Serm. LXIV. The Prejudicesagainft Chriftianity confider'd. Reafonablenefs of it. But the Cafe was quite otherwife, the World had for many Ages been brought up to another way of Worthip, and inur'd to Rites and Superftitions of a quite different Nature. And this fways very much with Men; Sequimer majares noftros, qui feliciter fequutifont fear; as one of the Heathens Paid in thofe Days 5 We follow our Anceftors, who happily follow'd theirs. Men are hard- ly brought to condemn thofe Opinions and Cuftoms in Religion, which them- felves, and their Fore-fathers have always embraced and followed. And Wife Men efpecially are loath to admit fogreat a change in a matter of fo great a Con- cernment as Religion is. So that thismuff be acknowledged to have been a con - fiderable Prejudice againft theChriftian Religion at its firft Appearance. But yet upon a thorough Examination, this will not be found fufficient in Reafon to withhold Men from embracing Chriftianity, if we confider thefe four Things. r. No prudent Perlon thinks that the Example and Cuftomof his Fore-fathers obligeth him to that which is evil in it felt, and pernicious to him that does it; and there is no evil, noDanger equal to that of a falle Religion ; for that tends to the ruin of Mens Souls, and their undoing for ever. A Man might better al- ledge the Exampleof his Fore - fathers to juftify hisErrors and Follies in any other kind, thanin this, which is fo infinitely pernicious in the Confequences of it. 2. In a great Corruption and Degeneracy, it is no fufficient Reafon againft a Reformation, that it makes a Change. When Things are amifs, it is always fit to amend and reform them ; and this cannot be done without a Change. The wifeft among the Heathen did acknowledge, that their Religion was mixt with very great Follies and Superilitions, and that the Lives and Manners of Men were extreamly corrupt and degenerate; and they endeavour'd, as much as they could, and durft, to reform thefe things. And therefore there was no Reafon to oppofe an effeáual Reformation, for fear of a Change ; a Change of Things for the better, tho' it be ufually hard to be effeáed, being always a thing to be defired and withed for. 3. The Change which Chriftianity defign'd, was the leaft liable to Exception that could be, being nothing elfe in the main of it, but the reducingof Natural Religion, the bringingof Men back toPoch Apprehenfions of God, and inch a way of Worthipping him, as was molt fuitable to the Divine Nature, and to the Natural Notions of Mens Minds; nothing elfe but a Defign to perfuade Men of the one true God, Maker of the World, that he is a Spirit, and to be Wor- fhipp'd in filch a manner as is fuitable to his Spiritual Nature. And then for matters of Praáice, to bring Men to the Obedience of thofe Precepts of Tem- perance, and Juftice, and Charity, which had been univerfally acknowledged even by the Heathens themfelves to be the great Duties which Men owe to them- felves and others. And that this is the main Defign of the Chriftian Religion, the Apoftle hath told us in molt plain exprefs Words, Tit. 2. r r, r 2. The Grace of God, (that is, the Dottrine of theGofpel) which hath appeared toall Men, and brings Salvation, teacheth us, that denying 7ingodlinefs and worldly Lulls, we fbould live foberly, and righteoufly, and godly in this prefent World. And all that the Chriftian Religion addsbeyond this, is means and helps for our Direttion, and Affftance, and Encouragement in the Difcharge and Perfor- mance of thefe Duties. For our Direáion, God hath fent his Son in our Nature, to declare his Will to us, and to be a Pattern and Example of Holinefs and Vir- tue. For ourAffiftance, he hath promifed the Aids of his Holy Spirit; and for our Encouragement, he offers to us Pardon of Sin in the Blood of his Son, and Eternal Life and Happinefs in another World. This is a short Sum and Abridg- ment of the ChriftianReligion, and there is nothing of all this that can reafona- bly beexcepted againft. 4. God, confidering the Prejudice of the Heathen againft Chriftianity, by read fon of their Education in a contrary Religion, wasftrong and violent, was plea- fed to give Poch Evidence of the Truth of Chriftianity, as was of proportionable Strength andForce to remove and conquer this Prejudice. He was pleated to give Teftimony to the firft Founder of thisReligion by mighty Miracles, andparticularly by hisRefurreáion from the Dead: But becaufe the Report of there things was only N n n a brought 459
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