A Legacy to the Friends of Free Discussion: Principal Historical Facts and Personages of the Books Known as The Old and New Testament; With Remarks on the Morality of NatureOffen, Benjamin
Religion
A Legacy to the Friends of Free Discussion: Principal Historical Facts and Personages of the Books Known as The Old and New Testament; With Remarks on the Morality of Nature
Offen, Benjamin
Bible -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.
And now, patient reader, what have Christians to believe in reference to
this matter? Why, they must believe that the great immortal God came to
the earth from his Unknown abode, in the likeness of _man_, in company
with two angels; that he called on Abram, who was surrounded by his
flocks and herds, dwelling in a tent, perhaps inferior to our Indian
log-houses; that he, the Judge of all the earth, with two of his angels,
were (according to eastern hospitality) presented with water to drink,
and also, water to wash their feet—a practice most refreshing in a warm
climate. An invitation was given them to dine, which they accepted and
so particular is the narrative, that, what they had for dinner is
mentioned: the calf was instantly slain, and the baking commenced.
And here we may inquire, whether or not this circumstance did really
take place, as it is recorded? If it did, then the believers in the
Bible, as a Divine Revelation, have to believe that the Great God of
all, the Universal Ruler of the Universe, came on earth to the tent of
Abram, in the form of a man, with two of the angelic host; and that they
_then and there_ had their feet washed, and sat down to a dinner of veal
and griddle cakes, and did eat thereof, and drink water. Now, if Moses,
or any other pretended inspired writer, wrote this, I ask, is not the
God of Abram a _man-made God?_ He is said to have feet that required
washing, and an appetite that required food. He had a mouth, teeth, and
also a stomach to receive food; and we may infer that he had hands, for
it is not recorded that Abram cut his victuals, or fed him or the angels
with a spoon.
If the believers of the Bible consider that the foregoing account is
allegorical, and not to be considered as having really taken place, it
then follows that human redemption is allegorical, also; for the promise
made to Abram was, that _In thee and in thy seed shall all the nations
of the earth be blessed_. This promise included the mission of Jesus,
who was to save his people from their sins, and also to _heal the
nations, and to bring in everlasting righteousness_. Christians, then,
if they believe the Bible to be a Divine Revelation, must believe that
the Judge of the whole earth, while at dinner, in promising Abram a son,
included also, in that promise, the mission of Jesus, _the Saviour of
the world._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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