Origen against Celsus translated from the original into English by James Bellamy ...

CHAP. XXX.

THIS was plainly foretold by the Prophet, and exactly agrees with the promis'd Sign, that we read of in the Prophecy of Isaiah, where 'tis said, That our Blessed Saviour wou'd, by the Course of his Actions, make good his Name, and prove himself to be Emmanuel, God with us.

And I think it may not be impro∣per, to mention the Prediction of the fore-mention'd Prophet, that our Sa∣viour shou'd be born of a Virgin, which Celsus takes no Notice of, tho' he pretends to be perfectly acquainted with what the Christians hold, either not having read it, or cunningly con∣cealing his Knowledge, lest he shou'd unawares overthrow his own belov'd Opinions, and advance any Thing to the Prejudice of the Cause, which he espouses, and uses his utmost Endea∣vours to maintain.

The Words of the Prophecy are these, Moreover the Lord spake again to Ahaz, saying, ask thee a Sign of the Lord thy

God, ask it either in the Depth, or in the Height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord, and he said, hear ye now, O House of David, is it a small thing to weary Men? But will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a Sign, Behold a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and call his Name Emmanuel.

That Celsus discover'd his Malice, in not mentioning the fore-going Pro∣phecy, I gather, from his passing over it in a profound Silence, when he quotes some Passages in St. Mathew's Gospel, and particularly makes mention of the Star, that appear'd at the Nativity of our Blessed Saviour.

But if the Jew, whom Celsus perso∣nates, being us'd to make critical Re∣marks on Words, shou'd tell us that the Word, which is translated Virgin, shou'd be render'd Young Woman, I an∣swer, the Hebrew Word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which the Septuagint translate Virgin, tho' Others favour his Meaning of the Word, is understood of a Virgin in the Book of Deuteronomy. If a Damsel (that is a Virgin) be betroth'd to an Husband, and a Man find her in the City, and lye with her, then ye shall bring 'em both out to the Gate of the City, and ye shall stone 'em with Stones that they dye; the Dam∣sel because she cry'd not, being in the City,

and the Man, because he has humbl'd his Neighbour's Wife. So thou shalt put away evil from among you. But if a Man find a betroth'd Damsel in the Field, and the Man force her, and lye with her, then the Man only that lay with her shall dye. But to the Damsel thou shalt do nothing, there is in the Damsel no Sin worthy of Death.

But not to dwell too long upon the Hebrew Word, which perhaps few Per∣sons understand, I shall endeavour to prove from the Context, that, accord∣ing to the Prophetick Oracle, Emma∣nuel was to be born of a Virgin.

The Lord said to Ahaz, ask thee a Sign of the Lord thy God. either in the Depth, or in the Height above, Then 'tis said, that this Sign was to be giv'n, Behold a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son. But what Sign cou'd a young Wo∣man's Conceiving be, if it was not meant of a Virgin? And to which of the two, is it most proper to attribute the Conception of Emmanuel, that is, God with us, to a young Woman with Child, in an unlawful, and dishonou∣rable Way, or to one, who had not lost her Virginity? Certainly, 'tis most agreeable to the Dictates of Reason, to suppose, that so extraordinary a Person was conceiv'd by the latter, in a strange, and ev'n miraculous Way.

And if the Jew lays such a mighty Stress upon those Words, Ask thee a Sign of the Lord thy God; I shou'd be glad to know, what Person was born, in the Reign of Ahaz, of whom it might be said, This is Emmanuel; which being interpreted, is, God with us. And if no such Person can be found, I think, we may fairly understand this Text of our Blessed Saviour, who, as the Scriptures acquaint us, was to be born of the Seed of David, accord∣ing to the Flesh, and the following Words, In the Height above, or in the Depths below, have a manifest Agree∣ment with what is said of our Savi∣our, He that descended, is the same that ascended up far above all Heav'ns, that he might fill all Things.

Notes

• Isaiah vii. V. 10.
• Deu. xxii V. 23.
• Eph. iv. V. 10.