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

CHAP. LI.

SO that I may safely say, that 'tis plain to them, who examine into these Matters, with that Judgment, Care, and Impartiality, which is highly requisite, that the Apostles were acted by an extraordinary, and super-natural Power, when they publish'd the Chri∣stian Religion to the World, and made the carnal, and haughty Minds, of some of the worst of Men, submit to the commanding Authority of the Word of God.

For this wonderful Effect was not owing to the Charms of humane Elo∣quence, the Exactness of their Method, or those other Artifices, with which the Logick, and Rhetorick of the Greeks, do frequently, and perhaps, more than suf∣ficiently, furnish too many subtil, and designing Persons.

I am of the Opinion, I confess, that if we cou'd suppose our Saviour, to have made Choice of Persons, qualify'd with the brightest humane Accomplishments,

to preach the Gospel, such as had the general Character, and Reputation, of Men of profound Wisdom, and uni∣versal Learning, who, by the Help of sublime Speculations, polite Language, and a graceful Elocution, cou'd win upon the Audience, and make the several Passions of their Hearers, serve their sordid, and vain-glorious Purposes, I say, if our Saviour had tak'n this Me∣thod, he might justly have been blam'd, for using the same carnal Policy, that was too apparent, in the Heads of the several Sects of Philosophers, and his Doctrine wou'd have wanted those legible Characters of its Divinity, which were stamp'd upon it, had it been maintain'd by sprightly Fancy, proper, and elegant Language, and har∣monious Cadencies, and the Assent giv'n to it, wou'd too nearly have re∣sembl'd that, which is giv'n to the Opinions of the Philosophers among the Pagans, and wou'd manifestly have had its Foundation laid in the Wisdom of Men, rather than the irresistible Power of God.

Now what Person, who looks on these Fisher-men and Publicans, who were not so much as taught, the very first Principles of Humane Literature, (as the Gospels acquaint us, and as Celsus is ready enough to believe) and

yet had such a Presence of Mind, that they were able, not only to discourse to their Country-men the Jews, con∣cerning Faith in Christ, but also to preach the same Doctrine to other Na∣tions, and were favour'd with most wonderful Success, I say, what Person who looks on these Fishermen and Pub∣licans, will not presently enquire, whence they deriv'd this uncommon Power of Perswasion, and acknowledge, that our Saviour's Promise in the fol∣lowing Words, Come after me, and I will make you Fishers of Men; was evi∣dently, * 1.1 and remarkably accomplish'd, in that Divine Power, which accom∣pany'd the Preaching of the Apostles?

'Twas this, to which, St. Paul has so plain a Reference, when he says, My Speech, aad my Preaching was not * 1.2 with enticing Words of Man's Wisdom; but in Demonstration of the Spirit, and of Power, that your Faith shou'dn't stand in the Wisdom of Men, but in the Power of God.

For as the Prophetical Psalmist speaks, who fore-told the Preaching of the Gos∣pel, The Lord gave the Word, great was the Company of those that publish'd it; * 1.3 and as it is fore-told in another Place, His Word runs very swiftly. * 1.4

We see, that The Voice of the Apo∣stles was heard thro' all the Earth, and their Doctrine, and Fame too, was spread to the most distant Regions. They also, who hear this Doctrine, are fill'd with the Spirit of God, who accompanies the Preaching of it, as abundantly appears, by the Disposition of their Minds, the Tenor of their Con∣versations, and their vigorous Defence of the naked Truth, ev'n to the ap∣parent Hazard of their Fortunes, their Reputations, and their Lives, tho' it can't be deny'd, but ought to be deep∣ly lamented, that too many who have tak'n upon 'em the Ministerial Function, after all the Profession, which they make, of believing in God, thro' Christ, and after having seem'd to be wonder∣fully attracted by the bright, and al∣most irresistible Charms of Gospel-Grace, 'tis to be fear'd, did never feel the saving Impression of it on their Hearts, attended with a suitable Influ∣ence on their Lives, and Conversa∣tions.

And tho' I have already mention'd that Expression in the Gospel, accord∣ing to St. Mathew, The Harvest is great, but the Labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that he wou'd send forth more Labourers into * 1.5 the Harvest; I think it mayn't be im∣proper

to repeat it, to shew, that our Saviour's Foreknowledge of the Enter∣tainment, which his Doctrine wou'd meet with in the World, was a Divine Proof of its future, happy, and more than ordinary Effect upon the Minds of Men; a Doctrine, the good Success of which was far from depending on the Assistance of the most Learned Doctors, but was owing to that Divine, and Miraculous Power, that accompany'd the Apostles in their SACRED MINISTRATIONS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. iv. V. 19.
• * 1.2

  1 Cor. ii. V. 4.
• * 1.3

  Ps. lxviii. V. 11.
• * 1.4

  Ps. cxlvii V. 15.
• * 1.5

  Mat. ix. V. 37.