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ECCE HOMO!
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A CRITICAL ENQUIRY INTO THE HISTORY
' ' "^-' OF
if
V ' JESUS CH^MST;
national ^nalsj$l«^ of fbe Mo^ptl^^
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Hie Cross was the banner under which ma&nen assembled to \glut
' the earth with blQod.^—F«cfe«J^.«t;tu. / ; "
vl Let us not.de^Mur that Tmth wiH eoe di^ force its way inren to
.^ij HhxaoBBii^Boiibtitger, . ,
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SECOND EDITION.
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rBimriD, publisbbd^ and sold by d. i. batoh^
"kwm-MAMA LANE, xudgate stbeet; Airp
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1818.
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t2§INTRODUCTION. fif
)^HOUGH the wriUngi of the ETangelists are in
the hands of every one, nothing is more common
than to find the professors of Chrbtianity, unaequalnt*
ed with the history of the founder of ttveir r^igion ; .
and even among those who have perused that history,
it is still more rare to find any who have venlured
seriously to examine ity It must, indeed, be acksew-
iedged) that the ignotance of tj^e one, and the want of
reflection in the other, on a subject which tbey, neTer^i
tkeless^ regard as of infinite importasee, may arise
&om the disUke naturally occasioned by the perusal of
the New Testaments In &ct, there reign in that work
a confusion, an obscurity^ amd a barbarity of stile, w^
adapted to confound the ignorant, and disgust eidigh-
tened minds. Scarcely is^ there a history, ancient or
modem, which docs not possess more method and per-
spicuity than that of Jesus Christ ; neither do we per- •
ceive (hat the Holy Qhost, it& putative author, bassiHr>
passed, or even eq:ualled inany profane . bistoriai^ ^
whose writings are not so important to mankind. Thie^'
clergy confess, that the Apostles were illiterate men,
iiiid of coarse manners ; and it does hot appear ihM,
the spirit of God, wliich inspired them, troubled itself
with rectifyng their defects. On the contrary, it seems
to have adopted them ;' to have accommodated itself to
the weak understandings of its instruments; and tv
have inspired them with works wherein we meet not
with the judgment, order, or precision, that are found
in many human compositions. Hence, the gospels
present us with a confused assemblage of prodigies^
anachronisms, and contradictions,- in which criticism
loses itself, and which would make anj other book be
rejected with contempt.
It is by mysteries the mind is prepared to respect
religion and its teachers. We are therefore warrant^'
ed to suspect, that an obscurity was designedly given
to these writings. Jn matfers of religion it is prudent
■ever to speak very distinctly. Truths, simple and
easily understood, do not strike the human imagination
in so lively a manner, as ambiguous oracles and impe-;
netrable mysteries. Jesus Christ, although come onr
purpose to enlighten the world, was to be a stumbling
block to most people. The sdiall number of the elecfy;
the difficulty of salvation^ and the danger of exercis«
. iDg reason, are every where announced in the gospel.^
£very thing seems indeed to demonstrate, that God
has cent his ttear Son to the nations, on purpose
cmly to ensnare them ; and that they should not com-f
prehend any part of the religion which he meant tcR-
promulgate.* In this the Eternal appears to have ih"^
-■» - ■■'-■ ^ ■ . . -^ ■ . .■ - -"■•■ . -^f;^,
* By the scriptures, and the fathers of the charch, God is al«
ways represented as a seducer. He permitted Ere to be seduced
by a serpent. He hardened the heart iX Pharaoh. Christ him*
^f yHM a ^tone of ttumbling, • ^<; ,.
tencled to tbrow mortals into darkness, perplexity, a
diffidence of themselves, and a continual embarra^-:
hieot, obliging them to have recourse every moment to
those infallible luminaries, their priests, and to remaiii
for ever Hinder the tutelage of the church. Her minis*
ters, we know, claim the exclusive privilege of imder-^
standing and explaining the holj scriptures; and no
mortal can expect to obtain future felicity, if he does
|M>t pay due submission to their decisions.
Thus, it belongs not to the vulgar to examine reli-
gion. On mere inspection of the gospel every person
must be convinced that the book is divine — ^^that every
word contained in it is inspired by the Holy Ghosts j
and thait the explanations, given by the church, . of
that celestial work, in like manner emanate from the.
Most High. In the first ages of Chfristiaoity, thpj^
TVho embraced the religion of Jesus were only some
dregs of the people ; consequently, very simple, unac-
quainted with letters, and disposed to believe all the
^vouders any one chose to announce. Jesus, in hiq
iermons, addressed himself to the Tulgar only; he
would have intercourse with none but persons of that
'cast ; he constantly retfused to work miracles in pre-
'«ence of the most clear-sighted people of the nation;
he inveighed unceasingly against the learned, the doc*
i » The opinion of most theologists is, that the Holy Ghost
hi* cevealed to the ^red writers even the orthography of the
words they have employed, yea, even the points and commas.'
Bat supj^sing the reality of this inspiration, still it would not
be sufScifBot; it would he further necessary to guarantee, that
all the cqpyists and monks, during the ages of ignorance, wh#
have transmitted the revealed writings, have committed no
faplts in trapfcribing them. A point or a|comroa, inisplacedt
ajre spfficient, iirf_kiiow, tfi alter c<nDpletely the sease of #
passage. ; .;'^-?-.---- : .' ,;.• ^. -' :/ -" ■ *
torS}^ and the rich; against all in whom he could not
find the pliability necessary for adopting bis maxims.
We see him continually ekipllin|; poorness of sj^iritj^
simplicity, and faith*. ^
. His disciples, and after NJiem the ministers of the
church, have faithfully followed bis footsteps ; they
have always represented faith, or blind submission, as
the first of virtues; as the disposition most agreeable to
God, and most necessary to salvation. This principle
serves for a basis to the Christian religion, and, above
all, to the power of the clergy. The pastors, therefore,
who succeeded the Apostles, employed the greatest
care in secreting the Gospels from the inspection of all
who were not initiated in the mysteries of religion.
They e^ibited these books to those only whose faith
they had tried, and whom they found already disposed
to regard them as divine. This mysterious spirit has
been transmitted down even to our days. In several
countries the commonalty among Christians are inter<^
dicte^ from perusing the Scriptures, especially in the
Romish communion^ whose clergy are best acquainted
with the manner of governing mankind. The Ceuocil
of Trent has decreed, in the most explicit manner,, that
^' it belongs to the church alone to decide oo, the true
meaning of the Scriptures, and giye their interpretat^
tionf.** ;; ^ . ,_.,^^.. . \., .,,.,...„.. , _^:.^^^^ -■,
ft Wefind Jesu&incu}eat»g faith in att hUdiMourscw, andes^pe*
cUUy Uv St> Matthew and St* Mark-~-** He who bath faith shalF
reiQOTe nwuatains." — " He who shall believe and is haptized
shall be savsd," &c- Several Christtan sects believe, accdrdiog;^
tp these passages, that faiUi itself, wrthout works, is sufficient
for salvAtion.
f The. Cardinal Pallaviicini, in his Bi»tory of the Council o^
^jrent, (sets. IV.) removes every difficulty, by saying, that " all
. ^:
■x.
yk:
It IS true, the reading of the sacred books is per^
milted, and even recommended to the Protestants, who
are also enjoined to examine their religion. But faith
must always precede that reading, and follow, that ex-
ami nation ; so that before reading, a Protestant is
bound to believe the Gospel to be divine; and the
examination which he makes of it, is allowable only,,
while he finds there ^hat the ministers of his sect have
resolved that he shall find ; beyond this, be is re-
garded as an ungodly man, and often punished for
the weakness of his intellects.
. We must then conclude, that the salvation of Chris-
tians depends neither on the reading nor understand*,
ing of the sacred books, but in the firm belief thsA
these books are divine. If, unfortunately, the readings
or examination of'any person, does not coincide witk
the decisions, interpretations, and commentaries of the
church, he is in danger of being ruined, and of incur-
ring eternal damnation. To read the gospel, he must
commence with being disposed blindly to believe all
which that book contains; to examine the gospel, he
must be previously resolved to find nothing there but
the holy and the adorable ; in fine, to understand thii
gospel, he must entertain a fixed persuasion, that our
priests can never either be themselves deceived, or
\yish to deceive others, in the manner they explajjn
it» *' Believe, (say they), believf on our words, that.
this book is the work of God himself; if you dare to
doubt it,.you shall be damned. Are you unable tocom-;
prehendany of what €rod reveals to you there ? IBeUetm-
evermore : — God has- revealed himself that he msry net
■.■---. • ■ ■-->.
the faith of Christiant is founded only on one siBgle artidc)ii
namely^ the ifffalK^/e authority of the church.'' ^ .. I^
be understood. The glor^ 6f God is to conceal hia
word,' * or rather, by speaking in an unintelligible
manner, does not God intimate that he wants every
one to refer it to as, to whom he has confided his im-
portant secrets ? — A truth, of which you must not
doubt, seeing that we persecute )n this world, and
damn in the other, whoever dares to question the testi*
mony which we bear to ourselves.'*" ' , . - , " -
' However erroneous this reasoning liiay appear to the
profane, it is suflScient for the greater part of believers,
\Fhere, therefore, they 4o not read the gospel,, or
where they do read it, they do not examine it; where
fhey examine, it is with prejudiced eyes, and with £|.
fixed determination to find there only what shall be
conformable to their own prejudices,, and the interests
of their guides. ^ In consistency with his fears and
prepossessions, a Christian believes himself lost, should.,
be find in the sacred bdok& reasoa to doubt the veraV
crtjr of bis pricsts^f*^^^'^^^:-r^'-''^^r^^'''^^"^^^
-i With such dispositions, it is not surprising to see men.
persisting in their ignorance, and making a merit of
rejecting the lights which reason ofiers them. It is.
thus that error is perpetuated, and that nations, in con-
cert with those who deceive them, bestow on interest-
"" • JVwWj* (jf" Sbterooff, XXV. 2. rt is on this ocHoqs ms^'irQ,,
so dishonourable toithe <iiTinity, that all mysteries are foanded^
Whal right had Bt. Justin to reproach the Pagans with the ira-
y»ety of one of their poets, who had said that the gods, during^
tfib*- greater pact oi their' time, '^ amused tbemselres with do-i
enTtn^mcB ?" — Is nat the whole Bible a continual snare laid for
the human understanding ? Is not the whole conduct of Christ,
according to the gospel itself, a snare laid for the Jews ; so thi^t
bearing thej might not andersland} and seeing they migbt KOt
IdkTc itt the Mes»ah F*^ ' -^ ^ c^.^t./ -^ .i^. .---.- —
ed clieats an unboimded confidence in whdt ihey re^
gard as of the greatest importance to their own feliein
tj. But the darkness, which for so many ages has lenve-^
loped the human mind, begins to dissipate. In spite oC
the tyrannic cares of their jealous guides, mankindseeoi
desirous to burst from the pupilage, wherein^ manjr
causes combine in attempting to retain them. The ig<«
norance in which the priesthood fostered the credulous,
bas vanished from amongst many nations ; the despo-
tism of priests is enfeebledin several flourishing states;
science has rendered the mind more liberal ; and man*
kind begin, to blush at the ignominious fetters, under
which the clergy have so long made both kings and
people groan. The human mind indeed seems strug*^
gling in every country to break in pieces its chaiiis. ^
Having premised this, we proceed to examine, witb-.
out any prejudice, the life of Jesus Christ. We shall
deduce our facts from the gospel only } memorials re-i
verenced and acknowledged by the doctors of the
Christian religion. ' To illustrate these facts, we shall
^employ the aid of criticism. We shall exhibit, in the
simplest manner, the conduct, maxims, and policy of
an obscure legislator, who, after his death, acquired a
celebrity to which there is no reason for presuming
^hat he pretended while alive. We, shall contemplate
in its o'adle a religion which, at first destined soleljr.
for the vilest populace of a nation, the most abject^,
the most credulous, and the most stupid on earth, b4e«
came, by little and little, mistress of the Romans ; thc|
firebrand of nations, the absolute sovereign of Eunhr
pean monarchs ; arbiter of the destiny of kingdoms ;
the cause of their friendship, and of their hate; the
cement which serves to strengthen their alliance ojt^.
their discord ; and the leaven always ready to pu|.
'■ii'^
teinds in fermentation. In fine, we shall behbld ail
artisan, a melancholj enthusiast and Unskilful jug^-
gler, bursting out of a carpenter^s shop, in order to de-
ceive men of his own cast ; miscatrjing in all his pro-
jects; himself punished as a public incendiary ; djingf
on a cross; and jet af^r bis death becoming th^
legislator and the god of many nations, and an ob-<^
ject of adoration to beings who pretend to commoa
0ensc!/'-^ ;3;." ' :_ - .v./; ' -.•'..,. ,^;-''v ■'■-. -
There is eVery-rtfasoii to heli^ve, if the'ttoly Gfiost
had foreseen the transcendant fortune which the re*
ligion of Jesus was one day to attain ; if he had fore*
seen that this religion would, in the course of time, be
received by kings, civilized iiations, scholars, and per-
sons in the higher circles of life ; if he had suspected
that this religion would be examined, analysed, dis^
cussed and criticised by logicians ; there is, we say, rea-
son to believe that the Holy Qhost would have left us
memoirs less shapeless, facts more circumstantial, proofs
mor^ authentic, and materials better digested than
those we possess on the life and doctrine of its founder*
He would have chosen writers better qualified than
ihose be has inspired, to transmit to nations the
speeches and actions of the Saviour of the World ;
he would have made him to act and speak, on tiie most
trifling point, in a manner more worthy of a god ; he.
would have put in his mouth a language more noble,
score perspicuous, and more persuasive ; and he would
have employed means more certain to convince rebel*^
ions reason, and abash incredulity'* '
Nothing of all this has occurred : the gospel is
iieretyan eastern romance, disgusting to every man of
common sense, and apparently addressed to the igno-
nmty the stupid, and the vulgar, the only persona whom
t
it tan mislead.* Criticism finds there do conneistion
of facts, no agreement of circumstances, no train of
principles, and no uniformity of relation. Four me%
unpolished and devoid of letters, pass for the faithful
authors of memoirs containing the life of Jesus
Christ; and it is on their testimony, that Christians
believe themselves bound to receive the religion they-
profess; and adopt, without examination, the most con-
tradictory &cts, the most incredible actions^ the most
amazing prodigies, the most unconnected system, the
most unintelligible doctrine, and the most revolting
' masteries I
Supposing, however, that the gospels In our hands
belong to the authors to whom th^y are attributed s
that they were in reality written by apostles or discij*
pies of apostles, should it not follow from this alone,
that their testimony ought to be suspected i Could
not men, who are described as ignorant, anddestituto
of pairtis, be themselves deceived ? Could not enthu-
siasts and very credulous fanatics imagine^ Uiat they
' * Victor of Tunis inforras us, thatj in the sixth century, tli#
Emperor Apastasius caused the gospels to be corrected, as works
composed by fools. ^^j ^, . -
. The fUemcDts of Euclid are intelligible to all who eadeaToi;(r to
innder^tand them ; they excite no dispute among geometrJcianif
Is it so with the Bible? and dp its revealed frutAs occasion no
disputes among divines ? By what fatalitj have writings cevealed
by God himself still need of commentaries 7 and why do they de?
mand additional lights from on high, before they can be believed
or understood ? Is it not astonishing, that what was intended
as a guide to mankind, should be wholly above their .comprer
hen^ion i Is it not cruel, that what is of mostimportance to them^
should be least known? All is mystery, darkness, uncertaintyi^.^:
and matter of dispute, in a religion intended by the Most Bigl|
to enlighten the human race, r:, \
10
had seen manj things which nevcff existed, and thut
become the dupes of deception?* Gould not im-
postors, strongly attached to a sect whereby they
Subsisted, and which therefore they had an interest to
support, attest miracles, and publish facts, with tbe
felsehood of which they were well acquainted? and
could not tbe first Christking, bj a pious fraud, after*
wards add or retrench things essential to the works
ascribed to the apostles ? We know that Origen, so
early as the third century, c(»nplained loudly of the
corruption of manuscripts. '* What shall we say (ex-
claims he) of tbe errors of transcribers, and of the
impious temerity with which they have corrected the
text ? What shaJl ire say of the licence of those, who
jpromiscttously interpolate or erase at their pleasure V*
These questions form warrantable prejudices against
the pCrso&s to whom the gospels have been ascribed,
and dgainst the purity of their text.
It is also- extremely dilkult to ascertain, with any
degteer of certainty, whether those books belong to th*
authors whose names they bear. It is a well known
Ikct, that in the first ages of Christianity there was a
• Whoerer has perused the ancient historians, particularly
Herodotus, Plutarch, Livy, and Josephus, must feel the force
Of this reasoning. These writers. With a pious credulity similar
to that of Christiana, relate prodigies pregnant with absurdities^
jHiich they theraselyes pretended to have witnessed, or were
fritnessed by others. Among the wonders that appeared at
Rome, some time before the triomvBrate, many statues of the-
Clods sweat blood and water ; and there was an Ox which spoke.^
tender the empire of Caligula, the statue of Jupiter at Olympu»
burst forth into such loud fits of laughter, that those who were
taking it down to carry to Rome, abandoned their work and
fled in terror. A Crow prognosticated misfortune to Domilian*
jud aaX)w| paid the same compliment to Herod.
M
n
very great namber t>f gospelg, different firom-one smo^
tber, and composed for the use of diff^rept ehureheii
and different sects of Christiaos. Th0 truth of thin
has-been confessed bj ecclesiastical historians of thQ
greatest credit.* There is therefore reason to suspeetj
that the persons who composed these gospels mightf'
with the view of giving them more weight, have attrU
buted them to apostles, or disciples, who actnal^j^ had no
share in them. That ides, once adopted by igoorant
and crednlous Christians, might be transmitted from
age to Vige, and pass at last for unquestionable, in timet
when it was no longer possible to ascertrtin the author*
4»r the &ct8 related.
It is w^ known, that among some fifty gospeli^
with which Christianity in its epmmencemeut wasinaa*
^ * Tide TiIl«mont, torn. ii. p. 47, 217,438. SL Epipbui* HpiaiL
34. The celebrated Henry Dodwell affirm*, that it was not till
the reiga of Trajan, or indeed of Hadrian (i. e. more tbui a
century after Christ) that a coUeetion, or canon, of the bodis of
the New Testaraeat was made. These writii^ ha4 even till thra
been concealed in the archives of churches, and were only ia
the haods.of priests, who could dispose of them at their pleasure*
DodweWf Diasertationa en Irenteum, p. 66, Sec, To this may b«
iuided« tiie profound work of Mr. Freret, pabli^ied in lTfi6,
nuder the titl^ of Exomen Critique des ^pologi^t ie im RH^ioM
Chrelienne.
^ Itiseyideat, that, amQtfg the first Christian 4octeri, Vbert
was a great number of pious forj^ers, who, to make their ca«W
prevail, framed and forged gospels, legeads, romaaces, oracles
«f S^ils, and other works, of whicA tha inq^oitttve and f^^l^"
were so striking, tbM tlie cimrcfa its^faas heofi forced to rejeet
ihera. To be convinced of litis, we have <Mil]r to cut our *j*m
on the work mtitled Coiex Aferyrkw Ahvi TeH«m«»Ut pob-
lished by J. A. Tdbrictus, at Hamburgh, IT 19. The praeUoeAf
framing Svangelieal Romances, was not even recency Uh off ki
Ihe Koraish Church. A Jesuit, called &ther JcrenwJbviery' li
dated, the cliurcl), assembled in council at Nice, choM^ ^
four of them onlj, and rejected the rest as apocryphal^
although the latter had nothing more ridiculous in
them than those Ti^hich were admitted. Thus, at the
end of three centuries (i. e. in the three hundred and
twenty-fifth year of the Christian era), some bishopi
decided, that these ibur gospels were the only ones
which ought to be adopted, or which had been really
inspired by the Holy Ghost. A miracle enabled them
to discover this important truth, so difficult to be dis- .
cerned, at a time even then not very remote from that
of the apostles. They placed, it is said, promiscuously,
books apocryphal and authentic under an altar :t^
the Fathers of the Conncil betook themselves to pray-
ers, in order to obtain of the Lord, that he would per-
mit the false or doubtful books to remain %md^ the
altar, whilst those which were truly inspired by the
Holy Ghost should place themselves above it — a cir-
cumstance whichjdid not fail to occur. It is then on
this miracle that our faith depends ! It is to it that
a Missionary fia Persia, composed a ridictiloas history of Jesuis
liis mother, and St. Peter, in the Persian and Latin languages,
which was published qnder the title Bistorica Chri$ti Persicot
io 4to, Lugd. Batay. 1639. UHisioiredu PeupU de Dieu, by th«
Her. Father Berruyer, is well known. In the thirteenth century,
the Cordeliers composed a book pnder the title L'Evangila
Mtemal.
s -'In all ages, Christiuis, whether Orthodox or Heretics, haye
J)een piously occupied in deceiving the simple. Some have gone .
so f ju* as to palm works on Jesus, and we have a pretended letter
of his to king Agbarus. It ought to be remarked, that author*
apprpyed by the Church, such as St. Cletsens Romanus, St.
J^atius Martyr, St. Justin, and St. Glement of Alexandria, have '
.iQiapted passages which are not to be found in the four gospeU
.a!4mi»e*a^ present. ;frfr-it!W ;^n|*St J. *'fim^^ ^mh^'^m
Christians owe the assurance of possessing the trvnr
gospels, or faithful memoirs of the lite of Christ ! It is ,
from these only thej are permitted to deduce the prin-
ciples of their belief, and the rules of conduct f?hich
tliej ought to observe, in order to obtain eterual salva-
tion I ■ (ii\ri.»»H>y .^iJ.'-iir. Ontj.i.j If i'-»iii^ ..> ,
t.jTbus, the authority of the books vchich serve for the
basis of the Christian religion, is founded solely on tlie .
authority of a council, of an assembly of priests and .
bishops. But these bishops and priests, judges and par^ ,
ties in an affair wherein they were obviously interes-
ted-^-couid they not be themselves deceived ? Indepen- '
dently of the apocryphal miracle, which enabled them .
to distinguish the true gospels from the false — had they
any sign^ which could fairly enable them to distinguish,
the writings which they ought to receive frojm those .
which they ought to reject ? , st fttr c^ '
;t<JSome will tell us, that the church assembled in' age*
neral council is infallible ; that then the Holy Ghost
inspires it, and that its decisions ought to be regarded
as those of God himself. If we demand, where is the
proof that the ehurch enjoys this infallibility ? it will
be answered, that the gospel assures it,%and that Jesug
Christ has expressly promised to assist and enlightea
Lis church until the consummation of ages^ Here the
incredulous will reply, t' at the church then, or its mi'
ni8ter8,cr^te righats to themselves ; for it is their au-
thority 'which alone establishes the authenticity of v '
books whereby their own authority is established; this
is obviously a circle of ei-iors. In short, an assembljr
iof ishops and f^rfestis has decided, that t e books wl ich
attribute to themselves an infallible itUthority, have
|l)eendivipely inspired. . \" ?-«
-^^.Notwithstanding that decision, t^ere still remaiil^^
14
eome difficulti'es on the authenticity of the gospels. Ta
the first place, it may be asked, whether the decJMon
ef the Councilor Nice, composed of three hundfed and
eighteen Imhops, ought to be regarded a» that of the
universal church ? Were all who formed that »aeniblj
entirely of the same opinion among themselves ? Were
there no disputes amoi^ these nien inspired by the
Holy Ghost i Was their decision unanimously acdept-
ed I Had not the secular authority of Constantine a
chief share in the adoption <^ the decrees of that cele-
brated coimcil I In this case, was it not the imperial
power, rather than the spiritual authraity, which de-
cided the authenticity of the gospels ?
In the second place, many tfaeologists agree, that the
univ^sal church, although infallible in dogma, may err
in fa^ts. Now it is evident, that in the case alluded to,
'' c^^imi depends on fact. Indeed, before deciding whe-
ther the dogmas contained in the gospels be divine, it
was necessary to know, beyond the possibility of a
doubt, whether the four gospels in question were really
written by the inspired authors to whom they are as-
cribed ; this is obviously a fact. It was further neces-
sary to know, whether these gospels have never been
altered, mutilated, augmented, interpolated, or fiilsified,
by the diffba-ent bands through which they have passed
in the course of three eenturies; this is likewise a
fact. Can the fathers of the ehfirch infallU>Iy guaran-
tee the probity of all the depositaries of those writings,
and the exactness of all the traBscribers ? Cantiiesefa-
thers decide definitively, that, during so long a period,
none could insert niar\'ello«s relations or dogmas in
these nsemoire, unknown ' to those wbo are their sup-^^
pesed authors 2 Does not ecclesiastical history inform
«B, that, in ^le origin of Oirigtianfty^ there were
«ehisms, disputes, heresies, and sects without nQmW;
and that each of the disputants founded his opinions
on the gospels ? Even in the time of the Council a^
Nice, do we not find that the whole church was di<*
vided on the fundamental article of the Christiaii
religion, the divinity of Jesus ? ^^
Thus, on ccMisidering the matter closelj, it wiH ht
leen that the Council of Nice was the true founder of
Christianity, which, till th^ wandered at ran^on; did
not acknowledge Christ to be god; had not anj authen-
tic gospels; was without a fixed law ; and had nocod«
of doctrine whereon to rely. A number of bishops
and priests, very few in comparison of those whoeeoi-
posed the whole Christian church, and these iHshops
very little in union amoBg themselves, have decided
on the point roost essential to the salvation of nations.
They have decided on the divinitjr of Jesus ; on the aur
thenticity of the gospels ; that, according to these, their
own authority ought to be deemed infallible. In a word^
they have deeraed on faith { Nevertheless, their deci-
sions might have remained without force, if they had
not been backed by the authority of Constantino.
This prince gave prevalence to the opinion of these
\ ^ Others of the Council, who knew how to draw him, tor
'.)m time, to their own side ;* and who, amidst this mul-
titude of gospels and writings with which Christianity
Was inundated, did not &il to declare those divine,
• Ecclesiastical history proTes, that Constantine afterwards
' |K^ecated Athanasius, exiled him to Treves, and died an Ariaa.
i Hisfoa Constantine lived and died in the same sect. Father Pe-
^ tau the Jecuit, and oUier learned men, helieved that the Church
I mat Socinlan or Arian before the council of Nice. It is at least
certain,, that the word consaManHal, which was adopted by that
council, had been condemoed by the council of Antioch hekt
tr^icibtliey judged most conformable to their owil fiaf'
tictilar opinions, or to the ruling faction. In religion^
as ill other things, the reasoning of the strongest partt/ is
tdwat/s tM besti '4ru4'". '^§' ■■ ''■4^fi.,. «w-,..cj»,^9s}4J!i,
'- '. Behold then, in t!i^ last resort, the authority of an
emperor, who determines the chief points of the
Christian religion ! This emperor, but little 6xed in
^13 own faith, decides^ until further orders, that Jesus
is consubtantial with the Father, and compels his sub-^
Jects to receive, as inspired, the" four gospels we have
in our bands* t It is in these memoirs, exclusively
adopted by some fathers in the Council of Nice ; by
tiiem attributed to apostles, or unexceptionable wit<>
Besses, inspired by the Holy Ghost ; by them pro-
. jiosed to serVe as an indispensable rule to Christians^
that we are to seek for the materials of our history*
We shall state them with fidelity ; we shall compare,
and connect the relations, often discordauty which
they contain^ we shall see if the tacts which they de*
tail are worthy of God,^ and calculated to procure to
'mankind the advantages which they expect. This en>
quiry will enable us to judge rightly of the Christian
religion; of the degree of confidence we ought to
place in it ; of the esteem we ought to entertain for
its lessons and dogma's; and. ol the idea we sbooUt
ibrm of Jesus its founder. .•??r->'w ^'V^^ ^'^-''■r^v.'h.a'oti-i^i
Though, in composing this history, we have laid it
down as a rule to employ the gospels only, we pre-
against the fitmoas Paul of Samosata. But our doctors have
jrecourse to saying, Vith St. Augustine, that the ancient general
councils were corrected by posterior councils; or else they teH
us, with the Cardinal de Cusa, *' that the Church, by changing
its opinion, obliges us to believe that XjSod also changes his.'*
.miut iiis that the clergy sport with Cbristians. ^^
■Ai:'.
.;, .: .,^:,.:_,* ^i* :. ■■■:,:,.
iQiD^ flot to flatter otnrseliws, tlot it will filcQse evetjT
bo<fyj or tiiat tte elei^ ivtll ailbpt our hiboiira. The
bonnecticHw» which we shall form ;. the biterpr^ations wc
shall give; thd animadveniions we stnll present t^
our readers; will not be always ;entirelj agreeable to
ihe Tiews of our ^tritotd guides, the greatef part oC
whom are enemies to all eaquiiy. To nich nen we
would state, that criticisnL giVes a lustre to tratii^
that to reject all examination, is to acknowledge tha
weakness of th^ caose ; and that not- to wi^ fcH: dis^
cussioo) is to avow ft to foe incapable of siistainiBg a
trial.
If they tell usy that ottr ideas are repu^naat to tUft
dedsions of councils, of the&tfaers, and of the iini<>
^ersal churth ; to this we shall answer) that, hctXKrding
to the sacred books, opposition is not always a crimen
ire EArall {^ad the 'example of an apostle, to whom the
Christian religion is under the greatest obli|^tionS'>*«'
what do we say !-^tt> wh(Mn akMse, perhaps^ it owes its
existence. Now this apostle boasts of hMYvng mth*^
stood the gfreat St. P^ter to hn &ce, that Tisible besud
of the church, appointed by Christ himself to feed hfg
flock ; and whose in&illibflity, therefore, is at least m
probable as that of his successors, and even thatof tho
church assembled in oeimmenical council.-
• If they tax us with innovation, we shall plead the
example of Jesus himself, who was regarded as an »r«
notfitor by the Jews, and who was a martyr for the rt^
form be wanted to introduce. We, ho wevor, candidly
d^lare, that we haveao desire to imitate him in; this-^
we ^applaud only to the mar^rdom exclusively. If
the tenets «d:vanced be onacceptable, the author, as he
has no pretensions to divine inspiration, leaves to
every one the liberty of rejecting or receiving his in-
]>
terpi^tatiools, knd method of inresttgsitidn. He dfoet
hot threaten with eternal torments those who resist his
•rguments ; he has not erefdit enough to promise hea*
ven to such as jield to them t he pretends neither te
constrain, nor to seduce those who do not think as h«
'does. He is desirous only to calm ^ mind ; alia/
anitnositj; and sooth the passions of those zealots,
,who are ever ready to harass their fellow creatures, on
account of opinions which may not appearequally con«
vincing to all tlie world. He promises ta point out
the ridiculous cruelty of those men of bloody who per-
secute for dogmas which they themselves do not un-
derstand. He ventures to flatter himself, that such
of his readers as peruse this enquiry with coolness,
will acknowledge, that it is very possible to doubt of
the inspiration of the gospels, and of the divine mis-
sion of Jesus, without ceasing, notwithstanding that,
' to be a rational and honest man. .
Such as are exasperated against this work, are en-
^ treated to remember, that faith is a gift of heaven ;
ihsX the vDont of U is not a xnce ; that if the Jews, who
were eye witnesses of the wonders of Christ, did not
^.lielieve them, it is very pardonable to doubt them at
fthe b^inning of the nineteenth century, especially on
'^finding that the narrative of these marvels, said to
have been inspired by the Holy Ghost, are not uni-
form, nor placed in harmony with each other. In
fine, fieiy devotees are earnestly entreated to moderate
^ their holy rage, and suffer the meekness, so ofi;en re-
commended by their divine Saviour, sometimes to oc-
cupy the place of that bitter zeal, and persecuting
spirit, which creates so many enemies to the Christian
religion and its doctors. Let them remember, that if
it is to patience and forbearaiiee (Christ promises tbj»
&
'-tf
4 ._■-■■.■■■.•.-■- '#
• M ■ : V ^ -^-
possession oftbeeartb, it is much to be feared that
pride, intolerance, and inhumanity, will render the
ministers of the churoh detestable, and make them lose
that empire over minds, which to them is so agreeable.
If they wish to reign over rational men, they must dis-
play reason, knowledge, and, above all, virtues more
useful than those wherewith the teachers of the gospel
have so long infested society. Jesus has said, in th^
idearest manner, " Happy are the meek, far theyshaU
inherit the earth /* unless indeed interpreters should
pretend, that this only signilies the necessity of perse*
cuting, exterminating, and cutting the throats of thgaf
whose affections they wish to gain.*
If it were permitted to cite the maxims of a profane
-person by that of the Son of Grod^ we would quote
" imi ^ ■ ~ '
* The modern religion of Eqrope, says the author of The
. System of Nature, hiSTisibly caufed more ravages and trooble*
'yfhan any other saperstttion ; it if in that respect very aceord-
^ ttnt to its principles. They may well preach tolenmce, and mild-
pess in the name of a despotic God* who claims a right to the
homage of the whde earth; who is extremely Jealous that any
other doctrines should he received than what hare his sanction ;
irho punishes crueOy for erroneous opinions; who demands un*
hounded zeal from his adorers. "Spch a being mast cooseqaentty
hiake fanatiod persecutors of all men. The theology of the
present day is a^ubtile venom, calculated* through the import-
ance which \i attached to if, to infect every one* By dint of me-
taphysics, modern theologians have become systematically
absurd and wielded. 3/ once admitting the odious ideas which
they entertain of the divinity, it is impdssible to make them un-
derstand that they ought to be humane, equitable, pacific, in-
dulgent, and tolerant. They pretend that these humane and
fiocial virtues are not leasonable in the cause of reHgioB, and
would be treason in the eyes of the celestial Monarch, to wbOI9
^ p^&ty thing ought to be «acrificcd>
20
bere the ftpopfath^m of the prolbimd Machiavel, thai
'^ empires ttre preserved by the same means whereby
they are estaWished," It w» by dint of meekness,
patience, and precaution, that the disciples of Jesus
succeeded in estahllslnngC^istianity^. Their succesmrs
have employed violence; but not iKitil they- found
themselves supported by devout tyrants. Since then,
the gospel of peace has been the signal of war; the
pacific disciples of Jesns have become implacable
warriors ;*ha ve treated eatch other as ferocious beasts ;
and the dhurch has been perpetnaily torn by dissen-
sions, schisms, and factions. If the primitive spirit
of patience and meekness does nOt quicfely i^urn to
the aid of rel^igion, it Is to be feared that it will be«
come the f^bject of the hatred d* nations, who begin to
feel that morality is preferable to obscure dogmas, and
that peace is of greater value than the holy frenzy of
the ministers of the gospel. c.^'
>«b We caanot, therefore, with too much earnestness ex-f^
hert them, £[^ their own sakes, to moderatioa. Let
them imitate their divine Master, who never employed
his Father's power to ejfterrainate the Jews, of whom
he had so m]uch*to complain, He did not make the
arfinies of heaven descend, in order to establish his
doctFine ; he chose nuther to surrender to the secnW
arm than give ap the i«€dels, whom fai8*prodigies and
transcendent resAoning tronld not convince. Though
he was the depositary of the power of the Most High-;
though he was inspired by the Holy Spirit ; though he
had at his command all the annals of Paradise ; we do-
«iot €od that he has perfor-med any great miracles on
the understandings of his auditory^ He sulTered them
to remain iit their Mindness, though be had come on
•purpose to enlighten thetn, We cannot doubt, that a
, il
conduct BO wise vr9.9 intended to make the pastors
ofiiis churdi.<wboare not possrased of more persua-
sive powers^tlian their master), sensible that it is not
by violence tfaej can reconcile tiie mind to incredible
things ; and that it would be unjust to force others to
comprehend wfaat^' without laTOur from above, it would
be impossible for themselves to comptrehend ; or wbat,
even with such £ivour,- they but very imperfectly an-
derstand. iis*^..
,^.But it is time to conclude an introduction, periiaps,
already too long to a work which, even without pre-
9mbl^ may be tiresome to the clergy, and irritate the
temper xt( the devout, particularly of female devotees.
The author does himself the justice to believe, that he
has written enough to be allowed the privilege of ex*-
pecting to be attacked by a cloud of writers, obliged,
by situation, to repel his blows, and to defend, right
pr wrong, a cause wherein they are so much interested.
He reckons that, on his death, his bo<^ will be cruelly
calumniated; his reputation torn ; and his arguments
taken to pieces or mutilated. He. expects to be treat-
ed as impious— a blasphemer— as antichrist^ and to
be loaded with al\ the epithets ivhich the pious are in
use to lavish on those who disquiet them. He will
not, however, sleep the less traoqail for tbat ; but a^
bis sleep may prevent him fi*om replying, he thinks it
his duty to inform his antagonists before hand, that m-
puries are not reasons. He does more — he bequeaths
them charitable advice, to which the defenders of re-
ligion do not usually pay sufficient attention. Thejr
^re then apprised, that if, in their learned refuta-
tions, they do not resolve completely all the objec-
tions brought against them, they will have done no-
thing for their cause. The infallible defenders of a re-
22
ligion^ in which it is affirmed, tBat erery fbin^ w di*
yiaelj inspired, are bound not to leare a single ar»|^,
gttment behind, and ought to be convinced that an—;-
swering to an argument is not always setting it aside,.
Tbejr should please also to keep in remembrance, thatf.
a single falsehood, a single absorditj, a nngle con*
tradictioD, or a single blander, lairlj pointed out i»''
the gospels,^ is sufficient to render suspected, and ev.e» :
to overturn, the authority of a book which ought to
be perfect in all its parts, if it b«f^true, that it is the
work of an infinite] J perfect Being. An incredulous ,,
person,^ being but a roan, may sometimes reasoa^^
wrcmg; but it is never permitted to a God, or bis in-^;^
strwsents, either to contradict themselves,, or to tallt t
''•i^'^^^^t;r?»^i^''
nonsense^. vj/S'T,
* They sbut onr tnoufbs, says Mirabaud, by assertiDg, tbs^l
Ctod himself hath spoken, and thus made himself kuoirn to men. \^
But when, where, and to whom hath he spoken ? 'Where are thd ^
divMie eraeles ? An hundred voices raise themselvei-'^^be sara* -^
mMnent;. an hundred hands- exhibit them t» me in absurd and '
^scoidant collections. I run tbera overr. aad,, through tb^
wboIe„ I find that the God ef wisddm has spoken an obscure^,
insidious, aad irrational language; that the God 0f goodne$$r^'
feas been cruet and sanguinary ; that the God of Justice has been "'-
vnjust, partial, and ordered iniquity } that tfte God of mercies
d^estmes the most unhappy Tietiras of his ang6r, to the most
bideees punishments. Many obstacles, besides^ present them*
kItcs when men attempt to verify the pretend«d ptrecepts (^ a
^rviattyr who has never literally held the same language in any
two- countries \ who has spoken in so many places ; at so man j
times; and always so variously', that be appears every where to
Wvc diown himself, only with the determined design of throw-
ii^ the bitman mind^ into the most strange perplexity. — yii0
Sjfatgm ef JVature^ \<A. Wu Tp. M^
•^-^^^*^#^wbcE homo! ' ^^*^^^m^
'k^tMr^, Oft, ■ :.^ v;;tt?^
^^ A CRITICAL ENqVIRY INTO THE HISTORY OF
^^; -JESUS OilK-IST. .^;: :'j :::j>i vCl'
«***'^'-^ CHAP. I. -^■•=''»^'^:i
A€C01TKT OF THfi JEWISH PEOPLE AND THEIR PROPHSI^-
-^ i^ S3i«UIRT INTO THE PROPHECIES RELATING TO ^BSCS.
: i
However sightly we cast our eyes over tl^ iHstorjr
of the Jews, such as it is transmitted io their sacred
books, we are forced to acknowledge, that this peo*
pie were at ail times the blindest, the most . stupid^
the most credalous, the most superstitious, and the
flilUest that ever appeared on the earth. Moses, bf
dint of miracles, or delusions, succeeded in subjug^at*
injg^the Israelites.* After having liberated them from
r
« Jartta Martf riofornu us, that MoiOi was the graadsoaof
a great magician, who comaiuaicated to him all his art. Vxai)^
ton and Chereraan, Egyptian hiftoriaat, respecting whom testi*
Bumies have been transmitted bj Josepji the Jew* state
tiiat a midtitude oi lepert were driven out of Egypt by kif^,
Amenopbis % and that these exiles elected for thev' Jeadec a
priett of Heliapolif, whose name was Moses, who form^
^MrtkewarcJigion and a code of |aws< Jpseph. ^atr* A^
the Hon rod of the Egyptians, h^ |>i]|^4lieiii under his
own". This celebrated legislator had evidently no
other intention than to subject the Hebrews for ever to
his purposes, and, after himself, to render them the
slaves of his family and tribe. It is indeed obvioas^
that the Mosaical economy bad no other object than
to deliver up the people of Israel to the tyranny and
^extortions of priests and Levites. These the law, which
was promulgated in name of the Eternal, authorised
to devour the rest of f^ naffiSV, and crush them un-
der an insupportable yoke. The chosen people of God
•were, in short, destined solely to be the prey of the
priesthood ; to satiate their aVarice and ambition ; and
to becacKBethe instrument and victiro of their passions.
HefiGP, by the law and policy of the priests, the
people of God were kept in a profound ignorance ; in
an abject superstition ; in an unsocial and savage
pten, lift' W e. 9, IV 18.-— Diedoriu SM;Bhi% also relates t&e
history of Moses; 9ide ttznai»Kion of Abbe Tanasson-— From
the Bible itself it appears, that Moses beg^an his career by as-'
sassinating^an Egyptian, Woo was quarrelling with a Hebrew;
after which he fled into Arabia, and mariledthe dtlaghter of an
idofatrotts prrest^ by wKon> Ire -wda ofteo reproached fanr b\»
cruelty, tkenab he returaed into ]^ypt« aad placed kiimself at
tbebcaid.:of ki«totioB, which was dissatisfied with King Fha-
ToalU' Meies reigned very tyrannically. The examples of
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, show to what kind of people he
had aa aYersion* He at last disappeared like Romulus, no one
being able ta find hia hedy* nor the place of his sepulture^
Theaatber of The Three Iwp0stor», a translation of which wer
understand is-preparhi* for fhe pres*, 9tafe»that Moses eoscealed
Intitielf in a cave, or pitj which he bad fomd in his soKtude,
? where fee retired from tnrfe to time, under preteiice ©f holdii^
conference with bts God j and which he had for a long time des-
tined for his gr*ve-. In order that the people, wot "^findii^ kia
Iro^y, niigM persttade thenselTe^ it htMl hccacarried to beavcA..
1 '--
,*
aversion for the l^st of mankind ^ ift ian inveterate
hatred of other forms of worshfp ; and in a biirbaroui
and sangiiiniary intolerance towsirds every foreign reli-
gion.* All the neighbxjurs of the ^Hebrews were,-
therefore, Aeiir enemies, if the h<% natibin Was thai
object of the love of the Mbsi High, it iraVsmiobjecJt
of contempt aWdfiorrot" tb ajll thbsfe who had occasion'
to know it. For this it was ' fndeWed to its religions
institutions; to thelaHoiirs of its jfriests • to its diyi-
Tinersj and its prophetfi) whb contiifiniaHy^^ofited by its
crednlity, in displaying wohdets, aiicJ kindlitig its deli*
rium.T \
Und^f t!ie''%iiid^iiee of teses, and of generals W
jiidges who governed them afterward^, the Jewish peo-
• JoBepnns^iinormsiistnattne surrounding nations consmered
the Jews '* the most stupid of barbarians, and that they had
nerer invented any thing useful to man." Joseph- c. .^ppiott,
lib.^ d'. S6e ako th^ trork «Mit1ed Opinions des Jfnciens sttr les
Jiiifs, by Mirabaud. Yet there ard men of letters blind enoogli
to maintain, that the Greeks borrovred a great number of pbi«
losophical and theological ideas from the Jews !
f The art of proflfaecying was then an actual profession, and
no doubt ift Us^fJiil and profitable branch of cootmerce in-tbjit
misierable nation, which bieiieved God to be ^onstftntly busy in
their affairs. St. Jerome says, that the Sadducees rejected \Sih
prophets, contenting themselves with bJelieving the fire bdoks
attributed to Moses. Dodwell, de jure laicomttif asserts, that
the prophets prepared themselves tb prophecy by drinking
wine. Fide p. 259- We actually find Isaiah complaining that
" the priests and the prophets have erred through strong drink;
they are swallowed up with wine; they are out of the wartr
thrdngh Strang drink i they err in vision; they stumblein judg-
ment," chap, xzviii. 7i It seems they were jugglers, poets, afid
muskians, who had made' themselves masters of their tradeii,
anil knew how to exercise thetff profitably, and live cbmlbrt?
ablj. ■ 1 ' ' ■■--'^' '"'' '
pie distinguished themselves only by massacres, imjns^
wars, cruelties, usurpations, and infamies, which were«
enjoined them in the nameoftheElteroal.* Weary oftlie
government of their, priests, which drew on them nor
things but misfortunes and Uoody defeats, the descen-;
dants of Abraham demanded kings ;t but, under these^
the state was perpetually torn with disputes between
the priesthood and the government. Superstition
9imed always at ruling over pc^icy. Prophets and
priests pretended to reign over kings, pf whom such a^
were not sufficiently submissive to the interpreters of
heaven, were renounced by the Lord ; and, from that
lime, unacknowledged and opposed -by their own sub*'
jects. Fanatics and impostors, absolute roasters of
the understandings of their nation, were continually
readv to rouse it, and excite in.ita bosom the most ter-
:^ * Proud of the proUctioa (^ Jehovah, the Hebrews marched
forth to victory. Heaven authorised them to commit knaverj
and cruel^ty. Religion) united to avidity, rendered them deaf
to the cries of nature; and, under the conduct of inhuman
chiefs, they destroyed the Canaanitish nations with a barbarity
at which every man must revolt, whose reason is not annihilated
by superstition. Their fury destroyed every thing, even in<
fants at the breast, in those cities whither these monsters car^
ried their victorious arms. By the commands of their God, or
liis {irophets, good faith was violated, justice outraged, and th»
most unheard of cruelties exercised. — Bouhnger.
^,, -f It appears that the Lord seldom or ever made a person a
iing for his goodness, or foreknew how he would turn out.
^£r8t of all chose Sault one would think for hi&tallness; and
he soon repented of that} then David seemed to be chown for
his fresh colour and courage; and the Lord was so fond of him
as to'promise him on oath, that he would fix the crown on his
seed for ever ; yet only a sixth part of the promise, Remained to
his grandson; and ever since the captivity, all the promise )^ff
Eeea forgot. — P. Anet. • . , -g^
/■■
rible revolutions. It was the intrig^ues of the prophets
that deprived Saul of his crown, and bestowed it on'
David, /Ae man according to God's own heart — that ii
to saj, devoted to the will of the priests.* it was tfa«r-
]M'ophets, who, to punish the defection of SolomonTiir
the person of bis son, occasioned the separation of the
kingdoms of J udea and lisrael. It was the projects
who kept these two kingdoms continually at variance ;;.
weakened them by means of each other; desolated them
by religious and fatal warsj conducted them to com-
plete ruin; a total dispersion of their, inhabitants; and
a long captivity among the Assyrians.
"^ So many calamities did not, however, open the eyes
of the Jews, who were obstinate in refusing^o acknow-
ledge the true source of their misfortanes. Restored,
to their homes by the bounty of Cyrus, they were again?
governed by priestaand prophets, whose maxims ren-
dered them turbulent, and drew on them the hatred of.
sovereigns who subdued them. The Greek princes'^
treated with the greatest severity a people viHhota thft ^
^ * Tfa6 prophet Samuel, displeased with Saul, who refuted to '
second his cruelly, declared that he had forfeited the crown,
and raised up a riTal to him in the person (^ David. - Elias the
prophet appears to have been a seditious subject, who, finding .
himself unable to succeed in his rebellious designs, thougllt.pro-
per to escape deserved punishment by flight* Jeremiah him-
self gives us to understand, that he conspired with the Assyrians
against his besieged country. He seems to have employed him-
self in depriving his fellow citizens of both the will aUd the -
courage to defend themielvet. He purchased .a field of hi^ m» -
lations, at the very time when he informed l^s cQunbrytnea .
that they were abotot to be dispersed, and led a^vay ioto ^aptir
vity. The king of Assyria recommended this prophet to iiif
general Nabuzaradauj whom he cpiluoaaded to take great ca(0
of htm. — 3e& Jtremitth,
oracles and promises of their prophets rendered al-
-ways relM^tous, and ungovernable. The Jews, in fine,
became the prey of the Romans, whose yoke they bore
with fear, against whom impostors often incited thera;
to re¥olty and who at last, tired of their frequent re-
beliioius, entirely destroyed them as a nation. ..mi-tnyf
4#£|ttch, in a few wwds, is the history of the Jewish
people. It presents the most memorable examples
0f the evils which ianaticisoa and superstition pro-
duce; for it is evident that the continual revolutions,
Ikkwdy wars, and total destruction of that nation, had
no other cause than its unwearied credulity ; its sub-
mission to priests ; its eethusiasm ; and its furious
zeal, exci4)ed by the inspired. On Feadiog the Old
Testament, we are in^ed feroed to confess, that the
people of Giod (thanks to the roguery of their spiritual
guides) were, beyond contradiction, the most unfortu*
imte people that ever existed.. Yet the roost solemn pro-
mises of Jehovah seemed toassure tothatpeoplea ilou- .
rishing and puissant ^npire. God had made an eternal
alliance with Abraham and bis posterity ; but the Jews,
£irfr0Ba reaping the fruits x>f this alliance, and far
from enjoying the prosperity they had been led to ex-
pect, lived continually in the midst of calamities, and
were, more than all other nations, the sport of 'fright-
ful revolutions. So many disasters, however, were in-
capable of rendering them more considerate ; the ex-
perience of so nuiny age% did not binder them from re-
lying on oraeles so often contradicted; and the more
unfortunate they found themselves, the more rooted
were they in their credulity. The destruction of
their nation- could not brinff them to doubt either of
the excellence of their law, the wisdom of their institu-
ttpns, or the veracity of their prophets, who succes*
/
^ively relieved eacb other, either in menacing them in
the name of the Lord, or in re-animating their frivo>
' )ou8 hopes. ,Aj|
Strongly convinced that they were the sacred and
chosen people of the Most High, alone worthy of his
favours, the Jews, in spite of all their miseries, were
continually persuaded that their Godi could not have
' fibandoned them. They therefore constaDtly looked
for an end to their afflictions, and promised themselves
a deliverance, which obscure oracles had led them to,,
expect. Building on these fanatical notions, they were
at all times . disposed to listen with avidity to every
inan who announced himself as inspired by Heaven ;
they eagerly ran after every singular personage who
^ could feed their expectations ; they followed whoever
had the secret of astonishing them by impostures, which
■ their stupidity made them take for miracles, supef^
natural works, and unquestionable signs of divine
power. Disposed to see the marvellous in the most tri-
cing events, every adroit impostor was onthe watch to
deceive them, and was certain of making-flaore or less
adherents, especially among the populace, who every
where are destitute of experience and knowledge.
It was in the midst of a people of this disposition,
that the personage appeared whose history we write.
He very soon found followers among the most despica-
ble of the rabble. Secqnded by these, he preached, as
usual, reformation to his fellow citizens ; he wrought
wonders; he styled himself the envoy of the Divinity;
be particularly founded his mission on vague, obscure,
and ambiguous predictions, contained in the sacred
books of the Jews ; he applied them to himself; h&
announced himself as the Messiah or messenger, the
(deliverer of Israel, who for so many ages was the ob-
30
ject of the nation's hope. His disciples^ his adherent?^
and afterwards fheir successors, have found means to
applj' to their master the ancient prophecies, wherein
he seemed the least perceptibly desired. The Chris-
tianis, docile and full of faith, have had the good for-
tune to see the founder of their religion predicted in
the clearest manner throughout the whole Old Testa-
ment. By dint of allegories, figures, interpretations,
and commentaries, their doctors have brought them to
$see in this shapeless eompilalion all that thej-hadaii
interest in pointing out to them. When passages
taken literally did not countenance deceit agreeable
to their views, they contrived for them a twofold sense ;
they pretended, that it was not necessary to under-
stand them literally, but to give them a mj/stica^,
edkgoricalf and spiritual meaning. To explain, there-
fore, these pretended predictions, they continually
substituted one name for another ; they rejected the
literal meaning, in order to adopt a figurative one;
they changed the most natural signification of word^ ;
they applied the same passages to •events quite oppo-
site ; they retrenched the names of some pei^onages
plainly designed, in order to put in their place that of
Jesus; and in all this, they did not blush to make the
most crying abuse of the principles of language.* - »
- * Any thing may be found in the Bible, if it be read with the
imagtoatioa of St. Augustine, -nho pretended to see all the
New Testament in the Old. According to him, the death of
Abel is a type of that of Christ ; the two wives of Abraham are
the synagogue and the church : a piece of red clolh, held up
by an harlot, who betrayed Jericho, signifies the blood of Christ i
the Iamb, goat, and lion, are figures of Jesus Christ } the bra-
zen serpent represents the sacrifice on the cross. Even the mys-
tteriQ^ of the Christiau religion are aonouitced in the Old T^l-^
. The third chapterof Genesis furnishes us with astrik<«
ing example of the manner in which the doctors of the
Christian religion have allegorised passages of scrip-
ture, in order to applj them to Jesus. In this chapter
God sajs to the serpent, convicted of having seduced
the woman, the seed of the woman shall bruise ihjf
bead. This prophecy appears with so much the more
difficulty to apply to Christ, that these words follofr
the preceding — and thou shalt bruise his heel. We
are much embarrassed to comprehend, why that seed
of the woman mn&i be understood of Jesus. If he waW
the Son of God, or God himself, he could not be pro-
duced from tJie seed. of the woman ; if he was man, he
is not pointed out in a particular manner by these
_ words ; for all men, without exception ^ are produced
from the seed of women. According to our interpreters,
ihe serpent is sin; the seed of the woman that bruises
it, is Jesus incarnate in the womb of Mary. Since
the coming of Christ, however, sin, typified by these^
kament: Manaa represents the Eucharist, &c. — Fide St. Jag.
Serja.l8,!f Ep. I5§.
How can a man, in his senses, see in the Immanuet announced
by Isaiah, the Messiah, whose name is Jesus ? How discover in
an o^bscure and crucified Jew, a leader tvhe thmtt govern Iirmel f
How see a royal deliverer and rettorer of the Jews in one, who, far
from delivering his natioo, came only to destroy their laws? and,
after whose coming, their land was desolated by the BomansJ
A man must be sharp-sighted indeed to find the Messiah in thejr
.vpredictioHS. Jesus himself does not seem to have been more
clear or happy in his. In St. Luke (c. 21), he speaks of tfae^ last
judgment; he mentions angels, who at the sound of the trum-
pet, assemble mankind before him ; he adds>" verily I say unto
you, this generation shall not pass away until these things are
accomplished." The world, however, still stands, and Chris*
tians have bpen expecting the lastjudgmeot for jears 1
m
pent, has at all times subsisted ; from wbich we are
warranted to conclude, that Jesus Christ has not des'
, trojed it, and that therefore the prediction is neither
literally nor allegorically accomplished* ^ff
.''■'In the twenty-second chapter of Genesis, God pro-
mises to Abraham, that in his seed all. the nations of the
earth shall be blessed. What we stile prosperity, the
Hebrews termed blessings. If Abraham and his race
enjoyed a continued prosperity, it was only for a very
^hort period ; the Hebrews became afterwards the
Slaves of the Egyptians, and were, as has been seen,
the most unfortunate people on earth, Christians
have also given a mystic sense to this prophecy : — they
substitute the name of Jesus in place of that of Abra-
ham, and it is in him that all the nations shall be bless-
ed ; the advantages they shall enjoy will be persecu-
tions, calamities, and misfortunes of every kind ; and
his disciples, like himself, shall undergo the most pain-
ful punishments. Hence we see, that, following our
interpreters, the word blessing has changed its mean-
ing; it no longer implies prosperity; it signifies what
in ordinary language, is termed curses, disasters, afflic-
tions, troubles, divisions, and religious wars — calami-
ti^with which the Christian nations have been coor
iinuaMy blessed since the establishment of the church.*
Christians believe that they see Jesus expressly an-
nounced in the 49th chapter of Genesis. The patriarch
Jacob there promises sovereign power to Judah.
^'The sceptre (says. he) shall not depart from Judah,
nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh
come, and unto him shall the gathering of the people
]^.*' It is thus that several interpreters translate the
-1ST
liv^ • See chapter XVIII. of thi» work.
.;^
tentli verse of the 4dtb drnpter of Geaesig, Oilien
have translated it thu^ >^ the- authbril^f shall ^r ever
be lA'Jifitafr, when -the life^siah' shall have ti»ttiei^
: Others read, **^the authc^ifyshtttt be in Jadal^ %tfi' Aer
messenger receive^ in SlAldh ,Ae -sovereigs ■ fov/en^^
Others again render the' passage '!» ^8'iiianiieip,-')''^h<»
> people 6f Judah shall be in affliction, tilt the laeBseB-
ger of the Lord ct^nestd - put ah ^nnd 10 H;" 'and ac-^
tording to others, " tilt the citj of Shilohbedestniyedi^^
This diversity in ' the tratislatiofi of i <he salne passaMp
ought iihqiiestionabljrtd rettdet' the propheiey v^^
suspicious. ' Pir^ i^e 'see that.it ' ii knpossibt^ Co de- •
termine (he significajtkoii of the ^ori SAihk^ -Or fo^
ascertain, whc$tfaer iibe th^ itame ofa' tnat^et aeitj-. Se«>
- condljv i^ is proved, bj the sacred beoks^^ ire^eived*
equally by Jews and Chi'jstians, that the- soVereig^<
5 power is ^one fVom Judah $ ura^ whoUy atinihflated
during the Baliylonish baptfvrty, ^nd has -6ot been ^<^ '
established ' since^ - ■ If it is pretended, that jesiis"
came to restore tho power of Judtlh, -we : aiseilf,'
on the contrary, that, in the time of Christ, Judah Was
without authority, for Judah had submitted' to tfie,
Romans. But i|Ur doctors have again recourse to i^te-*
gory, :— accprfjing to them, tiie pow,er of' Jij^d^hwas ji^^^
spiritu^Vl^vrerpf Jeaua over Christians, designed by .
They, in likeaianii^, see ChrtgttaniHxnicedi b]^ Bab i
}aani, whoby theliye wasonty a false prophet; rHe thtt^ '
expr^eshimselfjn the S^th chapterbf NnubWi^' (1^,^
17)—* <' He hath said; who heard the w<Hrdjsbf,Gro(Land'
knew. itk% k^flwl^ejpf l^ejfp^vljig^^ who
viioii of the Aliaig^^y ^i^g i|»(0)a.tp^iice, :bi|t,hiM^i
^Jiiseyes opea>: I^Aall seehimbut not Bow$l«h«^4>db«idr>
himlnitnotB^h; there shall come astaroot ofJacob^t
and a sceptre «hdl rise out of Istflel/' &c. In this qnin-
teHigi^;j«i|roB|'-tb^r'Pi^^i*^ 4o'«8be\f:-<}liristian8 ar
d^nprediQti0noflhe)fi)Ui|fePiortheif jDelj^KM}.' Itlshtf
w^^ibeMar, bieeause'lils^ltinil^istiadpotrihe eniigfaty^
enS'i^miadst' v!Z%i> scisptfe, vikkh$hgUrhe out of. Is^
rtfeli, 'is the cross dIV CJbrwV ^' tk«;aH}>e»f, which he, has^
trjUM)phed,oy»>the l)evfivr\irho^ m${Hie'fif th^ victory, .
ceasef^ppttovre|gi|,fllill pD^aiiby: aad^.ta, i%0de)r a
tfae,4»H«pIhof*reaiist^ )r. vf^i*? AtN i*i_| '* .^mSo oi -pMn^ri
fMat of • all the pispphecieg contained In the. Old Tes*
m^% Iberejs notoRe 4^j^bicb4l|f) Qbristian doctora,
have-attadied mpro; iH)[>oitan^ • (ban-t tliat , i^iid . im
Iaaiah,ch^.'viii>o]:4. 'A')virgin,y0^a>yoimg;yKomaQy\
(fQF>tb9,H«hceW; word sigcMi^ lK>jt^^ sbaU conc^^,
ar^heatM StWtyOfid shall ccM, his- name ImmamteL , - To ,
find <m% Jesus Chtist in thi»fii«edietiony it} is firet,^ all ,
n^cessacy t« be'coavwcedy tiii|ttbi^ 'yirgiq. or woman ^
isMioyi^ n^t»4^ is^oecessgryy-no^toentc^in adoubt,
wbetberJaoiaauel be the same with Jesps^. It ba^jaeen ,
ob)«et^, aad will always ^M^objecteid^agaiAst t^is pro- ,
* DeviU are considered as the eBemies aad seducers of the ^
hninan race,,, and perpetually busied, ia.dmwing them into sin.r
A p^wer.is ^Itjiributed to them ofj)erforiniii^ miracles, similar to
those wrottghl by the. Host Sigh ;- and, above all, a power diat
cduiiteracts this Almighty; and renSfers aH bl^pii'djiicfa abortir^'j*
Though the Christian religion did not formerly allow thetisaaie'i'
powjertoi the Bttrii as.itd God« it-;sq|i|KMieArtii«ff thsit mafero-
lei^.KeipgpreTeHted-ai<Biikiad (firom eater4ai&> into _tfae .enipy" f
m<!^of.^e felicity.de$ti{|i^d tbein;by,^« |^oodjp|ess of^God,a^d_^ -
ted moit of them into etetn^ perdi^on., !Ch'ristiaos, ^lowever,.:
noif virtually attribute, to the^pevil an' empire 'iniicb inore t!*.'\
tensive than that etth'e Supreme Beilig. The la^r with diffi-^-^
cfiBiy isavesa-fe^ (^lert; wbaelW foiira^r cat¥i«« «*, In' ^t§'
e^ bim; tbe greater part' Af roanktod^^viiotistea toibii-^Mtroe^A
ti:f» Ico^tatiMMw ratber tbaa .tbo abMl«le.4om«iMM* jal^Oaih m'-i^
^
J
^hetf, that it ts klBciM^TorM tfe cfe!i|)<f^f brtskJali
**6mivhc*nd^,iK€fJ)^^^a§te 1^ tai!e?n,^t6'^^'^satisfi^a t!mt
tH&^rfyce Is'^^hd^a iti)tH§^t1ifed t is iiT *cbii^6^irartiott,
btf ^aeicmtit^if th^ krri^kl W^ ft^j^ih aha Pdkaft , kfl%s t6f
. h&^iing tiiaf Ife^tilf lta4' for^ isuffibiisnt f W^|)f6iMi^
iiim-thte assi^ta^ce ofk^ litnrd, \irhbm ^Vi^i^- (friipll^
ninadeMi^^to^bfe' oiPh!s*tJMrn' parf^^^ To"gt«*arAi«^
the tHdth 'df^iis'prt^ses', Is&fah tells ^is ^Hm^fi^^hat
^ncB t^)li^!^ th^t' he* dbe^nbt '"#1^^' to^^n^t^lbe
Ii©rd. r The Pi'oph^et/ how^v^i) ^^^Ii^i^^' ^o <^ti^(^«
Iilrtii,^aii«^i]^e9:fr di^^-^r^^'A'tyd/diig w«^D»l^ ^iiyi'^
shall-cohdeiye,«ftnd^briti^o^^'^sc^,'Whdt6faiM^^
«d Imdfiaifttel/'^ No^ 'thse folbwit%' chaptet' «ff<b^n»
us who this joung woman was : she was the Wi^^
Isaiah htttise^ir.^" I «^kudto>Yir^ (stfy^ iS^ffiitiMil
witfiessies; im^^ I'^'Wbift Unto;^^ pw>]^h^e%tiwd
fih<3; coneeiTc^ <dtid ba^ la (.-oii/f The simpfe^ iRdpe£|ti«i»
'^ of thi^ «^^,> 8«l^^^ W cafTf the c«i^ lit ifaVoHs^%f' the
'iiiered«il<>ii^''WUdfnsUntain thdtthidpr&^hcnc^ldiii^fiti
- respect 'ftpftefU^ to Jesiis. 'Buttheolb^sbha<vie-thd
f )ll^t^i)eg€>of'iilterpi«tfn§^itinthiEf iBioiiR)^ ^
>^te' to<the^%wn fNirpd^es, without reckotihi^oa Hie
tfttiira^iofi'Sfi Kfittthew^ wh« wa» divtcfeljrifispired^
firtheifoifaeradf tlfei €ouitdl<of ^ieeha?e deddod wilfei-
^ 'F^«^iilg> ibrvl^af d In the' pei'usal of Ifbiah^ (4;h8t>;
i*« 6)i 'we find the fbUowing passage:^ — *« Unto as a
ehiklikborflf (81^ th6 Pro(»het),~attd ^e gi0veniiii6iit
^all foe* opotr his shoUldersi'* ' If the child foretoM ^
Isaiah was born in his time, it can no le4%er b6 said^ :
m
that theProphet meant to ,^p^k of . Christy , who vfa»
born seiKeral centuries aBer hiin^; for thf> birth pt^esuL
being ^ dislaiit,.f:oul4 A9^;.^ I^^i^n.pf deliverance, to
Aba:^ a$ his enemies pressed so cl?s^b^, 4ipQn,hiia. ^uch
are^tbie^oT>ie<ettoiis of;unbe^ieyei^j. .Jt.il|t|-Me,lt is an?
swe^; th^t the prophets f pqlf^ of futqre events as if
jUie^^frerepastror.preseia^,.^ ,7^isfinswer requires pnljf
to :be estahiishe^l hy pi:Qi9f*j:r\i^ i^ likewise added,;tbat.
ibe^l^rth; of IsaiaVs. sennas xtnlj.^a tjpe oSii^t of
Ji^ist ;ic>r to him, it is afiSrmed,^ is applicable *< the
^oyeram^nt on the shoulder^'* . iv^(^ is Here spoke^
of ;: and in. which our doctors perceive yejj distipctlj
ptantedout the^ cross that Je^us carried, on his shoiil^
clei^when>g(Hng tOfC.all^arjE., :TJhii8 pur -interpreters
hate the holiness pf seeing the siga <^>4omini^li'»
otf empiit^y in> "what vwpuld .'appear, to. eyes less en-
lightemed^ theu s^H/olp^B^hq^^l^ w^^Mi^s,. pDd
iplavery. fjff? ^rru y^U ; -■;*; :;rfr-rt1^f luovi-^irf} n:*7< -.u
f«€ttis^i proper also to enquire h<^¥'it-conpes. to ,be sai^
that, jn the' Christian s^rstem^it is/uot i^:9JU necessary a
prophecjf'have rclatipnyin all itS'part8,|ta thesiibject
or , tact-ito ivhich it is applied.; , The sacred: writei^ do
nptinfpp tp'c^te a w^ole^r9p.hefqy,:hut-e^I^ a pajteage,
%f^e<^hed ]>hrBsej<>r iadee4 o^cni^jMog^J^^ord)^
positeto the^«|ub|/9ct thj^ treat pf, withpuft) tro^|>ii9§
ibemselvie|i:iKl(^^er;whf.t|Krecedesor ivhat|bl)evirs tbeif
)4iiotati<ai^ lia^ ^nn^xion for ^ot'i«iftlh w^t they-.arQ
sfjeaking of. "Iii the e^tunple utidef diseusiBi^D,^ iSl;«
Matthew, wishing to quote Isaiah, and apply a pro-
phecy; to Christ, t^es ef this pfophecjt these detached
words only, A vkgin, or a yojung woipao^ s^^U. poneeicfi
%(fi^—he stood, ^1 p»e^d of nojqqrerfJ^,)A.qQpr4ingi^
th&t Evafl^^t, theiYirgiQ; Mpi^ulbai^! ^iOn(Qeived*>r5!
HMuwh had^aay^tha^ajgiriy w w»B|ffl^i ^Mdajsongpiye^
. ^e therefore igi9i0)iiatel J qo^clvi(le4,4]^^|i^ 9^9^
tion Qf ^esua wp f(>li^t<>l^ bij If ^ij^h* T^>» .vfigye. (QOft?
necUoniftlu^cieflt #»r §t.|i^tth?w,.9iMJi,41,(?J^fe^^
who, Uk% jbiio, jbeJieTe tji^ §ee th^ |»^^4^ pp^i^^
outiq^k pxp^I^^y. ,, wiisjiiii
. if pUpwing thus sIrajQg? method, ^bfj h»v« dl^oadU
" ▼ance4#e^%uitb9ri|y.osf is^i^hlP^ric^ypt^ Jetawsiwftf
the M^s^^h ^ffffm^^ iq j^ fem* Iq the^50^ <^i
ter thi^ PrppJb^jt desprjbes, jo a y^.^f^fhfitic mwaer,
I the mis^rtune? ^n4 j9i)ffeHdg^ of h\s brother Jecemiah.
^hejr have Ipng laboured to apply that prophecy to
;^li|r^t; Jbpj have distiofOtlj $eei\ him p<^A-ted Qut ia
the <f fuiip oj^sorrQnrs," Qf w^om Isiaiah hece.speaks ;?—
BPt^atiti8r€|g?^^4e.4 rathpr asa^ithfi^ jancl ctrciims
fitantlal napi^tiye pf the passipq of J«@vis> than as a pie«
''diction. But, in fact, sound criticism. JDBkUst.acknQw?
l^e, .tll^ ^hifl hi9tp|7 r^WtiespnJ^ tp JcceinguBh. Not
. |o.v4eprii^e^4heq9g9.^e9, hpwAyer<> pC .the cesoiir^sp
j iiaefuji a p^^(^ inighJtluroMh) th^jhavc^ clpjplAed,ifait
^Uithp, (»|e, ^i^ph^^^? ««#-e5(^^r^^ shAuld
1 l^ave pl^i^. % tjius ifmm ip a4(9i]t4wg.tliatiUKe Aac-*
2 c^tlYj^.of js^ji^^. J^;^ii|iali.^riko^(^ th^jrhavp
lifilA ik^OkWn as a priii$H[^€^ that; J^r^mh wm aj^rie
tfr/^j»^jQCi4e8D«.. ItffiMl<^flttbejrJ|Ke8!liw»,4l^
^'«ti:iptl{r;«Pi»6fiiltfm^tfs ; hu^ )» the,(^ri$ti||p,«^|pn,
;. <|uis«te,tP tM juiticQ pf thfi^QPIIi^
PQB^jr,,liMe ngt^i^tfiUh^. 4r8^ RTfiach^a of Qbrji^liwiyy,
mniL^r tfe^ thp^ fisher? c^n4 <i4w)tW ofi^^^ pIprpW
haye fi^ej^^fiyjy .e9)plpJ/^(t|^^ cucipupin^ltfepiiCjCi pyo?.
ptio^h^tikMy '^I'susi Christ ^n^ B1i« tMtch . Abel, >ai-
iaS§fei9M1>f hk brolhfer; wasaprophetfefi^iii^ of J^
' Ittil i»ttt td dfei&th t^rlliia deiHral Tb^iaci^ifi'c^ of Isaae;
which was not accomplished, wa^ fh^imagt^ ^f tbat
abcom^ilslted bif:tH^ <<>&il: The relaii6w-<)i''predic-
ti»ti» mUkW <c^vid«i% fiact for their ol^jeet Ak^ham;
i^ttfc^iiftMhB^ mmi, dMhiiSimm^Uaivvi^ So*
lt)mcRrf^'J&i^fDldfi;;^r^^be},' bf^th^r ^rteiehl pefsdn-
a|f^j t^«^ tf^Ti^^^ t^ Ch*?it: Hm death i^^ rdpre^
t^rttedbf the bf^od erf" h^idWs aWd of buM Bj^ aiU
* «f thfe^ aite^drfes/ th6 dfiteifent history df thJs'^€<ivi
terv^ dfiJsr ftif iift'niAn5c& eli^^^irents in the life of Jesy |
«B#1£ge Afeft)!^ dip tft^ edtatrtfihfaeiit of his i^ll^^.^
' hr tH& mtfttil^r il rs^ek^ td'fta^ ill tk'e scinj^tired vrKii^
ever #e'desire/ i:"''''') iHiiJo-: J-^fiV lu j^i' ./tciirtfh
ioH woiydrt«' ud^^'tb ihyssttgSte'^t'hd^ fetxiofi» pt^
]^ecjr«f liib ^^tit/ vif^^lti of ®kiiiet,'*in WhicK tKl^
6i*i^ai#ddfctdW bJdifev^'they sefe^Kekjditfinf of Christ
jieMly att^itete^dt tvfe tt\Je,nim*irOki^iirorhi8 ««i
tor^4^U«)b^nMtt^iFlrt;l6 l^'^i^thci'ijature^of thesis
««f^s'^;t!fb/ #tliHd« hth# jlffev^^tSS* WuW ti^\iW^to
intei^i%t^i¥ !' tliiS^pi^difclihif'itti^tthen hav^'b^^
veijiJgl'^^i^BStoi^ilChrfefttfhhyi TlfeafclestcriticSj'
]foM0^,id^t^'i4,«th^t tikeyi^d -tfe^^ tbli^ elnt^rka^
sedj^l^fM'^tkitfptif^g^o iSk th« c^ysidkfMeiltiiMdi^tto
end of these sev^Wrty' Wfeeks: Orf'thfeHBey «re tfeVe^
tffti^ttfob§j«di^c'aW!th'6y5jg**feoh^^
]i«tlklb isWaRfiii^^td t#g¥«(i! eVHit ofihe '«oin»^'or
tM^'MA^iih'. We Miiyw ll^' J^wg*i^Me usd^ot'weeti
dfmif^ «^^^kk>ofW^y^ atid Wfefek^ oTly^Irs* lll^%3r
aScdiT9efefttk<^/-iiiBWiy^hkzk^tetf,4Byy^All^aiS^
KftM^^PiidUV^ih, <tfiti^ thi :^l&lil^oti«>l^"ra^C^Met
light'on nothing, for tbe chronological table, which the^
doctors of Louvain have published, gives us only thred^
hundred and forty •three years, intervening betweeii^
the time when thejiaawb^bb weeks ci commence, and"
the death of Jesus. Many critics have believed, that^
this prediction had been added afterwards to the text
of Daniel, in favour of Jonathan Maccabeus. We may^^
judge of the little cre(ni**tl6aY*ain be g-iven to this pro^^
phecy of Daniel^, from tbp pit^jgipus^^jp^r of com-^
mentaries that have been made on it.* "^
After this statement; tind^^fthout dwelling longelp
on prophecies unintelligible even to those who adduce''
them as proofs, let us proceed to the life of Christ, and
seeif.iris: better adapted td oonfirm a GJu^sUaaaa Jii^^
rdigion. ■' '■''il'^.i..-j .^vt:,'*, •..;, : ^, ;w-'!-'-- ' '■i.j'iipf
•oThecelisbrate^ Atttkeny Collitu composed^tiKo. tdrtoils an^.f
profound If ork^ wheriHa hq depton^trfites Ui^ n<({iif^of J^he^^prfir^
pbe^ier of the Qld^.Testameat canb&UteraUy»mAiedto3em»i^
On wis lubject we have also several able workibjixJews. one. of .
wbich ns^ this title, Lwer Ivtxzacnon Fettui another Mwnmenr,
i^^ldH a{^ ti hei$&^^i^m^^MA%mu2^
S^initti'pvSXmiA by%%^tertt^m^4tdi 'AlterJJ TBii: Tbe ni^
turat flHMuii]i^'«rttie^f eWtiA filri^^iejfies ittay lie foU^' in a (^ij^
Tvom* V<wk of -tbe.Jew Tsiyie Or<rbio» -tbe.niaiHucriptW 1rbi<h^>*
ft^exit^: it is .eatide4 ^ Israel Tindiqate^f^orflth^^atu^fl^l
^'^V^AU'iAt^'ibhm Villi hmi jfsCfiJBliJ^qXa^JJbaJBS? t«ip
b^fii^iifni v^fT .ifiBtft afi09b >)J liybii0;^Jii "lo M^^
-m^-itm ad fclwov/ ^-rgJisrio -sa»aoos ,li»Ioino aiarfj J«il}
N
■hffn'.'^^mm- CHAPTEft ^.mh^^(^^mm^
:*°^ / OF Tttfe BiRtH OP JES08 C0KIST. I/'' ^^^ '
spreadabroadamongst the Jews, coincide in making:
them hope for the return of the favour of the Almigh-
tfi. God had promised them^ a deliverer, a messen-
<g^,^a M^sidh:, wHo should k'e^toi^'the ^wclr of tsraei:
Thit delivefjipi' was to bfe of 'fhe^'Se^of David', the'
^nacb dccor'^ngh God's bim Ikearty io 'subnii^ive, to^
the priests,' and so' zealous for religion^ It wai^ doiyb^*
less, to recompense the. devotion and docility: of this •
holy usurper, that the prophets and the priests, loaded •■
wiUi his kindness, prdmreied fiim,~ in the iiatee'of hea- '
T^^'^hat 'hifif ^irtfly ishbuld lefglif for **ver. If fhat*^
fiimood' ' predf^oti wds' " cleir^"1>eSi^,''^du«iig ' ' the "],,
Babylonish captivity, and the subsequent period, the
Jews at this time, no less credulous than their ance8« ;%
tors, rested in expectation, and persuaded themselves, k
that it was impossible their'^prophets and diviners '^t
could, or intended to deceive them. They imagined
that their oracles, sooner or later, would be accom*
plished, and that they should see a descendant ci David
"restore the honoii^orth^ nation.
( It was to conform themseWes io tbesepredictlont
«nd fwpukir notions, that the- writera of the Oospeis
took care lo give Christ a genealogy^ by which Ikejr
|>retended to prove that ko was doscended in a direct
line from David, and coaisequentiy> had a right, in vi««i
tiie of his birth, to arrogate the dbaracter 'Of Messiah.
Nevertheless, criticism has exhausted its^f on this
genealogy. Such as ate not possessed of ftdth, hvre'
fieen surprised to find, that the Holj Ghost has dietat-
«^ it different^ to the two evangelists who httve de«
tailed it : for, as \ms been sO'A'e^ueDtly remarked, the
genealogy given by St. Matthew is not the saijie with
that of St. Lttke : a disparity which has throwa Cbris-
4ian interpreters into eBibarTassm^nts, fironi which all
their subtilty has hitherto been unable ,to reseue
them* They tell us, that «ae t^ these genealogies is
that of Joseph ; but supposing Joseph to be of the raee
of Da vid-^a Christian cannot believe that he was -the
real father of Jesus, because his religion enjoins him t»
believe steadfastly, that Christ is the Son of '(}od.
Jligain, supposing these two discordant gesfealogies to
be Mary's, in that case th« Holy Ghost has blundered
Jkk one of them, and ui^lievers will always have rea-
iBon to lament the want of exactness in the writers he
.^as deigned to inspire. In whatever<way we- considef
them, one of the genealogies in the Gospel will always
«ppear faulty and incomplete^ alid the extraction c^
'Jesus will be very weakly established. It was, how-
ifcver, a point that merited some at-tention, seeing, in
■«o far as concerns the Jews, it was evidently oh
bis illustrious birth that the Messiah was to fbiihd his
claims, ^ <
l P^y^Py^^ ro*y be in t)^i8j ]^t ug ^^xftiain^ th^
m
■;.V ■*?«., 'Bt-vf*': ''Vf^'^^v^
42
particulars which preceded and accompanied the bii^th
of Christ. One evangelist alorne bas narrated them ;
all the others have superticiatly passed over circum-^
stances as marvellous as thej ire important. St. Mat-^
tbew, content with his genealogy, speaks but in few
words of the preternatural roe^nner wherein Jestis way
Ibnned in the Womb of his mother. The speech of an
angel, seek) in a dream, suffices to conriilce Joseph of
the virtue of his wife, and he adopts ber child without'
any hesitation. St. Mai^k makes no mention of this
meinorable incident. St. John, who, by the assistance
of his mystic and Platonic theology, could embellish
that fact^ or rather confound it, so as to shelter himself
£rom the attacks of criticism, bas not said one Word
. about it. We are, therefore, constrained to satisfy
^pelves with the m^tenala^t. l^ukftitaft^tcansmitted
nf ^According to this evangelist, Elizabeth, ' kinswo-
anan of Mary, and wife of a priest named Zachariah,^
wais in >the sixth month of her pregnancy, '^ whea
the angel; Gabriel was sent from God unto a. city
called Nazareth, to a virgin e^^poused to a man
whose n'ame was Joseph, of the house of David, and
the virgia'a name was Mary. And the angel came in
unto her, and said, Hail thou that art highly favoured^
the Lord is with thee ; blessed art thou among womea.
And when she saw him^ she was troubled at his say-
. ; • Some critici bate drawn ftcka this velatioksbip of Elizabeth
with Mary, a proof that the latter vasnot of the race of David.
To espouse a nnest, Elizabeth ought to have beea of the tribe
of Leri, ana not of Judah, to which David belonged. St. 4u~
gustine sajs that, in his time, several works which he ternis
apocryphal, asserted that Mary was of tht tribe of Levi. See
^1H. 8S, contra Frauttuati chap. 9.
insr, ^nd cast in her nHod what manner of salutation
this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear
not, Marv ; for thou hast found* favour with God.
And behold thou shalt.concdve in thy womb, ^nd
bring forth a son, and shalt call-his name Jesus. Theo.
said Mary to the angel. How shall this be, for I know
not a man? And the angel answered and said, unto
her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and ths
power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; ther««;
fore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee,
shall he called the Son of God. And Mary said. Be-
hold the handmaid of the I^ord ; be it unto me accprdt
ing to thy word* Thereafter Qtdda the tei| t} thje. &ase\
departed from her>*V ;?ifr>-'/5 «>l«!i"!-^,;.i . -'.i^i^''..---..fr=5^M*r
Now what is there in all this that is any way marvel*
ous? Nothing indeed is more simplethan this^iarratire.-
If the least reflection is employed on it, the wonderful
will vanish ; and we shall find the greatest care hag
been taken to spare the modesty of the young persons
i¥ho might read this relation. An angel* enters th^
*' The quality of angel, which the CTangelist gires to Ga^
hriei, cannot perplex us. The difficulty ban^s solely Qu the f^r
nonorayof the -word^, Jttget, God, and Mail' JesUs is semelitneir
called the Sod of Man, and sometimes the Son of God. Judges,
princes, and grandees, are called gods ia sereral passages of
scripture- Exod. xxii. last verse. Psalm xvii>. 6. The patri'»
archs, and Moses, belieTed that God showed himself In -visions^,
hut St. Faul« inhis epistle to the Hebrews ii. 2, assures us that H
was ooly angels, amd npt God himself, who promulgated the law,
and spoke to the holy patriarchs. Thus is God already reduced
ti) be only an angel, In the New Testament, the doctors ar«
called angels. — St, Matthew, Epist. to Galatians It. 14, Rev. ii. &c,
Qere then are angels reduced to men. In short, the nanies of ^0</$,
arfgels, »ai saints, among the Jews, were merely titles wbidL
W£re given and taken> without attaching any cousequenc* tft '
u
libaseofMaiP)') W%<»e kusband was absetif. H«sa«
tates he^, that 19, payd her a Cdmptiitfent, whieh may bcT
translated as follows — "Good day, toy dear Mary J
^u are indeed ad(M'able-*^WJiat attPacticMis 1 vr^ot
^aces! c^all women, you are the most k>vely in my
&^e9. Your charois are pledges to you of my sinceriv
^^Ui Crown then my passion. Fear not the conse'*
^uences of your eomplaisance ; jour husband is a sim*
pteton ;' by visions and dreams we can make him be-
tiev^e whateTier w^e desire^ The good man will regard
your pregnancy as the cffeet<)f a miracle of the Most
High; he will adopt your child with joy, and all will
ge on in the best manner possible. " Mary, charmed
-with these words, and little accustomed to receive the
like compliments from her husband, replied, '^ Well I
•^I yield — I rely en y pur word and address i dfo witl?
ne as ?ou please. "■'*'^>'''*"^-'''''w^'> slfn'siivsl'tss-^ ;t&-sm-..s;lt*|
^'Nothing is more easy than i4^ disengage the relatieni
#f St. liuke from the marvellous^ The event of Ma^
fjr'^s pregnancy, follews in the orderof nature, and if
we substitute a young man in the place of the angel,
th6 passage of the evangelist will have nothing incre-.
dible in it. In fact many have thou§;bt that the an-
ttiem. fh*w is coirfirttoerf by t^t Christ reibarks in St. John xi
34, Ae. 1P6 foTno a dear Wtea 6f ihe birth of Jesds, the reader'
shottld coDSuh; tht story of brother Xuclus, in the talei of ** La'
jTontaine." According to the aprocrypbal gospel of** tha "Nati-
vity of Mary," trhich Father Jerome Xavier entirely addpti^
llfaf y was consecrated to th6 Lord, and brought up in tbe tern-'
{de, which she did not leave till sixteen years of age. f hisnrait
create a suspicion that her pregnancy -was the effect of some in^'
frigoe 6f the priesti, Trboi perhaps made her beHeve, that it was'
diod who had begot a chil^oa hes-r-CHtJi Jlg^tryplu V^< T.p*
gel Gabrt^vvas no etber than j^gallatit, who, profit«
iftg:by the «i)isf$nee of Joseph, fouud the secrot.to de-
clare and gr»ti€y>his passionv^iba^Nrt^^ij^i er irfisi«4*«rtj
>0We shall not stop to Jarni conjectures on the true
name and station of Mary's, lover. The Jews, whose .
testimonjr on- this &ul^ect m^ ^pear suspicious, as-r
f ert, as we s^U afterwairds relate, that this favourite
lover was ft soldier; — the ttiilitary hace always claims
en the hearts of the ladies. They add, that from his
commerce with the wife of Joseph, the Messiah of the
Christians sprung ; that the discontented hu<:band left
bis faithless wife, ip order to retire to Babylon, aiid
that Jesus with his mother went to Egypt, where he .
learned the trade of a conjurer)., and afterwards i^«
turned to practise in Judeat%<i^i'Hf%fi>^-*!|»»'iiNKiir^ t|>
ii Whether these histories, or, if they will, Rabbi-^
nical fables, be true or false, it is certain that the nar. -K
rative of St. Luke, if not stripped of the marveUou^ ;
will always present insurmountable difficulties to ih€»'|;^
minds of the incredulous. They will ask. How. God^ '
beii^mpure «pirit, could overshadow amonumy and
excite in her all the movements necessary to the pro«>
duction of a child ? They will ask. How the divin*
pature coald unite with the nature of a woman ? They ;
will maintain, that the narrative is unworthy of th^ v
power and majesty of the Supreme Being, vcho did not v;
stand in need ofeinployiag instruments as ridiculous as ;
indecent, to operate 4he salvation of mankind. Il ^
T^ill be thought, that the Almighty should have em-
' •• Such as are curiorigto gee' the histdi-y and fables which th»
ttabbis haTe'made Abbot Jesns, wiH Gtid them in a Hebrew book
translated into Latin aader the title of toldes Jeshuit inserted in
the collectioD pubHshed by Wag^enseil, to irhicb we have ahreadj^
referred. ' . \«ao?w.*f^P^^:N4 ' -"^it
40
ployed other means for conveying Jesus into the womb
of his motlier; fae might have made him appear on
the earth without needing to be incarnate in the belly
of a woman ;* but th<ere must be wonder» in ro-
mances, and especially in religious. It was in all ages
supposed that great men were 'born in «n^extraordinaiy
manner. Among the Heathclte, Minerva sprang out
of the brain of Jupiter; Bacchus was preserved io th«
- • Theologists have agitated thc,que«tion, whether in the con*
ccptlon of Christ, the Virgin Mary emisei'it semen 9 According
to TiUemonty torn. ii. p. 5,t"he Gnostics, wfio'liTed jn the time of
the apostles, denied eV<in then that Ible Word was incarnate in
the womb of the woman, and averref that it had taken a bodj
only {R appearance — a circumstance whicb.must destroy the mira"
cle of the returrecLioa. Basilides» in like naaaiier, maintainsthat
Jesus w^s not incarnate. Tillemont, torn. ii. p. S^l. SU Epipk.,
mdverSf heerat. Theodoret, hceretic- fab- Kb. i. p. 19&' Lactantius,
in order to establish that the spirit of God coatd impregnate a
virgin, cites the etample of the Thracian Mares, and other fe-
males, rendered prolific by th&wind. Nothing is more indecent
and ridiculous than the theological questions^ to which the birth
of Jesus Christ has givea rise. Some doctors,, tapre serve Marjr'a
virginity, have raaint^oed, that Jesus did not come into th«
world, like other men, aperla vuloa, but rather ji«r vulvam clau-
iam. The celebrated John Scotus, on the contrary, regarded
that opinion as rery dangerous, as it wouM follow, that " Jieinis
Christ could not be'bom of the Virgin^ but '* merely bad com*
tHit of her." A monk of Citeaux, called PtoleiB.y de Luques> af-«
firmed that Jesus was engendered near tbe Virgin's heart, from
three drops of her blood. — Blbliotheque Aogloise^ tome ii* p,
S54-5. The great St. Thomas Aquinas has examined, whether
Jesus Christ could not have been w\. hermaphrodite 1 :uid whether
he could not have been of the feminine gender f Oth$rs hav*
agitated the question, ''' Whether Jesus eould have been incar-.
sate in. a cow ?" We may therefore see, bow pne absurdity naj
engender others, iu the prolific minds of theoloi^ists. t *iia1 W
- ^
1i}cn;^ Q^ ^^ same god.; Among- 4he Chines^j tb« ^od
Fo was generated by' »■ virgin, rendei^d^ pi^aiific
by m nay of the san. With Cfari«stiaflS) Je^u§ is born
of a virgin, iitfpi*gna ted bjr the operation of the Holy
Ghost, «iid diie -remains a virgin after that operation !
