SECTIONVIII:THEFUNDAMENTALSOFTHECHRISTIANRELIGION
556Menblasphemewhattheydonotknow.TheChristianreligionconsistsintwopoints.Itisofequalconcerntomentoknowthem,anditisequallydangeroustobeignorantofthem.AnditisequallyofGod-smercythatHehasgivenindicationsofboth.
Andyettheytakeoccasiontoconcludethatoneofthesepointsdoesnotexist,fromthatwhichshouldhavecausedthemtoinfertheother.ThesageswhohavesaidthereisonlyoneGodhavebeenpersecuted,theJewswerehated,andstillmoretheChristians.Theyhaveseenbythelightofnaturethatiftherebeatruereligiononearth,thecourseofallthingsmusttendtoitastoacentre.
Thewholecourseofthingsmusthaveforitsobjecttheestablishmentandthegreatnessofreligion.Menmusthavewithinthemfeelingssuitedtowhatreligionteachesus.And,finally,religionmustsobetheobjectandthecentretowhichallthingstendthatwhoeverknowstheprinciplesofreligioncangiveanexplanationbothofthewholenatureofmaninparticularandofthewholecourseoftheworldingeneral.
AndonthisgroundtheytakeoccasiontoreviletheChristianreligion,becausetheymisunderstandit.TheyimaginethatitconsistssimplyintheworshipofaGodconsideredasgreat,powerful,andeternal;whichisstrictlydeism,almostasfarremovedfromtheChristianreligionasatheism,whichisitsexactopposite.Andthencetheyconcludethatthisreligionisnottrue,becausetheydonotseethatallthingsconcurtotheestablishmentofthispoint,thatGoddoesnotmanifestHimselftomenwithalltheevidencewhichHecouldshow.
Butletthemconcludewhattheywillagainstdeism,theywillconcludenothingagainsttheChristianreligion,whichproperlyconsistsinthemysteryoftheRedeemer,who,unitinginHimselfthetwonatures,humananddivine,hasredeemedmenfromthecorruptionofsininordertoreconciletheminHisdivinepersontoGod.
TheChristianreligion,then,teachesmenthesetwotruths;thatthereisaGodwhommencanknow,andthatthereisacorruptionintheirnaturewhichrendersthemunworthyofHim.Itisequallyimportanttomentoknowboththesepoints;anditisequallydangerousformantoknowGodwithoutknowinghisownwretchedness,andtoknowhisownwretchednesswithoutknowingtheRedeemerwhocanfreehimfromit.Theknowledgeofonlyoneofthesepointsgivesriseeithertotheprideofphilosophers,whohaveknownGod,andnottheirownwretchedness,ortothedespairofatheists,whoknowtheirownwretchedness,butnottheRedeemer.
And,asitisalikenecessarytomantoknowthesetwopoints,soisitalikemercifulofGodtohavemadeusknowthem.TheChristianreligiondoesthis;itisinthisthatitconsists.
Letushereinexaminetheorderoftheworldandseeifallthingsdonottendtoestablishthesetwochiefpointsofthisreligion:JesusChristisendofall,andthecentretowhichalltends.WhoeverknowsHimknowsthereasonofeverything.
Thosewhofallintoerrorerronlythroughfailuretoseeoneofthesetwothings.Wecan,then,haveanexcellentknowledgeofGodwithoutthatofourownwretchednessandofourownwretchednesswithoutthatofGod.ButwecannotknowJesusChristwithoutknowingatthesametimebothGodandourownwretchedness.
ThereforeIshallnotundertakeheretoprovebynaturalreasonseithertheexistenceofGod,ortheTrinity,ortheimmortalityofthesoul,oranythingofthatnature;notonlybecauseIshouldnotfeelmyselfsufficientlyabletofindinnatureargumentstoconvincehardenedatheists,butalsobecausesuchknowledgewithoutJesusChristisuselessandbarren.Thoughamanshouldbeconvincedthatnumericalproportionsareimmaterialtruths,eternalanddependentonafirsttruth,inwhichtheysubsistandwhichiscalledGod,Ishouldnotthinkhimfaradvancedtowardshisownsalvation.
TheGodofChristiansisnotaGodwhoissimplytheauthorofmathematicaltruths,oroftheorderoftheelements;thatistheviewofheathensandEpicureans.HeisnotmerelyaGodwhoexercisesHisprovidenceoverthelifeandfortunesofmen,tobestowonthosewhoworshipHimalongandhappylife.ThatwastheportionoftheJews.ButtheGodofAbraham,theGodofIsaac,theGodofJacob,theGodofChristians,isaGodofloveandofcomfort,aGodwhofillsthesoulandheartofthosewhomHepossesses,aGodwhomakesthemconsciousoftheirinwardwretchedness,andHisinfinitemercy,whounitesHimselftotheirinmostsoul,whofillsitwithhumilityandjoy,withconfidenceandlove,whorendersthemincapableofanyotherendthanHimself.
AllwhoseekGodwithoutJesusChrist,andwhorestinnature,eitherfindnolighttosatisfythem,orcometoformforthemselvesameansofknowingGodandservingHimwithoutamediator.Therebytheyfalleitherintoatheism,orintodeism,twothingswhichtheChristianreligionabhorsalmostequally.
WithoutJesusChristtheworldwouldnotexist;foritshouldneedsbeeitherthatitwouldbedestroyedorbeahell.
IftheworldexistedtoinstructmanofGod,Hisdivinitywouldshinethrougheverypartinitinanindisputablemanner;butasitexistsonlybyJesusChrist,andforJesusChrist,andtoteachmenboththeircorruptionandtheirredemption,alldisplaystheproofsofthesetwotruths.
Allappearanceindicatesneitheratotalexclusionnoramanifestpresenceofdivinity,butthepresenceofaGodwhohideshimself.Everythingbearsthischaracter
Shallhealonewhoknowshisnatureknowitonlytobemiserable?Shallhealonewhoknowsitbealoneunhappy?
Hemustnotseenothingatall,normustheseesufficientforhimtobelievehepossessesit;buthemustseeenoughtoknowthathehaslostit.Fortoknowofhisloss,hemustseeandnotsee;andthatisexactlythestateinwhichhenaturallyis
Whateverparthetakes,Ishallnotleavehimatrest.
557Itis,then,truethateverythingteachesmanhiscondition,buthemustunderstandthiswell.ForitisnottruethatallrevealsGod,anditisnottruethatallconcealsGod.ButitisatthesametimetruethatHehidesHimselffromthosewhotemptHim,andthatHerevealsHimselftothosewhoseekHim,becausemenarebothunworthyandcapableofGod;unworthybytheircorruption,capablebytheiroriginalnature.
558.Whatshallweconcludefromallourdarkness,butourunworthiness?
559.IfthereneverhadbeenanyappearanceofGod,thiseternaldeprivationwouldhavebeenequivocal,andmighthaveaswellcorrespondedwiththeabsenceofalldivinity,aswiththeunworthinessofmentoknowHim;butHisoccasional,thoughnotcontinual,appearancesremovetheambiguity.IfHeappearedonce,Heexistsalways;andthuswecannotbutconcludeboththatthereisaGodandthatmenareunworthyofHim.
560.WedonotunderstandthegloriousstateofAdam,northenatureofhissin,northetransmissionofittous.Thesearematterswhichtookplaceunderconditionsofanaturealtogetherdifferentfromourownandwhichtranscendourpresentunderstanding.
Theknowledgeofallthisisuselesstousasameansofescapefromit;andallthatweareconcernedtoknowisthatwearemiserable,corrupt,separatedfromGod,butransomedbyJesusChrist,whereofwehavewonderfulproofsonearth.
Sothetwoproofsofcorruptionandredemptionaredrawnfromtheungodly,wholiveinindifferencetoreligion,andfromtheJewswhoareirreconcilableenemies.
561.Therearetwowaysofprovingthetruthsofourreligion;onebythepowerofreason,theotherbytheauthorityofhimwhospeaks.
Wedonotmakeuseofthelatter,butoftheformer.Wedonotsay,"Thismustbebelieved,forScripture,whichsaysit,isdivine."Butwesaythatitmustbebelievedforsuchandsuchareason,whicharefeeblearguments,asreasonmaybebenttoeverything.
562.Thereisnothingonearththatdoesnotshoweitherthewretchednessofman,orthemercyofGod;eithertheweaknessofmanwithoutGod,orthestrengthofmanwithGod.
563.Itwillbeoneoftheconfusionsofthedamnedtoseethattheyarecondemnedbytheirownreason,bywhichtheyclaimedtocondemntheChristianreligion.
564.Theprophecies,theverymiraclesandproofsofourreligion,arenotofsuchanaturethattheycanbesaidtobeabsolutelyconvincing.Buttheyarealsoofsuchakindthatitcannotbesaidthatitisunreasonabletobelievethem.Thusthereisbothevidenceandobscuritytoenlightensomeandconfuseothers.Buttheevidenceissuchthatitsurpasses,oratleastequals,theevidencetothecontrary;sothatitisnotreasonwhichcandeterminemennottofollowit,andthusitcanonlybelustormaliceofheart.Andbythismeansthereissufficientevidencetocondemn,andinsufficienttoconvince;sothatitappearsinthosewhofollowitthatitisgrace,andnotreason,whichmakesthemfollowit;andinthosewhoshunit,thatitislust,notreason,whichmakesthemshunit.
Verediscipuli,vereIsraelita,vereliberi,verecibus.
565.Recognise,then,thetruthofreligionintheveryobscurityofreligion,inthelittlelightwehaveofit,andintheindifferencewhichwehavetoknowingit.
566.WeunderstandnothingoftheworksofGod,ifwedonottakeasaprinciplethatHehaswilledtoblindsomeandenlightenothers.
567.Thetwocontraryreasons.Wemustbeginwiththat;withoutthatweunderstandnothing,andallisheretical;andwemustevenaddattheendofeachtruththattheoppositetruthistoberemembered.
568.Objection.TheScriptureisplainlyfullofmattersnotdictatedbytheHolySpirit.Answer.Thentheydonotharmfaith.Objection.ButtheChurchhasdecidedthatallisoftheHolySpirit.Answer.Ianswertwothings:first,theChurchhasnotsodecided;secondly,ifsheshouldsodecide,itcouldbemaintained.
DoyouthinkthatthepropheciescitedintheGospelarerelatedtomakeyoubelieve?No,itistokeepyoufrombelieving.
569.Canonical.—ThehereticalbooksinthebeginningoftheChurchservetoprovethecanonical.
570.TothechapterontheFundamentalsmustbeaddedthatonTypologytouchingthereasonoftypes:whyJesusChristwasprophesiedastoHisfirstcoming;whyprophesiedobscurelyastothemanner.
571.Thereasonwhy.Types.—Theyhadtodealwithacarnalpeopleandtorenderthemthedepositaryofthespiritualcovenant.TogivefaithtotheMessiah,itwasnecessarythereshouldhavebeenprecedentprophesies,andthattheseshouldbeconveyedbypersonsabovesuspicion,diligent,faithful,unusuallyzealous,andknowntoalltheworld.
Toaccomplishallthis,Godchosethiscarnalpeople,towhomHeentrustedtheprophecieswhichforetelltheMessiahasadelivererandasadispenserofthosecarnalgoodswhichthispeopleloved.Andthustheyhavehadanextraordinarypassionfortheirprophetsand,insightofthewholeworld,havehadchargeofthesebookswhichforetelltheirMessiah,assuringallnationsthatHeshouldcomeandinthewayforetoldinthebooks,whichtheyheldopentothewholeworld.Yetthispeople,deceivedbythepoorandignominiousadventoftheMessiah,havebeenHismostcruelenemies.Sothatthey,thepeopleleastopentosuspicionintheworldoffavouringus,themoststrictandmostzealousthatcanbenamedfortheirlawandtheirprophets,havekeptthebooksincorrupt.HencethosewhohaverejectedandcrucifiedJesusChrist,whohasbeentothemanoffence,arethosewhohavechargeofthebookswhichtestifyofHim,andstatethatHewillbeanoffenceandrejected.ThereforetheyhaveshownitwasHebyrejectingHim,andHehasbeenalikeprovedbothbytherighteousJewswhoreceivedHimandbytheunrighteouswhorejectedHim,bothfactshavingbeenforetold.
Whereforetheprophecieshaveahiddenandspiritualmeaningtowhichthispeoplewerehostile,underthecarnalmeaningwhichtheyloved.Ifthespiritualmeaninghadbeenrevealed,theywouldnothavelovedit,and,unabletobearit,theywouldnothavebeenzealousofthepreservationoftheirbooksandtheirceremonies;andiftheyhadlovedthesespiritualpromises,andhadpreservedthemincorrupttillthetimeoftheMessiah,theirtestimonywouldhavehadnoforce,becausetheyhadbeenhisfriends.
Thereforeitwaswellthatthespiritualmeaningshouldbeconcealed;but,ontheotherhand,ifthismeaninghadbeensohiddenasnottoappearatall,itcouldnothaveservedasaproofoftheMessiah.Whatthenwasdone?Inacrowdofpassagesithasbeenhiddenunderthetemporalmeaning,andinafewbeenclearlyrevealed;besidesthat,thetimeandthestateoftheworldhavebeensoclearlyforetoldthatitisclearerthanthesun.Andinsomeplacesthisspiritualmeaningissoclearlyexpressedthatitwouldrequireablindness,likethatwhichthefleshimposesonthespiritwhenitissubduedbyit,nottorecogniseit.
See,then,whathasbeentheprudenceofGod.Thismeaningisconcealedunderanotherinaninfinitenumberofpassages,andinsome,thoughrarely,itisrevealed;butyetsothatthepassagesinwhichitisconcealedareequivocalandcansuitbothmeanings;whereasthepassageswhereitisdisclosedareunequivocalandcanonlysuitthespiritualmeaning.
Sothatthiscannotleadusintoerrorandcouldonlybemisunderstoodbysocarnalapeople.
Forwhenblessingsarepromisedinabundance,whatwastopreventthemfromunderstandingthetrueblessings,buttheircovetousness,whichlimitedthemeaningtoworldlygoods?ButthosewhoseonlygoodwasinGodreferredthemtoGodalone.Fortherearetwoprinciples,whichdividethewillsofmen,covetousnessandcharity.NotthatcovetousnesscannotexistalongwithfaithinGod,norcharitywithworldlyriches;butcovetousnessusesGodandenjoystheworld,andcharityistheopposite.
Nowtheultimateendgivesnamestothings.Allwhichpreventsusfromattainingitiscalledanenemytous.Thusthecreatures,howevergood,aretheenemiesoftherighteous,whentheyturnthemawayfromGod,andGodHimselfistheenemyofthosewhosecovetousnessHeconfounds.
Thusasthesignificanceofthewordenemyisdependentontheultimateend,therighteousunderstoodbyittheirpassions,andthecarnaltheBabylonians;andsothesetermswereobscureonlyfortheunrighteous.AndthisiswhatIsaiahsays:Signalegeminelectismeis,andthatJesusChristshallbeastoneofstumbling.But,"Blessedaretheywhoshallnotbeoffendedinhim."Hosea14:9,saysexcellently,"Whereisthewise?andheshallunderstandwhatIsay.Therighteousshallknowthem,forthewaysofGodareright;butthetransgressorsshallfalltherein."
572.Hypothesisthattheapostleswereimpostors.Thetimeclearly,themannerobscurely.Fivetypicalproofs.
1600prophets.
400scattered——
2000
573.BlindnessofScripture.—"TheScripture,"saidtheJews,"saysthatweshallnotknowwhenceChristwillcome(John7:27,and12:34)—TheScripturesaysthatChristabidethforever,andHesaidthatHeshoulddie."Therefore,saysSaintJohn,theybelievednot,thoughHehaddonesomanymiracles,thatthewordofIsaiahmightbefulfilled:"Hehathblindedthem,"etc.
574.Greatness.—Religionissogreatathingthatitisrightthatthosewhowillnottakethetroubletoseekit,ifitbeobscure,shouldbedeprivedofit.Why,then,doanycomplain,ifitbesuchascanbefoundbyseeking?
575.Allthingsworktogetherforgoodtotheelect,eventheobscuritiesofScripture;fortheyhonourthembecauseofwhatisdivinelyclear.Andallthingsworktogetherforeviltotherestoftheworld,evenwhatisclear;fortheyrevilesuch,becauseoftheobscuritieswhichtheydonotunderstand.
576.ThegeneralconductoftheworldtowardstheChurch:Godwillingtoblindandtoenlighten.—Theeventhavingprovedthedivinityoftheseprophecies,therestoughttobebelieved.Andtherebyweseetheorderoftheworldtobeofthiskind.ThemiraclesoftheCreationandtheDelugebeingforgotten,GodsendsthelawandthemiraclesofMoses,theprophetswhoprophesiedparticularthings;andtopreparealastingmiracle,Hepreparespropheciesandtheirfulfilment;but,asthepropheciescouldbesuspected,Hedesirestomakethemabovesuspicion,etc.
577.Godhasmadetheblindnessofthispeoplesubservienttothegoodoftheelect.
578.Thereissufficientclearnesstoenlightentheelect,andsufficientobscuritytohumblethem.Thereissufficientobscuritytoblindthereprobate,andsufficientclearnesstocondemnthemandmaketheminexcusable.SaintAugustine,Montaigne,Sebond.
ThegenealogyofJesusChristintheOldTestamentisintermingledwithsomanyothersthatareuselessthatitcannotbedistinguished.IfMoseshadkeptonlytherecordoftheancestorsofChrist,thatmighthavebeentooplain.IfhehadnotnotedthatofJesusChrist,itmightnothavebeensufficientlyplain.But,afterall,whoeverlookscloselyseesthatofJesusChristexpresslytracedthroughTamar,Ruth,etc.
Thosewhoordainedthesesacrificesknewtheiruselessness;thosewhohavedeclaredtheiruselessness,havenotceasedtopractisethem.
IfGodhadpermittedonlyonereligion,ithasbeentooeasilyknown;butwhenwelookatitclosely,weclearlydiscernthetruthamidstthisconfusion.
Thepremiss.—Moseswasacleverman.If,then,heruledhimselfbyhisreason,hewouldsaynothingclearlywhichwasdirectlyagainstreason.
Thusalltheveryapparentweaknessesarestrength.Example;thetwogenealogiesinSaintMatthewandSaintLuke.Whatcanbeclearerthanthatthiswasnotconcerted?
579.God(andtheApostles),foreseeingthattheseedsofpridewouldmakeheresiesspringup,andbeingunwillingtogivethemoccasiontoarisefromcorrectexpressions,hasputinScriptureandtheprayersoftheChurchcontrarywordsandsentencestoproducetheirfruitintime.
SoinmoralsHegivescharity,whichproducesfruitscontrarytolust.
580.NaturehassomeperfectionstoshowthatsheistheimageofGod,andsomedefectstoshowthatsheisonlyHisimage.
581.Godprefersrathertoinclinethewillthantheintellect.Perfectclearnesswouldbeofusetotheintellectandwouldharmthewill.Tohumblepride.
582.Wemakeanidoloftruthitself;fortruthapartfromcharityisnotGod,butHisimageandidol,whichwemustneitherlovenorworship;andstilllessmustweloveorworshipitsopposite,namely,falsehood.
Icaneasilylovetotaldarkness;butifGodkeepsmeinastateofsemi-darkness,suchpartialdarknessdispleasesme,and,becauseIdonotseethereintheadvantageoftotaldarkness,itisunpleasanttome.ThisisafaultandasignthatImakeformyselfanidolofdarkness,apartfromtheorderofGod.NowonlyHisordermustbeworshipped.
583.Thefeeble-mindedarepeoplewhoknowthetruth,butonlyaffirmitsofarasconsistentwiththeirowninterest.But,apartfromthat,theyrenounceit.
584.Theworldexistsfortheexerciseofmercyandjudgement,notasifmenwereplacedinitoutofthehandsofGod,butashostiletoGod;andtothemHegrantsbygracesufficientlight,thattheymayreturntoHim,iftheydesiretoseekandfollowHim;andalsothattheymaybepunished,iftheyrefusetoseekorfollowHim.
585.ThatGodhaswilledtohideHimself.—Iftherewereonlyonereligion,Godwouldindeedbemanifest.Thesamewouldbethecaseiftherewerenomartyrsbutinourreligion.
Godbeingthushidden,everyreligionwhichdoesnotaffirmthatGodishiddenisnottrue;andeveryreligionwhichdoesnotgivethereasonofitisnotinstructive.Ourreligiondoesallthis:VeretuesDeusabsconditus.
586.Iftherewerenoobscurity,manwouldnotbesensibleofhiscorruption;iftherewerenolight,manwouldnothopeforaremedy.Thus,itisnotonlyfair,butadvantageoustous,thatGodbepartlyhiddenandpartlyrevealed;sinceitisequallydangeroustomantoknowGodwithoutknowinghisownwretchedness,andtoknowhisownwretchednesswithoutknowingGod.
587.Thisreligion,sogreatinmiracles,saints,blamelessFathers,learnedandgreatwitnesses,martyrs,establishedkingsasDavid,andIsaiah,aprinceoftheblood,andsogreatinscience,afterhavingdisplayedallhermiraclesandallherwisdom,rejectsallthis,anddeclaresthatshehasneitherwisdomnorsigns,butonlythecrossandfoolishness.
Forthose,who,bythesesignsandthatwisdom,havedeservedyourbelief,andwhohaveprovedtoyoutheircharacter,declaretoyouthatnothingofallthiscanchangeyou,andrenderyoucapableofknowingandlovingGod,butthepowerofthefoolishnessofthecrosswithoutwisdomandsigns,andnotthesignswithoutthispower.Thusourreligionisfoolishinrespecttotheeffectivecauseandwiseinrespecttothewisdomwhichpreparesit.
588.Ourreligioniswiseandfoolish.Wise,becauseitisthemostlearnedandthemostfoundedonmiracles,prophecies,etc.Foolish,becauseitisnotallthiswhichmakesusbelongtoit.Thismakesus,indeed,condemnthosewhodonotbelongtoit;butitdoesnotcausebeliefinthosewhodobelongtoit.Itisthecrossthatmakesthembelieve,neevacuatasitcrux.AndsoSaintPaul,whocamewithwisdomandsigns,saysthathehascomeneitherwithwisdomnorwithsigns;forhecametoconvert.Butthosewhocomeonlytoconvincecansaythattheycomewithwisdomandwithsigns.
SECTIONIX:PERPETUITY
589.OnthefactthattheChristianreligionisnottheonlyreligion.—Sofaristhisfrombeingareasonforbelievingthatitisnotthetrueonethat,onthecontrary,itmakesusseethatitisso.
590.Menmustbesincereinallreligions;trueheathens,trueJews,trueChristians.
591.
J.C.
Heathens|Mahomet
\/
IgnoranceofGod
592.Thefalsenessofotherreligions.—Theyhavenowitnesses.Jewshave.Goddefiesotherreligionstoproducesuchsigns:Isaiah43:9;44:8.
593.HistoryofChina.—Ibelieveonlythehistories,whosewitnessesgotthemselveskilled.
Whichisthemorecredibleofthetwo,MosesorChina?
Itisnotaquestionofseeingthissummarily.Itellyouthereisinitsomethingtoblind,andsomethingtoenlighten.
BythisonewordIdestroyallyourreasoning."ButChinaobscures,"sayyou;andIanswer,"Chinaobscures,butthereisclearnesstobefound;seekit."
Thusallthatyousaymakesforoneoftheviewsandnotatallagainsttheother.
Sothisserves,anddoesnoharm.
Wemust,then,seethisindetail;wemustputthepapersonthetable.
594.AgainstthehistoryofChina.—ThehistoriansofMexico,thefivesuns,ofwhichthelastisonlyeighthundredyearsold.
Thedifferencebetweenabookacceptedbyanationandonewhichmakesanation.
595.Mahometwaswithoutauthority.Hisreasons,then,shouldhavebeenverystrong,havingonlytheirownforce.Whatdoeshesay,then,thatwemustbelievehim?
596.ThePsalmsarechantedthroughoutthewholeworld.
WhorenderstestimonytoMahomet?Himself.JesusChristdesiresHisowntestimonytobeasnothing.
Thequalityofwitnessesnecessitatestheirexistencealwaysandeverywhere;andhe,miserablecreature,isalone.
597.AgainstMahomet.—TheKoranisnotmoreofMahometthantheGospelisofSaintMatthew,foritiscitedbymanyauthorsfromagetoage.Evenitsveryenemies,CelsusandPorphyry,neverdeniedit.
TheKoransaysSaintMatthewwasanhonestman.ThereforeMahometwasafalseprophetforcallinghonestmenwicked,orfornotagreeingwithwhattheyhavesaidofJesusChrist.
598.ItisnotbythatwhichisobscureinMahomet,andwhichmaybeinterpretedinamysterioussense,thatIwouldhavehimjudged,butbywhatisclear,ashisparadiseandtherest.Inthatheisridiculous.Andsincewhatisclearisridiculous,itisnotrighttotakehisobscuritiesformysteries.
ItisnotthesamewiththeScripture.IagreethatthereareinitobscuritiesasstrangeasthoseofMahomet;butthereareadmirablyclearpassages,andthepropheciesaremanifestlyfulfilled.Thecasesare,therefore,notonapar.Wemustnotconfoundandputononelevelthingswhichonlyresembleeachotherintheirobscurity,andnotintheclearness,whichrequiresustoreverencetheobscurities.
599.ThedifferencebetweenJesusChristandMahomet.—Mahometwasnotforetold;JesusChristwasforetold.
Mahometslew;JesusChristcausedHisowntobeslain.
Mahometforbadereading;theApostlesorderedreading.
Infact,thetwoaresoopposedthat,ifMahomettookthewaytosucceedfromaworldlypointofview,JesusChrist,fromthesamepointofview,tookthewaytoperish.Andinsteadofconcludingthat,sinceMahometsucceeded,JesusChristmightwellhavesucceeded,weoughttosaythat,sinceMahometsucceeded,JesusChristshouldhavefailed.
600.AnymancandowhatMahomethasdone;forheperformednomiracles,hewasnotforetold.NomancandowhatChristhasdone.
601.Theheathenreligionhasnofoundationatthepresentday.Itissaidoncetohavehadafoundationbytheoracleswhichspoke.Butwhatarethebookswhichassureusofthis?Aretheysoworthyofbeliefonaccountofthevirtueoftheirauthors?Havetheybeenpreservedwithsuchcarethatwecanbesurethattheyhavenotbeenmeddledwith?
TheMahometanreligionhasforafoundationtheKoranandMahomet.Buthasthisprophet,whowastobethelasthopeoftheworld,beenforetold?Whatsignhashethateveryothermanhasnotwhochoosestocallhimselfaprophet?Whatmiraclesdoeshehimselfsaythathehasdone?Whatmysterieshashetaught,evenaccordingtohisowntradition?Whatwasthemorality,whatthehappinessheldoutbyhim?
TheJewishreligionmustbedifferentlyregardedinthetraditionoftheHolyBibleandinthetraditionofthepeople.Itsmoralityandhappinessareabsurdinthetraditionofthepeople,butareadmirableinthatoftheHolyBible.(Andallreligionisthesame;fortheChristianreligionisverydifferentintheHolyBibleandinthecasuists.)Thefoundationisadmirable;itisthemostancientbookintheworld,andthemostauthentic;andwhereasMahomet,inordertomakehisownbookcontinueinexistence,forbadementoreadit,Moses,forthesamereason,orderedeveryonetoreadhis.
Ourreligionissodivinethatanotherdivinereligionhasonlybeenthefoundationofit.
602.Order.—ToseewhatisclearandindisputableinthewholestateoftheJews.
603.TheJewishreligioniswhollydivineinitsauthority,itsduration,itsperpetuity,itsmorality,itsdoctrine,anditseffects.
604.Theonlysciencecontrarytocommonsenseandhumannatureisthatalonewhichhasalwaysexistedamongmen.
605.Theonlyreligioncontrarytonature,tocommonsense,andtoourpleasure,isthatalonewhichhasalwaysexisted.
606.Noreligionbutourownhastaughtthatmanisborninsin.Noseaofphilosophershassaidthis.Thereforenonehavedeclaredthetruth.
Nosectorreligionhasalwaysexistedonearth,buttheChristianreligion.
607.WhoeverjudgesoftheJewishreligionbyitscoarserformswillmisunderstandit.ItistobeseenintheHolyBible,andinthetraditionoftheprophets,whohavemadeitplainenoughthattheydidnotinterpretthelawaccordingtotheletter.SoourreligionisdivineintheGospel,intheApostles,andintradition;butitisabsurdinthosewhotamperwithit.
TheMessiah,accordingtothecarnalJews,wastobeagreattemporalprince.JesusChrist,accordingtocarnalChristians,hascometodispenseusfromtheloveofGodandtogiveussacramentswhichshalldoeverythingwithoutourhelp.SuchisnottheChristianreligion,northeJewish.TrueJewsandtrueChristianshavealwaysexpectedaMessiahwhoshouldmakethemloveGodandbythatlovetriumphovertheirenemies.
608.ThecarnalJewsholdamidwayplacebetweenChristiansandheathens.TheheathensknownotGod,andlovetheworldonly.TheJewsknowthetrueGod,andlovetheworldonly.TheChristiansknowthetrueGod,andlovenottheworld.Jewsandheathenslovethesamegood.JewsandChristiansknowthesameGod.
TheJewswereoftwokinds;thefirsthadonlyheathenaffections,theotherhadChristianaffections.
609.Therearetwokindsofmenineachreligion:amongtheheathen,worshippersofbeastsandtheworshippersoftheoneonlyGodofnaturalreligion;amongtheJews,thecarnal,andthespiritual,whoweretheChristiansoftheoldlaw;amongChristians,thecoarser-minded,whoaretheJewsofthenewlaw.ThecarnalJewslookedforacarnalMessiah;thecoarserChristiansbelievethattheMessiahhasdispensedthemfromtheloveofGod;trueJewsandtrueChristiansworshipaMessiahwhomakesthemloveGod.
610.ToshowthatthetrueJewsandthetrueChristianshavebutthesamereligion.—ThereligionoftheJewsseemedtoconsistessentiallyinthefatherhoodofAbraham,incircumcision,insacrifices,inceremonies,intheArk,inthetemple,inJerusalem,and,finally,inthelaw,andinthecovenantwithMoses.
