Bibliotheca parochialis: or, A scheme of such theological heads both general and particular, as are more peculiarly requisite to be well studied by every pastor of a parish. Part. I. Together with a catalogue of books which may be read upon each of those points. / By Thomas Bray ...

IV.

The Design of God's revealing to us the Holy Scri∣ptures, and that whole Evangelical Doctrine contain'd therein; being it was to destroy the Kingdom of Satan which ever since the Fall, that Rebellious Spirit had begun to set up in the World, in Opposition to God's; and had advanc'd to almost an Universal Monarchy o∣ver Mankind, by that Time the Son of God descended from Heaven to reduce us to the Obedience of our Maker. And on the other side its Design being to ad∣vance the Kingdom of God, consisting in Righteous∣ness and true Holiness, and withal to humble us with a sense of our own Imperfect Righteousness, by making us depend solely upon the Mediation of Christ for the Acceptance thereof to our Justification; This, I say being its Design, and Satan being therefore enraged, that his Usurp'd Dominion should be wrested from him: So it is, that the Church-Militant is ever since, through his Instigation and the Malignity of his Angels in that Unhappy State, that like the Walls of Jerusalem it must be defended with a Sword in one hand, whilst built with a Trowel in the other: All which consi∣der'd, it is very requisite that our our American Pastor should, next to his Knowledge in the Holy Scriptures (out of whose Materials he is to Build) be provided of those defensive Weapons wherewith he may be inabled to oppose the Gain-sayers to that Christianity he is to

propagate in the World: And for this End that he should be furnish'd with those Apologies, both An∣cient and Modern, which have been written in Defence of the Authority of the Scriptures, and of the Truth of Christianity; And also with such Discourses, as il∣lustrate those Noble and Blessed Ends above-mention'd, which it was design'd to serve.

I. Ancient Apologists.

• Justini Martyris Paraenesis ad Graecos; Oratio ad Graecos; Apologia pro Christlanis, prima & secunda. Liber de Monar∣chia Dei. Dialogus cum Tryphone Judaeo. Epistola ad Di∣ognetum.

N. This last is que∣stioned by some whether Genuine, but own'd by Dr. Cave. But whoever was the Author, it is an Excellent Apology, most pathetically representing the Innocency and Admirable Vertues of the Primitive Christians, and the Malignity of their Enemies.

• Athenagorae Atheniensis Philosophi Christiani Apologia, seu Legatio pro Christianis. De mortuorum resurrectione.
• Theophilus Contra Christianae Religionis Calumniatores.
• Tatiani Assyrii Oratio ad Graecos quod nihil Eorum quibus Graeci Gloriantur studiorum, apud ipsos natum, sed omnia Barbaris Inventa sint.
• Hermae Philosophi Gentilium Philosophorum Irrisio.

N. All these fore∣going Apologies are placed in the same Order they lye in the Paris Ed. of Justin Martyr, 1636. Cologn. 1685. Fol.

• Clementis Alexandrini Protrepticon ad Gentes in quo Gentiles redarguit, eos{que} ad Christianam Philosophiam amplectendam hortatur. Stromata.
• Tertulliani Apologeticus adversus Gentes. Ad Nationes Libri Duo. De Testimonio Animae. Ad Scapulam. Adversus Judaeos.

• ...Minutii Faelicis Octavius.
• Originis Contra Celsum, Libri 8.
• Sanctus Cyprianus de Idolorum Vanitate Liber ad Demetria∣num: Testimoniorum ad Quirinum adversus Judaeos Libri Tres.
• Arnobii adversus Gentes, Libri 7.
• Lactantii Institutionum Libri 7. De mortibus Persecutorum.
• ...Eusebii
  • Praeparatio Evangelica
  • Demonsstratio Evangelica
• —Lib. contra Hieroclem, qui ex Philostrati Historia Comparavit Apollonium Tyanaeum Salvatori Nostro Jesu Christo. Extat ad ••alcem Eusebii de Demonstr. Evang. Ed. Parisien. 1688. & Colon. 1688.
• Constantini M. Oratio ad Sanctorum Coetum; extat ad Cal∣cem Librorum de Vita Constantini, in Ecclesiastica Historia Eusebii.
• Athanasii Oratio contra Gentes. Oratio de Incarnatione Verbi.
• Ambrosii Responsio Relationi Symmachi, ad imperatores con∣tendentis, veteres Ritus circa Deorum Cultum servandos esse. Epistolar. Lib. 2.
• Chrysostomi adversus Judaeos, Libri sex.
• — Contra Gentiles seu de Vita Babilae, Liber.
• Prudentius contra Symmachum ac Veterem Deorum Gentili∣um Cultum, Libri 2. Poeta Christianus.
• Augustini de vera Religione Liber.
• —De moribus Ecclesiae Catholicae, Libri 2.
• —De Civitate Dei, Libri 22.
• —Oratio adversus Judaeos.
• —Oratio ad Catechumenos adversus Judaeos, Paganos & A∣rianos.
• Theodoretus de curandis Affectionibus Graecorum, Lib. 12.

