to be repeated and the Sacrifices are every where sold for which lately there was rarely found any buyers Hence it appears from whence so great a hatred of Heathens against Christians sprang to wit because they saw that utter destruction and ruine was seizing on their Idols and Paganish Worships by means of Christian Religion But Pliny was greatly frustrated in this that he hoped that Christian Religion could be stopped and extinguished by those punishments For how vain all endeavours of Tyrants and Enemies were in suppressing the Gospel and hindring its course experience it self is witness XX. Seeing therefore the Christians endured so many and so great things seeing they had so many obstacles and yet firmly adhered to Christ what other cause could there be thereof then the great and invincible power of Truth which the Apostles confirmed both by the example of their unblameable piety and cruel death and chiefly by miracles never before heard or seen But if any one shall obstinately deny that miracles accompanied the Church of Christ in its beginning he considers not that he asserts a far greater miracle then ever was to wit that so great a multitude of men and almost the whole world should be converted without miracles But there is no doubt but these Primitive Christians were diligent and industrious enough in examining those miracles and searching out the Truth of Christian Religion seeing therein not onely their eternal salvation but also their present life and all their fortunes were concerned Very wittily and truly saith Pliny Singuli decipere decipi possunt nemo omnes neminem omnes fefellerunt Every one may deceive and be deceived no man hath deceived all men nor have all men deceived any This Argument therefore is of so great moment that no man in his wits can gain-say it XXI The third way of proving the Divinity of Christ is taken hence That the History of the Resurrection and Glorification of Christ is contained in the sacred Books of the New Testament But that those Books are of Divine Authority is proved 1. Because they contain the most perfect way of worshipping God and living piously such as neither men nor Devil could devise not men as it appears from comparing the Precepts contained in this Book not the Devil because he being an enemy of all vertue cannot be the Author of so holy a Doctrine 2. Because there are extant in them many Predictions concerning things future which we see afterward really fulfilled and proved true by the event 1. Concerning the destruction of the City Jerusalem and the subversion of the Temple Mat. 24. Luke 19.43 44. 2. Concerning the Conversion of the Gentiles to Christ Mat. 21.23 c. Mat. 8.11 3. Concerning the great and sudden propagation of Christian Religion Mat. 13.31 32 33. John 12.32 4. Concerning its perpetual Duration Luke 1.33 Mat. 28.20 John 14.16 5. Concerning the most grievous persecutions of Christians Mat. 10.17 21 34. That I say nothing now of the Prediction of Christ concerning his own sufferings and Death as also his Resurrection after three dayes Mat. 16.21 Luke 18.31 32 33. which unless the event had confirmed his Disciples would at no hand have believed in him For by this so evidently false Prediction he had betrayed himself to be an Impostor and Lyar. 3. Because they were written by the Apostles or by the familiar Companions of the Apostles whom we have shewed a little before to have been Divine Men and such as neither could nor would lye XXII This one thing therefore remains now to be proved to wit that the Books of the New Covenant were written by the Apostles and those whose Names they bear But to prove that we need no other Argument then the Testimony and consent of the ancient Christians which were nearer the times of the Apostles All these whose writings we have acknowledge these Books for the genuine writings of the Apostles and Evangelists And it is certain they used the utmost diligence in searching out the Truth of this matter See the Epistles of Ignatius who flourished soon after the destruction of Jerusalem See Justin Martyr who lived about the hundred and fiftieth year of Christ Irenaeus about the two hundred and thirty Clemens Alexandrinus about the year two hundred and six Tertullian about the year two hundred and eight who also mentions That even the authentick writings of the Apostles were yet extant in some Churches in his time lib. de Praescrip cont Haeret. See Origen about the year two hundred and thirty Eusebius the Ecclesiastick Historian about the year three hundred who from the best Antiquities extracted especially the Truth of these Books differencing the genuine Apostolick writings from the spurious and counterfeit and again of the true and Canonical Books shewing which without any Controversie were alwayes in all Churches accounted for genuine and of which