observed of the shortness of the Time, in which he lay dead, and of
the Unfitness of his Person to be rais'd before an Husband and Father
of a Family, to the Comfort of his Wife and Children, (which are
enough to overthrow the Credulity of the Miracle) I have here no more
Fault to find in the Letter of it.
But the long Story of _Lazarus_ is so brimful of Absurdities, that, if
the Letter alone is to be regarded; St. _John_, who was then above a
hundred, when he wrote it, had lived beyond his Reason and Senses, or
he could not have committed them.
I have not Room here to make Remarks on all these Absurdities, which
would be the Work of a Volume; but shall single out three or four of
them at present, reserving the rest for another Opportunity, when the
whole Story of this Miracle will appear to be such a Contexture of
Folly and Fraud in its Contrivance, Execution, and Relation, as is not
to be equall'd in all Romantick History; and our _Divines_ will find
themselves so distress'd upon the Dissection and Display of it, as
that they must of Necessity allow this Story to be but a Parable; or,
what's most grievous to think on, give up their Religion upon it.
_First_ then, observe that _Jesus_ is said to have _wept_ and
_groan'd_ for the Death of _Lazarus_: But why so, says[295] St.
_Basil_? Was not this an _Absurdity_ to weep at all for the Death of
him, whom he could, and was about to recover to Life again? Another
Man may as reasonably grieve for the Absence of his Friend, whose
Company and Presence he can retrieve in an Instant, as that _Jesus_
should shed Tears for _Lazarus_ in this Case. If _Jesus_ could not or
would not raise him from the dead, he ought not, as a Philosopher, who
knows Man is born to die, to betray so much Weakness as to weep for
him. Patience and Resignation unto God upon the Death of our dearest
Friends and Relations is what all Philosophers have rightly taught;
and _Jesus_, one would think, should have been the most Heroical
Example of these Graces; and how came he to fail of it here? A Stoical
Apathy had better became him than such childish and effeminate Grief,
which not only makes him a mean and poor-spirited Mortal; but is a
gross _Absurdity_ and _Incredibility_ upon Consideration of his Will
and Power to fetch _Lazarus_ to Life again. If there be not,
according to the Fathers, Mystery in these Tears of _Jesus_, they are
a foolish and unnatural Prelude to a Farce, he was acting in the
pretended Resuscitation of _Lazarus_.
Some antient Catholicks, not being apprised of the Mystery, were so
offended at these Words, _Jesus wept_, that, as _Epiphanius_[296]
says, they expung'd them out of their Bibles; and I wonder, they have
not, before now, disturb'd the Faith of Ministers of the Letter, to
the utter Rejection of the Miracle.
_Secondly_, Observe that _John_ says, it was with _a loud Voice_, that
_Jesus_ call'd _Lazarus_ forth out of his Cave. And why, I pray, a
louder Voice than ordinary? Was dead _Lazarus_ deafer than _Jairus_'s
Daughter, or the Widow's Son? Or was his Soul at so great a Distance
from his Body, as he could not hear a still and low Voice? Some such
silly Reason as _this_ must be given for this _loud Voice_ here; but
how absurd it is according to the Letter, Infidels will judge, till
Christians can assign a better. The dead can hear the Whisper of the
Almighty, if Power go along with it, as soon as the Sound of a
Trumpet. St. _John_ then should not have written of a _loud Voice_,
unless he meant to adapt his Story to the Capacities and Conceptions
of the Vulgar, who have no Apprehensions of God's Power, out of
sensible and human Representations of it.
_Thirdly_, Because that a Miracle should be well guarded against all
Suspicion of Fraud, I was thinking to make it an _Absurdity_, that the
Napkin, before _Jesus_ rais'd _Lazarus_, was not taken from his Face,
that the Spectators might behold his mortified Looks, and the miraculous
Change of his Countenance from Death unto Life. What _Infidels_ think of
this Circumstance I know not: I hope it is not with them a Token of
Fraud and Imposture; tho' I must needs say, that if the Fathers did not
let me in to the Mystery of the Napkin about _Lazarus_'s Face when
_Jesus_ call'd him forth, I should not my self like it.
_Fourthly_, and lastly, Observe, St. _John_ says, v. 45. that _many of
the Jews, who had seen the Things that Jesus did_ here; _believed on
him_; and _some of them_, v. 46. who did not believe, _went their Ways
to the Pharisees and told them what Things Jesus had done_ in this
pretended Miracle, and how the Business was transacted: Whereupon the
Chief Priests and Pharisees were so far incens'd as v. 53. _from that
Day forth they took Council together to put him to Death_; and Ch.
xii. 10. _consulted, that they might put_ Lazarus _also to Death_.
