Stilltheforcesofrightreasonpressedon，andamongthem，intheseventeenthcentury，inFrance，wasRichardSimon。HeattemptedtoglossoverthedeclarationsofScriptureagainstlendingatinterest，inanelaboratetreatise，butwasimmediatelyconfrontedbyBossuet。JustasBossuethadmingledScripturewithastronomyandopposedtheCopernicantheory，sonowhemingledScripturewithpoliticaleconomyanddenouncedthelendingofmoneyatinterest。HecalledattentiontothefactthattheScriptures，thecouncilsoftheChurchfromthebeginning，thepopes，thefathers，hadallinterpretedtheprohibitionof“usury“tobeaprohibitionofanylendingatinterest；andhedemonstratedthisinterpretationtobethetrueone。Simonwasputtoconfusionandhisbookcondemned。
TherewasbuttoomuchreasonforBossuet’sinterpretation。
Therestoodthefactthattheprohibitionofoneofthemostsimpleandbeneficialprinciplesinpoliticalandeconomicalsciencewasaffirmed，notonlybythefathers，butbytwenty-eightcouncilsoftheChurch，sixofthemgeneralcouncils，andbyseventeenpopes，tosaynothingofinnumerabledoctorsintheologyandcanonlaw。AndtheseprohibitionsbytheChurchhadbeenacceptedasofdivineoriginbyallobedientsonsoftheChurchinthegovernmentofFrance。SuchrulersasCharlestheBaldintheninthcentury，andSt。Louisinthethirteenth，hadrivetedthisideaintothecivillawsofirmlythatitseemedimpossibleevertodetachit。[455]
[455]ForthedeclarationoftheSorbonneintheseventeenthcenturyagainsttakingofinterest，seeLecky，Rationalism，vol。
ii，p。248，note。ForthespecialcondemnationbyInnocentXI，seeViva，DamnataeTheses，Pavia，1715，pp。112-114。Forconsiderationofvariouswaysofescapingthedifficultyregardinginterest，seeLecky，Rationalism，vol。ii，pp。249，250。ForBousset’sstrongdeclarationagainsttakinginterest，seehisOeuvres，Paris，1845-’46，vol。i，p。734，vol。vi，p。
654，andvol。ix，p。49etseq。Forthenumberofcouncilsandpopescondemningusury，seeLecky，asabove，vol。ii，p。255，note，citingConcina。
Asmightwellbeexpected，Italywasoneofthecountriesinwhichthetheologicaltheoryregardingusury——lendingatinterest——wasmostgenerallyassertedandassentedto。AmongthegreatnumberofItaliancanonistswhosupportedthetheory，twodeserveespecialmention，asaffordingacontrasttothepracticalmannerinwhichthecommercialItaliansmetthequestion。
Inthesixteenthcentury，veryfamousamongcanonistswasthelearnedBenedictine，Vilagut。In1589hepublishedatVenicehisgreatworkonusury，supportingwithmuchlearningandvigourthemostextremetheologicalconsequencesoftheolddoctrine。
Hedefinesusuryasthetakingofanythingbeyondtheoriginalloan，anddeclaresitmortalsin；headvocatesthedenialtousurersofChristianburial，confession，thesacraments，absolution，andconnectionwiththeuniversities；hedeclaresthatpriestsreceivingofferingsfromusurersshouldrefrainfromexercisingtheirministryuntilthematterispasseduponbythebishop。
AboutthemiddleoftheseventeenthcenturyanotherponderousfoliowaspublishedinVeniceuponthesamesubjectandwiththesametitle，byOnoratoLeotardi。Sofarfromshowinganysignsofyielding，heisevenmoreextremethanVilaguthadbeen，andquoteswithapprovaltheolddeclarationthatlendersofmoneyatinterestarenotonlyrobbersbutmurderers。
