a theologico-political treatise [part i]-第4章
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yet this is because the mouth is the natural organ of a man speaking； and
the hearer； knowing what understanding is； easily comprehends； by a
comparison with himself； that the speaker's mind is meant； but if we knew
nothing of God beyond the mere name and wished to commune with Him； and be
assured of His existence； I fail to see how our wish would be satisfied by
the declaration of a created thing （depending on God neither more nor less
than ourselves）； 〃I am the Lord。〃 （31） If God contorted the lips of Moses；
or； I will not say Moses； but some beast； till they pronounced the words；
〃I am the Lord；〃 should we apprehend the Lord's existence therefrom？
（32） Scripture seems clearly to point to the belief that God spoke Himself；
having descended from heaven to Mount Sinai for the purpose … and not only
that the Israelites heard Him speaking； but that their chief men beheld Him
（Ex：xxiv。） （33） Further the law of Moses； which might neither be added to
nor curtailed； and which was set up as a national standard of right； nowhere
prescribed the belief that God is without body； or even without form or
figure； but only ordained that the Jews should believe in His existence and
worship Him alone： it forbade them to invent or fashion any likeness of the
Deity； but this was to insure purity of service； because； never having seen
God； they could not by means of images recall the likeness of God； but only
the likeness of some created thing which might thus gradually take the place
of God as the object of their adoration。 （34） Nevertheless； the Bible
clearly implies that God has a form； and that Moses when he heard God
speaking was permitted to behold it； or at least its hinder parts。
（35） Doubtless some mystery lurks in this question which we will discuss
more fully below。 （36） For the present I will call attention to the passages
in Scripture indicating the means by which God has revealed His laws to man。
（37） Revelation may be through figures only； as in I Chron：xxii。； where God
displays his anger to David by means of an angel bearing a sword； and also
in the story of Balaam。
（38） Maimonides and others do indeed maintain that these and every other
instance of angelic apparitions （e。g。 to Manoah and to Abraham offering up
Isaac） occurred during sleep； for that no one with his eyes open ever could
see an angel； but this is mere nonsense。 （39） The sole object of such
commentators seems to be to extort from Scripture confirmations of
Aristotelian quibbles and their own inventions； a proceeding which I regard
as the acme of absurdity。
（40） In figures； not real but existing only in the prophet's imagination；
God revealed to Joseph his future lordship； and in words and figures He
revealed to Joshua that He would fight for the Hebrews； causing to appear an
angel； as it were the Captain of the Lord's host； bearing a sword； and by
this means communicating verbally。 （41） The forsaking of Israel by
Providence was portrayed to Isaiah by a vision of the Lord； the thrice Holy；
sitting on a very lofty throne； and the Hebrews； stained with the mire of
their sins； sunk as it were in uncleanness； and thus as far as possible
distant from God。 （42） The wretchedness of the people at the time was thus
revealed； while future calamities were foretold in words。 I could cite from
Holy Writ many similar examples； but I think they are sufficiently well
known already。
（43） However； we get a still more clear confirmation of our position in Num
xii：6；7； as follows： 〃If there be any prophet among you； I the Lord will
make myself known unto him in a vision〃 （i。e。 by appearances and signs； for
God says of the prophecy of Moses that it was a vision without signs）； 〃and
will speak unto him in a dream 〃 （i。e。 not with actual words and an actual
voice）。 （44） 〃My servant Moses is not so； with him will I speak mouth to
mouth； even apparently； and not in dark speeches； and the similitude of the
Lord he shall behold；〃 i。e。 looking on me as a friend and not afraid； he
speaks with me （cf。 Ex xxxiii：17）。
（45） This makes it indisputable that the other prophets did not hear a real
voice； and we gather as much from Deut。 xxiv：10： 〃And there arose not a
prophet since in Israel like unto Moses whom the Lord knew face to face；〃
which must mean that the Lord spoke with none other； for not even Moses saw
the Lord's face。 （46） These are the only media of communication between
God and man which I find mentioned in Scripture； and therefore the only ones
which may be supposed or invented。 （47） We may be able quite to comprehend
that God can communicate immediately with man； for without the intervention
of bodily means He communicates to our minds His essence； still； a man who
can by pure intuition comprehend ideas which are neither contained in nor
deducible from the foundations of our natural knowledge； must necessarily
possess a mind far superior to those of his fellow men； nor do I believe
that any have been so endowed save Christ。 （48） To Him the ordinances of God
leading men to salvation were revealed directly without words or visions； so
