The Reasons of the Christian Religion Part 1, Part 2 · Chapter 2
CHAP. II. Of the ſeveral Religions which are in the world.
HAving finiſhed my enquiries into the ſtate and book of Nature, I found it my duty to enquire what other men thought in the world, and what were the reaſons of their ſeveral beliefs, that if they knew more than I had diſcovered (by what means ſoever) I might become partaker of it.
§. 1. And firſt I find that all the world, except thoſe called Heathens, are conſcious of the neceſſity of ſupernatural Revelation; yea, the Heathens themſelves have ſome common apprehenſion of it.
§. 2. Four ſorts of Religions I find only conſiderable upon earth: The meer Naturaliſts, called commonly Heathens and Idolaters: The Jews: The Mahometans: and the Chriſtians. The Heathens by their Oracles, Augures and Aruſpices, confeſs the neceſſity of ſome ſupernatural light; and the very Religion of all the reſt conſiſteth in it.
I. §. 3. As for the Heathens, I find this much good among them: That ſome of them have had a very great care of their Souls: and many have uſed exceeding induſtry in ſeeking after knowledge, eſpecially in the myſteries of the works of God; and ſome of them have bent their minds higher to know God, and the inviſible worlds: That they commonly thought that there is a Life of Retribution after death; and among the wiſeſt of them, the ſumme of that is to be found (though confuſedly) which I have laid down in the firſt Part of this Book.
Eſpecially in Seneca, Cicero, Plutarch, Plato, Plotinus, Euvaglus ſaith, That Conſtantine ſo honoured Sopater the Philoſopher, that he made him uſually ſit by him on the ſame bench. Sure the Philoſophers were falſly reported to Theoph. Antioch. ad Autol. l. 2. p. 137. when he ſaith that Zeno, Diogenes and Cleanthes's Books do teach to eat man's fleſh, and fathers to be roſted and eaten by the children, and ſacrificed by them, &c. Belyirg one another hath been the Devil's means to deſtroy charity on earth.Jamblicus, Proclus, Porphyry, Julian the Apoſtate, Antoninus, Epectetus, Arrian, &c. And for their Learning, and Wiſdom, and Moral Virtues, the Chriſtian Biſhops carried themſelves reſpectfully to many of them, (as Baſil to Libanius, &c.) And in their days many of their Philoſophers were honoured by the Chriſtian Emperours, or at leaſt by the inferiour Magiſtrates and Chriſtian people, who judged that ſo great worth deſerved honour, and that the confeſſion of ſo much Truth, deſerved anſwerable love; eſpecially Aedeſius, Julianus, Cappadox, Proaereſius, Maximus, Libanius, Acacius, Chryſanthus, &c. And the Chriſtians ever ſince have made great uſe of their Writings in their Schools; eſpecially of Ariſtotle's and Plato's with their followers.
§. 4. And I find that the Idolatry of the wiſeſt of them was not ſo fooliſh as that of the Vulgar; but they thought that the Ʋniverſe was one animated world, and that the Ʋniverſal Soul was the only Abſolute Sovereign God, whom they deſcribed much like as Chriſtians do: and that the Sun, and Stars, and Earth, and each particular Orb, was an individual Animal, part of the Ʋniverſal world, and beſides the Ʋniverſal, had each one a ſubordinate particular Soul, which they worſhipped as a ſubordinate particular Deity, as ſome Chriſtians do the Angels. And their Images they ſet up for ſuch repreſentations, by which they thought theſe gods delighted to be remembred, and inſtrumentally to exerciſe their virtues for the help of earthly mortals.
§. 5. I find that except theſe Philoſophers, and very few more, the generality of the Heathens were and are fooliſh Idolaters, and ignorant, ſenſual brutiſh men.
