Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1817-10-07
ANCIENT TESTIMONIES
concerning Jesus Of .Nazareth, &c.-NO. III.
FROM THE CAVE.


Extracts from Ecclesiastical History, written a.
bout the year A. ID. $780,
The divine Scripture of the Gospels, makes men
ton Of John the Baptist having his head cut off
by the Younger Herod. Josephus also concurs i'm
this history, and makes mention of Herodias nv
name as the wife Of bis brother, whom Herod had
married upon divorcng his former lawful wife.
She was the daughter ofAretas king of Arabia Pc.
irea, and which Herodias he had parted from her
husband while he was alive. On this account also.
Aretas made war with him, because his daughter
had been used dishonourably. LIN which war, when
it TO battle, he says, that all Herod's army
was destroyed and that he suffered this because
of his wicked conefivance against John. Moreo-
yer this same Josephus, by acknowledging John to
have been most righteous man, and the Baptist,
concurs in his testimony with what is written Id
the Gospels He also relates, that Herod lost hi 5
kingdom for this same Herodias; together with
whom he was himself condemned to be banished TO
Vienna, city of Gaul. In the 18th book of his
Antiquities, be writes of John -
"Some of the Jewsthought that the destruction
of Herod's Army came from God, and that very
justly as punishment Tor what be did against
John, that was called the Baptist, for Herod slew
him v no w6s good man, aud one that commanded
the Jews TO exercise virtue, both as to righteous
ness towards one another, and piety towards God
and SO TO come to baptism for that, by these
means, the washing with water, would appear &C.
ceptsble 10 him not in order that the putting a.
way remission of some sins only, but for the pu-
rfcatiof of the body supposing still that the soul
was purified by righteousness, When many came
in crowds about him, for they were delighted with
hearing bis words, Herod was afraid that his great
power Of persnadng men, might tend to sedition,
for they seemed disposed to do every thing be ad-
vised the M to-, He therefore thought it better to
prevent any attempt at innovation by cutting him
off. than, after such innovation should be brought
about, to repent of his negligence Accordingly
he was sent prisorer to the castle of Machaerius
and there put to DEATH"
When Josephus had thus written he makes men
ton Of Saviour in the same history, in The man
ner already quoted; therefore this writer sprung
from the Hebrews themselves, he has delivered
these things in his own work concerning John the
Baptist and our Sapiour. What room then can
there be for further evasion? s.
Now James was so wonderful person, and so
celebrated by all others for Righteousness, that the
judicious Jews thought this to have been the occa
sion of the siege of Jerusalem, which came on pre-
senty after bis martyrdom, and that il befel them
for no other reason, than that impiols fact, they
were guilty OF against him. Josephus therefore,
did not refuse to attest thereto in writing in the
following words; +" These things betel the Jews by
way OF revenge, for James the just, who was the
brother of Jesus that was called Christ on this
account, that they had slain him, who was most
righteous person.v 4
The same Josephus declares the manner of his
Heath, in the Goth book of his Antiquities, in the
words -" Cesar sent Albinus into Ju-
dea as procurator when he heard that Festus was
dead. Now Ananus the younger, who had been
admitted to the Highpriesthood was, in his temper
bold and daring in an extraordinary manner. He
was also of the sect Of the Sadducees who are
rigid in opinion, ,han others Of the Jews. Since
therefore, this was the character of Ananus, he
had proper opportunity of exercising bis author-
Ly, because Festus was dead Albinus was but up
on the road He therefore assemblies the Sanhe-
drim ofthe Judges and brings before them James
the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, and
some Others Of his companions, and when he had
formed an accusation against theen, as breakers OF
the Law, be delivered them up to be stoned. But
those who seemed the most equitable among the
citizens, and those who were most uneasy at the
breach Of the Laws, disliked what was done. They
also sent to the King Agrppa, desiring him to send
to Ananus that he should act so no more; for
that what be had already done could not he justi-
ied,v FRO BE CosTINuxD1
X12aa N