Serm. LXIV. `ThèPrejudices againfi Chri/lianity conjider'd, 465 4. And betides all this, to recompense the difadvantage which we have of thofe who faw theMiracles of our Saviour and his Apoftles, we have the Tefli- moaium rei the Evidence of the Effe&s of thefe things to confirm our Belief of them 5 and this is an Advantage which the firft Ages of Chriftianity could not have. We fee our Saviour's Predi&ions of the Succefs of his Religion in the World, in the Propagating and Eftablifhing of it fully, accomplilht, notwith- ftanding the fierce Oppofition and Refiftance that was made againft it by the greá- eft Powers of the World. We fee the Difperfion of the yews in all Nations, and the Mifery and Contempt which they every where fuller 5 and that now for above Sixteen Hundred Years, they have continued a diftin& People, and a Spectacle of the Divine Jufl:ice and Severity; for reje&ingand crucifying the Son of God, and for a lalting and flanding Teftimony of the Truth of our Saviour's PrediCtion, and of the Chriftian Religion. So that though we live at this diftance from the firft rife and beginningof Chri- ftianity i yet we have the Relationof thofe Things, whichgive Confirmation to it, conveyed down to us in as credible a manner, as any ancient matter of Fa& ever was , and theEffe&s of things remaining tothis day, dogive Teftimony to theTruth of it Fourthly, It is obje&ed, That the terms of Chriftianity feem very hard, and to lay too great Reftraints upon Human Nature. It commands us to mortify our Lufts, and fubdue our Pallions, and deny Zngodlinefs, and to live fiber'', and righteoufly, and godly in this prefent World : to be holyin all manner of Converfation to have reffretf to whatever things are hone(!, and true, and jufl; and virtuous, and of good report 5 and to deny our feines 5 and to part with the deareft Enjoyments of this Life, yea and with Life it felf, for the fake of Chrf, and his Gofßel. Now thefe feem to be very hard Terms, to forego all the prefent Pleafúres and Injoy- ments of this Life, in hopes of a future Happinefswhich we are lefs affur'd of. To this I anfwer, I. That this is a greater Obje&ion againa Religion in general, than the Chri- frian Religion. ForNatural Religion requires of us all the main Duties that Chri- ftianity does, and gives us far lefs Affurance of the Reward of our Obedience. Natural Religion requires Piety, and Juftice, and Charity, the due Government of our Appetites and Paffions, as well as Chriftianity does; but does not difco- ver to us the Rewards of another World, by many Degrees fo clearly, as our Lord andSaviour, who bath brought Lifeand Immortality to light by théGofßel, and by his Refurre&ion from the Dead, and Afcenfion into Heaven, hath given us full affurance of another Lifeafter this, and of a glorious Immortality. So that though we have not, nor can have the Evidenceof Senfe, for a futureState, yet wehave all the Rational Evidence for it, that can be wifht orexpe&ed 5 and much more than Men have for thofe Adventures of their Lives andFortunes, which they frequentlymake in the World, and think themfelves reafonable in fo doing. a. The Reftraints which Chriftianity lays upon Men, are in the Judgment of Mankind fo far from beingan Obje&ion againft it, that they are highly to the Com- mendation of it. Nay, it were the greateft Obje&ion that could be againft our Religion, if it did fet us atLiberty from thofe Reftraints. What can be more to the Creditof any Religion, than tocommand Men to beJufi, andCharitable,andPeace- able? And what more to the Advantageof the Profeffors of it? Andon the con- trary, whatcan refle&more upon anyReligion, than to indulgeand allowMen in any Vicecontrary to thefe? It (hews Men areglad tomake any thing an Objeétión a- gainft Chriftianity when they lay hold of that, which if it had been otherwife, they would have made ten times more Clamour againft it for the contrary. 3. Asfor mooof thofe Reftraints which Chriftianity lays upon us, theyare of that Nature, fo much both for our Private and Publick Advantage, that fetting a- fide all Confiderations of Religion, and of the Rewards and Punifhments of a- nother Life, they are really good for us, and if God had not laid them upon us, we ought inReafon, in order to our Temporal Benefit and Advantage to have laid . them uponour [elves. If there were no Religion, I knowMenwould not havefilch ftrongand forcible Obligations to thefeDuties butyetI'fay, though there were no Religion, it were good for Men, in order to Temporal Ends, to their Health, O o o and
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