mmmmmim tihrc^vy of trhc Cheolo^tcal ^tminary PRINCETON • NEW JERSEY Green Fund ^S--647- .A2 k€^r^tfB^-f^ Apthorp, East, 1733-1816. Discourses on prophecy =ii-H3-75e> DISCOURSES O N PROPHECY READ IN THE CHAPEL OF L I N C O L N 's - I N N, AT THE E U R FOUNDED BY THE RIGHT REVEREND WILLIAM WARBURTON, LATE LORD BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER. By EAST APTHORP, D.D. RECTOR OF ST. MARY LE BOW. VOL. II. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. F. AND C. RIVINGTON, ' NO.62, ST. Paul's church yard. MDCCLXXXVI. C ONTENTS O F T H E SECOND VOLUME. DISCOURSE VII. PROPHECIES OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST. Isaiah liii. Page NALYSIS of the Book of Ifaiah A chh. XL — Lxvi. 3 llluftration of the three lafl Verfes of the LI id Chapter 6 I. llluftration of Ch. liii./. i 9 of /. 2 XI — of;^. 3 14 of /. 4 15 of;^. 5 19 ■ ^of/. 6 26 ■ — o£^.j 27 ■ — of f, 8 30 of/. 9 31 1 of/. 10 33 ' of/. II 36 ■ ' ' ■ ■ of /. 1 2 _ 40 a 2 II. De- iv CONTENTS. Page II. Demonftrationof the truth of Chrif- tianity from this Prophecy 45 III.Demonftration of Christ's satisfac- tion from this Prophecy 4G Proofs and lUuftrations, with Extra8s from Grotius de SatisfaClione Chrifti 57 DISCOl/RSE VIII. PROPHECIES OF THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. Psalm II. Page Evolution of the Double Senfeof thisPfalm, 80 as refulting from the Jewilh Theocracy 88 Firfl Proof of Christ's Divine Kingdom, drawn from the persecutions of his Church 99 The Guilt and Danger of Oppofition to Chridianity 109- Proofs and Ilhiftrations 114 DISCOURSE IX. PROPHECIES OF THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. PsALM II. Page Extent of Empire, andUniverfality of Reli- gion, both contrary to the Jewifh con- (litution 129. But CONTENTS. V Page But both predifted of the Chriftian Religion, and verified in the conversioin of the World I33 Origin and Pro^refs of Chrirtianity ibid. The Apoftolic Churches 135 Pfalm Lxxii illullrated 137—141 The Age of Condantine 14^ The Converfion of the Barbarians 147 Predictions of the Ancient Prophets, of Jesus Christ, and of St. John, ac- complifhed, and accomplifhing 153 Appendix. An abridged View of the diftintl National Converfions in their Geographical Order, from Fabricius, - Lux Sakuaris Evangelii, Sec. 162—184 DISCOURSE X. CHARACTERS OF ANTICHRIST. Isaiah lvh. Page Scope of this Part of Ifaiah's Prophecies 185 The difmeiTibering of the Roman Empire 187 Caufes of the Corruption of Chriftianity, 1. TheTemporalSplendourof theChurch 189 2. The decline of Learning igo Origin and Progrefs of the Papal Supremacy 193 Its ExcelTes inftanced ia Gregory VII. I99 Innocent IIL ^^3 Charac- ^ CONTENTS. Page CharaBers of Antichrift : 1. Infolence of Power 209 2. Idolatry 210 3. Perfecution 211 4. The Papal Supremacy 212 5. Mercenary Superftition 2.14 6. The DoBrine of Merit 215 7. Military and Ecclefiaftical Fraternities 216 Oppofite Charaaers of the Reformation 2 1 8 founded in the Renunciation of Merit 219 and of Venal Superftition 220 ItsGenuineEffeas,Virute,LibertyandPeace222 Illustrations, containing Proofs of the Papal Tyranny, and Superftition 224 DISCOURSE XL THE MYSTIC TYRE. EzEKlEL xxviir. Page Ideaof the MyfticAllegory,from Maimonides 240 Hiftoric completion of EzekieKs Prophecy 243 Myftic import of the Tyrian Commerce 245 Farther llluftration of the Myftic Allegory 254 Inftanced in the Deification of the Pope's Ferfoa 257 EzekiePs CONTENTS. vu EzekieFs Prophecy explained and applied 259 The Ruin of the Myftic Tyre 267 probably by Earthquakes, Submerlion, Volcanoes and fubterraneous Fires 271 Scope of thefe Prediftions. 277 Illustrations of the Text of Ezekiel, of the Myftic Import, and of the pro- bable Event with refpe6l to Rome and the Ecclefiaftical State 279 — 296 DISCOURSE XIL ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE REFORMATION. Revelation x. 7. Pajge Canonical Authority, Scope, and SubjeQ of the Revelation of St. John 297 Illuftration of the Tenth Chapter 391 The Chriftian Religion is progreflive 308 It is the Duty of the Proteftant Churches and of Private Chriftians to advance its Progreflion. 3^^ Error of the Chiliafts 3^^ True Idea of the Felicity of the Church of Chrift, as confifting in Holinefs and Peace, ^^^ -. Favour- o VIU CONTENTS Page Favourable circumftances, I. The Decline of Popery 315 II. The Civil State of the World 321 Means of Progrefiion inReligion and Felicity : I. The civilizationof Barbarous Nations 322 II. The emendation of the Proteftant Churches 330 Specified in refpe8;to the feveral Cor-- ruptions in Manners and Principles foretold by Ifaiah and St. John. lll.Converfion of Heathens, Jews, and Mohammedans 33^ General Uiiitty and happy EfFe6ts of Chriftianity 3^2 Recapitulation q^a Illustrations^ on the Improvement of Society, and the Advap.cement of Learning 3^^ Tables of Chronology adapted to the PropheticiFLraoftheNewTeltament 375—382 DISC- DISCOURSE VII. PROPHECIES OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST. Isaiah LIII. I. Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2, For he jhall grow up before him as ^ tender plants And as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comelinefs : And when we f mil fee him^ there Is 7io beauty that we JIdould defre hifu. 3 . He is defpifed ajid 7rjeBed of men^ A man of for rows & acquaint edwith grief And we hid as it were our faces fro7n him : He was defpifed^ and we efeemed him not, 4^ Surely he hath borne our griefs y And carried our for rows : JTet we did ejleem him Jlricken^ Smitten of God^ a?id affii^ed. A 5. But 2 DISCOURSE VII. 5. But he was wounded for our trajifgrejjions^ He was bruifedfor cur iniquities : Tie chajiifement of our peace was upon him ; And with hisjtripes we are healed, 6. All we like JJjeep have gone ajlray ; We have turned every o?ie to his own way z A?id the Lor d hath laid on him The iniquity of us all. ' 7. He was opprejfed, and he was affliSiedy Tet he opejied not his mouth : He is brought as a lamb to theflaughter^ And as ajljeep before herfioearers is dumb. So he openeth 7iot his mouth. i,He was taken from prifon and from judgment : And who Jhall declare his gejieration ? For he was cut off out of the land of the living : For the tranfgrefjion of my people was he fricken, 9. A?id he made his grave with the wicked ^ And with the rich in his death 3 Becaufe he had do7ie no violence^ Neither was there any deceit in his mouth, 10. Yet it pleafed the Lord to bruife him^ He hath put him to grief I When DISCOURSE VII, J When thou /halt make his foul an offering for Jin ^ Ilefhallfee hi s feed Joe foall prolong his days^ And the pleafure of the IuOKD fhall profper in his hajtd, ii.Hefdallfee of the travail of his foul y and fhall he fatisfied : By his knowledge foall my righteous fer^ vant jufify majiy ; For he fhall bear their iniquities, 12. T'herefore will I divide him a portion with the great y And he fhall divide the fpoil with the flrong : Becaufe he hath poured out his Soul wito death : And he was numbered with the tranf- greffors ; And he bare the fin of many ^ And made intercefjionfor the tra^jf greffors. TH E laft great divifion of the Book of Ifaiah begins at the XLixth Chapter, and confifts of Five Difcourfes, including a methodical detail of the fortunes of the Chriftian Church. A 2 The ^ DISCOURSE VII. The fabjea: of the Firft of thefe Divine Difcoveries, is the Converfion of the Gentile Church. Chh.XLix^L.i — 3. The Second, in Chh.L.4. — li-i6. re- fpefts the different conduft of the Jewifh people in rejeding or receiving the Meffiah, the abolition of the Jevvifli oeconomy, and the viflory of Chrift over the enemies of his Church. The Third Difcourfe, Chh.Li.17. — lx. includes a vaft compafs of great events : §. I. The affli6led ftate of the Church be- fore the coming of Chrift, the happy change induced by his Advent, and the Kingdom of Chrift founded on his Paffion ': §.2. which is defcribed in all its circumftances, caufes, and effefts ': §.3. The vaft enlargement of his Church by the acceffion of the Gentiles '.. §. 4. An admonition to the Jewifli Nation to accept the Gofpel by Faith and Repent- ance, and a declaration of the defign of im- parting it to the Gentiles ^ §.5. Admonir. tion to prefcrve the Purity of the Gofpel, ' Chh. li. Hi. ^ lili. » llr, * W, whofe DISCOURSE VII. 5 whofe privileges are univerfal, without exclufion of any Nation or Perfon \ §.6. The Corruption of the Church by ANTi-CHRisTj and the origin and purity of the Reformation ^. §.7. The Corruptions of the Reformed Church in morals and PRINCIPLES, and the Calamities confequent on thofe corruptions \ §.8. The inter- pofition of the Son of God in behalf of his Church, labouring under inteftine dif- orders and external hoftilities ^ §.9. The glorious event of that interpolition, in the future purity peace and univerfality of the Chriftian Church % In the Fourth Difcourfe, Chh. lxi. lxii. the Prophet illuftrates the foregoing topics, through the feveral periods of the Church. In the Fifth Difcourfe5Chh.LXiii — lxvi. he induces the Son of God in his celeftial panoply, as the Deliverer of his Church from Edom or Antichrift ' : The contrition of the Jews for their rejeflion 5 Chh. Ivi. ^ hi. 9. — Ivii. ^ Ivili. Tix. 15, * rix. 15—21. 9 Ix. A 2 »^ ixiii. of 6 DISCOURSE VII. of the Meffiah'°: a Vindication of the conduct of Divine Providence, and its merciful intentions towards that Nation '': and the whole Prophecy ends magnifi- cently, in declaring the interior excellencies of that pure Chriftianity, which is alone acceptable to God ; his difregard of mere externals ; the amplitude, the glory, and eternal Sanctions of the Gofpel '\ The Three laft verfes of the Liid Chapter briefly propofe the fame argument, which is amply difplayed in the whole of the Liiid. It declares both the dignity and extreme humiliation of the Saviour, the efficacy of his Sacrifice, and the prevalence of his Religion. 13. Behold my fervant JJmU deal priidaitly^ He JJdcM be exalted and extolled, and be very high, l\. As many were afionijljed at thee ; (His vijage was fo marred more than any 7nan, And his form more than the fons of^nen ;) '^ Chh. Ixiv. " Ixv. '^ Ixvi. 15. *S'^ DISCOURSE VII. 7 15. So jhall he fprinkle many 7iatio?2s : T'he kings JJd all Jhiit their months at him : For that which had not been told them they fiall fee y And that which they had not heard JJjall they confider. Our admiration is excited, by the dig- nity and excellencies of this Servant of God, by his extreme humiliation, by the efficacy of his Redemption, and by the complete eftablifhment of his Religion. Behold my Servant Jhall deal prudently. The perfonal charafter, my servant, runs through the whole prediftion, and is the true key to it. The Jewifli paraphraft, nearly contemporary with Chrift himfelf, rightly interprets it, My Servant the MESSIAH. He fhall deal prudently ^ and difplay t!ie Divine Wifdom in the whole procefs of Redemption. He fhall be exalt- ed, by rifing from death ; extolled^ in his coming to judgment ; and high in the con- verfion and fovranty of the world. The Jews sNtxtaJlojiiJljeddX the ftumbling- block of his Crofs \ yet his blood fliall A 4 fprinkle 8 DISCOURSE VII. fprinkle and expiate the Nations : the Gentile kings fhall revoke their perfecuting edi6.s ; they fliall learn a doftrine before unknown, and with their people become the willing Subjects of a crucified Redeemer. The Jews, difappointed in their expedla- tions of a Temporal Saviour, have long fince attempted to explain t\it perfojial cha- rafters of this prophecy in a national ienfe, as refpefting the Jewilli people at large, or the pious and faithful part of them, whe- ther ir. their fornier captivity or their pre- fent difperfion. We fliail occafionally fh-:w the abfurdity of this nftion as we pro- ceed in our commentary on this noble inftance of a literal prophecy, which ad- mits of but one apphcation or completion. For that any other perfon was the fubjeft of it, as Cyrus, or Jofiah, or Jeremiah, is hardly fo probable, as to divide our atten- tion ; which will be decided, as to the true import of the CHARACTER and doctrine of this Prophecy, by the authority of the New Teftament. Ch. DISCOURSE VIL 9 Ch. Liii begins with an exclamation of theApoftles and Evangelifts, complaining of the infidelity of the Jewifli people : of the ineflicacy of Chrift's perfonal miniftry, and that of his Apofties, to convert that nation, efpecially the more eminent and powerful part of them : >^.i; Who hath believed our Repo?^t? And to who?n hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed'? By the Report of his Evangelifts we may tmderftand the Prophet to intend the Doc- trine of Chrift, and by the Arm of the Lord his Miracles : agreeable to the tefti- mony of St. Paul, But they have not all obeyed the gofpel-, for Efaias faithy Lordy luho hath believed our report ? and of St. John, But though he had done fo many miracles before them^ yet they believed not on him. And this Evangelift afiigns the Caufes of their unbelief, in a paffage too memorable to be omitted in this place. T^hat the faying of Efaias the prophet might be fulfilled which he fpake : Lordy who hath believed our report ? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore^ 10 DISCOURSE vri. V^herefore, they could not belt eve ^ becaufe that 'Efaias faid again^ He hath bli?2ded their eyes, and hardened their hearts -y that they JJooidd not fee with their eyes^ 7ior underjiayid with their hearty and be convei'ted^ and I Jhould heal them. Thefe things f aid Efaias when he faw ^is> glory aitd fpake qfniM'K One prin- cipal caufe of the incredulity of the Jews, was that Inattention to the prophetic cha- rafters and defcriptions of Christ, which induced both a moral Jlupor and judicial blindnefsy which are the juft gradations of Unbelief. To thefe the Evangelift adds another caufe, the diflembling and fuppref- fing their conviftion and belief, through worldly and interefted motives. Never- thelefs among the chief rulers alfoy majiy believed on him \ but becaufe of the Pha- rifees they did not cOx^JFESs him^ left they fhoiild be put out of the fynagogue : for they loved the praife of men^ more than the praife cf God, Such are the general caufes of infidelity, which in the higher ranks of Society fprings from that inconfideratenefs which is the efFeft of Luxury and Ambi- **3 Rom. X. 16. Johnxii. 37 — 43, tion^ DISCOURSE VII. II tion, and is fupported by a modiili Philo- fophy, emulous of diftinftlon In polite and fafliionable circles. All this illufion, for fuch it is, would vanirn as a dream before the laftre of the Prophetic Evidence : and the Prophecy now before us is fo himlnous, as to have difpelied this intellectual blind- nefs in very many initances. f. 2. A principal caufe of the incredulity of the Tevvs was the humble and fufferins: {late of the Meiliali. For he fl:aU g?