The Church but with more living seed did fill And thus the more was scatterd more did spring If other Rites into the Scales we bring The Greeks and other Heathens us'd the most Of their admir'd Philosophers to boast Bate Socrates Gymnosophists a few Scarce others dying for their way can shew And who that thinks can well deny of these That in their Death 's the hope of praise did please They thought it glor'ous to survive in Fame And have Posterity their Deaths proclaim While many suff'ring for the Christi'an Name Were Men in Fortunes and Ambition low That such Men were their Neighbours scarce did know Women and tender Virgins gentle Youths With their last Blood bore witness to these Truths Who can believe of these a vain desire Or hope of lasting Fame to this should fire Besides our Martyrologies contain But a small part of those who thus were slain And rarely can the Jews a Martyr boast Beyond Antiochus his time at most Since Christ's Religion is for this the best Is it not to be chose before the rest When the vast Multitudes we duly weigh Who did their Lives for this Religion pay Each Sex each sort of Men in ev'ry Age We needs must think some pow'rful cause t' engage And what to so great constancy could move But Truth and th' holy Spirit from above If by the Arguments already brought In some Conviction is not wholly wrought Let them consider Proofs in sev'ral ways As is the nature of the thing one weighs One sort does with the Mathematicks suit Another when in Physicks we dispute One when for Action we would Counsel take Diff'rent when Fact does th' only question make And this is always yeilded by the Wise When no exception ' gainst the Witness lies And if we will not this for Proof admit We all the use of History must quit The most approved Med'cines we must loose That Piety too which does its self diffuse Where ever Parents are and Children known For want of Evidence must needs be gone It is the pleasure of the Pow'r most high The things wherein he 'd have our Faith to lie That our Obedience it's Reward may gain Should not appear so evidently plain As things which Sense or Demonstrati'on shew Yet as much Light should carry as is due For raising a most firm belief in those Who will not pertinaci'ously oppose Hence we the Gospel as a Touch-stone find To try and prove which is the upright Mind For since so many good so many wise Embrac'd so highly penal Verities It shews that other's Incredulitie Never from a defect of Proofs can be But that they would not have that pass for true Which their Affecti'ons did so much eschew That it was hard with a regardless Eye To suffer all that glitters here to lie Which needs must be if they for truth would hold All that has been concerning Jesus told And therefore would obey the Rules he gave An Evidence for this herein we have These many Histories for true receive Which they on bare Authority believe Of which no Foot-steps at this day are known As for the History of Christ are shown This in the Jews Confessi'ons we many trace And the Assemblies which these Truths embrace Of which some cause we cannot but assign Nor can't be any thing below divine No humane force could it so long maintain And such remote and spreading Conquests gain This could proceed from Miracles alone But if we are resolv'd them to disown That without them it should such force acquire Is what we ought much rather to admire LIB III. I. For the Authority of the Books of the New Covenant HE whom these Arguments or others move As true and best Christianity t' approve Would he the knowledg of it's Precepts gain Must search those sacred Scriptures which obtain The name of Testament or Cov'nant new Where we the whole of this Relig'ion view For this we should not scruple to receive What Christi'ans always hold that they believe To Men of ev'ry Sect we Credit pay As to the Books they shew us of their way And thus the Alcoran is justly thought To shew what Doctrines Mahomet has taught Since then the Truth of Christ's Religion 's known And that lies in the Books the Christi'ans own If any a more special Proof require We them t' admit this equal Rule desire That they who any Writing will oppose With which for sev'ral Ages Men did close Are bound those Arguments first to maintain Which may impeach the Credit that did gain Till which of full Authority it must remain The Books in which no Christians disagree II. That the Books which have any Authors Names to them were writ by them whose Names are prefixt To which some certain Names affixt we see To have been wrote by those whose Names they bear The Writers of succeeding times declare Thus Justin Irenaeus Clement shew With other Men of Ages that ensue That all the sacred Books were titled true Add farther as Tertullian does declare Some of th'Orig'inals in his time were fair And ev'ry Christian Church the same did own Ev'n before Councils to unite them known Nor did the Jews or Pagans ever doubt But they were theirs whose Names they bear about Julian confest in terms by no means dark That Peter Paul with Matthew Luke and Mark Were Authors of those Books which bear their Names Thus he but his own want of Wit proclaims Who doubts of what both Greeks and Romans thought T' have been by Homer or grave Virgil wrote More on that Evidence should we rely Which almost ev'ry Nation does supply III. The doubt remov'd from Books anciently doubted of Yet does the Volume now in use contain Books which at first did not like Credit gain Thus 't was with one which we St. Peter's call The same did those of James and Jude befal And thus with two which the like late consent From John the Elder sty'd supposes sent Th' Apocalyps as doubtful has been thought And the Epistle to the Hebrews wrote Howe'r that many Churches them receiv'd And sacred their Authority believ'd Appears in that Christi'ans who first did write Them as of such Authority do cite Which may in reason well be thought to shew Of some nothing at first some Churches knew Howe're the Truth being set in a clear light They did with others in their use unite Nor was there any cause in these to cheat For without them the System were compleat The self-same Doctrine they do but repeat IV. The Authority of such Books as have no Title prov'd from the quality of the Writers Nor should th'Epistle to the Hebrews wrote Or two reputed Johns be spurious thought Or the Apocalyps of doubtful Fame 'Twixt John th'Apostle and one of his Name The quality of Books is most esteem'd Some Histories have been authentick deem'd Whose Authors never did themselves declare Thus the Account o' th' Alexandrian War Does with a gen'ral Reputati'on pass
