Previous  - next

And though amongst the
antient Romans, men were not forbidden to deny, that which in the
Poets is written of the paines, and pleasures after this life;
which divers of great authority, and gravity in that state have
in their Harangues openly derided; yet that beliefe was alwaies
more cherished, than the contrary.

And by these, and such other Institutions, they obtayned in order
to their end, (which was the peace of the Commonwealth,) that the
common people in their misfortunes, laying the fault on neglect,
or errour in their Ceremonies, or on their own disobedience to
the lawes, were the lesse apt to mutiny against their Governors.
And being entertained with the pomp, and pastime of Festivalls,
and publike Gomes, made in honour of the Gods, needed nothing else
but bread, to keep them from discontent, murmuring, and commotion
against the State. And therefore the Romans, that had conquered
the greatest part of the then known World, made no scruple of
tollerating any Religion whatsoever in the City of Rome it selfe;
unlesse it had somthing in it, that could not consist with their
Civill Government; nor do we read, that any Religion was there forbidden,
but that of the Jewes; who (being the peculiar Kingdome of God)
thought it unlawfull to acknowledge subjection to any mortall King
or State whatsoever. And thus you see how the Religion of the
Gentiles was a part of their Policy.

The True Religion, And The Lawes Of Gods Kingdome The Same
But where God himselfe, by supernaturall Revelation, planted Religion;
there he also made to himselfe a peculiar Kingdome; and gave Lawes,
not only of behaviour towards himselfe; but also towards one another;
and thereby in the Kingdome of God, the Policy, and lawes Civill,
are a part of Religion; and therefore the distinction of Temporall,
and Spirituall Domination, hath there no place. It is true,
that God is King of all the Earth: Yet may he be King of a peculiar,
and chosen Nation. For there is no more incongruity therein,
than that he that hath the generall command of the whole Army,
should have withall a peculiar Regiment, or Company of his own.
God is King of all the Earth by his Power: but of his chosen people,
he is King by Covenant. But to speake more largly of the Kingdome
of God, both by Nature, and Covenant, I have in the following
discourse assigned an other place.

Chap 35 The Causes Of Change In Religion
From the propagation of Religion, it is not hard to understand
the causes of the resolution of the same into its first seeds,
or principles; which are only an opinion of a Deity, and Powers
invisible, and supernaturall; that can never be so abolished
out of humane nature, but that new Religions may againe be made
to spring out of them, by the culture of such men, as for such
purpose are in reputation.

For seeing all formed Religion, is founded at first, upon the faith
which a multitude hath in some one person, whom they believe not only
to be a wise man, and to labour to procure their happiness,

Previous  - next