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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02267	True religion explained and defended against ye archenemies thereof in these times In six bookes. Published by authority for the co[m]mon good.; De veritate religionis Christianae. English	Grotius, Hugo, 1583-1645.; Cecil, Thomas, fl. 1630, engraver.; Franciscus a Sancta Clara, 1598-1680.	1632 (1632)	STC 12400; ESTC S122528	94,326	374

the contrary ●…ly the dominion given to ●nto man over his own actions ●he naturall desire that is in him ●o be immortall the comfort o●…●ood conscience for well done ●eeds though such were accom●anied with much difficulty ●nd on the contrary the sting of ●…gnawing conscience at the re●embrance of ungodly and ●…icked actions especially when ●he houre of death approacheth ●nto the wicked who doe then ●…eeme more sensible of an immi●…ent iudgement and this gnawing ●…orme of conscience the most ●…rophane wretches and wicked ●…yrants in the world could never ●tterly mortifi● and destroy in them no not then when they most of all desired as divers examples doe testifie SECT XXIIII Whence it followes that the e●● of all shall bee mans happine●… after this life SEeing then the soule is of 〈…〉 nature that in it selfe hath 〈…〉 ground or cause of its owne corruption and seeing also thi● God by many signes and token●… hath declared that it is his wi●… the same soule should survi●… the body what more noble 〈…〉 can be propounded to man tha● the state of eternall happinesse which in effect is the same that Plato and the Pythagorea●● spake of saying that it were goo● for man if hee could become mo●● like unto God SECT XXV ●…hich to obtaine men must get the true Religion NOw what this happinesse is and how 't is to be attaine●●…en may finde out by probable ●…iectures but if any thing co●cerning that matter bee revealed ●…y God in Scripture the same ●ust be held for a most certaine ●nd undoubted truth which ●nce that Religion●…emes ●…emes to pretend above others 〈◊〉 shall be examined in the next ●ooke whether or no men ought ●…o give credit thereunto and as●uredly build their faith theron The second Booke OF THE TRVNESSE OF Christian Religion SECT I. To prove the truth of Christian Religion IT is not our purpose in this second booke to handle all the points of Christianitie out after our hearty prayers made to Christ the King of Heaven that hee would grant us the assistance of his holy Spirit whereby we may be enabled for such a worke we shall endevour to make it appeare that Christian Religion is the most true and certaine Religion of all the rest namely as followeth SECT II. Here is showen that Iesus lived IT is a truth most sted fastly professed by all the Christian● that breath upon the face of the whole earth that Iesus of Nazreth then lived in Iudea whe● Tiberius was Emperour of the Romans which is acknowledged not onely by Christians but also by all the Iewes that ever lived heretofore or yet survive Nay the very Pagan writers th●… is such as are neither of the Iewish nor Christian Religion namely Suetonises Tacitus pliny the younger and many more after them doe testifie the same SECT III. And was put to an ig●…ious death MOreover all bee it such a kinde of death might bee thought inglorious and dishonorable to their Lord and Master yet all Christians doe confesse that this same Iesis was crucified by Pontius Pilate governour of Iudea The Iewes also doe the ●ike though they cannot bee ignorant how that they become most odious to those Christians●n ●n whose dominions they live because of this murder committed by Pilate whereof their ancestors were the chiefe authors as the heathenish writers have also recorded the same Yea these acts of Pilate were extant a long time after whereunto the Christians did sometimes make their appeale And further neither did Iulian himselfe nor any other adversaries of Christianity ever make doubt hereof So that hence it appeares that there was never any more true and certaine story than this which wee see may be confirmed not onely by the testimonies of some few men but also by the approbation of severall nations otherwise disagreeing and jarring among themselves SECT IV. Yet afterward was worshipped by by prudent and godly men ALL which though it was most true of Christs ignominious death yet wee see ho● that thorowout the remo●… parts of the world hee is worshipped as Lord and that not in our dayes onely but ever since the time that this was done to wit ever since the reigne of Nero the Emperour when many people that professed this worship of Christ and Christian Religion were for that cause tortured and put to death as Tacitus and others doe witnesse SECT V The cause whereof was for that in his life time there were miracles done by him NOw among such as professed Christianity there were many judicious learned men For to say nothing now of the Iewes there was Sergius governour of Cyprus Dionysius Areopagita Polycarpus Iustinus Irenaeus Athenagoras Origen Tertullian Clemens Alexandrinus with divers others who almost all being broughtup in other religions neither could have any hopes of wealth or preferment in Christianity yet became worshippers of this man that died so ignominious