Gleanings of antiquities / By John Beaumont, Gent.

  • Beaumont, John, -1731.
Date:
1724
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Gleanings of antiquities / By John Beaumont, Gent. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    184/226 (page 170)
    the Chriftians had of driving away Damons, by the Invocation of the Name of Jefus Chrift', and that there is not one of them but has given Inftances of it, and ufed them as Proofs of the Divinity of Chrift* and of the Truth of our Religion. That all the Faithful of the firft Ages, were convinced of this* and that no Perfuafion was more conftant, more univerfal, and more authorized, than this; that there is not one of the antient Pagans, even of the moft violent againft the Chriftjans, that has charged them of Impofture in this kind, and that has denied that they drove away Damons, as they confidently afferted in their Books ; that when the Pagans gave for a Reafon of their Oracles ceafing in the Prefence of the Chriftians, that it was not from the Power the Chriftians had over their Gods, but from the Horror and Hatred their Gods had for the Chriftians and their Religion ; they moft clearly own the Fad in queftion. That Celfus himfelf was fo far from denying this Power to the Chriftians, that he owns they really had it; but renewing the Calumny by which the Jews tried to deny the fame divine Power which was in Jefus Chrift, by faying that he drove away Damons but by Beelzebub the Prince of them; he laid the fame, that this Power of the Chri¬ ftians proceeded but from Inchantments, and the Invocations of Damons. On which Origen anfwer3d him, that this w7as a grofs Put-off, and a manifeft Calumny, fince it?s evident the Chriftians did not jmploy either Magick or Inchantments to drive away Damons, but the foie Invocation of the Name of Jefus Chrift, with a fimple Recital of fome of his Adions: And when Celfus and fome other of the Pagans, afcribed to Magick the Power the Chriftians excercifed over Damons, they did not deny that Power ; on the contrary, it’s evident that by what they feid* they owned it at bottom, and agreed to v • r It? Upon i;