Since part of what he writes the Author plainly was So since the Authors of the Books we cite Liv'd in the very times of which they write And as they add themselves partakers were Of Gifts which fell to an Apostle's share It is enough our full belief to gain If any say these qualities they feign And to some Books fictiti'ous names did give They urge what none that think can e're believe As if who preach up Truth and Piety Should venture without any cause to lie Which not all good Men only would refuse But to forbid by Law the Romans chuse The Books which the new Cov'nant then V. That the Pen-men wrote the Truth because they had knowledg of the things which they wrote declare Were doubtless wrote by them whose Names they bear Or such at least as they themselves profess And what there is like reason to confess The things of which they wrote the Authors knew Nor could desire to mix what was untrue For Falshood we no other grounds receive Than Ign'rance or intention to deceive Matthew John Peter Jude were known of those Whom Christ t'attest his words and Actions chose And therefore needs must know the things they tell And this to James may be apply'd as well Be'ing an Apostle or to Christ of kin And Bishop of Jerusalem had bin Advanc'd by the Apostles to that See St. Paul from Error must have been as free When what he learn'd from Christ he did declare Being rapt above the Regions of the Air To him or Luke who always clos'd his side For what Christ did Faith ought not be deny'd That Luke did know 't is easy to suppose What of our Saviour's Life and Death he shows Being born hard by and having travell'd o're The places Christ had visited before And had Eye-witnesses of what he writes Often consulted as himself recites Many with whom he Friendship did contract Besides Apostles could attest the Fact Some whose Diseases at Christ's word had fled Who saw him living after being dead If Tac'itus and Suetoni'us are believ'd In things which happ'ned long before they liv'd Because they 're diligent Enquirers thought Rather should one esteem what Luke has wrote Of Mark a constant Fame is known to pass That he Companion to St. Peter was And what he wrote should have the like esteem As if St. Peter dictated to him And farther hardly any thing is there But what th'Apostles Writings do declare Nor could the Writer of the things (a) Apocal. reveal'd When God large folds of Providence unseal'd Have been impos'd upon in what he saw Or he who wrote (b) Author to the Hebrews to them o' th' Jewish Law In what he says from th' holy Spirit came Or the Apostles witnessing the same That they to cheat with Lies could not design VI. And because they would not lie Mention'd before we always should subjoin When we would reinforce that Law divine Which from our preaching King at first was spred With his return to life from being dead Who Witnesses of ill intent'ion blame The grounds of such their ill intent'ion name Here can be none If any say they feign That they the cause they manag'd might maintain For such a cause why should they so contend Which no advantage here could recommend Nor did they any dangers thereby shun For that alone they did all hazards run And as to wordly Goods were quite undone No Man can therefore think they chose this cause But in obedience to God's holy Laws Which would not have encourag'd Falsities Chiefly in that wherein Salvation lies So ill a charge these things with strength oppose The pious Doctrines which they did propose Their Lives unspotted and so free from blame That their worst foes their Ign'rance only name No proper Parent of invented tale To shew their faithfulness this should not fail That their own faults they leave upon record That all forsook and Peter thrice deni'd their Lord. But God himself did witness to them bear VIII A Confirmation of the Fidelity of the Authors from the Miracles they wrought Whilst he by Wonders did their Truth declare On which since they and all Men of their way Such mighty stress with such assurance lay And to the Publick Scrutiny advance The Times and Places ev'ry Circumstance The Magistrates concern'd did they so please The truth or falshood might have learnt wth ease This too th'assisting of Heav'n do's shew That many spake the Tongues they never knew And Pains fled suddenly in publick view Nor were they terrifi'd from what they prest To think the ruling Jews were foes profest Nor were the Romans less enclin'd to close With what might them for Novelties expose Nay Jews and Pagans of the Times most nigh That these had Wonders wrought durst not deny St. Peter's Mir'cles Phlegon does report An Annalist o' th' Emp'rour Adrian's Court And Christians pleading before any State Urge all these facts as being past debate That at the Tombs of Martyrs there remain'd A wondrous Pow'r they publickly maintain'd And that throughout some Ages it did last Which if untrue they might with shame be cast When they were put to justify their Cause Before Dispensers of the Civil Laws So frequent were the Prodigies there wrought Of them such uncontested Proofs were brought As even Porphiry himself confest With what 's already said we well might rest Yet there 's an heap of Arguments behind Which may commend those Books to 'a serious mind VIII The Truth of the Writings comfirm'd in that they contain many things which the Event has prov'd to be reveal'd from Heaven In them are many things plainly fore-shown Which no Man could by nat'ral skil have known Th' event declaring them for God alone As the (a) Mat. 13.33 c. John 12.32 large sudden-spreading of that way And that (b) Luke 1.33 Mat. 28.20 John 14.16 no Age should see its pow'r decay That it should (c) Mat. 21.43 c. be rejected by the Jews While Gentiles far remote obedience chuse That 't would the hatred of the (d) Mat. 10.17 Jews procure What Cru'lties for Christ's Name Men should endure The (e) Mat. 10.21.39 23.24 siege and dismal ruin to invade That (f) Mat. 23.37 38. Luk. 21.20 24. City where the Jews their Worship paid That there the Temple should be left forlorn With the (g) Mat. 23.35 c. Calamities still to be born Add here if God regard our mortal state Chiefly in what t' his Worship does relate He cannot suffer Errors to abound Where nothing but his Honour Men propound But for the sacred Books this proof supplys IX As also from the care becoming God in preventing supposititious Books That of all Christian Sects did e're arise Scarce any has been found that these denys Some the whole Volume for authentick take And they who doubts concerning any make Others receive which do with them agree When yet we such warm differences see That
