Section 1: Shewing briefly certain great and mischievous Obstructions to the Christian Religion.

Book 1 Section 1 (p. 9-11):
Shewing briefly certain great and mischievous Obstructions to the Christian Religion.

As it is certain we now stand a very great distance from the Primitive Times of Christianity, as well as from the Country where it was first planted, and its Foundation laid in the holy Doctrine, Miracles, and Sufferings of the Messiah, the Author thereof, called The Apostle, and High Priest of our Profession, Christ Jesus. So there hath intervened many dreadful Occurrences to render that glorious Profession either suspicious in respect of its Verity, or but of mean consideration in point of Excellency; partly through the prodigious impiety and immorality of many, who have affumed the Christian Name; and partly through the monstrous Alterations, and contradictions in Doctrine and Manners, and the Implacable and Sanguinary Feuds and Animosities, which have fall'n out among the Professors of Christianity, to the great Scandal of the Jews, and other Nations as well as to the unspeakable prejudice of many Lovers of Christianity, the Papists are not the least Culpable, but very deeply Criminal. To say nothing here of their Sanguinary Practices, notorious throughout the World, it shall not be amiss to recount one only Instance (in stead of a multitude) of their imprudent and mischievous Obstructions of the Advancement of Christ's Interest, among the poor Jews in Hungary, October 22. 1650. where a great Councel of the Jews were met, to search the Scriptures concerning the Messiah, whether he was already come (as saith my Author): when and where after seven Days debate, about the time and manner of his Coming and Person; not a few arguing the possibility of Jesus being He, chiefly from his Miracles, and the grievous Desolation and Captivity of their Nation, since his Crucifixion (not to be parallel'd with former Presidents) and the Lord's not Answering their Prayers as he was wont to do. Hereupon the Popes Deputies were called in, viz. Two Jesuites, two Franciscans, and two Augustine Friers, to give an account, That if the Messiah be come, and if Jesus be He, what Rules and Orders had he left for his Followers to walk by?

These Popish Companions being admitted, forgot the Cause of Christ, and spake not a word for him, or it; but at the first on-set, began to solicit them to become Proselytes to their holy Catholick Church, (as they call that of Rome) whose Rules and Government, said they, are the only Institutions of Christ, whose Vicar the Pope is, &c. And thence defended to Particulars, asserting the Bodily Presence in the Sacrament, the Invocation of Saints, and in particular of the Virgin, who could procure any thing of her Son; the Use of the holy Cross; the religious Use of Holy-days. As soon as they heard these things, the Assembly broke up in great Tumult, and loud Screeks, crying out, "No Christ, no Woman God, no Images;" many rent their Clothes, and cast dust on their Heads, and cried, "Blasphemy, Blasphemy." (And thus were these poor Jews hardned, instead of being Converted by those Popish Vanities). This Story (as my Author truly saith) is worthy to be written in all Annals and Languages of Christendom, to the eternal Infamy of Papists and their Cause.

By this sad Instance we may see, with what Jealousies poor enquiring Souls are as it were round begirt, and put to their Wits-end, by those dismal Occurrences, scarce knowing what to think of this most Innocent and Venerable Profession. To dispel which Clouds, and dissipate that Smoke, which the Devil hath wised to darken the Sun and the Air, and to dim the Eyes of Men, left the Light of the Glorious Gospel should shine upon them, I conceive it needful in our entrance here, to shew the Certainty and Excellency of that Religion, which we intend (God willing) to describe according to its Native Purity, and we intend it in such Branches, as are most opposed by the Errors of the Times wherein we live.

And because in an undertaking of this Weight, and common Concern to all that love the Lord Jesus, it is not good to go alone, and not finding any that have more pithily and briefly, set forth the Certainty and Excellency of Christianity, than that Learned and Moderate Man, Mr. Hugo Grotius; I shall therefore do little more herein, than present the Reader with what he hath calculated, and by sundry Authorities confirmed. And sith the Christian Religion depends mainly upon the Life, Death, and Resurrection of the Lord Christ, we shall (with our Author) begin our Discourses there, where our Saviour began the Days of his Pilgrimage, for the Salvation of Mankind.