relled with each other most bitterly, about the highest Places: And, as of old, the (a) preferring the Tree of Knowledge to the Tree of Life, was the Occasion of the greatest evils; so then nice Inquiries were esteemed more than Piety, (b) and Religion

"

lating many and advantageous Things." This was that Chief Justice of whom Jerome tells a Story, not unworthy to be men tioned here, to Pammachius, against the Errors of John of Jerusalem. "The Chief Justice that died when he was designed for "Consul used to say jestingly to the holy Pope Damasus ; Make me Bishop of the City of Rome, and I will be a Christian im"mediately." See also what the same Ammianus says, Book XV. The African Council did not without reason admonish the Bishop of the City of Rome thus: "That we may not seem "to bring the vain Arrogance of the Age into the Church of "Christ, which affords the Light of Simplicity, and the Day "of Humility, to them who desire to see God." To which we may add, the noble Epistles of the Roman Bishop Gregory, truly stiled the Great, Book IV. 32, 34, 36. Book VI. 30. Book VII. Indict. 1. Epist. 30.

(a) Preferring the Tree of Knowledge, &c.] Gen. ii. and iii.

(b) And Religion was made un Art, &c.] See what was before quoted out of the Twenty-first Book of Ammianus. The same Historian, Book XXIII. in the History of Julian, says,

And that his Disposition of Things might produce a more "certain Effect, having admitted the disagreeing Prelates of "the Christians, together with the divided Multitude, into the "Palace; he admonished them that every, one, laying aside

their civil Discord, should apply himself without Fear to "his Religion; which he urged the more earnestly, because "Liberty is apt to increase dissensions; that he might have "the less Reason to fear the common People, when they were "all of one Mind, knowing that no Beasts are so mischievous "to Mankind, as very many of the Christians were, who were

so outrageous against one another." See also Procopius, in the first of his Gothics, to be read with some Abatement here, as in other Places. "Ambassadors came from By"zantium, to the Bishop of Rome, viz. Hupatius, Bishop of

Ephesus, and Demetrius, Bishop of Philippi in Macedonia, "concerning an Opinion, which was controverted amongst "the Christians, though I know what Opposition they "made, yet I am very unwilling to relate it. For I think "it the maddest Folly to search nicely into the Nature of

"God,

Religion was made an Art. The Consequence of which was, that after the Example of them (a) who built the Tower of Babel, their rashly affecting Matters, produced different Languages and Confusion among them; which the common People taking Notice of, many times not knowing which Way to turn themselves, cast all the Blame upon the Sacred Writings, and began to avoid them, as if they were infected. And Religion began every where to be placed, not in Purity of Mind, but in Rites, as if Judaism were brought back again; and in those Things, which contained in them (b) more of bodily Exercise, than Improvement of

<l God, and wherein it consists. For, as I conceive, Man "cannot fully comprehend human Things, much less those "that appertain to the Divine Nature, I may therefore se"curely pass by these Things in Silence, and not disturb. "what they reverence. As for myself, I can say nothing "more of God, but that he is every Way good, and upholds "all Things by his Power; he that knows more, whether "he be a priest or one of the common People, let him speak "it." Gregorus, Book XII. cites the saying of Lysis the Pythagorean, and afterwards of Synesius; That talking "Philosophy among the Vulgar, was the Cause of Men's so much contemning divine Things." So also Book the Xth, he much dissuades Men from such Disputes; and speaking of the Latins of his time, he says, "I blame and con"demn the Italians highly, because they run into divine "Matters with great Arrogance." Afterwards he adds; Amongst them the Mechanics utter the Mysteries of Divinity, and they are all as eager of reasoning Syllogistically, as the Cattle are of Food and Grass. Both they "who doubt of what they ought to believe rightly, and "they who know not what they ought to believe, nor what "they say they believe; these fill all the Theatres, Forums, "and Walks, with their Divinity, and are not ashamed to "make the Sun a Witness of their Impudence."

(a) Who built the Tower of Babel, &c.] Gen. xi. Mahomet often reproaches these Controversies of the Christians, particularly in Azoara, XXVI. XXXII.

23.

