Onhisreturntohisnativeskies，hereceivedtheimmenserewardofhisobedience；theeverlastingkingdomoftheMessiah，whichhadbeendarklyforetoldbytheprophets，underthecarnalimagesofpeace，ofconquest，andofdominion。OmnipotencecouldenlargethehumanfacultiesofChristtotheextendofiscelestialoffice。Inthelanguageofantiquity，thetitleofGodhasnotbeenseverelyconfinedtothefirstparent，andhisincomparableminister，hisonly—begottenson，mightclaim，withoutpresumption，thereligious，thoughsecondary，worshipofasubjectofasubjectworld。
[Footnote4:ThetwofirstchaptersofSt。MatthewdidnotexistintheEbionitecopies，Epiphan。Haeres。xxx。13；andthemiraculousconceptionisoneofthelastarticleswhichDr。
Priestleyhascurtailedfromhisscantycreed。
Note:ThedistinctallusiontothefactsrelatedinthetwofirstchaptersoftheGospel，inaworkevidentlywrittenabouttheendofthereignofNero，theAscensioIsaiae，editedbyArchbishopLawrence，seemsconvincingevidencethattheyareintegralpartsoftheauthenticChristianhistory。—M。]
[Footnote5:ItisprobableenoughthatthefirstoftheGospelsfortheuseoftheJewishconvertswascomposedintheHebreworSyriacidiom:thefactisattestedbyachainoffathers—
Papias，Irenaeus，Origen，Jerom，&c。ItisdevoutlybelievedbytheCatholics，andadmittedbyCasaubon，Grotius，andIsaacVossius，amongtheProtestantcritics。ButthisHebrewGospelofSt。Matthewismostunaccountablylost；andwemayaccusethediligenceorfidelityoftheprimitivechurches，whohavepreferredtheunauthorizedversionofsomenamelessGreek。
Erasmusandhisfollowers，whorespectourGreektextastheoriginalGospel，deprivethemselvesoftheevidencewhichdeclaresittobetheworkofanapostle。SeeSimon，Hist。
Critique，&c。，tom。iii。c。5—9，p。47—101，andtheProlegomenaofMillandWetsteintotheNewTestament。
Note:SurelytheextinctionoftheJudaeo—ChristiancommunityrelatedfromMosheimbyGibbonhimselfc。xv。
accountsbothsimplyandnaturallyforthelossofacomposition，whichhadbecomeofnouse—nordoesitfollowthattheGreekGospelofSt。Matthewisunauthorized。—M。]
[Footnote6:ThemetaphysicsofthesoularedisengagedbyCiceroTusculan。l。i。andMaximusofTyreDissertat。xvi。fromtheintricaciesofdialogue，whichsometimesamuse，andoftenperplex，thereadersofthePhoedrus，thePhoedon，andtheLawsofPlato。]
[Footnote7:ThedisciplesofJesuswerepersuadedthatamanmighthavesinnedbeforehewasborn，John，ix。2，andthePhariseesheldthetransmigrationofvirtuoussouls，Joseph。deBell。Judaico，l。ii。c。7；andamodernRabbiismodestlyassured，thatHermes，Pythagoras，Plato，&c。，derivedtheirmetaphysicsfromhisillustriouscountrymen。]
[Footnote8:Fourdifferentopinionshavebeenentertainedconcerningtheoriginofhumansouls:1。Thattheyareeternalanddivine。2。Thattheywerecreatedinaseparatestateofexistence，beforetheirunionwiththebody。3。ThattheyhavebeenpropagatedfromtheoriginalstockofAdam，whocontainedinhimselfthementalaswellasthecorporealseedofhisposterity。4。Thateachsoulisoccasionallycreatedandembodiedinthemomentofconception。—Thelastofthesesentimentsappearstohaveprevailedamongthemoderns；andourspiritualhistoryisgrownlesssublime，withoutbecomingmoreintelligible。]
[Footnote9:ItwasoneofthefifteenheresiesimputedtoOrigen，anddeniedbyhisapologist，Photius，Bibliothec。cod。
cxvii。p。296。SomeoftheRabbisattributeoneandthesamesoultothepersonsofAdam，David，andtheMessiah。]
