Vol. 2

CHAPTER XI. 175Those who find themselves vanquished by truth,generally endeavour to reject authority.There areno persons more forward to demand of others a reasonfor their actions, than those who think they maydo every thing themselves without control. Blindpriests ! whosee not the finger of God, nor his divineauthority in the visible and innumerable miraclesof Christ, which plainly authorize his mission and hisconduct, and evidently prove his divinity.scribes !Ignorantwho talk of nothing but the Scriptures andthe law, and yet do not perceive in Christ the authorand the perfection, the end and accomplishment, thespirit and the truth of the law, as all the scripturesdeclare him to be." 29. And Jesus answered and said unto them,I will also ask of you one question,and answer me,and I will tell you by what authority I do thesethings. 30. The baptism of John, was it from heaven,or of men ? answer me."An answer worthy of the wisdom of God.Hadhe answered, that his authority came from God, hemust have proved it, either by his past miracles,against which their malice had hardened them, or bynew ones, of which they were altogether unworthy,and which they would likewise have evaded. Theshortest and surest way is to force them either toacknowledge the testimony given by John, or to seethemselves reduced to a shameful silence. By obligingheretics and irreligious persons to explain their ownopinions, one cannot fail of gaining considerably, bythe advantage they will give to the cause of truth,though against their inclination."31. And they reasoned with themselves, saying,