all shall be Man's happiness after this life SEeing then the Soul is of a nature that in it self hath no ground or cause of its own corruption and seeing also that God hath given us many signs and tokens whereby we ought to understand that it is his will the soul should survive the body what more noble end can be propounded to Man than the state of eternal happiness which in effect is the same that Plato and the Pythagoreans spake of saying that it were good for man if he could become most like unto God SECT XXV Which to obtain Men must get the true Religion NOW what this happiness is and how 't is to be attained Men may search by probable conjectures but if any thing concerning this matter be revealed by God that must be held for a most certain and undoubted truth which since Christian Religion pretends to bring unto us above others it shall be examined in the next Book whether or no Men ought to give credit thereunto and assuredly build their faith thereon The Second Book OF THE TRUTH OF Christian Religion SECT I. To prove the Truth of Christian Religion IT is not our purpose in this Second Book to handle all the Points of Christianity but after our hearty Prayers made to Christ the King of Heaven that he would grant us the assistance of his holy Spirit whereby we may be enabled for such a Work we shall only endeavour to make it appear that the Christian Religion it self is most true and certain Which I thus begin SECT II. Here is showen that Jesus lived THAT there was such a Person as Jesus of Nazareth who lived heretofore in Judaea when Tiberius was Emperor of Rome is not only most constantly professed by all Christians who are scattered over the face of all the Earth but acknowledged by all the Jews who now are or ever wrote since those times Nay the very Pagan Writers that is such as are neither of the Jewish nor Christian Religion namely Suetonius Tacitus Pliny the younger and many more after them do testifie the same SECT III. And was put to an ignominious Death THAT the same Jesus was nailed to a Cross by Pontius Pilate Governor of Judaea is confessed also by all Christians though it might seem very disgraceful to them to be the Worshippers of such a Lord. The Jews also do the like though they are not ignorant that upon this account they are very odious to Christians in whose Dominions they live because their Ancestors were the Men that moved Pilate and perswaded him to pass the sentence of Death upon Jesus The Pagan Writers also now named have delivered the same to Posterity Yea the Acts of Pilate were extant a long time after from whence this might have been proved to which Christians never made their Appeal For neither did Julian himself nor any other adversaries of Christianity ever make doubt hereof So that hence it appears that there was never any more certain story than this which we see may be confirmed not only by the testimonies of some few Men but also by the approbation of several Nations otherwise disagreeing and jarring among themselves SECT IV. Yet afterward was worshipped by prudent and godly Men. ALL which though it be most true yet we see how that thorowout the remotest parts of the World he is worshipped as Lord and that not in our days only or those which are lately passed but ever since the time that this was done to wit ever since the Reign of Nero the Emperor when many People that professed this worship of Christ and Christian Religion were for that cause tortured and put to death as Tacitus and others do witness SECT V. The cause whereof was for that in his life time there were Miracles done by him NOW among such as professed Christianity there were always many Persons who were both judicious and not unlearned Such as to say nothing now of the Jews Sergius Governor of Cyprus Dionysius Areopagita Polycarpus Justinus Irenaeus Athenagoras Origen Tertullian Clemens Alexandrinus with divers others who almost all being brought up in other religions and having no hopes of any Wealth or Preferment by Christianity yet became worshippers of this Man that died so ignominious a death and exhibited due honour to him as God Of which no other reason can be given but this alone that they made diligent enquiry as became prudent Men in a matter of greatest moment and found that what was bruited abroad concerning the Miracles wrought by Christ was true and relied upon firm witnesses As the curing and that with his word only and before all the People divers grievous and inveterate Diseases the restoring of Sight to him that was born blind the multiplying of a few Loaves more than once for the feeding many Thousands who could testifie the truth of it the recalling of the Dead to Life again and many more of the like kind The report of which things had then such a certain and undoubted original that neither Celsus nor Julian when they wrote against Christians durst deny there were some Prodigies done by Christ and the Hebrews in the Talmudical Books do openly confess it SECT VI. Which Miracles were not wrought either by the help of Nature or assistance of the Devil but meerly by the Divine Power of GOD. THAT these wondrous Works were not wrought by any Natural Power it is manifest by this very thing that they are called wonders and miracles Nor is it possible by the force of nature that any grievous Diseases and Infirmities should be cured meerly by a Man's voice or by the vertue of a Touch and that even