m 1 Vice and Wickedness to prevail more which at Here then was a proper Seafon, when The RMen had fo univerfally corrupted their formation ways, for a Divine Revelation to inter- firft it pofe and this is the great Argument, made in which the Apologifts for Chriftianity theworld. infift on with fo much Triumph, viz. that the Converts to their Inftitution immediately became quite other Men, and practifed all kinds of Virtue with m incre n Jofephus de bello Jud. Eph. v. 12. Vid. Juvenal & Saluft. Pafim. 1 Cor. vi. 9, . incredible Zeal, though they had been never fo vicious and profligate before. "Give me a Man (fays P Lactantius) as "paffionate and abufive, as lewd and "lascivious, as can be imagined, and, "with a few Inftructions of God, I'll "make him as Meek and Innocent as a Lamb; could even any could even any of the Phi"lofophers do this?" And indeed, if we look round the World, 1 where, but in Chriftian Profeffion, do we find any true Devotion exclufive of Superftition and idolatrous Ceremonies? Where any Acts of real Charity, fuch as clothing the Naked, and feeding the Hungry, and founding Hofpitals for the Poor? Where Perfons, of the highest Rank, condefcending to the loweft Acts of Humility; Kings and Emperors, with their own Hands, feeding the Needy; and Queens and Empresses adminiftring to the Sick? In what other Inftitution, I fay, can we find fuch a generous Contempt of the World, as to undervalue Riches and Honours, amidst an Affluence of them? Where fuch Abftenence and Moderation in the most lawful Enjoyments; where fuch Patience and Perfeverance under the most fevere Trials; where fuch Zeal and Fervour, fuch earneft Contention for Victory P Lib. 2. Nickel's Conference, Vol. 1. Victory over Sin, and ardent Aspirations after Heaven and Happiness, as was univerfally remarked among Chriftians in the Primitive Times? Nay, in those Times, not only the Profeffors of Chriftianity, but even fuch as rejected it, received feveral Advantages from the Force and Influence of its Doctrine. I Their Oracles ceas'd; their Idols were deftroy'd; and the Oblation of humane Sacrifices (which was accompanied with many cruel and impure Rites) was every where intermitted: Morality was taught by their Philofophers in much greater Perfection, than ever it was before: The Vices, which made up fo great a Part of their facred Myfteries, appear'd too abominable to pass any longer for Religion; and their idolatrous Worship became fuch a reproach to them, that they fought out all Arts to refine and excufe it; being afham'd at the Comparison, when they faw Christianity, (wherever it prevail'd,) • establishing a Worship fuitable to the pure and fpiritual Nature of God, a Worship of the Heart, confifting of Prayers, and Praises, and Thanksgivings to him, who is the Author of our Being, under whofe daily Protection we live, f Fenkin's Reafonableness, Vol. 1. Bp of Lon don's 2d Paftoral Letter. And the it ftill does in and from whofe never-failing Bounty we receive all the good Things that we enjoy. t It cannot be denied indeed, but that the great Good Zeal of those Times is gone off, and the Influence of our holy Religion strangely the World. abated; that a Spirit of Delufion and Infidelity feems to prevail, and grofs Exceffes and Irregularities are ufually committed among Chriftians: But ftill we Appeal to our Adverfaries, whether thefe Exceffes would not become more general,and more flagrant,if the Reftraints of our Religion were remov'd; whether the Commiffion of them is not far lefs frequent, and attended with more Caution and Shame, than among Heathens; and whether the Scandal and Enormity of them be not, in fome measure, ballanc'd by the extraordinary Degrees of Piety, Purity, and Exactnefs of Life and Manners, which Multitudes of its Profeffors exhibit. We may appeal to them, ▾ whether in thofe Countries, where Christianity is profess'd with any tolerable Purity, the generality of the meaner, and moft vulgar and ignorant People have not truer and worthier Notions of God, more juft and right Apprehenfions concerning h's Attributes and t Bp of London's 2d Paftoral Letter. vidence. Per Clarke's E Perfections, a deeper Senfe of the difference of Good and Evil, a greater Regard to Moral Obligations, and a more firm and univerfal Expectation of a future State of Rewards and Punishments, than, win any Pagan Country, any confiderable Number of Men, at this Time, are known to have. And, laftly, we may appeal to them, whether this growth of Infidelity, and decay of Christian Piety (be it as great, as is fuppofed among us) be not a convincing Proof of the Truth of our Religion, fince the bleffed Author of it has not only affur'd us, that in his Kingdom here below, there should be always Tares growing with the Wheat, and that, at his coming (fuch fhould be the general Apostacy) he would hardly y find Faith on the Earth; but his Apoftle likewife has foretold us, that there should come Mockers in the last time, who fhould walk after their own ungodly Lufts, being like Clouds without Water, carried about of Winds; like raging Waves of the Sea, foaming out their own fhame; and like wandring Stars, to whom is referv'd the Blackness of Darkness for ever. K k 2 X And Vid. Millar's Propagation of Chriftianity, c. 7. or Bp of London's 2d Paftoral Letter, pag. 33, &c. . Matt. xiii, 24. Luk. xviii. 8. *Jud. xviii. 12, 13. |