there was in the beginning some doubt but so as afterward the matter being better tried the doubt ceased Adde to this the great multitude of Ecclesiastical Doctors after the time of Constantine the Great and among them chiefly Jerome an exact Searcher of this matter But neither have the Jews in times past nor Pagans ever raised a Controversie with the Christians touching these Books as to say they were feigned by the Christians and falsly attributed to the Apostles nay farther Cyril testifies in the tenth Book he wrote against Julian That that Heathen Emperour and Apostate a most bitter Persecutor of Christians doth openly confess it That the writings of Matthew Mark Luke Peter Paul are the same that Christians read under those names We see then that this so unanimous and uniform consent concerning these Books had continued without interruption to this day that is for more then sixteen hundred years Behold into how various Sects Christians have for a long time been and are now divided how dispersed and different in Regions Tongues Wits Opinions and notwithstanding their so much disagreeing in many chief Points of Doctrine they all agree in this That they constantly and unanimously believe these writings to be Apostolical and of divine Authority why we should depart from so ancient and perpetual a consent there is no reason But without reason to doubt of or contradict a thing universally received is foolish By what other reason I pray doth it appear at this day that the works of Livie Tacitus Curtius Virgil are those which are ascribed to them but by the consent of all the Learned of which there is no cause to doubt and if any one doubt he may deservedly be counted a fool Neither yet was it ever enquired into the Books of those Authors with so great industry as into the Truth of the New Testament because that in the Books of the profane Authors men are little concerned but in this Book they believe their eternal felicity is placed Wherefore also it is to be reckoned that we have sufficiently proved the Authority of the Sacred Scriptures since we have proved they cannot be doubted of without folly If any desire more concerning this Subject let him read S. de Authoritate S. Scripturae Hugo Grotius of the Truth of Christian Religion Episcopius Institut Theolog. de Messia de libris Novi Testamenti But he that is not satisfied with these let him read Philip More of the Truth of Christian Religion Raimundus Sebundus Ludovicus Vives Savaenarola and many others who have more then sufficiently polished this Subject as well with Philosophical subtilty as great Learning and Eloquence FINIS Books newly printed for and are to be sold by William Crooke at the three Bibles on Fleet-Bridge 1665. CAlliopes Cabinet opened wherein Gentlemen may be informed how to adorn themselves for Funerals Feasting and other Heroick Meetings Also here Gentlemen may know their place and worth in Honour with all the Degrees of Honour c. By James Salter 1665. Sixty nine Aenigmatical Courtiers all exactly drawn to the life from several Persons Humours and Dispositions pleasant and full of delight By R. F. Esq The Compleat Vineyard or the best way for planting of Vines in England wherein are set forth the whole Circumstances necessary for planting a Vineyard By William Hughes 1665. Sir Thomas Herbert's Travels with many Additions newly Printed again 1665. Hugonis Grotii baptizatorum Puerorum Institutio alternis Interrogationibus Responsionibus Cui accesserunt Graeca ejusdem Metaphrasis A Christop Wase Reg. Col. Cant. Et Anglicana Versio a Fran. Goldsmith Armig. c. Item Catalogus omnium Operum Hugonis Grotii ad calcem adjectus est 1665. The Royal Stem being an Account of all the most considerable Passages by Land and Sea since William the Conquerour to this very Time with a Picture of King Charls the Second all in a Broad Sheet fit for Studies or Closets Now at the Press Solamen Aegrorum sive Ternarias Medicamentorum Chymicorum ad omnes ferimorbos curandum maxime deplorato grandes felicissime inventa Remedia Authore Everardo Maynwaringo Phil. Med. Doctore 80.
Brevis Demonstratio THE TRUTH AND EXCELLENCY OF Christian Religion DEMONSTRATED AGAINST Jews Mahometans and Heathens PUBLISH'D At the desire of some Learned men and for the satisfaction of all Rational Persons in ENGLAND LONDON Printed for William Crooke at the Three Bibles on Fleet-Bridge M.DC.LXV THE Advertisement THis small Tract is extant in Latin under the Title of Brevis Demonstratio Religionis Christianae veritatis and subjoyn'd to Brenius his Notes on the Old and New Testaments The Author's Name is not there so much as intimated neither has it yet in any degree of certainty arrived at these parts The Translation of it was at first undertaken with a single aim at the Advantage of English-Readers and is now set out not