II。Theseedsofthefaith，whichhadslowlyarisenintherockyandungratefulsoilofJudea，weretransplanted，infullmaturity，tothehappierclimesoftheGentiles；andthestrangersofRomeorAsia，whoneverbeheldthemanhood，werethemorereadilydisposedtoembracethedivinity，ofChrist。Thepolytheistandthephilosopher，theGreekandtheBarbarian，werealikeaccustomedtoconceivealongsuccession，aninfinitechainofangelsordaemons，ordeities，oraeons，oremanations，issuingfromthethroneoflight。Norcoulditseemstrangeorincredible，thatthefirstoftheseaeons，theLogos，orWordofGod，ofthesamesubstancewiththeFather，shoulddescenduponearth，todeliverthehumanracefromviceanderror，andtoconducttheminthepathsoflifeandimmortality。ButtheprevailingdoctrineoftheeternityandinherentpravityofmatterinfectedtheprimitivechurchesoftheEast。ManyamongtheGentileproselytesrefusedtobelievethatacelestialspirit，anundividedportionofthefirstessence，hadbeenpersonallyunitedwithamassofimpureandcontaminatedflesh；
and，intheirzealforthedivinity，theypiouslyabjuredthehumanity，ofChrist。WhilehisbloodwasstillrecentonMountCalvary，^10theDocetes，anumerousandlearnedsectofAsiatics，inventedthephantasticsystem，whichwasafterwardspropagatedbytheMarcionites，theManichaeans，andthevariousnamesoftheGnosticheresy。^11TheydeniedthetruthandauthenticityoftheGospels，asfarastheyrelatetheconceptionofMary，thebirthofChrist，andthethirtyyearsthatprecededtheexerciseofhisministry。HefirstappearedonthebanksoftheJordanintheformofperfectmanhood；butitwasaformonly，andnotasubstance；ahumanfigurecreatedbythehandofOmnipotencetoimitatethefacultiesandactionsofaman，andtoimposeaperpetualillusiononthesensesofhisfriendsandenemies。Articulatesoundsvibratedontheearsofthedisciples；buttheimagewhichwasimpressedontheiropticnerveeludedthemorestubbornevidenceofthetouch；andtheyenjoyedthespiritual，notthecorporeal，presenceoftheSonofGod。
TherageoftheJewswasidlywastedagainstanimpassivephantom；andthemysticscenesofthepassionanddeath，theresurrectionandascension，ofChristwererepresentedonthetheatreofJerusalemforthebenefitofmankind。Ifitwereurged，thatsuchidealmimicry，suchincessantdeception，wasunworthyoftheGodoftruth，theDocetesagreedwithtoomanyoftheirorthodoxbrethreninthejustificationofpiousfalsehood。
InthesystemoftheGnostics，theJehovahofIsrael，theCreatorofthislowerworld，wasarebellious，oratleastanignorant，spirit。TheSonofGoddescendeduponearthtoabolishhistempleandhislaw；and，fortheaccomplishmentofthissalutaryend，hedexterouslytransferredtohisownpersonthehopeandpredictionofatemporalMessiah。
[Footnote10:Apostolisadhucinseculosuperstitibus，apudJudaeamChristisanguinerecente，Phantasmadominicorpusasserebatur。Hieronym，advers。Lucifer。c。8。TheepistleofIgnatiustotheSmyrnaeans，andeventheGospelaccordingtoSt。
John，arelevelledagainstthegrowingerroroftheDocetes，whohadobtainedtoomuchcreditintheworld，1John，iv。1—5。]
[Footnote11:Abouttheyear200oftheChristianaera，IrenaeusandHippolytusefutedthethirty—twosects，whichhadmultipliedtofourscoreinthetimeofEpiphanius，Phot。Biblioth。cod。
cxx。cxxi。cxxii。ThefivebooksofIrenaeusexistonlyinbarbarousLatin；buttheoriginalmightperhapsbefoundinsomemonasteryofGreece。]
