§. 99. 16. Lastly, Consult with experience it self, and you will find, that all this which I have spoken, hath been ordinarily verified. What Heathenism tendeth to▪ you may see even in the Roman Government (for there you will confess it was at the best). To read of the tumults, the cruelties,1 the popular unconstancy, faction and injustice: How rudely the Soldiers made their Emperors, and how easily and barbarously they murdered them? and how few of them from the days of Christ till Constantine did dye the common death of all men, and scape the hands of those that were their subjects; I think this will satisfy you, whither mens enmity to Christianity tendeth! And then to observe how suddenly the case was altered, as soon as the Emperors and Subjects became Christian, (till in the declining of the Greek Empire, some Officers and Courtiers who aspired to the Crown did murder the Emperors): And further to observe, that the rebellious doctrines and practices against Governors, have been all introduced by factions and heresies, which forsook Christianity so far before they incurred such guilt; and that it is either the Papal Usurpation (which is in its nature an enemy to Princes) that hath deposed and trampled upon Emperors and Kings; or else some mad▪ Enthusiasticks that over-run Religion and their wits, that at Munster (and in England some lately) by the advantage of their prosperity, have dared to do violence against Sovereignty; but the more any men were Christians and truly Godly, the more they detested all such things: All this will tell you that the most serious, and Religious Christians, are the best members of the Civil Societies upon Earth.
§. 99. 16. Lastly, Consult with experience it self, and you will find, that all this which I have spoken, hath been ordinarily verified. What Heathenism tendeth to▪ you may see even in the Roman Government (for there you will confess it was at the best). To read of the tumults, the cruelties,1 the popular unconstancy, faction and injustice: How rudely the Souldiers made their Emperours, and how easily and barbarously they murdered them? and how few of them from the dayes of Christ till Constantine did dye the common death of all men, and scape the hands of those that were their subjects; I think this will satisfie you, whither mens enmity to Christianity tendeth! And then to observe how suddenly the case was altered, as soon as the Emperours and Subjects became Christian, (till in the declining of the Greek Empire, some Officers and Courtiers who aspired to the Crown did murder the Emperours): And further to observe, that the rebellious doctrines and practices against Governours, have been all introduced by factions and heresies, which forsook Christianity so far before they incurred such guilt; and that it is either the Papal Usurpation (which is in its nature an enemy to Princes) that hath deposed and trampled upon Emperours and Kings; or else some mad▪ Enthusiasticks that over-run Religion and their wits, that at Munster (and in England some lately) by the advantage of their prosperity, have dared to do violence against Soveraignty; but the more any men were Christians and truly Godly, the more they detested all such things: All this will tell you that the most serious, and Religious Christians, are the best members of the Civil Societies upon Earth.
- 1Read the lives of all the Philosophers, Orators, and famous men of Greece or Rome, and try whether the Christians or they were more for Monarchy. Arcesilaus Regum neminem magnopere coluit: Quamob•em legatione ad Antigonum fungens pro patria, nihil obtinuit. Hesich. in Arces. Its one of Thales sayings in Laert. Quid difficile? Regum vidisse tyrannum senem. Chrysippus videtur asp•rnator Regum modice fuisse: Quod cum tam multa scripserit (libros 705.) nulli unquam regi quicquam adscripserit. Seneca faith (Traged. de Herc. fur.) perilously, Victima haud ulla amplior Potest, magisque opima mactari Jovi, Quam Rex iniquus. Cicero pro Milon. Non se obstrinxit scelere siquis Tyrannum occidat, quamvis familiarem. Et 5. Tusc. Nulla nobis cum Tyrannis societas est, neque est contra naturam spoliare eum quem honestum est necare. Plura habet similia.Read the lives of all the Philosophers, Orators, and famous men of Greece or Rome, and try whether the Christians or they were more for Monarchy. Arcesilaus Regum neminem magnopere coluit: Quamob•em legatione ad Antigonum fungens pro patria, nihil obtinuit. Hesich. in Arces. Its one of Thales sayings in Laert. Quid difficile? Regum vidisse tyrannum senem. Chrysippus videtur asp•rnator Regum modice fuisse: Quod cum tam multa scripserit (libros 705.) nulli unquam regi quicquam adscripserit. Sen•ca faith (Traged. de Herc. fur.) perillously, Victima haud ulla amplior Potest, magisque opima mactari Jovi, Quam Rex iniquus. Cicero pro Milon. Non se obstrinxit scelere siquis Tyrannum occidat, quamvis familiarem. Et 5. Tusc. Nulla nobis cum Tyrannis societas est, neque est contra naturam spoliare eum quem honestum est necare. Plura habet similia.
