Chapter 18 Title Twelfth

Title Twelfth 600—466 (737)—555 ... For this reason I reject all other religions.I found in it the answer to all my objections.It is perfectly justified that a God so pure can only reveal Himself to those whose hearts have been purified. For this reason this religion is lovable to me, and I find it already fully empowered by a morality so holy; but I find something more in it. What I have found to be most valid is this: that, since the earliest memory of man, there has been a people which has survived more anciently than all others; There is a Savior coming; before his coming a whole people heralds him, and after his coming a whole people adores him; not one man speaks of him, but many speak of him, and the whole A nation has been prophesied for four thousand years, and apparently made out of it.Their books circulated for four hundred years.

The more I examine these, the more I see the truth in them, both of all that has been and of all that will come; The synagogue, and the wretched people who followed it, who are our enemies and therefore the most admirable witnesses to the truth of these prophecies, foretells their misery and even their blindness. I find this connection, this religion, in its authority, in its permanence, in its eternity, in its morality, in its conduct, in its doctrine, in its effect, All are wholly holy; the Jewish darkness is terrible and foretold: Eris palpans in meridie [Thou shalt grope at noon. ] "Deuteronomy" Chapter 28, Section 28: "You will grope in the noon, as a blind man gropes in the dark." Dabiturliber scientilitteras, etdicet: Nonpossumlegere [Give the book to someone who can read, and he says: "I can't read"].

"Isaiah" chapter 29, verse 12: "He also gave this scroll to the illiterate and said, please read it. He said: 'I cannot read'"; Wang Hu was still in the first alien usurpation As soon as it is in the hands of the victim, there is the sound of the coming of Jesus Christ. Therefore I stretch out my hand to my liberator, who has been foretold for four thousand years, who in the foretold time and all his circumstances came to the earth to suffer and die for me; by his grace, I may await death in the hope of being forever united to him; Of those miseries that were sent to me, and taught me to endure by his example.

536-630 (738) 582-802 Since all kinds of prophecies have made various signs that will all appear when the Messiah comes, all these signs will inevitably appear at the same time.So by the end of the seventy weeks of Daniel, the fourth kingdom will surely come, when the king of Hud will be separated from Judah, and all this will happen without difficulty; then the Messiah will come, and Jesus Christ, who is called the Messiah, is also coming at this time, and this will be without difficulty.This indeed marks the truth of prophecy. 537, 609-645 (739) 553-801 Prophets have been foretold and have not been foretold.The later saints were foretold, but not foretold.Jesus Christ was both foretold and foretold.

488-600 (740) 504-654 Both the Old Testament and the New Testament look to Jesus Christ, the Old Testament regards him as their expectation, the New Testament regards him as their model, and both regard him as their center. 538-467 (741) 785-800 The two oldest books in the world are those of Moses and Job, the one being a Jew and the other a Gentile, both looking to Jesus Christ as their common center and purpose: Moses narrates God's promises to Abraham, Jacob, etc., and his prophecies; and Job: Quis mihi det ut, etc. Scio enim quod redemptor meus vivit, [I know that my Redeemer lives. ] "Job" chapter 19, verse 25: "I know that my Redeemer lives and will stand on the earth at last".etc.

540-576 (742) 554-798 The Gospels speak of the virginity of the Virgin only up to the birth of Jesus Christ. Everything is connected to Jesus Christ. 539-581 (743) 856-799 Proof of Jesus Christ. Why did the book of Ruth survive? Why is there a Tamar story? 181, 665-930 (744) 498-797 "Pray, lest you be tempted".It is dangerous to be tempted; and those who are tempted do so because they do not pray. Et tu conversus coneirmaeratres tuos [And when you have converted, strengthen your brethren. ] "Luke" Chapter 22, verse 32: "When you turn back, strengthen your brother".But before, the conversus Jesus respexit Petrum. [Jesus turns and looks at Peter]. "Luke" chapter 22, verse 32: "The Lord turned and looked at Peter".

St. Peter asked permission to strike Malchus, and struck him before he heard the answer, while Jesus Christ answered him after the fact. The word Galilee was proclaimed as if by chance by that group of Jews when they accused Jesus Christ before Pilate, but this word caused Pilate to give Jesus Christ to King Herod; and so it was done The mystery that he should be judged by Jew and Gentile.Accidents of appearance become the reason for the fulfillment of the mystery. 515-507 (745) 668-805 Those who find it difficult to believe look to the Jewish lack of faith as an excuse."If it's so obvious," they said, "why didn't the Jews have faith?"Yet it is this very refusal of theirs that is the basis of our beliefs.

