But more particularly by Calcidius, an Heathen Philosopher, in his Comment on Plato's Timaeus; whose Words, as I find them cited by Cardinal Baronius, that learned Annalist, are these:(c) There is another more venerable and holy History, which tells us of the Rise of a certain unwonted Star, not threatening Diseases and Death, but the Descent of the venerable God, to converse with Men, and mortal Affairs: Which Star, when certain wise Men of Chaldea saw in their fourney by Night, being sufficiently acquainted with Astronomy, and consideration of Celestial things, They are reported to have sought out this new Birth of God, and the Majesty of this Child being found, to have worshipped him, and offered Gifts suitable to so great a God. Herod's slaughtering of the Children is notorious, by that Joke passed upon him on that occasion by the Emperor Augustus, recorded by Macrobius, (d)When he heard, that amongst those Children under two Years old, whom Herod the King of the Jews had commanded to be slain in Syria, his (the said Herod's) own Son was slain also, he said, 'Tis better to be Herod's Hog, than his Son: Alluding to the Jews Abhorrence of Swines Flesh, which it seems Herod, tho not of that Nation, yet pretending himself a kind of Proselyte, did likewise observe. Touching the preternatural Defect of the Sun at our Lord's Crucifixion it was with amazement seen and recorded by Dionysius the Areopagite. And Tertullian, in his Apology, cap. 21. appeals to the Roman Records for the certainty of it. And Origen affirms, that one Phlegon, Secretary to the Emperor Adrian, did write thereof in his Chronicles. What an illustrious Testimony is that extorted by Truth from the Mouth of an Enemy, I mean Josephus, a Jew in Religion, as well as by Nation, (tho he wrote in Greek) born not above five or six Years after Christ's Passion! In his 18th Book, and 4th Chapter, speaking of the Reign of Tiberias, he hath these Words: In those Days there was one Jesus, a wise Man, (if it be lawful to call him a Man) for he was a Worker of great Miracles, and a Teacher of such as readily receive the Truth, and had many Followers, as well Jews as Gentiles. This is that CHRIST, who tho he was accused by the chief of our Nation, and by Pilate condemned to be crucified; yet ⟨p. xii⟩did not they who had first loved him, forsake him; for he appeared unto them the third Day alive again:
But more particularly by Calcidius, an Heathen Philosopher, in his Comment on Plato's Timaeus; whose Words, as I find them cited by Cardinal Baronius, that learned Annalist, are these:(c) There is another more venerable and holy History, which tells us of the Rise of a certain unwonted Star, not threatning Diseases and Death, but the Descent of the venerable God, to converse with Men, and mortal Affairs: Which Star, when certain wise Men of Caldea saw in their fourney by Night, being sufficiently acquainted with Astronomy, and consideration of Celestial things, They are reported to have sought out this new Birth of God, and the Majesty of this Child being found, to have worshipped him, and offered Gifts suitable to so great a God. Herod's slaughtering of the Children is notorious, by that Joque passed upon him on that occasion by the Emperor Augustus, recorded by Macrobius, (d)When he heard, that amongst those Children under two Years old, whom Herod the King of the Jews had commanded to be slain in Syria, his (the said Herod's) own Son was slain also, he said, 'Tis better to be Herod's Hog, than his Son: Alluding to the Jews Abhorrence of Swines Flesh, which it seems Herod, tho not of that Nation, yet pretending himself a kind of Proselyte, did likewise observe. Touching the preternatural Defect of the Sun at our Lord's Crucifixion it was with amazement seen and recorded by Dionysius the Areopagite. And Tertullian, in his Apology, cap. 21. appeals to the Roman Records for the certainty of it. And Origen affirms, that one Phlegon, Secretary to the Emperor Adrian, did write thereof in his Chronicles. What an illustrious Testimony is that extorted by Truth from the Mouth of an Enemy, I mean Josephus, a Jew in Religion, as well as by Nation, (tho he wrote in Greek) born not above five or six Years after Christ's Passion! In his 18th Book, and 4th Chapter, speaking of the Reign of Tiberias, he hath these Words: In those Days there was one Jesus, a wise Man, (if it be lawful to call him a Man) for he was a Worker of great Miracles, and a Teacher of such as readily receive the Truth, and had many Followers, as well Jews as Gentiles. This is that CHRIST, who tho he was accused by the chief of our Nation, and by Pilate condemned to be crucified; yet ⟨p. xii⟩did not they who had first loved him, forsake him; for he appeared unto them the third Day alive again:
- (c)Est quoque alia venerabilior & sanctior Historia, qua perhibet de ortu Stellae cujusdam insolita, non morbos, mortesque denunciante, sed descensum Dei venerabilis ad humanae conversationis, rerumque mortalium gratiam: Quam Stellam cùm nocturno itinere suspexissent Cald•eorum profectò sapiences viri, & consideration rerum coelestium satis exercitati, quaesisse dicuntur recentem Dei ortum, repertâque illa Majestate puerili, venerati esse, & vota Deo tanto convenientia nuncupasse. Bar. Tom. 1. p. 52.Est quoque alia venerabilior & sanctior Historia, qua perhibet de ortu Stellae cujusdam insolita, non morbos, mortesque denunciante, sed descensum Dei venerabilis ad humanae conversationis, rerumque mortalium gratiam: Quam Stellam cùm nocturno itinere suspexissent Cald•eorum profectò sapiences viri, & consideratione rerum coelestium satis exercitati, quaesisse dicuntur recentem Dei ortum, repertâque illa Majestate puerili, venerati esse, & vota Deo tanto convenientia nuncupasse. Bar. Tom. 1. p. 52.
- (d)Cum audisset inter eos, quos in Syria Herodes Rex Judaeorum inter Binatum jussit interfici, filium quoque ejus occisum, ait, Melius est Herodis porcum esse quam filium. Macrob. Saturnal. lib. 4.