Jesus _therefore_ (and his Disciples and _Lazarus_ fled for it, for
they) v. 54. _walk'd no more openly among the Jews_, but _went thence
into a Country near to the Wilderness_ (a convenient hiding Place)
_and there continued with his Disciples_; otherwise in all Probability
they had been all sacrificed.
I dare not argue upon these Circumstances, neither would I, for the
Honour of _Jesus_ have mention'd them; but that my old Friend, the
Jewish _Rabbi_, who help'd me to the Satirical Invective against
_Jesus_'s Miracle of _turning Water into Wine_, has hence form'd an
Objection against _Lazarus_'s Resurrection, and sent me a _Letter_
upon it, desiring me to publish it, and exhort the _Clergy_ to answer
it; otherwise he would clandestinely hand it about to the Prejudice of
our Religion: Whereupon I, rather than Christianity should so suffer,
do here publish it, and it is as follows.
"_Sr._ When we last discours'd on _Jesus_'s Miracles, I promised to
send you my Thoughts on _Lazarus_'s Resurrection, which I look upon
as a notorious Imposture, and for the Proof of it, need go no
farther, than to the Circumstances of its Story, which your
_Evangelist_ has related.
"If there had been an indisputable Miracle wrought in _Lazarus_'s
Resurrection; why were the _Chief-Priests_ and _Pharisees_ so
incens'd upon it, as _to take Council to put both Jesus_ and
_Lazarus_ to _Death for it_? Where was the Provocation? I can
conceive none. Tho' the _Jews_ were ever so canker'd with Malice
and Hatred to _Jesus_ before; yet such a most stupendous Miracle
was enough to stop their Mouths, and turn their Hearts: Or if their
Prejudices against _Jesus_ were insuperable, and they hated him but
the more for the Number and Greatness of his Miracles; yet why is
poor _Lazarus_, inoffensive _Lazarus_, upon whom this good and
great Work was wrought, an Object of their Hatred too? Your
_Divines_ are to give a credible and probable Account of this
Matter, such a one as will comport with Reason and Sense; or we
shall conclude, that it was _Fraud_, detected in this pretended
Miracle, which justly provok'd the Indignation of our Ancestors.
"To say, what is all you can say, that it was downright Inhumanity,
Barbarity and Brutality in the _Jews_ to hate _Lazarus_ as well as
_Jesus_, will not do here. Tho' this may pass with many Christians,
who are ready to swallow, without chewing, any evil Reports of our
Nation; yet it can't go down with reasonable and unprejudic'd Men,
who must have other Conceptions of human Nature in all Ages and
Nations, than to think it possible, that a Man, in _Lazarus_'s
Case, can be hated and persecuted for having had such a good and
wonderful Work done on him. And why then was he hated and
persecuted? I say, for this, and no other Reason, than because he
was a Confederate with _Jesus_ in the wicked Imposture, he was
putting upon Mankind.
"But supposing, what is never to be granted, that the _Jews_ of old
were so inhuman, brutish, and barbarous as to hate and persecute
_Lazarus_ as well as _Jesus_ for this Miracle; yet why did _Jesus_
and his Disciples, with _Lazarus_, run away and abscond upon it?
for they v. 54. _walk'd no more openly among the_ Jews, _but went
thence into a Country near to the Wilderness, and there_ Jesus
_continued with his Disciples_. Is not here a plain Sign of Guilt
and of Fraud? Men, that have God's Cause, Truth and Power on their
Side, never want Courage and Resolution to stand to it. And
however your Christian _Priests_ may palliate the cowardly and
timerous Conduct of _Jesus_ and his Confederates in this Case; yet
with me, it's like Demonstration, that there was a discover'd Cheat
in the Miracle, or they would undauntedly have faced their Enemies,
without Fears And Apprehensions of Danger from them.
"Our Ancestors then, who unquestionably detected the Fraud, were in
the right on't to prosecute with Severity, the whole Party
concern'd in it: And if they had aveng'd the Wickedness of it upon
_Lazarus_ as well as they did upon _Jesus_, I should have commended
them for it. Whether such a monstrous Imposture, as was this
pretended Miracle, happily discover'd does not call aloud for
Vengeance and most exemplary Punishment; and whether any Nation of
the World would suffer the like with Impunity, let any Man judge.
"For all the Reports of your Gospels, it is unnatural to hate a
miraculous Healer of Diseases; and there must be somewhat supprest
about the Inveteracy of the _Jews_ to _Jesus_, or his healing
Power, if it was so great as is imagined, must have reconciled them
to him: But that they should hate not only _Jesus_ for raising the
dead, but the Person rais'd by him, is improbable, incredible, and
impossible.
