either 2. They are under a judiciall blindness God has given them reason and understanding eyes that they might see hearts that they might understand but they wilfully shut their eyes against that light and then by the just judgment of Almighty God this light is taken from them they are given up to blindness of mind and hardness of heart as were the antient heathens Rom 1. 3. Their lives are utterly contrary to the holy nature of God to his sacred word there is an antipathy an emnity betwixt their Debaucheries their filthiness their profaneness and his most holy laws Rom. 8.7 every line of it flyes in their faces threatening them with hel and damnation whereupon they cavil with they quarrell against it they wish there were neither God to punish nor scripture to threaten Destruction against them and so by insensible degrees they are brought to think and say in their heart there is no God as the foole did Psal. 14. so true is that of the poet quod nimis miseri volunt hoc facile crâ—dunt the thoughâ—â— and imaginations of wretched men are governed by their desires they hate the light because their deeds are evil though their understandings are convinced by unansweareable arguments and reasons of the truth of these great principles yet they will not believe them such is the perverseness of their will that it either blinds their mind or else draws them against self Conviction to believe a Lye and to hold the conclusion against the most evident proofes and premises Dub. I am perswaded that you have given very good reasons why so many are Atheists and infidels and that the cheifest of them are irreligious and prophane livers that practical Atheisme is the greatest cause of that which iâ— dogmaticall or Atheism in opinion 'T was the foole that said in his heart there waâ— no God first he was a foole i. e. a sinner and very wicked as he is discribed in that psalm and thence he proceeded Atheist a foole in practise and then a fool in judgment for t is most certain that a corrupt and wicked life is the true parent of ungodly and vile opinions froâ— which by Gods blessing upon your good endeavoures I am now delivered and am fully perswaded that God is and that he is a rewarder of all those that diligently seeke him that the holy scripture is undoubtedly the word of God and consequently that the Christian Religion is the onely true religion but observing that of those who profess this Religion there are severall parties and t is not unknown to you that heretofore I have adhaered to the Church of Rome I would willingly learn from you which party they of Rome or we of England be most Orthodox and Catholick Firm Your demand is rationall I shall most willingly Gratifie you in itâ— oâ—ely you must give me leave to propose these Two questions to you and let me receive your answâ—r unto them at our next meeting 1. What Inducements you had to turne to the Church of Rome 2. What Reasons you had to leave it Dub. You must give me leave also to recollect my selfe that I may be â—he better able to give in my answer to your Quaeries DIALOGVE III Against POPERY Firm. I Hope you have well considered of the questions which I lately proposed unto you Dub. To the first I returne this answer My reasons that induced me to adhere to the Church of Rome were these 1. The Antiquity of that Church which has continued ever since the Apostles time when by the testimony of St. Paul her faith was spoken of throughout the world Rom. 1.8 2. The universality of it no Church has spread it self so farr and nere upon the face of the earth as that of Rome 3. Her consent in Doctrine with the primitive Church 4. The unity of it under one infallible head which cannot err in poynt of faith or manners 5 The sanctity of it's Doctrine that 't is free from errour in matters of â—aith free from all immorality and improbity in point of manners 6. The sanctity of life in the authors and first-fathers of the Roman Religion these were the chief motives that caused me to adhere to the Church of Rome Firm. Indeed these are six of those 15 notes which Bellaâ—mine Lib. 4. de not Eccle. and others of his perswasion appropriate to that Church but had you not some other inducements As first a vitious life and the cheap and easy pardon of your Sins upon confession of them to a priest his absolution and injunction of a pitifull pennance 2dly were you not under some discontent for your present low Condition or 3dly were you not ambitious of preferment deeming popery to be a ready way to it or 4thly were you not tickled with the Cunning extolling of your excellent parts by some subtile Jesuite lamenting your sad Condition that a person oâ— so rare endowments should be so miserably mistaken in the great concern of your Soule perswading you that out of the Church there is no hope of salvation and that you being no member of the Church of Rome were past all peradventure out of the Church and unlesse you returned to that Church there could be no hope of your salvation or lastly before you set up for the Church of Rome were you serious and conscientiouâ— in any Religion for 't is very easy for one that is of no Religion that makes no consciencâ— of his waies being allured with the joyeâ— of heaven and affrighted with the terrours of Hell to pitch upon any Religion that confidently promises those and as confidently a freedome from these and we know that Priests and Jesuites want neither art nor impudence to perswaâ—e silly wretches that hopes of Heaven and deliverance from Hell are only to be found in their Church Dub. Truely Sir I am verily perswaded that many who have left your Church and gone over to that of Rome have stumbled at such straws but you have known me long to be a man of no vitious life no male Content not ambitious of honour or preferment not apt to be paffed up with a proud conceit of mine own parts not cold or carelesse in point of Religion but the chiefe reasons that moved me to goe over to the Church of Rome were those before named which made me believe that Church to be the only true Catholick Church out of which there could be no hope of salvation to these I beg your answer Firm. And you shall have it 1. The doctrine of the present Church of Rome which alone could denominate her ancient Catholick and Apostolicall is in severall weighty points quite contrary to holy scripture neither hath it the generall consent of the fathers and Doctors of the Catholick Church the prâ—sent Church of Rome is no more like to what it once was in the purest primitive times than an old decrepit man full of diseases Gout Stone Palsy Dropsy Scurvey Blindnesse Deafnesse Wrinkles and a multitude of
infirmities is the same Strong Handsome Healthy Man that he was when at twenty five or thirty years old Dub. Thô I have sometimes much reverenced the Church of Rome for her antiquity yet now I begin to doubt that there are many diseases in the body of that Church many wrinkles in her face which were not from the beginning but not withstanding those infirmities 't is the same true Church as 't was at the first plantation as the old decrepite man is the same man that ever he was for substance Firm. I deny not but that the Church of Rome is in some sence the same it first was in respect of divers Articles it holds but in respect of those gross errours it now maintaines 't is no more like what it was then the old decrepite diseased man is like what he was in his younger dayes Dub. Your comparison is very good and apposite to the present Church of Rome which past dispute is full of dangerous and desperate diseases as I in part do apprehend I pray you proceed to my other motive Firm. The Church of Rome is not so universal as her disciples boast of neither in respect of place or time 1. 'T is the observation of a learned man that if the world were divided into 30 parts 19 of them are heathens 6 Mahometans and 5 Christians of which the Papists are not the one halfe as Mr. Breirwood in his Enquires does demonstrate 2. As to the universality of time the Church of Rome cannot deduce her present tenents from the beginning of Christianity through the several ages or Centuryes that it has continued a Church from the first preaching of the Gospell I deny not but that 't is the same for purity of Doctrine as once it was is most false for the antient Church of Rome never taught worshiping of images praying to Saints that monstrous transubstantiation halfe Communion Praier in an unknowne tongue and many more Groundless fopperies against Scripture the general consent of fathers common sence and reason Dub. All this I am inclined to believe but how could these errours creepe into a Church which did so punctually observe the traditions of their forefathers what the Church of Rome now believes and teaches it received from the Church that was in the next age before it that from the Church next before it and so quite down to the Apostles times as the Author of the Dialogues betwixt the Vnckle and the Nephew hath most learnedly demonstraâ—ed Firm. Truly very learnedly even as Zeno proved there was no locall motion you have heard how Diogenes confuted him by an ocular demonstration were not the Scribes and Pharises great pretenders to a Strict observation