A SERMON On Acts xxviij 22. Shewing That the CHRISTIAN RELIGION Is not a SECT And yet that it is Every where Spoken against By MATTHEW HENRY Minister of the Gospel LONDON Printed for and Sold by Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside MDCXCIX Christianity no Sect to be spoken against ACTS 28.22 For as concerning this Sect we know that every where it is spoken against WOULD you think that such a spiteful scornful Word as this should ever be said of the Christian Religion That pure Religion and undefiled which came into the World supported by the strongest Evidences of Truth and recommended by the most endearing Allurements of Grace and Goodness The sayings whereof are so faithful and so well worthy of all acceptation That Sacred Institution which scatters the brightest Rays of Divine Light and Love that ever were darted from Heaven to Earth That 's it which is here so invidiously call'd a Sect and is said to be every where spoken against It will be worth while to observe 1. Who they were that said this they were the chief of the Jews that were at Rome ver 17. The Jews were look'd upon at least they look'd upon themselves as a very knowing People The Jews at Rome a place of Learning and Enquiry thought themselves more knowing than the other Jews St. Paul in his Epistle to the Romans chap. 17.2 20. takes notice of it Thou art called a Jew and makest thy boast of God and knowest his Will and art confident that thou thy self art a Guide of the Blind a Light of them which are in Darkness c. And we have reason to suppose that the Chief of the Jews there who had the greatest Advantages of Education and Correspondence were the most intelligent It might also be justly expected that upon the first notices of the Gospel the Jews should have been of all People most ready to acquaint themselves with a Religion which was so much the Honour and Perfection of their own And yet it seems the Jews the chief of the Jews at Rome knew no more of Christianity but this that it was a Sect every where spoken against This we know said they and it was all they knew concerning it The Jews were of all other the most bitter and inveterate Enemies to the Christians while the Roman Emperors tolerated them as they did till Nero's time the Jews with an unwearied Malice persecuted them from City to City and were the first Wheel in most of the Opposition that the Gospel met with when it was first Preached Now one would think they would not have been so vigorous and industrious to suppress Christianity if they had not very well acquainted themselves with it and known it to deserve such opposition But it seems by this they knew little or nothing of the Religion they so much maligned had never search'd into the Merits of its Cause nor weigh'd the Proofs of its Divine Authority but against all Law and Reason condemn'd it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Justin Martyr complains purely upon common Fame and follow the cry to run it down because it was every where spoken against 2. Upon what occasion they said this They were now appointing a time to discourse with St. Paul upon the grand Question in debate whether Jesus of Nazareth was the true Messiah or no. And they seem'd willing to hear what that great Man had to say in defence of the Religion he preach'd We desire say they to hear of thee what thou thinkest Now one would expect that so good a Cause managed by such a skilful Advocate would not but carry the day and be Victorious and that they would all have been brought over to the belief of Christianity But we find v. 24. that it prov'd otherwise after all there were those that believed not and the Text intimates the reason of their Infidelity they came to hear the word under a Prejudice They had already imbib'd an ill opinion of the way which right or wrong they resolved to hold fast And tho' some of them by the help of Divine Grace got over this stumbling Block that like the Bereans were more Noble than the rest and of freer thought yet many of them continued under the power of those Prejudices and were seal'd up under Unbelief v. 26.27 Thus is the Power of the Word in many baffled by the Power of Prejudice They do not believe because they are resolved they will not They conclude that no good thing can come out of Nazareth and will not be perswaded to come and see Thus do they prejudge the Cause answering the matter before they hear it and it will prove folly and shame to them Now in the Account they here give of their Knowledge of the Christian Religion we may observe 1. That they look'd upon it to be