Incapable of elevating themselves to God,'*tien have
made htm descend to their own nature; fiiieh is the
origin of all incarnations, the belief of whieb is spread
lhr«ughout the world. ..^vi ■ -.- „ij.=/
. All the wojiders, however, which precede the blrlfi
pf Jesus, are terminated by a very natural occurrence;
At the end of nine months his mother is dielivered like
all other women ; and after so many incredible and
«trpemattirai events, the Son of God conrtes into the
5vorld like all other people's children. This conformity
in btrtfa, Will ever occasion the surnMse of a conformity
in thepfaysicalcauses which produced the son of Mafj.
Indeed, the isupernatural only can produce the super-
natural <; from material agents result physical ef-
fects; and they maintain in the schools, that there
■roust always be a parity of nature between cause and
«ffiecL " '. /'an^fv;* "" ■5#--
Though, according io Christians, Jesus was at one
and the same time man and God, persons hard of belief
will say, it was necessary that the divine germ brought '
IVoni heaven, to be deposited' in the womb of Mary,
should ^nlain at the same time both divinity aiid bo^
dy, to ^eonie Sob of God. To use the language of
theologists, the hypostatic union of the two natures in
Christ must have taken place before his birth, and im-
mixed in the %vomb of his mother. In that case^ we
cannot conceive fak>w it could happen, that the divine
nature should continue torpid and inactive during the
whole time of Mary's pregnancy, in so much that she.
Iierself ^ad not even been wurned of tfae time othet iit«
lying. The proof of this we find in St: Luke, ehap.
ii* — ^' la those days (says he) there went outade*
cree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should ba
taxed. And as all went to be taxed, ev^y one out of
bis own city, Joseph also went out of Nazareth — ^ — ^—
find came to Bethlehem, to be taxed with Mary, who
yas great wif^h child. And so it was, that while they
were there, the days were accomplished that she' 9bduld
he delivered, and she brought forth her first born spn^
and wrapt him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a
jmanger, bect^use there was no room for Ihem in th&
'.(liTbis narrative proves that Mary was ti^en anpro*
«ided, and ilmt the Holy Ghost, who bad done so ma*
fry thin^ for her, had neglected to wani her of an
.event so likely to interest him, and so important to all
^Aiankind. The humanity Qf Jesus being sabject to
Jtnetj casualty in our nature, might have perished i&
•tbisjourney, undertaken at a time ver^r critical -to his
jnother* In fine, we do not understand how the mo#
ther could remain in comprete ignorance of the
f)roxtmity of her time, and how the Eternal oM»Id so
abandon th^jir^idmis child.iiebAd d«^Qsit£d i^t" Jeer
iwpmb*! ff'-'^-s ?>n'y:h'^''"^ tni^'?'""?fs.'r>r?';'^" r-^^i' >rf"'llt''#
,'"^8ome other circomstances of the relation of Si*
Luke present new dtfficnlties. He speaks of a taxing
X^nomeration) -by order' of CflBsar Augoatits :-^a faot
of whidi no mention is made by any htRtorian^ Jew-
ish or profane.* We are also astonished to find
ii\^* Wemay alio 944, Aat St. Luke asserts, this pretended Ua*
Jnf via* made lender Qoirinus or Cyfeneos ; huUt it hai b^ea^^*
■^n^TMtf^ ,^|i^ ^uiatUius Varus was at the tive ^evornftr flf
V
tlie son of God born in poverty, having no other asj*
lum than a stable, and no other Cradle then a manger ;
and at the tenderest age, in a rigorous season, exposed
%o miseries without number.
It is true, our theologists have found a way to an-
swer all these difiSlcul ties. They maintain, that a just
God, wishing to appease himself, destined, from the
bgginning, his innocent son to afflictioos, in order to
have a motive for pardoning the guilty human race,
which had become hateful to him through Adam^s
transgression, in which, however, his descendants had
no share.* By an act of justice, whereof the mind of
the prormee. Christian preachers and scribes remark With de*
light, that the temple of Jtauu was shut, and that a profound
peace reigned throughout the whole world at the time of-Christ's
birth ; but the falsehood of this fact has been proT4$d in a book
published in 1700. See Bertiardt tATouveileM de Ut BefubUfue 4e»
Lettres, tome 15.
. * After all, it appears, from the account of the creation
ascribed to Moses, that the human race are not ail the descen-
dants of Adam ; consequently they cannot be held partakers of
his guilt. In the first chapter of Genesis, God is said to hare
created man out of tiotMng. In the second chapter, Adam b-re-
presented as hariog been formed of the clay of thdarth. No re-
strictions whatever as to what they should eat, were imposed on
the men who were created of nothing. '* Behold (said God to
; them) I hare given yon every herb bearing seed upon earth, and
^ iUl trees which have in them seed according to their kind«
that it may be to you for meat.** To Adam, however, he said:
*f Thou mayest eat of every tree in the garden i but of the tree (^
knowledge of good and evil tho^ thnlt not eat^f<^in the day
^ott eatest of it thou shalt die the death." In the first crea-,
tioa, man and woman were formipd at the name aomeut, and the
sexes distinguished by the terms male and female. Bat it wfts
aot till after a proper helper could not be found for AdMii
MBong the first creation, that God said, '* Let us makte » helpe^
«
*
^<-'-: . ' ''•■ i ■ , .1
inan can form no Idea, a God, wbose essence render^
iiim incapable of commiting ^in, is loaded with the inij^
quities of man, and must expiate them in order to dis^
arm the indignation of a father he has not offended*
Such are the inconceivable principles which sery^.for
the basis of the (Christian theology,* ' *
.Oiir doctors aid — It was the will of {jod that, th^
birth of his SonshoXildbeaccoQipahied. with the same
accidents as thai of other men, io console tlie latter i^r.
the inisfof'tunes attendant on ^neii* existence.. Man^
say they, is guilty before h<j is born, because all chil^
dren are bound to pay the d^bts of their fathers f— ^_
thus man suffers justly as a sinner himselfj and as
charged with the sin of his first father. Granting this;
what more consolatory to us than seeing aGod, inno-
tenbe add holiness itself^ suffering in a stable all the evils
attached to indigent ! I'hat (ionsdlatiop, would have
been wanting to men, if God had ordaiiied that ^^.
like unto himself—and God sent a deep jteep upon Adam, an^
^en he had slept, God took one oi his ribs, and filled up the
fiesh for it." Of ibia rih a companion was made for Adam,
Trhich, of himself, he called a woman. These two distinct crea-
ttons prove fatal to the dogma, that Cfarisldied for a//men. His
i^eadi cannol be beneficial to those who 4re dot the descendants
of Adi^nij.because,, unless he is acknowledged the father of alt
. mankind,' his transgression cannot be imputed to tSe whole hq<<|
ihan race. It must therefore be confined to the . Jews onljV
irhiGh clears the Gentiles of the sin of Adam, and also of the ab^
cessitybf an atonefaient for gnilt, in which they coiitd not pos^
iibly participate. We are at a loss, to' know, by what ingenuity
odr Cb'ristiah doctors will attempt to ^et irid of this difficultyf
• The sacrifice of the Son of God is mentioned as a piroof of hiif
beneTolence. Is it not rather a pi"oof of his ferocity, cruelty^
and implacable Tengeahce? A good Christian on bis ddathbed
SSild,** he had never been able to conceive hoii^ kgoddGhd Could
Tint Jmiilndcignf God to death to appease aJUsIGoA^^^W^W^
51
ii
Son shodlJ lie born in splendour, and sm abundance, off'
the comforts of life^ Iftheinndcent Jesus Had notsuf'*
fered, mankind, incapable ofextinguishing a debt con-
tracted bj Adam, w6uld have been for ever excluded
' from Paradise. As to the painful, journey Mary was
obliged to undertake in such critical circumstances,
this occurrence had been foreseen by eternal wisdom;,
which had resolved, that Christ should be born at Beth-
lehem, and not at Nazareth. It was necessary—
Uaving been foretold, it behoved to be accomplished.
However solid tliese answers may appear toihe laith*
ful, they are ^otrcapable of convincing tbe incredulous,
tTnbelievers exclaim agaihst the injustice of maki n^ a^^
_2 most innocent God sutfer, and loading him with the ini-*
qiiitie'sof the earth; neither can thejr conceiv(^, by whaf^
-; prin6i{iie ofe(][uity the Supreme jBeipg could make tho'
human, race responsible, for 'a fault committed by their
first pqjrfehts, without tUeir knowledge and participaV
lion? The?'maihtaih, tliat^ in fa jr justice, children ha:ve*
■ a* nght lo'repbiiqd^ltlie succiession of their parents,
-wheii tbey have \opay out of the estate debf s which 'the ''
Htter have contracted. The incredulous remark,Vtnat
/ the conduct' attributed to God by the-Christian mytho*
logy, is injurious to him, in so far as it represents him
as the most implacable, the most cruel, and the most
unjust of tyrants.* Finally, they contend that it'^Outd
hjave been wiser to have hindered man from commit ••
ting sin than to permit him to sin, and make bis own
Son die to expiate man's iniquity «i»iV)o.u>M«M|«t)^
With respect to the journey to Bethliehem, we can*
not discover the necessity, of it. The place where th«
Saviour of the world Was to beborri, seems a cirCuteJ^ ;
jBt^Qce perfectly indiflSsrentUof the 89} vatiou of Difia«~
• gee Appendix, No. I,
m^^'-
M
I(ind. As for tlie prophecy an*ouDeing the glory of,'
: Bethlehem, in baviqg given existence to |the " Lea*
der of IsraeV* — it does not appear to agree with Je-
sus, who was born there in a stable, and who was re- [
. - jected bj the people whose leader he was to be. It is
only a pious straining that can make this prediction,
apply to Christ. yVe are indeed assured, that it had.
been foretold Jesus was to be bora in poverty ; while^
on the other hand, the Messiah of the Jews is gene- . '
rally announced by the prophets as a prince, a hero,
and a conqueror. It is necessary then to &now which
of these prophecies we ought to adopt. Our doc-,~
. tors, will not fail to tell us, *^ the predictions an<^
nouDciog that Jesus would be born and live in indi-j
gence and meanness, ought to be taken liierallt/, an4
those which announce his power and glory oiight to^,
' be taken allegorkally," But this solution will not sa-'
«. ' tisfy the incredulous; they will affirm, that employing^^
this maimer of explant^tion, they will always 4nd ia.'
the sacred writings wliatever they may think they^
stand in need of. They will conclude, that the scrip-
ture is to Christians what the clouds are to the man,-
who imagines h« perceive in them whatever figures^
1 S3! H^l i , . ■ f _■'■ .<»>.
^ The prot^^o»peK ascribed to St James, relates som*;
coriou* and rtdicutoas circumstances, on which none of our .'
four canonical evangelists haye wished to rely ; yet they "
baxe nothing revoking to persons who possess faith enongfa*'^:,
This proto^ospel informs, us, for example, of the ill hamour;>
of Joseph pu seeing his wife pregnant, and the reproaches he
loaded ker with qn account of her lewdness* unworthy, ac-.^
cording to it, of a virgin reared under the eyes of priests*
Mary excuses herself with tears; she protests her Innocence,
aad ** tweus in the name of the living God, that she is ignorant
.from fvhence the child has come to hpr." It appears, that ia
- her distress, she had forgot the adyenture of Gabriel : — that angel
came the night following to eqcourage by a dreampoor Joseph,
'who, on his part, was on the point of having an affair with the
priests, who accused him of haying palmed this child, to the pre-
judice of Mary's vow of virginity. On this the priests made the
two spouses drink of the waters of jeaUnuy^ that is, of a potion,
which, by a miracle, did them no injury { the high p'riest, there*
fore, declared them most ionocent.
It is likewise related in the same gospel, that after Mary had
been delivered, Salome^ refusing to credit the midwife who as«
•nred her that the delivered was still a virgin, laid her hand on
. Mary in order to satisfy herself of the fact. Immediately this
rash hand felt itself on fire; but she was cured on taking tb«
little Jeius in her armf* See Cpdex jfpocr. N. T. tom&i. p. 95-~>
HI-
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*;!f diiv trnM ^CHAPTER IIIj'^*^.'^^^ *"^ ^'* ''*'^'^
ADORATION OF THE MAGI AN'O SHEFHERI>» — MASSACRE OF
m THE INNOCENTS ;— AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCE*^ ^?l?
iiiii 'J^***' ^HICH FOLLOWED THE BIRTH '*0# i^jJ^S«£
;i5:;.f«i.t'^^fei«-S?ASiA-.f ■-■;•;■ ^ : •' - ; ' 'i^ ''^^vIl .'T.M'i 'I'^zJ:^ _h-'': • -.illi
' OF the four historians of Jesus adopted bj th©
church, two are wholly silent on the facts we are to
relate in this chapter ; and St. Matthew and St. Luke
who have transmitted them, are not atall unanimous ia
particulars. So discordant indeed are their relations^
that the ablest commentators do not know how recon-*
cile them. These differences, it is true, are less per->
ceptible when the Evangelists are read the one
after the other, or without reflection ; but thej become
particularly striking, when we take the trouble of com-
paring tliena. This is undoubtedly the Feason why
we have hitherto had no concordance of the gospels,
"which received the general approbation of the church.
Even those which have been printed, have not been
universally adopted, though it must be acknowledged
that they contain nothing contrary to faith. It is perhaps
from judicious policy, that the heads of the church have
not approved of any system on this point ; they have
probably fe]t the impossibility of reconciling narratives
f 0 discordant as those of the four Evangelists ; for the
5^
lAoly Gbos^ douWless With a Vievr to. fexiefdiie the
ikrth of the » faithful, lias inspired them yerj difier-
entlj. Besides^ . aa able concordance of the Cxospelt
would prove, a very dangerous work,:— it would ne-
cessarily brings tog^ether facts related by autjbors,, who,
very far from supporting) would only reciprocally weak?
^ €n eac^ other — a /circumstsinqe whi^h could Botfail to,
, stagger at least the faith of the 'Compiler.
;^f St. Matthew, who, according to common opinion,
wrote the first history of Jesus, asserts, that, as soon
as Christ was born, and while he was still in the stable
at Belhlebem, M^g4 came from the East to Jerusalem,
and enquired where the king of the Jews was, whose
fitar they had observed in their own, country* He-
rod, who then reigned in Judea, being informed of the
motive of their journey, consulted the people of the
law; and- having learned that Christ was to.., be
born at Bethlehem, he permitted the Magi to go
there, recommending to them to In&rm themselves
exactly of. this chiid^ that he himself might do hinv
homage,* ,
It appears, from the narrative of St. Matthew, that
as soon as tbe-Magi left Herod, they took the road to
Bethlehem,, a place not far from Jeriisalem.. It i^
surprising that this prince, alarmed at ihe arrival of
the.jyiagi, who had thus announced the birth of a,
king of the Jews, did not take more precaution to allav
:' bisrown uneasiness, and that of the capita], which the
gospel represents as in a state of consternation at. this
grand event. It would have been very easy for him to,
have satisfied himself of the fact,^ without being under
the necessity of relying, on strangers, who didj^^t^^f^r
.Aiicrt , •SI;,J4?ta»ewii.,2.&.c. . ,
eute his commissioii. The Magi did not retarn : Joseph
h^d time to save himself and his little family bj flight f
Herod remained tranquil in spite of his suspicions and
fears. It was not till after a considerable interval that
he got into a passion on finding himself deceived ; an d
then, to preserve his crown in safety, he ordered a ge-
neral massacre of 4he children of Bethlehem and the
neighbouring villages ! But why suppose such conduct
in a sovereign, jealous, distrustful, and cruel? This
prince had assembled the doctors of the law and princi-
pal men of the nation ; their ad vice had confirmed the
rumour spread by the wise men ; they said it was at
Bethlehem that Christ was to be born, and yet Herod
did nothing for his own.tranquillity ! Either Herod had
fiiith in the prophecies of the Jews, or he did not be-
£eve them. In the first case, and instead of rl^lying
on strangers, he ought himself to have gone, with all
his court, to Bethlehem, and paid homage to the Saviour
of the nation. In the second case, it is absurd to mak^
Herod order a general massacre <ji infants, on account
of a suspicion founded on a prophecy which he did not
believe. ;"" - - ;.'\-'r' .I-.-''; ' . k'
Neither do we find that' this prince's indignation
ivas roused till after the lapse of several days, and after
he perceived that the Magi derided him, and returned
by another road. Why did he not learn by the sfime
means, the flight of Jesus, of Joseph, and bis mother ?
Their retreat must certainly have been observed in »
place so small as Bethlehem. It will perhaps be said, thai
God on this occasion, permitted Herod to be blinded ;
but God should not have pei^itted the inhabitants of
Bethlehem and its environs to be so obstinate in pre-
serving a secret that was to cost the lives of all their
xhildren. Possessed of the powcf ^f working mir»-
i'tm-,
m
tl6s^ tbuid not God have saved bis son hy Aior@ geh-
tie means than the useless massacre of a great num-
ber of inoocents?— On the' other ' handj Herod was
not absolute master in Judea» The Romans would
tiot< have permitred him- to exercise such cruelties \
and' the Jewish nation^ persuaded of the birth of
Christy Woiild not have been accessary \o tbemk A
King of England, mor^ absolutie than a petty soveretgni
<of J udea-, dependent on the Romans^ woftld not b^
tobeyed^ were he to order his guards to go and cut the
throats of all the <^iklren in a neighbouring village^
because three strangers, in passing through Londba^
liad said to btni) that among the in&nts born in that
village there Was one, who, according to the rules of
Judicral astirology) was destined to be one day king of
Great Britain^ At the time when astrology wias in
vogue, they would have contented themselves with
eansing search to be made for the suspected infenti
they would have kept it in solitary confinement^ or
perhkps put it to death; but without compreheriding
other iiiaoicent children in its proscription.
«' We might indeed oppose to the relation of Matthew
the' silence of the other evangelists, and especially
thatt)f the historian Josephus, who, having rea8<mstd
hate Herdd, would not have failed to relate a feet sd
likely to reader him odioas as the massacre of the in^
nocents. Philo is likewise silent on the sabfectj
and no reason can be divined why these two cele-
iMPated historians should have agreed in concealing
a feet so horrible. We cannot suppose it has proceed^
ed firoA hatred to the Chmtian religion; for that de^
tached feet would prove neither for' nor against it. W*
are, therefore, wairanted to conclude that this ntassa''-
creisa&Me; and that Matthew seems to have iti*
J
58
vented it mertly to havfe the opportunity of ap})ljtng lin
ancient prophecy, which was his predominant taste.
Biit in this instance he has obviously deceived him-
self. The prophecy which he applies to the massacrs
of the iundcents^ is taken froiil Jeremiah. AU the
Jews understood it as relating^ to the Babylonish cap-
tivity. It is conceived as follows : "The Lord bath
said, the voice of lamentationSj groanings, and bitter
' tears, has been heard from on high of Rachael, who
weeped for her children, and refused to be comforted
for them, because they were noti" — The following^
verse is so plain, that it is inconceivable why Matthew
has ventured to apply it to the pretended massacre ^t
Bethlehem t— " Thus saith the Lord (continues Jere-
miah), refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyea
from tears ; for thy Work shall be rewarded, and thj
children shall come again from the land of the ene-
my." Their return from the captivity is here clearly
pointed out, when the Israelites should again plant
vines after obtaining possession of their own countryi«
It is also to accomplish a prophecy^ that the same
St. Matthew makes Jesus travel into Egypt* This
journeyj or rather Christ's return^ had, according
to him, been predicted by Hosea in these words i
** Out of Egypt have I called my son." But it is evi-
dent, that this passage is to be considered only as re«
lating to the deliverance of the Israelites from bond-
age, through the ministry of Moses. Besides, th»
journey and abode of Jesus in Egypt^ do not s^ree in
any manner with some circumstances which happenipd
in the infancy ofChrist, as related by .St^ Luke, who in-
forms us, that at the end of eight days Jesus was cir'*
.cumcised. The time of Mary's purification being ac*
. somplishcd^ according to the law of Moses^ Joseph an4
59
his roolher carried Christ to Jerusalem, in order to
present biin to the Lord, agreeably to the law which
ordained the consecrating to him the first bom (first
fruits), and offering a sacrifice for them. On this occa*
sion, Lpke^eUs us^ that old Sioieon took the infant in
bis arms, and declared in the presence of all the peopU
assisting at the ceremony, that the child was the Sa*
Viour of Israel. An old prophetess, called Anna, bore
aloud the same testimonj in his favour, and spoke of him .
to all. those who looked for the redemption of the Jews»
But why were speeches thus publicly made in the
temple of Jerusalem, in which city Herod resided, un«!
^known to a pi'ince «o suspicious? They were miich
( better calculated to excite his uneasiness, and awake
aTs jealousy, th^ the arrival of afitrol(^ers< from th^
East, ot [jHit^ ?irj t*»isr>'ii>r?>t9^ ttf lliff ,€v^^»s$ '^^*nli
Did Joseph and Mary, whd cameto Jerusalem for th«
presentationof Jesus, and purification of .his mother,
return to Bethlehem ? and went they from thence into
Egypt in place, of going to Naiar^h ? St. Luke says .
indeed, most expressly, that when they had. performed
all tlungs according to the law of theLord^ they re<>
turned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. But
in what tinoe did th6 parents of Jesus accomplish all
that the law ordained i W<p8 it before going into
Egypt, or after their return from that country, where,
accoi^ding to St. Matthew, they had taken refuge to
shelter themselves from the cruelty of Herqd ? In a
word, did the purification of the virgin, and the present
tation of her son in the temple, take place before or ""
after the death of that wicked prince? According to
LevUicus, the purification of a mother who had brought i
a son into the world, was to be made at the end o£^
, thirty days. Heuoe.we see how very diffiault it is ta
00
reconcile the fiigrl>t into Sgypt, and the massaere of tli«
innocents, ivhich St. Matthew relates^ with the narra*
live of St. Luke, who sa^s, that, " aftor halving per-
formed the ordinances of the law, Joseph and Mary
returned into Galilee, to their own city Jilazareth ;'*
find then adds, " they went to Jerusalem every year
to celdlirate the passover." ■ If we could adopt the
relation of the two evangelists, at what time are we
to place the coming of the Magi fronrtbe^East in or-
der to adore Christ; the anger orH^rod ; the flight into
£!gypt; and the massacre of the innocents? We are
forced to coaclude, either that the relation of St. Luke
is defectire, or that St. Matthew «vished to deceive his
readers with improbable tales. In whatever way we
(consider tlie matter, the Holy Gboit^ tvho inspiredl
these apostles, will in either case be found to .)hivC>
^mmltted a mistake? nit') riifw^yifeM bHaif^f^-xjC bid
t"' There is another fact on which oqir two evangelists
do not better agree. St. Matthew^ a& we have seen,
makes the Magi come toJBethlehsmfrora the extremity
of the East, to adore the child jBaus,and:offer himpre-<
sents. St. Luke, less taken wi^h the marvellous,,
makes this child be adored by simfi^e sh^herds, wha
wat^ted their fiocks. during n^hi, nod t« whom an
angel announced the great event of the birth of the
Saviour of Israel.- The latter evangelist speaks nei-
of the appamtion of the star, nor of the coming of the
Magi, norefthe cruelty of Herod-T-circumstances, how-
ever, which cmgbt to have been recorded by St. Luke,
who informs us that he was so ej|act(^ informed of
every thing concerning JestiR,'* ♦si?^* V ii'."^h' "^Hl^^fJp
:$n;Whatever may be in this, the pareoits of Christ, .ei-
ther aft^ their retarn from Egypt, or after his firesen-
_MoD in the temple, went to reside at Na^r^^
St. MattheW) as usual, perceives in this the accom-
plishment of the prediction, he shall be tolled a Naza^
rene ; but unfortunately for his purpose, this prophe-*
cy isnot to be found in the Bible, nor can it be d|^
vined by whom it wsijs uttered. It is however cer->
tain, that Nazarene among the Jews, sig^nified a m*
gabondf a person excluded from the rest of the wOrM ;
that Nazareth was a very pitiful town, inhabited bj^
l^eings so wretched that their poverty had l^ecome pro*
Terbial; and that bazars, vagrante, and people wbom
pobody would own, were called Nazarenes,* . .iV,f,.fe
-,1^; It Is of importance to remark, that the firsi^CfarisVians wero
sjtyled J\razarenet. We find them also designed EbionUesyA^'iye^
from a Hebrew word which signifies a mendicant., a wretch, and a
pauper, Every body knows tbatSt. Francis and St. Pominic, wh9,
in the 13th century, proposed to revive primitive Christianity,,
funded orders of mendicant monks, destined to live solely on.
^ms,.to hs true ^azarenest and to levy contrlbutioDs on the,
community, which these vagabonds have never ceased to oppress^
Salmeron, in order to re-aaimate these mendicant monks, has
maintained that Jesus Christ himself was a beggar. Be that as i^
^ay, it is not unseaspoable here to make some remarks en th& '
Nazaren^Sj whieh wi}l throw great light on the history of Chris-
jtianity. It is well known, that the name of Nazarenes was given
%p the apostles and Jews, who were first converted. The Jews
regarded them a» heretics (mlnian\ and excommunicated perr.
40ns ( and, according to St. Jerome, anathematised them in a&
their synagogues, under the name of Nazarenes. SU Hieronymf.
EpisU art ibk.m laaiam. v. 18. The Jewseven sA. present give the
name of Nazarenes (Nozer im) to the Chri8tian», whom the jirabs
and Persians call Nazari. The fir^t Jew«, converted b^ Je^mi
^d his apostles, were only some reformed Jews: they pre^eriwd*
£ircumcisi<^u and other usages appointed by the law of Moses.
'f Nazaraei (sajs St Jero e\ ita Christum recipiuat, ut oh«
scrvationes legis veteris noil amittant. Ad. Jes. 8." In ]hi& thej
followed the example of .lesus, who being circumcised, and
f Jew durin|^ his whole }ife, h^ often taught, that it «as oe*
/
We have seen, in the coarse of tTiis chapter, hoir
little harmorij exists between the two erang^elists^
respecting the circwmstjiDces attending^ the Inrtb of
Jesus. Let us now* examine what could have beew
the views of these two writers iir relating these facts
99 very differentl3r/»t»>^*j^>^-«R«fr''^s^v«Bi5ik^ ^fi^
It is at least impossibTe that Jesus, as St. Luke re-^
)ates, could constantly reside at Nazareth till he. wa»-
twelve yearsofage, if it be truethat he was carriedf
soon after hi» birth into Eg^ypt,' where St. Matthew
cestary fo respect and observe tbe law. Yet in process of tiin*
the Nazarenes, or Ebionites, were aaathematised bj tbe other.
Christians, for having nnrterf the ceremomes of the law witSr-
the gospel of Christ St. Jerome, ' speaking- of tbeni and ther
disciples of Corinthus, says, " Qui (EJblonr et Cerjntfir?eni>cre--
denies in Cfaristo, propter hoc soiura a patribus anathematizafr^
sunt, qaod legis reremo nias Christ! evangelio miscnenint. Sic
nor'a confess! sant, nt vetera non aniitterent. St. Hieron. ia
Epistol ad Angastin." It seems, that in acting thus, the Ebio-
nites, or Nazarenes, conformed themselves to the intentions of
Jesns andhis apostles. It is, therefore, sar prising 16 see them'
treated afterwards as heretics. But we will see (in chap. It.) the-
true cause of this change ; it was evidently owing to St. Panl»
whose party prevailed Over that of St. Peter, the other apostles,. ^-^
and the Nazarenes or Judaising Christians. Thus St. PanI cor*^
reeled and reformed the system of Jesus Christ, who batf
preached only a Judaism reformed. TTie apostle of the Gen-,
tiles succeeded in making his master, and his old comrades, be^
regarded as heretics, or bad Christians. Thus it is, that theolo^
gists frequently lake the liberty of riectifying the rcKgron of th&
Saviour they adore ! Moreover, the Nazarenes had a gospel ii»
Hebrew very different from the one we possess, and which wa»
attributed to St. Barnabas. See Toland, in a work published wn-.-
der the title of Nazare^ves, in octavo, London, 1718. Ae^
cording to that gospel, the Nazarenes did not believe in the dUr*"'
vinHy of Jesus ChrifiU
63
makes him remain uRtil the death of Herod; £<i?eji
^ the time that Jesus lived, he Was Upbraided with bis
stay in Egypt.t ' His enemies arerred that he diero
learned magic, to which they attributed the wondei^, uc
cuojiing trickS) they saw him perforni. St. Lttke^ U> d^
away these accusations, has thought proper to.be silent
as to the journey to Egypt, which made his hero sus-
pected. He fixes him, therefore, at Nazareth^ aild
makes hiip go every year with his parents to Jerusalem.^
But the precaution of that evangelist seems to havio^
been useless. 8t. Matthew, who wrote before him^ had
established the journey and abode of Jesus in Egypt.
Origen, in his dispute with Celsus, does not deny itr
Hence we see, that the Christian doctors did not doubt
that Jesas had been in that country, notwithstanding^
the silence of^. Luke. . Let us endeavour then to de^
yelope the motives of these two writers. - '•
"^1 The Jews in general agreed in the expectation of a
Messiah or Deliverer ; but as the different orders
of the state had their prophets, they also possessed
different signs by which they were to know the Mes-^ !
siah. Tire great, the rich, and persons well informed^'
did not surely Expect that the deliverer ofl^ael should
be bom iu a stable, and sprung from the dregs of the
people. They unddubtedly ejtpected their deliveranco
by a prince, a warrior, a man of power, able to make
himself respected by the nations inimical to Judea, and
If ■ ,
'' • "fhe gospel of the infancy* df JeMsiChrist, ascribed to i\i€
apostle St Thomas, makes the holy family trdvel iato Egypt, and
tnakes Jesus gofromcity to city, Working miracles suMcientto';
procure them a comfortable subsistence. The water Mary usecf ^•
in washing her child, cctred lepers, and persons possefssed withf
devils^ the presence of Chri:^ made the idols fall dowa, ^c.-'
Codex\A pec tome 1. p, 1S2. -
«s ,.
C4
to toeak in pieces their ehains. The poor, on iti0 66fi*
trarjr, who, as well as the g^eat and the rich, have their
portiodofself love) thought they might flatter them^
selves that the Messiah would be bom in their clas^*
Their nation atid their neighbours flirnished manj e:r<^
amples of great men sprung from the bo^om of pOvertj i
and the oraeles, with which this nation was f^ were
of stich a nature^ that every family believed itself entf^
tied to aspire to the honour of giving birth to a Mes*
siah ; though the most general opinion was, that tht9
delii;erer was to come of the race of David, -w ,'- - --«
Admitting this, shepherd's and people of thi^ ld#6ist
order isight readily believe, that a woman, delivered iit
a stable at Bethl^em, bad brought the Christ into
the woild. It may likwise be presumed, that Mary^
with a view to render herself interring, said to tho«e
who visited'her, that she was descended from the blood
of kings — a pretension well adajrtedto excite'the com-*
miseration and wonderment of the people. This
secret, and the confused remembranGe of some prophe*
cies about Bethlehem> the native country of Davld^
were sufficient to operate cm. the imaginatioiM of these
credulous people, little scrupulous about proofs of
vrhat was told tbem»T '^•^t^^i^m -,'*♦«*>« »'«^ oit^a s^jU
St. Matthew, who reckoned on the credulity of bis
readers,* had his bead full of {vopbecies and popular
* Men are always as credulous as children upon religioat
subjects- As thej comprehead nothing about it, and are ae-ver'-
theless toldtbat they mast believe it, they imagine they ran no
risk in joining sentiments with the priests, whom they suppose
to liave succeeded in discovering that <wluch they do not under*
sland. The most rational people ask themselves, ** What shall
we do ? — what interest can so many people have to deceive ?**
To these we say, they do deceive you, eilher became they art
notions. To fill op ai)Iank of thirty yean ia Ui liisioiy
diPesus, he cOoirtved to make him travel ioto 'JB^y^
withoot foreseeing the ol^ectiras that might be iMude
on account of tiie n^lect of the holy fomily to fulfil
the ordinances of the law ; such as the cirottaidsiMi of
the child, Ms pres«itiulion in the temple, the ^nxrifi- •
cation of his mother, . and the c^ebration of the passo-
ver—oeremoiries which conld only be performed at Je-
rusalem. Perhaps it Is t<yjiisliQr the journey to Egypt^
and thosie^ negligences, that St. Matthew introducea
the prophecy of Ilosea relative to the return from tltat
placie. It seems "also to justify the duration of Jeni8*s
abode there, drat he relates the wrath of Herod, and
, the fitble of the massacre of the innocents, which he
- niakes that prince order, though his crimes had, la
other respects, rendered him sufficiently odious to the
' Jews as well as to strangers. Mankind in general are
disposed te believe, every thing of a man become. Bi«
mous for his wickedness.
St Luke, to elude the reproaches which in his time
might be thrown^ on Jesos, on account of his residence'
and joarnejr in Egypt, has not : menttimed it at all ;
but bis silence' does not destroy its rcftlity. w>Uwafr
necessary, to free Christ from the suspicion of, magicp
, <mI _■■'■■■■■■ .'.)rffr-?»f ob tHilih^Mr-
tbtmi^TM deceived, or becavselhey kave a greit iStef^Jii
Credality, says Heivetius, is partly the effipct (of ind^ac^.
We have been habituated to believe a ibing tba^ ia absnrd ; the
f^Jsity of such a belief is sttspecled j >ut to be fiilly salisSeli te.
quires the fatigae of ezamiaatiOD. This iri artiikttf&t diidera
going ; aad thus choose rather to believe than examine. la.snch
4icpo«iti.on, the most coavincing proof of tbe fdsity Qf an
' opinioD will always appear ins^fficief^t, JEvpry we^ rfMO^g
l^ersaadest every ridicuioift#tory,%i^fl|e|^*5^ j^^^ g^^;. ^^,
"^ tmt.^^lias. i&t' dear^ him cif kccusations' brought
a^fjrtslibN'birth^ .ivhtcb'aret^iik^ ft» wcHjirfatfi*! r^u^^^P'
^;Oeisti^,tiWebratedpbjsiqi8nf4pho lived in these*
cbndicedtuhjr of vG^iBlmititjj apd'wibd had carefuMf
«^]Ucfed . aU which: Ind Jbeen :pabiiabed>agafnfit Christy
aeiertd jthiKt he ^fts the finiit of iadulterjr. Origeri^ in
bis wjo^^ against Oekus, had pfeaervied this acdasation,
bot^he has.not transtnitted the prcmfs on iwhtcb it- was
f(^it4ed. ' Uabelieversj^i however, have, endeavoured:
to supply. thef&)!anjd.foiind the opiiikHi .of Cel^sion;
"Whit follows: ^J-*-?^ -rn K^; '\ >ii^iU-i J^- >][ U> T-^ u^vV] '-.•^
& '1%9(. FronKthe testira'oiiy of JSt.'lfattfaew himself, it
it most certain that Joseph was %ery ainich dissa tisfied
withthepregnam^.iof bis trife, in whicb be had no(
psrt.i -He' -formed ^the jdesign of qnitting- her secretljf
and without noise ; a resohition fn)i& which be; was di«>
vorted by an • angel, o^ '^ dream, or perhaps reflection^,
wiiicb always passes amobg. Jews for the effect of an
inspiration from on high. It appears, however, thafc
^^ Uesign^of Joseph ' bad traospired, and was after-
tvilfd^ tamed into a matter of reproach against Jesos*-
Btit>St»Ii«ke^ more prudent than v^t* Matthew, baai
aot v^ntured^toroebtion either, the ill humour of Joi^:
sepji> or the good-natured conduct : be followed*:
Neither do we find, though be formed this resolu-
tion ds to bis vfife's amoni*, tbat this easy man againi
appeared on the stage from the time Jesus entered on^
it.' We aire no Where informed of his death, and it is
otvipiiS; that he n€ver aftef'wards beheld his pdtativo
8w!^itbaa eye oCiiq^e8S;*^.\|he^^
^^* ^.l^amas -tiK/l. fb.'of mg^^
d^plb WM Very old at the time of tis marriage with the virgio >
> aad addf, that he Was a widtmer, aOi father o£ fix-cbit^^ b|i
QHit, tiberdisno m^liod of Josep^.^- If we admit^^
with m LtiMe,Hh^ histif^ bf j^ub' (aisiiu# witfe' ifte'
dbctd^ in tfie temple 6f^ynt8sAein'li¥&m
proof of the' indifference wfaiidb reigned b4»twee'q .the -
pretended father and ,8appo8e4 , son : th^y Ji^ei'^ t^t. ijilP
end of three daVii, leind deigned not to interchange a
word,, ■ .* :„v V. r , .,., ^ ,f
fSecondli/* If td these presufnptibhs are joineid tesif- -
monies more 'positive^ and a'hig'hiAitiqtiitj, which con-r. ~
^rm the susiiicibhseiitertaineii coticbrhing the birth qf^
Jesus, we will 6bttii&' jpiroofs thai m'lisl C4^'vinc^^>velr^
iinprejudited person. The Emperbr Jtiliaii^ ais^welt at '
Cehite, who both had carefully examined anthe'VrHinjg;a ^'
existing' in their tiine, for and against the Ghristiaq^
reti^on aiid ftsaluthor, t^priescfnt the ihothejr ; of Jesus!
as a prdstittite)' living by her defmiicheries, an^ furne£L
iriff bfibte^ befrdtlied. Frcito the lieginniri^' ol* tStris-
tianity, the sect of Antidicomarites regarded Jesus as a
bastard. ''1[n the woiiiB of the J«ws, he is treated ite iin
adtiltero^ child i^««rd,«!ta68tih^^)<|fcr days, 'ifeiWditis^
a l^artied'Pivttt^ant Critic,, ks we^^tfs n^vi^rar dtlifrs^ -
l^e^inain^ineii;^ not on^
of a^cHiiP(iftalipfcexcppj^8f^,,hyti^^lso, that Mary, yepudi%
ated by J^epb, bad i^other ichildren by di fibrent < h«»<r ««
ban^. 'Besides, this svppbsed viiigifi did not ^'^^'iar
' reason fiyft forsaking J«^ph:fwid fly rh'g into "B^ptvri^
he^^dny 'iA jirevWiHftg ti%^lori aiirnhg the ^eW^^tates/
-j\ c«j-
hi«'fii%t wife. According to fhie proto-gospel'kier'ihed to' iStT
James the YoiiQg, the g^A manfiad mucb diffictitty in'pe^tt?
ingon hitnselfto e3poaieMary,'wfaose^age intlinitFafi^ hiiri; tiiailf
the high prieii c<mvivrc^ hiin^ififiiillng^^ p^4fl^ir tffit^ j^ftej^' W
themahflibst conf^iiii^ble toli'fSsVie^s: Gdd^*,''iipbcM»Ji.iN?'t»'
^me i. p. 88, ftC. "^iii %«i6aH te1iii^iftfit«4^itat>)&14ieitrii^i^
^
ij^at slie made this journey to sHeltef herself Ctom., fbe,
pursuit of. befj spoyse, who, in pjpite of the nq<j;turtf||
visions which, had been eurolojed. to, oaafy hkip^
inight have deliTered her up to the rigoi^r of the la^s^ ,
We. know that the Hebre^ws, did not, uodei^tand jestii?^.
o^jthis subject, s '', \1,,,,„., ,,,,. ,,;;.,, _. , ^,;
We also find in the Talmud*, the name of Panther.'
surnamed Bar-Pantker, whom thej reckon in the ni^mr,
ber pf the jg^allants, or^h.usbanj|s of the.y|rgin. From
thence it wonid appear^ ttiat Mary, repudiated by,
Joseph, or afler her flight, espoused , Papther, an^
Bgjptiau soldier^ her faypurite loy^j^y.^qd the ^. real fa-
thec of Jesus. St. John Damascene thought to.|'epa,ir the,
jnjwy wbifii 'tjiis.anec.dot^ might do tp^ Mary's repu-^
tation, by 8ayii]g||^at th|? naipe of JBflr;iPfl^%jr. jfas
^^f^§}*f^^J^!^^^^^^^^^*'^' Marj^,?an^d . ^conp^^ijentjly
ip that c^f Joseph. . But, Isf , either Ma r« ,was_ jii^^t the.
kinswoman of Joseph*, or she was not the pousin o^
f.* la '%,w*iA,- published doriog fbe preaept ye»r. by Solomatf
Benn^aJfelisbJew^ entitled " The Coattaocy of Israel," wO;
£nd the followins account of the Talmud : — This ezteouTe.
work is a commentary oa the Bible,and the Mi^nah ; the conteni t
thereof ibclude all the juridical, crimiaal, ritiMftl, coBJugal, an^
agriealtorallaws at large. It was prodneeil by means of cor-
To^ondaice among ih9 different collides, established in place*
Inhere the Jews were diqiersed. by way of polenical questions,!
controversies, and debates. It contains also moral y^ilosophy, <
ethics, and yarious allegorical phrases* AH these doctrines were
collected into one work, which bears the title of the ' Talmnd i*
which was eoudaded by Rabinan Saboroy, who succeeded Ba-:
bina, and Babbi Ashah, the chief doctors in Assyria, and the
£rst promoters of the Talmud. They )iroduced ako some,
brandies <^ the scieoees, as mathematics, astrooopy, ai^d cM^'^ii
nology f all pf whicbu^e condiided inthe year of the Creatio^
_ 4200, and «cc<wdiag to the Christian era ^00 years.. ^jji^^^jiMatit
^Ilizabetb) who was married to a priest, aiul tberefore of
Ipbe tribe oihetu-^Sdlyy We no where fiod in the Bible
/ the Bomeof Panther atnong^be descendants of David;
J f this bad been an hereditary surnaiue in that family,
it woiild be found somewhere, uniess we suppose
that John Damascene has learned^it by a particular re-
' velatidn. 3dly, ThenameofPon^A^ is by no means
"Hebrew. jA .■■.;*' ;rv.'^ _
It will periia|>s be said, that these rumours, so inju-
ric^us to Jesus and his mother, are calumnies invented
hy the enemies of the Christian religion. Bat why
decide, if thepleas of both parties are not investigated ?
V The iinputatiofis are very ancient ; they have been ad-
vanced against' Christiains ever since the origin of their
religion ; and they have never satisfactorily refuted
them. In the time of Jesus, we find that his contem-
poraries regarded bis wonders as the effects of magic,
the delusions of the devil, the consequences of the
power of Beelzebub, or slight of hahd tricks.* In
particulac^ the relatibms of Jiesas were' of ^kiit opmioR,
and regarded him as an impostor-^ circumstance sta-
ted in the Gospel itself^ wbere we shall nfterwardi
find that IhOy wanted ' to arrest liim. On the other
ji^M^hltioHiiiiotli4mBUd •■ ■■'■:■■■■ -;*$>
Mf Ife can op|<Me ta 'tke miractei of Moses and Christy thoM
1 li0if9rnne!d>-%>MalioiD«t^M.(pc:e8eBce>.ofIaUi Mecci and.Aeabia
.assembled,! '^e eff^eJ| of < the^prppii^etym^cles wasatleaA to
convince the Acabians.! tliat^be yas a divine persoitf , Tie mi-
; rades of Jesus convinced nobodj of his mission. St. Paul hira-
-~.s self, who afterwards became the most ardent of his disciples,
was not c^nTinqed by the mijBi^Ies, of which* in his time* there
,^ existed so many witnefses } a new one.w.^s pecessary for his con-
^ , vers ioiv ^ ^, vhatffg^ tj||fn do the;^ . at this , da;, ,deina,Bd be-
. lief, of, ppj^^adess Fl)ichtC<Mdd liot.c;onj«iac^,§vea, in Al^,tij9f[.4tf
the apostle%\inlx ^ sI)ort time after jth^J^l^ii^a^^i^^l ^.« /^j,, : :
band, Jesas never spealis«f Jii» ift&nejr^ ^lop eftlietinN)
that had preceded htapreaehrng. Theie ^ evei^^ re
son to believe, he did notvlove to recikr to G/ttunfi
statuees dishonourahte to bis mothbrf toward- whoni
Indeed we shall very soon find liim.'&iM«^in filial res«
The evange1is(»,-'m'1il2bmamKrf^ pasBir«ry slightly
over the first jears of their hero's life. St. Matthenc
makes .hinirstiirn from' Egifptioflf the tisath of Hecod,''
tdthout mentioning in what year that happened. Ho
thus leaves Jbis commentators in an embarrassment, as
(o whether Jesns was then two or ten jiears old. Wo find
indeed, that the term of ten years is, through eonapla^
tance, invented on account of the dispute between hiai
and the doclorsof Jerusalem, which St. Luke places a^"^
his twelfth year. This excepted, Jesus disappeareft
from the scefke, not, to shew^himself again till thirtjf
years of age»* ■rjT4tio.y':^if:.iifc?#v mf~-.i»^-mt^^f^^im'^^'' -
:: : It is <iifficult to.discover what be did iiniil that age{
If wo credit St. Luke^ he remained at Nazareth. Ye^
there is reason to believe tbat he: was somewhere else^
lor tbo purpose of learnii^ the [mrt which be was af^^
terwards to play.; If he bad always resided at Naza^;^!
<reth, the inhabitants of that small town would bave;^^^
known hini perfectly. Yeiy far firooi tbi^^-r-tbey aro
siArprisedat seeing^htmj when tlnrty years of 'age. They
only t<^ettnre that they knew bim ; and ask each .
dther> " Is itbt4his the son ofjosepjii t *'— ^ft que^dpn iprW
*" Jesb'ffpCThapspaM«d'acori8Td^erabtei>ak'o^ amoBjf ^
tlie contemplative Egsenians or Tliermpeutift, who were a kind of
very enthusiastic Ji;wish monks, Wjiii^ in th^'ticinity of A^x4
ancMa itt'E^ypt, where it appeir^'lfe? 'A«w up lihi'iJCTei^e' mnf^*^
truly DMBatfie tf^arifie. 5ee chap. xtii. of tbi* WdrK.^^^'^'i* ^
al
\
V
\
\
\
ridicdlouiar irt ^ iftontfc of persont who mtst ltate<^3«ei|
pii the coifstftnf fciabitofjse^ing Jesus^^^in thet aaeco^ emi^^
' pM»(Vf their tdvro. This does ftot kinder St. I#tl9i^
from teHii^ a», tbat'heiieciiiiia a oitrpent^ ia (bd^it^rlb*
^^opof faufiretdnded&theej )aod tb«i be^ wrougltlr^al
btildiirgSJor insftriUDeiits Qf!]ntsbartchry..f^ . Bill «tic|kif|
profesti6ii.C0ifVd'iiottioiig'a§^t«eiwidkra man in whom ^'i^
findMI-^mbitioiisanilirestlessaiiiidj i > Huimniii'^nf
i 'fit m\hb» hemt&Pj therefore^ heie to ^uittSt. JUid^, itn
order tofoUowSt. Matthew^ who places the hap^ism
of John«fteptke retiirBfrom £gjpty tiod: makea'; Jesils
fbtthwithi'ttdmoieaoe his misaionw • It is also^ to ispeali
ptoferly>, ^tithis epoch, we aoght to begia^ the-ii£e of
Christ. Yet, to let nothing be lost to the reader of^th^
evaagf^lical' ipwwioirt, ' tiie Bubject of our Ittersaiy' ila-
boiirs, vr» (hoQg<ht' it our duty not to ' pass over,' in.si-
>. lence ther<ntcifM8tiili0es wHlch ba^^'fajeeii noticed, as
these pretiiAlnaries -are ^Iculated to throw nraeh light
pn th»f)eF8on fifid abtipns of Jiefiu& .;£e$ide&, the in-
terval between the birth and preaching of Christ, haf
not been the part of his history least exposed to the
«hafU of criticism. St. Matthew, as we have seen, ta
* ^ Juatia Martyr coatra Tryphon. The gospel of the in-
faacy iDformg as, that Jesus, when young, amused himself with
forming small birds of clay, whfch he afterwards animated, and
. then they flew into the air. The same book says, that he knew
: more than his schoolmaster, whom he killed for having struck
. ' iiim, because Jesus refused to read the letters of the alphabet.
:^ We find also, that Jesus assisted Joseph in his labours, and by a
V miracle lengthened the pieces of wood, when cut too short or
- too narrow. All these extravagancies are not more difficult to
'; believe than many other wonders related in the acknowledged
'! ;gospels. Codex. Apocryph. N. T. tome i. p. 198, &c. and III.
7 p. 424-44U
- ^m
accovmt for his master's aliseace during the thirtjF
jearS) makes him go into Egypt, and return in an un^
Hmited time. St. Luke, who digested his memmrs af-
ter Matthew, perceiTing tiiat the abode in Egypt cast
a suspicion of magic on. the miracles of Jesi^ makes
him remain in Galilee, going and coming eTery^jealr. to
Jerusalem ; and fixes his abode in the country, by makr
ing him appear, at the age of twelve,, in the capital, in
the midst of the doctors,, and debating with them^ But
St. Mark and St. John, profiting by the criticism which
these different arrangements had. experiencedy make
the Messiah drop from the clouds, and puthim.instaDtljr
to laboor atthe geeat wwk otthe; salvaliQiB ,af . man^
kind. :'"5f. %T';;?y-; fvn!.-:-:f-rrfr!*o-- !-;{ -: .^-Y ...:-«*
It is thus tluit, on combining and comparing the se-
veral relations, we are enabled to discover tke trues^s^
temofthe Grospds, in which, without adopting any ^
alterations, we will find materials for composiiig the
life of Jesus, by merely reducing the inarvellous to its
preper value. |5«»l3g^ifq* l:^*e'-#jil#;-«*M^ ^^s^ri^i hn-^^n
sUr <|jf tmmq^^'$?%^}V-ri<^ii-t4 >;ii% Sti^^ »^ii tm'Ml Per-
t: ,.»,.j
73
- '^^'f^^^ -'chapter IV, * "^'"
BIpTISM of JESUS CHRIST HIS ABODE IN THE DESERT—
fV'^" • ■ ■ ■ - .' i^
tdMMENCEMENT OF HIS PREACHING AND MIRACLES
^- ^ ■ - " ^ . , , ,, ^
•^MARRIAGE AT CANAk
ipROlVt the time tb6 Ilomains subdued Judea^ the sU'
perstitious inhabitants of that country^ impatient to se6
the arrival of the Messiah or Deliverer, so often pro-*
mised to thieir fathers, seemed inclined to quicken the
. telowness of the Eterh£ll by the ardour of their desires.
This disposition of mind gave birth to impostures, re<*
volts, and disturbances; the authors of whidh the Ro*
hian power punished in such a manner as to discou-
rage their adherents, or at least quickly to disperse
them. Down to the era we are about to speak of^
<which the gospel of St. Luke fixes at the fifteenth
year of the reign of Tiberius), none of those who
had attempted to pass for the Messiah had been able
to succeed. To have acted that part well, there was
need of forces more considerable than those which all
Judea could oppose to the conquerors of the world.
'•-■ It was therefore necessary to have recourse to craft,
and to employ delusions and trick in place of force;
For this purpose, it was of importance to be well ac-
.: quainted with the disposition of the Jewish nation; to
n
tiiTect a great respect for its laws and usages, for which U
entertained the most profound veneration ; to profit in-
geniously by the predictions with which they were im-
bued ; to move the passions^ and warm the imagina-
tions of that fanatical and credulous people. But all
ihis behoved to be silently eflfected; it was necessary
for him who attempted it to avoid rendering himself
suspected by the Romans ; it was necessary to be on his
guard against the priests, doctors, and persons of edu-
cation, capable of penetrating and thwarting his
designs. It was therefore essential to commence with
gaining adherents and co-operators, and thereafter a '
party among the people, to support him against the
grandees of the nation. Policy required to shew him-
self rarely in the capital, to preach in the country, and
render odious to the populace, priests who devoured
the nation, nobles who oppressed it, and rich people
of whom it ought to be naturally jealous. Not ta
alarm minds too much, prudence demanded that he
should speak in ambiguous language and parables.
Neither could he dispense with working c miracles,
which much more than all the harangues in the world
were at all times calculated to seduce ignorant devo-
tees, disposed to see tlie finger of God in every act,
the true causes of which they were unable to de-
velope.* t .. r-^ivt*- Hit ' y -^i<.'M_
* Miracles, says Boulanger, appear to hare been inrented ttf
supply the vrant of good reasons. Truth and evidence have no
need of miracles to ensure their reception. Is it not very as^
ionising that God Almighty should find it easier to derange the
order of Natofe^ than to conrince mankind of truths the most '
evident, and calculated to force theTr assent ? Miracles were ia>
troduced to prove things which it is impossible to believe ; for
tbere ii no need of miracles when w« talk of reason. Things
75
Such was the conduct bf the personage whose life
we examine. Whether we suppose that he had been
in Egjpt, for the purpose of acquiring the talents ne-
cessary to his ¥iews, or that he had always resided at
Nazareth, Jesus was not ignorant of the dispositions
of his countrymen. ~ As he knew how much predic-
tions were indispensably requisite to work upon the
minds of the Jews, he made choice of a prophet and a
forerunner in the person of his cousin John Baptist.
The latter, evidently in concert with Jesus, preached
repentance, baptized on the banks of the Jordan, and
announced the coming of a personage greater than
himself. He said to those who gave ear to him, "I
indeed baptize you with water unto repentance : but
he thatxometh after me is mightier than I, the latchet
of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose : he shall bap-
tize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."
Jesus accordingly repaired to John on purpose to
arrange matters with him, and to receive baptism from
his hands. According to the report of St. Matthew,
John, at first, made some difficulty, affirming, that so far
from being worthy to baptize Jesus, it was from him
incredible are here adduced in proof of incredible thing^s.
Almost all impostors who have fabricated religions, have an-
Hounced incredibilities to mankind. They have afterwards fa-
bricated miracles in proof of those incredibilities. " You can-
not (they said) comprehend what I tell you ; but I will clearly
prove that I tell the truth, by doing things that you cannot
comprehend." Trutlt is simple and evident; the marvellous is
ever to he suspected. Nature is always true to herself; she actt
by invarying laws. To say that God performs miracles, irtii
Day that he contradicts himself, and violates the laws which he
has prescribed to nature; it is to say, that be renders useless
huroao reason, of which JHy« the author.
tbat he himself ought to receive baptism, At last,
Jiowever, he yielded to the orders of Christ, and admi?
iiistered to him the sacrament of which the innocent soi)
pf God could not stand in nee4.* -; i,i 7 ..:.,•>
There is reason to believe, that in this interview
the two kinsmen settled their pla,ns, and took the
necessary measures for making them succeed. They
both had ambition, and shared the mission betweeq
them :r^St,John yielded the first character to Jesus,
whom he judged better qualified to play it with success,
and contented hin^self with bejng his precursor, preachi
ing in the desert, beating up for followers, and prepar*!
^ ing the ways for hiiu-r-all in consequence of a prophet
cy of Isaiah, who had said," J*repareye the way of the
a' Lord, make straight in the desert a -highway for pur
God" — an obscure and vague prediction, in which,
however. Christians believe they see clearly- designed
the Messiah and his holy precursor. ^ .. vi,s'.:. ,
The arrangemeuts being once settled by our two
jnissiooaries, Jojin took care to tell those who caoie to
.-'■*--
• St. Matthew, chap. iii. 14. The Jews were in the use of
baptiziug all the proselytes they made. Baptism was, according
to them, OL regeneration, calculated to render the baptized quite s\
new mac, in so far as to be then entitled to marry his own mother.
But John and JesUs wished to baptize, or regenerate, the Jews
themselves, pr«tending that regeneration was as necessary for
them as for the prpselytes. See ^ern^rcl la NouTelle^ de la Re-,
publ . des Lettres, tome.- 3 1 . page 566. i- ..4*. ; , ■_,-( , 1 ^^gjji :. j,y a-ki-.
. The ceremony of baptism was practised io the jqysle^ie& of
Mjthias, and those initiated were- thereby regenerated. Mythiaf
was also a me^i^itor. Though Christian divines consider bsp^
tism necessary to salvatipn, we find Paul would not suflfer th^
Corinthians to be baptized. We also learn that he circum^is94
Timothy. — Chrisjtianity U^veileif, p*^^ a ;;$..' } . ;.,,! i"; ; ;e ,i
77 .
to hear him, that, to pacify Heaven, it was time to
repent;* that the arrival of the Messiah was iiot far
off; and that he had seeo hhn. The sermons of John
having made considerable noise, the priests of Jerusa*^
lem, vigilant as to what might interest religion, and
wishing to be informed .of his views, and acquainted
with his person, they dispatched emissaries after him ;
these men put some questions to him, and asked if he
was the Christ, or Elias, or a prophet. + John an-
swered, that he was none of those. But when he was
asked bj what authoritj he. baptized and preached, he
declared, that he was the forerunner of the Messiah.
This proceeding of the priests only tended to give
" ■ ■ t" ■ ■ -1' >.-.■-■-,-." - f-l-i ■ . '■ ' ■ ■
■ * TIiCBaperiititioils %an,' If he be wiclced,' gives himself np
tp crime wilh remorse ; but his religion quickly furnisbei him
yith the means of getting rid of it. His life is generally a
long series of error and grief; of sin atid expiation. Stilt he
frequently commits crimes of greater magnitude in order to ex-
piate the former. Destitute of any permanent ideas of morality,
he accustoms himself to look on nothing as a crime, but that
"which the ministers and interpreters of heaven forbid him to
commit. He thu9 considers actions of the blackest dye, which
are held out to him as agreeable to God, as the means of effacing
his transgressions. History affords numerous examples of fanjitics
expiating, by the most atrocious persecutions, their adulteries,
infamy, unjust wars, and usurpations ; and, to wash away their
iniquities, bathe themselves in the blood of those superstitious
beings, whose infatuation made them martyrs.
+ It was an opinion received by several Jews, that Elias must
come before the Messiah. A ^reat number of Christians b&»
lieve also, in our days, that the coming of Elias ought to pr^
cede the advent of Jesus Christ, in order to judge the worlds.
See the sentiments of the fathers on the return of Elias. It is
also the opinion of the Jansenists at this day, who, like the first
(Christians, have their heads filled with^matical and. wopf^i
j^pas of tl^e near en^ of the world. K ~,^5#^ ^^>it r «» ^«i0
t8
greater weight to John's asserti(His,and naturally excit«
ed the curiosity of the people assembled to bear him.
The next day they went id a crowd to the place where
fhe preacher baptized^ when, pn^ting skilfully by the
circumstance, and perceiving^ Jes»9 approaching, he
exclaimed, ^< Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said,
after me eometh a man which is preferred before me.*!
It is proper to observe, that the author of the gos-
pel ascribed to John, perceiving that it was important
to remove the suspicion of collusion between Jesus
and bis forerunner, makes the Baptist declare twice
tl^t ke kftez/p Mm not, before baptizing him; bat that
it had been revealed to him by the Deity, that the per-
son,t on whom he should see the Holy Ghost descent!*
ing during his baptism, was the Son of God. From
thence we see that according to this evangelist, John
did not know Jesus; who was however his kinsmaUj^
according to St. Luke. ^ ';/ -^ > >*!» s
:«>rcJohn was much esteemed by the people, whom a
kind of austere and extraordinary life has always the
power of seducing. They did not su^eet that a mis-
sionary, so detached from the things of this world^
could ever deceive them. They believed on his word>
that the Holy Ghost, under the form of a dove,* had.
* The Holy Ghost ^ras, according to. the new nunifestatioa
of it, a bodi^ Being, which eoultl appear in one or many distinct
bodies, at one and tfae same time. At Pentecost it came like-
the rmhing of a mighty vomiy and appeared on tbe head of each
speaker tike a fiery, cloven tongue. There is' not a word of tho'
Holy Ghost in aii the Old Testament. There is mention made
of the Holy Spirit as a nature, or quality j but not of the ^c)llJ
^ost as a bodily thing.— i>. Atiet^ « t^J ^- ^'^ -f^ -^ ^^ "^■- f'^^
7^. -■.. " '• ■
- r -■- T^ ' ■
descended pnjesu«, ana that he was the Christ 6f
Messiah promised by the prophets. V
On another occasion we will also find John Baptist
affecting^ not to know his cousin Jesus Christ : he de-*
puted to him some of his disciples to learn who he zoos f
Jesus replied) that they had only to relate to Jfohn the
miracles he had operated ^ and by that sign their mas-^
(er would recognise him. We shall have occasion a&
ter wards to speak of this embassy.*
Jesus had associated with him a confident, then
called Simon, and afterwards Cephas .or Peter, who
had been the disciple of John. Scarcely had Simon
taken his arrangements with the Messiah, when he
drew over his brother Andrew to the new sect. These
two brothers were fishermen. We readily presume^
that Christ would not choose his followers among the
grandees of the «)untry.
The progress of John Baptist, and the attachment
of the people to him, alarmed the priests* they com-
plained loudly^ and John was arrested by order of the
tetrarch Herod, who, according to St. Matthew, mado
him be beheaded through complaisance to Herodias
his sister-in-law. Yet we do not find the historians
of this prince reproaching him with the punishment of
the forerunner. After John's death^ his disciples at^
tached themselves to Christ, whose coming John had
announced, and who, in his turn^ had rendered in be-
half of John the most public testimonies in presence of
the people: for Jesus had openly declared, that Johii
was ** greater than a prophet, and greater than an
angel, and that he was not born of womkn w^P was
greater than him." Nevertheless, the Messiah, dreadi^
^»ii^^. £,;'.., i,»,See Chap. XI. of thUwork.-,:. ■,.„-, .■■"stsi'" ■
---i'r '..*>.
ihgtobe involved in the affair of his forferuriner, tett
his two disciples at Jerusalem, and withdrew into the
desert, where he staid forty dajs. It has been re-
marked, that during the imprisronment-of John, Christ
^;did not think of deliveriifg hinl ; he performed no
miracle in his behalf ; after bis death, he spoke but
little of him, and forbore pronouncing his eulogy.
He had no more need of him, and perhap? he wished
by this conduct, to give a lessoji to tbose' who serve
the views of the ambitious only in a secondary capacity,
and teach them that theiy ought tiot to reckon too muc&
on gratitude. ■■■:'^"'-^''^'' - --^^?'^;fef^***f»?^^*^-5*'^« -
' It would have been a bad exOrdiuni to assign fear
as the motive of the Messiah's retreat. The gbspeL
informs us that he was carried up hy the Spirit, whic^
transported him to the desert. It was necessary that
Christ should surpass his forerunner. The latter had
led a very austere life, his only nourish itient being wild
honey and locusts ; but the gospel aflSrms, that Jesus
eat nothing at all during his retreat, and that on the last
day, having felt himself ^Mwgry/ angels Came and mi*
nistered to him.
Moreover, to evince the importance of his mission,
the prejudice which it was to occasion to the empire of
thedeviljand the infinite advantages which were to'
result from it to his followers, Jesus on his return
pretended that Satan had tempted him i made the
most flattering offers on purpose to engage him to de-
sist frpm his enterprise ; and proffered him the moRai'"
chy of the universe, if he would renounce his project
of redeeming the human race. The refusal he gave
to these propositions, evinced a supernaturalN desire
to labour fbr the salvation of the world. Such as
^heard these details must have been filled with aston-
h^noli^nt, pdnetrat^d With gratitude, and burning with,
zeal for the preacher^; of consequence, the number df
his adherents increased;
St. John theEvangeUst, or the person who has writ-
ten underhis name, whose object appears particularly
to havi^ been to establish the divinity of Jesusj has not
luetitioned his carrying aWaj, abode in the desert, and
temptation'. TfaeBe transactions mtist hav6 been reci>
koned by him prejudicial to the doctrine be want&d to
introduce; Sti Mat the W; St. Mark, and St. Luke, relate
the carrying aw^y, and temptations which ensued, in
a different manner, but calculated to ^hew thd power
of Satan over the Messiah. In fact^ he transported him,
no doubt in spite of himself, to the pinnacle of the tem-
ple, and by an astonishing miracle made Jesus con*
1template3 from the 'summit of a mountain j all the king-
doms of thb univeree^ without even excepting- thosfe
whose inhabitants were antipodes of Judea^ It must
he confessed, that^ according to the gospels, the devil
works marvels, whi<ih j^ield in nothing to those of
iChrist. .•/ ■ _ ; ^rm^mr
The flight dnd absence of Jesus made bim lose for
Scfme time, his two first disciples Peter and Andrew,
^he necessity of providing for their owti subsistence,
eonstraioed them to resume their former trade of fishers.
As their master durst not then sojourn at Jerusalem, he
retired towards the banks of the sea of Galilee, where
he recovered them^ ** Follow me (said he to them) ;
Leave your nets; of catchers of fish I will make
you fishers of men.* He probably made them under-
. * This doctrine iras zealously acted upon during all the
Kazarene era. The Roman Catholics fished^, in many parts of
the g^lObe, with the net of sword, fire, and water; they op«
M
Mimd, that l!he reflettionS fee! huA mvtde ^ring feis fW-
tJFemeiyt, fuftfidshed hiiB witti €ert*in means of sQbsi&t-
ing without toil, by the credulity of th& vulgar. The
t^o brothers' forthwith followed faim,
■-.l^^be^er Jesus had beea expelled from Nazareth
hf kirsfellow citizeRS, •or wliether be had quilted it of
b«B own accord^ he departed and fixed hk residence fop
the time lat Capernaiun, a -iBariftsiBe dty, situated on
ike confines of the tribes of ZalMtloo aod Naphtali.
His watber, a widow, or separated from her hustmnd,
followed hina : she could be useful to Jesus, and the
little troop of adherents who lived with hi<n.
It was at this time, that our bero, seconded by his
dlsciplee, betook himself to preachiii^. His sermon,
like that of John, consisted in sayings Repent, for the
kingdom of heaoen is at hand. We ought perhaps at
ibis period to fix the era of the inifisioB of Christ.
John, !we have seen, commenced preadiing in the fif->
teentbyear of Tiberius ; it was in the same year, that
bis interview with Jesus took place, when be was bap-
tized by John. It was also towards the end of this year
^bat John disappeared : after which Jesus was in the
desert, from whence be returned to reside with bis mo-
ther io the city of Capernaum. There he sojourned
'pressed mall -tiieir dominions (to their eTerlasting shame), tho
Jews, as weli as other persnasions of mai^Lind. Our modem
reformed filasarenes 'contiiuie to recognise the same doctrine,
itU with gotd prospects amd ftumcntfy, and not without a 'benefi-
cial view towards macdund. They formed themselves into a
Fisher Society, in order to support ^Aer» or prose fj/tes, and to
assist, in some measure, the poor and unintelligent jf«Ae«' which
fall in their net. Indeed such a command br doctrine is not
id be found in any part of the Bible, nor in the Talinudical
Treatises of the Hebrews.— ri/c " The Constancy of Israel,*
^age4S.
n. sbort tim« only, on account of the aff^roae^ of tlie
fe»tiv9lof the passover, to celebrate which be repaired
to Jerusalem. Wo nwj^ therefore, fix the commonce-
mentof Christ^s preaching at the stxteenth jear of Ti-
berius. This is the only sjstem the gospel presents.
He celebrated the passov^r three tknes before his
death; and the eominon opinion i$, that his preaching^
lasted three jears, w until the nineteenth jear of the
same emperor;
The rumours excited by the baptism and preaching
of John, and the testimonies he bore in behalf of €hrist,
having died away on the imprisonment and punish-
ment of the forerunner, and flight of the Messiah, the
latter resumed courage, and thought that, with the
assistance of bis disciples, be ought to make a new at-
tempt. Too well known or disparaged at Nazareth^
and slighted by his kinsfolk, who, on all oecasi^M,
seemed to know what to think of him, Jesns quitted
that uBgratelbl city on purpose to establish himself, as
we bare remarked,, at Capernaum, in the sixteenth yeaf
of Tiberius. It was there that be beto(^ hiimelf to
preaching his new system to some poor fi^ermen, and
other low people. 'He soon found, however, that his
mission wft» too circumscribed in that place : but to
acquire lame eclat, he judged it necessary to perform
a miracle, that is to say, in the language of the Jew^
some trick capable of exciting the wonderment of the
vulgar. An opportunity occurred for this: some inha-
bitants of Cana, a small village of Galilee Snp^or, at
the distance of about fifteen leagues from Capernaum,
invited Jesus sind bis mother to a wedding. The mar-
ried persons were poor, though St. John, who alone
relates this story, gives them a steward ; yet he tells
US, that their wine failed at the moment the. guests
,84
were balf intoxicated, or gaj, and tbat tSS^itcheni
were found ^mptj. On this Mary,^ who knew the power
or the dexterity of her son, spoke to him : They have
«o wine, said she^ in an insinuating tone ; Jesus an-t
swered her very roughly, and in a manner which evir
dently denoted 9, man warmed with wine : Woman, what
have I to do with thee ? It may howeyer be supposed,
that Chf^ist bad not tots^lly )ost the use of his reason,
as be still possessed presence of mind to transmute
water into wine, so that the miraculous wine was even
fo,und better than the natural wine they bad drank at
first.
This first miracle of Jesus was performed in pre^
sence of a great number of witnesses, already half
drunk ; but the text does not inform us, whether they
were equally astonished the day following,, when the
liimes of the wine were dissipated. Perhaps, Indeed,
this miracle was witnessed by the steward alone, with
whom it is not impossible Jesus had secret intellit
gence. The incredulous, less easily persuaded than the
poor half-intoxicated villagers, do not observe in this
transmutation of water intQ_ wine, a motive for being
convinced of the divine power of Jesus. They re*
mark, tbat in the operation, he employed water in
order to make his wine ; a circumstance which may
give room to suspect, that he made only a composition,
of which he, )i|ke many others, might have the secret.*
* A supernatural exen\f io order to be believed, requires
much stronger proofg than a fact no way contradictory to pro?
bability. It is easy to lielieve, oq the testimony of Fbilostrates,
that Appollonius existed, because his existence has nothing in
it contrary to reason ; but I will not believe Pfailostrates, when
he tells me thai App<d)onius performed miracles. I belieTC
that Jesus Christ died ; bull do OQt hdie.T§ tliat he rpse fifpm ^$
dead.: — BouJanger.
85
There was, in fact, no more power necessary to create
if iue, and fill the pitchers without putting^ water into
them, than to make an actual trajpmutation of water
into wine. At leaet, by acting in this ihanner, he would
have removed the suspicion of having made only a
mixture.
In whatever manner the miracle may have been per-
formed, it appears to have* made some impression on
those who saw it, or who heard it related. It is cer-
tain Jesus profited by it to extend his mission even to
thecafM^tal of Judea; only giving time for his miracle
to spread, in order to produce its effect. In expecta-
tion of this, he withdrew with his mother, brothers,
and disciples, to Capernaum, where he remained till
the festival of the pas^oyer (the time of which was near),
should collect at Jerusalem a multitude of people, be-:
fore whom he flattered himself with beiijgable to ope-
f^tip ^ gre.^Muniberofi^arvels.
86
.««■
CHAPTER V.
*' ir '
i^OURNET OF CHRIST TO JERUSALEM — THE SELLEHt
., '» P&jTEISr OUT OF THC TEMP^Er-^ONFEBENCE - ^
■ ■;' ■ '"'''C V ,^^ , ,W»TH NICODEMUS* -^
THE noise of the miracle at Cana harmg reached
Jerusalem, by means of those who repaired to that ci-
ty from Galilee, Jesas went there himself^ accompat
liied by some of bis disciples ; but of the number of the
latter we are ignorant. It was, as has been men-
tioned, the time of the passover, and consequently, a
moment when almost the whole nation were assembled
in the capital. Such an occasion was doubtless fa-
vourable for working miracles. St. John accordingly
affirms that Jesus performed a great number, without,
however, detailing any of them. Several of the wit-
nesses of Christ's power believed in him, according to
our historian ; but he did not place much confidence
in them. The reason given for this is, '< Because he
knew all men, and needed not that any should tes-
tify of man ; for he knew what was in man.*'* — In
short, he knew every thing, except the means of giv-
ing to those who saw his miracles the .dispositions ho
desired.
* S\. John ii. 34 and 2IU
87
Bot,iiow reconcile ^Et^ in the Woviders Tp&etorm^
hy Jesas, kt these nenr oomveris, with the bad dii^osi-
tiens )they irere known to possess ? If be knew the
state of mind of these wknesses of Ms miracles, whf
p^form them with<»itain loss ? In this there is a want
of jttst inference in the writer, which nost not, how-
ever,.be imputed to Jesus. It is perhaps better not to
refer to St. John in this matter, than to believe that
his sagacious master would perform miracles without
design^ or for the sole pleasure of working them.
In the same journey to Jerusalem, Christ performed
an exploit wbidb is as great as a miracle, andm'inces a
very powerful arm. According to an aii<^ent usage, mer-
chants had est^ltshed ttemselves,^ specially duiing
the solemn festivals, under the porticos wbicfa exivi*
roned the temf^. They furnished victdBsand offer*
ings to the devoat, which they were .to present to the
Lord, ifl order to accomplish the ordinances of tiie
law ; and, for the accommodation of the Jews who re^
paired f&ither from different countries, and for their
own interest, the priests had permitted the money
changers to £x their offices in this place. Jesus, who
on every occa8i<Mi shewed himeelf'bHt little favourablo
to the clergy, was shocked at this nsage, which, far from
being criminal, tended to fecilitate the accomplishment
of die Mosaical law. He made a scourg« of ropes,
and, displaying a vigorous arm on those merchants,
drove Aem into the streets, frightened their cattle, and
overturned the counters, without any, in tlieir aston-*^
ishment, being able to oppose his enterprise. It may
be conjectured, the people had no reason to be displea-
sed with the disturbance, and that they profited by the
money and effects which Jesus overturned in tbe pa-
roxysm of his seal. No -doubt his disciples did not
m
forget themselves on this dccasidn^ their mnster coulct
bj this exploit make provision for them, especially If
they had been ill the secret, and enable them to defray
all. expenses during^ their residentie . in the capital.*
Besides, thej saw iii'^ this. event the accomplishment
of a prophecy of the Psalmist,- trho foretold, that the
Messiah would be " eatea upwitb the zeal of the
house of the Lord' *-^a prophecy which was evidently
verified by the uproar whidi Christ had occasioned^
With, respect to the jnercbants, it wotild appear they
bad not comprehended the mystic s^fnse of this predic-
tion, or at least they did not expect to see it verified
at their own expence. In their first surprise, they did
xot oppose the unexpected attacks of a man who must
have appeared to them a maniac ; but^ on recovering
from their astonishment, they complained to the ma-^
gistrates of the loss they bad sustained; The magis-
trates, afraid^ perhapS) of involvings their authority,
by punishing a man of whom the people had become
the accomplice, or a fanatic whose zeal might be ap^
proved of by devotees, did not wish to use rigour for
this time ; they contented themselves with sending
to Jesus^ to know from himself by what authority he
acted— " What sign (said they to Christ) she west
thou unto us, seeing that thoU.doest. these things T'
Oil which Jesus answered^hem, '^ Destroy this temple^
* SU Augustin says, that, of rigfit diviae^ aU things belong
to the just: — a maxim founded on a passage in the Psalms, which
states, that the just shall eat the fruit of the labour of the un-
righteous. It is known that the Popje, hy a bull giten in favour'
of the kings of Caslile, Arragon, and Portugal, fixed the lind
oi demarcation, whieh was to rale the conquests each had gained
over the li^deis. After such principie»i isooi; the whole earth
to become a prey to Cbristiau rapacity i
and in three days! will raise it up.^ But ike JeWi
ifrerenot tempted to itaake trial of tHs;— ^tbej tookhim
for a foolj and returned, shrugging their shoulders.
If, however, thej had taken Christ at his word^ thej
would have experienced i^reat embarassitiettt ; for the
gospel informs US) that it was not of the temple of
Jerusalem he spok^ but of hrs own body. He meant
his resurrection^, says- St. John, which was to happen
three days aftei^ his ^atb^ The Jews bad not suffieient
discernment to divine this enigma, and the disciples
themselvea did not penetrate its true meaiiift|;i till a
long time after, when they pretendcfd their mlister had
risen from the dead. We i^nnot forbear admiring
Providence, wbteh, wishing to instruct) enlighten, and
convert the-Jewish people by the mouth of Christ, em'^
ployed only figures, allegories, and entgrantieal sym*
bols, totally ' inexpiieable by persons the most Inge*
Bious and most experienced.* '^'^'^^ ^mim-^ <nl : Itm
But though Jesus had the power of raisti^ himself
ffom the dead, he did not wiish to employ tfaii marvel-
lous power in saving himself when in the hands of the
i-CKfiEiOTi^s*.'- wiQid-'i-mk'^'^i- tiis^'^WB&jin *emms ■ "w^-^kti^soq'-
■6t!^:'. "■' - ■: ■'■ .^--u ' " '■-' : '' ' ■' ■• ' ■ -"■.'V'i
* Bf^ligioB U by no meaiU formed for eTeath& most intdii*
gent part of mankiad, who, as well as the uniastrocted, are ut-
terly incapable of comprehendiag any of those aerial sttbtil-
ties on which it reits. Who it the man that anderstandi the
doctrines of the tpititttalUjf of God ; of the fmrntfterta^a^of the
soul ; or of the mysteries of r6ligt<m 2-^Noae indeed witt pre*
tend to this. Yet we .find these theological specaUlioo^ which
no one anderstands, have frequently disturbed the repose of
mankind, through the stabborn dispositions of those who
gave them credence. Even the women have believed them-
selves obliged to take a part in the quarrels, excited by idle
donlemplirtori, who are always of less ntilily to society (haa the
meanest artizan, ' di ?fio /"rsf^© ^i o^a
so
Jfews, readj to arrest and punish him as a disturber'of
the public repose. He thought it more convenient
and prudent to decamp, without noise, and shelter
liitnself bj natural wajs from the pursuit of those
whom his brilliant expedition might have displeased.
He proposed, therefore, to withdraw from Jerusalem
during night, when a devout Pharisee, wishing to be
instructed, came to see. him. He was called Nico-
dj^mus, and,iield:the place of seoatof — a rank which
does not aj^ajs exempt from; iacredulitjt >' Rabbi,
(said he |tjO Jesus), we know tl|at thou art a teacher
sent from; God .; for no man cap, do. jtbjese iq jracl^s i^ajt
thou doest, except God be with hiwa.!?, . '?• m^h^'«^ ; r
, This opportunity was &vourable for Jesus to de-
clare biniself : by a single word he could have decided
gn hjs'diyiiiiity, and acknowledged, before this senator
4lo kindly disposed, that he was God.; Yet he did none
of this; he evaded answering directly, and contented
himself with saying to. iN^icodemus, that nobody can
share in the kingdom of Go4 .unless h& born again.
The . i^jtonished proselyte 'exclairaeid, that it -was im-
possible for a man already old to be bom again, or
enter of new into his mother's womb. On which Jesus
repilied: *^I say unto thee, except a man be born of wa-
ter and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom
of God." It appears, that Nicodemus was not better
satisfied than before ; Jesus, therefore, to Biftke himself
more pei^picuous, added, '' Knowest thou not, that
what is born of the flesh is flesh,- and that which is
born of the spirit is spirit ? Marvel not, that I said
unto thee, ye must be born again — Th^ wind bloweth
where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof
but cannot tell whence itcometh, and whither it goeth :
80 is everyone that is born of the spirit." mi&'moi&sm
m
'^' tn spite of the precision and plainness of these in-
structions (resembling the reasonings of our theolo-
gians), Nicodemus, whose understanding was doubt-
less shut up, did not yet comprehend any part of them
— " How (asks he) can these things be ?" Here Jesus,
pushed to extremitj, grew angff j. " How (says he to
him), art thou a master of Israel, aii4 knoi^est not
these things ? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, we speak
that we do know, and testify ithat we have 8ee%
and ye receive not our witness. If I have told yoir
earthly things, and je believe not, how shall ye believe
if I tell joa of heavenly things? ;Ajid no maii hath as-
cended up to heaven but he that came down from hea-
ven, even the son of man wt^icb isin hea;ren."*
' We thought it our.duty to relate this curious diar
logue, as a specimen of the logic of Jesus; the more
so as it seenft to have -served as a modelfor the fashion
of reasoning observed by all the Christian doctors,
who are in the use of explaining obscure things by
things still more obscure and unintelligible. They
terminate all disputes, by referring the decision to
their own testimony ; that is, to the authority of the '
church or clergy, entrusted by God himself with regu-
lating what the faithful ought to believe. ^
The rest of the conversation of Jesus with Nicode-
]DUS is eqps^lly perspicuous, and in the same tone :
Christ alone speaks, and appears by dint of his reasons
to have silenced the docile senator, who, it seems,
retired fully convinced. Thus it is, that a lively faith
disposes the elect to yield to the lessons, dogmas, and
pvsteries of religion, even when it is impossible to at*«
t^.^l(^#a:^i*siiiu;j45? .* St. Joba Ui« 1-13« u^h-'O-
92
tacB any- meaning to the words thej hear pronoan*
- * The first of the Christian yirtaes, says Boulanger, Ufaiih^
which serres as a foundation for all the others. It consists in an
impossible CMviction of the revealed doctrines, and absurd
fables, -which the Christian religion commands its disciples to
believe. Hence it appears, that thig virtue exacts a total re^
nunciatioB of reason, an impracticable assent to improbable
facts, and a blind submission to the authority of priests, "who
are the only guarantees of the truth of the doctrines and
miracles that every Christiaa mud. believe, under penalty of
damnation. This virtae, though so necessary to all mankind,
is, nevertheless, a gift of heaven, and the effect of special grace.
It forbids all doubt and enquiry, and it deprive^s man of the
liberty of exercising his reason and reflection. It reduces hiiiil
to the passive acquiescence of beasts, in matters which he is, at
tiie same time, told are of all things Uie nosA important to his
eternal happiness. Hence it is plain, that £uth is a virtue iavevtr
ed by men, who, shrinking from the light of reason, deceived
their fellow creatures, to subject them to their own authority,
and degraded them, that they might exercise an empire over
their minds. If faith be a virtue, it is certainly useful only to
the spiritual guides of the Christians; for they alone gather its
fruits. It cannot but be injurious to other men, who are
taught by it to despise that reason which distinguishes them
from brutes, and is their only faithful guide in this world.
Christians, however, represent this reason as perverted, and an
unfaithful guide; by which they seem to intimate that it was
not made for reasonable beings. But may we not ask, how far
this renunciation of reason ought to be carried ? Do not they
themselves, in certain cases, have recourse to reason ? Do they
not appeal to reason, when they endeavour to prove the exist*
ence of their God ? 4>^^ ■ ■«i*>f-^l»'--i^..fe4-Bp»-iiBF«%^
It is an absurdity to say, we believe that of which we have
no conception. What then are the motives o*" the Christian for en-^
tertaining such a belief ? — His confidence in bis spiritual guides.
But what is the foundation of this confidence? — Revelation,
On what then is Revelation itself founded ? — On the authority of
spiritual guides. Such is the manner in which Christians reason.
93
■ T^ere is no further mention of Nicodemtis — We
know not whether he resigned his office of senator to
enrol himself among the disciples of Christ. Perhaps
he was contented with secretly furiiighing succours
to Jesus and his troop, in gratitude for the luminous
instructions he had received. There is reason to be-
lieve, that he knew how to profit by them, for St. John
makes him return on the scene after the death of
Christ, bringing a hundred pounds- weight of aloes and
myrrh, for the purpose of embalming his body, and in-
terring it, with the assistance of Joseph of Arimathea.
This would prove, that he had come from his conversa-
tion with Jesus a more able theologist than he had
begun it. It is to be presumed, that, on thie occasion,
Jesus granted him grace effectual or sufficient, (saving
grace,)* without which it would have been perfectly
impossible to comprehend any of his sublime theb-
It must, however, be owned, that the impossibility of
comprehending the doctrine of Jesus furnishes to the i
ix^ According to theology, men have occaiionfor supernatural
grace to do good. This doctrine is without doubt very hurt-
ful to sound morality. Men always wait for the caUfrvm above
.to do good, and those who direct them never employ the calls
from beleWf that is the natural motives, to excite them to vir-
tue. But the clergy know not how to give a true definition of
:vlrlue. They say it is aa ejBTect of grace that disposes men to
'■': do that which is agreeable to the Divinity. But what is grace 7
-How does it act upon man ? What is it that is agreeable to God?
'y Wherefore doeth not God g^ve to all men the grace to do that
'fwhich is ^reeable in his eyes? ^dhuc sub Judice est. We arc
unceasingly told to do good, because God requires it ;'but no one
has ever been able to teach us what that good is which is ac"
<;eptable to the Almighty, and by the performance of which i^
•ball obtaiu his approbation. ;»';'
•/^
Incrediilous a plausible pretext for denj^ing that it can
be divine. They caniiot conceive why a God, «5tit
IK^hely i» instruct men, should never distinctly explain
Ininself. No oracle of Pagailistn employed terms more
arob^uous, than : the divine missionary chosen by Pro!>
videnee to enlighten nations. It may therefore be con-
iduded, that in this God ifimself made it bis study to
'oieate obstades to his projects, and that he laid an un-
avoidable snare not only for the Jews, but also for all
4hose who must read the gospel, intirder to draw from.
:lbencetl)e knowledge necessary to sadvation ; a con-
duct which appears equally unworthy of a good and
jost God, endowed with presci^ice and wisdom ;* yet
with faith we may at last succeed in reconciling every
thing, and readily coniprehend why God should speak
'without wishiiig to'be understood.-^ . #ri|^
^-t ' " ' I '
<^ * It was said to a very celebrated philosopher, ioat God
'liad inade man after his own image. ' " Man has returned him
tte compliment,*' replied the ' sage. Xeb(^hanes observed,
that if the ox or the elephant understood sculpture or painting,
they would not fiiil to represent the Divinity under their own
peculiar figure. In this they would have as much reason asPo-
lycletus, or Phidias, who gave him the human form. We see,
says Lamotte Le Yajer, that theanthrophy serTesfor the founda-
tion of all Christianity. ifMit^i.-mnim: ^; __
*"+ It IS evident, says Mirabaud^ 'tKat~aII revelatidn which is
'not distinct, or which teaches mysteries., cannot be the work
of a wise and intelligent being. As soon as be speaks, they
ought to presume that it is for the purpose of being under-
stood by those to whom he intends to nianifest himself' To
speakto as not to be understood, only announces foUy, or want
of good faith. It is then demonstrable, that eVery thing which
the priesthood have called mystery, are inventions to throw a
thick veilover their own peculiar contradictions, and their
•sn peculiar ignorance of the Divinity. They think to Mlv<t
m
- As »oon as J«9!i)i9 b^ qiiitted I*iicpd^mas fae lef^ J.^<
rusalem, his »}>Qde in whioh liatl become yery dangeroos,
and betook Jiioiaelf t^ iraail^ring; throuf h the country of
Jttdeaj frbere heepjpjledigreaitersa^ty. . There is rea-
8oa to^ presume j; tibajL the^rdndalhehad.oecasipiiadia
the ciipitaiv wbi^f^ »o gr^at^ a.iBultitiid^ <iifj^F€f) Uie^ j^-t
serabled^:lia«liit0t Jiil0dt.to;|uake him kiMMvn io paanyj
he how^visr susceeded in gaipiqg partisa^i^ in.the^.couo^
try.cBiitt ko(f« did h^ ei»p}0j hiiBsqlfdurlpg^this period^.
St. Joho/iB^?m»/us,: in .chapter third, 4h^t he jMip-
ttZ0di thejcefiftef he tellsius, in chapter fourth,, that; ho
did not baptize, but that his disciples baptized. &9
him.
One thing is certain, that after this he quitted Judea
on purpose to go into Galilee. It was perhaps to be
still more private, or to prevent the schism, which, ac-
cording to the gospel, was ready to take place between
the Jews baptized by John, and those whom Jesus and
all difficulties, by saying it is a mystery. Besides, the interest of
the clergy dictates that man should know nothing of that preten-
ded science, of which they hare made themselYes the deposi*
taries.
Revelation^ remarks the same intelligent writer, far from
being a proof of the goodness of God, or of his commiseration
for men, ia only a proof of his malice. Indeed all revelation
supposes the DiTinity has been capable of leaTing the human
species, during a cooiiderable period, unacqaaiated with truths
the most important to' tlieir happiness. This revelation, made
to a small number of chosen men, would moreover suppose a
partiality, and an unjust predilection, but litle. compatible with
the goodness of the common father of the human race. This
revelation injures the divine immutability, since, by it, God
would have permited men, at one time, to be ignorant of his
will, and, at another lime, that they should be instructed in
ft.
hhs dis^ples bad on tbeir pftrt baptized < Jesus Con'
:ce« Yed that pt'udence required hrm to be at a distance^
in order to leave the field inore finee to a man whom
he kn6w stiH usefbl tohi^own Mitereetj and who, as»
we have seen, contented himself witb playing the se-
cond part under bim. It verf soon appeared that Christ
made a greater number of proseljteis than his cousin,
and this circumstance in the end might have created a
misunderstan^ng between them. ' Jesus tbereliMre di-
rected bis march toward Samaria, - v^itber we are to
follow bim, and from thence 1^ again passed intoGa-
lileei*"-ii;i^ ^ ^inzib ^ibl hM i4«l, <v _ io/j^lM^
bnr, ^0^-51. ffirn!?* s>'*!ii Utu: <ti.ldl. ^d b-v^jiqcd ; wiT. *ji|i
-ssoi^^lj -{li t'j/lfc^af^tSJ a'iSTT 3ff:A T»^i •*■ ■-''^o '^ > j» h'j^
< ^ . ,^ ^ \ .
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■^' ;:SN*':'^B*^I^ '■ CHAPTER' VI.-^-^^**^^***^^^^'"
> V5§1>VEKTUEE OF JESUS WITH THE FEMALE SAMkRltAVrT
> ,?r^^ J^tS JOURKET AND MIRACLES IN THE COUNtW $4
'■ ;•■ -3^*, . -OF the OEBASENES. ' , '^ ^:^j.5
■i IT may be observed here once for all, that in this
y . ^_>fexain1nationof the history of Jesus, we follow the most
- ' •^generally received arrangement of facts, without mean-
I " '- .wag to guarantee, that they occurred precisely in that
' ':lRf, -order. Chronological mistakes are not of much ifi>fK>r«
^^^* ' stance, when they do net ibflucinc^ the nature of events.