OneofthemostsubtiledisputantsoftheManichaeanschoolhaspressedthedangerandindecencyofsupposing，thattheGodoftheChristians，inthestateofahumanfoetus，emergedattheendofninemonthsfromafemalewomb。Thepioushorrorofhisantagonistsprovokedthemtodisclaimallsensualcircumstancesofconceptionanddelivery；tomaintainthatthedivinitypassedthroughMarylikeasunbeamthroughaplateofglass；andtoassert，thatthesealofhervirginityremainedunbrokenevenatthemomentwhenshebecamethemotherofChrist。ButtherashnessoftheseconcessionshasencouragedamildersentimentofthoseoftheDocetes，whotaught，notthatChristwasaphantom，butthathewasclothedwithanimpassibleandincorruptiblebody。Such，indeed，inthemoreorthodoxsystem，hehasacquiredsincehisresurrection，andsuchhemusthavealwayspossessed，ifitwerecapableofpervading，withoutresistanceorinjury，thedensityofintermediatematter。Devoidofitsmostessentialproperties，itmightbeexemptfromtheattributesandinfirmitiesoftheflesh。Afoetusthatcouldincreasefromaninvisiblepointtoitsfullmaturity；achildthatcouldattainthestatureofperfectmanhoodwithoutderivinganynourishmentfromtheordinarysources，mightcontinuetoexistwithoutrepairingadailywastebyadailysupplyofexternalmatter。
Jesusmightsharetherepastsofhisdiscipleswithoutbeingsubjecttothecallsofthirstorhunger；andhisvirginpuritywasneversulliedbytheinvoluntarystainsofsensualconcupiscence。Ofabodythussingularlyconstituted，aquestionwouldarise，bywhatmeans，andofwhatmaterials，itwasoriginallyframed；andoursoundertheologyisstartledbyananswerwhichwasnotpeculiartotheGnostics，thatboththeformandthesubstanceproceededfromthedivineessence。Theideaofpureandabsolutespiritisarefinementofmodernphilosophy:
theincorporealessence，ascribedbytheancientstohumansouls，celestialbeings，andeventheDeityhimself，doesnotexcludethenotionofextendedspace；andtheirimaginationwassatisfiedwithasubtilenatureofair，orfire，oraether，incomparablymoreperfectthanthegrossnessofthematerialworld。Ifwedefinetheplace，wemustdescribethefigure，oftheDeity。Ourexperience，perhapsourvanity，representsthepowersofreasonandvirtueunderahumanform。TheAnthropomorphites，whoswarmedamongthemonksofEgyptandtheCatholicsofAfrica，couldproducetheexpressdeclarationofScripture，thatmanwasmadeaftertheimageofhisCreator。^12ThevenerableSerapion，oneofthesaintsoftheNitriandeserts，relinquished，withmanyatear，hisdarlingprejudice；andbewailed，likeaninfant，hisunluckyconversion，whichhadstolenawayhisGod，andlefthismindwithoutanyvisibleobjectoffaithordevotion。^13
[Footnote12:ThepilgrimCassian，whovisitedEgyptinthebeginningofthevthcentury，observesandlamentsthereignofanthropomorphismamongthemonks，whowerenotconsciousthattheyembracedthesystemofEpicurus，Cicero，deNat。Deorum，i。
18，34。Abuniversopropemodumgeneremonachorum，quipertotamprovinciamEgyptummorabantur，prosimplicitatiserroresusceptumest，utecontraricmemoratumpontificemTheophilusveluthaeresigravissimadepravatum，parsmaximaseniorumabuniversofraternitatiscorporedecerneretdetestandum，Cassian，Collation。x。2。AslongasSt。AugustinremainedaManichaean，hewasscandalizedbytheanthropomorphismofthevulgarCatholics。]
[Footnote13:Itaestinorationesenexmenteconfusus，eoquodillamimaginemDeitatis，quamproponeresibiinorationeconsueverat，aboleridesuocordesentiret，utinamarissimosfletus，crebrosquesingultusrepenteprorumpens，interramprostratus，cumejulatuvalidissimoproclamaret；\"Heumemiserum!
