OR AN EXACT PARALLEL BETWEEN ROME-PAGAN AND ROME-CHRISTIAN, IN THEIR DOCTRINES AND CEREMONIES. BY JOSHUA STOPFORD, B. D. RECTOR OF ALL SAINTS, IN THE CITY OF YORK. 1675. LEARN NOT THE WAY OF THE HEATHEN. Jer. x. 2. LONDON: REPRINTED FOR J. HATCHARD AND SON, 187, PICCADILLY. 1844. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE RICHARD MEDCALFE, LORD MAYOR, THE WORSHIPFUL THE ALDERMEN, THE SHERIFFS, AND COMMONS, OF THE ANCIENT AND FAITHFUL CITY OF YORK. THAT religion hath a superlative excellency, is confessed more than once by the wisest of kings. -Prov. iii. l5; iv. 7, &c. And would men of the meanest parts, and slowest conceptions, desist a little from the laborious pursuit of their sinful pleasures, and give their faculties some intermission, so much breath from that hot chase, as may qualify them for a calm, considerate view of things; it is certain they would discern that virtue has a much more ravishing appearance, infinitely more delectable and enamouring than all the devil's optics could put upon their most gustful sensualities. The great advantages that come to mankind by religion and virtue, both to humane societies and particular persons, bespeak the transcendent excellencies of it. I. Religion brings great advantages to human societies, cities, countries, and kingdoms. I know some great ones of the world have been jealous of the kingdom of Christ, as Herod was troubled when he first heard of his birth: yet others, who have followed the dictates of natural reason only, and been superstitiously overawed by a deity, have looked upon it as a necessary basis to found government upon, without which it can no more subsist than a castle in the air. I will mention two great advantages that will come to human societies by religion, and wherein their happiness doth consist, viz. peace and plenty. Where these two are enjoyed a people cannot be miserable, and where either of them is wanting they cannot be happy. 1. Religion brings the blessing of peace along with it; and this is no mean blessing. Outward peace is the chiefest of outward blessings; it gives sweetness and beauty to all other blessings. "The very name of peace is sweet," saith the philosopher. The psalmist pronounceth that people happy who have it. Psalm cxliv. 15. 66 Happy is the people that is in such a case." Now this great blessing is the product of religion and this it effecteth two ways. 1st. By removing the causes of quarrels and contentions. |