The Ancient Christian Religion, Introduction
THE INTRODUCTION To the Ensuing TREATISES. Shewing the Truth and Divine Authority of the Scripture, as being the undoubted Oracles of God, against the vain Cavils of ill-minded and injurious Men.
SECTION I.
WEre it my business herein to deal with those that know not God, the poor Infidel Heathens, I should comfort my self with hopes to overcome their blindness, by comparing the Divine Oracles, with their Diabolical Divinity, or Philosophical Speculations: and thence demonstrating the excelling Purity of the Christian Law, above what can be objected against it. Nor would I fear to prevail as much by recounting the Miracles wrought in confirmation of the Christian Faith, as if I could work some Wonders presently among them; Because these things were written, that Men might believe that Jesus is the Christ: and consequently I might not fail of the Effect attending the Cause or Means, or Word of Faith; when in the Fear of God ministred or preached in his Name. Yea, I would not fear to win some, by shewing the impossibility of redeeming our selves: and then by observing that no Doctrine save that of the Holy Scripture directs us to a Saviour, or one who came on purpose to redeem Mankind, by his laying down his own Life for them: neither should I doubt the perswading them to believe the Resurrection of the Dead, and the Judgment to come; by shewing, 1. That the thing must needs be possible with God, who made the World; and 2. the several Instances of those mentioned in the Scripture, who rose from Death to Life, especially the Resurrection of Christ. And I would either shew them, they must believe these Instances, or else believe nothing that by Report, or Writing, had been told them, these being as credible as the other.
But these are not the Men we have to deal with, a generation of Men, even of those that bear the Christian Name, are risen up to quarrel the Oracles, on which the Christian Faith hath so far a dependance, as if they prove False, Christianity cannot be True.
These kind of Men talk much of the Originals, as if nothing else would down with them but the Original Text. When yet no Man can say that that very Paper which the Apostles committed those Oracles to, in the first place, hath remained to this day; Nor was it needful, many Copies being probably more exactly drawn, *The Epist. ad Heb. was writ by Tim. Heb. 13. Postscript. Rom. 16. 22. J. Tertius who wrote this Ep. Four Brethren wrote the 1 Ep. to the Corinth. 1 Cor. 16. Post. Two Brethren wrote the 2d. 2 Cor. 13. Post. Titchicus wrot the Ep. ad Eph. Epaphroditus that to Philipi. Titch. & Ones. that to Collos. Now these Churches had only Copies, the Original being yet in Paul's hand, which 'tis like they never saw.and so more fit to be kept for Posterity. To say that the Apostles wrote in Parchment, what they sent to the Churches, is more than can be proved: It's certain some wrote in Paper, 2 John v. 12. yet it is rational to believe the same Matter was committed afterward to more durable Materials. My Judgment is, that it was better for the Churches, that these first Sheets should not endure long, the same Matter being now committed to Writing by many Hands throughout the whole World; for had any now these first Draughts to shew, they might abuse the World, and all the Churches in the World, more than any Man can do by the Copies; as by adding or taking away at pleasure, and who could correct the Original? Were these Manuscripts in the hands of the Pope, or his Party, what Mists might they cast upon the Nations, and who could get them out of their hands to discover the Cheat? And the same may be said if these Writings were in the hands of any other Potent Party. But now the Originals being no where to be found, but yet a multitude of Copies, and the same translated by multitudes of Men into several Languages, by this means all are forced to be more peaceable than perhaps they are willing to be, since they have only Copies of the Sacred Oracles, and others have the like, so that they cannot pretend the Original, nor quarrel, with any credit, about their Copies. Thus hath God's Wisdom disposed better for the Church than she could have thought or desired. And it is worth observation, that scarce any one of the Churches, to whom Paul wrote (except the Galatians) had the Original, but only certain Copies written by divers hands, as I shew in the Margin: And why might not these Copyists possibly vary in some word or tittle, and yet these Sacred Writings never the worse, while the Holy Doctrine therein was not violated? Can we think, that when the Apostles preached, they had still the very self same Phrases? this were idle to imagin, and yet they had the self-same Gospel to preach in every place. I speak not this as that I approve of altering the Holy Writings, no not in the least iota; yet if casually in Transcribing or Printing there should be some failure, I do not think that by and by that Copy is to be rejected altogether, or the Authority of the Scripture therefore made null or void, that Men might set up themselves above it, some under pretence of the Church, and others pretending the Spirit, whilest they both reject the Church and Spirit, as held forth, and speaking in the Scripture.
