The works of Nathaniel Lardner - The Christian Researcher - Home

Vie Munichees. Sect. IV. 347
a revelation to let him know he liad best escape if he can ?
It may also, jx'rhaps, be worth m hile to observe here, that
3Iani's deliverance is not ascriltetl to magic, or any such
like thing, but to' a large sum of money, by which he bribed
his keepers. As for the journey to heaven, mentioned by
some eastern wrtters, I suppose that no one can think it
worthy of any regard. In a word, the Manichees, as it seems,
M'ere rather a sect of reasoners and pliilosophers, than vision-
aries and enthusiasts.
It is observable, that Gregory Nazianzen, mentionitigaltogether
the" Montanists, Manichees, Novatians, and Sabel-
lians, distinguishes the first by their pretence of inspiration,
without imputing- any such thing to any of the rest. And
in like manner in another'' place, where, beside the forenamed,
are also mentioned Valentinus, Marcion, and some
others.
Not that the Manichees were silent about the Spirit. No,
for certain they, as well as other christians, claimed an interest
in the promise of the Spirit made by Christ : but, whereas
Aug"ustine says theyy pretended that the S[)irit came to us
by Mani, I am not fully satisfied about the justness of his
expression. One might be rather apt to conclude from^
words of Faustus, and even from those words of Augustine
just cited, ' came to us,' that they considered the gift of
the Spirit as a blessing common to believers under the gos-
pel dispensation.
If they had gone upon the ground of a particular inspira-
tion in Mani, it might be expected that the traces of that
high notion concerning their master should appear more
distinctly than they do, in the discourses of the Manichees,
with whom Augustine disputed. Fortunatus seems to use
strong expressions to the contrary, when he says :
* He*
' knows that he cannot by any means show his faith to be
' right, unless he proves it by the authority of the scrip-
* tures.'
* See the preceding note ". " Movravn Si re vovtjpov
irvtv^a, Kai ts ^\avH okotoq, k. X. Greg. Or. 25. p. 414. C.
* MovravH to irovijpov irvtvixa, Kai yvvaiKiiov' l\Iav« rrjv v\r]v fitra ra
atOTHQ' Naiiar« r>jv aXal^ovuav, k. X. Or. 25. p. 441. B.
y dicunt Spiriium Sanctum, quern Dominus dL