Six Discourses on the Miracles of our Saviour Part 30

_Paul_, _The Letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth Life_, in Justification of our mystical Expositions;" whereupon the _Bishop_ gave us a large Explication out of his own Head, on that whole Verse; which (because of the Shallowness of my own Pate, or the Confusion of the Bishop's) I don't understand, and much question, whether the _Bishop_ understands himself. However, I will here paraphrastically give my _Readers_ the easy, plain, and intelligible Sense of the Fathers and my self on that whole Verse[398] thus, _Who hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament, not of the Letter_ [that is, not of the literal Sense of the Law and the Prophets, which is the _Old_ Testament] _but of the Spirit_, [that is, of the spiritual Sense of the Law and the Prophets, which is the _New_ Testament] _for_ [as the Testimony of _Jesus_, according to St. _John_, is the Spirit of Prophecy, so] _the Letter_ [that is, the literal Sense of the Law and Prophets] _killeth_ [that is, nulls the Testimony of _Jesus_ which is in them] _but the Spirit_ [that is, the spiritual Sense of the Law and Prophets] _giveth Life_ [to their prophetical Testimony.] This is most certainly the Sense of the Fathers on this Text; and I believe the _Bishop_ will not gainsay it, tho' he may dislike it. Hence the Fathers, when they spoke _properly_ and not _vulgarly_, call'd the spiritual Sense of the Law and the Prophets, the[399] _New Testament_, and a.s.serted that there was or would be such an Agreement between the _Old_ and _New_ Testament; that is, between the Testament of the _Letter_, and the Testament of the _Spirit_ of the Scriptures, as that there would not be[400] one t.i.ttle in the _one_, that would not be consonantly fulfilled in the _other_; and so far as I already apprehend this Harmony between these two Testaments, of the _Letter_, and of the _Spirit_, I must needs say with _Origen_[401] that it's _pleasant and ravishing to behold and contemplate it_, and hope in a short time to make the Bishop of St. _David_'s a Partaker of the same Pleasure. The same right Notion had the Fathers of the _Gospel_ of _Christ_, which they have of the _New Testament_. _Vulgarly_ speaking, the Writings of the Evangelists, and of the Apostles, were call'd the _Gospel_ of _Christ_: But properly speaking, Christ's _spiritual Accomplishment_ of the Law was the _Gospel_: Hence is the Meaning of their frequent saying, "That under the Law the Gospel was vail'd, and under the Gospel the Law was reveal'd." Hence they said, "That those Men had nothing of the _Gospel_, who understood not the Spirit of the _Law_." Hence they said, "The Gospel was hid to those, who had the Veil of the _Letter_ upon their Hearts in reading of the Old Testament." Hence it was too, that they said, "That the Gospel was but _in Part_, and that too in a very _little Part_, reveal'd at _Christ_'s first Coming; the full Revelation of it being reserv'd for his second and more glorious Advent, which the World is now in great Want of, for the curing of their spiritual _Blindness_, _Deafness_, and _Lameness_; that is, for the Correction of their gross Ignorance and Errors in Religion; for the Healing of their Divisions; for the Manifestation of Truth; for the Conversion of _Jews_ and _Gentiles_; and for the Reformation of the Manners of Mankind.

Dear _Jesu_, to what a sad Purpose have our Hired Priesthood and _Ministers_ of the _Letter_, of all Denominations, hitherto studied and preach'd, even till they have lost the true, primitive, and Apostolical Notion of "the _Gospel_; "of _Revelation_; and "of the _New Testament_!

The Bishop of _London_ has of late publish'd two _Pastoral Letters_ on the Certainty, Necessity, and Use of Revelation, against _Infidels_, particularly against my self, whom he (G.o.d help his Understanding!) takes for a Favourer of Infidelity: And to do the _Man_ Justice, I believe he's sincere, and laments at his Heart the Unbelief of this Age: But however, when the true _Gospel_, otherwise call'd the _Revelation_ of the Law and the Prophets, or the _New Testament_ (which will be fatal to the Ministry of the Letter, and an hired Priesthood) shall be republished, restored, and repreach'd, I dare say, without Censoriousness, or pretending to a prophetick Spirit, that He, of all the Inhabitants of _London_ and _Westminster_, will be the greatest Enemy to it; and for no other Reason than his own, "because of his Unwillingness to part with his worldly Interests, which will induce him to embrace any Arguments against it, and to cherish any Doubts and Scruples concerning it."