without the Encouragement and Recommendation of such as may be judged to understand well the concerns of Christian Religion and the necessities of the Professors of it Whether or no this Concise Piece consider'd in its strength of Arguments Perspicuity of Stile Evidence of Reason Exactness of Method and Comprehensiveness of Matter does in a little compass plead its own Cause and implead opposite pretences more effectually and to better purposes than some of the same complexion with it-self have done is freely left to the Censure and dijudication of those that have read them and shall charge their judgements to a concurrence in the perusal of this To make this Translation correspondent in every point with the Original the subsequent Passages and words ought to be inserted according to these References Page 3. line 28. * in external and superstitious rites neither P. 7. l. 32. * and did scarcely contain the first lineaments of perfect virtue so that even in heathen Philosophers are found more perfect Precepts concerning some virtues ' specially those that belong to the contempt of worldly things Temperance and Patience than in Moses whence also we read that some holy men of that Religion led lives more excellent than those Precepts Moses pray's for his Enemies Exod. xxxii Numb xi and else-where often which yet was not commanded in his law David also is an Example of greater Meekness than was prescribed in the law ii Sam. xvi and xvii Pag. 15. l. 21. Divine man Pag. 18. l. 26. Divine man The unfaithfulness and confidence of the Printer have occasioned these ERRATA PAge 2. line 18. read Comparatively l. ult Alcoran p. 3. l 22. a blessed l. 23. an heavenly p. 4. l. 22. accommodated l. 30 of so great p. 5. l. 20. for But r. Now. l. 25. f. seriously r. servilely p. 6. l. 18. f. induced r. embraced p. 7. l. 12. Abyssines l. 13. Spain p. 8. l. 14. f. as r. or l. 22. 2. p. 9. l. 9 dele f. l. 14. 3. p. 10. l. 13. Babylonish p. 11. l. 10. intrinsecal l. 20. f. moderate r. modern p. 12. l. 25. Alcoran p. 14. l. 5. accommodate l. 18. calme l. 21. and taste l. ult XIV p. 15. l. 16. a Truth r. as can be seen in this Which p. 16. l. 4. f. was r. were p. 17. l. 5. Syria-Palestine l. 19. Archives p. 18. l. 18. r. never at all deny p. 19. l. 10. Oral l. 12. Alcoran p. 20. l. 21. an holy p. 22. l. 9. writings l. 21. f. Religion r. Believing p. 25. l. 23. apparelled l. 28. makes p. 27. l. 6. nothing else l. 24. worship p. 28. l. 28. Precepts deliver'd by the most excellent Philosophers with the Precepts contained p. 30. l. 1. f. six r. four l. 20. f. and r. or l. 27. f. had r. hath p. 31. l. 13. dele the. l. 21. Religion l. 23. Morney l. 25. Savanarola Brevis Demonstratio Or a brief DEMONSTRATION OF THE TRUTH OF Christian Religion I. FOr the demonstration of the fundamentals of Christian Religion it is necessary to inquire which is that Religion reveal'd by God wherein the most perfect way of worshipping God is contain'd Here now all the Religions that are or ever have been in the world are to be taken and examined by the Rule of right reason and out of them all that is to be acknowledged genuine and truly divine which prescribes that manner of serving God which is most perfect and most agreeable to the Principles of sound Reason But least any should think it too hard a task to examine all the sorts of Religions in the world or be affrighted with the vast difficulty of Inquiry among so many differences of Opinions concerning God and his Worship we will abridge this toil For the so diverse kinds of Religion may be reduc'd to four Heads or Ranks For whatever Religion either was or is is either Heathenish or Jewish or Christian or Mahometan Now then out of all these we will demonstrate that the Christian Religion is the truest and that by two Arguments II. The first is taken from the highest perfection of this Religion which argues most strongly that it was not devised by the wit of man but that it proceeded from God out of Heaven For either all Religion is to be rejected and God and his Providence wholly to be denied which we shall prove cannot be done without folly yea madness or it must needs be that this Religion which is so perfect in all respects that nothing is wanting to it which is required to the best way of worshipping God is true and divinely deliver'd and reveal'd For whether you consider it comparitively or absolutely you shall find it to be most perfect For it not onely very far excells in perfection all the Religions which any where are or have been in the world but also it is impossible that another more perfect according to right reason could be imagin'd or invented III. Both which that they may appear as well its Nature as Adjuncts or some of its most divine Effects are briefly to be look'd into But we ought not to judge of its nature from elsewhere