6. The Christian Religion it self hath been and still is every where spoken against. The Truths of it contradicted as false and groundless, the great Doctrines of the Mediation of Christ, and the Resurrection of the Dead were ridiculed by the Athenian Philosophers, Acts 19. 18, 32. The Laws of it faulted as grievous and unreasonable, as hard sayings, which could not be born, by those who bid open defiance to the Obligation of them, and say, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their Cords from us, Ps. 2. 3. The Ordinances of it despised as mean, and having no form nor comeliness. Sabbaths mocked at, as of old,1 Lam. 1. 7. and the sanctification of them represented as only a Cloak for Idleness. Sacraments reproached, and the Sacred Memorial of Christ's Death and Sufferings, by the Persecutors of the Primitive Christians represented to the World as the bloody and inhumane Killing and Eating of a Child, and their Love Feasts and Holy Kiss (which were then in use) as only introductions to the most abominable uncleanness. Primitive Christianity was industriously put into an ill-name: it was called emphatically The Atheism, because it overthrew Idolatry, and undermined the false Gods, and worships that had so long obtained. This was the Out-cry at Ephesus, that if Paul's Doctrine took place, the Temple of the great Goddess would be despised, Acts 19. 26, 27. It was also branded as a Novelty, and an up-start Doctrine, because it took ⟨p. 20⟩people off from that vain Conversation which they had received by Tradition from their Fathers. 2It was called at Athens a New Doctrine, 3and industriously represented in all places as a Mushroom Sect, 4that was but of yesterday. It was looked upon as nearly allied to Judaism, because it was so much supported by the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and nothing was more despicable among the Romans than the Jews, and their Religion. The Professors of Christianity were looked upon as unlearned and ignorant Men, Acts 4. 12. the very Dregs and Refuse of the People. Julian forbade the calling of them Christians, 5and would have them called nothing but Galileans, thereby to expose them to the contempt of those who are (as indeed most people are) governed more by a sound of Words than by the reason of Things.
6. The Christian Religion it self hath been and still is every where spoken against. The Truths of it contradicted as false and groundless, the great Doctrines of the Mediation of Christ, and the Resurrection of the Dead were ridicul'd by the Athenian Philosophers, Acts 19. 18, 32. The Laws of it faulted as grievous and unreasonable, as hard sayings, which could not be born, by those who bid open defiance to the Obligation of them, and say, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their Cords from us, Ps. 2. 3. The Ordinances of it despis'd as mean, and having no form nor comeliness. Sabbaths mock'd at, as of old,1 Lam. 1. 7. and the sanctification of them represented as only a Cloak for Idleness. Sacraments reproach'd, and the Sacred Memorial of Christ's Death and Sufferings, by the Persecutors of the Primitive Christians represented to the World as the bloody and inhumane Killing and Eating of a Child, and their Love Feasts and Holy Kiss (which were then in use) as only introductions to the most abominable uncleanness. Primitive Christianity was industriously put into an ill-name: it was call'd emphatically The Atheism, because it overthrew Idolatry, and undermin'd the false Gods, and worships that had so long obtain'd. This was the Out-cry at Ephesus, that if Paul's Doctrine took place, the Temple of the great Goddess would be despis'd, Acts 19. 26, 27. It was also branded as a Novelty, and an up-start Doctrine, because it took ⟨p. 20⟩people off from that vain Conversation which they had received by Tradition from their Fathers. 2It was call'd at Athens a New Doctrine, 3and industriously represented in all places as a Mushrome Sect, 4that was but of yesterday. It was look'd upon as nearly allied to Iudaism, because it was so much supported by the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and nothing was more despicable among the Romans than the Iews, and their Religion. The Professors of Christianity were look'd upon as unlearned and ignorant Men,
- 1—cui septima quaeque fuit lux Ignava—Juvenal. sat. 5. Dicimur seeler atissimi de Sacramento infanticidij, & pabulo inde. & post convivium incesto, &c. Tertull. Apol. cap. 7.—cui septima quaeque fuit lux Ignava—Iuvenal. sat. 5. Dicimur seeler atissimi de Sacramento infanticidij, & pabulo inde. & post convivium incesto, &c. Tertull. Apol. cap. 7.
- 21 Pet. 1. 18.
- 3Acts 17. 18, 19.
- 4See Dr. Cave's Primitive Christianity, lib. 1. ch. 1.
- 5Greg. Nazian. Invectiv. in Julian. Orat. 1. p. (mihi) 42.Greg. Nazian. Invectiv. in Iulian. Orat. 1. p. (mihi) 42.
