Mr. Blount's oracles of reason examined and answered in nine sections in which his many heterodox opinions are refuted, the Holy Scriptures and revealed religion are asserted against deism & atheism / by Josiah King ...

Pag. 164.

It is apparent that not only the Jews, but also the Christians were Millenaries, and did believe and expect the Temporal Reign of a Messiah, together with the Ʋnion of the Jews and Gentiles under one most happy Monarchy.

ANSWER.

It must be granted, that many eminent Per∣sons for Sanctity, favoured the Millenaries. But if we impartially examin this matter, we shall find that it wholly rests on the Authority of Papias, who pretended Apostolical Tradi∣tion. Now of what Authority this Author was, I report from the Words of Casaubon, in his 16th Exercitation, Number 74. Narrat Eusebius in tertio Historiarum, papiam hunc Scri∣ptorem fuisse futilissimum, qui omnes traditionum fabellas mirifice amplecteretur, & scriptis Manda∣ret.

Multa igitur falsa absurdaque de Christo & Apostolis scripsisse; & quaedam etiam fabulis propriora. Eusebius declares, in the third Book of his History, that this Papias was a most triflng Scribler, who embraced all manner of fabulous Traditions, and committed them to Writing. He writ many false things of Christ and the Apostles; and some of his Narrati∣ons look more like Dreams and Fables then true History— And in that number Casaubon gives a pregnant Instance out of Oecume∣nius.

Now, as Papias pretended this Tradition to come from the Apostles, so he did nothing but what others in those primitive times were wont to do. It was usual for Sectaries to boast that they taught the Doctrine of the A∣postles, or at least their Disciples.

We read in Clemens Alexand. (lib. 7. Strom.) That Basilides, an ancient Heretick, boldly avouched, that he had for his Master Glaucias, St. Peter's Interpreter; and that Valentinus af∣firmed with the like boldness, that he had been instructed in Religion by Theodad, who was one of Saint Paul's familiar Acquain∣tance.

It would be difficult to show the difference in the Cases before-mentioned; and consequently this Tradition of Papias may be as well rejected, as that of Basilides, or that of Valentinus; and that Tradition can be no certain Rule for us to walk by.