Account of it; (a) the Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem, and the Temple, (b) and the sore Calamities of the Jews.

SECT. IX.

And also from the Care that it was fit God should take, that false Writings should not be forged.

TO what has been said may be added, that if it be granted, that God takes care of human Affairs, and especially those that concern his own Honour and Worship; it is impossible he should suffer such a Multitude of Men, who had no other Design than to worship him with Sincerity, to be deceived by false Books. And, after there did arise several Sects in Christianity, there was scarce any found, who did not receive either all, or most of these Books, except a few, which do not contain any Thing particular in them; which is a very good Argument why we should think, that nothing in these Books could be contradicted; because those Sects were so inflamed with hatred against each other, that whasoever pleased one, for that very Reason displeased another.

SECT. X.

A Solution of that Objection, that many Books were rejected by some.

THERE were indeed amongst those who were willing to be called Christians, a very few, who rejected all those Books which seem to contradict their particular Opinion; such as they, who out

(a) The Siege and Destruction, &c.] Matt. xxiii. 38. xxiv. 16. Luke xiii, 34. xxi. 24.

(b) And the sore Calamities of the Jews, &c.] Matt. xxi. 33, and the following Verses. xxiii. 34. xxiv. 20.

of

of Hatred to the Jews, (a) spoke ill of the God of the Jews, of the Maker of the World, and of the Law: Or, on the contrary, out of Fear of the Hardships that the Christians were to undergo, (b) sheltered themselves under the name of Jews, (c) that they might profess their Religion, without Punishment. (d) But these very Men were disowned by all other Christians every where, (e) in those Times, when all pious Persons, that differed from one another, were very patiently borne with, according to the Command of the Apostles. The first Sort of these Corrupters of Christianity are, I think, sufficiently confuted above, where we have shewn that there is but one true God, whose Workmanship the World is: And indeed it is sufficiently evident from those very Books which they, that they might in some

(a) Spoke ill of the God of the Jews, &c.] See Irenæus, Book I. Chap. 29. Tertullian against Marcion, and Epiphanius concerning the same.

(b) Sheltered themselves under the Name, &c.] See Gal. ii. 2. vi. 13, 14. Philip. iii. 18. Irenæus, Book III. Chap. 28. Epiphanius concerning the Ebionites.

(c) That they might profess their Religion, &c] Acts ix. 20. xiii. and many times in that Book. Philo against Flaccus; and concerning the Embassy. Josephus every where. To which may be added L. Generaliter. D. de Decurionibus, and Lib. I.' C. de Judas. Tertullian, in his Apology, says, "But the "Jews read their Law openly; they generally purchase "Leave by a Tribute, which they gather upon all SabbathDays."

(d) But these very Men were disowned, &c.] Tertullian, in his First against Marcion, says, "You cannot find any Church "of Apostolical Order, who are not Christians out of Regard "to the Creator."

(e) In those Times, &c.] See what will be said of this Matter at the End of the Sixth Book. Add also Ireneus's Epistle to Victor, and what Jerom writes concerning it in his Catalogue ; and Cyprian in his African Council, "Judging no Man, nor "removing any one from the Right of Communion, for his "differing in Opinion."

Measure

Measure appear to be Christians, receive; (a) such as the Gospel of St. Luke in particular: It is, I say, evident that Christ preached the same God, which Moses and the Hebrews worshipped. We shall have a better Opportunity to confute the other Sort, when we come to oppose those who are Jews, and willing to be called so. In the mean Time I shall add only this; that the Impudence of those Men is very surprising to undervalue the Authority of Paul, when there was not any one of the Apostles who founded more Churches; nor of whom there were so many Miracles related, at that Time when, as was before observed, the Facts might be easily inquired into. And if we believe these Miracles, what Reason is there why we should not believe him in his heavenly Visions, and in his receiving his Instruction from Christ? If he was so beloved of Christ, it cannot possibly be, that he should teach any Thing disagreeable to Christ, that is, any Thing false; and that one Thing, which they find Fault with in him, namely, his Opinion concerning the Freedom procured to the Hebrews from the Rites formerly injoined by Moses, there could be no Reason for his teaching it, but the Truth; (b) for he was circumcised himself, (c) and observed most of the Law of his own Accord: And for the Sake of the Christian Religion, (d) he performed Things much more difficult, and underwent Things much harder than the Law commanded, or than he had Reason to expect

(a) Such as the Gospel of St. Luke, &c.] Tertullian, in his Sixth Book against Marcion, makes it appear very plainly. (b) For he was circumcised, &c.] Philip iii. 5.

