historicalgeogra00psal

the Author sCoti'verfior?.
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thereby expofe Mankind tt> an invincible Temptation
to believe it. 'Tis true indeed, other Religions
have pretended to Miracles wrought in confirmation
of them •, but befides that they were neither
there was always fome means left for dif-
fo many, nor fo great, as thofe done by Chriftians
^
covering the Impoftor, either by the multitude of
Gods which they worfhipped, contrary to the
Unity of the Godhead, which may be known, as
has been prov'd, by natural Reafon, or by the
filthy and obfcene, the barbarous and cruel Praftices
they enjoyn'd, which are plainly contrary
to the natural notions we have of God, and of
Virtue and Vice ^ and it wasjaft with God to give
them up to ftrong Delufions, that they fhould believe
a Lye, becaufe that when they knew God,
or might have known him by the Works of Creation,
they did not glorijie him as God^ but wor-
Jhipp*d the Creature 7nore than the Creator^ and
allow'd themfelves in fuch unclean and cruel
Rites as are contrary to rhe natural notions of the
divine Purity and Goodnefs ^ and we are certain
that fuch a Religion cannot be from God, tho^
it be coniirm'd by Signs and Wonders, But when
the Chriflian Religion commands the Worfhip
of one God only, and enjoins no Practice but
what is pure, juft, and gentle, (as will appear in
the next Chapter) if God (hould be pleas'd to
permit fuch a Religion to be confirm'd by evil
Spirits doing more and greater Miracles than
ever were wrought for proof of any other Religion
in the World, every one muft think himfelf
oblig'd to belive it to be from God ^ becaufe there
is noway left to difcoverfuch a Religion, having
fjch ftrong Evidence, to be an Impoftor. And
therefore, fince it is inconfiftent with the Goodnefs
of God to ofFef fugh 3 violent Temptation
to