Immorality Reveal'd A poem. In four epistles. To a friend. [by Thomas Cooke] |
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| 3. | THE THIRD EPISTLE. |
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 | Immorality Reveal'd |  |
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THE THIRD EPISTLE.
If e'er the Truth of Facts affirm'd as done
In Ages past may be discern'd and known,
If Grounds and Evidence of ev'ry Sort
Can be for such Belief a firm Support,
No free and fair Examiner will doubt
The Facts affirm'd to be by Jesus wrought.
In Ages past may be discern'd and known,
If Grounds and Evidence of ev'ry Sort
Can be for such Belief a firm Support,
No free and fair Examiner will doubt
The Facts affirm'd to be by Jesus wrought.
The Books, wherein attested they appear,
Are granted to be theirs, whose Names they bear,
Persons, who liv'd upon the very Spot,
Both where and when He liv'd, of whom they wrote,
Some, who in Converse with Him spent whole Years,
Shar'd in his Labours, and partook his Cares;
The rest, if not Associates of his own,
Yet to the other intimately known:
This the great Infidels of old allow,
Nor will their Successors dispute it now.
We cannot then, 'tis plain, object to them,
What yet we may to Some in high Esteem,
That their Accounts of Things reach'd too remote,
Too far beyond the Times, wherein they wrote,
And therefore on Report too much rely'd
To pass for Truths, in which we may confide:
These could not be deceiv'd, nor could but know
Whether what they record was true or no;
And if these Miracles were never done,
They must be wilful Fictions of their own:
But can it possibly be thought, that Men,
Not mad, such Facts so circumstanc'd would feign,
Both feign and publish in the Country, where
The Falshood would most certainly appear,
Where Thousands might their Confidence oppose,
Confute the Story, and the Cheat disclose?
At least then we must grant, that These may claim,
If not more Faith and Credit, yet the same,
That any Authors, in th'Accounts they give
Of ancient Facts can merit to receive.
Are granted to be theirs, whose Names they bear,
Persons, who liv'd upon the very Spot,
Both where and when He liv'd, of whom they wrote,
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Shar'd in his Labours, and partook his Cares;
The rest, if not Associates of his own,
Yet to the other intimately known:
This the great Infidels of old allow,
Nor will their Successors dispute it now.
We cannot then, 'tis plain, object to them,
What yet we may to Some in high Esteem,
That their Accounts of Things reach'd too remote,
Too far beyond the Times, wherein they wrote,
And therefore on Report too much rely'd
To pass for Truths, in which we may confide:
These could not be deceiv'd, nor could but know
Whether what they record was true or no;
And if these Miracles were never done,
They must be wilful Fictions of their own:
But can it possibly be thought, that Men,
Not mad, such Facts so circumstanc'd would feign,
Both feign and publish in the Country, where
The Falshood would most certainly appear,
Where Thousands might their Confidence oppose,
Confute the Story, and the Cheat disclose?
At least then we must grant, that These may claim,
If not more Faith and Credit, yet the same,
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Of ancient Facts can merit to receive.
But Grounds and Motives more, and stronger yet
Remain to give their Testimony Weight,
Such as, when heard with Care and Freedom must
Convince the Mind, and banish all Mistrust.
Remain to give their Testimony Weight,
Such as, when heard with Care and Freedom must
Convince the Mind, and banish all Mistrust.
Is there innate in Man a Principle
More deeply rooted than the Dread of Ill?
Of Ill in any Shape, but mostly what
With Violence destroys his present State?
The Cause must be uncommon, that controuls
This strong Aversion, and its Force o'er-rules.
If Persons therefore sound in Sense and Mind
Have triumph'd over Ills of ev'ry Kind,
Esteem'd the Loss of worldly Goods as Gain,
And freely barter'd Ease for Toil and Pain,
Despis'd the bloody Threats of lawless Pow'r,
Nay, smil'd at Torments and the mortal Hour,
Where after all our Searches shall we find
The Ground of this surprizing Strength of Mind?
Where but in Truth and Virtue, with a View
To something great and glorious to ensue?
On what Foundation else upheld could stand
Such Patience, Fortitude, and Self-Command?
More deeply rooted than the Dread of Ill?
Of Ill in any Shape, but mostly what
With Violence destroys his present State?
The Cause must be uncommon, that controuls
This strong Aversion, and its Force o'er-rules.
If Persons therefore sound in Sense and Mind
Have triumph'd over Ills of ev'ry Kind,
Esteem'd the Loss of worldly Goods as Gain,
And freely barter'd Ease for Toil and Pain,
Despis'd the bloody Threats of lawless Pow'r,
Nay, smil'd at Torments and the mortal Hour,
Where after all our Searches shall we find
The Ground of this surprizing Strength of Mind?
