Critical History of Eclecticism

» that is to say, come from Delos Delos: A small Greek island in the Cyclades, revered in antiquity as the birthplace of Apollo and a major religious sanctuary.. The
» marvelous statue was placed
» in the Temple; and the sacrilege
» of the impious Menophanes Menophanes: A general serving Mithridates VI of Pontus; his historical sack of Delos in 88 BCE was a significant event in the Mithridatic Wars. was punished
» by a prompt and painful
» death. Although there are
» few marvelous facts accom-
» panied by a greater number
» of circumstances difficult to
» call into doubt than the mira-
» cle in question; although this
» miracle has a character of au-
» thenticity which is not
» common, and it is confirmed by
» the testimony and the Monument
» of an entire people, one must
» not believe it. It is not neces-
» sary to set forth the reasons
» for this. It is enough, to reject
» it, to know that the true God
» would have led men into Idol-
» atry Idolatry: In this context, the worship of pagan deities. The author is quoting the Encyclopedist's argument that God would not allow a genuine miracle to support a false religion., if He had permitted such
» prodigies Prodigies: Extraordinary events or omens that appear to violate the laws of nature.. There are cases,
» where one must judge the truth
» of facts by their consequences,
» and by oth— original: "et d'au-" — the sentence is interrupted by the page break.