Isaythatitconsistedinnoneofthosethings,butonlyintheloveofGod,andthatGoddisregardedalltheotherthings.
ThatGoddidnotaccepttheposterityofAbraham.
ThattheJewsweretobepunishedlikestrangers,iftheytransgressed.Deut.8:19:"IfthoudoatallforgettheLordthyGod,andwalkafterothergods,Itestifyagainstyouthisdaythatyeshallsurelyperish,asthenationswhichtheLorddestroyethbeforeyourface."
Thatstrangers,iftheylovedGod,weretobereceivedbyHimastheJews.Isaiah56:3:"Letnotthestrangersay,-TheLordwillnotreceiveme-ThestrangerswhojointhemselvesuntotheLordtoserveHimandloveHim,willIbringuntomyholymountain,andacceptthereinsacrifices,forminehouseisahouseofprayer."
ThatthetrueJewsconsideredtheirmerittobefromGodonly,andnotfromAbraham.Isaiah63:16:"DoubtlessthouartourFather,thoughAbrahambeignorantofus,andIsraelacknowledgeusnot.ThouartourFatherandourRedeemer."
MoseshimselftoldthemthatGodwouldnotacceptpersons.Deut.10:17:"God,"saidhe,"regardethneitherpersonsnorsacrifices."
TheSabbathwasonlyasign,Exod.31:13;andinmemoryoftheescapefromEgypt,Deut.5:19.Thereforeitisnolongernecessary,sinceEgyptmustbeforgotten.
Circumcisionwasonlyasign,Gen.17:11.Andthenceitcametopassthat,beinginthedesert,theywerenotcircumcised,becausetheycouldnotbeconfoundedwithotherpeoples;andafterJesusChristcame,itwasnolongernecessary.
Thatthecircumcisionoftheheartiscommanded.Deut.10:16;Jeremiah4:4:"Beyecircumcisedinheart;takeawaythesuperfluitiesofyourheart,andhardenyourselvesnot.ForyourGodisamightyGod,strongandterrible,whoacceptethnotpersons."
ThatGodsaidHewouldonedaydoit.Deut.30:6:"Godwillcircumcisethineheart,andtheheartofthyseed,thatthoumayestloveHimwithallthineheart."
Thattheuncircumcisedinheartshallbejudged.Jeremiah9:26:ForGodwilljudgetheuncircumcisedpeoples,andallthepeopleofIsrael,becauseheis"uncircumcisedinheart."
Thattheexternalisofnoavailapartfromtheinternal.Joel2:13:Scinditecordavestra,etc.;Isaiah58:3,4,etc.
TheloveofGodisenjoinedinthewholeofDeuteronomy.Deut.30:19:"IcallheavenandearthtorecordthatIhavesetbeforeyoulifeanddeath,thatyoushouldchooselife,andloveGod,andobeyHim,forGodisyourlife."
ThattheJews,forlackofthatlove,shouldberejectedfortheiroffences,andtheheathenchosenintheirstead.Hosea1:10;Deut.32:20."Iwillhidemyfacefromthem,Iwillseewhattheirendshallbe,fortheyareaveryfrowardgeneration,childreninwhomisnofaith.havemovedmetojealousywiththatwhichisnotGodandIwillmovethemtojealousywiththosewhicharenotapeopleandwithafoolishnation."Isaiah65:1.
Thattemporalgoodsarefalse,andthatthetruegoodistobeunitedtoGod.Psalm143:15.
ThattheirfeastsaredispleasingtoGod.Amos5:21.
ThatthesacrificesoftheJewsdispleasedGod.Isaiah66:1-3;1:11;Jer.6:20;David,Miserere.Evenonthepartofthegood,Expectavi.Psalm49:8,9,10,11,12,13,and14.
ThatHehasestablishedthemonlyfortheirhardness.Micah,admirably,6;1Kings15:22;Hosea6:6.
ThatthesacrificesoftheGentileswillbeacceptedofGod,andthatGodwilltakenopleasureinthesacrificesoftheJews.Malachi1:11.
ThatGodwillmakeanewcovenantwiththeMessiah,andtheoldwillbeannulled.Jer.31:31.Mandatanonbona.
Thattheoldthingswillbeforgotten.Isaiah43:18,19;65:17,10
ThattheArkwillnolongerberemembered.Jer.3:15,16
Thatthetempleshouldberejected.Jer7:12,13,14.
Thatthesacrificesshouldberejected,andotherpuresacrificesestablished.Malachi1:11.
ThattheorderofAaron-spriesthoodshouldberejected,andthatofMelchizedekintroducedbytheMessiah.Ps.DixitDominus.
Thatthispriesthoodshouldbeeternal.Ibid.
ThatJerusalemshouldberejected,andRomeadmitted,Ibid.
ThatthenameoftheJewsshouldberejected,andanewnamegiven.Isaiah65:15.
ThatthislastnameshouldbemoreexcellentthanthatoftheJews,andeternal.Isaiah56:5.
ThattheJewsshouldbewithoutprophets(Amos),withoutaking,withoutprinces,withoutsacrifice,withoutanidol.
ThattheJewsshould,nevertheless,alwaysremainapeople.Jer.31:36
611.Republic.—TheChristianrepublic—andeventheJewish—hasonlyhadGodforruler,asPhilotheJewnotices,OnMonarchy.
Whentheyfought,itwasforGodonly;theirchiefhopewasinGodonly;theyconsideredtheirtownsasbelongingtoGodonly,andkeptthemforGod.IChron.19:13.
612.Gen.17:7.StatuampactummeumintermeettefoederesempiternoussimDeustuus
Ettuergocustodiespactummeum.
Perpetuity.—ThatreligionhasalwaysexistedonearthwhichconsistsinbelievingthatmanhasfallenfromastateofgloryandofcommunionwithGodintoastateofsorrow,penitence,andestrangementfromGod,butthatafterthislifeweshallberestoredbyaMessiahwhoshouldhavecome.Allthingshavepassedaway,andthishasendured,forwhichallthingsare.
Menhaveinthefirstageoftheworldbeencarriedawayintoeverykindofdebauchery,andyetthereweresaints,asEnoch,Lamech,andothers,whowaitedpatientlyfortheChristpromisedfromthebeginningoftheworld.Noahsawthewickednessofmenatitsheight;andhewasheldworthytosavetheworldinhisperson,bythehopeoftheMessiahofwhomhewasthetype.Abrahamwassurroundedbyidolaters,whenGodmadeknowntohimthemysteryoftheMessiah,whomhewelcomedfromafar.InthetimeofIsaacandJacob,abominationwasspreadoveralltheearth;butthesesaintslivedinfaith;andJacob,dyingandblessinghischildren,criedinatransportwhichmadehimbreakoffhisdiscourse,"Iawait,OmyGod,theSaviourwhomThouhastpromised.Salutaretuumexpectabo,Domine."TheEgyptianswereinfectedbothwithidolatryandmagic;theverypeopleofGodwereledastraybytheirexample.YetMosesandothersbelievedHimwhomtheysawnot,andworshippedHim,lookingtotheeternalgiftswhichHewaspreparingforthem.
TheGreeksandLatinsthensetupfalsedeities;thepoetsmadeahundreddifferenttheologies,whilethephilosophersseparatedintoathousanddifferentsects;andyetintheheartofJudaeatherewerealwayschosenmenwhoforetoldthecomingofthisMessiah,whichwasknowntothemalone.
Hecameatlengthinthefullnessoftime,andtimehassincewitnessedthebirthofsomanyschismsandheresies,somanypoliticalrevolutions,somanychangesinallthings;yetthisChurch,whichworshipsHimwhohasalwaysbeenworshipped,hasendureduninterruptedly.Itisawonderful,incomparable,andaltogetherdivinefactthatthisreligion,whichhasalwaysendured,hasalwaysbeenattacked.Ithasbeenathousandtimesontheeveofuniversaldestruction,andeverytimeithasbeeninthatstate,GodhasrestoreditbyextraordinaryactsofHispower.Thisisastonishing,asalsothatithaspreserveditselfwithoutyieldingtothewilloftyrants.ForitisnotstrangethataStateendures,whenitslawsaresometimesmadetogivewaytonecessity,butthat(SeethepassageindicatedinMontaigne.)
614.Stateswouldperishiftheydidnotoftenmaketheirlawsgivewaytonecessity.Butreligionhasneversufferedthis,orpractisedit.Indeed,theremustbethesecompromisesormiracles.Itisnotstrangetobesavedbyyieldings,andthisisnotstrictlyself-preservation;besides,intheendtheyperishentirely.Nonehasenduredathousandyears.Butthefactthatthisreligionhasalwaysmaintaineditself,inflexibleasitis,provesitsdivinity.
615.Whatevermaybesaid,itmustbeadmittedthattheChristianreligionhassomethingastonishinginit.Somewillsay,"Thisisbecauseyouwereborninit."Farfromit;Istiffenmyselfagainstitforthisveryreason,forfearthisprejudicebiasme.But,althoughIamborninit,Icannothelpfindingitso.
616.Perpetuity.—TheMessiahhasalwaysbeenbelievedin.ThetraditionfromAdamwasfreshinNoahandinMoses.Sincethentheprophetshaveforetoldhim,whileatthesametimeforetellingotherthings,which,beingfromtimetotimefulfilledinthesightofmen,showedthetruthoftheirmission,andconsequentlythatoftheirpromisestouchingtheMessiah.JesusChristperformedmiracles,andtheApostlesalso,whoconvertedalltheheathen;andallthepropheciesbeingtherebyfulfilled,theMessiahisforeverproved.
617.Perpetuity.—LetusconsiderthatsincethebeginningoftheworldtheexpectationofworshipoftheMessiahhasexisteduninterruptedly;thattherehavebeenfoundmenwhosaidthatGodhadrevealedtothemthataRedeemerwastobeborn,whoshouldsaveHispeople;thatAbrahamcameafterwards,sayingthathehadhadrevelationthattheMessiahwastospringfromhimbyason,whomheshouldhave;thatJacobdeclaredthat,ofhistwelvesons,theMessiahwouldspringfromJudah;thatMosesandtheprophetsthencametodeclarethetimeandthemannerofHiscoming;thattheysaidtheirlawwasonlytemporarytillthatoftheMessiah,thatitshouldenduretillthen,butthattheothershouldlastforever;thatthuseithertheirlaw,orthatoftheMessiah,ofwhichitwasthepromise,wouldbealwaysupontheearth;that,infact,ithasalwaysendured;thatatlastJesusChristcamewithallthecircumstancesforetold.Thisiswonderful.
618.Thisispositivefact.Whileallphilosophersseparateintodifferentsects,thereisfoundinonecorneroftheworldthemostancientpeopleinit,declaringthatalltheworldisinerror,thatGodhasrevealedtothemthetruth,thattheywillalwaysexistontheearth.Infact,allotherseascometoanend,thisonestillendures,andhasdonesoforfourthousandyears.
TheydeclarethattheyholdfromtheirancestorsthatmanhasfallenfromcommunionwithGod,andisentirelyestrangedfromGod,butthatHehaspromisedtoredeemthem;thatthisdoctrineshallalwaysexistontheearth;thattheirlawhasadoublesignification;thatduringsixteenhundredyearstheyhavehadpeople,whomtheybelievedprophets,foretellingboththetimeandthemanner;thatfourhundredyearsaftertheywerescatteredeverywhere,becauseJesusChristwastobeeverywhereannounced;thatJesusChristcameinthemanner,andatthetimeforetold;thattheJewshavesincebeenscatteredabroadunderacurseand,nevertheless,stillexist.
619.IseetheChristianreligionfoundeduponaprecedingreligion,andthisiswhatIfindasafact.
IdonotherespeakofthemiraclesofMoses,ofJesusChrist,andoftheApostles,becausetheydonotatfirstseemconvincing,andbecauseIonlywishheretoputinevidenceallthosefoundationsoftheChristianreligionwhicharebeyonddoubtandwhichcannotbecalledinquestionbyanypersonwhatsoever.Itiscertainthatweseeinmanyplacesoftheworldapeculiarpeople,separatedfromallotherpeoplesoftheworldandcalledtheJewishpeople.
Iseethenacrowdofreligionsinmanypartsoftheworldandinalltimes;buttheirmoralitycannotpleaseme,norcantheirproofsconvinceme.ThusIshouldequallyhaverejectedthereligionofMahometandofChina,oftheancientRomansandoftheEgyptians,forthesolereasonthatnonehavingmoremarksoftruththananother,noranythingwhichshouldnecessarilypersuademe,reasoncannotinclinetooneratherthantheother.
But,inthusconsideringthischangeableandsingularvarietyofmoralsandbeliefsatdifferenttimes,Ifindinonecorneroftheworldapeculiarpeople,separatedfromallotherpeoplesonearth,themostancientofall,andwhosehistoriesareearlierbymanygenerationsthanthemostancientwhichwepossess.
Ifind,then,thisgreatandnumerouspeople,sprungfromasingleman,whoworshiponeGodandguidethemselvesbyalawwhichtheysaythattheyobtainedfromHisownhand.TheymaintainthattheyaretheonlypeopleintheworldtowhomGodhasrevealedHismysteries;thatallmenarecorruptandindisgracewithGod;thattheyareallabandonedtotheirsensesandtheirownimagination,whencecomethestrangeerrorsandcontinualchangeswhichhappenamongthem,bothofreligionsandofmorals,whereastheythemselvesremainfirmintheirconduct;butthatGodwillnotleaveothernationsinthisdarknessforever;thattherewillcomeaSaviourforall;thattheyareintheworldtoannounceHimtomen;thattheyareexpresslyformedtobeforerunnersandheraldsofthisgreateventandtosummonallnationstojoinwiththemintheexpectationofthisSaviour.
Tomeetwiththispeopleisastonishingtome,andseemstomeworthyofattention.IlookatthelawwhichtheyboastofhavingobtainedfromGod,andIfinditadmirable.Itisthefirstlawofallandisofsuchakindthat,evenbeforethetermlawwasincurrencyamongtheGreeks,ithad,fornearlyathousandyearsearlier,beenuninterruptedlyacceptedandobservedbytheJews.Ilikewisethinkitstrangethatthefirstlawoftheworldhappenstobethemostperfect;sothatthegreatestlegislatorshaveborrowedtheirlawsfromit,asisapparentfromthelawoftheTwelveTablesatAthens,afterwardstakenbytheRomans,andasitwouldbeeasytoprove,ifJosephusandothershadnotsufficientlydealtwiththissubject.
620.AdvantagesoftheJewishpeople.—InthissearchtheJewishpeopleatonceattractsmyattentionbythenumberofwonderfulandsingularfactswhichappearaboutthem.
Ifirstseethattheyareapeoplewhollycomposedofbrethren,andwhereasallothersareformedbytheassemblageofaninfinityoffamilies,this,thoughsowonderfullyfruitful,hasallsprungfromonemanalone,and,beingthusalloneflesh,andmembersoneofanother,theyconstituteapowerfulstateofonefamily.Thisisunique.
Thisfamily,orpeople,isthemostancientwithinhumanknowledge,afactwhichseemstometoinspireapeculiarvenerationforit,especiallyinviewofourpresentinquiry;sinceifGodhadfromalltimerevealedhimselftomen,itistothesewemustturnforknowledgeofthetradition.
Thispeoplearenoteminentsolelybytheirantiquity,butarealsosingularbytheirduration,whichhasalwayscontinuedfromtheirorigintillnow.For,whereasthenationsofGreeceandofItaly,ofLacedaemon,ofAthensandofRome,andotherswhocamelongafter,havelongsinceperished,theseeverremain,andinspiteoftheendeavoursofmanypowerfulkingswhohaveahundredtimestriedtodestroythem,astheirhistorianstestify,andasitiseasytoconjecturefromthenaturalorderofthingsduringsolongaspaceofyears,theyhaveneverthelessbeenpreserved(andthispreservationhasbeenforetold);andextendingfromtheearliesttimestothelatest,theirhistorycomprehendsinitsdurationallourhistorieswhichitprecededbyalongtime.
Thelawbywhichthispeopleisgovernedisatoncethemostancientlawintheworld,themostperfect,andtheonlyonewhichhasbeenalwaysobservedwithoutabreakinastate.ThisiswhatJosephusadmirablyproves,AgainstApion,andalsoPhilotheJew,indifferentplaces,wheretheypointoutthatitissoancientthattheverynameoflawwasonlyknownbytheoldestnationmorethanathousandyearsafterwards;sothatHomer,whohaswrittenthehistoryofsomanystates,hasneverusedtheterm.Anditiseasytojudgeofitsperfectionbysimplyreadingit;forweseethatithasprovidedforallthingswithsogreatwisdom,equity,andjudgement,thatthemostancientlegislators,GreekandRoman,havinghadsomeknowledgeofit,haveborrowedfromittheirprincipallaws;thisisevidentfromwhatarecalledtheTwelveTables,andfromtheotherproofswhichJosephusgives.
Butthislawisatthesametimetheseverestandstrictestofallinrespecttotheirreligiousworship,imposingonthispeople,inordertokeepthemtotheirduty,athousandpeculiarandpainfulobservances,onpainofdeath.Whenceitisveryastonishingthatithasbeenconstantlypreservedduringmanycenturiesbyapeople,rebelliousandimpatientasthisonewas;whileallotherstateshavechangedtheirlawsfromtimetotime,althoughthesewerefarmorelenient.
Thebookwhichcontainsthislaw,thefirstofall,isitselfthemostancientbookintheworld,thoseofHomer,Hesiod,andothers,beingsixorsevenhundredyearslater.
621.Thecreationofthedelugebeingpast,andGodnolongerrequiringtodestroytheworld,nortocreateitanew,nortogivesuchgreatsignsofHimself,Hebegantoestablishapeopleontheearth,purposelyformed,whoweretolastuntilthecomingofthepeoplewhomtheMessiahshouldfashionbyHisspirit.
622.Thecreationoftheworldbeginningtobedistant,Godprovidedasinglecontemporaryhistorian,andappointedawholepeopleasguardiansofthisbook,inorderthatthishistorymightbethemostauthenticintheworld,andthatallmenmighttherebylearnafactsonecessarytoknow,andwhichcouldonlybeknownthroughthatmeans.
623.Japhetbeginsthegenealogy.
Josephfoldshisarms,andpreferstheyounger.
624.WhyshouldMosesmakethelivesofmensolong,andtheirgenerationssofew?
Becauseitisnotthelengthofyears,butthemultitudeofgenerations,whichrendersthingsobscure.Fortruthispervertedonlybythechangeofmen.Andyetheputstwothings,themostmemorablethatwereeverimagined,namely,thecreationandthedeluge,sonearthatwereachfromonetotheother.
625.Shem,whosawLamech,whosawAdam,sawalsoJacob,whosawthosewhosawMoses;thereforethedelugeandthecreationaretrue.Thisisconclusiveamongcertainpeoplewhounderstanditrightly.
626.Thelongevityofthepatriarchs,insteadofcausingthelossofpasthistory,conduced,onthecontrary,toitspreservation.Forthereasonwhywearesometimesinsufficientlyinstructedinthehistoryofourancestorsisthatwehaveneverlivedlongwiththem,andthattheyareoftendeadbeforewehaveattainedtheageofreason.Now,whenmenlivedsolong,childrenlivedlongwiththeirparents.Theyconversedlongwiththem.Butwhatelsecouldbethesubjectoftheirtalksavethehistoryoftheirancestors,sincetothatallhistorywasreduced,andmendidnotstudyscienceorart,whichnowformalargepartofdailyconversation?Weseealsothatinthesedaystribestookparticularcaretopreservetheirgenealogies.
627.IbelievethatJoshuawasthefirstofGod-speopletohavethisname,asJesusChristwasthelastofGod-speople.
628.AntiquityoftheJews.—Whatadifferencethereisbetweenonebookandanother!IamnotastonishedthattheGreeksmadetheIliad,northeEgyptiansandtheChinesetheirhistories.
Wehaveonlytoseehowthisoriginates.Thesefabuloushistoriansarenotcontemporaneouswiththefactsaboutwhichtheywrite.Homercomposesaromance,whichhegivesoutassuch,andwhichisreceivedassuch;fornobodydoubtedthatTroyandAgamemnonnomoreexistedthandidthegoldenapple.Accordingly,hedidnotthinkofmakingahistory,butsolelyabooktoamuse;heistheonlywriterofhistime;thebeautyoftheworkhasmadeitlast,everyonelearnsitandtalksofit,itisnecessarytoknowit,andeachoneknowsitbyheart.Fourhundredyearsafterwardsthewitnessesofthesefactsarenolongeralive,nooneknowsofhisownknowledgeifitbeafableorahistory;onehasonlylearntitfromhisancestors,andthiscanpassfortruth.
Everyhistorywhichisnotcontemporaneous,asthebooksoftheSibylsandTrismegistus,andsomanyotherswhichhavebeenbelievedbytheworld,arefalse,andfoundtobefalseinthecourseoftime.Itisnotsowithcontemporaneouswriters.
Thereisagreatdifferencebetweenabookwhichanindividualwritesandpublishestoanation,andabookwhichitselfcreatesanation.Wecannotdoubtthatthebookisasoldasthepeople.
629.Josephushidestheshameofhisnation.
Mosesdoesnothidehisownshame.
Quismihidetutomnesprophetent?
Hewaswearyofthemultitude.
630.ThesincerityoftheJews.—Maccabees,aftertheyhadnomoreprophets;theMasorah,sinceJesusChrist.
Thisbookwillbeatestimonyforyou.
Defectiveandfinalletters.
Sincereagainsttheirhonour,anddyingforit;thishasnoexampleintheworld,andnorootinnature.
631.SincerityoftheJews.—TheypreservelovinglyandcarefullythebookinwhichMosesdeclaresthattheyhavebeenalltheirlifeungratefultoGod,andthatheknowstheywillbestillmoresoafterhisdeath;butthathecallsheavenandearthtowitnessagainstthemandthathehastaughtthemenough.
HedeclaresthatGod,beingangrywiththem,shallatlastscatterthemamongallthenationsoftheearth;thatastheyhaveoffendedHimbyworshippinggodswhowerenottheirGod,soHewillprovokethembycallingapeoplewhoarenotHispeople;thatHedesiresthatallHiswordsbepreservedforever,andthatHisbookbeplacedintheArkoftheCovenanttoserveforeverasawitnessagainstthem.
Isaiahsaysthesamething,30.
632.OnEsdras.—ThestorythatthebookswereburntwiththetempleprovedfalsebyMaccabees:"Jeremiahgavethemthelaw."
Thestorythatherecitedthewholebyheart.JosephusandEsdraspointoutthathereadthebook.Baronius,AnnalesEcclesiasticiaChristoNatoadAnnum1198,180:NulluspenitusHebraeorumantiquorumreperiturquitradideritlibrosperiisseetperEsdramesserestitutos,nisiinIVEsdrae.
Thestorythathechangedtheletters.
Philo,inVitaMosis:IllalinguaaccharacterquoantiquitusscriptaestlexsicpermansitusqueadLXX.
JosephussaysthattheLawwasinHebrewwhenitwastranslatedbytheSeventy.
UnderAntiochusandVespasian,whentheywantedtoabolishthebooks,andwhentherewasnoprophet,theycouldnotdoso.AndundertheBabylonians,whennopersecutionhadbeenmade,andwhenthereweresomanyprophets,wouldtheyhaveletthembeburnt?
JosephuslaughsattheGreekswhowouldnothear
Tertullian:Perindepotuitabolefactameamviolentiacataclysmiinspiriturursusreformare,quemadmodumetHierosolymisBabyloniaexpugnationedeletis,omneinstrumentumJudaicaeliteraturaeperEsdramconstatrestauratum.
HesaysthatNoahcouldaseasilyhaverestoredinspiritthebookofEnoch,destroyedbytheDeluge,asEsdrascouldhaverestoredtheScriptureslostduringtheCaptivity.
(Theos)enteepiNabouchodonosoraichmalosiatoulaou,diaphthareisontonGraphonenepneuse-Esdratoierei,ektesphulesLeuitoustonprogegonotonprophetonpantasanataxasthailogous,kaiapokatastesaitolaetendiaMouseosnomothesian.HeallegesthistoprovethatitisnotincrediblethattheSeventymayhaveexplainedtheHolyScriptureswiththatuniformitywhichweadmireinthem.AndhetookthatfromSaintIrenaeus.
SaintHilary,inhisprefacetothePsalms,saysthatEsdrasarrangedthePsalmsinorder.
Theoriginofthistraditioncomesfromthe14thchapterofthefourthbookofEsdras.Deusglorificatusest,etScripturaeveredivinaecreditaesunt,omnibuseandemeteisdemverbiseteisdemnominibusrecitantibusabinitiousqueadfinem,utietpraesentesgentescognoscerentquoniamperinspirationemDeiinterpretataesuntScripturae,etnonessetmirabileDeumhocineisoperatum:quandoineacaptivitatepopuliquaefactaestaNabuchodonosor,corruptisscripturisetpost70annosJudaeisdescendentibusinregionemsuam,etpostdeindetemporibusArtaxerxisPersarumregis,inspiravitEsdraesacerdotitribusLevipraeteritorumprophetarumomnesrememoraresermones,etrestituerepopuloeamlegemquaedataestperMoysen.
633.AgainstthestoryinEsdras,2Maccab.2.;Josephus,Antiquities,II,i.—CyrustookoccasionfromtheprophecyofIsaiahtoreleasethepeople.TheJewsheldtheirpropertyinpeaceunderCyrusinBabylon;hencetheycouldwellhavethelaw.
Josephus,inthewholehistoryofEsdras,doesnotsayonewordaboutthisrestoration.2Kings17:27.
634.IfthestoryinEsdrasiscredible,thenitmustbebelievedthattheScriptureisHolyScripture;forthisstoryisbasedonlyontheauthorityofthosewhoassertthatoftheSeventy,whichshowsthattheScriptureisholy.
Therefore,ifthisaccountbetrue,wehavewhatwewanttherein;ifnot,wehaveitelsewhere.Andthusthosewhowouldruinthetruthofourreligion,foundedonMoses,establishitbythesameauthoritybywhichtheyattackit.Sobythisprovidenceitstillexists.
635.ChronologyofRabbinism.(ThecitationsofpagesarefromthebookPugio.)
Page27.R.Hakadosch(anno200),authoroftheMischna,orvocallaw,orsecondlaw.
CommentariesontheMischna(anno340):TheoneSiphra.
Barajetot.
TalmudHierosol.
Tosiphtot.
BereschitRabah,byR.OsaiahRabah,commentaryontheMischna.
BereschitRabah,BarNaconi,aresubtleandpleasantdiscourses,historicalandtheological.ThissameauthorwrotethebookscalledRabot.
AhundredyearsaftertheTalmudHierosolwascomposedtheBabylonianTalmud,byR.Ase,A.D.440,bytheuniversalconsentofalltheJews,whoarenecessarilyobligedtoobserveallthatiscontainedtherein.
TheadditionofR.AseiscalledtheGemara,thatistosay,thecommentaryontheMischna.
AndtheTalmudincludestogethertheMischnaandtheGemara.
636.Ifdoesnotindicateindifference:Malachi,Isaiah.
Isaiah,Sivolumus,etc.
Inquacumquedie.
637.Prophecies.—ThesceptrewasnotinterruptedbythecaptivityinBabylon,becausethereturnwaspromisedandforetold.
638.ProofsofJesusChrist.—Captivity,withtheassuranceofdeliverancewithinseventyyears,wasnotrealcaptivity.Butnowtheyarecaptiveswithoutanyhope.
Godhaspromisedthemthat,eventhoughHeshouldscatterthemtotheendsoftheearth,nevertheless,iftheywerefaithfultoHislaw,Hewouldassemblethemtogetheragain.Theyareveryfaithfultoitandremainoppressed.
639.WhenNebuchadnezzarcarriedawaythepeople,forfeartheyshouldbelievethatthesceptrehaddepartedfromJudah,theyweretoldbeforehandthattheywouldbethereforashorttime,andthattheywouldberestored.Theywerealwaysconsoledbytheprophets;andtheirkingscontinued.Buttheseconddestructioniswithoutpromiseofrestoration,withoutprophets,withoutkings,withoutconsolation,withouthope,becausethesceptreistakenawayforever.
640.Itisawonderfulthing,andworthyofparticularattention,toseethisJewishpeopleexistingsomanyyearsinperpetualmisery,itbeingnecessaryasaproofofJesusChristboththattheyshouldexisttoproveHimandthattheyshouldbemiserablebecausetheycrucifiedHim;andthoughtobemiserableandtoexistarecontradictory,theyneverthelessstillexistinspiteoftheirmisery.
641.TheyarevisiblyapeopleexpresslycreatedtoserveasawitnesstotheMessiah(Isaiah43:9;44:8).Theykeepthebooks,andlovethem,anddonotunderstandthem.Andallthiswasforetold;thatGod-sjudgmentsareentrustedtothem,butasasealedbook.
SECTIONX:TYPOLOGY
642.ProofofthetwoTestamentsatonce.—Toprovethetwoatonestroke,weneedonlyseeifthepropheciesinonearefulfilledintheother.Toexaminetheprophecies,wemustunderstandthem.Forifwebelievetheyhaveonlyonemeaning,itiscertainthattheMessiahhasnotcome;butiftheyhavetwomeanings,itiscertainthatHehascomeinJesusChrist.
Thewholeproblemthenistoknowiftheyhavetwomeanings.
ThattheScripturehastwomeanings,whichJesusChristandtheApostleshavegiven,isshownbythefollowingproofs:
1.ProofbyScriptureitself.
2.ProofbytheRabbis.MosesMaimonidessaysthatithastwoaspectsandthattheprophetshaveprophesiedJesusChristonly.
3.ProofbytheKabbala.
4.ProofbythemysticalinterpretationwhichtheRabbisthemselvesgivetoScripture.
5.ProofbytheprinciplesoftheRabbis,thattherearetwomeanings;thattherearetwoadventsoftheMessiah,agloriousandanhumiliatingone,accordingtotheirdesert;thattheprophetshaveprophesiedoftheMessiahonly—theLawisnoteternal,butmustchangeatthecomingoftheMessiah—thatthentheyshallnomoreremembertheRedSea;thattheJewsandtheGentilesshallbemingled.