^ow up before him as a tender plajit^ And as a root out of a dry ground : moll elegantly expreffive of the humble birth of our Lord, defcended Indeed from the ancient root and royal flock of David, but obfcured by ufurpation, and excluded from worldly dignity. The Sacred Virgin had no other dowry than her fandlity of manners, her Faith and acquiefcence : and flie expreffed the depreffion of her fortune not of her mind, (for llie was too hum.ble to fpeak of her humility) when flie faid, He hath regarded the low estate of his hand^ j2 DISCOURSE VIL hand-maiden. Yet, notwithftanding this depreflion in his external circumftances and appearance in the world. He grew up before God, under the immediate protec- tion and favour of Divine Providence. He hath Jioform nor comelinefs^ And when we Jhall fee him^ there is ne beauty that we fiould defire him: The tranfition from the birth and youth of Chrift, to his manly age and public charafter, refutes the vain expeftation which the Jev^s had formed, that the Meffiah would appear in the flyle of a King and a Conqueror : that his firft enterprizes \vould be to vindicate their nation from the Herodian tyranny, and to afiert their liberty from the Roman yoke ; that thus he would reftore the kingdom to Ifrael^ and that his victories would terminate in an univerfal Empire. Heroes, fuch as the ancient world admired, appeared with elevation and majejfty : a Roman triumph was the moll faftuous exhibition of human glory. Chrift was infinitely above all this parade of magnificence, pride, and conquefl. He appeared familiarly among his people, with- DISCOURSE VIL 13 without any external luftre, a plain poor man, exercifed in a laborious mechanic art, and as humble in his manners as in his condition. He came in all the fim- plicity of a teacher of righteoufnefs, with a mild and modeft afpe6l, full of compaf- fion, kindnefs, and philanthropy. The words before us, he hath no form ?ior comeli- 7iefs, — no beauty that wcJJjoidd defire hifu^ do not intimate any ungracefulnefs in the ex- teriour or perfon of Chrift, which was gracious and engaging, and I doubt not, as perfeft as that of the Firft Adam in Para- dife : and as a public Speaker he was adorned with the moft powerful and per- fuafive Eloquence. But the Prophecy refers to his being deftitute of external, pomp and attendance, without any great or powerful men to make a party for him, without any arrogant pretenfions of his own, and under obvious difad vantages from the place of his education and from his employment. We have proofs of this prejudice againft him, in the Gofpels : Whence hath this man this wisdom, andthefe MIGHTY WORKS i their malignity gave the moll 14 DISCOURSE VII. moft certain teftimony of both, while they detracted from the merit of the Great Teacher i Is not this the Carpe?tters (on? Is not this the Carpenter^ the Jon of Mary^ the brother of "James and Jofes^ ajtd of Juda a7id Simon ? And are ?20t his fifters here with iis : And they nsjere of ended at him ''■. And fo would many of us be, if he appeared among us in the fame lowly ftate, with the fame connexions : we fliould not confider him as a man of confequence and figure enough, to engage our attention. But this was but part of the reafons, why this Great Prophet was without honour in his own country. The ftumbling-block of the Jews was the Crofs of Chrift. j^, 3. He is defpifed and rejected of men ^ A man offorrowSy and acquainted with grief A man of forrowsl — how memorably verified in many incidents of his lite ! above all, in the painful fufferings that clofed it! We hid as it were our faces from him: He was defpifed^ Ciii'dwe efleemed him not, '♦ Matth. xiii. 54, 55. Mark vi. 4. Even DISCOURSE VII. ,^ Even his bofom friends, his beloved dif- ciples, all forfook him and fled ; while the furious multitude uttered their impious indignities. This awful event is fo de- fcribed in all its circumflances in this and other prophecies, as to give the cleareft Demonftration of the determinate counfel and foreknowledge of God^ and of the great end and purpofe, for which he was deli- vered and take?2y and by wicked hands was CRUCIFIED a7tdfain^\ The illuftration of thefe topics will tend to fhew the exaft completion of this memorable prophecy; and to eflablifh our Faith in the Crofs of Chrifl, and our Love to him who Loved us and gave Himfelffor iis. j^. 4. Surely he hath bo?'ne our griefs^ A?td carried our for rows . The true reafon of his fufrerings is given in the firft part of this verfe; in oppofition to the falfe and miftaken opinion of the pious Jews before their converfion, Tet we did efleemhim ftrickeny Smitten of God and afliBed. *^ Ads ii, 23. He l6 DISCOURSE VII. He hath borne — he, the illuttnous per/on here fpoken of : not the nation or people at large, who in profopopoeia is generally defcribed as a female charadler, The daughter of Sion, the folitary City, In all that plaintive elegance which pervades the fineft of Elegies, Jeremiah's Lamentations. The true rationale of Chrift's fufterings is here exprefled : Surely, is expreflive of the certainty of fo important a propofition : He hath borjie our griefs. The Servant of * God, holy and harmlefs, pure from fraud or crime, in all that ignominy, and forrow, and pain, in all his bitter paffion, patiently faftained a vicarious punifhment, for the Sins of all Mankind : willingly fubftitut- ing Himfelf inftead of Sinners, to bear their iniquities, and fuftain the punifhment due to each and all of them. When God determined to fave reformed finners, it was not agreeable to the eternal laws of his moral government, to fave them without a fatisfaftion to his Juftice. Such a Satis* faftion v^as indifpenfably neceflary. Other- wife, the menaces of God againft Sin would be of no avail, if he fhould wave his own pro- DISCOURSE VIL 17 prohibition; and it would render our Difobedience an indifferent thing, and even a fubjedl of Approbation and reward, if he fhould Save us in our own demerits. To avoid fo impious and abfurd a confe- quence, we muft difcern, that there is no other way to make our pardon reconcile- able with the Divine Reftitude, than by an infinite Satisfadlion. He therefore gave his Son, as a Mediator and a Sponfor, to afllime the human nature; and in that nature to fuftain the dire effefts of our apoftacy ; anguifh and agony of mind and body ; pain and infamy and death ; that by a juft and rigid fatisfaftion, giving his own ineftimable life for the forfeited lives of all the world, he might obtain eternal Re- demption for all who Believe and Obey him. This is the Dodlrine, which refults from this Prophecy, and from many other pafTages of Scripture, We pray you in Chriji's Jlead^ Be ye reconciled to God : for he hath made him to be fin, or, a fm-offering, for uSy who knew nofn, that we 7night be made the righteoufnef of God in him ^ ' . ** 2 Cor. V. 20, 21% B He l8 DISCOURSE VII. He bore ^* our griefs, he carried *^ our forrows. He not only took them away, but took them on himfelf, a burden mfi- nitely heavier than his crofs. St. Matthew applies this paffage to Chrift's healing the fick '^. He caji out the fpirits with his word ^ and healed all that were fxk : that it might be fulfilled which was fpoken by Efaias the prophet yfayingy Himfelf took our infirmities^ and bare our fickneffes^ Which is only an elegant accommodation of the prophetic words, to the events then prefent ; intimating that the fatigue, which Chrift fuftained in healing the fick and calling out evil fpirits, was a fit emblem of his pain and paffion in healing our fpiritual difeafes., Tct we did efieem him firicken^ fiyiitten of God^ and affiicled. The Jews in their un- belief, who beheld him, condemned by Pilate as a rebel to Cefar, by the High- Prieft and Council as a deceiver and im- poftor, confidered him as a ftate-criminal, " ^^"^ *^ b:iD **viu. i6, 17. like DISCOURSE Vli. 19 like a leper ^^ fecluded from fociety, and cut ofr by a judicial fentence. As the Pfalmift foretold, T^hey per fe cute hwi^ whom ^hou hajl fmitten *^. But the Prophet clears their unjuft afperfion, by affigning a circumftantial fpecification of the True Caufe of Chrift's fufferings : ^.5. But he was wounded for our tranf- greJJionSy He was bruifedfor our i?22quities : The chajiifement of our peace was upon Him-y And with Hisjlripes we are healed, Chrift is reprefented to us as on his Crofs. He was wounded^ or pierced ^^ with the nails and fpear, as it was foretold by the Pfalmift"': They pierced ^^ my hands and my feet. The twenty- fecond Pfalm is an hyperbolic exaggeration of grief, if applied to any other fubjeft : but agrees in all its emphafis to the paflion of Chrift, who decided its prophetic fenfe, by repeating, probably, the whole Pfalm on the Crofs, as the confolation of his fuffer- ings, in their end and purpofe expreffed by ^5 yi^y^ -^ ixlx. 26. -7 ^^nt: ** xxli, 16. *p I'lKD Bochart. hicroz. I, iii. 6. B 2 the 20 DISCOURSE VIL the tranfition to the glories of his khigdom. It is a defcription of a Roman puniflimcnt, inflifted by Roman foldiers, who did not vmderftand even the language of the pro- phecy. All the ufages, at our Saviour's trial and pafTion were fo completely Roman, that they muft have been incon- ceivable in the age of David, otherwife than by the spirit of prophecy. The fame Spirit didated thofe plaintive and tri- umphant ftrains of the Lxixth Pfalm, which are fo defcriptive of a fuftering yet glorious Redeemer. I ivill pour upon the houfe of David and upon the inhabitants of ferufalem^ the fpirif of grace ajid of fuppli cations : and they Jloall look upon Me whojn they have pierced''', which was literally fulfilled at the crucifixion ^\ and fpiritually, when their Country was defobted by the Romans, and whenever the Jewifh people fliall feel and lament the guilt of their anceftors '". In that day there JJ: all be a fountain opened Jo the houfe of David and to the inhabitants of 4°Zech.xn. 10. 3i johnxlx.37. 3* Rev. i. 7. DISCOURSE VII. 21 yerufalem^ for fm and for uncle amiefs. By an allufion to the ablutions of the Law, is prefigured the expiation by the blood of Chrift. The Chriftian ccra is elegantly charafterized by the abolition of idolatry, and of falfe prophecy : and one fiall fay unto him^ What are thefe wounds in thine hands'? then he fall anfwer^ Thofe with which I was woimdcd in the houfeof my friends. Awake ^ O fword, againf my fiepherd, and again ft the man that is my fellow^ m y equal, faith thehoRT> of ho ft s :fmite thefoepherd^ and the foeep fall be fatter ed : and I will turn fnijie hand upon the little ones : 1 will prote(ft the little flock of his true difciples ^\ This prophet with admirable precifionhas fpecified the very fum for which the Traitor betrayed him. A?2d I faidy if ye think good give me my price ^ and if not^ forbear » So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of fiher. And the 'Lo v.d f aid unto me^ Cajl it unto the potter : a goodly price ^ that I was prifed at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of fiver ^ and caft them to the potter in 32 Zech.xiii.7. '^'^ percutiam, tov Tsroi^sy^c, pl>*^*^n Kennic. dilT. gen, §. 44. ex vers. Arab, B3 the -2 DISCOURSE VII. the houfe of the Lord, To difcern the cogency of this predidlon, it would appear to have a clofe conneclion with the fubjefl of the xith, xiith, and xiiith Chapters of Zechariah^ which predi61: the Jewilh War and the deftruftion of the Temple : '^^ Open thy doors J Lebanon^ that the fire may devour thy cedars '^, He was bruised fior our i?n qui ties. As the former claufe refers to his bodily pains, this refpefts the anguifli and agony of his mi?2d\ fo pathetically related in the gofpels. My Joul is exceeding forrowful^ even unto death'' ^\ Q my Father. lY it be possible, let this Cup pafs from me, — If this cup may not pafs away from me^ except I drink it^ thy will be done'^\ Chrift in his agony prays to the Father, that he would exempt him from the difgrace, the pains and maledic- tion of the Crofs, if it were poffible to fave finners, without thus dying for them. But the eternal Father, ever well pleafed ^+ Matth. xxvi. 15. xxvii. ^. Juflin, dialog. §. 53. §.115. Eufeb. D. E. VI.16.X.P.478. 2?2ec.xi.i. ^'^Matth.xxvi. 38,39. 42, ^^Lukexxii. 42^—44. in DISCOURSE VIL 23 in his Beloved Son, and who ever heard his prayers ^% did not grant his ardent requeft, when thus agonizing under the fenfc of the greateft and moft tremendous facrifice, that Love divine could offer, when it Offered itfelf to fave Sinners, v/ho could not be faved vv^ithout it. His prayer could not be granted : God did not grant him the ex- emption he prayed for : becaufe // was not poffihle to fave fmners, otherwife than by the Satisfadlion of his death. His agony is alfo inconfiftent with his fuffering, merely as a Martyr to divine Truth. His own Martyrs of every age, and even of the weaker fex, encountered death in all its terrors with furprizing con- ftancy and magnanimity : and the Captain of our falvation would have fuftained his own death, without perturbation or agony of mind, had not that agony, from a deep fenfe of human guilt, been effential to its Expiation. The chaftifement of our peace was upon him. his punifhment was not only vicarious, but ♦* John xi. 42. B 4 con- 24 DISCOURSE VII. confpicuous and exemplary, that all might fee their own delerts in his fufFerings ; that the impenitent and the faithlefs may fee the wrath which abideth on them ; and that reformed believers may be ever grateful for the fentence they haveefcaped, by his being fet forth a propitiation for them. By his STRIDES we are healed. This fets before us that moft painful and ignomi- nious circumftance of the paffion, the fcourging of Jefus. The plowers plowed upon my back^ and made longfurrows "" ^ . And in another prophecy. The Divine Teacher expreffes his patient and magnanimous fuffering thofe difgraces, which human he- roifm never could fupport. L. 6. 1 gave my back to the f miters^ And 7ny cheeks to them that plucked off the hair 5 Ihidnotmy face from Jhame and fpittiJig. When our bleffed Saviour predicts his own paffion, he confiders his fcourging as ♦^ Pfal. cxxix. 3, the DISCOURSE vir. 2S the firft ingredient in that bitter cup*^. May we derive from his ftripes that healing which his Apoftle fuggefts! Chnjl fuf- feredfor us^ leavmg us an example — who his ow7if elf bare our fins in his own body on the tree^ that we being dead to fins Jl^ould live unto right eoufnefs -, by whofejiripesye were healed ^\ The conftancy of Chiift in bearing his Crofs, defpifng the fame^ tranfcends the magnanimity of thofe heroes w^ho devoted their Hves in battle, or otherwife. There was a brilHance and glory in the one which made death itfelf honourable : but in the death of the Crofs there was no alleviation, but every thing to aggravate the fuffering. Thus, befides that general Reftitude which is efTential to all the divine proceedings, the death of Chrift was divefted of that great and conftant exception to human heroifm, falfe-glory. The chaftifement ^^ of our peace was open and exemplaiy. He was sett forth ^ Luke xviii. 