of the traditions of their fathers And yet we know how grosly they had corrupted the law of Moses as is evident by our Saviours confutation of them Mat. 5. and in severall other places Dr. Crakanâ—thorp and other Learned prâ—â—â—stants do evidently shew the beginning the progress of the Corruptions of the Church of Rome the manner of their spring and Growth but Suppose we cannot punctually tâ—ll the beginning and progress of such and such an errour shall we therefore believe it to be no errour you walk sometimes in the fields 't is evident to your eyes that the Grasse aâ—d graine do grow though you do not see them move at all sometimes you visit a friend that is sick of a languishing consumption you see by infallible symptoms that your friend is in a desperate Condition will you not believe him to be so because you cannot tell the time when or the manner how his disease came upon him Dub I cannot be so unreasonable and by what you have said my third reason falls to the Ground for the present Church of Rome has no agreement with the primitive but is extreamly opposite to it in the points before named besides many others I pray let me hear what you can say against their unity for they seem to be firmly united under one infallible head the Pope Firm. Truely Sir they do but seem so for they are miserably divided in the great fundamentall of their faith their infallibility and are not they very unjust to us to exact our beliefe of that which they themselves know not where to find for some of them tell us 't is fixed to the Popes chair some say 't is to be found in a Generall Councell otâ—â—rs believe it to be in neither but in both united together others would perswade us that 't is in the whole body of the Church so that if you seek after this pretty knack of infallibillity you will be abused as young apprentices are used to be in great Cittys and corporations who in waggery are sent from shop to shop for a penyworth of Ell-broad Packthred or a pound of stock-fish Tallow or a Lefthanded Shuttle after these poore novices have been sent from one end of the Citty to the other they returne home without such ridiculous Commodities and are sufficiently exposed to laughter and derision There 's scarce a Controversy in all Bellarmin's voluminous workes wherein he recites not the different opinions of the Roman Catholicks among themselves insomuch that this great Cardinals workes were not to be bought in Rome as Sir Edw Sandyes reports in his Europa speculum because he had so imprudently discovered the nakednesse of his mother in point of unity To say nothing of the contentions betwixt the Thomists and Scotists Ochamists c 't is pleasant to see how sweetly the Dominicans Franciscans Iesuites Molinists Iansenists Regulars and seculars agree together Though a laté Pope durst be so bold as to decide a Controversy for the Molimists against the Iansenians and so that which was none before very luckily became an article of Faith such is the Popes omnipotent Power that he can create Articles of Faith out of that which was a pure noâ—-entity a very nothing in the primitive times yet I heare that the Iansenists are so saucy as to continue very Iansenists still notwithstanding his holinesses inâ—allible determination Dub. I see there is no such unity in the Church of Rome as they bragg of I desire to heare what you can say against the Sanctity of their Doctrine Firm the Sanctity of their Doctrine referrs to that of Faith and Manners for that of Faith which is briefly comprehended in the Apostles Creed or any other Doctrinall poynt contained in holy Scripture expressly or by good consequence deduced from thence by the generall consent of Fathers we allow of but as for popish additions of new atticles by Pope Pius the 4. and the councell of Trâ—nt that are against Scripture and can never be justified by the generall consent of the ancient Doctors of the Church we reject as false and consequently not Holy this I suppose you will demâ—nsâ—rate when you please to give me the reasons which made you forsake the present Church of Rome As to their Saâ—ctity of manners their
to the Sight the Smell the Tast shall we think that the God of truth Gave to mâ—n five Scences to deceive 4 of them by one pretended miracle or that 't is his method to informe the mind by Impostures if one or two or three Senses may be deceived why not all then what will become of Romes orall Tradition for may not the eare be deceived as well as the eye the nose the tast the touch here are 4 Sences to one against that tradition and then how are the papists certain of what they have received from the present Church or how is shee certaine of what shee received from the Church immediatly before her is not the doctrine of Transubstantiation which teaches men not to believe their eyes and other of their Sences a ready way to Atheism and infidelity for if four of the five Sences may be deceived then farewell all tradition and if these inferiour faculties may be thus bafled what satisfaction could it have been to St. Thomas that Christ was truly risen from the dead by putting his finger into the print of the nailes or his hand into his side But beside what sence and reason witness against this monstrous opinion the Scripture is clearely opposite unto it for Christ at the institution of this Sacrament did not take his own Body into his handâ— but Bread he brake not his owne Body but Bread he did not eat his own Body he did not drinke his owne Blood but he drank of the fruit of the Vine Mat. 26.29 for so he called it after Consecration and Distribution I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the Vine c. in like manner St. Paul 'T is stil this bread and this cup. 1. Cor. 11.26 When our Saviour saies Hoc est corpus meum what doth hoc stand for either it must signify this thing in my hand i. e. the bread or else his own body which body he holding in his hand utters these words hoc est corpus meum that is corpus meum est corpus meum a mere Identical trifleing proposition which according to all Logick is most absurd and destroys the very nature of a Sacrament which consists of two essential parts the sign and the thing signified besides they of Rome conâ—ess that the Body of Christ is not present under the species of Bread and Wine when the Preist begins to pronounce hoc nor till he hath uttered the last sillable um hoc est corpus meum such poore shifts these men are forced to use As for antiquity so much boasted of by those of Rome I know that some of the fathers to draw mens minds from the earthly elements to heavenly misteries used now and then high Rhetoricall expressions never dreaming of any substantiall change of the elements into the Body and Bloud of Christ as is evident from Iraeneus Panis Communis post consecrationem non est amplius panis communis sed efficitur Eucharistia quae constat ex duabus naturis terrenâ caelâ—sti haec oblatio â—st figura corporis sanguinis Christi Ambrose 1. ad Cor. Cap. 11. lib. 4. de Sacram. Non dubitavit dominus dicere hoc est corpus meum cum dedit fignum sui corporis Aug Epist 23. ad Bonifa 12. Cap. contra Adiman Hoc est corpus meum i. e. typus corporis mei Terâ—ull Panem vinum Appellatione corporis sanguinis honoravit non naturam quidem mutans sed naturae gratiam adjiciens Theod. dial 1. 2. In a word the ancient fathers who opposed the Eutychian haeresy did make use of the sacramentall union of Bread and Wine to the body and blood of Christ shewing that the humane nature of Christ is not more changed into the divine then the Sacramentall Bread and Wine is into the very Body and Blood of Christ therefore they believed no such thing as that monstrous Popish transubstantiation So that we see the falsity and absurdity of it by Scripture antiquity common sence and reason besides the great danger of Idolatry in worshipping a piece of bread if there be no transubstantiation as some of the papists themselves confesse and they also acknowledge that if the Priest that consecrates were not rightly ordained or that he did not actually intend to consecrate or that he omitted any one Ceremony which they call necessary at the time of consecration that the Bread and Wine are not duely Consecrated and consequently no transubstantiation and therefore great probability that the Papists in worshipping the host do frequently comitt the very great Sin of Idolatry which was to me one great reason of forsaking their Communion Firm. Truely 't was a substantiall reason and such an one that has wrought upon others beside your selfe however I desire to hear from you what further reasons you had to leave the Church of Rome Dub. The next which I shall acquaint you with is the half Communion so manifestly against scripture and antiquity Our Blessed Saviour at the instituition of the Sacrament commands drinke yee all of this whereas at the giveing of the bread he said only take Eate foreseeing and obviating this grand error of the Church of Rome 't is true the persons then communicating were only his disciples which had received their Commissioâ— to preach the Gospell before that time but not in that ample and full manner as they received it after his Resurection as is plain from Iohn 20 