If they were really on our side, we wouldn't be very good at giving our hearts to faith.Then we'll have a stronger excuse.It is most admirable that the Jew has been the greatest lover of what is foretold and the greatest enemy of its realization. 494-498 (746) 790-806 The Jews are accustomed to great and splendid miracles, so with the great events of the Red Sea and the land of Canaan as a microcosm of the great deeds of their Messiah, they also expected more glorious miracles. The miracle of Moses was nothing more than Some of them are samples only. 516, 779-363, 424, 682 (747) 540-851

Carnal Jews and pagans have their woes, and so do Christians.The heathen have no Savior at all, because they simply do not want a Savior.The Jews have no Savior at all, and they hope for a Savior in vain.Only Christians have a Savior (see eternity). 517-622 (748) 550-807 In the time of the Messiah, the people were divided.Those who are spiritual accept the Messiah; the gross remain only His witnesses. 514-641 (749) 505-813 "If this was plainly foretold to the Jews, how could they not believe it? Or, if they rejected such a plain thing, how could it not be destroyed"? I replied: First of all, it was foretold that they would neither believe in such an obvious thing, nor would they be annihilated.Nothing can give more glory to the Messiah than this; for it is not enough to have prophets, their prophecies must also be preserved beyond doubt.So, wait.

518-559 (750) 499-803 If the Jews were all converted by Jesus Christ, we would have but a few dubious witnesses.And if they had been wiped out, we would not have even a single witness. 591-435 (751) 555-836 What did the prophets say about Jesus Christ?That he will be the manifest God?No; but that he is a true hidden God; that he shall be unknown to man; .So let's hope people stop accusing us of lacking clarity, because we admit it. But people say that there is darkness here. —Without these, the people would not be obstinate to Jesus Christ, and this is one of the official designs of the prophets: Excaeca... [to blind man]. "Isaiah" chapter 6 verse 10: "Make the hearts of this people fat, and their ears dull, and their eyes stunned."

592-592 (752) 552-835 Moses first taught about the Trinity, Original Sin, Messiah. Great Witness David: king, good, forgiving, good soul, good intellect, strong; he prophesied, and his miracles were performed; that is infinite. If he is vain, he need only say that he is the Messiah; for the prophecy speaks of him much more plainly than of Jesus Christ.So is St. John. 593-628 (753) 107-839 Herod was believed to be the Messiah.He took the king's tablet of Judah, but he was not from Judah.This makes for a sizable faction. The curse that the Greeks cast upon those who counted the three periods. Since through him the wat should be with Judah forever, and when he comes the wat should be taken from Judah; how then can he be the Messiah? This is the best thing that can be done to keep them from seeing and hearing. 594-941 (754) 731-843 Homo exists te Deum facit. [Existing man made you God. 〕Scriptum est "Dii estis" et non potest solvi Seriptura. [It is written "You are God", and the holy book cannot be destroyed. 〕Haec ineirmitas non est ad vitam et est ad mortem． [This instability is not for life, but for death. ] "Lazarus dormit" et deinde dixit: Lazarus mortu us est. ["Lazarus is asleep," and then he says: Lazarus is dead. 〕"John Gospel" Chapter 11, Verse 11: "Jesus... said to them, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep"; Verse 14: "Jesus told them plainly that Lazarus is dead ". 644-595 (755) 471-804 Apparent inconsistencies in the Gospels. 595-635 (756) 144-827 A man who clearly foretells what is to come, who announces his plan to both blind and illuminate, and who penetrates obscurity amidst the clear things to come; What else can there be but reverence? 