Sixteen Sermons Volume 2, Sermon 5
SERMON V. The general and Effectual Publication of the Goſpel by the Apoſtles.
Preached on Aſcenſion-Day. 1688.
Mark XVI. 19, 20.
So then after the Lord had ſpoken unto them, he was received up into Heaven, and ſat on the right Hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with Signs following.
IN theſe Words you have theſe Two great Points of Chriſtian Doctrine.
I. Our Saviour's Aſcenſion into Heaven, and Exaltation at the right hand of God;VOL. II. he was received up into Heaven, and ſat on the right hand of God.
II. The Effect or Conſequence of his Aſcenſion and Exaltation, which was the general and effectual Publication of the Goſpel; they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with ſigns following. And both theſe are very proper for this Day; but I ſhall at this time handle the latter Point, namely, the Effect op Conſequence of our Saviour's Aſcenſion into Heaven, and Exaltation at the right hand of God; they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with ſigns following.
And theſe Words contain two things in them.
I. The general Publication of the Goſpel, by the Apoſtles; they went forth and preached every where.
II. The Reaſon of the great Efficacy and Succeſs of it; namely, the Divine and Miraculous Power, which accompanied the Preaching of it;Serm. V. the Lord wrought with them, and confirmed the Word with ſigns following.
I. The general Publication of the Goſpel by the Apoſtles; they went forth, and Preached every where. And indeed the Induſtry of the Apoſtles, and the other Diſciples, in publiſhing the Goſpel, was almoſt incredible. What Pains did they take? what Hazards did they run? what Difficulties and Diſcouragements did they contend withal in this work? and yet their Succeſs was greater than their Induſtry, and beyond all Humane Expectation: As will appear, if we conſider theſe Five things.
1. The vaſt Spreading of the Goſpel in ſo ſhort a ſpace.
2. The wonderful Power and Efficacy of it, upon the Lives and Manners of Men.
3. The Weakneſs and Meanneſs of the Inſtruments, that were imployed in this great Work.
4. The powerful Oppoſition that was raiſed againſt it.
5. The great Diſcouragements to the Embracing the Profeſſion of it. I ſhall ſpeak briefly to each of theſe.
1. The vaſt Spreading of the Goſpel in ſo ſhort a ſpace. This is repreſented, Rev. 14.6. by an Angel flying through the midſt of Heaven, and preaching the Everlaſting Goſpel to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. No ſooner was the Doctrine of the Chriſtian Religion publiſh'd, and made known to the World, but it was readily embraced by great numbers, almoſt in all places where it came. And indeed ſo it was foretold, in the Prophecies of the Old Teſtament. Gen. 49.10. That when Shiloh (that is the Meſſias) ſhould come, to him ſhould the gathering of the people be: And Iſa. 2.2. That in the laſt days the mountains of the houſe of the Lord ſhould be eſtabliſht in the top of the mountain, and be exalted above the hills, and that all nations ſhould flow unto it. Iſa. 60.8. the Prophet ſpeaking of Mens ready ſubmiſſion to the Goſpel, and the great number of thoſe that ſhould come in upon the Preaching of it, they are ſaid, to flie as a Cloud, and as the Doves to the windows.
