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

CHAP. V.

THEN the pretended Jew tells us, That our Saviour was punish'd by his own Country-men, according to the De∣merit of his horrid Crimes. But I think, I have said enough already, in An∣swer to so pityful a Cavil, and therefore, sha'n't do him the Honour, to imi∣tate him, in his frequent, and needless Repetitions.

Then he laughs at the Doctrine of the Resurrection, and of a Future Judgment, at which the Righteous will be rewarded, and the Wicked punish'd; I say, he laughs at it, as being, in his Opinion, most highly ridi∣culous. And he says, That the Christians say nothing, ev'n on these important Sub∣jects, as they are pleas'd to call 'em, but what was said long before; imagining, that this is an effectual Argument, to overthrow the whole Superstructure of Christianity.

To this I answer, that our Blessed Saviour, perceiving how little Confor∣mity there was, between the Lives of the Jews, and the Doctrines, ev'n of their own Celebrated Prophets, thought fit to teach 'em, by Parables, that the Kingdom of God shou'd be tak'n from 'em, and giv'n to the Gentiles.

And we see this Prophecy, most evidently, and remarkably fulfill'd, in the Age, in which we live. For the present Jews, not enjoying the Benefit, of that supernatural Light, which is highly necessary, to the right Under∣standing of the Scriptures, abound, to their great Shame, with extravagant, and innumerable Fancies: Whereas the Christians are happily led, into the Spiritual Knowledge of the Truth, which alone is able, at once, to en∣lighten, and elevate the Mind, and don't live after the Manner of the Jews, as Members, of an Earthly Re∣publick, but like worthy, and honou∣rable Citizens of that Heavenly Jeru∣salem, of which their Pompous Wor∣ship, and external Grandeur, is a very imperfect Emblem.

This is evident, in as much as they penetrate, into the deep Mysteries of the Law, and are able, to give a ra∣tional, and intelligible Explication of 'em, to any Persons, who may modest∣ly desire it.

And suppose I shou'd grant, that our Saviour himself went so far, as to observe the various Ceremonies, relating to the Jewish Sacrifices, this I think, wou'd be no solid Argument, against our believing, that he was the SON of GOD.

He is the SON of that ADO∣RABLE MAJESTY, who gave the Law, and from whom the Pro∣phets did receive their Commission, and we, who are Christians, and Mem∣bers of the True Catholick Church, don't wilfully transgress the Law, but re∣jecting the Fables of the Jews, employ our Time, and Strength, in searching into the Spiritual, and Mystical Sence, which we think, the Law, and the Prophets do admit of. For 'tis plain, that they themselves wou'dn't have us rest, in the litteral, and most ob∣vious Sence of the Words, that are made use of, in the important Mes∣sages, they deliver from Time to Time, since 'tis their common Prac∣tice, to usher in their Prophecies, with some such Introduction as this, I will open my Mouth in a Parable: I will utter dark Sayings of Old; and when they speak of the Commands of the Law, as being obscure, and impossible to be rightly understood, without Divine Assi∣stance; they put up this earnest Peti∣tion

to Almighty God, Open thou mine Eyes, that I may behold wondrous Things, out of thy Law.

Notes

• Mat. xxi. V. 41.
• Ps. cxix. V. 18.