speak unto them by his f Jerem. 30. Ezech. 36. Prophets and comfort them by hope of a return notifying the very g Jer. 25.15 time thereof But now since they have been once cast out of their Country they remain exiled condemned no Prophet comes unto them no signification of any future return Their Masters as possessed with a Spirit of giddiness are fallen to shameful Fables and ridiculous opinions wherewith the Talmud Books are replenisht Which yet they are so bold as to stile the Law and to compare with or prefer before the Writings of Moses As for that which is read there of Gods weeping because he sussered the City to be overthrown of his daily diligence of reading the Law of Behemoth and Leviathan and many other h Quorum multa transcripsit Christianus Gerson in suo ad Judaeos libro things they are so absurd that I am loth to repeat them Howbeit in all this time the Jews have neither departed to the Worship of false Gods as of old not do they pollute themselves with Murders nor are they accused of Adulteries But they labor to appease God both by prayers and by Fastings and are not heard Which things being so one of these two Conclusions will certainly follow either that the Covenant Mosaical is wholly abrogated or that the whole Nation of the Jews is Guilty of some great sin abiding so many Ages Which sin what it is let themselves pronounce or if they cannot let them believe us it is that sin of rejecting the Messias who came unto his people before these calamities began to fall upon them XVII Jesus proved to be the Messias by the Prophecies What we have alledged serves to shew that the Messias so many ages agon is come We are next to prove he is no other but Jesus For whosoever else assumed this litle or had it given them have left no Sect in which that opinion might persevere None do now profess themselves the sectators neither of a Qui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Justino Herod nor of Judas Gaulonites no nor of Barchocheb who took the name of Messias in Adrians time and deceived some men b As Rabbi Akiba lib. Zemach David very learned But the followers of Jesus ever since he was on earth have been and are unto this day very many not in one Region but all the World over I could here bring many other things of old predicted or credited of the Messias which we believe came to pass in Jesus when of others they are not so much as assevered Namely that he was of Davids c Ps 89.4 Esa 4 2. Mat. 1.1 race that he was born of d Esa 7.14 Mat. 1.18 a Virgin the Husband of the Virgin being admonished of it from Heaven e Mat. 1.20 who would not have kept her otherwise with Child that he was born at f Mich. 5 2. Mat. 2.2 Bethlechem that he began his preaching in g Esa 4.1 Mat. 4 12. Galilee that he healed all manner of Diseases h Esa 53.5 Mat. 11.5 Add this that he raised the dead which R. Ben. Gerson puts among the chief make of the Messiah made the blind to see and the lame to walk But I am content with onething the effect whereof endureth to this day It is as clear as the Sun from the Prophecies of i Ps 2.6 David k Esa 2.2 Esay l Zach. 8.20 Zachary m Hos 2.24 Hose that the n Esa 2.18 Messias should be the Master not only of the Jews but of other Nations that he should overturn the worships of false Gods and bring a huge multitude of aliens and strangers to the service of the only true God Before the coming of Jesus almost all the World was overspread with false Religions and after by little and little they began to vanish and not single persons alone but Kings and Nations were converted to the One Gods Worship This is to be ascribed not to the Jewish Rabbins but to the Disciples of Jesus and their Successors So were they made the o Hose 2.24 people of God who before were not and it was fulfilled which had been foretold by Jacob Gen. 49. p Vide pulchrè dicta apud Chrysoft Serm. Christum esse deum That before the civil power should be wholly taken away from the posterity of Judah Shilo whom the Chaldee and other interpreters expound the Messiah should come and to him also other q Vide Esa 11.10 Nations should submit themselves XVIII Objection that some things are not fulfilled answered Here the Jews are wont to oppose that some things are predicted of the Messias times which are not seen fulfilled But the things which they alledge are obscure or of doubtful signification for which we ought not to relinquish those which are manifest Such as are the Holiness of Christs precepts the excellency of reward clearness of the promise Whereunto miracles being added there is nothing wanting that may move us to embrace his Doctrine To the right understanding of Prophecies which are called by the name of a sealed Book a Esa 29.11 Dan. 12.4.9 Vide Chrysost