Vindication of the Truth of the Christian Religion, Religious treatise · Section 2 · Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII.
That we ought to look upon the New Teſtament as a divine Book.
I Doubt not but that we may certainly find ſeveral unqueſtionable Characters of Divinity in that Book. For not to repeat here what we have already ſaid in our firſt part of this work, concerning the Books of the Old Teſtament, and which is no leſs true of the New one, we cannot but admire the mutual agreement of thoſe Authors with Moſes and the other Prophets. We cannot but be ſurpriſed to ſee ſuch an unanimous conſent among thoſe Writers, whether it be in the things they relate, or in in the deſign of their Exhortations, or laſtly, in the record they bear. Never was Author ſeen ſo conformable to himſelf, as thoſe Divine Authors are to one another in the Eſſentials of their Doctrine. Where can we find ſuch a Character of Sweetneſs, Gentleneſs, and Simplicity, ſo much Charity for Mankind, and Averſion to Vice, ſo many motives to Humiliation, and ſo great a deſire to glorify God? Where can we find ſuch a Loftineſs of thought, and yet ſuch a Simplicity of expreſſion, ſuch a mixture of joy and ſorrow, ſuch heroical confidence in a forlorn ſtate of Miſery, ſuch profound Humility, and ſuch preſence and greatneſs of mind, which is the cauſe that their Morality is the fineſt that ever was, and their thoughts more elevated than thoſe of other men, their deſign the nobleſt that ever entred into the heart of man, that is, to gain all men unto God, having no ſelf intereſt, or refined Niceties of Policy, but only a fervent deſire to ſucceed in their Miniſtry?
I know that this here is matter of Inward ſenſe, rather than Demonſtration, and that I ſhall never perſwade the Incredulous that they may diſcover in the New Teſtament that loftineſs of thought and that divine Majeſty, which I my ſelf perceive amidſt that ſeeming rough and unpleaſant Language, which is as it were the bark and outward ſhell of it: but yet for all their obſtinacy they cannot deny theſe four following Truths, I. That never any known Impoſtor left us ſuch excellent Books as the Apoſtles, no not even Mahomet himſelf, who might have eaſily borrowed their Notions, the better to diſguiſe his own. II. That it appears that their Writings are a thouſand times more free from all Paſſions and Humane Imperfections, than all the Books of the Wiſeſt men among the Heathens, where we ſee Pride as it were upon her Throne. III. That the Character of the New Teſtament is infinitely more excellent than that of the Writings of all the Fathers, who lived ſucceſſively from the Apoſtles down to us, wherein any one may eaſily obſerve a ſtrange affectation, a particular vanity of ſhewing their parts and learning, and ſometimes much heat and paſſion; becauſe they were far from the perfection in Chriſtianity which the Apoſtles had. IV. That the beſt ſorts of godly Books written amongſt the Chriſtians, from the Apoſtles's time down to us, I mean thoſe Books that moſt eſtabliſh the peace and tranquility of publick Society, and chiefly tend to the Glory of God, were written in imitation of the holy Scriptures, from which they had their materials to compoſe them with. This is what in my opinion is very ſure and certain.
And as certain it is, that if the Apoſtles were not divinely inſpired, they muſt neceſſarily be Impoſtors, nay ſuch abominable men, as deſired only to diſhonour their Nation and to ſacrifice to a vain flattering Idea of Glory, the lives and fortunes of an infinite number of perſons whom they encouraged to ſuffer Martyrdom.
Let us now ſee whether we can perſwade our ſelves that the moſt excellent Books that were ever known, I mean thoſe Books that are moſt proper to inſpire us with piety, with the love of God, and our Neighbour, that are the ſource of the beſt matters that ever were written, and the original of the Piety and Vertue of all thoſe perſons who were converted by them, were only the invention of the moſt wicked men that ever were.
Certainly, ſince all Chriſtians in all Ages conſidered this Book as Divine, and as the rule of their Faith, whereby they diſtinguiſh'd it from all other Books; it follows thence that all the Chriſtians were either deceived in the Eſſentials of it, and that their Faith was falſe, or elſe that Book muſt in reality be of a Divine Authority: For ſuch an Univerſal Tradition, ſo conſtant, and ſo neceſſarily affixed to the end and deſign of Religion, can never impoſe upon us.
It has been the Wiſdom of Providence as we have already obſerved, to take care that this Book ſhould be left to us as entire as when it came out of the Apoſtles hands: and the Primitive Christians who all aſſure us that it is of a Divine Authority, tell us only but what right Reaſon obliged them to acknowledge, and us as well as them. For the Word preached and the Word written by the Apoſtles, differ not eſſentially from one another; ſo that if the former be Divine, the latter muſt neceſſarily be ſo too. And who doubts but that Word muſt be looked upon as Divine, which God himſelf authoriſed by ſo many Miracles?
