SERM.
III.

Now there are Four Things, that chiefly conduce towards the spreading of any New Doctrine, and moft remarkably make way for its reception in the World. Wh

As, ft, If the Principles of it be fuited to the Lufts, the Interefts, and Wishes of Those, among whom it is to be progated.

2dly, If it be fupported and countenan→ ced by Perfons in Power and Authority, of great Name and Note; if it be either forcibly obtruded upon Men by Sanguinary Laws and Edicts, or more indirectly advanc'd by Art, and Management, and the Methods of worldly Prudence.

3dly, If it be first brought into the World in dark and barbarous Ages, when Men are either too Rude and Illiterate, to be Able to weigh, and difpute the Truth of it, or too much funk in Sloth and Vice, to be Willing to do it. Or,

4thly, If it be not proposed to Men, all at once, but be infinuated into them by Degrees; Secretly, and Infenfibly.

1. As to the First of thefe, it is certain, that nothing recommends a new Doctrine fo much, or goes fo far towards promoting an Univerfal Reception of it, as its falling in with the corrupt Defires and Inclinations, the Paffions and Prejudices of Men. For Men are, without difficulty, brought to believe an Opinion true, which they wish true beforehand. And This was the Way in which that cunning Impoftor, Mahomet, fet up for a new Prophet. He made his Doctrine as relishing and palatable as he could; contriv'd it, on purpofe, fo as that it might gratify Mens Lufts and Appetites; and, especially, that it might comply with the loose and wanton Manners of the East, where he erected his Standarded on

And thus alfo, ever fince, hath Libertinifm of all kinds promoted its Intereft, and increas'd its Party. Falfe and foolish Opinions have gotten footing, and thriven, in prejudice to true Religion, and found Morality; because there was fomething them, which flatter'd either our Va

SERM

III.

III.

SERM. nity, our Luft, or our Pride, and fell in with a darling Inclination. And to this fingle Art Mr. Hobbs ow'd all his Repu tation, and his Followers: it was not his Philofophy, and his boafted Reason, that drew men in; but the skill he had in fitting his Principles to men's Conftitutions, and Tempers: He knew what would take, and be lik'd; and he knew how to express it after a taking manner; and no wonder then, if it were greedily entertain'd. To talk against receiv'd Opinions, and in behalf of fome belov'd Vices, and Frailties; to dress up his Difcourfe in all the natural Beauties of Language, and to give it befide the Air (and he gave it nothing but the Air) of Demonftration; This, he faw, would be a fure way of engaging the Men of Wit and Pleasure on his fide; and This, therefore, he follow'd, with application and fuccefs; like Luke xvi. one of the Children of This World, who are, in their Generation, wiser than the Children of Light.

8.

But Christianity, when it set out, took none of these methods of recommending it felf, and enlarging its Inte

terefts:

refts: on the contrary, it propos'd plain, naked Truths, without Colours, and Difguises, or any regard to what was Agreeable and Pleafing. It held forth high and unconceivable Myfteries, which the Pride of Man would make him apt to fufpect, because he could not pefectly comprehend; and it preach'd up harsh and ungrateful Doctrines, which did violence to Mens Natures, and which it was death to them to think of entertaining. And yet, I fay, under this great Difadvantage it made its way, and profper'd But,

2dly, It is another great Advantage to a rifing Opinion, if it be efpous'd by Men of Authority, Repute, and Parts; who may either force its way into the World by dint of Power, or bring it about by arts of Management, and Contrivance. In this manner the Prophet of the Eaft hew'd out his way by the power of the Sword; took advantage from the divifions and weakness of Christendom, to arm a Savage Multitude, and make large inroads upon it; and, having, first, VOL. I.

H

brought

SERM brought into fubjection the Bodies of Men, had no hard Task, afterwards, to enflave their Souls.

In like manner the Papal Ufurpations often prevail'd; the Bishops of Rome got Zealous Princes into their Intereft, and made them blindly obedient to the Holy See; and then, by Their help, impos'd their own Decrees upon whole unwilling Provinces and Kingdoms. And, as fome of their Encroachments thus got footing, fo many others, we know, were brought in, at first, and have been fupported ever fince, by the highest and most refined Arts of Policy. That See hath never wanted, from the very moment fince it first fet up its Pretences, a number of skilful Managers, who have continually pleaded its Caufe, and carried on its Interefts, with all the Dexterity and Addrefs, with all the Industry and Zeal, of which Human Wit is capable: It hath ever had the warmeft, and ableft, (I had almost faid the wifeft) Heads employed in its defence; and hath taken care to make fure of them, by Bountiful Rewards, dealt out in proportion to their

Services;