for they never show, that ever they had the true fear of God before their eyes, nor yet any good seed of religion in them. For, there is a great many of them, who have manifested them selves greater Atheists, after they ⟨image 100⟩had once gotten some knowledge of the gospel, then ever they had before, and since y• time, have ever less reverenced the word of God. For, the knowledge which they received by the entertaining of the Gospel, served them to none other use, but to discover the Idolatries, superstitions, and abuses, which are in the popish Church, that they might laugh at them.
And ever sithence that time, they are grown even unto this, that they are almost at the like point with the doctrine of Christian religion. For, as S. Paul said, They judge thereof,1 as the Grecians and wise men of the world, judged of Jesus Christ, & of his Gospel: who thought the preaching thereof to be foolishness, because they were carnal men, and puffed up with an opinion of their own wisdoms.
And because the Grecians, were always more accounted of then any of the rest of the Nations, by reason of their sharpness of wit, and of the knowledge which they had in the arts, in Philosophy, and in all other Letters of humanity, S. Paul nameth them specially, although he comprehendeth under this name, all the rest of the ⟨image 100⟩heathen, as well appeareth by that, that he opposeth them to the Jews, and separateth them also from the Christians, unto whom, as he him self witnesseth, Jesus Christ is the true wisdom, virtue, and power of God.
Now, if these Libertine Epicures and Atheists, had been heathen borne, as S. Augustine was, or, if they had as much religion in them, being Christians borne, as he had in his Paganism, they should never have showed them selves, to have been so monstrous beasts, as in deed they are. But although in name, they are Christians born, they are to be accounted of, as if they had been borne and bred amongst Infidels and Pagans, yea even amongst the Epicures, out of whose books they have sucked and drunk, this profane spirit of Atheism, who thus carieth them away.
For, they have yet less Religion in them, then ever had any of the heathen, who not only did not approve their doctrine, but which is more, manifestly, both by word and writing condemned it, yea, and oftentimes executed them by public justice namely, ⟨image 101⟩Athens.
for they neuer shew, that euer they had the true feare of God before their eyes, nor yet any good seede of religion in them. For, there is a great many of them, who haue manifested them selues greater Atheists, after they ⟨image 100⟩had once gotten some knowledge of the gospell, then euer they had before, and since y• time, haue euer lesse reuerenced the worde of God. For, the knowledge which they receyued by the entertayning of the Gospell, serued them to none other vse, but to discouer the Idolatries, superstitions, and abuses, which are in the popish Church, that they might laugh at them.
And euer sithence that time, they are growen euen vnto this, that they are almost at the like poynt with the doctrine of Christian religion. For, as S. Paul said, They iudge thereof,1 as the Grecians and wise men of the world, iudged of Iesus Christe, & of his Gospel: who thought the preaching thereof to be foolishnesse, because they were carnall men, and puffed vp with an opinyon of their owne wisdomes.
And because the Grecians, were alwaies more accounted of then any of the reste of the Nations, by reason of their sharpenesse of witte, and of the knowledge which they had in the artes, in Philosophy, and in all other Letters of humanitie, S. Paule nameth them specially, although hee comprehendeth vnder this name, all the rest of the ⟨image 100⟩heathen, as well appeareth by that, that he opposeth them to the Iewes, and seperateth them also from the Christians, vnto whome, as hee him selfe witnesseth, Iesus Christ is the true wisdome, vertue, and power of God.
Nowe, if these Libertine Epicures and Atheistes, had beene heathen borne, as S. Augustine was, or, if they had as much religion in them, being Christians borne, as hee had in his Paganisme, they shoulde neuer haue shewed them selues, to haue beene so monstrous beastes, as in deed they are. But although in name, they are Christians born, they are to be accounted of, as if they had beene borne and bredde amongst Infidelles and Paganes, yea euen amongst the Epicures, out of whose books they haue sucked and droonke, this prophan spirite of Athiesme, who thus caryeth thē away.
For, they haue yet lesse Religion in them, then euer had any of the heathen, who not onely did not approue their doctrine, but which is more, manifestly, both by word and wrytinge condemned it, yea, and oftentimes executed thē by publick iustice namely, ⟨image 101⟩Athens.
- 11. Cor. 1.