At this day through the world, they are that ſort of men that are likeſt unto Beaſts,Sed neſcio quomodo, nil tam abſurde dici poteſt quod non dicatur ab aliquo Philoſophorum. Cic. Divinat. l. 2. p. 183. except ſome few at Siam, China, the Indian Bannians, the Japonians, the Ethnick Perſians, and a few more. The greateſt deformity of Nature is among them: the leaſt of ſound knowledge, true policy, civility and piety is among them. Abominable wickedneſs doth no where ſo much abound. So that if the doctrin and judgment of theſe may be judged of by the effect, it is moſt inſufficient to heal the diſeaſed world, and reduce man to holineſs, ſobriety and honeſty.
§. 6. I find that theſe few among the Heathens who attain to more knowledge in the things which concern man's duty and happineſs than the reſt, do commonly deſtroy all again by the mixture of ſome dot…ges and impious conceits.
Sed haec cadem num cenſes apud cos iplos valere, niſi admodum paucos à quibus inventa, diſputata, conſcripta ſunt? Quotus enim quiſ que Philoſophorum invenitur, qui ſit ita moratus, ita animo ac vitâ conſtitutus ut ratio poſtulat? qui diſciplinam ſuam non oſtentationem ſcientiae, ſed legem vitae putet? qui obtemperet ipſe ſibi, & decretis ſuis pareat? Videre licet alius tanta levitate & jactatione, ut iis f…erit non didiciſſe necleus: alio… pecuniae cupdo…, gloriae nonnul los, multos lib dinum ſervos: ut cum corum vita mirabibiliter pugnet oratio: quod quidem mihi videtur turpiſſimum. Ut enim ſi Grammaticum ſe profeſſus quiſpiam barbare loquatur, aut ſi abſurde canat is, qui ſe haberi velit muſicum, hoc turpior ſit, quod in eo ipſo peccet, cujus profitetur ſcientiam: ſic Philoſophus in ratione vitae peccans, hoc turpior eſt, quod in officio, cujus magiſter eſſe vult, labitur, artemque vitae profeſſus, delinquit in vitâ. Cic. Tuſc. l. 2. pag. 252.The Literali in China exel in many things, but beſides abundance of ignorance in Philoſophy, they deſtroy all by denying the immortality of the Soul, and affirming rewards and puniſhments to be only in this life, or but a little longer. At leaſt, none but the Souls of the good (ſay ſome of them) ſurvive: and though they confeſs One God, they give him no ſolemn worſhip. Their Sect called Sciequia or Sciacca, is very clear for the Ʋnity of the Godhead, the joys of Heaven, and the torments of Hall, with ſome umbrage of the Trinity, &c. But they blot all with the Pythagorean fopperies, affirming theſe Souls which were in joy or miſery, after a certain ſpace to be ſent again into Bodies, and ſo to continue through frequent changes to eternity: to ſay nothing of the wickedneſs of their lives. Their third Sect called Lauru is not worth the naming, as being compoſed of fopperies, and ſorceries, and impoſtures. All the Japonian Sects alſo make the world to be eternal, and Souls to be perpetuated through infinite tranſmigrations. The Siamenſes, who ſeem the beſt of all, and neareſt to Chriſtians, have many fopperies, and worſhip the Devil for fear, as they do God for love. The Indian Bramenes, or Bannians, alſo have the Pythagorean errors, and place their piety in redeeming Bruits, becauſe they have Souls which ſometimes were humane. The Perſians diſperſed in India, who confeſs God, and Heaven, and Hell, yet think that theſe are but of a thouſand years duration. And it is above a thouſand years ſince they believed, that the world ſhould continue but a thouſand years, and then Souls be releaſed from Hell, and a new world made.
§. 7. Their great darkneſs and uncertainties appear by the innumerable ſects and differences which are among them; which are incomparably more numerous, than all that are found in all parties in the world beſides.
