246~~~~~T~he~H_a~r_m~on_ry~o_if~t-he~V_i~vz~·n~e~A_t~tr~ib~u-te_s~~----- ~~~15t~~~rt D~~~:;vt~~r~h~~~~;~en~kh!:ar;~'ar0;~~~\~~~~t!;~; ~:i~~15e~ ~~ e~~~e~:re~ ~~;!~ut~~~ ~s~:~ee ~~~~~~c~~~~;s3~oe~~~~rpYu"J?~~e~th~0~~~eb~~~~~~~to~~~if:~~~~\~nc~h0~i~ t~~i~~~~ 'i;;./~~~~:u;x· Or revenge the Imitation of their own ACl:ions? _Thi s_ w~s w cart down r_he aanks, and rmt/aVeorwn.tole t theTorrent of corrupt Nature break forthmallltsfury. as St. Auflm obferves of IJ.iblistemp- Homer, rhe Father of Poetical Fiftions, rhatreprefeming the Murders, Thefts, and Adul- ~~~ ~~~~~0fi. teri es of their Gods, he made thofe tins Divine Properties, and efft:Ctu:llly commended Ovid.Mer.l. them to the Heathens: !f<!tifqlliteafecijfet, non Homines perditosfed ciEiejles Deus vidchar~tfi;tL;t- ~~~i~~~;~~~~;lg ~~~ ?se i~~~~d~~t~,n:~~~r~~~~~~~r~~ 1a~i~;~~~r h~~Te~re;~erS~?ty \~~Serb:,~~ ~{;:::!E~; ~e~~~~'o?c~=v~~~R~~ f~~a~~Ji~he~a~~h~i~~~~o~~~~~;Jl;~ ~~~~l~d~ieaf~~r~~~~, ~~~ bcm~r.ci?/}I)C HiO:ory of their Gods was fo inrerfperft with the moft: infamous Impuriti es, that at the ~n ~f::/'';,~:,0 firft read ing, Vert cnmt pltpiUas Virgines in L\lleretrices; they loft the Virginity of their it~0 [ui "Jw- Eyes, then of their Souls, and then of thei r Bodies. Now the Gofpel is a holy Difci~ bens. Ter. Ell· pline that forbids all Excelfes, that enjoins univerfal Pur ity and Challity; fo that when '"'· it was firO: Preach'd to the Heathens, they thought it impoilible to be obeyed, unlefs Men were Angels wirhom Bodies; or Statues wirhom Souls. I lhall>dd further, That the averfton of the Heathens from Chrillianity was much llrengthened by thofe who were in Venera tion among them, and vehemently oppofed it. And they were the Philofophers greatly elleemed for Wifdom, their Priefl:s that had Dominion over thei rConfdences, and their Princes that had Power over their States and Lives. 1. Philofophers vehemently oppofed the receiving of the Gofpel. At the firll view it nJJy be juO: matter of wonder that they lhould be Enemies to it, whether we confider the ObjWs of Faith, or the R.ules of Life laid down in it. The Objefrs of Faith were new and noble, of infinite beauty and profit, and mort worthy of a rational Contemplation to be exercifed upon them: Now that the Philofophers who were fo d iligent to improve theirminds, who received with complacency Truths oCa lower defcent, and of infinitely lefs importance, fuould reject Evangelical Truths, fublime intheirNature, faving in their Efficacy, and revealed from Heaven, what account can be given of it? Tert11Uian. reproaches them with reafon, That the ChriO:ian Fa ith was t he only thing, which Curiality did noctempt them to fearch into : Hicfolum cltrio/it as humana. torpefcit, Apol. c. 1. Beftdes, whereas the Gofpel is a plain and perfect Infiitution for the Government of Life, wholly converfant about the Souls of Men, and alfures a Blelfednefs infinitely more excellent than was ever thought of by them, it might have been expected that thofe who in regard of MoraNty feemed moll to approach to it, and whofe profeft deftgn was to fearch after Happinefs, fbould have readil y entertained and ufed their bell endeavours to have drawn others to embrace it. But if we confider things ari ght, our wonder will va~ nil'h: For their Knowledge and Morality, which in themfelves were Preparadves, yetac~ cidentally hind red their fubmiilion to the GoJPcl, and caufed the moll potent Prejudices againll it ; and that upon a double account : r. Of Pride. 2. Of Satisfafrion in their own way. r . Pride was their univerfal Difeafe: they had a liberal eO:eem of themfelves as raifed ff}M"mdi pb;- above the common rank of Men, and were Lovers of Glory more than of Wifdom (f). ~:~~~~ ~~~ ~:~~~~e 6i~~~~~.r~~dh~~~~~~~~~e~llt~~ g:~~~ffi~~":l~:; ~~JYn~;~~~~~r i:,~ i;h1 ;he~~ .,qlle n11.mm()o old Tenents: they admitted no higher Principl e than namral R..eafon, and utterly reje- ~~;~~;:%: ~;~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~oc~~t~~~i~\~e;::v~s5 ~~r~~~~~a~~~~: ;~ ~~~ r~~~~~er ~~\~u~ t h;;;f~~ that cloth not believe Divine Revelation , is wholly unqualified to judge of fupernatural Mylleries. For till the Authority of the R.evealer is fubmitt ed to, he cannot tru ly confider their Caufe and their End. Beftdes, they look'd on it as a reproach, that any Secret lhould be revealed to others and not to them. It feemed to darken their Glory, that any Schoollhould be more knowing than .theirs. Therefore they chofe to be JnO:rufrors of Error, rather than Difciples to the Truth. Add fllrther, they thought their Honour con· cern'd to defend the Principles they had once efpoufed. From hence arofe the greatContella tions betweet) themfelves, accompanied with invefrives and Satyrs, being very jeal~~~
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