theologico-political treatise p3(神学与政治专题研究3)-第2章
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beforehand what they should preach； for they were the disciples of Christ
to whom their Master Himself said （Matt。 X：19； 20）： 〃But； when they
deliver you up； take no thought how or what ye shall speak； for it shall be
given you in that same hour what ye shall speak。〃 （34） We therefore
conclude that the Apostles were only indebted to special revelation in what
they orally preached and confirmed by signs （see the beginning of Chap。
11。）； that which they taught in speaking or writing without any
confirmatory signs and wonders they taught from their natural knowledge。
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（See I Cor。 xiv：6。） （35） We need not be deterred by the fact that all the
Epistles begin by citing the imprimatur of the Apostleship； for the Apostles；
as I will shortly show； were granted； not only the faculty of prophecy； but
also the authority to teach。 （36） We may therefore admit that they wrote
their Epistles as Apostles； and for this cause every one of them began by
citing the Apostolic imprimatur； possibly with a view to the attention of
the reader by asserting that they were the persons who had made such
mark among the faithful by their preaching； and had shown bv many
marvelous works that they were teaching true religion and the way of
salvation。 （37） I observe that what is said in the Epistles with regard to the
Apostolic vocation and the Holy Spirit of God which inspired them； has
reference to their former preaching； except in those passages where the
expressions of the Spirit of God and the Holy Spirit are used to signify a
mind pure； upright； and devoted to God。 （38） For instance； in 1 Cor。 vii：40；
Paul says： But she is happier if she so abide； after my judgment； and I
think also that I have the Spirit of God。〃 （39） By the Spirit of God the
Apostle here refers to his mind； as we may see from the context： his
meaning is as follows： 〃I account blessed a widow who does not wish to
marry a second husband； such is my opinion； for I have settled to live
unmarried； and I think that I am blessed。〃 （40） There are other similar
passages which I need not now quote。
（41） As we have seen that the Apostles wrote their Epistles solely by
the light of natural reason； we must inquire how they were enabled to
teach by natural knowledge matters outside its scope。 （42） However； if we
bear in mind what we said in Chap。 VII。 of this treatise our difficulty will
vanish： for although the contents of the Bible entirely surpass our
understanding； we may safely discourse of them； provided we assume
nothing not told us in Scripture： by the same method the Apostles； from
what they saw and heard； and from what was revealed to them； were
enabled to form and elicit many conclusions which they would have been
able to teach to men had it been permissible。
（43） Further； although religion； as preached by the Apostles； does not
come within the sphere of reason； in so far as it consists in the narration of
the life of Christ； yet its essence； which is chiefly moral； like the whole of
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Christ's doctrine； can readily； be apprehended by the natural faculties of
all。
（44） Lastly； the Apostles had no lack of supernatural illumination for
the purpose of adapting the religion they had attested by signs to the
understanding of everyone so that it might be readily received； nor for
exhortations on the subject： in fact； the object of the Epistles is to teach
and exhort men to lead that manner of life which each of the Apostles
judged best for confirming them in religion。 （45） We may here repeat our
former remark； that the Apostles had received not only the faculty of
preaching the history； of Christ as prophets； and confirming it with signs；
but also authority for teaching and exhorting according as each thought
best。 （46） Paul （2 Tim。 i：11）； 〃Whereunto I am appointed a preacher； and
an apostle； and a teacher of the Gentiles；〃 and again （I Tim。 ii：7）；
〃Whereunto I am ordained a preacher and an apostle （I speak the truth in
Christ and lie not）； a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity。〃 （47） These
passages； I say； show clearly the stamp both of the apostleship and the
teachership： the authority for admonishing whomsoever and wheresoever
he pleased is asserted by Paul in the Epistle to Philemon； v：8： 〃Wherefore；
though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is
convenient； yet；〃 &c。； where we may remark that if Paul had received
from God as a prophet what he wished to enjoin Philemon； and had been