31 — 33. '♦s j Pet, 5J, 21—25. *"*^*^J3'^j^ poenapublica ad deterrendos fpeLtantcs apeccando cxcmplo pcenarum, ut Czech, v. 15. Guiret.Lex.p.332« as 26 DISCOURSE VIL cs a propitiation : and himfelf illuftrated this intent of his fufferings by the type of the brazen ferpent. As Mofes lifted up the fer pent in the wildernefs^ even fo miifl the Son of man be lifted up'^^ He exprefles the neceffity of his crucifixion, as an exemplary punifhment; that wkofoever believeth in him fhould not perijh^ but have eternal life. We therefore fhould have perifhed, if he had not been thus lifted up. And the admir- able effefts of his paffion are expreffed by the like allafion. And /, if I be lifted up from the earthy will draw all rnen unto me. This he faid^fgnifying what death he foould die'\ >^. 6. All we like fheep have gone aflray : We have turned every one to his own way: And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. In this fenfe he is the Saviour. For otherwife, none of us, v^ithout him could be faved. * We are all finners, and gone out of the w^ay of God's laws 5 every one to his own way, or natural propenfity ; and as fuch, are unable by any deed or fufFering of ♦7 John iii. 14, ij, *« xii. 32, 33. ours DISCOURSE VIT. 27 ours to claim or deferve God's pardon. And therefore God laid on him the punifliment of the lins or the whole world, who havinq* never offended was the fitteft to propitiate his juft difpleafure ^^.' f, 7. He was oppreffed^ and he was affiidled^ Tet he opened not his mouth : He is brought as a lamh to thejlaughter^ ji/id as aJJjeep before herj7:earers is dumb^ So he openeth not his mouth. He was oppreffed : literally, the debt was exaBed '° of him. He was afflifted, he anfwered ^' for our debt. In the pro- phetic Pfalm ; I rejlored that which I took not away : I paid them the thi?igs that I never took ''\ God infifted on a penalty, for maintaining the honour of his Laws and Government, which would otherwife be impaired by our univerfal dcfeftion. Chrifl paid the fatisfaction for infolvent fmners. The manner of the fatisfaftion, was by offering himfelf a voluntary and fubmifiive facrifice for fin. ^ Bifhop Chandler's Def. p. 151. '° ^^^ ^* HJVi Jt was exaded, ana he was made anfwerable. Bp.LowxH. 5* Ixix, 3, 28 DISCOURSE VII. We are debtors to God. We owe him our whole duty. We have detained from him that which is his right, and we fliould infinitely yet truly aggravate the charge, if we confidered, that befides defrauding him of our duty, as our Jirji fathers hath finned^ we too have wearied him with our iniquities'^'-. God's right to our debt of Obedience cannot be repaired but by Reftitution. Sinners have neither the will nor the power to make reparation. The fmner, even fuppofmg him to be truly penitent, cannot fatisfy for his paft enor- mities. Y^v^ 'whole duty is due: the <7Teateft part is withheld : nor can the Repentance and Virtues of the beft ever equal their delinquency, much lefs make amends for it. Reftitution, full and equivalent, from v/homfoever, is payment and acquittance. If a Refponfible Benefa6lor fubftitutes himfelf in the debtor's place, Subftitution fatisfies, efpecially if exprefsly ftipulated. Chrift, at once divine and human, lias all *'■ Ifai. xliii. 24 — 37. the DISCOURSE VII. 2^ the requifite qualities of a furety, to fatisfy fo immenfe a debt. Aflumlng humanity, he took on himfelf that nature in which we have offended. In this capacity, he is our proper pledge and furety : he is of our flefli and blood : of our kin and family : and, as fuch, has the right, the will, and the power to redeem us ^'^. The filence of Jefus, except in that good confeffion, / a?n the So?i of God, is noted by all the Evangelifts; from whom we may colleft, that his filence refpe6led the accufations laid againft him, which were evidently falfe. On other topics, our Lord replied, briefly and prudently. Ifaiah repeats the claufe, he opened not his 77iouthy perhaps to intimate his filence before both the tribunals, of Pilate, and of the High- prieff. As a Lamb, the pureft of the legal vi6lims, innocent and unrefifting, he was led a meek and refigned facrifice. He was led to th^Jlaughter ^% to the effufion of his *♦ See Hebr. ii, throughout, ^? HJ^OV Hti^^ blood. 30 DISCOURSE vir. blood, and a violent death. The procefs of which is fet before us in the two next verfes. 3^. 8. He was taken ^^ from frifon and from judgment : His life was taken away, by form of Law and a feffion of Judges. In his trial and fentence, all the forms of the Roman Law were obferved : but it was form only ; for his fentence was pronounc- ed, againft the confcience and conviilion of his Judge. The expreffion, be was taken ^ is uled of Enoch and of Elijah being taken up to heaven ^^ and might here be tranflated, be was taken up^ as St. Luke's phrafe is ^% into glory ^^. In his humiliation his judg- ment was taken a%oay ; his capital fentence was reverfed and effaced : his innocence was vindicated by his refurredion and afcenfion. ^ T\\h " Gcn.T.24. 2 Kings li. I — 3. Pfal.xlix.15. 5* A6I3 i. 2. 59 I Tim. iii. 16. A6ls viii. 33. And DISCOURSE Vir. 21 And who JJmll declare his generation ? Who that beheld this man of forrows would have imagined, that he was lineally defcended from the royal houfe of David ? much lefs, that he was, in a diviner fenfe, the only Son of God ^° ; and who declared of himfelf, / am the jirjl and the laji, I am, he that liveth and was dead^ and^ behold^ lam alive for evermore ^\ For he was cut off^^ out of the land of the living: by a judicial fentence, as was predifled to Daniel; MeJJiah fiall be cut off\ For the tranfgrefjion of my people was he ftricken ^\ The capital doftrine of Chrift's vicarious fufFerings is emphatically repeated, in new and varied expreffion; which at once aflerts the innocence of Chrift, and the fatisfadtion of his death. f.c). He made his grave with the wicked^ And with the rich in his death : ^^ JuHin. dialog. §. 76. oy^st? ya^, uvQ^u-jro? uv «| ar^ B^uiruv, ayeKoiviyr^ot t^ei ro yaoj» ** Rev, i, l8. or. 32 DISCOURSE VIL or, by an eafy traje£lion, * He gave him to be with the wicked in his death, • And with the rich in his burial *. God for the wifeft reafons gave his Beloved Son, to die with the wicked, to be crucified between two malefa6lors : yet vindicated his fpotlefs innocence by an ho* nourable burial in the fepulchre of Jofeph of Arimathea, a rich 7nan^ who alfo himjelf 'Was yefus difciple ^^ ; who laid the facred body in his own new tomb : a circumftance, which providentially afcertained the proofs of his refurre6lion ; and was a becoming and refpedful tribute to his Merits : hecauje he had done no violence, no a6l of fedition againft the State, neither was there any deceit/;/ his mouthy any error or falfchood in his Doftrine. His perfedl innocence was efTential to his Sacrifice. Forfuch an high-prieji became us-, holy^ harmlefsy undejiled^ fepar ate from fmiierSy and higher than the heavens : who needeth 7iot daily^ •♦ Matth. xxvii. 57. rmD:i D^ytt^n ns* inn * Clericus. onapn n^tyy rm DISCOURSE VII. 33 daily y as thofe high priejis^ to offer npfacrifice, Jiyji for his own fins ^ and then for the people s : for this he did ojice^ when he offered up himfelf^'. /. lo. Yet it pleafedthe Lord to bruife ^^ him\ He hath put him to grief ^\ In the fifth verfe, he was bruifed ^^ for our iniquities ^ he was wounded '"" for our tranfgreffons* Both exprefs the fame idea in the fame words, which diftinftly mark the pains of his body^ and the anguifh of his mind. The fcope of the fequel of this prophecy is, to reprefent Chrill's paflion, as originating from tht good pleafure of God, and termi- nating in His glory : who rewarded thofe temporary though inexpreffible fufferings, with a glorious Refurreflion, an eternal Life, and a kingly Jurifdiction over a redeemed world, both in earth and in heaven. For thefe purpofes, too great for our moft enlarged ideas, it pleased the *5 Hebr. vii. 26, 27. !! itoi V- 'bnn " Nana " hbn^ C Lord 24 DISCOURSE VIL Lord to bruife him, to put him to grief. The word ^° is ufed facrifically. T^hen Jhalf thou he pleased ijoith the facrifices of right eoiifnefs^ with hiirnt-offering^ and holo- caujl \ then Jhall they offer bullocks upon thine nltar '^\ The facrifice atones God to the limier ; his difpleafure is removed ; his fa- vour is concihated 5 and in this view, the Apoftle, who perfectly knew the fignificance of the Jewifli ritual, teaches us to walk in Love^ as Chriji alfo loved us^ and gave him^ felfforus an offering and a facrifice to God, for a fweetfmelliitg favour '^''^ moft accept- able to the Father of the univerfe. The facrifice of Chrift's death was the true and only mean, by which, confidently with his own perfe6lions, He could forgive our fins, unite us to himfelf, and admit us, unworthy as we are, to participate of his nature and happinefs. This indifpenfible condition of our acceptance with God is exprefTed as follows : If''^ hisfoulfdallmakean offering '^'^ for fin. '** V^n '* PfalmH. 19. comp. Pfalm xl. 7, 7» £phcf. V. 2. 7J j2> 74 Qj^j^ The DISCOURSE VIT. ^5 The correfted tranflation, intimates that Chrift's offering himfelf for fin was per- fectly voluntary : as in the often-cited XLth Pfalm, /'. 7, 8. 'Then/aid /, lo I come : — -/ delight to do thy will, O my God : yea, thy law is within my heart: than which, no words can more aptly exprefs the alacrity and willingnefs of Chrift to fave the world by his crofs. We now have the happinefs, under the guidance of Infpiration, to make a tranfition from the fufferings of Chrijl, to the glory that JJjould follow ', both teftified fo long before- hand, that our Faith may be found unto praife, and honour, and glory ^ at the appear -^ ijig ofjefus Chriji ^^ The reward of his divine philanthropy, in offering himfelf a facrifice for our fins, is fpecified in three particulars : i. he JJmU^ fee his feed', an offspring of true believers, willing in the day of his power. Among his votaries fhall be the Great and the Strong, kings and princes, with their fubje6t 7S I Pet. 1. 7—12, C 2 nations. ^6 DISCOURSE Vil. nations, as is exprefled with fo much ani- mation in the Livth Chapter. 2. He fiall prolong his days ; his life fhall be reftored, and continued through the eternity of a celeftial empire. 3. And the pleafure of the Lord Jljall profper in his hand ; the king- dom of God fiiall be adminiftered by his exalted Son, by a perfeft union of the divine counfels ; till, by various degrees of progreffive excellence, the Chriftian Church fhall be advanced on earth to its utmoft perfeftion, unity and univerfality 5 and be then transferred to heaven. 3^. 1 1 . He fhall fee of the travail of his foul ^ and fhall be fatisfied. The prodigious exertions of the fortitude and philanthropy of Chrift fhall not be fruitlefs either to the divine Viftim or to His redemed. What recompence awaited Him, we may learn from another Pro- phecy '"^r therefore my heart is glad^ and my glory rejoiceth : My flefd alfofiall ref in hope. '* Pfalm xvi. 9, 10, 11, For- DISCOURSE vir. 27 'jFor thou wilt not leave my foul in helly or in the ftate of death. Neither ivilt thoufuffer thine Holy One to fee corruption. Thou willjloew me the path of life : In thy pre fence isfulnefs of joy ^ And at thy right hand are pleafuresfor evermore, Becaufe ^^ of the travail and agony of his foul, He fhall fee the Face of God in per- fed: endlefs felicity and glory, as it is ex- prelTed ' % / will behold thy face in righteoufnefs : If jail be fatisfied, when I awake with thy likenefs. This is the firft and perfonal fruit of Chrift's paffion ; His Refurreftion, and the reception of his human nature into the glories of heaven : to animate the faith, the patience, and the hopes, of all his true dif- ciples, that, if w^e fufFer with him, we may be alfo glorified together with him " ^. By his knowledge fd all my righteous ferv ant juliify many : ?7 ^•^yD '* Pialm xvii. 13, ^* Rom. vlii. 17. C 3 My. jg DISCOURSE VII. My Righteous Servant fhall juftify many, by their knowledge of Him. He is ftyled Righteous, becaufe nothing iliort of perfeft Redlitude can fatisfy for the fms of many, that is, of all mankind. His perfonal Reftitude united to his Sacrifice obtains for reformed Sinners the high pri- vilege of being accepted as if they were Righteous. He fhall juftify Many — Ifafiy man Jin^ we have an Advocate with the Father^ Jesus Christ the righteous. And He is the propitiation for our fms ^ and not for ours only\ but aljo for the fins of the whole world'^"". The immenfe benefit is "univerfal : but, with refpeft to individuals, wherever Chrift is publickly known or preached, it is to be obtained only by the perfonal Knowledge of Him. For God is jiift^ and the jujiifcr of him that believeth in Jefus ^\ In the ftyle of Scripture, Know- ledge includes Afi:eclion. To knov/ God is to love God. To know Chrift, is to be convinced that His merit, His pafllon, His obedience, is the fole caufe of our pardon and folvation : to know Chrift, is to ac- *^ I John U. I, 2, •* Rom. iii. 26. knowledge DISCOURSE VII. 3^ knowledge this divine mercy and grace, with heart-felt gratitude ; to accept it with an humble mind, difclaiming felf-depen- dence ; and to devote ourfelves to Chrift, as our Saviour and our Soverain, w4th intenfe love and unreferved fubje£lion. Such knowledge, founded in reafon and com- pleted in faith, is a praftical conformity to Chrift, becaufe of our immenfe obligations to him : that we may know him^ and the power of his refurredlion^ a?td the fellowjhip of his fuffe rings ^ being 7nade conformable unto hisdeath^''. For he Jloall bear ^^ their iniquities : The prophecy reverts to the primary Caufe of all the benefits obtained for man, Chrift's fatisfaftion . But the expreffion is here fo decided, as to leave no room for any doubt, that Chrift not only took away or cancelled our fins, but that he bore our iniquities by fubftituting himfelf in the place of finners. The punifhment of our fins was laid on him, as a heavy burden -, our expiation and fandification could not be »* Phil. iii. 10. ^ ^J3D^ C 4 effefted. 