true for there can be no History shewn in which are to be found I will not say more but as many Arguments Testimonies and Marks of Truth which that it may appear there are two things in all to be proved by us 1. That sometimes there was in the world such an one as Christ Jesus who is said to be the Authour of this Religion 2. That this Jesus was a Divine Person and the true Messiah or Saviour of the world sent by God to institute this Religion When both these are proved there will remain no doubt not onely of Christian Religion that it is most true and to be received by all but also of God that he is and that he takes care of Mankind XV. The former can be proved without much ado yea it scarce needs proof For who can doubt that Christ was upon the earth when he seeth the Religion which has its name from him to be extant even at this very day for this is all one as if one should doubt whether Mahomet the Author of the Mahometan Religion which he knows to be extant was ever in being or when he hears Aristotle's Doctrine taught in the Schools whether Aristotle ever was or when he reads the Histories of what was done by the Romans Greeks and Macedonians should doubt whether there ever was either those Nations or the Writers of those things But if any be either so stupid or ignorant of those things that are done in the world he shall be convinced by the Testimony of the whole world For 1. Thousands of Christians are witnesses which we have shewed above to have filled almost all the corners of the Earth 2. The very bitterest enemies of Christian Religion are witnesses For both the Mahometans and all the Jews do testifie it among those in the Alcoran among these in the Thalmudick Books many things are read concerning Christ Lastly the most famous Writers of the Heathens have made mention of him among others Tacitus Suetonius Pliny junior Aelias Pampridius Aelias Spartianus Flavius Vepiscus Eutropius Ammianus Marcellinus the words of some of whom shall be produced afterward From the same doth appear both the place and time when and where he lived by whom he was put to death to wit in the Reign of Tiberius and by the Governour Pontius Pilate also that he rose up in Judea for Tacitus calls Judea the source of this evil meaning Christian Religion some of the ancient Christians in their time that is well nigh two Ages after the Birth of Christ testifie That the Acts of Pilate were extant and kept in the Roman Archives in which all things done in Judea by and with Christ were written to Tiberius the Emperour the Romane Senate by Pilate then President there And that these do not testifie this falsly appears from hence That writing Apologies for the Christistians to the Roman Caesars they so confidently appealed to those Acts and publick Records These are the words of Tertullian in his Apologetick Tiberius therefore in whose time the Chrian Name came into the world after he understood out of Syria Palestine that which there had manifested the Truth of his Christ Divinity proposed it to the Senate with the Prerogative of his Suffrage the Senate because they did not approve rejected it Caesar persisted in his opinion threatning danger to the Accusers of Christians Consult your Commentaries there ye shall find that Nero did first rage with the Imperial sword against this Sect then chiefly springing up at Rome It is most remarkable that in the same Apologetick he cites out of the same Acts of Pilate a Testimony concerning the darkness that miraculously happened about the Passion of Christ at Mid-day In the same moment saith he the Day was darkned even when the Sun was at the highest verily they also that knew not it had relation to Christ thought it was an Eclipse and yet ye have this disaster of the world recorded in your Archives Justin Martyr also in his Apology to Antoninus Plus writeth in these words That these things were so done ye may know out of the Acts that were written under Pilate And again And who hath done these things ye may know out of those Records that were written under Pilate With what face I pray could they so grosly lye before the Emperors How easily might they be detected and convicted of falshood How dear would this lye have cost them if either there were no such Acts or that those things they affirmed of Christ were not extant in them The same Authors that they might shew that Christ was born in the time of the general Tax under Augustus as it is set down in the Gospel according to Luke appealed to the Tax-rolls and referred the Gentiles to them in which the description of that Tax was as yet in that time extant and there was read the Name of Jesus born of Mary in Bethlehem For thus saith Tertullian lib. 6. against Marcion Lastly concerning the Tax or Enrolling of Augustus which the Roman Archives keep as a most faithfull witness of our Lords Nativity And afterward But it is also manifest that the Tax or Enrolling under Augustus was made at this time in Judea by Sentius Saturninus in which they might find out his Parentage And in the Book against the Jews For he was of the Countrey of Bethlehem and of the House of David as by the Romans Mary of whom is born Christ was reckoned in the Tax-rell Chrysostome later then Tertullian affirms That as yet in his time those Rolls and the Name of Jesus in them were extant There were also many of the Heathens who wrote against Christian Religion such were Celsus Porphyrius Julian but they by reason of the clear evidence of the thing did never deny but that there was such an one as Christ But in a matter most evident what needs much proof especially seeing that from the later particular which we have undertaken to prove the former also will be manifest and necessarily follow therefore omitting this we will now proceed with Gods assistance to the proof of that XVI As to the later then namely that Jesus was a Divine Person and sent from God that will without doubt be sufficiently proved when we shall have proved that this Jesus was famous for stupendious miracles led a most holy life and underwent most direfull torments and an ignominious death upon the Cross for the cause of his Religion and afterward the third day was raised by God from the dead and taken up into Heaven and from thence he shed forth upon the Disciples plentifully of the holy Spirit and sent them to teach all Nations his Doctrine XVII Now this is proved by three reasons The first is That there are undoubted witnesses of this matter and such whose Testimony cannot but be true but those witnesses are 1. As to his death and miracles the very mortal enemies of Christian Religion whose Testimony surely in this case is free from all