bound to speak in his prophetic capacity； he would not have been able to
change the command of God into entreaties。 （48） We must therefore
understand him to refer to the permission to admonish which he had
received as a teacher； and not as a prophet。 （49） We have not yet made it
quite clear that the Apostles might each choose his own way of teaching；
but only that by virtue of their Apostleship they were teachers as well as
prophets； however； if we call reason to our aid we shall clearly see that an
authority to teach implies authority to choose the method。 （50） It will
nevertheless be； perhaps； more satisfactory to draw all our proofs from
Scripture； we are there plainly told that each Apostle chose his particular
method （Rom。 xv： 20）： 〃Yea； so have I strived to preach the gospel； not
where Christ was named； lest I should build upon another man's
foundation。〃 （51） If all the Apostles had adopted the same method of
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teaching； and had all built up the Christian religion on the same foundation；
Paul would have had no reason to call the work of a fellow…Apostle
〃another man's foundation；〃 inasmuch as it would have been identical with
his own： his calling it another man's proved that each Apostle built up his
religious instruction on different foundations； thus resembling other
teachers who have each their own method； and prefer instructing quite
ignorant people who have never learnt under another master； whether the
subject be science； languages； or even the indisputable truths of
mathematics。 （52） Furthermore； if we go through the Epistles at all
attentively； we shall see that the Apostles； while agreeing about religion
itself； are at variance as to the foundations it rests on。 （53） Paul； in order to
strengthen men's religion； and show them that salvation depends solely on
the grace of God； teaches that no one can boast of works； but only of faith；
and that no one can be justified by works （Rom。 iii：27；28）； in fact； he
preaches the complete doctrine of predestination。 （54） James； on the other
hand； states that man is justified by works； and not by faith only （see his
Epistle； ii：24）； and omitting all the disputations of Paul； confines religion
to a very few elements。
（55） Lastly； it is indisputable that from these different ground； for
religion selected by the Apostles； many quarrels and schisms distracted the
Church； even in the earliest times； and doubtless they will continue so to
distract it for ever； or at least till religion is separated from philosophical
speculations； and reduced to the few simple doctrines taught by Christ to
His disciples； such a task was impossible for the Apostles； because the
Gospel was then unknown to mankind； and lest its novelty should offend
men's ears it had to be adapted to the disposition of contemporaries （2 Cor。
ix：19； 20）； and built up on the groundwork most familiar and accepted at
the time。 （56） Thus none of the Apostles philosophized more than did Paul；
who was called to preach to the Gentiles； other Apostles preaching to the
Jews； who despised philosophy； similarly； adapted themselves to the
temper of their hearers （see Gal。 ii。 11）； and preached a religion free from
all philosophical speculations。 （57） How blest would our age be if it could
witness a religion freed also from all the trammels of superstition！
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CHAPTER XII
OF THE TRUE ORIGINAL OF THE DIVINE LAW； AND
WHEREFORE SCRIPTURE IS CALLED SACRED； AND THE WORD
OF GOD。 HOW THAT； IN S0 FAR AS IT CONTAINS THE WORD OF
GOD； IT HAS COME DOWN TO US UNCORRUPTED。
（1） Those who look upon the Bible as a message sent down by God
from Heaven to men； will doubtless cry out that I have committed the sin
against the Holy Ghost because I have asserted that the Word of God is
faulty； mutilated； tampered with； and inconsistent； that we possess it only
in fragments； and that the original of the covenant which God made with
the Jews has been lost。 （2） However； I have no doubt that a little reflection
will cause them to desist from their uproar： for not only reason but the
expressed opinions of prophets and apostles openly proclaim that God's
eternal Word and covenant； no less than true religion； is Divinely inscribed
in human hearts； that is； in the human mind； and that this is the true
original of God's covenant； stamped with His own seal； namely； the idea of
Himself； as it were； with the image of His Godhood。
（3） Religion was imparted to the early Hebrews as a law written down；
because they were at that time in the condition of children； but afterwards
Moses （Deut。 xxx：6） and Jeremiah （xxxi：33） predicted
