much light on the dark and uncertain language of the apostles. The Jewish historian asserts, that they were the chief instigators of the revolt from the Romans; and gives many instances' which shew, that as against them the force of the , Roman arms was principally directed, they in their turn opposed the government with the utmost violence, misrepresenting and execrating its ministers and friends. To their conduct in this respect Peter alludes, when he speaks of them as men who despised government, and being presumptuous and obstinate, were not afraid to speak evil of dignities. They advised the people, and in many instances forced them, to take up arms and follow them, under the promise of conferring on them liberty and independence*. The apostle has not overlooked their language and conduct in this respect. "They speak vain and high-sounding words, and again entangle in lust and wantonness such as had once escaped Simon, son of Giora, collected a great multitude of wicked men, by thus promising them liberty-goxngu as δουλοις μεν ελευθερίαν, γερας δε ελευθεροις, τους πανταXoder Toungous ouvn@gov. Lib. 4. c. 9. 3. The impostors made their followers a similar promise. See J. A. lib. 20. c. 8. 10. the impurities of those who live in pagan error. While they promise them liberty, they are themselves the slaves of corruption." Josephus expressly and repeatedly declares, that the zealots occasioned the destruction of the Jewish community; and that to punish them the Almighty brought the Romans to consume the Jews with their city and temple, as if with purifying fire. This circumstance happily accounts for the dark denunciations held forth against these men by Peter and Jude. "For if God spared not the angels, but cast them down to Hades, and delivered them in chains to dark places for judgment; And spared not the ancient world, while he saved Noah, one of eight, as being a teacher of righteousness, but destroyed it as ungodly by bringing in a flood; And he turned into ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and dooming them to be overthrown, made them an example for those who should hereafter lead an ungodly life." Josephus illustrates the meaning of this language; and verifies the truth of the warnings contained in it by saying, that those wicked men came to a suitable end, God having visited them with a punishment meet for their crimes; that they were overtaken with all the calamities which human nature can endure; that through these they waded to the farthest verge of life, and at length under the weight of them sunk in death *" * Τοιγαρουν προσηκον έκαςοι το τελος εύροντο, του Θεού την αξίαν επι πασιν αυτοις τιμωριαν βραβεύσαντος. όσας γαρ ανθρωπου δυναται φυσις κολάσεις ὑπομεναι, πασαι κατέσκηψαν εις αυτους, μέχρι και της εσχάτης του βίου τελευτης, ἣν ὑπέμειναν εν πολυτροποις αικίαις αποθανόντες. B. J. lib. 7. c. 1. CHAPTER XVIII. THE GNOSTIC SYSTEM DELINEATED. IRENEUS, Theodoret, and Epiphanius*, have minutely detailed the religious opinions of the gnostics, and their statement is confirmed by the notice which the apostles have indirectly Their vices and tenets are also occasionally noticed by Justin Martyr, Origen, Tertullian, and Eusebius. The more eminent ecclesiastical writers who, among the moderns, have given an account of the gnostics, are Beausobre, Le Clerc, Tillemont, Mosheim (Eccles. Histor. vol. i. part 2. chap. 5.), and Lardner, in the ninth volume of his works. This last writer, by his candour and the predominant goodness of his heart, has been betrayed into great weakness. For in his History of the Heretics, he is ever the advocate of those impostors. Not only the Greek and Latin fathers, but Jesus and his apostles have condemned them, as monsters of iniquity and falsehood; but Lardner and Beausobre were disposed to defend them as an injured people. My readers will perceive that, if the present chapter contain a correct statement, the character and system of the gnostics have been as much mistaken by modern critics as the writings of Philo and Josephus. taken of them. tive heresies is given by St. Jude in the following words." They turn the free gift of God into licentiousness; they deny the only supreme God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." Here are three things implied, in regard to the men of whom the apostle speaks-They denied the only supreme God-They denied our Lord Jesus Christ-They perverted the gospel which is the free gift of God, and which is the means of reforming the world, into an instrument of impuri ties. I shall confine myself at present to these three leading points in the gnostic system. The substance of these destruc The gnostics were epicurean Jews, and the doctrine by which they artfully attempted to set aside the gospel, is really founded in atheism*, * The ancient fathers well knew, that the gnostics were atheists; and that they assumed the name only to undermine the doctrine of Christ. Thus says Justin Martyr, Εισιν ουν, και εγενοντο πολλον, δι άθεα και βλασφημα λέγειν και πραττειν εδίδαξαν, εν ονοματι του Ιησου προς σέλθοντες—ὧν ουδενι κοινωνούμεν, δι γνωρίζοντες άθεους και ασέβεις και αδίκους και ανόμους αυτους ύπαρχοντας, HAL QUES του τον Ιησουν σεβείν ονόματι μονον λέγεις. Dialog. p. 208. ed. Thirlby. If any doubt could remain on this subject, the testimony of Josephus to the views and vices of those men must remove it. Nothing is more mis taken than the notion generally entertained, that the gnostics 4 |