I need not tell you of the 288 Sects or Opinions de ſummo bono, which Varro ſaid was in his days: The difference which you may find in Laertius, Heſechius, and others, between the Cynicks, Peripateticks, Academicks, Stoicks, Scepticks, Epicureans, &c. with all their ſub-diviſions, are enow. In Japan, the twelve Sects, have their ſubdiviſions. In China, the three general Sects, have ſo many ſubdiviſions, that Varenius ſaith of them, [Singuli fontes Iabentibus paulatim ſeculis, à fraudum magiſtris in tot maeandros derivati ſunt, ut ſub triplici nomine trecentae mihi ſectae inter ſe diſcrepantes numerari poſſe videantur: ſed & hae quotidianis incrementis augentur, & in pejus ruunt.] Petrus Texeica ſaith of the Indians, [In Regno Gazeratenſivarii ſunt ritus & ſectae incolarum, & quod mirum, vix familiam invenias in qua omnes congruant: alii comedunt carnem, alii nequaquam; alii comedunt quidem, ſed non mactant animalia: alii nonnulla tantum animalia comedunt; alii tantum piſces; alii tantum lac & herbas, &c. Johan. a Twiſt. ſaith of the Indian Bramenes, Numerantur ſectae praecipui nominis octoginta tres: ſed praeter has minus illuſtrium magna eſt multitudo, ita ut ſingulae familiae peculiarem fere foveant religionem. It were endleſs to ſpeak of all the Sects in Africa and America; to ſay nothing of the beaſtly part of them in Braſil, the Cape of good hope, that is, Soldania, and the Iſlands of Cannibals, who know no God, (nor Government, nor Civility ſome of them.) They are not only of as many minds as countries, but of a multitude of ſects in one and the ſame country.
§. 8. I find not my ſelf called or enabled to judge all theſe people as to their final ſtate, but only to ſay, that if any of them have a holy heart and life, in the true love of God, they ſhall be ſaved; but without this, no form of Religion will ſave any man, be it never ſo right.
§. 9. But I find it to be my duty to love them for all the good which is in them, and all that is true and good in their Religion, I will embrace: and becauſe it is ſo defective, to look further, and try what I can learn from others.
There is ſo much lovely in a Cato, Cicero, Seneca, Antonine, Epictetus, Plutarch, &c. in the Religions of Siam, in the diſperſed Perſian Ethnicks in India, in the Bramans, or Bannians of India, in the Bonzii of Japan, and divers others in China and elſe-where, that it obligeth us not only to love them benevolently, but with much complacence. And as I will learn from Nature it ſelf what I can, ſo alſo from theſe Students of Nature. I will take up nothing meerly on their truſt, nor reject any doctrin meerly becauſe it is theirs; but all that is true and good in their Religions, as far as I can diſcern it, ſhall be part of mine; and becauſe I find them ſo dark and bad, I will betake me for further information to thoſe that truſt to ſupernatural Revelation; which are the Jews, Mahumetans and the Chriſtians; of which I ſhall next conſider a-part.
In To 4. Bib. Pat▪ extat liber Hieronymi à Sancta Fide, ex Judaeo Chriſtiani, contra Judaeos & Talmud. qui ut dicit Approbatio 5000 Judaeos ad fidem convertit. pag 742, &c.§. 10. II. As to the Religion of the Jews, I need not ſay much of it by it ſelf; the Poſitive part of their doctrine being confeſſed by the Chriſtians and Mahumetans, to be of Divine Revelation; and the negative part, (their denying of Chriſt) is to be tryed, in the tryall of Chriſtianity.
The Reaſons which are brought for the Chriſtian Religion, if ſound, will prove the Old Teſtament, which the Jews believe; it being part of the Chriſtians Sacred Book: And the ſame reaſons will confute the Jews rejection of Jeſus Chriſt.De Mahumetis origine, &c. vid. fragm. ex Anaſtaſ. Hiſt. Eccl. in B.P. Gr. Lat. To. 2. pag. 289▪ &c. I take that therefore to be the fitteſt place to treat of this ſubject, when I come to the proofs of the Chriſtian Faith. I oppoſe not what they have from God: I muſt prove that to be of God, which they deny.