; I 3esides, the evangelists, without Hxing any eras, conteat
^:' ;, - ithemsel ves with saying at that timet which, at the period
' v: t^e live, dispenses with our giving a very exact chrono-
^; / ' «k>gy of the following tr|insactioRS. precision, indeed,
' '. uirould require a labour as immense assuperfluouSy^^and
. r ^<>'M14 only tend to^hewthat the history of Jeaus,dicta-
. , '' ' jtedby the HolyOhost^is muciimore incorrect than that
' ' , .<4>f celel^rated.Pajgans, even of an antiquity more T,emotQ.
^ ' - It : wqtuld also prove that tl\e inspired writers of this ina-
;? portant history contradict themselves every instairt, by
-•k l> faking their hero act at the same time in different
l^_ .p^e^j a^d xjften remotie from each other. Chi'thp
^-'.. ^^th^.ba44« this paiii^ul labour would Tiot^info^
-tf: #hich of the evangelists we ought to follow ih pti'
.ie«m^ to bi«^ bretbr^,,f je^eing aU in the eyes of faj^^
- ^hiv^ lequalty tnifeh ob tbetf i^de. Tiine aod placd
(^-
t
siiaDge nothing in tbe nature of facts ; and it is from
' tb^se facts we musi endeavour to form our ideas of t)ie
legislator of the Christians. / <•
'\ Je^s having begun 'bis joximey ia tlie summer sei-
son, felt himself oppressed with thirst near Siebar, in
. the country of Samaria ; an incident which gave rise
to ti singular adventure. Near "this city there was a
well, known by the name of the fountain of Jacob.
{^atigued with his Journey, Christ sat down on ti^
brink of the Av^iii waiting the return of bis disciples,
who had gone tov^e «ty in .quest of provisictas. It
-was about noon, when a female came to draw water
from the fountain. \ Jesus asked bar to Jdrink out of
-the V€SSei she held; but the Samaritan, who knew
ffom his countenance that he was a Jew, was astoni*
ifhed at bis request, as there was no commerce or
frieaftdsbip between the orthodox Jews awi the Sama-
Tifans. According to the custom of partisans of diffei-
ent S6ct8, they detested each other most cordially.
The Messiah, who was not so delicate as the ordinaiy
Jews, undertook the conversion of the female heretic,
■^for whose sex and profession we find in bim a weakness
through the whole course of his history./** if ^bou kneW^
est,** said he to her, ** the gift <rf God, and who it is
that saith to thee. Give me to drita/k, thou wouMst
liaVe asked of bim, and he wouid bate given tfati^
living water.*' The Samaritjiii woman, nrhb rftii
hot observe Jesus have any vessel in his band, asked -
j^ni whence he could draw the living water of which
Ji^ spoke- i*' On this the IVlessiab, assuming, a mysteri-
j5g^ \ton.§;* answered heir, *'Wbo8o driiiketh df
*A toyStieHous and «mnte(^g9>Ie tnw it esstttialfy ae6tt«
lify to the TBiaiatet^ of «II rd^oasL jy «itar intcOii^ fli<
^kn without mfttarj, inoUk appefur k» divine to the gtnr*
y^i'.-- '■"'
s» =
■.:^'}i:'V*
V---:-:- '■^i:v :.'^- ■ ' -'" -" -■'
rv^felWell sbdl thirtt agairi, but whoisoever driftketh of
Ihe water that I shall give him shall never' thirst ; it
iliali be iri him a well of water springing up into ever*
'_;^, listing life.''-^— Our female adventurer, who was a dame
' • oftesy virtue, askied some of that marvellotts water, cat*
J-Colated to estempt her from coming bfterwards to drai^
- /TIWeM^* Jesus, who, from the discourse, had been able td
, t'drscover the profession of this woman, ingeniously go^
;^^^^tffrom^be btisinesg, by telling her to go sett h«^
, Jrlinsband and return; reckoniiig, perhaps, on1>eing
'*ble to Steal away when she was gone. But the lady
, ^Jte^Aed to him her life; ^ave some details of her con-
; .■■ iilact ; and th«fcby enabled him to conjecture enough
y^^Mto speak as a cOnjuror. Accordingly he told her
5j^^hat she had had fiv6 huSbttitds; that she had none at
H^i time, and that tb^ man with whom she lived waar
only a gallant Immediately, the Samaritab wornat^
took JesBS for a sorcerer or a prephet; he did not
^eny it ; and ad he wag not afraid of being stoned 61^
punished at the moment, he made bold for the first
lilae to confess that he was the Messiah.
r^ 'i'hey were at this part of their dialogue, when the
fs9&7 of m6&, and would he Usa tOefo! to the sacerdojtal order^
liAose interest it is tbat itte people diouM compr^oid nothing
of that whidi they befie^e to be the saest iinpoitant to thenv
v%^|Saels without dmibt the sea«t of the dei|^.*'The priest must
:^|jfre ,^ p9citi^^Bc^ tix^nuximj^KSixensiBeiPfal^, whom he mskeB
apeak and act in 4h UBintdfigible manner, reserving to himself
Ihe right of exj^mwng to moitalisr his pleaBQie in Ids own man-
■■'■■Met; yriSie the peOf^, who in general wish to have thdr^ imagb
safioBS pieaoad^ tatted ^lan Adr taidnsiaan^bigs instructed, give
Ihe pre^treaee M^ a Clod thuttia most c(»eeafed, most myste^
4111^ fi^ jnost uokpQ^, He»ce thf! tnni^on c^ many naliaiu^
a|9K4 the «tiiy ^ tiie waEB% of ao invia^ agen^«<-
'^■'^■^^, ' - - ' ■
'.'■'- \ ■
>?'
^-etura of Jesus* disci pks put an end to the convqrsatiojff^
The latter, whether they knew the profe&fiion of tbe^,
^ loquacious dame, or were more (intolerant than thei|i|
' master, were scandalized and surprized at the tete^
f tete ; yet none, of them dared to criticise thecondui^,
of Christ. On the other hand, the Samaritan woman sef>f
ing his retinue, believed in reality that he was a propl^pt;''
or the Messiah ; so leaving her pitcher, she went direc^y,
tQ Sichar, " Come and see," said she to the inl>abitants^,
"a man who told me all thiogs that ever I did ; is po^;
this the Christ ?'* — The astonished inhabitants assem^i
bl^dj went out and met Jesus; and charmed with heai^*
^i^ him preach, without comprehending one word,, p^
^is discourse, they invited him to co^ and reside wit^
them, He yielded to their offers for tw^o days only A
the provisions purchased were put up in reserve, and.
tli^ troop lived 4" ring that time at the cost of these
^ Jberetiqs, delighted no doubt with defraying the.e:?^^ "
p<ences of theSavibur and hisjbllov^ers. i,,j^5 , ,,.^1,
, ...Aljl^ the marvellous in this adventure ti,irns on Jesus
; having divined that the Samaritan lady had had fiy*^
)jusbapds, and lived at that timejn crinainal interc6urse
with a favourite. Yet it is easy to perceive that Christ
<iou]d learn this anecdote, either in . Ws conversati.oa
^vith the prating dame^ or.by pijblkr rtt»npnr, qxj>svi^sik^
other very simple way. f a?! ^xi i^^ai& n^i^j^^Mm^^^'l^
' - But uhbelievers find another reason for criticfsin^
Pris r<»lation of St Jdhn : and laying aside the m«ihryM^
1feu§, fheyattect the truth of the Aill hisfj
J»ry attestsi, that in the time of Jfsuj^jd^rist,. Samai^
was peopled by colonies of differeat nafcion«,j^bich^:
^ Assyriaosb^ transported tfaither'afiep ttee destartrctio*
of the kingdom of rsrael, Thik ^o-^W s<^ ' to exfefti^^
th^ ej^ectation dftlie fti^iab; in w&ich,"ac<K>tdH|g^to^
- ^-^ ■ ^ V ■ ■''■-' .; '. ■: > ' i- : .. ; -r'.:^ '-^^
■'.-/■-
St. John, the Samaritans lived. Pag;ans aod Idolators
. ^-jCouWl nbt have very distinct notions of an event parti* *v
- cular to Judea. If the Samaritans were the desc«n?'^ >?
."; ^ants of Jacob, it was piot necessary to put into thr - ..
inouth of the Samaritan wom^h. these words, " Our *;?-
^- fathers worshipped in this mountain, and ye say, Jera» V i^^
j^alem is the place where men ought to worsbipi." : i It V
; .was also absurd to make Jesus say, *' ye shall no more ^
• worship the Father, either in this mountain or at Jeru« ji v ^
. .salem ; ye wor^ip ye know not what.'* Firsts the law _
. V jof Moses does not forbid, lih^ worshipping God iu
jwhatever place we may find ourselves. Secoiidly, the ' '^
daws or usages of the Jews required, in the time of
' , phrist, that w^ne should offer sacrifice any where ex*
> cept in vthe temple of the capital : but the .places <^1 >
' 'Pfayer depended ;0Ji every man's own will and plea-' > '
. . sure. Thirdly,, it is absurd to aver, that the descen*--,/.'
A^n\.% of Jacob, did not know the<jrod whom t^<^y^doEi»fc; '^
''■■ tedjto be Jehovah, the God o^ Mg^es imd tl>e Jtevjrp;: ; •
unless it is pretended, that they did nofknow whom. ,
•they worshipped. On this^ headi indeed, since the m»•)*^
' -sion of Jesua, Christians have undoubtedly nothing to^
vV-feproach them with. Fourthly, The words r)f Jesus ott
f 'this occasion stem to itisinuate, tha:t he wanted to abo- ,
''^. iish the worship of the Father ; at least it is certain t,bai^4
'' ,ChristiaBs> shajre their homage; between hijm and. bis
-v-Son, which, iaith apart, appears to iannibilate the
v^Hlogma of -ilie unify of God.* .Moreover, Jesus djl4^
', ,.^ i; - '.-.■'■M^^- ^ ■' ■ ' ^ . ._ . o:Ii /-'''-v". - ., : . ■.;,'■;(
,-:-, _:,f ^ avI .^^'^ .■.■^'^'•-: -^;^ J''-^ <"■':';!; ■,■■-// /;^^i> Ji.sJr-^ir^-Px
^^^^.j^jThe^ djpgmft ^ tjicr trinity ^ ei^titly boiwwea from the
■^- ^pipreaes of \PIa^, or frpin the a|l^;Y)rjes i^uider vvMcIi' tl^t >x(ki '
: mantic.pbilosopha c^tpse tp,^^ It ai^)«c|rE^
^t il^ Cfirisdan rdd^giOB ,is
- part of its dogmas. I%to admitted tliree Byforiasest <» modes
J-'S'-'' ' -■'■ ■>■'■'. ..^;.^.'L?;v"''-.V*''Vft
m
wot guess rigbtly in saying, that the Father wonfd ,
he no longer worshipped either at Jerasalem, or oil th^
mountain ; for this Father has not ceased one instattt
to be worshipped -there for these eighteen centortets
pasty by Jews, by Chrirtians, and thereafter^ by Ma ho*
metans./' , ;- v%«?^-<;^*^«'-' . : "*
If If it is maintained tfiatthfe Samaritan woman was ii
heathen, it is not very Hkely that she would h« ve re-
garded Jesus as the Messiah, whom she neither koew
of nor expected. Add also to this, that the Samarf-
tans believed in Jesus on the word of SF courtezan ;
ft credulity of which Jews and Christians only could
be susceptible. JesuB and his disciples wefef Jews, amd
in that character excluded from Samaria. It imports
fiot therefore by whom the country was inhabited. '■*
f Two days fcarrag elafpSed,»and the Samaritans of
Sichar being, in £di appearance, sufficiently instructt^
JeSttS quitted their city, and accompanied by his d^
ciptes^ took the road of Upper Galilee. In this yovti^
etheiagin ^e dnrfinitr: &e litst cottsdtatedi^be saprtme Go^;
tile MCondy the Logos, word, ot dhme iMeUigence, proceedhlg
frcax) tbe $rst; the^iid e \im Wjfif^ or soul of . the woijd* Trhp
early teacher;^ of the Christian reJi^n »[y>ear to have been V\ir
toiucs ; thdr oithusiasm probabhf fijund m I'lato a doctrine JDa^
iogtms to thefr f^dKogs. "SkA they- been gtatefid, ikej Would
Jbfire TGio6arded him as » proi^M, w, at kasi, a»oi»cS the&thata
of the qfairdi. The Jesuitical migw«BB«riet. fcun4 a diving tH
'J^tSxX n^9rly spnflar t» tha*- of the Chostiazjs. % the Twt#s
God is caliy EonHn(hcik, the onfy God, and- KooHnosum, thr
three^D^ God. They also give hixlr the titles, Om, Ha, Humj^in-
tiii^<ie, :<rl^i, power dr word, kBart,^fove. !rte ^anfeKor t^ee
Was j^ajrr revelred antoog the anctents; b^^catise Saiom, M t&e
orient^ li^gua^,. i^^^nfiles d^, it i^ i^iHk t^. 10 d^nlfy A^A,
'••■'' .
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103
P' "*'""'"^, - /■ > '>v-'--<.
'-/
'<^ ney, Christ, considering the bad dispoBitioa «f hw -v
Ivcountry men, thought proper not to entertbe city^^f Na- -%
zareth, the place of^his nativity. He a|^Hed to him*
^- ^ self the famous proverb, that > prcphet has no hm<mr ^ !
;Wa his own countrtf* It was otherwise in the rest :fi^ thit; ^'^'
jsi province :-r-as soon as tt»e people knew of the arri'i^
#^ of Jesus, they ueglecte4 nothing to welGome him* Sth
. liLnke assures us that he was esteemed and hoDOtired
;|4)y every body.f . There is reason to believe that tbese
. K^Ood people had beheld the wonders which he had
;|pperated in Jeritsalem, during the festival of the p«9S*^v
^jyretX In gratitude for these favourable dispositiene^ v-^
And for the faith he found among the Galileans,. Christ f -
,;>did not content hixoself with instructing them, birt^
? confirmed his mission, and testified bis love, ^ a
^i^ crowd of prodigies. The number was doubtless veapy
t4^gfeat, as St. Matthew is constrained to say vaguelji, /
that he healed all manner of aickness, and all sntBuenr^
of disease among the peofile ;§-— that it was sufficteRt
to present to him the sick, whatever dise^ea tb^y
might be ai&icted with; lunatics, whoBe oiumb^ wap
great in that country ; idiots, hypochondriacs, aqd pi^f
sons possessed witb de^ls. bad but to % to huBi ff^
relief and theur cure waa certain. f4;fec>
This multitude of miracles^ % %so they style tb#
cures operated by Jesusy drew after ^im a crowd jqC
idlers and vagabonds, as well from Galilee as ffom Jk»> ^
rusalem, Decapolis, Judea^ and the countiy beytond
Jprdan. It was in this Journey he made the acquuisir
tioD of two famous disciples : they w«ne brQth^r% soo^
of « fisherman of the vsmt of <Zehed^> 9Q<i called Jai^fi
tiiid JFobit. The first, though very probably he could
not read j afterwards composed nautical works, which
arc even at this day revered by Christians. With re-
spect to John, who was a very fine lad, he became the
fayoufrife of bis masjter, and received from hira marks of
distinguished tenderness. He became afterwards a
Bublime Plalonist, and, through gratitude, deified
Ghrtet" ill the gospiels aud epistles published in his
t-r The reputail'ibh and resoutces of Jesus were so greal
in Galilee, that to augment the number of his disciples
it was only necessary for him to open his mouth and
speak. The two disciples already mentioned he called
with an intention to keep near his person. Wishing,
hoi^evef, to repoee himself after the fatigues of preach*
iing^and miracles, be resolved to quit the cities, and re-
•tiire to the set coast. He conjectured, that to make
bhiSself d^irable, and not waste his credit, it was pra-
deat not to suifer himself to be seen either too long oi*
tod n^r. Th^ people, fond of hearing the wondef«* ,
fol sermons of Jesus, followed him. Pressed by the
crowd, be happily perceived two vessels ; and throwing
hiniself into one of them, ** precisely that which apper* ^
tained to Simon Peter, the first of his disciples, he h^
irangued tbei eager multitude from it." Thus the boat
-erf a'fish^rman became a pulpit, from whence the Deity
Siteed-his oracles. ■-' -\ -■-^^^^ ^' <^^--^^^':'-^^^^^^ — '^. ,
( fithe Galileans w%re notT^liali ^S^
-tHk^ of Jesus* adherents augments. We find his
fOdrfirst apostles labouring in their trade of fishermen
dafing tbeafaHode of the^ Messiah in the prdviiiicel The
day on whicb he preached in the vessel had not been
fortuQat^fpir them rand the night pre<:edin:g it bad not
beea moi^' favooiralilei J^tts^ who kpew more thaa
' '
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one profession, thought, that it behoved hiinto do some-
thing for people, who shewed so much zeal. "Whlehi .
therefore, he hajS finished bis harangue, and the crowd
had retired, he bade Simon advance into the middle
of the water, and cast his net; the latter excused jMfft-
self, saying, that he had already thrown several jtlrties
without success. Bat Christ insJ8ted:-^lhen Sitnoiif^
said, I will cast it on thy word: on which; by an'asto^ '
nishing miracle, the net broke on allsidesJ Simon^and
Andrew being unable to drag it Qut, .they called their
comrades, and drew otit of it fishes enough^to fill two
ships. Our fishermen were so surprised, that Peter
took his master for ;a wizard, and prayed- hin(i ta de-
part . But Jesus encouraged him, and promised not
again to; occasion the like alarms, seeh^^ Ifhat hence^
forth he,'Peter, sfaouldnb Wngerbusy-faima^f witb Ib^
catchmg of fish. . : /> vio:? ' ,';, i;;.
- The Messiahy .finding himself near ^E!^8V judged^ it
proper to enter that place, as. he had once befoi^ per-i
formed a miracle there. An officer of 'iCapernautii^
whose eon was sick of a fever, repaired ' to thiStVillageij
00 purpose to try the ren^dies of Jesus; of wl^s€u:effii£
cacy'so many persons boasteki. He^besought* thePpfay^
sician to come to his house, and cure-his ^n>;^^u<t dui|
Esculapius, who did not cbuse to o^rat^ before/^|res
too clear-sighted, got rid of this importunat&|ier6Qi»^
such.a way as not to irisk himself, in case. hti> sbouleb
not succeed : Go, said he to the^officer; i^^ton/tyef^.
The officer, while' Approaching ".his x>wnbabitationV
learned that the fever; which perhaps Was'^oterifiittetitJ
bad left his son. No more was necessary t9 cry lip' tbtf
nati'acle, and conviert all the family^ * ^ ^^.b lj/o?i ,i
• After having traversed the sea coast, and madesome
piff^xM Cana^ J^sus Fjepaired.jK) Ca))en)ftumi; wjiere, la
■m:
m
i-.- -'>.■■. --.-VV- v., -.■^<-
V
pLmWy of ^mon Feter wM established in that city ; and
It was QO doubt this redsoo, joined with the bad treat-
ment be bad received from the inhabitants of Nazarttb,
t^at'deterri|i«ed Cbrrst to make choice of tbia abode,
{tftpipearahe wjas abhoirredjQ the city where he bad
be^ educated; for. aasooo as he attempted tcf preach
t|^e« the people wanted to tipow him headlong. At
^perofauqa they- listened to and admired him; be ha-
l4U)gued is the syoagogue, explained the scripture, and
l^wed that he bEmserfwas foretold in it. ^ la the midst
<^ his sermon one sabbath day^ they broaght luiii a
person possessed, who, perliaps in concert with hiai^
began to cry out with all his might ; ** Let us alone)
wbatbaire we, to d4 M(ith thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth ?
•rt' ikovL asms to, dsatioy u»h I know thee who thoii
slA, the holy one of ^ God." The people waited is
t^rsor for tbo iasuye of thiSiadvientttre, when Jesus, cer-
t90» <^ bts: g^ound^ tiddressed himself not to the man,
^t to the deyll potsessing him, '* Hold thy peace,*^
^aid he, '^^nd come out of him.*' Inmiediately the
BiAUgQ Spirit overturned the possessed, thi;ew hln into
h^^ble co9Tiil8ions» and disappeared; withoirt anj
pencm seeti^ bihos^ . I ^
I Pbysicifma» and especially those^quainted with tiite
^llsjb^rQ. eouotiies, do noil admit miracles of the nature
«| this one. They know that: the diseates takoi for
pamuiwi, wercL qmn^ sotdy feo diioidersL prodooed
p the brain by excessive heat. These maladie* werd
(lequeat in Snde^ where tuperatttton and ignorance
UniP^ed the ptogt^ts c^, mediciiK and of all uaefbl
Iniiowledge.* Out <^ that country we find Init
■\'
m
few peTsont poHeflsed wilEh devirs. TbuA- iii(ir^dtilit]f
" < «trip» Jesus of a great number of his miracles; f^t
'1 eren taking Efv ay from him the pos^ssiqttii ihkt€ iStWt
jemains enough* Most of the possessed found ansong ^ ^
;^. ua, are hypochondriacs, maniacs, hysterical wdm^a^^^
naelanchoty' persons, and ^ose tOrm«titjed' With thC"
vapours or spasms : or they are iiiipoStor#, who, tO
. / gain money, interest the simple and displsty the pdwit
c of the priests, consent to receive the devil, otf^piifptfi^
' that the clergy may have the glory of eispelling hitif.
There is scarcely a possession fimo^gst us ^hich cduM"^
reaist a floggingv • , ^ 4
Miracles are food for th<» imagination, but ^te'y
- body requires more substantial alrmeots; 'the adven«
war f^;djmt sdeftce and all hmma^ knowledge, y^HSck have heeithi
■^ ; ' iodeed upon as obstacles to salva&m. Neither reason nor stnd^ '
' ... ilte necessary to men who are to sidxnit thar judgments to tibc
w joie of Mtii. Frcnn the confesaton of Christittis thanselvei^'
'■'■'■\ Urn founders o€ •'their rdigion were amj^ andT ^oxaht nrtiv-
^Hieir discqples xoust be as little .enBghteoed aa they were to sbibdiSi0
" the^ tables and reveries they haVe recSved from thena. It bar
always been remarked, that the most onlightfflffid men sddom nalK.
V the best Christians. Science is ^t to en^Mtrass faith; moreovet-r
f '' it tarns the attenti<m from the great woii of salvation^ whicfi"^
is* represented as the only no^essary one. If sdeh^e be stii'vineaMfe'
t« political apdety, j^goorance is much moitir so to rtSg^ 8^
kS nmusters. lliose ages destitote of sdeheeimd industry, wear
the golden age of the chtyreh of Chrnt Thm wet^ kiags"clud&%;
Stttnnissive to priests; tiien the coflfees of priests hdd all tlie
ildies of sodety. The mimsters of a rety manerous sect hart
«lrien kept^ from the t^&k of their fikDoWers, the aacred pagaa''
■nibaeb contain the laws of Aeh- r^jSoii. This conduct is UBN^;
•dlMibtedly very discacet; fov readbtg die faflde is the surest o^C
an means to prevent its bdng TeBjfect&L - If, in fiu^ die ma:AH|
«f rthe Christian religion reipecting science were xigipi|Qp^.
and universally ^W«d« no yMisA wcwty swld wDMiM^*-
tuwwltich has been related- had led to the hour of
diDner. Gn leaving the synagogue, Jesus was in-
vited to the house of Simon Peter, where every things '
appears to have been prepared, for which he might
have occasion in performing a second miracle. The
inother-ip-law of Simon felt herself sick, St the mo-
- ment they had need of her niinistry in managing the '
kitchen. Jesus, who possessed the talent of very rea-
^ ' dily curing the kinsfolk of his disciples, took her by
W- _ the hand, and made her rise from her bed: she
came out of it completely cured, cooked the vic«
tuals, and found herself in a conditioa to serve the'
gUeStSi j#- ■(fivJrfeiu,'!;^ =;?;,; -.^vt^i .V>i j;..-ii --^i^^ i^j.VwM-"i^-
- The same day^ in the dusk "of the evening, they •
brought Jesus all the sick in Capernaum, and all the
possessed, whom, according to St. Matthew, he'
cured by some words; and, according to St. Luke,
- by laying hands on them. Several devils, on coming,
out of the possessed, had the impudence to betray the
secret of the physician,: and openly declare, that he'
was Christ the Son of God. This indiscretion much,
displeased Jesus, who wished, or feigned to wish, to
keep private.— St, Luke tells us, that "he rebuked '
<" them, and suffered them not to speak, for they <
knew that he was Christ." Here it is proper to- •
remark, that according to theologists, the Son of God,
in all his conduct, had in view only to lead the devil
astray, and conceal from him the mystery of the i
' redemption. Yet we see, that Jesus was never able to'
. •' s.ucceed in deceiving his too cunning eneray.-r-In the- '
">1;. whole Gospel system, the devil is more sly and
/ 5 ■ powerful than both God the Father and God the Soil ;
.:. .J- ^t least it is certain, that he is always successful ia
vSi^^^wthjfarting their designs, ajad socce^ in rsdiji^jng .;
'f^l-.
■■ 7
" /■
■'■■'■■ ■ . " \ ■' ' ■
"God the Fathrer to the hard necessity of 'making^ his
dear Son die, in order to repair the evil which Satan
^ bad done to mankind. Christianity is real mani-
chaeism,* wherein every advantage, is on the side of
,'the bad principle, who, by the great number of adhe-
rents he continues to acquire, seems to render nuga«
tory all the purposes of the Deity.
• " ' If the devil knew that Jesus was the Christ, such
^knowledge must have been posterior to his retirement
into the desert, for he then spoke to him in a style which
^intimated that he knew him not.-^Itis, however, Super-
iluous to examine at whiit time the devil acquired this
knowledge; but it is manifest that he had it only by
divine permission. Now God, by granting to the devil
^ the knowledge of Bis Son, either wished, or did not
^i wish, that he should speak of it. If hCrwished, Jesus did
wrwig in opposing it, if he did not wish it, how was
; the devil able to act contrary to the divine will ? Jesus
carefully concealed his quality, the knowledge where-
of could alone operate salvation. But in this case,
^ * The doctrine of two prindples is borrowed from Zoroaster,
.. the celebrated legislator of the Per^ans, who . flotirished \inder
% Darius Hystaspes. Oromasdes or Oromazns, the ancient of daji^
%and Ariinaries, the genius of darkneiss, are the original divinitieB
f of manichseism. Oromazes is the name, which the Magi and
>^ Chaldeans gave to the Supreme Being, and which, in the Chaldaic
- language^ ognifies buniing light. They represent God as sur-
roimded by fiie, and declare that his body is like unto %ht, and
Ins soul unto truth. This God was the good principle, but there
was another bad principle which they called Arimanes, or Arimanus,
that is in Chaldmc, my enemy, or cujoning' and deceitful It is
opposed to Oromazes, who was to destroy it however at last.
This is the Osuds and Typhon of the Egyptians; this the Pandom
of the Greeks ; this the Jehovah and Satan of Jews and Christians ^
and such, are the vain eSorts of all the a^s to explain the origin
'ofgoodandevUr --^ ■ * v .*>^
' ~i--\
the devil biinaelf hadtbe great^t interest; to coisceal itt^
It was therefolre centFary to hit oi^n intereat, and tb^.
wiH of the Almigbly, that tbe devil made kaown thi^
quality of Cbrist. Besides, if Jesus realty did no^-
wish tbal ttedeviiV'sliould discover bimv why delaj^;
im^sing siienee QB^ bin) ui^til be bad 8|>oken? t
The conduct of the Messiah in these fi^ticulars hai
^ made it be believed^ that not daring tc endanger biiai»4
telf by publicly asstiming the quality of Christ, or Spi#
of God, be was not sincerely displeasied with the deviiSy.
wlbo were at his conimaml^ for divulging his secret,i
and sparing him the trouble of speaking. It wati
moreover eliciting a, very impcHrtant confeasion outol[
the mouth of enemies. >
^ Jesus was not ignorant»^ that to retain bis infliienc^
«^r the minds 0^ juen, it was necessary to- prevent'
iatiety. Accordingly, on the day following that on
which sa many miracles' h€kd been wrousght in Capef-.
naum, he depart^^ before day^ break,, and witbdrev^-
into a desert. All legiskUJOtre h9¥e loved retirement ;;<
it is there they have had divine inspirations, and it is
on emerging ^om these my^eriousasyiunis, they have
performed miracles cattulated to deceive the eyes ol^
the- astonished vtdgar. Si3lit2H:y recoUectsoa iS'tMssidea.
altiiiie» necesiiiry^ i& QEd«e to. iawMtigate thfeataftecl|-
oup afikirs. , , > c • - . ; i^r^
Meanwhile the di9ci]?lesd#'JiffQ^
His 9ight, did not.lose sight vf their master; they niff^
paired to him at the moment he thonght bin^aelf alon^
synd in£9>riQed him tUal they^had been.eyeryr wbere in^
seasch of bim. In faet^ tfaere were sttlk nsany sick aQd»
po^sesscdpersoos^in the country ; yet thlseensideration^
d^d. not induce Jesus to return to Capeirnaum ; oirj
wtncb account many resorted to biin in iii% iiplrelt*
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fc: To get rid of Uiem, hie agamlrftversedGslMlee/ where
he coDtiDued to cute the sick, and oast out deVtts :
this is aU the gospel memion*. It appears he tarried
little OF none at all On his road, and preached as bt
went along: for in a very short time he had advanced
» CMisiderahle way on the shore of the sea of G^iiee;
' ^^ the mal^tude which followed him augmented
|jlBO|itiniially:, by suppliesof idle and cuFious p^ple that
every tillage produced, our preacher, finding himsielf
piressed d<^n by the €?owd» gave orders to his dts*
ciples to coflvey Wim tOrtjl»s Qti»er«td^OD the territdi^
9f the Gerasenes. "> ' ^ -. » ^
When he was landed^ a doctor of the law repiaived
to Vina, and offered to becoai.e hia foUower : but lesus
fei^ readily concaved that a'ijofc^br could not suit biiii!$
her woakjli^ivecuta bad figure in^a company comppsett
ol fishermoB and clowns^ such as those of whcmi thd
liDesgiabi had formed ,h» otimrt. He- gave thff doctor to
' underef andt that he wonidrTepent of' this step : th at'tbte
kind of life would not agree with him ; ihe Son of man,
.^said he to the doctor, hath no where to lay his head, .,
Cb.risf wqrulij not per^Pit bis disciptfes to laml^Ie too "
W u^ thi^ ^ territory of the^ Geraseoes^; for amoogsi
ttMMBr wafer some o£ that ceuiitryi One arired; hi»
psnuissiiyn torgo: and p«f£iri» the* lask dnties to Mir
l^her,-^othef wairtedto gp-antf embraceriik^ftftft^^
t»uljle8uffh^3^y refused their requests. Iftsioner^
P d^vjedfor^DftSK^i^r- that b^^ughi to " let the dead bis^
theiffdeAA*' ^Tbei)libe^ that '^ whoeiwe faa^wil^ kilb
Im taaadr te^ihs'^ugtti ^aM^lo^siba^ i6^no«^fif^#N«
P^ifcei^!^ in ia|i(5^^
pretext of the kingdom of heaten, ohligedfhis di8ci|lfeft ,
■■^^^ij-
4 -:
"y to neglect the most sacred duties of morality. -Biit ^
Cbristianr, docile to the lessons of their divine.mast^f,
' which they dare not fexamine, have made perfectioti '\,
consist in^a total abandonment of those objects wbicli -C;
flaturehas rendered dearest toman. Christianity seems ^
intended only to create discbrd, detach men from every ;
thitig on earth, and break the ties which ought to unite
them^ There is, according to Christ's maxims^ but one
thing needful, namely, to be attached to hini exclu-
sively: a ma-xim very useful, in meriting heaven, but
calculated to destroy every society in the world.* ■'-•''^
iA^T our missionary had ^pent some time in the
; country of the Gerasenes, Viere it appears be kept
, incog, one: day towards the evening he passed over tof .
the other side of the lakey having previously dismisdeS
• the people, who had come tha|: day on purpose to bear . j
him ; but he did not preach. - Jesus, fatigued, fell asleep ■
on the passage, whilst a furious tempest overtook the ^^^
/ thip^ His aflFrighted disciples, impressed with the '-^
* Notwithstanding the eulogies lavished by Christians on the .
* precq>t8 of theTr divine master, some of them are wholly contrary , f •
. i to equity and right reason; "When Jesus says, ** Make to yovu:-? w/
- sdv^s. frifflids in heaven of the inammon. of sUnrighteouaiess,'* ,r
does lie not plainly inanuate, that we may take .fitmi others ^.<
5 vrfierBwithal to give to the Church? IHvii^ will sajy that h« ^^^
i^ke in parables; these parables, however, are eaily unfolded.
;! Ii( the mean while, this precept is but too wefl &lldwed. Many
^ Christians dieat an^ swindle during all their livesi to have the
pkasute^i^ making donatioQfis, at thdr death, to churches, monas-
' teriesi &c The Messiah at : another time treated; his mother ex-..
' . tremely iB, when she was seeking him. with 'the opost parental
soficitud^. He commanded his disaples to steal an ass; he drowned.
^ a herd of swin4 &C. jt.inust 6(B confessKf tifia^
V^ Mt agree'extrem^ WeD %itii g«|od inorality. .Ckndianiiy tJii^
^ tfeSed, p. 14T-8^^^;;c^.yp^*4'iJ> ;iivii^aii*.;^^i^ ■
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; idea of their master being more powerful when awake
r>^ than when asleep, acquainted him with the danger.
r^'rh This conduct drew on them reproabbes for theif want
'*' of faith, while it probably gaVe tijpaf td the tempest to
subside. Then Jesus, in the tone of a master^ com-
maoded^tbesea to be stjil, and immedu^tely , the order
;.: I was obeye<3i . ^pU ip spj,te of this prpdigy, the faith of
J the disciples was still fpr a long tip»e wavering., Jesus
' on this returned im^l,ediately to the cojuntry of the Ge-
' rasenes, without having either preached or performed
miracles on the other fide,. „,._^
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•
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i»-:- . •. ^.-J
JESUS, landed again in the country of the Gcra- '
senes, took a route by which na person had forsonie time
passed. Two demoniacs, inhabiting the tombs in the
oeigh'bourbood, rendered this passage dabgerou^
Scarcely had Christ shewn himself, when these two
madmed ran to meet him. As he was a connoisseur ^.
in matters of possession, he no sooner perceived them '^
. than he began to exorcise, in order to make the uncleaa>
spirit come out of them. Nptwithstanding his divine |
: skill, he at^quitted himself very imperfectly on this oc-^u
casion. It was not with one devil, but with a legion p, .
of devils he had to deal. One of them, laughing at the^^
mistake of the Son of God who asked him bis name^^ \
'answered, lam called Legion. On .this Jesus changed ^
his* batteries, and was proceeding to dislodge them,
'when the devils, obstinate in continuing in the coun«
V try, or very little desirous of returning to hell, propo-
sed a capitulation^ One of the articles bore, that, on
^ leaving the body of the possessed, they should enter
Into a Herd of swine, which fed hard by on the decli-
=lf Tity of a hilt. Jesus readily agreed, f'r once, to grant
1' •omething on the prayer of the devils, and not use hi»
•
^4
^%iil|l|oi(i^ ngorou&Iy. Neither he nor his di^cip|^, a^
gpod Jews» atq iH^rk ; he r!ec|^<wi€d, thei;^for<?, that
f Wiq^ fi^Kpb ibfte4 by i.1^ law ^f Mof^es^ m \^t \ve| I pterv^e
for 9 r^tr«atto devils. H^ conseiited to the t^'eaty ; tlie
di^roon^ caine out oC t^eii: former r^ideoce to enter
|«i^ the swine, v^hq^ , Reeling S^aa vt^it bio rtbepa, were
4»hr<»vp:p iiS'tp ^xunrnotipDr^pr yperhap^ w^ete t^rijSed io. ^
wery eatiiral maqaer : and b^viog precipitaied them-
|§l]|es Ifito^be sea^ wecc; drowned to^e oumber of
about two thousaod. , h-
;^; |f a legion of deyiJ? is composed of th^ i^Ofie n^m-
J^r, ^r a Homan l^ion^ we iBust believe, that there ^
VP^re six thousand 4^vils. This evidently ipake thre§
46yils for each bPg*a;|iuffi4Rif)^»iWQj^ri ^ iivdj^.l^^
|Qt.jcoiDiQit suicide. . i^:'r ^/i'^-^'-; ■■'';::--.:■;. •.-n'.vv ;.'^v'^^
'kvj^oaajs grave authors assure us, tha^^ •^us ^^ve^
laMghed, nof even siifvi^d;* yet it is very dijl^cu^^tio^
i>^«jsve» that tile Son of <iod cpuifl |)|re8erv» h'* ^T?*'??*^
i^er performing ^ch^trip^ ^Rt It 4id not appear i;^
morous to the herdsmen, who fpup^thia fine ^(racl^
--:;5icrieii"''": ■' ' ■'■■<■■■ '■• ■■ ' ■ ■^cf'ii|^^ 'i^:^<^_
#*>'lE.^ieaty/in tte Jfevrf ifo GKre^mj!, p^' 14. ed. l«d], .
ipe&ing 6f iesBB Christ kt^^ Aeoe wmaxk^bk Woodi shr
f^lie iFas very gva^e. Hie w# s^e^ t^t we^ W twe ofocs^ioQji,
Imt jJt i^iMDt lifted t^t lie J^ laiij^e^s not ]|>vt, he hap^s^^il^
fw^tl^j >?? ^1^ (^Inqfsostoin. remajrks." As |n^ are apni^Qmecl
le xegaxd God as a- yejpj ,ma%naat bdng, ai^d not ufider^taoil^
TSR^^iMirs, difj^ leqil^ ' gf kritf ' & an who cotoe on Us'Mt-
"i^esl Vi^ taatei'^km^^ tte more It plmusev mc9,
who bve to indulge fear. To succeed^ reformers .fiji^ a)l;if^|f
Tftj^cf^^^ Ifjp^fp^y p^e^l fi. I^^l^er. ijrhp e^cit^. tioror is
■ al^^ys .certain of sniocea^ , ' i^e tlfansenisis. axe reforitlers, ^rbo
imh^e'^^Iilrin^baeV Cl^kt&ntf 'ttr th^ ^il^ii«^ ^bom;^iihd il^
»6^1mte' pleasant, that they complained of itio*' tbeif 2f
masters^ arid ran to the city, where the affair was no^
I sooner kn&wn, than the proprietors of the swine jfer.
" - from being converted, bewarled a prodigy so ruiaoui .:
to them, and maintained that it was a matter of pubti€ '', >
^concern. The Geraienes Wfent in a body to oppose Hbe ..r '
entry of Jesus into their city,-*and, from inability ' td ;^
punish, tesouglit him to leave their territory as spoa^^
as possible. Such was the efffect whichLthe miracle of /;
' the swine producedv . - - __/:';f.(r^-y~,i ^j^i^^i.-:^^^ ^j .
This meiribrable IMsaiitic^ nittS^
attested by three evangelists, who, however,- vary* ia ^
some circumstances. St. Matthew informs us^ that the
possessed were two in number : Mark and Luke main* ,
tain that there was only oiie, but so-furious, acc<)rdifig -
' to St. Mark, that they could no longer bind him rt?e« >V
''tinth fetters. St* LMke is certaiti^ that' the devil fre- X. /?
quently carried him into the deserts; St. Mark affirms t/
that he spent days arid- nights in*tne tombSj and on' tbe ?-^ "
neighbouring mountains/^ ^t**^^ ' - mumi:, .
On this occasion Jesus was also proclaimed Christ by ^ ^
the dervil. As be was among 4iiB friends, or disciples,
'^ at the time^<he did not enjoin silence to Satan, The ■ p
jiicknowledgm6nt was useful whfen given in private, i ^ ;- ■
atod could not hurt him ; but fherfe were occiasions on p:- \
. /which it might do harm if nmde in public, where our '$r -
/i^uissant miracle-worker evinced dVrcumspection, espe- C ;■
daily . when he did. not pereeiye himself siilfeieiiitly Ir \\
. ^-sUpported;^t''^'^"'- . ..-. -A '- : t ''?>3» f!^'^'^^ -•'
•" -^Unbelievers pretend to discotfeif importarit errors, .
V J *«aid evident marks of falsehopd in tfie tiarfatiVe, which
^^toorappear&; ridiculous. 1st, Tljcy ^r^eYSurprised tp
sfee. devils,- who, according to ChraBtiMs,, a^e epo- '
*^ IRgjimed to eternal torments in hell les?iiig it on pur^
"■■ :'^:.
• -*.-■'. ■;^.,-#:;V,: :>i.>-s.v^
. \ ' ■ ' , ' ' .. ■' ^ -* nr
pote to take I>osses8ton of the inhabitants of this eaitW
Sdly,' There is T-easots to beu astonished at s^eitif the
6evil address prayers to* the Son of God. ' It is an
article of fdith, among Christians, that to pray, grace
^ fs requisite; that the damned cannot pray ; and^much
more ^o, that this ^irace must be denied to the chiefs Of
tbe damned,' 3^1y, The incredalous are ofifend^d at a
iniracfe by x^hich J^sus benefited two persons pos-
sessed witlj devils; at the expence of the prciprielorsof
two thousand swine,, to wtiom this miracle ccst at
least f^ur thousand pounds steiling; rah action ' not
quite agreeable to the ruteis of equity. 4111^; We can-
not copceive hoW Jesus, whom their law inspired with
a horror towards swine, /could have h^rds of animals
which among* them were of no use, and which they
- /cotild not even touch without being defiled ; aiidi Sthlyj
V iit is indecorous' to m|tke the Son of 6(^ enter into a
vicom promise with devils; ridiculouis to make them
^v^inter intoswim^; ^an4 unjust to make them enter into
and destroy other people's property. iit
.^^ Moreover, we are. not informed what, became .of
these devils after < being precipitated into the see*
3[*here is reason^ to believe, that, in coming outiofth'd
swine they entered into the Jews, ' to procure fotqui^
Saviour the pleasure of casting theita oiitiigain; for the*
, ipuring o^fpapple possessed ^^^^^ aU miracles t^ in
vjrhich hewfs post eqcpert. ' . - ^ /-.
i-i With respectto the possessed person cured l>yJe8Uf,
psnetrated with gratitude to his'physicianj with #h6oi'
. he was perhaps :previously acquain^ed,^ hcNwant^ io
fo>\\6w Cimsft^PQrdibjg to $t Mark ; C'S^t'^t 5w2^j^
^ |leen tluitiMsjt^imoDy might becpfaeisuspiciQiu%>ifi^:
put himself Intbe train of 4he Messiah, who U^^^bre
cfaose^tte ^at he should qr«|>yf ^o'ttis famfly/ a^
^
«n9Quape;t|ie mercies be bd4 receiyetl from the lipixl, .
He was a ij^tive of Decapolis, a cduntrV,, as we liav4
seen," v^ry inucn dispqsed to' qredulity^ Accordiogly. : '^ -
as soon as the man had there recounted his adven- ^^
t«re, every body was tninsported lyith adnuiAtion,— ; . r ^
"We are, however, astonished at the differWice of dis- "i?
position between these folks, so ren^arkable for a do- - ,
cile faith, atid the Gerasenes:— the inhabitants of Pet- -
capoHs believe all without seeing any thing, whilst tb^cj 1
Gerasenes, eye-witnesses'pf the prodigy, are not uiqyeil 1 ,
by it, ^nd uncivilly refuse Jesus 'adiuit|:apce into their
city. We commonly find in the gospeji that to witi- - ^
ness a oii^cle is a very ^troo^ reason fot not b;^lieving <l
;*•'''''■'"'""■" '•■' "•' ' ' '■ •' ■"'''■ . ^"'^ - • ■ '.-V ■■■ .^';''_. ■ ■ ',
, Tbe bsirdn^ of heart wd uBbelief of the Gerasene*.
and particularly the tequest they nnade tbeMejSsiab no^ ;
to :^nter among tbem^ obligjed bim to re-<^mbark vyitli
fiis disciples, and jreturn to Galilee, where bf; was v^fj;
kindly received. It is not, however, relfited whetbei; . -_
* *> ff tbe <%ristian8 dl^ Jerusalem, a^d the testimony of al - .
Gtdile^ to' pMve the Horades of Christ, I see them attested tx^ tv '.,
% an ipionnt populace ; gx 1 Aefosead, how it. catM be pcm{)I^ ; ,..
tbaJ^ an entir? pec^le, who had ^feesi witne^sses to the p^rack^ pi v'; . , ^ :^'
Chxi^^ should consent to his death/ and even earnestly demaiifi '!
ft? Would the people of London or at Psui^ suffer .a man v^o . .
bad liaised the dead, . festered the blind to s^ht, and healed tibe ^' ; -
lame and paralytic, to be put to deal& -befMe t&eir eyes?- V -^ - '
4ie Jews, denundcd tibe de^ cf Jjbsus, afltis:. miracles. are at
oywie awiQi^^ted in tlie min4 9f eirqry ungr^udieei^ Vf^^VOR^vr -
lA^ k not be said tiiat y^ tniraCles of Christ iaie as w^ attest^
edasany&ct in profane history, axA Ihat to doubt them Is al
lifficidam as to douU the ezistoKre of Scq:^ or oftTfesar, ^^^
IK leSere ontf 09 the npat «f tb» historiaas by «46m timjf v r
■/.*
1
., ♦*
V;--:
he Continptgd tK^e is hot ^ccutrately kttibwiii^-'-^The
friends of Jesu^ jnid tbe felatioDs of iiis ditidples and
mother, received, as jt appears, from time lx> time, in-
'•ifeftigence (if his wonders, which they took carevto cir-
fcutate: ahd^ on learning that they wanted him, he pre-
tfurh^ to IC^>erhaui». Scarcely "Was his arrival known,
-fehen the pebple, always ^xrd «f sefmonsand miracles,
T^orted to fami^in crowds. Neither his house nor the
space, betbre the door could contain the mtiltitude.^
|j|e; required the voice of a Stentor to make himsdlf
heard at the e;rttemities of the cro#d ; hc^t perhaps the
idlei«, Content with following him without knowing
why, were bat Very little troubled abont understaad*
ing his orations. ii*;
.^' ^he piKirweeSy to whomi^vtn* succeas began toghre
tinobrsige, resolyed tasatisfy theiDsel^viea,t€tlieTewaaifi^
)reatity in what Was reported of liim. Tb clear ap ^itt
jqaattec, ^sne doctors of Oaljilee, who tl^ete npt of ibi
'JMttbec ol'our missionary's admirers, repaired to. hun.
Tiaey heard him pleach , and (»me frem his aerjnona
tti6re pfep«^e86ed a|^imt hiia; even hi& mtntcled
t^uldrixjtctlnverttljtem.. Yet, according to St. Litk^
Ihe power of the Lord >was disptayed iii their prese^ficfe
ii^ the cure of th^<sick. Bui;, as has b^en remarked, the
:-^-
i|bttt* ^^IlitOy !» not teipidbdfle; n<Sth«p fe ^ ^ vtaOB,
We ttdiefve flte fnrbbafale &ct8, wlule w« r^ect wkfa^ cc^ttbipC
Hbn n&adeB i^coniiiitecl hj l^tus livius. The most stufM
Ifiidl^ & oftoi Jbitied to ibs most ^stingc&hed tdenis. 'Of
^ Chtbdan religion ^tinmSies imumenMe dkaraples. fo
lite of reB^obj an teJ^imy is Mbl^ to ^asp^adnu 1%e
fiaSif^kteaed men aee tmt H^ -niieh iStteif are Intbidca^ ititk
^^Xli^a8in,and dazzled by die dMei^of a T«3d ira«^g!aa(£te^>^ ^
imgracle is a thing impossdbte in the mddr iif i^^
ciMnged bjr Ood, he ^ not tnanmtable.«-i^
:-■■■-■ ■■, ■ :" f. .■-., ■'y • . ^^ I.
kiirteles of the Messiah ,wers calc.ulati^ to coiivinc;^^- - ^
tfadse^nly wjho did not see them. Thus it is, that these^
^ miracles are believed at present by people who would|;
aot prcdit those perforrped in their presencfs. ' ,.,
■Four men who carried a paralytic.onJbii8be(^, unabla^-
to p«ietrate through the crowd to JeSjUS, ,were. advise^f ^
to mount up with the burden to the roof of the hous€^ "
and making an opening there, to let down^the siciy
man in his bed, and lay, him at the physician's feet.— -^^-^
The idea appeared ingeuioys and new to the,1atterij| ;-
accordingly, addressing the sick man, "My son/' **%f J
he, " be of good courj^e, thy siiis are forgiven thee."^^ '
; This absolution or remission was, no doubt, pronounced^ ^:.
so.asto be heaM by the emissary doctors, whp ^®^|,i^
* It is up<m passages in the Bible comilar ta tias^ that tIie,Ca^
thoBc dergy have &uaded the practice of absdudon. 'Domain;^
twAi says Boulaoger, the abject and &natic ideas, inrith whidi tfae^^ _^
priest has £lledhis pupils in thdbr childhood, he coitimands theilt;^ i
V to come jBo^uently, and depoat in Bis bosom thdr bidden fitults^* ^^
their most secaret actions ^d thoughts^ He obliges them toho*
mifiate thansdves at Ins feet, and rendec homs^e to his power;
he frightens the anminals, tmd afterwards, if they axe judged '^
worthy, he leconeiteB them to God,^ who, on the command of his
ministers, remits their ans. The Chiistiaii sects that admit this
practice, boast of it as extremely usefiil in r^ulating the maiH
mets, and restraining the passions of men ; but experience pirovfei^f .
that the countries in whi^ this usage Is most &ithMly obsenred^K
Jtt<eidigtinguiahed; rather' fas their dissohtfe lives. than Ihe pnritip' ^
0^^^^ manners. By suehea^ e^qiiations they are only anbol^F «
eoed In vice. The lives of Christians are cifdes of succesnv?
^e^Eences and confesdons. The priesthood re^ '^be.|HX>fit: of tins
^fSetice, by means o£ which^ their .exercise an absolute dosmriieni ' - ' '
jQqir^/1^ consciences (^ nu^^ How great must be the powe^f
"0f>4|Bi),;0nder oi men, who poiisess all the secrets of fiimilies; vho'^
jefm..iaai^ at pleasure the destructive flame of .£n)iiticlnn; and''"
'Open onnut the i^ites of heaven atwiU 1 '^^ "^
V j^*
V?^^.}
" V,V'
/
■'irf:-'
■ ■.*-. Jn ■ ',
;. ■ ■•.' , -
-■•
■i
"> '
;^ - ".
• - T^W!'
'^it"
;;*V'
fli
'•■■^yi— •>
^lieir dispb^ioDd^ Sdd rested his discourse to theiii-
" Why do you suffer wicked thbughts to enter mtiS
3^6ur hearts ? #!liieti U easier to say to this paralytic^
^3^ ytaa 4rfc forgiven tfeee ; or tb say to him, Arfsfe^
tafe€ up tfey bed tttd walk?" This qdestion, bbldfy
^ro'pbsed, in tbemVdn of a fan^ticar people, the sport
of pr^udicfe, embdtriiSsed the doctors, who did not:
think proper to atJSWer it Jesus, profiting by thiftl?
dkhbarlNi^sri^Bnt, said lo the paralytic, informed of the
p^ft h€ had to play, Arist, take up tkp bed, and go mid
thiHi Ao»W.-^^bis ^roiiKgy impressed thieir niinds witlif
ttffrtrf : it ebpiecially liifad&tiur cfoctorS, thfe spies, tretiii*'
Wfei'\«'Mt6Hhfe people fexdai toed, ** Never have weseiBtt
b^fbre^ any thing so wonderfiil." ■*
vi» But if tbe dbctdfs Were afraid* they were not ca^J^
yerted; and riot^itbstanding the cure of the parajytic,'
tfa^y had lio faitli id the a^olutiou granted by Jesus,
it may, therefore, be' supposed that this rniracle was
aittended with circumstahces which rendered it suspi-
cliaii$; perliaps the gospel itself wiU ejiafbl^ ostodis^
CibVertHem. . ' •--.:•■♦ ' • ■■-'■ - ' "*''
* r We shall first ol)sejrve, that when the same fact is'
diffbfently related- by drSeteiit historians equal in au*
thdrityy we are ecfi»tFained to doubt it ; o^r; at least, are
entitled todeay that it htfs happened in themahner
siippb^ed. Tbis prlndif^^ of criticism muSt appl^r to*
[thfe: iiarrattires' of btfr" inspired writi^rs, as #eH s» td'
tfe«l#£tbf otheift.-^F^#, St MatlheW tells us merelyi^
thata paralytic wafpreii^tedtb Jebus, who cured hidi^
wkl^fit i^e^bg ^t^ie w^dnderful circHmstance of l\^i
rddP:.Ming perforated, a^ the other ernaments witH^
wtych .&^- Maris tind St Luke haveembelUs1)ed.ti|^r
narrative. Thus, either we are'iti the right in susd^--
^
tt
''fc>--
'J'
; that it has not occurred in. the manoer related by: ^le
/• two last evangelists,* . ■ ./ ;. . //; -
f^Ia the second place, Mark ^od Loire, vrha say that'
the sick man was elevated on his bed to the top of th^
houseinwhiyh Christ was, haViiig previously inform*;
ed us the crowd was so great that ;t<be bearers of the|
diseased were unable to force their way through it, supn
pose^ without expressii^ it io wordSk > another Ycrjft
grqat miracle. This operalipi^ pnesupp!(^es,;.tbat tl)e,
ctrriers penetrated through the .crowds Arpived||»;
W6 know aot how, at the foot jC^rtl^^Ai^Ml,- they coaUlv
^ not singly, and far less loaded with the. sic^'inan,^-d8iii-^.
ber up ta theroofof the house. Luke, says, they Ihade
^ ap opening through the tjljes. Iq that case the people^
l&ust have perceived them \ and particularly those ia .
the: inside of the house. During the tilent attentipiv
they no doubt lent to the discourse of ,Jesus» they tnu^tt
, ;;cf iiiecessity have heard the noisein^de by th? men in r^ia^i -
ipg i^p a 1^ tp the roof, and after.war^s uncovering thin^v
roof and making a hX)le in it, through which to.cQBvejPj^??
ffthe sick man.— This operation became more diflicult>^>
still, if the rooi, instelid of beipg cov^ered with tites,
" ifras flat. — Now^all the houses of thj? Jews aitd oi;ie9Mk^^
V. tals were, and stiU are, covered in tl^is manner. AUi-r
these difficulties furnish sufQcient motivesfor.doubtiingijr/.
this grand miracle. It will become more ^probable,^if;<.
' ?^e suppose tbat the siokman v^s-already in the houaet
ifiytjtb Jesus; that things >i?ere pre^^usly arranged, an^t
tjiat they let down, by a trap-door made on, purpose, at,;
pafalytic most certain of ; beii?g/cur^ on, cpijaDsaii^jpCp'f
' t^e; ^essiah.^ > This t^osactiop might appeauTfix^piQiirt
-^■'* C^ifqMtre as to this history/ St; Matthew ix, iS^ldflt V/'wif
xfi&us to a populace disposed to is6e prodigies isfery
-^-^here, but it made less impres§ioii dnthe dociors, who
liad come on purpose closely to scrutinise the conduct of
our adventurer. They conjectured, that it was^dan-
t^rous' to contradict Weak fanatics, but they did no^
f£>r all that, credit tbe miracle they had Witnessed.
^""^'^ Some days' thefeafter, Jesus Went and preached /
ialong the sea coast, and passing near the cujstbm-hpuse, -
perceived Matthew, one of the oiBcers, who sat there. ■
His mien pleased the Messiah, on whose jnvitati on our '
»ubalt«rn financier quitted his post, and followed him^
' after having in the first place given a great entertain-
ment to Jesiji and his party, l^atthew presented to hint ;
asguesta, publicans,, and toll-bar officers, bis brethren^ -
aod others of similar repute; but the Pharisees and!
doctors, who watched the behaviour of Christ, came
pui^Osely to Matthew's house to be Assured of the fact, ,
• -■^fesus, occupied no doubt with gratifying bis appetite,-
• did not at Kirst observe that he was- watched, SonitK
words, however, spoken rather loudly, attracted hfskt^ ^
tention ; it was the doctors who reproached the disct?
pics with drinking and, eating with persons of doubtfrf/;
Reputation. " How," probably said they to them,
** bow dares your master, who constantly preaches up
yirtue, sobriety, and repentance, shew himself publij^ljr,
"Cl'K in such bad company ? How can h^ associate with; ,
knaves, monopolizers, a.hd meo whom their extortioot
ffende^ odious to the nation ? Why does he carry in hi?:;
Ii^in women of bad lives, such as Susan* and jan€,
^# It q>pean, irot^ndatandBig aU Us gnviQr, tliat tiw IIkBm
liiii^J^ithe foible of :; Jesus : melancholy pmong ave iwr liie
k^ svsoeptible <tf ^tiiu weakness. He wtts-yeiy axdeody 'k(ved~
Ipfii Maff<|-Magdala% yitia ^pphurs to -hove been dw iSedcji of .
iMMkkfndiDg devotees, or debauched feroaleii, whose
1.'
^e4 in this^inaanw, Isnew not \f,eU bo^ to feply ; bt^
j^sus, without bein^ disconcerted, ans^^redthe^i wit|^
a proverb :— " ft is npt the whole /' said be, ** t^iittbf
sicff , who have need of a pbysicif^i," After th^, h^ pite<^
i passage of scri future, which cannot ndvv be fouijd— y
•.^ Learn," said he tp tbem, " the trutli of this s?iyiflg, i
Iqve mercy better than saefifice** It appears, tbe'doii^-
tors did not consider thepa^elyes defpat^c^, and Jefm
wa^ so transported with passion as to say, that l|^
"..came not to call the rightesous bu^ sinnerst to repent
tance.** In that tase, why did he rejecj^ the j^harisqef
^d doctors, wbom he called mhifened sepd^hr^sf £^*
tber the adversaries of Jesiif w^e rightepu^, or. tb^jr
^^re sinners whom he was come to cai| tp^ repenj^qi^
9^ consequently he ought npt to have renoKQped .^})§9I»
,^. Wbateyer reason Jesus might enjplpy ^ pa^ia^*^
justify his conduct, it waj yery soqq publisbedabro^/^
John Baptist's discip^e^ who beard it^ ami wbojg^ .pi^ih
bap^Jiealousy excited, camein search of bipn» ^nd a^k;*^
the reason of the difiere^nc(^ ijQ th^ Ufe lie i^ni his dipci*
pies led, and that which they themselyeafpUovifed. "V?!^^
fastt (said tbey) continually, vjrhilst you and yogr fo^l^-^^
^5, make very gppdch^r, ye pjr^ctisei ^u^tejriti,e$,,§y^i
nki&t ui^uafly leads tliaa to give tliemsdves up to i^ig^qn, Wiub
ai much pasacHi after tlidr convoaon, as ^ey dkl befolift tdf tliife
voKld andtiidr lovors. The ABng^aises nraiatoiai^ that Mi^
^^9 bad a qrlmiiw]' compiais^nce ^ tit? SsvloiKr.— -Fide il^
Cbp^tkidp/ tome i T^.I'acuUy of Iii«dk>gy, at.^Eui^ S^!?!^
SsadaSif ia 16!^> that Mary Mag^^alene^ Maxj, the sister of I^
^ani«i i»N| i^||97,-ti}e'eous^a)i, lio^ one and the jtamelad;: tait
tb^ Sejc)}(n^@i h^a^ iHbm f^Smeei. Ua opi&ioiv Sad ptK^ftlllr
^»tcffelBLJ"f8 Ihc^ yeay 4iffe]n»t MoryiHtSKe Bosaardfc l^iN
•■i,:,m,y.
^vl''-'-""'
,A"h^;r' .': • -
31
i'-:y. ;:.
■•';;" ''-V-'-;. ,.
i«<s--.-ln-l' -Sk
^
1 - '^^^ freqqen^ ^be compaiiy of persons of e«U rep^t^, '
; Sec The reproach^ was embapra^ing, but les.m, ^^
l^mself off very well. '* "yhe friep^s. 9f the bridegroom,
/\. icepUed |ie«) o^gbt neither to fast i^sT Uve in aof row?,
whilst they Kaye the l]iride^i;Qopfi ^viththem ;^ a tjme vtiU.
come when the bcidegroom shall be taken awfiy ftoji^
theua : and tben they shall ftisjt. No loaa puttleth.||
piece of new cloth on an old gJarmeDt-rrneither domeii
put new wine iqto old bottte*;r-rand m persw wka for
D^w ;!^iae when he can get ^Id^ for W. fituls Iho^^iri/d
' better." John's disciples had no reply to reason so
sublime and contincingk It appears that Jesus/ wh^e
/'' example is folloVed by ojir npbdern efoctort, e^ily got
V 'o}it of this affair by the aidi of an enigmatical syn^l^]l|
V ojc pqpopftus l^ml^agt, ve'^ proper arg^o^ept^. tp §^
^ mouths of IhoK Wiha axe not inclined to di,jBpttt^
V 4itonliaUy s^oui what they 6b- n&t understand.
' , ,ff: ThFa incident demonstrates/ that .the Phari^s an(|
i- doclpre were not the oijjy pjeraon^. who wf re Qfieni^e^
Ij5it;h, ^hfi con4u;ct of Je^u^^afl^ tbj^ company he fr^
qfteait;0d; alrti^hcoufirmecibythegQapeL^ Weimis*
'>; obseire that tfiis trait in the conduKJi of Christ piaift)^
•t i^ides the cahse in fevou^o^the ^artfzans of lax mp-
.V )ra]lity/aQd furnishes them withyictpripjjs ^:t^s against
:V the mo4eT9 puritans, /\^e may ajftp remark; that Ih^
ligitioqB. and ex|»)esj|i(H)E«k ^ Jesus, on this <me9»\^»i
juithpriae' and justify thb cDndiid and lftiigtia^e< of our
, faoljc guides, fflad dipeoialljF dur fords the bisboj^, -virho^
'•^■t .-..,/. .- - -, ■ ' '■ ■ .y ■ :, ■'-:. ■'- ^ ', "". ■''<>'
^^% IMtiibfw he. St. M(M^ ii. St. Xi^k^^^n ^^sj^fidt^m
«pM« 9n. tmiabf^ to St, Bmabaa, m/^^ck tli9t ^xm^ MS*
eivrm^^ tiM^ <f apmti«fk ^091 die j^&#i^ d^lam, wt»^9i$
' ( /;■■
]d6
' trhen r^roacbed with their iniquitous behaviour, shut
<»ar {nouths by averring that we ouj^t to do at they tell
: ^, and not what they do !^ «:n5/ W^mn^t " ^^v;,
-C^ftlt cannot be. denied, that the discrepancy, which ejc« ;
" isted between the conduct of Jesus and the principlesU^
adopted by the Jews, or even in his own doctrine, rc^-'-^
"- quired great miracles to prove his mission. Oup mis^V
. sionary was not ignorant of this j prodigies, there- V^
' ;^fore, were commonly' the strongest of his argument*, t-
. 1 and of a nature well aaiculated^to gain the vulgar* ;^^^'
who never pique themselves on reasoning, but are -v.
* fo almost an 'ages complaints have been made of abuses ia \ ,
Ihe church, aod reformation has been taOeed <£, Notwithstand- .;
log this pretended reform in the heads of the church, it iias ti^%:
:^/^a^ been ccon^ited. AvBricious, tuibident, and seditious -
'■-^pae^ have made nations groan under the weight of thor vioes;, • _
, while princes wi^e too w^k^to bring^ them to reason. These |^:
f ifnlightened men, .says JiGrabaud, who call themselves the minis* i^-
^ters of the Most l^h, fire^pjoitly preach nothing but hatred^V,
discord, aad fury, in his name. The IKvinity, far from having ,yv
;i& useful influence over their own morals, commonly does ad ^ '
^paore than render them more ambidous^ mors covetous, more : V
rjiaidened, more obstinate, and mc^ proud. In those cotmtiies
^ where their anpire is established in- the most solid manner, and
whoe th^ enjoy impunity;, are they then enemies to that de-
bauchery,'^ that intempdrance, and those excesses, against which
. '^Utej: are constantly dedahnmg ? On the contrary, do we not see
- jUtem emb<ddened ki crime; intrepid in imquity; giving ifffl
'^ wope to thenr irre^gdarities, to thdr vengeance, to their hatred
fod to their suqndous cruelties ? The priesti are generally the
most crafty of men^^ and the best of than are truly vricked.
Of ^ llie clergy, it was justly remarked by Boulanger, that whUe
tiiose blood-sudcers of soaety wallow'in an^'atiAndance, diame-
fei to4he states by whom tH^ are t(^rated, th^ man of tdenCs,
jlie msB of scienoe^ and the brave warrior, ,wer& siitf&red -to lan-
^jdsh in indigeDc^ and pooil^ exist oii tUe^oaeft mdeessaries of fife.
• T ; '» " ■ "^ " 'tt- >■..-'-.--."■■■; - f "■■■ ^ . • - .
»
V - '
'"^
"5^
■^:
;«'•., •.• •■ ■•
"■'■-"■■■'
.^^
.- <!^- *''
^"
', ^ ■
> -. ■ . . *^
•V--
m
■•:>'
s{/>t«*dy in'^very thing to aide with tfte:inan who exhihitr
^^:|ropders^^aa4 adquires the secret of gaining their fancy;
After Jesus had. silenced John^s.diisciples, the chief
of a synagogue waited on the Saviour, find besought
him to com^ and lay hands on his' daughter, twelve
iyears old, who was dead, accferding to St Matthew,
/|i>ut vf ho \ras only very nekt according to St Mark
and St Luke: a difference which seems to merit
-^me attention. Jesus complied with the invitation ;
«o4 whiiMpr6ceeding to the house overheated faim-
•eif lo much, that a virtue went oat of^im fit to cure
< l^l;thosewho were in its atmosphere. We shall not
form conjectures on the nature of this virtue or divine
•transpiration; we shall only remark, that it was so
' "poteni as suddenly to:;Cure a woman afilicted for
twelve years with an issue of blood ; a malady which
^ Improbably .the- spectators JiaA. not better verified than',
its oure. On this occasion Christ perceiv^ that thefe
' IJad gone 6ut^ of; hjm^a considerable portion of vir tuej
he, therefore, turned towards the female afflicted with
>|l^e piles, tyJ)om his dimples had rudely pushed back;
- :%nd,seeing.b^r prostrate at his feet, ^Mteughtei'* Jsaid
he.to her,) beof good heart, , thy tfaifih hath made thee
%bole.*', The poor' woman, whom the discipte&had ind.-*
mida'ted* charmed with being JiJieved tromber fright inio
- fasyaimimner,. confessed i^peqly She was. cured., idi jo
^^s^bea.OttT miracle perfbrtner was , arriyedi at? «^
hpnf»e of Jairus,:(i!uch was^the name of the chief of the
.i^n^gogu^ th^: eame and; annohnced to the tatter
%at ihis daughter had expired a; m<!>ment b^fe^te, aad
tk»t 6thei hQi&^. was full ininstrelSj who were alreaily
|}<[»foyrmrit)g:<«^ dixge or mourptul eohcertp accQrding:,tO
the custom of the tountryii Jesu^vwhoiOfttbe vm$^s^
ffAit^ ^Ifttlief^ of .the gii* toipi^tlcj wai-Wdiojpn-
tiT
r
- pcrlfed at ttie news ; lie began with makiiyg evefy iKjd^
ntke, and then havitig entered alone, by ih6 ViHut df i
dome w^rds raised her' from the dead. ' /
•3 In histoncal matters We must prefer two WrlleFS ";-
who agree, to a tjhii'd who Contradicts them. Noil^
liuke and Marie a£Brm that tbe damsel was dead ; bUC
Werd iinfdrhinafcely it is tb^ hero hinMelf Who weakih^
bit victoify.? . (^ their saying to bJM that she Was deaS§5 ^
be affii^ed that :sb«w»|:<miy asleep. There are gir^
whaai twelve year* of ageare actoaHy subfj^ct to suthf h
vvFoons; On tii'^'otber hand, the father of the da'ni^
.1,
appears -to havie. acquainted the phyatcian Wiftf tb€
<9onditiofi of hi? child; and he, more in the secret tha^'
ofehersf'did notbeliere the intelligence of b^r death.'
ilift ebtered alone into her chamber. Well assure of bef .
jecovery if she was only in a swoon r if he had found .
ksr d^ inreality^ there^^is every reason tb beliievi^,
bfr wpttld have returned, and told thfe father that
b« had been called wh^n too late, and was vekied^ '■
" i«jthe*ccident^'-' ^"I^^^^^W^^*^- ■ '■ M'^^
'<.; >iM^9^ boweviei', did not wish that this mil^cld
'ifii<Hi^dte'publishM^*^^e forbade the fathier and mo- ^
tbcu^ctf the danisel to tdl what bad happebtid. Oui^
cbsriatab was not sbltcitous to divulge au affair whieh
ffiigiA more aind more etdte the indignatkm and fur^ .
.of the Jews of JerusateJEiti,^ whither he was sooti aftet f<l.
fttj^iltf <in purpose to* celebrate the passongr.-^^Mb're-
d^i*, tife acoeidntof this miiscle seeihs to cfviri6e tb^
fht^lSofidfGod had acquired some scattering of it^di^
AMne in Egypt. Xt appears at least th^ he was vebaitif
ki'thcf 8piasmodiedi8€»8ies of women ; and no more wail
UTaB^^to iflddce the Tulgsr to negardA maiara ior<t
€ne9,0t pctfe»m«Fof^nm*cie«. > ' 4* %% - <^ -• ^ -^Hi
Ottce i& tbc traitf (ii^pentt^wpndeKihim did do^
.oiF.-
^ '& ./■">*"■ _^^U'.\"/V-'^"-\.-'--?S '►'
^^■^\y
:^'-'J*''
Ciest satisfied with this one. According to St Mat-
1 ^ew, who alone relates the three facts we are ^oing
y ^^o meotioQ, two blind men who foUowed him began
' i^^o exclnim, JSon of Diavid, kave.mercy on us, TliQugh
:> Ififtus, in his quality of God, knew.- the most secj^t
thoughts of men, hechose to heviva voce assured of tiie
di^fk>sition of the sick people :with whom be traa-
sacted. He tbereforb asked, if .they bad mjuch, faith,
or if they sincerely believed that he; was able to do
what they reqiies^c^ of him. Our blindifolks answer^
I in the affirmatives then touching their eye3« 'f Be it
unto you,'* said he, **accordiug to yoiHT faith," and
: instantly they received their sights *' i - '; *
.. ^'i Weknov/not how to reconcilesuch lively faith in two
b}ind men, wit]i the untractableness afterwards display-
e^. Their physician^ who inight have good reasons
„ for not being known, mo#t expressly forbade them U>
' spisajk of their pufe » thi^y however spread it instantly
N through the country. The silence of those who were
'■-' ■ witnesses of this great miracle, is not more astonisb-
ing that! the indiisctetion of the blind inen. wh"^ were
.tl|^obj^t|B_.ofit.'.. '. . ,. '.„ ■ >^-
.1^^ fact^more niiracnlous stil^Lia ,tfae obduracy of th^
Jew8» who were so stubborn, that' the many wonders^
^« performed one after another, and on ih&same day, were
Hot able to convipce the doctorsi Nevertheless jJe.
' Jsui^ far from being (j^isiqouraged, determined stllVfu^
-■ J;^ef \a exhibit a specimen of his powe^. , A dnmb man,
.{^Pisessed with a de?il« was presented >^o? Christ, wfa<»
t fxpelled the demon but of bim^ and the dumb began
to speak. At sigbt of this miracle, the people, as usual,
' were in ektasy, whilst the Pharisees and doctors,' whif
badalso exor<^ists^among them« saw nothing surpfisihg
in it: they pretended that their exorcists performed
•/
-t
130
their conjurations in the name of God, ivhilst Jesuf
roacle bis id the name of the devil. Thus they accus^
Christ of castiag out the devii by the devil, which
was indeed a contradiction. But this contradiction
did not prove the diirinity of Jesus ; it proved only
that the Pharisees were frequently capable -of talking
aonsense and contradicting themselves, like all super*;
vtitious Itnd credulous people. When theologists die- .
pute, we very soon discover that the wranglers on
hoth sides alike speak nonsense : "and by contradictiDg
tWemselves, impugn their own auth5t>rity.*^.i ,jl jv-i^V- ' ^
* Dora. La Taste, a c^brated Beoediodne «f Ae Mofidat
jftac^y WTO^ ^emp Jettera against the pretended miracles of tlie
Deacon Paris, whidtf he ascribed to the operation of the dciril.
His zeal was rewarded with a Inshopridk; his partizans did not
perceiTe, that the arguments which ftis monk employed in com-
Imfing the mirades of a Jansenist, d^ltroyed, by a rd}oaKd, the
tSBPades of Jesus Christ,, which were 'less amj^y attested^ than
Unse of Patk. A. Swiss and Ekotestaut dergymm has aba flt-
tfcfked the fnaacles of Fythagcoas, Apdlonius ThyaneuS) jSod
the SeT^>hic St. Erancis, in a manner which equally destroys aU
those Christians have inserted in the gospel See the bode ip-
titled, De ndntculis quae Pythagoroe, Sfc, tribuntur libenur, dudcire
FMleku&ero HelveHo, Dtiaci, 1784, in 8vo. The fiunoos Wool-
0Uia composed a woik vaudier the name of ''-Discourses on ilie
Mlcacles of Jesus Chiist^-' S vols. 17*^, in wiAdi he pi!9Vfls» that
even acoordkig to the Others of the church, all the jnirad^ivf
i ; Cfazist are onfy allegories. Mr. Woolston's discourses were fo
' eminent for the lucidus' ordo in argumentatum, incontrovei^
4de reasotdn^ and irtflexible justice, that the secular arm was
' 'emi^(^ed to crush him ': thus, a man, of the most blameless iBm-
kiers, whose 'literary labours in theology divines and bisiwps
Str^ in vmi to le&ite, became an ittustrious example of (jdbe
persecuting spirit of churchmen, whose integrant and wngwio-
aiy dispodtions, while seconded by the temporal power/ (thus
iec%n>caBy eSad&ag each other) no pleas ctf humanity or sacred ;ju4-
^b» dfiii'eoptrouL ' ^ ./,:f^l^.
V:-
m^
£' V^^'^-
.y V
^"*^^l^^, CHAPTER VliL'^;"i^^'^%^
■- 'm^f^-. ': ^ ■ ■ [■ . - . ■ -' ^ ,■■ • i'."
i»P WBAT JESUS DID DURING HIS ABODE AT'JEaUSAI.EM ;
. P<!tBA.T 18, AT THE SECOND PASSOVER IN HIS MISSION* ^
■ ii^riiRi^ •c5i2#:^i;--^?^-.r- '^z ■ --ci-?; t'i|-\'. -'^-••'
i-OUR doetor had closed the first yeatr of his miS8io»^
ia a very glorious manner. He repaired to Jerusaleiit|<
with a view to try his fortune, gather the fruit of his'
labours, or form a party in the capital, which he^
hoped to carry, after havipg acquired adhereflts in jthiej
oountry. — Thfere was, inched, every reason to l)elieTQ,_^ i
that •the noise of the wonders which he had operaiedf .
tbe yeir f^receding, is Gtiiiee, would produce a livelft '
effect on thi6 ppptilace of Jerosaletn, but it produced^ ; ,
consequences very opposite to those yfrhlda Jesus ha^
hoped for or foreseen. It migbt be $ai4 that the in»^ >
fftraal legion which he l^ commaiuied to pass iotflrf/ "
tfafe ««^ine of the Gerasenes, bad ;fixed their abode iil|^^.f^
the beads of the inhabitants of the country. Th**»;
gOispei shews us in the former only an incredible batd?*
oess of heart. In nain Christ wrought before tfiel^ -
; eyes a multitude of prodigies, calculated to coofirxnt^
th« wondefs related to them ; in vain did he eiiipl(^f /
hit «Kvine rhetoifc to demonstrate, in the clearest man^'
nfr he was al^ the divinity of his mission; all Ml^
efibrts served only to redouble the cholei: of IM
eoemies, and iodace them to devise meand to puni^a
BMiB» whom they -pexisiated in regioding a^n ji
diffiiataB, aiMl a dAiig<^oaa impoitor.
>-
.A
. ■ <_ t '*>--. -■''--, ''•
■'. -• ■ . ■.•'._ " "^ • • ,;
It is true, the adversaries of Jesua -furpnsed him .
sometimes at fault — They reproached him with vio- \
lating the ordinances of a law venerated by them as
sacred,- and from which he bad promised never to ;
depart — They regafded these violations as a proof of f;
heresy, and it did n<)t enter their heads that a God
: could raise himself above ordinary rules, and possess >i
k the right of changing every thing. They were Jews '■
—and, therefore, ,obstinatdy attached to their divine '
■ ordinances; and they did not conceive how a true .>
messenger of God could allow himself to tixiipple , '
underfoot, what they were- accustomed to regard as -
sacred and agreeable to the Deity.* , .; ^ .\ ,- , .> ^,i^^_^::,M
-'■^■r - . . .'-'-:■? ■ ■■ , v. rr.. .''..•-.■:>,;--?•
> * The Jews, £be most superstitious^ hatk>n on earth, lelying :,1
tq)On the supposed promise of their God, have alirays eqiected' .v
the coming of a monarcn or conqueror, yrho is to elevate ihem •
firan disgrace, and crown than idth triumph. It was iinpoBrfk r
Ue for them to see this^ defiverer in tlie pers(m of Jesus ; wluv ^
instead of bdng the restoier of the HelKtew nation, was iUi dc*«^
troyer, and ance whose coming th^ seem to hove lost all&voar :
' witili God. . To those who assert that this destruction, and the V
^Qsp^rioa, of t}ie Jews, is a proof of the truth of Christian ]^ro> - ,.
phecy, it is- answered, that it was easy to foretd the ^aepeaaea ' >
: </aDd destiiuction .of a restlesai, turbulent, and rebellious "pec^ief
who were cmitinuany torn and convulsed l^ intestine diviaoos ; ^ ^
beades, they had been often coiKluered and dispersed. Tba ~"
temple destroyed by lltus^ had {oevlously sufferel the same &1» '
iJSrem Nebuchadnezzar, who carried the orptive tribes into Assyw
rii^ and spread them tibreugfaout his teiiitories. ^Tbe ^jspawni
„.M the Jews is more peroeptiUe than that of odier couquend
' nations, because those nations have genera%,^after'a certailii
time^ become confounded with their ccmqnerors ; whereas the
Jews -refuse to interminj^, by domestic connections, with''ibK
wiiere they reside and have re^dody nudntaiin^ Iftis
It is diflSsvut with the Cuefaies or Panis of IBenia
as well as the ,4rtpeniana who .dwdl in MahaMkan
>■ ' Jr''
- s ■ ' '■''i. " " • -^ - •-"«■-.-' »-- ,
8.; fc
laSr4,
v.- ■ •'■ "'^. '^"^ -.■■■"
->, So many .obstacles drd not.discpurage Jesus. He deter-
mined to supceed at any p.irice ; and tbougl^ without a
toiraciebe might have foreseen what would be the issu4|
of his enterprise, he was sensible he must conquer or die »
that fbrtune~favours only, the brave; and that it was
nepessary to play an illustrious part, or tamely consent ■
to languish in misery^ in the solitude of some obscur|^.
jullage in GalileeJ -,.•*
'^ On arriv ing at Jerusalem, he devoted his first carfes
ip sick paupersr— the rich had their own physicians.
At this time there was in the city, and near the sheep
port, a fountain, or famous pool, of which, however,
with the exception of the Gospel, no historian has ever
spoken, though, from its propertieSj it well deserved
tp be transmitted to posterity. It wag a vast^edifice,
nound which stretched five 'magnificent galleries, in the
centre of which was a sheet of water, that possessed '
tdmirable properties^— but these were known only to
poor people and mendicants, and they knew theih
.doubtless by a particular revelation. \ IJnder' these
galleries were seen languishing a great number of
' wreCches, who patiently . waited for a miracle. God^
on giving tOLtbe waterofttjB pool the faculty of curing
all diseases, had annexed aVbndition to it— -The .first
wha could plunge therein after an angel bad troubled '
it, which happened only at a ceitain time, coold xdpj^
oaontXKS. The Hciirews ranain disperatd, because :^ aretia^-
apctal,*into]araiit, and Uibdl;y- attached tp ihdr wpeistitioiui*^'
Moreover, ib^Atta of the Aptetles dearly prove, tbat the ^^
fa^pan %0( btf dupened,^ even before the time a£ SesoB. -SyinW
cv^from Greece, F^t^ Arabia^ &c tbke feast of PeirtdcbBt,
Acts & 8. It #88, in &ct, only the inhalbtttots of Jtkdea^ weie
dtaiwned by the Romani, aA^..the dc^ath of Gbxtst-^r^Hamty:
1^'
obtttn the benefit of a cure. Hie chief magistrate of
Jerusalem, who probably knew nothing of the exist-
ence of this marvel, had not established there any re-
gulation of police. The most forward and agil6 of the
paralytics or sick, and such as had i^iends atways io
readiness to throw them into the wat^f When iti^ras
troulbled, ravished, often very unjustly, the merCy of
being delivered from their diseases; f.H? *%>»i*>v
, . A paralytic, among others, had bieen there fbr thir-
ty-eight years, without any body b'avmg had the cha^
rity to lend him a helping hand in descending to the'
fountain. Jesus, who beheld him lying on his bed;:'
asked him if he wanted to be cured ? "Yes," answers
ed the sick man, "but I have nbbody to put me idt*^
the water when it is troubled." **That signifies no*
filing, (replied Jesus) — Arise, take up thy bed and
walk," This wretched man, perhaps, not unlike
many of our beggars, who, to soften the public, feign
diseases they do not laboi^ under, and who on this ee^
casion might be gained over by some trifle to be ao^^
cessary to the farce ; — ^^this miserable, we say, did fiot
leave him to speak twice-— on the order of ^eSus h&
took up his couch and departed.' ^^''^■- r^^-
I Among the Jews, howler, they ^d not, as among^^
ail, promenade On festival days* This cure was pet»*
formed Gh the l^bbath. Our panalytic bdving beett^r
met by a man of the law, the latter reprimanded him,j '
fbr ^RMlbg tb« flWliiwwce* of r^igfioB laf can^fing^'
h^l)ed* Tfa^ inuas^tesior bad no other exctise Hey
giv% but tW tie wifo bad cored bmi had at the taitf<^
tine commanded him to do ihts. He was t^en ^eiii<ji'
tioBed ftboirt the prasoB who bad given this ordai^;
bat lie knew nothkur of biu. JeMs hod not taid^^ '
who be was; an^ pi if the actios hwi been ▼eiy'^v
(Nrdinary, t'he person on whom the mjrade was petf
formed bad not informed himself of the author of it.—^
Here the matter ended, as they made no further en-
quiry. But Jetus having sometime after met the pa-
ralytic, made himself known to him, and then the lat*
ter informed the Jews of the name of his curer. Tfaiese
fiCebrews were so irritated, that from this instant
they formed the design of getting Christ put to death,
because, according to St. John, he had done t^h^etftingf
ontheSaihath day.*
' Nevertheless, it is not probable >tbat this wa3 the
tfuecsuiseoftbe rage of the (Jews. However scrnpur
loos we suppose them, it is presumed that their pb|^«'
jiccans and surgeons did. not think themselves obliged to
refuse xBedicines to the sick on the Sabbath. There (s
reasQa to believe, that Jesus, not content with fi^xmg^
did fnofeorer order those he eured to violate t][ie ,Slab-
bath tiy carrying their bed^ which was a servile wo^Ict
<tt ratlier these unbelievers regarded the joainacli^. c^
the Saviour as mere delusi<Mis, impostures, tiicks cf
dexb^ity, and himself as a cheat, who naigbt excite 4it'
turbances.
iesiw having learnied iksA thi^ Jew;^ were ill diaposed
towards him on account of the transaction of the Sab-
hatb,. which they accused him of vtdhHiing, «(feaipfed
to jnsti|^ .hiiQpietj^ 3^ naa^^ a l^ne djIilconT&e, te^inj^
to p»9Wtiia(: fee^a? the ^osji (pif Gcfd^ a|i^ thatljls JFar
t4i«r«i»tihocifled kiw^ot tp<)fes<wy^4;h»^'ifal'^fe ' J^ilt h^-
took carenort'to expkiia liimseM frvtfJMiamt^ mM^'m
filiation; and byiiisambigu«*us 4tttig»i€ige,W«Bii»ttte4^
the ^t^rnity of hk father, biut did not calihiin Gofli T«
the J«W« divining his pl^ject, we,i:9 very taiieh 4|^^^
<L-. . :
—(5 >"— ; r-.y^-^rw -•.-^f.;^ .,
•■•'/".■ .rg:^tfyi^^^
■V^>' -:
•
■ '■ .• . t!:.|?KqoJr,,-,
1 -.■■■','■■.'
^p--'
'■■*'"-"*'. 1
i-'- ' ■■ .'•'. ' -H' ' ■■: "-'"
^i "'• ' ■ . ■ : '
-'^.''^:^^^
136
, ed at this pretensiOD.*^ "He changiedi therefore, hi«
batteries, and threw himself on the neceaity by which
be atted. "Verily, said he <to them, the Son dc«9
.nothing of himself, but wBat he seeth the Father do .
Tbe Father, who lovd^ him, sheweth him all things
that he himself doeth, and he will shew him greater
ivorks than these." By th^e expressions Christ
ceenis to overthrow his' own eternity and* infinite
knowledge; for he announces himself as susceptible
of learning somethiag, or as th^ ape of the Divinity.
' To impress ffie minds of these unbejievers, whom. '^
/Ms enigmatical jargon could not convince, be declared
tbat henceforth the Father will no longer mtermeddlev;
in judging men, but had devolved tbat ciire on his Son.
This, however, had no effect % as the Jews expected a J^
gr^tjudge,^ th^ %ere not yet staggered. Jesus, like v
oiirChristiah teafcbdrs, for want of better arguifieotSt^
look the resolution to iiQtimldate his audience, know- .
ing well that fear always prevents the exercise of rea- p
k>if,'^ He gave them, tbereibre, to Understand, that the
Ixid of the world was near, which ought to make them
( tremblcf .\
; The^testimooy^ of Jdio-Baptist, had, acrl we ^ave ^
. f 1%e seoood ««suBg of Chiisf^ hninwHately afbr tile d/i-
Mltxa^^xm^ ci Jexvauilan, attended witH aD the bI^ and ccnco^*
teiits of the end of the w(^,^ announced bofii in Mttthemr aai
hklsH^ ; and imii-these, and other pacts t)f, die New Testament
Jlti^apfaai, the disci^les^wace told, that th^ were to be |>iefl^Bt
l»tluHt 9oeaaon> either-afive OT raised up £p(9n the d That
pvicptioii was not topassawajuntS aH these tldngs' woe ftil^
*^^ic^ and both heaven and earth AtaM sooner fill than ftSM
pctdK^&BKk Jesty eipresfly sd^ «if sending' forth }Sa diadples -
to'greach the gospel, ^ye shaU not have gone over all the ddes
of^ Jtidah, until the Son of Man ImT come." The apostles there-
'*Tr **•
.f"?--
^'■Ai-*-^:re^-
■^>i
sfeltfh, farai^ed i?!j<^-fif^ 6ocde!i*es of J^v«; but oh
th^ other *icfei tW6 «fiflfef6tifc^ they hkd r^ifiafyd bfei*
,t^feen' tbfe ddndut^ 6'^ th^ Falfter, and th^t of the M»^
runner, destroyed tTmfbftie of this testifiiowy ? 6Wr drt^
tof^ (Vfi^^rfrfeH^ th^r^briEi ttt' hSfe fttf neeicf of it, iin(I
•trtiVe even fo W^AkeW il« vSIue. HkWeis «i hUfftH/g
dad d sfHttingH^ to t-traiW- ^oii ^fVf nmhg fhr A ^dn
sdhto rejoiciinhk Ifg^i ; IHt^ a gfeOlHi-tbitntsithintfisV
Here be appealed to his Wori^, Whicii he tod^rft^iWftt
to de itifalli bfe pto6^9 ©F his diving ttoiislaH. He tfff^
•rfoi^htediy for^dt a! tTifii Y^ftknetiltj th^ heiipbke to ptii^
pte who regardf^ hi^ mal^v^louS deedfr as delustiOtjAT
and itapottai<eS^; M« #^6rlra ^iie pi-ecisely the thiA^
Wbieh' it WiiA' oeiie'^itei'y t* prove eveff to the veiyHff^f
MfhlQ saw them ^erfefrnred! YeflSris ftiair^er of rea^
sbtihio: bas beerf siikre ad^ted wHh s^eesS by Chf^
tiiitl docttfrd, \^bd, #fi(ettidotrtits' 6robje«ionS ire adVaSfiil
\ ' • ■ : . : ^:' . ^: .-■ , _ ^ ,?^
iik« ^aSedH tie SUt Umu, mAsO^ eadef Ht^ v^ld. /nteevenif
bmriiig^ bdied the <ivedi^}tioi4 the suceearars of tbe apostlep went
wiBing to give imother inteipretation to tbe words of Jesitt;
and, therefor^ instead of the (destritctioii « the world bdi^
implied in these predictions, they, by a &dfity pecUfiar to &
d^, WliteA f%JilMl eimiiStm xbvtdh'^ hi stay dfficulty^ gave
out that Gloist onijr spoke in reference to a grand miUenium,
^HHi' Ws^- "wu MbOtKi 'ti aitabHsh en die' eartfi; Acfeord&igf^,
tf iflfii t/fSsSit/k %e fiflft dfiotintf In th^ fie^ eeiitury, and fihon
- IWhfl #al tHfaiHtaitikM to Piffiaa, biAap of Hienpdi^ by sxat
tM^Sciii "bf flii ilil%^ dlAJ^^ It^#n alsb eincbcaced by Jw
Wtt^maiim li«UttAiSS VitmuiMii^ and tiKtaoBti ahntriour^
na iii^HaiiP laCfi< ' Su^iisMfa^ tt>^(U! be oflhiifl & <i-3fcii*i foK^
Jilnlfi^ ^ftfPlfeigt flte te but be xnqftf
^ f«|fctf8fed!«#lfa-lBMdl^|^^ at Ihecud of lii&
^^^ ^ujlMM^<Bif g»i*i IbnauBJest d gahiaiA vA
nflNMRMa ilNloi^* ■ ■
I^3»
ced against the mission of Jesus^ throw themselves Im-
mediately on his miraculous works, which were at all
times incapable of convincing the very persons who
they tell us had been witnesses of them. 5^^,-;. -r^^^^.
