按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
amongst them chiefly the Sadducees； struggled for the law written on
tablets； least of all need those who bear it inscribed on their hearts join
in the contest。 （5） Those； therefore； who reflect； will find nothing in what
I have written repugnant either to the Word of God or to true religion and
faith； or calculated to weaken either one or the other： contrariwise； they
will see that I have strengthened religion； as I showed at the end of
Chapter X。； indeed； had it not been so； I should certainly have decided to
hold my peace； nay； I would even have asserted as a way out of all
difficulties that the Bible contains the most profound hidden
mysteries； however； as this doctrine has given rise to gross superstition
and other pernicious results spoken of at the beginning of Chapter V。； I
have thought such a course unnecessary； especially as religion stands in no
need of superstitious adornments； but is； on the contrary； deprived by such
trappings of some of her splendour。
（6） Still； it will be said； though the law of God is written in the heart；
the Bible is none the less the Word of God； and it is no more lawful to say
of Scripture than of God's Word that it is mutilated and corrupted。 （7） I
fear that such objectors are too anxious to be pious； and that they are in
danger of turning religion into superstition； and worshipping paper and ink
in place of God's Word。
（8） I am certified of thus much： I have said nothing unworthy of Scripture
or God's Word； and I have made no assertions which I could not prove by most
plain argument to be true。 （9） I can； therefore； rest assured that I have
advanced nothing which is impious or even savours of impiety。
（10） from what I have said； assume a licence to sin； and without any reason；
at I confess that some profane men； to whom religion is a burden； may； the
simple dictates of their lusts conclude that Scripture is everywhere faulty
and falsified； and that therefore its authority is null； but such men are
beyond the reach of help； for nothing； as the pro verb has it； can be said
so rightly that it cannot be twisted into wrong。 （11） Those who wish to give
rein to their lusts are at no loss for an excuse； nor were those men of old
who possessed the original Scriptures； the ark of the covenant； nay； the
prophets and apostles in person among them； any better than the people of
to…day。 （12） Human nature； Jew as well as Gentile； has always been the same；
and in every age virtue has been exceedingly rare。
（13） Nevertheless； to remove every scruple； I will here show in what sense
the Bible or any inanimate thing should be called sacred and Divine；
also wherein the law of God consists； and how it cannot be contained in a
certain number of books； and； lastly； I will show that Scripture； in so far
as it teaches what is necessary for obedience and salvation； cannot have
been corrupted。 （14） From these considerations everyone will be able to
judge that I have neither said anything against the Word of God nor given
any foothold to impiety。
（15） A thing is called sacred and Divine when it is designed for promoting
piety； and continues sacred so long as it is religiously used： if the users
cease to be pious； the thing ceases to be sacred： if it be turned to base
uses； that which was formerly sacred becomes unclean and profane。 （16） For
instance； a certain spot was named by the patriarch Jacob the house of God；
because he worshipped God there revealed to him： by the prophets the same
spot was called the house of iniquity （see Amos v：5； and Hosea x：5）； because
the Israelites were wont； at the instigation of Jeroboam； to sacrifice there
to idols。 （17） Another example puts the matter in the plainest light。 （18）
Words gain their meaning solely from their usage； and if they are arranged
according to their accepted signification so as to move those who read them
to devotion； they will become sacred； and the book so written will be sacred
also。 （19） But if their usage afterwards dies out so that the words have no
meaning； or the book becomes utterly neglected； whether from unworthy
motives； or because it is no longer needed； then the words and the book will
lose both their use and their sanctity： lastly； if these same words be
otherwise arranged； or if their customary meaning becomes perverted into its
opposite； then both the words and the book containing them become； instead
of sacred； impure and profane。
（20） From this it follows that nothing is in itself absolutely sacred； or
profane； and unclean； apart from the mind； but only relatively thereto。 （21）
Thus much is clear from many passages in the Bible。 （22） Jeremiah （to select
one case out of many） says （chap。 vii：4）； that the Jews of his time
were wrong in calling Solomon's Temple； the Temple of God； for； as he goes
on to say in the same chapter； God's name would only be given to the Temple
so long as it was frequented by men who worshipped Him； and defended
justice； but that； if it became the resort of murderers； thieves； idolaters；
and other wicked persons； it would be turned into a den of malefactors。
（23） Scripture； curiously enough； nowhere tells us what became of the Ark of
the Covenant； though there is no doubt that it was destroyed； or burnt
together with the Temple； yet there was nothing which the Hebrews considered
more sacred； or held in greater reverence。 （24） Thus Scripture is sacred；
and its words Divine so long as it stirs mankind to devotion towards God：
but if it be utterly neglected； as it formerly was by the Jews； it becomes
nothing but paper and ink； and is left to be desecrated or corrupted： still；
though Scripture be thus corrupted or destroyed； we must not say that the
Word of God has suffered in like manner； else we shall be like the Jews； who
said that the Temple which would then be the Temple of God had perished in
the flames。 （25） Jeremiah tells us this in respect to the law； for he thus
chides the ungodly of his time； 〃Wherefore； say you we are masters； and the
law of the Lord is with us？ （26） Surely it has been given in vain； it is in
vain that the pen of the scribes 〃 （has been made） … that is； you say
falsely that the Scripture is in your power； and that you possess the law of
God； for ye have made it of none effect。
（27） So also； when Moses broke the first tables of the law； he did not by
any means cast the Word of God from his hands in anger and shatter it … such
an action would be inconceivable； either of Moses or of God's Word … he only
broke the tables of stone； which； though they had before been holy from
containing the covenant wherewith the Jews had bound themselves in
obedience to God； had entirely lost their sanctity when the covenant had
been violated by the worship of the calf； and were； therefore； as liable to
peri