Serm. 2. Cur obscurum sit V. T. oft are needful certain helps of God which are justly withdrawn from them that are negligent of plain Revelations Now the places they object they know are variously expounded and who soever wâ—ll compare the old interpreters living under the Babylon Captivity or about the time of Jesus with the Interpreters that wrote after the Christian name was odious to the Jews shall find new expositions invented studio partium when formerly other had been received agreeing well with the sense of Christians They are not ignorant many places in Holy Scripture are to be understood not by the propriety of words but b Quomodo Maimon in lib. I. ad locum Esaiae II 6. de Messiae temporibus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vult intelligi figuratively As when God is said to have c Vide Maimon duct dub 1.10 and 11 29. descended when d Jerem. 9.12 mouth e Ps 31.3 ears f Ps 34.16 eyes g Ps 18.9 nostrils are attributed to him And why may not we after this manner expound many things spoken of Messias times As that the Wolf shall dwell with the h Esa 11.6 Lamb the Leopard with the Kid the Lyon with the Calf that the Infant shall play with the Snake that the Mountain of God shall rise i Esa 2.2 above other Mountains and Aliens shall come thither to offer Sacrifice Some promises there are which by the antecedent or consequent words or by the very meaning of the place contain in them a tacite condition So many things were promised the Hebrews on condition they would receive the Messias sent unto them and obey him Which promises if they be not performed they must lay the fault upon themselves Some things also definitely and without condition promised if
HVGO GROTIVS Against PAGANISM JUDAISM MAHUMETISM Translated by C. B. LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be Sold by John Barksdale Book-binder next door to the Five Bells in New-street near Shoe lane 1676. STEPHANVS CVRCELLAEVS To the Most Illustrious HVGO GROTIVS A Vreus tuus de Christianae Religionis veritate Liber omnibus Pietatis studiosis in deliciis esse debet That Golden Book of yours of the verity of Christian Religion deserves to be in the bosome of all that are studious of Piety To his Honoured Patron DAVID WILLIAMS of Corndon Esq SIR THE former Discourses were long since Dedicated to your Worthy Brother now with God and they have born several Impressions It is high time these should follow to complete The Defence of Christian Religion and they gladly come forth under your Name hoping for the like favourable reception amongst ingenuous Readers because the Author is the same and the Translator and the Dedication now will add as much Grace to this little Piece as the former hath received And it serves my Design as well that is to remain as a little Monument of my Thankfulness to your self and your Noble Family whom I daily pray God to bless Your most humble Servant Cl. Barksdale HVGO GROTIVS AGAINST PAGANISM I. A special Refutation of Religions differing from the Christian IT is the happiness of a Christian in this life not only to rejoyce within himself and delight in Truth found out but also to give help to other men that wander about in the various by-paths of Errour and make them partakers of so great a Good This although we have in some measure endeavour'd in our former Discourses because the demonstration of Truth contains the refutation of Errour Nevertheless seeing every sort of Religion opposite to the Christians viz. Paganism Judaism and Mahumetism beside what they have common among them have certain proper Errors and some peculiar arguments which they are wont to urge against us 't will be to good purpose I think to enter into a special disputation with them severally entreating the Readers so free their Judgment from partiality and prepossession that they may give the more equal sentence upon the things to be delivered II. And first of Paganism That there is one God alone And first against the Pagans we say if they put more Gods eternal and equal that 's sufficiently refuted already in our first Discourse where we demonstrated the only one God the cause of all things But if by the name of Gods they call created Minds or Intelligences superiour to Man they are either good or evil If they say Good they ought to be sure of it lest they fall perhaps into a dangerous Errour receiving enemies for friends fugitives for messengers Besides reason requires that some evident difference of Worship be made between the Highest God and these Intelligences Moreover it should be known what order is among them what good may be expected from every one and what honour the Greatest King is willing should be done unto each of them All which being wanting in their