Brevis Demonstratio THE TRUTH AND EXCELLENCY OF Christian Religion DEMONSTRATED AGAINST Jews Mahometans and Heathens PUBLISH'D At the desire of some Learned men and for the satisfaction of all Rational Persons in ENGLAND LONDON Printed for William Crooke at the Three Bibles on Fleet-Bridge M.DC.LXV THE Advertisement THis small Tract is extant in Latin under the Title of Brevis Demonstratio Religionis Christianae veritatis and subjoyn'd to Brenius his Notes on the Old and New Testaments The Author's Name is not there so much as intimated neither has it yet in any degree of certainty arrived at these parts The Translation of it was at first undertaken with a single aim at the Advantage of English-Readers and is now set out not without the Encouragement and Recommendation of such as may be judged to understand well the concerns of Christian Religion and the necessities of the Professors of it Whether or no this Concise Piece consider'd in its strength of Arguments Perspicuity of Stile Evidence of Reason Exactness of Method and Comprehensiveness of Matter does in a little compass plead its own Cause and implead opposite pretences more effectually and to better purposes than some of the same complexion with it-self have done is freely left to the Censure and dijudication of those that have read them and shall charge their judgements to a concurrence in the perusal of this To make this Translation correspondent in every point with the Original the subsequent Passages and words ought to be inserted according to these References Page 3. line 28. * in external and superstitious rites neither P. 7. l. 32. * and did scarcely contain the first lineaments of perfect virtue so that even in heathen Philosophers are found more perfect Precepts concerning some virtues ' specially those that belong to the contempt of worldly things Temperance and Patience than in Moses whence also we read that some holy men of that Religion led lives more excellent than those Precepts Moses pray's for his Enemies Exod. xxxii Numb xi and else-where often which yet was not commanded in his law David also is an Example of greater Meekness than was prescribed in the law ii Sam. xvi and xvii Pag. 15. l. 21. Divine man Pag. 18. l. 26. Divine man The unfaithfulness and confidence of the Printer have occasioned these ERRATA PAge 2. line 18. read Comparatively l. ult Alcoran p. 3. l 22. a blessed l. 23. an heavenly p. 4. l. 22. accommodated l. 30 of so great p. 5. l. 20. for But r. Now. l. 25. f. seriously r. servilely p. 6. l. 18. f. induced r. embraced p. 7. l. 12. Abyssines l. 13. Spain p. 8. l. 14. f. as r. or l. 22. 2. p. 9. l. 9 dele f. l. 14. 3. p. 10. l. 13. Babylonish p. 11. l. 10. intrinsecal l. 20. f. moderate r. modern p. 12. l. 25. Alcoran p. 14. l. 5. accommodate l. 18. calme l. 21. and taste l. ult XIV p. 15. l. 16. a Truth r. as can be seen in this Which p. 16. l. 4. f. was r. were p. 17. l. 5. Syria-Palestine l. 19. Archives p. 18. l. 18. r. never at all deny p. 19. l. 10. Oral l. 12. Alcoran p. 20. l. 21. an holy p. 22. l. 9. writings l. 21. f. Religion r. Believing p. 25. l. 23. apparelled l. 28. makes p. 27. l. 6. nothing else l. 24. worship p. 28. l. 28. Precepts deliver'd by the most excellent Philosophers with the Precepts contained p. 30. l. 1. f. six r. four l. 20. f. and r. or l. 27. f. had r. hath p. 31. l. 13. dele the. l. 21. Religion l. 23. Morney l. 25. Savanarola Brevis Demonstratio Or a brief DEMONSTRATION OF THE TRUTH OF Christian Religion I. FOr the demonstration of the fundamentals of Christian Religion it is necessary to inquire which is that Religion reveal'd by God wherein the most perfect way of worshipping God is contain'd Here now all the Religions that are or ever have been in the world are to be taken and examined by the Rule of right reason and out of them all that is to be acknowledged genuine and truly divine which prescribes that manner of serving God which is most perfect and most agreeable to the Principles of sound Reason But least any should think it too hard a task to examine all the sorts of Religions in the world or be affrighted with the vast difficulty of Inquiry among so many differences of Opinions concerning God and his Worship we will abridge this toil For the so diverse kinds of Religion may be reduc'd to four Heads or Ranks For whatever Religion either was or is is either Heathenish or Jewish or Christian or Mahometan Now then out of all these we will demonstrate that the Christian Religion is the truest and that by two Arguments II. The first is taken from the highest perfection of this Religion which argues most strongly that it was not devised by the wit of man but that it proceeded from God out of Heaven For either all Religion is to be rejected and God and his Providence wholly to be denied which we shall prove cannot be done without folly yea madness or it must needs be that this Religion which is so perfect in all respects that nothing is wanting to it which is required to the best way of worshipping God is true and divinely deliver'd and reveal'd For whether you consider it comparitively or absolutely you shall find it to be most perfect For it not onely very far excells in perfection all the Religions which any where are or have been in the world but also it is impossible that another more perfect according to right reason could be imagin'd or invented III. Both which that they may appear as well its Nature as Adjuncts or some of its most divine Effects are briefly to be look'd into But we ought not to judge of its nature from elsewhere then from those Books which are confess'd by all the Professors of this Religion although differing among themselves to contain Christian Religion For as a Judgement ought to to be made of the Religion of the Gentiles out of the Books of the Heathen of the Mahometan out of the Books of the Alcaron of the Jewish Religion out of the Books of Moses so it is fit to judge of Christian Religion out of those Books which all Christians believe and confess to have been written by the first Authors of this Religion Which Books shall thereby be prov'd to be of divine and undeniable Authority when it is prov'd that in them is contain'd a description of a most perfect and most divine Religion IV. The nature of Christian Religion is to be considered either in respect of Parts or in respect of Qualities its parts are promises and precepts What can be more sublime and perfect then the promises of Christian Religion In this life a few things truly belonging to the body and necessary for sustenance are promised that the Christian Religion might be by so
intrinsical honesty but such as are of a middle and indifferent nature and depend upon the meer will of the Commander such are all Ceremonial Laws but his Creatures cannot do so X. Hitherto we have shew'd out of the Mosaical and and Prophetick Books how imperfect the Jewish Religion is But you will acknowledge the same to be more imperfect and confess it to be no wayes agreeable to reason if you look into the Talmudick Books which are stuffed with vain Tradition and old Wives Fables and upon the various superstitions of the moderate Jews You shall find their God weeping for ruin'd Jerusalem and reading daily in the Law besides other most absurd things concerning Behemoth and Leviathan XI If the Jewish Religion which had God for its Author gives place to the Christian much more the Mahometan and Heathenish The Mahometan indeed is later then the Christian and it cannot deny that Christ the Author of it was a divine man Now that the Mahometan Religion is false appears chiefly from these reasons 1. Because it is contrary to the Christian Religion which we have shew'd to be true and given by God and hath taken away very many of its Laws for whatsoever is contrary to Truth is false 2. Because instead of