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NOW observe, how Celsus renders himself ridiculous, by what he says, of the sincere Followers of our Blessed Lord, During the greatest Part of his Life, Says he, they convers'd with him, in a Femiliar Manner, and seem'd to listen to the Instructions, which he gave 'em, but withal, were so cunning,
that, when they saw he was condemn'd to dye, they wou'd neither dye with him, nor for him, and were so far, it seems, from putting in Practice that wholsom Doctrine, which their Master had taught 'em, viz. Chearfully to encounter the greatest Difficulties, and Dangers, and to be ready ev'n to dye, for the sake of their Religion, that they shamefully deny'd him, and didn't envy any Martyrs, the imaginary Honour of laying down their Lives, for the Cause of Christ.
Here Celsus takes the Hint from the Gospels, and aggravates some Faults of the Disciples, with a Design, no doubt, to expose the Christian Religion to Contempt, not considering they were just enter'd, into the School of Christ, nor mentioning one Syllable of their Recovery, from their grievous Falls, which was so remarkable, that they preach'd the Gospel boldly, and suf∣fer'd abundance of Ill-treatment, at the Hands of the Jews, and had the Courage, to welcome, and ev'n defy Death, in its most horrid Shapes. I perceive, he didn't care at all, to take Notice of what our Saviour foretold to St. Peter, When thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy Hands. Nor of those * 1.1 Words, This spake he, signifying by what Death he shou'd glorify God.
He says not one Word of St. James, the Brother of St. John, nor of the latter, and seems to be ignorant, that Herod kill'd John the Baptist with the Sword, because he bore Testimony to the Truth of Christ. Nor do's he do St. Peter, and the rest of the Apostles so much Justice, as to mention their flaming Zeal, in spreading the Gospel of our Saviour, and to give us an Account, how They departed from the * 1.2 Presence of the Council, rejoicing, that they were counted worthy to suffer Re∣proach for his Name; wherein they vastly exceeded all that is related, in the Histories of the Greeks, concern∣ing the Courage, and Constancy of their justly-admir'd Philosophers.
So that we plainly see, that from the very Infancy of Christianity they who embrac'd it, were effectually taught by it, to despise the gaudy Vanities of the present Life, (which the greatest Part of Mankind imagine to be so charming, and agreeable) and to have the sincere Desires of their Souls most vehemently carry'd out, after another Life, which is far more excellent, and in a word, is every way worthy of a GOD.
I can't conceive, how Celsus can be freed from the Charge of willful Imposture, in the following VVords▪ All that your pretended SAVIOƲR cou'd do, says he, was only to get ten wicked Mariners, and Publicans, to publish his Doctrine to the World, and 'Iwas more than he cou'd do, after all his big Pretences, to convince ev'n those cre∣dulous Animals of its Truth.
For 'tis plain, ev'n from the open Confession of the Jews, that not only ten Persons were overcome, by the Divine Efficacy of his Doctrine, nor a Hundred, nor a Thousand, but at one Time four Thousand, and at another Time a much greater Num∣ber, and that he wrought upon 'em; to so great a Degree, that they for∣low'd him into Desarts, which alone were capable of containing those vast Numbers of Persons, that thro' him did believe in GOD, and where they reap'd great Benefit, from his Exemplary Life, and Engaging Con∣versation.
I confess, the frequent Repetitions, which Celsus makes, do almost force me, to be guilty of wretched Tauto∣logy, and make me as impertinent as himself.
For if I didn't, in some Measure, (tho' sorely against my Will) com∣ply with his way of Writing, per∣haps some weak Persons might suspect, that out of wicked Policy I passed by his Objections, being conscious to my self, that I was utterly incapable, of returning a satisfactory, or ev'n tole∣rable Answer.
Then says he, Pray isn't it the most absurd Thing in the World, to suppose, that he, who when he was alive, and us'd all the little Arts he had, cou'd gain no Followers in comparison, or at least none of any Sense, or Rank, shou'd after his Death, by the Ministry of his Apostles, so strangely influence a conside∣rable Part of Mankind, as they are re∣presented by some to do.
But according to the Rules of strict Reasoning, which he pretends to be so great a Master of, he shou'd have argu'd thus, if after his Death he furnish'd his Ambassadors, with all necessary Abilities, to work upon the Minds of Men, and did actually, and so wonderfully move all the secret Springs of the Humane Soul; then there's no Question to be made, but that when he was on Earth in Per∣son, he made deep Impressions on
the Minds, ev'n of the greatest Bar∣barians, partly by his powerful Preach∣ing, and partly by his uncontested Miracles.
John 21, V. 18 V. 19.
Acts 15, V. 41.