Page:The Archko Volume (1896).djvu/152

 CHAPTER IX.

HEROD ANTIPATER'S DEFENCE BEFORE THE ROMAN SENATE IN REGARD TO HIS CONDUCT AT BETHLEHEM.

On a scroll in the library of the Vatican I find the following record, marked "Herod Antipater's Defence:"

"Noble Romans: In the case whereof I am accused, these Jews are of all people the most superstitious, and no more to be trusted than the Hindoos. They have taught themselves to believe in but one God, who dwells in another world, so they can neither see nor hear Him, nor in any way approach Him by their senses. They believe that He is unchangeable and unapproachable; that He can only manifest Himself through some angel or spirit, or some light, or the thunder, or any strange and uncommon phenomenon. Hence, they are so superstitious that they can be made to believe anything.

"In order that you may know what kind of people I have to deal with, I will give you some of their maxims: (1) When the sun shines they say their God smiles; (2) when it is cloudy they say He frowns; (3) when it thunders they say He is angry, (148)