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    A Seasonable Apology for the Christian Religion
    A Seasonable Apology for the Christian Religion
    A Seasonable Apology for the Christian Religion
    Ebook97 pages49 minutes

    A Seasonable Apology for the Christian Religion

    By Matthew Poole

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    About this ebook

    The Christian religion is justified of her children. This means that it is:

    1. Justified from the censures of its enemies, and
    2. Justified from the infirmities and miscarriages of its friends.

    If a doctor prescribes an excellent remedy, and the patient observes some of the instruction but neglects the others, and the remedy doesnt hold, no blame should rest on the doctor or his practice but the blame should reside entirely with the patient. So, it is also with religion.

    Religion itself remains innocent, and must be considered on its own.

    Learn more of Pooles compelling argument and why he thought it was a timely argument in his day and how it is in ours as well.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisheriUniverse
    Release dateApr 7, 2009
    ISBN9781440134852
    A Seasonable Apology for the Christian Religion
    Author

    Matthew Poole

    Matthew Poole (1624-79), author of the famous Synopsis Criticorum Biblicum, was a seventeenth century ecclesiastical leader, nonconformist, apologist and minister in England. Poole is best remembered for his Synopsis in the scholarly Latin tongue, and his English language Annotations upon the Holy Bible.

    Read more from Matthew Poole

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      Book preview

      A Seasonable Apology for the Christian Religion - Matthew Poole

      A

      Seasonable Apology

      FOR THE

      Christian Religion

      MATTHEW POOLE

      EDITED BY

      THOMAS HARLEY

      iUniverse, Inc.

      New York Bloomington

      A Seasonable Apology for the Christian Religion

      Copyright © 2009 by Thomas Harley

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

      iUniverse books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

      iUniverse

      1663 Liberty Drive

      Bloomington, IN 47403

      www.iuniverse.com

      1-800-Authors (1-800-288-4677)

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      ISBN: 978-1-4401-3484-5 (pbk)

      ISBN: 978-1-4401-3485-2 (ebook)

      iUniverse rev. date: 3/30/2009

      Cover Photo: Thomas Harley

      Edited from Matthew Poole, A Seasonable Apology for Religion, Being the Subject of Two Sermons Lately Delivered in an Auditory in London (London: J.M. for Thomas Parkhurst, 1673).

      Contents

      PREFACE:

      THE AUTHOR’S DEDICATION

      CHAPTER ONE:

      WISDOM IS JUSTIFIED OF HER CHILDREN

      SECTION ONE:

      THE SPEECH AGAINST RELIGION

      CHAPTER TWO:

      A DEFENSE OF RELIGION AGAINST THE SCOFFERS

      CHAPTER THREE:

      THE TRUTH OF IT

      CHAPTER FOUR:

      THE GROUNDS AND REASONS FOR IT

      CHAPTER FIVE:

      A PROPER TREATMENT OF RELIGION

      CHAPTER SIX:

      APPLICATION OF IT FOR OUR OWN PRACTICE

      SECTION TWO:

      THE JUSTIFICATION OF RELIGION

      CHAPTER SEVEN:

      WE SHOULD JUSTIIFY RELIGION

      CHAPTER EIGHT:

      WHY WE SHOULD JUSTIFY RELIGION

      CHAPTER NINE:

      HOW WE SHOULD JUSTIFY RELIGION

      CHAPTER TEN:

      APPLICATION ON THE JUSTIFICATION OF RELIGION

      (PART ONE)

      CHAPTER ELEVEN:

      APPLICATION ON THE JUSTIFICATION OF RELIGION

      (PART TWO)

      A NOTE ON THE EDITING PROCESS

      PREFACE:

      THOMAS HARLEY

      Matthew Poole, the seventeenth century author of the famous Synopsis Criticorum Biblicum, was also a minister and a shepherd to the people in England. His was a heart that yearned for renewal and revival for his country and for the Christian church. He was heartbroken by the trends against religion and faith that he observed in his own day. He saw it as a destructive force – not only for the present life, but also that to come.

      It is this humbled and passionate man that is behind the current discourse. His purpose was to provide a reasoned argument in favor of the Christian religion, for he saw it as the one hope for this life and for the next.

      He believed there were two primary opponents to the justification of the Christian religion; namely, the censures of those who scoff at it and the reproaches of those who profess the faith (the pretenders to the faith, as he calls them). It is these two subjects that guide his argument throughout, and to which he continuously returns. His hope and aim is such that, as religion is justified, the reader will review the Christian faith for what it is in itself, and not on the basis of these great distortions and misrepresentations.

      A message such as Poole’s is highly applicable to our own modern day, even though more than three centuries have passed since its publication.

      We review the destruction and despair that surrounds us. Terrorism strikes fear and concern within us. The global economy is in a spiral. People are losing their homes, their retirements, their jobs, and subsequently also their hope. Some are even ending their lives. Many are in despair over broken and strained relationships with their children and spouses. Loneliness is a common theme. I could continue to detail the serious challenges facing our modern society, but it would be repetitious for any reader who is astute in the affairs of our world.

      Yet, during this time, are we turning back to God and our one hope? Or, are we too sophisticated because of the numerous arguments against, or too slighted because of the hypocrites that we find in the church? Poole would advocate that you give the Christian message its fair due, and hear it clearly.

      The globe on the cover of this work is a vivid illustration of the brokenness of the present world.¹ Since I first noticed it amid the destruction left by terrorism (on children, no less), I recognized its importance as a portrait of what the Christian message offers. It offers a world restored. It offers redemption and healing. It offers hope and faith even when all manner of men oppose us. It offers a sure and lasting future. It inclines one to say, Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why are you so disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I will still praise him, the help of my countenance and my God.²

      The lifetimes of David, the Psalmist, and of Matthew Poole both had their similar challenges. They knew times of war, enemies, hunger, and broken relationships, among other things. Yet, they allowed the Christian faith to guide them, and it was there they found the sweet flavor of hope and faith in Christ. My earnest desire is such that, as this message of Poole becomes available once more to the modern reader – Poole’s passion becomes a beacon and a persuasion to us to seek Christ fervently in our own age, and to set about the great task of justifying religion.

      It was a message for his time, and also for our own.

      THE AUTHOR’S DEDICATION

      This work is dedicated to the right, honorable and truly religious Lady Laetitia, the Countess of Donegal, &c.³

      Dear Madam,

      At the time I agreed to the requests of some men to publish this present discourse, I did not delay long in making a decision as to the dedication. I quickly remembered my obligation to you. My only delay was in thinking you might find it presumptuous of me to believe that such an obligation could be fulfilled by such a small endeavor as this. I wish you to consider, Madam, that even a larger work such as that which I am currently undertaking would be insufficient fulfillment of my duty or of your merit.⁴

      Besides, I also granted the nature of true goodness and generosity, which reviews not just the nature of the gift, but also the sincerity of the giver.

      Madam, though the work is small and my participation in it adds no greatness to it and requires pardon from the critical reader; even though, the subject is great – it being about true religion. This religion has the great God, the great Savior and Lord Jesus Christ for its object, great promises for its encouragement, and great salvation for its reward.

      What Galen said of Physics is even truer of religion.⁵ There is nothing small and trivial in it.

      Religion

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