Sacred Observations, Book One

SACRED OBSERVATIONS.

...are The text begins mid-sentence, likely completing a thought from the previous page about how these accounts "are" inconsistent or legendary, which we shall attempt to prove in what follows, although they did not make specific mention of this famous exchange of languages by name, as we have observed in the Jerusalem interpreter original: Hierosolymitano interprete; referring to the Targum Yerushalmi, an ancient Aramaic translation and expansion of the Hebrew Bible that often adds legendary detail. If we compare all these things with one another, we believe we can rightly and deservedly conclude that, in the interpretation and exposition of these words, no account should be taken of either the most learned Josephus or other Paraphrasts original: Paraphrastarum; the authors of the Targums, who often provided interpretive paraphrases rather than literal translations, however much they may excel in antiquity, nor even of the Gentiles who were taught by the Hebrews. Rather, we must consider the Prophet Moses alone. Since they have subverted the meaning of his discourse on this very subject, we cannot support their views through either their authorities or their traditions.

But not only in this way: we also believe it should be noted that the performance of such miracles, which would pervert the order in nature originally and most prudently established by Him, should not be easily attributed to God. I wish this were impressed upon the minds of those men who think they are most extolling the excellence and preeminence original Greek: ὑπεροχήν (hyperochen); meaning superiority or excellence of Divine power and majesty when they imagine they can suggest that the eternal and immutable laws of the universe have been bypassed by Him. This certainly seems to me to be no small proof of imprudence. For that ruler of a people is to be called wiser who prescribes edicts to his subjects and follows their standard as consistently as possible on every occasion, rather than one who thinks the rules he has prescribed should be now observed and now changed, based on the variety and inconsistency of circumstances. To wonder at the magnitude of Divine works is indeed a matter not only for a Christian man...