Among the proofs. employed by Christ to exalt his
mission, he advanced one, the only tendency of which
is to destroy the mission of Moses, and make hii|i be re-
garded as an impostor. He told them. You have never
hetard the voic^e 0/ my Father; whilst it . was on the
voice of this Father, of whom M086S was the irtterpre-
ter, that all the law of the Jews was founded. How-,
ever, after haying thus annihilated the authority of
scripture, our orator wished further to prop his mis-
sion on the same scriptures, by which, according to
him, he was announced. "Fear," says he, " the
Father; I will not be the person who will accuse you
before him ; it will be Moses, in whom you trust, be-
cause you believed not in him; for if you believed
in him, you would also believe in me.* I am come
inHhe name of the Father, and you pay no attiention
to it; another will come in his OWQ name, and you
jwill believe m him. ^ .
- •--.- • ........ » — If
^1^ Notwitluitandm^ this teatimonj in finrour of MoMt^ >wl^
confidoice can be placed in the prstoiskms of. a jussi to ^^v^
iupiration^ who^ after asserting he wrought so many mirach^i
Muid not convert hi» people from idolatty ; and who, after fasv*
ang caused forty-sevai thousand Isra^tes - to perish^ - by due
s^ord; had the e^rcnteiy toawimie the Jatleof thenteekotiqip
on earth ? Is it certasn tiiat t^ bodes wIucharef|lttIih^te^<^to
Moses, and report so many miracukNu drgnmstarKys, .are ^gm-'
fectly authentk;?, and what p^pc^ haife we pfyhum^aeipn, ,^em^
the testixnony of a nwnber of soi^ia^&ixias igfuaas^
I0U8 Israefites, who were cyidentl^ the dasjfm td iioa§^ia9fiiam
" - ;v>. ; ^ :;'?:r -;" " ■--' ■ ' . /•' . ' ■ ■ •■ "■■ ;'-■■ "■' -/■'• '-'v -"^ •■'i
-:^ ' '/^ ■ C . •' • - \' ." ■' ..;■■-./• .;.i-;"';;'' '-'.^'^
f
they found it unconnected, contradictory, olffensive, andf -
blasphemous ; tlie fear of seeing the end of the worldj^
arrive, did not hinder them from perceiving the wantf
of^ust inference in the orator, who took away fronihii'^ .
Father, and restored to him the quality of judge ofv' .
men, which he had at first appropriated to himself.^
Besides, it would appeaV, the Jews were of good cou-*
rage as to this end of the world, which events had so*
often belied. Their posterity, who beheld the world^'
subsisting after this, notwithstanding the express pre-^J
diction of Jesus and, his disciples, have founded theii^;
repugnance for his doctrine, among other things, on^. J
tlus want iof accomplishment; and from his sublimi^>
discouriSe the incredulous conclude, that it is very dif-t»
ficuit for an impostor to speak -long without contract
dieting and detecting himself. - ,'1 i ;
^ The inefficacy of tKts harangue made Jesus per-' "^
<;eive, that it was in vain to prosecute the-plan of mira4r
cles, in order to draw over to his party the Jewd of Jeru-
salem; ■ He forebote therefore to perform 4hem^ thought
the circumstance of the festival of tbe passover would
seem to furnish him with a very favourable oppdfttinUjf;"
It even Jippeiars he was completely disgusted with-'thie in*;.
iferediility of these wretches, w'ho showed thieniselTesi.p.O'
ways disposed to witness the gr^at thipi^, which l^
hiad exhibited with success to the inhabitants of! Ga4it^
if^.' • To see miracles/ there must be a «implicity>
WlJre iPiare in a capital than in the qbuntry ; bteSfdeSi-H^
; Mie popu lace are well disposed eyeit in large cities, ti^
^^gi'sbates and. best informed ^persons pommohly ^^P '
ji$|8^f^ bija)wark agai^stiCTj^dulity.*^ .r/: ^r^V
y/J^T^ Ve iaye hg^ ^ ,tM {K>pula«e runnm^ to ihe miradbs of
M. Fans, ^od beUeving tliem ; . we Jiave evcsn hea^, persons of dis*
tingiushed rank, and women of quality, persuaded dl tiidr i^-a
.*■ -i ■ ■
:-^^:
, i. ' :^'_- ; "^ -'^ iiyvlV'VVJi.^ .- ■• /■ •'■^'J-y':
{
The same thing happened to oor thauipaturgf in.
Jeru5a]em. Perhaps h^ despaired pf the salvation of
tiii5se injjclels, for during tjie sl^^rt sp^pe of time he so-.
J9M^ned in |;i]^t city, he kept po measur^^ w^tb then» ;
b^ loftded \kfim with abusive language: but it does
not apppgif.^that |,I)i^ plan ^aipgd pFoselytpp, thoijgh
shijc^ 4:hat ti|?)e [^is djsc'^ples aq<l the pripst? have fre-
quently encjpayoured to 9i|Gceed.by thje lil^e n^eans,
and ^yen l^:q<^r^o^_^^:^ ;,.^.^p. ,^.^^,^.^
a&tj, attest theqn opeqly; but tl^ese mi^ades were never aUe
to conquer the ino^dulity of the Mc^nist deegy, ot ibe govertt-.
meat, nor the police ; and the latter^ as every l^y fcoows^ a&-
oeeded in putting an end to the miracles of the Most High. Tbam
occaaoned the foUo^g epigr^ V¥f^ , V©i5^ jthf . g«^, ;9f J^j
* > ^ t; '^ Depar le rot, defense a Dieu^ ^^'tS^|> ^n§ ATt?SD}4
* -M£^ )t> f' '3%e kfeg^wmrajands tlat CW ijljafi i»ttti
. * ^miil 1^ 8 l^fMF W^ mir»cle» ^ this spot - i^f^.rt ff^;^!^
God «a« '^Ndient ; ^ jpq h^^ger p?rfowed i^wH^ ifff t)l«
J|lf)^fl4fts, m wth jij^ut, daoBi, ^d in the garret* 4 ^ f^v^
,:,f It ia r^^ f/i f^^ctiaA, says W^abs^ ^t^ tb^ rd^gwn <if
1|^ Christians^ wVd^ boasts of giving the justest idea f£ the
I^pinty ; which edicts diat Divinity oli the side of goodness
;f - aikl incxcy; when his worshippers are accysed of b^ig txam
'^ biilrat . ^od saftguaiary ; which piKles itself on liarrii^ taug^
t^ purest tystem of TBCKaJHtj ; vhidi pceten^ t« have eii»
^p^ifished o^nea|4: ao^. p^ac^ for evfx jm<«(^ those wkf.
jgiffBeas itj-Hiti^^ieD, I saj, to. remark, that this region Ifff
/ .erased more divisicnis and disputes — more political and civil
wars, and 'uqpe' crimes of every spedeB, than all the other
xdlgious in the world united. If it is aaid that the fonlgium
fi '^eaixung will prevent^ this superstition from produciiiy; on
ft(^[^e sudi dS^ipal e^^^ : It is' aiisw^xed, tl^t fanktidipfn, i^
^ - i^ 4^1^ dmgei«j]iB r : and Oa^ anksfe Hhs drase Itt^ ttfiata^^f
j::\
. •?:■'«
f :
m
ila ghojt, in tlji^ journey, )mu% ba4 np AM<;qeis9i»^Uif
disciples d^d not meet with good cheer; to sustain life
they were red 4C(?d to the necessity of taHing a little
«orn in the environs of the city ;^ and were surprise^ <(t
this occupation on the Sabbath day.-rTb^ violatipii
of tbe law appeared to the Jews a greateJT cjrin^ tb^
theft. In yajn cotnplaint was ina4e/to their jnaster^,
from him no satisfaction could b^Sntained. He beat
off the Pliarisees, by coippaifiQg; what bis disciples bad
done with the conduct of Pavid, "wbq bio^self, on an
€mergency^ ate, and also made bis foiloweF?^^ eat, t(»Q
shew-'bread, th,e use whereof the I^ord F^seryed for tbc
priests alpne :^ adding, that " the Sabbath was madQ foi
ipan, and not man fortbe Sabbath ;** therefore, he con<f
<|lVided,**that the Son pf man is Lord of theSabbath»**t
t Critics have remarked in several circurostanQQs (^
the life of our man God, that bis hunxanHy was
fVequently liable to commit mistakes. For ^xantpl^A
on tbe occasion we speak of, be gave tb§ i\ai^^
pf Abiatbar to the high priest, who permit^.
David to eat the shew breads The Bo^Y Crbpst
t^ eff^ win ar«( }^ ibfi mo^r ,80 loog «8, 9U|wbr9l7^ion f^
be £eld in comdclera^doii, jand sbaD have power, there viQ b^
disputes, penseCHtHms, inquisitions,' reg^ddeB, disotdets, &c.---flo
kqg as maiddnd flhiA be so hmettidnal as te conader TeHgkn at
«. ^UQg i^ tbe firat lmportaiioe$ its vddisten vifi have ^d epptvw
tijuer of c^nfiwn^^, ecery t^png w €!Br1||, ui?4« thp pttfttapcf
«f senrin^the XHyiQUy:, tljtatU^ of p^cmf)^ tMr qvr^ «>tere|t«;
^0ie C|hzistiaQ' diurph has oaiv oae way of wJ|lng away th^
accusadon Inroughl against 1^ of being iiitdlerant kod mnC
naaody, sotemaily to 4ecitai^<* tibk^ it Is not alowaUb to yeimMti
miD$aKe ^ «Be ftarhiB opmoni." But HiiiJIs fdiatti^ dd^
'taMatt.3di.St.MaAii?tx4eft ' ,"" : V ., ;^i.
■:;iv(^rS>^^
high priest wascalled Achimelech.TheerroiLwould beno^.'
thitijgif an ordinary miln had fallen into it, but it becomes '
enibarrassing in a man-God, or in God made(man^^
vrhOtti "we ought to suppose incapable of blunders. *
On the same occasion, Jesus, to justify the conduct '
of his disciples, maintained that the priests themselves
violated the Sabbath, by serving God. in the temple on
thatday; and this, according to the principles of oui?'^
theology, is styled visibly confounding sem/e works
with spiritual. But this is to have the same idea of a
robbery and of the oblation of a sacrifice; it is td' ->•
tax God with being ignorant of what he did, by orif
daiiiing, at one and the same time, the observance and
the- violation of a day Which he had consecrated to -
repose.' ''' '' .,: : ■■. ^^. '.'/^ ... • "^ . , . ^ -
Qur doctors furtner justify Christ, with saying,
that, as God, he was absolute master of all things ;
l$ut in that case he ought to have procured better ' ~";
cheer'^to h la disciples. It would not have cost him
niore! to have per in it'ted them to encroach CD the
table of some rich financier of Jerusalem, or even
tiiat ofthe high priests,; who lived at the experibe of
0od bis father, than to permit his disciples to forage
|D thi^ &elds of the poor inhabitants ofthe oountfy.
At least it, was previously necessary to verify such so-'
Vfereigaty Over all things in the eyes of the Jews, /
who, ifrbin not knowing this jmportaDt truth, werena^ J^
tujrj^ify^ offended at the conduct which the Son of God
8een[iie4flft authorise. It is apparently on this princi- '
p|eii8eserall€hrt&^n doctors have pretended, that aU v ;.
things appertain to the just ; that it is permitted them : ;\
to seize on the property of infidels ahd: the unholy; V^^^
th«t the clergy hav« right to levy contributions on the ^ '
"yvi .,-
people ; and that the Pope may dispose of crowns ^t
his pleasure. It is on the same principle thd^t actions |
are defended, which unbelievers regard as usurpations
and violence, exercised by the Chrlstiabs on the inha-
bitants of the new world. Hence we see, that it is of i
the ^utmost innportance to Christians not to depaitt
from the example which Jesus has given them in this!
passage of the gospel ; it appears especially to interestl;
the power of the Pope and the rights of the clergy.
.Pretensions, so well founded, did not, howeyer,|
strike the carnal minds pf the Jews; they persisted inf
believing that it was not permitted to rob, particularl}^
on the Sabbath ; and not knowing the extent o^ tb<^
rightspf Jesus, tbjey took him for an impostor^ ai^
his disciples for knaves. They believe^d him to be i^^
dangerous man, who, under pretence of reformiog thi^
Hebrews, sought only to subvert their laws, trampled]
on their ordinances, and strove to overturn their relM
gion. They agreed, therefore, among them8ely<es, t(t
collect the proofs they had against him, accuse, an<i:
cause him to be arrested; but our hero, who. had il|«i
formation of their designs, frustrated them by Iftiuriiig
JeFusalom,. >«r#^i- • --■.^vrat
t'^ji'
V, i~ -.-^^^^ ■.:;.. .^■' ,^;trj 5 .^.^::^
^i^:r>fooj no CHAPTER IX. ')\'\3»oTo'/ftfus
tH^^d«s intef}ti<Mi of btsi eoer^iies, ^« ^gi^in liieidok iifid^^
i«i!P fa the ^•rkidgdf m\v«c\e^, #t«h d Viev^ t^ gi^
^p«Mh fk^daf« of his ifii^iob ta |^sd(}» of ^k:^ fetbtif^
ibfe di«pOfifffio«» tbdti t^e iDh«lbi^lyts of ^tfsjvkfi^.
mi 4ispit^mie eCftvti^eA hn^, th^ to g«?ti tlJF6 cjt^ittt,
,ii ii|<^s%t4U tr^ee^Hdfy «& ^rt^^rtie^t tf}$ fd¥d)6it iii the ed-^
/^rimk^ «^ ptiam ih tiwf eoitoti^ «e gi^at ««iiibe^ of
sf^Ri€«9H«f^ ^ho w%lif» id doe ti«be antd p^stcei^ aid bim
i&^¥tiifift(i«btng'ih«- fMCTiduMy {tf^^^ritMS, dodloi«, ind
iiAlg|«tmii8^7 Mill fmi h44ii> M ^^otftf^^n t1 t\k i»0)y
^iy^i4lite'«bj«ctdf hlr«agordai(|yM^ fi
* These new prodigies, however, produced lid re-
markable effect. The Jews, who had been at Jeriisa-
l^m, during the festival of the passover, on returning
home, prepossessed their fellow -citizens against, our
idventiirer. If be found the secret of gttiniog the admi-
^l^tion of the peopfe in the places he passed through
^^pD leaving the capital, be bad the chimin to fiud op-
posenlB in the Pharisees and doctors of these places.
The following faQ.t shows to what a degree the people
%ere prepossessed.— rOn a Sabbath day, Jesus entered
' jfitathe synagogue of a place, the name of which has
;jjK>t been presenred^-— He fouad there, perhaps, by
- I
A i. . ■
.^'
■-.'■>'
■~,1
.J)
chande, a nan who faad^or said be had a withered haad^f ;
The sight of the d iseas^d^ Who was {wobably some nc^ ";.;
ed mendicant and Iciliave, aiid.the presenGe of thephy^ _
sician, exieited the attention of the doctors. They
watchedJestiscloselV—- "Let us see, (s^idthey, one to
ahothe'r) if he' wil{ darie to heal this tnan on the sabr .^
bath day^*' But obserVii^ that Jesus remained ina«i>
tive, they questioned him on the head of the sabbatby
of which, on so many occasions, be bad appeared to make
but Httte account. It was apparently one of the principal
points of his reform. He was perhaps sensible, like iia«
6f thie^ utility of atrrogating a great numbet of festi vite.
Be that as it may, the doctors asked him, " Master* Is
;^tt^lawful to heal on this day ?** Christ was frequent-^
'IV W%e habit of ansWefring one, question by an<^betf;
- !^l.ogic -^as riot the science in which the Xewft< «rere
%<«t conversant. Jesus replied, to them,- "1» it laffe- -
%1- tb 'do good on 1;he sab^th day,'0r tO do evif?
;U£b'sa% life, or to tieike it away ?" This qucstioa, ac- -
tbrding to ^- Mark, confoundfed the doctors. Jfe-
. 'vertheless, there is reason to believe, unless we stipf>.
pose the Jews to have 1)een a hundred tinies more std-
. pid than they really were, that this question^^was very
' ilif timed. * They were prohibited from applying tdscsr-. ^
' vilie ONCcupatiohs only, but must have been penBitt€>d W
discharge the most pressing obli^tion^ of mOraUty
. ^ven on the sabbalfh 'day. - It is to ^e pr esuined, tbl^ a
% jiiiiid^ife, for example, Unt her ninistiy on tliat^i^,
,i Jtf on every other.* ,
.f--^ ''■'■ ■' ■-■■,■'■ _ •. \ ..•:■■;.- ,
l^/^if 8te la iiOiaph a;n. ^ note taken fsam the *Mnmd^ pr9^
Q'' Aftil was pemitted to anoint the toA witli o3 on tlie Saibbatb
' fltirifnuch x%Qur, dnt Ibey iBA not slBiBtw tiKntadres, ot ^dilt Aqr
to sstisQr flie most upraising wants of life^ Ttaa paiii{ps-^e
lis •
. , .:. ^s8Us cotoiuaijBeji his questionis, and a&ke^ ^thefi^^ , if
^hen a sbeej) fell into a 4ilch on the , sabbath d^y,
, -^Mj would not draw it ;.out? .^^^Jspni hence, without
awaiting for, an answer, he; very justly concluded that
it was permitted to do good on the, 8abh«itb. To prp.ve
it, be said to the gi^k, whom; he had perhaps suborn-
ed to play.thi^ scene, in the" synagogue, *^ Arise,, stand
,iip,and streitcb forth your ban4}"; and imniediatelybi?
liand became as the other.- ^ut J^us, ren^arking
Ithat this prodigy opeiiatediio change la theiE^D^inids,
,4af^d a f uf ious look on the assembly, and, ^ bpMlQg
< ,frith a holy cj^ipieri instantly ,;ft^rao^,, the |det^t^ble
'^v,M& acted' Jw^Im]^ ;i for these^ panghty d9ctp|Fp,^)Re|it
; immediately, and took coup^ with the • olppe^f .of
Ceroid, *?. how they might de^roy him,"^ Je^v»;s^, who
.was infbrmed of reT:4ry thing by bjs adherents^, ^^ed
, itbe/Sea fihofe,,wherjef it was ,fi^w.ay8.,^y ^or Jifm to
,;^ect hi^ escapne. ^4« disciples,; several pt^^v^jbiom
^juider$too4 pasfigation, followed him . .thither. ; ,, , . A
«tiQultitadep<f, people, more credulous than ttie doctors,
.j^aired t0j,hio|i coi the uoi^ of.bis^tnarvels. .Tbere
vcaine^. to him hjearers from .Galilee, from Jerusalenc),^
.•il^pin Idumea^ .from the other side .Jordanv.:an4,pyen
Q_ftT9ni.Tyrj5 J^nd; Sidpn. This muUitud^ furnjshed^l^im
; ?|?Ritb a preti^^t; for giving^ directions tp^^iis d/spijj>lcs
fi^^ hold a bark in rei^jnefs, tb^ he flight i^ojt,)t>e,^.too
^y^vu^li tfarppged,,bi)M9 trut|i|to escape, in caseit ^))p|4|d
, |i)e attempted to pursue him. , #, <^ «^'
, 'fi - On this shore, favourable to his designs, Jesus per-
B^fonoed a great iiunalier of miracles, and cnted aa infi-;
' ^t^txscanon to the zeproadies .>^^ wltidi- the Jje^ir^. loaded iTe^
>' ^^ip:thatiiead,.vwlu> had refonned Xb^ ndiculgus custoijai^b^ hSi own
( >- ♦ St. Matt xiL St. Mark vi» and aL
. •>
nity of peo{>le unknown ;-; we must piously believe it.-
oh the Wdrd of St. Matthew and St. Marfcj* AH thetej
wotiders were performed on the sick, and especiallyv
oh tbfe pkissessed. ' The latter, at' whatever -das tanteex
they perceived the>' Saviour, prostrated themselves^,
before hicbj rendered homage to his-- glory, and pro-
claimed hina the Gbiist; whilst he, always full of mo-*
desty, commanded them with threats not to reveal him ;i
the whole to aGCOmplish a prophecy, which said of him;'
Ht shall not dispute nar cry, nor make his voice be heard^
in the streets ;t— -a prophecy, which; however, was fre-'
quefntly contradicted by his continual disputes with the-
dlDCtors and Pharisees, and by the uproar he frequently-
occasioned in the temple, the streets of Jerusalem, and-,
tbe^ynagogues in the neighbourhood. ' ^
Nothing k more astonishing than the obstinacy of
the devil, in acknowledging Jesus, and confessing his
divinity, and the stubbornness of the doctors in not re^'
eogtiizing him, in sopite of his cares tamake the one-
silent t<)' convince the other. It is evident^ that the:
S6n of God bias coOk^ with the sple intent of prevent*
ing the Jews from prt^ting by his comings and acknow-'
ledging the titles of hiis mission ; it may be said that her
has she*rh himself merely to receive th^ homage of
thedeVfl ; atletot we peirceive only Satan and his di*i
ciples proclaiming aloud the quality of Jesus. ' ' ■ »
When Christ had preached much, cured much, and
exorcised miuch, he Wishied to be alone for sQaie time;
toTeflect on the situation of his a£^irs. With a view)
toenj^y niorie liberty, he went up into a mountain^
whtire he spent the trhole night. The result of bis
solitary i^ectioiiB and prayers was, that Jle.stoo^ 19
♦ Si Matt.<JDi, St. M^ iil St. Luk^ vL — , ,
lieed of assUt^nts ; but that he could no longer, with* ,-
■ Ottt giving tmibrage to ibe government, contiiiu^i,'
i^nrarching up and down wUh a company so numeroui^<
' as that of the idlen which he dragged after him in hii,
^ suite. ^.A'uo,,-. ;. /si^iy 5^ - ,. '.f'-
When day appeared, bcrcalled his discif^es, at least ;-
those among them whom he judged most worthy of cpn^^v
fidence, and selected twelve to remain near bis person.*v.
This is what St. Liike says; but St Mark insiDuates* ;
that he chose biff twelve apostles on purp<^e to send.' i
■ lliem on a mission. As Jesus himself howevejra^,
' sures us, that be cbos^ them to ie near him, and. as the.
apostles, content with begging* and making provi*.-;*
ao& for themselves and their master, did not pern -
form any mission during thie lif^ of Jesus, at lea^ '
Out of Judedj we will adhere to tfa^ first opinion, f.^ .
, The names of these apostles were as follows ;-—r
Simon Peter, Andre Wj Matthew, Simon-Zelotes*, .
James, -Pbilip^ Thomas, Jude, John, BartholomeVy ^
^ another Jatioes, and Judas Iscariot the treasurer. i^..^ ^7>
:^ :.^ Jesusi bad not money to give such of bis disciples m, i\
fbe was about to s^id on missions:; betold tfaem no doubt ;
' 'i* * , ' * ' ■■ ■
:pto:goand push their |brtune.--H;e, boivcver, took caret "^^
f to impart to Uiem bis ^secrets, teach them the art pfj|>i<« v
:lRcle8k and give tbem receipts to cijire diseases and.cagt >
lo^t devils; in snort, he comdaunicated to them tb^ '
I^Qwer of remitting sins, to bind and to unbind in/ the ^
QMiA oC heaven ; prerogative^, which, ^ if tbey did, no$^ ''
JHffich ' ^e apostfee, have; dheen worth iminens^ t^e&r
~^^iii» tOttbeiSr succeswra. To Jtie );^ter,tbe rpugi^H
stiff ba» become a crettrr , 11 Ytaff of command, rafltkitig
^ Iniqirer felt by the most puissant ^pverdgDSof ^
/-4r.^:- ^
. • St tike Ve jo: &ii^-i.iJL :.'V^^I:
«• ^ " 7
f '
■m
■■■v*ir
; . --.i
,U .tin,.
earth. The bag otHpaiet of the apostte*- fikr^^ir^
converted iuto treisuresi betrefices/ prindj^tiiBS, atrd^
revenues; permission to beg has become a right td
exact tenths, devour nations, fatt6iitfn tb6 sriostatii^
of the wretched, and iixr^o^^^l^dixii^ the pn^\'-
leg§ j0f pillaging 8ofiietjr«;ajad disturbing ^t with ubn^
punitjr. In fine/the ^ucqerao^k of these fii^^i^sioa^Ti
ries sent by Jesus Christ, became iiieii4ica»t»wboeii-i
joyed the prerogative df| knocking "^Vfowii^^^^^^^^
'who refused to bestow charities on themV ot to dl&e|r
their commands.- Many people have imagined, that
Jesus never concerned himself aboj^it the ^ttbsistence of
the ministers, of the church ; buli^if we. examine at-
tentively the gospel, and especially the Acts of the
Apotles, we shall there find the badis of tihe riches^
grandeur, and even despotism of the clergy.*- It juB
:■>
r * The independence ^ tbe Christian ^i^ u founde4 vpaa ibe
inind^et of thdr religion. Of this dictm^stance tii^ hsfe
taken care to profit; and, inqnessed ^th .this idea, th^, aftor
bong enriched by the generbsiltjr of Imigs^' have always prov(4
ungrateful tor the true Sources of {itat own opuloioe and psiji^:
I^pes.— What this body had g^ed through surprise ojr Jm|mtf
i^hsnce, it was found impotflfi>Ie to recover fins tbi£r l^iae|^^
They finesaw tiiat future generations, imMrig loose ftonf 1^
fetters of prcgiidice, might tear from them ^ae danatioDi||^|HBg[
had ganed, by extortions of tenor,' and tiie evJ3s df ha
iSbey thetefiire persuaded mantind, that they hdd
alone, what had been Jg^ep them by their
hyk miracle of credufity they were l»^^!ved on the^W<"#
tile iniaests of the do^ became 9eit)nraCe^ fro^
Mot devoted tO; 6od, and dioSenito be his
longer cw^unded whh , tke pro&i^ Itcw^^BBodjei^
Boonced all power over thcni.
befs of thdr own body, iflence ^fpta^'ieaiila^
«Qmo4ttod by tfaem w^ bp^ai^', aiid'tlie^ i«rM^r«^ ^
m
s*--
ntvet but to benefit tbemselyes and tbeir confidents, ,
that impostors devise reforms, or institute sects^.l^^ ^^^^
:• ' ;t ■.■•":■ '^ ''■■ .i ;■■. '»- 'v- ■■-*-'-^*^%" .»'"Ci''--- '^■''»/;- >'" -- ••" "^ ■;-*■ ' *'
pMal of God alone, were sacred and inviolaUe. Though they ccm-,
tributed nothing to pubEc charge, or at least no more than they,
pleased, their possessions were defended and enlarged by &natic'
soyerdgns, who hoped thereby to conciliate the favour of hearen.'
Jn &ct, those reverend wolv^ in shepherds' dothingy under pretencei
of feeding with instruction, devoured ifdth avarice^;, and secure in -
thdr disguise, flattened on the blood of their flocks, unpunished and
VDsaBDetb^Lj^^hristiamty UnvtUed, < ^ . ^ ^ -
t'.-
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3^
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79^ ^r;i5*£a^ ?«ii -filSjiJ fiTB'fi Vi»^V|4>%? ;.^r>{fel«r»TQ' %^?«3niJi# "
'{! rf^itt fjT/ip itf)^ .J«rl tei^w >90p.%:' ■
.'i^tal^&^D '^diit't^ya bsA&xRq'k 'Qim'm^'^rd-i Hs% JMfi^ifa^. ^ ;;_' 'T-
4^
■'*".;'.
->:
151
; xciv>'/t-f5, ?«^^{i<aa<ft<|,aKrf;^i;'^ m'iiifj^si^^-oJ %:rf!Otj tdesiif-
,: . ,:r^ id hsimn '^MiV'-tlAir i JiiJt Arj-J .;^^ ;^'^s^-
• ;' . : . ■ ■■;•..■ , i ■ '^ •;;.v><|^% .f/^ffj^ftiif^'.
V ,4£RMON ON THB MOUNlV-i-SUMilABT QF THE Uoi.ALltY ftV
4^iii',>l<i''BStJS— pBSERVATIOWS ON THAT MOftALITlfi^^tl^l jtifc
' rf"\ '- ■ '-f ••- ■ '■""■-■■- T- ■^■. '; - "-■■'■:*■-;'"■■. " . • ^ '■■■ ■ ' "'■■'■ >-^' ' /:- "'■ -^■;^ : .
<. THE dread of being arrested having constrained Je-
^us to abandon the cities, where be had too many eQ&>
ipies, the. country bjecaine his ordinary residence. : The
people, affected by his lessons, or at least some male
and female devotees v^hom he had converted, furnish-
ed provisiom to the divine man and bis foHo^jrers,
Obliged to wander about incessantly j, biii^ ib^ii^selves
'In movntatins. and desertsj, aiid sleep in ithe open air,
.purapbstl^f became frequently discc>ntented with their
lot; Aiid this kind of life* compared with that which
iiad preceded it, must ha!f;e ap(!)eared to themivVeEy v
dtstressihgi and often create murmurs. ^In spit&of tbfc
■inultitiide of spiritual graces, whith they '"fcould not
fjjil tOTeceiveih the society of the Messiah, these isste)-
^nal men expected something more sut^tantial, ptf 4^
Vtoting themselves tof his service. They were ^doubt-
'i%s» promised im portant posts, riches, and • poweF in
~^'ihe ktngdom he was aboutto establisb. Jesus dn this
y account' frequent!^ exp^nenbed almost as mjiicb diiOft-
^jc^uity. in retainiqg them,, as in convincing- th<?~^ifebeliipiuj
' >2ew8.,by:^is miracles and fine arguments. Tb^ mea^
>::<flilre of their! appetite, and well being, was at this time
.¥thek)nly rule itif their ftiltb^ To pr^ent their murmart,
'^Wn^ ifiiriiilariie theiii with a fn%al life, ^hftlr^^
'VVt ;.__;- ,:-,o;;
sioi^iy saw he would be obliged perhaps for a .long •
timeto co^e to make them lead, be pronounced an ora-
tion on true happirfess :,it is the ,one known by the
name of, the Sermon im the MoUht, and related by St. r •_■
Matthew, chap, v.^ * ^ v . /
/^ Acdtfirding w oar "OfatOY, "trae 'liap - ,
in poverfy >(^spinti that is, in ignorance, and contempt >-.
of a proud knowledge, which bids us exercise our rea-
son, and 8tri{>9 man of that blind submission^ which is -■'■.■
necessary to induce him ^to snbmlt to a guide. Qa
thts o^cifiion, Jesus pre'ached to his apostles and the ;
surrouhding tnoltitude, a pious docility which impti-
citly-^nredits eVery thing without examizfation ;** and ^ /
'*l«l*ft t>uj<tK Tchm in%<>^tfi:^ffA\i^ ('tit '(t*- i*'^! 'fe'fi'-< (^iqaaq -;
'^9^ ]£eB,"«ajB'Bo(ua(iger, lifinclly ftOow on in tte padis wSch --
"l^bcl^Jtljdien trod; they jbdleF^ beeaufe> in infancy they trese -
0|d tiuy miKt beHere— they hepe, because thar pipgenitprs °- -
Mc^ff^i- aid. tiny . MenAili, because they trembled. In ryoiim \ '
the ardour of our ,paiE^i»is, and. the continual il)nety -'(if ' our .-Q_.,
JRDses,' mevient US tl^ddng sehimisly of a rdigiofa' too austere
and 'gtoMny' to^Jeaflfe IS, by diance, a young man exanrriiieg it; '^^ >
bie ctoes jt ivitfiaAjytial^j w without perBererance ; he is often ^' ;,
. disgusted with «i sipi^e ■ glance of the eye>. on contemplating an •. \
clgset so re^rolting. In iiper ag^, new, passions and care^ ' : -
ideas of^ wakaDaaOj greatness, power, the deaie of richer, add > ^ - -
thie hurry of biimiess, absbib the^. whole attention <rf man, -^ / . ,
-var leare hhn b|it £ew moments to think of religien, whidh he -:'"■- /■_
Diercr has the iasuze to scru&uxe. In dd age, theiacukiep are '^ -;-
.bhaated, habits become mcorpotated with the machine, the '>-' ,^
senses are ddbOitated By time ;^ mfirmify, and we are no ''
hmger able to penetrate bac^ to 'the source of oiir opihiims;
Weft^ the fear (^ ' death .then renders an incaniinatwin, ov^
"HiiaA terror cdmmopfy preodes, voy fiable to suq^ndon.' Cnif
anthotity ^ao ffies . to the : support of the pp^w&es «f ^maa*
1^ ; ceqatp0Jkt i jtl|ei9 'to ignarana^ >by, fiirbidd^ enq^^ , and
Jm^ jtsetf^m comjuMaltepdwusB ,to:Bunidi aji^ wJKt qtfgpq?^ to ^o«
■■ ^, r .-. ;^ ^-.i^ ■ i<-' -"•<■-_{■.■-' ^^ .:..':- .^ "■,..• -■■si.,' •
shewed them, that" 'the kitigdorT) of heaven trmi Id be
'•the reward of^his happy - disposition. . Such 'ia*the
s seffse which the.church lias al ways. tJ^iveh'^tO' the w'drds
" ^iofi^esijs; B^fsied are ttte^podf in spirit^' for theirs is tie
y^i kiftgdom ofheavennln #liJ«8^ feo^ .9^* itef i%neJi^^r%j
. ''^; Among the apostles, there were some whose padsioii*
-ate dispositions wii^t hai^a ^eett'^r^3"*Wc'Vii *;6 tbfe pro-
<- /gr0S8 of th« sect • a it nitty 41* geti^ral'^b^ l^r^^u m^d that
v? rough' men devoid :ofedticaiiOii, bavse? refiofeivlr-mais^w i
^ ,^ iwrs. Jesus denaitSnstrated - to" them^he* ' neces.^t ty tif '
I meekness, civility, and patience, in ordg*!"to g^in 'i^rch.
(^selytes, and attain' i^sMBi^'s ; he redrrmttil^ded tothem
moderation and tolfei^iotii as thecertj^ti mfeans 6f ifl^
"* 'Sinuating themse^eiB^ int^ th<s mihds36f rhen, and thriv-
4itig in the v*«0rld,*arid ais the surest :vvay of making
* "^ tOtoqwests. '^TM»^1s^;. tbfe: tJue sefftfc'Of-i^iese vrt)rd^, •
Happy are thrmeiki/or ^theyi shaUinheni thetarthl^Mt
' \ I f«<li^i6WngijafterWaf^s ^6 fnsplir6:^'tl^ couragejf
them to untlersl^v thtit t6' li^'fe in t^rs^is ffelidity ,i«n4<l ^
aiftVtiifisllible qiiethodgarrft^xpiatiiig >iI|^u^^^^
ittif^- tfabm'tbftttfoifeir v^atlons^^sboiiCllP^t ^(iure^f^
ever; ithat >tlr^ir K^cs'shouki' be drted- op>; > thatj t<beif
nyseiy should termit«fiti3^(«indthal^theti< Itaip^fcsfaotild ^ »
be appeased. .fIMi«se' <Kye»qMitiofis miid'frihJinises "^^^iptPe
ind ispehsabiy ' Titec^arj^ to fortify -thi^ a|>6stles ag^^st
«v6ry4cc4den!^;w-hfcb, inithecours&ofttierfr enteppr^seffi
ffiigh£t)efa}^th^mH4]i vtheiiietUitie of a ^ef destitute
pfi i fiches I ami i^Qt^jRti 'an^ i ftncapabie' of if^OciH-ing^ vC
bim»df*or?6t^erS'^eIcoritfdrt8'ofie3tisfcesficB.''^::n vIJiBtV^j^,
♦i'dfe»o6jr;»With ?a^viewi"'r'iia dbiibt, ctf aitveetfeiiiiigi*be J
iGJt - of ^ li» apbsd^s^v recbih meisded > Qom^'assidnri-Jto cti^ #V
listeamg j^ltitude^ o£ivi^9»cb be; ai; ii^iia8L>hiiii:>paTit|pi
f l»od' jin the greatest needitri ii i^Str % tlitudtedt/i teadti^
.,.■■■">,'-.■ - ■■"- : '. ; ^r ' '■ -
■---, -s-
-'^' r».-
Ai-VV?;^;. ,.-_.. ,^C'.:^-*-.^
154
- 1 ■ ■•■■.■ ■ . . ~ ^ ..-.■■_■
perceived, that the Messiah felt the most impe-
rious necessity to preach up charity to |;iis auditors^
for he lived only on alins, and his success depended
obviously on the generosity of the public, and the
' benefactions of the good souls who hearkened to bit
^ lessoB^.^- ';:;.M:- ' ~ii^^*^:0mw^m' .>j^'f««^-^. ■
-r^The preacher recomisieirded peace and concord, disr.
positions indispensably neceeeary to a new born, w«aks
and persecuted sect; but this necessity ceased to op£-
fate» when this sect had attained-stfength enough io
dictate the law. .
'He afterwards foitified his disciples agaiiist the per^
SQCutions which they were to experience ; he address*
: ed himself tc^ their self-love, i|Mirniig tUeai on by mo- i
tiv<s» Oif l^onour : *• Ye are fssyis be) the salt of the earth, ;
^e light of the world." He gave theco to understand
^ that they were the " aucce^ors of the prophets,'* mm
'■ 90 much respected by the Jews ; and to soare in whose
:§k^, they ought t& expect the same crosses wbieb
. ^Ibioir iUustrioua. predecessocs heretolore exiMerie»e^;
In fine, he called on them^ to regard it as a Jelieit^^ ,
fjad most worthy oC-^toaffH^ly rewards, to be haledi, /
^, porsecute^, : (KkBtesaned, traduced, and to be deprived I
^ of ev^ tbing that is oommonly Kgaided aa corotUiil*
; ; tag the weUfbeiog aod bappmessctf man.
/ A^er having thus fortified bia disciples a^nat) the
'miafortuiies wbicfei would attend their miaaioD, he ad-^
I dressed himatif more partieularfy to the people. He pre^ <
>^ aentfid to them a new morality, which, ao fiirfKun being:^
f totally repugoaatte that of the Jens, could easily be 'i
feoooeiled with it. ^Things weve not as yslrstiffieiaBt-
pi^woakweed lor abrogating entirely tba lt|W of Moseai,
^^ g^afe chADges ihinii maalniid. A misaiooary^afcill
- /^ £eeble^ murt^at fifst confine himself to r^ocmiDgabuaefi^.
■"«', ^ '■'.-- -. ,- " . ♦ - ■*' '■ - - '' '■•'• ' '.- '■ '• - ■- ' r ■ ' \ '■' v ■ ■
^ )
\vithout seeking to probe to the bottoro.-^Jesut, there-^
foi^, tritely contented bimielf with Bhewing, tb^
the Id w was faulty in some places, and that he pro^
posed to perfect it. Such is the language -which all ¥e*T
former^ employ. ^,
4i^ Jesus accordingly expressly declared to the peopi^w
that he wag not come to destroy, but to fulfil thelaws^
and he also affirmed that, in heaven, Iranks would be
fijced according to the rigorous observance of all its ,
articles. He insinuated, however, to bis audience, that^
neither they, nor their doctors, understood any of tbs|f
law which) they believed, they faithfully pnu^tised. He
undertook therefore to explain it ; apd as all reformerf-'
pretend to puritanical austerity, and to a supernatu*"
ral and more than human perfection^, he went beyond
the law. The following is the substance of his mar*'
vellous mstructions :— *.' v. .. <
*'Tou have (said he) heard that it was said h^^
fii«n of old ti^, Tli^ra shait not kill; and whosoever
M< kiH tMW be punished with death ; but I say utktb
you, that it is necessary to extend this prdhibi^on and
punishment even to wrath^ seeing it is wrath which
pushes one ob to put bis fellow-creature to deatb.-*^
Yte Would puliish «dult6i7i only when it iscooiinitted;
bht I tell y«it, Umt, itt (his «rtiele^ diesire alone rendeis
d^Tii «is culpabl<^ as ikci Ton petbiaps will answer^
tfaatman is not the master of his passions aoddeurei*^
aod that be can hardly resist tbem^ I agree with you
i>n thiir you bave not any po#er, even on tbebaini<^
ymt ti«Ad.*^ Tbe pe^^BCes, mcrificas, mk expuitiofia,
#bltib y6ur ptieSts impose oil you, are not capable «»f
TC '8p|908n mot ocsus WBssw not igwoiigg «i iiwwwjgy ^^^s^
mm 9m m im dH!h§ damA "mtimm in^ ii^^M
/ ;
':^-<Hi
IM
:; V
procuriog the r€mission of your sins ; behold, then, the -
only means of preveating them, or making reparation y -
for themr JIas y.our eye, or any other of your members,- -^ :
• soli cited you to commit iniquity ? Cut oft* thai member, :'_
* or, pull out that eye, and throw it from you; for. ifei^ V' -
more expedient, that one of your: members should-";,
perish, than the -whole^ body <be ti>rown into helPfire; '/ #,
If Moses,Jnspired by the Divinity, 4iad known this bell ' .
or piace<lestined ibr-your.sufferiug eternal punishment^ y
, Jie wpttld not have failed to riienace you , with it; but , / -s'
he was, absolutely ignorant of the important dogma of --'-
another life:'~ he has th<?refore spoken only of the pr^- •;' |
sent, to which he has limited "your misfortunes, or ~. -^
your felicity. Had it not been for this, he wOuld not f[.. Jh
have neglected to acquai^it you with a fact sowell. caU -, ~ .^
culated to inspire you with fear, and render life insup-. . . ^
■• v> ^ij.«^8a:,/ .j^, ^*.,'-^^lat.?iii %^^ j^^^^s-. m^tl 'i^'t -** ■\ \' '
^ tion aad efiSbtual calling, which make God the most ^latied :^j^
, ^nd cruel of . tytants,* by supposiog' that he punishes to all eter- ;.' .
nitv those to whom he reAi^es the mdaus or the wHl of saving, i*
tnemsialves. V';,"; ■'■":' ";"*•■ .'"':■-"'''''■ " '■:'..'•
Tlie doctrine ofpredestinaljon"' was- also a tenet of the Jews.'" '
In &e writings- of Moses a Grod is exMbite^, 'initio, in liis decKie»'f\
is partially fond of a diosen people, and uxgust to .all otfae»B»;; \ '
. The theology and history of the Qreeks represent men as :pOr i ^ -
nished for necessary crimes foretold 'hy oracles. Of this Ores^,?; ;
tes, CEdipus, Ajax, &c. are examples. Mankiitd have always ry:»\ ^
, d^cribed God a^ the inost uhjuit of bangs. According to
■^ sotzie sects, God best(»rs his grace on wlti^m he pleases, witttout
; ~: tsHo^ regard to i merit; This Js much. m(xre .confanii^falentOr;tfae
V,Chri^}lp>, Pagan, aq^ Jewish ^talian^ than the doctrine of
, -^^other sects, who say. that God gr^^ib^. grace to aU who ask and
o deserve it. It is certain, that Chn^a^ in general are true &talist8. ~ • -
>9%^ ajfctempt^^o'^evadexti^^a^^
-^ sirfiGad«irejB^sfeaABS» ; j|f,g?,:i^^^
'JS^^'~:^ -;,..'-.:..:../.- :.::.^.. ': .^.-....v. -''.-,"'" "jC--.,r» -./■'- >:\'.-: -
:V>^;.'■:i
■1 L-
^.
■-.■>;.
■-/>■
•■-.:*■>
■ ^
portable.* . . You" use too freely v the perrQission of di*^v i
yprce^ the least disgust makes ^you; repudiate yoUt;
:C* We are quite surprised at finding that Moses and the andent
Hebrew writers have no where made menlaon of the Qx^taa. of
vfiiiurelife, which now-a-days forms one of the. most ^poitant ^
artides of the Christian religion. SolOmoxv- speaks of the death t
of men by ccnnpating it with thaf of brutes. See Ecclesidtt.
Some of the prophets, it is true, have epokeraof^. place called
Cheol, which has been translated Sell (^nferj;. yet it is e?ident
that this word implies merely sepulchre or tomb. Tlrey have
Jnlike manner, translated the Hebrew word Topheth into HeU ; ,
but on examining the term closely^ we find' tb^ it designates a.
place cf punishm^t near Jerusalem, where male&ctors wa% pii>
nislied, and their carcases burned, ' It was only after the Bahy-
lonish captivity, that, the. Jews knew the dogma of another 11^, and
the resurrection, \diich they learned of the Perdan disciples of 2th
roast^. In the time of Jesus, that dogma was not even'generaliy
received. The Pharisiees admitted' it, and the Sadducees rg^ected
it. See a work under the MeL'EnferJDetruU (ffdll^itroifedj
in 12mo. London^ 1769. i-^\iz^ *,^? ? '-TiVrj .>7«7^t;^
jfr^Mah(»net percdved^ ,^ well ajs XThristian divine8,sthe jaecei-
sity of , frightening mankmd in order to govern than. ".Tluwe
(say the Alcoran) who do not believe, shall be dothed in a gar-
ment of fire ; boiling water shall be poured on their ^eads ; thdr'
^ctins and thdr entrails shall be smitten with rods of kon. When-
.eyfer they .diall strive teescape from 1^, and avdd its toreiaitB,
they shall be again thrust into.il:,; and the devils diall sajruntfr them,
Mijte the pain of bumiTtg." Akoran,c.9.
- ,Onthe other hand, the Shnstian represents his God aspoiaii^
soyrt ' itniMunded vengeance-, to all eternity. fiSs &iiatidran' feeds ]
itseff witii the' idea of a hdl, where God, transfiirmed into a fiero-
<aou8 executioner,' is unjust as implacable, shaU bathe fairasdf
in^ thetears (^,his wretched creatures^' and popetuate thdr exist-
ence to render them eternally miserable. Th«%, doathed wSih
r^smveng^t he. shafi^Tnoc^ at the : tonnaits of uiineriB^ 'find' listen witli
captures ioiHtiR groans with- which they shaHinfdce ^ tseBzenanefii
0^ their pribonsvTesound:: not .^smallest hope of smne dbtant
"^^erinkuH^itTitfa^rpaiBa shall give thentaQ i^ari^«7€« tt^laib-
ginary -relief ! . . ; >E M* :
s- .
'CV-A*>,'.
■ ■ . . .. . , . , ^ ■
wiyes; but I tell you, thftt you ought to repudiiite
them only, when you have surprized tljem in adultery.
It is too cruel to stone one for this fault ; we ought to '
\Ai€ re6t)€dt fbi the >j^edkness of thfe s^x/* ¥; '^4 7*.
^^^r^Jesus, whose birth, as we have seen, was very equi-
vocal, had particular reasons /or wishing that adultery \
should be treated with more indu^ence^ Independently
of Mary hra Mother, from wh6id Jbseph trts very pit>^ ■<
liably Sfeparated, our preacher had in his traift danaiMs,
'whose condiict has been every thing but irreproacb-
able, anterior to their conversion.* Brides, the in*
dvlgence which he preached, must have gained him the ';^^
^ htAttM of all the ladies in his a«fditoryt
Th* M««iah <>owt!nued nfcafriy hi the«l tfemi*i^=ii
** God has prOtHised yoii of old times blessiijgs, prbs-
-perlty, and glory ; but he has changeci his intention, <-
' -and revoiced these promises; as you were almost '
-always, and still are, the most tfnhappy, ihe ttiipet<
-fo^ishi afid »ost despised peciplt on ^rth, ym otif ht ~
t* Suspect, that these pompouii: pt6t]ffl^es vreteiotstt ■*
; allegories. You ought, therefore, to have an abject and
mortifying morality, conformable to your ge^HHS, your; '
Ontitation, atod your n^i^ery. If it does 6ot procure you ;
w«lfere inthi« wciHd, ftvt oagbl t« h&p^ thatt it Will: ,
render you more happy in th^ flext< Tlie hqjmiliatr6tft X-
T-^'yoiiiOught to make, are the certain means of attaining :.>,
Cone day that glory, which hitherto neither you nor/;:
your fatfaeris have ever sbeen alfifle to acquire. Wbto ^
' ^fiefore a f>eiritm shall give yoti a blow on one checj^» ^
jh * fcictei, afary Magdalrpe^ who irim i notdi osiBieaoiii JKeJtiu V ^
I Iwi in In softe Jtmimki wife 6f Oiisay Uerod^a steiMod, wfa^ «^|V
^•ndiq9 te the ttatSdon, ra&bed mA hnodk ier iMtbiad^;/'
"-/toioibir tlM^ifailidh^ and initf
<-
., r • . - - , , , . ;'i; - . • ■ ■-,::.■'' -■ : '
\ -.
159 "■./■: ■V'.\;-;;v--i.
\,
^ffer instently the other. Do 'not ga to law— lawyei-s
will ruid you; and besides, the poor are always in ^e
wrong when opposed to the rich. Give to whoever
asks of you, and refuse nothing you possess ; it is by
relying on the punctual practice of this important pre-
cept, that I send my disciples into the world without
money or provisions/* ; '
; "I db hot give you any description of paradise
--it is sufficient for you to know in gross, that ypu
will be perfectly happy there. But to get there, it
is necessary to be more than men — }t is necessary
to love your enemies;* render good for evil ; preserve
tio remembrance of the cruellest outrages; bless the
hand that strikes yoi) ; and not speak one silly word ;
for one only will suffice to precipitate you into hell.
. H^ve a pleaisant aspeet when you fast ; but especiatly
ii;. . . : ....-,..:...-. ';.^.—:'^ :;-; ^r ••" ;' - •, 'v-:,?;-
:^'^Tb iSftr Qttf enmntes v mtfoimm A man may oAsfiim
^iom. dtnng ev9 to tihe person by. wliom he is injured ; inrt fciVc
ii^ tfn aftc^aa tviddi tam only be excited in our bearts %y «■
olject winch we siq^ose fiiendly towards us. Pditic nadfflU,
who have enacted just and wise laws^ have always forlndden hi-
dWdadtak ta iswBg* or doj 'Justice to tiiewsdvea. A soithnent
of fueMflkj^ «f gBudtama of muI, or hmmaa, ma^ xadiioeinaB*
>-,•
:-^
^Iribd toi^gMd tft thpse firom ^diein they bb^ hyones. %
thq^ fnk tibtenaeivti daove^ thrir aieteie^ apid nacf
cianga^tht iBspositien^^ their iuwts. tbaas, without hnr
fag taamaan ta « supaniatiaral mon^, we&d tht^ it »o«rslB»
,iiwa» to a^fc thl» iwirn «i iwreage m omr heart» ^^riatians. aaaf
tiipBrfm ceaat.t6 hoasi th» forgiv«M8a ci ii^imss, te a pM«pt
Ifeii oAUd be fhraii ^aajly hy AetnCk)^ «» wMgk prare*lb»^piae
^p||lin ai the^ftOMMlity. Eythf^ra^lnngtbdbfet^thmoC^ttiiii.
ttUii ^hek ion inmigii theo|8^sft oa thoe enaaaiBa QB^bgp i»
IhMht tQ cflMBrtc^anfaifeo ftimda^'' «|d; aoara^tapi^ limt
^k ^ JKAla*^ JvVnMii iBlui l9id; iMin^
ven|^ it ^ dohig anodier n^juiy.^, V ' ^k i^p "=-
'<-^. '::-:- -^'X
T . ■; t ," I
iiv:
live \wthout foresigl^t^ — A-m ass nothing,, ^styque^a ^
cite the wrath of ray Father. -Think npt of tjOrtnon- '
irow-— live at random, like the birds that nev^r Jthink of
solving, gathering, ox aeci|niul«U:i,ng ^rbvisionsi De-^
tacn yGujrs^lves from all things herah(plo,w*7-seek-ti]i^
kingdom of Godf, which I^and£riydjscip)ij88VfiIl,^Il yoA'
for your charities. This conduct canncVt fail to, plunge
you into misery ; but then, you shajl' beg in your turn.
God will provide for your. ,wa,nts — aslt,aitdJt shall be
-^iven'you. Do not the beggars find, agreeab.ly to our
divine precepts, wherewith to live at the expence of
tlie simpletons who labour?* My disciple^ and I, are
we not an example^evincingi that even, without toil,
one may draw himself out of scrapes, and nev^r perisli.
by hunger? If our manner ^of.Uving.,appe^rs.not^o
agree with my language, I warn you that you jhust not
judge my person, nor condemn your masters and doctors.
Do not intermeddle with state affairs; that care is re-
served for mie, and thosejn w^ono:I,confide».^ ^^Xlaeroaster
issupericM'tp the discipie~rilt'jf^to.4xie i^pflfjticirlaryoti-
ought to listen. If you calKtae your fiamfeei^j it ianrooj
./If V"!^. — : ' " , . : ^^ • ,-"; " i',7,if ■ OiTv^ frT„; i:-.':;'feiisa5 cvsr! vi.?/ ,.
;!?^ See what is-saidin a note ob-cbapJilL; wttete-dieidiasarauii
are. iBtft6oned. : "Ilie wlibk Clawtm doctme is &touxBhte t» ,
niendieahts^ ibeggaK,:caM 'cbroBes; Our. {M^dateajfiA^m^ difttbtbt'
property of ;thechtirch is i!cai.'pBiinmafnyof^-S»ef^
Seed -of Jesus Cbrist.. As ithftspritesta'are-usiiMly 'the self-
^dBp()gkonea and ^sixSaiv^n^^ v^^^^
fceftt^'iip 'Charity ; .consequoit^i^ciB ; ver^'devotiEj cAdMrifea^^Hfae
iodMciie 'laity, indK-J donadonsv^tor nuniks, and legacies iahoffi^-
iaia^ which seem e^tebfishedr onfy to Jie vgainM . to tlief^^ri&a&BS^
teatcin,: Imt very lit^ ' feOfAe tuaforttmate. ..'.DBeades, "ih^ne|b|>i
hfiflhments encoui;^^ idkness':;:' a. - good govermnrait ' caaaaaot mMK
totMt^'Pt^or.^ itc#iE>ipniishi'^ by'phifeflrioDi^'aadiiMWfe
4itBaiUs^wa^mtiBa'Mei to ftovide ftr the ifwdv o^itltoie who art
• » ' t« ■';> ,1^" ,.,,-. -, . '
< . " it , ' ; ^' • V ' . -. ^t ■■■--' , -■. '' -J, , -. - ■ ; i' . ^v *^»'T,^>f" ^\ ^jj •
c«Siaiy to do what I desire j^offf,: ^ The practice-;
of my morality is difficult, arid even impossible^ tb^^
many persons; but the broad and easy way condiicw'
to^perdition ; and to enter into heaven, it is necessaiy
to be as perfect as my heavenly Father. I must war^"
you against my enemies, or those "who shaH pteach *6
you a doctrine contrary to mine. Treat them aV -
wolves; they are false prophets— shew themno in-f
dulgence: for it is -not to them that' you ought to' b#
humane, tolerant, and pacific." ' ' '• * ' * -^
In the course of his discourse, JeSns taught them af"^
short form of prayer, known to Christians by thehatniiP
of the Lord's prayer,* Though theSoti oTGod rnayhav^
shewn himself on this occasion the declared enem;^ of
long prayers, the Christian church is full of pious sFuji^
gagds^ who, in spite of his decision, believie they cai*-
iiot perform any thing move agreeable to God, thJwf
spending tbek whole time in mumbUiig pr^yiers in'i
very kwi^ tone, or singing them in a very high one, anw^l
frcqu^tly in #'iangiiage they do nOt understand. U
appears, that in this, as iii tnany other* things^' tlal ■
church has rectified the ideas of its divine founder.'il:'^
St. Matthew informs us, that the discourse, of which
we have given the substance, . transported the pebplii
with admiratioQ at the doctrine of Jesus, for heittlr.
structed them as one having authority, ai}d not as tb^
scribes. — The latter, perhaps j spoke in a more simple
fashiqo, and consequently less admired by the vulgat^
^ M. BafflU|ig9 inforBis lis, ^at the Jikws have a prayer called
Eadgah, in which th^ say to Go^'' O. God, exalted and haIIo«^
ed he ,tiiy nam«.*^May thy kii^Qm come/'&c Tim ptBjet
is die short anci^ one piresored by the Jews. Hence we sea
that Jesiis .wa9 but a plagiary, and not the author of tile Lor^s '
prayer. — ^^Basnage Hist, des Juifs^ tome 9. p^ 374,
r,.
;./ ,:. :■ m. ^ ,. v.; ,^:
whose wonder is excited in proportion to their iuabili«
ty to cpmprehend, or practice, the precepts given
them. Thus the sermon of Jesus had not, at that time,
any contradictors. It has, however, since then fi|r-
nished ample scope for dispute to our casuists and
theologians ; they have subtilly distinguished between
things which were merely of counsel, and those Qipre^:
Qept, which ought rigorously to be observed. It was
in fact soon felt, that the sublime morality of the Son
of God did not suit mankind, and Ha literal observance
became necessarily destructive to society. — It was,
there^re, requisite to abate it, and recur to that mai-
vellous distinction, in order to shelter the honour of
the divine legislator, and reconcile his fanatical n^orali-
ty with the wants of the human race. v.^^'-'p^^^^'s?
< I Moreover, this discourse presents difficulties, which
will always appear very embarrassing to persons accus-
tomed to reflect on what they read. They find, that
it is ridiculous and false to say, a law is accomplished,
. wb^n it is proposed and permitted to violate it, and add
fii:-i retrench the most essential points. Since the
time of Jesus, why has that law been completely abro-
gated by St. Paul and his adherents, who, as we have
seen,^ seceded from the Chriatian pactizans of Juda-
^jism? Why do Christians entertain at present so
much horror at that same Judaism, except indeed
when the privileges and pretensions of the olergy are
in question — articles on which our Christian priests are
very judaical, and which they have prudently borrowed
tftdm -Leviticus; alltosupply thfenegtecfe of Christ; who
•jb his gospel was not sufficiently atteinitiv^ eifber to
their teniporal interests, divimrigMs, or sacrea hierar-
chy ? By what law do the inquisitors (if Christians) in
J^ortugal and Spain burn those who are accused^ oi con-
■ .;?=";'■■■
i-:':- *'
.■,■-■.■..-' ■ ■ . ' ' "^ . . -*■'■ :■* . '"- .:'■ - -
victed of having observed the usages of a law, which .
Jesus has declared, that he did not Wish to abolishf hut /
to fuljilf By what law have Christian doctors dispen- .
sed with circumcision, and permit themselves to eat i
pork, bacon, pudding, hare, &c. ? Why has Sunday, oi^ ■
the /lay of the sun among Pagans, been substituted for - «
Sabbath or Satiirdav? ' "UV- ''
' 9dly, It is hel3 unjust to pUhisk in ih-e' same manner :
a mati in a passion and af murderer. One may be In a ;
passion and restrain himself, or afterwards repair the ; ^
injury done ; but he cannot restore life to man, whom * .
he Ikis deprived of it.
3dly, The restriction of divorce to the single case of %• '
\ adultery is a law very hard, and very prejudicial to tbd
happiness of married presons. . This precept compels ft -
'l man to live with a woman, who in other respects may* ; : .
;^ be odious to him. Besides, it is gener^tlly very diflftcuti /
i, to convict a female of adultery ; she usually uses prc6aq- '- j
ftion to avoid conviction on account of her debauch-
•".■4 ' ■■.,■.."
'fy feries. Is it not very grievous, and even dangerotis,"tb
live with a person who occasions continual suspicioh^ ?
j;. ■ '^4thly, It is absurd to make a crime of desire, espe-
.^.^ially without supposing the liberty o\ m?iU\ but Jesus
'^ is not very explicit on that important article. On the
j;- contrary, from' the train of his discourse he appears tb
recognize the, necessity oi man,, 'who has no authority
, over a single hair of his head. St. Paul, his la^pstle,
declares in many places against the liberty of man,
whom he compares with a vessel in the hands of a pot-
ter.* But if there be no proportion hetweeri the ivork-
man and his work; if t^e latter has no right tO'say to
the former, wfiy have you fashioned me thus ^ if there
•/St Augxistiae says, that " man is not master of hi*
thoughts."
■■■: ■ •■ '. ■ ; •:•> ; -' -- # .. \ :^-
--■ , ■:'■'.' ■ ■ -• ' '-■- '^: -.' ,■ - - .*■•■. -*.■•'
- ' .■ . " . "■■' ' " .- ^>.v>> - • ' ■"■ ■ ^ .■ ■ ■ .■-' '
-■■■:;: ,--,^ .. m4-''.;,.,:-,,' ■■;: -:
be no analog3^ t)etw(een iliein, how can^ tliiqr bear anyV :^
relation to each other ? If God is incorporeal, how does . 1^
he act upon bodies ; or how can these bodies disturb bis': |
repose, or excite in him motions of anger? If man is rela-? 4
tively toGod as an earthen vase, this Tase owes neither v. <
thanks nor adoration ta the potter who gave him so in-' f-
significant a form. If tbis poweris displeased with hi9 ;>
%wn vessel because he formed it badly^r because it is fr
not fit for the uses he intended, the potterj, if he is not v
an Irra^tional being, can only btame himself for the %
defects which appear. He no doubt can break it in f
pieces, and the vase cannot prevent him;" but if, in-. '
stead of forming it anew, and giving it a Hgure more #
suitable to his designs, he punishes the vase for the bad %^
qualities he has himself conferred upon it, be would
shew himselfto be completely deprived of reason. This,
-in &ct, is the view which Chriitiaoity gives of its Grod.
tt represents mankind as having no more relation withr
the divinity than stones. But if God owes nothing to
man ; if he is not bound to show' him either justice or v
goodness, man on his part Oan owe nothing to God. Wq v
have no idea of any relation between beings which are ^
' not reciprocal. The duties of men amongst themselves "
axe fotmded upon their mu tual wants, If God has no^
occasion for these services, they cannot owe him any>:i
thing; neither can they possibly <^end him by their
actions. , ;. . . ^ :
, Jlhly, it is a very strange remedy to cut oft" or
plucV out a member every time it is an occasion of scan-
dal or sin: it contradicts thej)recept not to make 'an
attempt on one*s life. Qrigen is blamed by the
Chnstiaas for having performed ^ operation, which
be no doubt judged necessary for preserving bis chas^
?':-
■---."■- ■•;.• '■,'■*■--:- n-i-y- •St"'.-- .: .^ .\i"'^''' ■ ■ ^ u -
- ' .? , ■ ' . ' ' ' . I •'>•-'.'
t(ty.* It i« 90t thrpagb the ineflakt)«r8^.bu|t1ie iocltna-
tj^O, that^a persoo'sips : it is therefore absurd to say
tliftpne^ball escape damnation of the body by depidv-
ing of himself a member. What Would become of
SO maay prelates and ecclesiastical libertines, if to ap-
pease, the lusts of the flesh, , and make reparation for
tomdal, tl^ey should take it in|o tbeir heads to follow
the counsel of Jesus? ^^. : " ',"
. (^hly. The suppressipa of a just defence of one's per-
jK^ and rigl^ts, against an aggressor or unjust litigant,
il ta oyerttim the laws of every society. It is to op^
j|t4oor to iniq^uities and crimes, and render useless the
l^^rcise of justice. By such maxims a people could
.npt ^ist ten years. u^^v-
,^lJftbiy> The counselor pi^ept, to possess nothing,
amass nothing, auii think not of the morrow, would be
v^iy prejudicial to iinmili^ ;-*-4i father ought ^ pro-
* Aiistotle and Ejuctetus recommencled diastity of speech.
Menander said, ''diat a good man could nerer consoit to de-
festtik » triigBv o^ mwiiiil aduketj." T^^uSus^ flStO, Cfutff yiltKeni
-^IlllPtl. WtiM Jaltimr "ihmia ^ G9ia tW he hpd ||if-
,«ri^»«dl lii» K^riWIi^ ift Ids yowth." The Bamibiff made laws
flpMiil nfaHety^ JPffthpr Tmdmd miiinfm tat, *' thai the ^unau
Mift ]|«t onl^ ^rfKsaett acfioQf^ bul aka i^pura dieu^tfr and
ikAxx" U Aw i^)||e««9 t&at chattily aod i^i^ (rf, mam^tfs
tfna CBtoMMfl «^eR Wfott ^ ChHstian xi^gioA eaited. ^
AtlSf it iftt«% ^leiqrA^ «Qd ineesaaatfy ayeirt^gwmslgpli^
fiMWS and fHlMQ|lieni^ whom ihef e^^aOBnSxmie d^ifige^^
iiifl.vBMtllift qp«ii )wil<«:^ we €to not 1^ ihat plifloMii^
wm§^ l^mtt yih0\ tmAtml^mttm aad en^^r^Ar Suob epo^
fPlW afawMt ««i7eiii% fNdwcd Ibr the JtSi^oiu. Ipie Dgo^
.siasR who peiaMMd tfes 'Brnpecm Umj. XL Janam CaoMpil^
:|j^ H^TiHlH "<K<» wt tnbliieriis. TElw^^ «ei9 n^^h^CBiCH ,
V".
■.■-*■'.
-.■s»l4
:';^^';^;
'-^^ suit ^luggaitls ohlyj such ias priests iand monks, t^o
- 1|i^d labour "m hoiroT, and c^tcul^te on living at the
T^pencebfthe jMiblic, - , *- ^
*{v iiSt^ly, It is DOW easy to per6eive^ that the {Promises
: r iaaile the Jews by the^^mouth of Moses^ inspired by the
^^ 1^ have not been verified tftef ally, and are only
' allegorical. But it was not from the Son of God that
rthe; Jews should 'have learned this fatal tr£tl)> Once
-fjdeceived by the Divinity; they oiight to have^dreadi^
^^Ijeing again deceived by afnbthet'enyby. Like J^us»
Y K Hoses had made^ promises ; like J^esus;; Moses ht^ bonr-
:* firmed his prQmis^ and mission' l^iniracle^ j yetthese
promises have beenfound deceptivejimd 'SejfelyVJfll*!-'
Jjgqricil, This idea oiij^ht to hav^ cr^ted^resumptions
;3*^ngerous to the promises of Christ^*' /' ' -
'^ 9fehly, To say that it i|*neces8ary to be'poor inspint,
. and to say afterwards that to attain heaven it is neces-
1^^^ -^ ^ &Bt QmsfSiiDsi mi^t^^ expected^ «li
\j^lfe w<»d <^ 6b9^ and Ids £^«thf^ 8<M» to see l&e end c^'te
" %oiid, idB^0^ever>'S^|leodaK^ day afterxia^,
u^$^ the axnihlL of dtfist^lti the «I^dr i^^^tven! 4btj wdumfi
hiaA he was to establish on earth a teaQ|i^^ Id^c^d^ idudi-%w
y^'^ndiue a thousand yean. S^^ei^hc^^
^il^t.Irenalas, hare finnly befieved iim ^h hahii'^
-'^vjifet ^^ or rdgn of Saturn. The 4^di; ifei«Uia% 'te?li^^
, M%a^d^M aitive^ <jiajq^ed its opimon en tbe'i]nntter>^a»7oii'iaaiiPf
i ftteis, and Sedated the Millfinarians leredes.. Si £i«iiBlU^ •fittHE"
evei^ hasldft us^a poetical deMx^cm of the afa«Bcidatlicfe andlOl*
'mat ]Jea8ures, whi^'tyi reign was to pxocunu • St Jvai^'Mii^
etpected also this iSme kmgdom. - \See iSksikB^ taait '9i p. SOt.
^ Ycft -we-kiiow ^t how to ire&onfa|]e^& prefi^Eite ^^ tteeiwA)
of the worU^QQCidehy ehzist^ aiid^Ofer^iUMBkstf^iJI^tlAd^ #ii^
^ >fM to tittt diiiat^^ of tiie wodd^iio ^HoihiiB^'inK 'iMM\
raaee i^pears strange ii»l9ed[4ii a GocL . . r"*^''
A,
^t;»r :r.^-^^.:»,^-_- :,li;:.,^v.'r--,-,.lj.^ • .v., ^., v^. 'V"'.^
ikiy tobetperfect as tlie heaveal^ Fatbai^i« Ik^i-fiecfV Is
tQ^aike Gfod ^ 'stiipid being ; t6 afford to Athc^stC a
'iOliiUonhfoi ali the • evU tliey' perceive Un nature ; and
to pretendftbaf to enter paradise^ one qiuitbe'a foot,
BiM^^bas man the power of-being\Sp^itoal or poor in
apirit^- reasonable jor fi>dtsli» beiievi»g' ^op-t|ttbelie¥-'
£1^? Is ndti4he;hoiys!ifeupidity of faifcb a gift, whieb
God grantsioniy to whpin> he will? Isitt^notbtrjust' t<>' '
damn people of aoderstanding? a® ^ii'T^
Liastly^ In thiis seri&on, Jesus" recoiUntreK^' tb W-
ware ^ false prophetti and say*^ <;l|at it^ is by theit
%0rk8 we ^hall know them. ^^ Yet as we' htive sfeen,
tbo; priests. tdl- us, .".we. ougbt to do^as :t^idy say, wilb-
<»it imitating what tbegr do," wbfeH^we fidd tbeiT' c^
duct little conformable to the maxinro tyy preacbP^
It was necessary, tl^refore, to give^ ii^f'asnbther i^gti
than works^ whereby, to^Tecognis^^<falE^ propbeti;^br
cisi&the faithful will q£ten be reduced to l^feVe, fiift
the clergy are provided only With tying pi'O{^et0w
It is in this .manner unbelievers iargue; that is to
Mr^^ all those who have notieceitedfrbm beaven/woip
iKf«o/</nn^ so nee^saiy^-for not percei<(ring tbeisfafflt
of inference, felse , principles, and nurmberless incdr^r^
teneieftf which most directly result frqm, the m'orelitydf
Jesus. l!*bis morality appears a divine c^^/ifiBuvre t^;
djodle Cbristians illuminated by faith ; ^nd It was mu1bt^
>dmired by those who heard it deli^ered^- We know not,
however, if many of the auditors were s^Hrffected by it^
to follow it literally; to admire a<l'octi1he, andTbelieye
it true ai^d divii^e, is a thinjg much more easy ttian td
jltactiae it. Many persons set^a bigher. value on evang«^
licalvift!^, which are suhlioie^n the<»^g,thaiK>i$ theb#^
man vitffiei^ wht^ reasohcommands ua to practif^ii^'
■ - ■-* ft . -
>HiIt is fMt tbi^n f utpdisiog^ thai the ftt^)«rnftturel andL
raarvAlkms inofality qC Jesua was iapplauded by tfaLfsk
who beard It. It was addressed to paupers, tbe divga
of the people* and the miserable. Ad austere stoical
BiOFality iBQst please the wretched ; it transfoittM
tbeir actual situation into virtfie; it flattcis^tbeir vanity.^
makes ^tbem proud of their laisery ; hardena' thepa^
against the. strokes of fortune *» and persuades thsi#
that they are much more valuable than the rich, ,mbi^
xadtreattbem $ and that th^ Deifey,^liodeligbta iB>«ce*
ing man »uffer»^ pceCisffs ; the. wcetchfKl to thostf y^'-'
5^'Cte the other hand, the vulgar imagine, that Itiose
vbo possess tiie faculty of restnining their passioD^
despising what men seek after, and deprivHUg theaii^
selves of what ex^tes tbedesires of others, ace extrtti
orditiaiy beinp^. not only agreeable ta God, but«i«
dowed by h^m with preterBaturai grace, without ABbkb
tbey would be incapable of the exertiona, tb^-aie
^ee«|.to mpke. Tbiia a baissh morality, which aecmilito
proceed £roai inseasibility, pleases the rabble, inposca
xmtjbe igtiorant, aind is/ sufficient to excHe tbe admine
tiou of tbesimiH^ It is not even displeasing to pev^
atins placed ia mere hapf^^ situatioiiSj who admire
tbe doctrine, weU assured of IMing,the aeeret to elude
tbe practice of it^ by tbe assistance .of theif indolgctit
^Hidea; there is, o^y ssmali number of ftuatiea who
follow it jiteimlly. .^: ^^
Such were the dispc»itioQ« wbixrb mu«t have ind<uG-
ed so msua^ people to receive tlic doctrine of Jeeui*
HisQi^xunsrhatcfaed a^nultitude of obstmate martyrs^
.9^0^ in the h.c^ of caning to themselves a road to
faeai^o^ set tormentft and a€licti&ns at defiafvce. The
^me maxims produced peoitenta of every kni}, soli-
I
"■■'^\y
:'.>■•■■-. / --' ^-V-V'-V-^S^; ■■. ;-.-t',,: .- ^^ : ;■;--•>-:•;;:. .;,'■.:.-. ..
■* . I . ^ ■■'•■;■.,>-.'' 'N --:•.-■ ■> JU^^KT- ■ -"■- ■ -■,■-■ ^ . *- '■ \. ■ -V ■ -' ■ ■. ■ ■ /
.■■■ ^'.- ■ ■' ■^■- ' ' •— ^'"^^ '"■ -;-^^^- :■-:-•■:?... \Hi»fe=,- ■,•:.; % v:.>/^';,.,.i(-:r.v - - •.. ■
"4 tatife*^ atitl»wit«8, cenobites, aod moaks, whio^ ia enau-
klllon of eacll^ otber, reiidered tbemseLvesMlIttstcious
T ' in the eyes of nations by their austerities, volnnlsu'y
>/ . p6Terty, a total renilnciation of the comforts of oature,
i ' 5 ' *Dd a continual struggle against the gentlest and^ost
'1 kkirlnl indinatioDa.* The counaelsand precepts of the
«> gospel inundated nation* with a vast nuinbei^ of ma4-
«u8ti» eDei7:iie» (^ themselves, and perfectly uselestto
c^ars-^-These wonderful toen were admiied»T^pected^
wd reivefed as saints b^tbeic fellow citizen!* wbo«
tbi»iiB(iselves deficient in grace or entbusiasm necessary
€»« imitatiag them ^ or following faithfully the /Cqunsell
of) tb^.SQB of God, bxKl recourse to their iBterces8io%
ilio>der to obtain pardon for their sinsj, and. indulgence
ftom the Almighty^ whom they auptposed irritated JM:
tb« impossibility in wbicbtbey found thfeinselvetf^
J^Mot^ing/ Ivterally the precepts of his Son. In fift^
% 19; eaiBar. to pesceiye^; that these prepej^U rigoroiflh
J^obseanfctd* would ^drag sodety into total ruin> for«>
'f ^ty js supported only because that most jElhiiifitiana^
' illiniiring the doctrine of i^Sk^n of Cbd as divine, ($vh
pen ae with practisi ng k, and lollow the pr<^;>enaity of
•atiMn^ even at the i^k of being damne^t
' * To form » true idea of C&irutian nxwditgr, such aabas Been
1^4^ hy the most esteoned ^foctora, we have oi^ to letot 4 ''^ft
of'theleaniedBaxbeyrac, i)tt):^uaked on the sut^/ un^tbe itOb
0Tra^ 4fif la mamkilmfeveiti in 4te. Amsterdaas- ItSft '= : mi 1^
i It is aeverd 4Saa»k^. tdatedf in Levi^oM xvil 11 ipur ]4« 4kat
the soul consists of the blood. $t Paul still itfxQug obscup^ Ibe
question of the immortality toftilKsoid. In his first qHstlstothe
Thessaloman^ y. 2S* not content witli making man double, he
anitfes 1^ ttdAe, aid' dflBGfIbeiB^iyiii> as* vinfM^^f feil^ imi,
MBtNuam* -^ ^BameatBtr he glM» t»:?Ai iiad^nCMc^ thrt tie Wly
MMl ynii^timmimr tfat ^bw^i^ qpfiit h temorti. Wm-wm
pect to the doctrine of the resmrecHon^ rsdu)Iaxa>i^^
r^ .V
-- -i .-^^Hii^.'; V,'" ,:■• ._ '. ',■■ ", ' W-'!'-'-:'*-' . ■■'*"-~^- ^J--,'
' "^ Iq the'gotpe) Jesus menaces w»th- eternal punish-
inent those wbd shall not fulfil hHrprebepts;. This
frightful doctrine wais not contradicted^ih the assembly;
the supefeititrous love to tremfatgj those who threaten
theoirmbst, are the most eagerly listening. Tbis^ was
undOubtiedly the time fofeatabtishing firmly the dogma
^f the spirituaUty and imthortaUty of the soul. The Son
of God ought to liave explained , to those Jews,- but
little acquliinted wiith thb matter, how apartof man
couldsufferih hell, whihf Another pkrt was totting in
the earth. But oui' preacher' %as not acquainted
with any of the ddgmai^ which; hiis church has since
Uiiight. He had not. clear ideas of spirituality; he
ftppke of it bhly in a yery obscure mantier : •** Fear
(said he, in one place^) biinr 'who can throw both
bbdy^'ialnd soul into heir'^^wdrds which must have
^^ieared linint^Uigible in 'ayiangnage; in Which the
0iil tras ta^efn Ifbr the blodid or animating principle^
^^t waa not till a long tttrien after Jesus, iafhd when ^
Bb^e Piatbnists b4d been initial^ in- Christianity, WiM
ffi#^lHtu^ity S^^'irfiii^^ we¥e cofr.
▼ert^d into' dci^a<^ Before' ^eir tiine, the ^wr and
jGhristians had onl^^'^ vague 'nations on that4inpbrfant
siiinect. We find doctors ip the first ages speaking
tajatof GodancHhe seui^EiflDms^ar^siiDstanpe^. njore
,«^e, indeed t^oj^^^l^l^die^^^ le^e^p^
forlattei^m^pb^^iciaus jto^^MfEer WiS«^ sublime id$as
of imindv thif ;^i^ Mdaated^utMleiiftandf^ are beWilder-
«f tbe OittftiaiU. SeeiFkid^MZ Wd, d«
jy|^tatt»1lS^::Jn
/
;r^^''vX-x.-.>
•J
V ">• ■' v^^' r' -■'''': ■ '" ' ' ■:■'■'. ^ '
!-
GHAPTOR Xr. ^^ '^ ^ >
. NAZABETB, AND tkp 8UCCB88 HB HAO TitERB. .
- TH6trGH (li^obsUnacy of tKM<a^to^ of the^^i^
BBd principal men a^ong th^ lews creifited continu^t
obstacles to tbe success which .(Cbti^t had promis64
biinself, be did not lose courage ;h^ agaiii ha<i recoqpiie
io ^rod^tes^ tlie ceVtaio OLeans of* (captivating^
tk>puTace/on whom fc^^plaioly |Mifceite(i it Was a&b&U
sairy to found bis hopes. This people were very smd*
jedtto diseasesbf tbe'sikiir, such as leprosy and stnajtl^f^
curan^us disprders. Ko doiibt qan be entert^iDed p$
^18 point, when we consider -the preeitutions wbiPti
the law of Moses ordains asaihst these infirmities. To
^tabiish his reputatibii the morel Christ resolved t^'
uu^ertake the ctip of tbiji disjgusting disease wtt^ .
WDicb his countryineB were m i^uch infectedl
Accordipg to St. Luke, f^ l^per.cai^ and pro^^t* **
ed , hifnscliF' al the " feet ' ctf Jesus, .^d adored ftirii, sa^.
ibgl/that hehadlieald hini sipdkda of as a yery able '
nuM, and tnat, , ii ne was iqcbaed. He couTd cure bim ; ~
•-<$h this, Jesus merely stretched forth his hand,^ ao^
ttie leprosy disappeared* ,9ith<etto Christ (lacT oaiy
•U,Las^%l% SL&atlVL'^ 9L'mslk,t49,
:!.;■/:::•>';;■-. ■ '. . ^;i,:-^; ,-'; ." -i^^v
<5-.v "J
^dbm mended it to tbose be cured to go and present
Uiemselves to the priests, in order to offer them the
gift prescribed in such cases;* but on this occasion
he thought that he would reconcile them by strictly
enjoining this mark of <|igf|rence; H^ therefore exacted
of the cured leper, that he would satisfy the ordinance
of the law ; butat the same time recommended secrecy
as to the physician's name^^ — a secret which was not
better presier^d' by^httrithaii by^tithe^^^^ Jesiis fdrgdt
that' it wa^ h6t suffi*2i^e*i'it foiJoripSle silence otf the ^Jier-
sons he cure^,but tHat it was likewise Viecessary to lay .
^restrainton all the tongues of the spectators ;- unless
S^deed it is supposed tiiat these miracles were perfbrm*
ed with shut doors, and witnessed by the SavioiirV di^ct-
pies only y or, rather, that they were not performed at aOl
Meanwhiiie, the leper's indiscretion was the cause'
Vfhy Jesus, aceording to St. Mark, no longer ventilred
tO: appear in the city.t Ttie priests seem to have takei^
ip in isioqd the curfc he had peffo ' He thcrefbjce^
Withd/ew ipto Jthe desartjtr wTiere the more he ;Bf as'
followed, the more he/buried himself in concealmenj^
Itlwas in vain that in . tbia situiatum the people desired!
to. bear him; it.was m vam that the sick, who,r9tt
tAer him requested tneir cur<&;v he no longer %unejnea
^atmarvellous virtue, calculated to cure ereiydisiN
.. ofder, to exhale from liim. *
After haying wandered lor some time in th6 desaif,
fimiitiating on.his aflfwfs,he re-appeared at C^pernadm?^
T&&ddnarestic of a Boman centurion.'much bejoTed^fev
'■'vX , • Lev£':dr.'»^s£M{itt.vffi.4.' ' \[
A St
*--, <•'
tr
/ '
his master, w&s &t ^e,|K>lnt of d^a^th frjpm<ati attibck tyf
jtVe p^'jjK This Pagan believed |hat< Jesus eotrid
easily cure his slave; but instead of presenting him to
(^hr|st» as he ought to have done, he deputed sofnC
Jewish senatoris, ivbom he seems to have brcHight from
^erusalem^ to wait on tlje Messiah. However div> /
l^greeahle tlM commission tnigbt be to i^rsons vrhbiii
the centuri||i had.no right to comman^ and ivho by
^at step seemed to ackqowledge the miisioii of jfesos*
^ese senators performed it. CHrist, flattered with ^
seeing an idolater apply to him, set out immediately^
hut the centurion sent some of his people to infonii'
Jesus, that he was not worthy of the hopour thus uii*
landed hiittby^<|fli^ his hpuse,; and that tacuri^Ws
iBeryant it was sufficient to fipeal(,.^only one wo^
Jesus was delighted with thi&; he declared, that^Ae '
had not found *o much fdith in Israel ; find with ond
^woi-d, if the Gospel may be believed, he performed tb^
Wife, ;He afterwards gave the Jews to understiuid,^
lii?it if ^hiey persisted in their hardneas of hearty (th<h
Qply disease ygbicfatheSon of God could sever ciiTCj*
ibougb he had come for that purposet,) the idplk*'
trbus nations would-be substituted in their st^d in the"
inheritance of heaven, and that God, r)otwiibst9Qding^
his prcinii8es,w6u]a abandon his ancient friends inir
.^ever and for ewr. The Gospd, however* does net %^i
us, v^hejther this centurion, so fuH of fdthj ways >fe^|^ ■
self converted. - ■■' '■'' ■■ ■•'•^. \ ■ -■■''.''■,J\:-C^
\"5%6^day after this cure, Jesus, ha^iog left dape^# !
' t We aie assured that the Men^-^f-^&e^J^^
desriy predicted. iand ■ dtejgnated by t^, <mn:-'pta;^kek£i
l«it in that cas^ bow tfoa^ &e Jews v^^to !«ebgi^^i&o#^
!■. ■-■i'::-y^^- -■■-:>
%i«im,' arrived at Haiif', a sihall town In 6aHtee« &l3oat
iwenty lea^aes dUtant, Which profiesthat Clb rfst wa^ t
iti«ai be aiMwered} tfiat the blindi^ss of ^^ J6Vra traii ^
p^edftttd !^ the "same prophets 'who had preelktdd the,> «9>
jectio^i and death of the MeaalaL To tUu J object diat «
'wise, and omnqtotent God, who must always ecactly aimfit
Bs ineaiis to <hk ends^ ought to have anployed a more cerUnn
itad efficacious ^jiode of d^ermce for his peo^; but if hg
iM'ilk Intend thdr deKveraifce (and sid«ly to knoW tibal ihe
^dbase adopted would \M is taatkmODnt), then it was usd^yi
to send his son, and ta eiqiose fahn to 'a certain and fare^
r cypn death. It will be sajd, that the ccffruption and vsHdoBcK*
ness of the Jews had at length exhausted the~ patience o^ .ti^
A&ughff, who, altkough he had sworn an eternal alliai^
vrith Abrahaxn's' posterity, was now determined in^ cdnise-
qiieBce to break the treaty. It wifi be prietettded that GfA
Vfis now xescdv^ed to rgect the WeStaewi, kad adopt. the Geo*
l|b nations, who had been tBe Objects of his hair^ ibr^l^
tmg a peiiod; but surely nothii^ can be more incbn^tfcat
HHh. just notions of an immutable Deity, whose mercies ase
iolfinite, and whose goodness is inexhaustible. • If the Mef*
Aijk .amioiHiced by tiie Jewish prophets ^as sent to tke
Je^rs;, then ought he to have bete thai* ddiveicr, and.tibt
the destroyer of their . wordi^ and natioot. tf it be tMfiy
poidble to discover any meanmg in tbe ebscui:^ eni^natisfi
Mades of the > Jewish j^Kopihets — if any thing can be divined
19 ^^iOie inezpficable logogiaphes wludi, have been dSgnified
liiSi tiie pompdus ntoie c^ prophecies, we ■«dian find that tt>e
f^V^neU, whoa in a ^ood huniour, sihrays jitortuse^ the ^^Wi
tan ^ ayengeg <tf t^aai^. wdwngi^ a ■ testwipp- of the Imagigtom iS
judea,"«id not an aboEsher qf the leBgiwi of.Mosefc Jf thg
Messiah was sa^-toj^ GentSes, then was b^^ the Tlftiqlsh
pconiised to ihe .fews j he cOul^ not be the destroyer of their
nation. If it be said, that Jesus himsdif declared he came not
jto abpBsh but to fulfil the law of Moss4 Aslir I ^ft -^ H^^
tjgytiaiW;r^eft the JSevliBlrilispri^^ • ; rv t
.^^^m^oH^Upmi yittf^ weitaitt it^ Jisus ^ui^ «Mift-!nd^'lftf>
lBft^.ie«tai^.i«iictold by tfag ptiphcti^ 'sbr* iitisr e^lttbff 'thIlP
gt^ Walker^ Fbrtubi^^ hi6 g^t^^^ Ni^^me to per^
form an excellent miracle. A poor %idbw had losit
her son: they were already carrying him to be buriedj
thediscoDsolatb mother, accompanied by a great muf*
'ihude, followed the funeral p'rocession. Jesus, m^avM
iWith com passion, approached the bier, itnll laid ^ts
Hand on ti;; -^Imrtifedktely those' who carried, it stop*
ped. Yow^ man ! said Clirist, speakm^ to the <|^
ceased, I sat/ to ihee, Ari^. Forthwith be who wia
d^ad sat up.' This miracle terri^ed ail the assistai^^ '
but converted nobody. Itis proper to remark, thai
this tratisactiOt^ is tebited by St. Luke alone ; and e^la
if it weie better Verified, wie might justly suspect tba£
the tlisbonsolate mother M^d secret inieliigence with,
the performer.* .--^ _;:•._ ^. -Ji^^-'--, -•^..^''-v-S' ..v;"^:'.
/Some hi^toriati^ htive ma<re JoibVCiaptist this, '
jiferiod ;' Others ma'db him dfe much earlier.' Here S^
Matthew and St. Luke introduce the discipleS of ttc
precursor, oh piurpose to question Jesus on the part of.
their mksterf. " Art thou, he that was to come, or look
be' catne to ^K}fi^ the Jew£aif diqiensatioB, whkji, thoi^
histihited by GocT Mmself, had beonne obnoxious to hko.
U'iStaM ibu&ibk deity, tired if^t& £be ^(m&^ of lus diosim
l^bople, had 'at lait relented 6? lui ii^us^be to thie Geh^ii^
it was i»operi^ to Jiiem that Be ^dakt have simt hia ^m.
He would, in -that xase, have ^^red bis ancient fiiends the
homl "cnn^e of dddde, wliic^ he obfiged thein td eoiomait,
hf Tibi tiwwJiin^ tibora to knOw wlidm he had sent. The Jews^
gO^' Wkc ^ccaiftM^ fer ndt discbveiiiig their Mesdah ia
aC^iBldBli nfecbBsdiJ, destitute of liue (Mfct^ akribed to lM^~
by &e&; own fm^hets, sild who cofttiibaj^ nield^ to tiieir fiii^;
inoess, nor to theh d^texan«j&HjPrei»rDa«M igslnk^'Mllii^kim
* St Luke, viL II— if.
tstM8aja.iMSti»iiK,vs.f&;^ N
"A i I
Wifi
•¥..■■
wc lor anothet',>*^u #he Messiah: Jn r^ply worked
miracles in their presence, cured thf? sick, cast put
devils, and gave sight to' the blind, ; after which be
said to John's deputiesj,** Go and relati^ to John what
you have heard and seen*." It was. o^ this occa«iqi$i
that Jesus pronounced the eulogy, of John. He had»
as we ]bave seen in chapter fourth of this history, his
Reasons for doing so. ''Amongst, all those^ "said be,
** that are born of woman, verily I say unto ypu^ there
is not a greater than John . Baptist,'* Our panegyrist
prbfitec) afterwards by this circuoistance lo abuse the
Pharisees aqd doctors, who rejected both his baptism
and John's. He cotDpared . these, unbelievers , to
*' Children sitting in the market place, and calling to
. one another, we: have piped to you, and you have not
danced; we have chantc^d funeral, airs, ^.^n4 ye have
not weeped." But we are nqt infdrmed whether this
jargon converted the.^octorsf.
