Of the Reasonableness of Christian Religion, Introduction
OF THE REASONABLENESS OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
By H. H. D. D.
foreign.
1 Pet. 3. 15.
The third Edition.
LONDON, Printed by J. G. for R. ROYSTON, at the Angel in Ivie-lane. 1650.
OF THE REASONABLENESS OF CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
The Introduction.
Sect. 1 IT hath always been accounted more Reaſonable to doubt of Principles firſt, and then to throw off the Deductions that naturally ariſe from them, then to conteſt the Concluſions, when the Principles or Premiſſes are granted. This occaſioned that ſaying of Picus Mirandula, That the Speculative Atheiſt was the greateſt prodigy, but one, and that was the Practical Atheiſt. To acknowledg Chriſtian Religion to be true, and conſequently that without ſincere obedience to all Chriſts Precepts, not onelyonly the infinite rewards of the Goſpel are forfeited, but the infinite torments become our portion; and yet to live lives of profaneneſs, and luxury, and indulgence to every liberty, that ſuites with our humors, without fear, or diſcomfeiture of minde, is a ſhortneſs of diſcourſe, that no man that hath conſideration enough to examine, or judgement to compare, can chooſe but diſcern and condemne in himſelf. As therefore the *—nam ſi nullum ſinem eſſe putarent Aerumnarum homines, nulla ratione valerent, Religionibus at que minis obſiſtere vatum. Lucret. l. 1.Epicurean that was reſolved not to be repreſt, or live in the awe of Religion, and Prieſts, counted it but neceſſary to diſbelieve the perpetuity of torments beyond this life, ſo hath it been Satans method (and the advantage which he hath taken of theſe times, from the commonneſs of caſting down mounds and hedges, of diſputing, and queſtioning the moſt eſtabliſht Truths) to offer it to the Reaſon and Judgment of his Clients, Whether it be not more eaſie and hopeful to break up the foundation it ſelf, then, while that remains in its firmneſs, to demoliſh that which is erected upon it, and by entangling men in thoſe practices, which render them uncapable of receiving benefit by Chriſtianity, to oblige them to endeavour to caſt off the doctrines, and to rid themſelves from the ill conſequences of it. Thus have ſome men taught themſelves the skill, and dexterity of unravelling principles, and by giving themſelves liberty to diſobey Chriſt in ſome pleaſant, or gainful particulars, have at laſt in their own defence (that they may ſalve their phaenomena, and appear congruou to themſelves) arrived calmly to the ſcorners chair, the caſting off Chriſtianity it ſelf.
Sect. 2 In ſtead of gainleſs complaints, I ſhall therefore haſten to give ſome check to this growing evil, and reduce the whole matter of debate to theſe two heads.
Sect. 3 Firſt, I ſhall conſider the Grounds of Chriſtianity in the groſs, or bulk, all of it together, and in ſome meaſure, juſtifie the reaſonableneſs of them; and then ſecondly, I ſhall deſcend in the retail, to the ſurvey and vindication of thoſe particular branches of Chriſtianity, which appear to men at this time to be leaſt ſupported with Reaſon.