6.ProofbythekeywhichJesusChristandtheApostlesgiveus.
643.Isaiah51.TheRedSeaanimageoftheRedemption.Utsciatisquodfiliushominishabetpotestatemremittendipeccatatibidico:Surge.God,wishingtoshowthatHecouldformapeopleholywithaninvisibleholiness,andfillthemwithaneternalglory,madevisiblethings.Asnatureisanimageofgrace,HehasdoneinthebountiesofnaturewhatHewoulddointhoseofgrace,inorderthatwemightjudgethatHecouldmaketheinvisible,sinceHemadethevisibleexcellently.
ThereforeHesavedthispeoplefromthedeluge;HehasraisedthemupfromAbraham,redeemedthemfromtheirenemies,andsetthematrest.
TheobjectofGodwasnottosavethemfromthedeluge,andraiseupawholepeoplefromAbraham,onlyinordertobringthemintoarichland.
Andevengraceisonlythetypeofglory,foritisnottheultimateend.Ithasbeensymbolisedbythelaw,anditselfsymbolisesglory.Butitisthetypeofit,andtheoriginorcause.
Theordinarylifeofmenislikethatofthesaints.Theyallseektheirsatisfactionanddifferonlyintheobjectinwhichtheyplaceit;theycallthosetheirenemieswhohinderthem,etc.GodhasthenshownthepowerwhichHehasofgivinginvisibleblessings,bythatwhichHehasshownHimselftohaveoverthingsvisible.
644.Types.—God,wishingtoformforHimselfanholypeople,whomHeshouldseparatefromallothernations,whomHeshoulddeliverfromtheirenemiesandshouldputintoaplaceofrest,haspromisedtodosoandhasforetoldbyHisprophetsthetimeandthemannerofHiscoming.Andyet,toconfirmthehopeofHiselect,Hehasmadethemseeinitanimagethroughalltime,withoutleavingthemdevoidofassurancesofHispowerandofHiswilltosavethem.For,atthecreationofman,Adamwasthewitness,andguardianofthepromiseofaSaviour,whoshouldbebornofwoman,whenmenwerestillsonearthecreationthattheycouldnothaveforgottentheircreationandtheirfall.WhenthosewhohadseenAdamwerenolongerintheworld,GodsentNoahwhomHesaved,anddrownedthewholeearthbyamiraclewhichsufficientlyindicatedthepowerwhichHehadtosavetheworld,andthewillwhichHehadtodoso,andtoraiseupfromtheseedofwomanHimwhomHehadpromised.Thismiraclewasenoughtoconfirmthehopeofmen.
ThememoryoftheDelugebeingsofreshamongmen,whileNoahwasstillalive,GodmadepromisestoAbraham,and,whileShemwasstillliving,sentMoses,etc
645.Types.—God,willingtodepriveHisownofperishableblessings,createdtheJewishpeopleinordertoshowthatthiswasnotowingtolackofpower.
646.TheSynagoguedidnotperish,becauseitwasatype.But,becauseitwasonlyatype,itfellintoservitude.Thetypeexistedtillthetruthcame,inorderthattheChurchshouldbealwaysvisible,eitherinthesignwhichpromisedit,orinsubstance.
647.Thatthelawwasfigurative.
648.Twoerrors:1.Totakeeverythingliterally.2.Totakeeverythingspiritually.
649.Tospeakagainsttoogreatlyfigurativelanguage.
650.Therearesometypesclearanddemonstrative,butotherswhichseemsomewhatfar-fetched,andwhichconvinceonlythosewhoarealreadypersuaded.TheseareliketheApocalyptics.Butthedifferenceisthattheyhavenonewhicharecertain,sothatnothingissounjustastoclaimthattheirsareaswellfoundedassomeofours;fortheyhavenonesodemonstrativeassomeofours.Thecomparisonisunfair.Wemustnotputonthesamelevelandconfoundthings,becausetheyseemtoagreeinonepoint,whiletheyaresodifferentinanother.Theclearnessindivinethingsrequiresustoreveretheobscuritiesinthem.
Itislikemen,whoemployacertainobscurelanguageamongthemselves.Thosewhoshouldnotunderstanditwouldunderstandonlyafoolishmeaning.
651.ExtravagancesoftheApocalyptics,Preadamites,whowouldbaseextravagantopinionsonScripturewill,forexample,basethemonthis.Itissaidthat"thisgenerationshallnotpasstillallthesethingsbefulfilled."UponthatIwillsaythatafterthatgenerationwillcomeanothergeneration,andsooneverinsuccession.
SolomonandtheKingarespokenofinthesecondbookofChroniclesasiftheyweretwodifferentpersons.Iwillsaythattheyweretwo.
652.ParticularTypes.—Adoublelaw,doubletablesofthelaw,adoubletemple,adoublecaptivity.
653.Types.—Theprophetsprophesiedbysymbolsofagirdle,abeard,andburnthair,etc.
654.Differencebetweendinnerandsupper.
InGodtheworddoesnotdifferfromtheintention,forHeistrue;northewordfromtheeffect,forHeispowerful;northemeansfromtheeffect,forHeiswise.St.Bernard,UltimoSermoinMissam.
St.Augustine,CityofGod,v.10.Thisruleisgeneral.Godcandoeverything,exceptthosethingswhich,ifHecoulddo,Hewouldnotbealmighty,asdying,beingdeceived,lying,etc.
SeveralEvangelistsfortheconfirmationofthetruth;theirdifferenceuseful.
TheEucharistafterLord-sSupper.Truthafterthetype.
TheruinofJerusalem,atypeoftheruinoftheworld,fortyyearsafterthedeathofJesus."Iknownot,"asaman,orasanambassador(Mark13:32;Matthew24:36.)
JesuscondemnedbytheJewsandtheGentiles.
TheJewsandtheGentilestypifiedbythetwosons.St.AugustineCityofGod,xx.29.
655.Thesixages,thesixFathersofthesixages,thesixwondersatthebeginningofthesixages,thesixmorningsatthebeginningofthesixages.
656.Adamformafuturi.Thesixdaystoformtheone,thesixagestoformtheother.Thesixdays,whichMosesrepresentsfortheformationofAdam,areonlythepictureofthesixagestoformJesusChristandtheChurch.IfAdamhadnotsinned,andJesusChristhadnotcome,therehadbeenonlyonecovenant,onlyoneageofmen,andthecreationwouldhavebeenrepresentedasaccomplishedatonesingletime.
657.Types.—TheJewishandEgyptianpeopleswereplainlyforetoldbythetwoindividualswhomMosesmet;theEgyptianbeatingtheJew,MosesavenginghimandkillingtheEgyptian,andtheJewbeingungrateful.
658.ThesymbolsoftheGospelforthestateofthesicksoularesickbodies;but,becauseonebodycannotbesickenoughtoexpressitwell,severalhavebeenneeded.Thustherearethedeaf,thedumb,theblind,theparalytic,thedeadLazarus,thepossessed.Allthiscrowdisinthesicksoul.
659.Types.—ToshowthattheOldTestamentisonlyfigurativeandthattheprophetsunderstoodbytemporalblessingsotherblessings,thisistheproof:
First,thatthiswouldbeunworthyofGod.
Secondly,thattheirdiscoursesexpressveryclearlythepromiseoftemporalblessings,andthattheysayneverthelessthattheirdiscoursesareobscure,andthattheirmeaningwillnotbeunderstood.Whenceitappearsthatthissecretmeaningwasnotthatwhichtheyopenlyexpressed,andthatconsequentlytheymeanttospeakofothersacrifices,ofanotherdeliverer,etc.Theysaythattheywillbeunderstoodonlyinthefullnessoftime(Jer.30:24).
Thethirdproofisthattheirdiscoursesarecontradictory,andneutraliseeachother;sothat,ifwethinkthattheydidnotmeanbythewordslawandsacrificeanythingelsethanthatofMoses,thereisaplainandgrosscontradiction.Thereforetheymeantsomethingelse,sometimescontradictingthemselvesinthesamechapter.Now,tounderstandthemeaningofanauthor
660.Lusthasbecomenaturaltousandhasmadeoursecondnature.Thustherearetwonaturesinus—theonegood,theotherbad.WhereisGod?Whereyouarenot,andthekingdomofGodiswithinyou.TheRabbis.
661.Penitence,aloneofallthesemysteries,hasbeenmanifestlydeclaredtotheJews,andbySaintJohn,theForerunner;andthentheothermysteries;toindicatethatineachman,asintheentireworld,thisordermustbeobserved.
662.ThecarnalJewsunderstoodneitherthegreatnessnorthehumiliationoftheMessiahforetoldintheirprophecies.TheymisunderstoodHiminHisforetoldgreatness,aswhenHesaidthattheMessiahshouldbelordofDavid,thoughhisson,andthatHewasbeforeAbraham,whohadseenHim.TheydidnotbelieveHimsogreatastobeeternal,andtheylikewisemisunderstoodHiminHishumiliationandinHisdeath."TheMessiah,"saidthey,"abidethforever,andthismansaysthatheshalldie."ThereforetheybelievedHimneithermortalnoreternal;theyonlysoughtinHimforacarnalgreatness.
663.Typical.—Nothingissolikecharityascovetousness,andnothingissoopposedtoit.ThustheJews,fullofpossessionswhichflatteredtheircovetousness,wereverylikeChristians,andverycontrary.Andbythismeanstheyhadthetwoqualitieswhichitwasnecessarytheyshouldhave,tobeveryliketheMessiahtotypifyHim,andverycontrarynottobesuspectedwitnesses.
664.Typical.—GodmadeuseofthelustoftheJewstomakethemministertoJesusChrist,whobroughttheremedyfortheirlust.
665.Charityisnotafigurativeprecept.ItisdreadfultosaythatJesusChrist,whocametotakeawaytypesinordertoestablishthetruth,cameonlytoestablishthetypeofcharity,inordertotakeawaytheexistingrealitywhichwastherebefore.
"Ifthelightbedarkness,howgreatisthatdarkness!"
666.Fascination.Somnumsuum.Figurahujusmundi.
TheEucharist.Comedespanemtuum.Panemnostrum.
InimiciDeiterramlingent.Sinnerslickthedust,thatistosay,loveearthlypleasures.
TheOldTestamentcontainsthetypesoffuturejoy,andtheNewcontainsthemeansofarrivingatit.Thetypeswereofjoy;themeansofpenitence;andneverthelessthePaschalLambwaseatenwithbitterherbs,cumamaritudinibus.
Singularissumegodonectranseam.JesusChristbeforeHisdeathwasalmosttheonlymartyr.
667.Typical.—Theexpressionssword,shield.Potentissime.
668.Weareestrangedonlybydepartingfromcharity.OurprayersandourvirtuesareabominablebeforeGod,iftheyarenottheprayersandthevirtuesofJesusChrist.Andoursinswillneverbetheobjectofmercy,butofthejusticeofGod,iftheyarenotJesusChrist.Hehasadoptedoursins,andhasusintounion,forvirtuesareHisown,andsinsareforeigntoHim;whilevirtuesareforeigntous,andoursinsareourown.
Letuschangetherulewhichwehavehithertochosenforjudgingwhatisgood.Wehadourownwillasourrule.LetusnowtakethewillofGod;allthatHewillsisgoodandrighttous,allthatHedoesnotwillisbad.
AllthatGoddoesnotpermitisforbidden.SinsareforbiddenbythegeneraldeclarationthatGodhasmade,thatHedidnotallowthem.OtherthingswhichHehasleftwithoutgeneralprohibition,andwhichforthatreasonaresaidtobepermitted,areneverthelessnotalwayspermitted.ForwhenGodremovedsomeoneofthemfromus,andwhen,bytheevent,whichisamanifestationofthewillofGod,itappearsthatGoddoesnotwillthatweshouldhaveathing,thatisthenforbiddentousassin;sincethewillofGodisthatweshouldnothaveonemorethananother.Thereisthissoledifferencebetweenthesetwothings,thatitiscertainthatGodwillneverallowsin,whileitisnotcertainthatHewillneverallowtheother.ButsolongasGoddoesnotpermitit,weoughttoregarditassin;solongastheabsenceofGod-swill,whichaloneisallgoodnessandalljustice,rendersitunjustandwrong.
669.Tochangethetype,becauseofourweakness.
670.Types.—TheJewshadgrownoldintheseearthlythoughts,thatGodlovedtheirfatherAbraham,hisfleshandwhatsprungfromit;thatonaccountofthisHehadmultipliedthemanddistinguishedthemfromallothernations,withoutallowingthemtointermingle;that,whentheywerelanguishinginEgypt,Hebroughtthemoutwithallthesegreatsignsintheirfavour;thatHefedthemwithmannainthedesert,andledthemintoaveryrichland;thatHegavethemkingsandawell-builttemple,inordertoofferupbeastsbeforeHim,bythesheddingofwhosebloodtheyshouldbepurified;andthat,atlast,HewastosendthemtheMessiahtomakethemmastersofalltheworld,andforetoldthetimeofHiscoming.
Theworldhavinggrownoldinthesecarnalerrors,JesusChristcameatthetimeforetold,butnotwiththeexpectedglory;andthusmendidnotthinkitwasHe.AfterHisdeath,SaintPaulcametoteachmenthatallthesethingshadhappenedinallegory;thatthekingdomofGoddidnotconsistintheflesh,butinthespirit;thattheenemiesofmenwerenottheBabylonians,butthepassions;thatGoddelightednotintemplesmadewithhands,butinapureandcontriteheart;thatthecircumcisionofthebodywasunprofitable,butthatoftheheartwasneeded;thatMoseshadnotgiventhemthebreadfromheaven,etc.
ButGod,nothavingdesiredtorevealthesethingstothispeoplewhowereunworthyofthemandhaving,nevertheless,desiredtoforetellthem,inorderthattheymightbebelieved,foretoldthetimeclearly,andexpressedthethingssometimesclearly,butveryofteninfigures,inorderthatthosewholovedsymbolsmightconsiderthemandthosewholovedwhatwassymbolisedmightseeittherein.
Allthattendsnottocharityisfigurative.
ThesoleaimoftheScriptureischarity.
Allwhichtendsnottothesoleendisthetypeofit.Forsincethereisonlyoneend,allwhichdoesnotleadtoitinexpresstermsisfigurative.
Godthusvariesthatsolepreceptofcharitytosatisfyourcuriositywhichseeksforvariety,bythatvarietywhichstillleadsustotheonethingneedful.Foronethingaloneisneedful,andwelovevariety;andGodsatisfiesbothbythesevarieties,whichleadtotheonethingneedful.
TheJewshavesomuchlovedtheshadowsandhavesostrictlyexpectedthemthattheyhavemisunderstoodthereality,whenitcameinthetimeandmannerforetold.
TheRabbistakethebreastsoftheSpousefortypes,andallthatdoesnotexpresstheonlyendtheyhave,namely,temporalgood.
AndChristianstakeeventheEucharistasatypeofthegloryatwhichtheyaim.
671.TheJews,whohavebeencalledtosubduenationsandkings,havebeentheslavesofsin;andtheChristians,whosecallinghasbeentobeservantsandsubjects,arefreechildren.
672.Aformalpoint.—WhenSaintPeterandtheApostlesdeliberatedaboutabolishingcircumcision,whereitwasaquestionofactingagainstthelawofGod,theydidnotheedtheprophets,butsimplythereceptionoftheHolySpiritinthepersonsuncircumcised.
TheythoughtitmorecertainthatGodapprovedofthosewhomHefilledwithHisSpiritthanitwasthatthelawmustbeobeyed.TheyknewthattheendofthelawwasonlytheHolySpirit;andthatthus,asmencertainlyhadthiswithoutcircumcision,itwasnotnecessary.
673.Facsecundumexemplarquodtibiostensumestinmonte.—TheJewishreligionthenhasbeenformedonitslikenesstothetruthoftheMessiah;andthetruthoftheMessiahhasbeenrecognisedbythereligion,whichwasthetypeofit.
AmongtheJewsthetruthwasonlytypified;inheavenitisrevealed.
IntheChurchitishiddenandrecognisedbyitsresemblancetothetype.
Thetypehasbeenmadeaccordingtothetruth,andthetruthhasbeenrecognisedaccordingtothetype.
SaintPaulsayshimselfthatpeoplewillforbidtomarry,andhehimselfspeaksofittotheCorinthiansinawaywhichisasnare.Forifaprophethadsaidtheone,andSaintPaulhadthensaidtheother,hewouldhavebeenaccused.
674.Typical.—"Doallthingsaccordingtothepatternwhichhasbeenshowntheeonthemount."OnwhichSaintPaulsaysthattheJewshaveshadowedforthheavenlythings.
675AndyetthisCovenant,madetoblindsomeandenlightenothers,indicatedinthoseverypersons,whomitblinded,thetruthwhichshouldberecognisedbyothers.ForthevisibleblessingswhichtheyreceivedfromGodweresogreatandsodivinethatHeindeedappearedabletogivethemthosethatareinvisibleandaMessiah.
FornatureisanimageofGrace,andvisiblemiraclesareimagesoftheinvisible.Utsciatistibidico:Surge.
IsaiahsaysthatRedemptionwillbeasthepassageoftheRedSea.
Godhas,then,shownbythedeliverancefromEgypt,andfromthesea,bythedefeatofkings,bythemanna,bythewholegenealogyofAbraham,thatHewasabletosave,tosenddownbreadfromheaven,etc.;sothatthepeoplehostiletoHimarethetypeandtherepresentationoftheveryMessiahwhomtheyknownot,etc.
Hehas,then,taughtusatlastthatallthesethingswereonlytypesandwhatis"truefreedom,"a"trueIsraelite,""truecircumcision,""truebreadfromheaven,"etc.
Inthesepromiseseachonefindswhathehasmostatheart,temporalbenefitsorspiritual,Godorthecreatures;butwiththisdifference,thatthosewhothereinseekthecreaturesfindthem,butwithmanycontradictions,withaprohibitionagainstlovingthem,withthecommandtoworshipGodonly,andtoloveHimonly,whichisthesamething,and,finally,thattheMessiahcamenotforthem;whereasthosewhothereinseekGodfindHim,withoutanycontradiction,withthecommandtoloveHimonly,andthattheMessiahcameinthetimeforetold,togivethemtheblessingswhichtheyask.
ThustheJewshadmiraclesandprophecies,whichtheysawfulfilled,andtheteachingoftheirlawwastoworshipandloveGodonly;itwasalsoperpetual.Thusithadallthemarksofthetruereligion;andsoitwas.ButtheJewishteachingmustbedistinguishedfromtheteachingoftheJewishlaw.NowtheJewishteachingwasnottrue,althoughithadmiraclesandprophecyandperpetuity,becauseithadnotthisotherpointofworshippingandlovingGodonly.
676.Theveil,whichisuponthesebooksfortheJews,istherealsoforevilChristiansandforallwhodonothatethemselves.
ButhowwelldisposedmenaretounderstandthemandtoknowJesusChrist,whentheytrulyhatethemselves!
677.Atypeconveysabsenceandpresence,pleasureandpain.
Acipherhasadoublemeaning,oneclearandoneinwhichitissaidthatthemeaningishidden.
678.Types.—Aportraitconveysabsenceandpresence,pleasureandpain.Therealityexcludesabsenceandpain.
Toknowifthelawandthesacrificesarearealityoratype,wemustseeiftheprophets,inspeakingofthesethings,confinedtheirviewandtheirthoughttothem,sothattheysawonlytheoldcovenant;oriftheysawthereinsomethingelseofwhichtheyweretherepresentation,forinaportraitweseethethingfigured.Forthisweneedonlyexaminewhattheysayofthem.
Whentheysaythatitwillbeeternal,dotheymeantospeakofthatcovenantwhichtheysaywillbechanged;andsoofthesacrifices,etc.?
Acipherhastwomeanings.Whenwefindoutanimportantletterinwhichwediscoveraclearmeaning,andinwhichitisneverthelesssaidthatthemeaningisveiledandobscure,thatitishidden,sothatwemightreadtheletterwithoutseeingit,andinterpretitwithoutunderstandingit,whatmustwethinkbutthathereisacipherwithadoublemeaning,andthemoresoifwefindobviouscontradictionsintheliteralmeaning?TheprophetshaveclearlysaidthatIsraelwouldbealwayslovedbyGodandthatthelawwouldbeeternal;andtheyhavesaidthattheirmeaningwouldnotbeunderstoodandthatitwasveiled.
Howgreatly,then,oughtwetovaluethosewhointerpretthecipherandteachustounderstandthehiddenmeaning,especiallyiftheprincipleswhichtheyeduceareperfectlyclearandnatural!ThisiswhatJesusChristdid,andtheApostles.Theybroketheseal;Herenttheveil,andrevealedthespirit.Theyhavetaughtusthroughthisthattheenemiesofmanarehispassions;thattheRedeemerwouldbespiritual,andHisreignspiritual;thattherewouldbetwoadvents,oneinlowlinesstohumbletheproud,theotheringlorytoexaltthehumble;thatJesusChristwouldbebothGodandman.
679.Types.—JesusChristopenedtheirmindtounderstandtheScriptures.
Twogreatrevelationsarethese.(1)Allthingshappenedtothemintypes:vereIsraelitae,vereliberi,truebreadfromHeaven.(2)AGodhumbledtotheCross.ItwasnecessarythatChristshouldsufferinordertoenterintoglory,"thatHeshoulddestroydeaththroughdeath."Twoadvents.
680.Types.—Whenoncethissecretisdisclosed,itisimpossiblenottoseeit.LetusreadtheOldTestamentinthislight,andletusseeifthesacrificeswerereal;ifthefatherhoodofAbrahamwasthetruecauseofthefriendshipofGod;andifthepromisedlandwasthetrueplaceofrest.No.Theyarethereforetypes.Letusinthesamewayexamineallthoseordainedceremonies,allthosecommandmentswhicharenotofcharity,andweshallseethattheyaretypes.
Allthesesacrificesandceremoniesweretheneithertypesornonsense.Nowthesearethingstooclearandtooloftytobethoughtnonsense.
ToknowiftheprophetsconfinedtheirviewintheOldTestament,orsawthereinotherthings.
681.Typical.—Thekeyofthecipher.Veriadoratores.EcceagnusDeiquitollitpeccatamundi.
682.Is.1:21.Changeofgoodintoevil,andthevengeanceofGod.Is.10:1;26:20;28:1.Miracles:Is.33:9;40:17;41:26;43:13.
Jer.11:21;15:12;17:9.Pravumestcoromniumetincrustabile;quiscognoscetillud?thatistosay,Whocanknowallitsevil?Foritisalreadyknowntobewicked.Egodominus,etc.—vii.14,Faciamdomuihuic,etc.Trustinexternalsacrifices—7:22,Quianonsumlocutus,etc.Outwardsacrificeisnottheessentialpoint—11:13,Secundumnumerum,etc.Amultitudeofdoctrines.
Is.44:20-24;54:8;63:12-17;66:17.Jer.2:35;4:22-24;5:4,29-31;6:16;22:15-17.
683.Types.—Theletterkills.Allhappenedintypes.HereisthecipherwhichSaintPaulgivesus.Christmustsuffer.AnhumiliatedGod.Circumcisionoftheheart,truefasting,truesacrifice,atruetemple.Theprophetshaveshownthatallthesemustbespiritual.
Notthemeatwhichperishes,butthatwhichdoesnotperish.
"Yeshallbefreeindeed."Thentheotherfreedomwasonlyatypeoffreedom.
"IamthetruebreadfromHeaven."
684.Contradiction.—Wecanonlydescribeagoodcharacterbyreconcilingallcontraryqualities,anditisnotenoughtokeepupaseriesofharmoniousqualities,withoutreconcilingcontradictoryones.Tounderstandthemeaningofanauthor,wemustmakeallthecontrarypassagesagree.
Thus,tounderstandScripture,wemusthaveameaninginwhichallthecontrarypassagesarereconciled.Itisnotenoughtohaveonewhichsuitsmanyconcurringpassages;butitisnecessarytohaveonewhichreconcilesevencontradictorypassages.
Everyauthorhasameaninginwhichallthecontradictorypassagesagree,orhehasnomeaningatall.WecannotaffirmthelatterofScriptureandtheprophets;theyundoubtedlyarefullofgoodsense.Wemust,then,seekforameaningwhichreconcilesalldiscrepancies.
Thetruemeaning,then,isnotthatoftheJews;butinJesusChristallthecontradictionsarereconciled.
TheJewscouldnotreconcilethecessationoftheroyaltyandprincipality,foretoldbyHosea,withtheprophecyofJacob.
Ifwetakethelaw,thesacrifices,andthekingdomasrealities,wecannotreconcileallthepassages.Theymustthennecessarilybeonlytypes.Wecannotevenreconcilethepassagesofthesameauthor,norofthesamebook,norsometimesofthesamechapter,whichindicatescopiouslywhatwasthemeaningoftheauthor.AswhenEzekiel,chap.20.,SaysthatmanwillnotlivebythecommandmentsofGodandwilllivebythem.
685.Types.—Ifthelawandthesacrificesarethetruth,itmustpleaseGod,andmustnotdispleaseHim.Iftheyaretypes,theymustbebothpleasinganddispleasing.
NowinalltheScripturetheyarebothpleasinganddispleasing.Itissaidthatthelawshallbechanged;thatthesacrificeshallbechanged;thattheyshallbewithoutlaw,withoutaprince,andwithoutasacrifice;thatanewcovenantshallbemade;thatthelawshallberenewed;thatthepreceptswhichtheyhavereceivedarenotgood;thattheirsacrificesareabominable;thatGodhasdemandednoneofthem.
Itissaid,onthecontrary,thatthelawshallabideforever;thatthiscovenantshallbeforever;thatsacrificeshallbeeternal;thatthesceptreshallneverdepartfromamongthem,becauseitshallnotdepartfromthemtilltheeternalKingcomes.
Doallthesepassagesindicatewhatisreal?No.Dotheythenindicatewhatistypical?No,butwhatiseitherrealortypical.Butthefirstpassages,excludingastheydoreality,indicatethatallthisisonlytypical.
Allthesepassagestogethercannotbeappliedtoreality;allcanbesaidtobetypical;thereforetheyarenotspokenofreality,butofthetype.
Agnusoccisusestaboriginemundi.Asacrificingjudge.
686.Contradictions.—ThesceptretilltheMessiah—withoutkingorprince.
Theeternallaw—changed.
Theeternalcovenant—anewcovenant.
Goodlaws—badprecepts.Ezekiel.
687.Types.—WhenthewordofGod,whichisreallytrue,isfalseliterally,itistruespiritually.Sedeadextrismeis:thisisfalseliterally,thereforeitistruespiritually.
Intheseexpressions,Godisspokenofafterthemannerofmen;andthismeansnothingelsebutthattheintentionwhichmenhaveingivingaseatattheirrighthand,Godwillhavealso.ItisthenanindicationoftheintentionofGod,notofHismannerofcarryingitout.
Thuswhenitissaid,"Godhasreceivedtheodourofyourincense,andwillinrecompensegiveyouarichland,"thatisequivalenttosayingthatthesameintentionwhichamanwouldhave,who,pleasedwithyourperfumes,shouldinrecompensegiveyouarichland,Godwillhavetowardsyou,becauseyouhavehadthesameintentionasamanhastowardshimtowhomhepresentsperfumes.Soiratusest,a"jealousGod,"etc.For,thethingsofGodbeinginexpressible,theycannotbespokenofotherwise,andtheChurchmakesuseofthemevento-day:Quiaconfortavitseras,etc.
ItisnotallowabletoattributetoScripturethemeaningwhichisnotrevealedtousthatithas.Thus,tosaythattheclosedmemofIsaiahsignifiessixhundred,hasnotbeenrevealed.Itmightbesaidthatthefinaltsadeandhedeficientesmaysignifymysteries.Butitisnotallowabletosayso,andstilllesstosaythisisthewayofthephilosopher-sstone.Butwesaythattheliteralmeaningisnotthetruemeaning,becausetheprophetshavethemselvessaidso.
688.Idonotsaythatthememismystical.
689.Moses(Deut.30)PromisesthatGodwillcircumcisetheirhearttorenderthemcapableoflovingHim.
690.OnesayingofDavid,orofMoses,asforinstancethat"Godwillcircumcisetheheart,"enablesustojudgeoftheirspirit.IfalltheirotherexpressionswereambiguousandleftusindoubtwhethertheywerephilosophersorChristians,onesayingofthiskindwouldinfactdeterminealltherest,asonesentenceofEpictetusdecidesthemeaningofalltheresttobetheopposite.Sofarambiguityexists,butnotafterwards.
691.Ifoneoftwopersons,whoaretellingsillystories,useslanguagewithadoublemeaning,understoodinhisowncircle,whiletheotherusesitwithonlyonemeaning,anyonenotinthesecret,whohearsthembothtalkinthismanner,willpassuponthemthesamejudgment.But,if,afterwards,intherestoftheirconversationonesaysangelicthings,andtheotheralwaysdullcommonplaces,hewilljudgethattheonespokeinmysteries,andnottheother;theonehavingsufficientlyshownthatheisincapableofsuchfoolishnessandcapableofbeingmysterious;andtheotherthatheisincapableofmysteryandcapableoffoolishness.
TheOldTestamentisacipher.
692.Therearesomethatseeclearlythatmanhasnootherenemythanlust,whichturnshimfromGod,andnotGod;andthathehasnoothergoodthanGod,andnotarichland.Letthosewhobelievethatthegoodofmanisintheflesh,andevilinwhatturnshimawayfromsensualpleasures,satiatethemselveswiththem,anddieinthem.ButletthosewhoseekGodwithalltheirheart,whoareonlytroubledatnotseeingHim,whodesireonlytopossessHimandhaveasenemiesonlythosewhoturnthemawayfromHim,whoaregrievedatseeingthemselvessurroundedandoverwhelmedwithsuchenemies,takecomfort.Iproclaimtothemhappynews.ThereexistsaRedeemerforthem.IshallshowHimtothem.IshallshowthatthereisaGodforthem.IshallnotshowHimtoothers.IshallmakethemseethataMessiahhasbeenpromised,whoshoulddeliverthemfromtheirenemies,andthatOnehascometofreethemfromtheiriniquities,butnotfromtheirenemies.