40 DISCOURSE VII. eJfFefted, without the direft fufFerings on the part of Chrift : who his owjifelf bare our Jifis hi his own body o?t the tree^ that we being dead to Jtns Jldoidd live unto righteoufnefs''"^. That we may leave no part of this ad- mirable prophecy without fome illuftration, let us confider the true import of the con- cluding verfe; f. 12. I^herejore will I divide him a 'portion with the great y And he [Jjall divide the fpoil with the Jirong: In the firft verlicle the Great fhould be tranflatedthe many ^' ^ as he had juftified Many, fo Many Nations fhould become his wilhng fubjefts in the day of his power. I will divide to him innumerable captives, the portion of his victory. The next claufe alfo requires an emendation : he Jloall divide the STRONG '^/or afpoiL As the Many refer to the univerfal kingdom of Chrift on earth ; fo the Strong have a particular afpeft on »♦ I Pet. ii. 24. «5 Q^^*^ »♦ D^DIliTj^ the DISCOURSE VIL ^j the Roman empire, fubfifting in its full force when Chrift fuffered. From this idolatrous empire he refcued im men fe mul- titudes, inllaved to Vice and Superftition, whom he delivered from the bojidage of cor- ruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God S6 The conclufion reverts to a new ipecifi- cation of the meritorious caufe of fuch in- finite benefits to mankind : Becaufe he hath poured out his foul unto death. The expreffion of pouring out the foul or life is transferred from the fhedding the blood of the viftims offered in facrifice, till they expired. Applied to Chrift, it denotes the readinefs and completenefs of his Sa- crifice. He willingly fuffered his blood to be fhed, and his life exhaufted, in the caufe of finful humanity. To fave his brethren, hedevotedhimfelf to a voluntary death : and, as a viftim, the effufion of his blood by his agony,by hisftripes,by his crown of thorns, and by the Soldier's fpear, was eflential to the defign of Providence. For our fakes he *^ Rom, viii. 21^ was 42 DISCOURSE Vir. was prodigal of his own life ; he poured out his foul unto death by a fpontaneous facriiice : as he himfelf expreffed it 5 ^ere^ fore doth my Father love ?nc^ becauje I lay doii'n ?ny life, thai I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it do^mn ofmyfef. And he was numbered with the tranfgref- fors : with the worfl: of finners ; He was with the wicked in his death : an indignity, which peculiarly afiefted his greatnefs of mind, when he was apprehended : In that fame hour, /aid fefus to the multitudes, are ye come cut as agaijijl a thief with f words and faves for to take me ? I fat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But, as the Evangelift obferves, all this was done, that the fcriptures of the pro^ phets 7night be fulfilled ^^\ His enemies de-^ nied the Holy One and the fuf, and defired a murderer to be granted untQ them, and killed the Prince of Life^'^ . He was crucified between Two malefactors, the fit reprefen- *« John s. 17, 18. «7 Matth. xxvi. 55, 56, " A<^s iii. 145 15. tatives DISCOURSE VII. 42 tatives of all mankind; for all may be claiTed with one or other of them. The obdurate and impenitent reviles the fuifer- ing Saviour, and both, for a time, aggra- vate the pains and difgrace and forrows of his Crofs. But when the human heart is touched as it ought to be with this fad fpe(5>acle ; felf- condemned, it breaks forth into that reafonable expoftulation : Do/i not thou fear God^ feeing thou art in the fame condemnation ? And we indeed jullly 3 for we receive the due reward of our deeds : but this 7nan hath done nothing amifs "^, And he bare the fin of many : In the legal facrifices, the offerer placed both his hands on the head of the viftim, and confeffed his fin : by this rite, trans- ferring his guilt to his facrifice. Chrift is here characterized as the Lamb of God^ which take th away ^ or, beareth, the fn of the world '^\ The pafchal Lamb was a pro- pitiatory facrifice, by whofe blood the Ifraelites were expiated : and, on account of the typical refemblance, they feafted on that *5 Luke xxiii. 32—43,. ^o John i. 29. 36* facri- ^ DISCOURSE VII. facnfice. We Chriftians are redeemed wkh the precious blood of Chrijl^ as of a lamb without blemifi and without fpot'^'': and in memory of our Redemption, we feaft on Chrift's facrifice in the Eucharift, and fliew forth his death till he come. ji?2d he made intercejjlon for the tranfgref-. fors : not only in that particular but tranfcendent inilance of his divine heroifm, in praying for his crucifiers ; Father^ for- give them.:, for they know not what they do '^' ; a prayer of that efficacy, as to have been followed by the converfion of all the peni- tent and virtuous Jews, who thus were refcued from the ruin of their devoted Country. His interceilion is of that infi- nite efiicacy, that All our fins done in a ftate of ignorance and unbelief, and even ail our fins of which we truly and timely Repent, and from which we are aftually Reformed, are pardoned on the fole ac- count of Chrift's facrifice and interceflion. For all have fmned^ and come Jhort of the glory of God', being jujiifed freely by his 5° 1 Pet. i. 19. ^* Lukexxiii. 34» gracCy DISCOURSE Vll 4:^ grace J through the redemption that is in Chriji J ejus ; 'whom God hath fet forth to be a pro-- pitiation through faith in his blood ^""^ II. The Argument for the Divine Original and Authority of the Gofpel of Chrift, from the minute and exaft completion of this Prophecy in his perfon, is of that force, as to combine all the properties of a complete Moral Demonftration. An infpired Mind alone could have formed the idea, of a Divine Perfon, v^hom we have feen exprefsly ftyled the Mighty God, and who Himfelf, gracious and unafTuming as he was, thought it no robbery or ufur- pation to be equal with Gody who yet made himfelf of no reputation^ — ajid being found infafdion as a man^ he humbled hifnfelf and became obedient unto deaths even the death of the Crofs'^K Nothing but Infpiration could have combined fo difcordant ideas, as concur in the divine and human charafter of Chrift. »» Rom, iij. *5 Phil, ii, i— 11. Ifaiah, ^6 DISCOURSE VIL Ifalah, whofe natural genius led him to de* light in the fublime and the magnificent, combines them with mournful and pathetic images, whenever he is fpeaking of the great fubjeft of his prophecies : efpecially in this predidion of the various incidents of the paffion of Chrift, which fo attender our hearts, that we fcarce can read them, without the tribute of our tears. It is obfervable, that none of the Prophets dwell fo much, on the fufFerings of Chrift, as David and Ifaiah, the one a victorious King, the other a favoured Courtier : circumftances, which preclude any appli- cation of thefe defcriptions of agony and death, and a vicarious voluntary facrifice, to themfelves or any other, than to the victim of the univerfe, who always thus applied them. Behold ^ we go up to Jeru- falerriy and all thiJigs that are written by the prophets concerning the fon of man JJmU be accomplijhed^'^. When God determined to Reform and Save fmners, it was not agreeable to the *^ Lukp xviii. 31—34. eternal DISCOURSE VIL 47 eternal Laws of his moral government, to fave them without a Satisfaftion to his Juftice. Not that we are to imagine the Deity inexorable, or that His Clemency ever rejefts a true Penitent : but for Rea- fons of Divine Government, by which the Guilty cannot be admitted to His Prefence without an Expiation. All analogies muft fail us on fuch a fubjeft -, but Criminals cannot be pardoned generally and gratui- toufly under any government divine or human. Otherwife the Moral World would be thrown into Confulion. It is alfo an evident Law of the Divine Govern- ment, and Revelation as well as Reafoii confirms it, that Obedience to the Deity muft be voluntary. Juftice can coerce and punifli for the paft, and Mercy can forgive : but no man is compelled to Vice or Virtue. So that the great expedient of One General Expiation feems alone worthy of the Divine wifdom, as being the moft perfuafive application to the ingenuoufnefs of human nature, fitteft to affeft our Gratitude and Love, and confequent Obedience. With DISCOURSE vii. With rcfpe6l to the kind and mode of Expiation which God was pleafed to ap- point and accept, it was the sacrifice OF Christ a as piacular victim. God having tlireatened death to Adam, all men, as they have followed him in his revolt, became obnoxious to juft punifhment. Nothing but a gracious pardon on the part of God could retrieve mankind from deftrudtion. But a pardon, without a fa- tisfaftion, would have been inconfiftent with the iiiterefts of Virtue, or, which is equivalent, with the honour of the divine attributes. Vice and Virtue would become indifferent, if the divine favour could be extended to both alike. But it is impoffi- ble, that God fliould make fm indifferent, much lefs an objeft of approbation or re- ward. To avoid fo impious a confequence, there is no other way to make our forgive- nefs and falvation confiflent with all the di- vine attributes, than by a perfed Satisfac- tion for the fms of the whole v/orld, God, of his own goodnefs, offered a free and general pardon, in confideration 3 of, DISCOURSE VII. 4^ of the facrifice of His Son : who, in our own nature, with the moft generous phi- lanthropy, and voluntary fubmiflion to the divine will, for the joy that was fet before him of being the Saviour of the world, with perfe6l meeknefs, charity, and refig- nation, made his foul an offering for lin, by fuftaining all the cruel indignities of the worft capital punifliment, which wicked Rulers and a violent Multitude could inflift. The meritorious obedience and all-ac- complifhed charafter of Chrift, on his own account entitled him to an exemption from every adverfity. So that we mull look for fome other caufe of his inexpreflible fuf- ferings ; which can be no other, than that which is fo often refumed and repeated in this prophecy. " He fliall fprinkle many " nations : he is defpifed and rejected of men : furely, he hath borne our griefs : he was wounded for our trangreffions : the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity ^' of us all : for the tranf2:reffion of -mv ^^ people was he ftricken : God made his *' foul an offering for fin : his righteous fer- D " vant 50 DISCOURSE Vll. " vant juftified many, by bearing their ini-* " quities : he poured out his foul unta ^' death : and he bare the fm of many/' This frequent repetition of the reafon of the death of Christ is undoubtedly in- tended by the Holy Spirit^ in order to imprefs it indelibly on our hearts : becaufe no Truth, no Doctrine, is fo elTential to our fafety and happinefs, as the cross OF Christ. Without this Redemption, we are yet in our fins, without pardon, without hope : but when our all is at ftake, it is neceffary that w^e fliould have abundant afTurance of God's gracious purpofe towards us ; that we might have a jirong confolation^ who have jied for refuge y to lay hold upon the hopefet before us 95 This memorable prophecy of our Sa- viour's Paffion is one of the cleareft and ftrongeft demonftrations of the Authority of His Doftrine and the Satisfaftioii of His Death: it being impoffible, that fo many Angular circumftances fhould be pre- difted and minutely verified, otherwife than by a Divine Infpiration. So that it »5 Hebr.vi. i8. is DISCOURSE VII. ^i Is incumbent on every one who reads this Prophecy, to aft as that honeft and pru- dent perfon did, whofe converfion is related in the A6ls of the Apoftles. The place of the Scripture which he read was thisy * He was led as a jheep to the Jlaughter ^ and ^ like a lamb dumb before his fide arer^ fo he * opened not his mouth : in his humiliation * his judgment was taken away : and who * foall declare his generation ? for his life is ^ taken fro?n the earth* And the eunuch an^ fwered Philip^ and f aid ^ I pray thee^ of whom fpeaketh the prophet this ? of himfelf or of fome other ?7ian? 'Then Philip opened bis mouthy and began at the fame fcripture^ ajid preached unto him Jesus ^^. With all his beneficence and unwearied exertions in doing good, with all the fplen- dour of his miracles, and excellence of his life and dodrine : the fufFerings of Chrift in the artlefs recital of the Evangelifts ex- ceed the moft pathetic ftory, real or in- vented. The detail of his crucifixion, when accurately fcrutinized, affefts us with terror as well as compaffion. Voluntary •* viii. 32 — 3^. D 2 fuf- 52 DISCOURSE VIL lufFeiings are never encountered but for fome great purpofe -, and it was eafy and obvious for Chrift to decline them. Nor was He of that melancholy and gloomy temperament, which familiarizes painful ideas and difpofes the mind to verify them in real fufferings. Chrift's temper and condud:, throughout the Gofpel, is chear- ful and focial, full of adive kindnefs and humanity. His Crofs is inexplicable, on any other idea, than of a voluntary and expiatory Satisfa6lion : and, though we fliould not be able to folve all the difficul- ties that muft attend our unequal ideas of the divine counfels 5 Chrift's Paffion is ir- reconcileable with God's love of perfect Virtue, if confidered without its connec- tion with the Redemiption of the world. There is no way of accounting for his tremendous death, confiftent with his per- feft Innocence, otherwife than as a Satif- faftion. Otherwife, God by permitting his fufferings would have made perfe6l Vir- tue moft unhappy. But his Innocence was cffential to his Sacrifice : and his dying as a vidim, for the fins of others, is confiftent with DISCOURSE VII. ^2 with ^// the divine attributes, and perhaps is the only mean, by which they can com- pletely harmonize. Take away the voluntary and temporary relation which Chrift bore to the fms of the world, and there can be no motive in God to abandon fo perfect Sanctity even for a moment to fo extreme mifery, pain, difgrace, and malediction. His death therefore was a penalty by fubftitution : expiatory of Man's fm^ propitiatory of God's juftice ; in order to make a world of Sinners capable of his clemency. *The wages of Jin is death '% fpiritual and eternal death : for this is the death, froni which Chrift redeems us ; not from natu- ral death, which /^^j on all men. If God forbears to punifli fm in this life, it is be- caufe Chrift has merited this forbearance for finners, and has rendered God fo plac- able, that he waits for and invites their repentance. Even ftill more admirable are the eiFeds of Chrift's fatisfadion : for God under the covenant of Grace does not pu- *^ Rom. vi. 23. D 3 nifli ^4 DISCOURSE VIL nifh men merely as fmners (otherwife. Religion and Happinefs would be extinft) but as obftinate and irreclaimable fmners ; whom he relu6lantly gives up becaufe of their faithlefs and final impenitence. In the ftate of Innocence, we contem- plate God as a Creator; in the flate of guilt, we view Him as a Redeemer. In the firit flate, remunerative or vindiflive Juflice is the rule of the divine adminiilration : in tne fecond flate, Mercy ever placable, if the finner will accept it through Him who procured it. Under the difpenfation of Nature, God threatens andpunifhcs fin as an offended Creator : under the Gofpel, he threatens and punifhes as a rejcded Re- deemer, With much forer punifhment '^^ So that the Sinner has no other alternative, but either to fuflain eternal punifhment, or to have recourfe to Chrifl's Satisfaftion in its full extent. We may apply to this in- tereiling fubje6l, that affefting paffage of Mofc3 ; Seey I have fef before thee this day Life and Good^ and Death and Evil : I have fet before you Life and Death ; therefore^ CHOOSE LIFE ^^. ^* Hebr. x. 29, ^5 Deut. xxx. 15. 