Sofaraswecanlearn，norealoppositionwasmadeineithercenturytothistheory，asatheory；astoPRACTICE，itwasdifferent。TheItaliantradersdidnotanswertheologicalargument；theysimplyoverrodeit。Inspiteoftheology，greatbankswereestablished，andespeciallythatofVeniceattheendofthetwelfthcentury，andthoseofBarcelonaandGenoaatthebeginningofthefifteenth。Nowherewascommercecarriedoninmorecompletedefianceofthisandothertheologicaltheorieshamperingtradethanintheverycitywherethesegreattreatiseswerepublished。Thesinofusury，likethesinofcommercewiththeMohammedans，seemstohavebeensettledforbytheVenetianmerchantsontheirdeathbeds；andgreatlytotheadvantageofthemagnificentchurchesandecclesiasticaladornmentsofthecity。
BytheseventeenthcenturytheclearestthinkersintheRomanChurchsawthathertheologymustbereadjustedtopoliticaleconomy：sobeganaseriesofamazingattemptstoreconcileaviewpermittingusurywiththelongseriesofdecreesofpopesandcouncilsforbiddingit。
InSpain，thegreatJesuitcasuistEscobarledtheway，andrarelyhadbeenseensuchexquisitehair-splitting。Buthiseffortswerenotreceivedwiththegratitudetheyperhapsdeserved。Pascal，revoltingattheirmoraleffect，attackedthemunsparinglyinhisProvincialLetters，citingespeciallysuchpassagesasthefollowing：“Itisusurytoreceiveprofitfromthosetowhomonelends，ifitbeexactedasjustlydue；
but，ifitbeexactedasadebtofgratitude，itisnotusury。”
ThisandamultitudeofsimilarpassagesPascalcoveredwiththekeenridiculeandindignantdenunciationofwhichhewassogreatamaster。
ButeventhegeniusofPascalcouldnotstopsuchefforts。IntheeighteenthcenturytheywererenewedbyafargreatertheologianthanEscobar——byhimwhowasafterwardmadeasaintandproclaimedadoctoroftheChurch——AlphonsoLiguori。
Startingwithbitterdenunciationsofusury，Liguorisoondevelopedamultitudeofsubtledevicesforescapingtheguiltofit。Presentingalongandelaboratetheoryof“mental，usury“
hearrivesattheconclusionthat，iftheborrowerpayinterestofhisownfreewill，thelendermaykeepit。Inanswertothequestionwhetherthelendermaykeepwhattheborrowerpaid，notoutofgratitudebutoutoffear——fearthatotherwiseloansmightberefusedhiminfuture——Liguorisays，“Tobeusuryitmustbepaidbyreasonofacontract，orasjustlydue；paymentbyreasonofsuchafeardoesnotcauseinteresttobepaidasanactualprice。”AgainLiguoritellsus，“Itisnotusurytoexactsomethinginreturnforthedangerandexpenseofregainingtheprincipal。”Theoldsubterfugesof“Damnumemergens“and“Lucrumcessans“aremadetodofullduty。Aremarkablequibbleisfoundintheanswertothequestionwhetherhesinswhofurnishesmoneytoamanwhomheknowstointendemployingitinusury。
Aftercitingaffirmativeopinionsfrommanywriters，Liguorisays，“Notwithstandingtheseopinions，thebetteropinionseemstometobethatthemanthusputtingouthismoneyisnotboundtomakerestitution，forhisactionisnotinjurioustotheborrower，butratherfavourabletohim。”andthisreasoningthesaintdevelopsatgreatlength。
IntheLatincountriesthissortofcasuistryeasedtherelationsoftheChurchwiththebankers，anditwasfulltime；fornowtherecameargumentsofadifferentkind。Theeighteenthcenturyphilosophyhadcomeuponthestage，andthefirsteffectiveonsetofpoliticalscientistsagainstthetheologicaloppositioninsouthernEuropewasmadeinItaly——themostnotedleadersintheattackbeingGalianiandMaffei。Hereandtherefeebleeffortsweremadetomeetthem，butitwasfeltmoreandmorebythinkingchurchmenthatentirelydifferenttacticsmustbeadopted。