§. 11. III. In the Religion of the Mahumetans I finde much good, viz. A Confeſſion of one only God, and moſt of the Natural parts of Religion; a vehement oppoſition to all Idolatry; A teſtimony to the Veracity of Moſes, and of Chriſt; that Chriſt is the Word of God, and a great Prophet, and the Writings of the Apoſtles true: All this therefore where Chriſtianity is approved, muſt be embraced.
And there is no doubt but God hath made uſe of Mahumet as a great Scourge to the Idolaters of the World; as well as to the Chriſtians who had abuſed their ſacred priviledges and bleſſings: Whereever his Religion doth prevail, he caſteth down Images, and filleth mens mindes with a hatred of Idols, and all conceit of multitude of Gods, and bringeth men to worſhip one God alone, and doth that by the ſword in this, which the preaching of the Goſpel had not done in many obſtinate Nations of Idolaters.
§. 12. But withall I finde a Man exalted as the chief of Prophets, Vid. Theodore Abucare Opuſcul. Mahumetem non eſſe ex Deo. &c. Et Euthym…i Zigaben. Moamethica.without any ſuch proof as a wiſe man ſhould be moved with; and an Alcoran written by him below the rates of common Reaſon, being a Rhapſody of Nonſence and Confeſion; and many falſe and impious doctrines introduced; and a tyrannical Empire and Religion twiſted, and both erected, propagated, and maintained, by irrational tyrannical means: As which diſcharge my reaſon from the entertainment of this Religion.
1. That Mahomet was ſo great (or any) Prophet, is neither confirmed by any true credible Miracle, nor by any eminency of Wiſdom or Holineſs, in which he excelled other men; nor any thing elſe which Reaſon can judge to be a Divine atteſtation. The contrary is ſufficiently apparent in the irrationality of his Alcoran: There is no true Learning nor excellency in it, but ſuch as might be expected among men of the more incult wits, and barbarous education: There is nothing delivered methodically or rationally, with any evidence of ſolid underſtanding: There is nothing, but the moſt nauſeous repetition an hundred times over of many ſimple incoherent ſpeeches, in the dialect of a drunken man; ſometimes againſt Idolaters, and ſometimes againſt Chriſtians for calling Chriſt, God; which all ſet together ſeem not to contain (in the whole Alcoran) ſo much ſolid uſefull ſenſe and reaſon as one leaf of ſome of thoſe Philoſophers whom he oppoſeth, however his time, had delivered him from their Idolatry, and cauſed him more to approach the Chriſtian Faith.
2. And who can think it any probable ſign that he is the Prophet of truth, whoſe Kingdom is of this World, erected by the Sword; who barbarouſly ſuppreſſeth all rational enquiry into his doctrine, and all diſputes againſt it, all true Learning and rational helps, to advance and improve the Intellect of man: and who teacheth men to fight and kill for their Religion: Certainly, the Kingdom of darkneſs is not the Kingdom of God but of the Devil: And the friend of Ignorance is no Friend to Truth, to God, nor to mankinde: And it is a ſign of a bad Cauſe that it cannot endure the light. If it be of God, why dare they not ſoberly prove it to us, and hear what we have to object againſt it, that Truth by the ſearch may have the Victory: If Beaſts had a Religion it would be ſuch as this.
3. Moreover, they have doctrines of Polygamy, and of a ſenſual kinde of Heaven, and of murdering men to increaſe their Kingdoms, and many the like, which being contrary to the light of Nature, and unto certain common Truths, do prove that the Prophet and his doctrine are not of God.
4. And his full atteſtation to Moſes and Chriſt as the true Prophets of God, doth prove himſelf a falſe Prophet who ſo much contradicteth them, and rageth againſt Chriſtians as a blood-thirſty Enemy, when he hath given ſo full a teſtimony to Chriſt. The particulars of which I ſhall ſhew anon.