a Sect and we 'll prove that to be false 2. A Sect every where spoken against and we will grant that to be true that it is generally spoken against tho' 't is most unreasonable and unjust it should be so First The Christian Religion is here called but miscalled a Sect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Heresy After the way which they call Heresy saith St. Paul Acts 24.14 so worship I the God of my Fathers The Sect of the Nazarenes so Tertullus calls it in his opening of the Indictment against Paul Acts 24.5 it 's call'd this way Acts 9.2 and that way Acts 19.9 as if it were a By-path out of the common Road. The Practice of serious Godliness is still look'd upon by many as a Sect that is a Party-business and a piece of affected singularity in Opinion and Practice tending to promote some carnal Design by creating and supporting invidious Distinctions among Men. This is the proper notion of a Sect and therefore the Masters and Maintainers of Sects are justly in an ill Name as Enemies to the great Corporation of Mankind but there is not the least colour of Reason to put this invidious and scandalous Character upon the Christian Religion However it may be mistaken and misrepresented it is very far from being really a Sect. There were Sects of Religion among the Jews we read of the Sect of the Sadducees Acts 5.17 which was built upon peculiar notions such as overturn'd the foundation of Natural Religion by denying a future state of Rewards and Punishments There was also the Sect of the Pharisees Acts 15.5 the straitest Sect of their Religion Acts 26.5 which was founded in the observance and imposition of singular Rites and Customs with an affected separation from and contempt of all Mankind These were Sects But there is nothing of the Spirit and Genius of these in the Christian Religion as it was instituted by its great Author 1. True Christianity establisheth that which is of common concernment to all Mankind and therefore is not a Sect. The Truths and Precepts of the everlasting Gospel are
not fail to furnish his faithful Advocates with needful Instructions and many a time ordains such strength out of the mouth of Babes and Sucklings as strangely stills the Enemy and the Avenger Lastly Let none of us ever think the worse of the way of Religion and Godliness for its being every where spoken against nor be frighten'd hereby from walking in that way The Contempt cast upon the Practise of Piety is with many an invincible Objection against it their good Impressions good purposes and good overtures are hereby crush'd and brought to nothing They have that within 'em which tells 'em that the way of Sobriety and serious Godliness is a very good way and they sometimes hear that Word behind them saying This is the walk ye in it But they have those about 'em that tell them otherwise and thus the convictions of Conscience are over-rul'd and baffled by the Censures and Reproaches of Men whose Praise they covet more than the Praise of God But to take off the force of this Objection let us consider these four Things 1. Consider who they are that speak against Religion and Godliness not only that they are Mortal Men whom the Moth shall eat up like a Garment Men that shall die and the Sons of Men which shall be made as Grass all whose thoughts will shortly perish with them and therefore why should we fear their Reproach or be afraid of their revilings Nor only they that are fallible Men who may be mistaken and whose Judgment is by no means decisive nor such as will bear us out Shall we put what Men say in the Scale against what God saith Let God be true and every Man a Liar We must not be judg'd hereafter and therefore should not be rul'd now by the Sentiments and Opinions of Men But those that speak against Religion are also for the most part ill Men Men of unsettled Heads debauch'd Consciences and profligate Lives 'T is the Fool and none but he that saith in his heart there is no God The Scoffers of the last daies are Men that walk after their own Lusts whose carnal fleshly Interest retains them on that side David was abus'd by the abjects Psal 35.15 and the Christians at Thessalonica by certain lewd Fellows of the baser sort Acts 17.5 Such as those are the Men that make a mock at Religion and shall we be sway'd and influenced in the greatest Concerns of our immortal Souls by such Men as these Shall those have the Government of us that have so little Government of themselves Shall the Cavils and vain Scoffs of those who know not what it is to be serious carry the day against the deliberate Sentiments of