So quick and ſtrange a Progreſs did this new Doctrine and Religion make in the World, that in the ſpace of about 30 Years, after our Saviour's Death, it was not only diffuſed through the greateſt part of the Roman Empire, but had reached as far as Parthia and India. In which we ſee our Saviour's Prediction fully verified, that before the Deſtruction of Jeruſalem, the Goſpel ſhould be Preached in all the World, Math. 24.14. This goſpel of the kingdom ſhall be preached in all the world, for a witneſs unto all Nations, and then ſhall the end come. But this is not all: Men were not only brought in to the Profeſſion of the Goſpel; but,
2. This Doctrine had likewiſe a wonderful Power and Efficacy upon the Lives and Manners of Men. The generality of thoſe that entertained the Goſpel, were obedient to it in word and deed, as the Apoſtle tells us, concerning the Gentiles that were converted to Chriſtianity, Rom. 15.18. Upon the change of their Religion, followed alſo the change of their Manners, and of their former courſe of Life. They that took upon them the Profeſſion of Chriſtianity, did thenceforth not walk as other Gentiles did, in the luſts of the fleſh, and according to the vicious courſe of the world; but did put off, concerning their former converſation, the old man, which was corrupt, according to deceitful luſts; and were renewed in the ſpirit of their mind, and did put on the new man, which after God was created in righteouſneſs and true holineſs. So ſtrange an Effect had the Goſpel upon the Lives of the generality of the Profeſſors of it, that I remember Tertullian, in his Apology to the Roman Emperor and Senate, challengeth them to inſtance in any one, that bore the Title of Chriſtian, that was condemned as a Thief, or a Murderer, or a Sacrilegious Perſon, or that was guilty of any of thoſe groſs Enormities, for which ſo many Pagans were every day made Examples of Publick Juſtice, and Puniſht and Executed among them.
And this certainly was a very admirable and hapy Effect, which the Goſpel had upon Men, to work ſo great and ſudden a Change in the Lives of thoſe who entertained this Doctrine, to take them quite off from thoſe vicious Practices, which they had been brought up in and accuſtomed to; to change their Spirits, and the temper of their Minds; and of lewd and diſhoneſt, to make them ſober and juſt, and holy in all manner of Converſation; of proud and fierce, contentious and paſſionate, malicious and revengeful, to make them humble and meek, kind and tenderhearted, peaceable and charitable.
And that the Primitive Chriſtians were generally good Men, and of virtuous Lives, is credible, becauſe their Religion did teach and oblige them to be ſuch; which tho' it be not effectual now, to make all the Profeſſors of▪ it ſuch, as it requires they ſhould be; yet it was a very forcible Argument then, in the Circumſtances in which the Primitive Chriſtians were: For Chriſtianity was a hated and perſecuted Profeſſion: No Man could then have any inducement to embrace it, unleſs he were reſolved to practiſe it, and live according to the Rules of it; for it offered Men no Rewards and Advantages in this World; but on the contrary threatned Men with the greateſt Temporal Inconveniences and Sufferings; and it promiſed no Happineſs to Men in the other World upon any other terms, than of denying ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, and of living ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world.
And beſides this Conſideration, we have the beſt Teſtimony in the World of their Unblameable Lives; viz. the Teſtimony of their profeſt Enemies, who did not perſecute them for any perſonal Crimes, which they charged particular Perſons withal, but only for their Religion, acknowledging them otherwiſe to be very innocent and good People. Particulary Pliny, in his Letter to Trajan the Emperor (who had given him in Charge, to make particular Enquiry concerning the Chriſtians) gives this honourable Report of them, That there was no fault to be found in them, beſides their obſtinate refuſal to Sacrifice to the Gods; that at their Religious Meetings it was an eſſential part of their Worſhip to oblige themſelves by a ſolemn Sacrament, againſt Murder, and Theft, and Adultery, and all manner of Wickedneſs and Vice. No Chriſtian Hiſtorian could have given a better Character of them, than this Heathen Writer does. But,
3. The Succeſs of the Goſpel will appear, yet more ſtrange, if we conſider the Weakneſs and Meanneſs of the Inſtruments that were employed in this great Work. A company of plain and illiterate Men, moſt of them deſtitute of the advantages of Education, went forth upon this great Deſign, weak and unarmed, unaſſiſted by any worldy intereſt, having no Secular Force and Power on their ſide, to give countenance and authority to them; and this not only at their firſt ſetting out, but they remained under theſe Diſadvantages for three Ages together.