590-495 (757) 530-820 The time of the first coming was foretold, the time of the second was not; for the first was to be concealed, but the second should be splendor and so manifest that even his enemies Have to admit it too.However, since he can only come in obscurity, and is known only to those who have peeked into the Holy Book...   589-489 (758) 64-821 God foretold the Messiah in such a way that he might be known to the good and not to the wicked.If the ways of the Messiah had been plainly foretold, there would be no mystery, even to the wicked.If time is foretold darkly, it will be dark even to good men; for their [goodness of heart] prevents them from understanding, say, that the closed mem refers to six hundred years.But the time is clearly foretold, and the manner is only in symbol. By this means the evil man takes the promised good as material, and falls into error regardless of the time that has been expressly foretold, but the good man does not err.Because the understanding of the promised beauty depends on the heart, and what the heart likes is called "beautiful"; however, the understanding of the promised time does not depend on the heart. Therefore, to foretell the time clearly and foretell the good in the dark can only deceive the wicked. 513-613 (759) 506-823 Either a Jew or a Christian must be a wicked person. 519-655 (760) 192-826 The Jews rejected him, but not entirely; the saints accepted him, but not the carnal.This is far from enough to oppose his glory, but it is the finishing touch to achieve his glory.The reason they give, and the only reason to be found in all their writings, in the Talmud and in the writings of the Rabbi, is simply that Jesus Christ did not conquer nations by arms , gladium tuum, potentis-sime [your knife is the most powerful. 〕 "Psalm" 45th, verse 3: "May the sword be upon your side, great in glory and majesty". . (Isn't that all they can say? They say: Jesus Christ has been slain; he has failed; he has not subdued the heathen by his arms; Doesn't give people riches. Isn't that all they have to say? But that's what makes him lovable. I don't want him as they make him.) Obviously, it's only his life that prevented them from accepting him; and by this refusal they were irreproducible witnesses, and what is more, they thereby fulfilled the prophecy. [The miracle here is due to the fact that the people did not accept him; prophecies are the only lasting miracles that men can do, yet they are opposed. 〕 520—663 (761) 75—824 The final signs of the Messiah were bestowed on him by the Jews when they killed him for refusing to accept him as Messiah. And in continuing to deny him, they made themselves irreproachable witnesses: for in killing him and continuing to deny him, they fulfilled prophecy. (Chapter 60 of "I". Chapter 71 of "Poetry".) 521-496 (762) 520-825 What could his enemies, the Jews, do?If they accepted him, they proved him by their acceptance, because these trustees, who were expecting the Messiah, accepted him; if they denied him, they proved him by their denial. 635-583, 608 (763) 513-822 When the Jews tested whether he was God or not, they had already shown that he was a man. 634-584 (764) 531-850 The Church has as much difficulty in showing that Jesus Christ is man against those who deny him as in showing that he is God; the odds are equally great. 601-448 (765) 521-852 The source of opposites—a God humiliated to death on a cross; a Messiah who by his own death conquered death.Two natures of Jesus Christ, two comings, two states of humanity. 619-524, 560 (766) 516-841 Symbols—Savior, Father, Sacrifice, Sacrifice, Bread, King, Wise Men, Lawgiver, Misery, Poverty, begot beforehand a people whom he would guide and nurture, and draw them to his land... … Jesus Christ.Task. —He alone should produce a great people, a chosen, holy, singled out people; guide them, nurture them, lead them to rest and holy places, make them holy before God; Make them temples of God, reconcile them to God, save them from the wrath of God, and free them from the bondage of that sin which so conspicuously reigns over mankind; make laws for this people, and write them upon their to his heart; to give himself to God for them, to sacrifice himself for them; to be a perfect sacrificer, and himself a sacrificer: to give himself, his own flesh and his own blood, and yet Bread and wine to God.... Ingrediens mundum. [Come into the world. ] "Stone on stone". All that was and all that is to come.All Jews continue to live and wander. 