AboutthesametimecameanattackinFrance，andthoughitsresultswerelessimmediateathome，theyweremuchmoreeffectiveabroad。In1748appearedMontesquieu’sSpiritoftheLaws。Inthisfamousbookwereconcentratedtwentyyearsofstudyandthoughtbyagreatthinkerontheinterestsoftheworldabouthim。Ineighteenmonthsitwentthroughtwenty-twoeditions；itwastranslatedintoeverycivilizedlanguage；andamongthethingsonwhichMontesquieubroughthiswitandwisdomtobearwithespecialforcewasthedoctrineoftheChurchregardinginterestonloans。Indoingthishewasobligedtouseacautioninformswhichseemsstrangelyatvariancewiththeboldnessofhisideas。InviewofthestrictnessofecclesiasticalcontrolinFrance，hefeltitsafesttomakehiswholeattackuponthosetheologicalandeconomicfolliesofMohammedancountrieswhichweresimilartothosewhichthetheologicalspirithadfastenedonFrance。[456]
[456]ForVilagut，seehisTractatusdeUsuris，Venice，1589，especiallypp。21，25，399。ForLeotardi，seehisDeUsuris，Venice，1655，especiallypreface，pp。6，7etseq。ForPascalandEscobar，seetheProvincialLetters，editedbySayres，Cambridge，1880，LetterVIII，pp。183-186；alsoanotetothesameletter，p。196。ForLiguori，seehisTheologiaMoralis，Paris，1834，lib。iii，tractv，cap。iii：DeContractibus，dub，vii。FortheeighteenthcenturyattackinItaly，seeBohm-Bawerk，pp。48etseq。ForMontesquieu’sviewofinterestonloans，seetheEspritdesLois，livrexxii。
BythemiddleoftheeighteenthcenturytheChurchauthoritiesatRomeclearlysawthenecessityofaconcession：theworldwouldenduretheologicalrestrictionnolonger；awayofescapeMUST
befound。Itwasseen，evenbythemostdevotedtheologians，thatmeredenunciationsanduseoftheologicalargumentsorscripturaltextsagainstthescientificideawerefutile。
Tothisfeelingitwasduethat，eveninthefirstyearsofthecentury，theJesuitcasuistshadcometotherescue。Withexquisitesubtletysomeoftheiracutestintellectsdevotedthemselvestoexplainingawaytheutterancesonthissubjectofsaints，fathers，doctors，popes，andcouncils。Theseexplanationswerewonderfullyingenious，butmanyoftheolderchurchmencontinuedtoinsistupontheorthodoxview，andatlastthePopehimselfintervened。Fortunatelyfortheworld，theseatofSt。PeterwasthenoccupiedbyBenedictXIV，certainlyoneofthemostgifted，morallyandintellectually，inthewholelineofRomanpontiffs。Tolerantandsympatheticfortheoppressed，hesawthenecessityoftakingupthequestion，andhegrappledwithiteffectually：herenderedtoCatholicismaservicelikethatwhichCalvinhadrenderedtoProtestantism，byshrewdlycuttingawaythroughthetheologicalbarrier。In1745heissuedhisencyclicalVixpervenit，whichdeclaredthatthedoctrineoftheChurchremainedconsistentwithitself；thatusuryisindeedasin，andthatitconsistsindemandinganyamountbeyondtheexactamountlent，butthatthereareoccasionswhenonspecialgroundsthelendermayobtainsuchadditionalsum。
Whatthese“occasions“and“specialgrounds“mightbe，wasleftveryvague；butthisactionwassufficient。
Atthesametimenonewrestrictionsuponbooksadvocatingthetakingofinterestformoneywereimposed，and，intheyearfollowinghisencyclical，Benedictopenlyacceptedthededicationofoneofthem——theworkofMaffei，andperhapsthemostcogentofall。
LikethecasuistryofBoscovichinusingtheCopernicantheoryfor“convenienceinargument。”whileacquiescinginitscondemnationbytheChurchauthorities，thisencyclicalofPopeBenedictbrokethespell。Turgot，Quesnay，AdamSmith，Hume，Bentham，andtheirdisciplespressedon，andsciencewonformankindanothergreatvictory。[457]