Christs precepts it hath substituted baser Laws and it is far more imperfect then the Christian as well in its promises as precepts For it promises nothing but carnal things and hath recalled Circumcision which together with other Ceremonies had been abrogated by Christ But it is no wayes credible that God after so perfect a Religion as the Christian is would propose to the World a more imperfect one seeing it doth not become the most wise God to descend from high to low things but rather go on from imperfection to perfection 3. Because it has been established and propagated by Armes and carnal force and is even still preserved by the same 4. Because in matters of Faith it forbids inquiry after Truth and takes away all yea a modest liberty of disputing and also keeps the people from reading the Books which it accounts sacred whereby it makes it self forthwith suspected as if it were not good wares which is forbid to be view'd and searched 5. Because Mahomet the Author of it was a most profane man for he was a long time a Ravisher and alwayes given to Women Hence it is that in his Alcaron many obscene and foul things are read But that God by an unclean man would institute any holy Religion is by no means agreeable to reason XII The Heathen Religion remains which truly doth not deserve to be brought into comparison with the Christian so manifest is its falsity and turpitude even from these reasons 1. Because it had no promises nor precepts from God of which two things true Religion doth consist 2. Because it believed not one most High God but divided the Government of the World amongst many gods not subordinate one to another 3. Because it affirmed concerning its gods things most filthy and abhorrent from all honesty describing their Lusts Quarrels Thefts and I know not what wickednesses 4. Because it was not ashamed to worship things inanimate and Brutes far inferiour in dignity to men 5. Because it was burthened with Rites that were partly ridiculous and foolish partly obscene and impure partly horrid and cruel All which things every one doth easily perceive are contrary to sound reason But in Christian Religion you shall find no such thing which also by its coming in wholly blotted out and entinguished that Heathenish Religion as we have before hinted If any one would shew us beside this old one some other Paganish Religion in the World at this day its falsity also would forthwith appear if it were compared with the Christian For rectum est index sui obliqui Truth shews both it self and falshood XIII Thus we have demonstrated that Christian Religion considered both absolutely and in it self and also compared with all other Religions is most perfect Now if you demand how it came to pass that God did not presently in the first Ages of the World institute it among men there are more then one reason at hand 1. Because men were at the beginning not capable of so great perfection For mankind had after a sort its Infancy Childhood and Youth which needed as it were the first Elements of Religion that so it might by little and little be prepar'd for higher things and brought to perfection Neither in Arts did men forthwith come or were as it were at one leap brought to the highest perfection but humane industry did from rude beginnings as it were by steps ascend and aspire to it It became therefore a prudent Law-giver to accomodate himself to the capacity of those that were to be instructed and not so much to consider his own wisdome as the dulness of those that were to be taught So are Parents and Masters wont to proceed prudently in the instructing of their Children and Scholars Therefore it became also the most wise God in delivering precepts of Religion to proceed by little and little from the more imperfect ones to those that were more perfect 2. Because by this deferring of the perfect Religion unto more adult times God would excite in the minds of men a greater alacrity to entertain it For long fasting is the best Sauce for meat most sweet in it self and after long Storms and Tempests the smiling Calms is more gratefull God would therefore that men should first be throughly sensible of their most miserable condition without hope of immortality taste all the evils of mortality that afterward when the promise of eternal felicity had shined forth from Heaven all men every where might by so much the more eagerly flie together to so joyfull a message and should embrace it with both their Arms. Neither indeed do Mortals now behave themselves becoming enough so great a good What think you would have been done if presently from the beginning of the World the way to Heaven had lain open to mankind and so men might think that the right of the heavenly Inheritance was as it were a thing natural to them and offer'd as their due The Truth of the Christian Religion being demonstrated from its great perfection we shall now bring another Argument which even alone would be sufficient to prove the matter in hand yea which most evidently demonstrates not onely the Truth of Christian Religion but also both the Existence and Providence of God against impious Atheists So that all that hath hitherto been spoken may hence take very much strength and weight And it is drawn from History and Chronology for either no History is true and credit is to be denied to all things done whether written or spoken and the same are to be accounted meer Fables and Fictions or if this be absurd all must confess that that which is delivered in Historical Monuments touching Christian Religion revealed by God is
to be repeated and the Sacrifices are every where sold for which lately there was rarely found any buyers Hence it appears from whence so great a hatred of Heathens against Christians sprang to wit because they saw that utter destruction and ruine was seizing on their Idols and Paganish Worships by means of Christian Religion But Pliny was greatly frustrated in this that he hoped that Christian Religion could be stopped and extinguished by those punishments For how vain all endeavours of Tyrants and Enemies were in suppressing the Gospel and hindring its course experience it self is witness XX. Seeing therefore the Christians endured so many and so great things seeing they had so many obstacles and yet firmly adhered to Christ what other cause could there be thereof then the great and invincible power of Truth which the Apostles confirmed both by the example of their unblameable piety and cruel death and chiefly by miracles never before heard or seen But if any one shall obstinately deny that miracles accompanied the Church of Christ in its beginning he considers not that he asserts a far greater miracle then ever was to wit that so great a multitude of men and almost the whole world should be converted without miracles But there is no doubt but these Primitive Christians were diligent and industrious enough in examining those miracles and searching out the Truth of Christian Religion seeing therein not onely their eternal salvation but also their present life and all their fortunes were concerned Very wittily and truly saith Pliny Singuli decipere decipi possunt nemo omnes neminem omnes fefellerunt Every one may deceive and be deceived no man hath deceived all men nor have all men deceived any This Argument therefore is of so great moment that no man in his wits can gain-say it XXI The third way of proving the Divinity of Christ is taken hence That the History of the Resurrection and Glorification of Christ is contained in the sacred Books of the New Testament But that those Books are of Divine Authority is proved 1. Because they contain the most perfect way of worshipping God and living piously such as neither men nor Devil could devise not men as it appears from comparing the Precepts contained in this Book not the Devil because he being an enemy of all vertue cannot be the Author of so holy a Doctrine 2. Because there are extant in them many Predictions concerning things future which we see afterward really fulfilled and proved true by the event 1. Concerning the destruction of the City Jerusalem and the subversion of the Temple Mat. 24. Luke 19.43 44. 