then from those Books which are confess'd by all the Professors of this Religion although differing among themselves to contain Christian Religion For as a Judgement ought to to be made of the Religion of the Gentiles out of the Books of the Heathen of the Mahometan out of the Books of the Alcaron of the Jewish Religion out of the Books of Moses so it is fit to judge of Christian Religion out of those Books which all Christians believe and confess to have been written by the first Authors of this Religion Which Books shall thereby be prov'd to be of divine and undeniable Authority when it is prov'd that in them is contain'd a description of a most perfect and most divine Religion IV. The nature of Christian Religion is to be considered either in respect of Parts or in respect of Qualities its parts are promises and precepts What can be more sublime and perfect then the promises of Christian Religion In this life a few things truly belonging to the body and necessary for sustenance are promised that the Christian Religion might be by so
intrinsical honesty but such as are of a middle and indifferent nature and depend upon the meer will of the Commander such are all Ceremonial Laws but his Creatures cannot do so X. Hitherto we have shew'd out of the Mosaical and and Prophetick Books how imperfect the Jewish Religion is But you will acknowledge the same to be more imperfect and confess it to be no wayes agreeable to reason if you look into the Talmudick Books which are stuffed with vain Tradition and old Wives Fables and upon the various superstitions of the moderate Jews You shall find their God weeping for ruin'd Jerusalem and reading daily in the Law besides other most absurd things concerning Behemoth and Leviathan XI If the Jewish Religion which had God for its Author gives place to the Christian much more the Mahometan and Heathenish The Mahometan indeed is later then the Christian and it cannot deny that Christ the Author of it was a divine man Now that the Mahometan Religion is false appears chiefly from these reasons 1. Because it is contrary to the Christian Religion which we have shew'd to be true and given by God and hath taken away very many of its Laws for whatsoever is contrary to Truth is false 2. Because instead of Christs precepts it hath substituted baser Laws and it is far more imperfect then the Christian as well in its promises as precepts For it promises nothing but carnal things and hath recalled Circumcision which together with other Ceremonies had been abrogated by Christ But it is no wayes credible that God after so perfect a Religion as the Christian is would propose to the World a more imperfect one seeing it doth not become the most wise God to descend from high to low things but rather go on from imperfection to perfection 3. Because it has been established and propagated by Armes and carnal force and is even still preserved by the same 4. Because in matters of Faith it forbids inquiry after Truth and takes away all yea a modest liberty of disputing and also keeps the people from reading the Books which it accounts sacred whereby it makes it self forthwith suspected as if it were not good wares which is forbid to be view'd and searched 5. Because Mahomet the Author of it was a most profane man for he was a long time a Ravisher and alwayes given to Women Hence it is that in his Alcaron many obscene and foul things are read But that God by an unclean man would institute any holy Religion is by no means agreeable to reason XII The Heathen Religion remains which truly doth not deserve to be brought into comparison with the Christian so manifest is its falsity and turpitude even from these reasons 1. Because it had no promises nor precepts from God of which two things true Religion doth consist 2. Because it believed not one most High God but divided the Government of the World amongst many gods not subordinate one to another 3. Because it affirmed concerning its gods things most filthy and abhorrent from all honesty describing their Lusts Quarrels Thefts and I know not what wickednesses 4. Because it was not ashamed to worship things inanimate and Brutes far inferiour in dignity to men 5. Because it was burthened with Rites that were partly ridiculous and foolish partly obscene and impure partly horrid and cruel All which things every one doth easily perceive are contrary to sound reason But in Christian Religion you shall find no such thing which also by its coming in wholly blotted out and entinguished that Heathenish Religion as we have before hinted If any one would shew us beside this old one some other Paganish Religion in the World at this day its falsity also would forthwith appear if it were compared with the Christian For rectum est index sui obliqui Truth shews both it self and falshood XIII Thus we have