The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

So that one would think him an Angel in flesh, conversing below to instruct the world how to be happy: yet the Historians of those times tax him for insatiable Avarice, that in a little time by unworthy arts he raked up an incredible Sum of Money. Supposing it a Calumny that he forged many Wills to seize upon the Inheritance belonging to others, what excuse can there be for his excessive Usury, his forcing the Britons to borrow a Million of Sesterces, and ⟨p. 378⟩calling for it in, so much to their prejudice, as was likely to have caused their Rebellion? What for his sumptuous Palaces, and Gardens of Pleasure, exceeding the Luxury of Nero? And all these possest by a man who had no Son to inherit, a Philosopher, a Stoic, the great commender of blessed Poverty. All the Apology he makes, is, that a Wise man that is himself, Non amat Divitias sed mavult, non in animum illas sed in domum inducit, non respicit possessas sed continet. Agreeing with Aristippus a Philosophizing Animal, who being reproved for his entanglement in brutish love with a famous Harlot, replied; I possess her, ¹not she me. The only difference is in the matter of their Affections, the one was Riches, the other Pleasure. By these instances we may judg of the rest of the Philosophers: Although a Vein of Gold appear in their Writings, yet their Lives were full of Dross. The best of them are charged to have practised vice with those,² to whom they commended the Precepts of Virtue. The foulest Actions were approved by some, and the most excellent condemned by others that pretended to Philosophical Perfection. Unnatural Lust was allowed as indifferent by Zeno and Chrysippus: And the noblest Love in giving Life it self for the Glory of God in Martyrdom is censured by Epictetus and Antoninus, as the effect of foolish and incurable Melancholy in Christians, who were disgusted with the World, and devoted themselves to Death. The ⟨p. 379⟩Spirit of Holiness who forms the powerful and lasting habits of true Virtue in the Soul; that effectually inclines from the Love of God, and with an intention for his Glory, to obey his Will, as it was purchased by Jesus Christ, so it is peculiar to the Dispensation of the Gospel that reveals Him. The Doctrine of it is not delivered with so much Pomp, but with infinite more efficacy than the most eloquent Instructions of Philosophers: