第 26 节
作者:风雅颂      更新:2021-02-19 00:22      字数:3703
  (21) These excellent accounts of the Divine attributes; and that God is not to be at all known in his essence; as also some other clear expressions about the resurrection of the dead; and the state of departed souls; etc。; in this late work of Josephus; look more like the exalted notions of the Essens; or rather Ebionite Christians; than those of a mere Jew or Pharisee。 The following large accounts also of the laws of Moses; seem to me to show a regard to the higher interpretations and improvements of Moses's laws; derived from Jesus Christ; than to the bare letter of them in the Old Testament; whence alone Josephus took them when he wrote his Antiquities; nor; as I think; can some of these laws; though generally excellent in their kind; be properly now found either in the copies of the Jewish Pentateuch; or in Philo; or in Josephus himself; before he became a Nazarene or Ebionite Christian; nor even all of them among the laws of catholic Christianity themselves。 I desire; therefore; the learned reader to consider; whether some of these improvements or interpretations might not be peculiar to the Essens among the Jews; or rather to the Nazarenes or Ebionites among the Christians; though we have indeed but imperfect accounts of those Nazarenes or Ebionite Christians transmitted down to us at this day。
  (22) We may here observe how known a thing it was among the Jews and heathens; in this and many other instances; that sacrifices were still accompanied with prayers; whence most probably came those phrases of 〃the sacrifice of prayer; the sacrifice of praise; the sacrifice of thanksgiving。〃 However; those ancient forms used at sacrifices are now generally lost; to the no small damage of true religion。 It is here also exceeding remarkable; that although the temple at Jerusalem was built as the only place where the whole nation of the Jews were to offer their sacrifices; yet is there no mention of the 〃sacrifices〃 themselves; but of 〃prayers〃 only; in Solomon's long and famous form of devotion at its dedication; 1 Kings 8。; 2 Chronicles 6。 See also many passages cited in the Apostolical Constitutions; VII。 37; and Of the War; above; B。 VII。 ch。 5。 sect。 6。
  (23) This text is no where in our present copies of the Old Testament。
  (24) It may not be amiss to set down here a very remarkable testimony of the great philosopher Cicero; as to the preference of 〃laws to philosophy: … I will;〃 says he; 〃boldly declare my opinion; though the whole world be offended at it。 I prefer this little book of the Twelve Tables alone to all the volumes of the philosophers。 I find it to be not only of more weight;' but also much more useful。〃 … Oratore。
  (25) we have observed our times of rest; and sorts of food allowed us 'during our distresses'。
  (26) See what those novel oaths were in Dr。 Hudson's note; viz。 to swear by an oak; by a goat; and by a dog; as also by a gander; as say Philostratus and others。 This swearing strange oaths was also forbidden by the Tyrians; B。 I。 sect。 22; as Spanheim here notes。
  (27) Why Josephus here should blame some heathen legislators; when they allowed so easy a composition for simple fornication; as an obligation to marry the virgin that was corrupted; is hard to say; seeing he had himself truly informed us that it was a law of the Jews; Antiq。 B。 IV。 ch。 8。 sect。 23; as it is the law of Christianity also: see Horeb Covenant; p。 61。 I am almost ready to suspect that; for; we should here read; and that corrupting wedlock; or other men's wives; is the crime for which these heathens wickedly allowed this composition in money。
  (28) Or 〃for corrupting other men's wives the same allowance。〃
  End