(b) More of bodily Exercise, &c.] 1 Tim. iv. 8. Colos. ii.

the

the Mind; and also in a violent adhering to (a) the Party they had chosen; the final Event of which was, that there were every where a great many (b) Christians in Name, but very few in reality. God did not overlook these Faults of his Peo

ple; but from the farthest Corners (c) of Scythia, (d) and Germany, poured vast Armies, like a Deluge, upon the Christian World: And when the great Slaughter made by these, did not suffice to reform those which remained; by the just Permission of God, (e) Mahomet planted in Arabia a new Religion, directly opposite to the Christian Religion; yet such as did in a good Measure express in Words, the Life of a great Part of the Christians. This Religion was first embraced by the Saracens, who revolted from the Emperor Heraclius; whose Arms quickly subdued Arabia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, Persia; and afterwards they invaded Africa, and came over Sea into Spain. But the Power of the Saracens was derived to others, (f) particularly to the Turks, a very warlike People; who after many long Engagements

(a) The Party they had chosen, &c.] Roman. x. 2. 1 Cor. i. 12. and following Verses.

(b) Christians in Name, &c.] See Salvian, Book III. concerning the Government of God. " Excepting a very few who "avoid Wickedness, what else is the whole Body of Christians,

" but a Sink of Vice?"

(c) Of Scythia, &c.] Huns, Avari, Sabiri, Alani, Enthalites, and Turks.

(d) And Germany, &c.] Goths, Eruli, Gepida, Vandals, Franks, Burgundians, Swedes, Almains, Saxons, Varni, and Lombards.

(e) Mahomet planted in Arabia, &c.] Dr Prideaux's Life of Mahomet, wrote in English, is very well worth reading, published at London, Anno 1697. Le Clerc.

(f) Particularly to the Turks, &c.] See Leunclavius's History of Turkey, and Laonicus Chalcocondilas.

with the Saracens, being desired to enter into a League, they easily embraced a Religion agreeable to their Manners, and transferred the Imperial Power to themselves. Having taken the Cities of Asia and Greece, and the Success of their Arms increasing, they came into the Borders of Hungary and Germany.

SECT. II.

The Mahometans' Foundation overturned, in that they do not examine into Religion.

THIS Religion, which was plainly calculated for Bloodshed, delights much in Ceremonies, (a) and would be believed, without allowing Liberty to inquire into it: For which Reason the Vulgar are prohibited reading those Books which they account sacred; which is a manifest Sign of their Iniquity. For those Goods may justly be suspected, which are imposed upon us with this Condition, that they must not be looked into, It is true indeed, all Men have not like Capacities for understanding every Thing; many are drawn into Error by Pride, others by Passion, and some by Custom: (b) But the Divine Goodness will not allow

(a) And would be believed, &c.] See the Alcoran, Azoara, XIII. according to the first Latin Edition, which, for the Reader's Sake, we here follow.

(b) But the Divine Goodness will not allow us, &c.] See the Answer to the Orthodox, Question the Fourth, among the Works of Justin: "That it is impossible for him not to find "the Truth, who seeks it with all his Heart and Power; this our Lord testifies, when he says; he that asks receives, be "that seeks shall find, and to him that knocks, it shall be "opened." And Origen in his Thirteenth Book against Celsus: "He ought to consider that he who sees and hears "all Things, the common Parent and Maker of the Uni

66 verse,

allow us to believe, that the Way to eternal Salvation cannot be known by those who seek it, without any Regard to Profit or Honour; submitting themselves, and all that belong to them, to God, and begging Assistance from him. And indeed, since God has planted in the Mind of Man a Power of judging; no part of Truth is more worthy to employ it about, than that which they cannot be ignorant of, without being in Danger of missing eternal Salvation.

SECT. III.

A Proof against the Mahometans taken out of the sacred Books of the Hebrews and Christians; and that they are not corrupted.

MAHOMET and his Followers confess (a) that both Moses (b) and Jesus were sent by God; and that they who first propagated the Institution of Jesus, (c) were holy Men. (d) But there are many Things related in the Alcoran, which is the Law of

"verse, judges according to Men's Deserts, of the Disposition "of every one that seeks him, and is willing to worship him; " and he will render to every one of these the Fruit of his Piety."

(a) That both Moses, &c.] Azoara V. XXI.

(b) And Jesus, &c.] Azoara V. VII.

(c) Were holy Men, &c.] Azoara V. LXXI.

(d) But there are many Things related, &c.] As the Temple of Mecha, built by Abraham, Azoara XI. And many other Things of Abraham, Azoara XXXI. A confused History of Gideon and Saul, Azoara III. Many Things in the History of Exodus, Azoara XVII. XXX. and XXXVIII. Many Things in the History of Joseph, Azoara XII. concerning the Birds cut in pieces by Abraham, and called to Life again, Azoara IV, concerning Mary's being brought up with Zachariah, Azoara V. concerning the Birds made of Clay by Jesus, Ibid, and XIII.

Mahomet,