641-671 (767) 522-851 Of all that is on earth, he shares sorrows and not joys.He loves his neighbor, but his benevolence is not confined to these spheres, but extends to his enemies, and then to the enemies of God. 610-608 (768) 901-846 Jesus Christ was symbolized by Joseph, loved by his father, sent by his father to visit his brethren, etc.; he was sold innocently by his own brethren for twenty pieces of silver, and thus became Their Lord, their Saviour, was both the Savior of the Gentiles and the Savior of the world; and none of this would have happened had it not been for the plot to destroy him, and their betrayal and punishment of him. In prison, Joseph was innocent between two sinners; Jesus Christ was between two thieves on the cross.According to the same performance Joseph foretells salvation to the one, and death to the other.Jesus Christ condemned the outcasts by saving the elect on the basis of the same sin.Joseph merely prophesied; Jesus Christ did.Joseph asks those who will be saved (when he comes in his glory) to remember him; those saved by Jesus Christ ask him (when he appears in his kingdom) to remember himself . 652-318 (769) 508-848 The conversion of the heathen could only be left to the grace of the Messiah.The Jews have fought them so long without success; all that Solomon and the Prophets have said is of no avail.Saints like Plato and Socrates failed to convince them. 611-618 (770) 781-847 After many, many people had come, Jesus Christ came at last and said, "I have come, the time has come. All that the prophets have spoken will come in the coming time, and I will tell you My apostles will do this. The Jews will be cast out, Jerusalem will soon be destroyed; the heathen will be favored by God. After you have killed the heirs of the vineyard, my apostles will do this." Later, the apostles said to the Jews: "Cursed are you" (Celsus mocked it); and said to the pagans: "You will be appreciated by God." So, it happened. 658-442 (771) 781-851 Jesus Christ came to blind those who see clearly, and to make the blind see; to heal the sick, and to cause death to the healthy; to call to repentance, and to bring justice to the sinner, and to leave the just in their sins; to fulfill the poor, and empty the rich. 650—578 (772) 781—852 Holiness - Effundam spiritum meum [I water with my spirit. ] Joel Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Verse 8: "I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh".All nations are in ungodliness and in lust, and the whole world is stirred with love.Princes forsake their honor, maidens are martyred generously.Where does this power come from? It is the Messiah who has come; that is the effect and the sign of his coming. 642(a)-614(773)636-846 Jews and Gentiles destroyed by Jesus Christ: Omnes gentes venient et adorabunt eum [All kings worship you. ] Psalm 72, verse 11: "All kings will bow down to him, and all nations will serve him.". Parum est ut [you beg me. ] "Psalm" Chapter 2, verse 8: "Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, flesh", and so on. Postula a me [you beg me]. Adorabunt eum omnes reges [All kings bow to you]. Testes iniqui [Testimony of injustice. ]. Dabit maxillam percutienti [He has his cheek slapped. 〕Chapter 3 of "Lamentations", Section 30: "He should be hit on the cheek by someone, and he will be full of insults." Dederunt fel in escam [They gave me gall to eat. ] Psalm 69, verse 21: "They gave me gall for food". 642-423 (774) 514-616 Jesus Christ was for all men, Moses was for a nation. The Jews were blessed in Abraham: "I will bless those who bless you".But: "All nations are blessed in his offspring". Parum est ut, etc. Lumen ad revelationem gentium. [The light that enlightens the nations. ] "Luke" Chapter 2, verse 32: "It is a light that enlightens the Gentiles." When David talked about the law, he said: Non fecit taliter omni na tioni [for all countries, he has not done this. ].But when it comes to Jesus Christ we must say:  fecit taliter omni na-tioni. Parum est, etc., Isaiah.So only Jesus Christ is universal; even the church offers sacrifices only for the pious, but Jesus Christ offers the sacrifice of the cross for all. 643-929 (775) 925-617 Some heretics tend to explain omnis [everything, everyone] to