theologico-political treatise p1(神学与政治专题研究1)-第10节
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according to his understanding； that is； as proceeding from a going
backwards of the sun； for he； too； thought that the sun moves and that the
earth is still； of parhelia he perhaps never even dreamed。 （74） We may
arrive at this conclusion without any； scruple； for the sign could really
have come to pass； and have been predicted by Isaiah to the king； without
the prophet being aware of the real cause。
（75） With regard to the building of the Temple by Solomon； if it was
really dictate by God we must maintain the same doctrine： namely； that all
the measurements were revealed according to the opinions and
understanding of the king； for as we are not bound to believe that Solomon
was a mathematician； we may affirm that he was ignorant of the true ratio
between the circumference and the diameter of a circle； and that； like the
generality of workmen； he thought that it was as three to one。 （76） But if it
is allowable to declare that we do not understand the passage； in good
sooth I know nothing in the Bible that we can understand； for the process
of building is there narrated simply and as a mere matter of history。 （77） If；
again； it is permitted to pretend that the passage has another meaning； and
was written as it is from some reason unknown to us； this is no less than a
complete subversal of the Bible； for every absurd and evil invention of
human perversity could thus； without detriment to Scriptural authority； be
defended and fostered。 （78） Our conclusion is in no wise impious； for
though Solomon； Isaiah； Joshua； &c。 were prophets； they were none the
less men； and as such not exempt from human shortcomings。
（79） According to the understanding of Noah it was revealed to him
that God as about to destroy the whole human race； for Noah thought that
beyond the limits of Palestine the world was not inhabited。
（80） Not only in matters of this kind； but in others more important； the
about the Divine attributes； but held quite ordinary notions about God； and
to these notions their revelations were adapted； as I will demonstrate by
ample Scriptural testimony； from all which one may easily see that they
were praised and commended； not so much for the sublimity and eminence
of their intellect as for their piety and faithfulness。
（81） Adam； the first man to whom God was revealed； did not know
that He is omnipotent and omniscient； for he hid himself from Him； and
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attempted to make excuses for his fault before God； as though he had had
to do with a man； therefore to him also was God revealed according to his
understanding … that is； as being unaware of his situation or his sin； for
Adam heard； or seemed to hear； the Lord walling； in the garden； calling
him and asking him where he was； and then； on seeing his shamefacedness；
asking him whether he had eaten of the forbidden fruit。 （82） Adam
evidently only knew the Deity as the Creator of all things。 （83） To Cain
also God was revealed； according to his understanding； as ignorant of
human affairs； nor was a higher conception of the Deity required for
repentance of his sin。
（83） To Laban the Lord revealed Himself as the God of Abraham；
because Laban believed that each nation had its own special divinity （see
Gen。 xxxi：29）。 （84） Abraham also knew not that God is omnipresent； and
has foreknowledge of all things； for when he heard the sentence against
the inhabitants of Sodom； he prayed that the Lord should not execute it till
He had ascertained whether they all merited such punishment； for he said
（see Gen。 xviii：24）； 〃Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city；〃
and in accordance with this belief God was revealed to him； as Abraham
imagined； He spake thus： 〃I will go down now； and see whether they have
done altogether according to the cry of it which is come unto Me； and； if
not； I will know。〃 （85） Further； the Divine testimony concerning Abraham
asserts nothing but that he was obedient； and that he 〃commanded his
household after him that they should keep the way of the Lord〃 （Gen。
xviii：19）； it does not state that he held sublime conceptions of the Deity。
（86） Moses； also； was not sufficiently aware that God is omniscient；
and directs human actions by His sole decree； for although God Himself
says that the Israelites should hearken to Him； Moses still considered the
matter doubtful and repeated； 〃But if they will not believe me； nor hearken
unto my voice。〃 （87） To him in like manner God was revealed as taking no
part in； and as being ignorant of； future human actions： the Lord gave him
two signs and said； 〃And it shall come to pass that if they will not believe
thee； neither hearken to the voice of the first sign； that they will believe the
voice of the latter sign； but if not； thou shalt take of the water of the river；〃
&c。 （88） Indeed； if any one considers without prejudice the recorded
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opinions of Moses； he will plainly see that Moses conceived the Deity as a
Being Who has always existed； does exist； and always will exist； and for
this cause he calls Him by the name Jehovah； which in Hebrew signifies
these three phases of existence： as to His nature； Moses only taught that
He is merciful； gracious； and exceeding jealous； as appears from many
passages in the Pentateuch。 （89） Lastly； he believed and taught that this
Being was so different from all other beings； that He could not be
expressed by the image of any visible thing； also； that He could not be
looked upon； and that not so much from inherent impossibility as from
human infirmity； further； that by reason of His power He was without
equal and unique。 （90） Moses admitted； indeed； that there were beings
（doubtless by the plan and command of the Lord） who acted as God's
vicegerents … that is； beings to whom God had given the right； authority；
and power to direct nations； and to provide and care for them； but he
taught that this Being Whom they were bound to obey was the highest and
Supreme God； or （to use the Hebrew phrase） God of gods； and thus in the
song （Exod。 xv：11） he exclaims； 〃Who is like unto Thee； 0 Lord； among
the gods？〃 and Jethro says （Exod。 xviii：11）； 〃Now I know that the Lord is
greater than all gods。〃 （91） That is to say； 〃I am at length compelled to
admit to Moses that Jehovah is greater than all gods； and that His power is
unrivalled。〃 （92） We must remain in doubt whether Moses thought that
these beings who acted as God's vicegerents were created by Him； for he
has stated nothing； so far as we know； about their creation and origin。 （93）
He further taught that this Being had brought the visible world into order
from Chaos； and had given Nature her germs； and therefore that He
possesses supreme right and power over all things； further； that by reason
of this supreme right and power He had chosen for Himself alone the
Hebrew nation and a certain strip of territory； and had handed over to the
care of other gods substituted by Himself the rest of the nations and
territories； and that therefore He was called the God of Israel and the God
of Jerusalem； whereas the other gods were called the gods of the Gentiles。
（94） For this reason the Jews believed that the strip of territory which God
had chosen for Himself； demanded a Divine worship quite apart and
different from the worship which obtained elsewhere； and that the Lord
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would not suffer the worship of other gods adapted to other countries。 （95）
Thus they thought that the people whom the king of Assyria had brought
into Judaea were torn in pieces by lions because they knew not the
worship of the National Divinity （2 Kings xvii：25）。
（96） Jacob； according to Aben E
