices that the Jews themselves were impressed with the greatness of the miracle. (John ix. 16, 32) Justin remarks, “In that we say that He made whole the lame, the paralytic, and those born blind.”  (Apol.  I. ch. xxii.)

Again, St. John is the only Evangelist who makes our Lord to say, “Now I tell you before it come, that when it is come to pass ye may believe.”  (John xiii. 19; xiv. 29; xvi. 4) And Justin adopts and amplifies this very sentiment with reference to the use of prophecy:—­

“For things which were incredible, and seemed impossible with men, these God predicted by the Spirit of prophecy as about to come to pass, in order that, when they came to pass, there might be no unbelief, but faith, because of their prediction.” (Apol.  I. ch. xxxiii.)

Again, St. John alone of the Evangelists records that our Lord used with the unbelieving Jews the argument that they believed not Moses, for, had they believed Moses, they would have believed Him, for Moses wrote of Him. (John, v. 46, 47) And Justin reproduces in substance the same argument:—­

    “For though ye have the means of understanding that this man is
    Christ from the signs given by Moses, yet you will not.” (Dial.
    xciii.)

Again, St. John is the only sacred writer who speaks of our Lord “giving the living water,” and causing that water to flow from men’s hearts, and Justin (somewhat inaccurately) reproduces the figure:—­

“And our hearts are thus circumcised from evil, so that we are happy to die for the name of the Good Rock, which causes living water to burst forth for the hearts of those who by him have loved the Father of all, and which gives those who are willing to drink of the water of life.” (Dial. ch. cxiv.)

Again, St. John alone records that Christ spake of Himself as the Light, and Justin speaks of Him as “the only blameless and righteous Light sent by God.” (Dial. ch. xvii.)