WhenDavidforetoldthattheMessiahwoulddeliverHispeoplefromtheirenemies,onecanbelievethatinthefleshthesewouldbetheEgyptians;andthenIcannotshowthattheprophecywasfulfilled.Butonecanwellbelievealsothattheenemieswouldbetheirsins;forindeedtheEgyptianswerenottheirenemies,buttheirsinswereso.Thiswordenemiesis,therefore,ambiguous.Butifhesayselsewhere,ashedoes,thatHewilldeliverHispeoplefromtheirsins,asindeeddoIsaiahandothers,theambiguityisremoved,andthedoublemeaningofenemiesisreducedtothesimplemeaningofiniquities.Forifhehadsinsinhismind,hecouldwelldenotethemasenemies;butifhethoughtofenemies,hecouldnotdesignatethemasiniquities.
NowMoses,David,andIsaiahusedthesameterms.Whowillsay,then,thattheyhavenotthesamemeaningandthatDavid-smeaning,whichisplainlyiniquitieswhenhespokeofenemies,wasnotthesameasthatofMoseswhenspeakingofenemies?
Daniel(ix)praysforthedeliveranceofthepeoplefromthecaptivityoftheirenemies.Buthewasthinkingofsins,and,toshowthis,hesaysthatGabrielcametotellhimthathisprayerwasheard,andthattherewereonlyseventyweekstowait,afterwhichthepeoplewouldbefreedfrominiquity,sinwouldhaveanend,andtheRedeemer,theHolyofHolies,wouldbringeternaljustice,notlegal,buteternal.
SECTIONXI:THEPROPHECIES
693.WhenIseetheblindnessandthewretchednessofman,whenIregardthewholesilentuniverseandmanwithoutlight,lefttohimselfand,asitwere,lostinthiscorneroftheuniverse,withoutknowingwhohasputhimthere,whathehascometodo,whatwillbecomeofhimatdeath,andincapableofallknowledge,Ibecometerrified,likeamanwhoshouldbecarriedinhissleeptoadreadfuldesertislandandshouldawakewithoutknowingwhereheisandwithoutmeansofescape.AndthereuponIwonderhowpeopleinaconditionsowretcheddonotfallintodespair.Iseeotherpersonsaroundmeofalikenature.IaskthemiftheyarebetterinformedthanIam.Theytellmethattheyarenot.Andthereuponthesewretchedandlostbeings,havinglookedaroundthemandseensomepleasingobjects,havegivenandattachedthemselvestothem.Formyownpart,Ihavenotbeenabletoattachmyselftothem,and,consideringhowstronglyitappearsthatthereissomethingelsethanwhatIsee,IhaveexaminedwhetherthisGodhasnotleftsomesignofHimself.
Iseemanycontradictoryreligions,andconsequentlyallfalsesaveone.Eachwantstobebelievedonitsownauthority,andthreatensunbelievers.Idonotthereforebelievethem.Everyonecansaythis;everyonecancallhimselfaprophet.ButIseethatChristianreligionwhereinpropheciesarefulfilled;andthatiswhateveryonecannotdo.
694.Andwhatcrownsallthisisprediction,sothatitshouldnotbesaidthatitischancewhichhasdoneit?
Whosoever,havingonlyaweektolive,willnotfindoutthatitisexpedienttobelievethatallthisisnotastrokeofchance
Now,ifthepassionshadnoholdonus,aweekandahundredyearswouldamounttothesamething.
695.Prophecies.—GreatPanisdead.
696.Susceperuntverbumcumomniaviditate,scrutantesScripturas,siitasehaberent.
697.Proditalege.Impletacerne.Implendacollige.
698.Weunderstandthepropheciesonlywhenweseetheeventshappen.Thustheproofsofretreat,discretion,silence,etc.,areproofsonlytothosewhoknowandbelievethem.
Josephsointernalinalawsoexternal.
Outwardpenancesdisposetoinward,ashumiliationstohumility.Thusthe
699.Thesynagoguehasprecededthechurch;theJews,theChristians.TheprophetshaveforetoldtheChristians;SaintJohn,JesusChrist.
700.ItisglorioustoseewiththeeyesoffaiththehistoryofHerodandofCaesar.
701.ThezealoftheJewsfortheirlawandtheirtemple(Josephus,andPhilotheJew,AdCaium).Whatotherpeoplehadsuchazeal?Itwasnecessarytheyshouldhaveit.
JesusChristforetoldastothetimeandthestateoftheworld.Therulertakenfromthethigh,andthefourthmonarchy.Howluckywearetoseethislightamidstthisdarkness!
Howfineitistosee,withtheeyesoffaith,DariusandCyrus,Alexander,theRomans,PompeyandHerodworking,withoutknowingit,forthegloryoftheGospel!
702.ZealoftheJewishpeopleforthelaw,especiallyaftertherewerenomoreprophets.
703.Whiletheprophetswereformaintainingthelaw,thepeoplewereindifferent.But,sincetherehavebeennomoreprophets,zealhassucceededthem.
704.ThedeviltroubledthezealoftheJewsbeforeJesusChrist,becausehewouldhavebeentheirsalvation,butnotsince.
TheJewishpeoplescornedbytheGentiles;theChristianpeoplepersecuted.
705.Proof.—Prophecieswiththeirfulfilment;whathasprecededandwhathasfollowedJesusChrist.
706.ThepropheciesarethestrongestproofofJesusChrist.ItisforthemalsothatGodhasmademostprovision;fortheeventwhichhasfulfilledthemisamiracleexistingsincethebirthoftheChurchtotheend.SoGodhasraisedupprophetsduringsixteenhundredyears,and,duringfourhundredyearsafterwards,HehasscatteredallthesepropheciesamongalltheJews,whocarriedthemintoallpartsoftheworld.SuchwasthepreparationforthebirthofJesusChrist,and,asHisGospelwastobebelievedbyalltheworld,itwasnotonlynecessarythatthereshouldbepropheciestomakeitbelieved,butthatthesepropheciesshouldexistthroughoutthewholeworld,inordertomakeitembracedbythewholeworld.
707.Butitwasnotenoughthatthepropheciesshouldexist.Itwasnecessarythattheyshouldbedistributedthroughoutallplacesandpreservedthroughoutalltimes.And,inorderthatthisagreementmightnotbetakenforaneffectofchance,itwasnecessarythatthisshouldbeforetold.
ItisfarmoregloriousfortheMessiahthattheJewsshouldbethespecatorsandeventheinstrumentsofHisglory,besidesthatGodhadreservedthem.
708.Prophecies.—ThetimeforetoldbythestateoftheJewishpeople,bythestateoftheheathen,bythestateofthetemple,bythenumberofyears.
709.Onemustbeboldtopredictthesamethinginsomanyways.Itwasnecessarythatthefouridolatrousorpaganmonarchies,theendofthekingdomofJudah,andtheseventyweeks,shouldhappenatthesametime,andallthisbeforethesecondtemplewasdestroyed.
710.Prophecies.—IfonemanalonehadmadeabookofpredictionsaboutJesusChrist,astothetimeandthemanner,andJesusChristhadcomeinconformitytotheseprophecies,thisfactwouldhaveinfiniteweight.
Butthereismuchmorehere.Hereisasuccessionofmenduringfourthousandyears,who,consequentlyandwithoutvariation,come,oneafteranother,toforetellthissameevent.Hereisawholepeoplewhoannounceitandwhohaveexistedforfourthousandyears,inordertogivecorporatetestimonyoftheassuranceswhichtheyhaveandfromwhichtheycannotbedivertedbywhateverthreatsandpersecutionspeoplemaymakeagainstthem.Thisisfarmoreimportant.
711.Predictionsofparticularthings.—TheywerestrangersinEgypt,withoutanyprivateproperty,eitherinthatcountryorelsewhere.Therewasnottheleastappearance,eitheroftheroyaltywhichhadpreviouslyexistedsolong,orofthatsupremecouncilofseventyjudgeswhichtheycalledtheSanhedrinandwhich,havingbeeninstitutedbyMoses,lastedtothetimeofJesusChrist.Allthesethingswereasfarremovedfromtheirstateatthattimeastheycouldbe,whenJacob,dying,andblessinghistwelvechildren,declaredtothem,thattheywouldbeproprietorsofagreatland,andforetoldinparticulartothefamilyofJudah,thatthekings,whowouldonedayrulethem,shouldbeofhisrace;andthatallhisbrethrenshouldbetheirsubjects;andthateventheMessiah,whowastobetheexpectationofnations,shouldspringfromhim;andthatthekingshipshouldnotbetakenawayfromJudah,northerulerandlaw-giverofhisdescendants,tilltheexpectedMessiahshouldarriveinhisfamily.
ThissameJacob,disposingofthisfuturelandasthoughhehadbeenitsruler,gaveaportiontoJosephmorethantotheothers."Igiveyou,"saidhe,"onepartmorethantoyourbrothers."Andblessinghistwochildren,EphraimandManasseh,whomJosephhadpresentedtohim,theelder,Manasseh,onhisright,andtheyoungEphraimonhisleft,heputhisarmscrosswise,andplacinghisrighthandontheheadofEphraim,andhisleftonManasseh,heblessedtheminthismanner.And,uponJoseph-srepresentingtohimthathewaspreferringtheyounger,herepliedtohimwithadmirableresolution:"Iknowitwell,myson;butEphraimwillincreasemorethanManasseh."Thishasbeenindeedsotrueintheresultthat,beingalonealmostasfruitfulasthetwoentirelineswhichcomposedawholekingdom,theyhavebeenusuallycalledbythenameofEphraimalone.
ThissameJoseph,whendying,badehischildrencarryhisboneswiththemwhentheyshouldgointothatlandtowhichtheyonlycametwohundredyearsafterwards.
Moses,whowroteallthesethingssolongbeforetheyhappened,himselfassignedtoeachfamilyportionsofthatlandbeforetheyenteredit,asthoughhehadbeenitsruler.InfacthedeclaredthatGodwastoraiseupfromtheirnationandtheirraceaprophet,ofwhomhewasthetype;andheforetoldthemexactlyallthatwastohappentotheminthelandwhichtheyweretoenterafterhisdeath,thevictorieswhichGodwouldgivethem,theiringratitudetowardsGod,thepunishmentswhichtheywouldreceiveforit,andtherestoftheiradventures.Hegavethemjudgeswhoshouldmakethedivision.Heprescribedtheentireformofpoliticalgovernmentwhichtheyshouldobserve,thecitiesofrefugewhichtheyshouldbuild,and
712.ThepropheciesaboutparticularthingsaremingledwiththoseabouttheMessiah,sothatthepropheciesoftheMessiahshouldnotbewithoutproofs,northespecialprophecieswithoutfruit.
713.PerpetualcaptivityoftheJews.—Jer.11:11:"IwillbringeviluponJudahfromwhichtheyshallnotbeabletoescape."
Types.—Is.5:"TheLordhadavineyard,fromwhichHelookedforgrapes;anditbroughtforthonlywildgrapes.Iwillthereforelayitwaste,anddestroyit;theearthshallonlybringforththorns,andIwillforbidthecloudsfromraininguponit.ThevineyardoftheLordisthehouseofIsrael,andthemenofJudahHispleasantplant.Ilookedthattheyshoulddojustice,andtheybringforthonlyiniquities."
Is.8:"SanctifytheLordwithfearandtrembling;letHimbeyouronlydread,andHeshallbetoyouforasanctuary,butforastoneofstumblingandarockofoffencetoboththehousesofIsrael,foraginandforasnaretotheinhabitantsofJerusalem;andmanyamongthemshallstumbleagainstthatstone,andfall,andbebroken,andbesnared,andperish.Hidemywords,andcovermylawformydisciples.
"IwillthenwaitinpatienceupontheLordthathidethandconcealethHimselffromthehouseofJacob."
Is.29:"Beamazedandwonder,peopleofIsrael;staggerandstumble,andbedrunken,butnotwithwine;stagger,butnotwithstrongdrink.FortheLordhathpouredoutuponyouthespiritofdeepsleep.Hewillcloseyoureyes;Hewillcoveryourprincesandyourprophetsthathavevisions."(Danielxii:"Thewickedshallnotunderstand,butthewiseshallunderstand."Hosea,thelastchapter,thelastverse,aftermanytemporalblessings,says:"Whoiswise,andheshallunderstandthesethings?"etc.)"Andthevisionsofalltheprophetsarebecomeuntoyouasasealedbook,whichmendelivertoonethatislearned,andwhocanread;andhesaith,Icannotreadit,foritissealed.Andwhenthebookisdeliveredtothemthatarenotlearned,theysay,Iamnotlearned.
"WhereforetheLordsaid,Forasmuchasthispeoplewiththeirlipsdohonourme,buthaveremovedtheirheartfarfromme,"—thereisthereasonandthecauseofit;foriftheyadoredGodintheirhearts,theywouldunderstandtheprophecies,—"andtheirfeartowardsmeistaughtbythepreceptofman.Therefore,behold,Iwillproceedtodoamarvellousworkamongthispeople,evenamarvellousworkandawonder;forthewisdomoftheirwisemenshallperish,andtheirunderstandingshallbehid."
Prophecies.ProofsofDivinity.—Is.41:"Shewthethingsthataretocomehereafter,thatwemayknowthatyearegods:wewillinclineourheartuntoyourwords.Teachusthethingsthathavebeenatthebeginning,anddeclareusthingsfortocome.
"Bythisweshallknowthatyearegods.Yea,dogoodordoevil,ifyoucan.Letusthenbeholditandreasontogether.Behold,yeareofnothing,andonlyanabomination,etc.Who,"(amongcontemporarywriters),"hathdeclaredfromthebeginningthatwemayknowofthethingsdonefromthebeginningandorigin?thatwemaysay,Youarerighteous.Thereisnonethatteachethus,yea,thereisnonethatdeclareththefuture."
Is.42:"IamtheLord,andmyglorywillInotgivetoanother.Ihaveforetoldthethingswhichhavecometopass,andthingsthataretocomedoIdeclare.SinguntoGodanewsonginalltheearth.
"Bringforththeblindpeoplethathaveeyesandseenot,andthedeafthathaveearsandhearnot.Letallthenationsbegatheredtogether.Whoamongthemcandeclarethis,andshewusformerthings,andthingstocome?Letthembringforththeirwitnesses,thattheymaybejustified;orletthemhear,andsay,Itistruth.
"Yearemywitnesses,saiththeLord,andmyservantwhomIhavechosen;thatyemayknowandbelieveme,andunderstandthatIamHe.
"Ihavedeclared,andhavesaved,andIalonehavedonewondersbeforeyoureyes:yearemywitnesses,saidtheLord,thatIamGod.
"ForyoursakeIhavebroughtdowntheforcesoftheBabylonians.IamtheLord,yourHolyOneandCreator.
"Ihavemadeawayinthesea,andapathinthemightywaters.IamHethatdrownedanddestroyedforeverthemightyenemiesthathaveresistedyou.
"Rememberyenottheformerthings,neitherconsiderthethingsofold.
"Behold,Iwilldoanewthing;nowitshallspringforth;shallyenotknowit?Iwillevenmakeawayinthewilderness,andriversinthedesert.
"ThispeoplehaveIformedformyself;Ihaveestablishedthemtoshewforthmypraise,etc.
"I,evenI,amHethatblottethoutthytransgressionsformineownsake,andwillnotrememberthysins.Putinremembranceyouringratitude:seethou,ifthoumayestbejustified.Thyfirstfatherhathsinned,andthyteachershavetransgressedagainstme."
Is.44.:"Iamthefirst,andIamthelast,saiththeLord.Lethimwhowillequalhimselftome,declaretheorderofthingssinceIappointedtheancientpeople,andthethingsthatarecoming.Fearyenot:haveInottoldyouallthesethings?Yearemywitnesses."
ProphecyofCyrus.—Is.45:4:"ForJacob-ssake,mineelect,Ihavecalledtheebythyname."
Is.45:21:"Comeandletusreasontogether.Whohathdeclaredthisfromancienttime?Whohathtolditfromthattime?HavenotI,theLord?"
Is.46:"Remembertheformerthingsofold,andknowthereisnonelikeme,declaringtheendfromthebeginning,andfromancienttimesthethingsthatarenotyetdone,saying,Mycounselshallstand,andIwilldoallmypleasure."
Is.42:"Behold,theformerthingsarecometopass,andnewthingsdoIdeclare;beforetheyspringforthItellyouofthem."
Is.48:3:"Ihavedeclaredtheformerthingsfromthebeginning;Ididthemsuddenly;andtheycametopass.BecauseIknowthatthouartobstinate,thatthyspiritisrebellious,andthybrowbrass;Ihaveevendeclaredittotheebeforeitcametopass:lestthoushouldstsaythatitwastheworkofthygods,andtheeffectoftheircommands.
"Thouhastseenallthis;andwillnotyedeclareit?Ihaveshewedtheenewthingsfromthistime,evenhiddenthings,andthoudidstnotknowthem.Theyarecreatednow,andnotfromthebeginning;Ihavekeptthemhiddenfromthee;lestthoushouldstsay,Behold,Iknewthem.
"Yea,thouknewestnot;yea,thouheardestnot;yea,fromthattimethatthineearwasnotopened:forIknewthatthoucouldstdealverytreacherously,andwastcalledatransgressorfromthewomb."
ReprobationoftheJewsandconversionoftheGentiles.—Is.65:"Iamsoughtofthemthataskednotforme;Iamfoundofthemthatsoughtmenot;Isaid,Beholdme,beholdme,beholdme,untoanationthatdidnotcalluponmyname.
"Ihavespreadoutmyhandsallthedayuntoanunbelievingpeople,whichwalkethinawaythatwasnotgood,aftertheirownthoughts;apeoplethatprovokethmetoangercontinuallybythesinstheycommitinmyface;thatsacrificethtoidols,etc.
"Theseshallbescatteredlikesmokeinthedayofmywrath,etc.
"Youriniquities,andtheiniquitiesofyourfathers,willIassembletogether,andwillrecompenseyouforallaccordingtoyourworks.
"ThussaiththeLord,Asthenewwineisfoundinthecluster,andonesaith,Destroyitnot,forablessingisinitandthepromiseoffruit:formyservants-sakeIwillnotdestroyallIsrael.
"ThusIwillbringforthaseedoutofJacobandoutofJudah,aninheritorofmymountains,andmineelectandmyservantsshallinheritit,andmyfertileandabundantplains;butIwilldestroyallothers,becauseyouhaveforgottenyourGodtoservestrangegods.Icalled,andyedidnotanswer;Ispake,andyedidnothear;andyedidchoosethethingwhichIforbade.
"ThereforethussaiththeLord,Behold,myservantsshalleat,butyeshallbehungry;myservantsshallrejoice,butyeshallbeashamed;myservantsshallsingforjoyofheart,butyeshallcryandhowlforvexationofspirit.
"Andyeshallleaveyournameforacurseuntomychosen:fortheLordshallslaythee,andcallHisservantsbyanothername,thathewhoblessethhimselfintheearthshallblesshimselfinGod,etc.,becausetheformertroublesareforgotten.
"For,behold,Icreatenewheavensandanewearth;andtheformerthingsshallnotberemembered,norcomeintomind.
"ButbeyegladandrejoiceforeverinthatwhichIcreate;for,behold,IcreateJerusalemarejoicing,andherpeopleajoy.
"AndIwillrejoiceinJerusalemandjoyinmypeople;andthevoiceofweepingshallnomorebeheardinher,northevoiceofcrying.
"Beforetheycall,Iwillanswer;andwhiletheyareyetspeaking,Iwillhear.Thewolfandthelambshallfeedtogether,andthelionshalleatstrawlikethebullock;anddustshallbetheserpent-smeat.Theyshallnothurtnordestroyinallmyholymountain."
Is.56:3:"ThussaiththeLord,Keepyejudgment,anddojustice:formysalvationisneartocome,andmyrighteousnesstoberevealed.
"Blessedisthemanthatdoeththis,thatkeepeththeSabbath,andkeepethhishandfromdoinganyevil.
"Neitherletthestrangersthathavejoinedthemselvestome,say,GodwillseparatemefromHispeople.ForthussaiththeLord:WhoeverwillkeepmySabbath,andchoosethethingsthatpleaseme,andtakeholdofmycovenant;evenuntothemwillIgiveinminehouseaplaceandanamebetterthanthatofsonsandofdaughters:Iwillgivethemaneverlastingname,thatshallnotbecutoff."
Is.59:9:"Thereforeforouriniquitiesisjusticefarfromus:wewaitforlight,butbeholdobscurity;forbrightness,butwewalkindarkness.Wegropeforthewallliketheblind;westumbleatnoondayasinthenight:weareindesolateplacesasdeadmen.
"Weroaralllikebears,andmournsorelikedoves;welookforjudgment,butthereisnone;forsalvation,butitisfarfromus."
Is.66:18:"ButIknowtheirworksandtheirthoughts;itshallcomethatIwillgatherallnationsandtongues,andtheyshallseemyglory.
"AndIwillsetasignamongthem,andIwillsendthosethatescapeofthemuntothenations,toAfrica,toLydia,toItaly,toGreece,andtothepeoplethathavenotheardmyfame,neitherhaveseenmyglory.Andtheyshallbringyourbrethren.
Jer.7.ReprobationoftheTemple:"GoyeuntoShiloth,whereIsetmynameatthefirst,andseewhatIdidtoitforthewickednessofmypeople.Andnow,becauseyehavedonealltheseworks,saiththeLord,Iwilldountothishouse,whereinmynameiscalledupon,whereinyetrust,anduntotheplacewhichIgavetoyourpriests,asIhavedonetoShiloth."(ForIhaverejectedit,andmademyselfatempleelsewhere.)
"AndIwillcastyououtofmysight,asIhavecastoutallyourbrethren,eventheseedofEphraim."(Rejectedforever.)"Thereforepraynotforthispeople."
Jer.7:22:"Whatavailsityoutoaddsacrificetosacrifice?ForIspakenotuntoyourfathers,whenIbroughtthemoutofthelandofEgypt,concerningburntofferingsorsacrifices.ButthisthingcommandedIthem,saying,Obeyandbefaithfultomycommandments,andIwillbeyourGod,andyeshallbemypeople."(ItwasonlyaftertheyhadsacrificedtothegoldencalfthatIgavemyselfsacrificestoturnintogoodanevilcustom.)
Jer.7:4:"Trustyenotinlyingwords,saying,ThetempleoftheLord,thetempleoftheLord,thetempleoftheLord,arethese."
714.TheJewswitnessesforGod.Is.43:9;44:8.Propheciesfulfilled.—IKings13:2.IKings22:16.Joshua6:26.IKings16:34.Deut.23.
Malachi1:11.ThesacrificeoftheJewsrejected,andthesacrificeoftheheathen,(evenoutofJerusalem,)andinallplaces.
Moses,beforedying,foretoldthecallingoftheGentiles,Deut.32:21.andthereprobationoftheJews.
Mosesforetoldwhatwouldhappentoeachtribe.
Prophecy.—"Yournameshallbeacurseuntomineelect,andIwillgivethemanothername."
"Maketheirheartfat,"andhow?byflatteringtheirlustandmakingthemhopetosatisfyit.
715.Prophecy.—AmosandZechariah.Theyhavesoldthejustone,andthereforewillnotberecalled.JesusChristbetrayed.
TheyshallnomorerememberEgypt.SeeIs.43:16,17,18,19.Jer.23:6,7.
Prophecy.—TheJewsshallbescatteredabroad.Is.27:6.Anewlaw,Jerem.31:32.
Malachi.Grotius.Thesecondtempleglorious.JesusChristwillcome.Haggai2:7,8,9,10.
ThecallingoftheGentiles.Joel2:28.Hosea2:24.Deut.32:21.Malachi1:11.
716.Hosea3.—Is.42.48.44.60.61.lastverse."IforetolditlongsincethattheymightknowthatitisI."JaddustoAlexander.
717.Prophecies.—ThepromisethatDavidwillalwayshavedescendants.Jer.13:13.
718.TheeternalreignoftheraceofDavid,IIChron.,byalltheprophecies,andwithanoath.Anditwasnottemporallyfulfilled.Jer.23:20.
719.Wemightperhapsthinkthat,whentheprophetsforetoldthatthesceptreshouldnotdepartfromJudahuntiltheeternalKingcame,theyspoketoflatterthepeopleandthattheirprophecywasprovedfalsebyHerod.Buttoshowthatthiswasnottheirmeaningandthat,onthecontrary,theyknewwellthatthistemporalkingdomshouldcease,theysaidthattheywouldbewithoutakingandwithoutaprince,andforalongtime.Hosea3:4.
720.NonhabemusregemnisiCaesarem.ThereforeJesusChristwastheMessiah,sincetheyhadnolongeranykingbutastranger,andwouldhavenoother.
721.WehavenokingbutCaesar.
722.Daniel2:"Allthysoothsayersandwisemencannotshewuntotheethesecretwhichthouhastdemanded.ButthereisaGodinheavenwhocandoso,andthathathrevealedtotheeinthydreamwhatshallbeinthelatterdays."(Thisdreammusthavecausedhimmuchmisgiving.)
"AnditisnotbymyownwisdomthatIhaveknowledgeofthissecret,butbytherevelationofthissameGod,thathathrevealedittome,tomakeitmanifestinthypresence.
"Thydreamwasthenofthiskind.Thousawestagreatimage,highandterrible,whichstoodbeforethee.Hisheadwasofgold,hisbreastandarmsofsilver,hisbellyandhisthighsofbrass,hislegsofiron,hisfeetpartofironandpartofclay.Thusthousawesttillthatastonewascutoutwithouthands,whichsmotetheimageuponhisfeet,thatwereofironandofclay,andbrakethemtopieces.
"Thenwastheiron,theclay,thebrass,thesilver,andthegoldbrokentopiecestogether,andthewindcarriedthemaway;butthisstonethatsmotetheimagebecameagreatmountain,andfilledthewholeearth.Thisisthedream,andnowIwillgivetheetheinterpretationthereof.
"Thouwhoartthegreatestofkings,andtowhomGodhathgivenapowersovastthatthouartrenownedamongallpeoples,arttheheadofgoldwhichthouhastseen.Butaftertheeshallariseanotherkingdominferiortothee,andanotherthirdkingdomofbrass,whichshallbearruleoveralltheearth.
"Butthefourthkingdomshallbestrongasiron,andevenasironbreakethinpiecesandsubduethallthings,soshallthisempirebreakinpiecesandbruiseall.
"Andwhereasthousawestthefeetandtoes,partofclayandpartofiron,thekingdomshallbedivided;butthereshallbeinitofthestrengthofironandoftheweaknessofclay.
"Butasironcannotbefirmlymixedwithclay,sotheywhoarerepresentedbytheironandbytheclay,shallnotcleaveonetoanotherthoughunitedbymarriage.
"NowinthedaysofthesekingsshallGodsetupakingdom,whichshallneverbedestroyed,noreverbedelivereduptootherpeople.Itshallbreakinpiecesandconsumeallthesekingdoms,anditshallstandforever,accordingasthousawestthatthestonewascutoutofthemountainwithouthands,andthatitfellfromthemountain,andbrakeinpiecestheiron,theclay,thesilver,andthegold.Godhathmadeknowntotheewhatshallcometopasshereafter.Thisdreamiscertain,andtheinterpretationthereofsure.
"ThenNebuchadnezzarfelluponhisfacetowardstheearth,"etc.
Daniel8:8."Danielhavingseenthecombatoftheramandofthehe-goat,whovanquishedhimandruledovertheearth,whereoftheprincipalhornbeingbrokenfourotherscameuptowardthefourwindsofheaven,andoutofoneofthemcameforthalittlehorn,whichwaxedexceedinglygreattowardthesouth,andtowardtheeast,andtowardthelandofIsrael,anditwaxedgreateventothehostofheaven;anditcastdownsomeofthestars,andstampeduponthem,andatlastoverthrewtheprince,andbyhimthedailysacrificewastakenaway,andtheplaceofhissanctuarywascastdown.
"ThisiswhatDanielsaw.Hesoughtthemeaningofit,andavoicecriedinthismanner,-Gabriel,makethismantounderstandthevision-AndGabrielsaid:
"TheramwhichthousawestisthekingoftheMedesandPersians,andthehe-goatisthekingofGreece,andthegreathornthatisbetweenhiseyesisthefirstkingofthismonarchy.
"Nowthatbeingbroken,whereasfourstoodupforit,fourkingdomsshallstandupoutofthenation,butnotinhispower.
"Andinthelattertimeoftheirkingdom,wheniniquitiesarecometothefull,thereshallariseaking,insolentandstrong,butnotbyhisownpower,towhomallthingsshallsucceedafterhisownwill;andheshalldestroytheholypeople,andthroughhispolicyalsoheshallcausecrafttoprosperinhishand,andheshalldestroymany.HeshallalsostandupagainstthePrinceofprinces,butheshallperishmiserably,andneverthelessbyaviolenthand."
Daniel9:20."WhilstIwasprayingwithallmyheart,andconfessingmysinandthesinofallmypeople,andprostratingmyselfbeforemyGod,evenGabriel,whomIhadseeninthevisionatthebeginning,cametomeandtouchedmeaboutthetimeoftheeveningoblation,andheinformedmeandsaid,ODaniel,Iamnowcomeforthtogivetheetheknowledgeofthings.AtthebeginningofthysupplicationsIcametoshewthatwhichthoudidstdesire,forthouaregreatlybeloved:thereforeunderstandthematter,andconsiderthevision.Seventyweeksaredetermineduponthypeople,anduponthyholycity,tofinishthetransgression,andtomakeanendofsins,andtoabolishiniquity,andtobringineverlastingrighteousness;toaccomplishthevisionandtheprophecies,andtoanointtheMostHoly.(Afterwhichthispeopleshallbenomorethypeople,northiscitytheholycity.Thetimesofwrathshallbepassed,andtheyearsofgraceshallcomeforever.)
