帕斯卡思想录英文版 8-end

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,forure,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.TheureisplainlyfullofmattersnotdictatedbytheHolySpirit.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.Blindnessofure.—"Theure,"saidtheJews,"saysthatweshallnotknowwhenceChristwillcome(John7:27,and12:34)—TheuresaysthatChristabidethforever,andHesaidthatHeshoulddie."Therefore,saysSaintJohn,theybelievednot,thoughHehaddonesomanymiracles,thatthewordofIsaiahmightbefulfilled:"Hehathblindedthem,"etc.

574.Greatness.—Religionissogreatathingthatitisrightthatthosewhowillnottakethetroubletoseekit,ifitbeobscure,shouldbedeprivedofit.Why,then,doanycomplain,ifitbesuchascanbefoundbyseeking?

575.Allthingsworktogetherforgoodtotheelect,eventheobscuritiesofure;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,hasputinureandtheprayersoftheChurchcontrarywordsandsentencestoproducetheirfruitintime.

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.

SECTIONIXERPETUITY

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.

Itisnotthesamewiththeure.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:IllalinguaaccharacterquoantiquitusaestlexsicpermansitusqueadLXX.

JosephussaysthattheLawwasinHebrewwhenitwastranslatedbytheSeventy.

UnderAntiochusandVespasian,whentheywantedtoabolishthebooks,andwhentherewasnoprophet,theycouldnotdoso.AndundertheBabylonians,whennopersecutionhadbeenmade,andwhenthereweresomanyprophets,wouldtheyhaveletthembeburnt?

JosephuslaughsattheGreekswhowouldnothear

Tertullianerindepotuitabolefactameamviolentiacataclysmiinspiriturursusreformare,quemadmodumetHierosolymisBabyloniaexpugnationedeletis,omneinstrumentumJudaicaeliteraturaeperEsdramconstatrestauratum.

HesaysthatNoahcouldaseasilyhaverestoredinspiritthebookofEnoch,destroyedbytheDeluge,asEsdrascouldhaverestoredtheureslostduringtheCaptivity.

(Theos)enteepiNabouchodonosoraichmalosiatoulaou,diaphthareisontonGraphonenepneuse-Esdratoierei,ektesphulesLeuitoustonprogegonotonprophetonpantasanataxasthailogous,kaiapokatastesaitolaetendiaMouseosnomothesian.HeallegesthistoprovethatitisnotincrediblethattheSeventymayhaveexplainedtheHolyureswiththatuniformitywhichweadmireinthem.AndhetookthatfromSaintIrenaeus.

SaintHilary,inhisprefacetothePsalms,saysthatEsdrasarrangedthePsalmsinorder.

Theoriginofthistraditioncomesfromthe14thchapterofthefourthbookofEsdras.Deusglorificatusest,eturaeveredivinaecreditaesunt,omnibuseandemeteisdemverbiseteisdemnominibusrecitantibusabinitiousqueadfinem,utietpraesentesgentescognoscerentquoniamperinspirationemDeiinterpretataesunturae,etnonessetmirabileDeumhocineisoperatum:quandoineacaptivitatepopuliquaefactaestaNabuchodonosor,corruptisurisetpost70annosJudaeisdescendentibusinregionemsuam,etpostdeindetemporibusArtaxerxisPersarumregis,inspiravitEsdraesacerdotitribusLevipraeteritorumprophetarumomnesrememoraresermones,etrestituerepopuloeamlegemquaedataestperMoysen.

633.AgainstthestoryinEsdras,2Maccab.2.;Josephus,Antiquities,II,i.—CyrustookoccasionfromtheprophecyofIsaiahtoreleasethepeople.TheJewsheldtheirpropertyinpeaceunderCyrusinBabylon;hencetheycouldwellhavethelaw.

Josephus,inthewholehistoryofEsdras,doesnotsayonewordaboutthisrestoration.2Kings17:27.

634.IfthestoryinEsdrasiscredible,thenitmustbebelievedthattheureisHolyure;forthisstoryisbasedonlyontheauthorityofthosewhoassertthatoftheSeventy,whichshowsthattheureisholy.

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.

Thattheurehastwomeanings,whichJesusChristandtheApostleshavegiven,isshownbythefollowingproofs:

1.Proofbyureitself.

2.ProofbytheRabbis.MosesMaimonidessaysthatithastwoaspectsandthattheprophetshaveprophesiedJesusChristonly.

3.ProofbytheKabbala.

4.ProofbythemysticalinterpretationwhichtheRabbisthemselvesgivetoure.

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,whowouldbaseextravagantopinionsonurewill,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.

Thesoleaimoftheureischarity.

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.—JesusChristopenedtheirmindtounderstandtheures.

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,tounderstandure,wemusthaveameaninginwhichallthecontrarypassagesarereconciled.Itisnotenoughtohaveonewhichsuitsmanyconcurringpassages;butitisnecessarytohaveonewhichreconcilesevencontradictorypassages.

