[fn31 That Mary is "the Mother of God!" is the creed of all the Christian sects except the Protestants, and Nestorians.
The European and Asiatic Christian churches, except a precious handful of Unitarians, appear to act upon the principles of the old Samaritans. So these nations feared Jehovah, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children; as did their Fathers, so do they unto this day." 2 Kings xvii 41. Their religion is as inconsistent and inconsequent as the conduct of Nebuchadnezzar; who "answered unto Daniel, and said, of a truth it is that your God is a God of Gods, and a Lord of Lords," Dan. ch. ii. 47. And who, notwithstanding, set up an idol of gold, and commanded all peoples, nations, and languages to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up: and threatened that whoso falleth not down; and worshippeth should be cast into a burning fiery furnace." ch. iii, and who on another occasion "acknowledged and blessed the most high, and praised and honoured him that liveth forever and ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation:" ch. iv. and who notwithstanding destroyed his Temple, and lodged its sacred vessels in the treasure house of his idol. The service of the Christian churches not Protestant resembles Bellshazzar's feast. They drink out of the golden, and silver vessels, which they have "taken out of the Temple of the house of God which was in Jerusalem," and praise the Gods of gold, of silver, of brass, of wood, and of stone,[fn32] which see not, nor hear, nor know. And the result of the business, if the Old Testament predict the truth, will be, that the mysterious menaces written by the figures of God, will be fulfilled in confusion, wo, and destruction]
[fn32 I allude to the crucifixes, images, and pictures of Christ, the Virgin Mary and the Saints, with which all Christian churches, not protestant are filled.]
[fn33 for "come" read "came">[
[fn34 This is incorrect, Bethlehem is at present one of most populous cities in Palestine.]
[fn35 I request the reader to look at the Hebrew of Gen. x 14. which Mr. Everett must have neglected to do: as otherwise I cannot account for his having referred to a passage which directly establishes my interpretation of the passage in Micah against his own. I trust that this little circumstance will induce Mr. Everett to have a fellow feeling for some errors which he says exists [fn36] in my first publication. He will find some further proofs adduced from his book in the course of this work, of the truth of the old adage, "humanium est errare.">[
[fn36 for "exists" read "exist">[
[fn37 v. 10. of the ix. Ch. Of Zechariah, "and I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battlebow shall be cut off; [i.e. there shall be war no more]; and he [i.e. the Messiah,] shall speak peace unto the nations: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth." Has this been yet fulfilled or have the nations called Christians, for the last 180 years, been more peaceable than others? on the contrary, is it not they who have perfectionated the arts of war and destruction!]
[fn38 "I render me," says Mr. Everett, "because I cheerfully allow" with Eichorn and De Rossi in loco, that it is supported by most authorities." Why then does Mr. Everett abuse and insult me, p. 103, 104., for neglecting to notice the other reading he mentions, which he considers not to be the true one! If it be erroneous, what is it good for and if it be false, how has the inspired Evangelist quoted a false reading, (Gospel according to John ch. xix. 34. &c.,) in order to make out a prophecy?
I had objected in my first publication that the assertion of Stephen, when filled with the Holy Ghost, that "When Abraham went out of the land of the Chaldees, he dwelt in Haran, from thence, after his father was dead, God led him unto this land in which ye dwell." Acts vii. 4., directly contradicts the chapter in Genesis, where the Story of Abraham's leaving Haran is related, for it is certain from thence, that Abraham left his father Zerah[fn39] in Haran alive when he departed, and that he did not die till many ' years afterwards."