Religion it is hence apparent enough how nothing of certainty is therein and how much more safe a way t were for them to betake themselves to the Worship and Service of the one Supreme God which also Plato hath affirmed to be the duty of a Wise man and so much the rather because good Spirits being the Ministers of the Supreme God they cannot chuse but be very serviceable to such as live in Gods favour III. That evil Spirits are worship'd by the Pagans But we have weighty Arguments to prove the Spirits which the Pagans worshipped were not Good but Evil Spirits First because they remitted not their servants to the Worship of the Highest God yea as much as they could they took away that Worship or at least by all means would therein make themselves equal to him Secondly because they procured very grievous Persecutions of the Worshippers of the Supreme God stirring up the Magistrates and people against them For whenas the Poets might freely sing of the Parricides and Adulteries of the gods and the Epicureans deny the Divine Providence and no other Religion was so dissonant in Rites but was admitted into Society as the Egyptian Phrygian Grecian Thuscan at Rome the Jews only were a Curti recutiti nubium adoratores dementes in porcos mocked every where as appears by the Satyrs and Epigrams and sometimes b Ioseph 18.5 Tacit. Annal 2. Sen. Epist 109. Act. 18.1 Suet. Tiber. cap. 36. banished but the Christians c Tac. An. 15. Iuvenal toeda lucebis in illa Qua stantes ardent qui fixo gutture sumant were also put to most cruel Torments whereof there can be rendred no other cause but that these two Sects had a Veneration for the one true God whose Honour the Vulgar gods opposed emulous not so much one of another as all of him Thirdly From the manner of Worship which cannot please or become an honest good Spirit by Hmmane d Vid. Disc 2. Bloud by runnings e Vt in Lupercalibus Liv. I. of naked men in the Temples by sports and dances full of f Vt in Floral Ovid. Fast 4. obscenity such as are now also seen among the People of America and Africa o'rewhelm'd with darkness Moreover there were of old and at this time are People which adore evil Spirits which they know and profess to be evil as the Persians a Plutarch de Iside Laert Praef. Arimanius the Grecians Cacodaemons the Latines b Cic. 3. de Nat. Deorum Vejoves and now some of the Ethiops and Indians Other than which nothing can be imagin'd more impious For Religious Worship what is it else but a testimony of most excellent goodness acknowledged to be in him whom you worship Which if it be bestowed upon an evil Spirit 't is false and lying and contains in it self the crime of Rebellion when the Honour due to the King is not onely withdrawn from him but transferred also upon his desertor and his Enemy Now 't is a foolish perswasion when they imagine the good God will not avenge it as if that were not consistent with his goodness For Clemency that it may be just hath its c Quomodo diliges nisi times non diligere Tertull. adv Marcion 1. limits and where wickedness exceeds a measure Justice produces out of it self as it were upon necessity punishment Nor is it less to be blamed that they say they serve Evil Spirits drawn thereto by fear For since he who is most infinite in goodness is also most communicative and the producer of all other Natures it follows that he hath supreme dominion over them as his works so that none of them can do ought which he will plainly hinder Whereupon this is easily gather'd Whosoever hath the favour of God who is highest both in power and goodness can be hurt no farther by the evil Spirits than
God for some good end will be pleased to permit Neither can any thing be obtained of those evil Spirits which is not to be rejected because the Evil one when he b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Soph. counterfeits is most evil and the gifts of Enemies are b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Soph. snares a Malus bonum cum simâ—â—lat tunc est pessimus Syr. Mimus IV. Against worshipping of the Dead There have been also Pagans and now there are who affirm that they give Worship to the Souls of men deceased But first this Worship too was to be distinguish by evident marks from the Worship of the most High God And then Prayers made to them are in vain unless those Souls are able to bestow something on us Whereof the Worshippers have no knowledge nor any ground to say that so it is rather than it is not so But this is worst of all that the persons to whom they pay this honour are found to have been notorious evil Livers Bacchus given to Wine Hercules to Women Romulus cruel to his Brother Jupiter to his Father so that the honouring of them redounds to the dishonour of the true God