Where but in Truth and Virtue, with a View
To something great and glorious to ensue?
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Such Patience, Fortitude, and Self-Command?
That such were those who wrote and testify'd
The Acts of Jesus, cannot be deny'd;
With Boldness unexampled they declar'd,
That what they taught of Him they saw and heard;
Tho' Dungeons, Bonds, and Racks oppos'd their Way,
They still went on without the least Dismay;
This they maintain'd; and courted in this Cause
Each Peril, which the rest of Mankind awes;
Death in his grimmest Form not only fac'd,
But as a Friend with joyous Arms embrac'd.
The Acts of Jesus, cannot be deny'd;
With Boldness unexampled they declar'd,
That what they taught of Him they saw and heard;
Tho' Dungeons, Bonds, and Racks oppos'd their Way,
They still went on without the least Dismay;
This they maintain'd; and courted in this Cause
Each Peril, which the rest of Mankind awes;
Death in his grimmest Form not only fac'd,
But as a Friend with joyous Arms embrac'd.
Could stronger Proofs than these be giv'n by Man?
Tell me, ye Sceptics! tell me, if you can;
And would you have us doubt, if not believe
Their Purpose after all was to deceive?
Deceive! for what? something they must intend
By such Deceit; but what could be their End?
Not Riches, Pomp, Authority, or Fame,
These certainly could never be their Aim;
Their Doctrines, Manners, Actions all combine
To show them far from such a vain Design;
Instead of Views like these, Want and Disgrace
With ev'ry Evil star'd them in the Face,
Still met and menac'd them where'er they came,
And bore their Master's Message, and His Name.
Whence then could such unshaken Firmness rise
When such a Prospect lay before their Eyes?
Whence but from Hearts with pow'rful Truth sustain'd,
And Hopes of somewhat future to be gain'd?
Not gilded, glitt'ring short-liv'd Bubbles here,
But lasting Glories in a higher Sphere.
That they were acted thus Themselves profess,
Nor do the very Things declare it less,
Absurd must be the Thought, that would suggest,
That other Motives sway'd within their Breast.
Tell me, ye Sceptics! tell me, if you can;
And would you have us doubt, if not believe
Their Purpose after all was to deceive?
Deceive! for what? something they must intend
By such Deceit; but what could be their End?
Not Riches, Pomp, Authority, or Fame,
These certainly could never be their Aim;
Their Doctrines, Manners, Actions all combine
To show them far from such a vain Design;
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With ev'ry Evil star'd them in the Face,
Still met and menac'd them where'er they came,
And bore their Master's Message, and His Name.
Whence then could such unshaken Firmness rise
When such a Prospect lay before their Eyes?
Whence but from Hearts with pow'rful Truth sustain'd,
And Hopes of somewhat future to be gain'd?
Not gilded, glitt'ring short-liv'd Bubbles here,
But lasting Glories in a higher Sphere.
That they were acted thus Themselves profess,
Nor do the very Things declare it less,
Absurd must be the Thought, that would suggest,
That other Motives sway'd within their Breast.
If then we had no other Grounds, whereon
We might depend and rest but this alone,
Such signal Testimony could not fail
With ev'ry Mind unbiass'd to prevail.
We might depend and rest but this alone,
Such signal Testimony could not fail
With ev'ry Mind unbiass'd to prevail.
But that our Faith in such a weighty Case
Might rest supported on the firmest Base,
By Heav'n confirm'd behold their faithful Word,
Both what they taught, and left upon Record!
Such mighty Signs, which they declare and say
They saw their Master openly display,
The same in Kind, if some not greater still,
They were empower'd to execute at Will:
Where'er throughout the World dispers'd they came,
These they perform'd, and acted in his Name;
By These assert his Mission from Above,
And all the Wonders of his Pow'r and Love,
By These confirm the Witness which they gave
Of his illustrious Triumph o'er the Grave,
Of his Ascent to Heav'n, and Glories there,
The Purchase of his Death and Patience here.
Might rest supported on the firmest Base,
By Heav'n confirm'd behold their faithful Word,
Both what they taught, and left upon Record!
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They saw their Master openly display,
The same in Kind, if some not greater still,
They were empower'd to execute at Will:
Where'er throughout the World dispers'd they came,
These they perform'd, and acted in his Name;
By These assert his Mission from Above,
And all the Wonders of his Pow'r and Love,
By These confirm the Witness which they gave
Of his illustrious Triumph o'er the Grave,
Of his Ascent to Heav'n, and Glories there,
The Purchase of his Death and Patience here.
