Section 20: The Infirmity and simplicity of the first Preachers of Christianity, shews the excellency of their Ministry of Religion.

Book 1 Section 20 (p. 26):
The Infirmity and simplicity of the first Preachers of Christianity, shews the excellency of their Ministry of Religion.

That saying of Paul, 2 Cor. 3.7. "We have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels, that the excellency of the Power may be of God, may justly give us occasion to consider with admiration", by what Hands and Instruments Christian Religion was carried so far, that in this respect also it may be compared with others. We observe how most Men are so affected, that they easily are drawn after the Examples of Princes and Great Men; and the more, if the Example be strengthned with Law and Force. Hence had the Pagan Religions, hence had the Mahumetan their encrease, as is abundantly shewed by Records of those Times.

But the first Teachers of Christian Religion, were not only without Command (or Authority) but of a very low Condition, Fisher-men, Tent-makers, and the like. And yet by their Labours, the Doctrine within about thirty Years was propagated, not only through all the Parts of the Roman Empire, but even to the Parthians and Indians: Neither at the beginning only, but for three Centuries, by the Hands of private Men, without any Threats, without any temporal Encouragements, and notwithstanding all the opposition of secular Rulers, was this Religion promoted. So that before Constantine gave his Name to Christianity, this was not the lesser part of the Roman World.

Now the Masters of Manners among the Grecians, were commendable for their other Arts, as the Platonists for Geometry, the Perepatricks for Natural History, the Stoicks for Sophistry, the Pythagorians for Musick; not a few of them, as Plato, Xnephon, Theophrastus, were graced with a kind of admirable Eloquence. Their Speech was with great simplicity, and without alluring Ornaments, contemptible naked Precepts, Promises, Threats; which having not of themselves an efficacy equal to such great Progress, we must needs concluded, that either Miracles, or the secret assistance of God, or both, prospered their Work. For the Devil and the Earthly Powers bending continually against them, it can be no other than Almighty God which stood with them; as also is witnessed by the Apostle, 2 Tim. 4.