Sacred Observations, Book One

SACRED OBSERVATIONS

...is called Babylon: for the Hebrews designate confusion by this word. original: "pellatur babylon : Hebræi enim hac voce confusionem designant" Whether these words of Josephus—which contain what is perhaps the most ancient commentary on this matter—deserve our agreement in such a doubtful case is something we must briefly consider. Indeed, Josephus is an author worthy of trust in those historical events of which he was an eyewitness original: αὐτόπτης (Greek); one who sees for themselves and obtained full certainty original: πληροφορίαν (Greek); a state of being fully convinced or having complete information. However, it has been noted more than once by learned men that his own interpretations—supported by a certain empty rather than sure and infallible tradition of the Fathers, and strengthened by the opinions of preceding centuries—have occasionally led those who sought wisdom from his writings into error.

To give a warning in this place would be superfluous, if we could not demonstrate from what precedes it that in this very argument, if he has not outright erred, he has at least said things which were fabricated without the support of the scriptures. Prudent men of every age have believed these claims to depart significantly from the simplicity of the text. These errors are manifest in those things narrated in chapter 5 Referring to Book 1, Chapter 4 of Antiquities of the Jews in modern numbering, where he testifies that God ordered the division of the human race:

τοῦ δὲ Θεοῦ κελεύσαντος αὐτοὺς εἰς πολυανθρωπίαν στέλλειν ἀποικίας, ἵνα μὴ στασιάζοιεν πρὸς ἀλλήλους — ὑπὸ ἀμαθίας παρήκουσαν τοῦ Θεοῦ :
But God, out of a desire for the human race to multiply, commanded them to establish colonies so that they might not fall into riots against one another; however, through ignorance, they did not obey God.

He notes in the following passages that God repeated this same command. What foundation, I ask—I will not say from the scriptures, but even from sound reason—can be found for this opinion? Did God, who himself instituted society and the Church so that his virtues might be proclaimed within it, and who willed this very dispersion to be a punishment for a most foul crime, truly [command]...