mean all people, and some heretics sometimes do not suffice to say it to everyone. Bibite ex hoc omnes [Everyone sings this] "Matthew 26:27: "You all sing this." The Huguenot heretic interprets the omnis here as everyone. In quo omnes peccaverunt [Because everyone is guilty. ]; the heresy of the Huguenots in the omnines again excludes the children of the pious.Therefore, we must keep to the Fathers and Traditions to know when both are, for there are heresies to watch out for in both. 644(a)-945(776) 948-613 "Ne timeas pusillus grex" [you little flock, don't be afraid]. Timore et tremore. — Quid ergo? Ne timeas, (modo) timeas: [full of fear and trembling.for whom?Don't be afraid, (don't care) be afraid. ] If you are afraid, then don't be afraid; but if you are not afraid, then you should be afraid. Qui me recipit, non me recipit, sed eum qui me misit. [Whoever receives me receives not me, but the one who sent me]. "Matthew" chapter 10, verse 40: "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me is the one who sent me". Nemo scit, neque filius. [If it is not Zi, no one will know him. ] Matthew 1 Chapter 1, verse 27: "No one knows the Father but the Son". Nubes lucida obumbravit. [A bright cloud covered them]. "Matthew" chapter 17, verse 5: "Suddenly a bright cloud covered them". St. John wanted to turn the heart of the father to the child, but Jesus Christ arranged the strife.Not contradictory. 660-951 (777) 902-614 Function, in communi and in particulari [generally and specifically].The semi-Pirakis err by saying that what is true only in particulari is in communin.The Calvinists, on the other hand, say what is true in communii (for grace, the gift of which is not universal but particular) as in particulari (for sin, see section 775 of this book). . The Jansenists held that sin is universal and grace is special.). (I think so). 644-653 (778) 902-858 Omnis Judaearegio, et Jerosolomytaeuniversi, et baptizaban-tur.The whole of Judea and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were baptized. ] "Mark" Chapter 1, Verse 5: "All Judea and Jerusalem went out to John to confess their sins, and were baptized by him in the Jordan River." Because the people who come here have various conditions. From these stones Abraham could have children. 83-698 (779) 956-747 If people knew themselves, God would heal them and forgive them. Ne convertantur et sanem eos, et dimittantur eis peccata. [Let them not be converted, healed and forgiven. 〕"Mark Gospel" Chapter 4, Verse 12: "They see and see, but do not understand; they hear, but do not understand; lest they turn and be forgiven." 646-432 (780) 892-255 Jesus Christ never punished without listening.To Judas: Amici, ad quidvenisti? [Friend, why are you here? 〕 "Matthew" chapter 26, verse 50: "Jesus said to him (Judas): Friends, what you have come to do, do it." The same goes for the one who is not wearing the wedding dress. "Matthew" chapter 22, verse 13: "Seeing a man there without a formal dress, he said to him, "My friend, why did you come here without a formal dress"? 645—770, 771, 772 (781)—256 The symbol of the totality of redemption, like the sun illuminating all, only marks a totality; whereas the [symbol] of rejection, like the rejection of the heathen by the chosen Jew, marks a rejection. "Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of all". —Yes, for he offers just such a man: He will redeem anyone who will come to him.Those who perish are their own misfortune; but in his case he provides their redemption. —This example is valid where the redeemer and the preventer are two persons, but not in Jesus Christ, who did both the one and the other.So invalid because Jesus Christ as Redeemer may not be the master of all; thus he is the redeemer of all only when the master is in him. When we say that Jesus Christ did not die for all, we commit the sin of those who make this exception a direct reference to themselves; it only favors despair, rather than turning them in favor of hope.For thus men accustom themselves to inner virtues by outward customs. 