N. This Sett of Writers had the Kingdom of Satan visibly before their Eyes, that Arch-Rebel having in their Times, and in those Parts where they liv'd, erected his Idolatrous Temples and Altars; and brought it about that his Impious Ceremonies and Rites of Worship were become the Established Religion over all the World, except Judaea: And

therefore the Primitive Fathers did exert themselves upon no other Argument, with that Strength of Learning and Force of Reason, as upon this, namely, in laying out the Absurdities and Vileness of the Pagan Superstition, and the ad∣mirable Nature and Tendency of the Christian Religion. Besides it is to be considered that in these Writings of theirs, possibly we meet with the fullest and ezactest Accounts of the Purity of the Doctrine, Manners, and Discipline of the Primitive Church; and as of the Purity of its Doctrines, so of the Holiness of its Professors; upon all which Reasons, immediately after the Holy Writ, our next Acquaintance ought to be with these Writings.

II. Modern Vindicators both of the Authority of Scripture, and of the Truth of Christianity.

First, Against Infidels and Anti-Scripturists in general.

• Bishop Stiliingfleet's Origines Sacrae, 4o.
• — Letter to a Deist, 8o.
• Mr. Boyl's Authority and Style of Scripture, 8o.
• Sir Charles Wolesley of Scripture-Belief, 8o.
• Mr. Edward's Authority and Style of Scripture, 2 Vol. 8o.
• Dr. Alix's Reflections upon the Books of H. Scripture to establish the Truth of the Christian Religion, 2 Vol. 8o.
• Dr. Nichols's Conference with a Theist, 8o.
• Lowth's Vindication of the Divine Authority and Inspiration of the Writers of the Old and New Testament, 8o.
• Du Plessis de Veritate Religionis Christianae, 8o.
• Grotius de Veritate Religionis Christianae, 12o.
• Huetii Demonstratio Evangelica, Fol. or 2 Vol. 8o.
• Dr. Hammond of the Reasonableness of the Christian Reli∣gion. At the End of his Practical Catechism.
• Parker's Demonstration of the Divine Authority of the Christian Religion, 4o.
• Bishop Patrick's Witnesses to Christianity, 2 Vol. 8o.
• Abady's Vindication of the Truth of the Christian Reli∣gion, 8o.
• Wilson's Discourse of Religion, shewing its Truth and Reali∣ty; or the Sutableness of Religion to Humane Nature, 8o.
• Dr. William's Sermons at Mr. Boyl's Lecture.

N. It is a sad Sign of the Deplorable State of the Christian Church at this day, that there should be more Vindications written in this one last Age, if one were to reckon them all, in Defence of the Holy Scriptures, and of the Christian Religion, a∣gainst Atheists, Deists, and Socinians, than there were Apologies written in all the first Ages of the Church (so far as does appear) against Jews and Pagans. But so it is, that there has been too great a Cause for Learned Men to write such Books: And therefore there is as great a Necessity for every Mi∣nister, who is earnestly to contend for the Faith against such Pestilent Gain∣sayers, to read them, that he may be ready always to give an Answer to every one that asketh him a Reason of the hope that is in him.

Secondly, Against Jewish and Mahometan Infidelity in Particular.

• Raimundi Martini pugio fidei adversus Judaeos & Mauros. Fol.
• Quadragnoli Apologia pro Christiana Religione, qua re∣spondetur ad objectiones cujusdam Mahomedani. 4o.
• Bp. Kidder's Demonstriton of the Messiah. 8o.
• Limborchi Amica Collatio cum Erudito Judaeo. 4o.

