Magi

MAGI, or Wise-men, who came to adore Jesus Christ, being newly born at Bethlehem. Many Questions have been started concerning these Magi. ‘Tis asked, who they were? Whence they came? How many there were of ‘em? At what Time they arrived at Jerusalem? And what was the Star that appeared to ‘em? ‘Tis commonly thought that the Magi were Philosophers, had the Knowledge of future Events, and whose chief Study was Astronomy. That those who came to worship Jesus Christ were Disciples and Descendants of Balaam, who had prophecied several Ages before¹, that there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the Corners of Moab, and destroy all the Children of Sheth, or, all the Children of Numb. xxiv. 17 Numb. xxiii. 7. Matthew ii. 1.Pride. This Opinion is founded upon Scripture, which expressly says, that the wise Men came from the East, that is to say, from Arabia Deserta, or from Mesopotamia, which the sacred Authors express by the East. Balaam himself says, that he came from Aram, out of the Mountains of the East. But he came from the City of Pethora, situated upon the Euphrates². Isaiah speaking of Abraham’s coming into the Land of Promise, says that he came from the East³; who has caused the Just to come from the East.

The Arabians, the Eastern Idumæans, the Chaldæans, all Oriental People in Respect of Judæa, valued themselves much upon their Wisdom. The Name of Magus was appropriated in these Countries to signify a Philosopher, a Man that made a Profession of Wisdom. Tertullian⁴, Justin Martyr⁵, Epiphanius⁶, and among the Moderns, Tostat, Mariana, Barradius, Grotius, Cornelius à lapide, and several others, as well as our selves, suppose the Magi to come from beyond the Euphrates, or from Mesopotamia, that is, from the East of Judæa. I shall not here undertake to confute the Opinion of those, who pretend that the Magi came from Persia, or from Armenia, or from Africa, or from Æthiopia, or from the three several Parts of the World, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Those who would see this Matter discussed at large, may consult those Writers who have expressly treated upon this Subject; and particularly the Dissertation I have published before my Commentary on Saint Matthew.

Some of the ancient Fathers seem to have thought, that the Magi were three in Number, and that they were Kings in their several Countries. Tertullian⁷ seems zealous to maintain their Royalty, but his Proofs are insufficient. He supposes that the Orientals had commonly Magi for their Kings, which is far from being certain. Saint Ambrose⁸, or rather Cæsarius of Arles, gives them the Names of Kings; but it is suspected that this Word has been foisted into the Text. Saint Cyprian⁹ is quoted, in a Sermon upon Baptism, who says that they were Kings; but this Sermon belongs to an Abbot of Bonnevalle, named Arnold, who lived in the Time of Saint Bernard. Paschasius Radbertus¹⁰, who lived in the ninth Age in the Abbey of Corbie, affirms, that no Body can be ignorant that the Magi were Kings, who are acquainted with profane History. Lastly, Theophylact¹¹ among the Greeks has expresly contended that they were Kings. This is all that has been delivered by the Ancients with any Assurance, for as to what has been quoted from others, they are by no Means express; and as to the Moderns, their Authority can be of no Moment, in a Matter of this Nature. What has contributed most to give the Magi the Title of Kings, are these Words of Psalm lxxii. Verse 10. The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring Presents, the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer Gifts.

The Opinions of Men are as much divided as to the Profession of the Magi. Some¹² have imagined, that they exercised curious and diabolical Arts of Divination, judicial Astrology, and Inchantments. The ancient Gospel of the Infancy of our Saviour affirms, that they were Disciples of Zoroaster. But others¹³ have had a more favourable Opinion of them, thinking that their Magick was natural and lawful. Saint Epiphanius believes that they were of the Race of Abraham and Kethura. Abbot Rupert gives them the Name of Prophets and inspired Persons. Origen¹⁴ imagines, that the Magi having perceived by their magical Operations, that the Power of the Devil was much weakened, they were inquisitive to discover the Cause of it; and having observed at the same Time a new Star in the Heavens, they judged it was this of which Balaam had spoke, and which was to mark out the Place of the Birth of a new King of Israel. This is what made them resolve to go in Quest of him, to pay him their Adoration. Saint Basil¹⁵ and Saint Ambrose¹⁶ have pretty nearly the same Thoughts. Saint Jerome upon the xix of Isaiah says, that they had learned from Demons, or rather from the Prophecy of Balaam, that Christ was born; and Tertullian seems to say, that it was by Astrology they found out the Birth of the Messiah, since (as he maintains) this Science was allowed till the Time of Christ, but afterwards was forbidden, that no one henceforward might take upon him to calculate Nativities by the Stars.¹⁷ Scientia ista usque ad Evangelium fuit concessa, ut Christo edito nemo exinde nativitatem alicujus de Cælo interpretetur.