SECT. II.
I am sorry to see Learned Men quarrelling as they do, about the Original Scriptures, (or those at least which pass under that Name) Papist against Protestant, and sometimes Papist against Papist. Greg. Martin.Thus Greg. Martin, a Rhemist, Dr. Fulk.against Dr. Fulk, who yet learnedly defends both the Copies, and the English Bible which was taken our of them. How stoutly Arrias Montanus, and others with him (though of the Papacy) have defended those Copies, which agree with those that were Translated into English, Lindanus.against Lindanus and his Complices is well known, so that we need not concern our selves in the Quarrel, whilest the Truth finds Defenders even among its Opposers. Nor are the Baptized Churches without Learned Men, and such as have concern'd themselves in this Controversie; yet shall we not build upon their Authority, neither contemn it, knowing no Reason why their Judgment may not pass among other Learned Men. See Dr. Fulk Pref. to the Defence of the English Translation.But this I declare to all the World, that I conceive it abundantly satisfactory, that the Copies of the Sacred Oracles, commonly called the Originals, have no corrupt Doctrine in them, because, after all that Envy can do, after the greatest sifting, the Objections are of small moment; as all may observe, who shall diligently read the Controversies depending in that Case, between the Learned Papists and Protestants. And besides, it is certainly impossible (in these days) for any Man whatsoever to corrupt the Greek Copies, there are so many Copies extant to discover the Cheat, and watchful Instruments on all sides, that he that should attempt it, would be sure to meet with no small correction for such bold folly; and we have no reason to doubt but there was as careful Watchmen in the Christian Profession in this behalf, in the first Ages of the Church, as can now be found: And the Apostles themselves lived till there were innumerable Copies of the Sacred Scripture, Luke 1. 1.so that all Churches were furnished with helps that way (in all probability) to discover any Falsifications, if any were made in the Holy Writings: But it should seem that none were so hardy to attempt it in the Apostles Times, only some there were, that by wresting those Epistles of Holy Paul, endeavoured thereby the destruction of themselves. This Peter gives notice of. And had any denied or corrupted the Writings themselves, we should as well have heard of it as of the other. We therefore conclude, that such hath been the Providence of God, that Men could not corrupt those Holy Writings which he had ordained for the Generations to come; neither can all the Art of Evil Men rase out, or foist into the Greek Copies, so much as one Sentence, but either Friend or Foe would soon detect them. Of the same consideration is the Hebrew Text; and beside that, the Jews have such a jealous Eye in that case, as some have observed, that it's impossible to corrupt the Sacred Scriptures of the Old Testament, sith it became God's Providence so wisely to provide for the contrary; so that we have ground to believe, that no material change hath befallen the Scripture since the Writing thereof to this day.
SECT. III.
The next Quarrel lieth against our English Translation of the Scriptures, which the Papists do account False and Heretical, &c. A great Noise we have about this by Greg. Martin; but I think it's sufficiently still'd by his Antagonist Dr. Fulk, to *Dr. Fulk Def. of the Engl. Translation.which I refer my Reader; and yet because every Man cannot read that Disputation, we shall here briefly shew the vanity of this Objection, as to the great Dogmatical part of our Bible in the English Tongue, by an Appeal to their own English Translation of the Rhemists; though it is certain our Translation is nearer the Greek Copy than theirs, as appears by Montanus, who though a Papist, yet he leaves their Vulgar Latine (out of which the Rhemists translated) in many hundreds of places I suppose (though I have not Computed them, and translates from the Greek as we do) I will set down two Instances in stead of the rest: For Example only; in Matth. 3. 2. in favour of your penal satisfaction for Sin, you read from your Vulgata, Do Penance, Poenitentiam agere; yet Montanus translates from the Greek, foreign.Poenitemini, Repent. Again, you read in Heb. 13. 16. Promeretur, as if we merit God by good Works; but Montanus from the Greek foreign.reads Bene placet, Well pleased; as it is also in our English Translation. And thus is our English Bible defended by a learned and judicious Papist, against those who Carp at it; yea, against their Vulgar Latine (at least in very many Passages) and English Translation also. And yet surely, when all is said on both sides, that may fairly be said, a little Charity would put an end to these needless Cavils about the English Translation of the Holy Scripture. For it cannot be denied, but Translations are so much the more Excellent, as by how much the Translator was more Able and Honest than others; and it would better become Men to help one another, than to lie Carping at one another, as the manner of some is.
