Rejection of the True Prophet.
309.
Yet someone perhaps may say that it is possible for any one to imitate a number;
but what shall we say of the signs and miracles which He wrought?
310.
For Moses had wrought miracles and cures in Egypt.
311.
He also of whom he foretold that He should rise up a prophet like himself,
though He cured every sickness and infirmity among the people,
wrought innumerable miracles, and preached eternal life,
was hurried by wicked men to the cross;
which deed was, however, by His power turned to good.
312.
In short, while He was suffering, all the world suffered with Him;
for the sun was darkened, the mountains were torn asunder, the graves were opened,
the veil of the temple was rent, as in lamentation for the destruction impending over the place.
313.
And yet, though all the world was moved,
they themselves are not even now moved to the consideration of these so great things.
Call of the Gentiles.
314.
But inasmuch as it was necessary that the Gentiles should be called into the room of those who remained unbelieving, so that the number might be filled up which had been shown to Abraham, the preaching of the blessed kingdom of God is sent into all the world.
315.
On this account worldly spirits are disturbed, who always oppose those who are in quest of liberty,
and who make use of the engines of error to destroy God's building;
316.
while those who press on to the glory of safety and liberty, being rendered braver by their resistance to these spirits, and by the toil of great struggles against them, attain the crown of safety not without the palm of victory.
317.
Meantime, when He had suffered, and darkness had overwhelmed the world from the sixth even to the ninth hour, Matthew 27:45
as soon as the sun shone out again, and things were returned to their usual course,
even wicked men returned to themselves and their former practices, their fear having abated.
318.
For some of them, watching the place with all care, when they could not prevent His rising again,
said that He was a magician; others pretended that he was stolen away. Matthew 28:13
Success of the Gospel.
319.
Nevertheless, the truth everywhere prevailed;
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for, in proof that these things were done by divine power, we who had been very few became in the course of a few days, by the help of God, far more than they.
320.
So that the priests at one time were afraid, lest haply, by the providence of God,
to their confusion, the whole of the people should come over to our faith.
321.
Therefore they often sent to us, and asked us to discourse to them concerning Jesus,
whether He were the Prophet whom Moses foretold, who is the eternal Christ. John 12:34
322.
For on this point only does there seem to be any difference between us who believe in Jesus, and the unbelieving Jews.
323.
But while they often made such requests to us, and we sought for a fitting opportunity,
a week of years was completed from the passion of the Lord,
324.
and the Church of the Lord which was constituted in Jerusalem was most plentifully multiplied and grew, being governed with most righteous ordinances by James, who was ordained bishop in it by the Lord.
Challenge by Caiaphas.
325.
But when we twelve apostles, on the day of the passover,
had come together with an immense multitude, and entered into the church of the brethren,
each one of us, at the request of James, stated briefly, in the hearing of the people,
what we had done in every place.
326.
While this was going on, Caiaphas, the high priest, sent priests to us,
and asked us to come to him, that either we should prove to him that Jesus is the eternal Christ,
or he to us that He is not, and that so all the people should agree upon the one faith or the other;
and this he frequently entreated us to do.
327.
Yet we often put it off, always seeking for a more convenient time.
328.
Then I, Clement, answered to this,
I think that this very question, whether He is the Christ,
is of great importance for the establishment of the faith;
otherwise the high priest would not so frequently ask that he might either learn or teach concerning the Christ.
329.
Then Peter said,
You have answered rightly, O Clement; for as no one can see without eyes, nor hear without ears,
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nor smell without nostrils, nor taste without a tongue, nor handle anything without hands,
so it is impossible, without the true Prophet, to know what is pleasing to God.
330.
And I answered:
I have already learned from your instruction that this true prophet is the Christ;
but I should wish to learn what the Christ means, or why He is so called,
that a matter of so great importance may not be vague and uncertain to me.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER TWELVE
Divisions 331-365
RECOGNITIONS 1
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