Page images
PDF
EPUB

Reason of Man; and the neceffity of it to all Perfons without Distinction, the most learned as well as ignorant, is no lefs apparent.

For however thefe Philofophers might please themselves with the falfe Opinion of a perfect Knowledge, it is too notorious that their Pretences were vain and trifling. They profeffed indeed a Science of Divine Matters, but fuch as included only unuseful, and oftentimes abfurd, Notions; which were as various as their feveral Sects, and those as numerous as the Whimfies of ambitious Men; and all derided by a powerful and learned Sect, which denied any truth to be in things. Or if any of them entertained right Notions of a Deity and Religion, yet was it rather by way of Conjecture, than Certainty, which therefore had no influence upon their Lives, nor afforded any other hopes of a future State, than what were founded only on faint Wishes and uncertain Defires; fuch as would never induce them to forego their Lives, or any part of their temporal Happiness, rather than renounce it; or give them intire affurance of any Reward or Punishment in another Life.

If to pretend that Revelation is unneceffary and unuseful to them, was frivolous and irrational in thefe Heathen Philofophers; much more abfurd was it to arraign the Chriftian Religion of its fimplicity, which fitted it for the Reception of all the members of Mankind, not appropriating it to the Bene

fit of Philofophers only, by propofing abftrufé Contemplations and nice Subtilties, beyond the ordinary reach of unlearned Perfons. This was the chief Reason why Christianity was by them accounted Folly, as being hereby become the Portion of reputed Fools, as well as the Science of thofe, who flattered themselves with the Title of Wisdom. And this is none of the least Reasons why we ought to esteem it the most excellent of all Religions, and condemn the intolerable Pride and Supercilioufnefs of fuch Men, who either then did endeavour to engross the Knowledge of Divine Matters, or now do true Belief and Salvation, to themselves only.

Religion was intended by God to procure the Happiness of the whole Race of Mankind, not of any Sect or Denomination of Men, much less of a small inconfiderable Party, who, by appropriating to themselves the greatest Bleffings of Heaven, make themfelves unworthy of the leaft of them. Nothing therefore contributes fo much to declare the Mercy of God, or is fo befitting the Holinefs and Beneficence of his Nature, as the generous Spirit of the Chriftian Religion, which equally admitteth all Men, and acknowledgeth no other diftinction in Perfons, than what arifeth from their more or lefs perfect obedience to the Law of God. To this end it is admirably fitted by the Simpli city of it, impofing no neceffary Duties of Life and Converfation, but what are com

manded

manded even by the Law of Nature, and ob ferving no other Sacraments or Ceremonies, than what are easie and fignificant, few and inftructive. And if this must be accounted a Prejudice against the Truth of Christianity, to what a deplorable Condition hath the Reafon of Mankind degenerated, difliking Divine Truths because rational, plain and obvious?

It hath indeed been a common mistake to defpife all Doctrines recommended with these excellent Qualities, and because lying level with the Capacity of the unlearned Multitude; and to pronounce them foolish, as the Greek Philofophers in the Text accounted the Gofpel to be Foolishness, because of its Simplicity. But this is fuch a Prejudice, as nothing lefs than the most invinci ble Ignorance of the Nature of Truth and Religion can excufe. A Mistake however, to which the corrupted Inclination of humane Nature is fo pronę, that it hath not only af fected the Greek Philofophers, but also great numbers of Chriftians in all Ages; who difdaining the Profeffion of a fimple and cafie Religion, either added abstruse and sometimes incredible Articles to it; or turned it into an artificial Science, involved in the most perplex and intricate Subtilties; or affected to propofe and deliver it in an Enthusiastick Stile, in wild and undigested Conceptions.

It remains that I confider our Obligation, notwithstanding all thefe Objections, and the Scandals derived from them, to believe and openly

openly to profess the Faith of Christ. For however it be to the Jews a stumbling-block; and to the Greeks foolishness, we ftill preach Christ crucified; and as it appears from what hath been faid, have Reafon fo to do; being neither fcandalized at the Contradiction and Oppofition of the Jews and Gentiles, nor deluded by the fame Prejudices with them: Which two Heads I will briefly speak to.

First then, If the Chriftian Religion be to the Jews a Stumbling-block, and to the Greeks Foolishness; if a great part of the World continue not only in Ignorance of it, but in Oppofition to it; if the Myfteries of it appear to fome incredible, and the manner propofing it ridiculous; this ought not to fcandalize us, or induce us to believe the Truth of our Religion, to be either lefs plain or lefs certain, We all know Mankind to be fubject to Errour, and experience the weakness of humane Understanding. We cannot be ignorant how prone all Men are to follow the direction of their Lufts and Paffions; and then if we confider that Chriftianity oppofeth and restraineth thefe unruly Paffions, we fhall cease to wonder at its Rejection and Contradiction.

God hath indeed fet his revealed Truths in as clear a light, as is fufficient for the Conviction of Men; but ftill leaveth our Will in its full Liberty to embrace or reject them; that fo he may leave place either for Reward of Belief, or Punishment of the contrary. Not that God requireth us to believe any thing incre

dible or extraordinary; not that we merit any thing at the hands of God by being more cre dulous than the reft of Mankind, or believing those things which other Men reject as foolish or monftrous. Our Faith is no otherwise capable of a Reward, than as it is just and rational, as it is the refult of the right Exercise of our Faculties, and a Demonstration of readiness to obey the Will of God, and acknowledge his Attributes of Veracity and Dominion over us. It was therefore a ftrange Expreffion of an ancient Writer, That the Mysteries of the Chriftian Faith are for that very reafon certain, credible, and meritorious to be believed, because they are foolish, incredible and impoffible: That in this confifts the merit of Chriftian confidence; and that God therefore chofe this way, that he might, as it were, retaliate to Men the impudence of Idolatry in which they had voluntarily engaged themselves, by the impudence of Faith, which he impofed on them, If things were fo, juftly might Christianity be a Scandal to the Jews, and Folly to the Greeks. But bleffed be God, and blessed be that Holy Religion which we profess, nothing is required of us to be believed, but what is entirely conformable to the Laws of Nature and Reason, and which would be our Duty to aflent to, although no Reward attended the Affent.

In the next place, if we ought not to be fcandalized at the Diffent and Oppofition of the Jews and Greeks: Much less ought we

to

« PreviousContinue »