2. Concerning the Conversion of the Gentiles to Christ Mat. 21.23 c. Mat. 8.11 3. Concerning the great and sudden propagation of Christian Religion Mat. 13.31 32 33. John 12.32 4. Concerning its perpetual Duration Luke 1.33 Mat. 28.20 John 14.16 5. Concerning the most grievous persecutions of Christians Mat. 10.17 21 34. That I say nothing now of the Prediction of Christ concerning his own sufferings and Death as also his Resurrection after three dayes Mat. 16.21 Luke 18.31 32 33. which unless the event had confirmed his Disciples would at no hand have believed in him For by this so evidently false Prediction he had betrayed himself to be an Impostor and Lyar. 3. Because they were written by the Apostles or by the familiar Companions of the Apostles whom we have shewed a little before to have been Divine Men and such as neither could nor would lye XXII This one thing therefore remains now to be proved to wit that the Books of the New Covenant were written by the Apostles and those whose Names they bear But to prove that we need no other Argument then the Testimony and consent of the ancient Christians which were nearer the times of the Apostles All these whose writings we have acknowledge these Books for the genuine writings of the Apostles and Evangelists And it is certain they used the utmost diligence in searching out the Truth of this matter See the Epistles of Ignatius who flourished soon after the destruction of Jerusalem See Justin Martyr who lived about the hundred and fiftieth year of Christ Irenaeus about the two hundred and thirty Clemens Alexandrinus about the year two hundred and six Tertullian about the year two hundred and eight who also mentions That even the authentick writings of the Apostles were yet extant in some Churches in his time lib. de Praescrip cont Haeret. See Origen about the year two hundred and thirty Eusebius the Ecclesiastick Historian about the year three hundred who from the best Antiquities extracted especially the Truth of these Books differencing the genuine Apostolick writings from the spurious and counterfeit and again of the true and Canonical Books shewing which without any Controversie were alwayes in all Churches accounted for genuine and of which there was in the beginning some doubt but so as afterward the matter being better tried the doubt ceased Adde to this the great multitude of Ecclesiastical Doctors after the time of Constantine the Great and among them chiefly Jerome an exact Searcher of this matter But neither have the Jews in times past nor Pagans ever raised a Controversie with the Christians touching these Books as to say they were feigned by the Christians and falsly attributed to the Apostles nay farther Cyril testifies in the tenth Book he wrote against Julian That that Heathen Emperour and Apostate a most bitter Persecutor of Christians doth openly confess it That the writings of Matthew Mark Luke Peter Paul are the same that Christians read under those names We see then that this so unanimous and uniform consent concerning these Books had continued without interruption to this day that is for more then sixteen hundred years Behold into how various Sects Christians have for a long time been and are now divided how dispersed and different in Regions Tongues Wits Opinions and notwithstanding their so much disagreeing in many chief Points of Doctrine they all agree in this That they constantly and unanimously believe these writings to be Apostolical and of divine Authority why we should depart from so ancient and perpetual a consent there is no reason But without reason to doubt of or contradict a thing universally received is foolish By what other reason I pray doth it appear at this day that the works of Livie Tacitus Curtius Virgil are those which are ascribed to them but by the consent of all the Learned of which there is no cause to doubt and if any one doubt he may deservedly be counted a fool Neither yet was it ever enquired into the Books of those Authors with so great industry as into the Truth of the New Testament because that in the Books of the profane Authors men are little concerned but in this Book they believe their eternal felicity is placed Wherefore also it is to be reckoned that we have sufficiently proved the Authority of the Sacred Scriptures since we have proved they cannot be doubted of without folly If any desire more concerning this Subject let him read S. de Authoritate S. Scripturae Hugo Grotius of the Truth of Christian Religion Episcopius Institut Theolog. de Messia de libris Novi Testamenti But he that is not satisfied with these let him read Philip More of the Truth of Christian Religion Raimundus Sebundus Ludovicus Vives Savaenarola and many others who have more then sufficiently polished this Subject as well with Philosophical subtilty as great Learning and Eloquence FINIS Books newly printed for and are to be sold by William Crooke at the three Bibles on Fleet-Bridge 1665. CAlliopes Cabinet opened wherein Gentlemen may be informed how to adorn themselves for Funerals Feasting and other Heroick Meetings Also here Gentlemen may know their place and worth in Honour with all the Degrees of Honour c. By James Salter 1665. Sixty nine Aenigmatical Courtiers all exactly drawn to the life from several Persons Humours and Dispositions pleasant and full of delight By R. F. Esq The Compleat Vineyard or the best way for planting of Vines in England wherein are set forth the whole Circumstances necessary for planting a Vineyard By William Hughes 1665. Sir Thomas Herbert's Travels with many Additions newly Printed again 1665. Hugonis Grotii baptizatorum Puerorum Institutio alternis Interrogationibus Responsionibus Cui accesserunt Graeca ejusdem Metaphrasis A Christop Wase Reg. Col. Cant. Et Anglicana Versio a Fran. Goldsmith Armig. c. Item Catalogus omnium Operum Hugonis Grotii ad calcem adjectus est 1665. The Royal Stem being an Account of all the most considerable Passages by Land and Sea since William the Conquerour to this very Time with a Picture of King Charls the Second all in a Broad Sheet fit for Studies or Closets Now at the Press Solamen Aegrorum sive Ternarias Medicamentorum Chymicorum ad omnes ferimorbos curandum maxime deplorato grandes felicissime inventa Remedia Authore Everardo Maynwaringo Phil. Med. Doctore 80.