Perhaps ſome will reply, that it would be of a very dangerous Conſequence to reaſon often after this manner; and that altho' a falſe Prophet ſhould work prodigious Miracles, yet we ought not to follow him upon a bare ſuppoſition that God never aſſiſts an Impoſtor with his infinite Power. But this I own and affirm alſo, that we ought ſtrictly to examin both his Doctrine and Miracles, to find out by that compariſon the true Original of both. And therefore we have this advantage, that we not only find here ſuch miracles as excel all the power of Hell; ſuch as for example, the raiſing a man from the Dead; but that this Doctrine alſo viſibly bears all the Characters of one that proceeded from Heaven. Thoſe miracles on the one hand ſo great and numerous that the people cried out, ſurely this is the finger of God, take away all ſuſpicion of the falſity and pernicious conſequences of the Doctrine they confirm; becauſe the arm of the Lord is not uſually employed in favour of an Impoſture. And on the other hand, that Doctrine which is ſo holy, and ſo perfectly tends to the union and wellfare of Mankind, which is ſo worthy of the love of God to man, ſufficiently warrants us that the Miracles whereby it is confirmed, proceed not in the leaſt from the power of Darkneſs, as the Enemies of Chriſtianity ſeem to believe. Hell never concerns it ſelf either to unite or ſanctify mankind.
All the Apoſtles expreſly declare, that the word which they preached, proceeded not from themſelves, but God. But I certifie you Brethren, ſays St. Paul in his Epiſt. to the Galatians Chap. 1. v. 11. that the Goſpel which was preached of me, was not after man: for I neither received of man, neither was I taught it, but by the Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt. Thus when the Apoſtles were aſſembled together at Jeruſalem in the firſt Council that ever was held, and wrote to ſome Chnrches concerning ſeveral queſtions that were then in Agitation, they made uſe of this manner of ſpeaking, For it ſeemed good to the Holy Ghoſt and to us, Act. 15. 28.
It appears then that the Apoſtles ſpoke by the Order and Revelation of God, which was given ſeveral ways; viz. ſometimes by Viſion, as when St. Peter ſaw a certain veſſel deſcending from Heaven, as it had been a great ſheet knit by the four Corners, wherein were all kinds of unclean Beaſts; and he was commanded ſaying, Peter kill and eat, Act. 10. 13. on purpoſe to ſignify that he ought to preach …he Goſpel to the Gentiles, who were no longer an unclean Nation in the ſight of God; ſometimes by Dreams, as when a certain Macedonian appeared unto St. Paul, commanding him to go into Macedonia, and preach the Goſpel there: ſometimes by Ex…aſy, as it is probable that St. Paul was caught up into the third Heaven; but yet much oftener by the inward dictates of the Holy Ghoſt formed as it were …n their Souls, as when the Spirit ſaid unto Peter concerning the men which Cornelius ſent to enquire for him, Go thou with them doubting nothing: for I …ave ſent them, Act. 10. 20.
'Tis true one might very well ſuſpect theſe Reve…ations, if one ſingle man boaſted of having had …hem imparted to him: but here we have ſeveral. God did not reveal himſelf to them after one ſingle manner, but after divers. They aſſerted not only …hat God had revealed ſome things to them in order …o induce Mankind to believe it, but they wrought many Miracles, ſpoke divers Languages, im…arted …hoſe Gifts to others, thereby converted the World, …nd exactly fulfilled the Oracles of God. That …pirit which filled them, and was neceſſarily to fill …hem, becauſe the time of the Calling of the Gentiles …as come, was outwardly produced by ſuch effects …s undoubtedly will confound the Incredulous if they …eflect upon them.
Certainly, if it be true, as it is, that God poured down his Spirit upon the Apoſtles on the day of Pentecoſt, 'twas only that they might preach unto men by their Miniſtry, unleſs it be pretended that the Tongues of the Apoſtles which were exalted after a ſupernatural manner, ſo far as to ſpeak all ſorts of Languages, were to confine themſelves to that particular employ, and not to reveal unto men the will of God. But if we ought to look upon that word as Divine which thoſe Tongues have preached, we cannot but look upon thoſe Writings as Divine in which that Word it ſelf is contained.
I hope that whoſoever ſhall ſeriouſly reflect on the Connexion of all theſe principles, will fully be perſwaded that their Union is not to be diſſolved. If there was ſuch a Book as the New Teſtament in the days of Clemens, Polycarp, and of the Primitive Fathers, as without diſpute there was, that Book could never have been forg'd. If the Book of the New Teſtament could not have been forg'd, it is impoſſible but that certain publick matters of fact, which are inſerted in that Book as being publickly known by all the Chriſtians, are true. And if thoſe matters of fact are true, it can never be denied but that the Apoſtles received the Holy Ghoſt. If the Apoſtles did receive the Holy Ghoſt, certainly their Writings muſt be looked upon as Divine. I have made choice of theſe principles only among ſeveral others which I have eſtabliſhed; but leſt any one ſhould imagin that they ſubſiſt meerly by their Connexion, I deſire the Reader to remember that I have proved each of them apart by themſelves, after ſeveral different ways.
It is very true therefore that the New Teſtament, as well as our Religion, is divine: for theſe two Truths are properly one and the ſame: The Chriſtian Religion can't be Divine, if the Word or the Scripture which is the ruleof the Faith of its Profeſſors, be Humane; and the Scripture can never be Divine, unleſs the Christian Religion be of an heavenly Original, and proceeded from God. But it is fit that we ſhould examin the Difficulties that are oppoſed againſt this grand principle.