It must needs be a great Breach of Christian Charity to think, that those who have Translated the Scriptures into our Mother Tongue, would purposely give us a false Interpretation of any word, if they in their Conscience knew it to be so. Would they be so foolish thus to abuse their Countrey, and expose their Credit as Scholars, their Countrey with themselves, to the peril of Eternal Damnation, and all this only about the true English of an Hebrew, or Greek phrase. He that shall say this of Men, Learned beyond exception, for such a Work (as it is known our Translators were) that they wilfully, or of set purpose, did Translate falsly (as that is the usual Charge of the Rhemists against their Opposites) what doth he else, but give notice that no Man give credit to him, in his Undertaking to give us a more perfect Translation; and it is upon the matter to expose all Conventions of Learned Men to unavoidable Suspition.
Finally, So much is the Perfection of the meanest of our Translations, that I fear no Mans growth in Christian Vertue and Knowledg, comes up to the pitch of it, why then may it not stand a Witness against those that Contemn it, and scorn to Read it? All the Apostles did not Preach the Gospel with the same excellency: All the Evangelists did not write the Gospel with the same stile and exactness; And why must all Interpreters be of the self-same length and breadth, in their exactness in Translating the Gospel? I am perswaded I can find as seeming Contradictions, among the Evangelists, in penning the Divine Story, as any Man can find in the Translations which are extant; we labour to reconcile the seeming Differences in the first, why do we do not so by the latter? Would God there were as great an harmony in Doctrine and Practice, among all that own the Christian Name, as there is among the several Translations, we should soon be one Church, for they are all one Scripture.
SECT. IV.
I have been very earnestly demanded, by some of the Romish Church, How I knew our Copies and Translations of the Scriptures to be the true Word of God? I shall cut my Answer short to this importune Demand, and yet trust to make it plain to every Capacity, only by shewing that the New Testament is God's Holy Oracle; for in so doing, the Law and the Prophets are confirmed, being therein alledged as the Word of God more than an hundred and twenty times, by Christ and his Holy Apostles; and once in general it is said of the Lord Jesus, That beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, he expounded to his Disciples, in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself, Luke 24. Which is a full Evidence that the Scriptures then extant are Authentick; notwithstanding they had been Translated by the seventy two Intepreters, long before that time, so that it is needless to enquire further in that case.
And that the New Testament is God's Oracle, I prove after this manner; 1. It is either the Oracle of God, or the Oracle of Satan, or Man's Devices. But it is not Satan's Oracle, nor Man's Devices; Ergo, it is God's Oracle. The Major is evident of it self. And Satan's Oracle it is not, because it teacheth all manner of Vertue and Holy Living; nor can any Iniquity or Impiety be shewed to be the Design thereof, for it doth constantly reprove all Implety and Iniquity; and who so loveth these Testimonies, and conforms to their Documents, doth hate the Devil above all things. And again, all the workers of Iniquity, and such as love Debauchery, do fly from the Light of the Sacred Writings, having no greater torment in this World, than to be brought to their powerful Evidence against their Impieties, as blessed Experience doth abundantly testifie; so that he must have a brazen Forehead that dare contradict it. And that they are not Mens Devices is clear;
1. Because they do not only agree to the Principles of Morality, and humane Vertue, in the highest degrees thereof, but do also heighten their Zeal to Vertue, and enlighten their Understandings in things more excellent, than Principles of a Common Justice, as appears undeniably by a Comparison between those who are actuated by them, and those that are ignorant of them.
