that he ought to be acknowledg'd as King, who fhould be our King indeed: and that he was to come out of the Eaft, who fhould have dominion over all. We read in Porphyry of the Oracle of Apollo, which faith, that other Gods are aerial Spirits, but the God of the Hebrews is only to bę worfhipped which faying, if the worshippers of Apollo obey, then they muft ccafe to worship him if they do not obey it, then they make their God a lyar. Add further, if thofe Spirits had refpected or intended the good of Mankind, above all things, they would have prefcribed a general Rule of life to Mankind, and alfo given fome certain affurance of a reward to them that lived accordingly; neither of which was ever done by them.

:

On the other fide oftentimes in their Verfes we find fome Kings commended which were wicked Men, fome Champions extoll'd and dignifi'd with divine honour, others allured to immodest and unlawful love, or to the feeking after filthy lucre, or committing of Murder, as might be fhewn by many Examples.

९

SECT. X.

Paganifm decayed of its own accord fo foon as humane aid ceafed.

ESIDES all that hath hitherto been said, Paganifm mmifters to us a mighty argument againft it felf, because that wherefoever it becomes deftitute of humane force to fupport it, there ftraightway it comes to ruine, as if the foundation

foundation thereof were quite overthrown. For if we take a view of all the Kingdoms and States that are among Chriftians or Mahumetans, we fhall find no memory of Paganifm, but in Books. Nay Hiftories tells us, that even in thofe times, when the Emperors endeavoured to uphold the Pagan Religion either by violence and perfecution, as did the firft of them; or by learning and fubtilty, as did Julian; it notwithstanding decay'd daily, not by any violent oppofition, nor by the brightness and fplendor of lineage and defcent, (for Jefus was accounted by the common fort only a Carpenter's Son;) nor by the flourishes of learning, which they that taught the Law of Chrift ufed not in their Sermons; nor by gifts and bribes, for they were poor; nor by any foothing and flattering fpeeches, for on the contrary they taught that all worldly advantages must be defpifed, and that all kind of adverfity must be undergone for the Gospel's fake. See then how weak and impotent Paganism was, which by fuch means came to ruine.

Neither did the doctrine of Christ only make the credulity of the Gentiles to vanish, but even bad Spirits came out of divers bodies at the name of Chrift they became dumb alfo, and being demanded the reafon of their filence, they were compell'd to fay, that they were able to do nothing where the name of Chrift was cal led upon.

SECT.

SECT. XI.

Answer to the Opinion of fome that think the beginning and decay of Religions depend upon the efficacy of the Stars.

HERE have been Philofophers, that did

T afcribe the beginning and decay of every

Religion unto the Stars: but this Star-gazing Science, which thefe Men profefs to be skilled in, is delivered under fuch different rules, that one can be certain of nothing but only this, that there is no certainty at all therein.

I do not here fpeak of fuch effects as follow from a natural neceffity of caufes, but of those that proceed from the will of Man, which of it felf hath fuch liberty and freedom, that no neceffity or violence can be impreffed upon it from without. For if the confent of the will did neceffarily follow any outward impreffion, then the power in our Soul, which we may perceive it hath to confult, deliberate and chufe, would be given in vain. Alfo the equity of all Laws, of all rewards and punishments, would be taken away, feeing there can be neither fault nor merit in that which is altogether neceffary and inevitable.

Again, there are divers evil acts or effects of the will, which if they proceeded of any neceflity from the Heavens, then the fame Heavens and Celestial Bodies tuft needs receive fuch efficacy from God, and fo it would follow, that God, who is most perfectly good, is the true caufe of that which is morally evil; And that when in his Law he profeffeth himself to abhor wickedness,

which a force inferted by him into things themfelves will inevitably produce, he doth will two things contrary one to the other; that the fame thing fhould be done and not be done; and also that a Man offends in an action, which he doth by divine instigation.

They speak more probably, that say the influences of the Stars do first affect the Air, then our Bodies, with fuch qualities as oftentimes do excite and stir up in the mind fome defires or affections answerable thereunto: and the will being allured or enticed by thefe motions doth oftentimes yield unto them. But if this should be granted, it makes nothing for the question we have in hand. for feeing that Chriftian Religion most of all withdraws Men from those things which are pleafing unto the body, it cannot therefore have its beginning from the affections of the body, and confequently not from the influence of the Stars; which (as but now we faid) have no power over the mind, otherwife than by the mediation of those affections. The most prudent among Aftrologers exempt truly wife and good Men from the dominon of the Stars: And fuch verily were they that first professed Christianity, as their Lives do fhew. Or if there be any efficacy in learning and knowledge against the infection of the body, even among Chriftians there were ever fome that were excellent in this particular.

Besides, as the most Learned do confefs, the effects of the Stars refpect certain Climates of the World, and are only for a feafon; but this Religion hath now continued above the space of one thousand fix hundred years, and that not in one part only, but in the most remote places of I 4

the

the World, and fuch as are under a far different pofition of the Stars.

SECT. XII.

The chief Points of Christianity are approved of by the Heathen and if there be any thing that is hard to be believed therein, the like or worse is found among the Pagans.

BUT

UT the Pagans have the lefs to object against Christian Religion becaufe all the parts thereof are of fuch honesty and integrity, that they convince Mens minds by their own light. In fo much that there have not been wanting Men among the Pagans alfo, who have here and there faid every one of thofe things, which our Religion hath in a body all together. As to give fome inftances; true Religion confifts not in Rites and Ceremonies, but in the mind and Spi rit: he is an Adulterer that hath but a defire to commit adultery; we ought not to revenge injuries, one Man fhould be the Husband of one Wife only the league or bond of Matrimony ought to be conftant and perpetual Man is bound to do good unto all, fpecially to them that are in want: we muft refrain from Swearing as much as may be: And as for our Food and Apparel we ought to content our felves with fo much as will fuffice nature, and the like. Or if happily there be fome points in Chriftianity hard to be believed, yet the like alfo is found amongst the wifeft of the Heathen themselves;

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