But have we other Proof of this beside
Their own Account whereon we may confide?
Or do we on their Word alone rely,
That Heav'n thus seal'd their Witness from on high?
Suppose the latter—what could we object
To make the wariest Breast their Word suspect?
If from their Evidence we could be sure,
That Jesus wrought such wondrous Works of Pow'r,
May we not on their Word depend as much,
That they by Aids from Heav'n deriv'd wrought such?
If by the one it were a wild Conceit
To think they meant to propagate a Cheat,
How by the other can we apprehend,
They aim'd at this, or could such Fraud intend?
Their own Account whereon we may confide?
Or do we on their Word alone rely,
That Heav'n thus seal'd their Witness from on high?
Suppose the latter—what could we object
To make the wariest Breast their Word suspect?
If from their Evidence we could be sure,
That Jesus wrought such wondrous Works of Pow'r,
May we not on their Word depend as much,
That they by Aids from Heav'n deriv'd wrought such?
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To think they meant to propagate a Cheat,
How by the other can we apprehend,
They aim'd at this, or could such Fraud intend?
Review their Writings, see! how they refer
To Countries, Cities, Towns, about and near,
To these appeal, as where in open Day,
They did these wonderful Effects display,
Where Multitudes beheld them, and became
Their Converts, and assum'd the Christian Name.
If this was Fiction all, and mere Pretence,
Could it have 'scap'd ev'n Men of vulgar Sense?
How then, the Curious, when at first withstood
These Authors rose, and publish'd it abroad?
Detected, censur'd it must soon have lost
All Credit, and the whole Design been crost,
Deep-branding Infamy, as justly due,
Had quash'd the Forg'ry and the Forgers too.
To Countries, Cities, Towns, about and near,
To these appeal, as where in open Day,
They did these wonderful Effects display,
Where Multitudes beheld them, and became
Their Converts, and assum'd the Christian Name.
If this was Fiction all, and mere Pretence,
Could it have 'scap'd ev'n Men of vulgar Sense?
How then, the Curious, when at first withstood
These Authors rose, and publish'd it abroad?
Detected, censur'd it must soon have lost
All Credit, and the whole Design been crost,
Deep-branding Infamy, as justly due,
Had quash'd the Forg'ry and the Forgers too.
Before Tribunals where presiding sate
The sternest Rigour, and the fellest Hate,
Fearless they stood, and all Attempts defy'd
To fix one Proof of Falshood on their Side;
Thousands were ready to support their Plea,
As fearless, firm, and resolute as they,
Whose Eyes those signal Wonders had beheld,
To which the other in their Cause appeal'd,
Alike ambitious in a Cause so good
To seal their Testimony with their Blood:
Thus Opposition fell before them still,
Tho' arm'd with ev'ry Terror, ev'ry Ill;
That fierce Malignity, and Rage, they met,
Serv'd but to spread their Triumphs wider yet,
'Till o'er the then known World the Victors past
And distant Nations own'd their Lord at last.
The sternest Rigour, and the fellest Hate,
Fearless they stood, and all Attempts defy'd
To fix one Proof of Falshood on their Side;
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As fearless, firm, and resolute as they,
Whose Eyes those signal Wonders had beheld,
To which the other in their Cause appeal'd,
Alike ambitious in a Cause so good
To seal their Testimony with their Blood:
Thus Opposition fell before them still,
Tho' arm'd with ev'ry Terror, ev'ry Ill;
That fierce Malignity, and Rage, they met,
Serv'd but to spread their Triumphs wider yet,
'Till o'er the then known World the Victors past
And distant Nations own'd their Lord at last.
If we consider justly, as we ought,
With what surprizing Speed this Change was wrought,
A Change of such Extent, and Nature too,
Mankind in Faith, and Manners form'd anew!
Th'Effect itself must lead us to assign
The real Cause, and point to Pow'r divine.
With what surprizing Speed this Change was wrought,
A Change of such Extent, and Nature too,
Mankind in Faith, and Manners form'd anew!
Th'Effect itself must lead us to assign
The real Cause, and point to Pow'r divine.
Can it be thought, a few poor lab'ring Men,
Obscure in Life, and quite unknown till then,
Rude, simple, and unskill'd in ev'ry Art
To move th'Affections, and to win the Heart,
Should in a Work of such stupendous Sort
Succeed, unaided with Divine Support?