much the more perfect But in the mean time there is promised that which exceeds all earthly Goods even the highest and paternal favour of God offering pardon to them that repent of all their past sins and that they might not sin for time to come the gift of the Holy Spirit a necessary help to the performance of the duties of Piety and also a peculiar Guard of Angels But after Death there is promised a return to Life blessed Immortality a heavenly Kingdome in conjunction with a most pleasant Aspect of the supreme Deity and the fellowship of blessed Spirits The Precepts also are sutable to so sublime Promises There is nothing wanting in them to the highest sanctity forasmuch as Christian Piety consists not * in bodily washing but in true renovation of mind in subduing of the flesh and affections in an unconquerable patience under evils in a constant meekness in a perfect abstinence from hurting others in a chearfull readiness to help them in a continual celebration of the Name of God and studious exercise of fervent Prayer in a diligent regulating of all actions words and thoughts in a full faith and trust in God in a most ardent desire of celestial Immortality and serious meditation of divine things in a true contempt of the World its Riches Honours and Pleasures and if there be any thing else which Reason dictates to be joyned with Vertue V. Neither may any man say that the precepts of Vertue would have been more perfect if we had been injoyned perpetual abstinence from Marriage as also from Meat and Drink or if there had been no remission of sins no reward proposed to them that do well that so men might be drawn by the love of Vertue alone not hope of reward For who sees not that such things can have no place in men as are above their strength and nature It is therefore great imprudence to require of them so great perfection In which matter the Heathen Philososophers extreamly doted who dream'd of I know not what empty Notions of Vertue as if conversing in Plato's Commonwealth they had had a purpose to form the life of celestial Persons not the manners of mortal and frail men The perfection of precepts is to be accomodated to the model of the strength and nature of those to whom they are prescribed So sound Reason so Prudence injoynes For who would praise him that should impose on a Child of three years old a Burden that can scarce be born by a strong man of full age In this very thing therefore the high perfection and wisdome of Christian Religion is manifest that it delivers most divine precepts and prescribes a Doctrine of great piety as greater cannot agree to mortal men yet nevertheless it doth not onely not exceed humane strength but also is not hard to be performed as we shall shew by and by VI. We shall now speak of the qualities of Christian Religion which appertain to the perfection of its nature they are these 1. That it is universal not peculiar to one Nation only but common to all men of all Kindreds Nations Ages Conditions and Sexes 2. That it is spiritual both in its precepts and promises in those requiring internal purity of mind not external cleansing of the body and in these propounding not carnal but spiritual benefits 3. That it is easie because it invites men to piety by a most ample and inestimable reward for the greatness of the reward lessens and takes away all the difficulty of the labour Again because it many wayes assists humane imbecillity in the course of vertue by the holy Spirit inasmuch as thereby mens minds are confirmed in the Truth cleared in doubts encouraged in dangers and filled with a sure hope of eternal Life Thirdly because it prescribes nothing but what is exactly consonant to reason but those things are more easily done the equity whereof the Understanding sees and the reason of which we perceive then those things which why they are to be done we know not That is the part of ingenuous men or as I may so say of Sons who are not ignorant of what the Father doth This of Servants who are seriously treated and to whom is given no reason of designes but are led by the meer Authority of the Commander That makes that what is commanded be done willingly and cheerfully this unwillingly and by constraint VII Let us now come to the Adjuncts or Effects of Christian Religion and they are discerned in the altogether divine and wonderfull propagation of it in which these things following are to be noted 1. That many thousands of men of all sorts forsaking their Countrey-Religion to which they were accustomed from their youth embraced it in great numbers 2. That very suddenly that is in the space of thirty years or thereabouts as appears by Histories it spread it self far and near not onely in Judea and all Asia yea through the whole Roman Empire but beyond it also it sounded in the ears of Parthians and Indians 3. That it extirpated Paganisme so that the Religion of Christ increasing that came to nothing neither is there any memory of it now extant save in Books onely 4. That being not supported by Armes and worldly power it encreased so much and for near three hundred years before the Emperour Constantine induced it it was promoted by the means onely of private men 5. That by mean contemptible simple men and Idiots it was first delivered and divulged 6. That all the wise and mighty of this world were against it yet notwithstanding neither by the craft of the Jewes nor power of the Romane Caesars whereof ten are reckoned chief Persecutors of this Religion nor yet of other Heathens could it be suppressed 7. That innumerable companies of its Professors by no though never so cruel pains and torments no not by any the most ignominious death suffered themselves to be affrighted from it 8. That it has nothing in it gratefull to the flesh it looseth not the reins to licentiousness it opens not the way to pleasures nor honours it allures not men by the commodities of this life but rather deprives them of them least any should think that the so prosperous success of its propagation were to be ascribed to a Doctrine flattering and pleasing the lusts of men 9. That it hath continued now a thousand six hundred sixty years and upward without any interruption 10. That at this day it is so largely spread that it has filled almost the whole world for it possesseth not onely all Europe but also Macedonia Thracia and the Isles of the Aegean Sea are filled with it and both under the Turk and Tartar live Christians innumerable in Affrica also in the Kingdome of the Abissines Congo and Dangali also in Peruvia and New Spain in Goa and the Islands unto which the Dutch and Spaniards have Commerce touching which Geographers may be consulted Lastly They are not wanting in America as testifieth Acosta
