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. II. Sheweth that God hath made known his Grace in Christ from the Be∣ginning.

Although God did not speak to the Fathers in times past by his Son, as now he doth in these last Days to us, who have his Sacred Doctrine to contemplate at all times, and in all cases, yet was he made known to such as enquired after him; as it is written, 1 Pet. 1. 10, 11, 12. Of which Salvation the Prophets have diligently enquired, who prophesied of the Grace that should come unto you; searching what, and what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie, when it testified beforehand the Sufferings of Christ, and the Glory that should follow. And unto Adam was a gracious Promise made of the overthrow of the Ser∣pent, whose Head (or Power) God declared should be broken, i. e. His Victory made null and void, and the Conquest given to the Womans Seed; which is most fitly referr'd to Christ, who was manifested to destroy the works of the Devil. And as in the beginning of the Old World, God thus provided that Men might have hope of Salvation; so he left not himself without Witness, as Abel, Enoch, &c. Yea, in the very end of that World, we know Noah was a Preacher of Righte∣ousness. * 1.1 And Christ is said to preach by his Spirit, to them. * 1.2 And thus was the Gospel preached to them that are Dead, that they might be judged according to Men in the Flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit.

As Noah was Christ's Witness to the Old World, so he was to the Be∣ginning of the New, with whom God made a Covenant of Mercy and Justice for all Generations, Gen. 9. 1. to 18. Giving the Rain-Bow for a Token of his merciful Remembrance, even then when Judgment should be impending; and by this preaches that he is a Merciful God to this Day.

When Men had in a manner totally forsaken the Lord again, then God chose Abraham, and delivered to him the Knowledg of his Mercy in Christ, Gen. 12. and declared, the extent of that Blessing should be for all Nations. Thus Abraham saw Christ's Day, and rejoyced, John 8. 56. who doubtless would not fail to reveal it to others; for therefore did God reveal his Will to him, because he knew he would teach others, Gen. 18. 17, 18. After which time, more plenty of Testimonies are found in the Scriptures; as in Deut. 18. 15. A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your Brethren, Him shall ye hear, &c. And to omit the Quotations that might be brought, our Saviour's Method for In∣struction of his Disciples, may serve for all; concerning which 'tis said, Luke 24. 27. And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, he Ex∣pounded

to them in all the Scriptures, the things concerning himself. It seems then, that in all the Prophets, and in all the Scriptures, God, took special care that the Knowledg of his Son, might be Communicated to the Chil∣dren of Men.

And though all Nations had not at all times the Law and Prophets to read, and to inform them in the Knowledg of Christ, yet it is to admi∣ration what Discoveries were made to many concerning him, and more particularly to the Sybils, * 1.3 whose words as set down by August. de Civit. Dei, I will set down for a Testimony; only first I will set down Augustines opinion of these Sybils, Lib. 18. cap. 23.

In those Days (saith he) Sybilla Erithrea (some say) prophesied. There were many Sybils (saith Varro) but this Sybilla wrote some evi∣dent Prophesies of Christ. — * 1.4 Flavianus, a Learned and Eloquent Man, (one that had been a Consuls Deputy) shewed us a Greek Book, saying they were this Sybils Verses; where in one plaee, he shewed us a sort of Verses so composed, that the first Letter of every Verse being taken, they all made these words.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Jesus Christus, Dei Filius, Salvator.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, the Saviour.

Moreover, * 1.5 Augustine observes out of the works of Lactantius, many Passages of a certain Sybil, which he inserts together thus: Afterward he shall be taken by the ungodly, and they shall strike God with wicked hands, and spit their venemous spirits in his Face. He shall yield his holy Back to their strokes, and take their blows with silence, lest they should know that he is the Word, or whence he came to speak to Mortals: They shall crown him with Thorns, they gave him Gall instead of Vinegar to eat; this Table of Hospitality they shall afford. Thou foolish Nation, that knewest not thy God, but crownedst him with Thorn, and feastedst him with bitterness. The Vail of the Temple shall rend in two, and it shall be Dark three hours at Noon-day; then shall he Die, and sleep three Days, and then shall he arise again from Death, and shew the First-fruits of the Resurrection, to them that are called. All this out of Lactantius, as quoted by Augustine.