Account for this, ye Infidels! and show
How this Effect from such a Cause could flow:
But not to make the Task so hard, suppose
Them Men of diff'rent Character from those,
Persons of Elocution and Address,
And for the deepest Learning fam'd no less,
Nay further to increase their Weight, to these
Add Birth and Fortune, and what else you please,
All the Accomplishments and Gifts, that raise
Our Veneration, and demand our Praise,
Yet that with these Advantages alone
They could accomplish such a Change so soon,
Can never be conceiv'd by those, that know
Ought of Mankind, and what occurs below.
What are the Things more hardly overcome,
More hardly forc'd to yield, and quit their Room,
Than Usages by long Prescription fixt,
By Laws upheld, and with Religion mixt?
Than Notions from our Ancestors convey'd,
By Time confirm'd, and venerable made?
Spite of Persuasion rooted they remain,
And Art and Reason both contend in vain,
In vain attempt with all their Force combin'd
To drive such Prepossessions from the Mind.
Obscure in Life, and quite unknown till then,
Rude, simple, and unskill'd in ev'ry Art
To move th'Affections, and to win the Heart,
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Succeed, unaided with Divine Support?
Account for this, ye Infidels! and show
How this Effect from such a Cause could flow:
But not to make the Task so hard, suppose
Them Men of diff'rent Character from those,
Persons of Elocution and Address,
And for the deepest Learning fam'd no less,
Nay further to increase their Weight, to these
Add Birth and Fortune, and what else you please,
All the Accomplishments and Gifts, that raise
Our Veneration, and demand our Praise,
Yet that with these Advantages alone
They could accomplish such a Change so soon,
Can never be conceiv'd by those, that know
Ought of Mankind, and what occurs below.
What are the Things more hardly overcome,
More hardly forc'd to yield, and quit their Room,
Than Usages by long Prescription fixt,
By Laws upheld, and with Religion mixt?
Than Notions from our Ancestors convey'd,
By Time confirm'd, and venerable made?
Spite of Persuasion rooted they remain,
And Art and Reason both contend in vain,
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To drive such Prepossessions from the Mind.
If superstitious Errors of old Date
Blended with Policy, and Schemes of State,
Could by such Means as these have been remov'd,
Thy Lessons, Socrates! had prosp'rous prov'd,
Athens reform'd the one true God had known,
And pull'd her glitt'ring Idols from their Throne,
Renounc'd her senseless Rites, and in their stead
A Worship somewhat worthy Heav'n had paid;
But ineffectual strove thy studious Care
Against so long-establish'd Falshoods there;
Thy Disappointment in that glorious Cause
Which but to undertake deserves Applause,
Is Proof, that more than Man his Aid must join
To give Success to such a great Design.
Blended with Policy, and Schemes of State,
Could by such Means as these have been remov'd,
Thy Lessons, Socrates! had prosp'rous prov'd,
Athens reform'd the one true God had known,
And pull'd her glitt'ring Idols from their Throne,
Renounc'd her senseless Rites, and in their stead
A Worship somewhat worthy Heav'n had paid;
But ineffectual strove thy studious Care
Against so long-establish'd Falshoods there;
Thy Disappointment in that glorious Cause
Which but to undertake deserves Applause,
Is Proof, that more than Man his Aid must join
To give Success to such a great Design.
With such Assistance we may well conceive,
Th'Apostles might this arduous Work atchieve,
Traverse the various World, and where they go,
The Force of Vice and Custom overthrow,
Convert whole Nations in so short a Time,
And plant the Chrstian Faith in ev'ry Clime:
But who, that weighs the Obstacles, that lay
So strong against them, and oppos'd their Way,
Can think, that this could possibly be done
By any Means or Pow'r of Man alone.
Th'Apostles might this arduous Work atchieve,
Traverse the various World, and where they go,
The Force of Vice and Custom overthrow,
Convert whole Nations in so short a Time,
And plant the Chrstian Faith in ev'ry Clime:
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So strong against them, and oppos'd their Way,
Can think, that this could possibly be done
By any Means or Pow'r of Man alone.
Without that Gift of Tongues of divers Kind,
Which Heav'n they say imparted to their Mind,
Could they have publish'd to the World and taught
Th'important Message, which their Master brought?
As various as the Realms they travers'd o'er,
From India to the wide Atlantic Shore,
With diff'rent Languages they met, and these
Th'Event demonstrates, that they spoke with Ease.
By Study, Art, and Converse, who will say,
They gain'd this Knowledge in a common Way?
Their Education, Manner, private State
All show th'Absurdity of such Conceit:
To what but Inspiration then divine
Shall we this wondrous Pow'r of Speech assign?
Which Heav'n they say imparted to their Mind,
Could they have publish'd to the World and taught
Th'important Message, which their Master brought?