and of the Virtue wherein he delighteth whilst unto Vices pleasing enough of themselves there is given a farther commendation from * Cyprian Epist 2. Deos suos quos venerantur imitamur fiunt miseris religiosa delicta Religion V. Against worshipping the Stars and Elements The Worship given to the Stars and the Elements of Fire Water Air Earth was more antient than this not less erroneous For the greatest part of Religious Worship are Prayers and these cannot without folloy be offered up to any but intelligent Natures That the Elements are not such appears even by sense And if any one affirm it of the Stars he will find no proof thereof since from their operations the tokens of their nature no such thing can be collected yea the contrary is evidently gathered from their motion not varied as theirs is which have free will but certain and †The King of Peru moved by this Argument deny'd the Sun to be God prescrib'd And we have elsewhere shewed the courses of the Stars are fitted for the uses of mankind Whence it is man's duty to acknowledge himself to be both more like to God in his better part and more dear and therefore that he does an injury to his own Nobility if he subjects himself to those things God hath given him When on the contrary he ought to render unto God thanks for them which they are not able to do for themselves or are not prov'd to be able VI. Against worship given to Beasts Now this is most unworthy of all that men have fallen even to the worship of Beasts a Vide lib. I. Diod. Sie especially the Egyptians For although in some there shews it self as it were a shadow of understanding yet is that nothing compar'd to man because their inward conceptions they cannot express by speech or writing neither can they do works of divers kinds nor works of the same kind after a divers manner much lest attain to the knowledge of numbers of measures or of the heavenly motions On the contrary man by the subtilty of his Wit catcheth any of those Creatures even the strongest of them wild Beasts Birds Fishes and partly ramos them as Elephants Lions Horses Bulls deriveth also profit to himself from such of them as are most hurtful namely medicines from Serpents Certainly hath this use of them all which themselves know not that he vieweth the frame of their bodies the site of parts comparing their several kinds one with the other and here also learneth his own dignity how much the structure of humane bodies is more perfect than the rest and more noble Which things if a man a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vide Porph. de usu anim lib. 1. consider rightly he will be so far from worshipping other living creatures as gods that he will rather think himself to be by the great God constituted as a little God over them all VII Worship of Accidents We read the Greeks and Latines and others also adored things which have no subsistence but are the accidents of other things To omit those ill-favour'd deities the Fever Impudence b cic de Legib. 2. with such like Sanity is nothing else but a right temper of the parts of the Body Fortune a suitableness of Event with mans desire and the Affections as Love Fear Anger Hope and the rest arising from the consideration of a thing good or evil easie or difficult are certain motions in that part of the Soul which is most united to the body by the bloud being not in their own power but subject to the dominion of the Will at least as to their duration and direction And Virtues which have several names Prudence in the Election of what is profitable Fortitude in abiding dangers Justice in doing no wrong Temperance in moderation of pleasures and other are certain pronenesses unto good sprung up in the Soul and ripen'd by long exercise which as they may be encreased in a man so by neglect may be lessened and at last extinguished Now Honour a Liv. l. 27. whereunto also we find Temple to have been dedicate is the opinion of others concerning some person as endued with Virtue Which opinion oft happens to the bad and doth not happen to the good it being natural to men easily to err and to be mistaken These things therefore having no subsistence and so being not comparable in Worthiness to things which do subsist neither having any apprehension or sense of Prayers or Veneration to worship them for gods is most contrary to right reason seeing He is to be served for these things who is the Donor and Conservator of them VIII Answer to an Objection of miracles For the Commendation of their Religion the Pagans are wont to allege Miracles against which many Exceptions may be made The wisest among themselves reject many of them as supported by no sufficient Faith of Witnesses and plainly counterfeit a Datur haec venia antiquitati