"Knowtherefore,andunderstand,that,fromthegoingforthofthecommandmenttorestoreandtobuildJerusalemuntotheMessiahthePrince,shallbesevenweeks,andthreescoreandtwoweeks."(TheHebrewswereaccustomedtodividenumbers,andtoplacethesmallfirst.Thus,7and62make69.Ofthis70therewillthenremainthe70th,thatistosay,the7lastyearsofwhichhewillspeaknext.)
"Thestreetshallbebuiltagain,andthewall,evenintroubloustimes.Andafterthreescoreandtwoweeks,"(whichhavefollowedthefirstseven.Christwillthenbekilledafterthesixty-nineweeks,thatistosay,inthelastweek),"theChristshallbecutoff,andapeopleoftheprincethatshallcomeshalldestroythecityandthesanctuary,andoverwhelmall,andtheendofthatwarshallaccomplishthedesolation."
"Nowoneweek,"(whichistheseventieth,whichremains),"shallconfirmthecovenantwithmany,andinthemidstoftheweek,"(thatistosay,thelastthreeandahalfyears),"heshallcausethesacrificeandtheoblationtocease,andfortheoverspreadingofabominationsheshallmakeitdesolate,evenuntiltheconsummation,andthatdeterminedshallbepoureduponthedesolate."
Daniel11."TheangelsaidtoDaniel:Thereshallstandupyet,"(afterCyrus,underwhomthisstillis),"threekingsinPersia,"(Cambyses,Smerdis,Darius);andthefourthwhoshallthencome,"(Xerxes)"shallbefarricherthantheyall,andfarstronger,andshallstirupallhispeopleagainsttheGreeks.
"Butamightykingshallstandup,"(Alexander),"thatshallrulewithgreatdominion,anddoaccordingtohiswill.Andwhenheshallstandup,hiskingdomshallbebroken,andshallbedividedinfourpartstowardthefourwindsofheaven,"(ashehadsaidabove,7:6;8:8),"butnothisposterity;andhissuccessorsshallnotequalhispower,forhiskingdomshallbepluckedup,evenforothersbesidesthese,"(hisfourchiefsuccessors).
"Andthekingofthesouth,"(Ptolemy,sonofLagos,Egypt),"shallbestrong;butoneofhisprincesshallbestrongabovehim,andhisdominionshallbeagreatdominion,"(Seleucus,KingofSyria.AppiansaysthathewasthemostpowerfulofAlexander-ssuccessors).
"Andintheendofyearstheyshalljointhemselvestogether,andtheking-sdaughterofthesouth,"(Berenice,daughterofPtolemyPhiladelphus,sonoftheotherPtolemy),"shallcometothekingofthenorth,"(toAntiochusDeus,KingofSyriaandofAsia,sonofSeleucusLagidas),"tomakepeacebetweentheseprinces.
"Butneithershenorherseedshallhavealongauthority;forsheandtheythatbroughther,andherchildren,andherfriends,shallbedeliveredtodeath."(BereniceandhersonwerekilledbySeleucusCallinicus.)
"Butoutofabranchofherrootsshallonestandup,"(PtolemyEuergeteswastheissueofthesamefatherasBerenice),"whichshallcomewithamightyarmyintothelandofthekingofthenorth,whereheshallputallundersubjection,andheshallalsocarrycaptiveintoEgypttheirgods,theirprinces,theirgold,theirsilver,andalltheirpreciousspoils,"(ifhehadnotbeencalledintoEgyptbydomesticreasons,saysJustin,hewouldhaveentirelystrippedSeleucus);"andheshallcontinueseveralyearswhenthekingofthenorthcandonoughtagainsthim.
"Andsoheshallreturnintohiskingdom.Buthissonsshallbestirredup,andshallassembleamultitudeofgreatforces,"(SeleucusCeraunus,AntiochustheGreat)."Andtheirarmyshallcomeandoverthrowall;whereforethekingofthesouthshallbemovedwithcholer,andshallalsoformagreatarmy,andfighthim,"(PtolemyPhilopatoragainstAntiochustheGreatatRaphia),"andconquer;andhistroopsshallbecomeinsolent,andhisheartshallbeliftedup,"(thisPtolemydesecratedthetemple;Josephus):"heshallcastdownmanytenthousands,butheshallnotbestrengthenedbyit.Forthekingofthenorth,"(AntiochustheGreat),"shallreturnwithagreatermultitudethanbefore,andinthosetimesalsoagreatnumberofenemiesshallstandupagainstthekingofthesouth,"(duringthereignoftheyoungPtolemyEpiphanes);"alsotheapostatesandrobbersofthypeopleshallexaltthemselvestoestablishthevision;buttheyshallfall."(ThosewhoabandontheirreligiontopleaseEuergetes,whenhewillsendhistroopstoScopas;forAntiochuswillagaintakeScopas,andconquerthem.)"Andthekingofthenorthshalldestroythefencedcities,andthearmsofthesouthshallnotwithstand,andallshallyieldtohiswill;heshallstandinthelandofIsrael,anditshallyieldtohim.AndthusheshallthinktomakehimselfmasterofalltheempireofEgypt,(despisingtheyouthofEpiphanes,saysJustin)."Andforthatheshallmakealliancewithhim,andgivehisdaughter"(Cleopatra,inorderthatshemaybetrayherhusband.OnwhichAppiansaysthat,doubtinghisabilitytomakehimselfmasterofEgyptbyforce,becauseoftheprotectionoftheRomans,hewishedtoattemptitbycunning)."Heshallwishtocorrupther,butsheshallnotstandonhisside,neitherbeforhim.Thenheshallturnhisfacetootherdesigns,andshallthinktomakehimselfmasterofsomeisles,(thatistosay,seaports),"andshalltakemany,"(asAppiansays).
"Butaprinceshalloppose,hisconquests,"(ScipioAfricanus,whostoppedtheprogressofAntiochustheGreat,becauseheoffendedtheRomansinthepersonoftheirallies),"andshallcausethereproachofferedbyhimtocease.Heshallthenreturnintohiskingdomandthereperish,andbenomore."(Hewasslainbyhissoldiers.)
"Andhewhoshallstandupinhisestate,"(SeleucusPhilopatororSoter,thesonofAntiochustheGreat),"shallbeatyrant,araiseroftaxesinthegloryofthekingdom,"(whichmeansthepeople),"butwithinafewdaysheshallbedestroyed,neitherinangernorinbattle.Andinhisplaceshallstandupavileperson,unworthyofthehonourofthekingdom,butheshallcomeincleverlybyflatteries.Allarmiesshallbendbeforehim;heshallconquerthem,andeventheprincewithwhomhehasmadeacovenant.Forhavingrenewedtheleaguewithhim,heshallworkdeceitfully,andenterwithasmallpeopleintohisprovince,peaceablyandwithoutfear.Heshalltakethefattestplaces,andshalldothatwhichhisfathershavenotdone,andravageonallsides.Heshallforecastgreatdevicesduringhistime."
723.Prophecies.—TheseventyweeksofDanielareambiguousasregardsthetermofcommencement,becauseofthetermsoftheprophecy;andasregardsthetermofconclusion,becauseofthedifferencesamongchronologists.Butallthisdifferenceextendsonlytotwohundredyears.
724.Predictions.—Thatinthefourthmonarchy,beforethedestructionofthesecondtemple,beforethedominionoftheJewswastakenaway,intheseventiethweekofDaniel,duringthecontinuanceofthesecondtemple,theheathenshouldbeinstructed,andbroughttotheknowledgeoftheGodworshippedbytheJews;thatthosewholovedHimshouldbedeliveredfromtheirenemies,andfilledwithHisfearandlove.
Andithappenedthatinthefourthmonarchy,beforethedestructionofthesecondtemple,etc.,theheatheningreatnumberworshippedGod,andledanangeliclife.MaidensdedicatedtheirvirginityandtheirlifetoGod.Menrenouncedtheirpleasures.WhatPlatocouldonlymakeacceptabletoafewmen,speciallychosenandinstructed,asecretinfluenceimpartedbythepowerofafewwords,toahundredmillionignorantmen.
Therichlefttheirwealth.Childrenleftthedaintyhomesoftheirparentstogointotheroughdesert.(SeePhilotheJew.)Allthiswasforetoldagreatwhileago.FortwothousandyearsnoheathenhadworshippedtheGodoftheJews;andatthetimeforetold,agreatnumberoftheheathenworshippedthisonlyGod.Thetemplesweredestroyed.Theverykingsmadesubmissiontothecross.AllthiswasduetotheSpiritofGod,whichwasspreadabroadupontheearth.
Noheathen,sinceMosesuntilJesusChrist,believedaccordingtotheveryRabbis.Agreatnumberoftheheathen,afterJesusChrist,believedinthebooksofMoses,kepttheminsubstanceandspirit,andonlyrejectedwhatwasuseless.
725.Prophecies.—TheconversionoftheEgyptians(Isaiah19:19);analtarinEgypttothetrueGod.
726.Prophecies.—InEgypt.PugioFidei,p.659.Talmud."Itisatraditionamongus,that,whentheMessiahshallcome,thehouseofGod,destinedforthedispensationofHisWord,shallbefulloffilthandimpurity;andthatthewisdomofthescribesshallbecorruptandrotten.Thosewhoshallbeafraidtosin,shallberejectedbythepeople,andtreatedassenselessfools."
Is.xlix:"Listen,Oisles,untome,andhearken,yepeople,fromafar:TheLordhathcalledmebymynamefromthewombofmymother;intheshadowofHishandhathHehidme,andhathmademywordslikeasharpsword,andsaiduntome,ThouartmyservantinwhomIwillbeglorified.ThenIsaid,Lord,haveIlabouredinvain?haveIspentmystrengthfornought?yetsurelymyjudgmentiswithThee,OLord,andmyworkwithThee.Andnow,saiththeLord,thatformedmefromthewombtobeHisservant,tobringJacobandIsraelagaintoHim,Thoushaltbegloriousinmysight,andIwillbethystrength.ItisalightthingthatthoushouldstconvertthetribesofJacob;IhaveraisedtheeupforalighttotheGentiles,thatthoumayestbemysalvationuntotheendsoftheearth.ThussaiththeLordtohimwhommandespiseth,tohimwhomthenationabhorreth,toaservantofrulers,Princesandkingsshallworshipthee,becausetheLordisfaithfulthathathchosenthee.
"AgainsaiththeLorduntome,Ihaveheardtheeinthedaysofsalvationandofmercy,andIwillpreservetheeforacovenantofthepeople,tocausetoinheritthedesolatenations,thatthoumayestsaytotheprisoners:Goforth;tothemthatareindarknessshowyourselves,andpossesstheseabundantandfertilelands.Theyshallnothungernorthirst,neithershalltheheatnorsunsmitethem;forhethathathmercyuponthemshallleadthem,evenbythespringsofwatersshallheguidethem,andmakethemountainsawaybeforethem.Behold,thepeoplesshallcomefromallparts,fromtheeastandfromthewest,fromthenorthandfromthesouth.LettheheavensgiveglorytoGod;lettheearthbejoyful;forithathpleasedtheLordtocomfortHispeople,andHewillhavemercyuponthepoorwhohopeinHim.
"YetZiondaredtosay:TheLordhathforsakenme,andhathforgottenme.Canawomanforgetherchild,thatsheshouldnothavecompassiononthesonofherwomb?butifsheforget,yetwillnotIforgetthee,OSion.Iwillbeartheealwaysbetweenmyhands,andthywallsarecontinuallybeforeme.Theythatshallbuildtheearecome,andthydestroyersshallgoforthofthee.Liftupthineeyesroundabout,andbehold;allthesegatherthemselvestogether,andcometothee.AsIlive,saiththeLord,thoushaltsurelyclothetheewiththemall,aswithanornament.Thywasteandthydesolateplaces,andthelandofthydestructionshallevennowbetoonarrowbyreasonoftheinhabitants,andthechildrenthoushalthaveafterthybarrennessshallsayagaininthyears:Theplaceistoostraitforme:giveplacetomethatImaydwell.Thenshaltthousayinthyheart:Whohathbegottenmethese,seeingIhavelostmychildren,andamdesolate,acaptive,andremovingtoandfro?andwhobroughtupthese?Behold,Iwasleftalone;these,wherehadtheybeen?AndtheLordshallsaytothee:Behold,IwillliftupminehandtotheGentiles,andsetupmystandardtothepeople;andtheyshallbringthysonsintheirarmsandintheirbosoms.Andkingsshallbetheirnursingfathers,andqueenstheirnursingmothers;theyshallbowdowntotheewiththeirfacetowardtheearth,andlickupthedustofthyfeet;andthoushaltknowthatIamtheLord;fortheyshallnotbeashamedthatwaitforme.Shallthepreybetakenfromthemighty?Butevenifthecaptivesbetakenawayfromthestrong,nothingshallhindermefromsavingthychildren,andfromdestroyingthyenemies;andallfleshshallknowthatIamtheLord,thySaviourandthyRedeemer,themightyOneofJacob.
"ThussaiththeLord:Whatisthebillofthisdivorcement,wherewithIhaveputawaythesynagogue?andwhyhaveIdelivereditintothehandofyourenemies?IsitnotforyouriniquitiesandforyourtransgressionsthatIhaveputitaway?
"ForIcame,andnomanreceivedme;Icalledandtherewasnonetohear.Ismyarmshortened,thatIcannotredeem?
"ThereforeIwillshowthetokensofmineanger;Iwillclothetheheavenswithdarkness,andmakesackcloththeircovering.
"TheLordhathgivenmethetongueofthelearnedthatIshouldknowhowtospeakawordinseasontohimthatisweary.Hehathopenedmineear,andIhavelistenedtoHimasamaster.
"TheLordhathrevealedHiswill,andIwasnotrebellious.
"Igavemybodytothesmiters,andmycheekstooutrage;Ihidnotmyfacefromshameandspitting.ButtheLordhathhelpedme;thereforeIhavenotbeenconfounded.
"Heisnearthatjustifiethme;whowillcontendwithme?whowillbemineadversary,andaccusemeofsin,Godhimselfbeingmyprotector?
"Allmenshallpassaway,andbeconsumedbytime;letthosethatfearGodhearkentothevoiceofHisservant;lethimthatlanguishethindarknessputhistrustintheLord.Butasforyou,yedobutkindlethewrathofGoduponyou;yewalkinthelightofyourfireandinthesparksthatyehavekindled.Thisshallyehaveofminehand;yeshallliedowninsorrow.
"Hearkentome,yethatfollowafterrighteousness,yethatseektheLord:lookuntotherockwhenceyearehewn,andtotheholeofthepitwhenceyearedigged.LookuntoAbraham,yourfather,anduntoSarahthatbareyou:forIcalledhimalone,whenchildless,andincreasedhim.Behold,IhavecomfortedZion,andheapeduponherblessingsandconsolations.
"Hearkenuntome,mypeople,andgiveearuntome;foralawshallproceedfromme,andIwillmakemyjudgmenttorestforalightoftheGentiles."
Amosviii.Theprophet,havingenumeratedthesinsofIsrael,saidthatGodhadsworntotakevengeanceonthem.
Hesaysthis:"Anditshallcometopassinthatday,saiththeLord,thatIwillcausethesuntogodownatnoon,andIwilldarkentheearthintheclearday;andIwillturnyourfeastsintomourning,andallyoursongsintolamentation.
"Youallshallhavesorrowandsuffering,andIwillmakethisnationmournasforanonlyson,andtheendthereforeasabitterday.Behold,thedayscome,saiththeLord,thatIwillsendafamineintheland,notafamineofbread,norathirstforwater,butofhearingthewordsoftheLord.Andtheyshallwanderfromseatosea,andfromthenortheventotheeast;theyshallruntoandfrotoseekthewordoftheLord,andshallnotfindit.
"Inthatdayshallthefairvirginsandyoungmenfaintforthirst.TheythathavefollowedtheidolsofSamaria,andswornbythegodofDan,andfollowedthemannerofBeersheba,shallfall,andneverriseupagain."
Amos3:2:"YeonlyhaveIknownofallthefamiliesoftheearthformypeople."
Daniel12:7.HavingdescribedalltheextentofthereignoftheMessiah,hesays:"Allthesethingsshallbefinished,whenthescatteringofthepeopleofIsraelshallbeaccomplished."
Haggai2:4:"Yewho,comparingthissecondhousewiththegloryofthefirst,despiseit,bestrong,saiththeLord,bestrong,OZerubbabel,andOJesus,thehighpriest,bestrong,allyepeopleoftheland,andwork.ForIamwithyou,saiththeLordofhosts;accordingtothewordthatIcovenantedwithyouwhenyecameoutofEgypt,somyspiritremainethamongyou.Fearyenot.ForthussaiththeLordofhosts:Yetonelittlewhile,andIwillshaketheheavens,andtheearth,andthesea,andthedryland,"(awayofspeakingtoindicateagreatandanextraordinarychange);"andIwillshakeallnations,andthedesireofalltheGentilesshallcome;andIwillfillthishousewithglory,saiththeLord.
"Thesilverismine,andthegoldismine,saiththeLord,"(thatistosay,itisnotbythatthatIwishtobehonoured;asitissaidelsewhere:Allthebeastsofthefieldaremine,whatadvantagesmethattheyareofferedmeinsacrifice?)."Thegloryofthislatterhouseshallbegreaterthanoftheformer,saiththeLordofhosts;andinthisplacewillIestablishmyhouse,saiththeLord.
"AccordingtoallthatthoudesiredstinHorebinthedayoftheassembly,saying,LetusnothearagainthevoiceoftheLord,neitherletusseethisfireanymore,thatwedienot.AndtheLordsaiduntome,Theirprayerisjust.Iwillraisethemupaprophetfromamongtheirbrethren,likeuntothee,andwillputmywordsinhismouth;andheshallspeakuntothemallthatIshallcommandhim.Anditshallcometopass,thatwhosoeverwillnothearkenuntomywordswhichhewillspeakinmyname,Iwillrequireitofhim.
Genesis49:"Judah,thouarthewhomthybrethrenshallpraise,andthoushaltconquerthineenemies;thyfather-schildrenshallbowdownbeforethee.Judahisalion-swhelp:fromtheprey,myson,thouartgoneup,andartcouchedasalion,andasalionessthatshallberousedup.
"ThesceptreshallnotdepartfromJudah,noralawgiverfrombetweenhisfeet,untilShilohcome;anduntohimshallthegatheringofthepeoplebe."
727.DuringthelifeoftheMessiah.Aenigmatis.Ezek.l7.
Hisforerunner.Malachi3.
Hewillbebornaninfant.Is.9.
HewillbeborninthevillageofBethlehem.Micah5.HewillappearchieflyinJerusalemandwillbeadescendantofthefamilyofJudahandofDavid.
Heistoblindthelearnedandthewise,Is.6,8,29.etc.;andtopreachtheGospeltothelowly,Is.29;toopentheeyesoftheblind,givehealthtothesick,andbringlighttothosethatlanguishindarkness.Is.61.
Heistoshowtheperfectway,andbetheteacheroftheGentiles.Is.55;43:1-7.
Thepropheciesaretobeunintelligibletothewicked,Dan.12;Hosea14:10;buttheyaretobeintelligibletothosewhoarewellinformed.
Theprophecies,whichrepresentHimaspoor,representHimasmasterofthenations.Is.52:14,etc.;53;Zech.9:9.
Theprophecies,whichforetellthetime,foretellHimonlyasmasterofthenationsandsuffering,andnotasinthecloudsnorasjudge.Andthose,whichrepresentHimthusasjudgeandinglory,donotmentionthetime.WhentheMessiahisspokenofasgreatandglorious,itisasthejudgeoftheworld,andnotitsRedeemer.
Heistobethevictimforthesinsoftheworld.Is.39:53.etc.
Heistobethepreciouscorner-stone.Is.28:16.
Heistobeastoneofstumblingandoffence.Is.viii.Jerusalemistodashagainstthisstone.
Thebuildersaretorejectthisstone.Ps.117:22.
Godistomakethisstonethechiefcorner-stone.
Andthisstoneistogrowintoahugemountainandfillthewholeearth.Dan.2.
SoHeistoberejected,despised,betrayed(Ps.108:8),sold(Zech.11:12),spitupon,buffeted,mocked,afflictedininnumerableways,givengalltodrink(Ps.68),pierced(Zech.12),HisfeetandHishandspierced,slain,andlotscastforHisraiment.
Hewillriseagain(Ps.15)thethirdday(Hosea6:3).
Hewillascendtoheaventositontherighthand.Ps.110.
ThekingswillarmthemselvesagainstHim.Ps.2.
BeingontherighthandoftheFather,HewillbevictoriousoverHisenemies.
ThekingsoftheearthandallnationswillworshipHim.Is.lx.
TheJewswillcontinueasanation.Jeremiah.
Theywillwander,withoutkings,etc.(Hosea3),withoutprophets(Amos),lookingforsalvationandfindingitnot(Isaiah).
CallingoftheGentilesbyJesusChrist.Is.52:15;55:5;60,etc.Ps.81.
Hosea1:9:"Yearenotmypeople,andIwillnotbeyourGod,whenyearemultipliedafterthedispersion.Intheplaceswhereitwassaid,Yearenotmypeople,Iwillcallthemmypeople."
728.ItwasnotlawfultosacrificeoutsideofJerusalem,whichwastheplacethattheLordhadchosen,noreventoeatthetitheselsewhere.Deut.12:5,etc.;Deut.14:23,etc.;15:20;16:2,7,11,15.
Hoseaforetoldthattheyshouldbewithoutaking,withoutaprince,withoutasacrifice,andwithoutanidol;andthisprophecyisnowfulfilled,astheycannotmakealawfulsacrificeoutofJerusalem.
729.Predictions.—Itwasforetoldthat,inthetimeoftheMessiah,Heshouldcometoestablishanewcovenant,whichshouldmakethemforgettheescapefromEgypt(Jer.23:5;Is.43:10);thatHeshouldplaceHislawnotinexternals,butintheheart;thatHeshouldputHisfear,whichhadonlybeenfromwithout,inthemidstoftheheart.WhodoesnotseetheChristianlawinallthis?
730Thatthenidolatrywouldbeoverthrown;thatthisMessiahwouldcastdownallidolsandbringmenintotheworshipofthetrueGod.
Thatthetemplesoftheidolswouldbecastdown,andthatamongallnationsandinallplacesoftheearth.Hewouldbeofferedapuresacrifice,notofbeasts.
ThatHewouldbekingoftheJewsandGentiles.AndweseethiskingoftheJewsandGentilesoppressedbyboth,whoconspireHisdeath;andrulerofboth,destroyingtheworshipofMosesinJerusalem,whichwasitscentre,whereHemadeHisfirstChurch;andalsotheworshipofidolsinRome,thecentreofit,whereHemadeHischiefChurch.
731.Prophecies.—ThatJesusChristwillsitontherighthand,tillGodhassubduedHisenemies.
ThereforeHewillnotsubduethemHimself.
732."Thentheyshallteachnomoreeverymanhisneighbour,saying,HereistheLord,forGodshallmakeHimselfknowntoall."
"Yoursonsshallprophesy.""Iwillputmyspiritandmyfearinyourheart."
Allthatisthesamething.ToprophesyistospeakofGod,notfromoutwardproofs,butfromaninwardandimmediatefeeling.
733.ThatHewouldteachmentheperfectway.
Andtherehasnevercome,beforeHimnorafterHim,anymanwhohastaughtanythingdivineapproachingtothis.
734ThatJesusChristwouldbesmallinHisbeginning,andwouldthenincrease.ThelittlestoneofDaniel.
IfIhadinnowiseheardoftheMessiah,nevertheless,aftersuchwonderfulpredictionsofthecourseoftheworldwhichIseefulfilled,IseethatHeisdivine.And,ifIknewthatthesesamebooksforetoldaMessiah,IshouldbesurethatHewouldcome;andseeingthattheyplaceHistimebeforethedestructionofthesecondtemple,IshouldsaythatHehadcome.
735.Prophecies.—ThattheJewswouldrejectJesusChrist,andwouldberejectedofGod,forthisreason,thatthechosenvinebroughtforthonlywildgrapes.Thatthechosenpeoplewouldbefruitless,ungrateful,andunbelieving,populumnoncredentemetcontradicentem.ThatGodwouldstrikethemwithblindness,andinfullnoontheywouldgropeliketheblind;andthataforerunnerwouldgobeforeHim.
736.Transfixerunt.Zech.12:10.
Thatadeliverershouldcome,whowouldcrushthedemon-shead,andfreeHispeoplefromtheirsins,exomnibusiniquitatibus;thatthereshouldbeaNewCovenant,whichwouldbeeternal;thatthereshouldbeanotherpriesthoodaftertheorderofMelchisedek,anditshouldbeeternal;thattheChristshouldbeglorious,mighty,strong,andyetsopoorthatHewouldnotberecognised,nortakenforwhatHeis,butrejectedandslain;thatHispeoplewhodeniedHimshouldnolongerbeHispeople;thattheidolatersshouldreceiveHim,andtakerefugeinHim;thatHeshouldleaveZiontoreigninthecentreofidolatry;thatneverthelesstheJewsshouldcontinueforever;thatHeshouldbeofJudah,andwhenthereshouldbenolongeraking.
SECTIONXII:PROOFSOFJESUSCHRIST
737.ThereforeIrejectallotherreligions.InthatwayIfindananswertoallobjections.ItisrightthataGodsopureshouldonlyrevealHimselftothosewhoseheartsarepurified.Hencethisreligionislovabletome,andIfinditnowsufficientlyjustifiedbysodivineamorality.ButIfindmoreinit.
Ifinditconvincingthat,sincethememoryofmanhaslasted,itwasconstantlyannouncedtomenthattheywereuniversallycorrupt,butthataRedeemershouldcome;thatitisnotonemanwhosaidit,butinnumerablemen,andawholenationexpresslymadeforthepurposeandprophesyingforfourthousandyears.Thisisanationwhichismoreancientthaneveryothernation.Theirbooks,scatteredabroad,arefourthousandyearsold.
ThemoreIexaminethem,themoretruthsIfindinthem:anentirenationforetellHimbeforeHisadvent,andanentirenationworshipHimafterHisadvent;whathasprecededandwhathasfollowed;inshort,peoplewithoutidolsandkings,thissynagoguewhichwasforetold,andthesewretcheswhofrequentitandwho,beingourenemies,areadmirablewitnessesofthetruthoftheseprophecies,whereintheirwretchednessandeventheirblindnessareforetold.
Ifindthissuccession,thisreligion,whollydivineinitsauthority,initsduration,initsperpetuity,initsmorality,initsconduct,initsdoctrine,initseffects.ThefrightfuldarknessoftheJewswasforetold.Erispalpansinmeridie.Dabiturliberscientiliterasetdicet:Nonpossumlegere.Whilethesceptrewasstillinthehandsofthefirstforeignusurper,thereisthereportofthecomingofJesusChrist.
SoIholdoutmyarmstomyRedeemer,who,havingbeenforetoldforfourthousandyears,hascometosufferandtodieformeonearth,atthetimeandunderallthecircumstancesforetold.ByHisgrace,Iawaitdeathinpeace,inthehopeofbeingeternallyunitedtoHim.YetIlivewithjoy,whetherintheprosperitywhichitpleasesHimtobestowuponme,orintheadversitywhichHesendsformygood,andwhichHehastaughtmetobearbyHisexample.
738.TheprophecieshavinggivendifferentsignswhichshouldallhappenattheadventoftheMessiah,itwasnecessarythatallthesesignsshouldoccuratthesametime.Soitwasnecessarythatthefourthmonarchyshouldhavecome,whentheseventyweeksofDanielwereended;andthatthesceptreshouldhavethendepartedfromJudah.Andallthishappenedwithoutanydifficulty.ThenitwasnecessarythattheMessiahshouldcome;andJesusChristthencame,whowascalledtheMessiah.Andallthisagainwaswithoutdifficulty.Thisindeedshowsthetruthoftheprophecies.
739.Theprophetsforetold,andwerenotforetold.Thesaintsagainwereforetold,butdidnotforetell.JesusChristbothforetoldandwasforetold.
740.JesusChrist,whomthetwoTestamentsregard,theOldasitshope,theNewasitsmodel,andbothastheircentre.
741.ThetwooldestbooksintheworldarethoseofMosesandJob,theoneaJewandtheotheraGentile.BothofthemlookuponJesusChristastheircommoncentreandobject:MosesinrelatingthepromisesofGodtoAbraham,Jacob,etc.,andhisprophecies;andJob,Quismihidetut,etc.Scioenimquodredemptormeusvivit,etc.
742.TheGospelonlyspeaksofthevirginityoftheVirginuptothetimeofthebirthofJesusChrist.AllwithreferencetoJesusChrist.
743.ProofsOfJesusChrist.
WhywasthebookofRuthpreserved?
WhythestoryofTamar?
744."Praythatyeenternotintotemptation."Itisdangeroustobetempted;andpeoplearetemptedbecausetheydonotpray.
Ettuconversusconfirmafratrestuos.Butbefore,conversusJesusrespexitPetrum.
SaintPeteraskspermissiontostrikeMalchusandstrikesbeforehearingtheanswer.JesusChristrepliesafterwards.
Theword,Galilee,whichthemobpronouncedasifbychance,inaccusingJesusChristbeforePilate,affordedPilateareasonforsendingJesusChristtoHerod.Andtherebythemysterywasaccomplished,thatHeshouldbejudgedbyJewsandGentiles.Chancewasapparentlythecauseoftheaccomplishmentofthemystery.
745.ThosewhohaveadifficultyinbelievingseekareasoninthefactthattheJewsdonotbelieve."Werethissoclear,"saythey,"whydidtheJewsnotbelieve"?Andtheyalmostwishthattheyhadbelieved,soasnottobekeptbackbytheexampleoftheirrefusal.Butitistheirveryrefusalthatisthefoundationofourfaith.Weshouldbemuchlessdisposedtothefaith,iftheywereonourside.Weshouldthenhaveamoreamplepretext.ThewonderfulthingistohavemadetheJewsgreatloversofthethingsforetold,andgreatenemiesoftheirfulfilment.
746.TheJewswereaccustomedtogreatandstrikingmiracles,andso,havinghadthegreatmiraclesoftheRedSeaandofthelandofCanaanasanepitomeofthegreatdeedsoftheirMessiah,theythereforelookedformorestrikingmiracles,ofwhichthoseofMoseswereonlythepatterns.
