24.06.2013 Views

The works of Nathaniel Lardner - The Christian Researcher - Home

The works of Nathaniel Lardner - The Christian Researcher - Home

The works of Nathaniel Lardner - The Christian Researcher - Home

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>The</strong> Maaichecs. Sect. VI. 433<br />

' teaches that the God <strong>of</strong> (lie Jews is evil ; that the God<br />

' preached by Jesus Christ is good. He speaks <strong>of</strong> God by<br />

' the names <strong>of</strong> Father and Son : he says that Christ was<br />

' not really man, though he appeared to be so; that he ap-<br />

' peared to the disciples differently, sometimes young, sonie-<br />

' times old, and less at one time than another, and sometimes<br />

* so high as to touch the heavens with his head : he says that<br />

' Christ Avas not crucified, but another in his room ; that<br />

' marriage is evil in itself, and <strong>of</strong> the evil one ; that God is<br />

* not the creator <strong>of</strong> daemons. In the Acts <strong>of</strong> John beseems<br />

' to argue against images.'<br />

From this account, though possibly Photius is not exact,<br />

and may have misrepresented some things, it may be concluded<br />

that" Leucius agreed in divers respects with the<br />

Manichees, or rather they with him. For we may hence<br />

argue that, as he said the God <strong>of</strong> the Jews was evil, he did<br />

not receive the books <strong>of</strong> the Old Testament. We likewise<br />

perceive that he was one <strong>of</strong> them who are called Docetae, and<br />

that he did not believe Christ to be man really, but in appearance<br />

only : he likewise had a disadvantageous opinion<br />

<strong>of</strong> marriage, and highly extolled perpetual virginity : he<br />

denied that dcemons were made by God, and condemned<br />

the use <strong>of</strong> pictures and images. Beausobre** has carefully<br />

examined the fore-cited extract <strong>of</strong> Photius, and made just<br />

remarks upon it, for discovering* the real sentiments <strong>of</strong><br />

Leucius.<br />

(3) I am to consider the time <strong>of</strong> Leucius. Mr. Jones was<br />

positive thatP Leucius was a Manichee, and that he did not<br />

live before the latter part <strong>of</strong> the third, or the beg-inning <strong>of</strong><br />

the fourth century after Christ : and many others undoubtedly<br />

are <strong>of</strong> the same opinion. Buti Grabe placeth him in<br />

the second century, as does'" Mill, who supposeth that he<br />

flourished about the year <strong>of</strong> Christ, 140, and has a great<br />

many just observations upon this man and his <strong>works</strong>, to<br />

whom I refer the reader ; not judging- it needful to transcribe<br />

a modern author who is, or ought to be, in every body's<br />

hands. Beausobre is exactly <strong>of</strong> the same mind with the two<br />

last-mentioned writers : and says that,^ unless by a Mani-<br />

SoKH Ss (car' hkovujv roig eiKovo[iaxoic tv raiQ lixtavva wpaSffrt Soyfia-<br />

Tiluv. Phot. Cod. 114. p. 292.<br />

" Concerning the opinions <strong>of</strong> Leucius, see Beaus. T. i. p. 384—390.<br />

" lb. p. 384—390. p lb. Vol. i. p. 303, &c.<br />

1 figmentum Leucii haeretici, seculo secundo plura ejusmodi cuden-<br />

tis. Grabe, Spic. T. i. p. 58.— Leucius, sive Lucius, Marcionis successor.<br />

Sec. ii. ib. p. 78.— quae Lucium seculi ii. haereticum auctorem habere videntur.<br />

ib. p. 324. Proleg. n. 333—340.<br />

* Hist, de Man. T. i. p. 349, 350.<br />

VOL. Ill, 2 F

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!