[457]ForQuesnay，seehisObservationssurl’Interetdel’Argent，inhisOeuvres，FrankfortandParis，1888，pp。399etseq。ForTurgot，seetheCollectionsdesEconomistes，Paris，1844，vols。iiiandiv；alsoBlanqui，Histoiredel’EconomiePolitique，Englishtranslation，p。373。ForanexcellentthoughbriefsummaryoftheeffortsoftheJesuitstoexplainawaytheoldactionoftheChurch，seeLecky，vol。ii，pp256，257。FortheactionofBenedictXIV，seeReusch，DerIndexderVorbotenenBucher，Bonn，1885，vol。ii，pp847，848。Foracomicalpictureofthe“quagmire’intowhichthehierarchybroughtitselfinthesquaringofitspracticewithitstheory，seeDollinger，asabove，pp。227，228。ForcunninglyvaguestatementsoftheactionofBenedictXIV，seeMastrofini，Surl’Usure，Frenchtranslation，Lyons，1834，pp。125，255。Theabbate，aswillbeseen，hasnottheslightesthesitaionintellinganuntruthinordertopreservetheconsistencyofpapalactioninthematterofusury——e。g。，pp。93，9496，andelsewhere。
Yetinthiscase，asinothers，insurrectionsagainsttheswayofscientifictruthappearedamongsomeoverzealousreligionists。
WhentheSorbonne，havingretreatedfromitsoldposition，armeditselfwithnewcasuistriesagainstthosewhoheldtoitsearlierdecisions，sundryprovincialdoctorsintheologyprotestedindignantly，makingtheoldcitationsfromtheScriptures，fathers，saints，doctors，popes，councils，andcanonists。AgaintheRomancourtintervened。In1830theInquisitionatRome，withtheapprovalofPiusVIII，thoughstilldecliningtocommititselfontheDOCTRINEinvolved，decreedthat，astoPRACTICE，confessorsshouldnolongerdisturblendersofmoneyatlegalinterest。
Buteventhisdidnotquietthemoreconscientioustheologians。
TheoldweaponswereagainfurbishedandhurledbytheAbbeLaborde，VicaroftheMetropolitanArchdioceseofAuch，andbytheAbbeDennavit，ProfessorofTheologyatLyons。GoodAbbeDennavitdeclaredthatherefusedabsolutiontothosewhotookinterestandtopriestswhopretendthatthesanctionofthecivillawissufficient。###第121章
Butthe“wisdomoftheserpent“wasagainbroughtintorequisition，andearlyinthedecadebetween1830and1840theAbbateMastrofiniissuedaworkonusury，which，hedeclaredonitstitle-page，demonstratedthat“moderateusuryisnotcontrarytoHolyScripture，ornaturallaw，orthedecisionsoftheChurch。”Nothingcanbemorecomicalthanthesuppressionsoftruth，evasionsoffacts，jugglerywithphrases，andperversionsofhistory，towhichtheabbateisforcedtoresortthroughouthisbookinordertoprovethattheChurchhasmadenomistake。
Inthefaceofscoresofexplicitdeliverancesanddecreesoffathers，doctors，popes，andcouncilsagainstthetakingofanyinterestwhateverformoney，hecoollypretendedthatwhattheyhaddeclaredagainstwasEXORBITANTinterest。HemadeameritoftheactionoftheChurch，andshowedthatitscoursehadbeenablessingtohumanity。ButhismasterpieceisindealingwiththeedictsofClementVandBenedictXIV。Astothefirst，itwillberememberedthatClement，inaccordwiththeCouncilofVienne，haddeclaredthat“anyonewhoshallpertinaciouslypresumetoaffirmthatthetakingofinterestformoneyisnotasin，wedecreehimtobeaheireticfitforpunishment。”andwehaveseenthatBenedictXIVdidnotatalldeviatefromthedoctrinesofhispredecessors。YetMastrofiniisequaltohistask，andbringsout，astheconclusionofhisbook，thestatementputuponhistitle-page，thatwhattheChurchcondemnsisonlyEXORBITANTinterest。
Thisworkwassanctionedbyvarioushighecclesiasticaldignitaries，andserveditspurpose；foritcoveredtheretreatoftheChurch。
In1872theHolyOffice，answeringaquestionsolemnlyputbytheBishopofAriano，assolemnlydeclaredthatthosewhotakeeightpercentinterestperannumare“nottobedisquieted“；andin1873appearedabookpublishedunderauthorityfromtheHolySee，allowingthefaithfultotakemoderateinterestunderconditionthatanyfuturedecisionsofthePopeshouldbeimplicitlyobeyed。Socialscienceasappliedtopoliticaleconomyhadgainedavictoryfinalandcomplete。TheTorloniafamilyatRometo-day，withitspalaces，chapels，intermarriages，affiliations，andpapalfavour——allwonbylendingmoneyatinterest，andbyliberalgifts，fromtheprofitsofusury，totheHolySee——isbutoneoutofmanygrowthsofitskindonrampartslongsincesurrenderedanddeserted。[458]