a death and exhibited due honour to him as God no other reason whereof can bee given than this that moved them so to doe namely because they like prudent men in a matter of greatest moment by diligent inquiry found the truth and ground of that same which was bruted abroad concerning the miracles wrought by Christ as the healing of many that were sore diseased with his word onely the restoring of sight to him that was borne blinde the feeding of many thousands with some few Loaves of bread the restoring of some to life againe that were dead and many other such like wonderfull workes The truth whereof neither Celsus nor Iulian when they writ against Christians durst dare to deny but it was confessed both by them and also most plainly by the Hebrew doctors that were Authors of the Talmnd SECT VI. Which miracles were not wrought either by the helpe of nature or assistance of the devill but meerely by the divine power of God THat theft wondrous works were not wrought by any naturall power it is manifest because they were called wonders and miracles For it is not possible in nature that any grievous diseases and infirmities should bee cured meerely by a mans voice or by the vertue of a touch and that even upon a suddaine And it is likely if such works had beene done by the power of nature onely then the same would have beene made knowne and revealed either by those that were professed enemies of Christ while he lived upon earth or by those that have beene adversaries of his Gospell since his death By the same argument wee may prove that such workes came not to passe through the power and deceit of Sata● or by any diabolicall enchantments because they were done openly in the sight of all the people amongst whom divers of the learned sort did maligne and ●ear● ill will unto Christ not without envy observing all that hee did Adde further that the same workes were often iterated and the effects thereof were not transitory but permaneant and durable All which being duly pondered it must

just cause to occasion was no better than plaine robbery or murder But if wee say they beleeved that this Religion was most true and the very best and altogether to be professed and that after the death of their Lord and Master why surely that could no way bee so if their Masters promise concerning his resurrection had deceived them and not proved true For that had beene enough to have un-faith't a sound Christian and made the foundation of his hope to have tottered Moreover all sorts of Religion specially Christianity altogether prohibits lying and bearing of false witnesse in divine things wherefore they could not for the love of Religion principally such a religion be induced to tell untruths Besides these men were of an upright conversation their life was spotlesse and unblameable even in the judgement of their adversaries and nothing could be objected against them save their honest simplicity which verely is not wont to use lying and dissimulation Nay there were none among these primitive Christians whereof wee speake who did not suffer grievous torments for professing that Iesus was risen and many of them were put unto most exquisite paines of death for bearing testimony of the same Now indeed it is possible for some man out of a wilfull pre-conceived opinion to endure such misery but it is utterly incredible and unlikely that any one much lesse so many should bee willing to suffer so great calamity for beleeving an untruth and that which they knew to bee such an untruth as the beleefe thereof could in no wise doe them any good Besides that these were not mad men both their conversation and their writings doe abundantly testifie Likewise what is spoken of them may also be said of Paul who openly taught that hee saw Christ sitting in heaven who also was not inferiour to any in the Iewish Religion nor might he have wanted dignities and preferments if hee would have followed the footsteps of his Fathers Whereas on the contrary by taking upon him the profession of Christianity hee became liable to the hatred and malignity of his kins-folkes and thereupon was to undertake hard labours dangerous and toilsome travels and last of all to undergoe a disgracefull death and torment SECT VIII Answer to the objection that the resurrection seemes impossible SVch and such testimonies no man can disprove or gainsay unlesse some will reply saying ●…ch a thing perhaps might be ●ut it seemes improbable or im●ossible and this as they say ●mplyes a contradiction Howbeit that cannot bee affirmed of his matter It might indeed if ●ne could say that one and the ●lfe same man lived and died at ●…e selfe same time But that a ●an may be restored from death 〈◊〉 life namely by the power and vertue of him who first gave life and being unto man I see no reason why it should be accoun●ed for a thing impossible Neither hath it beene thought impossible by wise men Hence wee finde in Plato that the same thing happened to Eris an Armenian The like is related of a certaine woman by Heraclide● a Philosopher of Pontus of Aristoeus by Herodotus and of another by Plutarch all which whether true or false doe shew that in the opinion of learned and wise men the thing was conceived to be possible SECT IX The