§. 22 Indeed after the Conquest of Jerusalem by Pompey, when the People of the Jews began to be known among the Romans, and to disperse themselves throughout their Provinces, they began every day more and more to hate them, and to cast all manner of reproaches on them without regard to Truth or Honesty. And it may not be amiss here a little (by the way) to enquire into the Reasons of it. The principal cause hereof no doubt, was from the God they worshipped, and the manner of his Worship observed amongst them. For finding them to acknowledge and adore one only (the true) God, and that without the use of any kind of Images, they perceived their own Idolatry and Superstition to be condemned thereby. And this had been the condition of that people under the former Empires, of the Chaldeans, Persians, and Grecians. God had appointed them to be his Witnesses in the world, that he was God, and that there was none other. Isa. 44. 8, 9, 10. Ye are my Witnesses, is there a God besides me, there is no God, I know not any. As also Chap. 43. 10▪ 11, 12. Ye are my Witnesses, that before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be any after me, I even I am the Lord, and besides me there is no Saviour; therefore ⟨p. 104⟩ye are my Witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. This greatly provoked, as other Nations of old, so at length the Romans, as bidding defiance to all their Gods, and their Worship of them, wherein they greatly boasted. For they thought that it was merely by the Help of their Gods, and on the account of their Religion, that they conquered all other Nations. So Ciccro Orat. de Respon. Harusp. Quam volumus ipsi nos amemus, tamen nec numero Hispanos, nec robore Gallos, nec calliditate Poenos, nec artibus Graecos, sed pietate & religione, atque hac una sapientia, quod deorum immortalium numine omnia regi, gubernarique prospeximus, omnes gentes nationesque superavimus. Let us love and please ourselves as we think meet, yet we outgo neither the Spaniards in number, nor the Gauls in strength, nor the Africans in craft, nor the Grecians in Arts; but it is by our Piety and Religion, and this only Wisdom, that we refer all to the Government of the immortal Gods, that we have overcome all Countries and Nations. And Dionysius Halicarnassaeus, Antiquit. Rom. lib. 2. having given an account of their Sacred Rites and Worship, adds that he did it [Greek or Hebrew].
§. 22 Indeed after the Conquest of Jerusalem by Pompey, when the People of the Jews began to be known among the Romans, and to disperse themselves throughout their Provinces, they began every day more and more to hate them, and to cast all manner of reproaches on them without regard to Truth or Honesty. And it may not be amiss here a little (by the way) to enquire into the Reasons of it. The principal cause hereof no doubt, was from the God they worshipped, and the manner of his Worship observed amongst them. For finding them to acknowledge and adore one only (the true) God, and that without the use of any kind of Images, they perceived their own Idolatry and Superstition to be condemned thereby. And this had been the condition of that people under the former Empires, of the Chaldaeáns, Persians, and Grecians. God had appointed them to be his Witnesses in the world, that he was God, and that there was none other. Isa. 44. 8, 9, 10. Ye are my Witnesses, is there a God besides me, there is no God, I know not any. As also Chap. 43. 10▪ 11, 12. Ye are my Witnesses, that before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be any after me, I even I am the Lord, and besides me there is no Saviour; therefore ⟨p. 104⟩ye are my Witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. This greatly provoked, as other Nations of old, so at length the Romans, as bidding defiance to all their Gods, and their Worship of them, wherein they greatly boasted. For they thought that it was meerly by the Help of their Gods, and on the account of their Religion, that they conquered all other Nations. So Ciccro Orat. de Respon. Harusp. Quam volumus ipsi nos amemus, tamen nec numero Hispanos, nec robore Gallos, nec calliditate Poenos, nec artibus Graecos, sed pietate & religione, atque hac una sapientia, quod deorum immortalium numine omnia regi, gubernarique prospeximus, omnes gentes nationesque superavimus. Let us love and please ourselves as we think meet, yet we outgo neither the Spaniards in number, nor the Gaules in strength, nor the Africans in craft, nor the Grecians in Arts; but it is by our Piety and Religion, and this only Wisdom, that we refer all to the Government of the immortal Gods, that we have overcome all Countreys and Nations. And Dionysius Halicarnassaeus, Antiquit. Rom. lib. 2. having given an account of their Sacred Rites and Worship, adds that he did it 〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
