Let us see, then, who these pretended prophets are, and if we ought to consider them as important as our Christ-worshipers pretend they are.  These men were but visionaries and fanatics, who acted and spoke according to the impulsions of their ruling passions, and who imagined that it was the Spirit of God by which they spoke and acted; or they were impostors who feigned to be prophets, and who, in order to more easily deceive the ignorant and simple-minded, boasted of acting and speaking by the Spirit of God.  I would like to know how an Ezekiel would be received who should say that God made him eat for his breakfast a roll of parchment; commanded him to be tied like an insane man, and lie three hundred and ninety days upon his right side, and forty days upon his left, and commanded him to eat man’s dung upon his bread, and afterward, as an accommodation, cow’s dung?  I ask how such a filthy statement would be received by the most stupid people of our provinces?

What can be yet a greater proof of the falsity of these pretended prophecies, than the violence with which these prophets reproach each other for speaking falsely in the name of God, reproaches which they claim to make in behalf of God.  All of them say, “Beware of the false prophets!” as the quacks say, “Beware of the counterfeit pills!” How could these insane impostors tell the future?  No prophecy in favor of their Jewish nation was ever fulfilled.  The number of prophecies which predict the prosperity and the greatness of Jerusalem is almost innumerable; in explanation of this, it will be said that it is very natural that a subdued and captive people should comfort themselves in their real afflictions by imaginary hopes—­as a year after King James was deposed, the Irish people of his party forged several prophecies in regard to him.

But if these promises made to the Jews had been really true, the Jewish nation long ago would have been, and would still be, the most numerous, the most powerful, the most blessed, and the most victorious of all nations.

VI.—­(2) THE NEW TESTAMENT.

Let us examine the pretended prophecies which are contained in the Gospels.

Firstly.  An angel having appeared in a dream to a man named Joseph, father, or at least so reputed, of Jesus, son of Mary, said unto him: 

“Joseph, thou son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins.”  This angel said also to Mary: 

“Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God.  And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest:  and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David.  And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end!” Jesus began to preach and to say: