Vindication of the Truth of the Christian Religion, Religious treatise · Section 4 · Subsection 4
IV. Portraiture of the Chriſtian Religion, as conſider'd in the Purity of it's End.
IF the Effects of the Chriſtian Religion are truly anſwerable to the Characters of it, we may alſo affirm that it's End is truly anſwerable to it's Effects, it being manifeſt, there never was any ſo uncorrupt, ſo pure, ſo extraordinary, and ſo perfect.
For we cannot but acknowledge that it is the main End and Deſign of Christian Religion to check and mortify Men's irregular Paſſions, and reſtore the Principles of Righteouſneſs and Uprightneſs in them, which their Corruption had as it were Effac'd.
And it cannot be ſuppos'd this was the intention of the Devil, whom we conceive to be as a Spirit naturally averſe to the Good of Mankind; nor that of Fleſh and Blood, that aim at nothing elſe but to ſatisfy their Luſts; nor that of Nature, which is eaſily perſwaded, being byaſſed by the Pleaſures which Vice gives her a Proſpect of; nor that of Policy, which tends only to the reſtraining the Licentiouſneſs of all external Crimes, in as much as they violate and invert the Order of publick Society, but looks indifferently upon all Crimes that reſpect the Soul. Neither can it be the ſcope and deſign of Reaſon, which is eaſily corrupted by Avarice; nor even that of Pride, which is mortified much more than all the other Paſſions by this Doctrin, unknown to the Fleſh, and inſufferable to Nature. Who then is it that concerns himſelf ſo much with Pride as to take away it's Errors, it's Vain-glory, it's chimerical Perfections; Preferences, Hypocriſy and Affectations, and all this only by a ſerious Conſideration of the divine Nature? Who takes upon him to deprive Self-love of it's Injuſtice, the Fleſh of it's unlawful Pleaſures, and in a word, all human Paſſions of their Diſorders and Irregularities? What can ſuch a Deſign mean? And how could this Thought of ſanctifying Mankind enter of it ſelf into any Man's Mind?
We may juſtly therefore aſcribe this End and Deſign to the Chriſtian Religion: For it is certain it contains neither Exhortation nor Precept, Promiſe nor Threat, Hiſtory nor Prophecy, but what directly aims at that very End. The Holy Scripture is not of the Nature of thoſe Books, that contain nothing but vain Speculations, or curious Enquiries; all thoſe of that kind were brought to the Apostles to be burnt, who returned no other Anſwer to thoſe that asked them, Men and Brethren, what ſhall we do? But this, Repent ye. They plainly declared that the Deſign of the Goſpel was to free Men from the Bondage of their Sins; and their Example ſhews us as much. For what other Deſign could they have had in renouncing every thing, and enduring all Perſecutions, but to perſwade other Men they ſhould renounce this preſent World? Beſides, whether they ſpeak, or write, they don't run out into vain Conteſts and Diſputes, the ordinary product of the Vanity of Mankind; but come immediately to their purpoſe, and inſiſt only on what is material and eſſential to it. Every particular in their Diſcourſes and Writings is practical and relating to the Perfection of Morality; ſo much they deſpiſe the Fineneſs of Eloquence, and Subtilty of Human Philoſophy, and propoſe only to themſelves the edification of Men. Theſe things write I unto you, ſay they, that ye Sin not, 1 John. 2. 1. But ſuppoſing them ſuch Deceivers as the Incredulous imagin; what was it to them whether we Sinned, or not? What injury would it have been to the Son of a Carpenter, tho the Phariſees were diſſembling Hypocrites, and diſhonour'd the Deity by their Traditions, and tho there had been Tables of Money-changers in the Court of the Temple? What was it to him, whether Sinners repented of their Sins, or not? Whether Men were Juſt and Merciful, or thought they could appeaſe God only with vain Offerings? Whether the City that kill'd the Prophets, knew the things that belong'd to her Peace, or not? What could move him to ſhed Tears in ſuch abundance at the thoughts of the approaching Deſtruction of Jeruſalem? A ſenſible and effectual Proof indeed of his being very much concern'd for her Salvation. What would it have ſignified to a few poor deluded Wretches, whether the Gentiles had the Knowledge of the true God, or not? To a Company of falſe Witneſſes, whether Men were Cheats or Liars? To perſons odious and had in abomination every where, whether Men truly loved one another, or not? To the Victims of publick Hatred, whether Men were reconciled to God or not? To ſuch afflicted and diſconſolate Wretches, whether other Men were truly made ſenſible of a Divine Comfort, and of the Peace of God which paſſeth all understanding? Who can imagin that thoſe Men deſigned to be wicked, only to make us become honeſt? To deceive all Mankind on purpoſe to eſtabliſh a ſacred and inviolable Law of Fidelity? To become the Enemies of their own Nation, to make us be in Charity with all Mankind? In a word, to eſtabliſh a Religion in the World that tends wholly to the Sanctification of Mankind, by the moſt ſignal Impoſture, and moſt heinous Crime that Men could be guilty of?
'Twould be strange, if ſuch wicked and deceitful Men, as the Incredulous imagin the Apoſtles to have been, ſhould have the leaſt Thoughts of ſanctifying others: And 'twould be yet more ſurprizing if that Thought ſhould be ſo fixed in their Minds, as to become a full and perfect deſign of venturing and loſing all, to compaſs it. Nay, 'twould be next to a Miracle, if that Deſign ſhould be put in execution; and yet more, 'twould be an unheard of Prodigy, if a continual ſucceſſion of People ſhould adhere to the ſame Principles, and continue in the ſame diſpoſition of Mind againſt their own Intereſt, and in ſpite of the ſevereſt Perſecutions. Certainly we may confidently ſay, that Impoſture and Deceit never had ſuch a deſign, or, the like ſucceſs. For tho' ſelf-love may have hitherto made uſe of Deceit and Falſhood to effect its own Deſires, without any regard had to Juſtice and Charity, ſo indiſpenſably due to our Neighbour; it was yet never known, nor ever will be, that Charity made uſe of Impoſture and Deceit to bring about its Deſigns for the good of others, without the leaſt conſideration of its own Intereſt and Deſires. And to inſiſt further upon it, would be to endeavour to add Light to the Sun, and prove a thing that is already as clear as Noon-day.