As various as the Realms they travers'd o'er,
From India to the wide Atlantic Shore,
With diff'rent Languages they met, and these
Th'Event demonstrates, that they spoke with Ease.
By Study, Art, and Converse, who will say,
They gain'd this Knowledge in a common Way?
Their Education, Manner, private State
All show th'Absurdity of such Conceit:
To what but Inspiration then divine
Shall we this wondrous Pow'r of Speech assign?
Review th'Account of this, that which they give,
And see what Proofs we can from thence derive.
They tell the very Place, the Day, the Hour,
Both where and when they first receiv'd this Pow'r,
What at that Instant with Surprize they heard,
And what as awful to their Sight appear'd:
And see what Proofs we can from thence derive.
They tell the very Place, the Day, the Hour,
Both where and when they first receiv'd this Pow'r,
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And what as awful to their Sight appear'd:
“A Sound like that of rushing mighty Winds
Sudden and all at once from Heav'n descends,
And fills the Place, where join'd in mutual Love,
They wait the gracious Promise from above;
Upon the Head of each a Flame of Fire
Sits glowing, and extends a double Spire
In form like cloven Tongues, (how fit to show
The great Effect, that was from thence to flow!)
Immediately they feel within their Breast
New Light infus'd, new Influence imprest,
And from their Tongues in various Accents broke
Each diff'rent Dialect, which the World then spoke;
Fame soon proclaim'd this Prodigy aloud,
And Multitudes alarm'd about them croud,
Some who from ev'ry Nation o'er the Earth
Had settled there, and left their Place of Birth,
Natives of Asia's wide extended Lands,
And Countries bord'ring on the Libyan Strands,
With European Strangers, these, say they,
Were present at the Wonders of that Day;
Each in his proper Language with Amaze
Heard them explain God's glorious Will and Ways,
And Thousands, e're went down that Ev'ning Sun,
Hence own'd their Lord, and to the Faith were won.”
Sudden and all at once from Heav'n descends,
And fills the Place, where join'd in mutual Love,
They wait the gracious Promise from above;
Upon the Head of each a Flame of Fire
Sits glowing, and extends a double Spire
In form like cloven Tongues, (how fit to show
The great Effect, that was from thence to flow!)
Immediately they feel within their Breast
New Light infus'd, new Influence imprest,
And from their Tongues in various Accents broke
Each diff'rent Dialect, which the World then spoke;
Fame soon proclaim'd this Prodigy aloud,
And Multitudes alarm'd about them croud,
Some who from ev'ry Nation o'er the Earth
Had settled there, and left their Place of Birth,
Natives of Asia's wide extended Lands,
And Countries bord'ring on the Libyan Strands,
With European Strangers, these, say they,
Were present at the Wonders of that Day;
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Heard them explain God's glorious Will and Ways,
And Thousands, e're went down that Ev'ning Sun,
Hence own'd their Lord, and to the Faith were won.”
Nor was this Gift so signal in its Kind,
So very wonderful, to them confin'd,
Thro Prayer and Blessing in their Master's Name,
By them conferr'd their Converts shar'd the same,
Spoke as they did, and understood no less
The various Tongues, which human Thought express.
If these Relations made and publish'd soon
After the Time, 'tis said, all this was done,
Were false and feign'd, what little Pains and Care
Might then have made the Falsity appear!
A fair Appeal to those, that yet surviv'd,
And at the Place, and in the Instant liv'd
Of these pretended Facts, had show'd the Fraud,
Quite stop'd its Progress and Success abroad;
Silenc'd with Infamy it must have dy'd,
Nor left one bold Abettor on its Side.
Nor Art nor Zeal were wanting in their Foes
To search, examine, censure, and oppose,
These were exerted to the full w'are sure,
With Threat'nings mix'd, and back'd with cruel Pow'r;
Yet vain were all their vigorous Attacks
To shake the Credit of these wond'rous Facts;
The stricter they were search'd, still the more clear,
More strong and piercing did their Truth appear,
'Till Opposition wearied out quite ceast,
Or reconcil'd confess'd the Truth at last.
So very wonderful, to them confin'd,
Thro Prayer and Blessing in their Master's Name,
By them conferr'd their Converts shar'd the same,
Spoke as they did, and understood no less
The various Tongues, which human Thought express.
If these Relations made and publish'd soon
After the Time, 'tis said, all this was done,
Were false and feign'd, what little Pains and Care
Might then have made the Falsity appear!
A fair Appeal to those, that yet surviv'd,
And at the Place, and in the Instant liv'd
Of these pretended Facts, had show'd the Fraud,
Quite stop'd its Progress and Success abroad;
Silenc'd with Infamy it must have dy'd,
Nor left one bold Abettor on its Side.