22 23. and Mâ—t. 28 29. but be it granted that they were all in full orders and upon that account the Cup was given them otherwise they should not have received it by the same reason the bread might be denyed to the people because none but Priests did then Communicate but we know that a Priest when he doth not consecrate is in the place of a Lay-man and consequently the disciples not consecrating at the Supper were no better and therefore according to the doctrine and practise of the Church of Rome should not have received the Cup. But what will they thinke of the whole Church of Corinth to whom St. Paul sent a first and second Epistle they cannot imagine they were all Priests observe then how â—e â—xhorts all of them to examine themselves in order to the receiving of the holy Eucharist under both kinds 1. Cor 11. this is so eviâ—ent that our adveâ—saries have nothing to Reply As for Antiquity the practise of the Câ—urch of Rome is clearly against it as Iam able to demonstrate from express testimonies of the fathers but our learned writers have â—aved me that trouble those that please may peruse Chamiâ—re Châ—mnitius Iewell Cracanthorp The confeâ—sion of the Councell of Coâ—stance stands as a lasting Monument against the Popish innovation in this particular the words are these we decree in like manner that though in the Primitive Church the holy Eucharist was received under both kinds by the faithfull yet this Custome to avoid some dangers and scandals is reasonably
the folly and madness of this Phanaticism and from whence it sprang please you we will discourse of Anabaptisme pray you what do you think of that DIALOGVE V. against Anabaptisme Firm. ANabaptism is a most carnal and bloody Sect as appears by the History of Iohn of Leiden Knipperdoling wrot by Sleiden and Bullenger Dub. But what do you think of their opnion â—oncerning Infâ—nt Baptism I shall not trouble you with other of their Tenents which are common to them with other Schismaticks Firm. That Opinion of theirs is contrary to Scripture and the practise of the Catholick Church Dub. I have often heâ—rd them say That if there were any express Text in Scripture for the Baptisiâ—g of Infants they would allow of that practise Firm. Though there be no express place in Scripture for it as there was for Circumcising of Children under the law yet there are many Texts which do infer it by rational consequence What express Text is there for the Communicating of Woemen which nevertheless the Anabaptists practise have they not express Texts for obeying the Civil Magistrate for taking an Oath before him thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in justice in judgment and truth Thou shalt fear the Lord and swear by his name I call God for a recâ—rd upon my Soul an Oath for Confirmation is not was an end of all strife And we have the Angel in the Revelation which was never under the Levitical law swearing Yoâ— see here are express Texts for obedience to Magistrates and for taking an Oath before them yet the Anabaptists will not swear at all which is a moral duty enjoyned in the third CoÌ„mandment and how obedient they are to the Supream powers let Germany and England witness in our â—ate Civil Wars so that you may see that if there were an express Text for Infant Baptism they would not yeild unto it but follow their own wild imaginations Dub. Doubtless 't is grand hypocrisy to call for express Texts for Infants-Baptism and yet to act directly against such Texts in other points of Necessary duty Firm. True it is we have no express Texts for Infants-Baptism yet we have many that do necessarily infer it as that of our Savioâ—r suffer little Children â—o come unto me which he took in his Arms and Blessed certainly those that were capable of his blessing were capable of the seal of it The children of believers are said to be holy The promise is to you and to your children Go teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost All which places evidently shew that the children of believing Christians have as much right to baptism as the children of the Jews had to Circumcision unless we should say that the Lord was more gratious to the Jews then he is to us Christians and that the hand of his mercy is shortned to us which was so much stretched out to them If their Children were in Covenant with God as it is evident they were Deut. 29.11 then are the Children of Christians under the same priviledge unless any man can give a good reason to the contrary which must be drawn either froÌ„ the Mercy or Judgment of God There is no shew of reason to say 't was from his Judgment much less from his Mercy for who dare say 't is a mercy not to be in Covenant with God To these Texts of Scripture we may add the practise of the Catholick Church for Fifteen hundred years as appears by the writers in their several Centuries which is the best Commentary upon the Scripture The Fathers who lived in the first ages of the Church had a fairer oâ—poâ—tunity to understand the meaning of the Apoâ—tles and their immediate successors then we that live at so great a distance Tertullian one of the most Ancient of them confesseth the practise of Infant Baptism tho he does not approvâ— it Cyprian and Fidus would never have contendeâ— about the â—ircumstance of time if they had doubted of the lawfulness of the thing I mâ—y add to what has been said Either the Baptising of Infants is a small error or 't is a great and gross one if iâ— be but a small error an error of Charity towards poor Infants why did the Anaâ—apâ—iâ—ts in the late times of confusion separate from those Churches which did not impose it as a necessary conâ—ition of Communion with them If it be a great and gross one then the Catholick Church has maintained a gross error for Fifteen hundred years and upward How then was that promise made good unto it that Christs spirit should lead it into all truth and that the gates of Hell should not prevail against it Dub. Indeed those Texts of Scripture so well explained by the practise of the Catholick Church â—or so many years since the time of the Apostles is an evident argument for the proof of Infant Baptism but are you certain that Infant Baptism was practised in the Primitive times Firm. We are most certain from the writings of the Fathers in those times Irenaeus lib. 2. cap. 39. Origen lib. 5. in cap. 6. ad Rom. Cyprian lib. 3. Epist. 8. ad â—idum Hieronymus lib. 3. contra Pelagianos Nazian Oraâ—iones in sacrum lavacrum Basil Orat. Exhort ad Baptismum Chrisost. Homil. 1. ad Neophyr Augustine lib. 10. de Gen. cap. 23. The custome of Baptising Infants is an Apostolical Tradition lib. 4. de Baptismo cap. 24. idem affâ—rmat Prosper lib. 22. de Vocatione Geâ—tium cap. 8. These three Fathers making use of the Baptising of Infants as an argument against the Pelagians who denyed Original Sin which practise of Infant Baptism these subtile Hereticks durst never deny because they knew 't was the practise of the Catholick Church Dub. 'T is strange thâ—t so mâ—ny Testimonies of the Antient Doctors of the Church with such evident places of Scripture before allegd should not silence these perverse men Firm. By terming them perverse you render a just reason why neither Scripture nor Fathers nor Arguments â—ill satisfie them few of this Sect or indeed of any other are Leâ—rned except it be their Leaders Popish Priests and Jesuits which spread such errors by design to make divisions among us that they might â—eign Now 't is no strang thing to see ignorance and perversness to dwell under the â—ame roof for whosoever is capable of Conviction must have some knowledg and reason that he may be able to understand the force of an argument when 't is proposed unto him as seduced Sectaries being men of very short discourse do not Besides that little portion of reason which remains in them is so beclouded with selâ—conceit interest and faction prejudice pride and uncharitableness thâ—t they have utterly loâ—t all use of it He that doubts of this let him discourse either with Quaker or Anabaptist and he will find them a very proud ignorant conceited perverse people Dub. I have sufficient experience of their Pride and Perversness
