r fuller's shop, that
they may learn perfection."

Celsus compares a Christian teacher to a quack--"who promises
to heal the sick, on condition that they keep from intelligent
practitioners, lest his ignorance be detected."

"If one sort of them introduces one doctrine, another another, and
all join in saying, 'Believe if you would be saved, or depart:' what
are they to do, who desire really to be saved? Are they to
determine by the throw of a die, where they are to turn themselves,
or which of these demanders of implicit faith they are to believe."

Omitting what Celsus says reproachfully of the moral characters of
the Apostles, and the first teachers of Christianity, for which we
certainly shall not take his word; it is easy to perceive from the
above quotations, that they had more success among simple, and
credulous people, than among the intelligent, and well-informed.
Their introductory lesson to their pupils, was, "Believe, but do not
examine;" and their succeeding instructions seem to have been a
continued repetition, and practice of the dogma of implicit faith*.

CHAPTER X.

MISCELLANEOUS

In Matthew, ch. v. Jesus says, "ye have heard that it was said, that
shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy.'" But this is no
where said in the Law, or the Prophets; but, on the contrary, we
read directly the reverse. For it is written, Ex. xxiii. "If thou find
the ox of thine enemy or his ass going astray, thou shalt certainly
bring him back to him." "If thou meet the ass of him that hateth
thee, lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him,
thou shalt surely help him." Again, Levit. xix. "Thou shalt not
hate thy brother in thine heart; rebuke thy neighbour, nor suffer sin
upon him. Thou shalt not revenge, nor keep anger, (or bear any
grudge,) against the children of thy people; but thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself; I am the Lord." So also in Prov. xxxiv. "
When thine enemy falleth, do not triumph, and when he stumbleth,
let not thine heart exult." So also in ch. xxv. "If thy enemy hunger,
give him food; if he thirst, give him to drink." These precepts are
to the purpose, and are practicable; but this command of Jesus, "
Love your enemies," if by loving he means, "do them good," it is
commanded in the above passages in the Hebrew Law. But if by "
love," he means to look upon them with the same affection that we
feel for those who love us, and with whom we are connected by the
tenderest