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
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
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
mention Adam's name Those at Siam reckon with us the World About the Poles six thousand Years has twirl'd That at the first Men liv'd a thousand years In the Caldean Registers appears Egyptians this with some Phoenicians say Nor want there Greeks as positive as they And this may the more easy credit gain Because to after-ages did remain Vast Graves which did the mouldred Bodies shew Compar'd with present of a monstrows hew Pausanias and Philostratus of Greeks And this the Roman Nat'r'list Pliny speaks How God and Angels did with Man converse Till he provok'd their absence for a curse After the Greeks Catallus does relate And the old Giants truly ferine state With Moses Greeks and Latins do agree And in all Nations we some Proofs may see Of what about the Deluge he has shown All time to that old Varro call'd unknown Those things on which the Poets Fictions ground In other Writers are unblended found Agreeing with the Truth in Moses seen Berosus with the Chaldees Abidene Among th' Assyrians did hold forth the same And the pacifick Dove the last does name This Grecian Plutarch Lucian mentions this Who says that Syrian Hierapolis Retain'd the Story of the Ark of old Which the sav'd race of Men and Beasts did hold In Damascene and Molo this you 'l see The last does in the name of Ark agree Apollidorus does transmit to fame Deucalion's Story differing but in name And sev'ral Spaniards do at large attest That in America remotest West The mem'ry of the Flood they plainly trace And preservation of all Mortal Race The Raven forc'd to keep upon the Wing Gen. 8.7 11. And well-come Dove which th'Olive-branch did bring Where Men inhabited before the Flood By Joppe nam'd in Pliny's understood And to this day Tradition does remain Where th' Ark did rest the Flood b'ing in again Mount Ararat on the Armenian Plain The Father of us Europeans here Japhet in Ethnick Authors does appear Ion or Javan the learn'd Grecians own And Hammon Arts to th' Africans had shown Names the Mosaick Writings have preserv'd Josephus too and others have observ'd That many Names of Men and places shew Apparent Footsteps of what there we view Which of the Poets does not proof supply Of the condemn'd attempt to scale the Sky Clouds of Authorities confirm that Fire In which polluted Sodom did expire We might as many Witnesses produce To shew that Circumcision was in use And this continues among Abram's Seed With Isma'elites and Idumean breed The Hist'ry of the ancient Patriarchs too In Philo's Sanchoniatho we view In Hecataeus this and Damascene Berosus and Demetrius may be seen Artap'nus and Eupol'mus we may add This he who wrote the famous Orphics had Some part of this Justin's learn'd Book affords Which from Pompeius Trogus he records Scarce one of them but tells of Moses's fame How he was sav'd from water th' Orphics name And that two Tables he from God receiv'd And Polemon confirms what 's here believ'd Sev'ral of the Egyptian Writers shew How vainly Pharoh's Hoast did Israel's Flock pursue And who that thinks of Moses can believe That he should e're have ventur'd to deceive When with wise Enemies encompast round Who would have noted all the faults they found If former Authors what he wrote controul'd Or 't were oppos'd by a Tradition old Or he of the then present times did tell What Witnesses then living could refel Sicilian Diodore Pliny the young Longinus of sublimity of Tongue Strabo and Tacitus of Moses speak Jamnis and Mambris in their Sorceries weak When they his Credit to impair did seek The Talmud Pliny Apuleius name Some Laws and Ritu'als which from Moses came The golden Pythagorean Verses shew And many of them you elsewhere may view Strabo and Trogus Testimonies give How just how pious the old Jews did live What we of Joshua and others find Early or late to memory consign'd Agreeing with the Jews need not be join'd Since he who will to Moses credit give Whom now it were a shame to disbelieve Must not deny which here we sought to prove That God in a mirac'lous way did move Exceeding all the Laws which Nature knew That he such Acts in after-times did shew As when Elijah and Elisha liv'd Is with less hesitance to be receiv'd Because the Jews were then become more known Their Rites held more in detestation The World then could not but have jealous Eyes And stop the growth of the most speci'ous lies Hazöus and Lycophrones do tell What