God Dub. You have abundantly satisfied me that the Sun had not an eternal being and consequently that neither men beasts or plants could be from all eternity however I desire to hear from you some particular arguments against the eternity of man-kind Firm. There is no particular man but had beginning was made and begotten by his Parents they by theirs and so we must ascend from son to father up to all eternity usque ad infinitum which is utterly impossible or else we must come to a first man who could not make or beget himself Now if every particular man be made and begotten then the whole kind must be made because the whole kind is nothing else but the Collection of all particulars Every one of them we see by daily experience had a beginning and is begotten or made therefore 't is made by some other for quicquid fit fit ab alio and this of some other and so forward until we come to the supream cause of all things which is God Again Either all men that are or ever were in the world were made or some were made and some not made but had being of themselves if so 't is impossible that these men should be of the same kind with the men that were made for that which is made depending upon another cannot be of the same kind with that which is not made and independent because a thing that is not made infinite independent is of another kind from what is made finite and dependent and these two finite and infinite dependent and independent are opposite members dividing one and the same most common kind Dub. 'T is a clear demonstration that every particular man being made the whole kind must be made hut pray tell me might there not be a perpetual successive generation of men up to all eternity and so a processus in infinitum an infinite number of them without all beginning Firm. This is altogether impossible for in a Catologue or Series of things every one of which had a beginning as 't is evident that every particular man had and consequently the whole Series there cannot possible be a processus in infinitum up to all eternity or an infinite succession of causes and effects without all beginning Eternity properly so called has neither beginning noâ— end for 't is duratio interminabilis an infinite unlimited duration and therefore whatsoever had a beginning cannot possibly be eternal but the whole series of men had a beginning for whatsoever is made had a beginning but the whole Series of men was made therefore it had a beginning for every particular man had a begining therefore the whole Series which is nothing else but a collection of all particulars and therefore it cannot be equal or comensurable to eternity which is without beginning Again If the â—eries or rank of men did run up to eternity or into an infinite number of successive generations then that infinite number of men have been swallowed up of death many millions of years before this age we live in and so death has passed over that number which is contrary to that certain principle infinitum non potest pertransiri 't is impossible to pass over or through that which is infinite nay then â—here would not be any man living at present for if an infinite number of men are already dead then all the men that ever were or may be are dead for infinito nihil potâ—st â—ddi Yea if the world should continue ten millions of years longer there could not be after those ten millions of years more men in it then there were ten millions of years before this present for nothing can be added to that which is properly infinite to make it greater in magnitude or more in number neither could the Father be before the Son nor the greâ—t Grandfather before or elder then either nam in aternitate non datur prius posterius In this infinite duration there is no former or latter and consequently had the world been from all eternity it could not truly be said that any man was before another not Abraham before Isaac or he before Jacob. Dub. You have made it very plain that the world had a beginning and consequently because t is ridiculous to suppose that it had its beginning from it selfe chance or Atomes that there is one supream cause of infinite power and wisdome the Creator of Heaven and Earth and of all things therein contained which is the Glorious and eternal God of whose being I hope I shall hence forth never entertain the least doubt Firm. Though you seem to be well satisfied with these reasons which I have urged for the being of God yet because something in them are not so intelligible to men of ordinary Capacities who perhaps may cast their eyes upon these papers you shall give me leave to use other reasons that are more plain and familiar and such as may perswade more with men of ordinary abilities then those that I have proposed to youâ— self Dub. Though I am fully satisfied in that great fundamental point yet in this I commend your Charity and do not envy the satisfaction of others But I believe you cannot alledge more convincing reasons thâ—n those which you have already made use of however I desire to hear what you can further say for the Conâ—irmation of this very great truth Firm. The other reason which I shall produce shall bâ— taken from the Goodly fabrick of the world the harmonious order of all things therein contained the horror of conscience in wicked men the dread of perjury in very heathens the appearance of evil Spirits their strange working in witches and wizards which may be seen more largely treated of in Doctor Fotherbys Atheomastix Doctor Andrews Cattechisme Du-Plessis truth of Christian Religion Grotius of the same Doctor Mores Antidote against Atheism Parsons Resolutions Doctor Stillingfleets Origines sacrae Gales Gentils Court Mr. Baxters Christian Religion with many others I shall breifly sum up what these learned men have wrot at large beginning with that argument which is taken from the Goodly fabrick of the world 1. T was excellently said of Tertul. lib. de Resur facilius credas Prophetiae si sis discipulus naturae if we be conversant in the works of nature they will lead us to the knowledg and beliefe of Scripture There is a most sweet harmony betwixt those two Books the Book of Nature and the Book of Grace What is said of the one monstrat Quaelibet herba Deum every herb or plant does shew there is a God is most true of the Scripture Quaelibet linea Deum refert every line in this Book shews us the power providence and wisdome of God And if the Atheist will disdain to read this excellent Commentary upon the Book of nature let him seriously peruse the Text the harmonious beauty and order of the Universe Plato and some other of the Antients were used to demonstrate the
God 2. Pet. 1.20 Now there being but Four Religions in the world Iudaism Christianity Paganism and Mahometism If I shall prove unto you that Christianity whose rule and foundation is the holy Scripture is the only true Religion and the other Three false I hope you will grant that the foundation on which it stands is the true Revelation and consequently that the Scripture is no invention of man but given by Inspiration and Revelation from God which is the summ of my first Argument Dub. If you can prove that the other Three Religions are false 't will necessarily follow that the Revelations to which they pretend are likwise false Firm. This I shall easily do beginning with Paganism which consists in the worshiping of the Câ—â—â—tures 1. The Sun Moon and all the Host of Heaven 2. dâ—â—d men that called Sabaisme this Hâ—llâ—nisme from the nations that fiâ—st used these modes of worship of both which we have a short account im the book of Wisdome chap. 13. and 14. but more fully in Vossius de Idolaâ—ria and in the Author of the Gentils Court who hath mâ—de use of divers excellent men that have wrote of this Subject That this Religion of Pagans was against the lâ—w and light of nature both in respect of the things woâ—shipped and also in respect of the abominable â—ites and Ceremonies any man that has the least sparke of that light remaining in him may â—asily discern First The things worshipped were the Creatures some of them that never had life others thâ—t once lived but are now dead whose ghosts or Manes the Heathens imagined to be confined to their Idols whereas no Creature can be câ—pable of Religious worsâ—ip for 't is repugnant to all right reason that one Creature should thus worship another God alone being the proper object of such worship because in him we live move and have our being and he it is that gives us life and breath and all things therefore Deo datori to God the Creator and giver of all good things all religious worship is only due Besides some of the wiser Heathens acknowledg that there could be but one God 't was a common saying amongst them dicite plures dicite nullum 't is all one to say there are many Gods as to say there is no God for the notion which they had of God was that he was ens infinitum a being of infinite power and perfection but natural reason shewed them that there could be but one infinite because infinite power and infinite perfection comprehends all power and perfection and therefore it cannot be communicated to many or more then one Secondly Their Rites and Ceremonies were so ridiculous and so filthy that the Apostle stiles them abominable Idolatries 't is against the rules of Christian modesty either to hear or speak of them He that desires to see Paganism smartly and solidly confuted let him peruse the antient Fathers Lactantius Arnobius Minutius felix Eusebius Clemens Alexandrinus St. Augustine de Civitate Dei c. Dub. I alwaies conceived Paganism to be a most vain and vile superstition contrary to the very light of nature and I am no better perswaded of Mahometism however I desire to hear your reasons against it Firm. You may please to receive them thus my first reason shall be taken from the novelty of it being not much above a Thousand years since that false Prophet Mahomet published his rapsody of nonsence fabulous fictions and damnable Blasphemys to the world First From which I thus argue truth is before falsehood Illud verum quod antiquum seeing the world is now above 5500 years old and seeing Religion has been practised in it from the Creation t is absurd to imagine there was