"If Historians can parallel this Story of the Malignity of the
_Jews_ towards _Jesus_ and _Lazarus_ upon such a real Miracle, with
any Thing equally barbarous and inhuman, in any other Sect or
Nation; we will acknowledge the Truth of it against our ancient
Nation: Or if such Inhumanity, abstractedly consider'd, be at all
agreeable to the Conceptions any one can form of Human Nature in
the most uncivilis'd and brutish People, we will allow our
Ancestors, in this Case, to have been that People.
"Was such a real and indisputable Miracle, as this of _Lazarus_ is
supposed, to be wrought at this day in Confirmation of
Christianity, I dare say, it would bring all us _Jews_, to a Man,
into the Belief of it: And I don't think it possible, for any
People to be so begotten, byass'd, and prejudiced, as not to be
wrought on by it. Or if they would not part with their Interests
and Prejudices upon it, they would have more Wit and Temper, than
to break forth into a Rage against all or any of the Persons
concern'd in it. And, for my Life, I can entertain no worse
Thoughts of our old Nation.
"Supposing God should send an Ambassador at this day, who, to
convince Christians of the Mischiefs and Inconvenience of an
_Hireling Priesthood_, should work such a Miracle as was this of
_Lazarus_'s Resurrection, in the Presence of a multitude of
Spectators; how would your _Bishops_ and _Clergy_ behave themselves
upon it? Why, they would be as mute as Fishes; or if they did fret
and grieve inwardly for the Loss of their Interests; yet they would
have more Prudence (ask them else,) than to show their Anger
openly, and persecute both _Agent_ and _Patient_ for it. Wherefore
then are they so censorious and uncharitable as to preach and
believe another Notion and Doctrine of our Ancestors?
"But if a false Prophet, for the subversion of an _Hireling
Priesthood_, should, in spite to the _Clergy_, counterfeit such a
Miracle, and be detected in the Operation; how then would Priests
and People, Magistrates and Subjects behave upon it? Why, they
would be full of Indignation, and _from that day forth would take
Council to put_ the Impostor and his Confederate to Death, of which
they would be most deserving; and if they did not abscond and fly
for it, like _Jesu_ and his Disciples _to a Wilderness in the
Country_ to hide themselves, the Rage of the Populace would hardly
wait the Leisure of Justice to dispatch and make terrible Examples
of them. Was not this exactly the Case of _Jesus_'s Imposture in
the Resurrection of _Lazarus_; and of the Punishment he was
threaten'd with, and afterwards most justly underwent for it?
"Mankind may be in some Cases very obdurate, and so hard of Belief,
as to stand it out against Sense, Reason and Demonstration: But I
will not think worse of our Ancestors than of the rest of Mankind;
or that they any more than others would have withstood a clear and
indisputable Miracle in _Lazarus_'s Resuscitation. Such a manifest
Miracle, let it be wrought for what End and Purpose, we can
possibly imagine, would strike Men with Awe and Reverence; and none
could hate and persecute the Author of the Miracle; least He who
could raise the dead, should exert his Power against themselves,
and either wound or smite them dead with it. For which Reason, the
Resurrection of _Lazarus_, on the certain Knowledge of our
Ancestors, was all Fraud, or they would have reverenc'd and adored
the Power of him, that did it.
"It may be true, what _John_ says, that _many of the Jews, who had
seen the Things that Jesus did, believed on him_, that is, believed
that he had wrought here a great Miracle: But who were these? the
ignorant and credulous, whom a much less _juggler_ than Mr.
_Fawkes_ could easily impos'd on. But on the other hand, it is
certain, according to _Christian Commentators_, that _some of them_
did not believe the Miracle, but _went their ways to the Pharisees
and told them what Things Jesus had done_, that is, told them,
after what manner the Intrigue was managed; and complain'd of the
Fraud in it. How they came to suspect and discover the Fraud, was
not _John_'s Business to relate; and for want of other ancient
Memorials, we can only guess at it. Perhaps they discern'd some
motion in _Lazarus_'s Body, before the Word of Command, to _come
forth_, was given; perhaps they discover'd some Fragments of the
Food, that for _four days_ in the Cave, he had subsisted on. But
however this was, they could not but take Notice of the _Napkin
about his Face_ all the while; which _Jesus_, to prevent all
suspicion of Cheat, should have first order'd to be taken off, that
his mortify'd Countenance might be view'd, before the miraculous
Change of it to Life was wrought. This neglect in _Jesus_ (which I
wonder _John_ had no more Wit than to hint at) will be a lasting
Objection to the Miracle. _Jesus_ was wiser, than not to be aware
of the Objection, which he would have obviated, if he durst, by a
Removal of the Napkin, to the satisfaction of all Spectators there
present. Because this was not done, we _Jews_ now deny, there was
any Miracle wrought; and, whether our Unbelief upon this
Circumstance be not well grounded, we appeal to Christian Priests
themselves, who must own, that if there was a Miracle here, the
Matter was ill conducted by _Jesus_, or foolishly related by his
_Evangelist_."