resurrection of Iesus being granted the truth of his doctrine is confirmed SInce then as hath beene showen it is not to bee thought a thing impossible for Christ to have beene restored to life againe seeing also that this very Christ as both his Countrimen and others doe confesse did publish and preach a new doctrine warranted by divine au it followes therefore that this ●…me doctrine must bee true and ●ertaine For it stands not with divine justice and wisdome to beautifie and adorne him after ●o excellent a manner who should utter an untruth in so ●…ighty abusinesse Specially considering that Christ a little before his death did foretell unto his Countrymen what death ●ee should dye and how hee should bee revived againe ad●ing further that all these things should come to passe for the establishing and confirming the Truth of his doctrine Thus farre touching those arguments which are taken from ●…or of fact in the next place ●et us descend to such as are taken from the nature or quality of his doctrine SECT X. Christian Religion preferred before all others IT is a most certaine truth that either all kinde of divine worship whatsoever must be rejected and utterly banished from among men which impiety will never enter into the heart of any one that can beleeve there is a God that governes all things and with all considers how man is endued with excellency of understanding and liberty to chuse what is morally good or evill as also how that in himself there is matter both of reward and punishment or else this Religion is to bee admitted and approved of for the very best not only in regard of the outward testimonies of workes and miracles aforesaid but also in consideration of such inward and essential properties as are agreeing thereunto namely because there is not neither ever was there any other Religion in the whole world that can bee imagined more honourable for excellency of reward more absolute and perfect for precepts or more admirable for the manner accordding to which it was commanded to bee propagated and divulged SECT XI For excellency of reward FOr to begin with the reward that is at the end propounded to man which though it bee the last in f●…tion execution yet is it the first in his intention If wee consider the institution of the Iewish Religion by the hand of Moses and the plaine or expresse covenant of the Law wee shall finde nothing there promised save the welfare and happinesse of this life as namely a fruitful land abundance of corne and victuall victory over their enemies soundnesse of body length of daies the comfortable blessing of a hopefull issue and surviving posterity and the like For if there were any thing besides it was involved in darke shadowes requiring a leare wise understanding for the right manifestation and discreet apprehension thereof Which indeed was the cause why many in particular the Sadduces who professed themselves to bee followers and observers of Moses his law had no hope of enjoying any happinesse after this life As for the Grecians such as received their learning from the Chaldeans and Aegyptians what conceit or opinion soever they had of future w●l-f●rt and f●l city yet they spake thereof onely after a doubtfull and ambiguous manner as appeares by the disputations of Socrates in Tusties workes in Seneca and others And the arguments they produce for them are grounded vpon uncertainties proving no more the happines of a ma● than of a beast Which while s●… of them observed it was no wonder if they imagined that soules were translated and conveyed from ment● beast● and againe from beasts into men But because this opinion

yeares should be expired after the promulgation of the de●ree touching the restoring of the City Hierusalem the Messias should come But now since that time above two thousand yeeres have passed and yet he whom the Iewes expect is not come neither can t●ey name any other person to whom that space or time can bee rightly applyed which notwithstanding agrees so fitly unto Iesus as that Neh●mias a Rabbi Doctor who lived about fifty yeares before Christ plainly said then that the time of the Messias foretold by Daniel could not bee protracted beyond those fifty yeeres then next ensuing And with this note of time agrees another note which wee have toucht before to wit concerning the dominion over all nations by divine power after that the posterity of Seleueus and Lagu● had ceased to reigne the latter whereof ended in Cleopatra a little before Iesus was borne The third note is set downe in the foresaid Chapter of Daniel namely that after the comming of the Messias the City of Hierusalem should bee overthrowne which Prophecie of the cities destruction Iosephus himselfe referreth unto his time whence it followes that the time appointed for the comming of the Messias was then already past Hereunto likewise belongs that in the second chapter of the Prophet Haggai where God by the Prophet incourageth Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel governour of Iudah and Ioshuah the sonne of Iosedech the high Priest comforting them with this promise that the glory of the latter house should be greater than the former which certainly can neither bee meant of the greatnesse of the work