[458]Forthedecreeforbiddingconfessorstotroublelendersofmoneyatlegalinterest，seeAddisandArnold，CatholicDictionary，asabove；alsoMastrofini，asabove，intheappendix，wherevariousotherrecentRomandecreesaregiven。Astothecontroversygenerally，seeMastrofini；alsoLaRepliquedesdouzeDocteurs，citedbyGuillauminandCoquelin；alsoReusch，vol。ii，p。850。AsanexampleofMastrofini’swayofmakingblackappearwhite，comparetheLatintextofthedecreeonpage97withhisstatementsregardingit；seealsohiscunningsubstitutionofthenewsignificanceofthewordusuryfortheoldinvariouspartsofhisbook。AgoodhistoricalpresentationofthegeneralsubjectwillbefoundinRoscher，GeschichtederNational-
OeconomieinDeutschland，Munchen，1874，underarticlesWucherandZinsnehmen。ForFrance，seeespeciallyPetit，Traitedel’Usure，Paris，1840；andforGermany，seeNeumann，GeschichtedesWuchersinDeutschland，Halle，1865。Fortheviewofamodernleaderofthoughtinthisfield，seeJeremyBentham，DefenceofUsury，LetterX。Foranadmirablepieceofresearchintothenicerpointsinvolvedinthewholesubject，seeH。C。
Lea，TheEcclesiaticalTreatmentofUsury，intheYaleReviewforFebruary，1894。
Thedealingsoftheologywithpubliceconomywerebynomeansconfinedtothetakingofinterestformoney。ItwouldbeinterestingtonotetherestrictionsplaceduponcommercebytheChurchprohibitionofcommercialintercoursewithinfidels，againstwhichtheRepublicofVenicefoughtagoodfight；tonotehow，byamostcuriousperversionofScriptureintheGreekChurch，manyofthepeasantryofRussiawerepreventedfromraisingandeatingpotatoes；how，inScotland，atthebeginningofthiscentury，theuseoffanningmillsforwinnowinggrainwaswidelydenouncedascontrarytothetext，“Thewindblowethwhereitlisteth。”etc。，asleaguingwithSatan，whois“Princeofthepowersoftheair。”andthereforeassufficientcauseforexcommunicationfromtheScotchChurch。InstructiveitwouldbealsotonotehowtheintroductionofrailwayswasdeclaredbyanarchbishopoftheFrenchChurchtobeanevidenceofthedivinedispleasureagainstcountryinnkeeperswhosetmeatbeforetheirguestsonfastdays，andwhowerenowpunishedbyseeingtravellerscarriedbytheirdoors；howrailwaysandtelegraphsweredenouncedfromafewnotedpulpitsasheraldsofAntichrist；
andhowinProtestantEnglandthecurateofRotherhithe，atthebreakinginoftheThamesTunnel，sodestructivetolifeandproperty，declareditfromhispulpitajustjudgmentuponthepresumptuousaspirationsofmortalman。
ThesametendencyisseenintheoppositionofconscientiousmentothetakingofthecensusinSwedenandtheUnitedStates，onaccountofthetermsinwhichthenumberingofIsraelisspokenofintheOldTestament。Religiousscruplesonsimilargroundshavealsobeenavowedagainstsobeneficialathingaslifeinsurance。
Apparentlyunimportantasthesemanifestationsare，theyindicateawidespreadtendency；intheapplicationofscripturaldeclarationstomattersofsocialeconomy，whichhasnotyetceased，thoughitisfastfadingaway。[459]
[459]ForvariousinterdictslaiduponcommercebytheChurch，seeHeyd，HistoireduCommerceduLevantauMoyen-Age，Leipsic，1886，vol。ii，passim。Fortheinjurydonetocommercebyprohibitionofintercoursewiththeinfidel，seeLindsay，HistoryofMerchantShipping，London，1874，vol。ii。ForsuperstitionsregardingtheintroductionofthepotatoinRussia，andthename“devil’sroot“givenit，seeHellwald，Culturgeschichte，vol。ii，p。476；alsoHaxthausen，LaRussie。Foroppositiontowinnowingmachines，seeBurton，HistoryofScotland，vol。viii，p。511；