all Wise and Good Men who have with one consent subscrib'd to the Equity and Goodness of Religion's Ways If we chuse such as these for our Leaders surely the Blind lead the Blind and we know the consequence 2. Consider how trifling and frivolous that is which is commonly said against Religion and Godliness The Devil made his first fatal assault upon Mankind by Lies and Slanders suggesting hard thoughts of God and promising Impunity in Sin and by the same wretched methods he still supports and carries on his Interest in the World They that speak against Religion make Lies their Refuge and under falshood they hide themselves All those bold and daring things which are spoken against Religion are either groundless and unproved Calumnies or very unjust and unfair Representations Hence the Enemies of Religion are said to be absurd and unreasonable Men. Men that while they cry up the Oracles of Reason rebel against all the Light and Laws of it Put all that together which is spoken against Godliness and weigh it in the Balances of right Reason and you will write Tekel upon it weigh'd in the Ballances and found wanting And as if an over-ruling Providence had forced the Scoffers of these last days to confess their own Infatuation Some of those that have been most sharp in their Invectives against Religion have been no less free in their Satyrs against Reason it self as if they were resolv'd to answer the Character of Solomon's Fool whose Wisdom fails him so far that he saith to every one that he is a Fool. 3. Consider how much is to be said for Religion notwithstanding it is every where spoken against Religion hath Reason on its side its Cause is a Good Cause and it is the right way whoever speaks against it It is no disparagement as that excellent Pen expresseth it to be laughed at but to deserve to be so you have heard Religion reproach'd but did you ever find that it deserv'd to be so Nay on the contrary have you not found that it very well deserves your best Affections and Services Enquire of those that have made trial of it consult the Experiences of others Call now if there be any that will answer thee and to which of the Saints wilt thou turn Ask thy Father and he will shew thee thine Elders and they will tell thee that the Fear of the Lord that is Wisdom and to depart from Evil that is Vnderstanding They will tell thee That Religion's Ways are Ways of Pleasantness and all her Paths are Peace and that all the Wealth and Pleasure in this World is not worth one Hours Communion with God in Jesus Christ They will tell thee That there is no Truths so certain and weighty as Divine Truths and that no Statutes and Judgments are so righteous as the Divine Law which is Holy Just and Good They will tell thee That real Holiness and Sanctification is the Perfection of the Human Nature as well as the Participation of a Divine Nature That a firm Belief of the Principles of Religion is the greatest improvement of our intellectual Powers a strict Adherence to its Rules our surest Guide in all our Ways and a chearful Dependance upon its Promises the Fountain of better Joys and the Foundation of better Hopes than any we can be furnish'd with in the things of Sense and Time They will tell thee that a Life of serious Godliness is incomparably the most Sublime and Honourable the most Sweet and Comfortable Life a Man can live in this World and that nothing doth more answer the end of our Creation better befriend Societies nor conduce more to our true interest in both Worlds than that Holy Religion which is every where spoken against 4. Consider that the cause of Religion and Godliness however it be spoken against and oppos'd will infallibly be the prevailing Cause at last We are sensible of a mighty struggle in the World betwixt the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent Michael and his Angels on the one side and the Dragon and his Angels on the other Many there are that speak against Religion and are very vigorous in opposing it and some tho' but a few that are speaking for it contending