upon a suddain And if such Works could have any way been ascribed to a Natural efficacy it would have been said before now either by those that were professed enemies of Christ while he lived upon Earth or by those that have been Adversaries of his Gospel since his death By the like Argument we may prove that they were not jugling delusions because they were done openly in the sight of all the People amongst whom divers of the Learned sort did malign and bear ill will unto Christ not without envy observing all that he did Add further that the like Works were often iterated and the effects thereof were not transitory but permanent and durable All which being duly pondered it must needs follow as the Jews have confessed that these Works proceeded from a more than Natural or Humane Power that is from some Spirit either good or evil That they proceeded not from any evil Spirit may be proved because that the Doctrine of Christ for the confirmation whereof these Works were wrought was quite opposite and contrary to bad Spirits For it prohibits the worshipping of evil Angels and disswades Men from all uncleanness of affections and manners wherein such Spirits are much delighted And this is also plain for that wheresoever the Doctrine of the Gospel was received and established there followed
it very easily But there were such multitude of Miracles wrought at the Sepulchres I spoke of and so many Witnesses of them that they extorted even from Porphyry a confession of it SECT VIII The Truth of the Writings confirmed from hence that many things are found there which the event hath proved to be divinely revealed THESE things ought to suffice but there are other Arguments which we may heap upon these to prove the truth and fidelity of these Authors Writings For many things are therein foretold which were impossible for Men by their own power to know or bring to pass yet we see the truth thereof wonderfully confirmed by the event Thus it was foretold that this Religion should upon a sudden have a large and ample increase that it should continue for ever and though it were rejected by most of the Jews yet should it be imbraced by the Gentiles Thus likewise was foretold what hatred and spight the Jews would bear against them that professed this Religion and what grievous Persecutions they should undergo The siege also and destruction both of Hierusalem and of the Temple together with the miserable Calamities of the Jewish Nation SECT IX As also from God's care in preserving his People from false writings BESIDES this if it be granted that God out of his providence takes care of humane affairs specially such as belong to his honour and worship then it cannot be that he should suffer so great a multitude of Men who had no other design but to worship God after a holy manner to be cheated with lying Books And forasmuch as since the time that so many Sects have sprung up in Christianity there hath not been one that received not either all or the most of those Books excepting some few that contain no singular matter differing from the rest it is a great argument that no material thing could be objected against these writings specially since the said Sects were so partial and spitefully bent against each other that what one approved others rejected even for this reason because it was there approved SECT X. Answer to the Objection that divers Books were not received by all THERE were some indeed though very few among those that would be called Christians who rejected all those Books which they saw contradicted their peculiar Opinions Such for instance as out of hatred of the Jews reviled their God the Maker of the World and the Law which he had given them or on the other side such as for fear of the evils which Christians were to undergo chose to lurk and lye hid under the name of Jews who had liberty without any danger to profess their Religion But these very Men were renounced in those times by all other Christians throughout the World when as yet all that differed in their opinions with the safety of piety were tolerated by the order of the Apostles with great patience As for the former kind of these adulterate Christians I think they have been sufficiently confuted both by that which we have said before when we proved that there was but one only true God the sole framer of the whole World As also by those very Books which that they might have some semblance of Christians they did admit of specially the Gospel of Luke wherein is evidently shown that the same God whom Moses and the Hebrews worshipped was preached by Christ And the other sort we shall more fitly confute when we come to oppugne those that both are and would be called Jews For the present only this I say that their impudence is wonderful great who slight and extenuate the authority of Paul seeing there was not one of all the Apostles that founded and taught more Churches than he did and his Miracles were at that time reported to be exceeding numerous when as e're while we said there might easily have been trial and inquiry made of the truth of the matter If then it be true that he wrought wonders why may we not believe him concerning his Heavenly Visions and instruction received from Christ himself to whom if he was so dear it cannot be that he should teach any thing inglorious or ingrateful unto Christ as falsities or untruths would have been And as touching that particular