Section 21: The Impediments overcome by Christian Doctrine, shews its Excellency.

Book 1 Section 21 (p.27-28):
The Impediments overcome by Christian Doctrine, shews its Excellency.

Be it further considered, that the first Disciples and Followers of those our Christian Doctors, had not minds unprepossessed of certain former Religions, and so not easie to be framed to the form of the Religion they proposed, but the contrary: and here the pulling down of the old Form according to the Law, might proved more difficult, than setting up the new form of Gospel-Worship. Whereas those that first admitted Mohomets Law, were generally devoid of any Religious Tye; but contrariwise, where our first Preachers came, the People were ordinarily preingaged to Opinions, and (that second nature Custome) repugnant to these new Doctrines; having been bread up, and by the Authority of their Country Laws, and by their Parents confirmed in Pagan Idolatry, or Jewish Ceremonies. To this Obstruction, was added another as great; that is, most grievous Sufferings, which presented themselves to the Professors at the very entrance of Christianity, to be endured, or feared for that Cause. For seeing human Nature is abhorrent from Evils, it follows that the causes of such Evils are not undertaken without much reluctancy; for who that is wise would expose himself, and all his, to inevitable Ruine, but only in a Cause that he is sure will produce thereby an advantage greater than the loss.

The door of preferment was long shut against the Christians, and it's most likely hath been little open at any time to sincere Christians, whilst the way to Exile, or Sequestration lay open. These were lighter Matters; they were also condemned to the Mines, they were afflicted with Torments, the most Cruel that could be invented, and to Death often: So that the Writers of those Times do testifie, by no Famine, by no War, by no Pestilence, was a greater multitude of Men consumed at one time. Neither were the ways of Death vulgar, but Burnings alive, Crosses and Punishments of that sort, which without greatest horror we cannot read, or think upon. And this Cruelty, that continued without any long breathing spaces, (and those Intervals not every where) till about the Raign of Constantine, in the Roman Empire, in other places longer. Yet were these Troubles so far from diminishing the Christians, that on the contrary their Blood was compared to Seed; so fast did they grow up again after the Cutting down.

Here also let us compare with the Christians, other Religions: The Greeks, and other Pagans, accustomed to vaunt and amplifie what was their own; number some few, who for their Doctrine suffered Death, some Gymnosophists, Socrates, and a few more. Neither can it be easily denied, but these most noted Persons were emboldned with a desire of transmitting their fame into Posterity.

But among Christians that suffered Death in the early Times of the Gospel, for their Doctrine, were very many Plebeans, scarce known to their Neighbours, Women, Virgins, Youths, who had no appetite, nor probable hope of a lasting Name; and few of them are by Name recorded in the Martyrologies, in respect of the great number that suffered for the Christian Cause, being only honoured with a general Remembrance.

It is worth observing by the way, that by an easie Simulation, as the casting a little Incense upon the Altar of the Heathen Gods, very many might have escaped Death; which cannot be said of them (for such there were among the Philosophers) who whatsoever thoughts they concealed in their Hearts, certainly their open Actions complied with the vulgar Manners: So that to have died for the Honour of God, is an Honour hardly communicated to any other but Jews and Christians; nor to the Jews at all since the Times of Christ; in former Times but a few of them, if they be compared with Christians. More of whom in some one Province, suffered for the Law of Christ, than ever did of Jews: All whose Patience of that kind, is almost reduced to the time of Manases, and Antiochus.

Wherefore, when the Christian Religion in this part also, so intimately excels all others, it deserveth to be preferr'd before them. From all that so great multitude of every Kind and Sex, divided by so many Places, and who feared not to die for this Religion, but rather after a wonderful manner of Courage, did many times put themselves into the greatest jeopardy on that Account, contemning the face of the Presidents, the Teeth of wild Beasts, Fire, and all Instruments of Torment, as very Straws and Toys, not to be feared or regarded. Upon this account of their love to Christ, we must conclude there was some cause of so great Constancy, and no other cause can be imagined but the Light of Truth, and the Spirit of God.