But I, who consult my
conscience more than my fame, even if I am seen to add some
things, and to fill up what are wanting, or to shorten what are
too long, yet I do not think it right to steal the title of him,
who laid the foundations of the works, and supplied the
materials for the buildings. Yet, in truth, it may be at the
option of the reader, when he shall have approved of the work,
to ascribe the merits to whom he will."]
Many works probably, of the earliest ages, have been wholly or in part
lost to us from the working of the same principle in its excess. Rather
than perpetuate any sentiments at variance with the received doctrines
of the Church, it was considered the duty of the faithful to let works,
in themselves valuable, but containing such sentiments, altogether
perish, or to exclude the objectionable passages.
I would now invite you to examine the passage itself, and determine
whether it does not bear within it internal evidence of its having been
altogether interpolated.
In the first place, on the words upon which it professes to be a
comment, the author had already given his comment, and assigned to them
another meaning. "The heavens were opened," he says: "Before the time of
Christ the heavens were shut; but at his advent they were opened, THAT
THE HOLY SPIRIT MIGHT DESCEND FIRST ON HIM;" quoting also among others
the passage which speaks of Christ taking captivity captive.
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