Nor Art nor Zeal were wanting in their Foes
To search, examine, censure, and oppose,
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With Threat'nings mix'd, and back'd with cruel Pow'r;
Yet vain were all their vigorous Attacks
To shake the Credit of these wond'rous Facts;
The stricter they were search'd, still the more clear,
More strong and piercing did their Truth appear,
'Till Opposition wearied out quite ceast,
Or reconcil'd confess'd the Truth at last.
Next to th'Apostles Writings let us see
What others say, and how with them agree.
What others say, and how with them agree.
Down from the Age, wherein the Former wrote,
We want not Authors of conspicuous Note,
Successive in their Times, to vindicate
The Truth of these great Things, which those relate,
Some, or Eye-witnesses of these, or who
Had else convers'd with them that had been so;
Others in Time not so remotely plac'd,
But that they might their Certainty have trac'd:
These they assert as Facts confirm'd and own'd,
And to the World for Proof appeal around,
To these ascribe that Prevalence and Force,
With which the Gospel triumph'd in its Course,
To these that strong Conviction, which abode
Such fiery Tryals, and unshaken stood,
Which in so many Martyrs overcame
All Fears of Death, and brav'd the threat'ning Flame.
We want not Authors of conspicuous Note,
Successive in their Times, to vindicate
The Truth of these great Things, which those relate,
Some, or Eye-witnesses of these, or who
Had else convers'd with them that had been so;
Others in Time not so remotely plac'd,
But that they might their Certainty have trac'd:
These they assert as Facts confirm'd and own'd,
And to the World for Proof appeal around,
To these ascribe that Prevalence and Force,
With which the Gospel triumph'd in its Course,
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Such fiery Tryals, and unshaken stood,
Which in so many Martyrs overcame
All Fears of Death, and brav'd the threat'ning Flame.
Nor ceas'd immediately that mighty Pow'r,
By which th'Apostles wrought such Signs before;
For further Confirmation Heav'n thought fit
In After-ages to continue it:
Display'd in Deeds as marvellous as those
It still upheld the Faith, and check'd its Foes:
This publicly they vouch, and in Defence
Call in the strongest Evidence of Sense,
The Sight of Thousands, who in open Day
Beheld those Miracles, as well as they,
Nor with their Pen alone, and strenuous Page
Did these Defenders in this Cause engage;
Their Lives, and Fortunes, all they counted dear
Knowing they risqu'd, yet knew nor Dread nor Fear,
Proud rather with the Loss of all to gain
More credit to the Facts, which they maintain.
By which th'Apostles wrought such Signs before;
For further Confirmation Heav'n thought fit
In After-ages to continue it:
Display'd in Deeds as marvellous as those
It still upheld the Faith, and check'd its Foes:
This publicly they vouch, and in Defence
Call in the strongest Evidence of Sense,
The Sight of Thousands, who in open Day
Beheld those Miracles, as well as they,
Nor with their Pen alone, and strenuous Page
Did these Defenders in this Cause engage;
Their Lives, and Fortunes, all they counted dear
Knowing they risqu'd, yet knew nor Dread nor Fear,
Proud rather with the Loss of all to gain
More credit to the Facts, which they maintain.
Thus Christianity attested spread
Around the Earth with most surprizing Speed,
As wond'rous in the Progress, which it made,
As in those signal Proofs by Heaven display'd:
O'er ev'ry Obstacle it urg'd its Way,
And triumph'd most, where most Resistance lay.
Around the Earth with most surprizing Speed,
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As in those signal Proofs by Heaven display'd:
O'er ev'ry Obstacle it urg'd its Way,
And triumph'd most, where most Resistance lay.
These are the Grounds, some of the first and chief,
On which we rest secure in our Belief,
Such as the nicest Scrutiny will bear,
And answer ev'ry Scruple, Doubt, and Fear;
The deeper search'd, the greater is their Weight,
Not weaken'd, but confirm'd by free Debate:
'Tis Falshood's Interest to lye conceal'd,
But Truth's in ev'ry Light to be beheld.
On which we rest secure in our Belief,
Such as the nicest Scrutiny will bear,
And answer ev'ry Scruple, Doubt, and Fear;
The deeper search'd, the greater is their Weight,
Not weaken'd, but confirm'd by free Debate:
'Tis Falshood's Interest to lye conceal'd,
But Truth's in ev'ry Light to be beheld.