649-529 (782) 953-860 Triumph over death.What is the use of gaining the whole world if a man loses his own soul? Whoever tries to defend his soul must lose it. "I am not here to destroy the law, but to fulfill the law." "The Lamb does not cancel the evil in the world, but I am the Lamb who cancels the evil". "Moses did not give you the bread of heaven. Moses did not lead you out of captivity, and did not set you truly free." 651-642 (783) 915-859 ... Then Jesus Christ came and told the people that they had no enemy but themselves, that their lusts separated them from God, and that he came to destroy them and give them grace, for He came to make them all into one holy church; he came to bring back both Gentiles and Jews into this church, and he came to destroy the idols of the one and the superstitions of the other.But to this all were opposed, not only naturally from lust, but above all because the kings of the earth were united to destroy this nascent religion, as foretold. (Proph: Quare eremerunt gentes...reges terrae...adversus Christum. [Prophecy: Why are the nations clamoring ... the princes of the earth ... against Christ]. Psalm 2, verses 1-2: "Why do the nations quarrel...and the princes of the world rise together...to oppose the LORD". All that is great on earth is united: scholars, sages, and kings.Some of them were writing, others were condemning, others were killing.In spite of all these oppositions, these simple, unarmed people resisted all these powers, subdued even these kings, these scholars, these sages, and cleared the whole earth of idolatry.And all this was accomplished by the same power that had heralded it. 607-607 (784) 913-861 Jesus Christ does not want the testimony of the devil, nor of those who are not called; but only of God and John the Baptist. 731-741 (785) 884-569 I think Jesus Christ is in all men and in ourselves; Jesus Christ as Father in His Father, Jesus Christ as Brother in His Brothers, Jesus Christ as Poor On the poor, Jesus Christ as the rich on the rich, Jesus Christ as the doctor and priest on the priest, Jesus Christ as the king on the king, and so on.For being God, he is all that is great by his glory, and all that is low by his mortal life.For this reason he acquired such an unfortunate condition that he could appear to all and be the model of all situations. 631-577 (786) 910-857 Jesus Christ was in such a state of obscurity (as the world calls obscurity) that historians who merely recounted state events seldom noticed him. 630-611 (787) 928-579 Regardless of the fact that neither Joseph nor Tacitus nor any other historian ever spoke of Jesus Christ— This is far from enough to refute him, but to support him.Since Jesus Christ existed, and his religion is widely discussed, and these men did not ignore it, these are all certain; so it is obvious that they only deliberately concealed him, or they Talked about him, but people suppressed or tampered with them. 826-610 (788) 897-862 "Among them I left seven thousand for myself".I love worshipers who are unknown to the world and not even to the Prophet. 638-432 (789) 938-863 As Jesus Christ was always unknown among the people, so his truth was always among the general opinions, and there was no difference in appearance.So the Eucharist is also in the middle of the common bread. 638(a)-746(790)260-865 Jesus Christ would not be killed without some form of justice, for it is far more dishonorable to die in justice than in unrighteous riots. 638(b)-(791) 926-567 Pilate's false justice was only used to crucifix Jesus Christ; for he had Jesus Christ scourged for his false justice, and then killed him. It would have been better to have killed him in the first place.This is what false righteous people do: they do all kinds of good and bad things to please the world and show that they are not at all of Jesus Christ, because they are ashamed of Jesus Christ.And finally they killed him under great temptation and chance. 