N. Ʋpon the whole fore∣going Argument may be also read Dionysii Petavii Dogmata Theologica, Lib. 16. Cap. 7, 8, 9, 10. Bp. Wilkins's Natural Religion, Chap. first and last. Dr. Barrow on the Creed, from p. 188. to p. 233. Bp. Ward's Philosophical Essay, from p. 74. ad finem. Discourse of Natural and Reveal'd Religion, from p. 178. to p. 290.

III. Discourses setting forth the Design of Christianity.

First, As its Design is to dispossess Satan of his u∣surp'd Dominion and Tyranny over Mankind, which before our Saviour's coming into the World, was almost universally enslav'd to him by Idola∣try, Superstition, and filthy Lusts.

• The Ancient Apologists before-mention'd in quibus fusè de hac re agitur.

• Tenison of Idolatry, as also of the means which God hath vouchsaf'd towards the cure of it by the Shechinah of his Son. 4o.

Secondly, As its Design is to Restore us to the Image of God, consisting, not in an outward and legal Righteousness, but a true, inherent and real Holi∣ness, which by Sin is defac'd, and to exalt us to the Divine Life: To illustrate this its Design, ought to be read,

• Bp. Fowler's Design of Christianity. 8o.
• — Christian Liberty also. 8o.
• Dr. Hen. Moor's Mystery of Godliness. Fol.

N. Here also may be read Dr. Scot's Works per totum. Mr. Smith's Select Discourses, most of which have much of this Argument, particularly from p. 285. to p. 452. And to shew how well the Christian Law is fitted in its self to rectifie our Nature, and to what per∣fection we may be restor'd, by the Influence thereof, may be here also read,

• Dugard of the true Nature of the Divine Law. 8o.
• Dr. Lucas's Enquiry after Happiness in several Parts. 8o.

Thirdly, As its Design is withal to humble us with the sense of our manifold Failings, and to mani∣fest the Goodness of God, in accepting through Christ, our imperfect Righteousness; I could be glad if I knew of any who have written just or direct Discourses upon that Subject: Passim there is something of this nature to be found in the Or∣thodox Writings upon the Satisfaction of Christ, and especially in that excellent piece of

• Dr. Scot's Christian Life, Part 2. where the Doctrine of our Saviour's Meditation is so admirably explain'd and prov'd.

N. There is nothing of mightier Importance in our Inquiries after Truth, and towards a through understanding of any Institution, than to have fixt in our Minds a determinate and distinct know∣ledge of the Design it drives at. This is what our Blessed Saviour prescrib'd as the most sure and certain way to discover the Erroneous Doctrines of Sedi∣tious Hereticks, bidding us to beware of false Prophets, which come to us in Sheep's Clothing, but inwardly are Ravening Wolves, and telling us, that we might know them by their Fruits, that is, by the tendency of their Doctrines, which if they were naturally productive of such ill Fruits, as Christianity is design'd to destroy, must therefore necessarily be Erroneous or Heretical. And this very Rule has a peculiar Aptitude in it to discover the three great Errors, which have so much corrupted Christianity at this day, viz. Popery, Antinomianism, and Socinianism; Popery being a Superstition that makes the nearest approaches to the Pagan Idolatry, and tends to Indulge Men in Impurity; Antinomianism being a Scheme of Divinity also that manifestly undermines a Holy Life: And Socinianism tending to make us value our selves too much upon it, by taking us off from our dependance on Christ, for the Acceptance thereof. All which consider'd, As there is the greatest ne∣cessity, that before we enter upon our Enquires into the whole Body of Christi∣an Doctrine, we should be fully possess'd with this Notion concerning it, that the whole and adaequate Design thereof is to destroy the Power of Satan, Ido∣latry, and Sin, and restore and advance the Kingdom of God, and instead of an external Legal Righteousness, to implant an inward and real Holiness a∣mongst Men: And withal, so to Humble the best of us, as to make us depend solely upon the Mediation of Christ with God the Father, for the Acceptance thereof to our Justification; so especially this Notion of Christianity ought immediately to precede our Reading the several Systems of the differing Parties amongst Christians at this day: In most of which, as there are several un∣sound Hypotheses advanc'd; so without this Test, we shall not so easily distin∣guish between their Heterodox and Orthodox Opinions. Not to say, that by thus having our Eye always on the Design of Christianity, and by bringing every particular Doctrine delivered to us, as Christian, to this Touchstone, we shall know how to judge concerning those that are true, which are more, which less considerable in the Body of Christian Doctrine, that so we may be able accor∣dingly to put a different value upon 'em, a thing of no small consequence to the Peace and Ʋnity of the Christian Church.