Preface.

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...Pharisees original: Phariſäer. A Jewish social and religious movement during the Second Temple period known for strict adherence to the Law., as well as to refute the Sadducees original: Sadducäer. A priestly sect of the same era that often clashed with the Pharisees over doctrines like the resurrection of the dead.; Matthew 5:20 and following; 22:23 and following, [and] 34 and following. And who is indeed unaware of what kind of struggle and conflict the Apostles had to withstand without ceasing? In this, they had to defend the divine truth sometimes against the Jews, sometimes against the heathens original: Heyden. A historical term for non-Christians or pagans., sometimes against false apostles, and sometimes against other errant spirits original: Irr-Geister. Those who promote misleading or heretical doctrines.. But whoever believes that in our time it is not necessary to do the same as Christ and the Apostles had to do in their time, must not know—or not want to know—the nature of our times; and that, alas! among those who call themselves Christians, there are some who even contest those truths which previously were hardly even challenged by Jews and heathens.

To be sure, some would claim that it is an unnecessary and futile thing to trouble oneself with theological controversies controuersien: Formal academic or religious disputes regarding specific points of doctrine., because everything depends only on opinions. These opinions, however, are said to be of such a nature—as the well-known Mr. Bayle Pierre Bayle (1647–1706), a French philosopher and skeptic whose works often suggested that religious belief does not necessarily determine a person's moral conduct. and others who side with him in this matter assert here and there—that people do not direct their lives according to them anyway. [They argue] that most people take their passions original Latin: passiones. and desires, rather than their knowledge original: Erkanntniß. Here referring to the intellectual and spiritual understanding of truth., as the rule and guideline of their lives and all their actions; experience teaches it,

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