2. What is contained in these Writings of the New Testament, as Matter of Fact, are no Devised Fables, because the very Adversaries of the Gospel are forced to acknowledg such things were done; and so apparent was the Life, Death, and Miracles of Jesus, (on which the whole Testimony depends) that Josephus, the Jewish Historiagrapher, who lived about these Times, cannot dissemble it, but is forced to confess it, and to say it was scarce lawful to call our Lord Christ a Man, because of the admirable Works which he did.
3. The Sanctity of the Precepts have not a meer humane Stamp, they having no tendency to exalt any but the Lord only; and lie so thwart to the humane Will, and worldly Interest, as nothing more; now had corrupt Man had the forming of these Laws, its apparent by the Laws they daily make, that he would have consulted his own Honour and Interest in the making of them.
4. Neither do the Promises contain'd in the New Testament, savour of Man's Device, being of such sublimity, as hath not entred into the Heart of Man to conceive, especially that of the Resurrection of the Body, and the Glory that shall follow, which we see those that leave these Oracles contemn as a Fable, or else make the beatitude they look for, to stand in Carnal Delights, as the Mahumetans.
5. Nor are the Threatnings or Judgments against wicked Men, thereby given forth like Men's Imaginations, being a perpetual Torment in everlasting Fire, which is a thing beyond the reach of Man's Conceit how it should be; and therefore derided by those that follow their humane Light only, as a thing incredible.
6. If this Book of the New Testament be Fabulous, or Men's Devices, than no Book whatsoever can escape the like Censure. No History can have so much as Humane Credit: all are lies, if this be not true; seeing upon the same grounds any Man questions this to be a true Record of the Will and Testament of the Lord Christ, all Monuments of Antiquity, Records, Wills, Charters, Donations, Histories, Precepts of Philosophy, and whatsoever is by Writing transmitted to us from the Ages before us, must undergo the same Censure. And then as the first would turn Christianity out of the World, the latter sends away Humanity after it. But if otherwise we will not part with the latter, let us like Men consider, that God hath been as careful over Men in things Religious as Civil; and that it is by his Providence that these Divine Records have out-liv'd the malice of many wicked Generations who have sought their Destruction, as much as Herod sought the life of Christ himself. This way went the Famous Augustine, affirming, Aug. de Civit. Dei. l. 11. c. 1.That by the disposing of Divine Providence, the Scripture hath gotten the most excellent Authority of any other Books.
7. Let the Accomplishment of the wonderful Prophecies of Christ, contained in the New Testament, convince a Jew as well as a Turk, and much more Men pretending to love Christ, that these Records are Holy: The Unbelieving Jews have had occasion to bewail the Desolation of their City and Nation, as Christ with Tears foreshewed them, Luke 19: 42, 43, 44. and by this let all Men learn to beware how they question the verity of the Residue.
8. Bellarmine himself is compelled to allow the Scriptures own Evidence to be of great Authority to prove it the Word of God, Testes est ipsa Scriptura, as he is quoted by Dr. Willit. This we call God's own Witness, putting his name to these Holy Sayings, that we might have sure confidence. Thus Augustine; Aug. de Civit. Dei. l. 11. c. 3.God having spoken what he held convenient, first by the Prophets, then by himself, [meaning the Lord Christ] afterward by his Apostles made that to be Scripture also (which we call Canonical) of the most excellent Authority, on which we rely in things which befal our Understanding.