- After this our speech-makeiscomparcd his own cpn?t.
<iuct with that of the precursor. "John," said be,*
*'t;ame neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and
you say he hath a devil. I drink,, eat and love good,
cheer, yet you reject m,e also, under pretence tbatlaoi
a drunken sot and a debauchee;^ an^ iUbat I frequent
the company of mpn and women ef bad reputatjon.'*
.■/fie.gavethe populace, however, to understand; that
tbeif suflfrage was sufficient for him ; as' if he had tolj^
them, *' I am certain of you— you are top poor in ffirit
to jJerceive of yourselves the irregularity plf my cpn^
4uct — my wonders especially pass with you; *yott
ft^puid not reflect; you are. the true children of wis*
iiom, wMch mil be juttifi$d by you%"
» . - , • ■ ■■.-'.
♦ St. Matt si. U. t St Luke, viL 18, S2» . v
JSt.J«att.iLn. St-I^Og^^l^
'^ 1.
»/'■"-' ■■■ -f"' ^' . ■* '
' After this fiai^n^e» ft Pfaariide, who, to jul^l^f
him by his conduct, b^ been no#Uys moved by |e^uii|
invited the orator to ditirier*; but-he%sed Chrirft in i^
•most tiiipolite.inahn|er. He did not cause hii feet to
b6 bathed,' nor' y id he present perfiiines, accomitig tb
the^(abli»hed'cust6iiEi'of the J^w^ towards i^ei^ per^''
son. Th6Ugh the splf-Iove of Jesus might be BlSTehd^
at this omii^dri, ^e did not decline sitting dowii at
taMe^ Wt whHelie- was eaiting, a-woman Of batdfaiiQe
bathed^ hls^ feet With her tears, "wiped them with hef
beautifHil- hai^, and -" thereafter aboitfted them writif i^
most preciiikis perfume."* Tb6 Pharisee did ' not ooih-
prehend th^ %ystery. As stupid as ihdredUlbds, ^is'
conjeictuitid that ^eisiis did not fenow the profe^iion of
the female; but' he wJw grossly Mistaken : the cour^^^
zan in •qU€lstion ^fttfd Ml her fairiiiy were^ intl^aieH^^ :
cbnfiected with 'Ctirist. St. John fnfbrins uis, that ih^
was called' IN^iy'Magdalane, and thait she was the sisif^^
ofMarthaiiftd 'L'a^Vus,' pebple w^ll kridwri^
and who, as we shall Very soon see, held a regular
^drrespotideiicfe y^rlh him. Xft 'patticular it^ appekrji^^ \
f batMag^dalane entertained the 'mosltiender sehtimentJr
for the ^ oriio^. rh sa noqu 1^^' /. -^r y^^i
jjiJrhis actip^n of the couitezao did^,nl^tidisccm^rt&e^
Savi6up;ohe;:explained hiw love^'i tli6 cares sh^ nn'deis'^
ed him| a'tidsthe kissies wiih; #bicV sh^
/9* It Is fi« tra&ti of:fi)dii^j tNifuaiated mth. tibe tni&etaiilEi
oflthe EO^oios, t^; taldits^: !. of poetical: rapti^^
ifli^ &c .tliati these. quSiaia have . been t deified iaiideii^Sbm
^Nnfr and a fever hare eqtaSif bad ahati;, flodL Mr ha^^
,''■'■ ." ■ ^ - -• -.'■' - ■ *■-. • - ■ ■ ■
»I8
|j^ weie forgive)^ on account pf the JoTe i&e had ijis-
jl^yod. St. t.i3J^e in^ms u« ip the cbaptef f^iiQwiog,
IJb^t Jesus Ivsd 4^UyeiTecl .tbi^lady.of i^^k deffl§^y^
f^rvice which doi^btless merited aH her grat^itude. ^
tt^at as J^ way, ^^^ri?* enpployed this iijitiirect way 9^
^wingtjie Phariseje the uiciviljty of i^m heijaviour Ibo
|, jpap pf bis qon^fqueoce.
The relatiQ{)9 of ^u«rii»fpri|ie4 of Ihejaoiae be ma^e»
9^ 8^sp^Gti»g ij^at h/e coii^d,i^ot lead a ^moj pure life
^qt^pngst.the gentry with yrbpni be-fsvociate^ ; pr fearing
Uiat bi3 cop^H^^*^^^^^''^ would diiaw binoi into toiue
upljijicky j^ffair^ went fipm iN'azare^th toOapernaum oii
purpose to fei^ him/ and'Causi^bim tobte.cpnfined.,
^^y were evi^eixOy afraj4 of beii;^ involved in hUi
djfpace, and x^,h99§ rather to charge themselves ^iljt
t|ie:cp|i^tiop j^f tl^ir kinsnian, than see h^ delivcrcji
ijyp^io ji^tice; janevep^ inrhich they foresaw was likely-,
yery soon 0 happ^* ? /jhey therefore circulated a?
rumour, that h^ wa|9,a'fool whose biain was di8ordere4f
b^Sl^red tihat ^/^k^ to MtzSnite to snoe £i^k% all tbeiii
«fi|^ wMch he. xou|A not aopount for^ Tins Js the lefMWA
«^y. dieimui, hyrtmc Ti^oun, and' swi9mnpg in tiie ^heaifl^
liare bcoi looked iqwn as divine inspoatians. The Mab^^
mMxA hn^ stin -m'- gfeat xeepect fat ibd& llie Ch^otiaat
reggti ft tmiov m'Vm fmm «f heaven; ihey call visbai
%|f[|S Ibpqngfi w^ich Qthos vtpJd eta fbity, ,g/jdfHn«B> a^
ampiQit qf ^ i]^ FoP?^ ^ arp fi^jfl^iical «i^ v
sud^^et^'t^ Ti^pqinsy are the. most s^l^^^ to vi^Ma and to
dtlMAsL' VmieDta, a&d moiikB ivln '£^t, aie most oqMttd'
to receiye the &rouis of the Most "ESf^ or to have ^vitasti'
ak-iiaemm, Acoorfling <» Jfm^m ^ Csniais i&e&^
liNl:'«alnea Ivid «net^ Aa^oofst >Iiir>
apiagv^ 'It ivaa wfaMB %lM> «dta4 thm !|ta^
/
-•*• »■
'W
i^-t'-:-
JefliMi'>iBffonMed.^ their arriv^ aoidjtliw afiQtiee ^,
tfafiiejfiiuinejt, kept close in lii» qlttaTteif^ : ^nd^ ha^lill^.
\^prodi|^ 4 B reiser «» for ttie luomeQt they sfaouldl s^Jipciai*.
.l^e peepie wboi ba«l got a bintr of this^ ar^ w«re toM
befonehanil' by tbe eniiaaaiies of ibe' M essiaby repaired
tluther ill a crowd. ,A« S0OQ as the mlati^QOft appstred^
a blind aindldumb man poBsessi^ vitb ia d^vii was-
bffoeghtHGbrtfa : Jeausexorcised him, Okepa&ks»s^wati^[
delif«re4k and the peopte wene in admifaitian. "' v- oij^.^
T^ doqtfkm be|»eld with paia the credtrtity of tba>
i»bt4e,aDd fotesaw ;tbi»<consequepce8 ofit-^The ktust
' Bi«n of jes]i8»i little affected by tb^ miracle^ pyotirisedr
ter the dofdidrB touseaU their efibrts to-d^lH^r up tQ
them so daiigevousa iiiaa.->*-He is a sorcerer; said soii>e3
be %i«^ prophet, isaid; others; He miwt proi^ it^aaiid a;
tbinl ; aB(^ ndtwritfastajiding^ tbe great miraete 'faf^ had
pezfocraed^otiiPerr added, %e( m a^k offrnm a sign in the
aH? .^Oiod God^^widtrtieNaMr8nefr^'**lie neithef
taheKtmeSr pjopihet ; wt koovt^ hitn b6tt€ir tban;«fry.
body ; he is a poor lad whose brain w" dfisof^eTed'.**^ •
All these spe^hvst yrem related to Jesus ;<^6 i^
tmvreA them by parable' and inveeti>ve8, aiid dei^ded
^(t&s^ffrdm the ciiarge of being a wiisardi^y^ saying
itwas isdseani - toi ttnitkaifi> that be cast out denlsby
tfae^'pwMeivofdeTiis). As tt» ^he itttpiitsAkkr of fbtty^ ;
ber^t^peiiwl it wicb affifariag that-#hoe^er ahbuld at-
toek hisi' pa the ficove of ^m^rstatH^ing^ cotiid not ebts*
pe^'the neoiissioo <^-hi^ Msin» eithiSr iQf£hisl%f In the
othet world.' Tbfe BW^fetibtedly- }» what m%^ be t^
diBifctood by the (SJ* igawfrff^ Jfo^y 0
K€v«il^Ktes6 tbe^EftHvfra^^ibuVseubjpifemandinga^
ti§«'i»ag foltoired i fiw^ this puypose a d^jutatioti was
a€ttt tai«ii»; <biit Instead of a sfgn-tfr :^l^ hrgaf%
&■
*->,•* ^
^80
;; . i,l.. ■
J^em one in the water. He rrferrea oiir^inquisitive
V rlolks to Jonas, and told them tbey should ■ have no
jgotber; for, added he, ** As Jonas was three days and
j£jtbree nights in the beHy of the whale, so shall the
'■;Son of man be three days and three, nights in the
heart of , the earth." The Jews, who were neither
wizards nor prophets, Vould not comprehend this lan^-
;"^uag^. Jesns, to w horn xmiraclei gchbI nothing when
ev^ry thing was arranged for performing them, did not
^fisk himself by wQTklog them impnmtptu, or in the
pr^ence of those whom he judged acute enough to
examine them. — On ithis occasion he put off these
:;^poor Jews, whom he calculated on converting to him-
^'Self for ever, with an unintelligible answer.
,^.^he refusal to perform a pjrodigy in the air creates a
belief that Jesus decliued the contest : raillery was intro*
duced : the! Sonof God got into a passion, and launched
v.^out in 'prophetical invectives, against the Jews. He
-.^ compared the conduct of the gufen of Sheba with
- theirs; boasted of his. being greater and wiser than
.Solomon; and threatened to deprive them of the light
■'- which he shed in their country. We are of opinion.
^ however,, that, if he had deigned to qonsoat to give the
sign demanded, he would have spread this light much
further.— Bui there is reason to believe the li^essiali
felt that a sign i n the a ir w as much more d ifficul t thaft;
%pkU.tb(CK>e h4 had given on^ the earth, where he was better'
?{3>1^ to. arrapge, matters than alcift in the atmosphere,
a regiQi^ in «biicb tb^re wapnobody to concert witjbc:
. Meanwhfle J^us* mother had Joined her other cbil*
' ^ren and relatiops in order to soothe and ei^age them
to desist from their pursuits, but she could not prevail
on them. Tb^y persisted m tbf design 6i taking up
i*^' '. ••it' '^"'.? ■'?^('v*f-?'V'^?r*?*.l^^'^^'^>'9K
lUn.
■-'^•i --■.?-:^'-":: :.^v:'/' -'^ -^/.v-.-;^ :;.;;■.-,-." ,>,?>:-,>i:- ;. -v'': :0- ■M' "' ■ ■■^^•'v - ^
X^v v--v/;:::^;A:rv",:si! •:- ,v ,> ,^- .■■'•:.;; .v
-* ' / .
■ Y ■
o!i)rV':a4v^Qturer ; but as tbey* conld not penetrate
ttirough thie multitude and ^fe close up to hiniii they
seift notice they were there^ " Behold," said some
Otte to Jesus, *' thy ftibther and' thy brethren who se^k.
thee;"i'—Chrt«t knowing the object of their visit which
he Wias no- ways eager t& receive, abjured such froward
relations : " Who is my mother, and' who are nvy bre-
thTen?" isaid he ; after which^ stretching forth hishaud
towards the people, "JBeAoi?</,'* added he, *? «^i»of^6eri,
and my bpethren ; I know no other ktnsinen thdn those
who hiearkeri to my M^prd, and put it in practice."" The
peo|)le, flattered with the preference, took Jesus uiideK
their (irotectioB, and ,the attempt of his famvly wai '
thus turned to their confusion*.
Escaped froni this perilous adventure, afraid of be-
ing caught unawares, or mistrusting the t^nstancy of
the populace; who,' 'ndtwithstanditigtbe pleaaure thjey
found in iseeiog hi ib perform his juggies, mi^ht desert
h^-^at hist, Jesus thought proper to prpTtde for. hi^
safety by leaving the towni'. He accordingly dei
parted with bis twelve apostles, the ladies pf his trai%
Mary his mother, Jane and Magdalane, who agisted the
company' with thar property. .Th^fe is reason to be-
lieve that the last, who, before sfae was with the Mes-
siah, had ihade gufu^ of her charms,; was rich in jewela
^nd ready money; Thfs rendered her cdntersiori oif
great importance to the sect, and especially to Jesus,
who could not; without cruelty, tefuse to repay so^,
much love^ with a little return. • I
»HThe persecution whidb Jesus, experienced escited
aa.interest itt bisv^ebalf, and it vpo^d seein proGul^
• St Mattril.4«. ^a£MaA, ffi. » MSfc^y^lia. Ifu
t«t Matt. xffi. 1. ^ ^ R
^
•^ ^-.^
.#tto greater couDtenance. A maititude^f pd9>le tiai>
^fe)4ed by curiostt^r, &8 86on as the]r knew, the i^Qod be
had taken;«wetit out of the tpwiw. and hamktB in the
ebviro]^ to see bim. To avoid beiag incomrodded by
the crowd, be again tesolyed ta go on Wrd ik vessel ;
dnd having done so, he began' to preaclf tostbose on
shore; but; recvilecting thesGrapeiTiwhidi hi» former
Simons had brongbt him into, he didnott3i.inlc iit pf^u-
dent tc» «xptain himself so cfeatljT; ti^ therefore, pre'
/erred speflkiog iii' parables^; wbicb^rie ahan^a so^cepi-
ttble of a double meaning, ' It may be. believed- the
expi:^atieni.of^ these enigmas was circulatea by meana
#f ^6' apostles, to whom Jesus gave it in charge*.?
' One day, chagrined at his little ftuoces8>. he distinctly
avowed ths^ be bad changed hr$ resolution as to the
3dw8^ rand meaotr toak^Kidon tbetr cooversion. The
xeaesoBi^MdopQgso b^ expressed to them iii parablesri
^.tbat seeing/* said be, "they may not perceive,^and
bearing tbey may .not understand, iest at.finy time
tbi^ sboulclbe.coBlierted^ and their sina^oukl belbr*
gfreti t&ero.t^* ^^j',- ^ - •' .
& It inttttbeo^ned^ that i^ Is very, difficult to recoil^
eite this c(»d uc^ 'of God. Weit^ we not aftaid of com-
niiSting . sacptl«g^ hy bsziirdii!^ coi^tiiies-OD the
SHssiqnr.o^ Jesus, might it not be presumed, tllat «t
fiist b&b«4 the desigB of giylng laws to tbe Jew9* but
perceiving af^wards bis little 8Ucoef», be resohret^^
1^ began to be4i«paxagedt Ui that country; to seek bit
fortune elsewhere, and^gain Qtber subjepts ? Whafcfae
ftptriNBted \»\m disciples loi thie.ceoret interview.^ ap-
^^»,to fa9vei)ee*:f9r the purpose of pfepacBig th
-,.-vi,---.-,... ■- -:j^~- :,.
■■MM.^"^':
rr*iv-
,o
-. \
\
-^■'r.'V ■-■•■:■■ -v:^"- :>. >."^ ^.
fortbifiJabiinge; %t hk ^imishtottnt ptetefi«5tl rii'hifc
(k8»gWB,ivhich wBPd not ex^ttted tili a hjtig thfife aftfet
by his «p08t*eg^ who no dbubt cawfully tp6asuf ed lip
this-conforfitoce. /■■' ■.y;r>j'.:. - .^ -■:Am^,^
We stifoold not eater into a detail cff all the- pnraiiri&
wlndb ii^\x% ctti ploy t3d itt «coMa ifl unicatftig his mar^dt-
lous (lobtt^tee to tfee JSft#fei c^'^reathitig^Withoiit lielttg
QBdemooA Siich ^' disfeii^ston i/^otrtd becotne very
tire8orn«'r we thferefbre *dv'ise those w:ho tts^ hive »
taste %\' -iiieh laad' of apologues rather to iread thos^ of
Esop 6rI.«FoDtaitiei which they Will find tnoi-e ambi^
ihg and thore iiSstrtnitive^^thari this fiibles of 'Christ.
Those,^feioweteir; Who wish to consult the pambl^s or
apologues of the gospel i* ill find them in the following
Th& parable tjf * the w»iri', Luke, niiV6---^rf the; cwg
(xaUi ftitn^, ibi JifiBf. f6— ^bf the fti»T^ IMfett, xhfc
24^0? ttre Wferf, Mai-k iv. iJdr-df thejfrtf«« o/^jnii^
ta%Ai Mattl xiii. Sl^-i'*^ ''the ^awii, fh. 'xiii. 33-^i^
the Attltlen treasure,- ib. ' xrfi. 44r-of the ^p^2^» |b^
xiii, 45— of the ifi^ cd&i ihl(y the sea, ih: 47--^acrd
Jesiis ijrifdrmed th^t his brothers and ' coDsins were
frcto hpiinfe;' went to 'N'azareth ii^coaipaaied with hi»
a^dfittel. He perhaps wanted to conyince His country*
men th tit he was hot Such a jfoo^ as was reported, r^ro*
bably he' hdp^d tb coofe^ witH his family^ and gaiq
them over to his %ide. Hci^diTived on^he sabbaf^i andt
repair^ to the syjiag^giie : ioaimediately the priesti
Very poiitieiypresetit^ blind v^ he opened it^
and stumbled precisely oh this paisMige of i^ab':
1** The Spirit of tb4 Lord ha^ jested upon ine, and ther&.
ibre ttttii anoihte^^ preach.** ^ l|aV!i$%it t^e l^ok,'
. I- -
■ 4
,* - "^ '^ '.v.- ■' i ,- .* '• - ,■/<;--.*? '^'tf-^^V^;- * .' ■ ■■ ■ -.^■^: *fV
he deliyered it to the priesl aod sat down ; but be did
not Beglect to apply to himself this passage of the
prophet, where also mention is made. of miracles and
prodigies. There were present, either by, chance or
I design, several Galileans, who having been witnesses
of the marvels he bad performed the y«ar preceding,
\\ did not hesitate to bear testimony in his favour. But
the Kazarenes, who knew what tptl^ink of Jesus, were
^ shocked at his magisterial tone. ''Isnot this/* said
,, they to one another, " the carpenter, tbeson of Joseph
the carpenter ? Is not his mother called Maiy ? Are
not his brethren and sisters with us? Whence then
has he so much skill ? How and by what means does
he work the miracles related to us ?'* ' ^v,
r Jesus, bearing these discourses, saw plainly, that this
>. 'was not the proper place for performing prod igies.-:-
r But he wished that his inaction might be attj(;ibuted to
the evil dispositions of his countrymen, who Were sur«
prised to hear the sagacity and power of a man vaunted,
y whose eoirduct appeared to them very equtvocaU
- "I We well,** said Jesus to them, *^that you apply
*' to me the proverb,^ Physician cure thyself ; and that,
:" to prove the truth of the marveU; you have heai^d of
, : me, you wish me to perform some bf those fine ,leger-
, demiains which I have elsewhere exhibited^^ but 1 know
i I shall labour in vain in this city: I am too,|Virell coo-
viiiced of the truth of the proverb. No -nian is a
prophet in his own country.** \To justify himself he
quoted examples which would seem to throw a siispi-
cion on the miracles of the prophets of the Old Testa-
i ineut, whom this proverb, even by itself, was calcu-;
lated to make pate for knaves. Whatever opinion* we
may form of this, be cited the example of Elias, whO}
'■V-' \-
'• V-V' 'Vi^i'-^ -.'
{arV-v-v;-*
among all the widows of Israel, did not find one more
, /^ deserving of a miracle than ber of Sarepta, a woman
\ ;v of the country of the Sidoniads. In the days of £lias
I Judea was overrun with lepe/s; and yet the Prophet
\ ;. cured Naaman, who was a Syrian and an idolater, in
vV preference to his countrymen.
This harangue, which' tended to insinuate the repro-
• ? bation and perversity of the audienceji put them into
.V: > ill humour, and excited their >rage so much, that they '
dragged the orator out of the synagogue, and Jed him
^ •/* to the top of a mountain with an intention to throw
,. him down headlong; but he had the good fortune to
. ' escape, and thus avoid the late which was intended
bini in the place of his nativity. ,
1 > St. Matthew, 'speaking of this journey lo Nazareth^
"^ says that his m^ter did not perform many miracles
\^ there on account of the unbelief of the inhabitants. ■•
. »>f , But St. Mark sayspositively, that he. cou/Jitoif (id any,
which is still more probable.* ^
, : 1^ > Our luminous interpreters and coimn^titators befieve,
V " that Jesus escaped only, by a mii^cle out of the hands
,; of the Naisarenes. ' But would it have cost him more
to perform a mirade in order to cohvert them, and
thereby prevent their mischievous designs ? This was
^ all that was required of him, and then he woi^id not
bave stood in need of performing a miracle in order to
^ ':iiave hims^f and- place his person in security.'' Jistus
Vdiever performed miracles but with certain loss ; lie
always dispensed with working any, whien tibdy would
have been decisive. t ^
, ''/-* ;* -^ -i'-v
^; I f^ V* Compare Oft tiiufiusl;, S^
jfi, .^^v* jf.
■■fyimi--
l'.^;
*« w--.
■c -
S- ^^ '-'■ -'^■•'.7- '
--- .
'.' "'- ■ ■ ■'
FtiSTii r' lA'iiw nl^J
-^k ^1
U-itai-:
",/>/^t -^i^i v^:;^x -vnf^ ;.-i<^'/-^' '■' ' , __,,/ ' ■ • >rji>^.?^'^^;*«H^N^^ i^
, '. ilittioir dP THE AP08tL£9. THE IJfSTBITCTIOirs iBSVS G^Vk "^
■"'-'■ "V'-___!' ' - ■ ' ■ ' ' '"'^ 't"' j f-'"'-'-'^
^, fTHElt. MIRACtGS WftOUiBHT BT HIM UNTIL TJ[E END ^'
* ','^'" OF THE SBCOBb T«i.i OP HIS OWN MISSION.' ^ ;,^-
' ' I; OISSATISFIEJX witb W» expeditioo tq Na^retl^ .^
P ' Jesus went to Upper Graitlee» which fa>d j^neady been tb0
tbeatce of his wonders. He foood tbe inhabitanU-'of
\.thtt country ia a disposition better adapted to bis puxr^
y: pose. He petceivedjj however, that the oec^sity thegrr
-^ ' were under oCsuspenditig their labour m, qs^to,stomi^
1 and hear him, kept a great nuoiber at hopoe. Tbil^
^ c^Qstderatipn ohligied bim to dispell )m apostles by
/;two ajD<i two in the provioce., It is psobable, be i^
l^^vedoa tbi9 dispersioo because he fouD^tfia^Cfirii,
I jKKinoos.and jkcodigie^ did uQtgaim proselyte^ enoi^bu.
I^The coatinualeolei^ise^of yaeneiBies ioadie^hw^^^
the qecessity^priocj'fasing his party.. ^ .
y Jt af)i|Mears that Jesus bad ab^eady stfat several of iiin
< ^scitpies 00 miatioo, retaining near bimieif bis tweiva
^a{i0stles only ; it V»egr» however, be presumM tbsit theac^
I piieacbers wexe 1eu| yet mere novices; tbeii laboura
were unsuccessful ; for they found the devMs sor obsti*
:-' nate as to resist their exorcisms. Yet this want of
aiiccesft was owifOgraolel^F. t» tbe weakacsaqi^ tb^-faii^
and would seem ^o throw a shade ob the foresigbllaad
peuetration of tbdr^difine master. Why did he seud
r ^-
\. ,:^^.'.^S.;-r'yr -,,: f^:-.
t
<■■■■
- t ■"•' . '^~ ^ <- y . - ^ ■ : ■ •- ■' .
^^x> , /■
■"•" ^<- ;'■■ .'•-■■ ,- - -c ",«,:-.•' ■
^;.^^'^:^r^:■--^U'■C■ y-L. -x <> \ :
/
■-Sjii^£-fe?fe^-- ■ ' ' ^
*> 1 1
/
m.
t)aimio«)aii0$j!i^O90 dispositions w^« not s^ffickentl^r
koQwi? tq hmi Besides, it l^elpoged to him tiioD& t9 '
bestow 90 tbem befiore haiad i^ necessary stocks of ^t^
* Wbaiafer opinion may befofn^ of Ik^Sr there U
reason fbjr helieyipg thafe tbe^osUei whp never quitted i ^' /!
their masi^r» j£^w hiincp^ii>ft^y derating, enjoyed
hie confi^eqce, and had faiUi from ;the^r8thand---were • _
better qualified than the disciples to laboue to t^eaatiaf .
faction of the publio, TjMW^eans, ful^yresohredto ^v "^ :
moike a desperate efifert, re^aewedaUtheU powers^ 9^
gare them his instrnctiows, lof whiph the following, j^s
th« wihstjince : " E?eiy tljiug being weU wosidiefi?^^
do not go;< among the QentUes, %dr! ^vr. ^ewf, wiU -^
^rfaarge H &» a crimie agaio^k H9K a»d \^ll leiJE^^f^^ , ^
• feproach .iigain^t m«e^ o?l. i« tr>» J[ rl^9iFf *»lr^*dy v^ ^:''
thrmktoned t^ re»piia<cei4h«snb t^t i* ii^RtjU i»«?f«f^ ^ .,^;
to< nakeo&0 attempt mqrer yon will j^ereipr^^ieaci^ Ji-,
tothe Jew^ooly^ Eep«At9nQe9nppiQ6e8.sp|^^^ii4 ?
iew /vraats ; h«ii^ the ionlil^; of^ f Icia^. , ^ h^^.<Q9
mon^ to give you, but,8|ri:w^ pick Mpf^ryovfseljy^
wh»i you can. Providence wiil provide fpfJH^WJ'J^ '
be takes cate of liie sp»rrow», he will tiii«e5i;w«| of J-W
Moreover ^pect to he iU received* r^yijfid* ^ofiflei^ . -
cuted; but be of good courage; all is for the best*.
SiJaEu^jift'tto tonger requiftitfe ;. : pfeacb:^]¥»i«ily .^hd ^n
tiyeiiGnifte^tOps wbai r ha^v«'«poii%ntQ'yOiii^in.«^^
JtitGtpit\i^mM tb^ r km th# Mci^Hi»i «i« s<»n-^
l>aii<iari4 1^ Son^f 'fepd: : ^^ ^^
apwyvlJiMs with piisiHftsiiBtiityitv «J itM* !^>*MWi!Ti ri:^ ; '
^^i^^TMugbl send ^IbiPtb Mi sheep inilbtf^znldibi«r
wolves, explain to the good people thit you are i^ef ^
.'.<*?■' -
^e sftfegtiard of t1ie^t>rt H%b; who wHi teke a terrii;/
bic revenge far the outrages ofiferedyooi and HberaWji; ^^
reward those who welcome yo«i.*ii-You'doTiot riBquif4fe
t9 concert measures for supplying your-c*p!ences ; H
belbrigs to those -whose schils you are gc^g to save ta,
< provide for the wants^of your bod4es i carry nOt there^
' jfereeithergold, orsilver, orprovfeion, ortwbsui&of
talment; take ft g^>od<;udgei, and depart ^itl'Jlbe*iiame,
■'•-';■-- oi;th^l.ord.''--'^-" '■■' -^ -■ ■ \ ■■'ji^-i;-^ . ■ ,i ' :
; /,'< « Take care in yourwajr always to preach that tkk
^ hmgdbmj>f heaven u at hah^: Speak of the end of the
worlds this WiU intimidikte women and poltroons: On
: euteringcitiet and Villages^ inform yourself underhand
\>f stfch k;redalbus people, as are very charitable and
s." prepossessed in our &v>ouf.Yt>«WilU salute theia
'^▼iHjr; skying. Peace be io tkkhoute, Bui the peace '
K y(ki bring iiiusfr be only aUegorUaU for my doctrine is
> talciilkted' Co ereate trouble, discord, aid division^
M J „ i-^erf where.^ Whoever wmild follow me must abai^
i 'A ' tfon fethff-. ittother, kiiism<»i^ and family ; we vvsnt
^ ; t>n1^fiaeBai and enthusiasts,' who, attaching thonselvet
" * Wbo)^^to lis, trample every human ^»nsideralion unde^
foot I tudme ii&t to send peeteci hut a tmtrJL >A<<ft like
mdfictisciigbt embroil you with your hosti, you will
I ^MtJJdm^ Calnn^ joa the 30^ «f Sqitenober 1691, «lot^ Iht
llBoiwmg Mt^.tfll^ Hi§^,Clu^^lain of the; IBngof Navaxte.:
CN^^Hqaer, j^ifOj/^dxA xidy», .^,^^ the rewai^ at joat -
paiiis; but aSove «d], do not fiul to rid the country of tii6fe
za36i» woundid^ wbo stir up'liie pinpie to Mvottr i^gabt ii&
*^r ^Siidi monatem ahould be exMisBS$utttdit^a$,I koeiB «iftii>rfjiiiirf
^ *lfidnel SKvfetui Urn Spamaid.**-— ViAi Mediu JUmrthei,
^ : ■- ■ . ■ .-tv --■-:.- :'■-■..■ . .- o^:«i:. .:*-■.% J -. ;f-v ^ ^ '
--*':.
^•,
...^>-
im
; cbange. your abode ^m time to time. Do not rdy
~ on Che power I bitte of raising the dead : tbesafegt"
■ v -way for- yOa it not 'to risk your being killed ; shun '
therefore places where you shall find yourselTes
. .menaced with persecution. Jueave disobedient cities
, and houses, sAaitfl^tiW4^r^n>mrjo^'yotir-/eel. Tell;
■ - them, that they have incurred , the punishment . of
; Sodom and Gjomorrab. Declare, in my name, that the
' divine vengeance is ready to make them sensible c^
tbeirguilt, and that tbe inhabitants of these cities; will
be l^ss rigorously punched than those who shall ha^e.
." the audacity to resist your li^isona. The gre%t and lasts
., day is at hand : I assure you, that ^ou shall notba^vje:
^, ' Slushed yoiir tour through, all the cities of Israel*
:"i>efbre the Son of tnaii shall arrive**" • ?
r Such is the sense and spirit of the instructions whicb
^ Jesus gave to bis apostles. In charging them , to
divulge his secret^ he gave thqm a commission, which,
'^VnotwithsCandii^ his omnipotence, he himself dared
, tibt execute. But it was a grand policy' to have in-'
' ' struments to act^ Without exposing himself personally*
V' - in the matter.^ > ^ w- : _^,
; fTbese trifles^ however, scarcely meritpotice:— We
, -' mtt tooresurprised tafind the Son of God proclaiming
. : v^ -peace arid charit^, and at the same time asserting tbkt
■' ^hfe brings war an^ batr^V Ifc is witht^t doubt a Crc4
only who can reconcile the te contradictiona. It^4t
^' . besides unquestion£^ble, that the apostles, eaiid espe-
T 1^ ^cially their succewors in the sacredininistry, have ih
'^? S P'^^Wtig their gospel brought on the world troubletr
K\v^iQd divisions unknown in all other preceding religipqs.
■.■;;; '• ,. -' . l.^rrn ■ - '-^*^^y: —
~
V ■ > V . - * St Matt. X. St Marie vi. St liiAelit
' > iF
The; incrediijlous, who by the wiy refer to the history
of the cbnrch) fiodj that the ^glad Hdirigt which they
camebn purpose t6 announce^ have plonged the bnoisn
race iuto tears and blood** i^n // a;it>iitq < "51 ki^sv <_^
It is obvious from bis^langvage, that Tditm ic^twt^ed
people of property with the 'maintenance of bis ap08->
ties. Their successors have taken sufficient advantage
of this, and through it assumed an authority taexer-
dse for many ages the most cruel extortions on im-
poverished nations. Would not the Almighty have
rendered his apostles more respectable by rendeiing
^tbem incapable of suffering, and exeonpting them from
tiie wants of naturb? There is reason to believe, that
tiiis would have given more weight to their sublime
sermons and those of their infallible snccessor^i «? >'^^^^^
• Critics maintain ako that it was false to ssryn^r
Cfighteen hundred years ago the end of the world was nedf,
_ * If the Christian rdi^an be as is pietoadfid, a iMttEunt
Ut the crimes of men;— ^f it produces salutaiy efi&cts on soonoe
in£yiduals— can these advantages, so xar^ so inefficient and
dfwbtftil, be compared with the evidmt ai^d immense eviiB
which tlus religion has produced on the earth? Can the pte*
vention oi a £nv trifing crime% some cmversians uadcss to
aoq^tf, acBBoa stezfle and tardy repoitaaces» «it^ into the
balance against the perpetual (fiasensions, Uoody wars;, hofoi,
massacres, persecutions^ and crueldes, of whidi the Chiistiaa
itiBgitm ha^ been a contmual cause and pretext? For one
steret waM tiraught suppressed by it, there are even ^^AuXb
nalioBs anntd for redproeal destmctkm; t)K faeaMs of naPIioBi
qI &natic8 are inflamed; £Bii3ie9 and states are fluagediiinto
confufflon; and the earth is bedewed with tean «id Upod.
jLfter this, let ctHomon sense dedde. t^ magmtude «i tba
lidvantages which mai&md derive frcnh the gtad tidings wMch
Christians pretend to have received imn their God.
.^v
and itiiOr<d falte Btill to affirJQQ that tiie great Judge would
arrive before the apostles could have tinie to make the
tour of the cities of Israel. It is true, theologists un.
d^rstand that the end of the world shall happen when
all the Jewish cities, that is, when all the Jews shall
be converted. Time will demonstrate whether it be
IB that sense we ought to understand the words of
Jeius: meanwhile the world still remains, £md dofi
not appear to threaten speedy, fuini
It is likewise very probable, that, besides these pub^
lie instructions, Jesus gave more particular Ones to his
; apostles. They departed in the hope ot charities
< >;WbiGh they were to receive from Jews, of wjioin the
greatest number were alrenldy in a state of reprobatipB,
^' ot damned in petto by Providetrce. Jestis alteted bif>
v orders in part; be reserved for himself the cities, aotd
'^ >.left the vUIages only to his apostles. Accoi^ngly
they went here and there, calling out. Hearken to Hit
^ gktd tidmgi ; iht worfd is iiearkitniL Rqftta thet^
/t fatti praift fast, dhd give »> mMey and ^^oviti^M, fef
\:^ having acquainted you With this interesting secret. We:
\^ are also assured, that they cured several diseases by the
-;> application of a certain oiL They bad doubtless done
B jtaott excellent things, but the paraciete (the comforter)
; ./^' wasiaot yet comer mati^te tl^ instructions of the Soti
?^ , (Df God, the trttderstatidings 6f the apostles were .not
V yet sufficiently brtghtehed * ; fOf We do iSdt fifid that
tke missionapies, with their balsam and fine speeches*
flude otany converts. The iacredulotts are stiU mucli
f^^ surfyrised to find, in the instractioiis of Christ to bia
apostles, an explicit order to labour oaly ien* the ebn^
\'' -/ ,.- ; -■'■'" '■ ' • ■ • ■ • ■■ . ■" "
■',■ " ■•■ '■■- - ■ ' .-■■.^ii^:5-?4* :;;■■•■■ ' - ■ ' ' : —
m
V tflcsibh bftne fews^^^^^^^ pfoWbityoif agaiMtr
pi^eachiog to the Geotiles. They maintaiD, that a
righteous; God co)|ld make no distinction of persons i|
. that the common father of miadkind must show an equal '
« l^Te to all his. chiidreQ* ; t^at it tost no mor& to the
^'« What should we say of the hihac of a numaous ofil^iii^,
' yrfxo ibotdd waste all his fenAiess tqxm one child^ and ne^er
- admit, the rest to W pvtsesce, u^ than {Rimsh ' tha^' for.
having no knowledge of his person? "V^ou^ not such a can'
dutA denote caprice and cmelfy^ Would he not be ginltf
^ of an mjustice that we- have iierer heard of- m the most '
' deprared and unfeeling of our spedes? How coulda &tha ^
>^ ibaxik. of punishiwg a child for not cUmig his wiD, which he'
:^ tiiou^t p^fi^ier to conceal frtHn him? We must, HbeireSace,
'■'■{ -condude .Ibati a particulai; revdatioD pre^^ui^poses not a good
^"^'-•and equitaUliB God, : but sb& an . ui^just and whhnacat tTrant,,
1 'niiOj if he be lavidi of his &irourstoa few/ is at least crud
-^ and wjust' to the riest. Eevelationj m this case, does not,
Kf prove the goodness, ^liit the dpice, of a bdbg, whom ^rdigion
-■■i* dedisKa to be the perfection of wisdom, benevolence, and justice
V naad :^ ^common &ther of aH the cogpomon face. . T£ self-intereftt
; v' idtoidd carry; a few tp. admire the hidden wajs of the Ahxa^tj, .
:,6^wbat oaf^ th6 many to .tfamk who are made the victims '
jVof his in^stice and partu^ty? Assured^ pride alone could
ever hag^mduced a particular pec^de to fancy themseh;es
^ ,1S» ptiv^ied ci tfae& race, and the oiiiy fevoinred of heavea.,
"XWbadied[ Jffy vani^, they perceived not the wro^ they aflfered
4ijjam Cjieabor, in fffenmung that aU his jcreatiires, beang equ^
>^;W9dE (^ his hands^ were not equdly the objects of his
Cfize ^and affectiim. It b;, nevcatkeless, upon particular revda- ^
tkms'that an the idgiras m the world are ^juaded. As
C^recy m^ h^ Ihe vamty to think hlmsdf of more import*
"^yiicfe '^iluiB his fe|bW> so has every aatkn conceited that
vJtM^fweee the exdiuive fevouxites <^ the aiithm «f naluze.
ir^he Indians bdieve. that . Brttaa , s^oke >fer thdr instnic*
"tkm ahme, the Jews ^d the Christians are persuaded that
the world .was, created, fer"^ them, ,and that Ciod has mam-
feted ^mself &[" tiiem oajJ^Prriervtaivi ajgainH RaUgUm
•>'j
- v:^.' ;--:.' -"■■'; v":^^---
i \VPt ^'."'-x-
' ' ' ■, '' ^
^^ <^ ■^^'-'^-■
' f^^'i^
■/ry
■' ' ^ '■■-."
1
w^o is friendly to one codntr^ only, is a God fiurely
localy and cannot be the God of the universe ; and that
a God' palatial, excidsivej atid udjust, who follows est"
price alone in his cbdicej can nieither' be 'perfect nor
the model of perfe<jti6n.\^ In short j those iv^lio have not
the happiness bf being «aj^e(% Minded hy iaith, c^
not comprehend how the e<][uitabl& and wise Lord of *
j>liU the nations of the ekrth could cberish excliisitnely .
the Jewish people; his ^f[nite prescience ought to
faaye showii Mm tfii>t bis loyeahd favours 'would be
cefi^leBl^ldstonMEhis^nt^K^aBe people.
I'v'^tAb^ctSri remark; ^ become the SdiJ
^Xjt^ f gi exclaim^ *• Woe ifnfo th^e, Chorazin ! wofe
^-^ unto thee, Bethsaida4 for if the mighty works^'bich
f 'Weredone in you had beefl^dona inrTyireandrSidon,'^
thleyl^i^ld have repeiht^'Tdogj ago i sackcldth and
osh^.**^ ■ Wbtald it ' iibt 'Hate been- wiser to go aiid ;
pidicfa td dCi^ ek)i dticil^; wheire Christ was fcerfcaitf of
sud:ess^ thin to'pejSii^in pffecliing to thfe Jew1|^*a^ to
: wte>toi^ti»as^^ertaiii Itmisbai^n^^ - \ ^«^'« '>^-
.b^esU^^ d<9#4eft alone, went abo^inlieaching through
■iiiany"<?kie»i>f Galtl^e^ liuti4fej^ved'df the^ateifetaiice
of his d^tf-cotifSdentii; tie^dtid lildi in'th^sie pls^ wbi^
' '*^';'*any-w6ndera.*^^^^^*'^*"':*^ ^^■'- «=^-^'^'''*'M*:'^''*^^^*'' ''**^--
' Xmmt hk^ Mthef^ &tf t6c m^tS^fltiaana Mplk^
^ paying little^tenifon W thf^ cotid&i: 'bf Jesus ; th^y '
despised a man whom tfey't^^di^' as^^ag^t,"^^"^!
. a foci little to be feit^2' '"fis^tf^ fe^^lgfiie Of
HMod's officers are slid''t8^Aaffeiy#8fc^ty^it%
along with the Pharis^/itb^d^iitoftilnff^fm
~ !C0ittNiiaiiiM bad uasn^tit^'ll^^
'■— -v ■■:■.- ■ -'■.'"
viqpary could giVe umbiagf solely \o the Jewish prie$t»
and the doqtors of tbe law, again^ wbom be ^ecl^im'*
ed with the greatest indeconim-: By this conduct bQ
rendered biroself very agreeable \Q the people^ long
weary p^ the extortioas of these public bloodsuckeifi
who, without pity, drained the nation, treated tb?
poorer sort |vith disdain, and, as the parage of th?
priest and t6e SaQaaritan evinces, were destitute- of
charity. The priests and doctors were very numerouf
in Jerusalem ; on wbiqb account the peopl^e, in ^f
capital, as we have seen, were less disposed than elser
.where to listen to our preacher, and tbere i^ rQ^i/999
to believe, that the priests were the true ^useypf* the
hatred aad co^teqipt ^tfrti^i||ed ajtai^Jt bw i» Jl|ii
great cit}U;^,;\7':"'1-;^Ff. Vrlr-^l v* jl-Xlfr-Ht'iff .^iH*' of -rr^-
..3y a very singular contrariety, the most obscufe
inljervalinaurbero'slife was that wherein hiei,a^unre4
^^ greatest celebrity, Jesus was wholly, unknowi^f^ 1
^e court of Herod; wbil^ at the bead c^f b^ troofS
^dsurrounded by multitudes* be chased ^way devils,
gave sight to the blind and spejlcb ta the U9Ut^ expelr
led tbe 4^11ers firom^he temple, «,Dd mij^ the d«ad.
But whileiie led a private life in Galileey-^wben, duih
ing the minion of his aposiles^ be fouvd himself alop$
and without followers, and content with pr^chiog n^* -
j»eatance,— it waatben that hjis,iai;Qfi^ pe^trating even
p> the, throBj?, je^cited in the monarch a desire to i»
iee buu« Accogdipg tp St. XfUl^e* a ray of light struck
the b^rt ol^ ^rod i doubt ^1^ his ewnd ; ** lobn/'
said hie, " bfvel causoij^ tf> be beheaded, but be muft ]
.■^Te^jf7P^,jffpm^;t^^ tberefor^iA^S/tbjat S9
naiiny mi^^:|es fure p^iformed by Um ; but wbo^sbould
V-. :■'
I:.'-
^T:,
at-
,^lhit be of wfeom I hear such great things?'* Herod
. must see Jesus to explain thes4 matters, and for this
■j .purpose he sent for hini*.
^v .rjlf nature had given Christ unquestionable rights to
^^ the throxie of Judea, we might beHeve that these pre-
1 -tensions were his motives for nrot putting himself in
v the power of a prince, the usurper of his ctown.; Buf '
:; Jesus could nc* dissemble that his pretensions were not
■Ai, ,too well established ; he knew besides, thatfora long^tiine
; g, past the family xjfEhivid had lost the sovereign poweiV.
'; We must therefore search for another motiij^ for his
^^^using to see Herod ; the more so, as the mterview
, -with the Son of God would not only have contributed
.to the conversion of this prince and aM his court, but
V; evett of all Judea, and perhaps of the whole Rbmart
V .empire. A single miracle of consequencev performed
: ;.before a court, acknowledged and attested by persons
;T5 -of high atithority, would doubtless have been more
' -, effectual than the suspected testimony of all the pea^
.*antry and vagabonds in Galilee. Far fronCL comply-
ing with' the. requests of Hejrod, and performing so
eminent a benefit;^Jesus withdrew into a desert as soon
as he learned the prince'^bt^^onf. He who often
-tittered the mtost terrible eenar against such as reject-
ed him, scorned the I'nyitatioTi of. a sovereign, and fled'
iatOa desert, instead of labouring for his conversion.
'The Messiah, who made no diflRculty in entering the
- Jlouse of^'cfcnturimi to heat His slave, refused^ to visit
* anftonarch in prd«r to cure hi* bAiodnesS, and' bring
• St; LtAe, t. 7. S^.
+ StMattxiv. 13.
■ i_.;^ ~
St. mat, yL t^ M
r ■'- ■ - ■ V "/ ' ■ ''.'■ ' ('■
•-■ D D -r^ "^"- ■
si Katt. :drr
back to himself all his subjects, for whom, he affirmed,
that he was specially sentlkt4^ii4^lte;s;^i#ii^ .
Our theologians explain these contradictions by re-
ferriug us to the inexplicable decrees of Providence.
But the' incredulous maintainv that Jesus, who well
knew how to work wonders in the eyes of a simple
populace, dared not to expose himself before an en-
lightened court ; and it must be owned, that the man-
ner in wtich he comported himself before his judges,
before whom he was after^vards to appear, strengthens
this opinion. . ■
Meanwhile, the mission of the apostles expired.^
In a short time they had traversed Galilee: and it ap-
pearsfrom the repast^ which Jesus soon after gave to
a crowd of people that the preaching of his missiona-
ries bad procured an abundant harvest. Loaded with
the alms of the Galileans, the apostles returned to their
master, who again found himself incommoded by the
multitude which flocked to see him. — To enjoy more
liberty, the party embarked on board a smalt vessel,
which conveyed them across '. the sea of Galilee.
There, in a retired spot, the apostles gave an account
of the success of their mission— they made arrange*
ments for the future, and especially secured their pro-
visions in a place of safety.
Those who had seen Jesus embark, thought, perhapi,
they were for .ever to be deprived of the pleasure of
seeing him perform wonders. They made the tour pf
the lake, and though on foot, reached the other 8i4e
before Jesus arrived there in bis vessel. He preached
to them, wrought miracles and enured the diseased ; and
these labours lasted until the evening. — His disciplqp
dWvised him to send away the ^ople froni thet
V'
■^ -. . . .-if ^' '^' ''-'•-■
•. •'fv-
/ ^eisart place, that they might go in search of lodgingr-
V and victuals jn the neighbouring villi^es. He made
- too reply on the article of lodging ; —i there were
•;: doubtless few persons in this multitude who were ac-
^:^ customed to sleep on down — besides/ the nights were
''^^ likely not cold in th4t season • and climate. But wish-
^ iog to amuse himself with the embarrassment of thosis
-; who made the proposal, and who might not know the
resources which the collections of his apostles had pro-
cured, " It is necessary," said he, ** that they should
go into the villages,— give them, yourselves, wherewith
to eat." " Think you 80 ?" replied they,;— " shall
we go and buy two hundred pennyw(^rth of bread^and
"'••I give theni to eat?"— Philipj who perhaps was not in
^ the secret*, cepresented the impossibility of finding^
bread to feed this multitude: Upon which Christ said
V 'toPetdr, *' See how many loaves you 'have." I^
■' .. found i^one at all<—a circumstance the more surpriz^f
ing, as, according to St Mark, they had withdrawn to
this place " on purpose to eat.t" Peter, without ansi^
;' v;4 . wering the question, said to his master, *^ There is U
':-:■■'- ^1 young lad here, who has five barley loaves and two
>Jt^ Jesus ordered them to be brought, and
f^;. , 2xiade the multitude range themselves in companies of
^ i^^-i hundreds and of fifties.— From this arrangement it
:x * appeared that there were five thousand men, besides^
? • women and children. WheQ every one had taken his
¥i>i, -. place on the grass^ Jesus, according to the usage of
igll" itbe JewSj blessed the loaves and fishesy broke, and disif
■>^-'- ' ■■•>.■■■ ' ■ ' ,.-".•/.-■- ■ 'N^B'
;-;s(;l .*In important affiiixs, it was alw^ Feter^ Jsmei^ a«<l
-^i^/v*. ' John, whom Jesus en^)loy«d.
"•^
^^-' .-' ;'H. :;.--■*
tributed tb<^m among tfae aposdes, who gave thereof to
the people as much 8» they desired; they likewise
filled twelve haskets with die fragments of this Gehei>
brated entertainment. The guests, penetrated with
admiration, exclaimed, " This is of a- truth a prophet^
and thai propfeet who should come into the worid^;*^
wbichy translated into ordinary language, iii^ns. The
true Amphitfion is he who gives us our dinner. Th*
. apostles spoke not a word. ^ u,u .y» , ^i;i: ^ :: n?i^4..
^ Some criticsi founding otf tfee hnpossibSities' tMs
miracle presents, have ventured to doubt the truth of
it : as if the impossibility oi things could prejudice tb^
reality of^ a miracle, the ^sence of which is to pro*
duce things impossible. Yet if attfention is gifentO
the itccount of the evangelists, who are not, h<Jwever,
• very unanimous on particulars, we shall find, that tfaiv
miracle presents nothing impossible, if we are inclined
to give any credit to the firudence ^ the Son of Godi
wbo on this occasion, found that he could not mak€i ti
better use of the provisions anoassed by bis apostles^,
than to distribute them to a faungry multitude. Bf
this act, he saw himself certain of gaining their fatotttt
It may be, the crowd wa(8 not quite so numerous ast^
related* Besides, our apostles, in passing to the bppo-
site^shore, might have thrown their nets with sufficient
success to furnish fish for the company assembled.*
This meal must have appeared miraculous to persotMT
who knew that ie>us had no fortune, and lived on aloMU
We accordingly find, that the people wanted to pro-
claim kingthepersoD who haci so sumptuously regained
*St. ''-^&^ 81-^ St. Itfatth. z^ i^^ JOd St
: ■ '■*^i : ' V; -■' "i '/'•-•;■ :T ■■' ■ - -^ ' '.■■ ' \ ": >' ■ '-i ^:.. -' j; \ ^ '• .' V:::^:^'^'': ' ■
■ ).
;♦ <• ' '': /
mW'-.i ■■. ■ •. ---■-•3^:- "-^ V^ -'r I--
" . - -^ . . ..^ , -.
them. The iiafertamment no dout>t recalled to t^eiri.
' tttiad the idea c^ a Messiah, itpdeir whose govemtnieDt L
abundaBce Was^O feign. V^' H^of^ ^^ reqiiisf te , tb
C induce a handful of miseraiyie^ to beiieve, thaf the «
. preacher, wiwL by a thiracb fed fliem so libetallv,
^; ibast be the easiradrHinaTy "man ^e nation escpecte^. "'_,'
; * Vlfhis great inira<i!e then Will bec6me very probable,
b^ supposing that' tiie apostle in their collection had
.received a large quan^ty of bread. They amused
themselves, i<s4ias been observed, With fishing while
' they crossfed the lake ; Jesus gafe them the hint ?—
"when evening was come, things were dbposed Without
, the observations of the people, who were thus fed , "
y V „ with provisions amassed by means very natural.
Though the Galileans wished to proclaim Christ:
. : king, he did not think proper to accept an honour?
-.which he found himself for the present incapable of
""i^. supporting. His exhausted provisions did not suffer
him to^ undertake the frequent entertaining of so many
^ . guests at his^wn expence; and, though this conduct
: ? much more than all his: other miracles, would have
vv^ gained him. the affections of the beggars, idlers, and
^ V^: vagabonds of the co^nt^y, the necessity of his affairs
; '^,- ' prevented him from recurring to it.
■^^j Thus Je^s^crowned the second year of his mission
'■-:'' withau action well adapted, to conciliate the love of
the people, and at the same time give uneasiness to
:;4; the magistrates, This^ stroke of eclat must doubtless
^jT. have alarmed those in power, who, perceived tbat the
i^ affair might become very serious, especially consider*
" - ing the iutt-ntion the Galileans had'dvsplayed of pro-
claiming our adventurer king. The priesiS probabljr
profited by these dispositions in order to^ destroy
.(...- A.
^200
Christ, who at all times appeared anxious to gain the
populace, on purpose to aid him afterwards in suIh
duing the great. This'project might have succeed-,
ed, if Judea, as in times past, had been still governed
by kings of its own nation, who, as the Bible esta-
blishes, depended continually on the caprice of priests,
of prophets, or of the first comer, who by predic-
tions, declamations, and wonders, could, at will, stir
up the Hebrew nation, and dispose of the crown e
whereas in the time of Jesus, -the Roman govern-
ment had^ noU^imgc^^ fear ;iit>m, tl^^ .efforts xifsuper-
Stition.^ ,.^^J^^\,_ ^-yyr^ ^{■-i.,'^'>A■^;5fi^^i:.i!;f€•■??• i's^i 'r[
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^ '-^^r^tiv ' -■ CHAPTER Xlli.
-' ' ■ "buji .m ■ • ^^^ ; .. , - ■
.^TESUS REPASSES INTa GALILEE ABOVV THS TIME OF TBC
THIRD PASSOVER I!C HIS MISSION.— WHAT HB DID . j^^i
!^-'' UNTIL THE TIME HE LEFT IT. , ' I^ '
«I,THE expression of St. Joha*, who tells us, that
Jesusi, knowing the guests he had entertained would
^ ' come and take him by force on purpose to. make him theif
_ king, demonstrates that these guests, had withdrawn afc-
the end of the entertainment. . This observation ena-
bles us'to flx pretty correctly the route of Jesus, and
affords a reason for his conduct.
: ' It was already late when the disciples said to their
; master, that it was time to send away the people. The;
V preparations for the repast must have consumed time?
; . the distribution of the victuals required also some
, ; ... hours; so that daylight could not have been far off
when the m^eal was finished, and when Jesus dismissed
- ^. his guests. It was about the evening he learned the del
. ! ^; sign they Md of carrying him off to make him kibg ;
5 and it was not until after having received this intelli^
' ^: gence, that he took the resolution of concealing himselif
> f^^^, in a mountain, after having dispatched his disciples to
' " Capernaum. The latter to reach the place were obliged
to make several tacks ; when Jesus, observing thlsy
cbaQged his resolution, and s^t out for Gennesaret, <m
-ii.^f<^.-> f"
Sr
liQkiM:!^^?.^^, - • Chap, ti rcr. 1*. '
the north side of the lake. Seeing him approach at
the momeDt they thought him far off in the recesses of
the mountainy his disciples were terri6ed ; Mey took
hint for a spirit, for spirits were very common in
Jadea. They w«re eohfirmed hi their opinion when
they perceived his shadow near their vessel. Simon-
Peter observing him advance, did not doubt but he had
seen him walking on the waters. . In attempting to ggr
'and meet his mastetthe felt himself sinking : but Jesas
took him by the hand, and sared him from the danger
in which he believed himself to be ; and, after repri-
manding him fqr bis cowardice, went witbhim on boaVd
the ship. The apostles, who had not been rau(h struct
with the miracle of the five- loaves, were very much
astonished at this. They had been in grreat fear, and
fear disposes to belie ve ; in their di«Firess t4)ey confess-
ed uuaoimowsly, that he was trul^ the Sen of God.
Jesus reached Gennesaret at noon. There several of
bis guests recognized him, and didtiot neglect to an*
nouBce his arrival to odiers. They presented hi m tbei
diseased, and he performed a great number of cure&
We cannot too much admire the faith of the Gaiiieans^
who exposed at alLseasoin their «icj( in the streets, aad
^ complaisance of Jesus, who indefatigably cured
them! \,'
.-JThe guests at th^ miraculous svipper two days be-
fore^ whom tfaeii affairs called home, had returned;
l«t tbo greateat Dumb^, that is, all the labouring peo*
p|e,. Iiaving seen Jiesua'ahip take the direction of €a-
pe^am, bad set out by land for that city. Some ves-
sels from Tiberias arrived there at the same time, but
iioneciarried Jesus, and nobody had seen him ; for he
bad made his passage during pig||t» The crowd how*
.^ :■ '-r.:-tu
?.--
WS ^mils:
f: mir tftFric4 iiitl» mli€|teif of being agaiii^Ql^»kie$|i
: i groiis, wbeft tlieytoftroed At Capernaum Ihat Cbiiiit
. . was OQ the opposite shore. - Immediately all our i4l9
> folks set out, either hylaad or b^ water, om purpose to^
''^-.^ vistthim*. •■•"■;-■.'">-■- .;,.:^<>." ■s.^r..;,;- ■,- -r-r^;
Sut these parasites^ instead of finding a ]«|^6t served :
,f out OD the grass vere entertained with a sei^iran. Jesuq^
; «b4| faid not alwa3r8 wherewith tadditiy.^eexpences
of JO nnmeFOus a ooiurt, held forth to^m 1^i« te%,;
■ W^^Sfi : ** Verily, ▼erily, I say tmto yotr, ye seek- mtvl'
not because you eaw the Riirade8,ibi^t bejtauie yh did
^ . eat d£ the loaves^ and were fflled.'-^LabajUHr," added }b^
V ¥ f<Hr life evefUwting:*— «. — r* His heamrs, whose ideas
.^ V extended no,t beyond the present life, did iH>t Gompre-
bend wbal: Jesua meant; ; thi^ tbefefore asked hi%>
- wbat it was requisijte thej^'^ouU do; on which be*"
I^TB them to u&denUod» that it waa necsessary tbey
: diQuld become bis disciples, as he was the Mesvr-
'3" flib^ Here we ftiie qtHtesuf prised to find thjomask^/
^ isgof Jettts, *^ Wim npi ihmeA iAom tktn^ikatm
£m tliat piifpo6ef4^oii ^ill perbapd im^c^ th^
supper you gave us, bjat did not our fiaben eat marma
mih ^firtfotfart^'ycaa»9 and a^er all, wbf t is your ;
swfqpor ill coflBiif^rieOB wi^ tbak wpodajr ^' : . . ^ lixni-
FipQktbis we nu^perceiv^^iat JaiiM ttrat^'iii'^fH^
. io^r«ew^r £bes4r GflaUeans to His jiiBrQr.' The co*^ .
Q^ob of ^t mitft^Ql<)tis rebist was done tapsble «l
ioofll^ theip^. Jesus jb no purpote niaii;t^n«^; that
iJii«^lw4 wi^4vbi$b Moaaa bad M llN^^i^^
WW n^l^litt btead of '^civ^ wbk^ tf Ola fiOttUi >^
f -,-«■• nf^vCj- ^.-. ,, • , _ '...;'*;", .
9
mi
perly uouri&h ; An empty beU^^as rio-ears^ sothfif
suffered bfm to preach on.^Alt^r'he bad spoke si great
deal. " Well," said they in-their turn, *'*;give us then
this bread, which alor)e nourishe^i for it signifies little
to us what kind of bread we eat; but some we must
have; Promise to furnish us- with it at all timed, and
at this pri^ we shall be at your devotion.'!; SiU' no i#i.
s It appear'^, that if Jesus at this moment had pds*^
siesaed the'feame resoutces as forroerly, he wobM bate
tbeen abteiiaf little expende^ t^J form a «ftitiU a.pDy^
which the pleasure and assurance of havingfood.witb*
out! toll would have soon increased; bati ail-&iledi
^bese people offered themselves to him» providing .he
ifbuld always furnish them with bread. The proposi-
tion was urgent,'and Jesus' got off with* so badia^ ghice,
that his disciples themt^el^ were shocked at it. -JQe
said to them,^^ that he himself was bread, that his flesh
was meialt, and bis blood wine ; and that to get to
l^eav6n^'''lfe>was- necessary to eat this bread and m<at^
knd d^ink>'t1]itt<^)Wirie sent dowil) from heaven: that
those odty wfab^t it .would be:rai8e up, and conduct
to everlasting bapquetpf^/fOiaf dull folks pompM-ebemd*
*''^^'(SfocfaiMof'^^fiu(^^ upon Hdf axid
amilar passages of Hi^ New Td*ainent. > Thoise, says ^e»<i
linggrV who Zander Portliest firom jreascm,: andr hate entered
most de^Iy intp. tfae^^irit of the .Clu^Hsfian i«l^n, :,iiot
contented, widi .^ihe' d^rk mysteries .ctnnmon tQ« other sects,
l^ive invaite4 one stiH darker and more astonisljing^ which
4^ '^qmma&\' ^ransubistantiatiota.'^'"^ At ibe ' kll-poWe^ful
coimn^cl tif i ^tet' the -God- of ' the "DhiVersi^ W^^f<ftced to
deseend fitia ^»>llla1wtati<« jsf ids -glory, f and '^^banrfoitni him-
self into a ineoe of bread. This bread is afterwards wor-
shiped by a people who boast their detestation of iddatry!
At-scod as iSm doctrine'l^, ''jt'i^not peculiar to CbristiaDS;
'-■■-'■'■ ;i 4
S05
V ^
fed rttin^ of this itiysteHous jargon, Qoutrived on pur-*.
p08(B to piJHBZle t^ern. Perceiving that they were hot
moved %y if, he informed them, that in order to follow ^
him,a'))artieular call was necessary, and that as they
were nt>fr disposed to do this, they were, therefore^ not -
calledVt^-f'l 'j'j-«-^J;;?n..;.>;c^:^7ft.;:-, - ^.c.u-H . ' ■:
twr does >it<^<«gpedr to hare originated with Christ, B» In-»
dostas^l^ Bramas distribute a kind of grain in their \Pag(K
^-^ d^J,-. {this, distrib^ution is ; called Prajadam or Eucharist, The
, Mexicans J)elieve in a kind of transubstantiatiolh, wMch is ^
mentioned by father Ac«sta in his Travels, chap. 24. Hie
ftwtestants have Ijad the ediitAge to rgect transubstantia-s'^
tbin;' though it is fomiaBy estalHisbed foy CbriBt, who says/^
";ZV»ire, ^ai; ,ihU ds m^ bbdtf" ^ The Peruvians l^ve a rdi^ ^
^(^ ceEempnyy m whicjij, < aJ^r sac3nficang a Iamb, thej^v^
mingle, his blood with flour, and distcibufe jt ainongst thlt '
peobie.— Jra^anotfjtterf. /i^, S. (Jop. 2Q. ?7 '? r ' , :,y, 'r
* We c^not do^too Hauch in order to expocle tjie absiura :^
doctpnes, . of .: grace .f^id ; predestination held by ~ .Christians.
An. intelligent writer, whom fwe havie already quoted,
ranarksT^^We Scarcely ' find any tt&its ef the . Suptemfe
^eing in 'iUti fiuidam^tals a£ this religion, 'but wlfet- stror^ly 4
inin^ss Us Until nodofas subvendve of his iiu»:al .attribttfjs^ >:
If we ezc^aiiu ag^unst a conduct so unwiurthy of a just and '
bepeficeat .Being, relijgipn vpU. tell us that God 4s the .d^^ser
■'_ of his own gifts; that he owes us nothing^: that' we are but ^^rv
^ woipna. of tl^0 eartlj, . who have no .right to scrutinize his
actions , and that to .' nnjurmiw- or ctmiplain, ' is to " iiicur' his
everksdng Presentment. It is' easy to fiiscbv^ ifife %(ralnesi'
cf sud[i.Te^ning. Pqwer, .1 3.6 cotit^d; 'caoa^iiA^er' cbiifi^ V
Ihe right'^to, 3fiolate. justice. 'A srfvel«ign who putiishSS'^d
WY^i^j Without any T^rdf to rnacit aiii deifiatt,'"'in both
' caa/sa incurs, the imputaSion' of blame:* his subjetets inayi
iH^ped,' '.^1^ and' ;^' hii6, "but never dana mH&tefy feve
jm4 ,8fijf:e'5in^ If he be'.deerB^d a :ffit-fetA^edt of priiMi', ^'g'
can 'oriiy^be by those wM laii^e 'had th/ gwjfl "Ibrtt^'^tb be
- selected as the objects of his kindness. If it 1>e true,,-^al irf
'^'^^-.;*. ....
/ «06 ;
THeidherentslesus procured od this occasi^ were
hvA few* The Jews, on the other bami, were iodigBant
' that be shofrtd preten d to have descended from hcftveo*
:^^ We knoWj said they, hi$ father and mother, and we*
know where he waiiiom. All thrae ruinourg, liproad*
'ing as far as Jerusalem, so .irritated ^tbe priests, Uiat
they resolved on his death ; but the Son of God eluded
their pursuits and deisignli by «kiUal marcbci aad
! cctanterinarches, which dtscoocerted their Tigik»Bce»
U was especially in thi^ blpital tltat they wisl\ed to^-
■mmre bim* ^^t Jesus bad not l>een there at the last '
"^pasBOTer. His distance frOQd the ip«tropoli8 di^ not
'prevent thefti ftom knbwifig bis most secret proceed*
i^ga; and frotti -this he ccHicltided there were s<rtne
. lafae brethreii'm Diiiftber of his disciples. He
was not deceived: but the fear of beipg betrayed
in a country where his resources began to 1bil,
' tfirdii^h hi8 refusal to give Ihe people bread, in-
, liuced him to dissemble tUl he should arrive in a place
i>f salety. He set out therefore^ on his journey h^me-
..vard to Capernaum. At this place he recite^ nearly
M» saise sermon be had in vain preached to the.Giali-
leans. No dne, however, would coBiseDt to i^ceivelbt
fpod his flesb and blood. Those Wfaor enjoyed his^coior-
f^^dli to God we are but as wtmns tf ^ eaxtli, or that £i
iys. luads we ate as a vedael in the hands of a potter, thai
must it Mow thi^ there is no moral rela&m betwj^en the
CRatate and his Creator. Seeing, therefine, that a woAtt-
<lf the earUi owes to man who crushes Imn no&hig> afaul &at
the vessel can have no oMigation to the potter who fi>imtit,
and asf^osiog that man is but a w<nQi, or a brittle vcfsd in
tfie es^matieB of his maker, then must he be afil» ineapaUe
la honMiB «r i>%k1 lamf^^bv^m 7, conchide that idi|^ k
^
m .
-' r :
■ N
.- > , .:_::.^:^■> V^ •:■.,.;. C^": '•./>■ ■\ '■^^".\-^^*:^^:'
-t
ikteoec^i iBoiSif-fei^ wdl ^ Hiat her gtt«,^iief clwer j V^ .
but bis oth<r <iyi|clple8 asserted, that they, could not '
Mib8i8t<« thisBiyfiterious peGe^ and took their l^ve of ;V
him*. Unable to do better, Christ was oblig^t^ '
suffer tbem to depart. ^^>
Jesus observing the d^fectio&'Of a part (^ hisfolo
lowers, was vexed at it ; Mid in sorrow for tbe^riii it
.would xyceasion, as^ed^e twelve, "And wiU you pdsQi ^r
]ieave' me ? Cfn which Suaoa Feter iinswered^ ** Loff<!^
to whom sfaall we go? ll^ou hast the words of eteiflal
life. , ^nd we believe^ and are sure, that thou ait the M
Christ, the Son of the Uving God." Thus Jeaps was f^:"
ftasure^, iu the best way he could, of the fidelity of his- ^ ^
apostleas-—yet we . see, thz^ in ^ite of bis infinite v^'
knowledge^ he alwi^ kept the traitor JUidas iq bis f /^ '^.
cmBpany, thougli he must have foreseen loathe wouhl '
< J deliver him up to his ^emies. ' , .-.
^^ Afeanwhile Christ departed ODpMrpoie to retiifROKto I -
t Cralilee, whiither his apostles followed him/ tbou^lus :^^
« last preachmg, and particularly the refusal ckT victuals, ,
- luid dissatbfied the Chdileans. They did not indeed |
give him a very wekdane reception. The arrival oif
'^^ tome Phurisees and doctors fromJerusalanooBspletely
I< marred enrety thing* They were deputed t^ thedliiffs v
ll in the capital to W£^ch the conduct of Jiesus, and to ^
^rs:' ^ put the people oh th^r guard against him. Every one v ^^
> '^ khows, how strictly the Jews adhere to the «eiein<M)ieji *
^ !' ^ of their law ; and in spite of bis protestations of «t-
' l^tacbmentiio it, Jesus, like his trufty friends, observed
:':. r 1^^ It wu particularly taken aisiss
~'' fhat they ate without washmit^^ir htuids. tmM^if^
m
fended himself With saying, that it Was better to vioi
late traditions and neglect cetemonie^j^i^ to infringe
the commandments of God, as the doctof» did. Be
advanced, contrary to express laW, ihdt' nothing which
enters the body dejiles it, and that it is what comes dut of
it that' renders it impure. This seems to establish,
ihtttCJhrrst and his party #ere not scrupulous as tb
thfeir aliniehts. Thereafter ^le laulichedout in inveci
%ites against the 'dOGtors^ Wh6m he called hypocrites,
ignbraniand blind, who cdddUctied others that were also
blind. In his ariger be^aid^tibt perceive that tbecortii'
pliment Was not less bffeb^ire to the people than t6
their guides. On this acdotmt the latlei^ preserved a
dee^ 'resentment, but the populace did riot regard it.
Besides, J^us did not 'a-Ilow theu> time for Tcflection ;
he engaged their attention by a fine discourse, to protfe
that the lawyers and priests were the Worst of men',
and the least charitable, and that n<»ie<^nld be haj3py,
either in ^his world or in the other, without becomiii^
bi^dlisciples. -«• ' ' ^«*^yjleltf:»iitiiq Ms ,2frid!>«5iq lesl
■In tlie mean time He was informed that there was ttd^
safety for him in- this place. He therefore left it in
great haste, with an intent to go to wards the frontiers
of Tyre and Sidon. His design was to live'oohcealed
in a house of the country, whitherbe'had witjidraWn ;
but with such gr^trenown asthatof our hero, it Wall-
difficult to continue long unknown^ The "Secret of hife
retreat was divulged; and, as misfoitune sbmetilnes
turns to good, this trifling duplicity protoi^d him thfe
advantage of perfonttihg a miracle ambtig ttie GenlUcs^
A woman. of Canaan came,' and besought hiitj to ddi-
Tcr her daughter from a devil that tormented her.*
Jesus at first raa^i^JidrasA^ee.: She insisted — the
■«';
-",, ,•
Apostles interceded, and pressiigd their master to grant
her request, me^ly on purpose jto silence her ; for she
spoke clamoroulry, and might have disclosed tbrat he
was the Messiah. He defended himself on the plea of
his being sent to the Jews only, and not to the Heathen.
.*— They again ^-besought him, and answered hiscom-
parisou by another. — He at length yielded}' and the
giri was dehvered from her devil or her vapourSi*r/
The. success of Jesus in this countiy terminated
with this miracle. He passed from thence into- De^
capplis; and there acquired some consequence from
the cdre of a dumb and deaf man, on pronouncing the
word JEpheta,sLnd then putting his finger into his ears
and spittle oti his tongue. It would, thereifore, appear
that our 'missionary made a sufficiently abundant har-
vest ol alms. -He n^oreover wrought a great number
, of ^thiracles oh the sick^ the cripple and the mainaed.
But it Was his custom to steal away when his miracul6us
poWer began to maCke a noise ; he accordingly with«
drew to a mountain at the distance of three' days jour«
ney from the place where he had performed so tmny
miraclesf. The people in a crowd followed Inm ini
his retreat, and it appears that they did so without eat^
ing; But at this time, Christ loaded with provi8R>bs
or money procured by his miracles, again saw himself
in a situation to lay the table-cloth. As jf he knew
4liothing (^ thisi he asked one of his afpostles how many
'i^foaves.. they .had: Seven was the answer- He then
^syiC^ideted the multitude to sit down on the ground $ and
Jttaking^he Iciaves,! blessed ^m, together with some
' ]braallfisbe&'^Tbe^weredisti:ibuted to four thousand
^ *^ PI *kt;lkI^tt!^'-S£i Luke, Til St Jblm,viL ^ l'^'' ;]
;,.:■■_' ^. ■;j-v-;3iC^^ • - ■"■ ■■■
.,.;.'"'■'. '-.-'-:''■'' :^ .''-:■': -■■ -..'■' .. .• ' v^' •• ^ L^" - . .-v
^~^i^-<', : -^ ^^' ■ --i ■•■•.... ' - .■■ • ■'"' ' '..■-*
j^- .'*. :■<■'. -' ..;■ ' -^ ■ . -, I "■■' . - .' - ,."'-^'
-^^•-
men, besides tvoaieB^ndtchtldreti, who wtt^ei all sat^
Jied; tnd with the lemahi^ of tberapASt,, they after* '
KWirda filled seven baricets. This fMlt^ appears tb
1ttft«ei«repeUti what we have cdated before; .
yd St Cbrysastom maiotaifis, that the diffeceoce ol t^
jMoaber of haasketa proves iri%£rag«bl; they asust not ha
'■''icoBfooaded*' f-'\Y 'ihv-\'Ar^i ii%ti^j^-.4%->iiii 7-* ftiipltm
Admittnig thiSy it would appear, that Jesus, having *
Vbd longef ai^ aafe rotreab in his owo country, aadri-
'Seed <once aoore the tnoiKy and proyiskuiB^Iua pitdt*^^
Agiea had jeaafaled fate to jam^ It was sutce^Mxaf to-
gain the^people, and be Jii that time felt he /had very
^great ne^iclf them ; he waageaearous when be had th*?
^ laeaos toh^ao, and he hadiiot fbi^ thotTthesy b^ pro- ..
, nisedto &Ueiwhim, provided he woqld gvfe themfood.
' The<ief ftBgelists, .howev^, ov^faeatcd with the idea _
^fif IhiES ^miracle, forgot anolherequalty di^seririi^ Iheir :/
- |aoitio&f-^It was iadeed a prodi^ to see iom thousAod
; MeOy witi^tii reckoning wonien and little ch^dreii,
f^filloivfing Jesua during three daQFswithotitl eating ori:
^MaiiiBg ; or ^se we must bdieve, t^t^ {irep^r^ to ;
^jMivet^tbesepeoplebad prondad tb^iavielvea wilb pro* ^^
, ,«^tQBS^ which '. auddeal^ &iied. But, to, a 4esart, ^
' Wfa^Bloeizaoie^e boskets tkey made use of io gather* ' ?
4tei^ up :the;ieseiai]is of the eniertainineot ? it 4f \& ba
j^e0aiBed,.tbat.th^ dceptdowAfrom h^mn*. .9Mt»
mi the olbier huMi,:wi^ n<rt Madiefkka^es and ishea drop
^iaim %hot It wias andoubtedfy. «tittlii«qiii«te,. h^r*
■maw. minckg ^ feed this inflitilade .^iiniig tho tbvoe
l^iaijIt^nKarah^BecesBiiy lor; thear retarik Yptt jMiK>)(gh^
4iitJib«!wfa(de busMeaSy it wouW hmra Wru qborjter
,^ way to have made the people feel neither hunger nor
thirst It^Qu^ have been.% shortf^. way, hy an e&
'^
^••^-s
f wv^
' .'.£)
'.^m-^'^
I -■ v..
'}^ ir)|);(1biit^^pf Jjl^e^^ 9n4 9pare4 Je^us the trouble
,;<>f 80 many ei^rtainments, flights^ marches, an4 PQunr
It^iparchea, wfeip^lj,;a Jjast teriiiinaitecl in a Bbnnner so
tragical to this hero o^t|je roiptance^,',
I The Phiarinee? ^d ^q^dil^cges <J;i/^ not lo|s^feigbt pf
i^e^s; and on legrping that be ^9^ re(,t|rne<jl to the
ii^terlor of the kingdom, they weni ip aej^rpjj of hjna.
fThe evangelists, it is suspected, made thein muc)^
fprpi^ Ithap they i^ere in reality, by representing th«em
|i9 -<*ger to rM>n tbero. . Was it ^hen sp di^cult p^
ji,rrie^t thirteen men ? ^e that j^s it iway, Jtiieiae Fharir
sefSf at this tiqae apcpsted Jesns very pi>litely, fiod ^
mmded pf hii^^ Vf^'^ryile. " Yom perform them," s«i4
tbe^» ** hy dpfseps, in pr^ence of a thousand peoplf^
pM9* \>y ypur o*'? confpspion, do not believe in you ;
%iv^«6 ^^n a spepi^en pf yp|ir slj^iH, apd i^re shall )b^
less opipi^tjvf jti^gn l^pse of wjiomyoil pomplam. Qp
thj3n:Sbe,w us ^if .^^ndescensiOn." JesjL^s v^af inexor-
adp^, and perfk^u^y reared them to ^pnas. Thil
E^fist^lp$/^«4<tMgi: 1^, in ^m» inveighed agai|wi
them> 9fl4 39 it^ pp;^f)enp^,pf Jtbeie incopvenient «|^^
t^tpEs f^dpred b|s ppsi^Jiap^^, i^e qjaijtte^ J^^^WJ »n
Ofd^r tO£9''^'fi^t^saida. . •- ■"'aL:^'^v.%'-^^.u.'
P* the^ay iws »j)p^tl^ g^^dj^im tJhptfiga^pn^lj^i
tj»fos^ tp^Wprk fi iptciiQl^ in ^re^encepf persons m}M>
fAtr£)at<ed him 19 sp jiji^pdsoqaKe aWni^r; on wi»<?^
imi^ h^ ^ i6g^tp gwe tji^m tp,underj»iiapd, jthat h^
could not operate before people so clear-sighted; Me-
imvm of.^ero4i Qur^i^ly folks, »|io Ji^ npJt ^ifl)p
to provide bread, thought their mastPr meant to rp-
pTOvethem for ^irtie^igt^be; ' ^Al^'y ojiierl^
would have \m^T^^'m^Ml^^^^
■ ■-K.;-.'.--'/r. ■ -■ ■••%/>> ■ ,v ■ .. - ■-,■.-•. • , ,^ ■.,•-,.
- ■^"■■^'•' ''- -sV- ''-•'•■>••.'■-''■ "^ ' ■■'"'"; .(-■. -:'■■■■ r';^' '■'■ '^
-.-. <
"" rfr ■ ■ .- - ■ ' -
(lis aftaifs cliagrineU hira, i^\AWitet0 m^ve^
" ''^: On bis ent6r!Dg'1ifelhsaritfa;*the^^ brought him a blin^"^
iiianwhoiji he cuted by applyi^f^ spital to hiis eyesl
V This remedy at first produced a pleasant effect: the
, ftiJin saw other men, like trees, walkihg; JeSuVlihen
taid his hands on him, and immediately he 8a^,<^trit^| -
\ Qtherwiscf ■ '• ' ^ *f^
'^But this fniraclexgained.no conquest to the Messiaff,.'^'-;
/ lie, therefore, -went to try his fortune in the viIf%ot^ '
in the environs of C^Bsarea-Philippi/ It is in this jbih^f
^ ney, that asking bis 'apostles -what they thought of biW,
some said that he passed for Elia8,otherS. for Jeri^niia^;-
X &c,; but Peter openly confessed that he'aeknowiedg^^
him for the Christ :± a confession which has flin^^ "
gained him the honour of supremacy in the sacr^ <^^j;.
lege, and of being declared the head of the church; '^«-^^'^^^^-:^
Though sovereign in heaven,* Christ possessed j&o|^^% :
thing on earth, and. of.cocrrse tonld confer no tempoB^- ~~^ i
. ral gifts. Instead . of tbefse, he gave bis disciples tb|: >^
• spiritual pirivilege of daihhing and saving the test df
' \ mankind at their pWasure.-— -fleipromised to Pfete^'lbe
•?■.: place of door-keeper of Poradifet Bince becroHte so lesP
' "^ ferative an oflBce to his successors and'^assighs. '■ Mean- J|[k
': v^ileJeSus recomnfended'sile^^^ the party' otitftii -^
• {iriPddiotion; but perhaps theti^tor Jfeda^, notl satisli^
/with the office <yf treasur^H *^' not i^wr^ tb^ i^
• '1 ^^^t^itbstandift^ tli^ Wftrage i^lteteri ^e^ccftW*^;
i qabhc^ wbfcb migbt result fron^ tlie'chblc*- «f tlj^ -
•■ ...S/^ -■/; ( .':.. ■;_'-:,' •:;;:■ ':;_••■:!: ;i-';7id s'/v«>-i{j oJ.
:r-.y^?*St.Matt.xn., auMaik,OT|.,j^Lu^JOV,;^ — dJ avolS" '
^^ - t StMaikviiL»-36. Xrf* J v . .> ^ : ■
I St Mrtt xvt St Mink; 1^ ^ ^l
m'r
M-
priesU were^litays present to the mii^ of Jesus. * HiSt,
eem hioiselt' cried dovirn, aiid rejected on all sides, and
firestimed witU good sepse, that beiog once excluded
£roni: all the prov^inces, and the Gentiles not much iag
dinrd to receive a Jjew, expelled his ow;n country, for
legislator, h^ would be constrainedj sooner or later, to
return to Jerusaletn, wher6 he must expect to raeeit
with perilous adventures. On the other ha*id, the
HoQians, masters of the forces over whom -thtt Jews
douhi arrogate na authority ^^ would very quickly ftaye
put an end to the mission of a man ^ horn they must
baV^ regarded either as a foot or as a disturber of the
public p^acerif be should have dared to declare against
tiietn. There is reason, indeed, tc telieve tbat the
mission of Jesus ex?8ted in Judea merely because the
Komans wer^ not much: displeased that a restless aUd
turbulent people should amuse themselves with follow-
ing a man of bis rank, a pretended Messiah, to whose,
appearance the prepossessions of the nation gave risje. )'*'
Aiw«ys certain of being able to crush those who dared ( /
to undertake the boldest enterprises, they troubled
tlvemselves iittje about what inight be done in the
country by a party no wav formidable to an authority;
seconded by disciplined legions.
- The situation of the Son. of God must have alarme^d^
the'companioUs of his fortune, however dull we may
suppose them to have. been; it was therefore neces- ^
sary tocontrive means to encourage those at least who
were the honest dupes of bis vain promises. , He did
npj^vjiissejtoble^the," bad state of his aflairs, the fat«j b|^
M to dreadjandibedciath with w,bipbb€wa8 m^^
He anfeicrpatt-d them on tb4s subjectj^and declaifed that
even if he should sutler death, "ttt^teiH^t^fitfefefe'dis-- f\^
W
/
tu
- V
cdvtngeidti W iithe fend of thrtig ^ay^he w«ild It•i^;
ttiumpbiiit ft-om the tbftib,^^W^ shall afterwards
the use the apostles ir(,ade of this prediction tirliicli;;
must at th6 tinie have appfeafed to them as foolish eHh-
itlfcredible. «
To iietain thcfiti as bis folioweri« and revive their zeal^
Christ entertained them incessantly with the beauty of
bis Father's kingdom; but he for^^arned them, that to
aitiVe there, they mtist have courage, love him sincer^^
iy, and agree to suffer with him. These melancholy
stermons demonstrated the situation of the orator^ and
tended ral:her to depress than incite the courage of hi%
auditory. He, therefore, thought it seasonable to pr«4r
sent to his difciples a specimen of the glory of whicll;'
he had so often vaunted. For this purpose he exhU -
hited the brilHant ^ectacle of the tram^guration^ AII^
the Apostles were not witnesses of it ; he granted thii^;
fkvour to three only, Peter, James, and John, his mo^^"
intimate confidents, to whom he recommended silence-
This scene took place, it is said, on mount Tbabo^l
T^re Jestis appeared irradiated With glory, accooipaw}
nied with two otheiiSi whom the apostles took for Mos^
ahd EHa^, and whom, as far as we tan discover, they
had never seen before.* A cloud ^neatpectedly ctiv«*
l^ipiA the three luminous bodies; and when they no
lottgter beh^d ^ny person, a voice was beard pr0^&
Bdundng tb^e worda, ThU is m^ betovedSon^ The
V^^ Hiebidiylact assuiles us, that . ^' m the ^trinufiguration iBk
sq^MteS Tiecoisidjieh. ilfoSdg and Slias, not by their visi^, whbb
tbejT faaiS never Se^ but by their taft." We Miftoet, homeva^tim
the apostle* wefe i» wel aoqoaiitfed withtheootftrtrMncer of MoHM
..\'
■1w:--'.;;< f.:-
i^
"-AS-.
- ^ :: ■
' *■•' J
!;:,.T
I
V
al#
, 1
I
dUeipled Wdrtiikliiep whil6 the ipeetacljS ijras displdj^^d
^ #4i dreuoiifttaace \;rhich bfts oc^adiotted a 8tttpicidti>
that the whole waft only a dream* -4^
- The ^poitles, tfha retnained at theibot of the motiti*-
fftin, and had been deprived of this spectacle, wished ^
tx> try their spiritual powers ob a lunatic, or one pos-
' sessed; but the devil dlst^garded their exorcismft. The
ftther of the disordered person, perceiving their master
descending from the mountath» imihi^iately presented
bis son to bin). Whom Jestis c«Mred; he then gave a
strong repriMatid t<y t\iOi^ fumt^len ; tdd them tlmt
their wdnt of stieeeds "waft owing to want of faith, 11
grain of whieb . Wa6 snfiBeient to remove mountain*;
he therefore recommended to tbem fHHtiog and praylef,
as the surest receipt fbr estpeHing certain demon#i
more rebellious than others*.
. f The people, however, withstood all these wonders f
ttie devils, with whom ihey were possessed, could h<M|
be expelled by any means whicb Christ iBad yet oon*
trived. Eicpecting» therefore, toiiraw over some of
t^e stmtigerS) whom tb« Bolenmittes brought e^ ways iia
giftnat numbers lo the t^pital, be Tesolv«d, on^accevitift
of the feast of Tabernacles, secretly tb' repair thitfier.
Agitated, however^ by the most troublesome misgi*
f iags, he traversed Galilee ; be explained himself oa
bit fears in an «aigiii«tiGai «od boocealed nwafier ,10
his &po%tltfS> Who «ouM net oeanpirebsnd whfat Iw lud;
btil Who, 6n dbserviiig their mastet grieved, c<m!brmtd
themselves to his humour.
Oa axriviog «t Capernaun^ the {ilace of his visual
retideMei ihe elBcets diaiiged with looUectkig 4be ^m*
'^'i^ifi^Mi^-^MatL. ni «t llait> ja. SU lldK^'te. i7,s^ . ,i^'
|^*V '.'
■?;i'A'%.' '■"- A ^.•- '■■'.■r ■ ;;/"■:>;*'. '^"r
.v-~:^:,. '■rz-.
,- J,; n
S16
-.*;.
nipie' lVl9Uhew their old compaDiouj they accordingljt^
.exacted the custom or tribute. Jesus beiog a.Jew w^'.
offeaded at tbeir demand ; but whether they did oofS!^^
hearken to hid reasons, or that be did uot wish to be^ '
koow^, be dispatci^ed Peter in search of a piece of; .
tbiity-peuce in the n)outb of a fish ; or rather desire^^^
biin go and catch a fish, which being ^old for that| i
^lun^seryed topay the castQtn. , _ fr""
^.The , apostles, j having understood fronti: the Savipur*» .
discourse's, that his l^ingdom was stiil very distant,.
amus(e4. thfeniselves with disputing ou the pre-eminenced ^ •
. arjd rapks they should enjoy in the enipirewhicli ha<^^ ,
been obscurely announced to them, ^n this they havej
beeji,slDce faithfully imitated by tlueir successors*. Id, ^
.: # i ''-- '^- ,.■ /^:^r^i^>4 r^^:iih-&^miUi^■vir::^.^^\i^^'/
*']^ disputes between Cfaxisthin . priasts luve' always beeni, .
scenes of animosity^ hatred, and heresy. We find these to ,-■;:'
have existed since the in&ncy of the church. 'A religioii5 ~~
finihd^ on' wonders, fkbles, and obscure oracleis could onljr f?
he a 'fruitful source of quarrels. Priests attended to ridicu4t^ ;.
Jous doctrines, instead of useful, knowledge; and whem they}'^
riiQuId have stuped true morality, and taught mankind then; -' ''
, xeal duties, they otdj strove to gain adherents. They busied
' themselves in useless speculations on a barbarous, and enig^'' >;
vmatical science, which^ under the pompous title of the scioic^
•f God, , or theology, excited in the vuj^r a reverential awe/ -
jFbtgr invented a lugoted, presumptuous and absurd, systenql^
■ as] incomprdienisible as : tbe.ggd whom, they, aflfected to wor«
'fiap. Hence arose disputes, on disputes cOKU^rning puerile.^^
, oubtilties, odious questions, and artdtrary o|Hnions, which, ^
&r from being usefiil, only tended to pdson ' the , peace ' (if '
sodety. In these contentions we r^;ret to find the mostpro-
SatBod geniuses: ooeupied,-<'and are forced ' t» oensiire the proft-
#tution of taleiits worthy a better cause. The people, ever
&a^, -of ; 'tuibidence enteved - into ^xiarrels they, -^could not
,-*'■:■-' .■%~,,.^i;!^, . ;:;,», •
■i^'^>^
•^:~
-^BT
•>
E^esus took ocqaiiion fvOEEi t&is dldpole to
Oliver sg sa-ffibf^ on bumility. ^ fie cailetjh fof a chiid,
. placed it ia^be midst of them, and declared, that tbis
child WaWdi6 great^t amotig tbem. This^inoi^.by
which our dlergy Have profited so well, cobtaios jSne
parabtesi and poittts out excellent nie^ns whereby :td
s^aro heavei^i bat not to thrive on earth. As'all/tfi^s^
, howievfei*^ -ire only repetitjtons of what i»taugtovia|ibi$
seitnon bn' the m<!>oBt, we refer the reader toiiii.'^J j :0:=;i*
''Jesus wrought no< thirflcl^k 4«Mrfi^ his abod^ :at
Cdpernaum, -where be had an interest not to be jboo
^ nracb spoken -'of. ' His bifetferen 'or his parents, who it
'■ seecn& %ere of tlds saftie iiiiiid * air the priests, repaired
to that j^lace <6n']^af(>osetc> pjef^uade him to leave fall
- asylttm fttidgoiffto4t}dea,'''Where he might exbibft hit
sl^tJ^Thi^remifl(]^hUB^tiiat the feasts should^ <^^
him to Jerusalem, where 4ie could not faUto find ajn
. opportunity of signalising himself.*
This if oiifcjirtone enabled Jesus to'fbfei^^tHSt they^
. were plotting against him. Here eternal truth extrt<ii; .
