manifested his nativity unto the wise â—én also of the Earthquake and Eclipse of the Sunne when it was full Moone at the time of Christs passion upon the Crosse SECT XV. Answer to the objection that the scriptures were changed NOw what can be said more against these bookes Surely I see nothing that can bee objected unlesse it bee said that they remained not altogether the same that they were from the beginning And indeed it may be granted that what is common to other bookes might happen to those namely that by the carelesnesse or corupt dealing of the transcribers some letters sillables or words might bee changed left out oâ— added But it is an unjust thing to bring in question the truth of such a booke or evidence onely because in so many ages there could â—â—e but he great variety of Copies since both custome and reason tels us that what is agreed upon by the greater number and most ancient copies the same is to be preferre before the contrary Now that all the copies of these bookes were corrupted by guile or otherwise either in points of doctrine or matter of history it will never bee proved there being no evidences or testimonies of former times ever to evince the same But if as we said before there be any thing urged by those that bare so great hatred against the writers or followers and maintainers of these bookes the same is to bee held for a reproach or calumny and not for any good proofe or sufficient testimony against them And this which we have said might suffice in answer to those that tell us the scripture hath beene changed which whosoever affirme ought to make good their assertion against the scripture so long time received in the Church But that the vanity of this objection may more plainely appeare wee will shew that what they imagine to bee true neither did nor ever could coâ—e to passe We have proved before that the books which have any titles were written by the Authors whose names they beare which being granted it will follow that one booke was not forged or put into the place of another neither is there any notable or noted part changed therein For in such a mutation there would have beene some ayme or intent whereby that part might have easily beene distinguished from other parts and bookes not changed or altered which cannot now any where bee discerued Nay as wee said there is every where a consent and harmony of the sease and meaning herein as it admirable to consider Againe no doubt so soone at any thing by or concerning the Apostles or apostolicall men was published â—…ghtway the Christians with great diligence is it was meet and oâ—t of a zealous desire to preserue and propagate pitty and truth unto posterity did get themselves many copies thereof which they dispersed through all places in Europe Asia and Aegypt where Christ anity was spred and the Greeke tongue spoken Yea as before we shewed there were some Originall Copies kept for the space of two hundred yeares after Christ 'T is not then possible or probable that those bookes received any such forgery they being so well knowne and carefully preserved not onely by particular men but by the comon care and diligence of whole Churches Adde further that these bookes in the following â—…ges were translated into the Syâ—â—cke Ethiopicke Arabicke and Latine tongues which translations are yet extant and doe not differ in ought to speake of from the Greeke Copies themselves Besides wee have the writings of those men who were taught by the Apostles themselves or by their Disciples wherein many places of scripture are cited out of these bookes to the same sense meaning which now we read theÌ„ Neither was there any in the Church of so great authority at those times who could have bin suffered to falsifie or change any thing if he would as is plaine by the open dissent of Iraeneus Tertullian and Cyprian from those that were most eminent in the Church After these times there succeeded many 〈…〉 men of great learning and judgement who having first made diligent inquiry thereof received these bookes as retaining their originall purity Hitherto also may be referred what but now wee said of divers sects of Crâ—…s all which at least such as acknowledged God to be the maker of the world and Christ to be the author of the new covenant did receive and use these bookes accordingly as wee doe the same And if any had attempted to alter or pâ—… any part thereof they should have beene accused by the rest for forgery and false-dealing men therein Neither was there ever any sect that had the liberty at their pleasure alter any of these bookes for their owne turns in asmuch as it is manifest that all of them did ground and assume arguments one against another out of the same And as for that which wee touched concerning divine providence the same belongs no lesse unto the chiefest parts than unto the whole bookes namely that it cannot conveniently be said that God would suffer so many men which sincerely desired to bee godly and earnestly sought after eternall life to bee led head long into that error which they could no way avoyd And thus much shall suffice to bee spoken for the authority of the bookes of the new covenant whence alone if there were no other helps wee might be sufficiently instructed concerning the true Religion SECT XVI For the authority of the bookes of the old Testament NOw forasmuch as it hath pleased God to leave us the writings and evidences of the Iewish Religion which was anciently the