19. To DISCOURSE VII. ^^ To hiterpret fuch a Prophecy would be of litt4€ ufe, compared with the falutary he [foils which it teaches. The moft obvious and important of thefe Leflbns is exprefTed by Him who taught them by His own Experience. And he faid to them all, If any man will come after me^ let him deny HIMSELF, and take up his cross daily ^ and follow me^°''. We muft take up our daily Crofs, whether we will, or not. It lays heavy on the bulk of mankind, in their poverty, their labours, and adverfities. It lays heavy on the Rich and Great, in their employments, interruptions, fecret fufFerings, and cumbrous dignities. All fhould bear their Crofs, in the fpirit of ReUgion 3 and by denying themfelves, the worfe and brutal part of themfelves, fhould learn to follow Christ. The whole force of Chriftianity is concentered in that he- roic affertion of St. Paul : ' I am cru- cified with Chrifi : nevei^thelefs I live ; yet not J, but Chrifi liveth in me : and the life^ which I now live in thefiefij^ I live by the faith of the Son of God^ who loved nie^ and ^0° Luke ix. 23. D 4 gave ^6 DISCOURSE VII. gave himJelffGr me^°\' The pra6lical re- fult of this great and folemn Sacrifice, is our moral and religious conformity to the death of Chrift, ,by bearing his and our Crofs, and crucifying our fmful affeftions. The divine vi6lim addrefles himfelf to us by all his fufferings in our behalf, by the tendernefs and ardour of his love , by all the confiderations of duty and gratitude, of our perfonal fafety and happinefs ; by his agony and crofs, his merits and his death; not to dilhonour by vice or unbelief that worthy name, by which v^e are called : but to follow his great example ; to take upon ourfelves with conftancy and zeal the eafy« yoke and light burden of the meek and lowly Jefus ; that we may find reft to our fouls : to prefent Him our bodies a living facrifice -, to be renewed in the fpirit of our minds ; to be adorned with the beauties of holineis ; to love our Lord Jesus in fin- cerity, and to fliew forth the praifes of Him who hath called us out of darknef^ into his marvellous light. '®* Galat. ii, 20. James ii. 7. Matth.xl.29, 30. Jlom,xii.i,2. Pfalmcx,3. Eph.iv. 23.71. 24. i Pet.ii.9, PROOFS [ 57 ] - • PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. P A. G E 3. VITRINGA, XL p. 558. Ordior ^.{jcc ^sov 5cADvro? Librum pr.xftantilTimi Prophetse QuintviT!,fecundum partitionem initio operisfac- tam. Eft, ut cetera omnia, argumenti gravis et fublimis; et, fi comparatio locum habeat in parti- buo OperisDivini, pondere remm et luspynoc ditli- onis ubique eximii: merit6dixeris,extimamhanc Libri partem, exceilentia materiae et figurarmn orationis fcitiffime fidarum varietate, casteris pr^ftare. — Defcribit potifiTimum Perfonam Mefliae, Regnum ejus fundandum inter Gentes, cum repudio majoris partis populijudsi rebellis et immorigeri Evangelio; Fata illius Regni, ec in his corruption em in ipfo Mefliae populo emerfuram cum tyrannide, et Ecclefis oppreflae ac humana ope deftitutse vindicias, terminandas in gloriofo illius flatu ; ad quern depingendum Vates aliquotiens tela a principio retexta re- currit. PAGE 8. J. H. Mich. B. Hebr. lii. 15. Sed fic ad- fperget gentes multas et validas et sanguine fuo eafdem purgabit ab operibus mortuis, ut abjurata turpi idololatria Deo vivo ferviant. Hebr. ix. 13, 14. 19. Verbum Hi^ de adfper- lione ^ DISCOURSE VII, fione fanguinis facrificiorum frequenter ufur* patur. Lev. viii. ii. 30. quod merito h. 1. ut typus cum veritate confertur. Dei juftitia, inquit Bochartus, iis folis parcit, quorum confci- cntias Chrifli fanguine adfperfe funt. Quippe ut agni pafchalis, ita et Chrifli fanguis, non alia de caufa efRifus eft, quam ut adfpergeretur, et afperfione fua nos e morte eximeret et libe- raret. Hierozoic. i. p. 615. DO*! Zech. viii. 22. Goim rabbim funt emnes Gentes. vid. Guffet. p. yy^' ^^^^ com- preffio indicium eft, partim ex errore agnito nati pudoris, partim ex pudore emergentis amoris. Cap. Lni. 1. Spatium praemittunt MSS, i, 10, 11, &c. PAGE 8. I.XX. 2, cci/'/iyyeiXoc[AiUy in the plural, though it is fcarce intelligible, feems to have fuggefted the idea of the national fenfe, which the ancient and modern Jews obtrude on this prophecy. Origen mentions and refutes this falfe inter- pretation : C. Celf. lib. I. p. 42. Mf/xj/jjjtAai izro7f, sv Tii/i Tjpog rovg 7\.iyo^i]/o\j<; srocpoc lov^oiioig cocpovg iK(^r\'rf](Teiy rccig ijrpo koci iv vsKpoii xei(Ji>£vov; ^[Ji'OCc^ sg aujwv /aup^wy tou ^Oivcclov ocvlog lau/^jj i£0-w(raIo, PACK DISCOURSE VIL 6t PAGE 25. Of the Three Decii, Cicero, Tufc. i. 37. Si mors timeretur, — non cum Latinis decertans pater Decius, (A. U. 413.) cum Etrufcis filius, (A. 458.) cum Pyrrho nepos (A. 474.) fe hofti- um telis objecifTent. See de Finib. 11. 19. and N. D. III. 6. Tu autem etiam Deciorum de- votionibusplacatos Deos efTe cenfes. Ousefuit eorum tanta iniquitas, utplacaripopulo Romano non poflent, nifi viri tales occidifTent? confilium illud imperatorium fuit, quod Gnsci s-p(^lr\yr,y.(x, appellant. — In this paflageTully rightly judges, that the devotements of the Decii were flrata- gems; but accurately exprefles the religious idea annexed to them : as Juvenal does in thefe well-known vcrfes. Sat. viii. 254. (apud Grot, de Satisf. p. 204.) Plebeias Deciorum animge, plebela fuerunt Nomina. Pro totis legionibus hi tamen, et pro Omnibus auxiliis, atque omni plebe Latina Sufficiunt Diis infernis Terrseque Parenti : pLu R I s enim Decii,quam qui fervantur ab illis. May we not fuppofe, that the Chriflian Re- ligion was the more readily received in the world, becaufe it was founded on an idea fo popular and univerfal, as that of Expiation by the nobleft of all Sacrifices^ the felf-devotion of a mod 62 DISCOURSE VIL a moft exalted and virtuous charafter? It was an inftance that, when inforced by the firft preachers of Chriftianity, revived in the minds ' of the Romans the examples of ancient heroifm recorded in their annals. This indeed is but a fubfidiary argument, on which Archbifhop Tillotfon fomewhere lays too much ftrefs, when he fuppofes the whole Mediation of Chrift to have been planned in accommodation to the prejudices of Mankind. The priaiary reafon of Chrifl's facrifice is the Necelfity or divine expediency of a perfeQ fatisfaftion for the fins of the world: but the heroifm of the devotioa was agreeable to the univerfal ideas of greatnefs of Mind, in voluntary perfonal fufFering for the general Good. Orisien confiders the death of Chrift, as ana- logons to that of heroes devoting themfelves for their Countries. A^a. ya^ ovk ewpcoi/ ol rov l?i(ro\t x-'jou Xoywv zrocpifOH/eiVy on euros' eiri o zrpotpiolEv^eii;^ aXXoc >LOci roig Aoittoj? f0i/f 68 DISCOURSE VIL pfjf. . ^lOy zTa,(ry)g ^«.£^ ocis-p^povpyiocg to (Toc^a. cc^pocT^ov xai ytnXi^og aTracii? ryj? aTro xa>tia? x£KaOap]M,fi/rv t>5J' ^jai/o»ai/ Au7w ijrpoff'xOju.i^Ojtxsi/^ 7^oyi ita ut ea remiifio non obtigerit fine fanguinis ef- fufione,fed per earn. Matth.xxvi.iS. Hebr.ix.22. DISCOURSE VIL 77 P. 121. He moft ably refutes Socinus: Bis fallitur Socinus, cum ad earn remiffionem quam nobis Deus concedit defumptam ex Jure vocem Acceptilationis applicat : primum cnim ilia vox, etiam cum folutio nulla antecefiTit, ad jus crediti aptari poteft, ad pcenas nee poteft, nee folet. Nemo enim unquam legit ab ullo veteri fcriptore, indulgentiam criminum acceptilatio- nemvocari.— Deindevero, acceptilatioopponitur qualicunque folutioni,unde figurate definitur, fo- lutio imaginaria. At Chriflus Xvlpov dedit vitam fuam pro nobis Matth. xx. 28. . Non eft ergo hie acceptilatio — fed eft remiflio antecedente fatis- faclione. P. 134. Neque illud minus iniquum, et, ut ipfius voce utar, immane eft, quod a nobis im- manem Deum dicit ftatui. Nam finis ifte fatis- fadionis fuperadditus nihilo graviores Chrifti perpeffiones facit ; quas fine ulla crudelitate ipfi a Deo infli6las Socinus cogitur fateri : imo, quo fines funt plures, eo a crudelitatis fpecie longius abfceditur. Nam crudelis eft, qui fruftra aut levi de causa aliquem torquet. PAGE 54. VI. p. 117. Baptifta divino mandato poeni- tentia ductis remifiTionem pollicetur, eamquc propter vifcera mifericordiae Dei noftri ; fed idem Chriftum efte dixit agnum qui tollat peccata mundi, yS DISCO U R § E Vri, mundi, per maftationem fcilicet, quod exprimit Apocalypfis, aut per fanguinem, ut Petrus lo- quitur : quibus locis agni itidem faQa mentio dare monflrat quo Baptifta refpexerit. I conclude thefe Colleftions as Grotius does his excellent Book de Satisfa8;ione Chrifti, C. X. p. 2 1 8. in thefe weighty ideas : ' Sacri- ficium illud qui tollit, ne Sacerdotium quidem Chriflo verum relinquit; contra manifeftam Scripturse auQ;oritatem, quae diftindam a Pro- phetica et Regia Pontificiam dignitatem Chrillo adfignat : non figurate di6lam, fed maxime veram, quippe cum facerdotium ipfuis Levitico facerdotio, quod verum fuit facerdotium, oppo- natur,ut ejufdem generis fpecies perfe6iioralteri fpeciei minus perfects : neque re8:e inferri po- tuerit, neceffe fuiffe" ut haberet quod ofFerret Chriflus, Hebr. viii. 3. nifi ex veritate ejus in quod conftitutus erat Sacerdotii. Sed profe6l6 minime mirum eft, fi qui Chrifto gloriam natu- ralem, hoc eft, veri nominis Deitatem, fuftule- runt, iidem et Officia ipfius imminuunt, et bene- ficia ipfius praicipua recufant agnofcere. TiBi, DoMix\E Jesu, ut vero Deo, ut VERO ReDEMPTORI, UT VERO SaCERDOTI, UT VERiE PRO PECCATIS VICTIMS, CUM PaTRE £T ^PIRITU, UNO TECUM DiO, SIT HONOS ET GLORIA, DISC- DISCOURSE VIII. PROPHECIES O F T H E KINGDOM OF CHRIST. Psalm II. I . Why do the heathen rage^ And the people imagine a vain thing ? 2. The Kings of the earth fet the?7ifelveSy And the Rulers take coufifel together^ Againji the Lord^ and againji his Anoint- edy faying, 3. "Let us break their bands afunder^ And cajl away their cords from us. 4. He that fit teth in the heavens f jail laugh y The Lord Jh all have them in derifion, 5. The?t he Jljallfpeak unto them in his wrath , And vex them in his fore difpleafure, 6. Tet have I fet my King Upon my holy hill of Si on. 7. / will declare the decree : The Lord hath faid unto me^ Thou art my Son^ This day have I begotten Thee, Z.Afk So DISCOURSE vm. Z.AJk of me. And I JJdall give thee the heathe?i for thine inheritance^ And the iittermoji parts of the earth for thy pojjejjion, 9. Thou fhalt break them with a rod of iron ; Thoufialt dajh the?n in pieces like a potter s vejjel^ iQ.Be wife now therefore^ ye Kings: Be infiru5led^ ye judges of the earth. 1 1 • Serve the Lord with fear ^ Ajid rejoice with trembling. 12. Kifs the Sony left he be angry ^ A?id fo ye periJJ: from the way^ When his wrath is kindled but a little. Bkffed are all they^ that put their trufl in him. ON the principles advanced in the Second of thefe Difcourfes, the double fenfe of Prophecy is deduced from the con- flitution of the Jewifh theocracy, as at once a religious eftablifliment and a civil polity : and from the natural genius and fituation of the Prophet, whofe thoughts are en- larged DISCOURSE vni. 2l larged and extended into a religious alle- gory, by the unconftrained infpiration of congenial ideas fuperinduced on thofe of Reafon. I fhall attempt at prefent, to give an illuftrious inftance of divine and fpiritual ideas adapted to the rational and political, in the perfon of king David. It was natural and in charafter for this Prince at the head of a flourifliing Mo- narchy, as a confummate politician and fuccefsful warrior, to revolve in his mind his fplendid vi6lories, the prote6lion of the deity, the unavailing oppofition of his ene- mies, the union and felicity of his people, the enlargement of his dominion, and the perpetuity of the crown in his houfe and family. This is a train of thinking fa- miliar to Princes, to fuch efpecially as, like David, are of a martial genius, have been profperous and victorious, and are actuated by that magnanimity and love of their people, which makes ambition virtue. It was worthy of the wifdom of Infpiration, to give that fublimedireftion to thefe elevat- ed thoughts, as to form them into a pre- F fage 82 DISCOURSE VIII. fage of a divine empire, which, like the theocratic kingdom of David, fliould rife fuperiour to hoftile force, fliould extend to remoteft nations, and be adminiitered by a divine and human character, both com- bined in one, and correfponding to both parts of the prophetic emblem, at once, the Son of David, and the Son of God. It is far more confonant to that pro- greflive order, and to thofe eafy and pre- pared tranfitions, which every where excite our admiration in the works and word of God, to difcern a double fenfe in this and other prophetic Pfalms , than to imagine the royal Prophet abruptly entering on fo divine a theme, without any human or preparatory circumftance, to lead him to this exalted contemplation. The ftabiUty and perpetuity of the theocratic throne in the houfe of David, was the darling pro- mife made to that Monarch : and on all oc- cafions he exprefTes his grateful fenfe of it, in words fo devoutly copious, as to paint the fulnefs and tranfport of his mind \ * I Chi'on. xvU. xij^. xxvili. xxix. It DISCOURSE VIII. g^ It IS pleafmg to refleft, that this ilkif- trious prophecy was given to David in the very zenith of liis ov^n and his people's glory, before either was impaired by his crimes and misfortunes. It was written to commemorate the fettlement of the united kingdoms of Judah and of Ifrael in his perfon and family; after a feries of glorious events, fuch as, his generolity to the houfe of Saul — his third anointing, to be king over the whole nation — the taking of Mount Sion — the flourifhing ftate of his family — his double viftory over the Philiftines, and burning their idols — his fucceffive triumphs over the Moabites, Sy- rians, Iduineans, Arnmonites — his firft eftablifhment of Religion, by the removal of the Ark — ^and, on his intention to build a magnificent temple for its reception, the declaration of God by the prophet Nathan : T'hine hoiife andtky kingdom Jhall be eftabliJJjed for ever before thee'': thy throne Jhall be eftab- liJJoedfor ever \ This vifion was of much higher import, than the civil fuccefiion in his family : and fuch, the king himfelf * Mfi. MS. 244. 642. 