^m
undentand. Princes undertook tlie defence of tliOK i»e8ts&<7
wished to fitvour,, and (Mrthodiozy was decided by the longest sword.
This assistance the churdi never hesitated to recave in times of
danger; for on sadk occanons the clergy rely rather on human'
asastance tlutt on the pronuse of God, who declared^ that the
soepftre of the widced should not rest upon the tot of the lighteoA
. The heroes found in the anBa& o^ the diurdi, hare beoi obstinate
fanatics, fiictious rdids, or fiirioUs poraecutors; they were numstett.
of madness, sediticm, and cruelty. The would, m the days of ois
anceston^ was depopulated in the defence of ex^vagandes wMek
excites laughto- in a podten^, not indeed nmck wiser dun tiiey
were. — Christianitjf UmteSed. ' '' '^
* St. Jdm, T*
^.v^r.
- '^ \- -•■■'..' ^ ■;
<:lited it^lf froBi these i»portaDitii«« |»]^ JDean9 H^l^ii^r
hood. The Son of Cod jtoid his bFetiir^ to go to tine
feast, but assiiretil them tbftt for himself he jwoul4 w%
go,* This, howeyjer, did not hioder him from t^I^ipg
the road to Jerasal«Hi, but with the gf«ate^t secresy«
im his tvay he cured t$o lepers, among whom cuie ooly^
who was a Samaritaa, shewed any gjratityde to ki»
l^ysiciati ; and from courtesy to hid fftith bis .siQ# wer^t
»remitted.t Notwithstanding this^i&iracJ/s ap^ ^hso^p^
tion, the iocredulous do not 6nd, that Christ ca|i be
acquitted of h^yiog preyftricated. It seeias very
strange that the ^n of Qo4i to wbdm hj^oi^Qipotejs^e
ftimished jbo many honourable means of nctiQg ^p«plyj
had recourse to subtiUy ^Qd deception ip or^r to
eliidethe snares of his en^iies. This cqndit^t cajct ^ '
ex9)Uiiifid>0Rly by admiMing^^tbat 9bat«^q^ialse|?i9l(|f|
ykcxm^^ym is^rwih w the g9sp«>. ,,n^u.^^i:^i^^, ^q.
-JTJX'> iijiiJTi ixitm^is- ^*r/.A, .mA tm^&^^ :-^i.i^\,^yfji^
«a«9(nl> lit ix-^h.'j c»i iv*i5ix2^' 'J 'iii fiiiuil> :^ ^Softatapfji i^2*
•»;t,«iJ jfeflj i-.«''v '»'-«.-: x-^i-i n;f t^ 'J-'-fj ft": . „ - ^^-i
• _ ^ , - .-,.^ > : ^^ >; ^^^^^i^.^^^>:^y^^ ^^^ ^^^ .^ - *
"1
>'
^m
. i^iy<>v> ^ CHAPTER XIV. ^ '^^ ' • . ' ■ ^' :> ^
hM^x.^r. ':!'* >,*^r, M' ^- • v''H • * . ; ^^
' - ^fhtlS filTEWS HIMSELF AT JERUSALEM.-HBE IS FOftCEB TQ
tiKAVE IT.— REStJKRECTlON OF liAzARUS. TBIUMTHAHT^"
f ENTRY OF CHRIST. — HIS RETREA? TO tHE GARDEN "'
\ \^f^*'^T^;if:., "'oFOlIYES. — THE liORD's SUyj^BR*-- ' ■..' . * "''''
■.■J^A'>h'i-ti.:v.yi-,*.'.^'ti.r^„ l.RREStE1&i • ;*» ^^-'-.W.^r---/^
, J "^ , ^ ^ • ^
r-^-^'j^ IS proWble tlisit our hero changed Bis iiiteiiti<>^
^ of showing himself publicly at Jerui^km on leaming
% tbfe diversity of optntoas wbicti divided the cs^sita^ on
%YS account*. He iniftgined tliat bis presence ^i^ dis-
courses woirid remedy ttie inconstancy of the people,
aod remove the perplexity of disputants ; but he de-
ceived hisoself. He who so often recommended the -
■aanmng of serpenia, failed on this occasion. But hoir ^
revoke an immuta We 'decree ? The world had been
f Created solely oii purpose that man might sin, imd maa .
had sinned in order that Christ by his death might iraf^
:^h^ -glo^y of iQ^iBg atonement for the sinner. c
". J If th^ Srpoke mueh evil of Jesus in Jerusalem, they
sp<^« alsd much good. Praise is a snare, wherein Uie
Son of Xjrdd himself Was caught. Flattering himsdf
^TJ^iih being able to reconcile the suffrages, he went to
the tempie and preached^ But what must have beeii
•StJohii,Tij.ll, &C.
Q a
"»■
v^-
his Mrprise, when on beginning to speak be heard the
} cries of rage, and the multitude accusing him pf ^eing
• jsjp^sessed with a deviJ. 'In spite of the confused noi«e
^that reigned amOn^ the Audience, Jesus continued to
* ^harangue. Perhaps, indeed, be might have succeeded
^in conquering the bad disposition of the assembly, if
"' -a company of j archers had not arrived, and interrupted <
him precisely in the warmest part of his sermon. He
'Was speaking of his heavenly Father, and this occur*
- ~ i^ence has, undoubtedly, made us lose a sublime^treatise
Jbft the nature of the Diyinity *. . Ttu?se : atchers, ,h^f^
/^*»:rjijjjg c&cumstance, however, need fcaroely be regretted,
• : for tte'^ancient fethers have &imlsfied us with many subUmt
and edifying works on diis subject. Tertulhan has pofi-
txyely saidj that Godis a Ao£?^. In the council of Elvira it
;^ is foAidden to Eght wax candles in diurch-yards, for fear of
N wring the souls of the saints. In the fourth century spirihiaKfy
was not yet decreed: there « was a great dilute between •
^ - the 'monks of Egypt dbout God, in order to ascertain whetiier
/ . he was corporeal or incorporeal M. ,de Beausobre, in his
Hist, de Manicheisme, tome 1. p. 807, shews, that among
' the first Christian doctors, each formed ideas of. God and 1ihe^ '
" soul conformable to the {^osophic sect ' in which he had
V been educated. A Platorast made God .incorporeal; a Py-
- tiiagorean made hun an intelligent fire, a Jight endowed with ''
intdligoice; .an Epiciuean made hkn a material hang, a^
animal ixmaoTiai. and very happy. Many doctors revered by
'" '- the churdi would now-ar>days endaiiger themsdves were tb^
.^ not quickly to retract their errors. Moses himself t^ould
W burned by the inquisition for being bo& a Jew and a
, HMrterialisL^ Even few Christians have tijitten on the existeooc
Cff.Gofl, without drawing on themselves, an accusation ci Athdsin.
Descartes, Clarke, Pascal, .Amauld, . and Nicole, hare
/, been conadered as Atheists. The reason is pl&:— It
'. ' is impossible 'ti> prove the existence of a '^cbig^'rso jn-
;J';' consistent as the< God of the Christiani. We shall be tdd •
^ - - ? " — . ■,--- -.':,*. ■ - \ ■ * V .(% ■ ^ - * i ' .'■?•. -'v .■ - ■* '
r-,.-^-
'-f V;
. -I-
^Hfever, had no desigri to iseize him : they wished ooly to
%np6se silence on him ; it was therefore easy for him
/to'slealawaty; ?«Hp'-. v--^^ '. ■-, .'i:
. *.^ Jesus, whose temper appears to liave been vindictive
asod restless, was pi(^ued «+ the insult, and continued
hifif invectives against the pri^sls,^ doctors, and prin*
ci pal men among the Jews, who taking counsel -on
th^ subject, they agreed to fulminate a decree against
him, and try hirfi for contumacy ; but Nicodenius,
wiift)m W£ mentioned before, undertook his detence,
iiiid proposed to his brethren to go atid hear binrbe*
fore condemning him. They, however, insisted that
Tip good ever tame Out of 'Nazareth^ i.e. that his pr^
teg6 could be only a vagabond. » ■ ,;- * ''ri^ ■
V."In bis retreat on the mount of Oljves, Jesus learned
that they had delayed bils trial. He therefore appeared
next day in the temple by day-break. The doctors and
sehatdrs came a little later, and brought him a femi^Ie
acijused of adultery-^a crime for which, according to
the law, she ought to suffer deaths The doctors, per-
haps acquainted with her conduct, and informed of
Christ's drawing after him ,; women of wicked lives,
wknted to ettsnare > him. Hera^ight have got off by
mferely saying, that it was not for him" to judge ; but
be wished to argue. He wrote on the ground ; an^
concluded very -prudently, that for one to judge it is'
that. men have no means of ju^[ing of the Divinity^ and, that
qnpr . Ainderstandihgs are too 9arrow 4o fonn any idea of hmu
Why then do they dispute incessantly concerning him? WITje;;
asAgn to him qualities which destroy each other ? Why it&*;;
count -ftbles of him ? Why quaiTfel^-and cut each others' thrc^i|i'\
because liKese &bled are c^rently intopreted by differoit penniig^v
andbjrdjflE^ne^Dations? ;- "
:"->--, a Q 1 , .'.,■:
7 ~- ■ .. ' _ .■ , ■"■"'."
l^ .., =^ "■■-.•■--'>"■'.-■■.',,- •"■ .V'-,-''.
il=^^
\ ■ . - :.;, '■"■.■--.',- " • - .-Si - 1 ■" - "
necessary to be himself exempted from alt sin. Tbee ,
addressing himself to the. doctors, " let him among
you who is without sin, cast the first stone at her,J
At these word's they departed, shrugging their shoQld-< •
ers. Jesus remained alone with the adultress, whom
the Jews would not have treaited so tendetily if she ha4
- befen really culpable : on this he said to her, " Sinct
no man hath accused thee, neither will I coiHie«ni^
thee: Gotten, and sin no roore.^' ;:;
Having happily eaicaped from- this danger, JesUs - /
tl^ught himself in safety; but, induced by his natural, ,' '
petulance, he again hazarded a sermon in the temp|e;
be spoke only of himself; and what follows was pearly
his strongest argument. ** You ask," said he, " a full
proof by^two witnesses. Now I bear witness of my • • ;
Father, and my Father bears witness of me; ypu - ' ,
therefore ought to believe in me:" which amounts to
this — my Father prove* -met and I prove my Fatherf
'■. ^ The doctors were but little surprised witb this cir?:;^
. cuitous and erroneous reasoning, and with a view to
coine directly to the point, ** Who art thou?" **.^
am," replied Jesus, ^' from the beginning, and I have
many things to say to you ; but I speak to the world
those things only which I have heard of my Father."^
V The audience were no doubt impatienrt at these anabif '
> - guous answers. Jesus, who wanted to augment tbeijif. .
einharrassment,' then added, that they would kno^^ ;
Mm niuch better after they had put him to death. *«*% ';
; J Thc' Messiah did not onnit to display great views ^^{
this conference; he informed his hearers, in dark laitf--.;
; gtiage, that it would not perhaps be impos6tbl£j tj^
' sl^keqff the/ Roman yoke. But either throngb l«9I
^ o( chastisement, or that ihey did not believw' s«<;b a
^ j^:;, " ..,.• : . ^' .-' •■ •; ■;',.- ?« < •:• . '-,.".:^ ^■■■■•:';'.-;.; >'.''''■. i-/.v-jt-
'*" - '•. ' . ... ,, • ■- , ' '■• *- :" ■ -' ''''.■ /.• -■■'., ■:.'•';. . '■■•. lir'**'
-■--_■..,, _ V /■ ^, . . • '•. » ^ . .' -t- ^---v ■ - f •
' . , ' -. .-'"*-.' , '•■■'■ C- ', ■ -■ -■ .'■ ':■'■' : : -.' ■',:■» ' '
■~. ~ ^ ' ^ J'... '. ~:' ' ■ ■ "■ I ''' .'.i ■' '- 'i' '\-^'^ •■" '■"■H■■..■
./'
^'%i<KmaithM*o effect "ib great a ftrvoHi^Bi^ tbey
affected iiot to comprehend him. Piqued at. Ondiog, ,
Che doctors and Pharisees io dull a&d opiniativ.e, h^ "
called them children of the devil; he affirmed that l^e
was older than Abraham. la short, be br^lce oat id a '
itmnner so ufMreasonable that the p^ple, 4ec\aring
against him, ^ere about to stooe hioK Je»us, perceivijpg;
biB fo)Iy when too lat^, concealed himselrf at fifst^ f^<^
thfereafteF seized an opportunity to escape, :<jifV ^
- - From ibis time his mii^Qles became mor^ rarre, aoiii
tfee aeal of the people subnded. It was therefore nftt' •
eessary to rdsindlie it: Jesus accordiagly performed ^
miracle by caring a man born blind, with a little eartih)
moistened with spittle. This man was a well knoWQ
tnendtcsint, whom they could not suspect <^ any ^rtif
lice. Yet tbey would do, longer tolerate him after be "
iiad received his. sight; an inctdent whcch no doubt
diminished the alms he was in use to receive ; but per-
haps he was otade a disciple ; and indeed some leg^i4s
assert that, iafler the death, of Jesus, he cai^e iutQ Gaul,
where he became a bishop or iiispector, whiej^ at lea§| <:
presupposes good organs of vision.
:-(J^ thia4;^S;;it i»Jiy^ tie pr^ made a: nttise ^pd
, came tothe laiowle^gQ.O^ the Pbai'isees. Thd t^V^^
% undbrweftt-ftfi ex4ii»iiiatiooL; he openiy coa^essedikb^
V ^tre:called-Jei[jtis had\:ure^ him witba cky cf faoacaBfef*
^ position and sonae ^atl^n^si^nSUoam.' It mtft^^^^^
eves, be acknowi^dgefT tbM tb^ bad humour bf^ic?
Pharisees went a little to^ far oiii thi^ occasion. They
^tnade it a crime for the phystciadi to have coin posed, ^ta
oiiitinent on tbeSftbbath) aiid fortaed : the pfc^tAJ^
ekcbmjptiiiic^tihg W^^ should eo^nte&uo <we
physician. ,^^ . ^ ^
. ''^39i^i»^i0m>m*i ii^i^ ^-fri -ns^J a^i
-' ' ' ' ■ - ".^ » ' ■' ■ '
■ ■■ . ■ •' . - ,- T;'; .."'","■ .-'^' -''
t ■ * ■ ' ■ , .^ i . , , ■ ■ ' ■
- ^ .. , , - ■■'
piiwer of exconimuhication among the Jews; he fouoc]^'^
himself crossed in all his dedigDS ; and dared nQt ven»^
• tare to preach jn^ Jerusalem, or shew himself in. any,'
other place; every thing, even his miradles, turnei
'against him. It was not eveii without some difficulty, ."»
that he had escaped from thei[:apital. At. a little dis*47
tafece' he knew- of an asylum and society in Bethany; -/v.
where his friend Lazarus possessed a bouse. He-acf:y
cordingly took the resolution of retiring thither; but-^i'^ :^
\^though it was a large house, the' party that accom pat ;[
; nied him might have incommoded their host. .TbicS^r
>'d€te^min«3 JeSus to send seventy of bi$ disciples on as^^ "
J mission to Judea/to whom it appears, be ijow gavfi
■ ;Teiy ample powers; for on their return we find them
applauding themselves, and overjoyed ait .the'facility -
with which they expelled the devils. > •; '
Scarcely bad Christ arrived at Bethany, when, in i:,
orderto receive him in a becoming m^AUer, they prjfti
jateired ahanquet. But tb^ voluptuous Magd^ade, <x>n-
tent to devour with, her. eyes heir dearSayjour^^ leCt
,~'*^ Jesus, it is said by some ^fniers, was ve^ bdki^l,
liiuchvery natoralty accounts fin tb(l» Magdalane's attacb-
;!fiait fo'bim. We liave a small tract, in Latin, (m:^ bet^ufy
^ Chtist^ composed by a Miniirie nailed Fijaret, and -iimtqd
uoder the title of De smgvlahHi lesu Chritti J>. N. Salvatorif
pKlduriiyi^oey in l^o. Paris, 1651. In^ the suppcxititioaB
letter of . Lentuhis addressed to ibe Roman senate, will bb
found an exact deaaiption of the p6ra<m' of Jesus. 'CSodcr
Apoeryph. N. T. tome I, p. 301. — Others, however, have
maintained, that Jesus, to shew his humifity, assumed a pity
mgl^ visage. It woukl reaUy be gratifying, ; if some c^^r
inan or laymaa of the present day would point out <Hie particular
^ to the life, character,^ or person of the M«S^, in wludi all or
ev^ only two of hu bistariaiis agree.
■•■ -■'' ■""■".(^■'c :-■--■ . • - ] ;■-.•.■
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Mattha' her sister, t6 sujjerintend the arrangements ^
in the kitchen, while she herself continued at his f€et.J
Peevishness, and pei^haps jealousy, got the better 6i^:^'
•/.Martha; she came and scolded Magdalene, but tl^
- tender Messiah undertook the defence of. his peniten^^r
* : and asserted that she. had chosen the better part ; brof :
> ther Lazarus, who came in unexpectedly^ terminated
. - the squabble by orderinjg them to their work*. '
;T This little altercation, however, was the cause why
Jesus did not tarry long at -Bethany.— When aborfit
leaving it, a Pharisee, through pure curiosity, invito
him to dinner. ' The Messiah accepted his invkation;
but mir unpolished Jew had not the civility ta give his
guest waterto wash with. This occasioned him a fine
rr* lecture on charity, filled with marvellous compartsoM;; .
}' which, howeveri we^shall pass over in silence, as one
orator so frequently conned over the same lesson, and
- as' this dinner appears tp bea repetition of one we have
^" already mentioned. -^ * • i Csuj ro i- /^
i From this period, till the feast of the dedication bf
} the temple, our hero wandered in the en vircus of Jer«ii>
4; salem, along with his disciples, whom he incessantly
!v ; entertained with the grandeur of h is aerial kingdQiii|,
£ and what it was necessary to do in order to enter ife;
It was, according to St. Luke, on this occasion, ani^
according to St. Matthew, in the sermon on the mount,
ihat he taught the apostles, whp could notr^idd/a
fbbrt prayer, called, since that time, the Lord's prayer,
which (injurious as it is to the Divhiityi wboiti it
seems to .accuse: of leading k* mtotemptaihn), Chns-
^itos^tillrieoxitinue toc»pepeat. .v=^j^ijiL,iV v/ ..nRw^,
"^'
lOUt j
Meanwhite titoe win on widiout any tdirrfiftt^.
Tbje cessation of prodigies and preaching occasioned '
; that of altns. Jesus again hazarded a sermon in a vlt-
la^ ; hut although it attracted the admiration of the .:
people, who asked nothing hietter than to admire, it\^
," produced no effect. Towards the end of Christ's mis* /
siofQ weno longer see the crowd running after him. — If r
he wished to -perform a miracle, he ws» under the -tooip i
eessity of caiUng thos« he wished to^ure. For eighteen t
jfeacs an old w^man of this village had been quite bent;
it was, according to the language of the country, the i:
^eiRil, who had kept her in this inconvenient posturew-~
Jesus Galled her and exclaimed: " Woman, thou art ,.
loosed from thine infirmity*." The old woman made J,
<^Eorts to become straight ; she approached the feet of y
the Messiah wit^ the pace of a tortoise ; he lajdhis band \,
On. ber, and' immediately she walked upright like a :
w;ench of fifteen. At this time the devil spoke not a ^~
word on his departure ; on which it has been remarked ;;
that SataiQ fbllowed always the opinion of the specta- |
jbi^« of the Savioiir*s miracles, and marvellously coii^ ^^
^ided with them in acknowledging or rejecti'ng Christ .
TbiB aiuilQgOQS conduct of tbe spectaitors and Satan, ,
ti^^ perhaps^ the result of the excommonicatipn fuliBt> ^J
jaatjed i^atnst all tvho regarded Jesus as tbe Messiali . v
- jM^lie repuiti^ton of John Baptist subsistied still on the .^
^91^ pi the Jpfdan. To excite the primitive aeal, or ,^;
jjterbaps with an inteot to induce tbe disciples of John, ^'
wkp bad borne; him such ftatteriag testimony, to follow
.bun, Jesus tamed towaids that quarter ; but the at-
tempt was fruitless. He succeeded no better in curii^ ;,
> .^-i-.. ' >.i^-i ?ti '/^-^s^iC.--*
mi'i&p'
e.yf Stk^WavaaK.:!!: ,^-:
a
(
^-*^.
tt dropsidal person' that chanced to be in the houi^ie of
a Pharisee who gave the Saviour i dinner. His ctrre^
■ , ^ere adttrired^ but he spoiled all by his extravagaitt
,Argtmentfr, so ofit^nsive were they to the gi^atest pirt
t)f hid heslrers. As a lait resource he Assayed to attach
to himself publicans, officers, and such like disr^putJ^
bib petsons ; but these were only feebie ptops, and
fbeir familiarity oiade him lob^ the little esteem which
others stiA entertained for hiiii.*
' \The sight of puuisbni^nt ha» often joccasioncd' ibe
loss of courage even to the most determined b^tb;
Ours, agitated by a crowd of untoward events, itna^gihed
that nothing being dearer to men thanrHfe, and nothing
"^nore difficult than to come badk after leaving it, th^
^ople of Jerusalem nolwithstanding the cldmours of
the priests would not fail to declare in his favour if h1^
could succised in making them belii^ve that he had the
^idWer of raising the dead. Lazarus the intimate friend
of Jestis, appealed to him the fittest person iiu tbd
WOiW for presenting to the public the spectacfe of i
itead mail brought agaitf to lift. Wheti every thitig
was f)>rOpterly concctted and disposed, Christ Set out
for Bethany. Learni^j^ tbis^ Malrtbki and Magt^laor^f
sent to meet himyand publicly itiformedvhim that their
brother was very srcf . Jestrs made thenk no answei',
bnt<8peakidg aloud so as to be heard, 'VThis sickness,"'
said he, " is Hot uirtO deatfe, but for the glory Of GOd."
-i-^-This was already telling too much.
Instead of going to Bethany or any where else,
Christ remained two days in a village without doln^aflfy
*••'« • . ' . - ♦- e* Wu.^- ^ eft: 't ..tL- .^
'J.
/<
thing; thereafter he told his apostles that it wag pe-
cessary to return into Judea. He was already there
at the time he spoke, but he meant no doubt to speak
of the capital. They represented that it would be a
very imprudent journey, as a short tintie before the
populace wanted to stone him. We see that Jesu&
said this oh purpose to give room to his friends to iu"
^ vite him not to neglect brother Lazarus in his sickness.
Besides the following words evince that he had no in-
tention of going to Jerusalem. Our ir\etid Lazarus
sieepeth; but J go that I may awake him out of sleep,
H-On hearing this the apostles thought he had reco-
vered. Jesus declared to them thtit he teas dead, and
that he was highly pleased with his not having been
present at JLazarus's decease, as it would aft'ord means
to confirm them in the faith- tir^ ; / 1 : , ;o^ ais*v| i^ii
^ The two day« which Jesus passed in the village,
joined to the long space of time he took in going about
half a league, were immediately converted into jfoun
~ days from the time he pretended Lazarus was dead.
At last he arrived at 'the abode of the defunct, whpm
they had deposited in a vault adjoining to his house,
and not Recording to the custom of those days, in a
sepulchre put of the city. After some questions put
to Martha on her belief, he assured her, that her bro-^
ther would rise again. Yes, said she, but it will be at
the last day. Here our Thaumaturge affected to be
very sensibly touched; he trembled, he wept*, in-
" \* At Yendome, in the monastery of the Holy Trini^, is
^ preserved the sacred tear which Jesus shed while lamen&ig
bte fdend Lazarus. M. de Thiers, a Frenchman, having had
the resolution to write agdnst the authentid^ of this rdic, got into
(dangerous scr^te with the BeBedictioes.
'V. '":.r
.^
. .voked the aid of heaven, caused himself to be brought
to the vault, made it be opened, called on Lazarus with {
ia loud voice, and commairded him to come forth. The"
dead man, thoupfh tifed and wrapped up in his grave .
clothes, arose and was unloosed before witnesses at the
entrance of the vault.
-i^It must be acknowledged, that this, prodigy wag
-•conducted with very little dexterity. St. John, the '
t)nly Evangelist who relates this striking miracle, in
vain props his relation with the presence of the Jews: ;
he destroys his own wOrk by not making them come
till after the death of Lazarus to console hfs sisters.
It was necessary that the Jews should have seen him ^<
' 'die, dead, and embalmed ; that they should have felt the ^
stneM of his corruption { and that they should have con- ■
•versed withhimafter his coming oiitof the tomb*. CJn- ,
'bdievers, who have treated on miracles, have exhausted
all the darts of criticism on this one. To investigate *'
it would be only repeating what j;hey have said. The j
■■- Jews found in it such strong marks of knavery, that ,
far from being coaverted they took more serious mea-
sures against Jesus, who having, intimation thereof
withdrew towards' the desart to a city called Ephrem^i
* where he abode with his disciples. In the mean timej
the cities and villages were enjoined to refuse him aAt
asylum, and the inhabitants to deliver him up to the
magistrates. In fact, this miracle occasioned a general
proscription of the "Messiah. On presenting himself
;at the gates of a town in Samaria, they at first refused
to let him pas's; he was not permitted to stop at Jerii
cho, though he there gave sight tp a blind manf. He
y •St.John,xL ' ' :?^
-" f St Matthew ssj9y (xz. S9y &c.) that Jesiu gave aght to ttoth
y Ufadmen.
V -F
there&re returned to Bethany, where he was feoeived^r.
pot by Lazarus who had perhaps been obliged to sav^s
himself 'on account of his being concerned in such aift
ii^posture, but, as St. Matthew afBrms, by Simon the
leper. Lazarus after his |'esurre)ction appeared: no-
longer on the stage*. ' hi.
This rejection and desertion of Christ threw tbitf
apostles into consternation. To re-anlnaate their coo^
fidence, Jesus caused a fig^treei -to die in twenty-fbiir
hours to punish it for not producing figs at a season-
when it was physically impo^eible for it to carry aay,
that is about the month of Marchf.— As all the actions
of the Messiah, even when they appear foolish to ww
dinary men, hay^ an important sigaifiqation in the eyes
of devote^ illnmipated by faith, we oiight to perc^re^
in the miracle of tbjs fig-tree Poe of the fundament^
flogmas of the Christie religipn syp^holically repre-
seDt4^4- Iq this point pf view, the fig-tree cursed is tbe^^r
inass of mankind, whom, according to our theologian,
tlie Gpd of mercy curses, 'find condemns to eternal
flames, for having neither had faith nor grace which
they could not possibly acquire of tfaemHeI?e8, and
whiph (jrod does not seem to have been willing to give
them. Thus we shall find that the ridiculous passage
of the fig^trpe.jn the gospej, is intended to typify oi^
of the most profound dogma* pf the Christian religion^^
* A l^;eHd, according to Baronhis, affizms that Lazarus went
afterwards to preadi the &ith to liie Provencals, tmd was the
tot iuthop of Marseilles. lu f<» Magdabme, die went to bewail
ho: nns aod 1^ death {£ her lover in a desart of FroveiMJf,
cs^^lcuSc^rOe Bcaimfi (the Ho^ Balm.) Martha, as every hodf
kaows; lies interred at Taiascon^
t St. Mark, xi. 20. ' "
.. ^^ For TnaJBtainmg tfa« dogma, that tUs as vxfl as oAcr
jNteteaded miracies of Chzist were xoss^ aU^g«nicaI> the viB>
j^ Whilst ^esus in this manner 4n9tru9(ed his apottle^.
by-figures and ingenious parables, they were labouring
hard against him at Jerusalem. It appears, that the
Sanhedrim was divided on his account. They perhap9
wished much to punish him» but not to put him to
death. All were of opinion that he should be arrested
without noise, and that they should consider after-
wards on the punishment to be inflicted on him. The
»ao«t fiery of the priests wished that he should beseized
in the capitsd, and assassinated during the huriry of the
festival. This establishes that they did not consider
themselves certain the people would not interest them*
selves in his Sehalf. Perhaps they had great reason:
—What a part of the populace did in his favour whejft
he appVoBched Jerusalem, evinced that it would have
been very dangerous to Jict openly. In purwianoBof
^is plaq, Xhe^ secretly pi-Qini^ a. reward tp who§v^
fthould deliver up Jesus, and we shall soon find one of
his apostles betray his masjer for a very trifling sum- f
There is suffciei^t reason ^o. believe that before en-
tering Jerusalem, Jesus c^u^d his f^pproach to be au-
SlOiinc^ ^ his friendf..ip |i?>*^$;lly« ,Hi8 adherents Jlf?k»;
. -,•:-■-■/'■. '■=■'-"- V[ ^',Q.:'-r ■ \ - • /^;k^
ilfif^ Woglstaa so &r ^cdled tlie «Kyignati«n of tl|e' dexgy',
^(mt tfaey penectited lum even ui^to deatl^ Having heegi^^ «
pq^K^i^ m tiie ^ng'» Beadi lor ^t^ years^ as f {wpu^
196^ fo^ pubWng lu« '^Dlispoivs^ on tbe W^^f ^
fpof* powering iotqr^ used lor his r^etuse prpvei uzuivai&^
if)im agjf($iiBA to t^ rancour of tl^ pjtSfestiiQod; M At lait
^b^Qon^ H martyr to tljeewwo^lP^l^i^*^ **?•**** ^^^
» t^taxmte^ whid* iwf s^ prpWty #cl beap^olence caQwt
hi «i^»9«3, . if evw efuaU«d, w th^ 'i^biole Cbiisdsn i^hucqlu
X«i TBTfiS^t^ th« qpimop avowed by Wopbtao wi^ue ibom
l^kichW strCTMOBsly >dd ^ ttw ijRPgt, csMt»raM ^r p«^M«f
(^ the anient &thers. '..ysi '^" ■ - J
-•
^
^2
boured to render his entry into tfie capital somewhat
brilliant. As for himself, affecting to display modesty
in the midst of his triumph, or unable to do better,
Christ chose for his steed a young ass that had never
been rode on, which his disciples, by his order, had
seized with its mother. In place of a saddle, some of
the disciples laid their clothes on the back of the ass*.
The company advanced in good order. — ^The people,
ever fond of a spectacle, ran to see this ; and we may
believe that if some at tbis time paid sincere homage
^ .'* At Verona are the remains of this ass, -preserved in the
bdfy of an artificial ass. It was the unH. of Jesus that the
beast he used, ^ould pass .the rest of his days in qviiet and ]£•
berty. Weary with having so long gnawed on the pastures
of' Palestine, the ass resolved to visit foreign countries, and
to undertake a voyage by sea; he had no need, of a ship;
the waves became smooth, and the liqmd elonent as hard as
Ciystjd. After he had visited the islands of Cyprus, Rhodes,
Candia, Malta, and ^cily, he passed over the Gulph of
Venice, and staid scnne days in the plade where that'&mous
city has since been built: but. feeling the air to be unhealtb-
fill, and the pastiurage bad, among the salt and marshy isles,
Martin continued his voyage, mounted the river Adige dry
died, and coming up to Verona, he made choice of that dty
for his last resdence. After he had lived there some yean^
Take an ass of estate and quality, he died to fbe great grief of
the confiratemity. So lanentaUe and universal a l»raying made
the echoes resound through the country, and never was so
r nd a melodhf heard at the ftmoral of sudi an animal even in
Airadra itself! But they quickly f^und a way to alleviate their
gn^; ^for all the honours imaginable bdng rendered to the
Uessed deceased, the devotees of Verona carefulfy preserved
the rdiques, and put tbem into the belly of an artiSdal am
made for that purpose, tdiere they are*kept to this day,
io the great jay ttad edification of jaoaa aotiBl^-Missott and
to the triumpher, the greatest number laughed at hiiii
and shouted at the ridiculous farce*.
The chief magistrate, fearing an uproar, endea-'
youred to quiet the populace, to whom the disciples
had set the example. He accordingly addresjsed Jesus
himself, who answered that " the stones would speak
rather than his friends should be silent." — This seeihed
to insinuate an insurrection in case they should attempt
to employ authority ; and the magistrate understood
very well that this was not the moment to provoke
■^esus... , ■ , ,^3 ^^.^ :,.J-;H;^^- . '■%:.-.
, As soon as Christ had entered Jerusalem, he betook
,' himself to weeping and predicting its ruin. The an-
Qouncing of calamities was, and will ever be, a sure
method to excite the attention of the vulgar. Some
persons of consequence who knew not the cause of the- ,
riotous assemblies of the people around Jesus, on eohr
guiry were answered. It is Jesus of Nazareth-— it is a
prophet of Galilee.^ St. Mark assures us that'in this
trapsaction, decisive in behalf of the Son of God, Jesus
pBce more gave to the*people the pillage of the mej*-
chandize exposed to sale in the court before the porch
of the templet.. This is very credible ; it was indeed,
wiser and more necessary at present than at the formei-
period. ■ ' c:;^;., n'eWil^:..
,. I Profiting by the tumult, Jesus cured a great ijaany-
blind and lame people. Whilst these wonders were
performing on one side, they exclaimed Hosannah on
the othert> Some besought the author of these es^^
* St Matt xd. St Mark, ^ St. Lakt, liz. and J|^
John, xiL • i--
■ t St Mark, zL 15. '•■ .■.)i;,, .■-vr.;c-;i'5*V: ;.
^:3f J stMatfrd.14. St John, am. ' ■ -^H^^^^^-^;''^'
■^y
d^ffiiiMit* aii4 6t~ Ms' iMiiMto Itol^ tBeifiti ; Ixill tfie
Messiah ba<^ DO longer measures fo observe — He pef-
teived it was necessary to gain over tlie popular en-:.,;
thfisiasDi, and that it would be silly to appease if.
Besides, the uncertainty of success had thrown him in-
ta distress, which hindered him from seeitig or under-
standing anything. A child, frightened or too much
pressed in the crowd, began: to cry v^hiie .fesus wis
Sjpteaking, "Father, sAve me from this hour.** Thej' '
to6k the child's voice for a voice from heaven. St.
John, iporeover, informs us that the disciples had
psts^ed op the people the famous mrracfeof Lazarosy^
r^iurrectioD, ^hich attested by eye witnesses, mti'8ti>^
' few* made ^ grcSft impression on the astonisheid vulgaifi^l
They did not entertafn a donbt.that the voice from
leiven wM^h^ they had h^rd, was that of an ang^
vrhd bone teM^mony to Je^s; and the hitter profititi^
deiteipusly of the occasion, said to th'ein, " 'thU
' lr6iee camae^ nt>t ^ecatnse of me, but for your sakes.**^
He Afterwards took occasion from thence to harrangul:
the people; and! announce himself as the Christ; hMi
fcfr spoiled his sermon by expressions which sftewed th^ .
frOttble into which bis apprehensions had thit)^n hiif^
atid nbtf knowing how to dfraw froth the ciircaioil^t&nci^y
: all the adi^ntage it seemed to promise,, he left the citj^|^.
diiid Retired to Bethany where He passed tfte ni^t witl^
MEi'<KseipIes; '" 'w
^'Ib general our hero was subject to \oW spirit,— -
f Wfe constantly fitod in him a mixture Of audWci ty addf
pusillanimity. Accustomed to strike his blows in the.
cSfiwtftry, aiid atjjidng rude afltfignoriinf people, he did.
not know bow to conduct himself in a city, of to slic-
ed against vigilant and intelligent enemies. , ns^^i^
^ .■ .
x>
' • \ '-'.''- : ^ ■ ^-^"-■■•*'-a:','
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' - *
••. '■ ^\ :' '■ ' '; ^ </~Si^ ,i '
: ~>;i t^.;
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'^ Thus he lost the froit of his m^norable journey,
"which had been so l6n^ before prbjeeted. We do not
indeed fiiicl that after tbfs he rieturned to Jerusalerft,
except to undergo^ hi§ trial, ^ Melftnfcholy and fear had
deprived him of all priBSence ofmind^ and his disciples
"were under the necessity of remtndin^ him that it was
tinje to celebrate the Passover. They asked him wHere
be wishied tbem to go and prepare the-entertainment :
, He bade them take the^ first house they met with, which
they did. A chamber was provided for them where
^hi^ assembled with their master, wlro, ever occupied
with his sorrowful thoughts, gave them to understand
that this Passover would likely be /tbe.last which he
«hofuld celeblrate with them.— His khguage was
inoumful; he. hathed their feet in order to teach them
that humility was essehtiaily necessary when they w^itt
^Veakesti Having afterwards sat down to tables he
made them understand in hinguage su;ffi6i6ntly explicit
that he was afraid of being betrayed' l^ one of them,
Th<Jre'^§i "fevery reason "to bislieve tbai'hlssuispicibtjs feft '
principally on Judas, whose frequent gOihg to and
tbining from theijoirees of the priests might be fcnowi^
to hTs'mnster: As Judas was treasurer to the party^
and cbnsleqtfehtTy charged With paying ihe expencesi'
of the entertainment, Jesus wished ^tlbo l>e understbcKl
that they w^re then regaled at' the expense of his li^
«Bd his blood. '* Take/' said be to th^m inra iigujca-* •
tive ' style; ** ib* this is my body^*^*-*Thef eaiPter'he
'^ve them the ciip, sdying'tbat it waV ** bra blood whtcii
wWtoii« shed fOF thfetn.'' . Jadas^ veijy jeadtly com^
^ehending tl^ nieaning of this en iginft« arose ftovsi
table; and iiiQi,mediately withdr^Vv : ,, but Hhe othes
«pMtlei did opt ttndenta&d it It is, ^w^er, on tbti
emblem that some doctors have since built the famous .
dogma of transubstunttatiqn ; they enjoin rationai
brings to believe, that at the word of a priest bread is
changed into the real body y and wine into the real blood of
Christ ! They have taken the figurative words of oujr
missionary literally, and have employed them in forin*
ipg a mys/er^, or rather ' the most curious Juggle that
ever has been devised b/; priests on ^^.rpose to decjeiy^
mankind** .^^4-.:,j.v;,:- ■■ J/,/*"- ' ■" --t^
-! After supper our guests retired with their nr^aster to
the mount of Olives/ where they thought themselves
in safety J but .our hero did not entertain the- sam^
opinion.' ,S€arcely had the Man^God entered the^ajv .
den ot Oliver when a moital terror seized htm;, be
yrept like a child and aDtici|[)ated the pangs of deatl^
His . apostles, ^ more tranquil, yielded to sleep, and
Jesufr, who was afraid of being surprised, mildly r^
proached them— r** Could you not,?' said he, " watcb^
wi^ me one hour ?" Judas, whom we have seen de-
Jp^ar^ suddenly, and who had not roomed the par^y^g^ve
extreme uneasiness to .Christ, and every moment rer
doubled his terror. It is affirmed thjat an angel came
to strengthen hiin in his situ^ation': Yet be was a^er*-
wards seized with a bloody swj&it, which can onl^
denote a very gret^t weakness, c, fa
jo'-- :'-'j.4'^fS-^^-A • ■; ^^^f•^^J;•*^^y'i^(^^■::
* TIk Fhrtestants are ymmg Ja. zeiHroachiii^ the "C^thofici
w|th die iiOgEQak -<£. irtmstJntantiaiioa. Those wbp; b#efi^
that God coold be ^mofe^ ought not, to hold osiers ridi-
culous who 8^ that God can be <^An^d into bread. If thie
dogma c^ trapasubstantiation is an absurdity, it is a verj an-
dent one in the churdh, and only evinces the jnrqtl^ious t^
ctality of the first of the Mthfid. . St^ Pai4' St. IgAatJai<> tlie
aaartyx^ St Iroihiiy^ flpeak of this absurd ^i^^
tJathoBcs, i, 1, ' "
-,:-■ -^ iiT^ i --^
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■TlW agitated condition af the Saviour appears vei^'
surprising to persons in vvhose mindis Mth bas>Ilot'
^emoved every difficulty the gospel presents; they are:
much astonished ta find such weakness in a God wfa<r
knew from all eternity that he was destin£Mi to die for
the redemption of the human race. They aver, that
God his father, without exposing his dear innocent son
to such cruel torments, might by one word have par-
.doned guilty men, conform^ them to his views, and
- remitted their iniquities : they think that the conduct
of God woiild have been more simple and generous in '
^ apposing his wrath at less expenee on account of an
apple eat four thousand years ago. But the ways of
_. God are not- those of men. The Deity, ought never=
to act in a naturdl vrky or be easily understood. It
^ is the essence of religii^, that men should never
comprehend -any part of the divine conduct;'' this fur-
nishes to their spiritual guides the pleasure of explain-
ing it to them for their money.* .
Whatever sentiments we may entertain on this, it is
certain that the Man-God, on the appFoacli of his
death, shewed a weakness which ihany ordinary men.
would htush to display in a similar situation. Mean-
while the traitor Judas, at the head of a company of
arqhers or soldiery proceeded towards Je$u,9 whose
retreats he knew. A kiss was the signal by which' the
.. guards were to recognise the person whom they had
orders to seize. Already Christ beheld the lai^honis
"^fSmie^ hsEve tiiougiit that &e ISeigy oiikbc serve arU
hflotier ^i^gaktet despotism, but eiqpetiaice six£cteiitly> picnrdi
mi t^ body on afl occa^ifltfs ^stiPoUites for ^ ^Ym tetoests
ff
I*
.V.;..:"v.:5l=-:^:i-;.-:::^,.-v:-: ^ ..;..--. ^;.c--.
• , advancing which lighted the march of these shirri;.
and perceiving the iiQ possibility of escaping, he made
a virtue of necessity. Like a coward become despe-
' rate, M resolutely presented himself to the partyi^
V ** Whom seek yef* said he, with; a firm tone:-^
' * \* Jesus/' answered they. " 1 wn he** Here Judas
t^oiififmedv with a kiss this heroical confession. The
apostle&^ awakened by the noise^ came to the succoujp^^
of their master- Peter,, the most -zealous ainong therBj
cut oflE" with a. stroke of his sabre the ear of.Malc^ua
servant of tiie High Priest.* Jesus, observing the
inutility of resistance, commanded him to put up his
sword, set in order the ear of Malchus, (who escaped
at the expense of being frightened^ ,aivd afterwards
* Is It not' eKtraordinsBy that Jesns^ who inculcate the
doctnne of ^oii-resistance so far as to enjoin that ''to .fahn
who ^niteth on-, the right cheek we should turn the left also,.*-.
pemdtted any of his disciples to wear a sword? Does liot
this show that Clmst himself felt the difficulty of coidformlng
to his madms, and at the same time MfiBing that part in sot^ty
which nature has assigned to ^ mankind?. Accordmg^ ^ td
Lactantins, no christi^ can be a soldier. The en^tiror
Charles V. used to say that "behjg a warrior it was impos-
" J, nble for him. to have either conscience or reUgion." H?s ge«
• . " neral, the Marquis de Fiscaire^ said, ". thai nothing was
>: mrae difficulf than to serve at one; and the s^me time the
A^ God Mars and Jesus Christ" Gener^y speaking, notbmg
,/ is more contrary to the spirit of Christianity than the pro».
/ |. fe^don of arms; nevertheless, tiie most chm;^ princei have
- / •' most inmierous armies, and are perpetually at war. The
v^- dergy also would be extremely sorry if the maxims of the
.r - .f evwogeSatSt' or the Christian meelmess, Were to be xigidly
'^ fbUowed. It in no wise accords with their intererta. They
have^occa^ott too: soldiers, to gire toUdity to their dootxineft
' ,} ^ their <K»tn« rights f-^How long, 0 loae^ «^ ye rem^
// '/ t|ie dupes erf an iDtCTested priesthood? ;
■r . .
.1
■^ ,
surrendered himself to, and accompanied those who >
bad come to seize hitn.
It Is related that the party who- came on purpose to
apprehend Jesus, were forced at first to ^iye ground.-^
The fact is very probable : it was dark, and the archers
perceiving the apostles but very indistinctly, might
believe that their enemies were more numerous than
in reality, and therefore be afraid of being surrounded :
but plucking up courage they fulfilled their comhals- .
4don. , -^
- Whilst they bound the Son of Grod. with c(Mrds,'he
besouglit the chief of the detachment not to molest
his apo^les, and as they wanted himself only, he easily
obtained his request, ^t. John belieVes that r Jesus
made this entreaty in order to folfil^ prophecy ; but .
it appears our hero thought it was neither usjeful noT
just to involve men in hisTuin, whose assntance migbt .
Btin be necessary to him, ^or who, being^t large, wotd^^
have -a better opportunity to act in his favour- , - •<.
.,- .iivt(m$r::W-
•x^*.-*
'^V <>■;
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^m
TSIALANO CONDEKNATION OF JBSUf.— ^18 PUNISHKENT* ,;^.
■^ ' -V '■■'■.':- ' , ■•;-■■ '-'.-^ ^.'. ; ^.Wr-.''
WHEN the enemiea.of Jesas saw Uipa in their hands ^
they were not less embarrassed than before that event. W
From the time the Romans had subdued the Jewish >
» ■ ■.'■'.•-
nation, they had no longer the right- of the 8word,,,j.
To punish Ihose who had iB^Ded against religion^ it, j^r
was sufficieat at any fomier period* that the high priest. ,,.^
immounced sentence on the culprit The Romans^ ^;
more' tolerant in this point, rarely punished with 4^
death jf and, besides, to take away life they required ~'
decisive proofs against the accused.
Annanias, father-in-law of the high priest Caiphas,
was known among the Jews for a very subtile man. It
was to Annanias* house, therefore, that they first con-
ducted Jesus. We are ignorant of what passsed in
this first scene of the bloody tragedy of Christ; it is
only to be presumed, that he underwent an examina*
tion which proved no way fevourable to him. ,
From the house of Annanias they conducted Jesus
to that of Caiphas. He was the man most interested
by his office in the ruin of every innovator in matters
of religion, yet we do not find that pontiff speaking
with anger; he conducted himself according to law
and aa a man who understood l^it professioiL-o
• V' ■' -•^"■■■-' . ' - . ' ,- -■■ '^^ ■'"--■■''"•■■■■ - . ' ^ '''. ' .. ■
'■-■''• ; . ■■ ■ ^ .-■ ^-, %» . '-^ '■■''"'- W — ■ -^ ^; --.■-^" .' > .V?': ;V;- ,''.v .';';,
1 " '
V^ I
' ** Vf ho,** said iie to Jesus, " are your disciples, j^h^r
' -f number and names ?" Jesus, made no answer.— ^ ,
, / * But at least/* continued Caiphis, ** explain to nae
I' ytHir; doctrine. = Wtiat end does it-purpose ? you must
hiiire a system. Tell^isthen what itis.'- At last the
,^ Messiah coodesceaded to say, " I spoke pp^nly to the
\ .[ world ; it is not I, but those who have heard me, tha|^.
ought t^'bfe interrogated."
Heresone ^of the offioerff of the hig'h priest gave
Jesus a blow on the ear, saying, " Answerest tUoe the
high priest so^?** The reprimand was hajrsh,.but it
inujst be 6wn6d, that the answer of Chridt was kittle
i ti^spectful to a man invested with authority, ahd the
■ i flight of put^ng questions in order to discover th«
"^ truth from the mouth of the acqused. Jesus ought
, J- to have been better acquaiirteid with his own doctrine
}• than th^ |}i^8bnts of Gahlee or Judea, before .whoii|^
h6 bad tiif dagh prefei-erice affected to preach in an
' > , unintelligible manner. It was therefore very just and
natural to sUppdsei that Jeidos could give a better ac-,
;- coUntiof his true sentiments and obscure parables^ than
an ignoTJlht multitude who bad listened Vvithout being
>• ever ab16 to comprehend him. He alone could bej
-^ supposed to possess the s«:ret of unitii^ into system
^ the scattered and i|ncond|^d principles of his. heft? .
- •♦etily doctrine. ■. ■ 7''~^~^^-tv#i^'- •■ .;■..; .\.,,-^
Caiphas, unable to draw any-thing from the accusedj
' ■ " * ' '". •.'■'•■:'
- ^ r*We remark jwith.« Chrjst forgot <m tluf
Oepa^on to put in pratstice t)ie 'expeUent ^ connsel whitdb.. he
bad ; given . in th^ senitHm on the Mountj-rrwhen 'a pesrsoii
recdves fi Ubw^'onti^one die^ to ttuii-the othier^: -so trn»
itis, thfi^ .preaidiers do not alwa^ act as they pceach to
/>"^J» --)',-(,:., "t" 'y
■->■
X jr.^
•;o.
.>j^%raitcd till next morniE(g,,wheii the council w<>ul4 -^y*^
«85erobl«, in or^er to contiuue this inquest. Christ
^^peared bueibre the Sanliedrio), tbe most respectabte
, tribunal in the nation. /The gospel represents th6 ^
priefti and chiefs of the Jews occupied during the
whole night that Jesus was arrested, in searci^ing fqr
and suborning /a&£ witnesses against hlna.; Tja^y pro*
duced two pecsons^on whom they very unjustly bestowed
this epithet, These witnesses indeed deposed to a fact
verified by the gospel itself.-^** .We4iettrd bim *ay
that be would destroy the temple, and rebuild it ia
three days.'* It is at least certain, that < Jesus had - ^
uttered, these words, " Destroy this temple, and in
three days I will raise it up*,** But the poor witnesses
knew not that he then spoke in bis figurative 4tyle»
Their mistake was pardonable, for according to the
gospel, the apostles themselves did not discover, the
true sense of thes€i words till after , the resurrection of
their master. v .^
^ Tliis evidence was not sufficient to condemn Jesus
.Ito death. The Jews; however iniquitous we may sup-
pose them tojiave been, did not sentence fools to die|
and these words of Christ iliust have appeared to them
the mere effect of delirium. Accordingly the bjigh[
priest contented himself with asking, whalb^^e bad to
answer ; and as the accused refused to speak^ be did not
further insist on t^at point. . /. ?
fie passed then to questions more serious : ** Are yoii
the Christ ?*' «aid he # ^esus; How' <Jid the Messiah
' answer this question ? ** If I tdl it you, ^rw will not?'
believe me, and ,you will ii'ot suiSer mfe id' d^pait. But:. ;
f St. Uatt xzvi 61. St Sfaik, sir. AS. St JoEm; IL l»-^:
•vtr-
-V
94$ ' ' -
ftefieailer ti'ie Sop of (nan shall sit on the right hand of
God."-^-^* You aje then the Son of God?" continaed
the priest— -" You have said it," replied the accused.
^^hiii it is not s.uffil;ient that we should say it : it U
^jj who are to ausWer; onee more, are you thf?
iChri^l ? I coiyure you hy the living God t6ll us if yoa
a»febt« Son ?**—*"** Ywi h»ve said it,'* answered JesuRt
«^he S^tt of rMrari;" (f. e. the Son of God)^^ « shall one
]iiy Joth6 in' tfiie clouds of heaven." NotWithstandui|
t^ese\ perpleixed apswre^s* the judges iaiagined l^hej^
understood the meaniag :of hi;^ woFdf_ ; and they plainly
jSKroeivedj that h<e w^ed to give himself out for- tMe
Son of God. ^ He hat% sjftokeri blasjJhei^y," i%id ttiefi
Wd linhie^lAt^ corsiWdfed, tha^^^^ deatti*,
4^'iudgrnertt wisiiqiyvv^v^ according t$) the Uw of
4l^,Jew<^, and whicp ^ysyilso appear so to Chjrist^^lh .
rWrbiQi&ei sffiguioaty l&wis pUnbh' with death those whoi^^
*lie clergy i^a^elisd^ of: '%twspheflQy:-^Th^ GhrtSti^ns
%fi¥ir thfetefo^iiho'l^ blij^e %e fcons^dret o^ the
^f^^s^ ib'ofl^n imifai^ei feyTeccieslasticat'and sfeiquiaE
i^.i^i&l>d0i^t'iia(gist|M» ||ai{ d^^ ftpqtf'ni^mGfe fo provi^,
•dar Si the fooaetB t>f ifesus CMirt;^ «<Sck>rdnig to ^e ira^bBlil^
Adfanne^ «jf . Lni^ XIV; tbea^ ^irire tbirtf^twa fiidltie& Theie
afifljft^ly :W^iiM.'t/wnfe\ih» fbstnd toiir ' nt^d^ adticnedBig* to ifii^
^ctrispnideoIcK o£tiieInquiMti<«, iwlto bian^^Iaspliiti^
4iaf*flfied tndi8ytedJibt*oi£ .<>';■ ^ • "-<: .J .fv-./
V-t J|««ii -^iie M^Ttteve'iicoqadei!^ it tlidr dutjr to ^i^ttKe
tbese-^'ftBrbcicus'^ifioMilde^i'^ ' W svei^ ^ ^y, says lifixabit^il,
-^aflb dMti^ffcliiiinr, «r)1|eHia(ttei3» of hea^> hooichdnks the ]i^
'«ital»;^'«qititablft^ aad »^<Mi«[lictft evet^ i»die^ occasiem ; so moA
dtat (tfaey-^nialfer it: a=^ «dtiiy to trd^ th<^ who devkte fioin
tltffir iaade«f HpirdaB^Mirttti tfae'utoioak bpirlMEffi^. m^kdOCi
r-^Cfaftheptherliand, if it was pecessaiy tbat C^bj^sfc
- sbouM die ; if he wished it ; if t^e reprobation of the Jev^-
au increduloiis person^ ceases to be a man in the eyes of »|iie
'. superstitious.. Every society . infected with the venom \of
le&^dhy pre8«tt8 imimnerable examjiles of jiur^cal ass^s^
I. nations which the tribunals commit withoHt scruple^ and
withoi^ remorse. Judges, who are equitable on every otinr
- occaMon^ are< no longer ^ /when there is a question befine •
• them as to theology. • In /bathing themsehres in blood t^^
r believe they conform to the views of the divinity. Aktuo^
; ' tfvery wh^re the laws are subordinate to superstition, and are
j^ Xeco^pEces in its fuiy. !FE%y Intimate or transform mtO
diities those cruahies whidi dre tbe most contr^ ' to tii^
j^^ rites <^ humanity. — Are not all these^ aveng^re of religidfi,
who, with gaiety of heart, and diiough .piety aad duty, },^p^
indate those victJ^ to it -which it i^pojats, blind intderants?
Are they not ^tyrants who hate > die iryustice to dultage opgU
r^ ifldff,' ^d the &illy to believe tKat they can enslave the' miiid?
'■% Ate they not fSEuatics on- -^honr the hair, dictated by intnrttiah ,
I fsguidkes, inclose <r the 'peob^atj, , of ' becfflning ferociota .,
bnites ? — ^L;ai not all .^iOtc oonrea^as who, to av^igjs <
heaven, torment and persecute .th^.^subgects, and saciifiee^
tf J^]^^ idcMms tb thdr gods,- m^ wlumi xeBgiaus zeal^^hai /
r^ ^ converted into tigers? ' Are not those pnests so (darefid of
^# the souTs health, who insolently break mto the sanctuary of
^ the thoi;^ht% ::to. t^. end that they aaay Sadi iuLtfae c^f^nions
:of man motives for ; mjuxing him, o^iou» knaves and disttob*
4t,'jtt9 of ,th0 ttaad's re|KMe^ : whom iifiigiaa -hraioiUB, and wfacm^
^'l^r^Bsen detests^^ iWtot/ vifla^^ are nime odious' in the- ^««
rof iHunani^ ^itm. ^oae a&maulInqmiUeny who -bj ilie
' ^l^ind^aess of princes cn^ the adrantage of ju^pfig #ieir
>^' own enennes, and committing thenivriOictt^ Janea? ! Neiveii-
s^M^ the vsiiqpeniit&» 'of tiie' peQ|dr/4ildi^!them >fiaqpiecied,
^>i .in|r:.the fe^oc- of iixigBitrfex^iiitdmR.ijfgmtit^
^shOTt, do iM>t a thoijunntd examines -Jvof« that rdi^^ .
fef^iy, .wh«e i»o^i¥ie^v< oed justified ithe ,mo¥ii vaiVfOfimkMB
{|i^n99^l -liasit not. a thousand tiilKt::8fined men/ <#idr'tte
poBiardf of honuddes ; ]^ looie pmuom mack mtm tcnSde
/
^/••'•-■■■>,.f*;..;,>--^.v:.:r;:■,:^y7t},>,> - ■ , : ■
_ - : r
■,•■*: A
was resolved on, Jesus acted vetjf ^^d^erfy^itl keepii^g
them in error. But if this was the inteiitioir of P'rb-'*
vidence, why preach to them ? Why p'erform miracles
beforea whole people, whilst a ^rtiallntimber were only
to f^rofit by it? Did Jesus wish to save them ? Itf
that case why not convince the whole Sanhedrim of hi**
power ? Why did he not burst hjs bonds? Why didt^.
he not by a single word change their ''obstinate heatts?^
Did he wish, to destroy them? Why not then strike
them dead ? Why not instantly precipitate thbmintd
hell? ^
The judges could not comprehend why an accused)
person, who could not extricate himself from tbeil^
bands, could b,e the Son of God. Thlty accord ingty
declared him worthy of death ; but notidefinit1vely,^4^
it was requisite that the sehtence should b^ approved
of, and executed by the Romans, sovereigns of the
nation. During these transactions, Jesus was <treat^d ^
in the cruellest manner by the Jews, whom as well aa
tlian tiioie wilkb it pietended to zertrain, , aaid broMi ilie
mpst sacred boiids <^ mortals ? < Has it not, tnder the pr^
text (£ diatj, of Mth, of piety, and of zeal^ fkroured mt>
el^, stu{Hditr, amlntkm and tyTaiiBy?^ Has not- the came
of God made. inuider,,j)etMy, rebeQum,' and.' 1^^ le|^
timate oifajects? Have not those princes who have frequency
made themselves the avengers iof heaven, the lictors of x^-
'fftfa, hundreds of times, been its victims ? Jn fin^ has no^
:tb6i name, of God been< tbe signal ifiir the most dinnal fiiDies,
pod ;^e loaost fingfatfld jnd :widi:ed^loiitrage8?--^Have not the
ahars of the foda enxyyvifia^ swam in ISobdf and mld^
•mbxiera &im they m^y have ^exh^iited <the ,^dbity,' waft' he
iiotalw«^ the cause or the pretext of the most insolent v|iok
^latioftof^ rigterfhumway? : - .
K K ■« ■ '
Cbristiaii's zeal permitted!, or rattier' ehjoine^, to Ve :
'savage, •:r^,f■^>-r>-^■l^"g:s3: ???'*? ■^'■^ ■ ' " -'^'^ ' "
It is during this night,* and. the morning of the fol-' .
lowing day so fatal to the Sayiour of the world,, that
we must place the three denials of St. Peter the chief
of the apostles ; yet for him bis master had prayed., -
His comrades, seized with dismay, had dispersed them- \ ;
selves in Jerusalem audits neighbourhood. Several \
among them would have acted like Peter, if they bad
^und themselves in a similar situation. He had at v
least the merit of keeping near his master ; He abjured .
tim, it is true^ but would it have been of more avail r'-
ii,hy acknowledging him openly, Peter lihould hav^
'j^ntangled hinau?elf in a very scurvy affair, without be-
' iijg in a condition to relieve the Saviour.
^ , "The SanheKbim repaired to the palace of Pilate tWe
Oman governor, in order to get the sentence coniV
V, ifirmed. Jesus was conducted thither. Pilate instantly-i
|)e.rceived,|tbat it was an affair in which fanaticism airdl^r
' folly had the greatest share. < Filled with contempt fb^,,
so ridiculous a motive, .be at first testifiiad unw^lingtl
-ness tomeddleln it. J4idgehm yourselves^f said be t6
. > 'the inagistrates. On tbis the latter because.&lse wit*
, j^esses.! Zeal^ ^o doubt, made t^eih imagine, thTiik
fpery thing was aUowed againit an enetny; of .relig.ion|.
;.Tb«y interested the sovereign power ij9 their quarrrf.^-^
They accused J6SU9 of wi^shing. "f to ii^ais^ i^^
''king of the Jews," and of bavdng tisa^tatnedy tlia^
"'tbey ought not to pay bribute t«><!aesar." We lie^
cognise here the ^eoias of the dfergjr, w>o^ to ^ ruin
their enenaies, areisever Tery fastidious in tbe.jp^i^ice
4A means. Tbey especially strjye to tjefider i^« iattisr
r>,-
suspected l^ the temporal power, in order to engage ( ' ^^
it, through motives of self-interest, to revenge t%eir
injuries, or satiate their passions.
Pilate could not'avoid paying attention to accusations
of so serious a nature. Unable to persuade himself,
that the man he beheW could have conceived pr-ojects
so ridiculpus, he interrogated him :—^^? Are you the
king of the Jew»?'* On which iesus, in his turn, in«
terrogated Pilate, and demanded .** Say you this of
yourself, or haye others told it you ?"— ** Of what cony
sequence is it to me," returned Pilate, "that you pre;^
tend to be the king of &e Jewi ? You do not apbear
to be a naan much to be dreaded by the Kmperor ihy
master—-! apa ijpt of your satioa ; I concern xbyself
Yeiy little w^h your silly quarrels. ' Your prit^ts are
yx)ur accusers—;! have my ow^ (^iniotioF them~7-bat
they accuse you; they deliver you fnto my haqds---|
^ell, me then. What have ^yoa ddnifr?" lesiis ioiiiglUi
very easily hayebipiigh* hiiBself off in thfg affiiii-; huX
in the distress he was, his judgment began to yabderi
and, far fronts pef^na;ing the ^ft/ttfurabH dispositibn of
Pilate, who wished to jsavebiiii, he replied; *• ttat his
^^irigdom wasBO^ of this worlil-^hat h^ was tb^ truth/*
&c. On this; the j^rovernorl asked }iim^;^(tt: ts the
truth f BuLt the Saviour made no rfeply,'' tfrpqgh'ii^
question well desereedi a<categoricd ans^iit:
Pilate, a little alarmed on account of Jesuit,, 4e-
clar^d> >tha,t he •*.f<MwAi«fltbMig> h* hridi f^di||y^^
^Seath:** ^ ibis. ivedbiMed the cn^d bf ^is eio^i^
.W«iii|; learaed 4hat the isccused wa^.gT^^^t^ni^; lia^
^ |et quit qX ^e ii4|cuIous T^iisinem, (seizpii die^ O)^
iMMPhinijty tp^erid Jbiift.tq J^fid* tO; wbosfe .t€?H^iic$»
Jesiis originally belonged. Wq have salft leStref^iiisre,
y*^
ffe
■;V
^
desire was now gratified. Bat, on seeing his obstinacy
and constant refusal to answer ttie qu^tions put to
him» he conceived a sovereign contempt for him. To
Pilate, therefore, he sent him back clothed in a white
robeby way of derision. The goveriior, however, saw
no capital crime in Jesus, and wished to save him;
besides, his superstitious wife had a <]reara, that inte-
rested her in favour of our missionary.* — Piiate then
said to the Jews, that he could finnd nothing in
the man, which rendered him worthy of death. But
the peo|^e, mis-led, and wishing him to be crucified,
cried out, Tolle, Tolle, away, away with ihim. The
Governor now deviled another, plan t& save him. •*! .
release,'* said he, "every year a criminal; supposing
that Jesus may be culpal^le,^ I am going to set him
free.** The cries were redoubled, a^id the Jews de-
manded, that a robber called Barabbas should profit of
this inercy in preference to Jestut, whose punishment
they'^rsisted to urge.
-4 l^he Romans, desirous to calm the rage of a fanatical
pec^le, caus^ Jesus to be whipped. Thereafter, they
' dressed him in a ridiculous manner, crowned himi with
thorns, and made him hoM^ reed instead df a sceptre i
kflter which Pilate' shewed him to the people,- saying,
'* Behold your king ! are' you not yet satisfied } Se^
i^ * Jdm Mafida, and odter fidnfcaton of legends, infoim la^,
iiutt the ^rife of FOate was call^ Froda, or Frocula. Tbqr
hilve made a 'ffidnt of her. Some authors have nrade Pilate him«
fdf a Cfaansthn, and even a martyr. Others affiim that Koo put
faiJDa to deaA, fiar having been concerned in the cnuafision of Chnft*
Othen assert, tiiat FOsti was doled to'Tknne si Dauphin^ whe^
iie]dBedliiiB0d£^ ^ i r^r- tr, -..
-V'-
.'■is'liAy.
f-:.'
m
how to please jrou I^ have bedecked huxi* Be, then less
^i^&i^J : Wnot ' carry ypur iniJignation f urt|ier :, he ought
. no l6A|fer to give you, umbrage.'* V V|,
' 'The" priests^ whose majcim i^ ysntotr tojor^vf, w^e
iibf moved* l^' this spectacle ; it was only the|death of
their enemy' that could satisfy thenf. .They. shifted
thefir attacks," and, to intimidate the governor, gave
. hin^ to understand, that by sulfering. the accused to
live, he betrayed the interests of his master. It was
Ihen tiiat Pilate, fearing the effects of. the "malice of
the clergy, Consigned ^ Jesus to the Jews^ t^t they
y iiiight 'satisfy their rage, on hiin, and . executia^ their
pirojects ; declaring, howeyer, that '^^ he; w£^Wd hj|?
nahds of li,"^aii<r his Opipion i^hey ;
pfi't him '^to death. We cannot well conceive how & '
Kpnian 'governor, who exercised sovereign power ip
jTudea, could yield so easily to the, wishes of the Jew^j;
liut we cannot inpre easily Cpi|ceive ho w6bd permitted
Jhis'bbnesi governor to become throiigb weal^ness an "^
accomplice in the death of his dear Sopi , . . -,,J,^ ^
Jesus, abandoned to, the, n^e of devotees, agjuii^^
Tef ed the cruellest treatmei^t.'* Pilate, to humble thpie
X^*^ Si 'Ju^i^^ O^ltian, ; A Lad^tius, *iSEc liwre
li^prosxhed^ %e pagans mth ike^ gocbt^ serei^ of whcnvc
aixoi-din^ ia^ 'ibt po&s, MSL dqpeiSehced ipexs^dslGoa- and i«|ft
usage. Ware not ~ these . rej^roach^ I»eposim«s M^ tibe
mouflis of ti^ sdatera "tf j d^^ rf ^
o^ religion p6rb^ed VerV :Wiin ^ riflladoiattejb^ : ot^^^ fl^ ~r73
aa»eriyMS;t btit never saw tiiat or flMar own^jct^pon. Lao- ^^ ^
,^^titis ask^the p^jiM, '*^ ik po^Kfto iakf %f a Gto* •
. im -ejpl^ ob^eff^ tb^&f "<»• fonjk fo*; c^tc^ 'hhtaiaf ? "'Nd-
*o^," says 'iei "fa fool enrt^h ^ &;io ; '^;JI«I' ^■;^
«f Mn6^ imi^- 8KbW» "ftj^t he feaftt S^ttfeniee!^^^^^^
-^
os4
-'.?
of the cross to bear, that he was their king : ^qd i^ #■
thing could jnduce him to recede from this resolution. ,jr ;•
** What is written is written,** said he. to. thofee who i^'
ffeijtlfestra him to alter an inscription dishonourably. t<^ i- ;^
their nation. It is also propejr to observe, that this ip- ^,'^;
scription is difierently^expressed ,by .the four evjange* f--^
'/ The Jews treated Christ as a king detUroned, and y"
made him experience the most ^bfoody outrages, .^ '",
Though he had said that, if he were inclined, he could >
make legions x>f angels come to his protection, yet the |
Jews, notwithstanding their natural credulity, paid n^ f :^
credit to his assertion, and nothing could stop their ;> >
feliglous cruelty, excited by the priests! They made V '^
him tike the road to Calvary. Christ sunk unider tE(3 ^>
Wight of his^cross, but they Ipaded one Simon withitL fi ?'
#ho was more vigorous than biin ; the unfortunate Jesus f; '
must have been indeed inuch enfeebled by'^what he bajj i^-
Sijffere^ during both the iilgtit and the moroiug. ^.v
'* At Fast Christ was pkqed on the cross, the usqal pu- «>: .
nishment of slaves.- He did not suffer long under the
agonies, of ci:uci|jx.ion: after iijvokirig^his.Fatherj, and ^'
la.oientlpg'hl^^'beingf so snaraef^^ abandi^ped, he ex>
j>ired,jt jyjs^idybebweciitwo thieves^* / H^re:it iv {Meon>
♦ %J|att xxvfi, 44..Su3Sf^ air.S«vavX,^«tt:\SU^ ^^^^^
&c it ii.„8ffld/tiiat;.Je^ wh©i dTmg^^^ccIaiipM^ MUI Elij ft >:
hmma aalfiicictem I . (My .^r04-! pay <drOct ! v^ hett tlio^ i# >
ioiaskea. nn^ !)l ^ . "I^ ^p^^laSaxt -m^A ietj ridiciilous in lfi|»i
mouth ^ Qmsty the, j^ he ^cted hof^Og Jbeeir agreed tip.
with Jua fiithoc-fitna ^ ^tcniity, be ought to bsre known vhat
be<i{^dito^eroeQt 4AJ^^ we may appose that this .ezdamatijDfi
was fcnxt a feint meant to deeewe tbe ijiectatonh-^ conduct Iitt|&
becoming a divimty« « !
..'ivV:
' --'r''^'
■'-.k"~
;■ -' -^ ■"■;
, - ■ ■ ' •" ,--'^" -i^ <"~* ' ■ -■- .V
'■'.'i-- '^J'■lt■''-^^'*^''
v;!^^/^
,;■■-<■-:■ ,;"-^^'
\
■vv^ ^:.-v ■-: '..- ^•r/l:^:i^Ar;}^ru'■
/
■J ;_
pel* to rematk, ttet the Holy Ghost, wtio inspired St,
Markj mftkes JdBUS die at the third hour, that i», at
nine Oi*clock in the morning, whilst the Holy Ghost*
who in like tnaafier inspired St. John, mak^ Jesus die
at the nxthhour, that is, at mid-dfay. The iiory Ghost
is not more consistent in the story of the two thieves,
in ^ose company Jesus was crucified. St Matthew
and St. Mark tell us, that the two thieves insulted him
with abusive language ; while St Luke assures us, that
oue only of the two abused the Saviour, and that the
Other repriAianded his comrade for his insolence, and
besought Jesaa ** to remember him when he should
come to his kingdom.*' But our interpreters have a
thousand ways of proving that the Hcrty Ghost never
contradicts himself, even when be speaks in the most
tontradictory ntanner. Those who have Y^aith are satis^ | •
fted with theit arguments, but they do not so power- \ „ „ •/
ftilly impress the freethinkers, who have the misfortune
to reason.
The remorse of Judas soon revenged JesUs on t\\\%
traitor. He restored to the priests the thirty pieces
be had received from them,^nd \vent forth with to hang>
himself.* According to St. Matthew, the selling of
* AgcaOmg tii ii» ^oapA al The Iftfimey rf Jems
KQC. Jwlas was poMcaiicd of a devil frraa bis in^mcy, and
woidd Inte every body whsa the demon agitated him;— -he \ '^
«ne day bit the little Jesus on the ode, who Ml a wee^ag: (^ " "
'ihtttOK €ame out' of J^tes ittflor the "fetm of a mad de^.
fjaliex ApdoTp. N. *C, tcfiie 1. p. 197. Some heretida
CbristiaijfB have much esteemed Judas Iscariot, maintaiids^ that
^UMiout him the inyMevy of '&e redemp&Mi ooiflft not have been
^iMOmidishM >-an ttsa ntot destitute of itiaSeift; !iideed/ v%
ttea^^ man, -m^yhi %Sm% ^HaOtet, waa eidy the , fasfam-
Mcnt of the salvation of the umverae, and e:Mtor «f ^
• ■ ' • - ' ■'* ' ' l\\. ■■■ ■
•J
m
/ Jesus for thirty pieces bad been fpijetold by Jeremiah :
r ijt must'bowever be obsepved, that ,the pFediction 4o^
^BOt appear jm the writings of this prophet, w'hich Would
f create a suspicion, that the evaugelists, little satisfied
I with applying to Christ some prophecies, sjuch as are
f extant in the Old Testament, iwve taken the -liberty
< of drawing from their own. store, or forging theini^ben
% in need. But our able interpteters are not at all eoir
if barrassed with this; and a holy blindness will always
;*;|:ffevent these bagatelles ffroni being •:- .
^'ji,;The Gospel informs us, that at the^ death of Christ
alLnature seemed to take part in:the grand evcHat^ : At
f jth& moment he expired there was -it total eclipse*; a
|4rightful sriakiug of the earth was felt, 'ahd several
> holy personages came out of their tombs to take a walk
.on the streets of Jerusalem.* The Jews, alone had
.the niisfortune to see nothing of all this; it ;iippear»,
that these wonders were performed only in the fancy
i^ of the disciples of Jesus. As for the eclipse^ it was
^^pubtless an inconceivable prodigy, which could not
f^iiave takefi place without a total derangement ta^ the
f^ viZK\ii\vt& 6i \)e^ woi-W. A total eclipse of ^heLSua
4urrBg full iBOon, the tinae at which the celebTatioji.pf
^e passover was fixed by the Jews, is of all miracles
vtbe most impossible. Na contemporary -aul^ho^ has
J . i^eBtiofted 4t, though tiiis phenomenon Well' merits
Jeerees. of God Iwao^sdf ? Tl^ese heretics have aba fl, gOjIfNil^ ^
/jl^, which theT: mdce Judas the author, Stlireiieiti^ h>, 1- 99''?^
,5 How then i^0aait tenned "tfa^ jSrj^ Jhtitt. of thens that
^wiaek pi>*ccded Hat, if 4«ws V3p^hMJi>el^ ^ "P^^sm
Jpnmliie,^adB" '- ./^vina s^>; '•> r. .. j imm ^
t
.'
'*' • - ;^'^''' :-■'•♦ --:V'/;-*,^j'-¥i^ i-vi^"^'
-■,>••;» ;. . ;' ^] '■>. : ';•-" -^"'^ -->'
.:fc^-Vv.:^.?::.ivV^':- ' -• .:>-"•- V''
' v. ■"■
/ ; to;^^ ^^Dsniiti^ed TO piwyriti^.* The incr^ulous
r": th^^l-efore mainiiin^ that tlieVe was Wed ipse oh this
•^cv^ bcdasroni^'b^bjf tibe TOrhmcm sens^^^ whosat'^
\y|_ aifUfiesei'mdrv^lls, or cjjf tlife.gbod faith of the writer^
]:-K'^ Wfio l&aveattested th6iri^' With rejspect to the shaking
'- <if the '^arthi t^ey" suspect that Ihe apostles' of Jesus,
' , behtim'becl #ith fear'jjt t^^si^ht Of their divine master*s
. rate, \pei-e*^1ie only persons Wlto felt it. In this way
'. . . fnjJeed iitiie thing bfecomes very probable.
V :^ - 'HV'hW'Jesiis was'dead,- or believed to 'b(^"80,t afte*^
> - afi iubisfort had been niadeinlns side, from which came
• ' bldb(l attd a' Whitish fluid, which they took for watfer^
'; hii. ^dy wsis etitibaloaed, and depositfetJ 'in a tomb.
. . K^ l^hls tS^al ;3bne' On' Friday evening. : He had sevef^
X tiiiifes^iitiihated/that he Would ri^e agaiftfiie third d^y^
, > '-y tlia^fs^t rtife^d of three idaysatid thi*^ nights. Yel^
% ir ori 'the Siifiday ^lldwririgi iearly in the morning.
'''V^'ktS^ «rn^0ta ' fw^&>^: ' t>i!)t^ Iftli* .'Sfi
wnteb i»eten&,' that ffife^ ecS^^'fidre ' i^oken of
hu ^en^^attes£ed by TlK^tu,' an author wholly ui^own, and
Iqr Ptogwi; whose ¥«n*^ no longer odBta, Ikit Has b^ ' afecl>lb|-
^q^ Afna^fswi, a.Chiistian^au&brof tlie third coituiy. 1l^
fbH^rati 8a^8'mafdy,|ihat" in' tl^e i^bufth y^ ctf tlie '^^ OIy£^
•lad there was a <iqia&3iea(i^ ec^S(l; btit:<£ds las ndtldbg io^in^^
loiisin iL • ^ " * . ^
;;^^ jT^Mi^il^siun^ y M.'^*** ' ^:
j4^> '.'Vfe are U^ th^' '^^y ^ nbt, ' acit^i^^fg .to cu:^^^
'^leat hw legs. Hiis'Sneo^'Md thfe " Tibcirty of taking away: iu$
%r, ^d thev' murfat 'take care' of ms wounds onfiiidiiiff tliiat
was not aeaa,aaa ja. .tnis maimer brmg JUBt.oack to file,
jEJeast for some time. It is proper to observ.e, tlutt they laid
ram ^ a tomb quite new, irom wuenpe Ms coscuues nad p^hap^
ta^' cafV to ge^' Bim <&*• ' tTe lio\!^ever tlunM^i it our iuiir
tomDow^tiiie vuunar cmipion, ^ 'fupposuur that oesds, was. x
;^iv'Aaui.'' ■'' '- ■i4.1fi?i> ten io. -^/iuKnJ'jO ^^jlJ^lW c -i
L L 2
it
'V
tomb, wherein be had been laid, was fou^ empty.
— r-The J'^wa, always opiniative, did not admit th»t
t lie was risen «gain. They held it more'natnral to
tj believe thgt he had failed in his word ; or to suppose
that his disciples had found means to cariy him p^.
This. could easily have been executed by force; b^
^ bribing the guards, whom the priests and Pharisees
had placed around his sepulchre; or by cunning. As
Pilate took but little interest in the matter, we do not
find that he punished the guards merely fromcompli-
ance to the fears of the Jews» for neglecting to take
cariK of what he had confided to them, and which, ap-
peared to him very ridiculous. The idolatrouSi go*
vernor, little acquainted with the resources or designs
of the apostles, never suspected they could persuade
any person^ that a man, whose death was well attested*
could return to life.* It^was, however, on this .marvel*
- ' V
* It is not suipifsBiig thftt'a pagan abould 4oubt tbe ifemaP-:
notion of Christ From, the first day of the chun^j sev^r^
Cbcnsdans have liot beKered it, permving' re^ plainfy' tlw'mcc^
grpty of siippoang that the Son of Qod could die; they haVie
liierefore denied the death of thdr divine master. On this siibi^
Jject the followers of Ba^Sdes affinn, that Jesus at the tune of
his pasdon assumed tjie appearance of Simon the CyreneaOj ani
trspsferred to him his own, under which the said Shnoa was cni«
dfied in his stead, while Christ, who behdd this without bein^
hhos^fseen, laughed at their mistake, St. Ireneus, Eh. L c. 3^
S. Epiph. hsrs. sdv. num. .3. The_ Cointhinis, or diK^pfet of
Cerinthus, who was contemporary witii the aposttes^ 'and the
Carpycratians, in ii&e manner, demed that Jesus could have beeii
actuaBy crucified. Some have maintained, that the traitor Jqdfs
vraa punished in place of his master. Yet these sectaries r^;aided
^Thrist as a mere man^ and not as a god. Urns we find Chi^
tiiBis contanpoMi; with the aportles believing in Christ, and
ye^ like her^c^ doubting of his death. — M. de TOleQiont,
' ■ ' ' ' ■ *.'■ '
•
'/■■'
I »'''^
:>;'"e^'c':s
*1 ■',■' ■- ':'
lous notioni as we sfialt tw^ tliat a sect was alte .
founded, powerful enougli to subject by degrees the
Roman empire and a considerable portion of the globe.
On the other haitd, the pn^ishnient of our hero |^
must have produced very little sensation in the world,lf
> and his adventures miwthasre been strangely unknown, }*;
■' since we do not find that any historian, with the ex- >
cepiion qi;t,hp^^eva9geli9)i;§^Q^e%i;aeption of t^i^
tome 2. p. 221. St Ep^lu hovk ^ Sfi^ 30. Theodoret Hsretk, '
ftb-Kb. 1.
*Tbe cdebtated Blondd, le Fevre de Saumur, and other gpoi
critics, have sho^mi, that the piassage of the ' historian Josephus,
wltere he q[)eaks in praise of Jesus, has been viaUy nitnpdyteti^
1^ aipiotu'fittmd <tf Christians. This fraud is Hcewise veiy aU^
_4: exposed in an exodlent disserta&ni. in manuscript by the ^^ i
M. I'Abhe de Looguerue. If the passage, £EiTouridde to Jeapi^ /~
had been really written by Josephus, that historian cdold not^ v' ''
without bdng guilty of im absurdly, cG^ienSe with becoming »'^ -
€!hristian.\
The deVout fingios of writBigB> who ancie^fy fabricated
vouchers for the Christian xdigion,. have taken case to co^nteneli^ | - ^
with as much<g0od £pdi, two letters of Pilafe, addressed to. the ;
, en^teror 'nb^iius, in which this idolatrous governor qpeaks C^';'-- .
,, Jesus, lus miracles, death, and resurrection in the sanie tmie as- >
-; the most zealous i£sc^de couSd have employed. We late abi
' a testimony as autiientic in a letter df one Zienfulux to the Bomaa
^'senate. Although tikese siq^o^tious piecos may. be now^ i;**- . ;
4^ jected by the church, they were ad(^^ by CMstiffiis in tl|» f >
L> time of TortuUian, as m^ be seen in Ids Apolog. c. 5. SI. These 5
; letters are to be £9und entire in the Codex Apocryp. N.T. toote 1.
-:,'p.998,^
In die'Appenc&c we have ^ven a list of books aaentioBed b^
.v' tiie fishers and oUter ancient writers, ascribed to Jesus and 1^
i^tosdes, which we see ao ve^scm for reg^oding as less.avt-
tbentic thw the bgo^ qvnposin; the New Testamnit, at pcsf^it
^ in our haiids>^
-j' li.TlV^^ Ci '-i'-t'm.ip.y'f '4^iC.'t |,«*^j',^«t'ifl:r|j<H»;.^,^i^l'fir- '•■■"/ .Jiii--!!.;-,.-.-
' " -. ' ' ' ■- • ■ ' . ' I " ■ ■ " '
-_;.,, ■-^i^^.^i^-, ;. ;;-^ I <. :^ ,.;-■- ,,■; ^- ■■'.■*»■"■ ,--vi,^ ,•; ^if'a; '. -i- -■ ■■ •' " '" . ' .
■^-* ■ ; -*' ''-;^ .-■ 1 - ■ .'. ^ ■ ' ' ' t- - : . - "-,--■
'^-•uy^v
/•
/
KSSIT]
SION ^EXAUIIf ATION OF THE PJftOUFS OF THE
.SS^jitJ^
if
.^..IffM bistocy of th^ ly^ .pJE;aii o%iar^ matt termi-
/|R^9 qoog^niQply wi;t^ jbyis de9,tti ; but it is <i|J|i^i;eqt yvitjiL^
, 31 Mafi^God wild h^ tlie pa^wer of mising; b^
'; thi^ dfeady or whom hfis'acUiereiits tiave the faculty' p^
■ fcdaltiqf rls^^it will: Tttis li^pene^ f 't#an^
to. bis apostles or evanigeusts, we see him «iU piaViflg
a considerable part even after hrs decease. ^ ^^^
toj^^he hiooierit.Chrfst vr^darrestedy his^^ disciples, ^as
?|i^'have fianrfited;^' dispersed 'themselves) i«i:J«rEisalem»
-at^'ili^i^i^Bdurho^. WrlH t^ Siraoir
£e|er, ^ho did not Ipse sieht of bim diiriftg 1i.is exa-
/^yRinaUah^the; baii^g, of .tfte^^jigb j^ie^. . , Tqis ap6stl|
frasHimiotfs, for blis dowl^: interest^ tQi4iniPy<^th^.resyji
y^it;'^*^' fEnboiimgitig cheinisfelfiesB on: finding Jbhat JesiM^v
Ilft(^%t?iii^^al^ f^^ in^s^3i!imf^^ tfte^dfe^
,-;cyples. re-^ssembled, cojQcej^e(! meastires, Strt^ ^tfef^-*
inuiea, as their master was dead, or reputed, so. td
|«k>i&^dyd0tsge.[of ^be;j[iotiQps Hrjiic^ i^fjb.a<jl^djffus^a
:^#dAfl^7his' mi8stonv>»r Accustomed 'foFiiA loj»g a(4)^iriG|4<r
,. " ^"ItB'leiSirfa^wand&rtegli^eWflider^s^^eomrmahdf/ai^
; i r ing, exorcisms, and miracles, they resolved toTcbtitltttift'
'\'
■■:^S-:>'
'^':'-
^'h.
■t-'-
a profession more easily exercised, and incomparably
more lucrative than tljevr Qrigtnal occupations* . Tbey :
had enjoyjed an opportunity of observing that it wai"'
better to catch men than fish. But how could the: disf:
ciples of a man who .was punished as^n impostor, naake^
themselves . listened to? It was necessary to giV'^
out that their master having, during his Iffe, raised
others from the dead, had, after his own death, raised '
himself, in virtue of. bis omnipotence. Jesus bad pre: '^^
dieted it ; it was thferefore necessary to ac^Onp^plish i
, thie prediction. The honour of the master and bisdiSf |
ciples thereby acquired a new lustre; and the sect*
far from seeing itself annihilated or disgraced, wai >
enabled to acquire new partizans in this credulout^
nation. .
' in consequence of this reasoning, the good apostki '
had only toAiake the bbdy of their master, dead or
alive, to disappear, which, if it had remained in the ^
tomb,, would have borne evidence against them. Thef
did not even wait till the three days and three; nigbte
in the pretended pjophecyr^ere expired. The .de»^y :^ >^
body disappeared on the Second day ; atfd thus the
second^day after his deq^se. Our hero, triumpMng
over hell and the grave, found himself revivified.*
^V.
* Hie andent finanoB of Jiie Gospeb have ftbiKOted
-which dief have asciibed to Nieodemiu. In it we Jeam
hmr Cluist passed his time after: lus death till his tesiHoecv
tiSoq, his joumej to hell, the ddiveeance of tl^ , pfttrian^
the discomfitiite Of ^atan/ &c. All these detai^ are atteetat,,
hjr- two^dead persons who came .purposely from titeodiar
worid, to acquaint Anhanias, Caiidias, and the doctors ig^
Judea, (rf.rthflse efreato. Codes, i^ocryph. Kr X. «OMe>a.
. fl^ &a V'
■, . ■*;■>- - vrvH^ffiw
•
" ■ ■ ' .\"\. -'-^: K,
'. , >,.''■
..
,
_ » ■ > ~-'' ■■ " ■ - " ''.
•*■■
■■ ■■ iMM • -. > 1 ' ■
y
o
if Christ was not yet dead of fals punishment, his
" rettirrectibn had nothing surprising in Jt. If he wSb
itttially dead, the cave, "^ here his body was deposited,
might very probably have secret passages, through
Vhich they could enter and come-out, without being
, bbserved or stopt by the enormous sto^e with which
' ihey had affected to block up its entrance, and near
which the guards had been placed. Thus the dead
^Ody might h;]ive been carried "off either by force or by
stratagem ; and perhaps it had -never been deposited
^ in the tomb at all. In whatever manner the affair wa«
transacted, a report was cir^culated that Jesus was
tisen, and his body not to be found. ^ i>>f
V' Nothing is of more importance to a Christian, tbaa
\ to ascertain satisfactorily the resurrection of Christ.
i St. Paul tells us, that ** if Jesus be not risen, our hope
/ It vain." Indeed without this miracle of Omnipotence,
\ intended to manifest the superiority of Christ over
( ibther men, and the interest the Deity took in his suc-
/ ^Mss, Jesus must appear only as an adventurer, or
\ ^iKS^k fanatic, punished for having given umbrage to
/ th6 priests of his country.
y Itf IB therefere requisite to examine seriously a fact,
( on which alone the belief of every Christian is founded.
) In doing this it is necessary to satisfy ourselves of the
\ qiiaHty of the witnesses wK^ittesTtbe fact^ whether
J3ai^ were acute, <iiamteresTed> and intelligent pe<i»>
TStm^x If ih^ i^»ee in the nagjtrres they giv^^oFSi
/ ^fe^dttumstaiices th^y relate. SudTare^tlite^precattir
\ If^s usuany employed to diScoveT the decree of ))f6-
, , JbabiUtjr or evidence of facts. Thesy are alsptUe tij^ie
\ iieeeBBarii!; wheo it i9 intended to examine mpettKHnftMl
I facts, which, to be believed, require much vti^oi^er
-■■■-■■ ■ * T
' . -■ .^-; --. .^'-mc^
A^;vti
';<i-U^.v
)'
259
proofs than ordinary facts. On the unanitnpus testl*
mony of some hrstorians, we reiadily believe" that Caesar
made himself master of Gaul ; the circumstances of
his conquest would be less established,^ were we to Hnd |
them rdated by himself only, or his adherents; btft /,,
they would appear incredible, if we found in them pro-
■digies or facts contrary to the order of nature. We
would then have reason to believe, that it was intended
to impose on us ; or, if we judged more favourably of the
authors, we would regard them as enthusiasts and fools.
