More reasons for the Christian religion and no reason against it, or, A second appendix to the Reasons of the Christian religion being I. an answer to a letter from an unknown person charging the Holy Scriptures with contradictions, II. some animadversions on a tractate De Veritate, written by ... Edward Herbert, Baron of Cherbury ... / by Richard Baxter.

SIR,

I Was right glad, when I first heard that you had written, and put to Print, a Book of the Rea∣sons of the Christian Religion; and I did immediately buy the Book, hoping that in the Reading and Perusing of it, I might have re∣ceived satisfaction as to any doubt or scruple, and an answer satisfactory to all Objections, that in Reason may be raised against the Grounds of the said Christian Religion; because I did think you to be as able to say and write as much as any man in that thing, having as I thought studied it as much as any that I had heard of; but in the reading and perusing it, I contrary to my expectation found it to be short of giving me satisfaction.

For the greatest occasion of any doubt or scruple in any thing tending or relating to the Christian Religion that I at any time had or have, were from that variousness and contrariety,

if not contradictions, which are, or at least seem to be, in the writings of the Apostles and Evangelists and other Books received for Scripture.

But you in answer to that Objecti∣on, page 412. say, Nothing but igno∣rance maketh men think so; under∣stand once the true meaning, and al∣low for the errors of Printers, Tran∣scribers, and Translators; and there will no such thing be found.

But you neither tell me which are those errors, nor yet how I may know them.

1. Therefore I humbly pray you (in writing) to tell me, whether that which is written in the first Chapter of Matthews Gospel, verse 8, 9. where Matthew writes, that Joram begat O∣zias and Ozias begat Joatham, be any error of the Transcribers, Translators or Printers, or the contrary to it, which is written in the second book of the Kings, and in the books of the Chro∣nicles; if not, how may they be un∣derstood, for in those books it is writ∣ten that Joram was Father to Ahaziah, and Ahaziah was Father to Joash, and Joash was Father to Amaziah, and A∣maziah

was Father to Azariah, and A zariah was Father to Joatham; by the account of which Books, there is a∣bove an hundred Years between the death of Joram the son of Jehosaphat, and Joatham,

2. And Secondly, Whether that which is written by Luke in his Gos∣pel, Chapter 24. vers. 9, 10. 22, 23. where Luke writes, that Mary Mag∣dalen and other Women, told the Dis∣ciples, that they had seen a Vision of Angels, which said, that Jesus was risen from the dead, and was alive; whether this be any error of the Tran∣scribers, Translators and Printers, or any of them; or the Contrary which is written by St. John in his Gospel, for he writes Chap. 20. verse 2. That Mary Magdalen told two of the Dis∣ciples, and said to them, They (I sup∣pose meaning the Adversaries) have taken away the Lord out of the Sepul∣cher, and we know not where they have laid him.

If not how may I understand them to be both true Testimonies or Re∣ports, for it seemeth by Luke, ver. 11, 12. and 23, 24. of his 24. Chapter,

that Mary and the other Women had told those things of their seeing the Angels, which said that Jesus was risen and alive, before that Peter ran or went to the Sepulcher.

3. And Thirdly, Whether that which is written by Matthew, in the 28th. Chapter of his Gospel, that the Angel said to Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus which was Crucifi∣ed, he is not here, for he is risen, as he said, Come see the place where the Lord lay, and go quickly and tell his Disciples that he is risen from the dead, and behold he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall you see him, so I have told you,

And they departed quickly from the Sepulcher with fear and great joy, and did run to bring his Disciples word, and as they went to tell his Dis∣ciples, behold Jesus met them, see Mat. 28. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. v.

Whether I say was this which is written in St. Matthews Gospel, that I have here Transcribed, said to the Women, and that the Women re∣turned from the Sepulcher to tell the

Disciples, before that Mary M••gda∣len said to him that she supposed to be the Gardiner, If thou hast born him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away, John 20. 15. or whether there be any error of Transcribers, Translators or Printers in those Texts; if not, how may I understand them to be true re∣ports.

Sir, I shall trouble you with no more but these few places which I have pro∣posed in three Questions or Particulars, although there are several other Texts, that I do not understand how they may be reconciled, but if you shall by strength of Argument Grounded upon sound Reason, make appear that it was nothing but Ignorance hath made me to think that those Testi∣monies agree not, but are contrary one to the other; and that they may be so understood as that no such thing will appear in them, then I shall be ready and will with you conclude and say so too, and for the future suppose that other places of those books which are received for Scripture, as seem to be contrary to one another, may be

Reconciled, though I do not under∣stand how;

But on the contrary, if you do not endeavour by such sound and plain Arguments to make it appear that these Texts here Transcribed by me, may be understood so as that no con∣tradiction is in them.

I must think that it was nothing but Ignorance that made you say that which you have said, in answer to that and some other objections,

Therefore I humbly and earnestly pray and beseech you, both in defence of your own writings as also in de∣fence of those Books in which you say you think that no one error or contra∣diction in any matter can be proved, to make it appear in truth and plain∣ness.

If you judge I have erred from the truth, I hope you will endeavour to to convert me from the error of my way, if any such be; which if you shall do, no doubt but it will be a good work, see James 5. ult.

Sir, It is your advice, that in such kind of Scruples, the doubtful should apply himself for satisfaction to some

Minister; therefore do I write to you, and if you shall not give me a gentle and plain Answer, I shall be discourag∣ed to make my Scruples known to any other; therefore in expectation of your plain Answer, I Remain

Your Loving Friend in the Bond of Peace.