747.ThecarnalJewsandtheheathenhavetheircalamities,andChristiansalso.ThereisnoRedeemerfortheheathen,fortheydonotsomuchashopeforone.ThereisnoRedeemerfortheJews;theyhopeforHiminvain.ThereisaRedeemeronlyforChristians.(SeePerpetuity.)
748.InthetimeoftheMessiahthepeopledividedthemselves.ThespiritualembracedtheMessiah,andthecoarser-mindedremainedtoserveaswitnessesofHim.
749."IfthiswasclearlyforetoldtotheJews,howdidtheynotbelieveit,orwhyweretheynotdestroyedforresistingafactsoclear?"
Ireply:inthefirstplace,itwasforetoldboththattheywouldnotbelieveathingsoclearandthattheywouldnotbedestroyed.AndnothingismoretothegloryoftheMessiah;foritwasnotenoughthatthereshouldbeprophets;theirprophetsmustbekeptabovesuspicion.Now,etc.
750.IftheJewshadallbeenconvertedbyJesusChrist,weshouldhavenonebutquestionablewitnesses.Andiftheyhadbeenentirelydestroyed,weshouldhavenowitnessesatall.
751.WhatdotheprophetssayofJesusChrist?ThatHewillbeclearlyGod?No;butthatHeisaGodtrulyhidden;thatHewillbeslighted;thatnonewillthinkthatitisHe;thatHewillbeastoneofstumbling,uponwhichmanywillstumble,etc.Letpeoplethenreproachusnolongerforwantofclearness,sincewemakeprofessionofit.
But,itissaid,thereareobscurities.Andwithoutthat,noonewouldhavestumbledoverJesusChrist,andthisisoneoftheformalpronouncementsoftheprophets:Excaeca
752.MosesfirstteachestheTrinity,originalsin,theMessiah.
David:agreatwitness;aking,good,merciful,abeautifulsoul,asoundmind,powerful.Heprophesies,andhiswondercomestopass.Thisisinfinite.
HehadonlytosaythathewastheMessiah,ifhehadbeenvain;forthepropheciesareclearerabouthimthanaboutJesusChrist.AndthesamewithSaintJohn.
753.HerodwasbelievedtobetheMessiah.HehadtakenawaythesceptrefromJudahbuthewasnotofJudah.Thisgaverisetoaconsiderablesect.
CurseoftheGreeksuponthosewhocountthreeperiodsoftime.
InwhatwayshouldtheMessiahcome,seeingthatthroughHimthesceptrewastobeeternallyinJudahandatHiscomingthesceptrewastobetakenawayfromJudah?
Inordertoeffectthatseeingtheyshouldnotsee,andhearingtheyshouldnotunderstand,nothingcouldbebetterdone.
754.HomoexistensteDeumfacit.
Scriptumest,Diiestis,etnonpotestsolviScriptura.
Haecinfirmitasnonestadvitametestadmortem.
Lazarusdormit,etdeindedixit:Lazarusmortuusest.
755.TheapparentdiscrepancyoftheGospels.
756.Whatcanwehavebutreverenceforamanwhoforetellsplainlythingswhichcometopass,andwhodeclareshisintentionbothtoblindandtoenlighten,andwhointerspersesobscuritiesamongtheclearthingswhichcometopass?
757.Thetimeofthefirstadventwasforetold;thetimeofthesecondisnotso;becausethefirstwastobeobscure,andthesecondistobebrilliantandsomanifestthatevenHisenemieswillrecogniseit.But,asHewasfirsttocomeonlyinobscurityandtobeknownonlyofthosewhosearchedtheScriptures.
758.God,inordertocausetheMessiahtobeknownbythegoodandnottobeknownbythewicked,madeHimtobeforetoldinthismanner.IfthemanneroftheMessiahhadbeenclearlyforetold,therewouldhavebeennoobscurity,evenforthewicked.Ifthetimehadbeenobscurelyforetold,therewouldhavebeenobscurity,evenforthegood.Fortheirgoodnessofheartwouldnothavemadethemunderstand,forinstance,thattheclosedmemsignifiessixhundredyears.Butthattimehasbeenclearlyforetold,andthemannerintypes.
Bythismeans,thewicked,takingthepromisedblessingsformaterialblessings,havefallenintoerror,inspiteoftheclearpredictionofthetime;andthegoodhavenotfalleninerror.Fortheunderstandingofthepromisedblessingsdependsontheheart,whichcallsgoodthatwhichitloves;buttheunderstandingofthepromisedtimedoesnotdependontheheart.Andthustheclearpredictionofthetime,andtheobscurepredictionoftheblessings,deceivethewickedalone.
759.EithertheJewsortheChristiansmustbewicked.
760.TheJewsrejectHim,butnotall.ThesaintsreceiveHim,andnotthecarnal-minded.AndsofaristhisfrombeingagainstHisglory,thatitisthelasttouchwhichcrownsit.Fortheirargument,theonlyonefoundinalltheirwritings,intheTalmudandintheRabbinicalwritings,amountsonlytothis,thatJesusChristhasnotsubduedthenationswithswordinhand,gladiumtuum,potentissime.(Isthisalltheyhavetosay?JesusChristhasbeenslain,saythey.Hehasfailed.HehasnotsubduedtheheathenwithHismight.Hehasnotbestoweduponustheirspoil.Hedoesnotgiveriches.Isthisalltheyhavetosay?ItisinthisrespectthatHeislovabletome.IwouldnotdesireHimwhomtheyfancy.)ItisevidentthatitisonlyHislifewhichhaspreventedthemfromacceptingHim;andthroughthisrejectiontheyareirreproachablewitnesses,and,whatismore,theytherebyaccomplishtheprophecies.
BymeansofthefactthatthispeoplehavenotacceptedHim,thismiracleherehashappened.Thepropheciesweretheonlylastingmiracleswhichcouldbewrought,buttheywereliabletobedenied.
761.TheJews,inslayingHiminordernottoreceiveHimastheMessiah,havegivenHimthefinalproofofbeingtheMessiah.
AndincontinuingnottorecogniseHim,theymadethemselvesirreproachablewitnesses.BothinslayingHimandincontinuingtodenyHim,theyhavefulfilledtheprophecies(Is.60;Ps.71).
762.WhatcouldtheJews,Hisenemies,do?IftheyreceiveHim,theygiveproofofHimbytheirreception;forthentheguardiansoftheexpectationoftheMessiahreceiveHim.IftheyrejectHim,theygiveproofofHimbytheirrejection.
763.TheJews,intestingifHewereGod,haveshownthatHewasman.
764.TheChurchhashadasmuchdifficultyinshowingthatJesusChristwasman,againstthosewhodeniedit,asinshowingthatHewasGod;andtheprobabilitieswereequallygreat.
765.Sourceofcontradictions.—AGodhumiliated,eventothedeathonthecross;aMessiahtriumphingoverdeathbyhisowndeath.TwonaturesinJesusChrist,twoadvents,twostatesofman-snature.
766.Types.—Saviour,father,sacrificer,offering,food,king,wise,law-giver,afflicted,poor,havingtocreateapeoplewhomHemustleadandnourishandbringintoHisland
JesusChrist.Offices.—Healonehadtocreateagreatpeople,elect,holy,andchosen;tolead,nourish,andbringitintotheplaceofrestandholiness;tomakeitholytoGod;tomakeitthetempleofGod;toreconcileitto,and,saveitfrom,thewrathofGod;tofreeitfromtheslaveryofsin,whichvisiblyreignsinman;togivelawstothispeople,andengravetheselawsontheirheart;toofferHimselftoGodforthem,andsacrificeHimselfforthem;tobeavictimwithoutblemish,andHimselfthesacrificer,havingtoofferHimself,Hisbody,andHisblood,andyettoofferbreadandwinetoGod
Ingrediensmundum.
"Stoneuponstone."
Whatprecededandwhatfollowed.AlltheJewsexiststillandarewanderers.
767.Ofallthatisonearth,Hepartakesonlyofthesorrows,notofthejoys.HelovesHisneighbours,butHislovedoesnotconfineitselfwithinthesebounds,andoverflowstoHisownenemies,andthentothoseofGod.
768.JesusChristtypifiedbyJoseph,thebelovedofhisfather,sentbyhisfathertoseehisbrethren,etc.,innocent,soldbyhisbrethrenfortwentypiecesofsilver,andtherebybecomingtheirlord,theirsaviour,thesaviourofstrangersandthesaviouroftheworld;whichhadnotbeenbutfortheirplottodestroyhim,theirsaleandtheirrejectionofhim.
Inprison,Josephinnocentbetweentwocriminals;JesusChristonthecrossbetweentwothieves.Josephforetellsfreedomtotheone,anddeathtotheother,fromthesameomens.JesusChristsavestheelect,andcondemnstheoutcastforthesamesins.Josephforetellsonly;JesusChristacts.Josephaskshimwhowillbesavedtorememberhim,whenhecomesintohisglory;andhewhomJesusChristsavesasksthatHewillrememberhim,whenHecomesintoHiskingdom.
769.TheconversionoftheheathenwasonlyreservedforthegraceoftheMessiah.TheJewshavebeensolonginoppositiontothemwithoutsuccess;allthatSolomonandtheprophetssaidhasbeenuseless.Sages,likePlatoandSocrates,havenotbeenabletopersuadethem.
770.Aftermanypersonshadgonebefore,JesusChristatlastcametosay:"HereamI,andthisisthetime.Thatwhichtheprophetshavesaidwastocomeinthefullnessoftime,Itellyoumyapostleswilldo.TheJewsshallbecastout.Jerusalemshallbesoondestroyed.AndtheheathenshallenterintotheknowledgeofGod.Myapostlesshalldothisafteryouhaveslaintheheirofthevineyard."
ThentheapostlessaidtotheJews:"Youshallbeaccursed,"(Celsuslaughedatit);andtotheheathen,"YoushallenterintotheknowledgeofGod."Andthisthencametopass.
771.JesusChristcametoblindthosewhosawclearly,andtogivesighttotheblind;tohealthesick,andleavethehealthytodie;tocalltorepentance,andtojustifysinners,andtoleavetherighteousintheirsins;tofilltheneedy,andleavetherichempty.
772.Holiness.—Effundamspiritummeum.Allnationswereinunbeliefandlust.Thewholeworldnowbecameferventwithlove.Princesabandonedtheirpomp;maidenssufferedmartyrdom.Whencecamethisinfluence?TheMessiahwascome.TheseweretheeffectandsignofHiscoming.
773.DestructionoftheJewsandheathenbyJesusChrist:Omnesgentesvenientetadorabunteum.Parumestut,etc.Postulaame.Adorabunteumomnesreges.Testesiniqui.Dabitmaxillampercutienti.Dederuntfelinescam.
774.JesusChristforall,Mosesforanation.
TheJewsblessedinAbraham:"Iwillblessthosethatblessthee."But:"Allnationsblessedinhisseed."Parumestut,etc.
Lumenadrevelationemgentium.
Nonfecittaliteromninationi,saidDavid,inspeakingoftheLaw.But,inspeakingofJesusChrist,wemustsay:Fecittaliteromninationi.Parumestut,etc.,Isaiah.SoitbelongstoJesusChristtobeuniversal.EventheChurchofferssacrificeonlyforthefaithful.JesusChristofferedthatofthecrossforall.
775.Thereisheresyinalwaysexplainingomnesbyall,andheresyisnotexplainingitsometimesbyall.Bibiteexhocomnes;TheHuguenotsarehereticsinexplainingitbyall.Inquoomnespeccaverunt,theHuguenotsarehereticsinexceptingthechildrenoftruebelievers.Wemust,then,followtheFathersandtraditioninordertoknowwhentodoso,sincethereisheresytobefearedonbothsides.
776.Netimeaspusillusgrex.Timoreettremore.—Quidergo?Netimeasmodotimeas.Fearnot,providedyoufear;butifyoufearnot,thenfear.
Quimerecipit,nonmerecipit,sedeumquimemisit.
Nemoscit,nequeFilius.
Nubeslucidaobumbravit.
SaintJohnwastoturntheheartsofthefatherstothechildren,andJesusChristtoplantdivision.Thereisnotcontradiction.
777.Theeffectsincommuniandinparticulari.Thesemi-Pelagianserrinsayingofincommuniwhatistrueonlyinparticulari;andtheCalvinistsinsayinginparticulariwhatistrueincommuni.(Suchismyopinion.)
778.OmnisJudaearegio,etJerosolmymiuniversi,etbaptizabantur.Becauseofalltheconditionsofmenwhocamethere.
FromthesestonestherecancomechildrenuntoAbraham.
779.Ifmenknewthemselves,Godwouldhealandpardonthem.Neconvertanturetsanemeos,etdimittantureispeccata.
780.JesusChristnevercondemnedwithouthearing.ToJudas:Amice,adguidvenisti?Tohimthathadnotontheweddinggarment,thesame.
781.ThetypesofthecompletenessoftheRedemption,asthatthesungiveslighttoall,indicateonlycompleteness;butthetypesofexclusions,asoftheJewselectedtotheexclusionoftheGentiles,indicateexclusion.
"JesusChristtheRedeemerofall."Yes,forHehasoffered,likeamanwhohasransomedallthosewhowerewillingtocometoHim.Ifanydieontheway,itistheirmisfortune;but,sofarasHewasconcerned,Heofferedthemredemption.Thatholdsgoodinthisexample,wherehewhoransomsandhewhopreventsdeatharetwopersons,butnotofJesusChrist,whodoesboththesethings.No,forJesusChrist,inthequalityofRedeemer,isnotperhapsMasterofall;andthus,insofarasitisinHim,HeistheRedeemerofall.
WhenitissaidthatJesusChristdidnotdieforall,youtakeundueadvantageofafaultinmenwhoatonceapplythisexceptiontothemselves;andistofavourdespair,insteadofturningthemfromittofavourhope.Formenthusaccustomthemselvesininwardvirtuesbyoutwardcustoms.
782.Thevictoryoverdeath."Whatisamanadvantagedifhegainthewholeworldandlosehisownsoul?Whosoeverwillsavehissoul,shallloseit."
"Iamnotcometodestroythelaw,buttofulfil."
"Lambstooknotawaythesinsoftheworld,butIamthelambwhichtakethawaythesins."
"Moseshathnotledyououtofcaptivity,andmadeyoutrulyfree."
783ThenJesusChristcomestotellmenthattheyhavenootherenemiesbutthemselves;thatitistheirpassionswhichkeepthemapartfromGod;thatHecomestodestroythese,andgivethemHisgrace,soastomakeofthemalloneHolyChurch;thatHecomestobringbackintothisChurchtheheathenandJews;thatHecomestodestroytheidolsoftheformerandthesuperstitionofthelatter.Tothisallmenareopposed,notonlyfromthenaturaloppositionoflust;but,aboveall,thekingsoftheearth,ashadbeenforetold,jointogethertodestroythisreligionatitsbirth.(Proph.:QuarefremueruntgentesregesterraeadversusChristum.)
Allthatisgreatonearthisunitedtogether;thelearned,thewise,thekings.Thefirstwrite;thesecondcondemn;thelastkill.Andnotwithstandingalltheseoppositions,thesemen,simpleandweak,resistallthesepowers,subdueeventhesekings,theselearnedmenandthesesages,andremoveidolatryfromalltheearth.Andallthisisdonebythepowerwhichhadforetoldit.
784.JesusChristwouldnothavethetestimonyofdevils,norofthosewhowerenotcalled,butofGodandJohntheBaptist.
785.IconsiderJesusChristinallpersonsandinourselves:JesusChristasaFatherinHisFather,JesusChristasaBrotherinHisBrethren,JesusChristaspoorinthepoor,JesusChristasrichintherich,JesusChristasDoctorandPriestinpriests,JesusChristasSovereigninprinces,etc.ForbyHisgloryHeisallthatisgreat,beingGod;andbyHismortallifeHeisallthatispoorandabject.ThereforeHehastakenthisunhappycondition,sothatHecouldbeinallpersonsandthemodelofallconditions.
786.JesusChristisanobscurity(accordingtowhattheworldcallsobscurity),suchthathistorians,writingonlyofimportantmattersofstates,havehardlynoticedHim.
787.OnthefactthatneitherJosephus,norTacitus,norotherhistorianshavespokenofJesusChrist.—SofaristhisfromtellingagainstChristianitythat,onthecontrary,ittellsforit.ForitiscertainthatJesusChristhasexisted;thatHisreligionhasmadeagreattalk;andthatthesepersonswerenotignorantofit.Thusitisplainthattheypurposelyconcealedit,orthat,iftheydidspeakofit,theiraccounthasbeensuppressedorchanged.
788."Ihavereservedmeseventhousand."Ilovetheworshippersunknowntotheworldandtotheveryprophets.
789.AsJesusChristremainedunknownamongmen,soHistruthremainsamongcommonopinionswithoutexternaldifference.ThustheEucharistamongordinarybread.
790.Jesuswouldnotbeslainwithouttheformsofjustice;foritisfarmoreignominioustodiebyjusticethanbyanunjustsedition.
791.ThefalsejusticeofPilateonlyservestomakeJesusChristsuffer;forhecausesHimtobescourgedbyhisfalsejustice,andafterwardsputsHimtodeath.ItwouldhavebeenbettertohaveputHimtodeathatonce.Thusitiswiththefalselyjust.Theydogoodandevilworkstopleasetheworld,andtoshowthattheyarenotaltogetherofJesusChrist;fortheyareashamedofHim.Andatlast,undergreattemptationandongreatoccasions,theykillHim.
792.Whatmaneverhadmorerenown?ThewholeJewishpeopleforetellHimbeforeHiscoming.TheGentilepeopleworshipHimafterHiscoming.Thetwopeoples,GentileandJewish,regardHimastheircentre.
Andyetwhatmanenjoysthisrenownless?Ofthirty-threeyears,Helivesthirtywithoutappearing.ForthreeyearsHepassesasanimpostor;thepriestsandthechiefpeoplerejectHim;HisfriendsandHisnearestrelativesdespiseHim.Finally,Hedies,betrayedbyoneofHisowndisciples,deniedbyanother,andabandonedbyall.
Whatpart,then,hasHeinthisrenown?Neverhadmansomuchrenown;neverhadmanmoreignominy.Allthatrenownhasservedonlyforus,torenderuscapableofrecognisingHim;andHehadnoneofitforHimself.
793.Theinfinitedistancebetweenbodyandmindisasymboloftheinfinitelymoreinfinitedistancebetweenmindandcharity;forcharityissupernatural.
Allthegloryofgreatnesshasnolustreforpeoplewhoareinsearchofunderstanding.
Thegreatnessofclevermenisinvisibletokings,totherich,tochiefs,andtoalltheworldlygreat.
Thegreatnessofwisdom,whichisnothingifnotofGod,isinvisibletothecarnal-mindedandtotheclever.Thesearethreeordersdifferinginkind.
Greatgeniuseshavetheirpower,theirglory,theirgreatness,theirvictory,theirlustre,andhavenoneedofworldlygreatness,withwhichtheyarenotinkeeping.Theyareseen,notbytheeye,butbythemind;thisissufficient.
Thesaintshavetheirpower,theirglory,theirvictory,theirlustre,andneednoworldlyorintellectualgreatness,withwhichtheyhavenoaffinity;fortheseneitheraddanythingtothem,nortakeawayanythingfromthem.TheyareseenofGodandtheangels,andnotofthebody,norofthecuriousmind.Godisenoughforthem.
Archimedes,apartfromhisrank,wouldhavethesameveneration.Hefoughtnobattlesfortheeyestofeastupon;buthehasgivenhisdiscoveriestoallmen.Oh!howbrillianthewastothemind!
JesusChrist,withoutrichesandwithoutanyexternalexhibitionofknowledge,isinHisownorderofholiness.Hedidnotinvent;Hedidnotreign.ButHewashumble,patient,holy,holytoGod,terribletodevils,withoutanysin.Oh!inwhatgreatpompandinwhatwonderfulsplendourHeiscometotheeyesoftheheart,whichperceivewisdom!
ItwouldhavebeenuselessforArchimedestohaveactedtheprinceinhisbooksongeometry,althoughhewasaprince.
ItwouldhavebeenuselessforourLordJesusChristtocomelikeaking,inordertoshineforthinHiskingdomofholiness.ButHecamethereappropriatelyinthegloryofHisownorder.
ItismostabsurdtotakeoffenceatthelowlinessofJesusChrist,asifHislowlinesswereinthesameorderasthegreatnesswhichHecametomanifest.IfweconsiderthisgreatnessinHislife,inHispassion,inHisobscurity,inHisdeath,inthechoiceofHisdisciples,intheirdesertion,inHissecretresurrection,andtherest,weshallseeittobesoimmensethatweshallhavenoreasonforbeingoffendedatalowlinesswhichisnotofthatorder.
Buttherearesomewhocanonlyadmireworldlygreatness,asthoughtherewerenointellectualgreatness;andotherswhoonlyadmireintellectualgreatness,asthoughtherewerenotinfinitelyhigherthingsinwisdom.
Allbodies,thefirmament,thestars,theearthanditskingdoms,arenotequaltothelowestmind;formindknowsalltheseanditself;andthesebodiesnothing.
Allbodiestogether,andallmindstogether,andalltheirproducts,arenotequaltotheleastfeelingofcharity.Thisisofanorderinfinitelymoreexalted.
Fromallbodiestogether,wecannotobtainonelittlethought;thisisimpossibleandofanotherorder.Fromallbodiesandminds,wecannotproduceafeelingoftruecharity;thisisimpossibleandofanotherandsupernaturalorder.
794.WhydidJesusChristnotcomeinavisiblemanner,insteadofobtainingtestimonyofHimselffromprecedingprophecies?WhydidHecauseHimselftobeforetoldintypes?
795.IfJesusChristhadonlycometosanctify,allScriptureandallthingswouldtendtothatend;anditwouldbequiteeasytoconvinceunbelievers.IfJesusChristhadonlycometoblind,allHisconductwouldbeconfused;andwewouldhavenomeansofconvincingunbelievers.ButasHecameinsanctificationemetinscandalum,asIsaiahsays,wecannotconvinceunbelievers,andtheycannotconvinceus.Butbythisveryfactweconvincethem;sincewesaythatinHiswholeconductthereisnoconvincingproofononesideortheother.
796.JesusChristdoesnotsaythatHeisnotofNazareth,inordertoleavethewickedintheirblindness;northatHeisnotJoseph-sson.
797.ProofsofJesusChrist.—JesusChristsaidgreatthingssosimplythatitseemsasthoughHehadnotthoughtthemgreat;andyetsoclearlythatweeasilyseewhatHethoughtofthem.Thisclearness,joinedtothissimplicity,iswonderful.
798.Thestyleofthegospelisadmirableinsomanyways,andamongtherestinhurlingnoinvectivesagainstthepersecutorsandenemiesofJesusChrist.ForthereisnosuchinvectiveinanyofthehistoriansagainstJudas,Pilate,oranyoftheJews.
IfthismoderationofthewritersoftheGospelshadbeenassumed,aswellasmanyothertraitsofsobeautifulacharacter,andtheyhadonlyassumedittoattractnotice,eveniftheyhadnotdaredtodrawattentiontoitthemselves,theywouldnothavefailedtosecurefriendswhowouldhavemadesuchremarkstotheiradvantage.Butastheyactedthuswithoutpretenceandfromwhollydisinterestedmotives,theydidnotpointitouttoanyone;andIbelievethatmanysuchfactshavenotbeennoticedtillnow,whichisevidenceofthenaturaldisinterestednesswithwhichthethinghasbeendone.
799.Anartisanwhospeaksofwealth,alawyerwhospeaksofwar,ofroyalty,etc.;buttherichmanrightlyspeaksofwealth,akingspeaksindifferentlyofagreatgifthehasjustmade,andGodrightlyspeaksofGod.
800.Whohastaughttheevangeliststhequalitiesofaperfectlyheroicsoul,thattheypaintitsoperfectlyinJesusChrist?WhydotheymakeHimweakinHisagony?Dotheynotknowhowtopaintaresolutedeath?Yes,forthesameSaintLukepaintsthedeathofSaintStephenasbraverthanthatofJesusChrist.
TheymakeHim,therefore,capableoffear,beforethenecessityofdyinghascome,andthenaltogetherbrave.
ButwhentheymakeHimsotroubled,itiswhenHeafflictsHimself;andwhenmenafflictHim,Heisaltogetherstrong.
801.ProofofJesusChrist.—Thesuppositionthattheapostleswereimpostorsisveryabsurd.Letusthinkitout.Letusimaginethosetwelvemen,assembledafterthedeathofJesusChrist,plottingtosaythatHewasrisen.Bythistheyattackallthepowers.Theheartofmanisstrangelyinclinedtofickleness,tochange,topromises,togain.Howeverlittleanyofthemmighthavebeenledastraybyalltheseattractions,naymore,bythefearofprisons,tortures,anddeath,theywerelost.Letusfollowupthisthought.
802.Theapostleswereeitherdeceivedordeceivers.Eithersuppositionhasdifficulties;foritisnotpossibletomistakeamanraisedfromthedead
WhileJesusChristwaswiththem,Hecouldsustainthem.But,afterthat,ifHedidnotappeartothem,whoinspiredthemtoact?
SECTIONXIII:THEMIRACLES
803.Thebeginning.—Miraclesenableustojudgeofdoctrine,anddoctrineenablesustojudgeofmiracles.
Therearefalsemiraclesandtrue.Theremustbeadistinction,inordertoknowthem;otherwisetheywouldbeuseless.Nowtheyarenotuseless;onthecontrary,theyarefundamental.Nowtherulewhichisgiventousmustbesuchthatitdoesnotdestroytheproofwhichthetruemiraclesgiveofthetruth,whichisthechiefendofthemiracles.
Moseshasgiventworules:thatthepredictiondoesnotcometopass(Deut.18.),andthattheydonotleadtoidolatry(Deut.13.);andJesusChristone.
Ifdoctrineregulatesmiracles,miraclesareuselessfordoctrine.
Ifmiraclesregulate
Objectiontotherule.—Thedistinctionofthetimes.OneruleduringthetimeofMoses,anotheratpresent.
804.Miracle.—Itisaneffect,whichexceedsthenaturalpowerofthemeanswhichareemployedforit;andwhatisnotamiracleisaneffect,whichdoesnotexceedthenaturalpowerofthemeanswhichareemployedforit.Thus,thosewhohealbyinvocationofthedevildonotworkamiracle;forthatdoesnotexceedthenaturalpowerofthedevil.But
805.Thetwofundamentals;oneinward,theotheroutward;graceandmiracles;bothsupernatural.
806.Miraclesandtrutharenecessary,becauseitisnecessarytoconvincetheentireman,inbodyandsoul.
807.Inalltimes,eithermenhavespokenofthetrueGod,orthetrueGodhasspokentomen.
808.JesusChristhasverifiedthatHewastheMessiah,neverinverifyingHisdoctrinebyScriptureandtheprophecies,butalwaysbyHismiracles.
HeprovesbyamiraclethatHeremitssins.
Rejoicenotinyourmiracles,saidJesusChrist,butbecauseyournamesarewritteninheaven.
IftheybelievenotMoses,neitherwilltheybelieveonerisenfromthedead.
NicodemusrecognisesbyHismiraclesthatHisteachingisofGod.ScimusquiavenistiaDeomagister;nemoenimpotesthaecsignafacerequaetufacisnisiDeusfueritcumeo.Hedoesnotjudgeofthemiraclesbytheteaching,butoftheteachingbythemiracles.
TheJewshadadoctrineofGodaswehaveoneofJesusChrist,andconfirmedbymiracles.Theywereforbiddentobelieveeveryworkerofmiracles;andtheywerefurthercommandedtohaverecoursetothechiefpriestsandtorelyonthem.
Andthus,inregardtotheirprophets,theyhadallthosereasonswhichwehaveforrefusingtobelievetheworkersofmiracles.
AndyettheywereverysinfulinrejectingtheprophetsandJesusChristbecauseoftheirmiracles;andtheywouldnothavebeenculpable,iftheyhadnotseenthemiracles.Nisifecissempeccatumnonhaberent.Thereforeallbeliefrestsuponmiracles.
Prophecyisnotcalledmiracle;asSaintJohnspeaksofthefirstmiracleinCanaandthenofwhatJesusChristsaystothewomanofSamaria,whenHerevealstoherallherhiddenlife.ThenHehealsthecenturion-sson;andSaintJohncallsthis"thesecondmiracle."
809.Thecombinationsofmiracles.
810.Thesecondmiraclecansupposethefirst,butthefirstcannotsupposethesecond.
811.Haditnotbeenforthemiracles,therewouldhavebeennosininnotbelievinginJesusChrist.
812."IshouldnotbeaChristian,butforthemiracles,"saidSaintAugustine.
813.Miracles.—HowIhatethosewhomakemendoubtofmiracles!Montaignespeaksofthemasheshouldintwoplaces.Inone,weseehowcarefulheis;andyet,intheother,hebelievesandmakessportofunbelievers.
Howeveritmaybe,theChurchiswithoutproofsiftheyareright.
814.Montaigneagainstmiracles.
Montaigneformiracles.
815.Itisnotpossibletohaveareasonablebeliefagainstmiracles.
816.Unbelieversthemostcredulous.TheybelievethemiraclesofVespasian,inordernottobelievethoseofMoses.