(c) And observed most of the Law, &c.] Acts xvi. 3. xx. 6. xxi. and the following Chapter.

(d) He performed Things, &c.] 2 Cor. xi. 23, and the following Verses; and every where in the Acts. See also 1 Cor. xi. 3. 2 Cor. xi. 30. xii. 10.

ироп

upon the Account of it; (a) and he was the Cause of his Disciples doing and bearing the same Thing: Whence it is evident, he did not deliver any Thing to please the Ears of his Hearers, or for their Profit; when he taught them (b) instead of the Jewish Sabbath, to spend every Day in Divine Worship; instead of the small Expences the Law put them to, (c) to bear the Loss of all their Goods, (d) and instead of offering Beasts to God, to offer their own Blood to him. And Paul himself openly assures us, (e) that Peter, John, and James, gave him their Right Hands, in Token of their Fellowship with him; which if it had not been true, he would not have ventured to say so, when they were alive, and could have convicted him of an Untruth. Except only those therefore, which I have now mentioned, who scarce deserve the Name of Christians; the manifest Consent of all other Assemblies, in receiving these Books; besides what has been already said, concerning the Miracles which were done by the Writers of them, and the particular Care of God about Things of this Nature; is sufficient to induce all impartial Men to give Credit to these Relations; because they are ready to believe many other historical Books which have not any Testimonies of this Kind; unless very good Reason can be given to the contrary; which cannot be done here.

(a) And he was the Cause, &c.] Acts xx. 29. Rom, v. 3, 8. xii. 12. 2 Cor. i. 4, 8. ii. 4. vi. 4. 1 Thess. i. 6. 2 Thess. i. 6.

(b) Instead of the Jewish Sabbath, &c.] Acts ii. 46, v. 42. 1 Tim. v. 5. 2 Tim. i. 3.

(c) To bear the loss of all, &c:] 2 Cor. vi. 4. xii. 10. (d) And instead of offering Beasts, &c.] Rom. viii. 36. 2 Cor. iv. 11. Phil. i. 20.

(e) That Peter, John, and James, &c.] Gal. ii. 9. And 1 Cor. xv. 11. 2 Cor. xi, 5. xii. 11.

SECT.

SECT. XI.

An Answer to the Objection, of some Things being contained in these Books, that are impossible.

FOR if any one should say, that there are some Things related in these Books, that are impossible to be done; (a) we have before shewn, that there are some Things which are impossible to be done by Men, but are possible with God; that is, such as do not include any Contradiction in themselves; amongst which Things, are to be reckoned those which we account most wonderful, the Power of working Miracles, and calling the Dead to Life again; so that this Objection is of no Force.

SECT. XII.

Or disagreeable to Reason.

NOR is there more Heed to be given to them, who say, that there are some Doctrines to be found in these Books, which are inconsistent with right Reason. For first, this may be disproved by that great Multitude of ingenious, learned, and wise Men, who have relied on the Authority of these Books, from the very Beginning: Also, every Thing that has been shewn in the first Book, to be agreeable to right Reason, viz. that there is a God, and but one, a most perfect Being, all-powerful, loving, wise, and good; that all Things which are, were made by him; that his Care is over all his Works, particularly over Men; that he can reward those that obey him, after this Life; that we are to bridle sensual Appetites; that there is a natural Relation betwixt Men, and therefore they ought to love one another: All these we may find plainly

(a) We have before shewn, &c.] Book II.

delivered