2 2 Sam. vli. 16. F 2 con- 84 DISCOURSE vin. confidered it in his devout addrefs to God. And Jiow, O Lord Gody thou art that Gody a?id thy words be true : and thou haji promifed this goodnefs u?ito thy fervant. Therefore now let it pleafe thee to blefs the houfe of thy fervant^ that it may continue for ever before thee : for thou^ O Lord God, hajl fpoken it^ and with thy blefjing let the houfe of thy fer^ vant be blejfedfor ever ^. That the Pfalm before us is not merely hiftorical, but alfo prophetic, appears both from its traditionary fenfe, and from its internal charafters. When the Apoftles alleged it to convert the Jews, it was agree- able to the received fenfe of the whole Jewifh Church ; and they readily admitted the force of the argument. But they alfo reafoned in this and other inftances on the internal charafter of the prophetic Pfalms, and demonftrated that they were applicable in their full meaning neither to David nor to the Jewifh Law, but to a new order of religious events. Befides the traditional fenfe, we have the criterion of rational * ;^. 28, 29. crltl- DISCOURSE VIII. Sj cnticifm, on the intrinfic import of thefe poems, confidered as very ancient monu- ments of the Jewifh Religion. If they contain principles, contrary to the genius of that religion, and chara6leriftic of another and a more enlarged plan : if they difclofe high and myfterious doftrines, re- mote from the ideas of thofe times and of that fmgular people: the proof refults, from the exaft and full agreement with a new fcene of things fince difclofed, but then remote and diftant, and not within the Umits of human probability or conjecture. The three firft verfes of this Pfalm de- fcribes the hoftility and difaffeftion of the tributary nations to the fceptre of David. The fecond claufe ^ reprefents the inef- ficacy of thofe hoftile confederacies, againfl 'the power of the Theocracy : The third part \ rifes to a more auguft and fplendid theme, the inauguration of a "Soverain, whofe Empire fliould crufh the 5 f. 4 — 6. • jf, 7 — 9. F 3 moft 86 DISCOURSE VIIL moft powerful oppofition, and extend to all Nations. In the fourth claufe ", this new Empire IS defcribed as claiming the willing homage of all other Soveralntles, as an Empire over the mind and hearts of men, eftablifhed on eternal fandions, both penal and remune-- ratory. If we compare this poem with the events of the life and reign of David, illuftrious as they were; we find the ideas and ex- preflions too difproportioned to the fubje6l, to admit of a literal application. For neither were his enemies fo powerful, nor their fubmaffion fo complete, nor the reign of David fo profperous or extenfive, as to verify the amplitude of the ftyle and com- pofition : which, in its application to a fpiritual kingdom, univerfal and eternal, correfponds both to the idea and the event with fo much precifion, that many Critics have in the interpretation of this Pfalm difclaimed a double fenfe, and have applied ^ -p, I0-— '12, the DISCOURSE VIII. 87 the whole to Chrift, and to him only. But to me it appears much more agreeable to the genius of Prophecy, under the civil cha- railer of king David and the profperous events of his reign to exprefs the glories and triumphs of the kingdom of Chrift. This expofition is fupported by the beft authorities, ancient and modern : particu- larly Bifhop Low^th has fo finely illuftrated the double fenfe of this Poem, that I can- not exprefs it better, than in his manner. * David here fuftains a double charafter, ^ perfonal and allegorical. When v/e read ' this poem with a view to the perfonal * chara6ter of that prince, we difcern a ' perfpicuous hiftorical fenfe, abundantly * illuftrated by the memoirs of thofe times. ' But the ardour of th>e expreffion, the ^ figurative ftyle, and amplification of the ^ ideas, plainly intimate, that a greater and * fublimer fenfe is couched under the ' hiftoric argument. If by thefe indica- ' cations, we inveftigate the interior fenfe, * refulting from the allegoric character of * David, this furniflies an interpretation, F 4 ' not $8 DISCOURSE VIIL ' not only more augiifl: and elevated, but * more clear and appofite. Whatever ap- * pears too bold and lofty for the literal * fubjeft, perfeflly correfponds to the dig- ' nity of a divine perfon and of an univerfal ^ Empire. When we have thus furveyed * each part feparately, we next confider ^ them as united. Then appears in all its * luftre the elegance and fublimity of this * divine allegory. We fee a perfect har- * mony and confent between two diftinft ^ images ; in both, refembling features, ^ and ajuft analogy; both indeed founded ^ on the truth of things ; but the myftic * knk fo fuperiour, as to be evidently firft * in the intention of the infpired writer : * all whofe ideas, thus interpreted, rifing ^ in juft gradation from human to divine, ' terminate in an exalted revelation of the * kingdom of Chrifl 8 > But In order to vindicate and illuftrate the fpiritual fenfe ; under fuch a conftitu- tion as the kingdom of Ifrael, the tranfition from a primary and civil, to a fecondary • Lowth. de S. P, H. praeU xi. p. 226, and DISCOURSE VIII. and religious application was efFe£l:ed with- out any violence to either of the two ideas; which under any other polity could not have been fo happily combined. The If- raelites, it is well known, were governed by a theocracy, the whole authority and power of the State being exercifed by God himfelf,. as their King'': but it is not fo generally confidered, that the executive Power was vefted in that Divine Perfon, who is ftyled the Angel of the Covenant, and the Angel of God's prefence. The human admini- ftration, in the houfe of David, was a mere vice-royalty: and thofe princes, even the moft opulent and abfolute of them all, fat on the throne of the Lord as kings, were anointed unto the Lord to be chief gover- nours, and reflefted all their majefty from the Lord who magnified them '°. Thus, in the Queen of Sheba's court-ftyle, Blejfedbe the Lord thy God, who delighted in thee, to Jet thee onms throne, to be ki?2g fortheLorb THY God ". 5 Jof. contra Ap'ion, ii. 17. *° I Cbron. xxix. 22— 25» '* 2 Chron ix. S. The go DISCOURSE VIII. The ancient Ifraelltes, from their own Scriptures, were not unacquainted with the myfterious diftinftion of Perfons in the Unity of God : and they might thence colleft, that the Word, or Second Perfon, THE SON, as He is ftyled in this Pfalm> was their Soverain Lord, or properly, the King over the people of Ifrael. It appears from a very memorable paflage of the book of Exodus, xxiii. 20. confirmed by the whole analogy of Scripture, that the divine author of our Redemption was the imme- diate agent in all the civil bleffings and chaftifements of God's people. Behold^ I fend an Angel before thee^ to keep thee in the *iva)\ and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him ^ and obey his *Doice ', provoke him not ^ for he will not pardon your tranfgrefjions ; for 7ny name is in him. For mine Angel fid all go before thee ^ and bring thee in unto the Amorites^ &c, to poifefs the promifed land. Ifaiah defcribes this won- derful adminiftration with his ufual fubli- mity, in that part of his prophecy, which expreffes the prayer and confeffion of the Jews, DISCOURSE VIII. gj Jews, before their converfion to their an- cient king and legiflator '\ He was their favi our : in all their afli6lion^ he was affliBed^ Ajid the Angel of his prefencefaved them. In his love and in his pity. He redeemed them. And He bare them and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled^ and vexed his Holy Spirit: Therefore, he was turned to be their enemy y and he fought againfl them. Then he remembered the days of old, Mofes and his people -, Saying, where is he that brought them up out of the fea, with the fiepherd of his foe k? Where is he, that put his Holy Spirit within him, That led them by the right hand of Mofes ^ with his glorious ann Dividiitg the water before them, to make hi mf elf an everlafing name'? »* Ifai. Ixiii. 8—12. How 52 DISCOURSE viir. How magnificent an idea does this con- templation give us, of the theory of Chrif- tianity! When in the Gofpels we behold the lamb of God in his humiliation and fuffeiings : fome are fo blinded, as to con- fider him, merely as a wife and virtuous Man, imparting Leffons of Truth and Virtue to that ungrateful Age and Country. We difcern his power indeed and his God- like attributes, difplayed throughout his Miniftry and Miracles, even in his lowly and afflicted ftate : But it is in his pre- exiflent charafter, that the radiance of his divinity beams forth without a cloud. His potent voice called Nature into being: he created Man : he palled fentence on their mortal fm : he promifed to redeem their race : he it was, who began that beneficent work, by the calling of Abraham, accom- panied him as his Guardian-God, and converfed with him inperfon, preluding to his Incarnation. He was the redeeming Angel, with whom Jacob covenanted, that he fhould be his God; and to whom he prays in the blefTmg of the Tribes : as the Jhepherd and the rock of Ifrael^ the God of their fathers^ the Almighty^ who fhould blefs them ^\ " Gen. xlix, 25. It DISCOURSE VIII. g^ It would be eafy, were it not too prolix, to give many inftances of the agency of the Divine Logos in the Jewifh hiftory : the nature and genius oi whofe government is defcribed in glowing colours by Ifaiah, when its fplendour was revived in the reigfi of Hezekiah : TFhen jfudah ruled with Godj And was faithful with his faijits ''^•■ He fets before us, Ch. xxxiii. Theomnipotence i^. Hear, ye th^it^vt far cf^ OF THE THEO- 7 , x 7 / what 1 have done : PRACY. ' T ^ ^r,x. And'^e that are near ^aC" Its MORAL GOVERN* J ' MENT, ii, 5, 6. knowledge my ?night. Its VINDICTIV5 14. T[he ftnners in Zion are JUSTICE.. afraid, Fearfulnefs hath fur priz-* ed the hypocrites : — Protection of j^. JJc that walketh righ^ THF. FAITHFUL. . ^^^^^^,^ Andfpeaketh uprightly : '+ Hof. xi, 12, 6 Its 94 DISCOURSE viir. Its temporal j 6. He JJjall dwell on high ; SANCTIONS. TTj-- ,7 rjr n 11 Hts place oj dejence Jhall he the munitions of rocks ', Bread JImU be given him^ his waters fljall be fur e. Its regal splen- i J. Thine eyesfhall fee the king DOUR. . 7.7 Victory, 18, 19. ^^ ^^-^ ^^^^^(T -• Security, 20,21. Its titles. 22. For the LoRD is our Judge y the Lord is our Lawgiver y lRREsisTiBLEPow-23. 7^/6^ Lord is our king: ER, terminating , .;; /, hewtllave us, IN •>' Redemption, AND 24. Ty6^ people that dwell A SPIRITUAL T ' n 11L r there I n hall be forzt ven KINGDOM. , . . . their iniquity *. From this view of the theocratic go- vernment, appears the exaft propriety of that fpecies of double fenfe, which cele- brates an eternal and fpiritual kingdom under the images, proper to a temporal and local foverainty. That foverainty, when limited to the territories of the Houfe of * Of the theocracy : H. Witfius. Mifc. Sacr. II. 920. Spencer. Legg, Hebr. p. 226. Warburton. D. L. b. v. David, DISCOURSE VIII. g^ David, was veiled in the fame omnipotent Perfon, who now rules as Mediator this whole earthly fyftem. What could be more logically juft, as well as critically elegant, than, by the local events of the temporal kingdom of the Meffiah, to adumbrate the deftined glories of his fpi- ritual and eternal Empire ? The tranfition from the temporal Vice- roy to the Divine Soverain, was, on the fame ideas, exa6t and accurate : includins: in the parallel ail the regal and political virtues. Hence, with fmgular emphafis, the Titles of the Meffiah, the Chrift, or Anointed, are afcribed to Jefus. They are titles of royalty, transferred originally from the Chief to the deputed King, and revert- ing to tlie theocratic fcepter. The Kings of the Houfe of David arc reprefented in Scripture as ' Sons of God,* becaufe they were his Vice-roys with per- petual fucceffion. The Sonfhip and the Sovranty are infeparably conne6led. The Lxxxixth Pfalm finely exemplifies this and other parts of the theocratic fyftem. >\ 26, DISCOURSE VIIL if. 26. He fiall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, My God, and the Rock of my Salvation^y Alfo, I will make him my firjl-born. Higher than the Kings of the Earth. 36. His Seed Jhall endure for cuer. His throne as the Sun before me. It IS only in the civil and hiftorical fenfe, that the words, T'hou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee, are applicable to David : Myfon,z.s the adopted heir of the theocracy; this day, of his complete inauguration to the full fovranty over the united Tribes* This Title of Sonfliip v^as fo annexed to the theocratic fcepter, that it is given even to the moft vinworthy branches of the houfe of David. Thus, Ezekiel, xxi. 10. expreffes with great energy the celTation of the Vice-royahy till Chrift fhould rule in perfon. Thefword contemneth the fcepter of viy Son, of Zedekiah, as an ignoble wood. 'Thus faith the Lord, remove the diadem and take off the Crown : this fo all not be the fame : exalt HIM that is low^ and abafe him that is high^p DISCOURSE VIII, gy high'^y I 'will overturn^ overturn^ overturn ity and it floall be no more^ until he come ivhoje right it is, and I will give it him. Such is the feiitence of depofition denounced on the laft oi the Kings oi the Houfe of David, referving the hereditaiy fueceffion to tlie Meffiah. The beauty of the image, expreffed by this relation of paternity and fonfliip, con- fifts in the analogy betv^^een the divine and the deputed fovranty. As the Son of God, in his Office of Mediator afts with dele- gated powers, to the glory of the Father-, Ho the temporal King, as deputed to fit on the Throne of the Lord over Ifrael, is with great elegance and concinnity decorated with the filial title: thou art my son. But as this appellation is borrowed from the filial charafter of Chrift, it is properly and ftriftly applicable to Chrift only : and we fee at firft glance, how much more aptly it applies to the great antitype, than to the type himfelf. But the high import of this Title, as proper to Chrift, demands a fpecial elucidation. It is applied in the G New p8 DISCOURSE vm. New Teftameiit, both to his Refurreftlon, and to his Eternal Deity : not, as if thefe two fenfes were fo diftincl or diffe- rent, as to be incompatible ; but as the one implies the other. St. Paul to the Romans teaches us the conneftion between thefe two ideas : He was declared to be the Son of God with po-wer^ according to the Spirit of Holinefs^ by the Ke fur reel ion from the dead ' ^ / The two ideas, of the Deity and Refurrec- tion of Chrift, are here combined, as caufe and effefl. They are elfewhere reprefented diftindly : his Refurreftion ; The pro- piifcy "ivhich was made unto the Fathers^ God hath fulfilled the fame unto us their children^ in that he hath raifed up fefus again. ; as it is nlfo written in the fecond Pfalm : Thou art viy Son^ this day haie I begotten thee ' ^ . Here by a figure not unufual in Scripture, the Earth is reprefented as a common Mother, and Chrift, being raifed to life by the power of God, is reprefented as born of the Parent-earth '^, The infpired author of the Epiftle to the Hebrews applies the fame *^ i. 3, 4. '^ A61s xili. 33. Huct. p. 575. '^ See Bifhop Kidder, I. 285. words^ Discourse viit gg words, to prove that Jefus isfo much higher than the Angels y as he hath by inheritance a more excellent ?2afne than they. For unto which of the Angels f did he at any titne^ Thou art ?ny Son, this day have I begotten thee The fame facred writer confiftently applies thefe words to Chrift's immortal prieft- hood '% the efFeft and confequence both of his divine nature and of his refurreftion* From all which citations illuftrating each other, Thou art ?ny Son, ftridly denotes his DIVINE Filiation; this day, expreffes that eternal now fo fuitable to him, who is the fame yejierday, to day, and for ever ; an eafy confequence of his filiation and offices Is his revival from death, which could not detain fo illuftrious a viftim '\' The firft idea, which this Pfalm imprefles on our minds, is of a violent and powerful OPPOSITION to the purpofe of God, whe- ther refpefting the throne of David, or the kingdom of Chrift. In the hiftoric view, it refpefts the confederacy of the tributary Princes to difmember his dominions and «5 V, 5. vii. 24—27. ** Aas iv, 25. 