and others that have written of the American Affairs Certainly all these things are an Argument that God takes care of this Religion and that by his providence it was upheld and propagated VIII These things being considered it is easie to perceive that other Religions are not to be compar'd with this For as to the Jewish Christian Religion indeed gives testimony to it that it also had God for its Authour but 1 its great imperfection shews it was given but for a time onely for whether you consider the promises they according to the letter did contain onely temporal and worldly things in which surely the chiefest Good could not consist and no man can deny but God might give better then they or whether you consider the precepts they for the most part were in prescribing Ceremonies * or whether you consider the latitude and extent it was restrained to one Nation onely neither did God take course that it should be preached to other Nations yea its nature was such that it could not concern other Nations which appears even from the sacrifices which ought not to be offered but in Palestine and by the Tribe of Levi whence it is that even at this day the Jewes being banished from their Native Countrey abstain from sacrificing So neither could the Laws concerning First-fruits Tithes and Festival Assemblies Exod 34.26 Deut. 26.23 also 12.5 6.16.16 be observed by all Nations Either therefore other Nations ought never to worship God and consequently God had in vain given to the greatest part of men the use of reason and will which are the instruments of Religion which to say is absurd as of necessity another Religion was to be delivered by God which should concern all the men in the world For although it was so for a time that the other Nations besides the Jewes were destitute of Divine Revelation and that by the certain counsel of God namely because of the voluntary defection of those Nations from God to idolatry and impiety yet it is absurd to hold that they were so rejected of God for ever 2. That it was to be abrogated the prophesies which are extant in their prophetick Books do shew among which that place in Jeremy 31.31 is eminent where God promises to make a New Covenant with his people different from that of Moses Also Dan. 9.24 where the Coming of the Messiah the desolation of the City Jerusalem the destruction of the Temple and the abolition of Sacrifices is foretold It was granted to Aaron's posterity alone to offer Sacrifice and that in the Countrey of their Fathers but in Psal 110. there is promifed a Priest not according to the order of Aaron but according to the order of Melchisedeck that is such an one as should have neither Predecessour nor Successour in the Priesthood It is foretold in Isaiah 19.19 Chron. 66.18 to the end Mal. 1.11 that the Gentiles also should be worshippers of God and offer Sacrifices to him and be his Priests The Jewes in the Law were commanded to keep Festivals but now Isa 1.11 and so forward God saith That he disdained as their Sacrifices so also their appointed Times and Feast-dayes and that he was weary to bear them and Isa 66.23 it is foretold That if it should come to pass that the Worship of God should be perpetual and not performed on certain dayes onely but every day to wit from Sabbath to Sabbath and from New Moon to New Moon 3. That the Jewish Religion is indeed abrogated and that those prophesies are fulfilled the thing it self shews For that place in which God had fixed the Seat of his publick Worship is taken away and quite overthrown together with the Temple its Ornaments and Sacred Vessels so that the Temple could never be restored although Julian attempted it as Ammianus Marcellinus a Heathen Writer testifieth lib. 23. But he saith that he was hindered by fearfull balls of fire which did spring out of the foundations and consumed men The Priesthoods and Rites of Sacrifices instituted by God belonging to Divine Worship and the distinction of Tribes was taken away so that a great part of the Mosaical Laws lie now neglected by the Jews and can by no means be kept The very people of the Jews so much heretofore beloved of God for their Ancestours now for more then a thousand six hundred years dispersed and banished out of their Countrey are become the laughing-stock the dregs and talk of all other people Nations which is against the promises of the Covenant in which earthly happiness was proposed to the Jews Deut. 28. God indeed threatneth them even with banishment and all kinds of adversity if they should transgress but to them that should from their hearts repent and return to obedience he promiseth that he will shew mercy to them and bring them back from the utmost corners of the world to their Countrey again Deut. 30. Nehem. 1.8 9. But Isa 54.7 c. God saith that he will be angry with his people but a little while but now after so great an interval of time there is as yet no hope of a better condition and return into their Countrey from that time there has not been any Prophet among them there is none sent by God to comfort them which yet was done heretofore in the Babilonish Captivity which though it was most heavy yet it lasted onely seventy years IX Neither ought it to move any one that it was promised that that Old Covenant should be perpetual and everlasting For the word everlasting or perpetual is not alwayes taken for an infinite duration but for a very long time which is usual as well in common speech as in Holy Writ So it is said that the Land of Canaan should be an everlasting possession to the seed of Abraham Gen. 17.8 out of which nevertheless they were ejected in like manner that the sacrifice should be perpetual Lev. 6.20 which notwithstanding is now ceased among the Jews It is said Exod. 21.6 that the Servant should serve his Master for ever The divine Prophet David saith that he would praise God for ever that is all the dayes of his life Psal 52.9 It is said that Samuel should abide in the Temple for ever 1 Sam. 1.22 The hills also are said to be everlasting Gen. 49.26 The earth to abide for ever Eccles 1.4 By that manner of speech therefore are distinguished the Laws that were to endure as long as the Jewish Religion should last from those which were constituted for a certain time such were some of those that were prescribed to the Jews in the Wilderness Exod. 35.26 27. Neither is it to be thought that God did so bind himself by those words that he should not change any thing as to intimate that he would not have any thing changed by men For God made Laws not to himself but to men He has alwayes power of abrogating Laws that have been once made especially those that are not founded in