alsoLecky，EighteenthCentury，vol。ii，p。83；alsoMauseHeadrigg’sviewsinScott’sOldMortality，chap。vii。Forthecaseofapersondebarredfromthecommunionfor“raisingthedevil’swind“withawinnowingmachine，seeWorksofSirJ。Y。
Simpson，vol。ii。ThosedoubtingtheauthorityormotivesofSimpsonmayberemindedthathewastothedayofhisdeathoneofthestrictestadherantstoScotchorthodoxy。AstothecurateofRotherhithe，seeJournalofSirI。BrunelforMay20，1827，inLifeofI。K。Brunel，p。30。AstotheconclusionsdrawnfromthenumberingofIsrael，seeMichaelis，CommentariesontheLawsofMoses，1874，vol。ii，p。3。Theauthorofthisworkhimselfwitnessedthereluctanceofaveryconscientiousmantoanswerthequestionsofacensusmarshal，Mr。LewisHawley，ofSyracuse，NewYork；andthisreluctancewasbaseduponthereasonsassignedinIISamuelxxiv，1，andIChroniclesxxi，1，forthenumberingofthechildrenofIsrael。
Worthyofespecialstudy，too，wouldbetheevolutionofthemodernmethodsofraisingandbetteringtheconditionofthepoor，——theevolution，especially，oftheideathatmenaretobehelpedtohelpthemselves，inoppositiontotheoldtheoriesofindiscriminategiving，which，takingrootinsomeofthemostbeautifulutterancesofoursacredbooks，grewinthewarmatmosphereofmedievaldevotionintogreatsystemsforthepauperizingofthelabouringclasses。Here，too，scientificmodesofthoughtinsocialsciencehavegivenanewandnoblerfruitagetothewholegrowthofChristianbenevolence。[460]
[460]Amongthevastnumberofauthoritiesregardingtheevolutionofbettermethodsindealingwithpauperism，Iwouldcallattentiontoaworkwhichisespeciallysuggestive——
Behrends，ChristianityandSocialism，NewYork，1886。
CHAPTERXX。
FROMTHEDIVINEORACLESTOTHEHIGHERCRITICISM。
I。THEOLDERINTERPRETATION。
Thegreatsacredbooksoftheworldarethemostpreciousofhumanpossessions。Theyembodythedeepestsearchingsintothemostvitalproblemsofhumanityinallitsstages：thenaiveguessesoftheworld’schildhood，theopeningconceptionsofitsyouth，themorefullyroundedbeliefsofitsmaturity。
Thesebooks，nomatterhowunhistoricalinpartsandattimes，areprofoundlytrue。Theymirrortheevolutionofman’sloftiestaspirations，hopes，loves，consolations，andenthusiasms；hishatesandfears；hisviewsofhisoriginanddestiny；histheoriesofhisrightsandduties；andthesenotmerelyintheirlightsbutintheirshadows。Thereforeitisthattheycontainthegermsoftruthsmostnecessaryintheevolutionofhumanity，andgivetothesegermstheenvironmentandsustenancewhichbestinsuretheirgrowthandstrength。
Withwidedifferencesinoriginandcharacter，thissacredliteraturehasbeendevelopedandhasexerciseditsinfluenceinobediencetocertaingenerallaws。Firstoftheseintime，ifnotinimportance，isthatwhichgovernsitsorigin：inallcivilizationswefindthattheDivineSpiritworkinginthemindofmanshapeshissacredbooksfirstofalloutofthechaosofmythandlegend；andofthesebooks，whenlifeisthusbreathedintothem，thefittestsurvive。
Sobroadanddenseisthisatmosphereofmythandlegendenvelopingthemthatitlingersaboutthemaftertheyhavebeenbroughtforthfull-orbed；and，sometimes，fromitareevenproducedsecondarymythicalandlegendaryconcretions——satellitesaboutthesegreaterorbsofearlythought。Ofthesesecondarygrowthsonemaybementionedasshowinghowrichinmyth-makingmaterialwastheatmospherewhichenvelopedourownearliersacredliterature。