The firſt Publiſhers of the Chriſtian Religion offered Violence to no Man, did not go about to compel any by Force to entertain the Doctrine which they Preached, and to liſt themſelves of their number; they were not attended with Legions of armed Men, to diſpoſe Men for the reception of their Doctrine, by Plunder and Free-Quarter, by Violence and Tortures; this Modern Method of Converſion was not then thought of; nor did they go about to tempt and allure Men to their Way, by the Promiſes of Temporal Rewards, and by the Hopes of Riches and Honours; nor did they uſe any artificial inſinuations of Wit and Eloquence, to gain upon the Minds of Men, and ſteal their Doctrines into them; but delivered themſelves with the greateſt plainneſs and ſimplicity; and without any ſtudied Ornaments of Speech, or fine Arts of Perſwaſion, declared plainly to them, the Doctrine and Miracles, the Life, and Death, and Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt, promiſing Life and Immortality to them that did believe and obey his Doctrine, and threatning Eternal Wo and Miſery in another World, to the deſpiſers of it.
And yet theſe contemptible Inſtruments, notwithſtanding all theſe diſadvantages, did their work effectually, and, by the Power of God going along with them, gained numbers every day to their Religion, and in a ſhort ſpace, drew the world after them.
Nor did they only win over the Common People, but alſo ſeveral Perſons conſiderable for their Dignity, and Eminent for their Learning, who afterwards became zealous Aſſertors of Chriſtianity, and were not aſhamed to be Inſtructed in the Saving Knowledge of the Goſpel, by ſuch mean and unlearned Perſons as the Apoſtles were; for they ſaw ſomething in them more Divine, and which carried with it a greater Power and Perſwaſion, than Humane Learning and Eloquence.
4. We will conſider the mighty Oppoſition that was raiſed againſt the Goſpel. At its firſt appearance it could not be otherwiſe, but that it muſt meet with a great deal of difficulty and oppoſition, from the Luſts and Vices of Men, which it did ſo plainly and ſo ſeverely declare againſt, and likewiſe from the Prejudices of Men that had been brought up in a contrary Religion; no Prejudice being ſo ſtrong, as that which is founded in Education; and of all Prejudices of Education, none ſo obſtinate and hard to be removed, as thoſe about Religion, yea, tho' they be never ſo abſurd and unreaſonable. Hath a Nation changed their Gods, which yet are no Gods? Men are very hardly brought off from the Religion which they have been brought up in, how little Ground and Reaſon ſoever there be for it; the being trained up in it, and having a reverence for it implanted in them in their tender Years, ſupplies all other defects.
Had Men been free and indifferent in Religion, when Chriſtianity firſt appeared in the World, and had they not had their Minds prepoſſeſt with other apprehenſions of God and Religion, and been inured to Rites and Superſtitions of a quite different Nature from the Chriſtian Religion; or had they at that time been weary of the Superſtitions of their Idolatrous Worſhip, and been enquiring after a better way of Religion; then indeed the Chriſtian Religion had appeared with great advantage, and would in all probability have been entertained with a readineſs of Mind proportionable to the Reaſonableneſs of it. But this was not the Caſe: When the Doctrine of the Goſpel was firſt Publiſht in the World, the whole World, both Jews and Gentiles, were violently prejudiced againſt it, and fixt in their ſeveral Religions.
The Jews indeed in former times had been very prone to relinquiſh the Worſhip of the True God, and to fall into the Heathen Idolatry: But after God had Puniſht them ſeverely for that Sin, by a long Captivity, they continued ever after, very ſtrict and firm to the Worſhip of the True God; and never were they more tenacious of their Religion and Law, than at that very time when our Saviour appeared in the World: And though He was foretold in their Law, and moſt particularly deſcribed, in the authentick Books of their Religion, the Prophets of the Old Teſtament; yet by reaſon of certain groundleſs Traditions, which they had received from the Interpreters of their Law, That their Meſſias was to be a great Temporal Prince, they conceived an invincible Prejudice againſt our Saviour, upon account of the Mean Circumſtances in which he appeared; and upon this Prejudice they rejected him, and put him to death, and perſecuted his Followers: And though their Religion was much nearer to the Chriſtian, than any of the Heathen Idolatries; yet upon this account, of our Saviour's Mean Appearance, they were much more averſe to the Entertainment of it, than the groſſeſt Idolaters among the Nations.
