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

3. Princes who were adored by the People, thought themselves obliged to prevent the introduction of a new Religion,¹ lest their Empire should be in hazard, or the Majesty and Greatness of it lessened. For Religion being the true Foundation of public Peace, every change in it is suspected as dangerous, and likely to bring some eminent alteration in the State.² St. Paul was accused for teaching Customs, which were not lawful for them to observe being Romans. And in after-times Christians were condemned as seditious and mutinous, and their Assembly as riotous & unlawful. And 'tis observable that there never ⟨p. 443⟩was a less favourable constitution of time, than when the Gospel was first preached. For Tiberius was extremely cruel, and extremely jealous of all novelty that might disturb his repose.³ And Nero the bloodiest Tyrant that ever sat on the Roman Throne, endeavoured to strangle Christianity in the Cradle.

3. Princes who were ador'd by the People, thought themselves obliged to prevent the introduction of a new Religion,¹ lest their Empire should be in hazard, or the Majesty and Greatness of it lessen'd. For Religion being the true Foundation of publick Peace, every change in it is suspected as dangerous, and likely to bring some eminent alteration in the State.² St. Paul was accused for teaching Customs, which were not lawful for them to observe being Romans. And in after-times Christians were condemn'd as seditious and mutinous, and their Assembly as riotous & unlawful. And 'tis observable that there never ⟨p. 443⟩was a less favourable constitution of time, than when the Gospel was first preacht. For Tiberius was extreamly cruel, and extreamly jealous of all novelty that might disturb his repose.