The reason of faith, or, An answer unto that enquiry, wherefore we believe the…

As (1.) That in the New Testament the Writers of it do constantly distribute all those with whom they had to do in this World, into Jews and Greeks, which we render Gentiles, the other Nations of the World coming under that Denomination because of their Preeminence on various Accounts. Now the Jews at that time were in solidum, possessed of all the true Religion that was in the World; and this they boasted of as their Privilege, bearing up themselves with the Thoughts and Reputation of it every where and on all occasions; it being at that time their great Business to gain Proselytes unto it, whereon also their Honour and Advantage did depend. The Greeks on the other side were in as full a possession of Arts, Sciences, Literature, and all that which the World calls Wisdom, as the Jews were of Religion; and they had also a Religion received by a long Tradition of their Fathers from time immemorial, which they had variously cultivated and dressed with Mysteries and Ceremonies unto their own complete satisfaction. Besides the Romans, who were the ruling Part of the Gentiles, did ascribe all their Prosperity, and the whole Raising of their stupendous Empire to their Gods, and the religious Worship they gave unto them; so that it was a fundamental Maxim in their Policy and Rule, that they should prosper ⟨p. 59⟩or decay, according as they observed or were negligent in the Religion they had received. As indeed not only those who owned the true God and his Providence, but before Idolatry and Superstition had given place unto Atheism, all people did solemnly impute all their Achievements and Successes unto their Gods, as the Prophet speaks of the Chaldeans, Mal. 1. 11. And he who first undertook to record the Exploits of the Nations of the World, doth constantly assign all their Good and Evil unto their Gods, as they were pleased or provoked. The Romans in especial boasted that their Religion was the cause of their Prosperity; Pietate & Religione atque hâc una Sapientia, quòd Deorum immortalium Numine omnia regi gubernarique prospeximus, omnes Gentes Nationesque superamus, says their great Oracle, Orat. de Har. Resp.

As (1.) That in the New Testament the Writers of it do constantly distribute all those with whom they had to do in this World, into Jews and Greeks, which we render Gentiles, the other Nations of the World coming under that Denomination because of their Preeminence on various Accounts. Now the Jews at that time were in solidum, possessed of all the true Religion that was in the World; and this they boasted of as their Priviledge, bearing up themselves with the Thoughts and Reputation of it every where and on all occasions; it being at that time their great Business to gain Proselytes unto it, whereon also their Honour and Advantage did depend. The Greeks on the other side were in as full a possession of Arts, Sciences, Literature, and all that which the World calls Wisdom, as the Jews were of Religion; and they had also a Religion received by a long Tradition of their Fathers from time immemorial, which they had variously cultivated and dressed with Mysteries and Ceremonies unto their own compleat satisfaction. Besides the Romans, who were the ruling Part of the Gentiles, did ascribe all their Prosperity, and the whole Raising of their stupendous Empire to their Gods, and the religious Worship they gave unto them; so that it was a fundamental Maxim in their Policy and Rule, that they should prosper