heal'd Or that like things at diff'rent times abound Or Names ambiguous do the Mind confound Or had one Man or Place Names more than one And such-like circumstances now unknown But this them from imputed fraud may free Who lie by compact will in all agree If some slight disagreement still appear Which will no Reconciliati'on bear We ought not therefore all these Books suspect Unless we will all History reject For we as much may of that kind perceive In those which we without dispute receive Polybi'us and Herodotus to name Livy and Plutarch Authors of great fame How much more equal is it not to doubt When it appears the Writers were devout And thought it criminal things false to tell We by extrinsick Proofs might such refel XIV Answer to an Objection taken from outward Testimonies where 't is shewn that they make more for these Books But I affirm none such are to be found Unless our doubts on later times we ground Where Enemies the Christi'an Name would wound We cannot such for Witnesses receive Nay foreign Proofs confirm what we believe That Jesus suffer'd Jews and Heathens taught And that he and his Follow'rs Wonders wrought Some forty years from Christ Josephus wrote Who does in Terms the most perspic'ous own What was by Herod Pilate Festus done Foelix John Baptist and Gamali'el names And how Jerusalem expir'd in Flames The Talmudists the same fully relate Tacitus tells th' effects of Nero's hate When he against Christi'anity did rage And several Books were extant in that Age Such was old Phlegon's we before did name And publick Records menti'oning the same To which the Christi'ans commonly appeal'd Nor was the Star pointing at Christ conceal'd They name the Earth-quake and Eclipse o'th'Sun Against the Course in which Nature had run When yet the Moon at Full felt not the loss About the time when Christ was on the Cross No other difficulty I can name XV. Answer to an Objection about the Scriptures having been changed But that the Writings are not still the same To fate of other Writings we must own To have betided these may here be shown The Copier's Neglect or faulty Will If not his want of necessary Skill In Letters Syllables or Words might wrong By change omission some of them too long But these things should no Controversy raise Being but incident to length of days But that by fraud or any other ways In Doctrinals all Copies vicious were Or where they memorable Facts declare Don't or by Books or Witness of those times appear What ever of that kind is offer'd since Must pass for Railing not for Evidence This may be thought enough to silence those Who for Mutations holy Writ oppose On whom it lies not to object but prove Since they 'd a settled Reputati'on move But we their vain pretence may soon detect Who what ne'er was nor can be here object Before we prov'd to any equal Mind The Books were their's whose Names affixt we find It follows then there was no change of Books And if to every part of them one looks No change of part materi'al can be found Some end who made the Change must needs propound That where the Change was made should differ more From those remaining what they were before Than here the sharpest search could e're explore Nay as before was in this Tract observ'd A wonderful Consent's throughout preserv'd Besides when any of th'Apostles wrote Or Men who Apostolical were thought Sincere Professors of the Christi'an Name As their concern for Truth it well became Must needs have us'd all diligence to gain The valu'd Transcripts of what they maintain Through Europe Asia Aegypt these diffus'd For the Greek Tongue among all these was us'd Could not but spread as far as Christ was known Consider farther as before was shown That some Originals were seen to last Until the second Century was past A Book of which so many Copies were Preserv'd not only by a private care But by whole Churches which did Christ obey No Man to have been counterfeit can say Add that 't is evident the sacred Text Was read in sev'ral Tongues i'th'Ages next The Syriac Aethiopic Arabic And Latin too agreeing with the Greek In all those weighty things of which we speak Farther their Writings to our hands are brought Whom the Apostles or their Follow'rs taught Who many Passages from them do quote Agreeing with that Sense which now we note Nor in the Church was any Man possest Of such Authority above the rest That they 'd comply if he a Change had prest This Irenaeus and Tertullian shew The Cyprian too who without fear withdrew From those who then were most reputed sage And if we come to the succeeding Age We find Men of best judgments greatest parts Wh'had run their Stages thro' the lib'ral Arts After the utmost search these to receive And of Orig'nal Purity believe In proof of this divided parties joyn All who believe the World a work divine And Christ the Founder of a sacred Law Each against changing would the other awe Nor yet did any Sect that licence take That to have chang'd them for their side would make Which hence is seen that when e're they dispute Each would from thence his Opposite confute What 's urg'd of Providence concern'd for all To every part of these alike will fall Nor ought it of our God to be believ'd That he would suffer Men to be deceiv'd In what 's of greatest moment to the Mind Who had his Honour above all design'd And next the way to Happiness would find For many thousands such as these to run Into those Errors which they could not shun This may be thought sufficient to maintain What the New Testament does there contain And there at large is our Religion seen Yet since th' Almighty's Pleasure it has been XVI For the Authority of the Books of the Old Covenant The Truths the Jews believ'd should now appear Which no small Light to our Religion bear 'T is not amiss to shew their Credit here What prov'd those other Books were titled right Will serve for these where any shall deny 't The Authors of those Books the Jews receiv'd Were Prophets or most fit to be believ'd Such Esdras was thought to have joyn'd in one Those scatter'd Books which went before alone When at that time some Prophets were alive Who would against an Impositi'on strive Such Haggai Malachi Zach'ry were known To pass what was in praise of Moses shown Pagans confirm not only what he wrote But what of later times the Jews were taught So the Phoenician Annalists proclaim David and Solomon so great in Fame And they their Treaties with the Tyri'ans Name Nebuchadonozor with others joyn'd Who Caldees rul'd we in Berosus find Aegyptian Vaphres Jeremy does name And Aphri'es in Her'odotus are the same Of Cyrus and who follow'd in his charge Until Darius Graeci'ans speake at large And in those Books Josephus did endite When Appian to
