them those rich benefits which had been the object of their supplications. -And thus the Jews also had their miracles, their prophecies, which they saw fulfilled before their eyes; and the great doctrine of their law, to worship and love one God alone. These things were of perpetual obligation; and exhibited to them all the marks of a true religion. We must, however, distinguish the doctrine of the Jews from the doctrine of their law. The doctrine of the Jews was wanting in truth, although it was accompanied by miracles and prophecies, and extended into perpetuity,-because it failed in that other great condition, that of adoring and loving God alone. XXX. The development of all these mysteries was made solely to the Jews, and by the preaching of St. John, the forerunner of the Messiah; and afterwards the remaining mysteries, to indicate that the same order should be observed in each individual, as in the world at large. + Figures varied on account of our infirmities.* XXXI. + Perplexities of Scripture. + The Jews say, " Scripture declares that it will not be known whence Christ comes." John vii. 27, and xii. 34. + Scripture says, that Christ abides for ever, and yet that he shall die. "Thus," says St. John, "although they saw so many miracles, they believed not, that the saying of Isaiah might be fulfilled,-They were blinded," &c. In the copy only. XXXII. In reality, there is enough of clearness to enlighten the righteous, and enough of obscurity to humble them. There is sufficient obscurity to perplex the impenitent, and sufficient clearness to convict them. without excuse. (In the margin: St. Augustin, Montagne, Sebonde.) The genealogy of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament, is mixed up with so many other insignificant personages, as to be with difficulty distinguished. Had Moses only recorded the immediate ancestors of Christ, then the genealogy would have been too obvious: if he had not recorded those of the Saviour, it would not have been distinguishable. But, after all, a careful observer will easily discern that of Christ, through Tamar, Ruth, &c. Those who directed the observance of sacrifices, well knew their inutility; and those who declared their inutility were, nevertheless, not the less punctual in their observance. + If God had suffered only one religion to prevail, it would have been too palpable. But if the different varieties of belief are carefully examined, truth will be easily discernible amidst the conflicting systems. This is a principle: Moses was a very able man: if, then, his conduct was governed by intelligence, he would clearly have said nothing that was directly inconsistent with intelligence.. So, all the apparent weaknesses are in reality evidences of strength. For instance, the two genealogies of St. Matthew and St. Luke: what can be clearer than that there is no concert between them? The truth of religion may be seen even in its obscurity, in the small measure of insight which we obtain into its mysteries, and in our indifference to become acquainted with them. Had there been but one system of religion, God would have been too clearly revealed; equally would this have been the case, if there had been no martyrs but for our faith. XXXIII. Neither prophecies, nor even miracles, and the evidences of our religion, are of such a nature that they can be pronounced absolutely convincing. But they are sufficiently so to render it impossible to maintain a belief in them to be irrational. Thus there is at once clearness and obscurity; some are convinced, and some perplexed. Yet is the evidence in favour of the truth so strong, that it surpasses, or at least equals, that against it: thus it is not in the power of reason to decide against its pretensions; but it is the mere effect of a sensual and depraved heart. In the same way, there is sufficient evidence to condemn the unbeliever, but not to convince him; that adherence to the truth may appear the effect of grace, and opposition to it of sense; but neither the one nor the other attributable to reason. "Verè discipuli, verè Israelita, verè liberi, verè cibus." XXXIV. + Religious belief ought to be sincere :true pagans, true Jews, true Christians.* * Orig.: "Pour les religions, il faut être sincère: vrais païens, vrais juifs, vrais chrétiens." (In the copy only.) XXXV. + Order. Against the objection that Scripture is deficient in order. The affections have an order of their own: the understanding has its own also, consisting in principles and demonstrations; that of the heart is a different thing. We do not set about to prove that we ought to be the object of love, by a methodical disquisition upon its causes this would be simply ridiculous. - Jesus Christ and St. Paul dealt with the affections, not with the mere understanding: they aimed to melt the heart, rather than to convince the intellect. It was the same with St. Augustin. Their method consisted chiefly in bringing every point to bear-even in the way of digression and illustration—upon their one great end and aim. + Extravagance of the Apocalyptics, Preadamites, Millenarians, &c. Any one wishing to fix extravagant statements upon Scripture, may found them, for example, upon the following: + It is said, "This generation shall not pass away till all be fulfilled.” * Hereon I might say, that after that generation another followed, and others successively. St. Matthew xxiv. 34. |