truest and affoards divers testimontes for Christianity Therefore it will not be amisse in the next place to justifie the authority of the same First then that these bookes were written by the same men whose names they beare is manifest in like manner as wee have proved of ours before of the new covenant These authors were either Prophets or other very faithfull and credible men such as was Esdras who compiled the bookes of the old Testament into one volume during the life time of the Prophet Haggai Malachy and Zachary I will not here repeat againe what is said before in the commendation of Moses Both that part of history which at first was delivered by him as wee have showne in the first booke and that also which was collected after his time is witnessed even by many of the heathen Thus the Annals of the Phâ—nitian's have recorded the names of David and Salomon and their leagues with the men of â—yre Aswell Berosus as the Hebrew writers makes mention of Nabuchadonosor and of other Chaldean Kings Hee whom Ieremy cals Vaphres King of Aegypt is termed Apries by Herodotus In like manner the bookes of the Grecians are replenished with narrations concerning Cyrus and his successors until the times of Darius And many other things concerning the naâ—â—on of the Iewes are related by Iosephus in his books against Appioâ—
could bee nothing save the plaine evidence of truth together with the holy Spirit of God SECT XXIIII Answer to them that require more forcible reasons FInally if any yet be not satisfied with these arguments abovesaid but desire more forcible reasons for confirmation of the excellency of Christian Religion let such know that as there are variety of things which be true so are there divers wayes of proving or manifesting the truth Thus is there one way in Mathematicks another in Physicks a third in Ethicks and lastly another kinde when a mater of fact is in questioâ—â— wherein verily wee must rest content with such testimonies as are free from all suspition of untruth otherwise downe goes all the frame and use of history and a great part of the art of Physicke together with all dutifulnesse that ought to be betweene parents and children for matters of practicâ— can no way else be knowne but by such testimonies Now it is the pleasure of Almighty God that those things which he would haue us to beleeve so that the very beleefe thereof may bee imputed to us for obedience should not so evidently appeare as those things which are apprehended by sense and plaine demonstration but only be so farre forth revealed as may beget faith and a perswasion thereof in the hearts and minds of such as are not obstinate That so the Gospell may be as a touchstine for triall of mens judgements whether they be sound or unsound For seeing these arguments whereof wee have spoken have induced so many honest godly and wise men to approve of this Religion it is thereby plaine enough that the fault of other mens infidelity is not for want of sufficient testimony but because they would not have that to bee had and embraced for truth which is contrary to their wilfull desires it being a hard matter for them to relinquish their honours and set at naught other commodities which thing they know they ought to doe if they admit of Christs doctrine and obey what hee hath commanded And this is the rather to bee noted of them for that many other historicall narrations are approved by them to bee true which notwithstanding are onely manifest by authority and not by any such strong proofes and perswasions or tokens as doe declare the history of Christ to bee true which are evident partly by the confession of those Iowes that are yet alive and partly in those companies and congregations of Christians which are any where to bee found whereof doubtlesse there was some cause Lastly seeing the long duration or continuance of Christian Religion and the large oxtent thereof can bee ascribed to no humane power therefore the same must bee attributed to miracles or if any deny that it came to passe through a miraculous manner this very getting so great strength and power without a miracle may bee thought to surpasse any miracle The third Booke OF THE TRVNESSE OF Christian Religion SECT I. To prove the authority of the books of the new covenant AFter that a man is once perswaded by the reasons abovesaid or is induced by any other arguments to beleeve that this same Religion which Christians professe is the truest and absolutely the best if hee desire more distinctly to know the parts thereof then must hee have recourse unto the most ancient writings that containe the same Religion and which commonly wee call the bookes of the new Testament or new covenant This truth no man can justly deny for as every sect bee they good or bad should be beleeved when they tell us truly in what booke or writing their opinions are comprised thus wee credit the Turkes who affirme that the Religion of Mahumet is contained in the Alcoran So it must be granted that the doctrine of Christianity is contained in the said bookes of the new covenant since the same is generally agreed upon and constantly ave red by all Christians Forasmuch then as wee have before proved that this Religion is most true if there were no other ground yet this alone were sufficient to prove and avouch the authority of those bookes aforesaid wherein the same Religion is contained Which truth to demonstrate more particularly let us in the first place take for