his Grave Mahomet Author of far spreading Rites As is confest by his own Proselites Dissolv'd in Luxury and Lust did live Nor left he the least earnest to believe That the Rewards he promis'd shall be found Perpetua'l Feasts and Lusts for ever crown'd When his own Body ne're had Life again And does intomb'd at Mecha still remain Moses who had the Jews divinely taught Tho a brave Man yet was not free from fault When God would send him to th' Egypti'an Land He did too long the Embassy withstand And when God promis'd Water from the Rock He thought 't was his Credulity to mock And he himself scarce any thing enjoy'd Of all that has his Foll'owers Faith employ'd In desert places with their Factions tir'd Himself debarr'd entring the Land desir'd That Christ was sinless his Disciples taught Nor was one Proof against it ever brought He was th' Example to the Rules he gave And executed all that God would have Patient of Injuries and Torments too As on the Cross he did most fully shew A lover of Mankind and ev'n of those Who to that cruel Death did him expose Ev'n for those Miscre'ants he to God did pray Nor did he to his Foll'wers Promise pay In which himself had not first led the way As is not only said but clearly prov'd His Visit after being from Life remov'd How many were there that at large declar'd Who him had touch'd as well as seen and heard The Twelve were Witnesses when he did rise And was receiv'd within the joyful Skies Where as appears a Pow'r supream he gain'd From which they whom he left behind obtain'd Not only Tongues which they were never taught But Pow'r for other things which Nature never wrought All which he promis'd when he left this Life And which should silence ev'ry doubtful Strife Whether he will or 's able to make good What he has promis'd for our Spirit'ual Food And hence we gather his Religion's best That he perform'd himself what e're he prest And was of his own Promises possest If then we view his Doctrine i th' effects From the wonderful Propagation of this Religion They 're such that either God his World neglects Or we must think the Doctrine from above Nothing more worthy of God's care does prove Than that what 's best should be the farthest spred And this of Christ's Religion may be said 'T is taught thro' Europe and ev'n farthest North All Asia with its Islands know its worth Egyptians Ethiopians Africans Are joyn'd in this with the Americans Nor has 't been only late but long ago As Hist'ries of successive Ages show The Books of Christians Acts of Synods too Among Barbarians a Tradition's known Of Miracles by some Apostles shown The Lives and Journeys are with them exprest Of Thomas Andrew and some of the rest Clement Tertullian and others note That Britains Germans places most remote Did in their time Christianity imbrace What other Worship e're reach'd such a space If you say th' Ethnick's rival in this Fame It is not one Religion but one Name Nor ever all of them worship'd the same Some Stars the Elements some did adore Some Ani'mals some what no subsistence bore Nor did they the same Law or Master own The Jews a scatter'd People were but one Nor has their Law been much observ'd to spred Since Christ his beams of Truth divine did shed Many the Rules of Mahomet obey Yet Christians live among them of that way And often are more numerous than they When in some places where they Christ receive Not one Mahometan is known to live Considering the weakness and simplicity of them who first taught this Religion Men readily enough Examples take From Kings and others who great Figures make Especially if Law and Force they add Hence their encrease th'Ethnick and Turkish had But they who Christ's Religion first profest Nothing of Empire or of Wealth possest As humble in their Fortunes as in Mind Foll'wing mean Trades to which they 'd been design'd Yet in the space of thirty Years scarce more They this disperst the Roman Empire o're And to the Parthians this and Indians bore And for three Ages only private hands Did carry on the preaching Christ's Commands Without external Promises or Threats Nay ev'n against th' Authority of States Yet before Constantine in Christ believ'd Thro' most o' th' Roman World he was receiv'd Who with the Grecians preach'd up Moral rules For other Arts were famous in the Schools Plato for th' Art of measuring the Earth Peripateticks how the growth and birth Of Animals and Plants did Lectures read And with what subtilties Disputes proceed The Stoicks in their labour'd Logicks shew The Pythagori'ans th' art of Numbers knew Plato and Zenophon could charm the Sense So Theophrastus with their Eloquence But they who first the Christi'an Doctrine taught By no such art upon their Hearers wrought Their Speech was simple without any snare They only did in downright terms declare What their great Master gave them in command And how the Threats and Promises did stand This progress ne're had been from that alone But Mir'cles or God's Blessing we must own Or both to carry it so strangely on This may be added here XIX And the very great Impediments which might withdraw Men from embracing or detain them from professing it concerning those Who first with Christianity did close They were not in all other Rites untaught So with more ease to that Religion brought Much less were they brought up in any way Which might dispose them Christ for Lord t' obey While Turks and Pagans and the stubborn Jews Had something prev'ous helping them to chuse The last their Circumcision had before And learnt only one Deity t' adore Which made them ready Moses to receive While they who in Christ Jesus did believe Had many Obstacles which would withdraw Custom a second Nature humane Law Parents Authority all urg'd t' have kept The way in which their grave Fore-Fathers slept Being Jews or Heathens bred so to remain Add to all this the certainty of Pain Which they by that Professi'on were to gain Pain which by Nature all Men would refuse Nor readily would what procures it chuse The Christians long debarr'd from Honours were Mulcts Confiscations Exiles hard to bear Were to be ' counted their appointed share These things were light into the Ballance cast With Tortures but too exquisite to last Cruel as witty Malice could invent And Life was often in the Conflict spent As the Histor'ians of those times have wrote So many Deaths no Famime Plague or War has brought Nor were they with the common Deaths to strive But put into consuming Flames alive Or look'd for Crucifixion and the like Reading or thoughts of which with Horror strike Thro'out the Roman Empire these did last Till their Religion Constantine embrac'd Without them but short intervals were past Elsewhere they did continue longer still Yet all the blood they did so freely spill