817.Title:Howithappensthatmenbelievesomanyliars,whosaythattheyhaveseenmiracles,anddonotbelieveanyofthosewhosaythattheyhavesecretstomakemenimmortal,orrestoreyouthtothem.—Havingconsideredhowithappensthatsogreatcredenceisgiventosomanyimpostors,whosaytheyhaveremedies,oftentothelengthofmenputtingtheirlivesintotheirhands,ithasappearedtomethatthetruecauseisthattherearetrueremedies.Foritwouldnotbepossiblethatthereshouldbesomanyfalseremediesandthatsomuchfaithshouldbeplacedinthem,iftherewerenonetrue.Iftherehadneverbeenanyremedyforanyin,andallillshadbeenincurable,itisimpossiblethatmenshouldhaveimaginedthattheycouldgiveremedies,andstillmoreimpossiblethatsomanyothersshouldhavebelievedthosewhoboastedofhavingremedies;inthesamewayasdidamanboastofpreventingdeath,noonewouldbelievehim,becausethereisnoexampleofthis.Butastherewereanumberofremediesfoundtobetruebytheveryknowledgeofthegreatestmen,thebeliefofmenistherebyinduced;and,thisbeingknowntobepossible,ithasbeenthereforeconcludedthatitwas.Forpeoplecommonlyreasonthus:"Athingispossible,thereforeitis";becausethethingcannotbedeniedgenerally,sincethereareparticulareffectswhicharetrue,thepeople,whocannotdistinguishwhichamongtheseparticulareffectsaretrue,believethemall.Inthesameway,thereasonwhysomanyfalseeffectsarecreditedtothemoonisthattherearesometrue,asthetide.
Itisthesamewithprophecies,miracles,divinationbydreams,sorceries,etc.
Foriftherehadbeennothingtrueinallthis,menwouldhavebelievednothingofthem;andthus,insteadofconcludingthattherearenotruemiraclesbecausetherearesomanyfalse,wemust,onthecontrary,saythattherecertainlyaretruemiracles,sincetherearefalse,andthattherearefalsemiraclesonlybecausesomearetrue.Wemustreasoninthesamewayaboutreligion;foritwouldnotbepossiblethatmenshouldhaveimaginedsomanyfalsereligions,iftherehadnotbeenatrueone.Theobjectiontothisisthatsavageshaveareligion;buttheansweristhattheyhaveheardthetruespokenof,asappearsbytheDeluge,circumcision,thecrossofSaintAndrew,etc.
818.Havingconsideredhowitcomesthattherearesomanyfalsemiracles,falserevelations,sorceries,etc.,ithasseemedtomethatthetruecauseisthattherearesometrue;foritwouldnotbepossiblethatthereshouldbesomanyfalsemiracles,iftherewerenonetrue,norsomanyfalserevelations,iftherewerenonetrue,norsomanyfalsereligions,iftherewerenotonetrue.Foriftherehadneverbeenallthis,itisalmostimpossiblethatmenshouldhaveimaginedit,andstillmoreimpossiblethatsomanyothersshouldhavebelievedit.Butastherehavebeenverygreatthingstrue,andastheyhavebeenbelievedbygreatmen,thisimpressionhasbeenthecausethatnearlyeverybodyisrenderedcapableofbelievingalsothefalse.Andthus,insteadofconcludingthattherearenotruemiracles,sincetherearesomanyfalse,itmustbesaid,onthecontrary,thattherearetruemiracles,sincetherearesomanyfalse;andthattherearefalseonesonlybecausetherearetrue;andthatinthesamewaytherearefalsereligionsbecausethereisonetrue.—Objectiontothis:savageshaveareligion.Butthisisbecausetheyhaveheardthetruespokenof,asappearsbythecrossofSaintAndrew,theDeluge,circumcision,etc.Thisarisesfromthefactthatthehumanmind,findingitselfinclinedtothatsidebythetruth,becomestherebysusceptibleofallthefalsehoodsofthis
819.Jeremiah23:32.Themiraclesofthefalseprophets.IntheHebrewandVatabletheyarethetricks.
Miracledoesnotalwayssignifymiracle.ISam.14:15;miraclesignifiesfear,andissointheHebrew.ThesameevidentlyinJob33:7;andalsoIsaiah21:4;Jeremiah44:12.Portentumsignifiessimulacrum,Jeremiah50:38;anditissointheHebrewandVatable.Isaiah8:18.JesusChristsaysthatHeandHiswillbeinmiracles.
820.Ifthedevilfavouredthedoctrinewhichdestroyshim,hewouldbedividedagainsthimself,asJesusChristsaid.IfGodfavouredthedoctrinewhichdestroystheChurch,HewouldbedividedagainstHimself.Omneregnumdivisum.ForJesusChristwroughtagainstthedevil,anddestroyedhispowerovertheheart,ofwhichexorcismisthesymbolisation,inordertoestablishthekingdomofGod.AndthusHeadds,SiindigitoDeiregnumDeiadVos.
821.Thereisagreatdifferencebetweentemptingandleadingintoerror.Godtempts,butHedoesnotleadintoerror.Totemptistoaffordopportunities,whichimposenonecessity;ifmendonotloveGod,theywilldoacertainthing.Toleadintoerroristoplaceamanunderthenecessityofinferringandfollowingoutwhatisuntrue.
822.AbrahamandGideonareaboverevelation.TheJewsblindedthemselvesinjudgingofmiraclesbytheScripture.GodhasneverabandonedHistrueworshippers.
IprefertofollowJesusChristthananyother,becauseHehasmiracle,prophecy,doctrine,perpetuity,etc.
TheDonatists.Nomiraclewhichobligesthemtosayitisthedevil.
ThemoreweparticulariseGod,JesusChrist,theChurch.
823.Iftherewerenofalsemiracles,therewouldbecertainty.Iftherewerenoruletojudgeofthem,miracleswouldbeuselessandtherewouldbenoreasonforbelieving.
Nowthereis,humanlyspeaking,nohumancertainty,butwehavereason.
824.EitherGodhasconfoundedthefalsemiracles,orHehasforetoldthem;andinbothwaysHehasraisedHimselfabovewhatissupernaturalwithrespecttous,andhasraisedustoit.
825.Miraclesservenottoconvert,buttocondemn.PartI-II(Q.113,A.10,Ad.2.)
826.Reasonswhywedonotbelieve.
John12:37.Cumautemtantasignafecisset,noncredebantineum,utsermoIsayaeimplereturExcaecavit,etc.
HaecdixitIsaias,quandoviditgloriamejusetlocutusestdeeo.
JudaeisignapetuntetGraecisapientiamquaerunt,nosautemJesumcrucifixum.(Sedplenumsignis,sedplenumsapientia;vosautemChristumnoncrucifixumetreligionemsinemiraculisetsinesapientia.)
Whatmakesusnotbelieveinthetruemiraclesiswantoflove.John:Sedvosnoncreditis,quianonestisexovibus.Whatmakesusbelievethefalseiswantoflove.Thess.2.
Thefoundationofreligion.Itisthemiracles.Whatthen?DoesGodspeakagainstmiracles,againstthefoundationsofthefaithwhichwehaveinHim?
IfthereisaGod,faithinGodmustexistonearth.NowthemiraclesofJesusChristarenotforetoldbyAntichrist,butthemiraclesofAntichristareforetoldbyJesusChrist.Andso,ifJesusChristwerenottheMessiah,Hewouldhaveindeedledintoerror.WhenJesusChristforetoldthemiraclesofAntichrist,didHethinkofdestroyingfaithinHisownmiracles?
MosesforetoldJesusChristandbadetofollowHim.JesusChristforetoldAntichristandforbadetofollowhim.
ItwasimpossiblethatinthetimeofMosesmenshouldkeeptheirfaithforAntichrist,whowasunknowntothem.Butitisquiteeasy,inthetimeofAntichrist,tobelieveinJesusChrist,alreadyknown.
ThereisnoreasonforbelievinginAntichrist,whichthereisnotforbelievinginJesusChrist.ButtherearereasonsforbelievinginJesusChrist,whichtherearenotforbelievingintheother.
827.Judges13:23:"IftheLordwerepleasedtokillus,Hewouldnothaveshewedusallthesethings."
Hezekiah,Sennacherib.
Jeremiah.Hananiah,thefalseprophet,diesinsevenmonths.
IIMacc.3.Thetemple,readyforpillage,miraculouslysuccoured.—IIMacc.15.
IKings17.ThewidowtoElijah,whohadrestoredherson,"BythisIknowthatthywordsaretrue."
IKings18.ElijahwiththeprophetsofBaal.
InthedisputeconcerningthetrueGodandthetruthofreligion,therehasneverhappenedanymiracleonthesideoferror,andnotoftruth.
828.Opposition.—Abel,Cain;Moses,theMagicians;Elijah,thefalseprophets:Jeremiah,Hananiah;Micaiah,thefalseprophets;JesusChrist,thePharisees;SaintPaul,Bar-jesus;theApostles,theExorcists;Christians,unbelievers;Catholics,heretics;Elijah,Enoch,Antichrist.
829.JesusChristsaysthattheScripturestestifyofHim.ButHedoesnotpointoutinwhatrespect.
EventhepropheciescouldnotproveJesusChristduringHislife;andsomenwouldnothavebeenculpablefornotbelievinginHimbeforeHisdeathhadthemiraclesnotsufficedwithoutdoctrine.NowthosewhodidnotbelieveinHim,whenHewasstillalive,weresinners,asHesaidhimself,andwithoutexcuse.Thereforetheymusthavehadproofbeyonddoubt,whichtheyresisted.Now,theyhadnottheprophecies,butonlythemiracles.Thereforethelattersuffice,whenthedoctrineisnotinconsistentwiththem;andtheyoughttobebelieved.
John7:40.DisputeamongtheJewsasamongtheChristiansofto-day.SomebelievedinJesusChrist;othersbelievedHimnot,becauseoftheprophecieswhichsaidthatHeshouldbeborninBethlehem.TheyshouldhaveconsideredmorecarefullywhetherHewasnot.ForHismiraclesbeingconvincing,theyshouldhavebeenquitesureofthesesupposedcontradictionsofHisteachingtoScripture;andthisobscuritydidnotexcuse,butblindedthem.Thusthosewhorefusetobelieveinthemiraclesinthepresentdayonaccountofasupposedcontradiction,whichisunreal,arenotexcused.
ThePhariseessaidtothepeople,whobelievedinHim,becauseofHismiracles:"Thispeoplewhoknowethnotthelawarecursed.ButhaveanyoftherulersorofthePhariseesbelievedinhim?ForweknowthatoutofGalileearisethnoprophet."Nicodemusanswered:"Dothourlawjudgeanymanbeforeithearhim,andspeciallysuchamanwhoworkssuchmiracles"?
830.Theprophecieswereambiguous;theyarenolongerso.
831.Thefivepropositionswereambiguous;theyarenolongerso.
832.Miraclesarenolongernecessary,becausewehavehadthemalready.Butwhentraditionisnolongerminded;whenthePopealoneisofferedtous;whenhehasbeenimposedupon;andwhenthetruesourceoftruth,whichistradition,isthusexcluded;andthePope,whoisitsguardian,isbiased;thetruthisnolongerfreetoappear.Then,asmenspeaknolongeroftruth,truthitselfmustspeaktomen.ThisiswhathappenedinthetimeofArius.(MiraclesunderDiocletianandunderArius.)
833.Miracle.—Thepeopleconcludedthisofthemselves;butifthereasonofitmustbegiventoyou
Itisunfortunatetobeinexceptiontotherule.Thesamemustbestrict,andopposedtoexception.Butyet,asitiscertainthatthereareexceptionstoarule,ourjudgmentmustthoughstrict,bejust.
834.John6:26:Nonquiavidistisignum,sedquiasaturatiestis.
ThosewhofollowJesusChristbecauseofHismiracleshonourHispowerinallthemiracleswhichitproduces.Butthosewho,makingprofessiontofollowHimbecauseofHismiracles,followHiminfactonlybecauseHecomfortsthemandsatisfiesthemwithworldlyblessings,discreditHismiracles,whentheyareopposedtotheirowncomforts.
John9:NonesthichomoaDeo,quiasabbatumnoncustodit.Alii:Quomodopotesthomopeccatorhaecsignafacere?
Whichisthemostclear?
ThishouseisnotofGod;fortheydonottherebelievethatthefivepropositionsareinJansenius.Others:ThishouseisofGod;forinittherearewroughtstrangemiracles.
Whichisthemostclear?
Tuquiddicis?Dicoquiaprophetaest.NisiessethicaDeo,nonpoteratfacerequidquam.
835.IntheOldTestament,whentheywillturnyoufromGod.IntheNew,whentheywillturnyoufromJesusChrist.Thesearetheoccasionsforexcludingparticularmiraclesfrombelief.Noothersneedbeexcluded.
Doesit,therefore,followthattheywouldhavetherighttoexcludealltheprophetswhocametothem?No;theywouldhavesinnedinnotexcludingthosewhodeniedGod,andwouldhavesinnedinexcludingthosewhodidnotdenyGod.
Sosoon,then,asweseeamiracle,wemusteitherassenttoitorhavestrikingproofstothecontrary.WemustseeifitdeniesaGod,orJesusChrist,ortheChurch.
836.ThereisagreatdifferencebetweennotbeingforJesusChristandsayingso,andnotbeingforJesusChristandpretendingtobeso.Theonepartycandomiracles,nottheothers.Foritisclearoftheonepartythattheyareopposedtothetruth,butnotoftheothers;andthusmiraclesareclearer.
837.ThatwemustloveoneGodonlyisathingsoevidentthatitdoesnotrequiremiraclestoproveit.
838.JesusChristperformedmiracles,thentheapostles,andthefirstsaintsingreatnumber;becausethepropheciesnotbeingyetaccomplished,butintheprocessofbeingaccomplishedbythem,themiraclesaloneborewitnesstothem.ItwasforetoldthattheMessiahshouldconvertthenations.Howcouldthisprophecybefulfilledwithouttheconversionofthenations?AndhowcouldthenationsbeconvertedtotheMessiah,iftheydidnotseethisfinaleffectoftheprophecieswhichproveHim?Therefore,tillHehaddied,risenagain,andconvertedthenations,allwasnotaccomplished;andsomiracleswereneededduringallthistime.NowtheyarenolongerneededagainsttheJews;fortheaccomplishedpropheciesconstitutealastingmiracle.
839."ThoughyebelievenotMe,believeatleasttheworks."Herefersthem,asitwere,tothestrongestproof.
IthadbeentoldtotheJews,aswellastoChristians,thattheyshouldnotalwaysbelievetheprophets;butyetthePhariseesandScribesaregreatlyconcernedaboutHismiraclesandtrytoshowthattheyarefalse,orwroughtbythedevil.Fortheymustneedsbeconvinced,iftheyacknowledgethattheyareofGod.
Atthepresentdaywearenottroubledtomakethisdistinction.Stillitisveryeasytodo:thosewhodenyneitherGodnorJesusChristdonomiracleswhicharenotcertain.Nemofacitvirtuteminnominemeo,etcitopossitdememaleloqui.
Butwehavenottodrawthisdistinction.Hereisasacredrelic.HereisathornfromthecrownoftheSaviouroftheworld,overwhomtheprinceofthisworldhasnopower,whichworksmiraclesbythepeculiarpowerofthebloodshedforus.NowGodHimselfchoosesthishouseinordertodisplayconspicuouslythereinHispower.
Thesearenotmenwhodomiraclesbyanunknownanddoubtfulvirtue,whichmakesadecisiondifficultforus.ItisGodHimself.ItistheinstrumentofthePassionofHisonlySon,who,beinginmanyplaces,choosesthis,andmakesmencomefromallquarterstheretoreceivethesemiraculousalleviationsintheirweaknesses.
840.TheChurchhasthreekindsofenemies:theJews,whohaveneverbeenofherbody;theheretics,whohavewithdrawnfromit;andtheevilChristians,whorendherfromwithin.
Thesethreekindsofdifferentadversariesusuallyattackherindifferentways.Butheretheyattackherinoneandthesameway.Astheyareallwithoutmiracles,andastheChurchhasalwayshadmiraclesagainstthem,theyhaveallhadthesameinterestinevadingthem;andtheyallmakeuseofthisexcuse,thatdoctrinemustnotbejudgedbymiracles,butmiraclesbydoctrine.ThereweretwopartiesamongthosewhoheardJesusChrist:thosewhofollowedHisteachingonaccountofHismiracles;otherswhosaid.ThereweretwopartiesinthetimeofCalvinTherearenowtheJesuits,etc.
841.Miraclesfurnishthetestinmattersofdoubt,betweenJewsandheathens,JewsandChristians,Catholicsandheretics,theslanderedandslanderers,betweenthetwocrosses.
Butmiracleswouldbeuselesstoheretics;fortheChurch,authorisedbymiracleswhichhavealreadyobtainedbelief,tellsusthattheyhavenotthetruefaith.Thereisnodoubtthattheyarenotinit,sincethefirstmiraclesoftheChurchexcludebeliefoftheirs.Thusthereismiracleagainstmiracle,boththefirstandgreatestbeingonthesideoftheChurch.
Thesenuns,astonishedatwhatissaid—thattheyareinthewayofperdition;thattheirconfessorsareleadingthemtoGeneva;thattheysuggesttothemthatJesusChristisnotintheEucharist,norontherighthandoftheFather—knowthatallthisisfalseand,therefore,offerthemselvestoGodinthisstate.Videsiviainiquitatisinmeest.Whathappensthereupon?Thisplace,whichissaidtobethetempleofthedevil,GodmakesHisowntemple.Itissaidthatthechildrenmustbetakenawayfromit.Godhealsthemthere.Itissaidthatitisthearsenalofhell.GodmakesofitthesanctuaryofHisgrace.Lastly,theyarethreatenedwithallthefuryandvengeanceofheaven;andGodoverwhelmsthemwithfavours.Amanwouldneedtohavelosthissensestoconcludefromthisthattheyarethereforeinthewayofperdition.
(WehavewithoutdoubtthesamesignsasSaintAthanasius.)
842.SituesChristus,dicnobis.
Operaquaeegofacioinnominepatrismei,haectestimoniumperhibentdeme.Sedvosnoncreditisquianonestisexovibusmeis.Ovesmeaevocemmeamaudiunt.
John6:30.Quodergotufacissignumutvideamusetcredamustibi?(Nondicunt:Quamdoctrinampraedicas?)
NemopotestfaceresignaquaetufacisnisiDeus.
IIMacc.14:15.Deusquisignisevidentibussuamportionemprotegit.
Volumussignumvideredecoelo,tentanteseum.Luke11:16.
Generatiopravasignumquaerit;etnondabitur.
Etingemiscensait:Quidgeneratioistasignumquaerit?(Mark8:12.)Theyaskedasignwithanevilintention.
Etnonpoteratfacere.AndyethepromisesthemthesignofJonah,thegreatandwonderfulmiracleofhisresurrection.
Nisivideritis,noncreditis.Hedoesnotblamethemfornotbelievingunlesstherearemiracles,butfornotbelievingunlesstheyarethemselvesspectatorsofthem.
Antichristinsignismendacibus,saysSaintPaul,IIThess.2.
SecundumoperationemSatanae,inseductioneiisquipereunteoquodcharitatemveritatisnonreceperuntutsalvifierent,ideomittetillisDeusoptationeserrorisutcredantmendacio.
AsinthepassageofMoses:TentatenimvosDeus,utrumdiligatiseum.
Eccepraedixivobis:vosergovidete.
843.Hereisnotthecountryoftruth.Shewandersunknownamongstmen.Godhascoveredherwithaveil,whichleavesherunrecognisedbythosewhodonothearhervoice.Roomisopenedforblasphemy,evenagainstthetruthsthatareatleastverylikely.IfthetruthsoftheGospelarepublished,thecontraryispublishedtoo,andthequestionsareobscured,sothatthepeoplecannotdistinguish.Andtheyask,"Whathaveyoutomakeyoubelievedratherthanothers?Whatsigndoyougive?Youhaveonlywords,andsohavewe.Ifyouhadmiracles,goodandwell."Thatdoctrineoughttobesupportedbymiraclesisatruth,whichtheymisuseinordertoreviledoctrine.Andifmiracleshappen,itissaidthatmiraclesarenotenoughwithoutdoctrine;andthisisanothertruth,whichtheymisuseinordertorevilemiracles.
JesusChristcuredthemanbornblindandperformedanumberofmiraclesontheSabbathday.InthiswayHeblindedthePharisees,whosaidthatmiraclesmustbejudgedbydoctrine.
"WehaveMoses:but,asforthisfellow,weknownotfromwhenceheis."ItiswonderfulthatyouknownotwhenceHeis,andyetHedoessuchmiracles.
JesusChristspokeneitheragainstGod,noragainstMoses.
Antichristandthefalseprophets,foretoldbybothTestaments,willspeakopenlyagainstGodandagainstJesusChrist.WhoisnothiddenGodwouldnotallowhim,whowouldbeasecretenemy,todomiraclesopenly.
InapublicdisputewherethetwopartiesprofesstobeforGod,forJesusChrist,fortheChurch,miracleshaveneverbeenonthesideofthefalseChristians,andtheothersidehasneverbeenwithoutamiracle.
"Hehathadevil."John10:21.Andotherssaid,"Canadevilopentheeyesoftheblind?"
TheproofswhichJesusChristandtheapostlesdrawfromScripturearenotconclusive;fortheysayonlythatMosesforetoldthataprophetshouldcome.ButtheydonottherebyprovethatthisisHe;andthatisthewholequestion.Thesepassages,therefore,serveonlytoshowthattheyarenotcontrarytoScriptureandthatthereappearsnoinconsistency,butnotthatthereisagreement.Nowthisisenough,namely,exclusionofinconsistency,alongwithmiracles.
ThereisamutualdutybetweenGodandmen.WemustpardonHimthissaying:Quiddebui?"Accuseme,"saidGodinIsaiah.
"GodmustfulfilHispromises,"etc.
MenoweittoGodtoacceptthereligionwhichHesends.Godowesittomennottoleadthemintoerror.Now,theywouldbeledintoerror,iftheworkersofmiraclesannouncedadoctrinewhichshouldnotappearevidentlyfalsetothelightofcommonsense,andifagreaterworkerofmiracleshadnotalreadywamedmennottobelievethem.
Thus,ifthereweredivisionsintheChurch,andtheArians,forexample,whodeclaredthemselvesfoundedonScripturejustastheCatholics,haddonemiracles,andnottheCatholics,menshouldhavebeenledintoerror.
For,asaman,whoannouncestousthesecretsofGod,isnotworthytobebelievedonhisprivateauthority,andthatiswhytheungodlydoubthim;sowhenaman,asatokenofthecommunionwhichhehaswithGod,raisesthedead,foretellsthefuture,removestheseas,healsthesick,thereisnonesowickedasnottobowtohim,andtheincredulityofPharaohandthePhariseesistheeffectofasupernaturalobduracy.
When,therefore,weseemiraclesandadoctrinenotsuspicious,bothononeside,thereisnodifficulty.Butwhenweseemiraclesandsuspiciousdoctrineonthesameside,wemustthenseewhichistheclearest.JesusChristwassuspected.
Bar-jesusblinded.ThepowerofGodsurpassesthatofHisenemies.
TheJewishexorcistsbeatenbythedevils,saying,"JesusIknow,andPaulIknow;butwhoareye"?
Miraclesarefordoctrine,andnotdoctrineformiracles.
Ifthemiraclesaretrue,shallwebeabletopersuademenofalldoctrine?No;forthiswillnotcometopass.Siangelus
Rule:wemustjudgeofdoctrinebymiracles;wemustjudgeofmiraclesbydoctrine.Allthisistrue,butcontainsnocontradiction.
Forwemustdistinguishthetimes.
Howgladyouaretoknowthegeneralrules,thinkingtherebytosetupdissensionandrenderalluseless!Weshallpreventyou,myfather;truthisoneandconstant.
Itisimpossible,fromthedutyofGodtomen,thataman,hidinghisevilteaching,andonlyshowingthegood,sayingthatheconformstoGodandtheChurch,shoulddomiraclessoastoinstilinsensiblyafalseandsubtledoctrine.Thiscannothappen.
AndstilllessthatGod,whoknowstheheartshouldperformmiraclesinfavourofsuchaone.
844.Thethreemarksofreligion:perpetuity,agoodlife,miracles.Theydestroyperpetuitybytheirdoctrineofprobability;agoodlifebytheirmorals,miraclesbydestroyingeithertheirtruthortheconclusionstobedrawnfromthem.
Ifwebelievethem,theChurchwillhavenothingtodowithperpetuity,holiness,andmiracles.Thehereticsdenythem,ordenytheconclusionstobedrawnfromthem;theydothesame.Butonewouldneedtohavenosincerityinordertodenythem,oragaintoloseone-ssensesinordertodenytheconclusionstobedrawnfromthem.
Nobodyhaseversufferedmartyrdomforthemiracleswhichhesayshehasseen;forthefollyofmengoesperhapstothelengthofmartyrdom,forthosewhichtheTurksbelievebytradition,butnotforthosewhichtheyhaveseen.
845.Thehereticshavealwaysattackedthesethreemarks,whichtheyhavenot.
846.Firstobjection:"Anangelfromheaven.Wemustnotjudgeoftruthbymiracles,butofmiraclesbytruth.Thereforethemiraclesareuseless.
Nowtheyareofuse,andtheymustnotbeinoppositiontothetruth.ThereforewhatFatherLingendehassaidthat"Godwillnotpermitthatamiraclemayleadintoerror"
WhenthereshallbeacontroversyinthesameChurch,miraclewilldecide.
Secondobjection:"ButAntichristwilldomiracles."
ThemagiciansofPharaohdidnotenticetoerror.ThuswecannotsaytoJesusrespectingAntichrist,"Youhaveledmeintoerror."ForAntichristwilldothemagainstJesusChrist,andsotheycannotleadintoerror.EitherGodwillnotpermitfalsemiracles,orHewillprocuregreater.
JesusChristhasexistedsincethebeginningoftheworld:thisismoreimpressivethanallthemiraclesofAntichrist.
IfinthesameChurchthereshouldhappenamiracleonthesideofthoseinerror,menwouldbeledintoerror.Schismisvisible;amiracleisvisible.Butschismismoreasignoferrorthanamiracleisasignoftruth.Thereforeamiraclecannotleadintoerror.
But,apartfromschism,errorisnotsoobviousasamiracleisobvious.Thereforeamiraclecouldleadintoerror.
UbiestDeustuus?MiraclesshowHim,andarealight.
847.OneoftheanthemsforVespersatChristmas:Exortumestintenebrislumenrectiscorde.
848.IfthecompassionofGodissogreatthatHeinstructsustoourbenefit,evenwhenHehidesHimself,whatlightoughtwenottoexpectfromHimwhenHerevealsHimself?
849.WillEstetnonest.bereceivedinfaithitselfaswellasinmiracles?Andifitisinseparableintheothers
WhenSaintXavierworksmiracles.SaintHilary."Yewretches,whoobligeustospeakofmiracles."
Unjustjudges,makenotyourownlawsonthemoment;judgebythosewhichareestablished,andbyyourselves.Vaequiconditislegesiniquas.
Miraclesendless,false.
Inordertoweakenyouradversaries,youdisarmthewholeChurch.
IftheysaythatoursalvationdependsuponGod,theyare"heretics."IftheysaythattheyareobedienttothePope,thatis"hypocrisy."Iftheyarereadytosubscribetoallthearticles,thatisnotenough.Iftheysaythatamanmustnotbekilledforanapple,"theyattackthemoralityofCatholics."Ifmiraclesaredoneamongthem,itisnotasignofholiness,andis,onthecontraryasymptomofheresy.
ThiswayinwhichtheChurchhasexistedisthattruthhasbeenwithoutdispute,or,ifithasbeencontested,therehasbeenthePope,or,failinghim,therehasbeentheChurch.
850.Thefivepropositionscondemned,butnomiracle;forthetruthwasnotattacked.ButtheSorbonnebutthebull
ItisimpossiblethatthosewholoveGodwithalltheirheartshouldfailtorecognisetheChurch;soevidentisshe.ItisimpossiblethatthosewhodonotloveGodshouldbeconvincedoftheChurch.
MiracleshavesuchinfluencethatitwasnecessarythatGodshouldwarnmennottobelieveintheminoppositiontoHim,allclearasitisthatthereisaGod.Withoutthistheywouldhavebeenabletodisturbmen.
Andthussofarfromthesepassages,Deut.13,makingagainsttheauthorityofthemiracles,nothingmoreindicatestheirinfluence.AndthesameinrespectofAntichrist."Toseduce,ifitwerepossible,eventheelect."
851.Thehistoryofthemanbornblind.
WhatsaysSaintPaul?Doeshecontinuallyspeakoftheevidenceoftheprophecies?No,butofhisownmiracle.WhatsaysJesusChrist?DoesHespeakoftheevidenceoftheprophecies?No;Hisdeathhadnotfulfilledthem.Buthesays,Sinonfecissem.Believetheworks.
Twosupernaturalfoundationsofourwhollysupernaturalreligion;onevisible,theotherinvisible;miracleswithgrace,miracleswithoutgrace.
Thesynagogue,whichhadbeentreatedwithloveasatypeoftheChurch,andwithhatred,becauseitwasonlythetype,hasbeenrestored,beingonthepointoffallingwhenitwaswellwithGod,andthusatype.
MiraclesprovethepowerwhichGodhasoverhearts,bythatwhichHeexercisesoverbodies.
TheChurchhasneverapprovedamiracleamongheretics.
Miraclesasupportofreligion:theyhavebeenthetestofJews;theyhavebeenthetestofChristians,saints,innocents,andtruebelievers.
Amiracleamongschismaticsisnotsomuchtobefeared;forschism,whichismoreobviousthanamiracle,visiblyindicatestheirerror.But,whenthereisnoschismanderrorisinquestion,miracledecides.
Sinonfecissemquaealiusnonfecit.Thewretcheswhohaveobligedustospeakofmiracles.
AbrahamandGideonconfirmfaithbymiracles.
Judith.Godspeaksatlastintheirgreatestoppression.
IfthecoolingofloveleavestheChurchalmostwithoutbelievers,miracleswillrousethem.Thisisoneofthelasteffectsofgrace.
IfonemiraclewerewroughtamongtheJesuits!
Whenamiracledisappointstheexpectationofthoseinwhosepresenceithappens,andthereisadisproportionbetweenthestateoftheirfaithandtheinstrumentofthemiracle,itought—thentoinducethemtochange.Butwithyouitisotherwise.Therewouldbeasmuchreasoninsayingthat,iftheEucharistraisedadeadman,itwouldbenecessaryforonetoturnaCalvinistratherthanremainaCatholic.Butwhenitcrownstheexpectation,andthose,whohopedthatGodwouldblesstheremedies,seethemselveshealedwithoutremedies.