tuleruntameDeummeum，etquemnuncteneamnonhabeo，velquemadorem，autinterpallamamnescio。\"Cassian，Collat。x。2。]
III。SuchwerethefleetingshadowsoftheDocetes。Amoresubstantial，thoughlesssimple，hypothesis，wascontrivedbyCerinthusofAsia，^14whodaredtoopposethelastoftheapostles。PlacedontheconfinesoftheJewishandGentileworld，helaboredtoreconciletheGnosticwiththeEbionite，byconfessinginthesameMessiahthesupernaturalunionofamanandaGod；andthismysticdoctrinewasadoptedwithmanyfancifulimprovementsbyCarpocrates，Basilides，andValentine，^15thehereticsoftheEgyptianschool。Intheireyes，JesusofNazarethwasameremortal，thelegitimatesonofJosephandMary:buthewasthebestandwisestofthehumanrace，selectedastheworthyinstrumenttorestoreuponearththeworshipofthetrueandsupremeDeity。WhenhewasbaptizedintheJordan，theChrist，thefirstoftheaeons，theSonofGodhimself，descendedonJesusintheformofadove，toinhabithismind，anddirecthisactionsduringtheallottedperiodofhisministry。WhentheMessiahwasdeliveredintothehandsoftheJews，theChrist，animmortalandimpassiblebeing，forsookhisearthlytabernacle，flewbacktothepleromaorworldofspirits，andleftthesolitaryJesustosuffer，tocomplain，andtoexpire。Butthejusticeandgenerosityofsuchadesertionarestronglyquestionable；andthefateofaninnocentmartyr，atfirstimpelled，andatlengthabandoned，byhisdivinecompanion，mightprovokethepityandindignationoftheprofane。TheirmurmurswerevariouslysilencedbythesectarieswhoespousedandmodifiedthedoublesystemofCerinthus。Itwasalleged，thatwhenJesuswasnailedtothecross，hewasendowedwithamiraculousapathyofmindandbody，whichrenderedhiminsensibleofhisapparentsufferings。Itwasaffirmed，thatthesemomentary，thoughreal，pangswouldbeabundantlyrepaidbythetemporalreignofathousandyearsreservedfortheMessiahinhiskingdomofthenewJerusalem。Itwasinsinuated，thatifhesuffered，hedeservedtosuffer；thathumannatureisneverabsolutelyperfect；andthatthecrossandpassionmightservetoexpiatethevenialtransgressionsofthesonofJoseph，beforehismysteriousunionwiththeSonofGod。^16
[Footnote14:St。JohnandCerinthusA。D。80。Cleric。Hist。
Eccles。p。493accidentallymetinthepublicbathofEphesus；
buttheapostlefledfromtheheretic，lestthebuildingshouldtumbleontheirheads。Thisfoolishstory，reprobatedbyDr。
Middleton，MiscellaneousWorks，vol。ii。，isrelated，however，byIrenaeus，iii。3，ontheevidenceofPolycarp，andwasprobablysuitedtothetimeandresidenceofCerinthus。Theobsolete，yetprobablythetrue，readingof1John，iv。3alludestothedoublenatureofthatprimitiveheretic。
Note:GriesbachassertsthatalltheGreekMss。，allthetranslators，andalltheGreekfathers，supportthecommonreading。—Nov。Test。inloc。—M]
[Footnote15:TheValentiniansembracedacomplex，andalmostincoherent，system。1。BothChristandJesuswereaeons，thoughofdifferentdegrees；theoneactingastherationalsoul，theotherasthedivinespiritoftheSavior。2。Atthetimeofthepassion，theybothretired，andleftonlyasensitivesoulandahumanbody。3。Eventhatbodywasaethereal，andperhapsapparent。—SucharethelaboriousconclusionsofMosheim。ButI
muchdoubtwhethertheLatintranslatorunderstoodIrenaeus，andwhetherIrenaeusandtheValetiniansunderstoodthemselves。]
[Footnote16:Thehereticsabusedthepassionateexclamationof\"MyGod，myGod，whyhastthouforsakenme?\"Rousseau，whohasdrawnaneloquent，butindecent，parallelbetweenChristandSocrates，forgetsthatnotawordofimpatienceordespairescapedfromthemouthofthedyingphilosopher。IntheMessiah，suchsentimentscouldbeonlyapparent；andsuchill—soundingwordswereproperlyexplainedastheapplicationofapsalmandprophecy。]
IV。Allthosewhobelievetheimmaterialityofthesoul，aspeciousandnobletenet，mustconfess，fromtheirpresentexperience，theincomprehensibleunionofmindandmatter。A