in the swall'wing Whale Jonas befel Only the name for Hercules they change To whom they us'd t'impute things great and strange The truth of History did Julian force Who ne're t'wards Jews or Christians had remorse To own that God did often Jews inspire And burnt Elijah's Sacrifice with Heav'nly Fire Add to this farther that the Jewish Law All vain pretence to Prophesy did awe It did Obedience to their Kings perswade Yet they that sacred Office fear'd t' invade Esdras and others wiser than the rest That they were less than Prophets still confest This gift some Ages before Jesus ceast But who on many milli'ons could impose With Prodigies they did to all expose Such as the High-priest's Breast-plate did disclose That Light and Truth which thence shone forth to all Continu'd fresh till the first Temple's fall In this such certain Faith have all the Jews As that 't was known to their Fore-fathers shews XVI The same is proved by Predictions To this of Miracles we may subjoyn Another proof of Providence Divine The knowledg of Contingencies to come Which was imparted from above to some When not one cause or sign could then appear To them their Times and Tendencies were clear As th'Orbity of him who should restore Jerico curst by (a) Jos 6.26 1 Kings 16.34 Joshua long before Who should the Temple on Mount (b) 1 King 13.2 2 Kings 23.15 Bethel fire More than three hundred years e're 't was t' expire Esaiah too (c) Esa 44.28 45.1 Cyrus the great does name And his chief Actions since made known to fame Jerus'alem from (d) Jer. 37.11 Caldean force being freed Jeremy saw that they should yet (e) ib. 8. succeed The fate of the Assyrian Monarchy Daniel (f) Dan. 2.32 39.7 5. 8.3 20. did in the womb of Time descry That first to Medes and Persians it should fall Then (g) Dan. 10.20 11.2 3. Alexander should ingross it all Seleucus then and Ptol'omy (h) Dan. 8.9 c. part divide What mischief should from these the (i) ib. Jews betide But chiefly from (k) Dan. 8.23 24. Anti'ochus the Renown'd The truth of these when searching Porphry found To this poor subterfuge he driven was That they were wrote after they came to pass But we as well a warm dispute may raise Who wrote the Books whence Virgil has his Praise The Romans knew not that by surer fame Than had
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
Qualities of things new and strange But it must evidently be beyond all humane Power to know future things in their remote Causes the Causes themselves not existing till many Ages after nay where the Causes act arbitrarily and consequently the Effects are wholly contingent Whether the Instruments of conveying to Mankind the notices of such things were actuated by good or bad Spirits is not of any Consequence here since if they were bad it shews the influence of a superiour Being which makes the very Devils subservient to that Power which was to destroy their Kingdom And it cannot but be look'd upon as a great Mercy and Providence of God that he not only left witness of himself among the Jews Acts 14.15 in those Prophecies which sufficiently pointed out the Time Place Person and Character of the Messiah But that the Gentiles might have no pretence that these were Juggles and a meer Conspiracy against their ancient and establish'd Rites he so ordered it That the Roman Capitol should become a Sanctuary and Depository of these Divine Truths That there the Sibylline Writings which describe that pacific Prince who was to be born of a Virgin so clearly that thence is now taken the main Objection against their Authority should be preserved with that care which might prevent all manner of scruples with unbias'd minds against those mighty Testimonies to Christianity To those therefore the Primitive Fathers (a) Justin dedicates his Apology to Antoninus Pias who began his Reign A. Christi 139. the Apology supposed to be wrote about the year 150. vide Euseb Hist lib. 4. c. 12. Cluv. Epit Hist p. 281. Tallents Tables Justin Martyr (b) Clement finisht his Books under Severus who died A. C. 212. vid. Euseb l. 6. c. 5. Cluv. p. 294. Clement of Alexandria (c) Tertul. cotemporary with Clement Vid. Cluv. p. 294 Tertullian and Origen even the last of which was born within the second Certury appeal'd in their Disputes with the Heathens or Apologies for themselves (d) v. Origen lib. 7. pag. 369 edit Cant. Celsus his Objection That the Christians had inserted many and blasphemous things into the Sibyls Books is so far from an Objection that ought to weigh with us that it is a Confirmation of our Faith and