what one Party for their Rule have chose Others would shun if 't were but to oppose Indeed some Christians did those Books disown X. Answer to the Objection in that divers Books were rejected by some Which were against their darling notions known Either who out of hatred to the Jews Their God and Law did with reproaches use Or fearing Evils Christians were to bear Themselves deceitfully did Jews declare But by all Christians these abandon'd were While as they were by the Apostles taught No differences unkind Divisi'ons wrought So they did not from Piety withdraw These who adult'rate thus the Christi'an Law May meet Conviction in what 's said above Where that there is (a) Lib. 1. Sect. 1. one Deity we prove Who into being (b) Lib. 1. §. 6. the Creation spake Nay ev'n the Books they for authentick take Shew that the Hebrew God did all things make He was by Moses represented (c) Exod. 33.19 good But is thro' Jesus better understood The other sort of Men we will confute Where we against the real Jews dispute In the mean while this wonderful may seem That with these Men St. Paul has no esteem More Churches no Apostle did erect And those stupendous Works he did effect Were then by Christians publickly maintain'd When they might be discover'd if they feign'd If it be granted Miracles he wrought What colourable ground can then be brought We should his heavenly Visions disbelieve Or what he says he did from Christ receive But if on Christs he did so much attend That he would nothing teach him to offend Durst he have ventur'd with a lie t' impose His Doctrine most condemn'd who can oppose Where from their Ritu'al Jews discharg'd he shows Nothing but Truth its self could this procure He (d) Phil. 3.5 Circumcision did before endure (e) Acts 16.3 Some voluntary Proofs in him they saw Of def'rence pay'd unto the Jewish Law And to more (f) 2 Cor. 12.10 hardships did for Christ aspire Than did the Rigor of that Law require These things by no means pleasing to the Ear He did to all his Followers declare Instead of one the Jews no more afford To keep all days for (g) 1 Tim. 5.5 Sabbaths to the Lord (h) 2 Cor. 6.4 5. Instead of some small charge did them befal To bear with equal Mind the loss of all And for the Blood of Beasts they us'd to slay Our own an Offering to our God to pay Nay he affirms that hands with him were joyn'd By (i) Gal. 2.9 Peter John and James all of one Mind Had it been false he durst not this proclaim When they might have deny'd it to his shame Excepting then those we before observ'd Who scarce to bear the Christi'an Name deserv'd The manifest consent of all beside Who with these Books as sacred have comply'd Joyn'd to the Miracles their Writers wrought And God's (k) Sect. 9. peculiar care of such things taught Should be enough to quiet doubting Minds When for all Histories of other kinds Which are not of such Proofs as these possest No man will their Authority contest Unless some Reason do against them weigh Which none that well considers here can say If any say these Books such things contain XI Answer to the Objection that these Books seem to contain things impossible Which as impossible no Credit gain It soon appears that the Objection's vain W'have shown above the Pow'r of the most High In things that carry no (l) Lib. 2. Sect. 7. Repugnancy Tho they by far all humane reach exceed Such are the things that Admiration breed Those hidden Vertues Nature never knew And after Death seeing the Moon 's renew Nor is there greater weight in what they move XII Or things contrary to Reason Who somethings there would against Reason prove More Wit or Learning can such Men pretend Than did from the first times these Books defend What e're we with right Reason shew'd t' agree In lively Characters you there will see That God (m) Lib. 1. §. 1. exists and is in Essence (n) Sect. 2. one Possest of all (o) Sect. 3 4 5. Perfection ever known Pow'r Wisdom Goodness Life beyond degree That the whole (p) Lib. 1. §. 6. Universe he causâ—d to be That he alone (q) Ib. Sect. 10. preserves things what they are But (r) Sect. 11. chiefly Man his more immediate care That he both (s) Lib. 2. Sect. 14. can and will fully reward Those who him only as their End regard That we our (t) Ib. Sect. 16. loose Desires should bridle in That all the race of Mortals are of (u) Lib. 1. §. 6. kin From whence an Argument of force does prove That we should one another truly love Reason's a Guide deceitful very weak If to know any thing beyond we seek Or of God's Nature or his Soveraign Will What lew'd Dissentions all the Schools did fill While best Philosophers betray'd their want of Skill Nor need this be a wonder since we find They little understood of humane Mind And how can the Supream then be defin'd The Prudent know that it much danger brings To search into the purposes of Kings And that the search however would be vain But what Conjecture can expect t' attain To what th' Almighty freely does ordain That 't is not to be known Plato did hold Unless an Oracle that secret told But then no Oracle that ever was Had proofs so clear as the new Cov'enant has Nor ever yet did Man attempt to prove That any Revelati'on from above Did of God's Nature or his Will make known What is repugnant to what there is shown Some things of middle nature we may view Which of themselves claim'd no obedience due Or else in which no turpitude did stand Which before Christ had licence or command These Books for want of such are no less full Since later Laws may former disanul But some their doubts concerning them declare XIII Answer to an Objection that some things in these Books are inconsistent with each other Upon the disagreeing senses there Yet this should credit add with them that find How they for Faith and Doctrine are conjoyn'd So as in other Writings ne're was seen Amongst the Learn'd that ever yet have been Whether you Jews or Greeks or Romans name In ev'ry Science Men of greatest Fame Of ev'ry Sect some Men will disagree This we in Zenophon and Plato see Men from themselves are often diff'rent known Either forgetting what before had gone Or being doubtful what to fix upon But all those Writings which we Sacred call About those things to no division fall Which do the Rules of Faith and Life contain Or how Christ liv'd dy'd and liv'd again And they agree entirely in the main Indeed in circumstances of no weight We sometimes find occasion of debate But many things which lie from us conceal'd Might all these seeming diff'rences have