Whether the Bishop of St. _David_'s intends to proceed in this Controversy against me, as he has begun, I know not. He promised us his _Second Volume_ last Winter, but has adjourn'd the Publication of it to the next, and I am apt to think he'll defer it to _latter Lammas_: For being, I suppose, sensible, that his _First Volume_ is built on the false Bottom of my supposed Infidelity, he'll hardly trouble the World with another of that kind. But however, I'll not release him out of the Controversy. I shall insist upon his letting me know his Opinion on my _Rabbi_'s Objection against _Jesus_'s Messiahship, herein contain'd, which if he'll favour me with, I'll forgive him all the Virulence, and pa.s.s by all the Impertinence (to say no worse) of his _Vindication_: Otherwise I shall be tempted to do an unpleasant Work to myself, as well as an ungrateful one to him; that is, further to expostulate with him for his false Accusations, Misrepresentations, and other ill Usage of me.

When I review my _Discourses_ on _Miracles_, and consider not only their visible Tendency to the Proof of _Jesus_'s Messiahship, but my solemn Declarations of the Belief of Christianity; I wonder that such a Number of Writers against me should all of them (excepting Mr.

_Laurence_[402] whom I here thank and praise for his Ingenuity) take me for an Infidel. I don't indeed much wonder, that the inferior Tribe of _Levi_ (such is their egregious Ignorance!) should take me for one; but that such presumed great _Scholars_, as are the Bishops of _London_ and St. _David_'s, should so mistake me, is astonishing. And I am not as yet fully satisfied, whether it be their _Ignorance_ or their _Malice_, thus to accuse me of Infidelity: If it was really _Ignorance_ in them, they'll soon be convinced of their Error; and then, like good Christians, they'll make me Satisfaction for the Injuries done me. But if it was _Malice_, and in Revenge on me for writing so much against an _Hired-Priesthood_, then they'll go on, and _die hard_, without any Remorse for the Troubles, Sufferings and Expences they have put me to.

As I am really a Christian, and shall, by G.o.d's Help, demonstrate the Messiahship of _Jesus_, to which my _Discourses_ on his _Miracles_ were subservient; so I will make bold to tell the _Bishops_ concern'd, that I am as certainly persecuted, as ever any Christian was since the Days of the Apostles: And they will do well to consider, whether they have not everlastingly disgraced themselves, and done some Dishonour to the best Civil Administration, that ever Nation was bless'd with, by engaging them in the Persecution of the most sincere Advocate for the Truth of Christianity, that ever set Pen to Paper.

I am so far from being an Infidel, that, notwithstanding my _Discourses_ on _Miracles_, I am an implicit Believer, and most devout Admirer of Doctrines, Historical Facts, and Traditions of the primitive Church, adhering to many Notions of the Fathers, besides their allegorical Scheme (as will be seen in the Sequel of this Controversy) which the _Divines_ of these last Ages have rejected, as so many Weaknesses and Mistakes in them. And when I come more fully to open my Mind, it will be well if the _Clergy_ don't change their _Note_ about me; and instead of accusing me of Infidelity, ridicule me for too much Credulity, and even Superst.i.tion; or I would not espouse _such_ and _such_ Doctrines and Traditions, which all learned and Protestant _Criticks_ have discarded. Some of these old Notions I'll keep to myself, for fear of being over-much laught at by the _Clergy_ for them, but others upon Occasion I will divulge; and don't care if I tell my _Readers_ here one of them, thus:

"The Fathers intimate that _Ministers_ of the _Letter_ are Worshippers of the Apocalyptical _Beast_, or _Anti-Christ_; and that _that Beast_ of a G.o.d, old _Baal_, was a Type of _Anti Christ_." This their Opinion I found hard to digest; but if there be any Truth in it, it can't be unlawful to jest a little with his Priests, or to ridicule their nonsensical, foolish and absurd Doctrines, founded on the _Letter_.

