to the Romans and the lower the Jews were reduced, the more difpofed would they be to: liften to these deceptions, and the more ready to follow the deceivers. Hegefippus too in (3) Eufebius mentions the coming of falfe Chrifts": and false prophets about the fame time. But as it was to little purpose for a man to take uponhim the character of the Chrift, or even of a: prophet, without miracles to vouch his divine miffion; fo it was the common artifice and pretence of these impoftors to show figns and wonders, σήμεια και τέρατα, the very words ufed by Chrift in his prophecy, and by (4) Jofephus in his hiftory. Simon Magus performed great wonders according to the account that is given of him in the Acts of the apostles. (VIII. 9, 10, 11.) There was a certain man called Simon, which before time in the fame city used forcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was fome great one: To whom they all gave heed from the leaft to the greateft, faying, This man is the great power of God: And to him they had regard, becaufe that of long time he had bewitched them with forceries. Dofitheus likewife was reputed to work wonders according to (5) Origen: Barchochebas (3) Eufeb, Ecclef. Hift. Lib. 4. Cap. 22. (4) Jofeph, Antiq, Lib, 20. Cap. 7. Sect. 6. p. 893. Edit, chochebas too, who (6) Jerome faith pretended to vomit flames. Such alfo were the Jews, of whom St. Paul fpeaketh, (2 Tim. III. 8, 13.) comparing them to Jannes and Jambres, famous magicians of Egypt, who withflood Mofes, as thefe alfo refifted the truth, men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith, πονηροι ανθρωποι και yontes, wicked men and impoftors. There is a ftrange propensity in mankind to believe things marvelous and aftonishing: and no wonder, that weak and wicked men, Jews and Samaritans, were deceived by fuch impoftors; when if it had been poffible, they would have deceived the very elect, the Chriftians themselves. γοητές, But bebold, faith our Saviour, I have told you before. (ver. 25.) Behold I have given you fuf ficient warning, Wherefore if they fhall fay unto you, Behold, he is in the defert, go not forth; bebold, he is in the fecret chambers, believe it not. (ver. 26.) It is furprising that our Saviour should not only foretel the appearance of these impoftors, but also the manner and circumstances of their conduct. For fome he mentions as appearing in the defert, and fome in the fecret chambers ; and the event hath in all points answered to the (5) Contra Celfum, Lib. 6. Cap. 11. p. 638. Vol. 1. Edit. Benedict. prediction. (6) Adverfus Rufinum. Lib. 3. Col. 466. Vol. 4. Edit. Benedict. 1 prediction. Several of the falle Chrifts and falfe prophets conducted their followers into the defert. Jofephus in his (7) Antiquities faith exprely, that many impoftors and cheats perfuaded the people to follow them into the defert, where they promised to show manifeft wonders and figns done by the providence of God; and many being perfuaded fuffered the punishment of their folly; for Felix brought them back, and chaftiled them. Again in his (8) hiftory of the Jewith war fpeaking of the fame perfons he faith, that these impoftors, under a pretence of divine infpiration, affecting innovations and changes, perfuaded the multitude to grow mad, and led them forth into the defer, as if God would there fhow them the Im (7) οι δε γοήτες και απατεωνες. άνθρωποι τον όχλον επείθον αυτοις εις την ερημίαν έπεσθαι. δείξειν γαρ έφασαν εναργή τερατα και σημεία, κατα την τ8 Θε8 προνοιαν γενόμενα. Και πολλοί πεισθείλες, της αφρος συνης τιμωρίας ὑπεσχον. αναχθέντας γαρ αυτες Φήλιξ εκολασεν. poftcres vero et fallaciis pleni homines fuadebant multitudini, ut ipfos in folitudinem fequerentur. Se