If then each wond'rous Sign, each mighty Deed
Ascrib'd to Jesus did from Heav'n proceed,
Th'Effect of Pow'r divine to evidence
His Mission and Authority from thence;
If his Disciples after in their Course
By Aids imparted from the same high Source
Perform'd such Wonders, as their Lord had done,
And thence confirm'd his Message, and their own,
The Doctrines, which he taught, and they from Him,
We must as Truths from God himself esteem,
A surer Consequence than this the Mind
In all her strict Enquiries cannot find;
He that will question this, may yet go on,
And say there's nothing clearly to be known,
That all our Reas'ning Pow'rs are quite too short
To come at Certainty of any Sort.
Ascrib'd to Jesus did from Heav'n proceed,
Th'Effect of Pow'r divine to evidence
His Mission and Authority from thence;
If his Disciples after in their Course
By Aids imparted from the same high Source
Perform'd such Wonders, as their Lord had done,
And thence confirm'd his Message, and their own,
The Doctrines, which he taught, and they from Him,
We must as Truths from God himself esteem,
50
In all her strict Enquiries cannot find;
He that will question this, may yet go on,
And say there's nothing clearly to be known,
That all our Reas'ning Pow'rs are quite too short
To come at Certainty of any Sort.
These Doctrines let us then attentive weigh,
And see what Light and Knowledge they convey,
What Benefits Mankind from thence derive,
And what clear Views of future Bliss they give.
And see what Light and Knowledge they convey,
What Benefits Mankind from thence derive,
And what clear Views of future Bliss they give.
By Them we learn, that all the Ills of Man
Created happy first from Sin began;
Hence Death, and those dire Waiters in his Train,
Care, Sorrow, Sickness, and tormenting Pain;
Hence those Disorders, which the Soul annoy,
And all her inward Peace and Calm destroy,
Vain restless Appetites, and Lusts impure,
With frantic Passions, which no Curb endure;
Hence to those Clouds, which intercepting rise,
And break the Force of Reason's searching Eyes,
Which hide, what else might yield her full Delight,
The Charms of Truth and Wisdom from her Sight.
Created happy first from Sin began;
Hence Death, and those dire Waiters in his Train,
Care, Sorrow, Sickness, and tormenting Pain;
Hence those Disorders, which the Soul annoy,
And all her inward Peace and Calm destroy,
Vain restless Appetites, and Lusts impure,
With frantic Passions, which no Curb endure;
Hence to those Clouds, which intercepting rise,
And break the Force of Reason's searching Eyes,
Which hide, what else might yield her full Delight,
The Charms of Truth and Wisdom from her Sight.
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By Them we learn, that propagated down
This direful Mischief spread from Sire to Son,
That, once our Nature tainted, none could be
Of the whole Race from this Corruption free,
And, if corrupted, then of Course were all
Involv'd in all the Effects of that first Fall,
To Wrath alike devoted, during Wrath!
Not temp'ral only, but eternal Death!
This direful Mischief spread from Sire to Son,
That, once our Nature tainted, none could be
Of the whole Race from this Corruption free,
And, if corrupted, then of Course were all
Involv'd in all the Effects of that first Fall,
To Wrath alike devoted, during Wrath!
Not temp'ral only, but eternal Death!
By Them we learn, that God with pitying Eye
Beheld Man's sad Condition from on high,
Not only pity'd, but of boundless Grace
Decreed to help him in that desp'rate Case,
Yet so, as might consistently agree
Both with his Justice, and his Purity.
Beheld Man's sad Condition from on high,
Not only pity'd, but of boundless Grace
Decreed to help him in that desp'rate Case,
Yet so, as might consistently agree
Both with his Justice, and his Purity.
That to this End he sent from Heav'n his Son,
His only Son, and Partner of his Throne,
The Image of his Person full exprest,
With all his excellent Perfections blest,
Begot e're Time began, by whom he made
Heav'n, Earth, and all his Pow'r in both display'd.
His only Son, and Partner of his Throne,
The Image of his Person full exprest,
With all his excellent Perfections blest,
Begot e're Time began, by whom he made
Heav'n, Earth, and all his Pow'r in both display'd.
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That no less Advocate than This alone
Could save Mankind, and all their Guilt atone,
No less regain them by his Prevalence
God's Love and Favour lost by their Offence,
Nor He, unless first humbled He assume
Our mortal Nature, and supply our Room,
Bow to the Stroke of Justice in our Stead,
And guiltless, for the Guilty dying bleed.
Could save Mankind, and all their Guilt atone,
No less regain them by his Prevalence
God's Love and Favour lost by their Offence,
Nor He, unless first humbled He assume
Our mortal Nature, and supply our Room,
Bow to the Stroke of Justice in our Stead,
And guiltless, for the Guilty dying bleed.
