2. FOR to speak nothing of the Ancient Patriarchs and Prophets, no part of whose Lives (as I said) was free from Reproaches and Slanders. We know that of Old there were some who averred and publicly told the World,1 that the Ancient Jews, who we doubt not worshipped the only true God, performed their Religious Rites to a Swine or an Ass, and that all that Religion was a mere Sacrilege and a Contempt of all Deities. We know that the Son of God our Saviour Jesus Christ,2 whilst he taught the truth, was reputed an Impostor, an Enchanter, a Samaritan, a Beelzebub, a Deluder of the people; a Wine-bibber and a Glutton. Who knows not what was said of St. Paul, that powerful Preacher and Assertor of Truth, sometimes he was a seditious man, and listed Soldiers, and designed a Rebellion; and at other times, that he was an Heretic, a mad man; that out of a contentious and perverse Disposition, he was a Blasphemer against the Law of God, and a Despiser of the Customs of the Fathers? Who knows not that so soon as ever St. Stephen had admitted the Truth, and suffered it to take Possession of his Soul, and thereupon (as he ought) began freely and stoutly to preach and own it, he was immediately called in question for his Life, as one that had spoken Blasphemy against the Law, against Moses, against the Temple and God?3 or knows not that the Holy Scriptures have been accused of Vanity and Folly, upon pretence that they contained things contrary and repugnant one to another, and that all the Apostles of Jesus Christ disagreed amongst ⟨p. 4⟩themselves, and that St. Paul differed from all the rest? And that I may not trouble you with all the Instances of this nature which are upon Record (for they are infinite) who knows not what Slanders were of old raised against our Forefathers,4 who first embraced and professed the Name of Christ; that they conspired amongst themselves against the Government, and for that purpose, met very early, whilst it was yet dark; that they murdered Male-Infants, gorged themselves with Mans Flesh, and in a barbarous manner drank humane Blood; and at last, putting out the Candles, perpetrated Incests and Adulteries; and that Brothers lay with their Sisters, and Sons with their Mothers, without any reverence to their Bloods and Families, without Difference or Modesty;
2. FOR to speak nothing of the Ancient Patriarchs and Prophets, no part of whose Lives (as I said) was free from Reproaches and Slanders. We know that of Old there were some who averr'd and publickly told the World,1 that the Ancient Jews, who we doubt not worshipped the only true God, perform'd their Religious Rites to a Swine or an Ass, and that all that Religion was a meer Sacriledge and a Contempt of all Deities. We know that the Son of God our Saviour Jesus Christ,2 whilest he taught the truth, was reputed an Impostor, an Inchanter, a Samaritan, a Beelzebub, a Deluder of the people; a Wine-bibber and a Glutton. Who knows not what was said of St. Paul, that powerful Preacher and Assertor of Truth, sometimes he was a seditious man, and listed Soldiers, and designed a Rebellion; and at other times, that he was an Heretick, a mad man; that out of a contentious and perverse Disposition, he was a Blasphemer against the Law of God, and a Despiser of the Customs of the Fathers? Who knows not that so soon as ever St. Stephen had admitted the Truth, and suffered it to take Possession of his Soul, and thereupon (as he ought) began freely and stoutly to preach and own it, he was immediately call'd in question for his Life, as one that had spoken Blasphemy against the Law, against Moses, against the Temple and God?3 or knows not that the Holy Scriptures have been accused of Vanity and Folly, upon pretence that they contain'd things contrary and repugnant one to another, and that all the Apostles of Jesus Christ disagreed amongst ⟨p. 4⟩themselves, and that St. Paul differed from all the rest? And that I may not trouble you with all the Instances of this nature which are upon Record (for they are infinite) who knows not what Slanders were of old raised against our Forefathers,4 who first imbraced and professed the Name of Christ; that they conspired amongst themselves against the Government, and for that purpose, met very early, whilst it was yet dark; that they murthered Male-Infants, gorged themselves with Mans Flesh, and in a barbarous manner drank humane Blood; and at last, putting out the Candles, perpetrated Incests and Adulteries; and that Brothers lay with their Sisters, and Sons with their Mothers, without any reverence to their Bloods and Families, without Difference or Modesty;
- 1Cor. Tacitus. Tertul. in Apolog. c. 7. c. Plinius.
- 2John 8. 9. 10. Mar. 11.
- 3Marcion, ex Tertullian•. Aelius, • Lactan.
- 4Tertul Apolog. c. 2, 3. and 7. 8, 9.