Not but that their Prejudice alſo was very great; the common People being ſtrongly addicted to the Idolatry and Superſtitions of their ſeveral Countries; and the Wiſer, and more Learned (whom they call'd their Philoſophers) were ſo puft up, with a conceit of their own Knowledge and Eloquence, that they deſpiſed the rudeneſs and ſimplicity of the Apoſtles, and look'd upon their Doctrine of a Crucified Saviour, as ridiculous, and the Story of his Reſurrection from the dead, as abſurd and impoſſible. So St. Paul tells us, that the Croſs of Chriſt was to the Jews a ſtumbling-block, and to the Greeks fooliſhneſs.
But beſides the Oppoſition which the Goſpel met withal, from the Luſts and Prejudices of Men, the Powers of the World did likewiſe ſtrongly combine againſt it. Among the Jews, the Chief Prieſts and Rulers did, with all their force and malice, endeavour to ſtifle it in the birth, and to ſuppreſs it in its firſt riſe; and ſeveral of the Roman Emperors, who were then the great Governors of the World, engaged all their Authority, and their whole Strength, for the extirpation of it, and raiſed ſuch a ſtorm of Perſecution againſt it, as ſwept away greater numbers of Mankind, than any Famine or Plague or War that ever was in the Roman Empire: And yet this Religion bore up againſt all this Oppoſition, and make its way through all the Reſiſtance, that the Luſts and Prejudices of Men, armed with the Power and Authority of the whole World, could make againſt it. And this brings me to the
5. and laſt Conſideration I mentioned, the great diſcouragement that was given to the Entrance of this Religion.
There was nothing left to invite and engage Men to it, but the Conſideration of another World; for all the Evils of this World threatned every one that took the Profeſſion of Chriſtianity upon him. Whoever was known to be a Chriſtian, was liable to Reproach and Ruin, to cruel Mockings and Scourgings, to Baniſhment, or Impriſonment and Confiſcation of Eſtate; but theſe were ſlight and tolerable Evils, in compariſon of others that were commonly inflicted upon them; they were condemned to the Mines, and to the Lions, and all imaginable Cruelties were exerciſed upon them; the moſt exquiſite Torments that could be deviſed, and Death in all its fearful ſhapes was preſented to them, to deter Men from embracing this Religion, and to tempt them to quit it: And yet they perſiſted in the Profeſſion of their Religion, and for the ſake of it, did not only take joyfully the ſpoiling of their goods, but the moſt barbarous uſage of their Perſons, and demeaned themſelves not only with Patience and Courage, but with Exultation and Triumph, under thoſe Tortures which no Man can hear or read of, without horror: And they did not only bear up thus manfully, for one brunt; but when theſe violent Perſecutions were renewed and repeated upon them, Chriſtianity ſupported it ſelf under all theſe daunting Diſcouragements for almoſt Three hundred Years, and held out, till the very Malice of their Perſecutors was out of breath, and their Cruelty had tired it ſelf.
Nay it did not only ſupport it ſelf, under all theſe Oppoſitions, but grew and proſpered, and the Blood of Martyrs became the Seed of the Church, and Chriſtians ſprang up faſter, than any Perſecution could mow them down: For Men by Degrees became curious to enquire into the Cauſe of ſuch Sufferings, and the Reaſon of ſo much Conſtancy and Patience under them; and upon enquiry were ſatisfied, and became Chriſtians themſelves; and many times their very Perſecutors were ready to Sacrifice their Lives the next Day, for that very Cauſe, for which but the Day before, they had put others to Death.