But let my Theological Notions and Speculations be of what kind soever; what Harm can my Arguings for them do to the Community? None at all. If they are not of G.o.d, they will come to nought sooner and better than by a Persecution of me for them. But if they are of G.o.d, they will stand and prevail against all Opposition of the _Clergy_, who will lose their Reputation, if they take any other Measures, than what Reason and Religion do allow of, to suppress them.

My earnest Request then to the _Clergy_ is, that under the Debate I am like to have with them, they would be pleased to keep their Temper; or wise and impartial By-standers will say, that it's more for their Interests than the Truth, that they are zealous and furious.

I am not afraid of another Prosecution at Law, because I already have, or soon shall cut off all Pretences to it, by clearing myself of all Suspicions of Infidelity; but, for all that, I am more apprehensive of the Rage and Indignation of the _Clergy_, than if I had been a downright _Atheist_. No _Atheist_ or _Deist_ is or can be of that dangerous Consequence to the modern Priesthood, as the Christian Allegorist. Against the Growth of Deism and Atheism, the _Clergy_ may be able for some time to maintain their Ground; but upon the Revival of the _Ministry_ of the _Spirit_ of the Law and the Prophets, they can't stand long. And if I should demonstrate, what I have undertaken, the Certainty of the allegorical Scheme, and _Jesus_'s Messiahship upon it; tho' _Jews_ and _Infidels_ then will be ready to rejoice, yet Ministers of the Letter, notwithstanding their pretended Love to, and Faith in _Jesus_, will be enraged; and it will be well, if I don't feel the Weight of their Displeasure and Resentment. If that foolish old _Dotard_, Mr. _Ayscough_[403] the _Rector_ of St. _Olave_'s, _Southwark_, could find in his Heart to instigate the Mob to _drag me through the Streets, and throw me into some Repository of Filth and Nastiness_, what may I not dread from young hot-headed _Priests_, upon the Performance of what is here undertaken? But I hope our pious and good _Bishops_, notwithstanding the Danger of their _Thousands_ a Year, will be my Safeguard.

After all, it is a sad and melancholick Consideration, that the Understandings of Mankind, especially of the Wise, Thinking and Philosophical Part of them, should be enslaved to the Interests of Ecclesiastical _Clodpates_, who for the sake of _Mammon_ more than _Truth_, are furious and turbulent; otherwise any Opinions in Religion might be profess'd, consistently with the Peace of the Publick; and any Speculations publish'd without Animosities and Molestations.

What Course can be taken with the _Clergy_, to persuade them to Patience and Forbearance, whilst I prove them to be the most stupid Sect of Philosophers, who have amongst them the fewest Rudiments of true Philosophy, and even of the Gospel, of any Sect the World ever knew? It's said, there is nothing so absurd, which some of the old Philosophers have not held; but there is nothing, for Absurdity, equal to this Belief, that the _Bible_, for its literal Story, is the Word of G.o.d, and given by Inspiration of him.

The _Bishop_ of _St. David_'s complains[404] of my unmannerly Behaviour towards my Ecclesiastical Superiors; and I must confess, I am no body at that low and _Right Reverend_ Bow, that he is fam'd for, or I might have put in for a _Bishop.r.i.c.k_ before now: But if our _Bishops_ and _Clergy_ will be pleased to keep their Temper, till I get to the End of this Controversy, I'll pa.s.s such Compliments upon them for their good Humour and Learning too, if they deserve it, as they hardly ever met with.