enim ipfis oftenfuros dicebant manifefta prodigia et figna, quæ Dei cura et providentia evenirent. Multique, fidem habentes, dementia fuæ pœnas pertulerunt. Eos quippe retractos Felix fupplicio affecit. Ant, Lib. zo. Cap. 7. Sect. 6. p. 893. Edit. Hudfon. figns (8) πλανοί γαρ ανθρωποι και απαλεωνες, προσχηματι θειασμό, νεωτερισμός και μεταβολές πραγ ματευομένοι, δαίμοναν το πλήθος ανέπειθον, και προηγου εις την ερημίαν, ὡς εκει το Θεό δείξαιλος αυτοίς σημεια ελευθερίας. επι τ8τοις ὁ Φήλιξ, εδοκεί γαρ αποςασίως είναι καταβολή, πέμψας ἱππεις και πεζες ὁπλιτας, πολυ πληθος διεφ. ege. Nam homines feductores et fallaciis pleni, fpecie divini afilatus, novis rebus et mutationibus ftudentes, vulgo ut infanirent perfuadebant, et proliciebant in folitudinem; ac fi illic Deus oftenforus effet eis figna libertatis, Contra iftos figns of liberty. Against these Felix, for it feemed to be the foundation of a revolt, fent horfe and foot foldiers, and flew a great number of them. The Egyptian falfe prophet, mentioned by (9) Jofephus and in the Acts of the apoftles, (XXI. 38.) led out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers: but Felix marching with his forces, and coming to an engagement with him, the Egyptian himself with a few others fled away, and most of those who had been with him were flain or taken prisoners. There was likewife another impoftor mentioned by (1) Jofephus, who promifed falvation to the people, and a ceflation of all evils, if they would follow him into the defert; but Festus sent horse :: and . απατηθέντας από τινος ανθρωπο ontos, owingiar autoK ETAY!-279 (inde enim videtur oritura effe infurrectio) milites, tam pedites quam equites, mifit Felix, mag-pere nas navdav nanwv, & Buλnnumque ecrum numerum interfecit. De Bell. Jud. Lib. 2. Cap. 13. Sect. 4. p. 1c75. (9) Antiq. Lib. zo. Cap. 7. Sect. De • Bell, Jud. Lib. 2. Cap. 13. Sect. 5. wse ouμboans γενομένης, τον μεν Αιγύπλιον φυγείν μετ' ολίγων, διαφθαρήναι δε και ζωγρήθηκαν πλείσες των συν αυτῷ. Facto igitur congreffu, Egyptius quidem ipfe cum paucis evafit; plurimique eorum qui, cum eo erant partim trucidati, partim vivi capti funt. p. 1076. (1) wipe de sus duram ἱππικήν τε και σκεζίνην και της θειεν ἐπεσθαι μέχρι της ερημίας auTW. και αυτόν TE εκείνον τον απατήσαντα, και τες ακολέθησαν τας διέφθειραν οἱ πεμπθεντες. Quin et Feftus equeftres pedef trefque copias contra eos mifit, qui decepti erant ab homine quodam præfigiatore, falutem ipfis pollicente et malorum ccf fationem, fi fe ufque ad defertum fequi vellent; atque ipfum deceptorem, pariter ac eos qui illum comitati funt, interfecerunt milites ab eo miffi. Ant... Lib. 20. Cap. 7. Sect. 10. Ρ. 895. and foot against him, and deftroyed the deceiver himself, and thote who followed him. Thefe things happened before the deftruction of Jerufalem, and a little after (2) Jonathan a weaver perfuaded not a few indigent fellows to adhere to him, and led them forth into the defert, promifing there to show signs and apparitions; but his followers moft were flain, fome were made prisoners, and he himself was afterwards taken, and burnt alive by order of Vefpafian. As feveral of these impoftors thus conducted their fol lowers into the defert, fo did others into the fecret chambers or places of fecurity: as particularly the pfeudoprophet mentioned by (3) Josephus, who declared to the people in the city, that God commanded them to go up into the temple, and there they should receive the figns of deliverance. A multitude of men, women, and children, went up accordingly; but instead of deliverance, the place was fet on fire by the Romans, and fix thousand perished miferably in the flames, or by throwing themselves down to escape them. |