ut miscendo humana divinis primordia urbium augustiora facerent Livius l. 1. Some which are reported to have been real happened in secret in the dark in the presence of one or two whose eyes by the cunning of their Priests might be easily deluded Others there are which caused admiration only in such as were ignorant of things Natural and of Occult proprieties as it comes to pass among ignorant people if they see one draw Iron after a Loadstone By such Arts Simon and Apollonius Tyanaeus as many have written sometime prevailed I grant some greater things than these were seen but yet such as needed not a Power truly Divine being within the reach of Spirits interposed between God and Man who by their celerity efficacy and sagacity might bring together things distant and
not troublesome unto them not known by any injury so that they an pretend no cause of War but Religion alone which is most of War but Religion alone which is most irreligious For the worship of God is no worship unless it proceed from a willing mind And the will is drawn by instruction and perswasion not by threats and violence He that is compelled to believe does not believe but only makes a show that he may escape pain And he that by sense or fear of punishment would extort assent thereby shews his distrust of Arguments But again themselves destroy this very pretence of Religion when they allow those whom they have subdued to use what Religion they will yea and some times openly acknowledge that Christians may be saved in their own Religion VIII Their precepts compared Compare we now the precepts together On the one side patience is commanded and benignity even to enemies on the other side revenge on this side perpetual fidelity of Marriage mutual toleration of manners on that license of a Vide Euthymium departing Here the Husband performs himself what he exacteth of the Wife and by his own example teacheth her to fasten love but upon one there came women b Azoara 3.8 9. after women new provocations unto Lust Here Religion is called inward to the heart that being cherisht therein it may bring forth Fruits profitable to mankind there it spends almost all its virtue in c Vide Barth Geor. de ritibus Turcarum circumcision and other things in themselves d Azoara 9. indiffererent Here a temporate use of meats and Wine is permitted there to eat of the Swine e 2.26 or drink of the f Vide Euthymium Grapes is forbidden although Wine is a great gift of God for the comfort of the mind and body being taken with moderation That such weak Rudinients as 't were for Children preceded the most perfect Law such as is Chrifts we do not wonder but to succeed after it and for us now to return to types and shadows is preposterous nor can any cause be given why another Religion after the Christian which is far the best of all should be now produced IX Objection touching the Son of God answered The Mahumetists say they are offended that we give God a Son when he uses not a Wife as if the name of Son in respect of God cannot have a more Divine signification But Mahumet himself ascribes many things to God not less unworthy then if he should be said to have a Wife namely that he has a cold hand a Cantacuz orat in Mahum 2.18 and he felt it to be so that he is carried in a Chair b Ibid. and such like As for us when we call Jesus the Son of God we signifie the same thing which he does when he stiles him the word of God for the word is after a sort c Vide Plat. in Conviv begotten of the mind add also that he was born of a Virgin the operation of God alone supplying the Fathers part that he was taken up into Heaven by the power of God which things being confest also by Mahumet declare that Jesus may and ought to be called the Son of God d Luc. 1.35 Jo. 10.36 In lib. doctrina Mahumetis Jesus inducitur deum suum patrem appellans by a cerrain singular right X. Absurd things in their Books But on the contrary in the Mahumetan writings it would be tedious to enumerate how many things there are remote from all truth of a Azoara 28.37 History how many altogether ridiculous Such is that Fable of a fair Woman b Cantacuz orat 2.15 whom the Angels overcome with Wine taught a charm to get up to Heaven and come down again But having got up very high God catcht her and fixt her there and this is the Star Venus Another is of a Mouse c Inlib doctr Mahum in Noabs Ark made of the Elephants Dung and a Cat d Ibid. of the Lyons breath And that 's a notable one e in fine dicti libri of death to be turned into a Ram and to be lodged in the middle space between Heaven and Hell And of f Exod. 1. dainty meats in the other life to be voided by sweat and of Companies of women to be assigned every one for his pleasure All which are of such a nature