similarunionisnotinconsistentwithamuchhigher，orevenwiththehighest，degreeofmentalfaculties；andtheincarnationofanaeonorarchangel，themostperfectofcreatedspirits，doesnotinvolveanypositivecontradictionorabsurdity。Intheageofreligiousfreedom，whichwasdeterminedbythecouncilofNice，thedignityofChristwasmeasuredbyprivatejudgmentaccordingtotheindefiniteruleofScripture，orreason，ortradition。ButwhenhispureandproperdivinityhadbeenestablishedontheruinsofArianism，thefaithoftheCatholicstrembledontheedgeofaprecipicewhereitwasimpossibletorecede，dangeroustostand，dreadfultofallandthemanifoldinconveniencesoftheircreedwereaggravatedbythesublimecharacteroftheirtheology。Theyhesitatedtopronounce；thatGodhimself，thesecondpersonofanequalandconsubstantialtrinity，wasmanifestedintheflesh；^17thatabeingwhopervadestheuniverse，hadbeenconfinedinthewombofMary；
thathiseternaldurationhadbeenmarkedbythedays，andmonths，andyearsofhumanexistence；thattheAlmightyhadbeenscourgedandcrucified；thathisimpassibleessencehadfeltpainandanguish；thathisomnisciencewasnotexemptfromignorance；
andthatthesourceoflifeandimmortalityexpiredonMountCalvary。ThesealarmingconsequenceswereaffirmedwithunblushingsimplicitybyApollinaris，^18bishopofLaodicea，andoneoftheluminariesofthechurch。Thesonofalearnedgrammarian，hewasskilledinallthesciencesofGreece；
eloquence，erudition，andphilosophy，conspicuousinthevolumesofApollinaris，werehumblydevotedtotheserviceofreligion。
TheworthyfriendofAthanasius，theworthyantagonistofJulian，hebravelywrestledwiththeAriansandPolytheists，andthoughheaffectedtherigorofgeometricaldemonstration，hiscommentariesrevealedtheliteralandallegoricalsenseoftheScriptures。Amystery，whichhadlongfloatedintheloosenessofpopularbelief，wasdefinedbyhisperversediligenceinatechnicalform；andhefirstproclaimedthememorablewords，\"OneincarnatenatureofChrist，\"whicharestillreechoedwithhostileclamorsinthechurchesofAsia，Egypt，andAethiopia。HetaughtthattheGodheadwasunitedormingledwiththebodyofaman；andthattheLogos，theeternalwisdom，suppliedinthefleshtheplaceandofficeofahumansoul。Yetastheprofounddoctorhadbeenterrifiedathisownrashness，Apollinariswasheardtomuttersomefaintaccentsofexcuseandexplanation。HeacquiescedintheolddistinctionoftheGreekphilosophersbetweentherationalandsensitivesoulofman；thathemightreservetheLogosforintellectualfunctions，andemploythesubordinatehumanprincipleinthemeaneractionsofanimallife。
WiththemoderateDocetes，hereveredMaryasthespiritual，ratherthanasthecarnal，motherofChrist，whosebodyeithercamefromheaven，impassibleandincorruptible，orwasabsorbed，andasitweretransformed，intotheessenceoftheDeity。ThesystemofApollinariswasstrenuouslyencounteredbytheAsiaticandSyriandivineswhoseschoolsarehonoredbythenamesofBasil，GregoryandChrysostom，andtaintedbythoseofDiodorus，Theodore，andNestorius。ButthepersonoftheagedbishopofLaedicea，hischaracteranddignity，remainedinviolate；andhisrivals，sincewemaynotsuspectthemoftheweaknessoftoleration，wereastonished，perhaps，bythenoveltyoftheargument，anddiffidentofthefinalsentenceoftheCatholicchurch。Herjudgmentatlengthinclinedintheirfavor；theheresyofApollinariswascondemned，andtheseparatecongregationsofhisdiscipleswereproscribedbytheImperiallaws。ButhisprinciplesweresecretlyentertainedinthemonasteriesofEgypt，andhisenemiesfeltthehatredofTheophilusandCyril，thesuccessivepatriarchsofAlexandria。
[Footnote17:ThisstrongexpressionmightbejustifiedbythelanguageofSt。Paul，1Tim。iii。16；butwearedeceivedbyourmodernBibles。ThewordwhichwasalteredtoGodatConstantinopleinthebeginningofthevithcentury:thetruereading，whichisvisibleintheLatinandSyriacversions，stillexistsinthereasoningoftheGreek，aswellasoftheLatinfathers；andthisfraud，withthatofthethreewitnessesofSt。
John，isadmirablydetectedbySirIsaacNewton。SeehistwoletterstranslatedbyM。deMissy，intheJournalBritannique，tom。xv。p。148—190，351—390。Ihaveweighedthearguments，andmayyieldtotheauthorityofthefirstofphilosophers，whowasdeeplyskilledincriticalandtheologicalstudies。
Note:ItshouldbeGriesbachinloc。Theweightofauthorityissomuchagainstthecommonreadinginboththesepoints，thattheyarenolongerurgedbyprudentcontroversialists。WouldGibbon\'sdeferenceforthefirstofphilosophershaveextendedtoallhistheologicalconclusions?—
M。]
[Footnote18:ForApollinarisandhissect，seeSocrates，l。ii。
c。46，l。iii。c。16Sazomen，l。v。c。18，1。vi。c。25，27。
Theodoret，l。v。3，10，11。Tillemont，MemoiresEcclesiastiques，tom。vii。p。602—638。Not。p。789—794，in4to。Venise，1732。