Everyauthorhasameaninginwhichallthecontradictorypassagesagree,orhehasnomeaningatall.Wecannotaffirmthelatterofureandtheprophets;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.

Nowinalltheuretheyarebothpleasinganddispleasing.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-dayuiaconfortavitseras,etc.

Itisnotallowabletoattributetourethemeaningwhichisnotrevealedtousthatithas.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,scrutantesuras,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.

SECTIONXIIROOFSOFJESUSCHRIST

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."raythatyeenternotintotemptation."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.

umest,Diiestis,etnonpotestsolviura.

Haecinfirmitasnonestadvitametestadmortem.

Lazarusdormit,etdeindedixitazarusmortuusest.

755.TheapparentdiscrepancyoftheGospels.

756.Whatcanwehavebutreverenceforamanwhoforetellsplainlythingswhichcometopass,andwhodeclareshisintentionbothtoblindandtoenlighten,andwhointerspersesobscuritiesamongtheclearthingswhichcometopass?

757.Thetimeofthefirstadventwasforetold;thetimeofthesecondisnotso;becausethefirstwastobeobscure,andthesecondistobebrilliantandsomanifestthatevenHisenemieswillrecogniseit.But,asHewasfirsttocomeonlyinobscurityandtobeknownonlyofthosewhosearchedtheures.

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.60s.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."arumestut,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.uarefremueruntgentesregesterraeadversusChristum.)

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,allureandallthingswouldtendtothatend;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,neverinverifyingHisdoctrinebyureandtheprophecies,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.TheJewsblindedthemselvesinjudgingofmiraclesbytheure.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.JesusChristsaysthattheurestestifyofHim.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,theyshouldhavebeenquitesureofthesesupposedcontradictionsofHisteachingtoure;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.Aliiuomodopotesthomopeccatorhaecsignafacere?

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?(Nondicuntuamdoctrinampraedicas?)

NemopotestfaceresignaquaetufacisnisiDeus.

IIMacc.14:15.Deusquisignisevidentibussuamportionemprotegit.

Volumussignumvideredecoelo,tentanteseum.Luke11:16.

Generatiopravasignumquaerit;etnondabitur.

Etingemiscensaituidgeneratioistasignumquaerit?(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?"

TheproofswhichJesusChristandtheapostlesdrawfromurearenotconclusive;fortheysayonlythatMosesforetoldthataprophetshouldcome.ButtheydonottherebyprovethatthisisHe;andthatisthewholequestion.Thesepassages,therefore,serveonlytoshowthattheyarenotcontrarytoureandthatthereappearsnoinconsistency,butnotthatthereisagreement.Nowthisisenough,namely,exclusionofinconsistency,alongwithmiracles.

ThereisamutualdutybetweenGodandmen.WemustpardonHimthissayinguiddebui?"Accuseme,"saidGodinIsaiah.

"GodmustfulfilHispromises,"etc.

MenoweittoGodtoacceptthereligionwhichHesends.Godowesittomennottoleadthemintoerror.Now,theywouldbeledintoerror,iftheworkersofmiraclesannouncedadoctrinewhichshouldnotappearevidentlyfalsetothelightofcommonsense,andifagreaterworkerofmiracleshadnotalreadywamedmennottobelievethem.

Thus,ifthereweredivisionsintheChurch,andtheArians,forexample,whodeclaredthemselvesfoundedonurejustastheCatholics,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,ifnottoshowthatwemustsubmittotheures:typeofthesacrament.

853.Wemustjudgesoberlyofdivineordinances,myfather.SaintPaulintheisleofMalta.

854.ThehardnessoftheJesuits,then,surpassesthatoftheJews,sincethoserefusedtobelieveJesusChristinnocentonlybecausetheydoubtedifHismiracleswereofGod.WhereastheJesuits,thoughunabletodoubtthatthemiraclesofPort-RoyalareofGod,donotceasetodoubtstilltheinnocenceofthathouse.

855.Isupposethatmenbelievemiracles.Youcorruptreligioneitherinfavourofyourfriendsoragainstyourenemies.Youarrangeitatyourwill.

856.Onthemiracle.—AsGodhasmadenofamilymorehappy,letitalsobethecasethatHefindnonemorethankful.

SECTIONXIV:APPENDIXOLEMICALFRAGMENTS

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.Againstthosewhomisusepassagesofure,andwhopridethemselvesinfindingonewhichseemstofavourtheirerror.—ThechapterforVespers,PassionSunday,theprayerfortheking.

Explanationofthesewords:"Hethatisnotwithmeisagainstme."Andoftheseothers:"Hethatisnotagainstyouisforyou."Apersonwhosays:"Iamneitherfornoragainst";weoughttoreplytohim

900.Hewhowillgivethemeaningofure,anddoesnottakeitfromure,isanenemyofure.(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.

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