his way he would invite We many things may gather in a Throng Which to the Honour of the Jews belong And to what 's mention'd here we well may add What we from Strabo and from Trogus had But we who in our suff'ring Lord believe These Books without disputing should receive Since there is scarce a Book but ours do cite And so far to agree with theirs delight And when Christ blames the Doctors of their Law And what in the proud Pharisee he saw He never menti'ons any Change they made In what from any Prophet was convey'd Or that supposititious Books they brought Nor can this after Christ of them be thought Consid'ring how the wandring Hebrew Sheep Scatter'd throughout the World these Books did keep Ten of the Tribes first from Assyr'ia led And after two did through all Media spread And after Cyrus did the Jews restore Many did ramble Foreign Nati'ons o're These Men the Macedoni'ans did invite In Alexandria to take delight The Cruelty Antiochus did shew The Civil Wars the Asmodaeans knew The Wars which Pompey and which Sossius made Did force the Jews in various parts to trade These did the Cyrenaic Region fill The Cities too of Asia saw their Skill This Macedonia Lycaonia knew The Isles of Crete Cyprus and others too That anciently at Rome they num'rous were Both Horace Martial Juvenal declare No Art could People so divided cheat Nor could they have conspir'd t' a Fraud so great Almost three hundred years e're Christ was here Some Kings of Egypt made their care appear To propagate to those Books the Jews admire Whilst they the Seventy's Version did require So in like sense the Greeks did them receive Whence with a change 't was harder to deceive The Language which we from Caldeans take And that which at Jerusalem they spake That is half Syriack help't these Books to spred Part before Christ part after he was dead Aquila Sym'chus Theodosion Each to have turn'd them into Greek are known Which with the Seventy Origin did view With others in the main all of them true In things of weight none can a diff'rence shew Philo liv'd famous in Calig'la's Reign Josephus to Vespasian's did remain Both cite out of the Books among the Jews The very same which at this day we use And many then of Jews Christians became who 'd certainly what change they found proclaim If 't were of moment which they might compare With the most ancient Copies that there were But far from doing this they oft delight In the same sense with Jews their Books to cite But any Crime ' gainst Jews has more pretence Than either Falshood or else Negligence With such Devotion they these Books imbrace That they will tell you ev'ry Letter's place Add yet a stronger proof which last we range These Books the Jews would not on purpose change Since thence who for their Saviour Christ receive Prove strongly or at least as they believe That he they worship that Messias was Of whom the Promise to the Jews did pass And none can think since that dispute arose The Jews would had they Pow'r a Change have chose LIB IV. TO see Mens Perils while we sit at ease I. A particular confutation of the Religions opposite to Christianity Is what does to much Human Nature please But it becomes us Christi'ans to rejoyce Not only at our happiness of choice But to endeavour to our Pow'r to free Those who are tost in Errors stormy Sea And to have them our Happiness partake T'wards this great end the former Books did make Because the proof of Truth doth that expose Which do's it self against that Truth oppose But since all other Worships that are known The Pagan Jewish that the Turks do own Besides the Errors common unto all Have each what to its proper share do fall And against ours in diff'rent methods fight I think I shall do Truth the greatest right If I of each make the dispute entire Which doing of the Readers I desire That laying all Parti'ality aside And what e're Customs long have held them ty'd They 'd use unbyass'd judgment for their Guide While with us such Impediments have place We go with Fetters unto Truth 's embrace First then against the Pagans we dispute II. And first of Paganism That there is one God That created Spirits art good or bad the good not to be worshipped without the direction of the most High God And these we did before enough confute If they believe more than one Pow'r above In an eternal equal state to move We having shew'd only one God to reign Who all things of himself did first ordain If of created Minds their God they make Either for good or bad we these must take If good they say First let them have a care Lest they are cheated with a Name so fair For it is very dang'rous erring there Lest Foes they take for Friends and those that fell Instead of those who should God's Pleasure tell In Reason too we should some diff'rence find For Worship paid to them and the first Mind Let 's know what order is assign'd to each What good respectively to us they reach That we may judg what Honour the great King Intends we to those lower Pow'rs should bring Since none of these they can pretend to know This how uncertain is their way may show How much more certain they were not to err If to the Chief this Worship they transfer This Plato held the duty of the Wise This does he with more confidence advise Since the good Minds be'ing Servants to the Best If him they please they may securely rest Of their good Offices they can't but be possest III. That Evil Spirits are ador'd by Pagans and how impious a thing it is Then no flight Arguments belief perswade That unto devil Spirits Pagans pray'd First that their Followers they did not bring Unto the Worship of th' eternal King Nay did his Worship what they could impair Or strove with him to have an equal share Then they did strongly Magistrates incite Against the Men who worship'd God alright And the misguided Rabble urg'd their pains When yet the Poets in licenti'ous strains With Parricides and Rapes their Gods did charge And Epicurus that things go at large Without the Conduct of a Pow'r Supream Was hold to make the subject of his Theam And the most diff'rent Rites one Compound made Aegyptian Phrygian Greek together laid The Thuscan too they did at Rome perswade They ridicul'd the Jewish way alone As is i'th'Epigrams and Satyrs shown And sometimes Banishments shortned their Woes Then against Christi'ans Persecuti'ons rose Of which the only cause to be assign'd Is that they worship'd the Eternal Mind That thus the Gods they serv'd their Honours lost Fearful of him alone who all engrost The third Exception's taken from the way In which they worshipt those they did obey Such as could never please an honest Mind Thus there we humane Sacrifices