And it cannot here be reaſonably Objected, that Chriſtians yielded up themſelves to all theſe Sufferings, upon the ſame Account that ſome brave Spirits among the Heathen, laid down their Lives for their Country; namely, out of a deſire of Fame, and to perpetuate their Names in After-ages; this, I ſay, cannot reaſonably be ſaid in this Caſe; becauſe theſe Sufferers, were not the great and ambitious Spirits, the Flower and Select Part of Mankind, but the Common People, and many of them of the tenderer Sex and Age, who have uſually a greater Senſe of Pain than of Glory; and yet ſo were they animated by their Religion, and Tranſported beyond themſelves, as not only to ſubmit, but many times to offer themſelves to thoſe Sufferings, by declaring themſelves to be Chriſtians, when no Man accuſed them, and when they knew they ſhould die, for making that Profeſſion; ſo that it is harder to juſtifie their forwardneſs to Suffer, than the ſincerity of their Sufferings. Beſides, that nothing could be more fooliſh and unreaſonable, than for Men to hope to get a Name by Suffering in a Crowd, and to be particularly remembred to Poſterity, when they dyed in ſuch multitudes, that no Man knew the Names of the greateſt part of the Sufferers.
You ſee then how ſtrongly the Goſpel prevailed, how ſoon this new Religion over-ran the World, how ſuddenly it ſubdued the Spirits, and changed the Manners of Men; and by what mean and deſpicable Inſtruments, to all humane appearance, this great Work was done; and how in deſpite of all Oppoſition and Diſcouragements, it was carried on. Can any one of the falſe Religions of the World pretend to have been propagated and eſtabliſht in ſuch a manner, meerly by their own force, and the Evidence and Power of Truth upon the Minds of Men; and to have born up and ſuſtained themſelves ſo long under ſuch fierce Aſſaults, as Chriſtanity hath done?
As for the Religion of Mahomet, it is famouſly known to have been planted by force at firſt, and to hav… been maintained in the World, by the ſame violent means. So that great Impoſtor openly declares, that he came not to plant his Religion by Miracles, but the Sword.
And as for the Idolatries of the Heathen, they came in upon the World by inſenſible degrees, and did not oppoſe the Corruptions of Men, but grew out of them; and being ſuited to the vicious Temper and Diſpoſition of Mankind, they eaſily gained upon their Ignorance and Superſtition, by Cuſtom and Example. They were juſt ſuch a Corruption of Natural Religion, in ſuch times of darkneſs and ignorance, and by ſuch inſenſible ſteps, as there hath been ſince, of the Chriſtian Religion in ſome Parts of the World, which we all know. But no ſooner did the Light of the Goſpel ſhine out upon the World, but the Idolatry and Superſtition of the Heathen fell before it, like Dagon before the Ark of God; and tho' it had the Power of the World, and Countenance of Authority on its ſide, yet it was not able to maintain its ground; and no ſooner was that Prop taken away, which was the only ſupport of it, but it preſently ſunk and vaniſht; it was not driven out of the World by Violence and Perſecution, but upon the breaking in of ſo great a Light, it ſilently withdrew, as being aſhamed of it ſelf: And when afterwards the Emperor Julian endeavoured to retrieve it, by his Wit and Authority, and uſed all imaginable Arts and Stratagems, to ſuppreſs and extinguiſh Chriſtianity, he was able to effect neither; for the Chriſtian Religion kept its ground, and Paganiſm, after it had made a little Blaze, died with him.
Now to what Cauſe ſhall we aſcribe this wonderful Succeſs, and Prevalency of the Goſpel in the World? There can but theſe Two be imagined; the Excellency of the Chriſtian Religion, and the Power and Preſence of the Divine Spirit accompanying it.