636-605 (792) 922-583 Who ever was more glorious?The whole Jewish people heralded him before his coming.The nations of the Gentiles adored him after his coming.Both Gentiles and Jews make him their center. But who has ever enjoyed less of this splendor?In the thirty-three years, he lived for thirty years without showing his face.For three years he was considered a liar; clergymen and dignitaries ostracized him; his friends and those closest to him despised him.In the end, his death was betrayed by one of his disciples, denied by another disciple, and rejected by all disciples. What place, then, does he occupy in this splendor?Never was a man so glorious, and never a man more dishonorable. All that splendor was but for us, that he might be known to us; and he had none of that splendor for himself. 829-585 (793) 880-864 The infinite distance from the body to the spirit may signify an even more infinite distance from the spirit to benevolence; for benevolence is supernatural. The magnificence of all great things is blemished to those engaged in spiritual inquiry. The greatness of the spiritual man is invisible to kings, rich men, governors, and all great men of the body. The greatness of wisdom—which would be nothing if it were not from God—is invisible to the carnal and spiritual.Here are three categories in different orders. Great geniuses have their domain, their magnificence, their greatness, their victories, their brilliance, and never need any physical greatness that has nothing to do with them.They are not seen with eyes but with spirit; that is enough. The saints also have their domains, their magnificence, their victories, their splendors, and never need any greatness, physical or spiritual, which has nothing to do with them, since these add nothing to them and neither Nothing less. They are to be seen from God and angels, not from flesh or curious spirits; God is enough for them. Archimedes, though less prominent, will be equally respected.He fought no battles for men to see, yet he dedicated his inventions to the spirit of all men.what! How glorious is he to the human spirit! Jesus Christ had no wealth or any outward intellectual achievement, but He had His order of holiness. He did not make any inventions, he did not rule the world; but he was humble, patient, holy, holy to God, fearful to the devil, and he had no sin.what!In what splendor and in what grand splendor did he come to the eye of the soul that glimpsed wisdom! It would be in vain for Archimedes to be a prince in his geometry book, although he is the prince in it. 我们的主耶稣基督为了要显耀他自己的圣洁性的统治而以国王的身份出现，这是徒劳无益的；但他确乎是在他那秩序的光辉显赫之中到来了！ 诽谤耶稣基督的卑贱，仿佛这种卑贱和他所要来显现的伟大竟然属于同一种秩序，——这是十分荒唐可笑的。只要我们考虑在他的一生、在他的受难、在他的默默无闻、在他的死亡、在他的选择门徒、在他们的背弃、在他秘密的复活以及在其它事情之中的那种伟大，我们就会看出他是那样地伟大，以致我们没有借口可以诽谤其中所并不存在的卑贱。 然而有的人就只会赞慕肉体的伟大、仿佛是并不存在什么精神的东西；又有的人就只会赞慕精神的伟大，仿佛是并不存在什么智慧上更高得无限的东西。 一切的物体、太空、星辰、大地和地上的王国都比不上最渺小的精神；因为精神认识这一切以及它自己，而物体却一无所知。 所有的物体合在一起、所有的精神合在一起以及所有它们的产物，都比不上最微小的仁爱行动。那是属于一种更加无限崇高的秩序的。 所有的物体合在一起，我们都不能从其中造就出一丝一毫的思想来；这是不可能的，而且是属于另一种秩序的。从所有的物体和精神之中，我们都不能引出一桩真正仁爱的行动来；这是不可能的，而且是属于另一种超自然的秩序的。 632—511（794）——895 为什么耶稣基督不以一种显而易见的方式到来呢？反而要从先前的预言里得到他的证明呢？为什么他要以象征来预告自己呢？ 637—444（795）883—893 如果耶稣基督的到来只是为了要使人神圣，那末全部的圣书和一切的事物就都会引向这一点，而令不信者信服也就会是轻而易举的了。如果耶稣基督的到来只是为了要使人盲目，那末他的全部行为就会混乱不堪，而我们也就不会有任何办法可以令不信者信服了。然而他既然像以赛亚所说的，是in sanctieicationem et in scandalum〔在神圣化之中与在诽谤之中〕。《以赛亚书》第8章，第14节：“他必作为圣所”。而到来的，所以我们就无法令不信者信服而他们也无法令我们信服；然而恰恰就其这一点我们却能使他们信服，因为我们说在他全部的行为里，无论是这一边还是那一边，都根本就没有什么可以定论的东西。 633—440（796）884—894 耶稣基督并没有说他不是来自拿撒勒，为的是好把恶人留在盲目之中，也并没有说他不是约瑟的儿子。 744—586（797）832—897 对耶稣基督的证明——耶稣基督谈到伟大的事物时是那么地朴素，竟仿佛他从不曾想过它们似的；同时却又是那么地明晰，以致于我们可以看出他是想过它们的。这种明确性与这种纯朴性的结合，真是值得赞美的。 742—428（798）832—898 福音书的文风在好多方式上都是值得赞美的，而其中之一便是对耶稣基督的刽子手和敌人从不曾加以任何詈骂；因为无论是反对犹大、彼拉多的历史家们还是反对犹太人的历史家们，任何一个都没有进行过这种詈骂。 假如福音书历史家们的这种节制以及如此之美好的那种性格中的许多其他特点都是矫揉造作的，并且假如他们矫揉造作出来只不过是为了引人注目，——哪怕他们自己还不敢注目，——那末他们就不会不博得对他们可以做出这类有利言论来的朋友的。然而由于他们这样行动毫不矫揉造作，并且是出自一种完全无私的动机，所以他们并没有使任何人注目；而且我相信许多这类事情直到如今都还没有被人注目过，而这便是他们行事时心怀淡泊的见证。 743—580（799）30—896 一个工匠也谈到财富，一个律师也谈到战争、谈到效忠，等等；可是富人谈财富才谈得好，国王谈他刚刚做出的一项伟大的恩赐才谈得冷淡，而上帝才能很好地谈上帝。 741—593（800）918—886 是谁教会了福音书的作者们懂得一个完美无瑕的英雄灵魂的种种品质，竟至能在耶稣基督的身上把它描绘得那么完美无瑕呢？他们为什么要使他在他自己的苦痛时表现得脆弱呢？难道他们不晓得描绘一幕死的坚定吗？他们晓得的，因为同一个圣路加描写圣司提反的死要比耶稣基督的死更坚强得多。 因而，他们使他在死亡的必要性来临之前先要恐惧，然后再完全坚强起来。 但是当他们写他那样地惶惑时，那正是他使他自己惶惑的时候；而当人们使他惶惑时，他却是完全坚强的。 739—587（801）904—885 对耶稣基督的证明——使徒是骗子这种假说是荒谬无稽的。让我们来寻个究竟吧；让我们想像这十二个人在耶稣基督死后都聚集在一起，密谋策划说他是复活了。他们借此来攻击一切权力。但人心总是出奇地倾向于翻云覆雨，倾向于变化无常，倾向于甘言密语，倾向于贪财好货的。他们这些人之中无论有哪一个被所有这些东西诱惑了，甚而至于被监牢、被折磨、被死亡哪怕动摇了一点点，那末他们就全都完了。让我们究寻这一点吧。 738—599（802）364—889 使徒们要末就是受了骗，要末就是骗子；这两种说法无论哪种都有困难，因为不可能认为一个人是复活了……。 当耶稣基督和他们在一起时，他可以支持他们；然而在这以后，假如他并没有向他们显现，那末是谁使他们行动的呢？