264. 在此聖言之前有另一本已遺失的聖言
在賜給以色列民族的聖言(通過摩西和眾先知)之前, 人們就知道以獻祭來敬拜, 也曉得有從耶和華之口發出的神言。
從下列經文可看出人們知道以獻祭敬拜:以色列百姓被命令去拆毀外邦人的祭壇, 打碎他們的偶像, 砍下他們的木偶(出埃及記34:13;申命記7:5; 12:3)。以色列人在什亭, 與摩押的眾女行淫; 他們邀請以色列百姓一同給她們的神獻祭, 百姓就吃她們的祭物(民數記25:1-3)。來自敘利亞的巴蘭建壇, 並以牛羊獻祭(民數記22:40; 23:1-2, 14, 29-30)。他還發預言說到主:"有星要出於雅各, 有杖要興於以色列"(民數記24:17)。 巴蘭還以預言來說耶和華的話(民數記22:13, 18; 23:3, 5, 8, 16, 26; 24:1, 13)。
從以上這些內容, 可清楚看出:在其它民族中有著與以色列民族(通過摩西建立的)事實上相同的敬拜。從摩西五經中的一些話清楚表明, 甚至在亞伯拉罕時期以前就已存在(申命記32:7-8)。從撒冷王麥基洗德之事可更明顯看出:他帶著餅和酒, 並祝福亞伯蘭; 亞伯蘭把所得的拿出十分之一給他(創世記14:18-20)。麥基洗德代表主, 因為他被稱為上帝至高者的祭司(創世記14:18)。在大衛的『詩篇』中表示主:你是照著麥基洗德的等次, 永遠為祭司(詩篇110:4)。
這就是為何麥基洗德帶著作為教會至聖物品餅和酒, 正如它們也是聖餐中的神聖之物。不算其它, 憑這些就足以證明在以色列聖言之前就已有聖言給了如此啟示。
264. 12. Before the Word That Exists in the World Today, There Was a Word That Has Been Lost
Before the Word existed that was given through Moses and the prophets among the Israelite nation, people knew a form of worship through sacrifices, and their prophets spoke the word of Jehovah. This is clear from things mentioned in the books of Moses.
The following is evidence that people knew a form of worship through sacrifices: The children of Israel were commanded to overturn the altars of other nations, shatter their statues, and cut down their groves (Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 7:5; 12:3). "At Acacia, Israel began to commit harlotry with the daughters of Moab; they invited the people to sacrifices for their gods, and the people ate" (Numbers 25:1-3). Balaam, who was from Syria, built altars and sacrificed oxen and sheep (Numbers 22:40; 23:1-2, 14, 29-30). Balaam also gave a prophecy about the Lord saying, "A star will rise out of Jacob and a scepter out of Israel" (Numbers 24:17); and Balaam spoke the word of Jehovah in prophecy (Numbers 22:13, 18; 23:3, 5, 8, 16, 26; 24:1, 13).
The passages just given make it clear that a divine worship existed among other nations that was virtually the same as the worship instituted by Moses among the Israelite nation. From words in Moses (Deuteronomy 32:7-8) it appears that this worship existed even before the time of Abraham. This is still clearer from Melchizedek, king of Salem, who brought out bread and wine and blessed Abram, and Abram in turn gave Melchizedek tithes of all he possessed (Genesis 14:18-20). Melchizedek represented the Lord - he is called a priest to God the Highest (Genesis 14:18). In David it says of the Lord, "You are a priest forever on the order of Melchizedek" (Psalms 110:4). This is why Melchizedek brought out bread and wine as the holiest things in the church, just as bread and wine are holy in the Holy Supper also. Besides many others, these things are outstanding indications that before the Israelite Word there was a Word that gave these revelations.
264. XII. Before the time of the Word which we have in the world to-day, there was another Word, now lost.
It can be established from what is recorded in the books of Moses, that before the time of the Word, which was given to the Israelite nation by means of Moses and the Prophets, worship by sacrifices was well known, and that prophecies were given from the mouth of Jehovah. The following passages show that worship by sacrifices was known. It was commanded that the Children of Israel should overturn the altars of the gentiles, break in pieces their statues, and cut down their sacred groves (Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 7:5; 12:3.) Israel in Shittim began to wanton with the daughters of Moab; they invited the people to the sacrifices offered to their gods, and the people ate of them (Numbers 25:1-3). Balaam, who came from Syria, had altars built and sacrificed cattle and sheep (Numbers 22:40; 23:1-2, 14, 29-30). He also prophesied about the Lord, saying that a star should arise from Jacob and a sceptre from Israel (Numbers 24:17). And he gave prophecies from the mouth of Jehovah (Numbers 22:13, 18; 23:3, 5, 8, 16, 26; 24:1, 13). It is plain from these passages that the gentiles had Divine worship almost exactly like that established for the Israelite nation through Moses. Some words in the books of Moses show clearly that it existed even before the time of Abraham (Deuteronomy 32:7-8); but it is even more obvious from the case of Melchizedek, king of Salem:
He brought out bread and wine, and blessed Abram; and Abram gave him tithes of everything, Genesis 14:18-20.
Melchizedeck represented the Lord, for he is called the priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:18); and it is said of the Lord in the Psalms of David:
You are priest for ever, after the fashion of Melchizedek, Psalms 110:4.
That was why Melchizedek brought out bread and wine, as being the most holy things of the church, just as they are the holy things in the Holy Supper. Apart from these there are extant many indications that there was a Word before the Israelite Word, which was the source of such revelations.