that they must needs be sotted by their own folly who can give any credit to such gross faults especially now the light of the Gospel shiues round about them CONCLUSION I address my self now leaving Aliens to Christians of all sorts and names beseeching them to lift up pure hands a Jam. 4.8 unto that God who hath made all things visible and invisible b Col. 1.26 out of nothing with a sure confidence that he takes care c I Pet. 5.7 of us that without his permission not a Sparrow d Mat. 10.29 falls and that they fear not those which can only hurt the body e 10.28 in comparison to him who hath equal power both over body and Soul Let them not trust in God the Father only but in Jesus f Jo. 14.2 seeing there is no other name g Act. 4.12 in earth which can save us This ye shall rightly do if you perswade your selves not they that call the one Father and the other Lord shall live for ever but they that compose their lives according to the will h Mat. 7.21 of God Farther I exhort you carefully to keep i 1 Tim. 6. 20. Institution of Christ as a most pretious treasure and to that end also read often the k 1 Cor. 4.16 Holy Scriptures where with no man can be deceived but he that first deceives himself For the writers of them were more faithful and more full of a Divine Afflatus than to deprive us l Vide Tert de praeser of necessary truth or to hide it under a Cloud but we must bring a mind disposed m Jo. 7.17 to obedience If we do so none of those things shall escape us which ought to be believed hoped for or performed n 2 Tim. 3.15.16 by us And by this means is the Holy Spirit nourished o 1.6 and raised in us who is given as the earnest p Eph. 1.14 of our future happiness Moreover I disswade all Christians from the imitation of Pagans First in the worship of false gods q 1 Cor. 8.5 which are nothing but vain names that wicked Spirits r 1 Cor. 10.20 use to avert us from the Service f Eph. 2.2 of the true God Wherefore we cannot partake of their Sacrifices so as withal to have a part in Christs Sacrifices Secondly in their licentious manner of living t Eph. 2.3 having no other Law but what is dictated by their own Lust from which it behoveth Christians to keep u
2 Cor. 6. 15. themselves far off who ought not only to excel Pagans much but even the Jewish Lawyers w Mat. 5.20 and Pharisees whose righteousness consisting in some external works is not sufficient to bring us unto the Kingdom of Heaven In no esteem now x 1 Cor. 7.19 is the circumcision made with hands but that other internal of the heart the keeping of Gods commands the new y Gal. 6.15 Creature Faith efficacious by love z 5.6 by which are known the true Israelites a Rom. 9.6 mystical Jews b 2.28 that is the worshippers of God Difference of meats c Act 10.13 Sabbaths d Col. 2.16.21 Festival days are shadows of things which have a real existence in Christ and Christians On occasion of Mahumetism these are our admonitions It was foretold by the Lord Jesus e Jo. 5.43 that after his times some would come and falsly say they were sent by God but though an Angel f Gal 1.8 should come from Heaven no other Doctrin is to be received then that of Christ confirmed by so great testimonies g 1 Jo. 5.7 For of old in many and sundry ways h Heb. 1.2 God spake unto the pious men at that time living but at last was pleased to speak unto us by his Son the Lord of all things i 1 Cor. 15.27 the effulgence k Heb. 1.3 1.13 of his Fathers brightness the express image of his substance bâ— whom are made the things that have been or shall be who hath all things under his Dominion and having expiated our sins being lifted up to the right hand of God hath attained dignity above the Angels and being the author l Heb. 2.3 of our Religion nothing can be expected more magnificent Here I may recal into your memory that the Arms m in Eph. 6. 11. appointed for Christs Soldiers are not those upon which Mahumet relies but the proper arms of the Spirit able to overthrow all strong holds that lift themselves up against the knowledge of God for a shield faith to repel the fiery Darts of the Devil for a brest plate righteousness of life for a Helmet to defend the weakest part the hope of life eternal and for a Sword the word is delivered to us from Heaven piercing into the inmost parts of the Soul Here followeth my serious exhortation to mutual concord which Christ at his departure n Jo. 14.27 so earnestly commended to his Disciples We ought not to have many Masters but one is our o Jam. 3.1 Master Jesus Christ we Christians are all Baptized into p 1 Cor. 1.13 1.10 one name We ought not to admit Sects among us q Rom 12.3 and divisions for a remedy whereof we must be mindful of those A postolical sayings be soberly wise according to the measure of knowledges God hath given to every one if any have less understanding bear r 15. 