warm Pray'r may efficac'ious prove Utter'd for them by Christ when he did hence remove LIB VI. A Refutation of Mahometism It s rise SInce now with that Religi'on we engage Which Mahomet set up in a blind Age It may be fit to count those Judgments here Drawn down by Christians e're he did appear While Presecuti'ons did the Church enclose More florid like the branching Palm it rose Piety sparkled through its humble State Grew cold and stiff when favour'd by the Great When Constantine and others of like pow'r Pal'd in and cherish'd this Celestial Flow'r The Church became a Garden of delight And thither humane Honours did invite The World came crowding in at the large Gate And it might seem to admit of some debate Whether the State was in the Church or Church in State Secular Int'rest then began to sway The stronger Princes on the weak did prey Boundless Ambiti'on urging them to Wars Sometimes the Bishops were the Trumpeters Often the Clergy's Quarrels for the See Divided Men under one Politie The Laymen's Lives be'ing Off'rings for the Priest When by the rout o'th'one the Tumults ceast In curi'ous Questi'ons they spun out that Ease And study'd more themselves than God to please They chose like Adam tempted by his Wife The Tree of Knowledg for the Tree of Life Religi'on fram'd by God for common use Became a Sci'ence and an Art abstruse Vain Affectati'on of things most sublime Like them who did to build proud Babel climb To Discord and divided Tongues did draw Which when the thus confounded Vulgar saw Scarce knowing where the Streams of Life did lie The very Scriptures they as tainted fly Then specious Rites engrost Religi'ons Name Instead of Piety that Heav'n-born Flame Juda'ism one would have thought again return'd As if the Mind were but the least concern'd Bodily Exercise Religi'on seem'd With Zeal in crying up a Man or side esteem'd Religi'on then dwindled to outward shows Many were Christi'ans call'd but few were chose At this did God just Indignati'on shew From Scythi'a thence and Germany he drew Legions of barb'rous Enemies who came Like Inundati'ons o're the Christi'an Name They who surviv'd this so devouring loss Not being purg'd from their contracted dross Sank under Mah'met fighting ' gainst the Cross Arabi'a saw the First-fruits of that Weed Which sprung up thick and choak'd the sacred Seed In words it often suits the Christian Life With it in truth nothing is more at strife The Saracens these Precepts first obey'd Who a defecti'on from Heracli'us made These did Arabi'a Syr'ia Palestine invade Aegypt and Persi'a felt their dread Alarms From Africa to Spain they wafted o're their Arms Tho others them did warmly entertain The Turks did the most equal Wars maintain And after mutu'al various chances past They struck air undivided League at last Then a Conformity of Manners brought The Turks to close with what the others taught Friendship prevail'd where Force did fruitless prove So much more pow'rful is the bond of Love Of Empire with the Turks remain'd the Seat Taking in Partners they became more great Cities of As'ia and renowned Greece They soon compell'd to render up their Keys Their prosp'rous Arms in Hungary were crown'd And they broke through the stubborn German bound II. The Foundation of Mahometism concerning not inquiring into Religion overthrown This Doctrine set up to encourage Fights Is flaringly drest out with gaudy Rites Their Books call'd Holy from the vulgar hid All free enquiry after Truth forbid Nothing more justly may Suspiti'on breed Than that they are prohibited to read Who would not think that an adult'rate Ware For which who puts it off takes mighty care That none shall view the purchase he has made This being the conditi'on of the Trade All Men indeed can't equally be brought To understand all Objects of their thought Pride Affectati'on Custom may misguide But that the way of Truth should be deny'd To them who seek it without by-respect Themselves and all things else to God subject With this the Aid Divine warmly implore Would cloud the Goodness of Him we adore And since a judging Pow'r adorns the Mind What of that Pow'r can we more worthy find But that those things should exercise it most Through Ignorance of which Eternal Life is lost Moses so-pow'rful with his wondrous Rod III. Proof against Mahometans from the sacred Books of Jews and Christians and that they are not corrupted Mahometans confess was sent from God This they of Jesus own nor stick to say That holy Men first spread about his way Yet in their Alch'ran many things do lie Diff'ring from Moses and the Christi'an Verity Here that I may but one Example name That on the Cross Christ dy'd Scriptures proclaim That the third day he came to Life agen Without delusion seen of many Men O'th'other side by Mahomet 't is said That he was privately to Heav'n convey'd Upon the Cross th'Effigies only laid The Death of Christ he plainly thus denies And would not have the Jews believe their Eyes Th'Objection can no other Answer bear But that the Books remain not what they were The contrary to which we 've made appear Vid. lib. 3. If any this against their Alch'ran urge The bare denial would be thought to purge But they for that can ne're such proofs pretend As have been shewn on holy Writ t' attend As that it soon throughout the World did pass Not in a single Tongue as th' Alch'ran was Faithfully kept by each divided Sect Who one anothers Frauds must needs detect Christ's welcome Promise enter'd by St. John To send the Comforter when he was gone Mahometans suppose t' have curtail'd been That something there of Mahomet was seen But that the Christi'ans to suppress this Light Blotted the passage of malicious slight On which this Question may an Answer need Was 't after Mahomet or did precede After it could not be since then were found Copies disperst throughout the World t' abound The Greek the Syri'ac Arabick were known Aethi'opic and in Latin more than one But in that place these all are known t' agree Nor can we the least vari'ous Vers'ion see No cause of change before that could be thought None could foresee what would by him be taught Tho nothing contrary to Christ he brought Who can of those who follow Christ believe They should the Books of Mahomet receive Before what Moses and the Hebrew Prophets leave Suppose on neither side a Writing were That might what Christ or Mah'met taught declare Reason would teach that that for Christ's should pass Which that esteem among the Christians has IV. A Comparison of Jesus and of Mahomet For Mahomet's that which so his Foll'wers take Of both now the Comparison let 's make While we the Adjuncts and Affecti'ons view Whence which deserves the pref'rence we may shew First for the Authors th' other side agree Men did in Jesus that Messiah see Of whom the Promise in the