That ransom'd by this Debt to Justice paid,
And by his full Obedience righteous made
Through Faith, that works by Love, we triumph o'er
Those Ills, to which we were accurst before;
And as our great Deliv'rer burst the Chain
Of Death and Hell, and rose to Life again,
Ascended to the Glories, whence He came,
And took our Nature with Him to the same,
So shall we follow, pass from Death to Life,
And rise victorious from the painful Strife,
Not with the Body yet, but with the Soul,
Whose Flight no Force nor Fetters will controul,
We shall before Him instantly appear,
And blest enjoy his Love and Presence there.
And by his full Obedience righteous made
Through Faith, that works by Love, we triumph o'er
Those Ills, to which we were accurst before;
And as our great Deliv'rer burst the Chain
Of Death and Hell, and rose to Life again,
Ascended to the Glories, whence He came,
And took our Nature with Him to the same,
So shall we follow, pass from Death to Life,
And rise victorious from the painful Strife,
Not with the Body yet, but with the Soul,
Whose Flight no Force nor Fetters will controul,
We shall before Him instantly appear,
And blest enjoy his Love and Presence there.
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That when determin'd Years shall bring the Day,
Wherein this lower World shall pass away,
And He himself a second Time descend,
Not as at first, but for a diff'rent End,
As Judge with awful Pow'r appointed then
To fix the Doom of all the Sons of Men,
Our Bodies by the same effective Might,
That quicken'd his, shall rise again to Light,
From all Corruption freed, the Soul rejoin,
And fashion'd like his own in Glory shine;
Mansions in Heav'n adjudg'd to be our Seat,
And Joys our Bliss for present Thought too great:
Whilst by another, yet just Sentence, Those,
Who with such gracious Means refus'd to close,
Such Means of wond'rous Grace with Justice join'd
By God's deep Counsel to redeem Mankind!
To Regions, which no Light or Comfort know,
Shall be condemn'd, and suffer ceaseless Woe.
Wherein this lower World shall pass away,
And He himself a second Time descend,
Not as at first, but for a diff'rent End,
As Judge with awful Pow'r appointed then
To fix the Doom of all the Sons of Men,
Our Bodies by the same effective Might,
That quicken'd his, shall rise again to Light,
From all Corruption freed, the Soul rejoin,
And fashion'd like his own in Glory shine;
Mansions in Heav'n adjudg'd to be our Seat,
And Joys our Bliss for present Thought too great:
Whilst by another, yet just Sentence, Those,
Who with such gracious Means refus'd to close,
Such Means of wond'rous Grace with Justice join'd
By God's deep Counsel to redeem Mankind!
To Regions, which no Light or Comfort know,
Shall be condemn'd, and suffer ceaseless Woe.
These are in Brief the Doctrines, that relate
To Man, his present and his future State,
Reveal'd in Person by the Son of God,
And by his Delegates proclaim'd abroad,
Then written left by their unerring Pen,
To serve the Good of all the Race of Men,
To teach, to warn them, and point out the Way,
That leads from endless Woe to endless Joy.
To Man, his present and his future State,
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And by his Delegates proclaim'd abroad,
Then written left by their unerring Pen,
To serve the Good of all the Race of Men,
To teach, to warn them, and point out the Way,
That leads from endless Woe to endless Joy.
Now more at large these, Cœlius, let us view,
And give them, what they claim, Attention due,
The deepest, strongest of the studious Mind
When from the Body most by Thought disjoin'd.
How vastly far below these Subjects are
The Things which usually engage our Care!
How light, how trivial, when compar'd with these,
Ev'n such as strike us most, and chiefly please!
What else but specious Trifles at the best,
That lure and draw us from a nobler Quest,
From the Pursuit of Things most truly Great,
Of lasting Worth, and most substantial Weight?
And give them, what they claim, Attention due,
The deepest, strongest of the studious Mind
When from the Body most by Thought disjoin'd.
How vastly far below these Subjects are
The Things which usually engage our Care!
How light, how trivial, when compar'd with these,
Ev'n such as strike us most, and chiefly please!
What else but specious Trifles at the best,
That lure and draw us from a nobler Quest,
From the Pursuit of Things most truly Great,
Of lasting Worth, and most substantial Weight?
Grateful to Thee, whose Mind esteems as mean
Mens busiest Cares in this low transient Scene,
Will be my Theme I know; and if, like thine,
My Genius could but answer this Design,
Others might read the Labours of thy Friend,
And find, if candid, something to commend.
Mens busiest Cares in this low transient Scene,
55
My Genius could but answer this Design,
Others might read the Labours of thy Friend,
And find, if candid, something to commend.
| Immorality Reveal'd | |