33. G 2 re- joo DISCOURSE VIII. renounce their dependency '^ As it re« fpefts the Chriftian Religion, it merits a fuller illuftration, from the hiftory of PERSECUTION in all ages of the Church. Jli the charafter of Chrift and his Gof- ptl^ the union of tranfcendent goodnefs with irrefiftible power is a clear and certain mavk of divinity. In human life, the gentler virtues are in themfelves defence- lefs, v^eak, and inefficacious, and they ge- nerally foUicit the proteftion of others. But in divine things, that meek and quiet Spirit y which is the ornament of Religion, is attended with a fecret energy, which bears down all oppofition. Perfecution in its caufe and origin Is an oppofition to Truth, which however im- pious or unnatural, is deducible from the influence of evil, human and fpiritual, on the ftate of Society. The utmoft efforts of perfecution have been employed, to fruftrate and fupprefs the gracious work of Man's Redemption. And thofe efforts ^"^ I Chron* xvili. xix, would DISCOURSE Vlir. 3(01 would have been efFeflual, if this work, or this counfel, had been of men. For nothing human, however powerful ; much lefs, could aught, fo feeble as our infant-church, have refifted or fuftained the Jewifli an4 Gentile perfecutions. As for other wife purpofes, fo efpecially, to difcriminate his revealed will from human inventions, God hath permitted Chriftianity to undergo this fiery trial. Nor does it feem to be the in- tention of his Providence, that fome great oppofition ftiould ever ceafe to explore its Truth, in fome form or other, either of external violence, or of literary controverfy* Accordingly, perfecution, of the moft ex^ quifite feverity, hath prevailed to a degree that makes it the moft furprizing ph^no^- menon in the hiftory of Man. It began in Jewifh envy, which could not be fatiatecj but by the Crofs of Chrift, by the difper- fion, imprifonm.ent, and death of his firfl followers. Gentile violence, inforced at intervals for ccc years by the greateft civil power that ever exifted, filled the Church ^ith Martyrdoms. 9% The |02 DISCOURSE VIII. The tyranny of the Cefars was gradually extended from Rome to Italy and the Provinces. Nothing can be more deceitful or delufive than the fpecious apologies by which that arbitrary government hath, of late, been exculpated from the malignity of perfecution. If we were poffefTed of the ancient collection of Edids againft the .ChriftianSj formed by the civilian Domitius, ^e Officio Proconfulis, we fhould better know the pretences and extent of the Perfe- cutions ' ^ . One circumftance alone marks their atrocity. The Chriftians were put to the queftion, a kind of punifhment, never inflifted in any other Gentile State, merely for opinions. The defcriptions and records we have of thofe Tortures are among the moft fhocking monuments of human favagenefs. In Africa, they were condemned to the Mines : a feutence of extreme rigour '^ Others were expofed to wild beafts, which fometimes were com- pelled to fury, and reluctantly violated the bodies of the Martyrs. ^s See Laa, V. ii. MoHi. R. G. p. io8. »* Cypriao. epi6t. 76—80. ad martyres in metiillis» The DISCOURSE VIII. 103 The Neronian perfecution, related by Tacitus ^% chills us with horror: that of Domitian, anno 94. is more remarkable for the dignity than the number of the Con- feflbrs. But if we confider the fan^ui- nary genius of tlie Roman people, their delight in cruel fpecVacles, their gladiators, amphitheaters, theriomachies ( for we muft invent new words to exprefs their fa- vage fports) their very feafts and funerals polluted with the blood of Haves and citi- zens : we may juftly infer, that the Chrif- tian martyrdoms, urged both by civil and religious animofities, were numerous, though only the diftinguiflied vidims, of eminent fanftity and ftation, were recorded in the martyrologies. The caufe of the Gentile Perfecutions, authorized even by their beft Princes, was honourable to the Chriftians. It was their heroic firmnefs in rejecting and oppofing the magnificent idolatries of the Empire, their conftancy in refufmg a grain of incenfe to their altars, and their noble profellion of the exclufive tenet of one God and one Mediator. ^^ Annal.xv.38. Mofli. R.C. p. III. G 4 None 104 DISCOURSE VIII. None of the early perfecutions were more keen and authorized, than that of the philofophic Emperor, M. Aurelius, who feems to have facrificed every fentiment of humanity to the didtates of Stoicifm, to his own apathy, and to the rigour of the Roman Laws in afferting the eftablifhed idolatries*'. Severus attempted to fupprefs Chriftia- fiity by forbidding any new converfions '\ In thofe age$, the Prefidents of Provinces {did not wait for the Imperial Edi£ls, but carried on a fyftem of perfecutipn for their own advantage and to gratify the populace. Many Chriftians were obliged to purchafe their fafety by money : and fome fell into apoftacy, e:xpre(Ied by facrificing and offer- ing ipcenfe*. At length Diocletian's Edift, A. 303. commanded all the Churches to be demolifhed and the Scriptures every ^' Eiifeb. V, 2. of the Martyrs of Lyons and Vienne, A.B. 177. Mufhem. de R. Q. p. 247. ** Judaios fieri fubgravi poena vetuit : idem etiam d€j Chriftianis fanxit. Spartian, in Sev, c, 16, 17* 23 Mpihera. R.C, p.^3i. DISCOURSE VIII. lo^ where deftroyed throughout the Empire. The charafters of thofe times are fuch, as to evince, that neither the will nor the power of the perfecuting Princes were checked in their exertion ""^i and the whole hiftory of Perfecution furnifhes this con- clufion : that the conilancy of the Martyrs was the refult of a clear conviftion of the Truth of Fads, for which they fuffered : and that an vmarmed and paffive Religion could not have fuftained the Roman Perfe- cutions, without the Divine Prote6i:ion. Thus Perfecution itfelf is an evidence of a Revealed Religion : but Perfecution pre- dided gives to that evidence the force of Demonftration ; and Chrift himfelf, and the ancient Prophets foretold that this Religion fhould firfl: be perfecufed, and then ejiablijhed^ by the civil powers of the world. Antichriftian malignity fucceeded to that of gentilifm, and raged for a thoufand years, under the Papacy and the New Empire; which like the Jews and Gentiles *tEufcb» VIII, i7# com- I06 DISCOURSE VIIL combined their forces, to extirpate all that was venerable or amiable from among mankind. At length, Perfecution brought forth a moniler of cruelty and injuflice, which from the beginning of the xiiith Century, anno 1206, deluged the world with murder, and was the genuine parent of thofe maffacres in Piedmont, where the Alpine fnows were red with Valdenfiaii and Proteftant blood; of all that carnage in Spain and the Netherlands, in France, and in Ireland, whofe horrors are recent and too authentic in the records of Hiftory. Civilization and the Reformed Religion have in a good meafure abolifhed perfecu- tion in all the Proteftant States ; the Re- formation itfelf having firft fuftained as fanguinary perfecutions, as tlie primitive Church. But in the prefent age, another fpecies of oppofition hath been adopted, and is likely to continue long in the world : I mean, that of polemic and literary Infi- delity. If there was any flaw, or weak part in the Chriftian Religion, it v/ould have caufe to dread this literaiy inquifition, more DISCOURSE VIII. 107 more than all the fires of Popery, more than the rods and axes and tortures of Gentilifm. The intention of divhie providence in permitting this unremitted oppofition, and in rendering it inefficacious, is, incontefti- bly to evince, that the Religion w^hich could fuflain fuch trials, is a Divine inftru- ment to reform and blefs thofe, whofe Faith and Conftancy fhould be approved, J?'. 9. The?i Jhall he /peak unto them i?i his wrathy And vex them i?z his fore difpleafuj-e,-^-* g . ThouJIjalt break them with a rod of iron ^ Thou ff^alt dafd them in pieces like a potter s veffel. If v^e refleft on the revolutions in the greateft empires, by v^hich their hoftility to Clirift has been fignally defeated ; v^e fhall find thefe predi6lions amply verified. The excifion of Jerufalem by the Romans ; the fubverfion of the idolatrous Roman Empire by the barbarous invafionsj the demolition pf the Papacy, v^eakened and difmembered by lo8 DISCOURSE VIII. by the Reformation, and in God's good time to be broken in pieces and annihilated : — are fuch effefts of Chriftianity rejecled, perfecuted, and corrupted, as demonflrate, that this holy and paffive Religion is under the mvincible protection of the Divine Providence. The Pfalm, we are com- menting, is fo ftrong a confirmation of this Theory, that, I believe few of its Readers are unimprefTed with its true fubje^fl : a myftical defcription of a Religion, violently oppofed, and powerfully perfecuted; tri« umphant over its perfecutors ; the perfe- cuted Religion eftablifhed, univerfal, and perpetual ; and conferring true felicity on all who virtuoufly adhere to it, and place their faith and reliance on its divine author. Be this then the first proof of the divi- nity of the Ghriftian Religion, which this prophetic Pfalm affords us, as it is fo fubiimely and devoutly exprefTed by the Apoilles : hord^ thou art Gody which haft made heaven and earthy and the fea^ and all that in them is \ who by the mouth of thy fervant David hajifaid^ Why did the heatheri DISCOURSE VIIL J09 rage^ and the people imagine vain things ? the kings of the earth Jiood up, ajid the rulers were gathered together, againji the Lord and cgainjl his Christ. For of a truth, againfl thy holy child Jefus, whom thou haft anointed^ both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Ifrael, were gathered together y for to do whatfoever thy hand and THY COUNSEL DETERMINED BEFORE TO BE DONE *^. It was my intention to have completed fuch obfervations as have occurred to me on this prophetic Pfalm ^ but the copiouC- nefs of the matter would extend this Dif- courfe to an immoderate length. I fhall therefore at this time only fubjoin a few conclufions, from this fingle Topic. And Firft, The extreme guilt and danger of a prevailing oppofition to Chriflianity, either by a national fpirit of apoftacy and unbelief, or by popular vicioufnefs in its external profeffion, or by the perfonal refiftance of eminent individuals, whether in public or literary departments, ** Au. Jo^* Antt. IX, 7. 2. Yld, VIII. 12. 6. lit DISCOURSE VIIL 121 In Pfaim lxxxix, there is an accurate dif- tindion between the children of David, his civil fuccefibrs, and the Son or feed of David, The Meffiah, of whom fo magnificent things are faid, i^ Z^J' His feed JJiall endure for ever^ And his throne as the fun before ?ne. See Bp. Kidder. P. 1. ch. 3. and Dr. Kennicott, on Pfalm lxxxix. When we difcern the Deity fo folicitous for the perpetuity of a domeftic fuc- ceffion, we may be well affared, that his whole adminiiiration of the w^crld itfeif is intimately conneBed with the fortunes of that family. We conclude then with Le Clerc (whom I cite in pre- ference, as a rational Commentator) ^ promiffa hsec de aeternitate regni in Davidis prole, in nullo impleta fuiit nili in Jefu, Maria: Filio, a Davide oriundo, qui etiamnum in coelo regnat, atque ad confummationem omnium rerum regnaturus efc* PAGE 100. In the Epiftle from the Chriftians relating to the martyrs of Lyons and Vienne (lately tranf- latedfrom Eufeb. V.i — 3. Niceph. iv. 16 — 1^. with learned and judicious Notes) mention is made of the zrccuriyvpig or ' General Convention, ' on occafion of the great annual folemnity, ' when the fixty nations of Gaul met at the altar ' facred to Rome and Auguftus. The figure of * this celebrated altar may be feen on med As : * and 122 DISCOURSE VIIL • and it is particularly delineated by Meneflricr, ' hifloire de la ville to Lyons.* p. 68. — Notes, p. 195. Vid. P. de Marca, de Primatibus. §. CI — cvi. Gruter. p. cccxx. cdxxxi. which memorable narration, in Eufeb. fliews how great an obftacle the Pagan folemnities threw in the way of Chriftianity : fo as to produce a direct contraft between them, in which the Pagans had all the privilege of barbarous and wanton pu- nifhment, the Chriftians only the paffive part of conflancy and martyrdom. In the Pagan Eftabliihment, the connexion between Religion and the State was infeparable: The cities of Afia had temples, holy rites^ and feftival days in common. They had alfo a common priedhood, termed in the Roman law^ Afiarchia. Each city chofe yearly an Afiarch. Notes, p. 99- See Wolfius on A6ls xix. 31. , Notes on the Martyrdoms at Smyrna andLyons, P. 200. * We know that a rabble of ^g}'p- tian, Syrian, Etrufcan and Grecian deities, ob- tained the privileges of citizenfhip at Rome: and that the fixty nations of Gaul concurred in ere8ing an altar to aa(y and a. living xmn. The politicians, who devifed or who eftabliflied fo flrange a community of Gods, would not have excluded Christ from their pantheon. But it is DISCOURSE VIIL 123 is probable, that they Toon difcerned the nn foci- able nature of the Chriftian Religion, and on that account perfecuted its profefiors. I fpeak of the unfociable nature of the Chriftian Reli- gion ; becaufe a Religion founded on the Unity of the Supreme Being, is neceffarily unfociable, and can never be incorporated with any fpecies of polytheifm. They who underftand the genius of Chriftianity will not fuppofe unfociable and intolerant to be fyonymous/ I have tran- fcribed this excellent obfervation, becaufe it contains a great deal of truth in a little compafs. He who w^ouldfee it proved in detail may confult the Div. Leg. of Mofes, B. II. The vulgar Pagans delighted in worrying the Chriftians, from the attachment they had to the pageantry and debauchery of the pagan rites* — ibid. p. 201. Intolerance was of the effence of the Marian fyftem : and the flames of perfecution foon reached the Jews and Chriftians. Agathias. 11, 164. D'Herbelot. mot, Ardfchir. Mofheim on Cudworth. i. 249. 327. Of the Perfecutions in Perfia, fee Mcflicim, H.E, p. 152. 