9. Nor shall we baulk the Testimony, in which the Romanists suppose they have the clearest Interest, viz. the Church of Christ, by whom God hath transmitted these Writings (as God's Oracles) to us. But then, will they, nill they, this Church is the *Acts 2. 41, 42. Rom. 6. 2, 3. Col. 2. 11, 12. Gal. 3 27. Acts 18. 8. Acts 19. 1, 2, 3. Heb. 6. 1, 2.Baptized Church; for unto them was committed the Oracles whereof we speak, as the Direction or Inscription of divers of the Holy Epistles do clearly shew: Nor can they deny it, or prove the contrary; and of these first Churches, Who saw Christ, and were his Record-bearers? We ought to interpret (saith Gerson) John Gerson de Vita Spir.that saying of Augustine, I would not believe the Scripture, unless the Authority of the Church did move me. As for those Churches which succeeded in the Ages following, wherein presently great Divisions happened; these are a far lower Evidence from whence to fetch the Certainty or Authority of these Sacred Books; not much stronger than the Evidence of the present Christians, being proper, neither to this or that Party of them, who still retained the Scriptures as they were delivered; any more than if the Greek Church at this day should arrogate that Prerogative; or the Roman-Papal Church, who would wrest it from all professing Christianity, to themselves only; whereas in truth, all that acknowledg the Scriptures, and profess to own that way of Christianity at first delivered, may claim this priviledg with as good Reason as the Papists: However the most pure Churches, have the fairest plea in this behalf; and who they are, will I trust, appear in some good measure in the following Treatises. And thus much at present (for we shall have occasion, in our Defence of Christianity, to speak further) to this Question, How we know the Scriptures to be the Word of God?
SECT. V.
It hath likewise been demanded, by those of the Church of Rome, How I knew precisely what was the Word of God? But we are so far from defining the precise number of the Books of Holy Scripture, that we know they are not all come to our hands, 1 Cor. 5. 9. Phil. 3. 1. Colos. 4. 16. nor to the hands of others that we can hear of. Neither can I understand, what profit accrues to the Church, by rejecting so many Books as Apocryphal, whilest yet they are allowed to be read in the Church as Holy Writings; Nevertheless, it must be granted, that the Books commonly called Apochrypha, have been doubted very much, some or all of them, by one or other of great note in the Churches, yea, in the time of Augustine, and by Augustine himself: Aug. de Civit. Dei. l. 18.The Macchabees was not received into the Canon of Scripture, though esteemed by some as Canonical.
In Eusebius, lib. 4. c. 25. we have an account of the Books of the Old Testament; received by the Church in those days, which was given by one in the second Century; his words are these, I compiled in order the Books of the Old Testament, such as were well known, and sent them unto you, whose names are these;
The five Books of Moses, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numeri, Deuteronomium. Then Jesus Nave, meaning Joshua. The Judges. The Book of Ruth. Four Books of Kings. Two of Chronicles. The Psalms of David. The Proverbs of Solomon. The Book of Wisdom. Ecclesiastes. The Canticles. Job. Esay and Jeremiah the Prophets. One Book of the twelve Prophets. Daniel. Ezekiel. Esdras.
Again in Euseb. lib. 3. c. 22. we have this account of the Books of the New Testament. In the first place, (saith he) the Four-fold Writings of the Evangelists. Next the Acts of the Apostles. Then the Epistles of Paul are to be added. After these the first of John, and that of Peter, which is Authentick. Lastly, If you please, the Revelation of John. The Epistle of James. The Epistle of Jude. The later of Peter. The second and third of John.
Cyril of Jerusalem reckons the Divine Scripture of the Old Testament but 22 Books. Cyril Catech. 4Epiphanius is of the same mind, De Mensur. & Ponder.yet adds the Book of Wisdom, and Jesus the Son of Syrick, but does not say that they were kept in the Ark as the 22 Books of the Law and Prophets were.
So that we see the Ancient Christians were not exactly of a mind in the precise Number and Order of the Books of the Holy Scripture, though they had the advantage of Times above us abundantly.
We conclude therefore, that it is more safe to make a Religious Use of all these Books called Apochryphal, than rashly to censure or condemn any of them: Howbeit, nothing from hence accrues, that I know, to the advantage of the Romanists; yea rather they seem to make advantage of Men's rash Speeches against those Pious Books, wherein are many excellent Precepts of Vertue, and Examples of Faith and Love to God, and to Religion.
The faithful Demonstration whereof, as it concerns Christian Men in the naked Simplicity and ancient Purity thereof, is the great Design of this short Introduction, as well as of the Book it self; to which having thus brought the Readers, I commit them to the Grace and Blessing of God, in their impartial and serious perusal.