The Number of the Magi has been fixt to three for a very long Time. Leo supposes it in several Places¹⁸, Cæsarius affirms it expresly¹⁹. The same Thing is to be seen in two Sermons, formerly ascribed to Saint Austin²⁰, but one of which is Leo’s, and the other is elsewhere found under the Name of Eusebius Emesius. Bede, Abbot Rupert²¹, and after them a Multitude of Commentators, teach in the same Manner. This Opinion seems chiefly to be founded upon the three Sorts of Presents that are mentioned in the Gospel. They presented him with Gold, Myrrhe, and Frankincense. We commonly give ‘em the Names of Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthasar; but these Names were unknown to Antiquity, as well as those other Names given to ‘em in some Writings, which are modern enough, and therefore of but little Authority. As likewise these Greek Names, Apellius, Amerus, and Damascus; or these Hebrew, Magalat, Galgalat, Saraim; or lastly these, Ator, Sato, Paratoras²².

We read at the End of the third Tome of the Works of Bede, in a Book intitled, Extracts from the Fathers; that Melchior, the first of the Magi, was a bald old Man, having a great Beard of long white Hair; his Garment was of the Colour of Hyacinth, or Sky-blue, with a yellow or Orange Cloak, (Sago Mileno, or rather, Melino) his Stockings of a Colour mixed with blue and white, and his Diadem of several Colours. He offered Gold to Jesus Christ, as to a King. The second Magus was called Gaspar. He was young, without a Beard, of a ruddy Countenance, had on an Orange Robe, and a red Cloak. His Stockings were of the Colour of Hyacinth. He offered Incense in Acknowledgment of the Divinity of our Saviour. The third was called Balthasar. He was brown, had a long Beard, was clothed with a red Robe, with a Cloak of several Colours, and his Stockings were yellow. He offered Myrrhe to our Saviour, in Signification of his Mortality. But the Work wherein these Particularities are recorded, is unworthy of the venerable Bede, and without Doubt is much more modern.

Jerome Osorius, Bishop of Algarbe in Portugal relates, that a King of the City of Cranganor in the Kingdom of Calecut, named Cheriperimale, having betaken himself to travel, to expiate an Incest that he had committed with his Sister, came into Carmania, where he found two famous Magi, who were just upon the Point of setting out for Judæa; there to adore a Child just born of a Virgin, and who was to redeem Mankind. Cheriperimale prayed them to let him be of their Company; so they went together, and having paid their Adoration to Jesus Christ, they returned into their own Countrey. The King of Cranganor, at his Return into his City, there built a Church in Honour of the Virgin, and there represented the holy Mother of God holding her Son in her Arms; and gave Orders, that as often as the Name of Mary should be pronounced with a loud Voice, every Body should prostrate themselves to the Ground. This is what Osorius assures us he was informed of, by Persons very well acquainted with the Affairs of India, and who affirm that this is found in the ancient Monuments of the Indians. He adds, that the Indians paint the three Magi in this Manner. First, two walk together of a fair Complexion, clothed in royal Robes, having their Presents with them. Behind them is the third, of a tawny Hue almost like an Ethiopian, carrying also his Presents. F. Maffee in his History makes Mention of this also. He calls the King of Calecut, Perimale.

The Author of the imperfect Work upon Matthew, (Homil ii.) quotes ancient Apochryphal Books, which bear the Name of Seth; these say, that the Magi were twelve in Number, chosen out of all their Nation, and succeeding each other from Father to Son, for several Ages, to observe the Moment of the Appearance of the Star, that had been formerly foretold by Balaam. For this Purpose they used to go up into a Mountain, whence they observed the rising of the Stars. At last the Star appeared to them, having a young Child in the Middle of it, and a Cross over it. The Child spoke to them, and bid them go into Judæa. The Author of the common Gloss contents himself to say there were several Magi, without limiting their Number. The same Writer that composed the imperfect Commentary on Saint Matthew, which I have quoted several Times already, informs us that Saint Thomas went into Persia, and there instructed and baptized the Magi; after which they applied themselves to the preaching the Gospel along with him. ‘Tis affirmed, that they suffered Martyrdom in a City of Arabia. The Armenians maintain that they preached and suffered in their Countrey²³. The Governor of Armenia sent Word to King Saint Lewis, that they came from Tangat in Armenia²⁴.