for the Faith and striving against Sin now it is desirable to know which of these contesting Interests will be victorious and we may be assur'd that the cause of God and Religion will certainly carry the day Contradicted Truths will be effectually clear'd and vindicated Despised Holiness will be honour'd Mistakes rectify'd Reproaches roll'd away and every thing set in a true Light Then you shall return and discern between Truth and Falshood Right and Wrong which now it is not always easie to do The Day of the Lord is said to be in the Valley of Decision Joel 3.14 Because then and there will this great Cause be decided which has been so long depending and a definitive Sentence given from which there will ly no Appeal and against which there will be no Exception Our God will then come and will not Keep Silence whoever now Speak against Religion he will then speak for it and will undoubtedly be justified when he speaks and clear when he judgeth Particular Parties and Interests as such will wither and come to nothing But Catholick Christianity that is Denying Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts and living Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World in expectation of the Blessed Hope This is Good and the Goodness of it being founded on the unchangeable Will of the Eternal Mind it is Eternally Good and no doubt will be Eternally Glorious whatever is said against it This this is that Gold and Silver and those Precious Stones which will stand the Test of the Fire that shall try every Mans Work 1 Cor. 3.12 13. and will be found unto Praise and Honour and Glory at the Appearing of Jesus Christ Assure your selves Christians there is a Day of Recompences for the Controversy of Sion coming and it is at Hand Behold the Judge standeth before the Door Then Vice and Wickedness which now appear so daring so threatning will be effectually and irrecoverable crush'd and such a fatal and incurable Blow given to the Serpents Head that he shall never hiss shall never spit his Venom any more Then shall the Vpright have the Dominion Psal 49.14 and all the faithful Souldiers of the Lord Jesus shall be call'd to set their Feet upon the Necks of Principalities and Powers Then Atheists and Blasphemers the Debauchees and prophane Scoffers of the Age will have their Mouths stopt with an irresistable Conviction will have all their vile Calumnies visibly confuted their Hearts fill'd with unspeakable Horror and their Faces with everlasting Shame Their Refuge of Lies will then be swept away and Rocks and Mountains call'd upon in vain to shelter them Then shall the Righteous who are now trampled upon and despised shine as the Sun in the Firmament of their Father Wisdom and her Children shall be first justified and then glorified before all the World And they that through Grace have gotten the Victory over the Beast and over his Image shall solace themselves and praise their Redeemer with everlasting Songs of Triumph The Dirt that is now unjustly thrown upon them will not only be wiped off but will add to their Glory and every Reproach for the Testimony of Jesus will be a Pearl in their Crown The Righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth will shortly render to every Man according to his Work To them who by patient continuance in Well-doing seek for Glory and Honour and Immortality in the other World and in pursuit of that patiently bear Disgrace and Contempt in this to them he will render Eternal Life which will make them as Happy as they can desire far more Happy than they can now conceive But to them that are Contentious and do not obey the Truth but contradict it and rebel against the Light and Laws of it being resolv'd to obey Vnrighteousness to them he will render with a just and Almighty Hand Indignation and Wrath the effect of which will be such Tribulation and Anguish to the Soul as will make them feel eternally what now they will not be perswaded to believe that it is a fearful thing to fall into the Hands of the living God for never any hardned their Hearts against him and prosper'd Brethren These are the true Sayings of God on the certainty of which we may venture our Immortal Souls They who speak and act so much against Religion design to run it down and extirpate it that the Name of it may be no more in remembrance and perhaps you hear them sometimes boast of their success herein If they can but handsomly as they think ridicule the sacred Text or Banter any of the Divine Mysteries or Hector over a good Man they are ready to triumph as if they had run down Religion Run down Religion In the Name of my great Master I defy all the Powers of Hell and Earth to run it down They may sooner run down the flowing Tide or the Sun when he goes forth in his strength than run down the least of the Dictates of Eternal Truth not one iota or tittle of which shall fall to the Ground Dagon will certainly fall before the Ark of the Lord and the Rod of Aaron will Swallow up the Rods of the Magicians Do they talk of running down Religion and the Scriptures and the Ordinances of Christ The Virgin the Daughter of Sion