granted by all indifferent men that he who goes about to disprove the authority of any booke or writing which hath bin a long time received and allowed of must use such arguments as doe derogate from the truth of that booke Otherwise the authority thereof is no whit diminished but may still bee defended and maintained SECT II. Here is showne that such bookes were written by the Authors whose names they have prefixed WEE say then that those bookes which are not in question amongst Christians but have certaine titles are the very workes of those authors whose names they beare to wit because those primitive fathers Iustin Iraeneus Clemens and others doe commend those bookes under the same Authors names as also be cause Tertullian witnesseth that there were Orignall copies of those bookes extant in his time And besides all the Churches received those bookes for authenticall before there were any common publike meetings Neither did ever the Pagans or Iews make doubt thereof but Iudian himselfe plainly confesseth that those were the writing of Peter and Paul Matthew Marke and Luke which Christians under those names have read and received For as no man can doubt that those writings which goe under the names of Homer and Virgill are truly theirs because the one hath beene so long time received among the Latins and the other among the Greeke authors in like manner it were more absurd to bring the authors of those bookes in question which are granted almost by all the nations in the world SECT III. Some bookes were anciently doubted of IN the volume of the new Covenant there are some bookes now received which were not so received from the beginning as namely the one Epistle of Peter that of Iames and Iude two of Iohn the Presbiter the Revelation and the Epistle to the Hebrewes which though not in all yet were still allowed by most Churches as is very probable in that the ancient Christians did alleage divers testimonies out of them as being sacred and holy And it is likely too that such Churches as from the beginning had not those bookes either were ignorant of them or doubtfull Yet afterward when they were better informed touching the same they admitted them into the Canen as we now see according to the example of other Churches Neither can any good reason be given why wee should thinke them to be supposititious and counterfeit writings for there is nothing comprised in them neither can ought thence bee collected which is not abundantly expressed in other Bookes unquestioned SECT IIII. The authority of such bookes as have no titles is proved from the quality of the writers ANd here let no man mistrust the verity of the Epistle to the Hebrewes because the writer of it is
unknowne nor doubt of the two Epistles of Iohn and the Revelation because some men doe question whether the author of them was Iohn the Apostle or some other of that name For the name is not so much to bee regarded as the quality or condition of the writers Hence it is that we receive many bookes of history whose authors are to us unknowne As that concerning the Alexandrian war by Cesar because wee may perceive that he whosoever writ the same lived in those times ad was present when the things were done In like manner it ought to suffice us that whosoever wrote the bookes wee speake of both lived in the primitive age and were endued with Apostolicall gifts For he speakes very improbably that saith these qualities were but counterfeit and that other writings might beare the names of these authors who every where pressing truth and prety cannot bee thought to play the â—…ning Sophisters and be guilty of falshood a thing not onely odious among all good men but by the Roman lawes was to bee punished with death SECT V. These pen-men writ the truth because they had certaine knowledge of what they writ THus it being plaine that the bookes of the new covenant were written by those authors whose names they beare or by such as beare witnesse of themselves if wee adde further that they know well the matters where of they wrote to be true and had no purpose to lye or dissemble it wil follow that the things which they committed to writing were both certaine and true because every untruth proceeds either from ignorance or from a wicked desire to deceive As touching Matthew Iohn Peter and Iohu they were all of the society and fellowship of those twelve whom Iesus did chuse to bee witnesses of his life and doctrine so that they could not be ignorant of those things which they did relate The same may be said of Iames who was either an Apostle or as some thinke the next a kin to Iesus and by the Apostles consecrated Bishop of Hierusalem Paul also could not erre through lacke of knowledge either about those points which hee professeth were revealed to him by Iesus himselfe triumphing in heaven orabout the things that were done by him having Luke a follow companion with him in his journeyes This Luke might easily know the certainty of those things which hee writ concerning the life and death of Iesus For hee was borne and bred in the places next adjoining to Palestina through which countrey when he travelled hee saith hee speake with such persons as were eyewitnesses of the things that were done For doubtlesse besides the Apostles with whom hee had familiarity there lived many others at that time who had beene cured by Iesus whom they saw both before his death and after his resurrection If wee will give credit to Tacitus and