The Time which the Magi took up in their Journey to Judæa, is a Point that has much exercised the Chronologers. Those which suppose they came from the remotest Parts of Persia, allow them two Years for their Journey²⁵; supposing that the Star appeared to ‘em two Years before the Birth of our Saviour. In this the Text of the Gospel is something favourable to ‘em, saying that Matt. ii. 16.Herod put to Death the Children of Bethlehem, from two Years old and under, according to the Time that the Magi had shewed him. Others believe, that departing from Home at the Time of our Saviour’s Birth, they did not arrive at Bethlehem till two Years after. Others again make them set out at the Moment of our Saviour’s Birth, and that they may arrive at Bethlehem thirteen Days after, they supply them with Dromedaries for the greater Speed. Some have believed that the Star appeared to ‘em from the Time of the Conception of John the Baptist, or from the Time of Christ’s Incarnation. But I cannot think that any one has ventured to fix the exact Time of their Departure, tho’ most have agreed that the Day of their Arrival at Bethlehem should be on the thirteenth Day from our Lord’s Birth. If they came from the Banks of Euphrates, I believe they might arrive at Jerusalem in less than twenty Days, crossing Arabia Deserta upon Camels, which was the common Way of travelling in those Countries. For from Euphrates to Jerusalem, it is not more than two hundred Leagues.

Now let us come to the Star that appeared to the Magi²⁶. Some ancient Authors have asserted, that it was a new Star purposely created, to declare to Men the Birth of the Messiah. Origen in his first Book against Celsus. Maldonat, and Grotius, take it for a kind of Comet, which appeared preternaturally in the Air. Lightfoot thinks, that the same Light which appeared to the Shepherds near Bethlehem, might also be visible afar off to the Magi, hanging over Judæa; and so be their Guide to find our Saviour. Others have pretended that it was an Angel clothed with a luminous Body in Form of a Star²⁷; which taking his Course towards Judæa, determined the Magi to follow him. The Author of the imperfect Work on Saint Matthew, and Saint Epiphanius²⁸, have followed the ancient Tradition found in the Apochryphal Book of Seth, which says that this Star appeared, having a young Child in the Middle of it, and above it the Figure of a Cross. The Author of the Treatise de mirabilibus sacræ Scripturæ, published in Saint Austin’s Name, assures us, that some Writers believed this Star was the Holy Ghost, which appeared to the Magi under the Form of a Star, as it appeared at the Baptism of Jesus Christ, under the Form of a Dove. Saint Ignatius in his Epistle to the Ephesians, says this Star exceeded all the other Stars in Brightness, and that the Sun and Moon, in some Sense, might be said to be in its Retinue; and that the whole World were in Amazement at the Appearance of this new Light.

Chalcidius²⁹, a Platonick Philosopher, who has composed a Commentary upon Plato’s Timæus, speaks of this Phænomenon in these Terms. We must observe another History much more holy, and more worthy of Veneration; ‘tis that which tells us of the Appearance of a Star, which foretold neither Diseases nor Mortality, but the Descent of God upon Earth, to live among Men, and to heap his Favours upon them. Wise Men of Chaldæa having perceived this Star in the Night, as they were skilful in the Science of Astronomy, they betook themselves to find out the new-born God; and having found him, they offered him Presents suitable to so high a Majesty.

‘Tis disputed whether this Star was seen by all in general, or by the Magi alone. Some³⁰ believe it was seen only by the Magi, others³¹ that they themselves saw it only twice or thrice, first in their own Countrey, and again at going out of Jerusalem, when they set out for Bethlehem: Saint Chrysostom³², Saint Ambrose³³, Saint Austin³⁴, Saint Bernard³⁵, and the Author of the imperfect Commentary on Saint Matthew, maintain that they saw it all along; from the Time it began to appear to them, till it disappeared on their Arrival at Jerusalem, and so put them under a Necessity of informing themselves about the Place where the Messias was to be born.

Saint Ignatius the Martyr, and the false Gospel of the Infancy of Jesus Christ, suppose it appeared in the Face of the whole World, that all the People saw it, and that it was their own Fault if they did not follow it. The Magi at their Arrival at Jerusalem seem to suppose, that every one had seen it. Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his Star in the East, and are come to worship him.

As for our selves, we believe that this Star was an inflamed Meteor, in the Middle Region of the Air, which having been observed by the Magi with miraculous and extraordinary Circumstances, was taken by them for the Star so long foretold by Balaam; and that afterwards they resolved to follow it, and to seek the new-born King, whose coming it declared. ‘Twas therefore a Light that moved in the Air before them, something like the Pillar of Clouds in the Desert. Inward Inspiration, the Light of the Holy Ghost, the Solicitation of Grace, were the Motives which engaged them to follow this Phænomenon.

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