Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

SECT. XVIII. The Eminency of the Author of Christianity, and the manner of its being propagated, shews it to be very excellent.

ANother Point wherein Christian Religion excels all other which are or may be devised, is the manner whereby it was delivered and pro∣pagated; where first we must look upon the Author of the Religion. The Authors of the Grecian Wisdom, confessed the uncertainty of their Do∣ctrine, saying, * 1.1 Truth was as it were drowned in a deep Well, and our Mind like the Night-Owl to the Sun's Light, is dim-sighted to behold things Divine; And therefore it was no mistake in Paul, to say these Di∣sputers of this World through Wisdom knew not God. And beside there were none of them but were some way vitious, either for flattery of Princes, or for impure Love, or for snarling Impudence. All are con∣vinced of Envy one towards another, by this very Argument, their con∣tentions about words, and of things of no moment; and of boldness in God's Service; for that when they believed one God, laying him aside, they worshipped others, and such as they believed to be no Gods, making the Custom of the People the Rule by which they squared their Religi∣on. Lastly. Of the Reward of Piety, they asserted nothing firmly, as is manifest in the last Discourse of Socrates before his Death: And conse∣quently their Religion which could assure nothing in point of Reward, must needs be far from Excellent.

To proceed; Mahumet was the Author of a Religion far and wide di∣spersed,

but he was all his Life given over to Lust, which his own Fol∣lowers do not deny, and his own Alcoran doth make appear, himself saying, That it was allowed to him to have as many Women as he pleased. And the Reward he promised, consisting in Feasts and Venery, he gave no assu∣rance it should ever be extant, for his Body is not said to have returned unto Life again, nay to this hour it lies buried at Medina.

Next for the Hebrew Law-giver, Moses: He was indeed a rare Man, but not excused from all blame, seeing, with much regret, he at last un∣dertook the Message God sent by him to the King of Egypt, Exod. 2. 10. and shewed some diffidence of God's Promise, about drawing Water from the Rock, Numb. 20. 12. as the Hebrews do confess. Neither did he obtain scarce any part of the Reward he promised his People by the Law, being vexed in the Desart with perpetual Seditions, and entred not into the Land of Promise.

But Christ is set forth by his Disciples, without the least spot of Sin; and by his Enemies is not accused of any Fault that can be proved by competent Witnesses. What he prescribed to others, he performed himself; for the Commands laid upon him by God, he faithfully fulfil∣led; in all his Life most innocent, 1 Pet. 2. 22. of Injuries and Tor∣ments most patient, (as he shewed induring the Cross) most Charitable to all Men, even to his Enemies, even to them that cruelly nail'd him to the Cross, at once suffering their Malice, and praying for them: Then the Reward he promised his Followers, himself is said and proved to have obtained, in a most eminent way. After his Resurrection he was seen, heard, and felt of many: He ascended into Heaven in the sight of the Eleven. That he received supream Power there, is demonstra∣ted by the variety of Tongues, Acts 2. 3, 4. given to those that were un∣learned Men; which can be no Fable, being so openly done in the presence of so many thousands of his Enemies; and that to the Conviction and Conver∣sion of three thousand of them at that very time, that it is impossible to doubt of this, if any thing in any Story, Sacred or Humane, may be believed. And, together with the Gift of Tongues, other marvellous Gifts he poured down upon his Followers, according to his Promise, before he left them. Which as this his faithfulness to these his chosen Disciples, must needs create a most sure confidence in them, with respect to whatsoever he had promised, or ordered to be done; so it will not suffer us to doubt, neither of his Faith, nor of his Power, to render us that Reward which he hath promised. And seeing nothing like this, either is or can be pretended with such demon∣stration, concerning the Author of any other Religion; Hence we justly collect the Christian Religion is most eminent herein, because the Master thereof himself performed what he commanded, and what he promised, himself obtained; and as far as was hitherto meet, hath fulfilled his Word unto his Adherents.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Democrit. apud Cit. in Acad.