264. XII. BEFORE THE WORD THAT IS NOW IN THE WORLD, THERE WAS A WORD THAT WAS LOST.
From what is told in the books of Moses it is manifest that worship by sacrifices was known, and that men prophesied from the mouth of Jehovah before the Word was given to the Israelitish nation through Moses and the prophets. That worship by sacrifices was known is evident from the following:
The sons of Israel were commanded to overturn the altars of the nations, to dash in pieces their statues, and to cut down their groves (Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 7:5; 12:3).
In Shittim Israel began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab; they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods, and the people did eat (Numbers 25:1-3).
That Balaam, who was from Syria, made them to build altars, and they sacrificed oxen and sheep (Numbers 22:40; 23:1, 2, 14, 29, 30).
He also prophesied of the Lord, saying that a Star should come forth out of Jacob, and a Scepter should rise out of Israel (Numbers 24:17).
He also prophesied from the mouth of Jehovah (Numbers 22:13, 18; 23:3, 5, 8, 16, 26; 24:1, 13).
All this shows that there existed among the nations a Divine worship, almost like that instituted by Moses in the Israelitish nation. That it also existed before the time of Abraham, is clear from the words in Moses (Deuteronomy 32:7, 8), but conclusively from what is said of Melchizedek, king of Salem:
That he brought forth bread and wine, and blessed Abraham, and that Abraham gave him tithes of all (Genesis 14:18-20);
also that Melchizedek represented the Lord, for he is called the priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18); and it is said of the Lord in David:
Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek (Psalms 110:4).
It was for this reason that Melchizedek brought forth bread and wine as the most holy things of the church, as they are the holy things in the Holy Supper. These and many other things are clear proofs that before the Israelitish Word there was a Word from which such revelations as these were derived.
264. XII. PREVIOUS TO THE WORD WHICH IS NOW IN THE WORLD, THERE WAS A WORD WHICH IS LOST.
Previous to the Word which was given by Moses and the Prophets to the people of Israel, worship by sacrifices was known, and men prophesied from the mouth of Jehovah. This is evident from what is recorded in the Books of Moses. That worship by sacrifices was known may be seen from the following references.
The children of Israel were commanded to destroy the altars of the Gentiles, break their images, and cut down their groves. Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 7:5, and Deuteronomy 12:3.
Israel in Shittim began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab, and called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate with them. Numbers 25:1-2.
Balaam, who was from the land of Syria, caused altars to be built, and sacrificed oxen and sheep. Numbers 22:40, and Numbers 23:1-2, 14, 29-30.
He also prophesied concerning the Lord, saying that there should come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre should rise out of Israel. Numbers 24:17;
and he prophesied from the mouth of JEHOVAH. Numbers 22:13, 18; 23:3, 5, 8, 16, 26; and Numbers 24:1, 13.
From these passages it is evident that Divine worship, almost like that instituted by Moses among the people of Israel, existed among the Gentiles. That it also existed before the time of Abraham is plain from what is written by Moses, Deuteronomy 32:7-8; but still more plain from the fact that Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, and blessed Abram; and that Abram gave him tithes of all, Genesis 14:18-20. Melchizedek represented the Lord, for he is called the priest of the most high God, Genesis 14:18; and it is said of the Lord by David,
"Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" Psalms 110:4.
This was why Melchizedek brought forth bread and wine, the holiest things of the Church, as they still are holy in the Sacred Supper. Besides these there are many other evident proofs that, previous to the Israelitish Word, there existed a Word from which such revelations were derived.
264. XII. Quod ante hoc Verbum, quod hodie est in Mundo, fuerit Verbum, quod deperditum est.
Quod ante Verbum per Mosen et Prophetas apud Gentem Israeliticam datum, Cultus per Sacrificia notus fuerit, et quod ex ore Jehovae prophetaverint, ex memoratis in Libris Mosis, constare potest: QUOD CULTUS PER SACRIFICIA NOTUS FUERIT, ex his; Mandatum est, ut filii Israelis Gentium Altaria everterent, illarum Statuas confringerent, et illarum Lucos exscinderent, Exodus 34:13, Deuteronomius 7:5; 12:3. Quod Israel in Schittim coeperit scortari cum filiabus Moabi, [quod] vocaverint populum ad SACRIFICIA deorum suorum, et quod populus comederit, Numeri 25:1-3. Quod Bileamus, qui fuit ex Syria, fecerit exstruere Altaria, et SACRIFICAVERIT boves et pecudes, Numeri 22:40; 23:1-2, 14, 29-30. Quod etiam PROPHETAVERIT DE DOMINO, dicendo, Quod oriretur Stella es Jacobo, et Sceptrum ex Israele, Numeri XXIV 1 :17. QUODQUE PROPHETAVERIT ex ORE JEHOVAE, Numeri 22:13, 18; 23:3, 5, 8, 16, 26; 24:1, 13. Ex quibus patet, quod Cultus Divinus paene similis Cultui apud Gentem Israeliticam per Mosen instituto, apud Gentes fuerit. Quod etiam ante Abrahami tempus, elucet ex verbis apud Mosen Deuteronomius 33:7-8, sed evidentius ex MALCHIZEDECHO Rege Schalemi, quod eduxerit PANEM ET VINUM, et benedixerit Abramo, et quod Abram illi dederit DECIMAS de omnibus, Genesis 14:18-20; et quod Malchizedech repraesentaverit Dominum, nam vocatur Sacerdos Deo Altissimo, Genesis 14:18et de Domino Dicitur apud Davidem, Tu Sacerdos in aeternum, juxta modum Malchizedechi, Psalm 110:4; 2 inde erat, quod Malchizedech 3 eduxerit Panem et Vinum, ut Sanctissima Ecclesiae, sicut in Sacra Caena Sancta sunt. Haec praeter plura sunt indicia exstantia, quod ante Verbum Israeliticum fuerit Verbum, ex quo tales Revelationes.
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