suspicion of fraud And they are first the Jews from whose both or all Confession and Talmudick Writings every one may know it Secondly The Mahometans in the Alcaron Thirdly the Heathens of whom are Celsus and Julian who although they detracted much from Christ in the Writings which they set out against Christians yet they did not deny his cruel death and miracles which appears from their resutation by Origen and Cyril 2. The witnesses of all those things which we have related concerning Christ were his Disciples who lived in that Age and especially his twelve Apostles to whom was added also a thirteenth who of a most fierce enemy became a Disciple of Christ being called from Heaven to give witness to him Neither matters it that his Disciples onely bear witness of his Resurrection and Exaltation for such things as these no one but his Disciples could witness For who could see Christ raised again and reigning in Heaven and not become his Disciple It sufficeth that the Testimony of those Disciples is beyond all exception XVIII But that their Testimony was such is proved 1. Because they confirmed their Testimony by most Divine Miracles in healing Diseases incurable by humane Art in raising the Dead and casting out Devils but that they did these things will by and by appear 2. Because it is certain that those witnesses could neither be deceived nor would deceive That they could not be deceived is manifest 1. Because they were not onely Ear but Eye-witnesses 2. Because they witnessed a thing not once onely seen but approved by frequent and often repeated Experiments for forty dayes together and not looked upon with the eyes onely but handled also with the hands 3. Because there was not onely one witness but besides five hundred together that at one and the same time saw Christ after he was risen and unto whom Paul appealeth 1 Cor. 15.6 which lyars are not wont to do there were thirteen chief witnesses in a special manner chosen and appointed to testifie this very thing So many persons could not possibly be deceived in things exposed to their senses It remains to be proved that they would not deceive which is hence manifest 1. Because they were honest men and of holy and unblameable life so that they were never accused much less convicted of any real crime no not by their most malicious enemies among whom they conversed 2. Because this Profession cost them the greatest sufferings and perils neither did they gain by this way either riches or honour or glory but on the contrary incurred the bitterest hatred of the whole world and drew upon themselves an Heap and Pile of most grievous Afflictions which by a bare deniall of this thing they might have avoided Well saith Ovid Cum sint praemia falsi Nulla ratam debet testis habere fidem When falshood reward has none That witness is a faithfull one How much more ought the credit of that witness to be held Authentick when the Testimony has not onely no reward but moreover draws along with it perils scourgings banishments contumelies imprisonments and all manner of most terrible deaths If they had been such perverse men as that they would lye on set purpose certainly they would not have feigned with so great damage to themselves a thing so odious and hatefull and would rather curry favour with the Nobles and People of the Jews whom they knew to hate Christ with a perfect hatred then by a false and so odious an affirmation to have provoked and stirred up their minds against them for this is the manner of Impostors and those that love lying to contrive nothing sooner then that which they think will be most gratefull to their Hearers and as Fishers are wont to bait their hooks with such things as they know the fishes like so these also that they may insinuate into the minds of men love to tell those things which they know will please them and accommodate their words to tickle their ears But these despising pleasures and contemning both the hatred and kindness of men underwent both an infamous life and death for the profession of this thing what place is here for suspicion of any the least untruth Neither may you think that this Argument is infringed by the example of those who even for the sake of a false Religion and Doctrine bear oftentimes cruel torments yea and stick not to spend their lives on it For it is one thing to die for a false Doctrine which thou believest to be true another thing to die for a salfe Doctrine which thou knowest to be false and feigned by thy self Of the first there are very many examples but of the later it is impossible that among men in their wits and not extreamly mad there should be any example at all But the most divine Writing of the Apostles and full of profond Wisdome which we have in our hands do more then enough vindicate them from the imputation of foolishness and madness XIX A second reason whereby the resurrection of Christ and his Divinity is proved is this namely That so many thousands of men in all Nations believed on him not onely of the common sort but also of the Learned Wise men and Philosophers And they so believed that they suffered not themselves to be deterr'd from this Faith by any Persecutions yea or cruel Death And this is so much the more wonderfull in that the obstacles to Religion were almost infinite They were hindred 1 By an inveterate love of the Religions of their Countrey received by long Custome Who knows not how zealous the Jews are and were alwayes in their Religion and no man can doubt the same of the Heathens that knows that Socrates was therefore condemn'd at Athens because he seem'd to introduce a new Religion 2. By the ignominious Death of Christ for how hard think you was it to believe in one that was crucified and to take him for Master and Lord whom the Jews hang'd upon a Cross as a wicked and heinous Offender tortured with all kinds of contumely and cruelty Hence Paul the Apostle not without cause writeth 1 Cor. 1.23 that he preached Christ crucified to the Jews a stumbling-block and to the Greeks foolishness 3. By the harshness of the precepts for the Doctrine of Christ bade open war to all carnal Concupiscences and confined men to a strait path 4. They were hindred by the incredibility of the things promised We declare unto you saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 2.9 things that eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither have come into the mind of man which God hath prepared for them that love him But we do not easily believe things that we see not as one said Our hands are eyed they believe nothing but what they see Great happiness indeed is promised but not till after death In the mean time visible things that are present are to be forgone for the hope of invisible that are future 5. By the means