'-'. Agreeably to these principles, adopted by sound
criticism, let us consider who are the witnesses that
•' attest the marvellous, and consequently the least pro-
- bable facts which , history can produce. They are
apostles-i->But who are these apostles? They are ad-
herents of Jesus. Were these apostles enlighteneclr
men ? Every thing proves that they were ignorant and^;
; rude, and that an indefatigable credulity was the most^-
prominent trait in their character. Did they beholji|
Jesus rising from the dead? — No; — no one behelii'^
thifl great miracle. The apostles thecnselves did not V
see their master coming out of the grave ; they raerelj^v
found that his tomb was empty; but this by no meaiis
V proves that he had risen. , It will however be said, the
''; apostles saw him afterwards and conver^d with him^
- and that he likewise shewed himself to some womeDi,
- 1 who knew him very well. But these apostles and these
■'{■' women, did they see distinctly ? Did not their pre-
possessed imaginations make them see what did n<Qt
. exist? Is it absolutely certain that their master w^
;?*: dead before they laid him in the tomb? . si
;: ' In the second place, were tliese witnesses disinterest' h
edf The apostles and disciples of J«5a» livere doubt- ; ^
/
V> -^
l€s« interested in the glory of the master they hj^
followed during the course of his mission. Their
interests were confounded with those of a man who
enabled them to sul)sist without toil. Several among
them expected to be recompensed for their attachment
to him, by the favours whjch he promised to bestovv^
. on them in the kingdom he was about to establish^
, Finding these hopes destroyed by the deaths rea,l or
supposed, of their chief, most 'of the apostles, per-
suaded that all was- over, lost courage; but others, less
, daunted, conceived that it was not necessal^y to throw
the handle after the hatchet; that they might profit
still by the imptessions which the preaching of Christ
and his wonders had made on the people. They be>
lieved tba^t their niaster naight again return, or, if they
supposed hin) dead, tliey coiU4 feign that be had fofe*
told he would rise again.' They therefore agreed that
it was proper to circulate the report of his resurreor
tion ; to say that they had seen him ; and to assert
^ 'thnt Jesus had triumphantly come out of the tomb»
' which wpuld appear very credible ia the case of J|
personage who had evinced himself capable of raising
others from the dead. Knowing the imbecility of
those they had to deal with, they presumed that the
people were prepared long before band to believe the
marvellous wonder which they intended to announce.
Tb^y conceived, tha,t, iu ordet to Sji^bsist, it was ike«
cessary to continue pjeaching the doctrine of a a^n
who would pot have attracted an audiencei if it ht^^
DOt been taken for granted that he was risen again,
^ They felt that it was necessary to preach ihe resuvri^-
tion of Christ, or consent to perish with hunger.
JTbey for^aw, moreover^ thai it waf oeeessary to brave
ctiastisement and even death, rather than renounce an
opinion OT docftine -on which th^ir daily subsistenfcc'
and welfare absolutely de^jended. Hence unbelievers *
conclnde, that the witnesses of the resurrectioh of
Christ werd any thing but disinterested, and were' .;
spurred on by the principle, that fte who risks nothing; i^
gains nothing.
Itk the thiT^ plac6,arfe the W^itttessesof the resurrec-i ;
tion of Christ unanimous^'va. their evidence ? Muchf^-
more, are they consistent with themselves in the nar-'*
rati vtes they give ? We find neither the one nor the V
other. Though Jesus, according to some of thef
erangelists, had fbretold in the most positive manner;-
that he would rise, again*, St. John makes no mentioti--
of this prediction, but expressly declares, that thcdi**,-
c:i|>les of Jesus knew not that he must rise again Jront-
the deadf. This denotes in them a total ignorance of
thst great/event; said, however, to have been announc- -
edby their master; and creates a suspicion that these-
pr^ictibns of Christ yrete piously invented aftefi^^
v^rards j and insertecl in process of time into the text of ;•
St. Matthew, St Mark, and St. Luke. Yet nothing^
c'att be more pjositive. than the manner in which St;' '
Matthew, speaks of thfe prediction ; hevsupposes it sort
^ell known by the public, that he affirms, the priests-
ahd Pharisees went4o Pilate, and told him, Wt remem^
Iter (his deceiver Mid while he was yet alive, that afte0
ik^ei days hi wbuld rise dgaint* We do not, however,
'fiiifd ftf ahy 6f the evangelists a passage where this
Te*'i!fr?ectioh is foretold m so pub!i<r and decided a man*
• St iftkft: xxvL SS; Sfc'^drk, xvL 8$. '■'•/
t St Jrm, it. 9i^'^-y^li^::t *t-i;^-+ StM[ittl2^«ii^^
■ ' ^ ■ .i , -1
ner. St. Matthfiw himself relates only the answer of Je<
su&to those who demaaded of him a sign; it consistecl^f
as we have elsewhere said, m referring them to " Jona»,
who was three days and three nights in the belly of the
whale ; so,*' said he, " shall the Son of man be three
days and three nights in the heart of the earth*."
Now Jesus, haying died on Friday, at the ninth hour/,
or mid-day, and risen again the second \lay early in
the morning, was not,, as we have already remarked,-
" three days and three nights in tho hear^ of the earth.'%, .
Besides, the obscure manner in which Christ expres-
sed himself in this pretended prediction, could- not.
enable the priests and Pharisees to conclude that
Jesus must die and rise again, or to excite their alarmy
unless it is pretended, that, on this occasion, these^
enemies of Christ received by a particular revelatioit$
the interpretation of the mysterious prediction^^ik^^^^ -
; .St. John tells us, that when Jesus was taken dowii^r^
from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemu»,^y
in order to embalm him, brought a mixture of aloea^<:
and myrrh,, weighing about a hundred pounds, and;
that he afterwards took the body, wrapt, it in «?-■
clean linen cloth, furnished spices according to thd^
•ustom practised'- by the Jew^ in their funeral Gece<#
monies, and laid it in the tombt. Thus was Jesu«#
embalmed^ Carried away, and buried. On the otheri.
hand, St. Matthew and St. Luke tell us that this sepuI-<^
ture and embalming- were performed in presence of/
, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Je8U9|j|^
wbQ> consequently must have known what NicodeaiU4<| ^
' ♦StMattxiL 38, Ac ^^^^^j+ St Jolm,xix..S&— 40. ^^< .,
^9t.2tf«ttzxriL(n. StBfilrft Kf.4f. St Luke, zam. <5^^i 4 -
■■-■ z
• ., .. ^'i, „' .,-1 , . • - - -_; • •'■"_/>'^ ^ :^;
I • • - ' '■•■
had done; yet St. Mark, forgetting all this, tellf Qf>
that these sam^ women brought saeet spices {aromB.'
tics) ill order to embalm his body, and came for that
purpose early in tiie morning of the day subsequent
to tlie Sabbath*. St. Luke has no better memory, -
and informs us, that these ladies came al^o to embalm
a dead body, which according to St. John, had already
received a hundred pounds toeight of aromatics, and
iil^ciQ^d in a sepulchre, the entrance of which was
blocked upby a massy stone, which embarrassed the
women as much at finding it as the incredulous are .,
with these cphtradictions of our evangelistsf^ -*, >,^*!^ir«>:
'»^hese ladies, however, who dreaded the obstacle of
the stone, did not dread the obstacle of the guard ')
which St. Matthew placed at the entrance of the tomh. "
But if these women knew that Christ was to rise again '
at- the end of three days, why were they so careful in '
embalming his body ? — unless indeed we suppose that -
Jesus made a secret to his niother and the tender Mag<^ '':
dalane of an event which it is asserted was publicly '"
predicted, andi which was perfectly well known not
only by his disciples, but also by the priests and Phari- :
sees, of whose extraordinary precautions we arc in-- T
formed by St Matthew. According to this evangelist,*-
these precautions were founded on the fear the. priests
were under, that the disciples of Jesus " should comC'^
aod parry away his body, and afterwards say unto"
thejpeople, that be is risen from the dead; an error,
which, in their opinion, would be more dangerous than
the first.'* Nevertheless we find some women and
disciples continually joaming about the toinb, Q^g'^
vr ■:'-'^-- ,-■-■- ■ ■• , -^ -■; . - ,:■'■■:
:■ ;.f^,.:y-;^' St. JIarit, xii 1. . - ;. ^. -f 5t. tuke, ndf. R^/^; ;.^.^ - ;
■:/■,
V
:>"t--^s
S64
and coming freely, and offerhig to embalm the same
chsad body twice^ It mast be acknowledged tbataiU
tbiis surpasses human understandiirg*.>*r'^%"'f^'*^'*''r *
* It is not more easy to conceive the conduct^ of the
guards placed near the tomb at th'e solicitation of the
priests, or that of the priests themselves. According
to St. Matthew, these guards, terrified at the resucrec*
tioQ of Christ, ran to Jerusalem to tell the priests,
**>th4t the angei of the Lord had descended cfromhea*
▼en, and taken away the stone which blocked up
Uie tombr and that at the sight of him they bad
nearly expired through fear." On this the priests,
Act at all. doubting the troth of the relation oi the
guards, enjoined them to say publicly that the disci-i
plea of Jesus had carried away his body during the
B%bt, and while they were asleep. They alsogftte
the Boldi^s money to* speak io ttiis mannfer, and pro^
mised topftcify the governor, if l\e wished to punisb
tHein for their TKg\tgenGe^k,im^ <:^'>^i^f^M^M*^^^^
't« As to this narrative, it is proper to observe, that the
guards did not say they bad se^n Jesus rise from thcf^
dead ^ they pretended merely to have seen " the as^el'
^f the Lord, descending frftni heaven, and FolHn|p{
i^way^ the stone which was at the entice of tbd>
tomb.'* Thus this history announces dn appdritioltf
only, and nota resurrection* We migbt ejcplain it ia{ '[
a manner natural enough by supposing that daring thie^«
Btght^ while the guards were buried in 'sleep, the act^^-
faerents of Jesus came by the light of flambeaus, withrK
an armed force, to open rtie tomb and intimidate ther|'
*^idi«:^ taken unawares, wbo in the aklrm tb^y ejc*<'
-^ * St littt^Mttfi. «-^««. ■J''^'^-:'f9t.M^pcvm^^
I
/
■;-^v ar.rV • " ■■ .„■ . . .; .; --■--'■". ' ■ ^ •■ .. .
- . ■• '■■■■■■■■' ■ ^ y-:.V"v. ■■^'- • -.;v ; • ■ .
perienced imagjined tbey bad seen tbdir prey taken
/iput of their haads by a preternatural power, aod that:
they afterwards affirmed all this in order to justify
tbemselvfs. ,
The most singular cirquinstaace is the conduct of
the priests, who li>elieved in earnest the relation of the . ^
guards, and cooseqaently gave credit to a miracle
Strong enough to convince them of the power of Je-
sus; But far from being fuoyed by the prodigy, wbieb , -
they thus believed, they gave money to the soldiers to
•engage them to tell, not the incident as it occurred,
but that the disciples of Jesus came by night to take ' -
away the body of their master. On the other band, ,
^ the guards, who n^ist have been more dead than alive ^
'through terror at the spectacle they had witnessed* ^ , '
accepted motney for publishing a fals^ood: a condtict ^^
for which the angel of the Lord might very properly ;
have punished them. Far, however, from dreadii^ ^,
punishment, these soldiers for a sum of money con- { -
sented to betray their cooscieaces. But 'could the
Jewish priests, however base we may suppose them,
'be silly exKiugh to im^ine that these men , after bar- '
,>- ing witneSacd so terrible a miracle, would be very
;/ faithful in preserviii^ the secret? It must havebeeR
i an insigmfi.cant oiiFacle indeed which could make xio
;> impjession either on the soldiers who had seen it, or
i oa the priests who believed it on the relation, of tbete , ^
-soldiers. If the priests were convinced of the realiQT
(^ tl^ miracle, was it not natural that they should
-: lecc^hise Jesiis for the Messiah, and that they should-^
unite with him io labourijog to deliver their coaatry
^, from the yoke of idolaters?
^^ ^^ this occasioQ^ iiideed^ thft itngd of the Loid ^ >-;
-^ ':'"" -,■■:-• .-_ - '• ;■- ■ *'r
■'■:'■ Zi^ ' ■'' '.■'
■'i'
S66
seems to have bungled the affair, by so terrifying the
soldiets that they fled without having time to see Jesus
rising from the dead, whose resurrection, however,
was the object of all this pompous preparation. Very
far from allowing it to be seen by any one, this awk-
war(i angel chased away the guards who ought to have
been the witnesses of the mighty wonder. ."-;-,r^:^\
It appears in fact, that the transaction of Tesus*
resurrection was seen by ^nobody. His disciples did
not see it; the soldiers, who guarded bis tomb, did not
^ee it ; and the priests and Jews did not hold this fact
to be so memorable assome persons who beheld no part
of it. It -was only after his resurrection that Jesus
shewed himself. But to whom did he shew himself ?
;To disciples interested in saying that he was risen
^again ; to women, who td the same interest joined also
weak minds and ardent imaginations, disposed to form
^phantoms and chimeras. * ^t^i*v^^^^ *^
These remarks will enable us to jud^e of all the pre-
', tended appearances of Jesus after his resurrection.
,^^:^Besides, the evangelists are not unanimous as to these
appearances. St. Matthew relates, that Jesus shewed
'.^himself to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary;
^while St. John makes mention of Mary Magdalene
.,; singly. St. Matthew tells us, that Jesus shewed himself
„y*to the two Marys on tfie road whilst returning from
j^.the sepulchre on purpose to apprise the disciples of
;Wbattbey had seen. St. John informs us, that Mary
r Magdalene, after visiting^ the sepulchre, went and car-
" ried the news to the disciples, and thereafter returned
vto this same sepulchre, where she beheld Jesus in the
company of angels. St. Matthew affirms, that the two
_ Marys embraced the feet 6f Jesus. St. John says.
/ x.
y-
•^.-'v
.^1^;. /;.:.■ /:;::.;
Jesus forbade Magdalane to touch himr ^ Matthew>
informs us, that Jesus bade ^he two Marys tell hifi di&rf
ciples thai he v>a$ going into Galilte. §t. Joho sAyif
Jesus ordered Mary to acqaaint his diseiples,^ ^ W M
was go^ig to his Fa$her ; that is, to heavei».2^Bik it is^
more singularstiU^.tbat, according to St. Mark,. thfiifL'-
disciples- thef&selvealT^erQ not incliDed to credit the
apparition of Christ to, Magdalane; agc^e^bly toS^;)
Luke, they treated all that she told them of ai^els aft
reveries. According to St. John, Magdakine herself
did not at first believe that she hafl.eeea her adorable
lover, whom she toolj; for the gardener.if . . ; . : ;
There is no greater certaiiity in theap|>antioa of
Jesus to St. Peter and St. John. These two. apostles
went, to (he sepulchre, but they did not flqd the^ ^e^i
master. / According to Stt ;Jobn^ he himself ,8§(w aei^h*^
' Jesus nor the angels. From Sti.Luke it aippearsg it|faia^
these, apostles arrivied after the angels wetegone; m^
from St. Johfi» bef<»e< ib^ ai^els had fHriy^d^: Tbd
witoesees; .are indeed v<ery j^ltl^ f|B0iiiti(Hift ^ ^^ihfs$i^ *'
smgiels, who seem to baveb^n seen only ; by the gQe4
ladies^ whom they cbar§peji| >1^o aqHOunce to^tb^disciples
the rf;8»Frec^0B of J^ua. Sti^Mattbewix^ifc^sinenti^
of Ode apgel only^ whojin $t^ Maiik c|i|ls ; ^ yaw§ mtfiti
§t» John aflfinns, that tbefe Were tyyo.,*:,;;. . sd
c.Iiissaid, that Je$us slewed himself agaki ^tiva
disciples of Bm^us, -^ledMiStmfitnandiC^eopA^^^^/bwt
they did not rcjcognize him, ^hougb they bs^d lived fan
mtli^Iy with him. Tbey proceeded », long wbile;iR
his CQinpitfiy without iflij^^|ip|ffj^!Ki^wa8----acife
JX K
-■* ^' - . : - / ^m : ~-\ -■•■^- -V-
,«- failure of memory. It is true^ St. Luke tells ii9lh»tJ^
- their eyes were as if ihut. li it not very sirrgeter thM^f;
"Jesus should shew himself in tyrder not to be known*-;
"again? They, howeve,r, recognized;; him aftenirai'ds;^^
'but immediately dreading, as- it ^ould seem^ to be^^
seen too nearly, the phantom disappeared. The two^J^ "
- diacifjies went immediately- and announced the neW^A
^ : to their brethren aissembled st^erulalem^ where JiBsU9^;| .
- arrived fiJlly as soon as ^[^e^^i^yiibr^'i^c -^'jsmipf^^'
Q*|St. I^atthew, St -Mark, 'and St. Luke^ agree in tell- ^^
* ing us, that wfiett the discipliesi werfe infoTmed bf the^;^;
_ -- resurrectiojp^ ^^f ' Jedus,' they saW h*in for the fifst and^^
■ r ; Ifltst, trme.^ But the author of the Actg of the Apostles^ „
StiJohn, atid St. Paul, contradict thii assertion; 'foiTi
they «peftk^f-«everal other »«p^ear^nces^ Wtrich aftci<? ^ ;
'; ^rapds'Oe^urredi St. Matthew and 1^ Mark ibfornltr^^v
thtit the disciples Vecet^ed OFde«% to'gb and join Jesu^?-
JQHGali^e; butsSt. iruk^ and' th^mithor of th^ Aicfli^f ^^
/fti^^3thfea8ameSt;l>ake) s^s, 4;hatthe^ disci pte#W^^.t^
-Vi^fd^red nofii to go out of Jerusakm. W4th reSpfebe m '
fliis la*t apparition, ®t; MclttbeW |>lace6 iton a moi«i-
stainin Galihe,' Wher6* Jesfis bstd - fixed *he rendeavoui^:: ,,
'■\ for fctog etentof of the day of- bh^ fesurr^etion ;^^whFilfl#^
J St. Luke informsusitbafc'it cwa^^at JifrrfSafeifri ihd tellf
■ :^fii;^h«ft^in»oi^diat*iy thereiiFteg Ctiridt /afeo^nded iAtb
r !^"fe6ave&f,'knd di^ppearea'fcir^eff^.'?^: ¥6^
I the Atjis'^f^ rtitf^'Apostles i§^ *ibfr^ this opJiMii^ :*fe
days^with his^disM^iples; in ordlerto instruotfh^;-^ <■ "^
There still remain to be considered two appearances *
of JesH&.to his tpostlei^' thd dne a^ whicb^Thootas^as
^~'. fiot present, and. refused to believe tboee who aiss^red
--f-r'-'-i-'"-,^ - . ■ -. r ■.^'■-
V,
'--^....■,v-<' .--^T ■■:■,'■■•.-:'-'% \.'" -i-. '"-'-" '■^-■'v -'^-^ ■':■ -^:*f' v; •:
"-^ ;••■, •"'•:">.■•',•■.■■:*-•.■,■/-,*-*.■'':.-»■-',-'• '.■- ^i'"''" :/-,-'-..^.>.':;'cJii--'" ' '- '-
7 btinQ£~|h^r bavHig seeii their master, and. the ^.th^
when Thpjmasb recognised h is mast et, who shewed Jjini
. *! ' i his wouadsrf To render one of these apparitions more
." ■' marvelious, they assure us, that JesUs was seen in the
midst of his disciples, whiM the doors were shut. But
' ' V this will not appear surmising to those who know that
V ~ Christ, after his resurrection, had a.a immaterial or iti'
■';.■ corporeal body,>. which consequently could make itself
y r; - a passable through thejmallest orifices. His disciples,
^ ^ ; took him for a spirit : yet this 5/>m| had wounds, Waf.
.^; ^ pialpable, and took foodV ; But perhaps all this was only
chimerical, and those apparitions mere illusions of
J; sense. Indeed, how could the apostles be assured of
the reality of what they saw? A being who hsus the
po^er of changihg the <?oursp of nature, can destroy
all |;he rules by which we judge of certainty; and oit
^is^uppositioQ theapoiitles coukl never be certain of
having «een Chrfst after his resurreictkMi.^ -J^ji^^s- •
St John speaks of several appearances of Jesus ^
' v;;^ his disciples, of whifcb no mention is made b^the othi^
eyangelists i hence we see that, hit testimony destroys
theirs»fOr; th^ destroy his. As to the appari-
, : . tioHs of J^uswhtdk St. Paul mentions, be was not a
witD^ of them, and knew them^nly by hearsay ;jwb
<>:? ' find him accordingly speaking of them in a^^ mamier
ireiy little exact. He s^s, for examplq, that JeniU
ihewed himself* to the twelve," while it is evident,
^^ - tbt^ by the death of Judas, the apostoHc college waa
5 "^ le&uced to isleven. We are surpriied to see these i#»'
' V accuracies in ah inspired author ; they may render tq|hi
"fttclous what be likewise says of the apparition of ^iMUj^
to,fivehundfedof the brethren at once^. As to hi^*
■ ■■ •, ■ ■ . "'■ '-•*- '-' '■■','' ' ', ■
-■•.,.'• '• - - f VV. '. .--, '-r.' • ^ , " ■■J- . ■' . , ;' :r
<■;*■
m.
gelf we kiio«r« 4bfti tie tie¥er»m h\iilDi^%^ in t-,
vmon* and GOi^idering the testimonies on which the
I'esurrection of Jesus is founded, perhaps we may say>
as much of the other apostles and disciples. They,
were Jews, enthusiasts, and prophets ; and consequently T
subject to dreaming even while^&wfike; The iacredu-
' * St. l^aul biiAsdf iiiifonns uS that lie wai nviabed. tip to
the third heaven. But why was he transported thither^ aiidl, .
'What Sd he leam by his " journeys ? — T%ings taupeakabk^^'
which no man could comprehend. What advantage are man^-
Enid to derive from all tiiis? Li liie Jicts of the Apostlei^
we find that this mane Paul was guUty of a &Isehood in a9j»
Wig b^c^ the H)^ Priest, that he was persecuted beeautCj^
he VMS a Pharisee^ and on account of the resurreetioi^'
Here^ m &ct, are two imtrudis. First;, Pnil was not a Th^,'
itsee at the time, but a most zealous qioslle of the Chzistiaa
ieligian, ^id consequent^ a Chiistivi. Seecmdiy, the zecQi*' ,
;,8ations brought agmpet him did bat xe&r to iam opu^oo oii ..
't^ xesuzrection. if we knpw that the jostles lOQetimM'
wan4»ed firom the truth, how shall wje be&ye theBi oa'
other occasions ? We indeed find ths great apostle contintt<i
^Dy changing his counsels and conducL At JerusaTem her
strentiOMBly oppes^ Peter because he &voui«d Judaism^
^1^ lie hinKielf shortly after complied wttk Jewidi rites ;
and. boasted that he always accommodated Ima^ to tilf^
circumstances of the tim«, and became eU ^ngs to ali me%.
By this h# set an example to the JesEOts in India, who yret%
' lepmached with having united the wordi^ of the Pagans tof^
tjMt ef- CSitist. We do not know that tiie protestant Chiisti«
IK)S. of t^ present day> who are emplojred as nuaeionaries M
Hjodjostan, are as yxprnmodating as tliar b^etfam tb8
Jesuits : but this we knpw by x«>, less aa authority th«9Q oflacifi)
docinnepts recently hud on the table of the H(9iBe C^. CommpB|.
%aSt. we Christians make a traffic of tl]^ Pagan r^^gion In India,
' by. actual^ oampdfii^f 4fae natives to pay a Ms. far tiimmykio iftf^H.
»ttm temples, to worA^ Ae Idol Jdggei%t^ft I ■
V:-?
;*■
■J^:-
r .
%
if It >'
I'
•'■!--■■"■..''... " ;' ' • , -,- - >■ , ■ :' • -■■;■.
.. •» .A:- . /,.,.-. i., ■,• ', ,■.'-,'-: 1 :..■,. ■,-■ -. ,} .V i ■ -• ■.
' they can form of witnesses who attest the resurrection
of the Saviour, on which however the Christisin religion
. i» solely established.
It appears indeed most certain, from the nature of
the testimonies we have examined, that Providence
^' has in a singular manner neglected to give to an event
so memorable and of such great importance,' the an-
J thenticity it seemed to require. Laying aside faith, «'
wiitcb never experiences any difficulty about p^roofs, no
man can believe facts, even the most natural,! from
fOQchers se faulty, proofe so weak^ relations so con-
tradictory, and, testimonies so suspicious as those
wlilcfa ttie evangelists furnish us on the most ineiedi-
, bte and marvellous occurrence that was ever related.
Independent of the visible interest these historians had
t, in establishing the belief of the resurrection of their
master, and which ought to put us oh^ur guard against
thiun, they seem to have written merely to contradict
■ ojae another, and reciprocally weaken their testimonies.
To adopt relations, in which we have only a tissue
f"' of incoQclusiveness, contradictions, improbable facts,
and absurdities, calculated to destroy all confidence in
history, requires indeed grace from above. Yet Chris-
^^_ ' tians do not for a moment doubt the resurrection t
% and their lielief in this respect is founded on a rock,
^l tb^ is^ according tpinfidete, on prejudices -they have
,|l:V;i3i|a^r examined, and to which, from eariy infancy.
:!■#•
^^i^r spiritual guides have prttdently attached fhe
greatest imaportance. They teach '-them to immolate
00: l^he alt^r of faith, reason, j udgment, and good sense t
'—After this sacrifice, it is no longer difficult to make
them acknowledge j withbut enquiry, the most palpa-
'■::J ->
ble abwlfmties lof tirulli*, oft yMth it% not '{Sermif tell
eyen to be sceptical. _^ i, v? 'j«i^
It is in vain, that. peopl^of sense demonstHrte^i!^
falsity of, these pretended truths ; it is in vain, that an
inteiligetit critic stands up against interested testimo-
Dies, visibly suggested by enthusiasm and iniposturef:-
it is in vain> that bunaanity exclaims against wars, mas«
sacresr and horrors without number, wbicb absurd:
disputes on absurd dogmjis have occasioned. They
Biience people by saying, that ** it i* written, I will
. destroy the, wisdom .of the wise, and will bring to
nought the understanding of the prudent. — Where is
the wi«e? Where are the scribes? (the doctors of
the law). Hath not Grod made foolish the wisdom of :
this world Uy causing the foolishness of the gospel to
be preached*?**" It is by such declamations against
reason and wisdom, that fanatics and impostors haye
succeeded in bd(isbing good sense from the earth',
and iashioning slaves whd m^e a merit ""of subjects
ing reason to faith, of extinguishing a sacred torcll|?
which would conduct them with certainty, on pur-
pose to lead them astray in the darkness these intc^
rested^ guides know how to infuse into minds. To de-^
grade reason is an outrage against God itg author^'
and it is an outrage against man who is thereby re*'
^ duccd to the condition of brutes.
"^kTfae dogma of the resurrection of Jesus is onljT
attested by men whote subsistence depended" on that'
absofd romance ; and at roguery eontitiwdly belie$Uuy%
these lying witnesses could not agree among them<^
selves in tbdr evidaice. They tell us, that Jesus bad
r^:s-^ --->
t-' - " ,
•1 .<:,'■"♦
-• jit,%|-afeH<: ■ SI'S" rv.;:v>. J-, --■•■■ ,' -'m
publicly^ predicted his own jfeimrrection. He Ought
tSerefore to have risen again publicly; he bp«^ttd
have shewu 'faimself, n<$f- in secret to his disciples^
but openly to priesis," Pharisees, doctors, a»fi nieo of
understandiagj especially after having intimated^ that
itwas the onhf agn which- would be given them Wza
- itnotackiiOwiedgitig the falsehood pf his mi6<ioh, to
refuse the sign by. which he had solemnly promised
■vt© prove the truth of thattniHsioh ? Was it reasonable
^C"to require the J^ws to believe, on the word o£ his-^
^ ^disciples, a feet which he could have bbhvinced them j^
>.;|with their own ^es?; J|tow is it possible for rational' v;
*rpe«sbnf :of- the present 'age to believe, after the lapse'i
;~^of eighteen hundred, years, oo the discordant testimp* f
nies of i'oar interested evaiigeiists^ fanaticsiTor fabulisfcs, ,
a ^ct -w hich 'they could not make be believed in their ^;;
own time^ excepts by a email nuQiber of- imbecile
people, .iucapabje ofireaaoning^ foiid^of the marvel^i^
loin, taifeitl !of too limited understan^ngs to escape the^ .|:
snares JjUfd, for \ their si mpLteity.* - A Roman gover-. y^^.
' Bor»i a./ftetravchi a. -Jewish high priest, converted' ^:^:v^*s
the apparition of. Christ, .would; have made a greatef
<,impres^ioft ion > a <man of sense thau ah usdredii^ecret
apparitiposj to his cbosen'dtsciplesb LThd ;<»\n37e^siiHil
. cf-the Sanhe^riiA a^t'ieFtiisalemoto tbe faith, would;
bave been ol'greateV weight; ^than ali the rbbscure;
? liibble whi<^ibh[e apostles prevailed on tb beUeve their ',
improbable juai^els,, iand. persuaded that they bad; "
seen Christ alive after his death. ft*
iid^ ftodeed. wieiw ^ fss;^\^^ that .^ppM^
Dem^ '^ Hie 'i Jews were ^ tne anoet triffing pf uT ^
and- that they weri the <Miiy p6(^ iriio had {^^ *
never «ittBa'<>utjflij^ '.tWag^XlliBfoJ fcr - fife* Jwflm
i^ui#< Jfwo»» Kb. g. '
^'
w
//
i-^
^'X*
tf the apparitions of Jesus to bis apostles were ijvt
obviously fables invented by roguery^ or adopted
throagh enthusiasm and iguorlince, the. motive of these
clandestine visits cannot be divined. Become incaK
pable of sofferingy re-established in his divine omni-
potence, was be still afraid of the Jews? Could he
dread being put to death a second time ? ByshQwing '
himself^ had he not better reason toflatter himself with
converting theiiij than he deriyM from all his sermong
and miracles ? '-m} ?■«- ■• -^i-^^H^cr^ii-'ds^^ '-.f^W: ^^m?4=i^l
But it is said, that the Jews by their oppiositioa de-
served to be rejected.; that the views of Providence
were changed; and that God no longer : Wished his
chosen people should be converted. These anawen <
are so mairy insults to the divinity. How is it po»* ^
sible for men to withstaiidOod ? Is it notio deny the
Divine Ommif>ot«[ice to ppetend that man can oppose
its will ? Mao, it is asserted^ is fr«e : but miist not a "^
Grod who knew every thing, have foreseen dfaat did
Jews would abuse their liberty by resisting IwS wiHi^ ::|
In that case why send them his Son i^ Why make bioi' '>
stifEier to no purpose an infamous and cruel death ^~ .^'
Why fibt send ihim at onx^ to creatupes disposed to ,v^.
hear hiniy and render him theii; homage? To preteivA '^^[
that the. riewsof Providence were cban^ped^'jii^ it ndt ^s-
to attaick the divine immutability ? nnbsss indeed st: '%
be said, that the <I>ei>fy bad firom alt eternity resolved
0D iSiis change— ^hich, however, will not i^elter Miat
imm|itability, 'fi>^«*i#|i^i^ * \u-^s\^: . '. m^
vr Thus in i^hatever point of view we contemplate the
ife|^it%ill>^
^qm pf jGhrist, far from \p\v^ fpunded on solid proofed,
1iDezceptie^dl^&iesttmj^y,:9a^ i!^spec^ji>le!^i4faoci^.
,^'-■•4,
is obvioasly established on falsehood and knavery,'
•which pervade every page of the discordant relations :
of those who have pretended |to vouch it. ; '
;*ij After having made their hero revive tind shew htiri-^
self, we know not how often, to his trusty disciples, it^, ,
was necessary in the end to make him disappear al-* j*^
together — to send him back to. heaven^ in order td^%'
conclude the romance. But our story*^ tellers are not"- ,/'
more in union on this disappearance than on other^
things* They agree neither as to the time nor the^'
place of Jesus* ascension. St. Mark and St.- Luke^
inform us, that Christ, after having shewn Himself tbf^
the eleven apostles, while they were at table, and
spoke to them, ascended into heaven. St. Luke bote-'
ever adds, that he conducted them out of Jerusalem atf*
far as Bethany ; and there be lifted up his hands and^
blessed them, and was afterwards carried up into hea-p
▼en. St, Mark contradicts St. Luke, and makes Jesus
ascend to heaven fromGalilee : and as if he had ^en y^i
what passed on higb, places him on the right, han4 ©^ ^y
God, who on this oceae^oir yielded toliimt^e place ojf: u
hofiO«**. St. Mattihewaod St. John ^ hot speak x]^ i^
this ascensioD. If We referred it to them,^tfe must ;.
presume, that Jesus is still on earth, for, according to' /^
the first of these evaDgelisf&,- bis Mst words t6 his dis-.-/
oip)es gave tbem to onderstand, that **^ hc^ tvoiild
THaim with them until the etid of tlie wortd/* To&P
our ideas otr this subject, St. Luke tells us, sai^e foa^e
seen, that Jesus ascended into heaven the very evening^
* The £»ble of the aecension of Chriit is yrmSAy ^m^
$d &0m that of the ascensioa of Bomuhis ami SviStatf G^iEfir>
ifUkh Lantantius hQwerer finds veij ifdi^^iloQsi to/dHMUt
ItmxxLt, h. 1. IM, ■ ' ^ '^
"' ■'• ■' ' '" o o
"" ■'.'■■\.-V'--' '."^
.-.'■,- rt '/A
• ■ -■■■ ''-J ' ■ ■ ■ ."
• > ; Vi ' " .
t^-^"^r
> >-V^--^-J^v
Aj^£-
!3tt^
■ V . -^
r \i-' -.. '^ :.
of the (lay of the resurrection. But the same St*^
Luke, who is supposed to be the author of the Acts of
the Apostles, informs us, that Jesus tarried fort^ da^^
after his resurrection with "his dear disciples. , Faith
only can extricate us frona this embarrassment. St^*
John ad vantes "nothing on the matter, but leaves us iO^~, ,
uncertainty as to the time which Jesus passed on earth |
after his resurrection. Scfme unbelievers on observ^- •-,
ing the romantic style reigning in the gospel on thlf, < ^v
apostle, have concluded from the manner in which he ^^
finishes his history, that he meant to ^ive free course :.
to the fables which might afterwards be published -
about Chrifct. He terminates his narrative with these C
words ; ** Jesus did also many other things, andTif thej .' '
jibould be written every one, I suppose, that even the
Irorld itself Could not contain the books that should ^^, ^:
written;" find with this hyperbole, the well4)elove3' :-.
apostle finishes the Platonic romance'which he made on X
bis master*, -ff ^"*#*r T5^1t^)i>*i^v^3#'s-^x\-^ ■.
' * We/i^ already giren exan^-flf ^\ fifttei ^toitainad ft
'WW^'^-.
^■!"S
m the S^Snsat gospds, puUished and adopted by the ^dif-* , • = r -f
fojent sects of Christiaiuty. These ^bles demonstrate! both . J^^^* -|
tile impudent juggling trf the forgers who composed such
"itMnances, . and the aftonLslung stupidity of the -diflerent .;^ >,;
sectaries who believe them.j^It is also proper to obserre, .^ ..'•
.^that the Aots of the Apostles, cataposeA hy St. Luke, r^e,^ ^^^^ J^^^
)B«dy with mwiteness the transactions oT St Paul, his ma»»« i^^:^^ .Jig
,«,ter, and give us sc^cely any * infbrmaticm of the. success, or. ;?^.':; -4^
^'fete of his/ Igeth^rga. Yet other romance ^writers have wor-
thily suppued this' defect. One Abdtas,^ among others, has
trannnitted us in nine books liie AjpastoSe , History, but -
Aaugjit with so naai^ febles, prodigiesj and adsmrdities, that
the church thought itsdf obliged to rgect them, at ft ^time^ . ^
w^ifip its chSdien had. no longer the empliaty of the ^rst "^
|||^ Ignorance however has at tipi«9 :pidde4 to this andent
'%- "" ,. r . ^'^m
.•.^i^l^s^j«-*'«e*s^fi^;?^-«->'*^^ .'■,;'' ■.-^.
jAr. •>.-- ;•-**■
c--? 'J
'" ■ -1 --■^ - ■-*'.•,. ^»
CHAPTER XVHi-
\- :s:.1f^;i«tM,^"\
'f f
i;_jji|^%|l.i*i i^f^-
t;. OBHBRAi:. REFLECTIONS ON THE tIFE OF CHEIST. — PREAGHr
\ i; ,,.. INO.OF THE APOSTLES.— gONVERSION OF ST. PAUL.
■^ -'i : ESTABLISHMENT OF CHRtSTIANlTY—^PER-"
- * . « SECUTIONS IT SUFFER^.— CAUSES
''^'K-^: ■ OF ITS PROGRESS. ' " ',
'-'€' '••, .,■."_ . • ■-..•. - *
:f ^\^n% mere reading o^ the life of Jesus, such as w«
I^ye presented it, according to the monuments wnich
>*- .
// '
. •<..
^ Christians respect as inspired^ must be sufficient to un-
- ^ deceive every thinking being. But it is the property j^
I > of superstition to prevent thinking: it beriumbs the
ifr^s f soul, confounds the reason, perverts the judgment, ren*
ders doubtful the most obvious truthg, ani makes a
meri/t with its slaves of despising enc^uiry, and of rely-
ing blindly on the word of those who govern them. It
t IS not unseasonable, therefore, to bring again tinder re-
yiew, some reflections,^ which may be useful to those
headers who have not courage to draw out of the eBH*
quiry we have made, the coosequencea which natuis^ly
result from it ; and^thus aid them in forming rational
.'- ideas of the Christ they adore, of his disciples whom
;!;f# >- credidity ; and weak people and knaves have existed, who piously
^ *6Vived the &bles and traditions of the aiident romantic wnters.
jVi- ■ ^n>ese are the only montdrs we possess concemiiig the qpostles:-
Is ^ speciiiiauwif them will be found at the end of tome 1. of the Codex
^o Q a
m*'''^'''\-: . '*^
■'•:■:-■ - . . ^.- ■-. • } • . '" '■ - ■ - ■
' •■.••- ■ -. i ■ . . I ■ ■ if
they revere, an^ of books which they are accustomed
^ to regard as divine. ,^ ■■-• '^.^j:--:^^^%i''ii^§^A:-%;i>r'^'
Oar examination of the birth of Christ ought to'
render it very suspicious. We have feund the^oly
Ghost mistaken on that important article of Jesus' life ; .
for he inspired two evangelists with two very different ?
genealogies. Notwithstanding so striking a blunder, ; ■
and the consanguinity of the Virgm Mary and Eliza-
beth, wife of the priest 2^charias, we shall not cavil on
these points :— we shall grant, that Mary might really
be of the race of David :-^many examples demon- -
strate, that the branches of races more illustrious have -
fallen into misery. Departing also from the supposi- ^
tion, that Mary, the immaculate wife of Joseph, maf^
_ have willingly yielded to the angel; or, simple aiqld
', devout, may have been deceived by the angel^ there is
every reason to believe! that she afterwards taught her
son his descent from David, and perhaps some marvel-
lous circumstances, which, by justifying the mother,
might kindle the enthusiasm. of the child. Thus, at ft
very early age, Jeisus might be really persuaded both .
of his royal extraction, and of the wonders which had^
" accompanied his birth, These^deas might afterwards ^
inflame his ambition, and by degrees make him believe y
that he was destined to play a grand p£lrt in bis native-
country. Prepossessed with these sublime notions, he I
concluded with'being conwnced of their authenticity';'
and intoxicating himself more and more by the perusal
of obscure prophecies, and the study of traditioBft
c «pjread abroad in |iis own coutttry. It i* th^q^^^rj^
'possible^ that dur adventurerir^if^ bav^^cQtoetoiii'-
i^^fieve himself actuary called by the ©hwHity, ancl^^
pointed out by the prophets to be the reformer, the
:^v^-<l,;
J 'A
' -f
.]
chief, and the Messiah of Israel. He was indeed a
visionary, and found people silly enough to be caught
by his reveries*. - ^ V' ^ ; j'Siii?
V Another cause might likewise contribute to heat the
brain of our missionary. Some learned men have conr
jectured, with much appearance of truth, that Jesus
framed his morality, and acquired his knowledge itt
the house of a kind of nionks, or Jewish Coenobites,
(friars) called Therapeutes or Essenians. We cer-
tainly find a striking conformity between what Philo
tells us of these pious enthusiast^ and the sublime
precepts of Christ The Therapeutes quitted father
and mother, wife, children, and property, in order to
apply themselves to contemplation. They explained
the scripture in a mannej* purely allegorical; they
abstained from all oaths ; they lived in common ; they
suffered with resolution the misfortunes of life, and
died with joy f. From all which it may be concluded,
* It is an ardent and tender temperament that produces
mptic devotion. Hysterical women are those who com-
monly love God 'with most vlvaGity ; they love hhn to' dis-
traction as they would love a man. In monasteries, most cf
the devotees- are of this description. Their jmaginations
grow wild, and they ^ve to their God> whom they paint in
tiie most captivating colours, that tenderness which they are not
pfenslitted to bestow on beings of thdoc own sp^es* Christianity
Vhveiled. . y, ' ■'**!;;
t Sea FhOo on ConiempkHve L^e. The Ifirst MustB. M
the chiBdi) strudE witb the confarmity between tiie maaoen
tMA Philo ^irSbutes to the Therapeutes^ and tisose of tbe
fiqjt^ ehristiaa^ do not &itmi^ a doubt that liay w^ tbe
pexptaiis this leasned Jew^ mfondb ta point out under the name
of VSliHTapeut^j, pr cienkempladTe EasemsBS. It is certain
that, -Ip. ti^ tmie «£ Hit historiaoL J^isephMS, tfaree^ sects weM
reckoned in Judea, the 1 Ekadsefs^ tfaa daddaceea^ «i^ the
// »
,; ) either that Jesus had been ^ Therapeute before his
preachins, or at least that he had bonowed theijr
doctrines, s ' ^ -^ . . .s^^i^-- - -f ^o.
/Whatever maybe in this, in the midst of an igno-
rant and superstitious nation; perpetually fed with
oracles and pompous promises; miserable at that time,
and, discontented with the Roman yoke; continually
cajoled with the expectation of a deliverer, who was
to restore them with hohour; our enthusiast, without
difficulty, found an audience, and, by degrees, adhe- v
rents. Men are naturally disposed >to listen to, and —
believe, those who make them hope for an end to their
miseries. Misfortunes render them timorous and ere-'
1^ J dulous, and lead them to superstition. / A fanatic
easily makes conquests slmong a wretched people. It
is not then wonderful, that Jesus should very soon
acquire partizans, especially among the populace, who
in every country" are easily seduced.
Our hero knew the weakness of his fellow->eitizens. —
They wanted prodigies, and he/ in their eyes, per-
formed them. A stupid people, totally strangers to ' .,
the natural sciences, to medicine, or to the resources >
of artifice, easily mistook very sitnple operations for &
miracles, and attributed effects to the finger of God ;^'/,
>yhich might be owing to the knowledge Jesns had j^;
Essenians, or Esseues. From the dme of that wtiter, tfier» K
i no kaigeE any mention made of l^e latter ; hfnce some ;^;^':
leaned men have ccmduded, tliat these Essauans, or Hie*'
zi^ieutes, were afterwards confounded and incorporated -titfix
the first ClaistiBns, who, accoroBng to erery evidence, led a
mamier. of life perfectly' similar to thars. ; Le t!lac BiUioth.-
Unroersdle, torn. 4. p^ 59d, ^&c. and 'Bernard s KouteDes de
to^qaiM. des Jifttgea, torn; 3S: p. SOS. -^
^■'^' •,■■'_ : '.V' "^ " ". \_,^''."'^. ''':J::^;^:/^K:^i-^' ^^-^f
•■■t .
Y
,; •
\
.> ■
■Sri"'
ft
t
acquired during the long interVa^ that preceded*%is
missidn.* Nothing in the world is more common than
the combination of enthusiasm and imposture;' the
most sincere devotees, when they intend to advance
what they believe to be the word of God,, Or to make
religion prosper, often countenan'ce frauds, which they
style pious. There are but few zealots who do not
even think crimes allowable when ihe interests of reli-
gion are concerned. In religion, as at play, one begfns
I with Ifeing dupe and ends with being knave. " liii :<vi?5:
1^ ^j'hus, on considering things attentively, and weigh-
ing the particulars of the life of Christ, we must Tast
persuaded, that he was a fanatic, who really thought
himself inspired, favour^ by Heaveg^ sent to his na-
tion, and in short the Messi^ ;• — th{(t to siipport his
divine missicMi, he made no difficulty to employ*' frauds
the best calculated to succeed with a F>epple to whoiti'
miracles were absolutely necfessary, and whom, with-
out miracles, the ri^ost eloquent harangues, 'the wisest'
precepts, the moet intelligent counsels, and the truest
principles, could never have" convinoed.-— In a woVdf,
a ip^dley of enthusiasm andr ju^ling appears i^' cbi&-
stitute thejcharacterof Jesusv^andit is that of almost,
all spiritual adventurers who assume the namie W Re- ( ^
. formers, or become the cbiefs'of a sect.
- * V- ' ' ■■;■>■;■"-■''->■-
^ .*
* * The- waj^t of rexp^ence in ; evecj . countrf ^ has fKtafy
pp^oduced ,the sfuxie; ^c^s. The. iaptoicaas c^^
S^iaiiiardf Qo^s because "they used gm^wder, rode on MecsdMli^
.and had yessds which sailed qmbs aioae. . I^Bi^iahal^t^Si
' ^the island of Tenian, having no^kso'^lfidlge: of-fire bc!£lie''<l^
w^^ vintedhy Eiut»eiEUi8> took them fiwaBimalsthe &nittna£1i«^
saw then); who devoured wood. .'vhsJe^
•I
"-y
We always find Christ, during his inission, preach-^
ing the kingdom of his Father, and supporting his
preaching with wonders. At first he spoke only in .^
a very reserved manner of bis quality of Messiah, Son /i
of God, and Son of David. There was prudence in ■•,
not giving himself out for such. — But he suffered the - •:
secret to be revealed by the mouth of the devil, to C-
impose silence on whom he commonly took great care! '4
not, however, until after the devil had spoken in a man-
ner sufficiently intelligible to make an impression on ^ v;
the spectators. He thus, with the assistance of his^
possessed, his proselytes, or his convulsionaries, pro-
cured testimonies in his behalf, which from his own
mouth V7t>uld have been very suspicious^ find might ^'
have rendered bim odious. < « ''
Our operator also took care to choose his^fround for ""
performing miracles; . be constantly refused to"bperate
his wonders before peTsons whom be supposed inclined ; ^'
to criticise them. If he sometimes, pe»formed them in — '
the i^agogues, and in presence of the doctors, it was' ^ *%
in the certainty that tbe less fastidious populace, wlito> , •
believed in bis miracles, would take bis part, and de- ;
£gDd him against the evil dipsigns of the more acute <3
spectatorsJ^i fi^W^:k^i}^i^^kw^i^^:^*i*^'W^ : ^^
5::'^ The apostles. of Jesus appear to- have been m^n of , ';
their master's temper, either credulous or mis-led en- <
:^ fo Ike' nnDZier^ soanfr yiars itgo la^ "Pai^ aa the tamb ' .
fB^-J)eae^» Pttrit, . mTractwt Were wiw^ffat- m presence of t&f ' ' \
iHlgllfgest peraeD% ytha dated ma&ei to criticise nor co^' >
tndkit ibeat, for fear of beoi^ rndtrieated by a pf^nilace ob« , j^;
ftHiate ia sedng prodigiee^ and whsm impostors would not haird ; f f^
fi^k4/IM€xdtfragaLa8ll3w«»idi»'i^od9bft^ ^ . %}
Toguedes. -.- -, ,.._... - ■• - ■•.'■. \'.k^
■ ■ ,■ ■* ■ ^ ."■--* - v., / ■-■„■- 1. ^^- - "- '■
■s>?-./
thusiasts, adroit cheats, or. often both together.
, There is every reason to believe that Christ, vtrho had
skill in men, admitted into his intimate confidence
those only in whom he remarked the most submissive !•
^ credulity or the greatest address. On important oc%.
- . ,, casions, such as the miracle of multiplying the loaves,
, the transfiguration, &c. we find, as already noticed,
that he used always the ministry of Peter, James, and
John.^- ^,,,.L..,,y.-^^-.r' , _ ,_./ -.';..-_
It is easy to cpnceivfe that his disciples aaji -adheff|f-
.; rents were much attached to him, either by the ties?
of interest or of jcredulity. The most crafty perceived, •
that their fortunes could only be^ameliorated under the,
I' conduct of a man who knew how to impose on the^i
— , vulgar, and make his followers live at the expence of , ""
charitable devote^. Fishermen, formerly obliged to-f
subsist by a labour painful and often attended with
^ iosuccess, ^congived that it was more advantageous
^ to attach themselves to a missionary, who made thetwt^
* r live, comfortably without trouble. The most cre-i^^:
dulous expected always to make a brilliant fortune.^;
: s and occupy posts of eminence in the new kingdom^
their chief intended to, establi^sh*. -[
The hopes and comforts of both vanished, on tfaec?.'
* " death of Jesus. ^J^be.njof t. p^Msyi|nimo4J8 lost coarage^^ .
,..',-'^ ^' • . ■ • • ■ - .-
.;,-■• It was evidently from earthly or interested motives, and
>: :' not heavenlji^ > that the apQsdes attached themselves to Christ
', At the last suf^B tk^re was a strife amongst iheai'who
; - should be cKcotmted the greatest. , " " The meanest," as j^dkc^
.'^r^ Parker expressed it, 'Mioped at least to have been made" lovd /// ''
1 < mayor of Capernaum." And ^ven at his ascaosidn the only ) ,i
^question his'di8cq)les asked^ was^ Lprdjvnit thou at this Umc restore
il^i^j^^^^'figain the kirigdom of Israel? .? v .
'284
but the ihost able and subtle did not think themselves
under the necessity of abandoning the J»arty. They
therefore contrived, as we Jiave «een, the tale of the .
resurrection, by the aid of which both the reputation
of their master and their own fortune were secured.
It also appears! that these apostl& never sin- jc/
cerely believed their master was a God. The Acts
incontestibly demonstrate this fact. The same
Simon Peter who had recognised Jesus for the Son of
the living God, declared in his first sermon, that h^
was man. *^ Ye know," says he,' " that Jesus of Na-
zareth was a MAN whom God hath rendered famous "
among you — Yet ye have crucified him — but God
hath raised him- up again," &c.* This passage "proves
most clearly, that the chief of the apostles dared not
yet hazard, or was wholly ignorant of the doctrine of
the divinity of Jesus, which was afterwards contrived \
by the self-interest of the clergy, and adopted by the
foolishness of Christians, whose credulity was never
startled by the gnaatest absurditiesT and self-interest
and foolishness have perpetuated this doctrine until
our time. By dint of repeating the same tales for «o
long,a period, they have succeeded in making people
believe the most ridiculous fables. ' The religion of.the ^
r ^\ children is always regulated by the fancy of their fa-
thersf. ■,,,....; ; - , -
/ » "
> ' r
* Acts c^ the Apostles, h. ^ — 96. , ,- *, ^ ^% , , •^•-f \'i W
>t^ The word Trmitif was Jirst used by TheophHus, bishop ,
of Antiodi, in the year 160, to eiq>ress persons, as tliey
are called, ia tiie Godhead. The passage in the Ist Epffiile
of JdiQ, c. &. Vi 7/, never appeared till the 2d edition of Erasmus's 2
N. T. about 1560.. Tlie 1st edition was pzi|ited in 151*, andp
the text alluded to is no< in tA , , -'. ,-^, v p^/^^-sjuVV^^Jt »? »-'■'
r '
J>.
It appears, however, that theaposUes of Jesut, de-
prived of the counsels of their master, would not haye
succeeded in procuring their doctrine to be adopted,
if they had not found powerful Miccours after his
death, and wisely selected for associates men more
adroit than themselves, and better calculated for the
business. They deliberated together ort their com-
mon interests ; it was then the Holy. Ghost descended
on them ; that is, they considered on the means of earn-^:
ing a subsistence, gaining proselytes, and increasing
the number of their adberentSi in order to secure them-
selves against the enterprises of the priests and gran-'
dees of the nation, whom the new sect might have
very much displeased. The latter, little satisfied with
having put Jesus to death, had also the imprudence^,
to persecutfe his ^adherents. They engaged Herod to*
destroy James the brother of Christ; finally they cau^d
Stephen to be stoned. These priests and doctors did
not perceive/ that persecution is the surest method of
spreading fanaticism, and that it always gives irpport-
ance to the party persecuted.^ - '
s*#Accordingly this persecuting spirit, inherent in the
clergy, served only to make new partisans to the per-
secuted sect. Bad treatment, imprisonments, and pu-
nishments, always render sectaries more obstinat», and
interesting objects to those who witness their suflFer-
ings. Tortures excite our pity in behalf of the' person
who endures them. Every fanatic that is punished
i^ certa!in of finding credulous friends, who uid him,
because they persuade themselves it ibr for religiofthe
is persecuted. iv ^.^^ ^^ 0 ^ ; «'h i
The persecution, instigated by the priests, also mttde
the new sectaries perceivef that it was of the utmost
H
:^mportance t<> tbem to unite their interests. - Tiiey felt
'*tt necessary to avoid quarrels, and every thing which
could create division; they in consequence lived in % ^ : ,>!^
-"'Concord and peace. (^j^»^v>r~t«4f^"^^^->p- " - ^
The apostles, now fiecome hea^s of the seel/ ne-
glected not their own interests. One of the first fiicul-
ties with which the Holy Ghost inspired them, *eas to
profit by devout souls, and engage them to place all
their property in common. The -apostles were the ^ •
depositaries of these goods ; and had under their orders
ministers or servants, known by the name of deacons, ^J
charged with the distribtrtion 'of alms. There is every
reason to believe! that these great saints did not forget
themselves in these distributions. It appears also, ,- l"^
that the law for this communion of goods, was observed -: ,
with rigour, as we find, in the Acts of the Apostles, ,■ -
Ananias and Saphira struck dead on the prayer af'St. /
Peter, for having had the temerity to retain a portion'--^
of their own property: — a conduct which would ap- ;
, peac as unjust as barbarous in any other person but an
Spostleijf Christ. It must however be acknowledged, ^ -
that the law which obliged the rich to place their pro- ,
perty in common, was very important, not only to the^
apostles, but likewise for encreasing ttiesect and gam- iJ^
ing.partizans. The poor undoubtedly must have been ^ >"i
^ ^ I eager to join a partyf where the rich engaged to lay the £; ^ f
cloth for the indigent. Hence it is easy to perceive :;.""
bow this institution might, without a miracle, strengthen
i> faith, and daily augment the number of the faithful.
xH isa iOf^all the adherents^ tbe new-born sect acquired, -/: ,
^i t 5 taere was none superior to Saul, afterwards knowp by
■|^1^4henameof St. Paul. The actions and writings as-
i; ? •' cribcd to this apostle, exhibit ^ bifio as an^ ainbitious,^
\j^S ^^^ 1-^^^^ ^-^ ^^'^'T^^^' .
■i
!-
'\.
^7 ,
V
-■ vt*^
^ active, intrepid, and opjniative inan, full of enthu-, ^
' siasm, and capable of inspiring others with it. Engaged'f
• at first jii the profession of a tent-maker, he afterwards^
• attached Wraself to the service of Gamaliel, a doc/or oC
-the law,_ and rendered services to the priests in theirf
' persecirtions against the Christians. There is howevert
reason to believe^ that the apostles^feeling the utility
/Which a man of SauTs character might be of to the'
party, profited by some disgust he had taken, in order
•^ to draw him over to their sect; he consented, very"
• readily conceiving that by the assistance of his talents,
superior to those of his brethren, he might easTly sue.
^ ceed in placing himself at the head of a party, to whlcb'^
he' knew the me^ns of rendering himself necessary.
He pretended therefore that bis cdnversion was the
' effect" of a miracle, and that God himself had called;^
him. He caused himself to be baptised at Damascus^
joined the apostles at Jerusalem, was admitted a mem-l
' beF of their college, and soon made them acquainted
with his talents*. ^ He betook himself to preaching
Christ and his resurrection, and laboured in gaining
' over souls. His Vehement zeal hurried hitn, witJaout
fear or hesitation, into quarrels with the priests, always
: indignant at the conduct of the apostles ; but his per<
secutibns rendered him dearer to his party, of which'
^hjB became from that time the prime mover and soul,
>^ Often m'altreated and b^isbeci by the Jews, he con-
4j jectured that it would be >eneftcial not to confilie him-
1^^ self to them, but that conquests might likewise be
4' made among the heathen. He no doubt knew very wefU
■f ' that'mankind resemble each other in all superstitioht ;
,-•4^,
/
->it-
i^A^ ulihe ApoiBtlei, c. 9.
'^m
-/
V
^8
n II"
ff
that they are every where equally curious about what-
ever is marvellous; susceptible of fanaticism, lovers
of novelties, and easily deceived. — Paul,, therefore,
1 sometimes prefiched to the Jews, and soiQetimes, on
their refusal, addressed himself to the Gentiles, among
whom he succeeded in enlisting a considerable num-
ber .of recruits,, 'A.^:..
Jesus, born in the bosom of Judaism, and knowing
well the attachment of his fellow-citizens to the law
of Moses, had always openly declared^ that h"fe was
come to "accomplish, and not to destroy it." His
first apostles were, like himself, Jews; and frequently
shewed much attachment to the rites of their religion.
They took it amiss that Paul their brother would not
subject tbe proselytes he made among the Gentiles| to
Judaical usages. Filled with vi^ws more vast than
those entertained by the other apostles, he did not
wish to disgust his new converts with inconvenient
ceremonies, such as circumcUion and abstinence from
certain meats. The better to attain his ends, he
thought it his duty to neglect usages, which he consi-
dered as trifles, while his brethren regarded them as*
most essential*. Paul endeavoured to pr,evaii on them
: ,* The. first prosdytes which the apostles made among the
Jews, as we have elsewhere said, were called Nazarenes or
EtuomteSj who lieliered in Jesus without forsa^g . the ' law
>of Moses on that account Of consequence they regarded
St. Paul ^ as an hoetic or an apostate. This &ct, atterted
by Origin, Eusei>iu8, and St Epiphamus, is inqrartant in
giving .us ■a distinct idea of ptimitire Christianity, which we
see divided into two sects almost ias soon as St Paul had em-
braced it In fact, this new apostle very soon separated
himself fircmi his brethren to preadi a doctrine different from
theirs, and opeoty undermined the Judaibm which St Feter>^
: , ... , : . 'm
to hear i^dSoh : afid it wSs 6*n this 06ca%l6h he fesisted V ? j
St. Peter, who did not wish that they should relax in / 'f
' articles important in his eyes. / )
This altercation produced a real schism. Paul left
,.i. .
St James; and aS the other heads of the church po^isted
HI respecdng. But as St. Paul had success among the Gen-
tUes, his party prevailed; Judaism^ ^as entirely proscribed,
and Christianity became ^.uite a new religion, of which
' Judaism had been only the figure. Thus St. P%ul wholly
changed the religious system of Christ, who had ■ proposed
only to reform Judaism, professed the law of Moses, and
declared himself to have come on purpose to accompUsh, and
not to abolish .it. The principal apostles followed the con-
duct' of thdr master, and shewed themselves much attached \ '' "
to the law . and usages of thdr fkthers. St. Paul, notwith-
standing thdr protestations, took a difl^ent doiu'se; he dis-
played a contempt or indifference for the legal ordinances,
to which, we however observe,' he, through policy, sometimes
subjected ' himsdf. Thus we find he circumcised Timothy,
and performed Jewish ceremonies in the temple 6l Jem-
salem. j*
Not content with decrying the law of Moses, St. Paul, by
his own confes^on, preached a gospel of his own. He says
poffltively, in his ejqstle ,to the Galatians^ chap. i. 11> &c.
"That the gospel which I preach is not after men," and
that he had received it by a particular .revelation <^/ Jesus
Christ He speaks likewise of his quarrels with the other
heads of the sect; but his disdple St Luke passes over these
very slightly in the Acts, which are much more the Jets of
Paul Ulan the ' Acts of the Apostles. It appears evident,
that he embroiled himself with his brethren, the partizans of
the dtcamdsion, and founders ci the^azarenes or . Ebiodtes,
L *^ reformed Jews cohvCTted to J^eua. Tliey ^had a g6q>el
littfe conformable to that of Paul, as they cotnbined the4a#
of Christ with that of Moses. St Irenaeus, St Justin, St;
Epiphaidiis, Eusebius, Theodoret; and St Augnsthie, agree'
in telling us^f that th«>se Ebionites, or converted Jews, re»
garded Jesus as a "mere man, son <}f Joseph- and Maiy,
" ' - Vr.-: ■ :i^i- V";-;- ^/-/ :< l'^
• '■^» ': V' *
S » ■ '
■z m.
V- -:^^:-:>-'^.'V-^v^i\^tc-*
,• -.--if'
yli'^r^
' v • -?
290
,f
(/ H 'I
It
'in *
his brethren to preach the Judaical gospel or circum-
cision, whilst he preached his own in Asia Minor and
ID Greece, sometimes to the Hefleoistic Jews, whom Z
he found established there, and sometimes to theidola-- '\
trous Greeks, whose language^ thpugh, unknown to
the other apostles, Paul was ac<}uai9.ted with. His
mission had a success which far surpassed that of his
brethren; in so much that we may fairly regard Paul /
as the true founder of 'the Christian religion such as it
is at this day. If we have recourse to the Acts of the
Apostles, we perceive in this new preacher an activity, '
a warmth, a vehemence, and an enthusiasm well adapted
to communicate itself. The missionaries he formed)
spread his doctrine to a great distance. The gospel of
the apostle of the Gentiles prevailed over the gospel of
the Judaizing apostles; and in a short time there were '
a great nun>ber of Christians in all the provinces of
the Roman empire. ^^ ^-*^ .K^*;?isa^ ;^^»^fi^^©itev^-^-^
To a miserable people, cfushed by tyrants and op- .
pressors of every kind, ihe principles ofthe new sect
had powerful attractions. It^ maxims, which, tended
to introduce equality and a community of goods, were
calculated to- entice persons despised. Its promises
flattered miserable fanatics, to whom was annoiunced
the end of a per\'er8e world, the approaching arrival
of Jesus, and a kingdom wherein abundance and hap- ,
to wljonrf 4iey gave the name of Son of Grod, only on account -_ ^:
of his virtues* From this it is evidmi diat it was St Paul
fvlioddfied Jesus and abofisHed Judaism. The PauKtes, become
the strongest^ prevdled over the Ebionites, or ^dples of v
the sspoeHiea, and treated them as heretics. Hence we see -
it is the religioD of St P^.and not that of Jesus. Christ,
i^ch at present sut^sta. ''-^}^ "^^''^-^r^h^' C^^f»^R»-*"^3^M'.r-v
:'L
■u^:A
/...
;-,,:, ...291-7 -..■•.■ . ■. ■
piness would reign. To be admitted there, they merely '
required of the proselytes " to believe in Jesus Christ,
and be baptized." As for the 'austere maxims of the
Christian sect, they were not of a nature to disgust
mrsevables, accustomed from their situation to sufier,
and to experiencle the want of the fconreftiences ot"
life. Its dogmais, few in the beginning, v^ere readily
adopted by ignorant men, fond of wonders, whom their
own mythology disposed to i:eceive the fables of ChnV-
tians :* besides, their own preachers wrought mira*
* SSi sup^staianB hare resranbbnoes and aiffinities. Thi^
heatheim peroeived in thdr n^igion drcumstanoea cpnfofmiiblA
to Ciizistianity. Thej had Sibyls, oracles, aad predictions,
iTheir myt|iology exlul>ited .gods dethroned and repladog one
another. There we ' see gods persecuted, exHed, and put to
death ; an Oaris kffied \sj Typhon, and raisled again fitwi'
As dead; iin Apollo expdled fixun heaven; on Adcmis, £»!.
We espedally find many points of conformity between Escu-
lapiiis and Jesus Christ. The heathep god was son of Apollo
^nd the "maid, Boebia^ y and, like .J^sus, performed a great
number Off ttihraculous cures. tie was punished and fhuhder-
Struck by Jupiter, %x, h^iving rai^d the dead and restored theni
to a better ^fe. Aftec his death, he too went and rgdaied the god
'Ilie &th6rsJof ^e (^ixrch Qiem ^ve fbuod stiikiiig
ctn)ibtmitie9 between Jesus apd Prometheus^ who was ca^e^
^^ wisd^mi of the Ja^iet. He was pUqished by Jupiter iat
having saved the human race, who w^ on the pqiht of bom;
precQHtated Jnto Tartonis, . Sui^ s^ys, fhat' iXiey gave
^-Ibrometheils a surname^ which agnifies He who died for ihti
' people. |Ie was cruC^Sled on "Cauca^s; and Tertufiian i!i>eit^
of crossep found thexe. ■ tlis blood produced a plant, w^^ •
;,,j*nafit^ mvuLierablip. :* See ^ treatifie /of M. de 'B)(H|^
^titied Be In superstifim (on superstatidp}^ hxa^tetdsfo^
^1688, 18mo/ p. llj-— 1181 Tlus author aTso otseireB, that
,/ ,f »
II
293
, ■ ^- ■ ^
I cles, which did not permit them to doubt those said to
have been perfornied by Jesus. There is, therefore,
reason to presume, that different missionaries, in emu-
lation of one another, took care to compose romances,
or histories of Christ, wherein they related a great
number of prodigies calculated to make their hero be
revered, and to interest the veneration of the faithful.
tn this: manner the different collections, known by the
name of Gospels, seem to have been framed, wherein,
along with very simple facts which might have really
occurred, we find many relations that appear credible
only to enthusiasts and fools. These histories, com-
posed by different hands, on traditions little uniforin,
and by authors of very different characters, are not
much in harmony ; hence the want of conformity in
the relations of our evangelists, which has been fre-
quently noticed in the course of this work. There
was, as we have elsewhere remarked, a vast number
= v: '»'^ "^^r- :;oi. "'-■:V/ '/?:i;: ''.;';. ' • .'T J'i'rs^ ;-!>■;*. Jk:;:. ^^i^'pif
'■■-'. ; ■ „ ■■ ■-■,-■,• '■ ■--.'■' :..,.,
the lieathens had some ideas pf the Trinity. The same god
was stykd Jupiter in heaven, Mercuiy on earth, ai^d Phito
IP heO. See p. 106. Mercujy is called Hermes in Gieece,
which signifies interpreter ; this god and son of Jupiter is
often called the word intet^eted. The mystery of the .Tii-
nity is owing to Flato, who of the goodness, toisdom, and power
of God, made three hypostases, that is, personified these divine
attributes. See. Platonisme devoUe, by Souverain, a Sodnian,
,^ „ \ 8vo. 1700, p. 65. ' ^
I, Ja &ct, we know that the heathens admitted a hell (ht
'^ ( Tartarus, a last judgment, g^m» angels, demons ; metatnor»
jAoses or mcamations, and a thousand feHles, analogous to.
tiiose of Christians.. SeTa:^! of their philosophers have be-,
fieved in the end of the world; and that doctrine, accordiagia,
Lactantiutb wondei&IIy favoured the pxeachers of the gospeL -'wi^U;
//
'^m^--
^93
of gospels in the first ages of the church ;* and out of
these the council of Nice chose only four, to which
they gave the divine sanction.
We shall not here examine whether these gopels
really belong to the authors tp whom they' are ascribed.
The opinion which attributes them to their putative
writers, might have been founded at first on some tra-^
ditioQ, true or false, which existed in the time of the
council of Nice, or which the fathers of that council
had an interest in sanctioning. . We shall only remark,
that it is difficult to persuade ourselves, without faith,
that the gospel of St. John especially, filled with Pla^
. tonic notions, could be composed by the sou of Zebe«
dee; by a poor fisherman, who, perhaps, incapable oC
writing, and even reading, could not be acquainted
with the philosophy of Plato.t
Whatever opinion may be formed as to this, we find
the mystical and marvellous philosophy of Plato intro-
duced very early into Christianity, which agreed in
' " 0- ' ■ . J? ■'. M , .
' * See Appendix for a list of these gospels. ■' ' '
f From the infancy of Chtistdanity there have been peo-.
pk, who have denied the authenticity of the gospels. Maf^
das accused them of being filled with &Isehoods. The
Aloges and Theodotians rejected the gospel according to St..
John, which th^ regarded as a tissue of lies. See TiQimont
Ifenunrs, tCHue S. p. 256. St. Epipb. Hsrens. 51. Ulli*.
mont. t 2. p. 438. St Augustin in his QmfessioHS, L 7. c. 9.
eatjSf that he had &\md in the Platonists the whole begmrang.
Qf the gospel of St John. Origai (contra CelsumJ informs us,
that this heathen reproached Christ with having taken firoia,
Plato Hus finest maxims, which the gospel attributes to hhn,
iand among others the one which says, that ''it is more easj for
a.c^imel to go through the eye of a needle^ than tot a rich man tol^.-«
1"" i '
i^3£
./i-'.'sS 'V/ -•■..' '^"i-''.^ -•-'^.- .';' -V-j" -- . ■■'' • -.vrv
' :294
r
«ev«ral respects witli the tenets held by the followers
of that emineRt philosopher; while, on the other hand,
bis perplexed philosophy must also have easily amal-
gamated with the principles of the Christian sect.
This analogy introduced into the religion of Christians
the notions o{ Spirituality^ Trinity ^ and the Logos, or
Word, besides a multitude of magical and theurgicat -
cleremoriies, which, in the hands of the priests of Chris-
tiiahity, have become mysteries, -or sacraments. On
reading Porphyry, JanibUchus, and particularly Plofci-
. iius, we are surprised to liear them speaking so fre-
////// \ ^'^^^^^y ^^ ^^® same Style as our theologists. These
iTnarks of resemblance drew several Platonists «>vt'r to
the faith, who figured among the doctors of the ehurch, .
0( this number were St. Clement of Alexandria, St, •
Ireneusj St. Justin Martyr, Origen, Ac* Platonism
may indeed be regarded as tbe source of the principal
dogmas and mysteries of the Christian religion.*
~ ~ ■ - r~~ ~ ~~ I -.. , .. ""Iv" IJiiliui'
v' -' . . i - ' •. -■.'/- ■ ■•>■... ;:.,'• ^
* Those who doubt die truth of this assertion, have mily
to read the works of the disd^lds of ^kto, who- Were all
sup«stitious persons aiid Theurgists^ whose ideas ktG sufBi^tly
libabgouB to those of.Clu^stidiis. "Wife find indeed ^liese writing
^ed with recdpts to make the gods tuid good genfi descdbd/ -
^d to diAre awSy the bad, &c. See partfetilarfy Piatonisme devoile. .
Tertufli^ reproaches the heretics 6f his time with having wandered* '
astray in order to introduce Pfetonism/ Stoicism, andfiialectfes^intd .
C^iiStianitJr. Vidirint qui StaiCum et PUctomcum, tt Walectkam (
^tiitiatiismujit prottUonini. T%rtuB. de praiSjJription. adv; ^
haet&L c 8. ft was evidently the nffiCtdre of ^» tmmtelli- ';
gfbU dodiine' of Plkto, With the iMatectics of Arfetotfci %
^, .1 ^Tt$dh r^dearei theelbgy so seiiseteiSS, / diS^otabte, an* f
feau^ wJtIi subtilties: flie cartBnal PaBdvichri adcaows. \^
ledger, tluit « wit&ottt Aristedfe the Chri^da&i ^uld lac^e^ tJ
manted a great number <^ articles of feidi,* ; , ^^ „" "^ "; "; V!
■^T\fe austere and fanatical lives of ChrustiaAd naust
/^ ako bav€ favourably disposed a great number of Stoics
in behalf of the sect, vi'ho were accustomed to make a
merit of despising objects desirable to other mea, de<-
pricing themselves of the comforts of life, and bravii^.
affliction and death. We accordingly fiad a great
number of enthusiasts tinctured with these maxims in
the Christian religion. Thi^ fanatical way of linking
was very necessary to th,e firs£ Christians, in the naidst
of the ciHDsstes and' persecutions which they sfaftered at
^rst on the part of the Jews, and tberealter on tliff
part of the emperors and gtandees, incited by the hea-
then priests The latter, according to the custom of
, \ the priesthood in all countries, made a very cruel war
7 ' on a sect who attacked tkeir gods, aQd menaced theic
'I temples with a general desertion. Tb« uoi verse wag
weary of the imposturcs and exactions of these priests*
thenr costly sacrifices, and lying o^lesi. Their kai«
▼eries had been frequently unveiled, aqd the new
sect tend>ered totoankind a worship less expensive,, and
which, without behag addressed so muclrto the eyes
as the worship of idols, was better adapted than the
other to set the i&aagioasliion at work, a«kd excite en^
tbujsias^. ■:i^t-^:^mipfczA:'t'^^-.,e^'-i-- ^ ':A
■^'Christianity was moreover ffetterihg and cdti*qKttl6Vjr
to tbe wretched; it placed all men on the isattie le#ii^;
humbled the rich» and was aanouuced as destined £r>c
tlie pobir thorough, pgrelfereilce.. AtQaog the Ron^ns^.
filsvefrvpere itiseinfr mes^rs e»cfe»d«d from teir^ioa;
atnf it might bave been ^id, that tfre go* <f?d not astt^-
cfecn tberoselves with the.hornage of tneijie deg)!!iifed
beings.^^ , The poor, besides^ haa not wteev^itb 16
satisfy the rapacity of Pagan priests^ who, like «ujr^
396
did nothing without money. Thus slaves and perfiont
in misery must have been -strongly attached to a ays'
tem, according to which all men are equal in the eyes
of the Divinity, and that the wretched have better
right to the favours of a suffering and contemned Gock
than persons temporally happy, ^u'^'-y Qf^'-isi^^^^Ma-
The priests of Paganism therefore became uneasy
at the rapid progress of the sect. The government
was alarmed at the clandestine assemblies which the
Christians held. They were believed to be the ene-
mies of the emperors, because they continually refused
to offer sacrifices to thegods of the country for theif
prosperity. Even the people, ever zealous, believed
them enemies of their gods, because they would not
join in their worship. They treated the Christians as
Atheists and impious persons, because they did not
conceive what could be the invisible objects of their
adoration ; and because they took offence at the mys-
teries, which they saw them celebrating in the greatest
secrecy*. The Christians, thus loaded- with the pub-
lic hatred, very soon became its victims ; they wen
^ We may see from the t^lc^ies of St Justin, Tatian,
Aihenagoras, Tertullian, and Amobius, that the most aJKH
minable crimes were imputed to the first Chiistians, such as
eating litde childroi, hemg irreli^otis and sao^^ous, com"*
mitting incontinences and incest in their nocturnal aasernhGesT
It was pretended that th^ fastened a dog to a candlestict^
"axkAr when by \ means-, of this the light was exdnguistiedj the
sexes coupled pnmuscuously. These opinions, spread ablQSf
amon^ Si people, instated them against " the- Christianti,
whom they r^arded as the cause of the wrath of the godi^> >
and of "the public r^lamMt^. We accordingly see that^ even
under the mildest emperort, the popular fory kindled per«.
aecntions. . -^
«9T
■:H.
1*
pefsecatedv: and persecution, as it always happens^
rendered them moreopiniative. Enthusiasm more and
more enflamed their souls ; they made it a glory to
resist the efforts of tyrants; they even went so fer as
to brave theit punishments, and concluded, vrith be-
lieving, that the greatest happiDes&'^yas to perish under
their severities. In this they flattered themselves with
resembling the Son of God, and were persuaded, that
by dying for his cause, thtey were certain of reigning
with him in heaven. ; _ .
. In consequence of these fanatical ideas, so ^attelring
to vanity, martyrdom became an: object of ambition to
many Christians. Independent of the heavenly re*
wards, which they believed assured to those who suffer-
ed with constancy, and perished for religion, they saw
them esteemed, revered, and carefully attended to,
during their lives, while honours, almost divine, were
decreed them after death. On the contraryj those of
the Christian community, who had the weakness to
shrink from tortures, and renounce their religion^ were
dGoffed at, despised, and regarded as infamous. So
many- motives combined, contributed to warm the ima-
ginations of the faitlrful, already sufBciently agitated
by notions of the approaching end of the world, the
coming of Jesus, his happy reign^ and impressed with
the fanatical notions which glnt the writings of the
Christians. They gubmitted cheerfully to punish-
ments, and gloried in their chains : they courted
martyrdom as a favour, and often, through a blind
xeal, provoked the rage of their persecutors. The
naagistfs^tes \yy their proscriptions and tortures, tiusetl
the enthusiasm 'of the Christians to kindle more and
more. Their courage was besides supported by the
:•':>>.■ ■
~ ■ ■ ■ - , " ' . ."> •
headsrof their MCt," wliQ constantly dfapSayed the hea-
vens opening to the heroes who consented tQ ?^^er ajad
p^ishfoj their cause, which they took care to make
the poor fanatics regard as the cause <if God himself.
A martjnr, at all times, isrperely the vipttm of the e«^
tfausiasTic or knavish priegt wiio has been able to »e^
Huce hiai.* ^^ '. ■ :'i-:' .■ '~~~. •')
Men are" always disgusted with Chose who use vio-
lence ; they conjecture that they are wrong, and that
those against whom they commit violence have re^don
on their side. Persecution will ever make partidans to
the cause persecuted/:' and those to which we allud^
iended thehiare to confirm Christians in their religi<m.
The spectatorjB of their sufferings fwere interested for
them. They were canious to kno^ the principles of a
sect which drew on ftself such cruel treatment, s^^d
infased into its adherents a courage believed to be suh'
pernaturaU They imagined that such a religion could
be the work of a Qod only ; its partisans appeared ex-
traordinary men, and their enthusiasm became ooata-
gious. Violence served only to spread it the morei
and, according to the language of a Christian doctor,
*'tbe blood of the martyrs became Uie seed ,or fch^
cbur<^^3^3i^.:'ic' htm. -mhl 'yi^qm:^^^"^' i:tf<^c}i " VjI '
* Mar^ Ip CrTf^k gtgmfifg vfSness. 3u^ with Ithe . e]i^:
eepfioQ of the aposdes, (whose actions have been transmit^ ^
ted to us duly bj the foigers of legends), , what kind of teth
to<my could Bien> who bad never seen Jesua^ bear him^ axA
•wko could ]mow htm adj inaa. th^ stories told them bjr
preadiers, who had yfhai. they thonsdves ki^w of h&n oa^
by a very suepido^ l^adition ? A mar^ is in gaieral only^a
fixd, dumped by another fool, who was ^ dupe of ^ knar^
whose ol^ect' was to estabKsh a sect, and who bhnaelf ^ frequently
was {ranUied for his prqjectsj^i ^,v=>, j:. i^^ i .^ '?*
' .■- ,. .•-,- - ■:>.'- ... 1.^ , ..■;.v.;-
299
i
The clergy would fain make the propagation of
Christianity pass for an' evident miracle of divine om-
nipotence ; while it was owing solely to natural causes,
inherent in the human mind, the property of which it
is to adhere strenuously _ to its own way of thinking;
harden itself against violence; applaud itself for its
pertip^city ; admire courage in others ; feel an interest
for those who display it ; and suffer itself to be gained
by their enthusiaani. A little reflection will show that
the obstinacy of the mairtyrs, far from be ing a sign of
the divine protection, or of the goodness of their cause,
can be regarded only as the effect of blindness, occa-
sioaed by the reiteiiated lessons of their fanatical of
deceitful priests.* What conduct more extravagant
It (t
'*^ The learned H. Dodwdl has written two copious dii-
sertaljons on the mar^rlrs : the one to prove that diej were
n^ so niBnerous as is commonly imag^ed ; and the other
to demonstrate that their constancy can ' be ascribed only
to vexy natural causey. Dodwell's IMssertationes Cypii-
pice, in 8vo, Oxonis, 1684. ft cannot be denied, that the
frenzy of martyrdom wqs an ejndemical diseiEise among the
jSrst Christians, to "which thdr spiritual phyncians were ob%ed
^ «^Iy remedies, as these wretdiied bongs were guilty of
•nicide. « - .
Many of the^ primttjive C%i8^tians, in^ad of fying as the
gpspd directs, not oi^y r^ voluntar% to execution, but]
provoked their judges to do them that favor. Uod^ Trajai^
all the Christians in a citj^ of Ada came in a txidy to- the
proconsul, and offered themselves to the staughter, w|ii|di
mode him cry, " O ! ye lo^ppy people, if, ye have a nund
to die, have ye not halters and precipices enough to ^cA.
your lives, but ye. must come here for executioners.*' Tertul.
ad Sca^ c 5. p. 11. Fleury'^ Manners ^f the Chr^tians, &c.
TfaiB was a general laraotice imder the Antpnini. Marcus
^toninuB severely ' reflected on the obstinacy of the Chriv
<sl ■ -
:/^;:-.;.:
:.#^..^-,
I.:
r-
,y^
A"-'
• *.'- -.
'>• t
.'■in-
>
i
360
than that of a sovereign, who, abre and without enTu-
ision of blood to extend bis power, should prefer to do
it by the massacre of the most faithful of his subjects?
Is it not annihilating the divine wisdom and goodness
to assert, that a God, to whom eyei-y thing is pos-
sible, among so many ways which he may have bad
to establish his religion, will venture upon ,th]!t of
making its dearest friends victims to the fury of
its cruellest enemies? Such are ttie notions which
Christianity presents ; and it is easy to perceive tha^t
they are the neclessary consequences of a fundamental
absurdity, on which that religion is established. It
inaintains,-that a j^st God did not wish to chuse any
other way to redeem guilty men,' than that of making
tisns ^ thus nmning lieadlong to 4eath; and St. "Cyprian
laboured hard to comfort those who were so unhspfpy as to
escape the crown ^ martTrdom. The enoxues of Jufian the
apostate/ even admit' that the ^Christians of his time- did every
thing they could to provoke that emperor to put them to
d^tith. V Dr. Hickes^ a celebrated prQtestant divine, goes s»
hx as to say that the Christians " were not illegally perse-
^ted^by Julian.*' — See Ins Aiftwer to JiiUan, 'c iL -&c
After aD, it will be found tiiat every x^otent pasrfon has hs
martyrs. Pride, vanity, prqudjce, love, patrioti8m> and
jeven vice itadf, produces ' mar^TS ; or at least a contempt "ol
fvery kind of clanger, ) la it then surprising diat enthusiajtth
ja^d^ fenaricjsm, , the strongest pasaorig of mankind, have so
pften enabled -men, ins^edwith the hopes ttiey give, to fisft^
flnd des^se death ? Beades, if Christians can boast a cata-,
^^)^^ of martyrs^ Jews ^ can' do tl^ sameT 'iTie imibrtun^
Jews, condemned to the flamds ^by' the inqtaroon, were
mgrtyrs to tfadrt^Iigion; and ^heir fortitude proves as much fa
their &VOUr as tiiat of 't>M» f!tifi«fi»>Tig fsfn • Sh in favmir -~of
(3>TOtianity. If martyrs demonstrate the truth: o^ a Te&gim or
aect^ tdiere are we 'to lo<A for the true one ?■ — Boulanger,
Vohey's ^^xans cf Empires f SfCf^
?
, • - ■ ,':■■■ '-.-K '.: >;- ■■:3> -■.->■
t
t
' r
m
rt
; his dear inQOcent son be. ptut to-death. According' to
such principles, it can excite.no surprise tbatso ,un*
;' reasonable a. God should wish to convert the heathen,
his enemies/ by the. murder of Christians, his children.
y Though these absurdities are believed, such as do not
possess the holy blindness of faith cannot comprehend
V wb|^ the Son of God, having already shed hfs blood for
the redemption of men, was not a sufficient sacrifice ?
. and why, to jpffect the conversion of the world, there
■ . was still a necessity for the blood of an immense num-
b^r of martyrs, wKose mei^s must have been undoubt-
y- edly much less than, those of Jesus ? To resolve these
I difficulties, theologians refer us to the eternal decrees,
\- the wisdom of which w^ are not permitted to criticise.
f This is aending us far back indeed ; yet notwithstand-
A ing the solidity of the answer, the incredulous persist
{ir in saying thut their limited understandings can neither
•^ find justice, nor wisdom, nor goodness, in eternal de-
y crees^ which could in such a manner effect the salvar
' tion of the humap racp. -
^.Persecutions were not the only means which served
-^ to propagate the religion of christians. The jpreachers,
;' zealous for the salvation of so^ls, or rather desirous to
i extend their own power over th«^ minds of men, and
Vstrengthen their party, inherited Arom the Jews the
passion of making proselytes*. This passion suited
~tf illei^ouMi^ &r tfadr particular oltject to extend
the pewcir of the dei^gy. The chvurch sends entliuaastB ex
koaves to tbe extremities of the earth to heat up fas sulgects.
The- misafamarifiB -lihere. transact their busmess yaatlj wdS,
and open to ^thonsehres new brandhes of. commerce, wliile
ihey act .^th pnidence. ' The insolaicel aiid impnxteiioe tf
tin Jmitts hare ocoasioned the prosca^dini of the (%>istiah
^■■* '/^!^^^^ ':':■ _\ ■
.:- : ■- V-,;-- .•:.^*f .;.*<•.•■ ,-•.. . .' ..- -.-.'r , ^
- •;: ■ ■ ■■ >^- ' ■
sot r
presumptuoire fanatics, who were persuaded, thiat they .
alone possessed- exclusively the divine favour : it was
unknown to the heathens, who were accustomed to suf-
fer every one peaceably to adore his gods, providing
that his worship did not disturb the public tranquil-
lity, K:^:^■H'•^■>^v.:^>■■■,---^'.v ■■'. ■ / ' fr
Prompted by zeal, the Christian itaissionarieis, ftdt-
withstanding persecutions and dangers, spread theiii-
selves, with an ardour unparalleled, wherever they could
penetrate, in order to convert idolaters, and bring -
back strayed sheep to the fold of Jesus. This activif 5^ '
naturally merited the recompence of very great succesi*
Men, whom their idolatrous priests neglected. Were
flattered with seeing themselves courted, and becoming
the object of the disinterested cares of personages,
' w^tr ttfTQugh pure tenderness for them Caine from
afar, and through the greatest perils, to bring thetb \^/
consolation. In consequence of theise dispositibns,
they listened favourably to them ; they showed kind-
ness to men so obliging, and were enchanted with their
doctrine and relations. Many adopted their lessons,
placed themselves under their guidance, and found
where wdl received in the beginning, and in gmeral 8u£fer
martyrdom only when their real designs are discovoced.,
Ksariln, emjperor of China, asked the Jesuit missionaries at > ^
^dda what thejr would «iy if he wo^ld send nnanonaiies to \^
their luetiaa ? The revdts excited hythe Jesuits in J^Mm / ,
and EAioi»a are Well knowm A holy nmaiflfiary has beea^
heard to skf, that without mudeeia, maiAmanea ceoid nevft
ntfdEe prosdytes. Jt T&aaaas to be seeb whether tiie pto-
ppsed SQ^ocms to HiadoMan under the slmction of thfe^Britidb
gov€BUQeatlld& find i^ i^taasKj to empfey i3aeBe^(mul.umfimf -.
I
{A
SOS
..■Bm'-
that their God an<i dogmas were superior to tltose
which had preceded them.' f' ^/>!»'
^i Thus by degrees and without a miracle, Christianity
ptanted • colonies, more or less considerable, in every
part of the Roman empire. They were directed, and
governed by inspectors, overseers, or bishops,* who, in
spite of the dangers with which they were menaced,-
laboured obstinately, and without intermission, in
augmenting the number of their disciples, that is, of
slaves devoted to their holy wills. Empire over opi-
nions was always the most Unbounded. . As nothing
has greater power over the minds of the vulgar than
religion. Christians every where displayed an unli-
mited submission to their spiritual sovereigns, on whose
laws they persuaded themselves that their eternal hap-
piness depended. Thus our missionaries, converted
into bishops, exercised, with consent of their disci-
ples, a spiritual magistracy and sacred jurisdiction
which, in the end, placed them not only above other '
priests, but 'also^ made them respected by, and neces-
-*, Fleuiy informf us that in the earfy periods of Chris-
tianity '' all the clergy, even to the bishops, lived afler a poor,
at least a plain and ordinary manner." St Jerome ia^iiy
disapproved the distinctions' of bishops and priests, or curates.
He asserted that^ according to St. Paul, they were tjhe same
thing, " tin by the instigation of the devil there were desti-
nations in rdigion." At this day Inshops, who do nothing,
c^joy great revenues, wlule innumerable curates who labour
are dying for hunger j and fvhile lazy priests, those blood-
supers- of sode^, thus wallow fai an abundance shamefiil to
the states by ^om they are tolerated, the nan (£ talents,
^ / the man of sdence, and the brave soldier are suffered to langtush
in indigeHce, and scarcdy exist on the mere necesmies of life.
n
\f0'^
;'\ '^'. .
X
•S'
^7 ^-*^.v;.-L-.^
304
ff ff
sary toj the temporal power. Princes have always
employed religion and its miniisters with success in
crushing the people, and keeping them mider the
yoke. Impostures and ddusiop^are ot' no me to so-
,f \ vereigns Who govern, but they are very useful to those ( /
who tyraTmize,*Y ;?-■>■";»$'>« vcj« ^}V^*?!^mm'^^'f-ii^m''rm ■_-
* I' * - . . * ■ J. ^
%S'W:'^'^:\ ♦ See AEpendix, Na nL ^'^^^ ;-'>^-'^fe?^i
'" J '■■'
■: ;j
;Awi
1^
J I ''
.\ . '
'
tf-"-- _'.
