Page 837
[ A] CHAP. VIII.
Caius takes a prejudice against the Jews, because they would not, like other People, Reverence him as a God.
I Suppose I have clearly demonstrated, that Caius had but little resemblance with the Demi-gods, and less with the Gods themselves. Never Prince had more wicked [ B] inclinations. He embraced blindly and with an immoderate vehemence whatever came into his mind; his ambition was little better than madness; his obstinacy was invincible, and his irregular desires had no bounds in the abuses and outrages which he committed by his Power.
The Jews (formerly happy enough) felt the deplorable effects of it: for he looked upon them as the only persons capable of opposing his Designs, in respect that from their Infancy they had learned from their Parents by a constant Tradition (and it had been inculcated and confirmed to them by their sacred Laws) not to acknowledge any but the true God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth; For all other Nations, though groaning under the burthen of his tyrannical domination, in flattery complied with his [ C] desire, and by that means augmented his presumption and vanity.
Several Romans were not ashamed likewise to prostitute and dishonour the Liberty of their City by introducing into Italy the same base conformity and submission, which the Barbarians used in their pusillanimous Adorations. But he knew that the Jews, on the contrary, rather than consent to the least violence or intrenchment upon their Laws, ran to death as to immortality. For as a Stone cannot be taken out of a Building, but by little and little the whole Fabrick will run to ruine; it is the same in matter of Reli∣gion, to the destruction of which nothing could contribute more, than such an impious and audacious enterprize, as the pretending to change a mortal Man into an immortal God, which is far more difficult, than that God should be changed into a Man; besides [ D] that it would open a door to horrible infidelity, and dreadful ingratitude towards God Almighty, whose infinite Goodness is perpetually sprinkling and dispensing his Mercies and Favours upon all Creatures.
This was the occasion of that cruel war made upon our Nation: and what greater mis∣fortune can befal any Servants than to have their Master their enemy? But the Subjects of Emperors are Servants; and whereas the moderation of the Princes, which governed before Caius, made their Dominion gentle and pleasing to all People, his Government was insupportable. Mercy was a Virtue unknown to him; and so far was he from any remorse, that he made it his boast, when he trampled upon the Laws and abolished them, to make room for his own Violence and Tyranny. But the principal Object of his Fury were the Jews; It did not satisfie him to use them as Servants, but he treated them as Slaves, [ E] and as the most vile and abject of Slaves: So that it may with too much verity be affirm∣ed, That they had in him, in stead of a kind and indulgent Master, a cruel and unmerciful Tyrant.