"It is a sad Misfortune, that attends our modern enquiry after
Truth, that there are no other Memorials extant of the Life and
Miracles of _Jesus_, than what are written by his own Disciples.
Not only old Time has devour'd, but Christians themselves, (which
in the Opinion of the impartial makes for us) when they got Power
into their Hands, wilfully destroy'd many Writings of our
Ancestors, as well as of _Celsus_ and _Porphiry_ and others, which
they could not answer; otherwise I doubt not but they would have
given us clear Light into a the Imposture of _Lazarus_'s
Resurrection: But if _Jesus_, according to his own _Evangelists_,
was arraign'd for a _Deceiver_ and _Blasphemer_, in pretending to
the Sonship and Power of God by his Miracles; in all Probability
this Piece of Fraud in _Lazarus_ was one Article of the Indictment
against him; and what makes it very likely, is that the _Chief
Priests_ and _Pharisees_, from the Date of this pretended Miracle,
_took Council together to put him to Death_, not clandestinely or
tumultuously to murder him, but judicially to punish him with
Death, which, if they proved their Indictment by credible and
sufficient Witnesses, he was most worthy of.
"As it is plain from the Story in _John_, that there was a Dispute
among the By-standers at _Lazarus_'s Resurrection, whether it was a
real Miracle or not; so it is the Opinion of us _Jews_, which is of
the Nature of a Tradition, that the _Chief-Priests_ and civil
Magistrates of _Bethany_, for the better Determination of the
Dispute and quieting of the Minds of the People, requir'd that
_Jesus_ should re-act the Miracle upon another Person, there lately
dead and buried. But _Jesus_ declining this Test of his Power, the
whole Multitude of Believers as well as of Unbelievers before,
question'd the Resurrection of _Lazarus_; and were highly incens'd
against both him and _Jesus_ for the Deceit in it. And this was
_one_ Reason among others of that vehement and Universal Outcry and
Demand, at _Jesus_'s Tryal, for his Crucifixion. I'll not answer
for the Certainty of this Tradition or Opinion, but as the
Expedient was obvious, so it has the Face of Truth and Credibility;
and for the Proof of it, I need only appeal to Christian _Priests_
and _Magistrates_; whether, under a Dispute of a Miracle of that
Consequence, they would not require, for full Satisfaction, it
should be acted over again; and, if the _Juggler_ refused, whether
there would not be a general Clamour of People of all Ranks for his
_Execution_.
"_Matthew_, _Mark_ and _Luke_, who knew as much of this
Sham-Miracle as _John_, had not the Confidence to report it;
because, when they wrote, many Eye-Witnesses of the Fraud were
alive to disprove and contradict them; therefore they confined
their Narratives to _Jesus_'s less juggling Tricks, that had pass'd
more current: But after the _Jewish_ State was dissolved, their
judicial Records were destroy'd, and every Body dead that could
confute him, _John_ ventures abroad the Story of this Miracle; and
if the good Providence of God had not infatuated him, in the
Insertion of the Circumstances here observed, it might have pass'd
through all Generations to come, as well as it has done for many
past, for a grand Miracle.
"Thus, _Sir_, have you a few of my Thoughts on the pretended
Miracle of _Lazarus_'s Resurrection. I have more to bestow on it,
but that I would not be tedious. There's no need to argue against
the other two Resurrection-Stories. You know _omne majus includit
minus_, and if the greatest of the three Miracles be an Imposture,
the two less ones of Consequence are Artifice and Fraud. And rather
than the Miracle of _Lazarus_ shall stand its Ground, I'll have
t'other Bout at it from some other Circumstances; the Consideration
of which will make it as foolish and wicked an Imposture, as ever
was contrived and transacted in the World; such a _wicked
Imposture_ of most pernicious Consequence to the Welfare of the
Publick, that it is no Wonder, the People, by an unanimous Voice,
call'd for the Releasement of _Barabbas_, a Robber and Murderer,
before _Jesus_. I don't suppose these Arguments against this
Miracle will be convincing of your Christian _Clergy_, who are
hired to the Belief of it. But however, a _Bishop_ of many
_thousands_ a Year to believe, can't in Conscience deny, that the
Arguments above are a sufficient Justification of our _Jewish_
Disbelief of it.