no true Religion before Mahomet or that the infinite goodness and wisdom of God should suffer gross errors to infect the whole world at least 3000 years before the true worship of his holy name was known unto men Secondly Mahometism is a mixture of Judaism Heresy and Paganism with some sprinklings of Christianity A bundle of ridiculous fables prodigious lies as is evident to any that shall peruse the Alcoran Thirdly 'T was propagated by the Sword and such carnal weapons by sensual motives and promises of fleshly pleasures to be injoyed by all those that should be followers of that grand impostor which are so unworthy of the rational soul that they cannot be called the cords of man but are only proper allurements for those whose reason is sunk down into brutish sensuality Dub. These reasons do sufficiently manifest the folly and falseness of this new or rather no Religion but pray you inform me why you rank Judaism in the number of false religious seeing t is grounded on the Scripturs of the Old Testament which you beleive to be a divine Revelation Firm. When I reckon Judaism amongst false Religions I mean only that religion which is professed by the modern Jews under against the Gospel not that which their forefathers under the law lived and died in Since the fall of Adam unto the end of the world there was and shall be but one true Religion consisting of Repentance from dead works holy obedience and faith in Jesus Christ so that the fathers before the law the Israelites under the law the Christians under the Gospel were and are of one and the same Religion for the substance of it 1 Cor. 10.1.2.3 they did believe in Christ to come the Christians do believe that he is already come to them he was vailed in Types and shadows to us he is revealed and those shadows are vanished at the rising of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in his wings Dub. By what you have said 't is evident thaâ— all Religions that are and ever were in the world except the Jewish under the law and the Christian under the Gospel which are for substance the very same are utterly false and consequently their pretended Revelations on which they are built the inventions of men and Satanical Delusions and that the Christian and the antient Jewish being the only true Religion it must follow that the Old and New Testament is the only certain and divine Revelation your Argument appeares to be very concluding I pray you proceed Firm. My second argument shall be taken from the excellency and reasonableness of Christian Religion First This Religion is most holy and spirituall resolving it selfe into most excellent principles and ends the Glorifying of God and humbling man pointing out unto us the most divine and heâ—venly life in the love and service of our Creator in the dedication and devotion of our souls unto him in whom we live move and have our being placing our felicity in spiritual not in fleshly pleasurs the rule of it being holy scripture contains laws most holy most pure most righteous Let all the world if they can answer the chalenge made by Moses Deu. 4.8 what nation is there so great that has Statues and judgments so
that are contingent or such as do depend upon the will of man they have but conjectures and do often times lie and deceive us in both kinds for as natural things are variable so much more the will of man Porphyrius lib. de Resp. oraâ— cited by Parsons in his Resol pag. 62. Dub. This testimony of Porphyrius being an Heathen and a great enemy to Christianity is very considerable and experiâ—nâ—e shews it to be very true for Oâ—acles have deâ—eived many and we see that Astrologers can give no certain predictions concerning the weather which depâ—nds upon natural causes and therefore I desire you to sheâ— me if you can any Prophesies of Scripture that are more certain Firm. I shall begin with that of Abraham concerning his posterities inheriting the Land of promise of their servitude in a strange Land of their mighty deliverance 400 years before it came to pass you may for this compare Cen. 15.13.14 c. with Exod. 12. Second Iacob being in Egypt on his death bed propheâ—â—ed thus of his â—on Iudah that the Scepter should not depart from him until Shilo came which fell out accordingly at the birth of our Saviour at which time the Scepter was in the hâ—nd of a stranger Herod by name and then and not till then it finally departed from Iuda Third 'T was Prophesied of Iosias â—00 years before he was born that he should destroy the Altar at Bethel 1. Kings 13. which was exactly fullfilled 2. Kings 23. Fourth You may see how punctual the Prophet Isaiah is in fortelling the nativity the life the passion of our blessed Saviouâ— in so much that he writeth more like an Historian then a Prophet as also how he foretells the destruction of Hierâ—salem and the greivous Captivity of the Jews by and under the Babylonians and then the destruction of the Babylonians and the rebuilding of Hierusalem by Cyrus 200 years before he was born the same was foretold by Ieremy about a 100 years after Isaiah and these Prophecies were so famous and so certainly believed amongst the Jews in the time of their captivity that when the time of their expiration drew near Daniel thus writeth of himself In the first year of Darius I Daniel understood in the Scripture the number of the 70 years c. Dan. 9.1 Neither did the Jews only understand and believe this Prophecy but Cyrus himselfe an Heathen which was his great inducement to restore the Jews and rebuild the Temple at his own proper charges Ezra 1. And Heathen Historians confess as much Fifth The Prophecy of Daniel concerning the four great Monarchies is so clear and evident so distinctly described as if he had lived in them all Dan. 2. and Dan. 8. how also he foretold the coming and suffering of the Messias after 70 weeks cap. 9. many more of such Prophecies might be alleaged but these are abundantly sufficient to attest the divine authority of Scripture Dub. T is very true if you could prove there were ever such Prophets or Prophecys in the world Firm. What proof do you expect will you believe nothing but what you see with your own eies Dub. That were irrational if you can prove by a certain tradition that there were ever such Prophecies delivered by such men as you name I shall assent unto them Firm. This I shall perform first from the whole nation of the Jews which have delivered them from Father to Son down along for many generation do you think that a people so carefull and diligent in the keeping and transcribing their records could or would agree together upon no worldly interest at all yea even to the hazard of their lives and fortunes to abuse themselves and their posterity Dub. I confess 't is not very probable but have you any other proof for the certainty of these Prophecyes Firm. Yes From the Testimony of very Heathens 'T is said by Iosephus lib. 1 de Antiq. Iud. cap. 4. that the publick writings of the Syreans Chaldaeans Phâ—nicians Graeciâ—ns are sufficient to testifie the antiquity truth authority and certainity of Holy Scriptures if there were no other proofe in the world beside There is scarce a memorable passage in the Old Testament but 't is mentioned by some Heathen writer as the Creation of the world Noah's Flood the Confusion of Tongues the Children of Israels living in and coming out of the land of Egypâ— the writings of Moses the Babylonish Captivity c. as you may see in Euseb. Grotius de verit Christ. Relig. Parsons Resol Cap. 3. lib. 1. part 1. Dub. Indeed a Testimony from an adversary is beyond all exception I rest satisfied with what you have said for the Authority of the Old Testament have you any thing to say for the New more then what you have said in general for them both together Firm. Yes I have the miracles of our Saviour and his blessed Apostles wrought for the confirmation of what they taught acknoledged by Heathens Grotius de ver Chris. Relig. Besides if you assent to the Divine Authority of the Old Testament you must acknowledg the Divinity of the New which is for the most part nothing else but an explication of the Old and the history of those Prophesies now fullfilled which were delivered by the Prophets who lived in the time of the law You may add to this the miraculous preservation of both Testaments not withstanding the malice of persecuting Heathens who used all arts of cruelty to extinguish them the propagation of the Christian Religion into so many parts of the prejudicating world without yea contrary to all carnal force and worldly inteâ—est by a few simple unlearned men which if t was done without a Miracle was one of the greateâ—t Miracles that ever we read of To this may be added the opposition of many subtil Hereticks who never durst so much as question the Authority of the Scripture but rather betook themselves to their own false glosses that they might shift of those clear texts which made against them whereas it had been a more Compendious way to have utterly denyed them if their impudence had been so great as to oppose the general belief of those times wherein they lived Dub. Tho I am sufficiently convinced of the divine Authority of the Scripture and of the truth of those Miracles which were wronght by Christ and his Apostles for the confirmation of what they taught yet to remove all scruples that may be made against them I shall desire to be more fully satisfied in two exceptions that are urged by Antiscripturists 1. That they were no true Miracles 2. That we have no certainty that there were ever such persons in the world as Christ and his Apostles or that they ever wrought such mighty works as are recorded of them in the New Testament Firm. That there were such persons in the world as Christ and his Apostles that they wrought those Miracles which are mentioned in the History of them both Jews and Gentiles sworn