which is the only thing whereof they accuse him namely his doctrine of the liberty and freedom which was purchased for the Hebrews from those Rites and Ceremonies that were formerly commanded them by MOSES He had no reason at all to teach it but only the truth of the thing which he asserted For he himself was both circumcised and did also of his own accord observe very many things which the Law enjoyned And then for the sake of the Christian Religion he both did more difficult and suffered harder things than the Law required or could be expected upon the account of the Law and taught also his Disciples to do and suffer the like Whence it appears that he uttered no flattering or enticing speeches unto his auditors who were taught in stead of the Sabbath to keep every day holy for divine worship and in stead of the little expences which the Law required to suffer the loss of all their goods and in stead of the bloud of Beasts to consecrate their own bloud unto God And further Paul himself plainly affirms that Peter John and James in token of their consent with him gave him the right hands of fellowship which he never durst have spoken if it had not been true because the same Men being then alive might have convicted him for a lyar These therefore of whom I have now spoken being excluded as scarce deserving the name of Christians the most manifest consent of so many Congregations of Christians who received these Books added to what hath been spoken of the Miracles which the Writers of them wrought and the singular care which God takes about matters of this kind ought to be sufficient to induce any indifferent Men to give credit thereunto specially considering that they are wont commonly to credit any other Books of History which have no such testimonies unless they see some plain reason to the contrary which cannot be said of any of those Books whereof we have spoken SECT XI Answer to an Objection that these Books seem to contain things impossible FOR if any body say that some things are related in these Books which are impossible to be done the Objection vanishes when we consider what hath been before discoursed that there are things which cannot indeed be done by Men but are possible with God such that is as include in themselves no repugnancy or contradiction as we speak and that in the number of such things are even those Miraculous Powers which we most of all admire and the recalling of the Dead to Life again SECT XII Or things contrary to Reason NEITHER are they to be more regarded who say that some doctrines are comprised in these Books which are disagreeing to right reason
For this is confuted first by such a vast multitude of Men who wanted no wit learning or wisdom as have followed the authority of these Books ever since the first times And then all those things which were shown in the first Book to be consonant to right reason for instance that there is one God who alone is absolutely perfect infinite in virtue life wisdom and goodness of whom all things that have any being were made whose care and providence reacheth over all his works especially unto Men and who can after this life bountifully reward all them that obey him and that we ought to bridle our sensual appetites that amongst Men there is kinred and alliance and therefore they ought to love one another with sincere affection All these you shall find most plainly delivered in these Books But to assert any thing for certain beyond these either about the nature of God or about his will by the mere conduct of humane reason the contrary resolutions not only of the Schools among themselves but of particular Philosophers may teach us how unsafe and fallacious it is And it is no marvel for if Men do so far disagree in their opinions when they dispute about the nature of their own Soul then they must needs much more dissent when they go about to determine any thing not revealed concerning the highest mind and the most supreme Spirit which so far transcends our weak apprehension If as prudent Men are wont to say to enquire into the Counsels of Kings be dangerous and not to be attempted or attained by us who then is there so sagacious that he should hope to be able by his own conjecture to find out what God's will is in those things which he may will freely as he pleases Wherefore Plato said very well that none of these hidden mysteries could be known without an Oracle Now there can no Oracle be proved to be an Oracle indeed by any clearer testimonies than those that are contained in the said Books of the new covenant It is so far from being proved that it is not so much as asserted that God did ever reveal any thing to Men concerning his nature which was repugnant to these Books nor can there any later signification of his will which is credible be produced For if there was any thing otherwise commanded or permitted before the times of Christ in such matters as are either plainly indifferent or not at all in themselves due nor plainly dishonest it makes nothing against these Books since that in such matters the later Laws annul the former SECT XIII Answer to an Objection that some of these Books are repugnant to the other THERE are those who are wont further to object against these Books that there is sometime a certain disagreement in their sense But quite contrary whosoever will judge of this matter with an indifferent mind shall find this also may be added