To conclude, I have written as plainly and intelligibly as I can, in this _Part_ of my _Defence_. If any one shall complain of Obscurity any where, I will, upon Intimation, endeavour to ill.u.s.trate it. I have, in some Places, a.s.serted Things upon the Authority of the Fathers, without producing their Testimonies, in Proof of them; but if any question, whether their Testimonies can be here or there urg'd, they shall, upon a proper Occasion, have Satisfaction given them. The Reason why I have sometimes omitted the Testimonies of the Fathers, where they might be look'd for, is because I study Brevity, intending never to publish at once a larger _Volume_ than this present. And no body need question my Testimonies to be ready at Hand; because I have neither the Courage nor Confidence (like many others) to vent any new Doctrines out of my own Head. My Talent is only to ill.u.s.trate what the Fathers have a.s.serted; and tho' some would account me a Falsifier and Misrepresenter of primitive Authorities, my honest Endeavours shall be to turn the Hearts of our _Clergy_, who are like Children in Understanding, to the Fathers. I shall end all _seriously_, _gravely_, _calmly_ and _sedately_, with the same Words that I began my _First Discourse_ on _Miracles_ with, saying, "If ever there was a useful Controversy started or revived in this Age of the Church, it is this about the Messiahship of the Holy _Jesus_, which the _Discourse of the Grounds_, &c. has of late rais'd. I believe this Controversy will end in the absolute Demonstration of _Jesus_'s Messiahship from Prophecy, which is the only Way to prove him to be the Messiah, that great Prophet expected by the _Jews_, and promised under the old Testament." And whether Bishop _Smalbroke_ or Mr. _Stackhouse_ will believe me, or not, I do now solemnly declare, that what I have written in my _Discourses_, or shall write in these _Defences_, is with a View to, what I am persuaded I shall effect, the absolute Demonstration of the Messiahship of the Holy _Jesus_, to whom be Glory for ever and ever. _Amen._

~_FINIS._~

FOOTNOTES:

[357] _Vindication in Preface, p._ ix. x.

[358] _Fair State of the Controversy_, p. 293, 294.

[359] _In his Preface_, p. xi.

[360] _Vindication_, p. 2.

[361] _Defence of Christianity_, p. 295, 310.

[362] _Some Observations of a Layman._ 2. Tom _of_ Bedlam'_s Letter to his Cousin_ T. Woolston. 3. _For G.o.d or the Devil: Or, Just Chastis.e.m.e.nt no Persecution._ 4. _A Defence of the Scripture-History, &c._

[363] _In his_ First Pastoral Letter, p. 5.

[364] _In his Preface_, p. ix.

[365] _In his Dedication to the Queen._

[366] Siquidem Symbola quaedam erant, quae tunc gerebantur, eorum quae Jesu virtute semper perficiuntur. _In Matt._ C. xv.

[367] Peragunt Formam futuri Gesta praesentia. _In Matt._ C. xxi.

[368] Quae a Jesu facta alicujus significantia erant. _In Serm._ lxxvii.

[369] Ipse Salvator noster apertissime ostendit, qud ejus miracula aliquid significent, dum ea faciendo aliquid agit, quod ratione carere videatur. _In Hom. quarta post Dominic. quartam._

[370] _In his Preface_, p. xi.

[371] _Ibid._ p. x.

[372] Similitudo erat & Typus futurorum unumquodque, quod Jesus faciebat in Corpore. _In Isai._ C. vi.

[373] Adventus Christi unus quidem in Humilitate completus est, alius ver speratur in Gloria: Et hic primus Adventus in Carne, mystico quodam Sermone, in Scripturis sanctis umbra ejus appellatur. _In Jesu Nave_, C. viii.

[374] Pertingit ad usque secundum & diviniorem Christi Adventum Johannis Testimonium. _Origen. in Lucam. Tom._ V.

[375] Appropinquat enim Regnum Clorum, ut Scribae qui in simplici Littera acquiesc.u.n.t, resipiscentes ab ejusmodi Intellectu, erudiantur spirituali Doctrina, quae est per Jesum Christum, vivum Verb.u.m, quae vocatur Regnum Clorum. _In Matt._ C. xiii.

[376] _P._ 123, 124.

[377] _P._ 124.

[378] _P._ 108.

[379] _P._ 93.

[380] _P._ 94.

[381] Ibid.

[382] Nam idem Moses quamvis Veteris Testamenti verba in literis condidisset, tamen separatim quaedam ex occultis Legis secretiora mysteria septuaginta senioribus, qui Doctores deinceps manerent, intimaverat. _In Psal._ ii. Sect. 2.

[383] _P._ 96.

[384] _Origenes_ decem scripsit Stromateas, omnia nostrae religionis dogmata de _Platone_, _Aristotele_, _Numenio_, _Cornutoque_ confirmans. _In Epist. ad Magnum._

[385] _Defence of Christianity_, p. 345.

[386] _P._ 347, 353, 358.

[387] _P._ 341.

[388] _P._ 344.

[389] Perspicuum est Mosem mentis acie Legis Veritatem Historiarumque apud Scripturam Allegorias juxta Anagogen vidisse. _In Johan. Tom._ VI.