1. with their weakness that they may easily and without contention joyn with us if any excel others in knowledge 't is fit they should excel also in their love f 2 Cor. 6.6 and compassion and patiently wait till God reveal t Phil. 3.15 unto them the Truth as yet unknown Mean while things certain and agreed upon are to be held fast and practised Now we know in part u 1 Cor. 13.11 the time is come when all points shall be perfectly comprehended And this I intreat of every one not to hide the Talent w Mat. 25.15 entrusted to him but use his best endeavor to gain others unto x 1 Cor. 9.19 Christ to which purpose we are not only to give them wholsome y Eph. 4.29 words but the example of a good life that the goodness of our Lord may be seen in the good behavior z 1 Pet. 3.16 of his Servants and the purity of the Gospel may shine forth in their obedience Amen I. Against Paganism I. A Special Refutation of Religions differing from the Christian II. And first of Paganism That there is one God alone III. That evil spirits were worshipt by the Pagans and how unworthily IV. Against worshipping of the dead V. Against worshipping the Stars and Elements VI. Against worship given to dumb Beasts VII worship of accidents VIII Answer to an objection of miracles IX Answer to the objection of Oracles X. Pagan Religion failed being left of humane aids XI The pretended efficacy of the Stars XII Many points of Christianity approved by Wise Pagans II. Against Judaism I. ADdress to the Jews II. Christs miracles cannot be denied by the Jews III. Answer to an objection of the Devils aid IV. Of the force of words V. The miracles of Jesus were Divine VI. Answer to an objection of the difference between the Law of Moses and the Law of Christ VII How Jesus observed the Law of Moses and what he abolished VIII Sacrifices never pleased God by themselves IX Difference of Meats X. Of Daies XI Of outward Circumcision XII The Apostles toleration of Jewish rites XIII The Jews confess the promise of Messias XIV That he is come proved by the Time XV. Of the delay of his coming XVI The present State of the Jews XVII Jesus proved to be the Messias from the Prophecies XVIII Objection that some things are not fulfilled answered XIX Answer to the low Estate and death of Jesus XX. Answer to this that good men crucified Jesus XXI Objection of more gods answered XXII Objection of adoring humane nature answered XXIII Conclusion of this part III. Against Mahumetism I. The rise of Mahumetism II. The Foundation of Mahumetists overturned III. Proofs against Mahumetists from Holy Scriptures IV. Mahumet and Christ compared V. Their actions compared VI. The first profession of both Religions VII The manner of propagation of both VIII Their precepts compared IX Objection touching the Son of God answered X. Absurd things in their Books Conclusion of all FINIS
error but that the way to eternal salvation b Vide resp ad quoest 4. ad orthodox inter opera Justini cannot be known of those which without any respect of profit or honor seek it subjecting themselves and all they have to God and praying to him for assistance the Divine goodness will not suffer it to be believed Verily since God hath implanted in mans Soul a power of judging no part of truth is more worthy upon which it may be exercised then that which cannot be left unknown without danger of losing eternal happiness III. Proof against Mahumetists from the Holy Scriptures That Moses a Azoara 5.21 was sent from God and Jesus b Azo 5.12 and that they were Holy men c Azo 5.71 who first propagated the Discipline of Jesus Mahumet and his followers do confess But in the Alcoran many things are related quite contrary d De Abrahamo Azo 31. in Hist Exod. multa Azo 17. 30. in Hist Josephi multa Azo 22. to the relations by Moses and by the Disciples of Jesus To take one example of many that Jesus died upon the Cross returned to life within the third day and was seen of many all the Apostles and the Disciples with the greatest consent do testifie On the contrary Mahumet teacheth that Jesus was secretly stoln away e Azoara 11. to Heaven and that on the Cross was fastened a certain Image of him and therefore Jesus died not but the eyes of the Jews were deluded This objection cannot be evaded except Mahumet say as he doth say that the Books both of Moses and of the Disciples of Jesus remained not such as they were at first but were f Azo 9. corrupted But this fiction is resuted by us already in a former discourse Surely if any one should say the Alcoran is corrupted the Mahumetists would deny it and think that sufficient against those which bring no proof but they are not able if they would to