that those Writings contained such things of one to be born into the World as the Heathens accounted it Blasphemy to ascribe to any but their Gods or the great Jove or Jehova Origen's Challenge for Celsus to shew what the Christians had inserted not being answered were of it self a sufficient disproof of this Calumny but 't is strange it should be taken up by Christians now especially by the Learned (e) v. Vossius de Sibyllinis Oraculis Isaac Vossius who in the main defends the Sibylline Writings for what ever may have been added through the officious or mistaken Zeal of any Christians since 't is highly improbable that it should have been so in Celsus his time or as long as the Capitol stood to which the Heathens would certainly have resorted to falsifie the Quotations made by the Christians if they had not been exactly true Not can it be imagin'd how the Christians should at any time after the birth of our Saviour till the (b) Vid. Twisden's Disquis touching the Sibyls p. 178. burning of the Capitol which was about the Year of Christ 395 be able to thrust in any spurious Copies among those which were received by the Heathens For before our Saviour's birth (c) Vid. Sucton in vitá Augusti Augustus had made a Collection of those Books of the Sibyls which upon examination were found authentick these were laid up in two gilded Hutches under the foot of a Pillar in the Temple of Palatine Apollo where they were preserved as the most (d) Dionys Halicarn lib. 4. Rom. Antiq. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Vopisci Aureliano juxta annum Christi 271. Vid. Formam Senatus consulti de inspiciendis fatalibus libris Cicero de Div. Non enim sicebat ullum Carmen Populo enuntiare nisi id Senatus decrevisset sacred Possession which they had And whereas at first two and after that ten were appointed the Keepers and Priests of those scatter'd Oracles which they had formerly gathered together fifteen had the Charge of this new Collection and in all Emergencies of State or portentous Accidents these Quindecemvirs consulted the fatal Books as they call'd them by the Decree of the Senate and without such Decree these Officers were not to acquaint the People with any Verse there Nay there was great care taken that they might not be cheated with new or false Copies when in Tiberius his time Corn. Tacitus in vitâ Tiberii lib. 6. p. 150 160. Ed. Plantini Caninius Gallus one of the Quindecemvirs press'd for a Decree of the Senate for having a Book then found treasured among the other Writings of the Sibyls whether there was but one or more Tacitus who relates it would not determine Tiberius tells him by Letter that he was ignorant what was the ancient Custom upon such a discovery which was to have every Verse read and weighed in full Senate before it was received and then the matter was to be left to the Priests that they might use all possible humane means for discerning the true from false That the Christians therefore could not cheat them in this matter and would have been disproved by authority of the Senate if they made any false Quotations cannot be doubted The only Question remaining is How the Christians could come by any of these Writings which were kept with so much caution that none were admitted to them but the immediate Officers intrusted with them nor could they publish them without a Decree from the Senate And further yet as it is in Tiberius his Letter mentioned by Tacitus Augustus made a Law Tacitus lib. 6. p. 160. Sanxisse Augustum quod infra diem ad Pretorem Urbanum deferrentur neque habere privatim liceret That whenever any Copy of such Writings should occur it should within a day be carried to the Pretor or Mayor of the City and that no private Person should retain any by him Notwithstanding all which it is easily supposable that the Christians and others might have made large Collections of those Predictions which were there treasured up And Augustus his Decree seems to concern only what look'd like Originals or were Copies from other parts of which they had nothing in the Capitol But in Tully's time the Sibylline Writings were in all peoples hands and some seem to have made a trade of (e) Cic. Divinatione lib. 1. f. 261. Ed. per de Planches Quinc Cicero speaking of the Erithraean Sibyl Cujus generis oracula etiam habenda sunt non quae aequatis sortibus ducuntur sed quae instinctu divino afflatuque fundutur Vid. Van. Dale p. 335. Sibyllarum sortes darae fere ubique occurrunt telling Fortunes by
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