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

CHAP. XLIX.

IF Celsus had been aware of this, he wou'd never have talk'd so weak∣ly, and so impertinently as he does. If, says he, Herod was afraid, that when you came to a fit Age to reign, you wou'd dispossess him of his Kingdom, why didn't you reign, when you were grown up to Years of Discretion, and Maturity? On the contrary, tho' you pretend to be the Son of God; yet you are forc'd to go a∣bout like a Slave, and a Vagabond, and to sneak like a Malefactor, not having a Place, whereon you may comfortably lay your Head.

But 'tis far from being an Argu∣ment of a sordid Spirit, for a Person to use innocent, and common Pru∣dence, that he may happily avoid the Dangers, with which he is surrounded, not from a slavish Fear of Death, but a sincere, and vehement Desire, with Submission to the Will of God, to pro∣long

his Life, that he may be farther serviceable to the Publick, 'till a fair Opportunity, to lay down his Life, for the Promoting of the True, and Best Interest of Mankind, do's happily pre∣sent it self.

That this was our Saviour's Case, is plain, to one, who is acquainted with the Design of our Blessed Lord, in those grievous Sufferings which he underwent, of which, according to my weak Ability, I have already, and I hope sufficiently, discours'd.