Suetoniâ—… in those things which happened a long time before they were borne because we are confident that they diligently enquired into the truth thereof how much more ought wee to beleeve this writer who saith that hee reeived all the things which hee relates from them that had seene the same It is credibly reported of Mark that hee was a daily companion with Peter so that whatsoever he writ may bee thought as suggested or witnessed by Peter who could not bee ignorant thereof Besides the same things that hee writes are almost all extant in the Acts of the Apostles Neither could the author of the apocalyps bee deceived or deluded in those visions which hee saith were revealed to him from heaven No more could he that writ the Epistle to the Hebrewes erre in those things which hee professeth either to bee inspired into him by the Spirit of God or else taught him by the Apostles SECT VI. As also because they would not lye THe other reason we spake of to prove the truth of the said holy writers was because they had no will or desire to tell an untruth And this hath beene toucht before in generall when wee proved the truth of Christian Religion and of the history of the resurrection of Christ Those that will accuse any witnesses for the pravity of their will must produce such proofes and evidences as may probably make it appeare why the will should be diverted from uttering the truth but this cannot bee averred of the said authors For if any doe object and say that they spake for their owne advantage upon enquiry it will appeare that they sought after no such by-end having neither hope of getting commodity or of eschewing any danger but rather by their profession they were more likely to lose all their commodities and be liable unto all sorts of perils If they aimed at any advantage it was onely to gaine honour unto God which doubtlesse cannot bee compatible with lying and dissembling specially in such a businesse as whereon depends the everlasting salvation of mankinde Farre be it then from any man to thinke that they were guilty of so great impiety their doctrine being ful of all sanctity and their lift exemplary for innocency and integrity free from the accusation of their greatest adversaries who onely condemned them for lacke of knowledge a fault unlikely to be the mother of falshood No if they had beene guilty of never so little fraud or deceit in that kind surely they would not have recorded to posterity their owne trespasses as namely their forsaking of Christ when hee was in danger and Poters deniall of him three times SECT VII A confirmation of the sidelity of these authors from the miracles which they wrought ON the other side God himselfe gave testimony of their fidelity by working wonders which both they and their Disciples with great boldnesse publikely avouched adding also the names of the persons places and other circumstanâ—es So that the truth or falshood of their assertion might easily have beene discovered by the inquisition of the Magistrate More particularly among the wonders that they wrought wee may note as most sensible and certain the use of tongues among so many thousands which never learned them and their curing the diseases of the body upon a suddaine in the sight of the people Neither were they any whit dismaied with feare either of the Iewish Magistrates of those times whom they knew to bee most maliciously set against them or of the Romans who dealt very unjustly with them omitting no fit occasion that might bee matter for traducing or accusing them as inventors of a new Religion Nay the very Iewes or Pagans in the times immediately following durst never deny that wonders were wrought by those men For so much is confessed of Peters miracles by Phlegon in his Annals who lived under Adrian the Emperour Moreover the Christians themselves in those bookes that contained a reason of their faith which they exhibited to the Emperours to the Senate and to the governours doe relate these things as most manifest and unquestionable truths yea they openly report that
there continued a wonderful vertue of working strange effects at their Sepulchers for certaine ages after their death which if it had beene false they knew that to their shame and punishment the Magistrates could have confuted the same and this that wee have spoken may suffice concerning the authors SECT VIII The truth of the writings connirmed by the events that have come to passe accordingly as they were revealed THere are other reasons to prove the truth and sidelity of these authors writings For many things are therein fâ—re old should after ward happen which notwithstanding were impossible for men by their owne power and ingeny to know or bring to passe yet we see the truth thereof confirmed by the event which have come to passe accordingly For so it was foretold that this Religion should upon a sudden have a large and ample increase that it should continue for ever thought it were rejected by most of the Iewes yet should it be imbraced by the Gentiles that were strangers to it Thus likewise was foretold what hatred spight the Iewes would beare against them that professed this religion what grievous persecutions the professors thereof should undergoe Also what a great siege and destruction there should be both of Hierusalem that great City and of the Temple together with a miserable calamity among the Iewes SECT IX As also from Gods care in preserving his people from false writings