demonstrated that Christian Religion considered both absolutely and in it self and also compared with all other Religions is most perfect Now if you demand how it came to pass that God did not presently in the first Ages of the World institute it among men there are more then one reason at hand 1. Because men were at the beginning not capable of so great perfection For mankind had after a sort its Infancy Childhood and Youth which needed as it were the first Elements of Religion that so it might by little and little be prepar'd for higher things and brought to perfection Neither in Arts did men forthwith come or were as it were at one leap brought to the highest perfection but humane industry did from rude beginnings as it were by steps ascend and aspire to it It became therefore a prudent Law-giver to accomodate himself to the capacity of those that were to be instructed and not so much to consider his own wisdome as the dulness of those that were to be taught So are Parents and Masters wont to proceed prudently in the instructing of their Children and Scholars Therefore it became also the most wise God in delivering precepts of Religion to proceed by little and little from the more imperfect ones to those that were more perfect 2. Because by this deferring of the perfect Religion unto more adult times God would excite in the minds of men a greater alacrity to entertain it For long fasting is the best Sauce for meat most sweet in it self and after long Storms and Tempests the smiling Calms is more gratefull God would therefore that men should first be throughly sensible of their most miserable condition without hope of immortality taste all the evils of mortality that afterward when the promise of eternal felicity had shined forth from Heaven all men every where might by so much the more eagerly flie together to so joyfull a message and should embrace it with both their Arms. Neither indeed do Mortals now behave themselves becoming enough so great a good What think you would have been done if presently from the beginning of the World the way to Heaven had lain open to mankind and so men might think that the right of the heavenly Inheritance was as it were a thing natural to them and offer'd as their due The Truth of the Christian Religion being demonstrated from its great perfection we shall now bring another Argument which even alone would be sufficient to prove the matter in hand yea which most evidently demonstrates not onely the Truth of Christian Religion but also both the Existence and Providence of God against impious Atheists So that all that hath hitherto been spoken may hence take very much strength and weight And it is drawn from History and Chronology for either no History is true and credit is to be denied to all things done whether written or spoken and the same are to be accounted meer Fables and Fictions or if this be absurd all must confess that that which is delivered in Historical Monuments touching Christian Religion revealed by God is
true for there can be no History shewn in which are to be found I will not say more but as many Arguments Testimonies and Marks of Truth which that it may appear there are two things in all to be proved by us 1. That sometimes there was in the world such an one as Christ Jesus who is said to be the Authour of this Religion 2. That this Jesus was a Divine Person and the true Messiah or Saviour of the world sent by God to institute this Religion When both these are proved there will remain no doubt not onely of Christian Religion that it is most true and to be received by all but also of God that he is and that he takes care of Mankind XV. The former can be proved without much ado yea it scarce needs proof For who can doubt that Christ was upon the earth when he seeth the Religion which has its name from him to be extant even at this very day for this is all one as if one should doubt whether Mahomet the Author of the Mahometan Religion which he knows to be extant was ever in being or when he hears Aristotle's Doctrine taught in the Schools whether Aristotle ever was or when he reads the Histories of what was done by the Romans Greeks and Macedonians should doubt whether there ever was either those Nations or the Writers of those things But if any be either so stupid or ignorant of those things that are done in the world he shall be convinced by the Testimony of the whole world For 1. Thousands of Christians are witnesses which we have shewed above to have filled almost all the corners of the Earth 2. The very bitterest enemies of Christian Religion are witnesses For both the Mahometans and all the Jews do testifie it among those in the Alcoran among these in the Thalmudick Books many things are read concerning Christ Lastly the most famous Writers of the Heathens have made mention of him among