been called to subdue nations and kings, have been
the slaves of sin; and the Christians, whose calling has been to be servants
and subjects, are free children.

672. A formal point.--When Saint Peter and the Apostles deliberated about
abolishing circumcision, where it was a question of acting against the law
of God, they did not heed the prophets, but simply the reception of the Holy
Spirit in the persons uncircumcised.

They thought it more certain that God approved of those whom He filled with
His Spirit than it was that the law must be obeyed. They knew that the end
of the law was only the Holy Spirit; and that thus, as men certainly had
this without circumcision, it was not necessary.

673. Fac secundum exemplar quod tibi ostensum est in monte.126--The Jewish
religion then has been formed on its likeness to the truth of the Messiah;
and the truth of the Messiah has been recognised by the religion, which was
the type of it.

Among the Jews the truth was only typified; in heaven it is revealed.

In the Church it is hidden and recognised by its resemb