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

CHAP. XXXIX.

I Remember, in a Disputation, I had with some Celebrated Jewish Doctors, and before a great Deal of Learned Company, who were at once Witnesses, and Judges of what I said, I us'd this Argument against 'em; Pray Gentlemen, let me know, said I, since two Persons have appear'd, upon the Stage of the World, who are con∣fidently reported, to have done such Things, as were vastly beyond the Sphere of Nature; viz. Moses, the Lawgiver of the Jews, who has writ the History of what he did; and

JESUS, our Master, who has not left behind him, in Writing, an Ac∣count, of any of the Actions which he did; but has the concurring Testimony of the four Evangelists; I say, let me know, on what Grounds, you can justify the vast Difference, which you make between 'em, that we must be∣lieve, forsooth, that Moses deliver'd nothing, but what was true, tho' the Egyptians reproach him, as one that dealt with the Devil; but must look upon our Saviour, as a vile Impostour, on the Account of the severe Accusa∣tions, which you bring against him. We see, that both these Persons, have their Authority supported, by the Te∣stimony of a great Body of People, Moses has his supported by the ready, and joint Testimony of the Jewish Na∣tion, and our Saviour his by the General Suffrage of the Christians, who don't deny Moses, to be a Prophet sent from God; but confirm the History of our Saviour, ev'n by the Sacred, and Un∣disputed Authority of your celebrated Moses. If therefore, you desire us, to justify our Conduct, in paying so awful a Regard to our Blessed Saviour, do you first assign some Reasons, why you believe in Moses, who came into the World, many Ages before the incarnate Jesus, and then, it may be time to ac∣quaint

you, with the rational Grounds, on which our Faith is built.

But if you refuse to give us any Reasons, why you believe in Moses, neither shall we think fit to acquaint you, with those we have, for believing in our Saviour, or if you are not able to offer any Demonstrative Arguments in favour of your justly celebrated Moses, be pleas'd to hear, what Arguments we can bring, ev'n from the Law, and the Prophets, to prove, that our Jesus is the true Messiah. And which is some∣thing strange, those very Arguments, which we bring from the Old Testament Writings, to prove, that our Saviour had a Divine Commission, do, at the same Time, prove, that Moses and the Prophets were Persons, who were im∣mediately inspir'd. But to return.

The Law, and the Prophets, abound, with as strange Stories, as that of the Dove, that appear'd to our Saviour, at his Baptism; and the Voice, that came to him out of Heav'n; and that it was the Spirit of God, that appear'd to him, in the Resemblance of a Dove, do's, I think, at least seem highly probable, from the Consideration of the Miracles, which our Saviour wrought, which Cel∣sus says, he did, by the Help of Ma∣gick, which he had learn'd in Egypt.

Here I think, it may not be im∣proper, to mention, not only the Mi∣racles of our Saviour; but also those, which were wrought by the Apostles, who were, every Way, qualify'd, for that great Work, in which, their Master did engage 'em. For if their Ministry hadn't been accompany'd with Miracles, they wou'd never have been able, so happily to prevail with their Hearers, to renounce the Religion, in which they had been born, and bred, and to embrace a new, discountenanc'd Doctrine, the Profession of which, wou'd expose 'em to the greatest Dan∣gers, ev'n to an ignominious, and pain∣ful Death, and some remarkable Foot∣steps of that Holy Spirit, who ap∣pear'd to our Saviour, in the Resem∣blance of a Dove, do remain among Christians, to this very Day. They disposses Daemons, perform many won∣derful Cures, and sometimes, when God sees fit, they foresee, and foretel future, distant, and very contingent Events. And therefore, let Celsus, and his Jew, ridicule us, as much as ever they please, yet 'tis plain, and I think, undeniable, that many Persons have embrac'd the Christian Religion, in Spite of all the Force of Prejudice, the Spirit of God making so sudden, and so powerful an Impression on their Minds, whether in

a Dream, or Vision, or some other Way, that instead of being implacable Ene∣mies to Christianity, as once they were, they have chearfully, and ev'n trium∣phantly, laid down their Lives, for the Sake of their Profession, and seal'd the Truth with their warmest Blood.

If I shou'd only relate those Things, that have fall'n, within the Compass, of my own personal Knowledge, and frequent Observation; I shou'd furnish Infidels, with abundant Matter of Laughter, who wou'd be ready to suspect us Christians, as we do them, of inventing Fictions, to support a bad, and sinking Cause, tho' the Searcher of Hearts can bear me Witness, that my Design, and Endeavour, is not to maintain our Religion, by fabulous, and ridiculous Narrations; but by a Variety of proper Evidence, to recom∣mend it to the World, as being de∣riv'd from no other, than a Divine Original.

And since 'tis a pretended Jew, who calls in Question, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, upon our Saviour, in the Resemblance of a Dove, one might well demand, who is it, that says thus in Isaiah's Prophecy, Now the Lord God has sent me, and his Holy Spirit; which Words are ambiguous, and may either signify, that the Father, and the Holy

Spirit, sent our Blessed Saviour, or, that the Son, and Spirit, were both sent by the Father, the latter of which two Interpretations, seems to me, I confess, to be true, and genuine, and because our Saviour was sent first, and then the Holy Spirit, that the Pro∣phecy might be fulfil'd, the Accom∣plishment of which, was reserv'd for Future Ages, for that Reason among others, I judge it is, that Things are related, as they are, by the Evangelists.

Notes

• Isa. xlviii V. 16.