others Tacitus Suetonius Pliny junior Aelias Pampridius Aelias Spartianus Flavius Vepiscus Eutropius Ammianus Marcellinus the words of some of whom shall be produced afterward From the same doth appear both the place and time when and where he lived by whom he was put to death to wit in the Reign of Tiberius and by the Governour Pontius Pilate also that he rose up in Judea for Tacitus calls Judea the source of this evil meaning Christian Religion some of the ancient Christians in their time that is well nigh two Ages after the Birth of Christ testifie That the Acts of Pilate were extant and kept in the Roman Archives in which all things done in Judea by and with Christ were written to Tiberius the Emperour the Romane Senate by Pilate then President there And that these do not testifie this falsly appears from hence That writing Apologies for the Christistians to the Roman Caesars they so confidently appealed to those Acts and publick Records These are the words of Tertullian in his Apologetick Tiberius therefore in whose time the Chrian Name came into the world after he understood out of Syria Palestine that which there had manifested the Truth of his Christ Divinity proposed it to the Senate with the Prerogative of his Suffrage the Senate because they did not approve rejected it Caesar persisted in his opinion threatning danger to the Accusers of Christians Consult your Commentaries there ye shall find that Nero did first rage with the Imperial sword against this Sect then chiefly springing up at Rome It is most remarkable that in the same Apologetick he cites out of the same Acts of Pilate a Testimony concerning the darkness that miraculously happened about the Passion of Christ at Mid-day In the same moment saith he the Day was darkned even when the Sun was at the highest verily they also that knew not it had relation to Christ thought it was an Eclipse and yet ye have this disaster of the world recorded in your Archives Justin Martyr also in his Apology to Antoninus Plus writeth in these words That these things were so done ye may know out of the Acts that were written under Pilate And again And who hath done these things ye may know out of those Records that were written under Pilate With what face I pray could they so grosly lye before the Emperors How easily might they be detected and convicted of falshood How dear would this lye have cost them if either there were no such Acts or that those things they affirmed of Christ were not extant in them The same Authors that they might shew that Christ was born in the time of the general Tax under Augustus as it is set down in the Gospel according to Luke appealed to the Tax-rolls and referred the Gentiles to them in which the description of that Tax was as yet in that time extant and there was read the Name of Jesus born of Mary in Bethlehem For thus saith Tertullian lib. 6. against Marcion Lastly concerning the Tax or Enrolling of Augustus which the Roman Archives keep as a most faithfull witness of our Lords Nativity And afterward But it is also manifest that the Tax or Enrolling under Augustus was made at this time in Judea by Sentius Saturninus in which they might find out his Parentage And in the Book against the Jews For he was of the Countrey of Bethlehem and of the House of David as by the Romans Mary of whom is born Christ was reckoned in the Tax-rell Chrysostome later then Tertullian affirms That as yet in his time those Rolls and the Name of Jesus in them were extant There were also many of the Heathens who wrote against Christian Religion such were Celsus Porphyrius Julian but they by reason of the clear evidence of the thing did never deny but that there was such an one as Christ But in a matter most evident what needs much proof especially seeing that from the later particular which we have undertaken to prove the former also will be manifest and necessarily follow therefore omitting this we will now proceed with Gods assistance to the proof of that XVI As to the later then namely that Jesus was a Divine Person and sent from God that will without doubt be sufficiently proved when we shall have proved that this Jesus was famous for stupendious miracles led a most holy life and underwent most direfull torments and an ignominious death upon the Cross for the cause of his Religion and afterward the third day was raised by God from the dead and taken up into Heaven and from thence he shed forth upon the Disciples plentifully of the holy Spirit and sent them to teach all Nations his Doctrine XVII Now this is proved by three reasons The first is That there are undoubted witnesses of this matter and such whose Testimony cannot but be true but those witnesses are 1. As to his death and miracles the very mortal enemies of Christian Religion whose Testimony surely in this case is free from all