of the greatest wickednesse under a pretence of Religion as is very obseâ—vable in all heathen mysteries which indeed were very mysteries of iniquity abominable Idolatry not to be named to modest eares Dr. Stillingfleets Orig. Sac. lib. 2. Cap. 10. 4. True miracles differ from diabolicall impostures in three particolars 1. in the manner of their working 2. their number 3. the quality of â—hings wrought by them 1. The impostares of Satan were done by a great deal oâ— pomp and Ceremony magical rites charâ—es and medicines what Christ did was with a words speaking yea by the very touch oâ— his garmâ—â—â— 2. For their number those Satanicall jugliâ—gs were comparatively very few there were not many that were cured by the devill and his instruments but Christ cured whole multitudes and that not in the Revestryes of the teâ—ple where fraud and imposture might be easily suspected but in the presence of the people Arnoâ—ius's objection against the Gentiles is very rationall what wonder is it to shew one or two cured when thousands lie continually in your temples languishing for want of cure which 〈◊〉 eâ—en weary your God Esculaâ—ius with prayâ—rs and teares but could have no helpe â—rom him with all their importunities 3. For the quality of thingâ— pretended to be done by miracles the cures among the heathens were some slight things in Comparison of those performed by Christ what heathen jugler did ever open the eyes of any man that was born blind make the dumb to speak the lame to walke or raise the dead by a words speaking or by a touch of the hand See Dr. Sâ—illingflâ—ets book before cited There is one other argument made use of by the learned Dr. Hammond in his tract of the reasonablenesse of Christian Religion which â— friend caused me to remember for the confirmation of the truth of this divine Revelation This learned man proves the mission and doctrine of Jesus Christ from that high testimony whâ—ch God the father gave him by a voice from heaven coming out of the midst of thunder which way of Revelation was known to the Jews by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the daughter of a voice and by this God did three times give testimony unto Christ 1 immediatly after his baptism 2. at his transâ—iguration 3. a little before his death and all in the pâ—esence of sufficient witnesses this testimony of God the father given three severall times dâ—d â—ully ratify the doctrine of Christ contained in the scriptures of the New Testament God gave â—he very same testimony to Moses and hâ—s doctrine and â—hat in the sight and audience of many thousands Exod. 19.16 Thiâ— Moâ—â—s often reminds the people of especiallâ— Deut. 4.32.33 where he tells them that never any people did heare the voice of God out of â—â—e midst of the fire as they had done and thiâ—â—ay oâ—â—eâ—â—lation seems to be so suitable to the 〈…〉 of almighty God and so pecuâ—â—â—r â—o hiâ— that the devill who in other things 〈◊〉 Aâ—e never attempted to imitate God in tâ—◠〈◊〉 nor do I believe he was ever aâ—â—e Gâ—â— hâ—ving restrâ—ined him by â—his omnipoâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—nd reâ—erved this way of Revelation peâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 Dâ—b 〈◊〉 Discoâ—rse hath been so rationall that 〈…〉 as â—gâ—ippâ—â— almost perswaded to be a 〈…〉 buâ—â—â—together such as you are as to 〈◊〉 â—wo great principleâ— of Christianity concerniâ—g â—he being of God and the Divine Authority â—f â—oly Scripture and methinks I see all false Religâ—â—ns fall flâ—t on their faces before these great â—ruâ—hs as Dagon did before the Arke Firm. No marviell for he that doth firmly believe that God is and that the Scripture is his word must needs abominate those false worships which are â—o extreamly contrary to his divine nature and his most sacred writ but seeing you are so well perswaded of these principles I shall not trouble you with any more reasons for the confirmation of them onely if you shall hereafter meet with any scoffing Atheist or infidell that shall deny either of them you may for conclusion of all presse upon him this dilemma or forked argument Either 't is true there is a God and the Scripture is his word or 't is not true suppose these things be not true yet thou believest them to be so thou art onely in an errour for this short span of time but what if they prove undoutedly true and thou dost not believe them to be so then thou art eternally damned now what a madness is it for any man for the avoiding of a seeming temporary errour to come within the danger of everlasting damnation Dub. This argument might startle any Atheist and make him consider with himselfe how sad his Condition will be if these things be so as solid and undenyable reasons do demonstrate and yet he should live and die an infidell O what will become of such an one unto all eternity I am full of wonder and amazement that seeing there are such convincing reasons against Atheism and infidelity that there should be any such Creatures upon the face of the earth when certainly there are none such in hell for the devill believes and â—rembles Firm. You will cease to wonder when you shall rightly consider the certain reasons of those grosse errours which are 1. Drollery and foolish jesting which renders men inconsiderate and mindlesse even in the affaires of the world much more in the things of eternity a man that is given to Droll and jest is uncapable of any serious businesse 2. Many men are men of short discourse they do not understand the force of an argument by reason of the weaknesse of their discursive faculty which is altogether rusty for want of use exercise and ingenious education though in the booke of nature the eternall power and God-head of the Almighty be wrote in large Characters yet every one cannot Read in that booke no more then he that never went to schoole can read the Primer halfe psalter or any book of the faireâ—t print Dub. This is true of many simple and illiterate men that are very brutes not at all to be distinguished from the beasts that perish but by the erect figure of their bodies their Rational soules mean while being sunke downe into mere sensuality such as have not God in all their thoughts they trouble not themselves to think of him either that he is or is not these digenerate Creatures do not concern themselves in matters of Religion but I hope you wilâ— not say that the wittâ— of the time are such ignorant Animals Firm. I shall not doubt to affirm it and that for these reasons 1. You may observe that these witty men are persons of no serious or solid judgments especially in things of highest concernment they are such as spend their time in idleness Drollery vain Recreations so that albeit the Lord has given them those two great bookes to read in that of nature and the holy scripture yet they vouchsafe not to read or meditate upon
discending to the second thence to the third and so on to the succeding ages of the Church whereby he will perceive how the true Religion has been handed downe from one age to another and how and when this or that errour sprang up as he â—hat sails down some great and clear pure river may easily perceive where little Rivuletts and puddles have run into it and have muddyed and troubled the Cleareâ— Stream Firm. I much approve of what you say concerning the rise and cause of errours in Religion the chiefe reason of them is ignorance in the records of Antiquity and holy Scriptures and want of orderly proceeding in our studies from age to age whereby we may easily perceive how and when the puddles corrupt rivuleâ—s of errour have troubled the purer stream of Christianity and you may without much labour perceive that if you had been well instructed in the being and Attributes of Almighty God in a firm beliefe of his most sacred word you had never fallen into those most dangerous errours of Popery Quakerism or oâ— any such pernicous sect Dub. I do confesse my error and especially that I was so great a stranger not onely to the writings of the fathers but to the holy Scripture it selfe which I did too much neglect and scorn but seeing by Gods blessing upon your endeavours I am fully satisfied of the vanity absurdity and falshood of Atheism infidelity and Popery if you please to give your self thâ—t trouble we will proceed in our discourse concerning Quakerism Anabaptism Independency and Presbytery I shall not trouble you with any other sect because they are all included in some one of these or at least are so vain and ridiculous that we should do them to much honour