In selecting these details I have not attempted to give a
finished portrait of Essenism. From this point of view the de-
lineation would be imperfect and misleading: for I have left out
of sight the nobler features of the sect, their courageous en-
durance, their simple piety, their brotherly love. My object was
solely to call attention to those features which distinguish
it from the normal type of Judaism, and seem to justify the


93


attribution of Gnostic influences. And here it has been seen The three


that the three characteristics, which were singléd out above as 2


otes of
nostie-


distinctive of Gnosticism, reappear in the Essenes; though it ism found
has been convenient to consider them in the reversed order. τὰ {0 a


This Jewish sect exhibits the same exclusivehess in the com-
munication of its doctrines. Its theological speculations take
the same direction, dwelling on the mysteries of creation,
regarding matter as the abode of evil, and postulating certain
intermediate spiritual agencies as necessary mks of communi-
cation between heaven and earth. And lastly, its speculative
opinions involve the same ethical conclusions, and lead in
like manner to a rigid asceticism. If the notices relating to
these points do not always explain themselves, yet read in
the light of the heresies of the Apostolic age and in that of
subsequent Judzo-Gnostic Christianity, their bearing seems to
be distinct enough ; so that we should not be far wrong, if we
were to designate Essenism as Gnostic Judaism’.