nor of the matter of the building nor of the fabrick and artificiall structure nor of the beauty of that Temple as may appeare by the history of those times both in the holy scriptures and in Iosephus compared with that of the Temple of Salomon But God shewes wherein the latter Temple should excell the former when hee promiseth as it were by a certaine covenant to establish his peace that is his mercy and loving kindnesse in that Temple whereof th● Prophet Malachy speakes more fully in his third Chapter Behold I will send my Messenger and he shall prepare the way before me now Malachy lived when the latter Temple was built And the Lord whom yee seeke shall suddenly come to his Temple even the Messenger of the covenant whom yee delight in Wherefore the Messias ought to come while the second Temple stood which as the Hebrewes note was during the space betweene Zerubbabel and Vespasian for in the time of Herod the great the Temple was not reedified out of its old r●ines but by little and little it was repaired bearing still the name of the same Temple And indeed there was so firme an opinion amongst the Hebrewes and the neighbouring people that the Messias was surely to come in those times that many tooke Herod others Iudas Gaulonites and a third sort some that lived about the times of Iesus to be the Messias SECT XV. Answer to that which some conceive touching the deforring of his cōming for the sins of the people SOme of the Iewes perceiving themselves to bee hard put to it by these arguments concerning the comming of the Messias doe goe about to shift off the same by telling us that their fins were the cause why hee did not come at the promised time But for answer to omit what is shewne in the Prophecies aforesaid touching the determination of the decree without all exception or uncertainty how is it possible that this comming should be deferred by reason of their sinnes seeing also it was foretold that because of the many and hainous transgressions of the people the great City should be laid waste a little after the times of the Messias Moreover the reason why the Messias should come was that he might both administer a medicine to the wicked world and procure pardon for offences withall giving good rules for reformation of life Whereupon in the thirteenth chapter of Zachary it is meant of his times when it is said that there shall be a fountaine opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Hierusalem for sinne and for uncleannesse And it is affirmed by the Hebrewes themselves shall bee called Ish Copher that is a reconciler or peacemaker But it is against all reason to say that any thing was deferred for that disease to which it was precisely destinated and appointed SECT XVI Also from the present state of the Iewes compared with those things which the Law promiseth TOuching this which we affirme of the comming of the Messias long since into the world the Iewes are convinced by very sense God made a covenant with Moses and promised to them the happy possession of the land of Palestina so long as they should lead their life according to the commandements of the law But contrarily hee threatned banishment and such like calamity to come upon them if they did grievously transgresse the same Yet if at any time they were afflicted with miseries and repenting of their sinnes returned unto obedience then would he be moved to have mercy upon the people and cause that though they were scattered to the uttermost parts of the earth yet should they returne againe into their owne countrey● as wee may reade in Deut. 30 Nehem. 1. and else-where But now for the space of one thousand five hundred yeares and more the Iewes have wanted a Countrey and a Temple which when they would have built anew they were alwayes hindered by some empediment or other When this people in times past had defiled themselves with abominable wickednesses every where sacrificing even their children unto Saturne accounting adultery to be no sinne oppressing and spoiling the fatherlesse and widows and shedding the innocent bloud in great abundance all which the Prophets did upbraid them with then did they sufferexile yet only for the space of seventy yeares during which time God did not neglect to speak unto them by his Prophets and to comfort them with the hope of a returne pointing also at the very time thereof But now ever since they were expelled out of their Countrey they continue banished and contemptible No Prophet comes unto them there is no signe or token of their returne Their Masters and ring-●…ers as if they were blasted with the spirit of giddinesse● are fallen away to filthy fables and doctrines very ridiculous where with the bookes of the Talmud do abound which they are bold to call the law given by word of mouth and are wont to equall or preferre the same to that which was delivered by Moses For such things as are therein to be read concerning Gods weeping and lamenting because hee had suffered the city to bee destroyed of his daily care and diligence in reading the law of Behemoth and Leviathan and many other matters are so absurd that it would be tedious and irksome to repeat them Howbeit the Iewes in all this time have neither turned to the worship of false