1. The Excellency of the Chriſtian Religion; which both in reſpect of the goodneſs of its Precepts, and the aſſurance of its Rewards, hath plainly the advantage of any Religion, that ever yet appeared in the World. And this is a great Advantage indeed: But by this alone it could never have been able to have broken through all that mighty Oppoſition and Reſiſtance, which was made againſt it; and therefore that it might be able to encounter this with Succeſs,
2. God was pleaſed to accompany the firſt Preaching of it, with a mighty and ſenſible Preſence and Power of his Spirit. And this brings me to the
Second Part of the Text, the Reaſon of the wonderful Efficacy and Succeſs, which the Apoſtles had, in the Preaching of the Goſpel; the Lord wrought with them, and confirmed the Word with ſigns following. Which words expreſs to us that Miraculous Power of the Holy Ghoſt, which accompanied the firſt Preaching of the Goſpel; by which I do not intend to exclude the inward Operation of God's Holy Spirit upon the Minds of Men ſecretly moving and inclining thoſe to whom the Goſpel was Preached, to embrace and entertain it; which the Scripture elſewhere ſpeaks frequently of, and may poſſibly be intended in the firſt of theſe Expreſſions, the Lord working with them; and the latter may only be meant of the Miraculous Gifts of the Spirit, with regard to which, God is ſaid to confirm the Word with ſigns following, or accompanying it. But I rather think they are both intended to expreſs the ſame thing, and that the latter is only added by way of explication of the former, to ſhew more particularly, how the Lord wrought with them; namely, by giving Confirmation to their Doctrine, by thoſe miraculous Gifts and Powers of the Spirit, which they were endowed withal; the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with ſigns following; that is, with thoſe Miracles, which accompanied the firſt Preaching of the Goſpel. For theſe words do plainly refer to the Promiſe of the Spirit at the 17th verſe; and theſe ſigns ſhall follow them that believe; which is the Reaſon why they are here call'd ſigns following; that is, Miracles which accompanied the Word that was Preached.
And that this is the full meaning of this Text, will appear by comparing it with one or two more, Rom. 15.18, 19. where St. Paul ſpeaking of the things which Chriſt had wrought by him, to make the Gentiles obedient to the Goſpel, he ſays, they were done through mighty ſigns and wonders, by the Power of the Spirit of God; which is the ſame with that which is ſaid here in the Text, of the Lord's working with the Apoſtles, and confirming the Word, with ſigns following. So likewiſe, Heb. 2.3, 4. the Apoſtle there tells us, that the Goſpel which was firſt ſpoken by the Lord, was confirmed by them that heard him, God alſo bearing them witneſs, both with ſigns and wonders, and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghoſt. So that the great Confirmation, which is ſaid here to be given to the Goſpel, was by the Miraculous Gifts of the Spirit, which were poured forth upon the Apoſtles and Primitive Chriſtians.
In ſpeaking of which, I ſhall briefly do theſe Two things.
I. Give an account of the Nature of theſe Gifts, and of the Ʋſe and End to which they ſerved: And then ſhew in the
II. Place, how the Goſpel was Confirmed by them.
I. For the Nature of theſe Gifts, and the Ʋſe and End to which they were deſigned.
They are thoſe Miraculous Powers which by the deſcent of the Holy Ghoſt upon the day of Pentecoſt, the Apoſtles were endowed withall, to qualifie them to Publiſh the Goſpel, with more ſpeed and ſucceſs. Such was the Gift of ſpeaking divers Languages, and the Gift of Interpreting things ſpoken in divers Languages; (And theſe Two Gifts were not neceſſarily united in the ſame Perſon, for the Apoſtle tells us, that ſome had the one, and ſome the others;) the Gift of Prophecy and foretelling things to come, which was always a ſign of a Perſon Divinely Inſpired; the Miraculous Powers of Healing Diſeaſes, of Raiſing the Dead, and of Caſting out Devils; a Power of inflicting Corporal Diſeaſes, and Puniſhments, upon ſcandalous and obſtinate Chriſtians, who would not ſubmit to the Apoſtles Authority and Government; which is in Scripture call'd, a delivering up to Satan, for the deſtruction, or tormenting of the Body, that the Soul may be ſaved; nay, in ſome caſes, this Power extended to the inflicting of Death it ſelf, as in the caſe of Ananias and Saphira.
Not that all theſe Miraculous Powers, were given to every one of the Apoſtles, or that they could exerciſe them at all times; ſome were beſtowed upon one, and ſome upon another, according to God's good pleaſure, and as was moſt expedient for the Ʋſe and Benefit of the Church, and moſt ſubſervient to thoſe Ends for which God gave them; only we find that all the Apoſtles had the Gift of Tongues; and that the Power of Caſting out Devils, in the name of Chriſt, was common to every Chriſtian, and continued in the Church for a long time after the other Gifts were ceaſed; as Tertul. Arnob. and Min. Felix do teſtifie, even of their own times.