"If you, Sir, should write a Discourse gainst the Letter of the
Story of _Jesus_'s Resurrection, I beg of you to accept of a few of
my Conceptions on that Head, which, I promise you, shall be out of
the common Road of thinking. Your _Divines_ think they have
exhausted that Subject, and absolutely confuted all Objections that
can be made against it, but are much mistaken. Sometimes we _Jews_
dip into their Writings on this Head, and always smile with
Indignation at their foolish Invectives against the Blindness of
the Eyes, and Hardness of the Hearts of our Ancestors. If they
would but favour us with a Liberty to write for our selves, a
reasonable Liberty, which in this Philosophical Age we don't
despair of, especially under so wise just and good a Civil
Administration, as this Nation is happily bless'd with, we would
cut them out some more Work, which they are not aware of. In the
mean Time I am your assured Friend,"
_N.N._
So ends the Letter of my Friend, the _Jewish Rabbi_, which consists of
_calm_ and _sedate_ Reasoning, or I would not have publish'd it; for I
am resolv'd he shall no more impose upon me with his ludicrous and
bantering Stuff, like his Satirical Invective against _Jesus_'s
Miracle of _turning Water into Wine_, so offensive to our Godly
_Bishops_. And because it consists of _calm_ and _sedate_ Reasoning,
which _Bishop Smalbroke_ allows of, I hope his _Lordship_ will take it
into Consideration, and write an Answer to it, which I, without the
Help of the Mystery, can't do.
If the foresaid _Letter_ be offensive to our _Clergy_, who don't judge
it meet that the _Jews_ should take this Liberty to write against the
Miracles of our Saviour, and in Vindication of their own disbelief of
Christianity, I beg of them, for the Love of _Jesus_, not to let their
Displeasure be visibly seen; because the _Jews_ will then laugh in their
Sleeves, and perhaps openly insult and triumph upon it: But if they will
privately acquaint me with their Displeasure at it, I'll promise them
to hold no more Correspondence with such _Jewish Rabbies_; neither will
I ever hereafter publish any other Objections against _Christ_'s
Religion and Miracles, than what come from the _Hotentots_ and
_Pawawers_: and then it will be strange, if our dignified _Clergy_, of
most grave and demure Looks, can't solidly confute the worst, that such
ignorant and illiterate People can urge against them.
And thus have I done with my Objections against the Letter of these
three Miracles. If our _Divines_ shall think there is little or
nothing of Force in them; then an Answer, which I should be glad to
see, may the more easily be made to them. As for my part, without
being conceited of the Acuteness and Strength of any of the
Objections, I think it impossible satisfactorily to reply to them,
without having Recourse to the Opinions of the Fathers, that these
three Miracles, whether they were ever litterally transacted or not,
are now but emblematical Representations of mysterious and more
wonderful Operations to be perform'd by _Jesus_.
To the Fathers then let us go for their mystical Interpretation of
these Miracles. St. _Augustin_, in his Introduction to a Sermon on the
Widow of _Naim_'s Son, says[297] thus, "There are some so silly as to
stand amazed at the corporal Miracles of _Jesus_, and have no
Consideration of his greater and spiritual Miracles, signified by
them: but others who are wiser can hear of the Things that _Jesus_ did
on Men's Bodys, without being astonish'd at them, chusing rather to
contemplate with Admiration his more wonderful Works on Men's Souls;
after the similitude of bodily Miracles. And these are the Christians
that conform their Studies to the Will of our Lord; who would have his
corporal Miracles, spiritually interpreted: For He wrought not
Miracles in the Flesh, for the sake of such Miracles abstractedly
consider'd; but that, if they were surprising to some Mens Senses,
they should be more astonishing to the Understanding of others, who
apprehend the spiritual Meaning of them. And they who by Contemplation
can attain to the mystical Signification of _Jesus_'s Miracles, are
the best Scholars and most learn'd Disciples in his Church and School.
And, (_speaking of the Absurdity of Jesus's cursing the Figtree
according to the Letter_) presently after says, that this he observ'd,
that he might persuade his Hearers to think, that our Lord _Jesus_
therefore wrought Miracles, that he might signify somewhat by them,
which he would have his Disciples to learn and consider of. Come now,
_says he_, and let us see what we are mistically and spiritually to
understand by the Stories of the three Persons rais'd from the dead."