Page images
PDF
EPUB

who were employed in it; or to enthusiasm, in them, and the world about them; or to a mixture of both no other caufe can poffibly be affigned; for no man ever pretended, that this religion was propagated by force. As to the craft and fubtilty of deceivers, unqueftionably it may go a great way in impofing upon mankind ; and it hath often pretended, even to working of miracles, and to prophefies. But can any man ever imagine, that the spirit of deceit would be at fo much pains, to impofe upon the world, where there was no temporal interest at all to be ferved? no felfifh end to be answered? Would it perfevere in bearing the moft grievous fufferings to fupport the fiction, and, without being staggered at feeing numbers facrificed on that account? What was it the first difciples of

Our

our Saviour could hope for? Surely, no stations of power, or places of profit; on the contrary, they had nothing before them, but perfecution and suffering, which they began to feel as foon as they made any attempts in preaching the gofpel; and there was nothing to tempt any man, who, in his heart, was an unbeliever, to take upon him the profeffion of Christianity, unless it were, that he might get some fhare in the public charity, which is a motive, that could have no influence, but upon perfons of the very lowest spirits, as well as circumstances. Indeed, as Chriftianity did gradually prevail, it was not a thing improbable, and the history fheweth it was fact, that men of corrupt minds might study to make some advantage of it, with respect to reputation, or even filthy

B4

lucre:

lucre. In the present ftate of human nature, we may, upon all occafions, expect to meet with fuch characters. But what is this to

the perfons, who firft propagated Chriftianity, who firft embraced it? Would the fpirit of falfhood and deceit lay itself open to all imaginable fufferings and ill-usage; nay, lay itfelf open to certain martyrdom? This is what no man can believe.

But, as it is utterly impoffible to account for the being and prevail→ ing of the Christian religion, upon the foot of mere art and cunning; fo he, who would account for it by mere enthufiafm, will find himself involved in as inextricable difficulties. When we come to inquire into the characters and writings of those men, who propagated Chrif tianity, we shall find nothing like enthufiaftic

enthusiastic madness, or phrenzy, in them, Their inftructions in religion and morality are fuch, as the human heart cannot but approve. We fee, the tendency of them all is to make men pure, righteous, and charitable; they do, very clear ly, point out the true end of life, and the fupreme good of the human mind ; and by the manifestation of truth, in all these particulars, tend to deliver men from all the follies of superstition, and to beget in them a temper, which is the likenefs of God, and in which trué worth and happiness confift. This doth not at all look like the ravings of wild enthusiasm; but, indeed, fpeaketh perfect fobriety of mind. And if we should suppose, that enthufiafm in the persons, who propagated Chriftianity, was the cause of all that they did; yet that will

[ocr errors]

not

not account for the conversion of fuch multitudes to the Chriftian faith. For, to produce this effect, we must suppose the fame kind of enthusiasm communicated to all their followers; enthusiasm, in the very highest degree, and by which men were deprived, even of the common ufe of their own fenfes. And should a man be able to perfuade himself, that the first disciples of our Saviour, and all those, who were converted by them to the Christian faith, were miferable, deluded enthusiasts; yet what is to be faid concerning the founder of this religion? No enthusiasm can account for his conduct. His character doth not at all look like it and he must know what gave rife to his appearance and pretenfions. He began this great work, and, undoubtedly, had the plan laid in his

[ocr errors]
« PreviousContinue »