ligion began to be more and more spread, (a) and many of its Professors were Hebrews: (b) Many had studied the Hebrew Learning, who could very easily have perceived and discovered it, if the Jews had received any Thing that was false, in any remarkable Subject, I mean, by comparing it with more ancient Books. But they not only do this, but they bring very many Testimonies out of the Old Testament, plainly in that Sense in which they are received amongst the Hebrews, which Hebrews may be convicted of any Crime, sooner than (I will not say of Falsity, but) of Negligence, in Relation to these Books; (c) because they used to transcribe and compare them so very scrupulously, that they could tell how often every Letter came We may add, in the first Place, an Arguinent, and that no mean one, why the Jews did not alter the Scripture designedly; because the Christians prove, and as they think very strongly, that their Master Jesus was that very Messiah who was of old promised to the Forefathers of the

over.

(a) And many of its Professors were Hebrews, &c.] Or next to Hebrews, as Justin, who was a Samaritan.

(b) Many had studied the Hebrew Learning, &c.] As Origen, Epiphanius, and especially Jerom.

66

(c) Because they used to transcribe, &c.] Josephus in his First Book against Appion. "It is very manifest, by our Deeds, "how much Credit we give to our own Writings; for after so many Ages past, no one has presumed to add, take away, or change any Thing." See the Law, Deut. iv. 1. and the Talmud, inscribed Shebnoth. (We are to understand this of the Time after the Masoru; for it was otherwise before, in the Time of their Commonwealth; and after it was overturned by the Chaldeans, they were not so accurate as is commonly thought. This is evident from Lud Capellus's Critics upon the Bible, and from the Commentaries of learned Men upon the Old Testament, and likewise from Grotius's own Annotations. And we have also shewn it to be so on the historical Books of the Old Testament. Le Clerc.)

Jews; and this from those very Books, which were read by the Jews. Which the Jews would have taken the greatest Care should never have been, after there arose a Controversy between them and the Christians; if it had ever been in their Power to have altered what they would.

BOOK

1

BOOK IV.

SECT I.

A particular Confutation of the Religions that differ from Christianity.

THE Fourth Book (beginning with that Pleasure Men for the most Part take at the Sight of other Men's Danger, when they themselves are placed out of the Reach of it) shews, that the principal Aim of a Christian ought to be, not only a Satisfaction upon his having found out the Truth himself, but also an Endeavour to assist others, who wander in various crooked Paths of Error, and to make them Partakers of the same Happiness. And this we have in some Measure attempted to do in the foregoing Books, because the Demonstration of the Truth contains in it the Confutation of Error. But, however, since the particular Sorts of Religion, which are opposed to Christianity; as Paganism, Judaism, or Mahometanism, for Instance; besides that which is common to all, have some particular Errors, and some special Arguments, which they use to oppose us with; I think it may not be foreign to our present Purpose, to attempt a particular Examination of every one of them. In the mean Time, beseeching our Readers to free their Judgment from all Passion and Prejudice, which clog the Understanding; that they may the more impartially determine concerning what is to be said.

Jews; and this from those very Books, whic were read by the Jews. Which the Jews woul have taken the greatest Care should never h been, after there arose a Controversy between then and the Christians; if it had ever been in the Power to have altered what they would.