A treatise of the sibyls so highly celebrated, as well by the antient heathens, as the holy fathers of the church : giving an accompt of the names, and number of the sibyls, of their qualities, the form and matter of their verses : as also of the books now extant under their names, and the errours crept into Christian religion, from the impostures contained therein, particularly, concerning the state of the just, and unjust after death / written originally by David Blondel ; Englished by J.D.

CHAP. XVIII. That the Prohibition, made to read the Books, called the Sibylline, and that of Hystaspes, adds no Authority thereto.

THere is yet less ground to rely on the Words of a 1.1 Justine Martyr, writing to the Emperours; Through the working of Evil Spirits, is it come, that it is forbidden, upon pain of Death, to read the Books of Hysta∣spes, •…•…he Sibyl, or the Prophets; that so those, who read them, might, by fear, be diverted from taking cognizance of good things: for we not onely read them without any fear; but also (as you see) we recommend them to your in∣spection, knowing they would be acceptable to you all. Yet, if we perswade but a little, we gain much; for that, as good Labourers, we shall receive a reward from the Master. For though we may (with some likelyhood conjecture, that the Antient Prohibition, to read the Prophetical Books, was much more strictly observed, after the discovery of the forged Pieces of Hystaspes, and the Sibyl, among the Heathens; and that they had a particular aversi∣on for those, who gave credit thereto: Yet is there not found in their Books any Law to that purpose; nor does it appear, that they made it much their business to prevent the reading of those Writings, which they, justly, esteemed Supposititious, and such, as had never been among their Archivi; nor yet that they decreed any Punishment to be inflicted on the Readers, and Admirers, of the Prophets of Israel: since the ex∣ercise of the Jewish Religion had been always tolerated in the Empire, and the Synagogues were continued every where. And, if the liberty of such, as were inclined to Judaism, was less, after the tumult of Barcho∣chebas, and the whole Nation more hated: yet did not that Hatred occa∣sion the interdiction of the Prophetical Books; but onely the Banish∣ment of the natural Jews out of Palestine, and some addition to their Taxes. And, as Justine neither says, nor could have said, That the Pro∣hibition, made to read the Fatidick Books in the Empire, was more parti∣cularly levelled against the Christians, then others; since it was so general, that it comprehended all Nations under the Romane Jurisdiction, with∣out distinction or exception; and that it is manifest, it was done upon occasion of the Books laid up first in the Capitol, and afterwards under the Base of Apollo Palatinus: So was there not any ground to imagine, that it proceeded from the suggestion of Devils rather, then from a deep Political Prudence; which very rationally apprehended, that these Oracles, for which the Common People, though they knew them not, had so great an esteem, upon this very account, that they introduced Novelties into the antient Superstition, and (if I may so express it) clad it in a new Dress, notoriously derogated from the Customes, derived from Father to Son, were likely to fill mens minds with fruitless Curiosities, and (as Cicero says) Valebant ad deponendas Religiones.

As for the Supposititious Pieces of Hystaspes, and the Sibyl; which, under pretence of teaching the Worship of one God, and recommend∣ing

unto men the Mysteries of Christian Religion, filled it with false Opi∣nions, and raised upon some sound Foundations a mud-wall of Chimeras: the Heathens justly laughed at them. Every one (whatever Justine Mar∣tyr, and many others, imitating him, might think) was obliged to be∣lieve it an Artifice of the Devil, suggesting it into the minds of some be∣sotted Zealots, to lie, that the Truth might be believed, and (accord∣ing to the Observation of Saint Paul) b 1.2 do evil, that good might come of it. And a compliance with so unworthy an Imposture, and the con∣fidence to produce it (as Justine, and others, out of simplicity, did,) should not have satisfied any, that would have advised, ever so little, with Reason. For St. Justine himself, minding things more calmly, might easily have perceived; First, That he mistook, as well the Prohibition, made by the Romanes, to read the Fatidick Books, as the Motive of it. Secondly, That he was as much to blame, in applying it to the Oracles, lately forged. Thirdly, That the Heathens never had them in their pos∣session, nor knew of them. Which makes me wonder; how it hath been, or can be possible, for any Christian to entertain a perswasion; that the sight of such adulterate Pieces should contribute to the advancement of true Piety: when the account of their Extraction is as flat, and impu∣dent; as if some Jew, having lately forged VVritings, full of criminal Accusations against the Saviour of the World, should maintain to the very faces of the Christians, That he found them in the New Testament; That the Apostles were the Authors thereof; and, That the Church (having always had them in her custody) hath concealed them, out of very shame for the Imposture of him, whom she adores. But as, to prevail any thing with the Jews, the way were not, to press them with Apocry∣phal Revelations of unknown Prophets, feigned to have been of their Nation▪ for that such an Imposture would be so far from convincing them, that it would exasperate them against the Authours of it; And again, as, for the pulling down of Mahumetism, it were no Prudence to bring in (as from Mahomet) a new Alcoran, directly opposite to his Cheat: So was there not any probable reason, for any to promise themselves, from the supposititiousness of the Books of Hystaspes, and the Sibyl, any other of the Heathens, then a more inveterate detestation of Christiani∣ty; some Professours thereof being engaged in so wicked a Design, and that with so strange and incredible confidence, against them. Ac∣cordingly, was it not God's pleasure, that any good should be the effect of such an Imposture; for it filled men (not provided against such Sur∣prises) with erroneous Prejudications, and brought into repute, among the first Christians, the extravagant Imagination of the Millenaries, and filled their minds with vain and sottish Conceptions of the World to come.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Apol. 2. pag. 82.
• b 1.2

  Rom. 3. 8.