And because the Verses you heard of before, are very considerable, I shall here Insert them also.

J In sign of Dooms-Day, the whole Earth shall sweat, E Ever to Raign a King in Heavenly Seat. S Shall come to Judg all Flesh, the Faithful and U Unfaithful too, before this God shall stand, S Seeing him high with Saints, in Times last end.

C Corporeal shall he sit; and thence extend H His Doom on Souls: The Earth shall quite lie waste, R Ruin'd, or'e grown with Thorns, and Men shall cast I Idols away, and Treasure searching Fire, S Shall burn the Ground, and thence it shall enquire T Through Seas and Skies, and break Hells blackest Gates:

S So shall free Light salute the blessed states O Of Saints; the Guilty lasting flames shall burn, N No Act so hid, but then to Light shall turn. N No Breast so close, but God shall open wide, E Each where shall Crys be heard, and Noise beside.

O Of gnashing Teeth, the Sun shall from the Skie F Flie forth, and Stars no more move orderly.

G Great Heav'n shall be dissolv'd, the Moon depriv'd O Of all her Light; Places at height arriv'd, D Deprest; and Valleys raised to their seat:

T There shall be nought to Mortals, high or great. H Hills shall lie level with the Plains, the Sea, E Endure no Burthen, and the Earth as they

S Shall perish, cleft with Lightning. Every Spring A And River burn, the fatal Trump shall Ring V Unto the World from Heav'n, a dismal blast, I Including Plagues to come for ill Deeds past. O Old Chaos through the cleft Mass shall be seen; U Unto this Bar shall all Earths Kings convene; R Rivers of Fire and Brimstone, flowing from Heav'n.

More I find of this nature from the Sybils, but this shall serve. One Passage worth noting, * 2.1 we have in Ludovic. Vives, who gives us an account of the Answer of Serapis to Thules, King of Egypt, in the Wars of Troy; who enquiring of him, Who was most Blessed? Received this answer,

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c.

First God, and then the Son, and next the Spirit, All Coeternal one in Act and Merit.

From whence it is remarkable, that the Knowledg of Christ was not hid from the Heathen, but by Acts of God's Providence they knew much concerning him. There is no doubt, but much more was done on God's part, than either Sacred Writers, or others, give us an account of, under this very Consideration: God did not delight to satisfie the Curious, but to edifie the serious Enquirer. It is certain, we have but an Abridgment of the Doctrine and Works of Christ, no account at all of the Labours of divers of the Apostles; yet here is all the reason in the World, to believe they were mindful of the Trust committed to them. Paul tells us, That the Gospel was Preached to every Creature under Heaven, Col. 1. 23. He doth not tell us in what Manner, or by what Instruments; it's meet we should herein be ignorant in many

things: We may adventure to leave the World to God's Mercy, he will not reap where he hath not sown, nor gather where he hath not strowed. And let us beware, lest whilst we consult the Case of many Nations not known to us, we neglect not the Grace held forth to our selves. As some I fear, because they cannot see how all Men have means afforded to know Christ, they will needs suppose they have none; and then con∣clude, the knowledg of him is not material; or else, that God hath ut∣terly cast away such Nations. Strange Conclusions, from as strange Premises. Let us remember, Secret things belong to the Lord our God; but things revealed, to us, and to our Children for ever, that we may keep all the words of his Law. Deut. 29. 29.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 Pet. 3.
• * 1.2

  1 Pet. 4.
• * 1.3

  Aug.
• * 1.4

  Flavian.
• * 1.5

  Lactant.
• * 2.1

  Lud. Viv.