to the arguments for the authority of these Books that they do most manifestly and apparently agree about such things as concern any weighty point of doctrine or history Which consent and accord cannot else-where be found among any other Writers that are of one and the same sect or profession whether we consider the Jews or the Greek Philosophers the Physicians or the Roman Lawyers All which do not only differ much among themselves yea even those that are of the same sect as Plato and Xenophon but oftentimes one shall find the same Writer to affirm now one thing then another as if he were forgetful of himself or knew not what to resolve upon But these Writers of whom we speak do inculcate and express the same points of faith they deliver the same Commandments and as for their narration of the life and death and resurrection of Christ the Sum and substance in them all is the very same As touching some small circumstances which make nothing to the main matter they might happily have admitted a very easie reconciliation though we now do not know it because of the likeness of things done at divers times the ambiguity of names or more names than one of the same Man or place and such like things Nay this very thing ought to vindicate and free these Writers from all suspicion of falshood it being usual with those that would have lies and untruths credited to relate all circumstances by compact and agreement so as there shall not appear any colour or shew of difference Or if it be so that for any small difference which cannot so exactly be reconciled a whole Book shall lose its credit then we must believe no Books at all specially those of history yet we see that Polybius Halicarnassensis Livy and Plutarch for the substance of them are esteemed authentical and true though in some circumstances they do not agree Which makes it the more equal and just that no such thing should destroy their credit who we see by their very Writings were always most studious of Piety and Truth SECT XIV Answer to an Objection taken from outward Testimonies which make more for these Books THERE remains another way of overthrowing a Testimony which is by producing contrary Testimonies out of other Authors But I dare boldly say that there are no such testimonies to be found unless a Man will produce the sayings of them that were born a long time after and of such also as did so openly profess enmity against Christianity that they could be no fit Witnesses in this matter Nay on the contrary if need were we could alledge many testimonies to confirm divers parts of the history which is delivered in the said Books Thus both Hebrews and Pagans report that Jesus was crucified and that sundry miracles were done by him and his Disciples Those most famous Books of Josephus which were set forth about Forty Years after Christ's Ascension do make mention of Herod Pilat Festus Felix John the Baptist Gamaliel and of the destruction of Hierusalem at large Herewithal agree that which the Authors of the Talmud have recorded concerning those times Tacitus relates how cruelly Nero used the Christians And anciently there were certain Books extant not only of private Men as of Phlegon and others but also some publick Acts whereunto the Christians appealed for that in them there was mention made of the Star that appeared at Christ's Nativity and also of the Earthquake and Eclipse of the Sun against the course of Nature it being then full Moon at the time of Christ's Passion upon the Cross SECT XV. Answer to the Objection that the Scriptures were changed NOW what can be farther objected against these Books I see not unless it be said that they remained not altogether the same that they were from the beginning And indeed it must be granted that what is common to other Books might happen nay did happen to those namely that by the carelesness or the perverse care of the Transcribers some Letters syllables or words might be changed left
though the Scriptures be true may be false nay which if the Scriptures be true must be false because the Scriptures testifie against it Further 4thly to follow the Scriptures we have God's express Warrant and Commandment without any colour for any prohibition but to believe their Church infallible we have no commandment much less any express Commandment nay have reason to think we are prohibited so to do in such words as those Beware of false Prophets Believe not every Spirit but try the Spirits whether they are of God c. Which require us to examine before we trust and consequently not to give up our selves blindfold to those who confidently claim the infallibility of St. Peter but cannot produce any evidence of it Again 5thly by following the Scriptures we shall keep to that which was always believed and every where received But by following the Church of Rome we shall make our selves guilty of the changes and alterations which they have made as another great Champion of our Church hath observed in the Apostolical Creed by making a new one containing things that hold no conformity with the Apostles and in the Apostolical succession by ingrossing the whole succession to Rome and making other Bishops to be but the Pope's Deputies as to their Jurisdiction and in the Apostolical Government by erecting a new and Universal Monarchy in the Church and lastly in the Apostolical Communion by excommunicating the greatest part of the holy Catholick Church