alledge the arguments for the integrity of their Book which we produce of Copies presently spread over all the World not as of the Alcoran in one Language and preserved by the fidelity of so many Sects so differing in other matters The Mahumetists perswade themselves that in the Fourteenth Chapter of St. John where is spoken of the sending a comforter there was something written of Mahumet which the Christians blotted our But here I would ask of them would they have this change of writing made before the coming of Mahumet or afterward After the coming of Mahumet it was impossible when at that time were extant in all the world very many not only Greek Copies but Syriac Arabic and in parts distant from Arabia Ethiopic and Latin of several versions all which do agree in that place without any variety of the writing Before the coming of Mahumet there was no cause of change for none could know what Mahumet would teach Yea if the Doctrin of Mahumet had nothing contrary to the Doctrin of Jesus the Christians would not have been more difficult in receiving his Books than they were in the Books of Moses and the Hebrew Prophets Suppose we nothing had been written in either side either of Jesus's institution or of Mahumets equity would tell us that is to be taken for the Doctrin of Jesus to which all Christians that for Mahumets to which Mahumetists have consented IV. Mahumet and Christ compared Let us now compare the adjuncts and properties of both Institutions that we may judge which is to be preferred and first let us look upon the Authors Jesus by the confession of Mahumet himself a Azoaia 29 was 09 that Messias promised in the Law and the Prophets he is called by Mahumet himself the word of God b 5.11 the Mind c 4.11 the Wisdom d Ibid. of God he is said by the same Mahumet to have had no Father e 31. among men Mahumet is believed even by his own Disciples f Videlib Generationis Mahumetis begotten after the accustomed way of Nature Jesus of a life always immaculate to whom nothing could be objected Mahumet long time g Vide clron Mahumetis versa Arab. a Robber always given to h Azo 42.43 Women Jesus carried up into i Azo 11. Heaven as Mahumet confesseth Mahumet is detained in his Sepulchre Which of the two is worthy to be followed who cannot plainly perceive V. Their actions compared Consider the actions of them both Jesus a Azoara 5.13 gave fight to the blind strength to the lame and health to the Sick Mahumet b 3.14.17 saith he was not sent with miracles but with Arms. Yet some came after who would attribute also miracles to him but of what sort Truly such as by humane art may easily be effected as that of the Pigeon flying to his ear or whercof there were no witnesses as of the Camel speaking to him by night or which are refelled by their own absurdity as of a great part of the Moon c Azoara 64. fallen into his Sleeve and returned by him to make up the roundness of the Star Who will not say in a doubtful case we must stand to that Law which hath on its side the surer Testimonies of Divine approbation Let us now see what they were who first undertook either of the professions VI. The first profession of both Religions They that embraced the Law of Jesus were men fearing God of an innocent â—ife and it becomes God not to suffer such men to be deceived either with cheating words or seeming Prodigies But the first followers of Mahumetism were men that lived upon the a Vox ipsa Saraceni 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 significat Scal. spoil strangers both to humanity and to Piety VII The manner of propagation of both Next let us shew the manner how both Religions Were propagawted Of the Christian we have already said the increase of it was from miracles not of Christ only but of his Disciples and their successors and also from their patience of adversities and Persecutions But the Teachers of Mahumetism wrought no miracles they suffered no grievous troubles no cruel deaths for that profession That Religion whither their Arms lead the way follows and is an occasion of their Victory Nor do the Masters themselves bring other Arguments for it but the success of their Wars and the greatness of their Empire then which nothing is in this affair more fallacious Themselves condemn the Pagan Religion and yet we know how great were the Victories of Persians Macedonians Romans and how large their Empires Nor have the Mahumetists always prospered in their Wars Notable overthrows have they received in many places both by Sea and Land Out of Spain they were totally expelled A thing of so uncertain event and common to good and bad cannot be a certain note of true Religion So much the less here because their Arms are unjust being often raised against Nations