BEsides this if it bee granted that God out of his providence carefully respects and governes humane affaires specially such as belong to his honour and worship then it cannot bee that he should suffer so great a multitude to bee cheated and deceived with lying bookes those men I meane whose full intent and purpose was to worship God after a holy manner And forasmuch as among so many sects that have sprung up in Christianity there hath not beene one that received not either all or the most of those bookes excepting some few that containe no singular matter above the rest this mee thinkes may be a great argument that no materiall thing could bee objected against these writings specially since the said sects were so partiall and spitefully bent against another that what one approved of another commonly would bee displeased therewith even because the same was liked of by others SECT X. Answer to the objection that divers bookes were not received by all INdeed there were some that desired to be Christians who notwithstanding refused to admit of such bookes as they did perceive contained any thing that made against their doctrine And these were either such as out of hatred against the Iewes spake ill of their law and revâ—led the God of the Iewes who was the makes and framer of the whole world or else they were such as feared the great afflictions and persecutions that Christians suffered And thereupon thought it the safest way to â—urke under the name of Iewes who had free liberty for the exercise of their Religion Howbeit these lurkers were rejected and forsaken by all the open professed Christians that lived in those times when as all that any way disagreed in opinion if they kept unity of affection and piety might have beene suffered with great patience according to the Apostles commandement As for the former kinde of these bastard or counterfeit Christians I thinke they have beene sufficiently confuted both by that which wee have said before when wee proved that there was but one only true God the sole framer of the whole world As also by those very bookes which that they might have some semblance of Christians they did admit of specially the Gospell of Luke wherein is evidently showne that the same God whom Moses and the Hebrewes worshipped was preached by Christ And the other sort we shall more fitly confute when we speak against those that both are and would bee called Iewes For the present onely this I say that it is great impudency in them to fleight and extenuate the authority of Paul seeing verily there was not one of all the Apostles that expounded and taught more Charches than hee did who was reported at that time to have wrought many miracles when as ere while wee said there might easily have been triall and inquiry made of the truth of the matter If then it bee true that hee wrought wenders why may wee not beleeve him concerning his heavenly visions and instruction received from Christ himselfe to whom since he was so deately beloved it cannot be that hee should teach any thing inglorious or ingratefull unto Christ as falsities or untruths would have beene And as touching that particular whereof they accuse him namely his doctrine of the liberty and freedome which was purchased for the Hebrewes from those rites and ceremonies that were formerly commanded them by Moses there was not any cause in regard of himselfe why he should speak any thing but truth therein For both hee was circumcised and of his owne accord hee did observe the most part of the law But for Christian Religions sake he was both to doe and suffer more difficult matters than either was commanded by the law or could happen by occasion of the Law He taught also that his Disciples should doe and suffer the like whence it appeares that hee uttered no flattering or enricing speeches unto his auditors who were taught in stead of the Sabbeth to keepe every day holy for divine worship and in stead of the little expences which the law required to suffer the losse of all their goods and in stead of the bloud beasts to consecrate their owne blood unto God And further Paul himselfe plainly affirmes that Peter Iohn and Iames in token of their consent with him gave him the right hands of fellowship which hee never durst have spoken if it had not beene true because the same men being then alive might have convicted him for a lyar But to leave these men that searce deserve the name of Christians besides this which we have now said concerning the miracles wrought by the sacred pen men aforesaid and concerning the singular providence of God about affaires of this kinde the manifest consent and agreement of all other Christian congregations in the receiving of these bookes may induce any inidifferent men to give credit thereunto specially considering that they are wont commonly to credit other books of history without any such testimonies unlesse they see some plaine reason to the contrary which cannot bee said of any of those bookes whereof wee have spoken SECT XI Answer to an objection that these bookes seeme to containe things impossible FOr if any doe object saying that divers things are there in related which seeme to be impossible ever to have come to passe wee answer as before hath beene intimated that there are some things impossible for man to doe which not withstanding are possible unto God such as include in them no contradiction or contrariety And of this sort are those wonderfull effects which wee