Theungodly.—NosignhaseverhappenedonthepartofthedevilwithoutastrongersignonthepartofGod,orevenwithoutithavingbeenforetoldthatsuchwouldhappen.
852.UnjustpersecutorsofthosewhomGodvisiblyprotects.Iftheyreproachyouwithyourexcesses,"theyspeakastheheretics."IftheysaythatthegraceofJesusChristdistinguishesus,"theyareheretics."Iftheydomiracles,"itisthemarkoftheirheresy."
Ezekiel.Theysay:ThesearethepeopleofGodwhospeakthus.
Itissaid,"BelieveintheChurch";butitisnotsaid,"Believeinmiracles";becausethelastisnatural,andnotthefirst.Theonehadneedofaprecept,nottheother.Hezekiah.
Thesynagoguewasonlyatype,andthusitdidnotperish;anditwasonlyatype,andsoitisdecayed.Itwasatypewhichcontainedthetruth,andthusithaslasteduntilitnolongercontainedthetruth.
Myreverendfather,allthishappenedintypes.Otherreligionsperish;thisoneperishesnot.
Miraclesaremoreimportantthanyouthink.Theyhaveservedforthefoundation,andwillserveforthecontinuationoftheChurchtillAntichrist,tilltheend.
Thetwowitnesses.
IntheOldTestamentandtheNew,miraclesareperformedinconnectionwithtypes.Salvation,orauselessthing,ifnottoshowthatwemustsubmittotheScriptures:typeofthesacrament.
853.Wemustjudgesoberlyofdivineordinances,myfather.SaintPaulintheisleofMalta.
854.ThehardnessoftheJesuits,then,surpassesthatoftheJews,sincethoserefusedtobelieveJesusChristinnocentonlybecausetheydoubtedifHismiracleswereofGod.WhereastheJesuits,thoughunabletodoubtthatthemiraclesofPort-RoyalareofGod,donotceasetodoubtstilltheinnocenceofthathouse.
855.Isupposethatmenbelievemiracles.Youcorruptreligioneitherinfavourofyourfriendsoragainstyourenemies.Youarrangeitatyourwill.
856.Onthemiracle.—AsGodhasmadenofamilymorehappy,letitalsobethecasethatHefindnonemorethankful.
SECTIONXIV:APPENDIX:POLEMICALFRAGMENTS
857.Clearness,obscurity.—Therewouldbetoogreatdarkness,iftruthhadnotvisiblesigns.Thisisawonderfulone,thatithasalwaysbeenpreservedinoneChurchandonevisibleassemblyofmen.Therewouldbetoogreatclearness,iftherewereonlyoneopinioninthisChurch.Butinordertorecognisewhatistrue,onehasonlytolookatwhathasalwaysexisted;foritiscertainthattruthhasalwaysexisted,andthatnothingfalsehasalwaysexisted.
858.ThehistoryoftheChurchoughtproperlytobecalledthehistoryoftruth.
859.Thereisapleasureinbeinginashipbeatenaboutbyastorm,whenwearesurethatitwillnotfounder.ThepersecutionswhichharasstheChurchareofthisnature.
860.Inadditiontosomanyothersignsofpiety,theyarealsopersecuted,whichisthebestsignofpiety.
861.TheChurchisinanexcellentstatewhenitissustainedbyGodonly.
862.TheChurchhasalwaysbeenattackedbyoppositeerrors,butperhapsneveratthesametime,asnow.Andifshesuffermorebecauseofthemultiplicityoferrors,shederivesthisadvantagefromit,thattheydestroyeachother.
Shecomplainsofboth,butfarmoreoftheCalvinists,becauseoftheschism.
Itiscertainthatmanyofthetwooppositesectsaredeceived.Theymustbedisillusioned.
Faithembracesmanytruthswhichseemtocontradicteachother.Thereisatimetolaugh,andtimetoweep,etc.Responde.Nerespondeas,etc.
ThesourceofthisistheunionofthetwonaturesinJesusChrist;andalsothetwoworlds(thecreationofanewheavenandanewearth;anewlifeandanewdeath;allthingsdouble,andthesamenamesremaining);andfinallythetwonaturesthatareintherighteous(fortheyarethetwoworlds,andamemberandimageofJesusChrist.Andthusallthenamessuitthem:righteous,yetsinners;dead,yetliving;living,yetdead;elect,yetoutcast,etc.).
Therearethenagreatnumberoftruths,bothoffaithandofmorality,whichseemcontradictoryandwhichallholdgoodtogetherinawonderfulsystem.Thesourceofallheresiesistheexclusionofsomeofthesetruths;andthesourceofalltheobjectionswhichthehereticsmakeagainstusistheignoranceofsomeofourtruths.Anditgenerallyhappensthat,unabletoconceivetheconnectionoftwooppositetruths,andbelievingthattheadmissionofoneinvolvestheexclusionoftheother,theyadheretotheone,excludetheother,andthinkofusasopposedtothem.Nowexclusionisthecauseoftheirheresy;andignorancethatweholdtheothertruthcausestheirobjections.
1stexample:JesusChristisGodandman.TheArians,unabletoreconcilethesethings,whichtheybelieveincompatible,saythatHeisman;inthistheyareCatholics.ButtheydenythatHeisGod;inthistheyareheretics.TheyallegethatwedenyHishumanity;inthistheyareignorant.
2ndexample:OnthesubjectoftheHolySacrament.Webelievethat,thesubstanceofthebreadbeingchanged,andbeingconsubstantialwiththatofthebodyofourLord,JesusChrististhereinreallypresent.Thatisonetruth.AnotheristhatthisSacramentisalsoatypeofthecrossandofglory,andacommemorationofthetwo.ThatistheCatholicfaith,whichcomprehendsthesetwotruthswhichseemopposed.
Theheresyofto-day,notconceivingthatthisSacramentcontainsatthesametimeboththepresenceofJesusChristandatypeofHim,andthatitisasacrificeandacommemorationofasacrifice,believesthatneitherofthesetruthscanbeadmittedwithoutexcludingtheotherforthisreason.
Theyfastentothispointalone,thatthisSacramentistypical;andinthistheyarenotheretics.Theythinkthatweexcludethistruth;henceitcomesthattheyraisesomanyobjectionstousoutofthepassagesoftheFatherswhichassertit.Finally,theydenythepresence;andinthistheyareheretics.
3rdexample:Indulgences.
Theshortestway,therefore,topreventheresiesistoinstructinalltruths;andthesurestwaytorefutethemistodeclarethemall.Forwhatwillthehereticssay?
InordertoknowwhetheranopinionisaFather-s
863.Allerrthemoredangerously,astheyeachfollowatruth.Theirfaultisnotinfollowingafalsehood,butinnotfollowinganothertruth.
864.Truthissoobscureinthesetimes,andfalsehoodsoestablished,that,unlesswelovethetruth,wecannotknowit.
865.Ifthereiseveratimeinwhichwemustmakeprofessionoftwooppositetruths,itiswhenwearereproachedforomittingone.ThereforetheJesuitsandJansenistsarewronginconcealingthem,buttheJansenistsmoreso,fortheJesuitshavebettermadeprofessionofthetwo.
866.Twokindsofpeoplemakethingsequaltooneanother,asfeaststoworkingdays,Christianstopriests,allthingsamongthem,etc.AndhencetheonepartyconcludethatwhatisthenbadforpriestsisalsosoforChristians,andtheotherthatwhatisnotbadforChristiansislawfulforpriests.
867.IftheancientChurchwasinerror,theChurchisfallen.Ifsheshouldbeinerrorto-day,itisnotthesamething;forshehasalwaysthesuperiormaximoftraditionfromthehandoftheancientChurch;andsothissubmissionandthisconformitytotheancientChurchprevailandcorrectall.ButtheancientChurchdidnotassumethefutureChurchanddidnotconsiderher,asweassumeandconsidertheancient.
868.ThatwhichhindersusincomparingwhatformerlyoccurredintheChurchwithwhatweseetherenowisthatwegenerallylookuponSaintAthanasius,SaintTheresa,andtherest,ascrownedwithgloryandactingtowardsusasgods.Nowthattimehasclearedupthings,itdoessoappear.Butatthetimewhenhewaspersecuted,thisgreatsaintwasamancalledAthanasius;andSaintTheresawasanun."Eliaswasamansubjecttolikepassionsasweare,"saysSaintJames,todisabuseChristiansofthatfalseideawhichmakesusrejecttheexampleofthesaintsasdisproportionedtoourstate."Theyweresaints,"saywe,"theyarenotlikeus."Whatthenactuallyhappened?SaintAthanasiuswasamancalledAthanasius,accusedofmanycrimes,condemnedbysuchandsuchacouncilforsuchandsuchacrime.Allthebishopsassentedtoit,andfinallythePope.Whatsaidtheytothosewhoopposedthis?Thattheydisturbedthepeace,thattheycreatedschism,etc.
Zeal,light.Fourkindsofpersons:zealwithoutknowledge;knowledgewithoutzeal;neitherknowledgenorzeal;bothzealandknowledge.Thefirstthreecondemnedhim.Thelastacquittedhim,wereexcommunicatedbytheChurchandyetsavedtheChurch.
869.IfSaintAugustinecameatthepresenttimeandwasaslittleauthorisedashisdefenders,hewouldaccomplishnothing.GoddirectsHisChurchwell,byhavingsenthimbeforewithauthority.
870.GodhasnotwantedtoabsolvewithouttheChurch.Asshehaspartintheoffence,Hedesireshertohavepartinthepardon.Heassociatesherwiththispower,askingstheirparliaments.ButifsheabsolvesorbindswithoutGod,sheisnolongertheChurch.For,asinthecaseofparliament,evenifthekinghavepardonedaman,itmustberatified;butifparliamentratifieswithouttheking,orrefusestoratifyontheorderoftheking,itisnolongertheparliamentoftheking,butarebelliousassembly.
871.TheChurch,thePope.Unity,plurality.—ConsideringtheChurchasaunity,thePope,whoisitshead,isasthewhole.Consideringitasaplurality,thePopeisonlyapartofit.TheFathershaveconsideredtheChurchnowintheoneway,nowintheother.AndthustheyhavespokendifferentlyofthePope.(SaintCyprian:SacerdosDei.)Butinestablishingoneofthesetruths,theyhavenotexcludedtheother.Pluralitywhichisnotreducedtounityisconfusion;unitywhichdoesnotdependonpluralityistyranny.ThereisscarcelyanyothercountrythanFranceinwhichitispermissibletosaythattheCouncilisabovethePope.
872.ThePopeishead.Whoelseisknownofall?Whoelseisrecognisedbyall,havingpowertoinsinuatehimselfintoallthebody,becauseheholdstheprincipalshoot,whichinsinuatesitselfeverywhere?Howeasyitwastomakethisdegenerateintotyranny!ThatiswhyChristhaslaiddownforthemthisprecept:Vosautemnonsic.
873.ThePopehatesandfearsthelearned,whodonotsubmittohimatwill.
874.WemustnotjudgeofwhatthePopeisbysomewordsoftheFathers—astheGreekssaidinacouncil,importantrules—butbytheactsoftheChurchandtheFathers,andbythecanons.
Duoauttres.Inunum.Unityandplurality.Itisanerrortoexcludeoneofthetwo,asthepapistsdowhoexcludeplurality,ortheHuguenotswhoexcludeunity.
875.WouldthePopebedishonouredbyhavinghisknowledgefromGodandtradition;andisitnotdishonouringhimtoseparatehimfromthisholyunion?
876.GoddoesnotperformmiraclesintheordinaryconductofHisChurch.Itwouldbeastrangemiracleifinfallibilityexistedinoneman.Butitappearssonaturalforittoresideinamultitude,sincetheconductofGodishiddenundernature,asinallHisotherworks.
877.Kingsdisposeoftheirownpower;butthePopescannotdisposeoftheirs.
878.Summumjus,summainjuria.
Themajorityisthebestway,becauseitisvisibleandhasstrengthtomakeitselfobeyed.Yetitistheopinionoftheleastable.
Ifmencouldhavedoneit,theywouldhaveplacedmightinthehandsofjustice.Butasmightdoesnotallowitselftobemanagedasmenwant,becauseitisapalpablequality,whereasjusticeisaspiritualqualityofwhichmendisposeastheyplease,theyhaveplacedjusticeinthehandsofmight.Andthusthatiscalledjustwhichmenareforcedtoobey.
Hencecomestherightofthesword,fortheswordgivesatrueright.Otherwiseweshouldseeviolenceononesideandjusticeontheother(endofthetwelfthProvincialLetter).HencecomestheinjusticeoftheFronde,whichraisesitsallegedjusticeagainstpower.ItisnotthesameintheChurch,forthereisatruejusticeandnoviolence.
879.Injustice.—Jurisdictionisnotgivenforthesakeofthejudge,butforthatofthelitigant.Itisdangeroustotellthistothepeople.Butthepeoplehavetoomuchfaithinyou;itwillnotharmthemandmayserveyou.Itshould,therefore,bemadeknown.Pasceovesmeas,nottuas.Youowemepasturage.
880.Menlikecertainty.TheylikethePopetobeinfallibleinfaith,andgravedoctorstobeinfallibleinmorals,soastohavecertainty.
881.TheChurchteaches,andGodinspires,bothinfallibly.TheworkoftheChurchisofuseonlyasapreparationforgraceorcondemnation.Whatitdoesisenoughforcondemnation,notforinspiration.
882.EverytimetheJesuitsmayimposeuponthePope,theywillmakeallChristendomperjured.
ThePopeisveryeasilyimposedupon,becauseofhisoccupations,andtheconfidencewhichhehasintheJesuits;andtheJesuitsareverycapableofimposinguponhimbymeansofcalumny.
883.Thewretcheswhohaveobligedmetospeakofthebasisofreligion.
884.Sinnerspurifiedwithoutpenitence;therighteousjustifiedwithoutlove;allChristianswithoutthegraceofJesusChrist;Godwithoutpoweroverthewillofmen;apredestinationwithoutmystery;aredemptionwithoutcertitude!
885.Anyoneismadeapriest,whowantstobeso,asunderJeroboam.
ItisahorriblethingthattheypropoundtousthedisciplineoftheChurchofto-dayassogoodthatitismadeacrimetodesiretochangeit.Formerlyitwasinfalliblygood,anditwasthoughtthatitcouldbechangedwithoutsin;andnow,suchasitis,wecannotwishitchanged!Ithasindeedbeenpermittedtochangethecustomofnotmakingpriestswithoutsuchgreatcircumspectionthattherewerehardlyanywhowereworthy;anditisnotallowedtocomplainofthecustomwhichmakessomanywhoareunworthy!
886.Heretics.—Ezekiel.Alltheheathen,andalsotheProphet,spokeevilofIsrael.ButtheIsraelitesweresofarfromhavingtherighttosaytohim,"Youspeakliketheheathen,"thatheismostforcibleuponthis,thattheheathensaythesameashe.
887.TheJansenistsarelikethehereticsinthereformationofmorality;butyouareliketheminevil.
888.Youareignorantoftheprophecies,ifyoudonotknowthatallthismusthappen;princes,prophets,Pope,andeventhepriests.AndyettheChurchistoabide.BythegraceofGodwehavenotcometothat.Woetothesepriests!ButwehopethatGodwillbestowHismercyuponusthatweshallnotbeofthem.
SaintPeter,Epistleii:falseprophetsinthepast,theimageoffutureones.
889Sothatifitistrue,ontheonehand,thatsomelaxmonksandsomecorruptcasuists,whoarenotmembersofthehierarchy,aresteepedinthesecorruptions,itis,ontheotherhand,certainthatthetruepastorsoftheChurch,whoarethetrueguardiansoftheDivineWord,havepreserveditunchangeablyagainsttheeffortsofthosewhohaveattemptedtodestroyit.
Andthustruebelievershavenopretexttofollowthatlaxity,whichisonlyofferedtothembythestrangehandsofthesecasuists,insteadofthesounddoctrinewhichispresentedtothembythefatherlyhandsoftheirownpastors.AndtheungodlyandhereticshavenogroundforpublishingtheseabusesasevidenceofimperfectionintheprovidenceofGodoverHisChurch;since,theChurchconsistingproperlyinthebodyofthehierarchy,wearesofarfrombeingabletoconcludefromthepresentstateofmattersthatGodhasabandonedhertocorruption,thatithasneverbeenmoreapparentthanatthepresenttimethatGodvisiblyprotectsherfromcorruption.
Forifsomeofthesemen,who,byanextraordinaryvocation,havemadeprofessionofwithdrawingfromtheworldandadoptingthemonks-dress,inordertoliveinamoreperfectstatethanordinaryChristians,havefallenintoexcesseswhichhorrifyordinaryChristians,andhavebecometouswhatthefalseprophetswereamongtheJews;thisisaprivateandpersonalmisfortune,whichmustindeedbedeplored,butfromwhichnothingcanbeinferredagainstthecarewhichGodtakesofHisChurch;sinceallthesethingsaresoclearlyforetold,andithasbeensolongsinceannouncedthatthesetemptationswouldarisefrompeopleofthiskind;sothatwhenwearewellinstructed,weseeinthisratherevidenceofthecareofGodthanofHisforgetfulnessinregardtous.
890.Tertullian:NunquamEcclesiareformabitur.
891.Heretics,whotakeadvantageofthedoctrineoftheJesuits,mustbemadetoknowthatitisnotthatoftheChurch,andthatourdivisionsdonotseparateusfromthealtar.
892.Ifindifferingwecondemned,youwouldberight.Uniformitywithoutdiversityisuselesstoothers;diversitywithoutuniformityisruinousforus.Theoneisharmfuloutwardly;theotherinwardly.
893.Byshowingthetruth,wecauseittobebelieved;butbyshowingtheinjusticeofministers,wedonotcorrectit.Ourmindisassuredbyaproofoffalsehood;ourpurseisnotmadesecurebyproofofinjustice.
894.ThosewholovetheChurchlamenttoseethecorruptionofmorals;butlawsatleastexist.Butthesecorruptthelaws.Themodelisdamaged.
895.Menneverdoevilsocompletelyandcheerfullyaswhentheydoitfromreligiousconviction.
896.ItisinvainthattheChurchhasestablishedthesewords,anathemas,heresies,etc.Theyareusedagainsther.
897.Theservantknowethnotwhathislorddoeth,forthemastertellshimonlytheactandnottheintention.Andthisiswhyheoftenobeysslavishly,anddefeatstheintention.ButJesusChristhastoldustheobject.Andyoudefeatthatobject.
898.Theycannothaveperpetuity,andtheyseekuniversality;andthereforetheymakethewholeChurchcorrupt,thattheymaybesaints.
899.AgainstthosewhomisusepassagesofScripture,andwhopridethemselvesinfindingonewhichseemstofavourtheirerror.—ThechapterforVespers,PassionSunday,theprayerfortheking.
Explanationofthesewords:"Hethatisnotwithmeisagainstme."Andoftheseothers:"Hethatisnotagainstyouisforyou."Apersonwhosays:"Iamneitherfornoragainst";weoughttoreplytohim
900.HewhowillgivethemeaningofScripture,anddoesnottakeitfromScripture,isanenemyofScripture.(St.Augustine,OfChristianDoctrine.)
901.Humilibusdatgratiam;anideonondedithumilitatem?
Suieumnonreceperunt;quotquotautemnonreceperunt,annonerantsui?
902."Itmustindeedbe,"saysFeuillant,"thatthisisnotsocertain;forcontroversyindicatesuncertainty(SaintAthanasius,SaintChrysostom,morals,unbelievers)."
TheJesuitshavenotmadethetruthuncertain,buttheyhavemadetheirownungodlinesscertain.
Contradictionhasalwaysbeenpermitted,inordertoblindthewicked;forallthatoffendstruthorloveisevil.Thisisthetrueprinciple.
903.Allreligionsandsectsintheworldhavehadnaturalreasonforaguide.Christiansalonehavebeenconstrainedtotaketheirrulesfromwithoutthemselves,andtoacquaintthemselveswiththosewhichJesusChristbequeathedtomenofoldtobehandeddowntotruebelievers.ThisconstraintweariesthesegoodFathers.Theydesire,likeotherpeople,tohavelibertytofollowtheirownimaginations.Itisinvainthatwecrytothem,astheprophetssaidtotheJewsofold:"EnterintotheChurch;acquaintyourselveswiththepreceptswhichthemenofoldlefttoher,andfollowthosepaths."TheyhaveansweredliketheJews:"Wewillnotwalkinthem;butwewillfollowthethoughtsofourhearts";andtheyhavesaid,"Wewillbeastheothernations."
904.Theymakearuleofexception.
Havethemenofoldgivenabsolutionbeforepenance?Dothisasexceptional.Butoftheexceptionyoumakearulewithoutexception,sothatyoudonotevenwanttheruletobeexceptional.
905.Onconfessionsandabsolutionswithoutsignsofregret.
Godregardsonlytheinward;theChurchjudgesonlybytheoutward.GodabsolvesassoonasHeseespenitenceintheheart;theChurchwhensheseesitinworks.GodwillmakeaChurchpurewithin,whichconfounds,byitsinwardandentirelyspiritualholiness,theinwardimpietyofproudsagesandPharisees;andtheChurchwillmakeanassemblyofmenwhoseexternalmannersaresopureastoconfoundthemannersoftheheathen.Iftherearehypocritesamongthem,butsowelldisguisedthatshedoesnotdiscovertheirvenom,shetoleratesthem;for,thoughtheyarenotacceptedofGod,whomtheycannotdeceive,theyareofmen,whomtheydodeceive.Andthussheisnotdishonouredbytheirconduct,whichappearsholy.ButyouwanttheChurchtojudgeneitheroftheinward,becausethatbelongstoGodalone,noroftheoutward,becauseGoddwellsonlyupontheinward;andthus,takingawayfromherallchoiceofmen,youretainintheChurchthemostdissoluteandthosewhodishonourhersogreatlythatthesynagoguesoftheJewsandsectsofphilosopherswouldhavebanishedthemasunworthyandhaveabhorredthemasimpious.
906.TheeasiestconditionstoliveinaccordingtotheworldarethemostdifficulttoliveinaccordingtoGod,andviceversa.Nothingissodifficultaccordingtotheworldasthereligiouslife;nothingiseasierthantoliveitaccordingtoGod.Nothingiseasier,accordingtotheworld,thantoliveinhighofficeandgreatwealth;nothingismoredifficultthantoliveinthemaccordingtoGod,andwithoutacquiringaninterestinthemandalikingforthem.
907.Thecasuistssubmitthedecisiontothecorruptreason,andthechoiceofdecisionstothecorruptwill,inorderthatallthatiscorruptinthenatureofmanmaycontributetohisconduct.
908.Butisitprobablethatprobabilitygivesassurance?
Differencebetweenrestandsecurityofconscience.Nothinggivescertaintybuttruth;nothinggivesrestbutthesinceresearchfortruth.
909.Thewholesocietyitselfoftheircasuistscannotgiveassurancetoaconscienceinerror,andthatiswhyitisimportanttochoosegoodguides.
Thustheywillbedoublyculpable,bothinhavingfollowedwayswhichtheyshouldnothavefollowed,andinhavinglistenedtoteacherstowhomtheyshouldnothavelistened.
910.Canitbeanythingbutcompliancewiththeworldwhichmakesyoufindthingsprobable?Willyoumakeusbelievethatitistruthandthat,ifduellingwerenotthefashion,youwouldfinditprobablethattheymightfight,consideringthematterinitself.?
911.Mustwekilltopreventtherebeinganywicked?Thisistomakebothpartieswickedinsteadofone.Vinceinbonomalum.(SaintAugustine.)
912.Universal.—Ethicsandlanguagearespecial,butuniversalsciences.
913.Probability.—Eachonecanemployit;noonecantakeitaway.
914.Theyallowlusttoact,andcheckscruples;whereastheyshoulddothecontrary.
915.Montalte.—Laxopinionspleasemensomuch,thatitisstrangethattheirsdisplease.Itisbecausetheyhaveexceededallbounds.Again,therearemanypeoplewhoseethetruth,andwhocannotattaintoit;buttherearefewwhodonotknowthatthepurityofreligionisopposedtoourcorruptions.ItisabsurdtosaythataneternalrecompenseisofferedtothemoralityofEscobar.
916.Probability.—Theyhavesometrueprinciples;buttheymisusethem.Now,theabuseoftruthoughttobeasmuchpunishedastheintroductionoffalsehood.
Asifthereweretwohells,oneforsinsagainstlove,theotherforthoseagainstjustice!
917.Probability.—Theearnestnessofthesaintsinseekingthetruthwasuseless,iftheprobableistrustworthy.Thefearofthesaintswhohavealwaysfollowedthesurestway.(SaintTheresahavingalwaysfollowedherconfessor.)
918.Takeawayprobability,andyoucannolongerpleasetheworld;giveprobability,andyoucannolongerdispleaseit.
919.ThesearetheeffectsofthesinsofthepeoplesandoftheJesuits.Thegreathavewishedtobeflattered.TheJesuitshavewishedtobelovedbythegreat.Theyhaveallbeenworthytobeabandonedtothespiritoflying,theonepartytodeceive,theotherstobedeceived.Theyhavebeenavaricious,ambitious,voluptuous.Coacervabunttibimagistros.Worthydisciplesofsuchmasters,theyhavesoughtflatterers,andhavefoundthem.
920.Iftheydonotrenouncetheirdoctrineofprobability,theirgoodmaximsareaslittleholyasthebad,fortheyarefoundedonhumanauthority;andthus,iftheyaremorejust,theywillbemorereasonable,butnotmoreholy.Theytakeafterthewildstemonwhichtheyaregrafted.
IfwhatIsaydoesnotservetoenlightenyou,itwillbeofusetothepeople.
Ifthesearesilent,thestoneswillspeak.
Silenceisthegreatestpersecution;thesaintswereneversilent.Itistruethatacallisnecessary;butitisnotfromthedecreesoftheCouncilthatwemustlearnwhetherwearecalled,itisfromthenecessityofspeaking.Now,afterRomehasspoken,andwethinkthatshehascondemnedthetruth,andthattheyhavewrittenit,andafterthebookswhichhavesaidthecontraryarecensured;wemustcryoutsomuchthelouder,themoreunjustlywearecensured,andthemoreviolentlytheywouldstiflespeech,untiltherecomeaPopewhohearsbothparties,andwhoconsultsantiquitytodojustice.SothegoodPopeswillfindtheChurchstillinoutcry.
TheInquisitionandtheSocietyarethetwoscourgesofthetruth.
WhydoyounotaccusethemofArianism?For,thoughtheyhavesaidthatJesusChristisGod,perhapstheymeanbyitnotthenaturalinterpretation,but,asitissaid,Diiestis.
IfmyLettersarecondemnedatRome,thatwhichIcondemninthemiscondemnedinheaven.Adtuum,DomineJesu,tribunalappello.
Youyourselvesarecorruptible.
IfearedthatIhadwrittenill,seeingmyselfcondemned;buttheexampleofsomanypiouswritingsmakesmebelievethecontrary.Itisnolongerallowabletowritewell,socorruptorignorantistheInquisition!
"ItisbettertoobeyGodthanmen."
Ifearnothing;Ihopefornothing.Itisnotsowiththebishops.Port-Royalfears,anditisbadpolicytodispersethem;fortheywillfearnolongerandwillcausegreaterfear.Idonotevenfearyourlikecensures,iftheyarenotfoundedonthoseoftradition.Doyoucensureall?What!Evenmyrespect?No.Saythenwhat,oryouwilldonothing,ifyoudonotpointouttheevil,andwhyitisevil.Andthisiswhattheywillhavegreatdifficultyindoing.
Probability.—Theyhavegivenaridiculousexplanationofcertitude;for,afterhavingestablishedthatalltheirwaysaresure,theyhavenolongercalledthatsurewhichleadstoheavenwithoutdangerofnotarrivingtherebyit,butthatwhichleadstherewithoutdangerofgoingoutofthatroad.
921Thesaintsindulgeinsubtletiesinordertothinkthemselvescriminalsandimpeachtheirbetteractions.Andtheseindulgeinsubtletiesinordertoexcusethemostwicked.
Theheathensageserectedastructureequallyfineoutside,butuponabadfoundation;andthedevildeceivedmenbythisapparentresemblancebaseduponthemostdifferentfoundation.
ManneverhadsogoodacauseasI;andothershaveneverfurnishedsogoodacaptureasyou
Themoretheypointoutweaknessinmyperson,themoretheyauthorisemycause.
YousaythatIamaheretic.Isthatlawful?Andifyoudonotfearthatmendojustice,doyounotfearthatGoddoesjustice?
Youwillfeeltheforceofthetruth,andyouwillyieldtoit
Thereissomethingsupernaturalinsuchablindness.Dignanecessitas.Mentirisimpudentissime.
Doctrinasuanosceturvir
Falsepiety,adoublesin.
Iamaloneagainstthirtythousand.No.Protectyou,thecourt;protect,you,deception;letmeprotectthetruth.Itisallmystrength.IfIloseit,Iamundone.Ishallnotlackaccusations,andpersecutions.ButIpossessthetruth,andweshallseewhowilltakeitaway.
Idonotneedtodefendreligion,butyoudonotneedtodefenderrorandinjustice.LetGod,outofHiscompassion,havingnoregardtotheevilwhichisinme,andhavingregardtothegoodwhichisinyou,grantusallgracethattruthmaynotbeovercomeinmyhands,andthatfalsehood
922.Probable.—LetusseeifweseekGodsincerely,bycomparisonofthethingswhichwelove.Itisprobablethatthisfoodwillnotpoisonme.ItisprobablethatIshallnotlosemyactionbynotprosecutingit
923.Itisnotabsolutiononlywhichremitssinsbythesacramentofpenance,butcontrition,whichisnotrealifitdoesnotseekthesacrament.
924.Peoplewhodonotkeeptheirword,withoutfaith,withouthonour,withouttruth,deceitfulinheart,deceitfulinspeech;forwhichthatamphibiousanimalinfablewasoncereproached,whichhelditselfinadoubtfulpositionbetweenthefishandthebirds
Itisimportanttokingsandprincestobeconsideredpious;thereforetheymustconfessthemselvestoyou.
THEEND