The truth of Christian religion in six books / written in Latine by Hugo Grotius ; and now translated into English, with the addition of a seventh book, by Symon Patrick ...

SECT. X. Paganisme decayed of its own accord so soon as humane aid ceased.

BESIDES all that hath hitherto been said, Paganisme ministers to us a migh∣ty argument against it self; because that where∣soever it becomes destitute of humane force to support it, there straightway it comes to ruine, as if the foundation thereof were quite overthrown. For if we take a view of all the Kingdoms and States that are among Chri∣stians or Mahumetans, we shall find no me∣mory of Paganisme, but in Books. Nay hi∣stories tell us, that even in those times, when the Emperors endeavoured to uphold the Pa∣gan Religion either by violence and persecu∣tion, as did the first of them; or by learning and subtilty, as did Julian; it notwithstand∣ing decayed daily, not by any violent opposi∣tion, nor by the brightness and splendor of lineage and descent, (for Jesus was accounted by the common sort only a Carpenters Son;) nor by the flourishes of learning, which they that taught the Law of Christ used not in their

Sermons; nor by gifts and bribes, for they were poor; nor by any soothing and flatter∣ing speeches, for on the contrary they taught that all worldly advantages must be despised, and that all kind of adversity must be under∣gone for the Gospel's sake. See then how weak and impotent Paganisme was, which by such 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 bo∣dies at the name of Christ: they became dumb also, and being demanded the reason of their silence, they were compelled to say, that they were able to do nothing where the name of Christ was called upon.