which its Adversaries have so industriously endeavoured if it had been of Men it had certainly come to naught quickly though they had let it alone but being of God it was to admiration Victorious over all opposition A Sect a Cheat could never have supported it self against so much Contradiction no Human Power or Policy could have kept it up nor any thing less than an Almighty Arm. The continuance of the Christian Religion in the world to this day is a standing Miracle for the Conviction of its Adversaries and the Confirmation of the Faith of those that adhere to it VVhen we consider what a mighty Force was raised by the Powers of Darkness against Christianity when it was in its Infancy how many they were that spoke against it learned Men great Men Books were written Laws were made against it those that spoke for it how few were they and how mean and despicable the foolish things of the VVorld and the Weak and yet we see the Word of God mightily growing and prevailing Must we not needs say this is the Lord 's doing it is marvellous in our eyes The several false Religions of the Heathen with their various Superstitions and Idolatries though they gave very little Opposition one to another but agreed together well enough yet having no foundation in Truth they all wither'd away and dwindled to nothing and after the mighty sway they had born and all means possible us'd to support 'em at length their Day came to fall their Oracles silenced their Altars deserted and the Gods themselves were famished Zeph. 2.11 and perished from the Earth according to that Prediction Jer. 10.11 which is put into the mouths of the Captiv'd Jews to retort upon their insulting Enemies and for that purpose is originally in the Caldee Dialect VVe may ask triumphantly not only where are the Gods of Humath and of Arpad Where are the Gods of Sepharvaim Hena and Ivah those obscure and petty Deities But where are the Gods of Babylon and Aegypt Greece and Rome the illustrious names of Saturn and Jupiter Juno and Diana where are the Gods which our British and Saxon Aucestors worshipped bofore they received the Light of the glorious Gospel Are they not all forgotten as dead Men out of mind and their names written in the dust But Christ's Holy Religion though for some Ages it was utterly destitute of all Secular Supports and Advantages and was assaulted on all hands by the most vigorous Attacks of its daring and most implacable Enemies yet it hath strangely weather'd its point and is in being and thanks be to God in some places in a flourishing state to this day Its cause an opposed but never a baffled cause Let us turn aside now and see this great sight a Bush burning and yet not consum'd and say The Lord is in it of a Truth Come and see the Captain of our Salvation riding forth in the Chariot of the everlasting Gospel with his Crown upon his Head and his Bow in his Hand conquering and to conquer That which was every where spoken against Christianity was like the Viper which fasten'd upon St. Paul's Hand it gave people occasion to think very ill concerning it and to look for its speedy fall as the barbarous people concerning him whom they concluded to be a Murtherer and expected that he should have swollen or fallen down Dead But it hath in all Ages shaken those venomous Beasts into the Fire and taken no harm and so hath prov'd its own Divine Original Let us herein acknowledge the Wisdom and Power of our Lord Jesus who hath so firmly built his Church upon a Rock that the Gates of Hell i. e. all its Powers and Policies and Numbers could never prevail against it Mahomet though he industriously adapted his Religion to the Sensual Appetites of Men whose Reason only and not their Lusts could object against it yet he obtain'd no strength nor interest at all till by a thousand Artifices he had got the Power of the Sword and with it forbad any upon pain of Death to speak against him or his Doctrine charging his first Followers who were to propagate his Religion if they met with any that objected against it not to dispute with them but to kill them immediately By which means that grand Imposture in a little time got some footing in the world and by the same Barbarous and Inhumane Methods it hath been supported now above a Thousand Years And in like manner that great Enemy of the Church represented in St. John's Vision maintains his Interest by causing that as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed Rev. 13.15 Thus are Errors and false Religions propagated strip them of these supports they fall to the ground of course but on the contrary the Christian Religion was planted and preserv'd not only without but against secular Force recommended and upheld by its own intrinsick Truth and Excellency and that Divine Power which accompanied it The Preachers and Professers of it every where spoken against and yet every where getting ground and strangely victorious purely by the word of their Testimony and by not loving their Lives unto the Death Thus is come Salvation and Strength and the Kingdom of our God and the Power of his Christ Thirdly Let us greatly lament the Folly and Wickedness of those who speak against Christ and his Holy Religion and if we can do any thinâ— have compassion upon them and help to undeceive them and rectify their Mistakes Surely this is one of the Abominations committed among us for which we should be found among those that sigh and cry Ezek. 9.4 one of those Instances of the Pride of Sinners for which our Souls should weep in secret Jer. 13.17 This is that Reproach of the solemn Assembly which is such a Burthen to all good Men. Zeph. 3.18 Our Ears should tingle and our Hearts tremble to hear the Reproach and Contempt cast upon Christ and his Religion or to hear of it and looking upon our selves as nearly concern'd in Sacred Things we should be sensibly touch'd with the Profanation of them To affect us herewith let us consider 1. The great Dishonour hereby done to our God in the World They that reflect upon his Truths and Ways his Word and Ordinances reflect upon him He that toucheth these toucheth the apple of his eye If therefore we have any love to God or concern for his Honour and have cordially espous'd the Interests of his Kingdom what is an Affront to him will surely be a Grief to us It cannot but be a very melancholly Thought to every sensible Soul That the God that made the World is made so light of in the World That he who doth so much Good to the Children of Men hath so little Honour from them nay and hath so much Dishonour done him by them every day and his Name continually blasphemed
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
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