By 6thly following the Roman Church also we shall be bound to hold many things not only above Reason but against it whereas by following the Scriptures we shall only believe some Mysteries but no impossibilities some things above reason but nothing contrary to it For though there be things in Scripture which had they not been revealed reason could not have discovered yet there is nothing there which being revealed can by true reason be confuted 7thly Contrary to flesh and blood indeed there are many things contained in the Scriptures therefore by following them we shall believe a Religion which notwithstanding that great prejudice which Men had to it prevailed and inlarged it self over the World in a short time without any assistance from worldly power wit or policy nay against all these whereas the Roman Church hath got all its Authority over Mens Consciences by no other means than by devising false Records false Miracles and Reports as was said before and by complying with Mens corrupt affections or by persecuting those that would not comply and by all other such like worldly means whether of policy or force 8thly To which add that by following the Scriptures we shall believe a Religion whose first Preachers and Professors could have no worldly ends to serve as hath been demonstrated in the foregoing Books but rather were to expect as they every where found nothing but disgrace vile nay cruel usage by all manner of punishments whereas the head of the Roman Church it is even palpable makes their Religion the Instrument of his Ambition and seeks thereby to intitle himself directly or indirectly to the Monarchy of the World And besides it is evident to him that hath but half an eye as we say that most of the Doctrines which they have added to the Scriptures make one way or other for the honour or temporal advantage of the Teachers of them 9thly Again following the Scriptures we shall embrace a Religion of admirable simplicity whereas the Roman Church and doctrine is even loaded with an infinity of weak childish unsavory Superstitions and Ceremonies under which its own Children have groaned and heavily complained 10thly Those Holy Books also teach us that we must not promise our selves salvation unless we effectually mortifie all our evil affections and lusts and forsaking every sin whatsoever betake our selves to the practice of all Christian Vertue But the Roman Church opens an easier and broader way to Salvation permitting at least this to be taught for as good and Catholick Doctrine as any other that though a Man have continued all his life long in a course of sin without the practice of any vertue he may notwithstanding be let into Heaven by an act of attrition at the hour of Death if joyned with confession or by an act of Contrition without Confession And therefore in this and several other regards the Religion of that Church is not so holy as the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles delivered in the Scriptures and consequently is not so likely to come from the Fountain of Holiness and Goodness 11thly But whatsoever ways they are pleased to devise to humour Mens depraved appetites we are sure of this advantage by following the Scriptures which they cannot pretend to by following their Church That if we happen to entertain an erroneous opinion grounded as we think upon some place of Scripture it is implicitly retracted and condemned by our precedent full and intire assent to all things contained in the Scriptures and our general resolution to hold nothing contrary to them nor admit any thing as necessary to salvation that cannot be proved by them Which makes the error that we unwittingly and unwillingly hold against the Scriptures less dangerous because our adherence to the Scriptures is nearer closer and firmer than it is to our particular error Whereas by following their Church not knowing what it is whether the whole Body of People in that Communion or a General Council or the Pope in or out of a Council we shall have no such excuse for our errors but they will be rather much aggravated by our adhering so strictly to a doubtful and uncertain Rule unto which the People in that Communion sticking closer than they do to the Word of God it lessens the value of all the Truths which they believe and doubles the guilt of all their errors And lastly as this is a great satisfaction to our selves so there is this to be added for the comfort of others also That by following the Scriptures we shall learn to bear with one another in our different opinions about things which cannot thereby be determined nay in things which are not directly against it or wherein we are not yet sufficiently instructed But by following the Roman Church we shall be taught to pass the heaviest sentences upon all those that believe not in all things as we do nay to take the severest courses with them though they be Men of the most innocent and useful lives conforming themselves in all things to the Precepts of Christ Jesus and to the Authority of their Governors for his sake where it doth not manifestly contradict Him To conclude this we for our parts are of the same mind even towards them which Grotius before observed the Apostles were of towards the Jews From whom saith he and let the words be taken as if spoken by us to those of the Roman Communion they would not so much as exact an acknowledgment of their happiness in being