of the persons by whom the Doctrine of Christ was preached For they were of the common sort of men Unlearned Fishers Publicans Moreover few such as neither splendour of birth had made illustrious nor fortune conspicuous nor multitude formidable nor power venerable nor wit admitable nor favour of Nobles acceptable nor any Art or Eloquence made fit to bend and allure the minds of Mortals And nevertheless Synagogues Schools Academies Cities Towns Kingdomes and Empires yielded to and believed these simple men What Aristotle what Plato what Chrysippus or Epicurus has got so many Disciples and perswaded so many men of their Doctrine although they were most famous for wit and learning How many thousands of thousands have the Apostles those simple and unlearned Fishers drawn unto Christ So that it was truly foretold them by Christ that they should become Fishers of men 6. By the simple and blunt way of teaching The Apostles used not artificial and elaborate speech neither affected and composed to deceive but vulgar and common Our preaching saith Paul 1 Cor. 2.4 was not with perswasive words of mans wisdome but in demonstration of the Spirt and of power They used not force to compel Dissenters not fraud to deceive the unwary not carnal threats to terrifie the obstinate They used onely perswasion and that simple and inartificial But who would believe that the armed World could by perswasion alone be subdued by unarmed weak men indued with no Authority or priviledge 7. By the most grievous sufferings that were to be born or expected daily by all singular the Professors of Christ There was never any sort of men no Sect that was vexed with so many and so great Calamities as of the Christian Religion All the Powers Malice Wits of all degrees Emperours Kings and People had conspired for their destruction Divers kinds of cruelty most exquisite manners of death were invented The innocent Christians were not onely despoiled of all their Goods not onely banished and exposed to the hatred injuries and contumelies of all men but were condemned to wild Beasts to Mines and Quarries Some were Ston'd some were cast into Rivers one was Sawn asunder another was Flea'd alive another was Roasted in the fire the whole Assembly sometimes with their Meeting-house was burnt together to ashes Witnesses of these things are the ancient Histories written not onely by Christian but even by Heathen Authors Tacitus thus describes Nero's cruelty against the Christians Annals 15. Therefore to extinguish the rumour to wit of firing the City by the command of Nero Nero falsly accused and punished most grievously certain people hated for their wickedness which the common sort called Christians The Author of that Name was Christ who in Tyberius his Reign was put to death under Pontius Pilate Procurator of Judea And their dangerous superstition suppressed for the time burst forth again not onely through Judea where it first began but in the City also whither all wicked and shamefull things run from all parts and are solemnized and esteemed First they were apprehended which confessed that Religion then by their detection an infinite multitude were convicted not so much for setting the Town on fire as for the hate of all men against them Such as were condemned were scorned and mocked and covered in wild Beasts skins and torn in pieces with Dogs or fastned on the Cross or burnt in fire and when the day failed they were burnt in the night to give light Nero had made the prospect of his Gardens fit for that spectacle and caused Shews to to be set forth in the Cirque and himself either apparalled like a Waggoner shuffled among the people or ran the race with them Whereupon pity was taken on those persons though guilty and deserving exemplary punishment seeing they suffered not for any publick good but to satisfie one mans cruelty onely Suetonius also in the life of Nero make mention of the sufferings which the Christians endured when he saith The Christians a sort of people addicted to a new and mischievous superstition were punished So doth this Heathen judge of Christian Religion therefore because it was joyned with contumely of the Heathen gods and their worship But that I may not here relate all the Testimonies of the Heathens touching Christians one most clear Testimony of Pliny junior shall serve instead of all He in Epist 97. ad Trajan lib. 10. of Epistles consulting Trajan what was to be done with Christians and how they were to be punished expresseth 1 The torments they suffered and the Christians constancy In the mean time with those that were convented before me as being Christians I followed this method I asked them if they were Christians those that confessed I asked again and again threatning punishment I commanded those that were constant to be had away For I doubted not whatsoever it was they confessed but that pertinacy and inflexible obstinacy ought to be punished As if indeed perseverance in a good cause were pertinacy By and by he writeth that some of them were Roman Citizens afterward by process of time as it useth to be the crime diffused it self So Christian Religion increased by the very sufferings and took growth and strength from the very persecutions Furthermore relating how he had brought some to this that while he led them an example they would call on the gods and supplicate with Wine and Frankincense the Images of Caesar and of the Deities besides would curse Christ he adds Those that are indeed Christians are said to be such as cannot be compelled to any such thing Behold a high commendation of true Christians Secondly he sets out the Religion and Worship of Christians But they affirmed that the sum either of their fault or errour was this That they were wont to meet together on a certain day before day-light to sing among themselves by turns a Song to Christ as to a God and to bind themselves in covenant not to any wickedness but that they would not commit any theft nor robberies nor adulteries that they would not betray their Trust nor being required deny that which was intrusted which being finished it was their manner to depart come together again to take meat but promiscuous harmless At length he saith That having used torments to search out the Truth He found nothing but a wicked excessive superstition But how wicked it was appears from his own relation Thirdly he tells how great a multitude of Christians there was For it seems to me a matter worthy consultation especially because of the number of the endangered for many of every Age of every Degree of both Sexes are and will be brought into danger For the contagion of this Superstition is diffused not onely through Cities but also Towns and Countreys which it seems possible to stop and amend Surely it is manifest enough that the Temples which were now almost desolate begin to be frequented and the solemn worship that was long intermitted