them with the help of Lots Cic. de Div. lib. 2. f. 295. And Tully takes notice of a Decree of the Senate against the reading of those Books as obsolete and antiquated But thinks it reasonable that this Decree should be revived to prevent Superstition but then there was no restraint to keep Tully and the other Enquirers of that Age from satisfying their Curiosity about these Vid. Petav. Rat. temp p. 361. Lactantius lib. 4. c. 15. And several of their Verses are mentioned in the Authors of those Times agreeably to which Lactantius who was born within the third Century says that the Sibylline Verses which the Christians then urg'd against the Heathens were taken out of Tully Varro and other Ancients who died before Christ was born And that these Verses were in many hands before the middle of the second Century after our Saviour is evident in Justin Martyr who imputes it to the prevalence of Devils or Daemons that the Sibylline Books among others were then prohibited Just Mart. Apol. 2. p. 64. yet says he we not only possess them without fear but as you see offer them to your view Which shews that the Prohibition extended only to Men of their own Rites and the Decree against the reading of them seems to have been revived to prevent the spreading of Christianity not that it was always inforc'd Justin says the reading of these was made capital Just Mart. That by fear they might turn away Men that are apt to believe the knowledg of Good and that they may keep them Slaves to themselves Upon three accounts it is easily to be conceiv'd how the Sybils Verses should have been publick 1. It might have been through the Treachery of Officers entrusted with them Vid. Short discourse of the truth and reasonableness of Christianity Ed. An. 1662. p. 16. Vid. Livy throughout Tully de Div. qouties Senatus Decemviros ad libros ire jussit c. Vid. Dionys Halicarn lib. 4. f. 259. who liv'd about 26 Years before Christ Vid. etiam Vandale p. 364. Disquis touching the Sibyls pag. 169. Quicquid fatidicorum librorum graeci latinique generis c. Suet. in vitâ Augusti who might have privately transcribed them as Attilius did who was one of the two entrusted with the Collection then made and for the breach of that Trust suffered as Parricide 2. The occasions of consulting these Verses were very frequent and numerous and the Verses which were then made publick were no doubt carefully preserv'd and communicated from one to another 3. Those Writings which were kept in the Capitol before Augustus his time were for the most part Transcripts from what were recorded in several parts of Greece from amongst these and others Augustus made his Collection and as it was no difficult thing to have recourse to those places from whence any of them had been transcribed no more was it to have sufficient Evidence which among the Verses so recorded were transcribed and carried into the Capitol Upon which Considerations I should think it no more strange that many Sibylline Writings should be in the hands of Christians while the Capitol stood agreeing with Verses there recorded than that several Copies of any Book should agree with the same Original and as the Christians by quoting the Sibyls to the Heathens shewed their assurance that the Quotations were right and of such Writings as the Heathens themselves received for Authorities so their not being disproved in particular instances shews that that assurance was well grounded And this will be further evident if any one of the Apostles at any time used these Authorities either to Heathens or Christians for tho this Argument was not so necessary that we ought to suppose the Apostles inspired to know the Contents of these Verses before they came to their hands Yet we cannot think that the holy Spirit which was to lead them into all Truth would suffer them to quote any thing adulterate nor is it to be imagined that any Christian then could have counterfeited these Verses and not be discovered Serom. lib. 6. pag. 639. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Clement of Alexandria speaking of God's Mercy not only to the then Christians and Jews but to the Gentiles also and of his having raised up Prophets among them says Besides the Preaching of St. Peter St. Paul manifests or will manifest the same who says Observe the Sibyl how she declares one God and the things which were to come Take and read Histaspes and there you will find it much more clearly and plainly of the Son of God c. That this passage is not to be found among the Writings of St. Paul now extant is not of it self of greater weight than if any of the Primitive Christians should have mentioned some expression or action of our Saviour's of which a clear Tradition then ran tho it were not recorded by any of the Evangelists whereas St. John concluding his Gospel says John 21.25 And there were many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose the World it self could not contain the Books that should be written 'T is evident by the manner of the Quotation that what Clement cites as St. Paul's words were among them to whom he wrote as much accounted St. Paul's as any passage which he cites from St. Peter was thought to be his So that there is no more in this Objection than that this has not been transmitted down to us in the same manner with the rest of S. Paul's Writings But circumstances considered we are not here so much as to examine whether Clement who mentions this was one of integrity but the only Question will be Whether he and others of that time might have sufficient evidence whether any Writings which went under the name of any Apostle were in truth his whose name they then bore Nor can there be any great Question of this here if we consider that Clement finish'd his Book in the time of the Emperour Severus who died Anno Christi 212 St. Paul died about the Year 67 or 69 Vid. Euseb Cluv. Epit. Petav. so that here were but 145 Years at the most to preserve the Tradition and not 100 to Clement's being of years of understanding and Polycarp a Disciple of one of the Apostle lived till the year of Christ 168. so that with him at least Clement Vid. Tallents Tables and others then alive might have conversed and possibly with some of St. Paul's own Followers CHAP. II. Clement's Quotation of St. Paul vindicated from Vandale's Objection and his Authorities from Tully turned upon him SEveral Objections against the Authority of the Sibylline Writings have been heretofore made by Isaac Casaubon David Blondel and others who are fully answered by my Learned Friend Dr. Twisden Vid. Disquis touching the Sibyls whose Treatise on this Subject may be sufficient to silence the most Sceptical But lately one Vandale