InthethirdcenturybeforeChristtherebegantobeelaboratedamongtheJewishscholarsofAlexandria，thenthegreatcentreofhumanthought，aGreektranslationofthemainbooksconstitutingtheOldTestament。Nothingcouldbemorenaturalatthatplaceandtimethansuchatranslation；yetthegrowthofexplanatorymythandlegendarounditwasnonethelessluxuriant。Therewasindeedatwofoldgrowth。AmongtheJewsfavourabletothenewversionalegendrosewhichjustifiedit。ThislegendinitsfirststagewastotheeffectthatthePtolemythenontheEgyptianthronehad，attherequestofhischieflibrarian，senttoJerusalemfortranslators；thattheJewishhighpriestEleazarhadsenttothekingamostpreciouscopyoftheScripturesfromthetempleatJerusalem，andsixmostvenerable，devout，andlearnedscholarsfromeachofthetwelvetribesofIsrael；thatthenumberoftranslatorsthuscorrespondedwiththemysteriousseventy-twoappellationsofGod；andthatthecombinedeffortsoftheseseventy-twomenproducedamarvellouslyperfecttranslation。
Butinthatatmosphereofmythandmarvelthelegendcontinuedtogrow，andsoonwehaveitbloomingforthyetmoregorgeouslyinthestatementthatKingPtolemyorderedeachoftheseventy-twotomakebyhimselfafulltranslationoftheentireOldTestament，andshutupeachtranslatorinaseparatecellontheislandofPharos，secludinghimthereuntiltheworkwasdone；
thattheworkofeachwascompletedinexactlyseventy-twodays；
andthatwhen，attheendoftheseventy-twodays，theseventy-twotranslationswerecompared，eachwasfoundexactlylikealltheothers。ThisshowedclearlyJehovah’sAPPROVAL。
Butoutofallthismythandlegendtherewasalsoevolvedanaccountofaverydifferentsort。TheJewswhoremainedfaithfultothetraditionsoftheirraceregardedthisGreekversionasaprofanation，andthereforetheregrewupthelegendthatonthecompletionoftheworktherewasdarknessoverthewholeearthduringthreedays。ThisshowedclearlyJehovah’sDISAPPROVAL。
Thesewell-knownlegends，whicharosewithinwhat——ascomparedwithanyprevioustime——wasanexceedinglyenlightenedperiod，andwhichweresteadfastlybelievedbyavastmultitudeofJewsandChristiansforages，arebutsingleexamplesamongscoreswhichshowhowinevitablysuchtraditionsregardingsacredbooksaredevelopedintheearlierstagesofcivilization，whenmenexplaineverythingbymiracleandnothingbylaw。[461]
[461]ForthelegendregardingtheSeptaguint，especiallyasdevelopedbythelettersofPseudo-Aristeas，andforquaintcitationsfromthefathersregardingit，seeTheHistoryoftheSeventy-twoInterpretors，fromtheGreekofAristeas，translatedbyMr。Lewis，London，1715；alsoClementofAlexandria，intheAnte-NiceneChristianLibrary，Edinburgh，1867，p。448。Forinterestingsummariesshowingthegrowthofthestory，seeDrummond，PhiloJudaeusandtheGrowthoftheAlexandrianPhilosophy，London，1888，vol。i，pp。231etseq。；alsoRenan，HistoireduPeupleIsrael，vol。iv，chap。iv；also，forPhiloJudaeus’spartindevelopingthelegend，seeRev。Dr。Sanday’sBamptonLecturesfor1893，onInspiration，pp。86，87。
Asthesecondoftheselawsgoverningtheevolutionofsacredliteraturemaybementionedthatwhichwehaveconstantlyseensoeffectiveinthegrowthoftheologicalideas——thattowhichComtegavethenameoftheLawofWillsandCauses。Obedienttothis，manattributestotheSupremeBeingaphysical，intellectual，andmoralstructurelikehisown；henceitisthatthevotaryofeachofthegreatworldreligionsascribestoitssacredbookswhatheconsidersabsoluteperfection：heimaginesthemtobewhathehimselfwouldgivetheworld，werehehimselfinfinitelygood，wise，andpowerful。
Averysimpleanalogymightindeedshowhimthatevenaliteratureemanatingfromanall-wise，beneficent，andpowerfulauthormightnotseemperfectwhenjudgedbyahumanstandard；