if we should gratifie them with a sober and serious confutation Firm. I shall most willingly embrace your proposall and if it please you we will proceed to Quakerism the errour which you embraced immediatly before you turned Papist and in truth 't is a faire introduction to Popery and by many grosse errours which the Quakers embrace 't is as evident as the light at noon day who were the fathers of those spurious brats Dub. This is a very truth the Quakers holding many things which are maintained by Papists we may easily know whose Children these poor deluded Souls are and the Corespondence betwixt them made my passage to Rome more ready and easy DIALOGVE IV Against QVAKERISM Firm. You have informed me in our last discourse that being sometime a quaker you had a ready way open to become a Papist I pray tell me why and how you turned a quaker Dub. You put me hard to it for I can give yoâ— no verâ— good reasons for that change and those that moved me are so ridiculous that I am almost ashamed to name them yet such as they are I shall give you the trouble of hearing them I am almost perswaded that the man that perverted me used some enchantments and Diabolicall arts so that I was rather bewitched then rationally perswaded to be of that party as I have heard some have been but because I am not certain of this I shall wave it and shew you my reasons 1. I observed that the cause why there were so many sects and schisms in the world was for want of a certain infallible rule to guide us in our judgments and practises as I was made believe and I was perswaded that the Quakers had such a rule to wit the light within them 2. I observed these men to be very demure in their carriage very austere in their lives sober and tempâ—â—â—tâ— of afflicted dejected countenances very punctuall and just in their dealings not abating one fartâ—ing of the price of any commodity they first demanded greâ—t contemners of the world no respecters of any mans person how great soever so meeke humble and lowly in their apparell and behavior that they cannot endure the wearing of gold-rings silver or silks in themselves or any others and if any man should strike them on the one cheek these poore innocent soules were so farr from revenge that they would turne the other so that I conceiued them to be so many Nathaniels so many true Israelites in whom there was no guile Firm. How could you be deceived by such painted sepulchers what could you see more in them then what was conspicuous in the Scribes and Phariâ—ees of old take iâ— for an infalible rule that whosoever hold or practise any thing which is contrary to the law of nature and good manners expresse Scripture the usages of all sober and civill people in the world are so farr from being true Christians that they are not worthy the name of men Dub. I am fully of your perswasion that these men hold and practise many things which are contrary to the law of nature good manners and holy Scripture but for my farther satisfaction let us discourse some of their tenents and practises Firm. For their tenents you may at your leisure peruse the Synopsis of Quakerisme wrote by Mr. Danson The heads whereof are breifly these taken out of their owne writings which are a mixture of Popery and Socinianisme as 1. They affirm that there are not three persons in the Trinity 2. That Christ did not make satisfaction for the sins of men 3. That justification is not by imputed righteousness but that our owne inhaerent righteousness and good works is the cause of our justification 4. That a state of perfection and freedome from sin is attainable in this life 5. That there is a light in every man sufficient to guide him to salvation 6. That the Scripture is not the word of God or a standing rule of faith and manners 7. That there is no resurrection of the dead 8. That there is no need or use of ordinances as Baptisme and the Lords Supper 9. That 't is unlawfull to take an oath before a Magistrate upon any account whatsoever Dub. I know these and many more to be the positions of quakers and that they are directly contrary to sacred Schripture Firm. These things are so clearly confuted by the expresse word of God and tradition of the Catholick Church that 't is superfluous to trouble you with any further discourse about them As for their practises they are extreamly opposite to all good manners and the Civilities of aâ—l Nations that are not grosly barbarous as well as â—o the holy Scripture and whereas you have observed their carriages to be very demure austere and that they are of a sad countenance 't is no more then what our blessed Saviour reproved in the Scribes and Pharisees long since indeed to be sad and mourn in times of publick Humiliation Calamities and great Judgements is Christian but to be constanly so savours too much of the Pharisee and is contrary to holy Scripture which instructs us there is a time to Laugh as well as to Weepe there is nothing which more delights and cheers the
perjury were so frequently observed by some heathens that when Diagoras hearing a man for swearing himself in a Court of Judicature and being impatient to see that he was not presently thunder-strucken became an Atheist and because Sentence against so great an evill was not suddenly executed therefore the heart of this fool this wicked man was fully set in him about that great mischief to say there was no God Psal. 14.1 Eccl. 8.11 Dub. Some Pagans aâ—d false Christians have dared to take false Oaths The Jesuites whether they be Pagans or Christians I know not will swear anything even solemnly in Courts of Justice and therefore this argument impious meâ— dare not take a false oath therefore there is a Deity or some Supream power which they fear holds not for the antecedent is evidently fals but this is rational strange horrors and terrors of conscience and fearfull judgments have followed perjured persons tho no man knew they were so therefore there is some invisible superior power wheâ—ce such horrors and terrors and judgmentâ— proceed Frm. I do confess that there have been several perjured persons in former and are in these present times but for a full answer to this exception see what is replyed to another very like it Pag. 4. however I am content the argument should stand as you have proposed it strange horror and terrors of conscience and fearfull judgment have followed perjured persons c. which sufficiently proves what I intended and therefore I proceed Another argument very like to this or which is rather an addition to the former may be takâ—n from the feares and torments of an evil coâ—science even amongst the very heathens Nero haveing killed his Mother confessed that he was often troubled which her Ghost The wretched Caligula at the report of a thunder clap would â—un under his bed A thousand instances there are amongst heathen writers of wicked men labouring under the feares and terrors of their own coâ—science which Juvenal does describe to the life in one or two of his Satyrs What should be the reason that mere Pagans men having no knowledg of the true God or of his Severity against wickedness should be tormented with the sad prospect of some fearefull judgment attending upon their villanies tho never so secretly practised but the timor Numinis vindicantis the fear of divine vengeance A third argument may be drawn from the certainty that there are Devils evil Spirits together with their wicked Instruments Witches Magicians Sorcerers Conjurers which none but a foolish Atheist who will believe no further then his sight leads him can doubt of How frequently the Devil has appeared in this nation in times of gross ignoranceâ— and superstition and how he does so still to the poor ' Indians thâ—t worship him for their God is aboundantly manifest by the tradition of our fore fathers and the testimony of knowing Christians that have been in those parts What pranks and diabolical feats have been acted by Witches and Conjurers may be seen in those learned Authors that have wrot against them as Dr. Moor and many others And albeit the appearances of evil Spirits Witch-crafts c. are not now so frequent in this nation as heretofore in times of Popery and darke Ignorance yet does it not therefore folloâ— that all our forefathers were Melancholly Hypocondriacks deceived themselves and deceiving us with vain and groundless phansies but the true reason is this in times of ignorance and superstition the Devil appears more frequently to uphold his Kingdome over his vassals and to confirm them in their false worship but in times of knowledg and Gospel light the Prince of Darkness uses all his arts to render men Scepticks in Religion and of no Religion at all Atheists Infidels Prophane so that his very appearing would pull down his Kingdome which he exercises over these wretches who like Sadducees believe neither Angel nor Spirit nor any thing further then they can see Now the Prince oâ— the Air is too subtil to confute this Groâ—s errour in his best servants by any or often apparitions The last reason I shall take from that allowed distiâ—ction that is betwixt good and evil better and worse which could not be unless there were some measure of mans actions and this measure