But, II. I ſhall briefly ſhew how the Goſpel was Confirmed by theſe Miraculous Gifts.
Now beſides the particular Ʋſes and Ends of thoſe Miraculous Gifts (as the Gift of Tongues, did evidently ſerve for the more ſpeedy Planting and Propagating of the Chriſtian Religion in the World; and the Power of inflicting Corporeal Puniſhments, in a Miraculous manner, upon Scandalous and Diſobedient Chriſtians, did maintain the Power and Authority of the Apoſtles, and was inſtead of an ordinary Magiſtratical Power, which Chriſtians were deſtitute of, whilſt the Roman Empire continued Heathen;) I ſay, beſides the particular Ends and Ʋſes of all theſe Miraculous Gifts, they did all in general, as they were Miracles, ſerve for the Confirmation of the Goſpel.
The Apoſtles delivered the Doctrine of Chriſt, and were Witneſſes of his Reſurrection from the dead, as the great Miracle, whereby his Doctrine was confirmed; now there was all the Reaſon in the World to believe them, whom God was pleaſed to give ſuch a Teſtimony from Heaven; for who could make any doubt of the Truth of Their Teſtimony, concerning the Reſurrection of Chriſt who were enabled to raiſe others from the dead, and by many other wonderful things which they did, gave ſuch clear Teſtimony, that God was with them?
Never had any Religion fewer worldly Advantages to recommend it, and ſo little temporal Countenance and Aſſiſtance to carry it on; but what it wanted from Men, it had from God; for he gave witneſs to it with ſigns and wonders, and divers Miracles, and Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt. God ſeems on purpoſe to have ſtript it of all Secular Advantages, that the Chriſtian Religion might be perfectly free from all ſuſpition of Worldly Intereſt and Deſign, and that it might not owe its Eſtabliſhment in the World, to the Wiſdom and Contrivance of Men, but to the Arm and Power of God.
The Inferences I ſhall at preſent make from this Diſcourſe ſhall be theſe.
I. To give us Satisfaction of the Truth and Divinity of the Doctrine of the Chriſtian Religion, which hath had ſo eminent a Confirmation given to it from Heaven, and did at its firſt ſetting out ſo ſtrangely prevail in the World, againſt all Humane Probability; not by might, nor by power; but by the ſpirit of the Lord.
No man can well ſuppoſe a Religion in Circumſtances of greater Diſadvantage, and upon all Humane Accounts, more unlikely to ſuſtain and bear up it ſelf, than the Chriſtian Religion was. The firſt Appearance of it was ſo mean, and its Beginnings ſo ſmall, that no Man but would have thought it would preſently have come to nothing; and no other account can be given of the ſtrange Succeſs and Prevalency of it, but that it was of God, and therefore it could not be overthrown.
II. This Diſcourſe may likewiſe ſatisfie us of the Reaſon why this Miraculous Power, which accompanied the Goſpel at firſt, is now ceaſed; becauſe there is not the like Reaſon and Neceſſity for it, which there was at firſt.
It was highly Neceſſary then, to introduce the Chriſtian Religion into the World, and to be a ſenſible Evidence to Men of the Divinity of that new Doctrine, which was Preached to them: but now that the Goſpel is generally entertained, there is not the ſame Reaſon, why this Miraculous Power ſhould ſtill be continued. Acquiſito fine, ceſſant media ad finem, when the End is once obtained, the Means ceaſe; and the Wiſe God, who is never wanting in what is Neceſſary, does not uſe to be laviſh in that which is Superfluous. Now that the Chriſtian Religion hath got firm footing in the World; God leaves it to be propagated and advanced, by its own Rational Force upon the Minds of Men: now that the Prejudices of Education in a Contrary Religion are removed, and the Powers of the World are reconciled to Chriſtianity; there is no need of ſuch violent and extraordinary Means for the continuance of it: now that it ſtands upon equal Advantages with other Religions; God hath left it to be carried on, in more humane and ordinary ways, and ſuch as are more level and accommodate to the Nature of Man.