\ ^'
V:.T?
' 3,
- , . ■'i
.O V
<.,'■
• r-
" -i • -
;.?
^ U;-
■ ' *.
'' '■ : ■"
'*>r^
fc '■
^"l''
-s'.
"'""^
-■ -. -,
«■
r-
* ■-
*,
'J.\ '--':■ -■' '.; fnl^-'./iJ wet's. j';*xj >Ii/S;-fJ
,j-j
■:--<^-
305
'"'^ ^*r^^liflife€HAPTER XVIII. ." ;.::■:. !.':^a:<;..V 3
Account of Christianity "from constantine^ to tme
■ ■ ^ ^^:,<'-^-mPiW. ■ .PRESENT .TIME. „ • • .. ^^^.j^^^h:^ .
' 'AT the end of the three centuries, we find Chris-
tianity, advanced by all those means, becoine a for-
midable party iu^the Roman Empire. The sovereign
power acknowledged tlie impossibility of stifling it;
and Christians, scattered in great numbers through all
the provinces, formed an imposing jcombinatjon.*
Ambitious chiefs incessantly wrested from one another
the right of reigning over the wrecks of an enslaved
republic itiach sought to increase liis own strength,
and acquire an advantage over his rfvals. It was in] ^
these circumstances that Constantine, to strengthen /^ /«"</
/^.. himself first against Maxentius, aind thereafter against \ /'
Licinius, thought it his interest, by a stroke of policy,
4o draw over all the Christians to. his party. ^ For this
purpose he openly favoured them, and thereby jrein-
V -; forced his army with all the soldiers of that numerous
. ^^- v.sect. In gratitude for the advantages they procured
- ^biio^ he concluded with embracing their religion, now
/V?t •We are, said TertulHan, but of yestexday, and jet ihe
worid is filled; ^tjatii us— your dtie8> your houses, youi^ gar-
%i' ri8<ni8, your villages, your colonies, your very, camp^ your / ^
tribes, your palaces, your senate,, your courts d' jwrt^— ^'^^
^,Apol;.c.ST.,r ... ; ,^>, ,: ;.^,..^,_;c.^^,^..^. :' .' ':' ':i'^
. '."'-.•>.;':■■. :..*:!:■i>^^.>Jj.J>^ v'- , - • -t^.'-^j--
' -, ' .^^' • >. ..■*,-■■
;'.'."' ■/•*-'"s.^-^^'*v' v\-,'.-,,-i^'" .-■■•■: '-i'' •■>•- '^ ■ 1_'' '■■■
^,,^r\.^■:CV-■':••:■■'•'t;■».■:.'^•'■,■-■-•.-\■v™. ^ . .. ■, ',-V.t-. -
'i^ ■■•.'•'.■--"> r . . - : - :. .,■ - ■-.'...■ c; ^. i .■ .. ,'•
J* '\.
,1
306
become so powerful. He honoured, distinguished '
and enriched the Christian bishops, well assured of,
attaching them to himself by his liberality to their »:'
pastors, land the favour l^e shewed them. Aided by* .'
their succours, he flattered himself with the disposal
of the flock.* '■•-■■ ":^ ->: -V.^ ,;'■''-, 'va'; ;:■-■ ■:'--:.:^" ,'..
By this political revolution, so favourable to the
clergy, the bashful chiefs of the Christians, who
hitherto had reigned only in secret and without eclat,
sprung out of the dust, and became men of import-;
ance. Seconded by a very despotical emperor, whose
interests were linked with theirs, they very soon em-
ployed their credit to avenge their injuries, and return : .'
to their enemies, with usury, the evils which they had
received. The unexpected change in the fortune of
the Christians made Lhem soon forget the mild and
tolerating maxims of their legislator. They conceived, , '
that these maxims, made for wretches destitute of
- r
power, could no longer syit men sapported by sove.
reigns ; they attacked the temples and gods (d pa^
ganism; their worshippers were exclude4^ from place*
of trust, and the master lavished his favours on those,
only who consented to think like him, and justify his
change by imitating it. f Thus, without any miracle, •
........ ,\ ] .■:■■■ ''.:.'-_:. • " ■ . - / .•", . ■ ; • .; x^ ^■■„
* It is evident that Constantine, notwithstanding the ;;■
eul(^ums the Christians have bestot^ed on him, was an abo-v"^
mingle prince, stained < with the murder of his w^e, his scm, _ ^
and his colleague. He sought in vain for expiation in the'^, ^
heathen religibn, but found it only in the Clmstian. If he l^^I- .
was really a Christian, his example will iaerve,' Re rasOij others, ;^' . -
to proy«, that a person may be at once' very ^ev«ut and v«y- ;■<;",.
t It is well established, timt Constantine, his duUfHi, r '
• . . ■ y .. . .. , V . iJi, .
, ■^. ■ « -,■.'_.-'■■;, .._.■'._ -I ■ ..-1 '^- •-;;;.- -i.^;.,;. ^ \'- .
f '
('
"/
(f
^'eofirtljecamfe G&ristiao, <a* at least -feigned t<> J)0r
V ' BO, and tbed8ic@D<i4fit8 of hypocritical cpurtiecs wiOfp
y Ciiristians in reality,* '; • : ^
Even before the time^ ConstanitiQe, (jhristiaQiity
liad been rent by disputie»» heresies, acbisoo^i and jioi>-
' Huskies between the Christian chiefe^t The;adii<^
; rents of the different doctors had reviled, anath^eQiC*
tised, and maJtreated each other without their qnarsds
iaaking a noise in the world. The subtil ties of Gt^
cian metaphysics, introduce into the Christian Mtlt-
gion, had hatched an infinity of disputes, which liad
not hitherto been attended with .any- remarkable coii)-
- sequences. .- All these quarrels burst forth in the i^n.
of Coneit^tine; The Jbitshopts and champions of difr,
: fereot parties cabalied to draw over the«09peror to
^ th&t side, and th^s aid t^em in crushing ^ir iidsf^-
varies. At the same tiine a very cjop&^erabl^ party
<of Cbrittians^ under the baan^ of ti^: priest' AHutt
■ ■ -^ ■•/•■'■ - ' .
'■■---. ^ ,.'%»•' =
i and espedaify lliieodo^us, us^ mmeara-pf vio^ceS in ordw
to amiHiflate pdganisia. To be coimn(ied''of tfaK, we -have only
:, totead^ llieodoa^m c(»di3,^n. tit li. de Fa^anis; 8act^km,JEt
■; TeitopUsJ^ijiAi'r ■>^'-''- '-/^
^ * '1^ .tcue, sayp |i'lei«^a the J)M:baiiaijs. yie^ f^yy^rtj^;
the Francs :tmne4,jC!hj;is^Qf(^ J P04 the Goths aijid i<pn4>ar^
became_good CathoUcs; but diey remained barbarians i^iH.
' f St Epiphaiy,^* wild wrote in the fourth century \df #e
Christisoi era, Infbiiins us, that m bSs time'tiiere were alreadly
^awptkoire k^edeit »t ^^tB, into whicb .Giim^mfi Were #-
vid«df . St. JreiMBiii^ ' w^ iir^ad • in % sec^p^ cs^^i^wry, ,4^,
before [^seif, ^ajr^»iy^i;eft|bed a , great ^pinb^r.^ Mmce , thenj we
' \ bare |>^he)d ^£Sresie| muMplym m the church without end; but
' ' this" V.npl 'swp^sii^ :=-rin* Works so confiadictorjr, so, obsMniife,
flndf^sG 'afcsurd, as ^cwe' of tfehitfc tfie BiMe l3\cofl^)ofte^ ' ieWly
CMe^aiay 9eaA 'wfaat&v^ beds in waat of to'jpJ3Ef> V9 i^^Mt&^Sbe
in6st opposite and extravagant. _ ^ ^
■ '-■ ■ : " '•■'' ' -"'■ r' ':'',>''"^'~ ■ -s s ''.'''•-' '^ . ■'■ . :- ■
-jL-,-'.*o<,.,.
denied the divinity of Jeso^'**^!^ f^ile^t^ifed in t\ie
principles of the religion that party bad embraced^ ;
but wishing to decide the question, the emperor re-
ferred it io the judgment of the bishops. He con-
vened them in the city of Nice, and the plurality of
suffrages regdlated definitively the symbol of ikith.
Jesus became, a God comubstdntial with his Father;
the Holy Ghost was likewise a God proceeding from
the two others; finally, these three Gods combined,
made only one God. i ^i? ii WiJv^ . 7
Tumultuous clamours made this unintelligible deci*.
sion pass, and concerted it into a sacred dogma, not*
withstanding the reclamations of opponents, whoivere
silenced by treating them as blasphemers and heretics.
The priests who had the strongest lungs, declared
themselves orthodox. The emperor, little acquainted
witki the ground of the quarrel, ranged himselC. for
the time on their side, and quitted it afterwards, ap-
cording as he thought proper to lend an ear 8ometime9
to the bisthops' of one party, and sometimes to those of
another. The history of the church inforims us, that
Constantine, whom we here see adhering to the deci-
'sion of the council of Nice, made^the orthodox and
the heretics alternately experience his severkiea. h .
Nevertheless, after many years, and even ages of
disputes, the bishops of Cbtistendom have agreed in
r^rarding Jesus as atii]e<?od. . Ttiey felt in the end
that it %K^BSportant for them to have a God for their
founder— a tenet which could not fail to render thek
own authority moire respected. They maintained, that
thia authority was derived from the apostles, who held
theirs direcUy firom Christ, that is, from God himseli^
It would iiow-ft«4&ya bexriminal to doubt the truth ff
lAr _■-■,-: <•«,- ■ ,.
,. . - ^.^ ./ .
this opimoQ> though many Christians are not yet con-
yiRced of it, and venture to appeal to the decision Of
the universal church^r ' \
:■,« The bishops assembled at Nice, decided also, as we
have elsewhere related, on the authenticity of the gos-
pels and books ordained to serve for a rule to Chris*
tiftns, It is then to these doctors, as has b^en already
remarked, that Christians owe their faith, which how-
ever was afterwards frequently shaken by disputes,
heresies, and wars, apd even b^ assemblies of bishops,
who often annulled what other assemblies of bishops
had decreed J n the most solemn manner. To reckon
from Cpnatantine to our time, the interest of the heads
of the phurch dictated every decree, and formed the
rvle, by which dogmas were established, often wholly
vnknowQ to the founders of their religion. The uni- | /^
vfifse became the arena of the passions, disputes, in-
trigues, and cruelties of these holy gladiators, who
i.
>
ff It ^'
• .-^^plfe. ■.-.-.. . . >t'.'':ii
, t^^^^Excq>t the English all Protestant Christians regect Epuco-
ficy, and regard it as an iisurped power.. Among the CadioHcsA
the Jansenists think the same, which is the true cause of the
enmity the Pope and "^i^ops display against them. It ^^teere
St. Jerome was, on tias point, of the opinion of the Janseqistt.
Yet we see St.>Paul at first mudi occuined in advancing the
Jl^iscopal digni^. St. Igiatius of Antiocb, disdple of ike
'7 apostles, insnuates in lus epistles, the l^gh (pinion which the'
Christians <Aig^t to have of a bishop; and the very ootient
axOhoT^oS the Apostolic Constittttions^ L 1. c^ 9, opeajty^ dwlsres, / /
^t a bishop it agoden earth, destined to rule over aU men, priests, \f " *'
C kings, tmd magistrates,. Though tiiese C^»uftVt(ffon« are reputed
J ' j||)0cryphal, the bishops have conformed thwcoildnct to' fite^i
nwre than to t|ie canonical goqpel, Wherdra Jesus,; &r fixMl as-
signing prera^|iitives to Inshops, dedar^^ thie^ inlns kin^(9tt^ere
jn^\i9 ngi^et^firfi nor Ifutf -,-*::
0
"y .
Utir^ted edch other with the' titmost bafbarttyiJ^i <T«m-
porkl soveiieigtis; united in ititeiie^t Witb sf>irittMd ^inefe,
or blinded by them, thought ttidliselves at all times
ibbliged fro pai'take of tbeir faty. Prioces -seeined to
bbld the B\^ord for -the sole purpose of e«ttif»g tfee
Ifaroats of victirtis poitited out t^ the prt^stSj who
itaflueaced thfeir ihiads. These bl?aded priaces be*
lieVed they seHed God, ot iaboiii'ed for the welfare -of
^pir kingdotnS, by espoasiiig all l^e passion^' of- the
jiriests, vrho were become the morjt arrogantt, the iziCMt ,
Vindictive, the most, covetous, and the mest flagittaas ;
of men.* . - ■
■' «We shall rtot eater into a detail of afl Che -qaan^ls
Which the Christian religion has prod^ced.t We«ha11
itoerely observe, that they wefre continual, and liave
been frequently attended with consequences aodeplor-. y.^
aible, that nations have had reason tqoretlian a hundred
titiies e^ery ic^tary, to regret'thepe'aceful paganism, -
and tolerating idolatry of their ancestof-s. The gos-
pel, or the glad tidings, constantly gave the signal for ^ -
ttxecofliTnissioh of crimes. TBte'CRoss^ks TWB'fiAN-
* ^/'UERUJfDEa -VTHICH MADMEii ASSEMBLED TO Gt/tT* '
;^|U(^,£A3RTH wixji.BLQOD. , The wiJ[l of Heavctt .was ^7/
.iiAdeiBtood by nQlK)% ; and^he ole(fj|r t^sputed^thoitt
^hd an the mamier. of «splainiu|[ diflfclea, iwthich the
, "Befty had himself ^oaie 'td>fes?ealto mortaSs, 'It^was^?
• T ^mIiPK:. aaq[Mites yrtxe mdlus, apd trdm ducting fl^y .
i&m M iatQ ^guiazels and eeS^^taas. ih^ plergy in3 4ttod&g
jrW, were tiie mo^ zealous, broke > 'fitrtb into tbe jgteal^ _.
.|ie^> aioid , when t}ie monk% i])OVe ,1aS olIiei|| (^spoUisjiBd. iQie
qfvut^ there were na lAeUidaiB tdo^lct^ Or ijom-'in^^mu
v^.
■ .-^'^--yrx ^ .-_/v, -*^; iiv. >", -.-:.->.
:i^
■< ,
1^ -■_-... •"■"■-■'- »
ilviiyB indispeas&ble to take a side ia ^e most odiateU
ligdMeciuanrete: neutrality was regacded as iDi|)iety,
3'iife party for wbich the prince declared, was al way*
otthedox, and ©n tbat account believed it had a light
to exterminate all others; the orthodox in the ehurcb
twere tiiose wKo Md the power to exile, imprison, iitiui
tlestroy their adrerearies.* ^
'Mi- The bisbops, wh»om the puksance of an empei^r
f had Taisedf torn the dust, soon becaitte rebeJlious fi«b»
'Jeds ; «nd, under preteoce of malBtaining th^r spif
>fifeaal.poiirez,i JabouQpd to be iQde|«ndent,of the sove?
teign, and eye» the laws of society. They .|nakitjaiiiad
#ibat^ pnlices :tbeiJaseW:e8« being ( sul^^ts ^ <Chrl9t^
£%cight jtoTibe : sirbjected tonthe jvarisdidtton o£ \ii» :te>'
f ^^resetitstiTfis ;«u eartk Thus the tpretonded' mCf
v^essors of isome ^sh^oien lot, Judea, to vihata. Goa^
^tflitiner had. Jtpekchediiorfchihi band, airofgated: io
themselves the right of reigning over kings; and ia
this way the kingdom of heaven served to conquer the
Tntigdoms of «be canh. v f ^
] ^ '^Hitherto tif# Chriiitian sett;, spread throughout tf|e
lempic^ had beea governed by bi&Qpspt chiefs jnidefi
vfJjaode^.pf/eBAb other, aud ^pe^otl^^ual as.to Jiw
t^Nsflictioa*' Tihis made the chuteA im aristoecatt^
|tef>ltftlic; ^btft^its g»ventoient 800g'became'^oti6aBeliiia'»
ji52Five5"^les|iotH]! Tbe respect whfdb ^s ^^^
" ,^l* %ii^Sl^' ralaritanus; ^^ea a most ottbodoz bisA^, jSi
*^ fenral ^^|sQnxn^^ tio the son df jdoBst^mtmi^' "323
not adni^Ie to ^. the eip^peror Jmnse^ that Jt was the duty^i^
the ordiodox to IcSl Constantitis on account cf las Ai&nian^
yniatk he called Idolatiy ; and for this £ie quoted Deut^ 2^ 6.
<viiiem^4gtaBitfi^%' 48, 10 v; iB9 ^^ u. jS«e^if ojmsotfs %Mr^ t»
V
cntertaioed for Rome, the capital of the world, seemed
to ^ive a kind of superiority to the bishop or spiritual
head of the Christians established there.* His bre-
thren, therefore, frequently shewed a deference to -^L
him, and occasionally consulted hiral. Nothing more >: h
was wanting to the ambition of the bishops of Rome*
or to advance the right they arrogated of judging laeir
brethren, and incite them to declare themselves the
monarchs of the Christian church. -A very apocryphal
tradition had made St Peter travel to Rome, and had ■%
also made this chief of the apostles establish his see
ifl-^at city. The Roman bishop therefore^ pretended
tojiaYe succeeded to the rights of Simon Peter, to
whom Jesus in the gospel had entrusted more particu-
larly the care of feeding his sheep.. He accordingly ' -
assumed the pompous title of successor of St. Peter,
universal bishop, and vicar of Jesus Christ.t It is
* Several auiihOTs have denied, and wi& math reason, ibat ^-
St Peter ever seta. fiiot in Rome. In the Acts of th^ Ap0»- ^ A
ties no mention is made of this jotimey, unless -we suppose , '^'
that Luke has omitted to speak of St Peter, who was a Na- '>/
zarine or Ebionite, for the purpose of attributing to St. Paul
Ids master the converdon of the ca^utaL See what has faeoi
said heiate of the squabbles of St Paul with the Judaiang ^. ..,
apostles. If St Peter had been at Rome, his gospd would ; r|
have been forced to yidd to that of the apostle of the gentile«[^' V' ' '
more accommodating to the heathens^ as it dispensed with
drcumdsionl It may therefore be presumed that St Paul was
the first pope.^-Hist. des Papes, tcnne 1. litres et Monumoos*
des Peres Apostoliques, par Abraham Ruchat, iQSvoylieyd^^lTSS.
Fr. Spanheim filii desstertat iv. Ludg. Batav. 1679. ' ' *^^ ^ ^ . W
t Bendes, H was at Rome, the inost (^ulQit C3iriBti«|s^
redd^ Hie Rttadsh church gavf large chanties to ih^
.J . ■
.■^^-■'-■^^A::'^r
/
ai3
;■' V:
tru% these titles were often contested with faim by the
ortentiEil bishops, too proud to bow willingly under the
yoke of their brother ; but by degrees, through dint
of artifices, intrigues, and frequently violences, those
who enjoyed the see of Rome, ever prosecuting their
project with ardour, succeeded in getting themselves
acknowledged in the west as the heads of the Christian
church ;* -
Pliant and submissive at first to sovereigns, whose
power they dreaded, they soon mounted on their shoul-
ders ; and trampled them under their feet^ when they
saw themselves certain of their power over the minds
of devotees, rendered frantic by superstition. Tbeii
indeed, they threw off the mask, gave to nations the
signal of revolt, incited Christians to their mutual de<
struction, and precipitated kings from their thrones.
To support their pride,' they shed pceans of blood ;
they made weak princes the vile sport of their pai«
sion, sometimes their victims and sometimes their
executioners. Sovereigns, become their vassals, exe-{
-cuted with fear and trembling the decrees Heaven
.pronounced against the enemies of the holy see, which
had created itself the arbiter of f^ith. In fact, these
fidthfiil in the provinces; itsbii&op was the richest, and even
.ia. the idme of the pagans, the Rqpian aee was the olgect of
amlntiim andjcontests of the priests, who wrangled among them«
sehres finr the fkx^ of Jesus.
* To such a ptdi of grandeur had the deiical iixp:ac$ar
.ttadied about this period, that " the emperor Mazhnus caused
.St Martin with one of his pii^ to eat at the same table with hku^
aad the empress lut.vr% served than mth her own hands.''—)*!
"■ "-■#
art
f krfiitiia^ff '']^iit(fi& immolated td their Gdd a thouMn^
times tat>r6 hdman Tictimsthaii pagaaism bad sacti*
Seed to atMts divinities. ♦
After having sacceeded ia subduing the bisbops, tbe\
head of the church, with a view to est^^lish and pre#^ "
iierve his ehipire over the people, inurfdated the states *'
^the prfnces attached to liie sect, with a multitude
of subaltern priests and monks, who acted as his spies^ p
his eitiissaries, and the organs which he employed in
making known his wilt at a distance^ and serving his
^iuiibitidn^ Thus nations were del uged witb ^en use* -
\^ bi* dangerous. St^ne, under pretext of attaining
Christian ^erfectipn, astonished the vulgar with a kiM
of frantic life, denied themselves the common pfea#v
Stores <^eiistfence, renounced the world, and languished '
^fhe recesses of a doister> awaitiopg the death whtdh
thi^ifdisagreeable life must have rendered desirable* V
Tbey imagined to please Grod hy occcrpying them^
Ik^e^ l^iy WTth prayers, sterile and esctravagaat
tli^ititfohs, dmd tendering themselves the victims 'Offt
destructive fe^aticism. These fools, whom Chris*
^iMnity- estee^s^ may be considered «i the victims
*nd m^etyrs ^^f the higher- clergy, who take ^dare never
to imitate them.*
'^*' * tJtefeaaiuty. tortdAnns Suicide ; yet W ' teHftS^^^sT %i«».
'W& of peiiedi<A, knd aS personages ecAa^RfA -With 'supeih
natural grace, mea and wonoen^ who/ liy peuitence -aM "sesis^ .
less ai;eteiities,^ evidently abri^e their ^^s. It is asserted,
Ihait ibi T^&& of La Trsppe €nded ^eb ^S^ In; » teW
ye&f!^ 'ip^ (^'jpbCli^^. ii ft thien Tribre crittiii^''tt io^^
^td laB liS^ at ohce, than to Mbwir ten ytejfe "at ^ <mk
laeaafro^figh? tf nuaffirtfl -^ete tmne toitrfsftitt, 'fliey ^nrbdlS -
jperoenre, tiiat it is very ndictdoiK ^ catdemn tt^Hftitildis "^wtl ^
..■% yx*-;
315
I- Few people, hb'wever, felt themselves inclined, to
lepire to this sublime perfection. Most of the monksy
more indulgent to themselves, were content with re-
nouncing the world, vegetating in solitude, languish-
ing in an abundant sloth, and living in absolute idle-
iiiess, at the expence of nati(^ns who toil. If some
amon^ them were devoted to study, they employed
themselves only with the vain subtilties of an unintel-
ligible theology, calculated to incite; disturbances in
society, and foment discord. Others more active
spread themselves over the globe s and, under pretence
of preaching the gospel, preached up theniselves, the
interests of the -clergy, and especially the submission
due to the Rbman pontiff, who was always their true
sovereign. These emissaries indeed never had any
other country than the church, any other master than
its head, or any other interest than that of disturbing
tHe state, in order to advance the divine rights of th^
clergy. I'attbl'ul in following the example of Jesu^,
they brought the^sword, sowed discord, and kindled
wars, seditions, persecutions, and- crusades. They
' sounded the tocsin of revolt against princes who y^ere
disagreeable or rebellious to the haughty tyrant of the
church ; they frequently employed the sacrificing knife
of fanaticism, and plunged it in the hearts of kings-;
and, to make the cause of God prosper, they justified
the most, hori-ible crimes, and threw the whole earth
iato consternation.
Such, especially in latter times, w^re the maxim^
.. and conduct of ah order of monks, who, pretending
' .■ ■■ ■ . . ■ ■ -■:;.•■' '• :':i-''Hh-hni.
drag his «arcase into the street, while they regard a frantic L ,f
monk, -or an enthusiastic wenci^ as saints agreeable to God. }**' '
■'IT
;
io waft ill the roof steps ofj^esus, assumed the aameof
bis Societt/, Solely and blindly devoted to the interests
of the Roman pontiff, they seemed to have come into
the world for the purpose of bringing the universe un-
der his chains. They corrupted the youth, the educa-
tion of whom they wished exclusively to engross ; they
strove to restore barbarism, knowing weU that want of
knowledge is the greatest prop of superstition ; they ex- <
tolled ignorance and; blind submission ;- they depraved
the manners, and in their stead substituted vain usages
arid superstitions, compatible wijtb eveity vice, and cal-
culated to suppress: the remorsp ^yvhich crtcne might
produce. They preached up slavery and unbounded
submission to princes, who themselves: were their,
slaves, and who consented to J[>ec9roe the instruments
of their vengeance. They preached rebellion aucj. re-
gicide against the princes who refused to bend under
the odious yok^e of the successor of St. Peter,, whom
they iiad the effrontery to declare infallible, and whose
decisions they preferred far above those of, the univer-
sal church. By their assistance the pope became not oaly
the despot, but jeven the true God of the Christians.
There were persons, however, who ventured to
protest against the violences, extortions, and, lisyrp^^
tions of this spiritual tyrant. There were sovereigns,
who, to defend their own rightSy ventured to struggle
with him ; but, in times of ignorance, the contest was
always unequal between the temporal and ,gpiritual ^ i
power of opin^ion. At last, preachers, discontented
with the Koman pontiff, opened the eyes of maaj.;
they preached reformation^ and destroyed some abuses
and dogmas which appeared to them the most dis-
^vstmg. Sopae princes seized ttiis opportunity to
f
r
1
'' a;
•;f;>v'!3-
f m
breaik the chains wherewith they had been so long op-
pressed. Without renounclDg Christianity, which
they always regarded as a religion w^lly divine, tli^y
renounced Romish Christianity, which they considere4
.as a superstition I corrupted through the avarice, in-
terest, and passions of the clergy. .Content with lop?,
ping Qff in this manner som6 branchies of a poisoned j
tree, which, its bitter fruits sbouldjhave discovered,
our reforrntrs did not -perceive, that .eyen the pjjinci-
pies of a religion, founded on fanaticism and .impos-
ture^ must of necessity always produce fanatics and
knaves. Tiiey dtd not observe, that an exclusive re»
ligiou, which pretends to ei^oy alone the approbation
of the Most High, 'must ^be from its essence arrogant
and proud, and becfoiine at' last tyrannical, intolerant,
a^d sanguinary. They did not perceive, that tb^
man\a of proselytism, the pretended zeal for the sal-
vation of souls; and passion of the priests for dominion
over consciepqes, m^st,, sooner or later, create devasr
tatipn. Christianity re^orin6(i, pretending to resemble
thep^re Clhristianity of the first'days of the church,
produced fiery |)reacber8, persons illuminated, and
public incendiaries, who, under pretence of establish'
ing the kingdom of Christ, excited troubles, massacres,
revolts, and endkss disorders. Christian pripoes 'of
every sect, thought themselves obliged to support the
• decisions of th^it dpctprs. They regarded as infalUble,
opinions ^bicb they themselves had adopted;, th^j en-
forced them by fire and sword ; and were eve/y where
. iio.cdnfed^acf with.tl^irvpriestff^ to make war on all
' who did not think tike tfheifl. *
*T^ .psBtertapt^ A»ve ppneisute^ flis v# as tljp Bffln^ , ,
// ( dcigy, CaWn caused ^mf!0 to be biBiiit at ^lieBevp, whife(^>'/
"< We see, especially,' th^ intolerant and persecuting ^
ipirit reigning in countries which continue subject to
the Roman pontiff. It was there, that priests, nurtur*
ed'inthe maxims of a spiritual despotism, dared with
most insolence to tyrannize over minds. They had the
effrontery to maintain, that the prince could not, with-
out impiety, dispense with entering into fheir quarrels/
sharing their frenzy, and shedding the blood of theif
enemies. Contrary to the express orders of Christ,
the emissaries of the vicar of Jesus preached openly
in his name persecution, revenge, hatred, and mas-
sacre.*" Their clamours imposed on sovereigns,; and
the least credulous trembled at sight of their power,
which they dared not curb. A superstitious and cow-
ardly policy made them believe, that it was the interest
of the throne to unite itself for ever with these inhuman .
and boisterous madmen. Thus princes, submissive to
the clergy, and making common cause with them, be-
came the ministers of their vengeance, and' the execu-i "
tore of their will. These blind princes were obliged to
support a power the rival of their own, but they did not
perceive, that they injured their own authority by de-
the)r bumed Calvinists at .^aria. The A]ia]>aptists commit^
ted unheard-of. excesses in Germany. The Enghih liturgy'
made Charles I. lose Ids head, who wanted to introduce it
into Scotland. In HoUand the Gromaiists warmly persecuted the
^^Lrmiidans. '/.:"■;;'■ " '■-•*.;'-■-'■-■'•- .....
■♦■ ■•'«?/
r *.The g«8pd contradicts itself ihcewantiy : It blows hot and
cold on the article of toleration, which is very cdnvedent &r theo^*
,a>L^ \ legians, whatever side they take. Wheii their party is the
' vreakes^ they rest on passages which recommend mildness; but
so soon as that party get the upperhand, they are theiiiautfabiised
I bj;. other passages to crush their ady^ariet. » . - .
^'^'*--'H./-:.ic:
■>'■..
ai9
divering up their subjects to the tyranny and extor-
tions of a swarm of men, whose interest it was to
^^plunge them into ignorance, incite thdir fajiaticism,
make themselves masters of their minds, domineer
over their consciences, and, in short, make them fit
instruments to serve their pride, avarice, revenge, and
obstinacy. By this worthless policy, in the states most
submissive to the spiritual dominion of the .Roman
pontiff, the liberty of thinking was proscribed with|
fury, activity was repressed, science was punished,
and industry crushed^ by the rapacity of the clergy,
while morals were neglected, and their place supplied
by traditional observances. Nations vegetated in in-
activity; men cultivated only monastic virtues, grievous
to themselves, and useless to society.* They had n^
other impulse than what their fanaticism afforded, and
no other science than an obscure jargon of theology.^
Their understandings had no other employment than
endless disputes on mysterious subtilties, unworthy of
rational beings. Those futile Occupations engrossed
the attention of the most profound genius, whose la->
bours would have been useful, if they had been directed
to o^ects really interesting.
Nations were impoverished to foster, in abundance, |
* Tlie learned Abbd Fleury agrees as to these £Eict8, in la
Mcews des Chretiens, partie 5. § 54. where he fays, that
Christians' &ught to observe exactly what is practised in 'the
most orderly monasteries^ to become livitiff examples of ChrisKim '
morality. Thus, by this confession, a good Christian is a true
monk: now a monk is a citizen dead to sodety. WhatwouM.
becooi* of a coijtntry where every body should pretend to Cbriirtiaii
perfection, and to attain which was their only aim ? Tbeet
i^ould be ndther merchants, nor soldiers, nor maiiied persons.
!
mchnculry, BD^ ^ten in druDkenness, legions of monks,
I»rieste, ^d pontiffs, froqi whom ;tbe^ derived no real
benefits. Under pretence of beatowiog stipends on the
iBtercesaora with God, they ricbly eodowed a muiti-"
tude of 4rones, whqae iprayers and reveries procured
obly^ paisery and di^nsions. Education, entrusted
tbroagbout Cbristeadom to base or ignorant prfests,
was calcuiated to form superstitious persons only, des-
titute Of the qualities necessary to make- useful citizens.
Tbe instruction they gave Christians, was confined to
inculcatlBg dogmas and mysteries whicb tlie latter pe-
ver jcoiild comprehend. Tbey incessantly^ preached
-up evangelical morality; but that sublime morality
which ^U 'the world esteems, and which so few pcac-
ttoe, because it is inco»ipatible with the nature and
wants of man, did not restrain the :passions, or ^ver
check their irregularity of manners. When that Stcrtcal
naoraAity was practised, it was only by som« imbecile
fanatics or ffiery enthosiasts. whom tbte ardour of their
aeai rendered dangerous to society. The saints of
Gbrist^auvty were either the most useless or most A^i*
lioiiSfOf-men. -^ . ^' ■■^^^iti^^r''
Princes, the great, the rich, and evjaj;the hea^s of
tiie j«4arch, thpu^t themselves eK<^used from )tlie ^ri-
gorous and literal practice of precepts and counsels,
which a God himself <had come on purpose to commu-
mkd!^. 'Ttjgey'Xek Christian perfecttOfl* toaome nris^-
atyieqSojatsV for Whom ailone it seenaed origieaftly-dcii-
tlqjgf^, yolttiif^lsant guides gtnoothed for others' the
pc«#~tp fiftcsSi^e, and, without bridling the passions,
Il9ipi^a4ip4 their vot%ri^ that it was sufficient to pome
9t^s4af€Nirt^Bn€8~/0eo<>i/%«!<their faults to ^^ h9mble ^
t1)em8elt^'«t^beirleet» undergo tbe penances «ndce*.
7
f ' ■
^\ -'■
't .^s,-- : .4'' ■.>-S'-"<"C •
>'-^ »
^
./
//
reraonies which they should impose^ jind espieei^Uy
make donations to the church, iu order ta obtaini from
God remission of the outrages they committed oftx^^Bis
creatures. By these means, in most Christiairc^iui^
tries, people and pripses openly united-^devotioQwil^
the most^ideous deprai^ty of manners^ and ~ dfteitil \9^llk
the blackest crimes^ There were deyout tyiiiitfr anil
adulterers^ oppressors and iniquitous, i^ifnlfl^tin^esilip'
tiers without morals, and public depredatof^ dk^na^ J
devout. There Were knait^ of every kind c|i<^^|^i^
the greatest zeal for a religion, th6 minidters of%^^
rim posed easy expiations even on tfapse w4n» iP^ate^ ,
its most expr^s, precepts*/' ^ r^U^ ^--^c^
Thus, by the cares (^ (h»; spiritual guides ^'^C^f is*
tianity* concord waa banished firpmstabsr priiuEfiS'
sunk into bondage; th^people were blih«fed| bq^Ewo^
was stifled ; nations were impoverished >;<^ ^l66^oa»nE>>
lity was unknown ; and the most devout IC^vstmxut
were commonly devbid. of tb66e talents knti ;yvfrt«M
which are indispensably necessary for tl^ iufp^rt i)f
society.;^,., ~ ,:■/■■-,,.• ::^t;>;;t,;;, , ' .:;
*W is assertec^ and rqteated erety di^i ^t^jnSifflf^M
fiecessaty, and that it is a, check. Jt is neoens^^iB^b^^]!^
open our«ejes to.be convinced, that religion anaqng
Hi^, fecftrSinl nobody, not even the pnesb wf^
five by it TIi6 most ^out natknis of fior^
ltal6tai§i ^^fctaga^g^ atid i^lpattiitfdii^ ai^ affile ■ _
i(bew ^t^enS: the ' example of perfidy^ crui^r,r.-:aB4zi'^^
unbd^lked llcentidusness. To ittstrain m^ tl^
of filsduMdiB nor &blt8 ; but of! good Iswb, gosd
ceMOD, ta)enti^,sdfiBC|^ gjopd fiy^i^fj^ jigaPffc fwd:
nuBiljIna^ tli^ «rf nol ci^dile of )
jtoclsnaticnSk'
>^l;
' /
*;' Such are the immense advantages which the religion
of Christ has procured to the world ! Such are the
effects we see resulting from the gospel, or the gZarf
/<Wtng«, which the Son of God came in person, to an-
nounce! 'Lp^udge of it hy its fruits^ that is, accord-
ing to the rule which the Messiah himself has given,
the incredulous' find, that Christianity was allegorically
represented by the Jig tree accurted. But those who
have faith, assure us, that in the-other world this tree
will some day produce delicious fruits. We must
t therefore wait for them in patience, for every thing
jjfevinces that the great benefits promised "by this reli-
gloi^ are very little perceptible in the present world. iV
3:.There are, however, people who carry incredulity
so far as to think, that if there exists a Grod really
jealous of his rights, he will confer little recompence
on mortals so impious a& to associate with him a man,
a Jew, and a charlatan ; and to pay him honours which
are due only to the Divinity. Indeed, in supposing
that God is offended by the actions of his creatures,
and concerns himself with their behaviour,, he must
be irritated at the odious conduct of many Christians,
who, under pretence of devotion and zeal, believe
diemielves permitted to violatet he most sacVed duties
6f nature, of which they make the Deity the' author.
t**T[i iiij add our unbelievers, very difficult tpcalcu-.
late the duration of human, extravagancies ||^ut th«y
flatter themselves, that the reign of falsehoodn^rad error
win terminate at some period, and give place to, reasoh
ilid^tr^h*. They hope, that nations and their chiefs
^^A^'ifd^fti^iman published* lBfi&i3ttd(»r, 1699, a bode under
the ti|^ of Joh, Craigii Seati, theohgicB Ckristiaiuf frinev*
fm_nuiA*maiiea, wlierdn he ebdeavoun ta prove, that evtfy
thipg founded on the testimony of moi, whether inspirad ve
i—
1/
<'■■.-
■i-r
SS3 '
wifl someday perceive the danger resuUing- froni their"
prejudices'; that thev wilPolush at KfaVihg piraatftuted
their prkises on objects deserving soWreign contempt ;
that they J will regret the blOod and treasures which
baneful fables and ireveries have cost them ; ffijd that
they will be at jast ashamed of 4)iaving been^the dupes
and victims of a nsass of romances, destitute oF proba-
bility, and nrever possessing a pdore solr^ foundation
than the astonishing credulity of mjen, arid the astonish^
ing impudence of those who preach them. These un-
^lievers vervture at least to '^impse at a tinoi^, wheo
men, become more sensible of their own interistj will
acknowledge the truly barlwrous foHy of hating and
torfinentlng - themselves, and cutting t>he "anothejr's
throats for obscure dogmas, puerile optllioris and cere- ^
monies unworthy of rational bein^ and on w4iicb it is
impossibleHobe everunanimoufi.^ These infidels push-
yU^
not inqnred, is 0^7 > proM>le, and , that- lb ^robabil^ ■ SS^^
minighes ii^i proportion as mankuid recede horn the time the /
Witnesses Kved, on whose testimony tliey brieve. ;"(3(n^^ ^t^
prin<^le he makes an algebrakal "calc^dation^ 'apcording^ tof
which he affinnsj that it is probable the Chi^dan- feSglon^
will endore still 1454 years, at the end of which its proba-
bility of oidarance will be reduced to nothing. But he
supposes, that the Igst judgment 'nmst\amye in time to pre-
vent this total edipse of the &ith. Vi^ther these calcula-
tions and jiP^^ctures be true or &Ise, w« may apply to the
religion dffln»us whafeM^Lactantius said of the heathen my-
thology, aoccffding to whidi Jupiter had dethroned his
filther Sabum: ' Video aHum Deum fuisse regtm primis iem-
jxnibut, aUum consefuentUms, Potest ergo fieri f ut aUvs fit
potteafuiurmi. , Si emmregnum pritts mutdtmn est ; ^r desperemus
etiam potteriiu^posse mutarif Lactant Institut Divin. lib. L|^ 11.
Jf God was weary of ^ Jewish Religion, why may be not become
wewyof the Christian alsa? j;, 1 *? r
- u u ^
1 1 ,
//
// "
324 -z -' ..- ■;
* / . -
their temerity so far as to maintaia, that it is very
possible sovereigns and subjects may one day loathe a
religion burdensome to the people, and producing real
advantages only to the priests of a beggarly and cru-
cified God. They think, that the profane ^ laity, if qn-
deceived, could easily bring their priests back to the
frugal life of the apostles or of Christ, whom they
ought to regard as a model; at least, these infidels
imagine, that tlie ministers of the God of peace would be
obliged to live more peaceably, and follow some occu?
pation more honest than that of deceiving, or tearing
to pieces, the society which fosters them.
^iIf it is demanded of us what can be substituted -for
a religion which at all times produced only effects
pernicious to the happiness of the human race, we \'^
will bid men cultivate their redSQn, which much better V
^^^,\ than absurd and deceptive systems, will advance their
welfare, and make them sensible of the value of vir-
tue. Finally, we will tell them with TertuUian— -
Why pain YOtfRSfiLVES in seeking for a. DIVINB
]tAW, WHILST Ton HAVE THAT WHICH IS COMMON TO
/
MANKIND AND SNGH.AVEN ON THE TABLETS Of
NATUEfi.* %,t^ a;, ij.^.^ m>'J!--^ tt-^ma^ ^'^{r-^i^^
V"^ ^ * ^ TcrifdL de cotokA tfu&ty.
#
*?r^ -^
if-
^-^-'.^ •' .1^ ct^^j^S^" .:•■ .-..^^li^:.-
Jt '•
5fe^^ti;^ja»is^i'>r^«*w*i»rf "WJaf. ^-aiVJ^ \.vv t>ife&
PEKDIX.
■■^■' • T\":^-v' *
«»:
-«!;
' ii^jkl te- ' ^ *-*'-- •'
stft.-
ti^
r^yj? CtiHtBTjAN MYTHOLOGY^H^^
/«<*/>'
1; "GOD, bf an iiicdncnvable act of his 6mmpotence« created
i^e uBiverse out of nothing.* fie made the eafth for the
"Residence of man, whom he created in his own image.
Scarcely had this man, the prime object of the labours of
;tbe Almighty, seen the light, when his creator set a snare
<:vfor him, into which God undoubtedly knew that he must I ^
'%^dL - A serpent, which speaks, sednces a woman, who is no
Tray surprised at this phenomenon. Being persuaded by the I ,/
serpent, she solicits her husband to eat of a fruit forbidden
by God himself. Adam, the father c^ the human race, by
this light fault draws upon himself and his innocent postonty
inoum^bie evils, Difhich are followed but not terminated by
death. By the offence of only one man, the whole huihan
^ race incu^the wrai^ of God ; and they are' at length pu-
nished fbr }nvolun|;4ry &ults with an universal delnge. 'God
repents having pe»jiled the earth, and he finds it easier to {
* Ex nilah niJuiJiti was conaidjered as an a^iom by aiupientfhikMp-
plien. The creation, as admitted by CfaristiaBS of the^proseiit day,
i. e. the«(^<ii>R^a///Atn|'«/ro»no<[AMj^ J8 a theological iaventioo not /^ ^ ^
indeed of ^ry ,yei»ete date. The word\Ban(A, wbicb is Used iBGeitesis, I
•ijfQifiet toJRmijMM', arriingtfio dirpo$e matter (dreaifyexUting, I r^
/
32ei
%'^-
y-«frown aad dtatroy the human race, than to cliange theii'^
/ hearts. ' " ,
A small number of the just, however, escaped this des-*
tructive flood; but the deluged earth, and the-destructiou of
maukind, did not satiate the implacable vengeance of their
Creator : a new generation appeared. These, though de-
scended from the friends of God, ivbom he had preserved in v-
the general shipwreck of the worlds incense him by new
crimes. The Almighty is represented as having been inca-
pable of rendering his. creatures such as he desired them : a,
Tiew torrent of corruption carries away mankind, and wrathf^
is again excited in the bosom of Jehovah ! - . #
Partial in his a€fections and preferences, God, at length,
casts his eyes on an idolatrous Assyrian.* He enters into
an alliance with this man, «nd covenants that his posterity .
shall be multiplied" to the number of the stars of Heaven, or
the sands of the sea, and that they shall for ever enjoy the
favour of God. To this chosen race he reveals his will : foi:
them, regardless of his justice he 'destroys whole nations,.
Nevertheless this favoured race is not the more happy, or
inore attached to their God. They fly to strange gods, fr<Hn
whom 'they seek succonrs which, are denied to them by thdut
own , They frequently . insult i he God wh» is able to extoT'^ :
minate them. Sometitxtes he punished, sometime console*
them ; at one period he hates them without a cause i and at
'*■ Tbe Arabians believe Aat Abraham, ^Mn after hie wil^'lmri, WM
hid byhis father in a certain care nnder- % sKmntaitt, for fesr of tht
Cbaldeaos, who sought to li^ hands en him, becaase the astrologen-
bad foretold that be wqald prore the destraction of their gods. 'In
process of time, Abraham, . n^hen be . wa» grpwa to jemn f(^xaaixuitj,
one ereniag' eain«^nt of the care, and .began with great $(fa»ir%tio&,to
contemplate die Hearens, with their inBamerable stats, .and, iiy
chanee, seeing the planet Teav arise, whicn gr^Iy exceeds ffie' 'rest ,
in beanty and lirightaess,^ he said, *' This is my God, and my Creator/'
BM a little after, when the moon appeared, he changed his opinion,
and said, i' This is my God and' tey Creator." At fength when the sua
arose, being astonished^ he cried out, << This is r^tly my God and my
Grestor, than whom nothing cap be imagined more splendid^ lohj.9r^
IbeantHtJ." Bnt whe'n he had spoken diese words, the angel Gabriel
appeared and stood before him, and tdnght bisa the true €rod and the
y ae reUgioR, Abr, Ecc. Hist. Arab. c. ri.
<■■ ■■/'.-
m.
//
c another he caresses them with &p little Reason. , At Isstj find-i
ing it impossible to reclaim this perverse people, for whom '
he continues to feel the warmest tenderness, he sends
amongst them his own son. To this son ihej will not listen,
What do I say ?<— this beloved son, equal to God his father,
, is put to an ignominious death by his favourite nation !
/His father at the same time finda it impoissibie to save the'
human race without the sacrifice of his own. son. Thus an
innocent God becomes the victim of a just Ood,.by whom
. he is beloved: both consent to this strange sacrifice judged
necessary by a God who knows that it will be useless tQ an
' hardened nation which noticing can reclaim. ,,--%».> .^
H vi^t ,We should expect that the death of this God, bang un-
less to Israel, must serve' at least to expiate the sins of th6
rest of the human race. Notwithstanding the eternal alli-
— ance with the Hebrews^ solemnly sworn, to by the Most
I High, and so many times renewed, that favourite Datiea
find themselves At last deserted by their God who could not
reduce tlum to obedience. The merits of the sofftmngs and
death, of.his son, are applied to the nations before excluded
fromiiis bounty. ' These are recontiled to Heaven,; now be*,
come more just in regard to them, and return to grace.
Yet in spite of:all the efforts of God, his favours are lavished
in vain : mankind continue to ^n,' to enkindle. the divine
wrath, and to render themselves worthy c^the eternal pu-
nishment previously prepared and destined for the greats
part of the human race. : ;^.
Such is the faithful history of the God. on whom the
fooodatioB ,^of the Christian religion is laid^ - His ccmduct
being so^^^^irange, cruel < and opposite to a).l reason, is it
surprising to see the -worshippers of this God ignoraiit of
their ' dfntie^, des^tjit^ of homimit|r and 'justice, and striving
to assimilate themselves to the model of that barbarous di<*
vinity which they adore ? What indnlgence have mankind
aright to expect from a God who spared not even his own
son .' What indulgence can the Christian who believes this
fable shew to his fellow man. Ought he not to imagine
that the surest means of plying his God, is to inutate his
ferocity and cruelty ?
/
l^tittfiisGod is not always nhjnist and cruel ; bis cOD^aci
Varies. Sometimes he appears to have created all qatare for
man alone ; at others he 'seems to have created man only as
an object whereon to exercise his arbitrary rage. Sometimes
they are cherished by him, notwithstanding all their faults i
at others the whole species is condemned to eternal misery
for an apple.—- This unchangeable God is alternately agi-
tated by anger and love, revenge and pity* benevolence
and fury. His conduct is continually destitute of that uni*
formity which characterises wisdom. Partial in his affec-
tions, he makes it the duty of his favourite people delibes^
ately to commit the most atrocious crimes. He commands
them to violatje good faith and contemn the rights of na^
tions : he enjoins upon them the comnussion of robbery and
murder. On other occasions we see him forbidding the sam^
crimen ordaining justice, and prescribing to mankind ab-
stinence* from whatever disturbs the good order of society.
This God, who in turn is styled the God of Veneeanee, the
/ I God of Mercies, the God of Arms, and the God oO*«ac*, is
constantly at variance witfi himself. His subjects are conse-
quently each for himself, at liberty to imitate that part of
his conduct which he finds most congenial to bis hilmoun
Hence their morality becomes arbitrary, which renders it
no way 8«rprising that they have . never yet been able to
agree among themselves, whether it would be most pleasing
to their God to tolerate the various opinions of mankind, or
to exterminate all who differ flrom themselves ? Tt is in fact
a problem widi most Christians, whether it would be more
expedient to persecute and assassinate those who think not
sts th^ do, or to treat them with humanity and suffer them
to live in peace?
, Ckrittianitif Unveilfd, by Boulangef, Chap. |r«"
It
I
,'- *
■ v'-;.
!>*'
.,:\- ^:f^«*ir.>-"-7 -■•■■'' "-'--■ ^^ ■ ^-•- II.,-. - ■ %U:i
^ ?^: CHRISTIAN MORALITY. a^
Weee ve to believe Christians, there conld have been no
♦roe morality on earth until the coming' of the founder, of
Iheir tect. Tliey represent the world as having been
plunged in darkness ^and vice at all times and places where
^ I jDhrist was tinkn6#h. Vet morality was always necessary y ^
to mankind ; for, withopt it, no society can exist. We
find, that before the time of Christ, there were flourishing
jSid virtdou8\ nations, and enlightened philoiopbers, idio
continually reminded "S^aakind of their duties. TKe yte^
qepts of Socrates, Confacias, and the Gymnosophists of]
India, are by no means inferior to those of the Messiah of
the Christians.^ ^e find amongst heathois, innumerable
instances of eqnity^ Hamanity, temperance, disinierested-
ness, patience, and meekness, which flatly contradict the
prjetenisipns of the Christians, and prove, that before Christ
* The purest part of the iTstem of morals taught ia the New Testa-
pient, and which is ao much boasted of )>y Christians, appears to.be
nothing more than a iiteral copy of the Motals qf Co)i/«diw, "frho wrote
near 600 years before die birth of Christ. This will appear evideat fi«»
Ae following extracts :
** Do to another what yoa ^onld tbey should do unto you \ and do
f \ not unto another what you would should not be done unto yon: thoa
^ I only needeat this law alone ; it is the foundation and principle of all the
rest." 24thMorfd.
*' Desire not ^e death of diiae enemy^; thou wouldtt desite it in ttaai-i
his life is in the hands of Heaven.'' 51st Moral.
*^ Acknowledge thy benefits by the return of other benefits, bBta^ar
revenge iajruries^^ 53rd Monti.
^' We jnay have aa aversion for an enemy without desiring revfenge.
•The motions of natnre are not always Ciimiaal.^ 63rd Moral.
Confttciusinstructedakw^ll by his example as by his pnieqitsj and
it woiidd bewell if his-ttoraki were taught ita aH die schools aadcolleg«t
•f BbTope^ inslittd «f iiOie «liristiu cs«e& wi'dogiBU wkieh the stud^
.•an never cbmpr^head. .^
/r /i
\
v
/ j #a8 ftn6wtf\ofteaitB,' virtue ~^^
)f f' " \ real than those h6 eame to teach.
j/
Was a supernatural revelation necessary t6' inform man-
kind ^at societj- cannot exist without, virtue, and that, by
the adinission of vice, societies consent to their own des-
truction? Was it necessary that 4' t(*jE>d Should speak, to
shew, that they have need of mutual aid and mutuallove ?
Was assistance from on High aeeessiury to discover^ that
revengf is an evir, and a^. outrage upon the laws, which,
when they are just, assume^ to thenaselves the right of retri-
bution ? Is dot thefbrgivetxess <>f injuries connected with
this principle ? And is not .hatred eternalized, where im-
placable rev^ge is exercised?;' Is not the pardoning of our
enemiea a greatness <>f ^i^^ which gives us an advantage
over those whoi pffend us"? When we. do good to our ene-
naie^, does it not give iis a sup^eriority over them ? Is not
SQchcwiduct calculated £o multiply pur friends ?= Bpes not
every man, who is desirous to ^ live, perceive ,d)at vice, in-
temperance, and voluptuousness must shorts the period, of y
life ? : Has not experience detfionstrated to every thinking
being,' that vice is injurious and detestable even to those who
are not free from its eihpire, and that the pi^actice of virtue
is the only means of acquiring real esteem and love ? How-
ever, little mlinkind. may reflefdt on what- they themselves,
tjiek true interests, and the' 'ends oT society are, they mxal'
feel: what they ought to be' to. each othjac. . Good^jla^wiU
render them good; and where these exist* ^^re is iio need
of flying to Heaven"*for' rules for thepreservatiBB and hap-
jnne^' of society. Riutson is siifficieflbfr td tift^ ti* ©«* dutier
to OUT fellow creatures. What assistincfi^ti^ reca\»ie
fropi ^religion by which it is, continutdly contradicted and
It i« sud that ChriBlM^tyy i«r fWn'coaQteiaisting mo-
rality, is its chief support, and refidcift it» obTigatioiis more -
tacred, W rginnfi: tfadni i^e 'sMffetion' of (jfbd. "in iiay'bpi-
nvm, , hoiKever, the ^Cbnstian religion, ,ig.s|?ad'9t snjpport;^
npcaiitys^^renders it .weak:andvprecarM^i9.^ It eaofopt ji^Msi-^
bty hav4B «ay seltd fonndatioo on the^foBfm&Ddsof a jCI^
who is changing, partial, and capricious,^ and ordains with.
r
r
7
' ". ' - ./ -■-'■"■ -■
v<^V!
r'- -
tol«ratioa atid persecution. It is iiiiposuble>to follow ibe j
precepts of a rational itiooilityy uader the empire of aTe%i
ligioD which Jmakes a merit ;«f rti\e most destmctlTe zeal»
enthasTa»tQ,,^d faaaticisio* A relig^ou whick, commands iu
to imitate the cooduct vf a despot whoiriiMsgbts t»«BHiare^
bis creatureff who is imphKsable in bis. ineageaoce, and de-
votes; to flaintag destractioa all wholiaye the Jiiisfiiartiute to-
di8plea8ebu9».i& incompatible wii^ all moralist The iDn^-^
merable crimes with i^bicb the- Chiigti»n» tnore tBao; la^
o>thej reUgJoOi h^ ■ staioed itfteltV have alwayg been c<Htt--
mitted nnder the pretepce of: pleasing the fero«ou& god,
whom the Chrigitians fiiiy€ inherited from the Jewa. The.
moral-character ofi tfiia godi must of neQBi«^»ff»vem the;
mor<d cond]ii<^ of tbo^ who. adore him. ^r^r, hhdofi/j*^.^-
_Sl9i^ty tinosild be. founded upon im^eble f ules.* A
^lod wbo^dertroys these rules, destrojrt his pw-D work. If
C^mI be thjB C|«ator of man» if he intends their happineiN^'
a^d preservation, he . would have them to be just, homaa^
and benevv^nt, apd averse to injustice, fanaticbm^ ^nd
cnael^j ;';;>'. ■■••"" -:
We/may ^u» age what we onghf to tbiok of those diinaes:
who pret<a;id,;^t[;withoat the iChrigtian relifflon thwe could
be neither v<noralifc|r nor vtrthe, among maukmd. The con-
verse of this prop<^ition wouM -much nigbeir^approacn the
* " It csdnot Iw too' often lepetted," says Mirabaad, ^Aat there k
BO motalitjr mtfiont ctatvoMng t^ nature of own, and -bis tnie refai-
tiont^ witb ' the beings of bis species j so fited principles formon's oott.'
dQetin,Begidattaf it iqpoa nnjnsS, caprieions, «nd wicked goife; not iowMl
politick witboDjtoofisabinif the ifatiue of ann Uring in society aad Ac
way to nMifl^^bis, wants and enore bis^ happiaeas} nf; jfood.j^rcHt.
ment can iband itself upon a de^tic God— 4iewiU atwajni, make ^-
tanta of.bis Kfiresentalaves^.abl^m will be good witinwt oounltis^
the HBtort and di« iead af jwlicitjr ; ao jnriiqinrtideace can be aAraata^
geoas 'for mfioafc^ if -it is reifidaied Vfm die ; es^pn^aari paksidns of
deified tj^fiUis. Ifr.cdncatipa wiU, be ntisval aalns itbe ioaoded v]^
'Reaa^Uf aad '. ;a^ fit^. ehisMiaa. aadU^p^o^lses. la • sboit, tfia« it no ;
\-wtxttf no pntbitT, |u> taleata aiider oorropt fM^ters^nnder the eon*
I dnct of tbote pmstB wHo render .asai the enemies of ■ tbemsdTes a«d of
od>erS| ^atfd #bo toaMnatl^ aad '^4^si^ sfsk to it^« the seeds «f rHh>
Mt^f^St9i^ev6e, and of c«tt<ag*<— gjrtfiH ^^aticritytoh ];V. p.e4ft./,
1/^-
/fi^Z/,
>j
sm
tfti^; udA k^ght bci maiaibuiiedi that tveif;€Smul^ia ^hm
'ttdkaAiea his fj^odasd practise all hi» codMialids, Vfd«efie'
ecBBsrily be an iiJEtmoF^ perioa^ If- it be totd that i^iSiit
Q^mo^ands «re not alwajs uegtist, aod that tiie. Scripttir4t»
ofibea bfcatbe benevoleocei harmony « and e(][tit^^ I finai*^,
Gbrcrtiaiifi oaast have an iacoBstadt riiordhty , sdiQletini^
gotiid and soaetiof^ bad, acctitdhig to ititetest-afid mdifi-
ditaifc It a^rpears ^lat the^ ntlȣ either be Wholly desti-
tute of trae iB«valft5rj 6t vibr^ etOxi^Bvi^lj ^f6m Vtrtoe t» i
vK^ aad from tice to virtrier '»#«*» ^*» gsdftp:>i4«v^
The Cbtistito reltgion k but ft- fott^n prop m teotrality.
It -^11 wit b^ar exai^n^iODy^ add €t^ matt i^d di»>
covers it& defeei^ wilK be readjr to^ believe ^at . the n^ontHty
fcntndcMl OQ sacfa a basis cab be only a chioSerai Thii#We
often behold men, who kav6^ eoiiched the neck bi^fieath ttk^
y<^e of neligioaj break lodtse at once, and Abandon' tfa^-
seli-es to debaadi^^, io^^penKftej-Mldev^rjrlibdefTi^C!.
Bscsping from the dav6ry of sclp^ntetMoft, they tfy to cdfU*
plete anarol^j and Asbelieve lAie ei^ifttiine^ of all moral cttr-
XusBi beeafase they W» foand is^igbtf td b6 only a 'fiible.
Qence, among Christians, the words infidel and libtft^
1mm become qftios^oioius* AH th^ee incJOavwHenefca lifottld
be avoided, if mankind, instead of being tttugM Viik(l6h^'tdlt, I
•mttetM^tAnaittrtd morafity; iiistiHid of iiitikBtting \tL*
tnaipeFaiiee «nd vice» B66altse.tb<ey a#e tsSHa^e to God tAd
religion^, they should be prevented, by convincing man that
Ihey are des^ctive to his exi sfenqi^and. render him con-
temptiblelB society ; that they are ditai^pfovedraad t^H'bid-'
den by reftgoa anff^j^uref ~<i^ aimSblHS"yiia9crvafeoa, ObH
n\^
diteet him to take tBe^Chittel farfi tt> pmtntoe- fsMMj,
Whatever may b€ ^g #ill bf G««f, mA rfial^^dtuBydTlfe'
ftitare tetv^af^ and puni8h^%fs/knnoim?e<<^^^^^ religion, it
it easy to, prove te^eiq^ aia.n that ijtis UL.tlu&WOrid bis in*
terest to preserve bis h|?^th, to respeet virtue^ aequire the
eateeis of bis Mow^^refttarcs, and^ in fine, to Initibaitte,
temperotis, and vtfiuotc^ Ttiolse wlrai^ pks^tbi&s wi^U not sufiHf
thetti to attend to plrffiettJlte, mdUf, and ^easoiiable. will
riOtBife mor^ docile, to the vmceo^ which ihef will
cease to betiave tbe moment it ^opposes -tlMiir mi«ai|diiue
propensities* ^/'^'■'':'-'''^^^^:r:'^-''^
*s:.:
'-:^' Ji^ '-^f.'
> .
.^■'-.'-. . .•,:■.■'■••:;■'--'-"':• -^" •.- '"'\ '-::*''' ':--r.-\f^^y.^ly' ^ ^
' Icjt iti^ the pret?iidle4 a4^pnt^gf»» vblch^e Clinician
•-' reUjgi,^ Ufi^f Wprality be uq Ipr^r i^Musted*. Tbfprju-
cif^es clmwn from reve\§.tl9fi t.eM ^ ij^ 4^fttj:mr)jp^» IJ^e
h;iye ^rej^ent ex^ofipl^ pf Chjii^tiw ja^tip^^y mbp^g i^sjc^js
are ftr mpre cprrupted than tbp9^ pf p^plf l^bpn^ Xhisg^
style infi<iel§ i^pd b;eatbej}9 ; |be fprmer are at least mpst sub-
ject ip religipus fanaticism, a pussipn calculated to banish
justice and all the social virtue If om society, , "
Chi;bttaDity creates intpleniDce and persecutPrs, whp are
much more injurious to society than the mPst abandpned
debauchees. It is at least certain, that the most Christian
V nations ^ £urope are not those w))e<«uti<ae moratity is
most felt and practised. In Spain, PortugaL and Italy,
^ where the most superstitious sect of Christiansi nas fixeditt
- ' iresidence, p^ple irve in the most shameful' iguor^mceof
^theit duties. Robbery, assassination, debauchery, andper-
. secution are tbere carried to their worst 6xtr6me ; and yet
'"' "all men. are full -of religion. Few virtuous men exist^'in
those countries. There religion itself become an accopi-
*' Jipiicfe to vice, fiirnishes criminals with an ajsylum, andp;^
''"**curw to them easy mean's of reconciliatidn with 6od.
Presents, prayers,' and ceremonies procure mknkind d.'<^B<-
^pensatiou from the practice of virtue.- Even^am^ngst nia-
^; iaions,* tfhb bbaist' of possessing Chrrstianityi^ iill its piiiity,
vl religion has so entirely absot'bed theattentiou of itssec^iafies,
'* ,^ilfotwitiwt9Q4iB^ tb« hs^y mfia«iices f^riliated < t«h . di4 <£larM-
t^tM rdigiaiv, i^ we find mote virbK^ in iho^ wJ)f»_Aro^9«' Jtf Ijbf^
, id those who. are itrau^eis )tp j^ ? ,^rp the I9e^,^||^lfed >y ill^
'^^"^^lolid of ^ven a Deity, more faoq^t than others?' jit jmigbt .be img-
l^aefl that we woiilil ask in' Tain' aniong^ Chrutlans ror rapinf^ fofr
nieaCioii)'' adultery, and bppjgession. Amon^ the' iotittodox covrttert
" yHJM *f mwftrtit- Chnariaq titrodea, io #« not ditMl^r intrig>tte8, etti
tfi^pl^t^i^ )ioptfifist, lu^d ftn^paivce s^i^ te^^^ fhastisc^H^^^^^
we not find crimes that shnii the da^ and erery species of ini-
bed repentance, to tippease' that divine justice which they hare insulted;
4loiiB|^ ^e whole coarse of their live*.
^^^
.^
^IttMity etaters ndt into thfeii^'tlioaghts ; Wnii^^ny 64tbu-
Jl V late that they fulfil all thefr duties by a scrupuloti^ bf^^eirt^-
1/ /fl^ tibn of the tniimtise of superstitious cerem%>Die8, wti?fet they
are strangers to'all social affections, ancl labour'f(]>r the d^-
strttctibn of htim«a happiness. «. i^ '
: -^:":' <;-"", - * ' Christianity Unveikd, Chap.' xu
. *i Y . PoUltcaliiEffects of the Christian ReligionMUy
': - ■ ^
'; After liaying seen the inutility, and evien danger of the ^
perfections, virtues, and duties proposed by the Christian
\ Tcligioti, i^ \ais enquire whether its political influences be
) more happy, and whether it can in reahty^ pron^ote the
, wel&re of a nation, among whom it is established and faith-
foil^ observed. We at once find, that wherever this reli-
gion jsadmitte^^ two opposite legislations, ever fift variaace
with e^h other, established themselves. Although 4hi8 reli-
I gioh preaches love andpeace, it soon, annihilates the effects
of those^recepts by the divisions which it necfsiajrily SQWs^
among its. sectaries, who unavoidably interpret i^et&oAy
the .ainbiguoas oracles announced in holy writ. ^ We' find
that from the infancy of religion the most acrimonious dis- ~
pates have continually taken place among divines. The**
successive i^es of Christianity have been stained with
schisms, h^riesaes, persecutions, and contests widely disjcdr-
I j d^t finom its boasted spirit of peace and concord, which
is in &ct incompatible with a religion whose precepts are so
" \ dark and eqnivocaL la all religions disputes each party
* I belieyes that €tod is on its ride, and cpP8e<|BCTtly they, are*^
^)gtfBatg». Indeed, b^ can it be otbeifwne, wben^ they
'^MXl'^e reBgiOBB <m earA dcebre that Aej We emaaSteS ttam
Goii^ mad pretend to possess an exchnTc i%^ to' h^, fsvoan.- The
Im&ai' asseiti ttat ibe Brama himself Is Ae aathsr af fait warAip.
^ '•flUiKliinsa derives liis from the awful <WS«t. If Ac Jew aad
\
^onfouhd tht cause of <?od with lliat of thirir own^?anity ?
mins mutually averse to concession, they quarrel and fight
Until force has decided a contest in whi|i|||they never appeal
tt* reison. In fact, political «Citfaortties have ever been
forced to. intei^fere in all the distensions which ittve arisen
among Christiaus. Govehtiments have alwe^aBsteBedto the
fdvoloos disputes of priests, and foolishly eoiisiddred ihem
as objects of the last importance. ^ They have txmceivedf
that in a religioA established by God himself, there could be
nothing of a trifling nature. Thus princes have arined them*-
selves^ Against their own subjects, whose opimons differed
from.iheir*s. Thiewiay of thinking at court has dcfcided-the
creed and faith of subject. Opinions supported by kings
and priests have been the only trite ones. Their creatures
have b^eh the guardians of orthodoxy., and were coooki
missioned to exterminate all whdm they chosetcil d^otmnate
heretic, and rebels. :/-^^^ ' ^^m>%i<i<ri^^^..|^>h if " ~
The prejudices of princes or their false piolicy, IbiiA'^xkased
them to consider those of their subjects who differ from
themselves i irreligious opinionii, al bad citizena, dangerims
to the $tate, i&nd enemies to their power. If, Kanvii^ to
pries|», the, business of finishing their own imp^runiekt'dis-
puteV» they ^^d not assisted their quarrels add pas^cii^dnSf^
they wo^ld have died away of themselve|j, and i4Wiir-1]aVf
AeCliristiaB bare ree4iive^'A«1ni /rom Jdtmwii^iTbj fhCijidbKii^t^f
Mom and J^snv the MabAmetaa aAnnt, ^«tM J)M|^gf<isfd;U«.^Q;B htf
prophet, inspireil by the nune God. , T^hns ^1 r^U^m, OKtma to a j^f na*
•rigiB; aad ti^y all lBterdieijd|ie^aM.ofjmua>a in^
their sacretd ii<lee. fiscfi pretdndi to Itie tl^e oAIy^t^ 'ApCy'lo fluTexilii.
sion of all often. All aeBace witlv flie wia^^c^^li^fk 'titese #bo
>efitte to eitlbmit 4o Amip'niMhj^-wiAf^m^
lalielioodliyfte palpaUa eoBttaSetiom^ wi& wUicfc^ith^.«m4HM^:jJij
t^ miMkqpMi, olMean, aad oft^ od){g|Bp, |d^ <!r^>0h ^yjgf^ji^
fodhead ; bj ibe whinneal kws wVi<^,^y attribnte to hiiM^j ji^>y tbe
,dupQtes "NUeb.diey ^eaenleBnioa^ their aeetariM. {a sber^t^ey^
, appear to lie aln^ 'of lOi^MtnfeiilBBd' i^ eiiiudly dugiu^a^ to tea.
■on. ThaaW^ttfe'sdMra of pretenno^ AiChrbtiaarelifioBltisiMad^
•ad m.^fi»^ngmi* «at«ied*j«aia»JMii iiritjiji iiw^ jiropmty w
tbeicV ii:dfM^ J^iu^o rh^^mms^i >v?- mimmdud' thm^ ■ ;
\
It
tt
S36 .\
^itvixhed tHe p^ace of oaticMjs^ U thof e kings had iq^^-
tiaHyrec«n| paused the good aad punished the bad without
rqi^fd t4> t^ir jvoiship, ceremoniesi, a^ncl speculative opi^
nioi^, #Of Wiould i»>t have made many of their subjects
s«ph eni^Q^ifS/^ tltat pover by which they found themselv^
oppnef^, j^iistians have always attempted to reclaim
l^^ff^i»% hy iioj^f^tioe, violence, and persecution. Ought not
th^ ^ h^ve perceived that this conduct was calculated
<Hily tp pE|M|#pe l^yffp^t^ f^^ ,b|i4d^ ^pmmt i»F . ?B^
tefe§Wi<«J#^ ;••--:. :'-- ".■.:■';■ .".,■•■.■. *^: .\-v;.
Pm: Jth^se i^ection« are not designed {ox prisces^ who,
fro^ their |n£)Acy, have been $lled with fanatic^m. an<i
pr«ja4i<^ They, instead of being actuated by virtuous
zpklktives, l|ave forqoied obstinate attachments to _ frivolities,
s^ inipetaoua«rdoui:for doctrines fcureign to ti)e welfare of
their «tates> and « boundless wrath agtanst all who refuse to
bend to their despotic opinions. Such sovereigns find it a
fi^fl^/Yfa^ U* di^troy mankind tjtian reclain) them by laild
mi^s.. T^^ haughty d^ppti»n will not condescend tp
semop., ^4iigu>njaa9uref then) that tyranny is lawfi|l, and
ciiie}t7|ii.erit<Hiou8, when they are employed in the cause of
7^^ christian ri^igjpn, in factj alwayjs makes^ despots
\ 9n4 ^,^Q^ ^f all jthe ^pver^gns b^ whom it is «d9jpted. It
represents them as gods upon earth; it causies their very
captiecs to be re^^eefed as the <«iitt ctf Heaven itself. It
Aetti^s inahkhid -into their handti as an herd of 'slaves, of
i^^i^ th^' iailnf"dii In return for
i^r ze^X^T'tiAj^oQ, all the outra|;es upon justice ^that't^ey
qi9 Qo^mji w^i^gw^, l^j^ir objects are oommaD^ed
under $»» «f tiu» yjatib of ih^ M9it I%k, to jwl^t ^^-^
QQt^aXttnnury^o the s«ord thai etrikes instead of protect*
tng tliwi. ; It ii'not, -diiBrtfoi**, B^ fhat since
theestablishnalent of iAiM ^s^m^ 'yreJM
w^oa^xo^ vim3^r , id^vppt t^r^tts, w|io^ a^l^o^^^ obstinately
at$^h«f|l t9J^ffim»hfafff,h^g^ W4wst» lM::^ti9V^^BWK)'<:ru^
WJh«tevar«fiiie Iht ^oppifesnoBsimid ravages fii tbese xgki^
•Of pK ^ftoentieal prinecBv tba pii^sta -hBim ^wtfulcd to
preach aubmissiou to thdrmbjecti* On the d^Mar hand^
m
>i
M
li!t«»nMbe sttTpnsedto see so imaiy ireak «^ inc^d t
prineeff «uppfnrt is iheir tarn the hiteiMt «f a vel^ioix
which tbdf fake poHcy judged tieccMarjp te tiie lemasimeeitt
of that iiiith<Mnty. H kings woe enlightened;^ jtHM aiidimr*
twnie, and knew andf^aetwSd theit t«A dmies^ they we^iM
fate had no need df the >vA off supcw^oai in ^efttittg
iatioDS. Bht, as it i» morte easf toeon^^r to fttCi ^fttti t(^
aoynre tatents or practise inxXxKj tftw fdifetfln teai^
♦ften feurid in princes sapport fi>r itself^ atid d«t>tf etiofl^
far lis enemies. -
The ministers of rdigitia have not had the saifie cOttlpliist-
«nee £»r princes vrho refiwedrto make a coomiM eaose with
^em, espouse their qBctrrelsi and beteoeae ^nAtseHijeiit to /
tbdr passions. They have arisen i^inst those who have /
th^atled tfaett Tietrs, ptmidied their escess«»i toifched their
ioMttuaitMSy endcRtoured to subject tiieBB to leiksoif^ or t^
ptess their arabitioiis designsw , tlie pfieits oil sueh 6eca«
ifons, «ry oot^ Impiety I Saerilegel 'fhl'fr ^ey prefeud
thiAtiieso?ereigQ puli* Atj Aond «Ar the muHty aild ndti^
thei^te graoled tiiem l^ God Imnsdil Theii they ^tdl^
YOitr to exdtfe naitotEs to rdMttofi. Tlfiey aria ftBoe^tk
agatiist sovMrei^, whom they deelare tfiwtts i&t YacAa^
hee&waBbdg in sttbmisnon to the chweh* tUstPtHt^iAihtyt
Steady to revenge any injustice dode4oitB Ibi^fterS. tiidf
are themselves sfibmissive« and preaeh subtttttsiotf^ toOliheitt^'
only when 1^ arepermitted to share the alidi«tfHy, or iM^
too fcM>le. to resist iii This is the raisdnwhy 4he Apostle
ifi the infiittcy of Christianity, being desttti^ df^ po#4*r^
preached sttbordiMrion. No sooner had this tiligi«(ft' gie^ttl^
sD^ci^t strec^th than it preached resistsmoe «ld' i^l^i^toar ;
detkroaing some kings and assassinaitittg. otthete*.
'f it it veil to oiiaerre, Aat the pries^ who are perj^etoillir oryu^ 1
-•at io ffii people tb inhpit thenuelTei to their Mvere^^f, beeaoge
tbi^ antliiAf^- it^fe^itetl fVbdr ]^f(!&~t)dc&lue the/are iJie inu^^
of Ute dii1ii%, i^^ray dift^ dfeir Ikiigtt*^^ M^eiuitsf iSA Idfe-
ruga Aoe* not bHa^Mthtaiit to die: dhtotb. TlW dl^i^ iv^^HA 9m.
foKaam. only diat it may. dirtot i^ Ubwa ai^kaut AmIt .eoeibsiea } it
or«|duow« if wheaerer it fiads it contrary to its mtsrflstSj jQi(ifB^vM»
oir Ibe laruifaU . powers .preach np ot>edieiM» to the vkqUc powers onljr
Wft^li ^eife^tffe fal^tlj defdted to ifiem. Mirabautf.
1^
f/ *
II n
(
tAtnrf polifteat body wfaerei]liis_rdigiMi is estatili^edi,'
thtt^^we two rival power^~wScli j^iocesgant contcatum'
'c<w>vttlae jMid wcmnd the rtate«" The citizens divide intof
opposite p^rti^«^h of V which fighta o» thinig~it ^ghtg Tor
God. Th^ conteats at differeiit timet terminate diffe-^
"reatly7 bnt 4he. trmmphant party i» always in the ri^iw
By :attentive eyaminrow'of inch events we «hall esci^
the dmntnion of fimatici^in. It is ty stimnlatiDg mankind
to enquiry that they mnstbe frei^ from the shackles of su*
perstitioo. Let mankind^think till they have thrown asi^^
^^rp^^^c^^and they will think justly. The jei^~or
the pnCTtbood will cease, when men cease to be ignoranF"
anid crcfdulotis. Credulity is the o^pring of ignorancej and
spperstition IS the chilij of credulity. ^ "^
^ Bat most fcit^ Aread that mankind should be cnlight*
ened. Accomplices with the priesthood they have fikrmed
a ^ej^e with them to stiflgjrgiKon, and persecute all who
coiAde in its guidance. Blind to their owp interest and '
those of t&eif subjects, they wistTogly to command atoVea^
foi^^ng those slaves are always at the dfapoeal of the
priests^ il'^s we see. science neglected and ignorance trU
umphaat in those countries where* this religion holds ibe
most absokite dominion. Arts uid sciences are the children
of liberty, and sepalrated from their parents, they lang^ish^
and die. Amiong Christian nations, the least superstitious
are the most fi«e, powerful, and happy. In countries^
where Sjuritual and temporal despotism are leagued, the
peo^egrovd in the most sbam<^ul ignorance and.lethargic
inactivity. The European nations who boast of possessing
the purest fiiith, are notsurdy the most flourishing and pow-^
erful. Their kings, enslaved themselves 1^ prieats, bave
not ^ergy and courage enough to make a single strugfgle
for their own welfare or that of their subjects. I>riests i^^
such states are the only order of men who are ricK^ 4>ther.
citizens Umgoish in the deepest iudigraice.. Bat irf VKtatsu^^
portance are the power and hn^iDess of natioos to the se(>>
taries<^a rdigion wbo sieek not f(Mr-hapinness in th» tv^d^»
who belteve riches injurious, preadi a God of povetty* and
^ecominend abasemeoito liie sont, an^ niortification of Ove,
^
■ i'i
1
1/
*-,-:
K
>-N
7
//
/
'■' iiesti ? tt is, without doubt, to compel people to ptactise4 M
these /maxims, that the clei^y in many Christian states have
taken possession of. most of the riches, and live in splendour j { "^ f ;
while roeir fellow-citizens are set forward, ib' ^he road t(f
Heanren unincumbered with *ny burthen of earaily wealth.
Such are the political advantages society derives from the
Christian religion. It forms an independent state withiti a
state. It renders the people slaves. Wlien sovereigns are
obedient to it, it favours their tyranny; when >they are
disc^edierit. it renders their subjects fanatite and repellioos.
When it accords with political power, it'convulseSjMebases,
and impoverishes nations ; when not, it makes citizens un-
social, turbulent, intolerant, and mutinous*.
Cjkristianity Unveiled J Chap. jat^.
iv
vv ;- ~
- * See, La Contagion 8acree.hj Trencliturd, published in 1768. la
that /work the grievons iaflnedce of sapeistitionr on goTeminentj»'c^'|i
striking'ljr displayed. '. . ..
■■■■>
\--
CHRISTIAN CLERGY. '
No religion ever placedjla sectarie» in more complete iaad I , | '
jPOB^uri dqpendaace on priests than" the Christian. . Those L V i ■
^ 1 na^es never lose sight ^of their prey. They take^«infalli-
^ I ble measures for subjecting mankind,. and making all con-
tribute to their power, riches^ and dominion. Havio^ as-
sumed the office of mediator between the heavenly monarish
and his subjects, these priests are looked upon as courtiers
in iavoar, loinistenlscommissioned to ese^cise power in Ips
name, and fixvonrites to whom he can refuse nothing
Thus they become absolute masters of the de^ny of the
Christians. They gain establishn^ent^ and ^tfjender them-
selves necessary by the introduction of inntinmefable prac-l j
'
.J ■
--- '^t
/
\- . "■■■:/.■ .'.,:,-,.3*Ql. ,;--V^^''' ".■ "-■ -^
tices and diiiies, w,hich though puerile. and ridiculous, they
have the address to make their flocks consider asindispeuT
sahly necessary to their salvatioq. They represent the
omission of these pretended duties as a crime in^itely \ r
greater than an open violation of the laws of morality and
reason.
Let us not'then be surpriised that in the most zealous, that,
is to say, the most superstitious sects, we see mankind per-
petually anijoyed with priests. Searcy are they bom, v^en
under the pretext of washtBg away original sin, their priests
impose on them a mercenary baptism, and pretend to recou-r
cile them with a God whom |hey haye .as yet been unable
to' offend. By means of a few words and magical cereiiiOr
nies they are thas snatched from the dominion of Satan.
From thetenderest infancy their education^ is frequently en~
trusted to priests whose principal care is to > instil into them
«irly the p'rej5&ces "necessary 'to the views of the church»
Terrors are now^ntroduced into their mirids^ which increase
during the whole of their lives. They are instructed in the ta-
'l>les, absurd doctrines, and incomprehei^sible mysteries of a
marvellous religion ; they are formed into superstitious Chris-
tians, and rendered incapable of bang useful citizens or
enlightened men. One thing only is represented to thein as
necessary, which is to be jin all things "devoutly submissive
to religion. ** Be devout," say their teachers, *? be blind,
despise thy r^ison, attend to Heaven, and neglect earth,
this is all thy God Remands to conduct thee to eternal
felicity." •" ' '■''-'. ^'f f^ ■■...';,:; V ?'*r-i--;-'vf?t I'rf^rgO;*;;?^!^ . ■'■
Without the consent of his priests, a Christian cannot
acquire a knowledge of the mysteries of • his . religion,
from which they assume a right to exclude him entii«ly. This
privation, however, he has no great reason to lament. . But
the anathemas or excommunications of the priests generally \ '
do a real mischief to mankind. These spiritual punishments W
produce teinporal effects, and every citizen who incurs the L
disgrace of the church, is in danger of that of the goyem-
meiit, «ind becomes odious to ; his fellow citizens.- -,
Priests have taken upon themselvesthe management of mar-
riages. Without their consent, a Christian cannot legally be-
came a father. He must first submit to the capricious for-
m-
atl
iiiaHties of his religion^ without which his children must be
.excladed from the rank of citizens.
During ail his.life, the Christian is obliged to assist in the
ceremonies of worship under ithe direction of hfs priests.
When he has performed this important duty, he esteems
''»S
himself the fayourite of Cijod, and persuades himself that ,
Tie^^no longer fOwes any thing to society. Thus frivolotis \
practice take place of morality, which is always rendered
subordinate to religion. "^ \ f^ ^"^^ -^
When death approaches, the Christian, stretched in agony
on his bed, is still assailed in those distressful moments by
priestsT In some sects, religion seems to, have been inventecl
to render the bitter death of man ten thousand times more
bitter. A mtdicious priest comes to the^ couch of the dying
man, and .holds before him, arrayed in more than all ite
. Z. . _J ; ; 1 i_ 5 ^— 1 i_
terrors, the spectacle of his approaching end. Although this
custom is destr active to citizens, it is extremely profitable
to the priesthood, who owe much of their nqhes to legacies
procured by it. Bforality is not quite so highly advantaged
by it. Experience proves^ that most Christiann live in se«
curity, and postpone till death their reconciliation T^ith
God. By means of a late repentjtnce, and largesses to the
priesthood, their faults .are expiated, and they are permitted
to hope, <^at I^eaven will forget the accumoiated crimes of
a long and wicked life. ^ " ~
Death itself does not terminate the empire of the priest-
hood in certain sects, .which find means to make money
even out of the dead bodies of their followers. These, for
a sufficient sum, are permitted to be deposited in temples,
where they have the privilege of spreading infection and
disease^ The sacerdotal power extends still further. The
prayers of the church are purchased at a dear ra£e, to die-
liver the souls of the dead from . their pretended tormients
inflicted in the other world, for their purification. Happy
they who are rich in. k religion, whose priests, biang fa-
vourites with |5od, can be hired \.si prevail on him to remit
the punishments which his immutable Justice had intended
to inflict. ' r ■ ^i^: / . «
CAmltonify i7Mod/n(y Oiap* xiii J
34^
Jpoaks nieniioned by the Fatnei-^, and other andH-
v^^ent Writers, said to have been written byJesv^^
Christ J his Apostles, and other Disciples* t«^« ■
1 • . , -ij;f,-i
JES0S CHRIST. -^^^
A Letter written with hk own
-^;hand to Abgaras king of
t',.,VEdessa. . - -_'
An Epistle to Peter and
.. iilxe Parables and Sermons of
Christ -
A Hymn which Christ se-
^i|:cretly^ taught his Disciples
' - abd Apostles.
i A Book of the ' Magic of
:' Jni,"C!irist, or the Art whereby
i; he wrought~his Miracles.
-:^^ A Book of 'the Nativity of
y .v_ Jesus, vof . the Holy Virgin
vj^'^s Ws Mother, and her Mid-.
•'.'- ^ wife.
; A Letter written by Christ,
;^ and dropt down from Hea-
if^ ven in the 6th Century.
J
^4ktr^y: ' MARY. ■ --^■<-:l^ m
* An Epistle to Ignatius.
Another Epistle to.the Sici-
nans. ^ . ■ -
A Book of the Nativity of
the Virgin. ^
The Book of the Virgin
': ,-Mary and :her Midwife.
^ l^^e History and Traditions
^ ; of Marji.
The Book oi Mary, concern-
'f*- iiig^he BCracles of Christ,
and the Ring of &ng Sotl.
lomon. _ t|,^
The greater and lesser Qe€«-C ^
tions of Mary.
The Book, of the Progeny of
■■'Mary. '; ^!^?^-\
;S eiio-,
'■'■'' i^ ^?^MSaSi^,
:■•'■ ■ . PETER:V:-^v^^^^_ .-^^
The Gos]^ of Peter^ «^*1^bt';^-^
— Acts of Pieter. M-^ '4v^ ;
— ^ Revelation of Peteir.; /^ ^- V
Another Revelation. • 1'
The Epistle of Peter to Cle^ ;
mens. V.&b^^^
The Disputation of Peter ajpyS ,
Appion. ,;. : -• •
The Doctrine of Peten ■' 'f - ^^ .
Preaching of Peter;^^ ^^
Liturgy of Peter. *1 .^Jj^ '
. Itinerary of Peter, ry^^ :,p:^
— - Judgment of Peter,^-^',;< -"^ ,
. "ANDREW, ^f^'^^f
The Gospel of Andrew. ^#*^ '
Actfrof Andfew.
'1 -.i'
u-A'
JAMES.
The Gospel of James.
• LituYgy of James.
A Book on the Death of the
Virgin, ' '• -
. . c'ft'^fi ■;.■;;■■. • '
JOHN.
The Acts of John. ;.♦
W .■ , ' ! . , ■
■^m
'M^^
^aoeaefG6«^6fS6hiu^^^^'^'^-'l!imDf^^
Whe Itioftrwy of ^^D,
-t^-r-Iitl^^ of John, ;: , ;
i^-^Traclitions of John. I ^
^^^^'Epi&tlig 4i Jehu to the
; i.^)!i Hjtirepic.
y^ ('<A !Bak)k! oa i^-^ Daatii.<ef
•'Maiy.''- <-^:j ,rc» ,rf '^-''-f * ^
' The JH^emorial of Jesas
Christ, and' his Descent
^^* 4x0111 the Cross.
• -Another Revelatioti ef John.
'X B^TIJOLQMEW.
"^Tne CJospel of Bartholomew.
/ 5 PHILIP.
— The €rOspel of Philip.
—Acta Qf Philip. ,
is^^irt.^
The Gospel of Thomas.
■ Acts of Thomas.
Book of the infancy of
Christ.
, ipRevelations of Thomas.
——Itinerary of Thomas.
■■'^
MATTHEW.
'A Book of the Infancy.
The Liturgy of Matthei^t^^-
MARK.
The Liturgy of Mark.
■Gospel of the Egyptians.
■ Passion of Barnabas.
ThfcGaipdl ofTl«daa^— |
y; Matthias;
The "Gospel df-Matthias.
.:■.:,.!
■I. my
diriUitioRtof Mattii^.^ :<
Lets of MaUHieiiili i^jt
PAUt.
l^efAe^o
atid
-iH' i Axka «f ^tttl
«— -»— JEpistle -to the Laodtf-
ceans.
A Third Epistle^o th^TRie^
i» iftlimidns.
AThird Epistke to Use Cft.
riatbisuts. r
An Epistle firom tl^e Comir
' thiims^ with Patirs Answer.
The Epistle -tor laiid -frodi
Seneca. .
The Revelations of PauU
Another Revelation^
Tbe "Visions of Paul.
. Anabaction of Paul* '
^The Gospel of Paul*
——Preaching of Paul.
■ Narrative concerning
' , . the charming of Vi-
' pcrs*
■!'i iPrecepts of Peter and
Paul.
BARNABAS. . ,
The Gospel of Barnabas.
Epistle of Barnabat* :
\'
'"r
When we find Christianity at its very commencement,
inundated with so many Gospels, Epistles, Revelations, &c.
the greater part of which are regarded as authentic by a
vast majority of Christians of the present dij^ by what
^ Vv
"^m^r- -■ ■'■■' ' ^ - •*
criterion are we to determine' that 'the books recerved by
protestants are the only works possessing Divime Authority ?
— ^The^difficulty increases when it is recollected that these
books* before the invention "of printing, were liable ,to be
:/ I altered and interpolated at pleasure. Printing was invented
in the year 1450) and first brought to. England by WilUam
Caxt^n iit 1471. The first translation of the Bible from
the Hebrew was by order of Ptolemy Philadelphus, 277
years B. C. The translation called the Sep^agint was made
by the LXX, or rather by seventy-two persons in se-
rent^-two days. From this the vulgate or Latin transla-
tion was first printed in 1462, and called Jerom's of Prague.
The first English translation of the. Bible was by order of
Henry the Vlfl. Act 27tb, 1541. That now in use by James I.
1611, Act 6th.' "^^'^.px i.. . \ ^, -^ 1:5. ^i'.^i: ;;_'.>,, '*
^ If the Bible be ille word of God, it requires not the wretch-
,/ -fid aid of prosecutions to defend it-; aud the legislature
might with as much propriety enact a law to protect the rays
of the sun as to proteiEi^ ti^e Kble, if the jSib^ like the sua,
Iw the wrk pf Go^g'rSirlf i^
■■"■■':■■■' ll^'^VgjJ.Tifces**^^:''^-^ ^^ ^ ...
■'•:■- ^'-''^r'^v-v: ; -.fetsi^- ''''• •'' '^'''-"'''■":^iiif^^^^^^^'^i>^^^-3^'
^-.^,,.„.V. . ^-..v ■ . -,.,.-.^{ .^v,.;..^... ,.^,.^^,-. .^=...^ ; ,
^'^^,-.^,-.-.,- ■ ■ .,-. ,>^a/-:.4->; ■ -. ^ . . ~:
'*-;•.■:,•#
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