must be a law either written in mans heart or instituted and written in bookes or tables and thiâ— law must have a law maker which must be able both to know reward and punish not only mans words and actions but his very thoughts which none can do according to the exact rules of Justice but he that is infinite in knowledg and wisdom that is none but the omniscient God Besides all this there are degrees in good and evil for of things that are good some are better then others of things that are evil some are worse then other Now these degrees of good and evil take their rise and fall by their aproaching to or declination from that which is summum bonum or the chiefest good so that if there were no best or cheifest good there could be no better or worse no good or evil at all therefore there must be one infinite good To conclude this first discourse seeing the inclination of all People to believe a God the instinct of nature to confess it the excellent fabrick of the world to declare it the force of wicked mens consciences to fear it the Custom of civil nations to adore it do abundantly prove that God is yea doubtless that there is a God that judgeth the earth what a monstrous Creature is the fool Atheist that saith in his heart there is no God Dub. Though I was abundantly satisfied with your former reasons against Atheism yet I heartily thank you for these which you have here added which though they are more largely treated on by several learned Authors yet as you have breifly summed them up they are more suitable to men of ordinary capacities and of short discourse who loose themselves in long treatises and are apt to forget what they have read in the beginning of them before they come to the middle and are more tired with the length then pleased with the soundness and excellency of such discourses Sir being fully satisfied with your reasons against Atheism I humbly beseech the Almighty Creatour of heaven and earth to bless them unto me to preserve me from all prophane irreligious Courses from practical Atheism which by its own Natural propensity and the just judgment of the most holy and righteous God is the great cause of that which is Speculative and Dogmatical DIALOGVE II. against Antiscrpturisme Firm. HAving given you such satisfaction about the being of God as hath fully removed all your doubts concerning that first and great principle if you please we will discourse of the other that is like unto it the Divine Auâ—hâ—rity of the holy Scripture for upon these two depend the great and weighty business of Religion He that is steadfast
in the beliefe of the being of God and the truth of his moâ—t sacred word if he be true to these great fundamentals must of necessity be both an Orthodox and a serious Christian. Dub. If you can give me as good satisfaction in the divine Authority of Scripture as you have in the being of an eternal God Creatour of heaven and earth you will performe a work of greatest Charity but I fâ—ar of as great difficulty Firm. Happily you may perceive some difficulty in it but if you will make use of your reason and lay aside all prejudicating opinions which cheifly arise from that contrariety which is betwixt mens carnall corrupt hearts and the holy and pure word of God I hope by his blessing whose Cause I plead to perswade you to give your full assent to this other great principle of Christianity Dub. I shall endeavour to weigh your reasons in the ballance of an even unbiassed judgment and to receive them aâ—imo defaecato with a mind free from the dregs of sensuality interest partiality or prejudice Firm. Upon the confidence to find this ingenuity in you I shall present you with these following reasons 1. You do belive that there is an omnipotent God Creatour of heaven and earth that he made all things therein contained that being infinite in wisedome and knowledg he made all these things for some good end that he hath ordered them to act and worke in such a manner as is suitable to their several natures that in as much as they have their being facultys operations from their all wise and Glorious maker they are bound by the law of Creation to do homage and service to him that made them Dub. All this I grant to be very rational Firm. These things being granted that not to mention other Creatures as man had his being reason and understanding from Almighty God so is he bound to serve him in that way and manner which is agreeable to mans excellent nature which must be therefore a reasonable service which all the world as well Pagans as Jews and Christians call Religion which according to all sober people comprehends duties of piety as praier praises and sacrifices duties of temperance sobriety and chastity duties of honesty justice righteousness and all morality Dub. There is nothing more evident then that as there is a most wise and holy God that made man endued him with excellent facultys of reason and understanding so there is a debt and duty owing from man to God his maker which all the world calls Religion and no people in the world were ever so barbarous saies Cicero as to be destitute of all Religion yea there is such a tendency in the nature of man where t is not utterly extinguished by brutish sensuality that rather then he will worship no God at all he will bow down to a Sock or a Stone so that clear it is if there be a God the Creatour and man by him created there must of necessity be a Religion Firm. Truly nothing does more necessarily follow as Du-Plessis has well observed then a God a man a Religion But if Almighty God did make man to worship him sure he gave him some rules for that worship some law to direct him in this great concern of his Soul Dub. I cannot deny it and that this law was no law written in paper or engraven in tables of stone but the law of nature written in mans heart which made Tertullian utter these excellent words o aniâ—a naturaliter Christiana ô Divine Soul that art naturally a Christian. We see that the fire ascends the water moves towards the Center birds make their nests Beasts feed their young not by any outward positive law but by the unerring hand of nature and may not man that has a natural inclination to serve his maker perform this service without any institued law or prescribed Canon Firm. Ther 's no disputing against experience you see he does not and when you shall embrace and understand the holy Scriptures you will see he cannot by reason of his fall from that â—erfect staâ—e in which he was first made whereas the inferior Creatures kept their Station Dub. I confess there are different Religions in the world opposite one to another so that all of them cannot be in the right way of woâ—shiping God some of necessity must be false and erroneous Firm. If of all religions in the world all are not in the right how will you know which is the true Religion which is the false This you cannot discern by any imprinted law or light of nature unless excited by Art and industry which is in some measure common to all men that are not natural fools and Madmen stupid inconsiderate wretches or debauched bruits whose reason is â—unk down into gross Sensuality Dub. T is very true if the meer light of nature were sufficient to point out the true Religion I am not able to say why so many Sober men in several parts of the world who have not debauched their Reason and judgment should so strangely differ about it Firm. I believe you cannot nor yet why Jewes and Pagans did offer up bloody Sacrifices to these Deitys they worshipped Does any light of nature make it rational that the Gods should be pleased with the blood of poor innocent Beasts or is it rational to imagine that they should delight in humane â—acrifices Dub. I must acknowledge I do not understand how the light of nature should teach men that such Sacrifices should please the Gods I have oftâ—n wondered at this part of worship used by Jews and Gentiles pray Sir give your selfe the trouble of informing me whence this practise sprang Firm. You are satisfied that it had not its original from the light of nature for albeit some kind of Sacrifices as Prayers praises alms-deeds and it may be the offering of the Fruits of the Earth Deo datori to God that gave them might spring from that light yet the Sacrificing of Beasts was never shewed to Jew or Gentile by natures Candle but was after the fall of man appointed by Almighty God to prefigure the Grand propitiatory Sacrifice which was to be made by the blood of him that was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world which the Devil who is tearmed Gods Ape taught his servants the Gentils to imitate who had the shell but not the kernel the shadow but not the substance the outward rite but not Christ crucified represented by it Dub. I do acknowledg that the Sacrificing of beasts came not from the light of nature and you seem to make it probable that 't was from divine revelation and positive institution Firm. You will be better satisfied when you shall consider That the founders of all Religions in the world did pretend to Revelations Numa Lycurgus Mahomet c. which the devil taught them to do in imitation of Moses and the rest of the holy Prophets who spake as they were moved by