that God manifested Himself to the Apostles through the mind of Christ as He
formerly did to Moses through the supernatural voice。 （49） In this sense the
voice of Christ； like the voice which Moses heard； may be called the voice
of God； and it may be said that the wisdom of God （；i。e。 wisdom more than
human） took upon itself in Christ human nature； and that Christ was the way
of salvation。 （50） I must at this juncture declare that those doctrines
which certain churches put forward concerning Christ； I neither affirm nor
deny； for I freely confess that I do not understand them。 （51） What I have
just stated I gather from Scripture； where I never read that God appeared to
Christ； or spoke to Christ； but that God was revealed to the Apostles
through Christ； that Christ was the Way of Life； and that the old law was
given through an angel； and not immediately by God； whence it follows that
if Moses spoke with God face to face as a man speaks with his friend （i。e。
by means of their two bodies） Christ communed with God mind to mind。
（52） Thus we may conclude that no one except Christ received the revelations
of God without the aid of imagination； whether in words or vision。 （53）
Therefore the power of prophecy implies not a peculiarly perfect mind； but a
peculiarly vivid imagination； as I will show more clearly in the next
chapter。 （54） We will now inquire what is meant in the Bible by the
Spirit of God breathed into the prophets； or by the prophets speaking with
the Spirit of God； to that end we must determine the exact signification of
the Hebrew word roo'…akh； Strong：7307； commonly translated spirit。
（55） The word roo'…akh； Strong：7307； literally means a wind； e。。q。 the south
wind； but it is frequently employed in other derivative significations。
It is used as equivalent to；
（56） （1。） Breath： 〃Neither is there any spirit in his mouth；〃 Ps。 cxxxv：17。
（57） （2。） Life； or breathing： 〃And his spirit returned to him〃
1 Sam。 xxx：12； i。e。 he breathed again。
（58） （3。） Courage and strength： 〃Neither did there remain any more spirit
in any man；〃 Josh。 ii：11； 〃And the spirit entered into me； and
made me stand on my feet；〃 Ezek。 ii：2。
（59） （4。） Virtue and fitness： 〃Days should speak； and multitudes of years
should teach wisdom； but there is a spirit in man；〃Job xxxii：7；
i。e。 wisdom is not always found among old men for I now discover
that it depends on individual virtue and capacity。 So； 〃A man in
whom is the Spirit；〃 Numbers xxvii：18。
（60） （5。） Habit of mind： 〃Because he had another spirit with him；〃
Numbers xiv：24； i。e。 another habit of mind。 〃Behold I will pour
out My Spirit unto you；〃 Prov。 i：23。
（61） （6。） Will； purpose； desire； impulse： 〃Whither the spirit was to go；
they went；〃 Ezek。 1：12； 〃That cover with a covering； but not of My
Spirit；〃 Is。 xxx：1； 〃For the Lord hath poured out on you the
spirit of deep sleep；〃 Is。 xxix：10； 〃Then was their spirit
softened；〃 Judges viii：3； 〃He that ruleth his spirit； is better
than he that taketh a city；〃 Prov。 xvi：32； 〃He that hath no ru
over his own spirit；〃 Prov。 xxv：28； 〃Your spirit as fire shall
devour you；〃 Isaiah xxxiii：l。
From the meaning of disposition we get …
（62） （7。） Passions and faculties。 A lofty spirit means pride； a lowly spirit
humility； an evil spirit hatred and melancholy。 So； too； the
expressions spirits of jealousy； fornication； wisdom； counsel；
bravery； stand for a jealous； lascivious； wise； prudent； or brave
mind （for we Hebrews use substantives in preference to
adjectives）； or these various qualities。
（63） （8。） The mind itself； or the life： 〃Yea； they have all one spirit；〃
Eccles。 iii：19 〃The spirit shall return to God Who gave it。〃
（64） （9。） The quarters of the world （from the winds which blow thence）； or
even the side of anything turned towards a particular quarter …
Ezek。 xxxvii：9； xlii：16； 17； 18； 19； &c。
（65） I have already alluded to the way in which things are referred to God； and said to be of God。
（66） （1。） As belonging to His nature； and being； as it were； part of Him； e。g the power
of God； the eyes of God。
（67） （2。） As under His dominion； and depending on His pleasure； thus the heavens are
called the heavens of the Lord； as being His chariot and habitation。 So Nebuchadnezzar is
called the servant of God； Assyria the scourge of God； &c。
（68） （3。） As dedicated to Him； e。g。 the Temple of God； a Nazarene of God； the Bread of
God。
（69） （4。） As revealed through the prophets and not through our natural faculties。 In this sense the
Mosaic law is called the law of God。
（70） （5。） As being in the superlative degree。 Very high mountains are styled the mountains
of God； a very deep sleep； the sleep of God； &c。 In this sense we must explain Amos iv：11：
〃I have overthrown you as the overthrow of the Lord came upon Sodom and Gomorrah；〃 i。e。
that memorable overthrow； for since God Himself is the Speaker； the passage
cannot well be taken otherwise。 The wisdom of Solomon is called the wisdom of God； or
extraordinary。 The size of the cedars of Lebanon is alluded to in the Psalmist's
expression； 〃the cedars of the Lord。〃
（71） Similarly； if the Jews were at a loss t