That Miracles are long ſince ceaſed, is acknowledged by the Fathers, who lived an Age or two after the ceaſing of them; particularly by St. Chryſoſtome, who gives the ſame Reaſon for it, which I have juſt now aſſigned. But the Church of Rome would ſtill bear us in hand, that this Miraculous Power does ſtill continue in their Church, and according to Bellarmine, muſt always continue; becauſe he makes it an inſeparable Property and Mark of the True Church.
But we pretend to no ſuch Power, nor have we any Reaſon ſo to do; becauſe all the Doctrines of our Religion, are the Ancient Doctrines of Chriſtianity, delivered by our Saviour, and by his Apoſtles publiſht to the World; and theſe are ſufficiently confirmed already, by the Miracles which our Saviour and his Apoſtles wrought in the Primitive Times of Chriſtianity. But the Church of Rome hath great Occaſion and Need of New Miracles, to confirm their New Doctrines; and therefore as they have Reaſon, they uſually apply them to the Confirmation of their New Doctrines; ſome to confirm Purgatory, and to give countenance to Indulgences; others to encourage the Worſhip of the Bleſſed Virgin, and the Saints; others to confirm that which all the Miracles in the World are not ſufficient to confirm, I mean the Doctrine of Tranſubſtantiation; which, becauſe it overthrows the certainty of Senſe, is in the Nature of it peculiarly incapable of being confirmed by a Miracle.
III. and Laſtly, The Conſideration of what hath been ſaid does juſtly upbraid us, that this Religion, which was ſo powerful at firſt, and hath ſuch Characters of Divinity upon it, coming down to us confirmed by ſo many Miracles, ſhould yet have ſo little Effect upon moſt of us who call our ſelves Chriſtians.
We have all the Advantages of the Chriſtian Religion, having been educated and brought up in it; and yet it hath leſs Effect upon us, than it had upon thoſe whoſe Minds were prejudiced, and whoſe Manners were depraved, by the Principles of a falſe Religion: for thoſe who were reduced from Paganiſm to Chriſtianity, did on the ſudden become better Men, and were more Holy and Virtuous in their Lives; than the greateſt part of us, who have been inſtructed and trained up all our lives in the Doctrine of Chriſtianity.
The true Reaſon of which is, that many of us are Chriſtians, upon the ſame account, that they were at firſt Heathens; becauſe it was the Religion of their Country, and they were born and bred up in it: but Chriſtianity was the Religion of their Choice, and there were no Motives to perſwade them to the Profeſſion of that Religion, but what were as powerful to oblige them to the Practice of it. Let us alſo be Chriſtians, not only by Cuſtom, but by Choice; and then we ſhall live according to our Religion.
He that takes up a Religion, for any other Reaſon, than to obey and practice it, does not chooſe a Religion, but only counterfeits the Choice of it. We have beyond Compariſon the beſt and moſt reaſonable Religion in the World, a Religion that hath the greateſt Evidence of its Truth, that contains the beſt Precepts, and gives men the greateſt Aſſurance of a future Happineſs, and directs them to the ſureſt Way of attaining it: Now the better our Religion is, the worſe are we, if we be not made good by it. The Philoſophy of the Heathen, made ſome virtuous; and there were many eminent Saints under the Imperfection of the Jewiſh Inſtitution. What Degrees then of Holineſs and Virtue may be expected from us, upon whom the Glorious Light of the Goſpel ſhineth ſo brightly?
I will conclude all, with the Words of the Apoſtle, Heb. 2.1, 2, 3, 4. Therefore we ought to give the more earneſt heed to the things which we have heard, leſt at any time we ſhould let them ſlip. For if the word ſpoken by Angels was ſtedfaſt, and every tranſgreſſion and diſobedience received a juſt recompence of reward: How ſhall we eſcape; if we neglect ſo great ſalvation, which at the firſt began to be ſpoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God alſo bearing them witneſs, both with ſigns and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the holy Ghoſt, according to his own will?