hath despised them and laughed them to scorn the Daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her Head at them and hath therefore put them to shame because God hath despised them as it is said Psal 53.5 He that sets in the Heavens enjoying himself and rides upon the Heavens for the Help of his People derides their Attempts against the Kingdom of his Son as vain and fruitless The Lord shall laugh at them for he sees that his Day is coming They have their Day now it is their Hour and the Power of Darkness But God will have his Day shortly and a Glorious Day it will be when our Lord Jesus shall appear in all the Power and Grandeur of the Vpper World to the everlasting Terror and Confusion of all his Adversaries and the everlasting Joy and Honour of all his faithful Servants and Soldiers With the believing Hopes and Prospects of which Day let all those who heartily espouse and plead Religion's righteous Cause Comfort themselves and one another FINIS Jam. 1.27 1 Tim. 1.15 1 Thes 2.15 16. †Tertullian confidently asserts Primum Neronem in hanc Sectam tum maxime Romae orientem Caesariano gladio terocisse Apol. cap. 5 Inquisitione agnitione neglecta Nomen detinetur Nomen expugnatur Vox sola praedamnat Tert. Ap. c. 3. Acts 17.11 John 1.46 Prov. 18.13 John 7.51 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Electio optio An Opinion not forced upon us by the Evidences of Truth but chosen by us with some forreign Design 2 Cor. 5.19 Luke 2.14 Joh. 1.29.3.16 1 John 2.2 Secta dicitur à Secando Eph. 2.14 15 16. John 11.52 Luk 9.56 Luke 10.36 37. Phil. 2.8 Heb. 3.1 2 Cor. 1.12 Rom. 14.17 18. Luke 12.1 1 Cor. 1.2 Jam. 3.17 1 Pet. 2.15 1 Cor. 4.3 4. Doct. Rev. 12.17 Psal 118.22 Isa 53.2 3. Mat 27.39 Luke 23.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eph. 1.20.21 Phil. 2.6 Cant. 5.9 Jude 15. Gen. 3.4 Ps 10.13 Jer. 12.2 Deut. 28.58 Jude 16. Isa 8.21 Psal 73.9 * Trident Concil Sess 4th Ps 137.3 Dan. 5.2 3. Zach. 3.8 See this at large represented by Caecilius in Minucius Felix 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Theatre they plaid upon cui septima quaeque fuit lux Ignava Juvenal sat 5. Dicimur sceleratissimi de Sacramento infanticidij pabulo inde post convivium incesto c. Tertull. Apol. cap. 7. 1 Pet. 1.18 Acts 17.18 19. See Dr. Cave's Primitive Christianity lib. 1. ch 1. Greg. Nazian Invectiv in Julian Orat 1. p. mihi 42. Lollards from Lolium Tares so my Ld. Cook from Mr. Fox Rev. 13.17 Rev. 13.17 Isa 5.20 1 Pet. 4.3 4 Psal 12.8 Isa 59.15 Eph. 4.21 compar'd with Tit. 1.1 Acts 3.15 17. Luke 23.34 Job 21.14 John 4.10 Cant. 5.9.6.1 Psal 83.3 Col. 3.3 Prov. 15.24 Psa 105. Quid iniquiusquà m ut oderin◠homines quod ignorant Tunc enim meretur quando cognoscitur an mereatur Tert. Apol. cap. 1. Antè nos incipiunt odisse quam nosse ne cognitos aut imitari possint aut damnare non possint Min. Fel. p. mihi 30. Rom. 8.7 1 Joh. 3.13 Job 15.25 Psa 12.4 Mat. 21.45 John 7.7 Gen. 37.2 1 Ki. 22.8.21.20 Rev. 11.10 Mat. 24.14 Naturale est odisse quem times quem metueris infestare si possis Min. Felix Isa 29.21 Isa 58.1 Gal. 1.8 9. Gal. 1.10 Heb. 11.7 Prov. 29.10 1 John 3.12 Eccl. 8.11 Ps 50.12 2 Pet. 3.3 4. 2 Pet. 3.9 Rom. 1.18 Psal 50.3 Jude 14.15 Mat. 22.12 Mat. 26.63 Joh. 19.9 Heb. 10.13 2 Sam. 16.10.4 1 Pet. 2.23 Ps 83 3 4. Acts 5.38 See this excellently enlarged upon by the learned Grotius de v. R. C. l. 2. Acts 19.20 2 Kin. 18.34 Exod. 3.3 4. Rev. 6.2 Acts 28.3 Mat. 16.18 See the learned Dr. Humfrey Prideaux's excellent History of the Life of Mahomet lately published Rev. 12.10 11. Isa 52.5 Psa 69 10. Mat. 25.45 Psa 64.8 Gal. 6.7 Hos 14.9 2 Pet. 3.16 Zach. 12.3 1 Pet. 2.8 Isa 28.13 2 Tim. 2.17 2 Pet. 2.2 Act. 13.7.8 9 10. Isa 8.11 12. Psal 1.1 Cic. de Nat. Deor. lib. 2. ad Fin. Luk. 9.55 Ro. 2.24 2 Pet. 2 2. Jude 12. The foulest Reproaches of the Primitive Christians took rise from the vile practises of the Gnosticks and other Pseudochristians Of which Vid. Euseb Eccl. Hist l. 4. c. 7. Col. 4.5 Luk. 7.35 Prov. 14.8 Ec. 10.10 Jam. 1.5 2 Cor. 6.3 1 Tim. 6.1 Col. 1.10 Tit. 2.10 Mat. 5.14 2 Thes 5.12 1 Pet. 2.12 v. 15. Psal 38.33 Eccl. 3.7 Luk. 12.9 2 Tim. 2.12 Prov. 25.23 Luke 1.4 1 Pet. 3.15 2 Cor. 6.7 Col. 2.2 Psal 8.2 Isa 30.21 Isa 51.7.8 12. 2 Thes 3.2 Eccl. 10.3 Arch Bp. Tillotson's Serm. on 2 Pet. 2 3. Job 5.1 Deut. 32.7 Job 28.28 Prov. 3.17 Mal. 3.18 Psal 50.3 Psal 51.4 1 Pet. 1.7 Isa 34.8 Jam. 5.9 Jos 10.24 Isa 28.17 Rev. 6.16 Ma. 13.43 Rev. 15.2 Mat. 5.11 12. Rom. 2.6 7 8 9. Heb. 10.31 Rev. 19.9 Psa 83.4 Magna est Veritas praevalebit Mat. 5.18 Ex. 7.12 Isa 37.22 Psal 2.4 Deut. 33.26 Psa 37.13