198. Sozomen. 11. 1 — 13. Forty years perfe- cution, A. D, 330—370. I The 124 DISCOURSE VIIL The Perfian martyrology. Rome, 1748. 2 £ Vararanes, anno 421. Socrat. vii. 20. Theodoret. v. 39. Bayle. v. Abdas. Of theDiocletianeanperfecution^.orrathei-that of Maximian Galerius^ See Eufeb. H. E. viir. La6l.M.PP. Mofiieim.fec.iv. Tiilemont.tom.V". J^ Lipfius, faturn. I. c. 12. (Opp. t. iik p. 903.) fpeakiitg of the amphitheatres : men- tior, fi non unus aliquis menfis Europae ftetit viceniscapitum millibus aut tricenis. heu mores! Is it to be fuppofed that a people fo fanguinary in their diverfions, at the expence of the lives of their own flaves and citizens, fliould be fpar- ing of the obnoxious and devoted lives of the Chriuians ? Cyprlanus : Epifb. LXXVI. A. 257. Exem- plum veftrum fecuta multiplex plebis portio, confeffa eft vobifcum pariter, et pariter coi onata eft ; connexa vobis vinculo fortiffim^ caritatis, et a pra^poliiis luis nee carcere nee metallo feparata. Cujus numero nee Virgines defunt, quibus ad fexagenarium fruftum centenusacceffit^ quafque ad coeleftem coronam gloria geminata provexit. In pueris quoque virtus major i^tate, annos fuo& confelfionis laude tranfcendit, ut martyrii veftri beatum gregein et fexus et setas omnis ornaret. Qui DISCOURSE VIIL 125 0ui nunc vobis, dile8iffirai fiatres, confcientije vittricis vigor? qu^ fublimitas animi? qure in fenfa exultantia? qui triumphus in pe6lore? — Epia. LXXX. A. 238. RefcripfifTe Valeria anum ad Senatum, ut Epifcopi et Prclbyteri et Dia.cones in continenti animadvertantur : Sena- tores vero, et viri egregii, et equites Roniani, dignitate amifsa, etiam bonis fpolientur, et (i, ade^mtis facultatibus, Chriftiani effe perfevera- verint, capite quoque multentur : Matronse, ademtis bonis, in exilium relegentur : Casfariani quicunque vel prius confeffi fuerant, vel nunc confeflTi fuerint; confifcentur, et vin6i in Csefa^ rianas pofTeffiones defcripti mittantur. PAGE 103. The philofophers reproached our Martyrs with mere obflinacy, t^'ativ urapx!a,^iv* Marc.Aur xi. 10. and with the audacity of Barbarians^Porph. in Euf, H. E. VE 19- p- 281. pxp^xpo]/ roXur,'fxa, to ex- prefs their generous contempt of the Roman gods and the Imperial ediBs. Of the Decian perfecution, Dionyfms Bp. of Alex, in Eufeb. H. E. VE 39 -42. After a profound peace of xiii years, ab A. 218. ad A. 230. Maximin perfecuted fuch of theBifliopsandPrefbytersashad been conne^- ed with the family of the virtuous Emperor Alexander. Vale- 526 DISCOURSE VIII. Valerian's perfecution. Eufeb. VI I. lo. from Dlonyfius of Alex. This worthy prelate, in his conference vith the prsefeO; ^milianiis, lays open the principal Caufe of the Perfeciitions : p. 3^5. rj^ffcc rov IvK ^ioit xat Sr Omnis fere facro Martyrum cruore Orbis DISCOURSE VIIL J27 Orbis infeftus eft. See Eufeb. viri. i — 17. and Ladant. de MM. PP. who were eye- witnefTes; and Dr.ubuz. on Rev. vi. 9, Seal v. S. Bafnage. i. 807. Ann. xcvi. n. 6. — mode- rates between Dodwell and Ruinart with a fair and probable decifion. In thelafl; perfecutions. Cruelty was ingenious in every mode of torture that was not mortal. La6lantius, Div. Inft. V. 11. Ouis Cauca- fus, qu£ India, quse Hyrcania, tarn immanes, tarn fanguinarias unquam Beftias aluit? Speak- ing of Diocletian; nemo hujus tantae belluaDim- pnanitatem poteft pro merito defcribere, quae uno loco recubans, tamen per totum orbem dentibus ferreis fasviit. Aufi, prse nimia timidi- tate, plus aufi funt, quam jubebatur; alii fuo proprio adverfus juftos odio ; quidam naturali mentis feritate ; nonnulli utplacerent; et hoc officio viam fibi ad altioramunirent. Aliqui ad occidendum prascipltes extiteriint, ficut unus in Phrygia, qui univerfum populum cum ipfo pa- riter conventiculo concremavit. Sed hie quanio faevior, tanto clementior invenitur. Illud vero peffimum genus eft, cui Clementi^ fpecies falfa blanditur : ille gravior, ille faevior eft carnifex, qui neminem ftatuit occidere. — Contendunt igitur ut vincant, et exquifitos dolores corpoii- ^us immittunt^ et nihil aliud devitant, quam ut ne i2§ DISCOURSE vm. ne torti morlantur. — Quin etiam fceleratiffimi homicid:E contra pios jura impia condiderunt. Nam et conftitutiones facrilegs, et difpiitationes jurifperitorum ieguntur finjufe. Domitius de officio Proconfulis libro feptimo refcripta Principum nefaria collegit, ut doceret, quibus poenis affici oporteret eos, qui fe cuttores dei confiterentUF. Eufeb. devit. Conft. i. 58. et orat. in laudem Cor.ft. c. 7. Thefe pieces of Eufebius, together with his Ecclefiaftical Hiftory prefent us with the nobleil fubjecl^ ever treated by any unin- fpired HiRorian : the complete eftablifhment of Chrillianity. The hiftorian hirnfelf, learned as he was, did not conceive the greatnefs of bis fubjeQ : the efFe6l of his work^ like that of an Epic Poem, refults from the gradual tendency of all its parts to produce fo lingular and fo great an event, as the converlion of th^ Koman Empire. DISC DISCOURSE IX. PHOPHECIES OF THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST. Psalm IL 8 . AJk of me^ and Ifnall gi'oe thee the hea- then for thine inheritance^ And the uttermoji parts . of the earth for pojjef/ion. AT the time of this prediftive promife, there was no apparent probahility, that any of the idolatrous nations fnould renounce their fuperftii ions, and adore the God of Ifrael. It was ijo lefs improbable, that the kingdom of David, though ex- tended by his viftorious arms from the Nile to the Euphrates, fhould in a political fenfe become univerfal. So that the ex- prefiion, I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance^ can relate only to a religious empire, and the utmoft parts of the earth for thy pojjejiony to the univerfality of that Religion. I With 130 D I S C O U R S E IX. V/ith refpect to civil and political domi- nion, from the commencement of the He- brew monarchy to its extinction, it was providentially fo conftituted, as to exclude an undefined extent of territory. David, becaufe he adhered ftriftly to the funda- mental laws of the Theocracy, was fignally blefied with a far greater extent of domi- nion, than any of his fucceffors : but in his own reign^ the neighbouring monarchies, of Egypt to the South, of Affyria to the North, were making rapid advances to their deftined greatnefs 5 not to infift on the maritime ftates of Tyre and Paleiline, who held the fovranty of the fea, before Carthage exifted. Thefe kingdoms were infurmountahle barriers to the utmoftpower of the Jews, when moft warlike and united; as they were under David, who appears to have had the fublimeft martial genius of all the ancient Kings, both by eftablifhing a numerous mihtia, and by firft inftituting military orders. But as our antagonifts are more inclined to depreciate than over-eftimate the power of the Jewifh State, they will concur with, us, that DISCOURSE IX, J-.J that conqueft and extenfive territory was neither the principle nor the flrength of that government. As an univerfal Empire was not the objeft of the Jewiflt pohty, ftill lefs was an univerfal ReUgion. In both refpe6ls their national peculiarity was wonderfully characterized : Loy the people floall dwell a l o n e ^ Andjhall not he reckoned ajnong the nations ^^ and the folution of the fmgular problem we are about to inveftigate will prove the completion of another oracle : Ifiallfee hiniy but not now : IJloall behold him^ but not nigh, There Jlddll come aftar out of Jacob, and a fcepter fhall rife out of Ifrael ' * : where, as In the lid Pfalm, the conquefts of David are primarily Intended : but In the nobler fenfe, the Scepter denotes the King of Kings, and the hieroglyphic of a Star prefigures a God. ' Numb, xxiii. 9. xxiv. 17. * Philo, who writes fo divinely of the Logos, has rlo^htly interpreted this oracle : E^i^evcrCca woIe An^^uTroq «| vucoVf y.xi iTTiy.ce^rjirei 'VxoXKuv tOfwy, Jca» b'tti'cchvovjoc y) Tot'd^ ^cca-iXeix xaG' e>iarr,v ri(AS(fCi» -Crpj v-^'C^ a^hcrflen, tie Vita Mofis, lib. I. p. 440. I z Pro- J32 DISCOURSED. Profelyting the conquered nations was not the defign of the theocracy ; and king David, whofe glory it was to adhere to its maxims, never attempted it. We never read, that he availed himfelf of his victories, to induce a change of Religion among thq tributary nations. The mode of thofe ages was, not profelytifm, but intercom- -munity ; as God's people often exemplified to their coft^ the affociating falfe gods with the true, being the effence of their fin, and the caufe of their punifliment. Yet the predictions are full of this exalted fubjedt, fo diffimilar from the very genius ofjudaifm*; but the diftinguifliing character of another revelation in a diftant age : a revelation, unlimited as the clemency of God, and which, in due time, will open and extend the Jewifh peculiarity to all the nations of the earth. * See Mr, Mode's diatribe, iii. xi. Jof. B. J. vi. 6. ^y; ogif a,'A7\>.^'y KsXIjko.'I' fGiwi', r.cci tqvc aTTo rr,q BcbItccviix: av^etT^sy^ iTTTrea?, ri'KciVViv iK Tuv Aatteo-'v stti rr,v IraXiay, '/.. t. X. The Army of Maxentius was Hill greater, amounting to 170 thoLifand foot and 18 thoufand horfe.' From that year, cccxii. fo aufpicious to ChriRlanity, our Religion pervaded all the Roman Empire to the Bar- barians on all its frontiers. This viftory was foretold, Rev. xii. 9. and Conilantinc had a piftiire of it with the apocalyptic emblems, Eufeb. vita Conft. III. 3. Eufeh. D. E. HI. p. 136 — 141. fufe ac pulchre de . Evangelii propagatione. syu jjav ow t^Ela^uv 'cyx^^ e^av]u.~-^ X. T. A. p. 138. ** A(Sts viii. I. ix. 51. were. DISCOURSE IX. 147 Were fpeftators of the luminous Crofs^ whether a folar hal^ or a miraculous fign, fo critically tinied, as to decide the, Emperor s faith and the eftablifliment of Chriftianity, as Eufebius affures us they were: " fo providential an inter- pofition not only decided the event of that Important day, but alfo gave the bar- barian conquerors fuch favourable im- preffions of the Chriftian Religion, as nothing but the profperous events of war could have impreffed on thofe martial Nations. Our admiration of thele Converfions is enhanced, when we refle6l that it was not only in the fchools of literature and amidft the arts of peace, not only in refined Society, under the coiltrouling influence of the Roman laws, which fo long with unavail-* ing rigour oppofed the extenfion of the Chriftian name— but among the barbarous nations, who delight in war, the glad voice of the Gofpel was heard with rapture, and with permanent effefts. Amid the ranks of »« Vit. Conft. I. 28. K z imbattled 1^8 D 1 S C O U R S E IX, imbattled armies, the fierce barbarian fuf- pended the war,to hear the foothing doctrines of the Evangelift and the Miffionary. The facred flame fpread through the warUke tribes of the North and South, Goths, Vandals, Heruli, with an energy that may well be deemed miraculous. It touched the bar- barous Chiefs, who imparted it to their armies ; their martial ardour yielded to the powerful perfuafion 5 their bofoms foftened at the aufpicious found , they caught the maxims of Truth and Juftice ; they vene- rated the Religion that realized their hopes and fears ^ they renounced their barbarous deities, the confecrated Spear, the hallowed Foreft, the dreams of old fanaticifm : they exchanged their fordid immortality * •* The heroes, (fays the Edda, Fab. 31. 33, 34, 35.) who are received into the palace of Odin have every day the pleafure of arming themfelves, of paffing in review, of rancrins: themfelves in order of battle, and of cuttincr one another in pieces : but as foon as the hour of repaft approaches, they return on horfeback to the hall of Odin and eat the flelli of the boar Scrimner : their beverage is beer and mead : their cups arc the Ikulls of enemies : Odin alone drinks wine, &c. On the Celtic Immortality, fee Dr. Percy's notes on Fable 33. p. 164 — 181. and "^ D I S C O U R S E IX. X49 and contempt of death, for the rational the Chriftlan Faith of Eternal Life, angelic and divine. So rapid was the change from their ancient Superftitions (fome of which are recorded by Antiquaries, and others are ftill retained in vulgar cuftoms) as to verify thofe admiring ftrains : Jhall the earth be made to bring forth in one day ^ orflmll a nation be born at once'? for as foon as Zion travailed^ Jhe brought forth her children * ^ . The Revolutions in the Roman Empire in the 5th and 6th Centuries were favour- able to the converfxon of the Barbarians. ^ If, fays Orofius,vii.4i. forthis caufeonly, * theBarbarians werepermittedto invade the * Empire, that the Eaftern and the Weftern * Churches, might be every where replete * with Pluns and Suevi, Vandals and Bur- * gundians, and with innumerable converts * to the faith of Chrift ; we have abundant * reafon to extol the mercies of God/ The Gothic tribes of Moefia and Thrace were converted by Chriftian captives taken « IHii. Ixvi.S, K 3 in ip D I S C O U R S E IX. in their incurfions. Ulphilas the defcen- dent of 'thofe captives gave them a tranf- lation of the Holy Scriptures ; another powerful mean of converfion. The intre- pidity of the Chriftian Martyrs contributed much to their fuccefs, among nations enthufialHcaHy enamoured of their paflive fortitude. Wherever the Chriftian Rehgion made its v^ay, it carried with it that facred charm of civil freedom and humanity, of comfort to the evils of that imperfect ftate of fociety, above all, the perfuafive confo- lations of peace of confcience and of peace with God, which made it every where gladly received even when it led its votaries to martyrdom. And here I cannot fupprefs an opinion which perhaps is better founded than I can afcertain ^ that very much of that freedom and equity, which wq ftill admire in the old Celtic conftitutions, whether Gothic or Saxon ; and which from them have been tranfmitted to our times and nation ; were either the original refult, or the improved culture, of the Gofpel charity. This is certain, that the barba- rousinvaders, who parcelled out the Roman Empire D I S C O U R S E IX, 1^1 Empire in the Sixth Century, and laid the foundations of the modern Kingdoms ; brought with them a greater degree of true heroifm,of legillation, juftice, honour, than they found amongthe degenerateRomans*. Whatever evils of the barbarous a2:es we defpife or deprecate, we may rationally account for, from the prevalence of anti- chriftianifm grafted on their ancient fuper- ftitions, and a falfe philofophy. But we may derive from their converfion thofe ge- nerous virtues, which tempered arms with equity, and gave fo beautiful models of a free and equal polity. Perhaps, from their converfion, blended with their warlike charafter, v/e may derive that fmgular aifemblage of feudal manners, which of * Salvian, a writer of the very age of Revolutions, ac- quaints us with the excellent effe(5ls of the Chriftian Reli- gion on the piety and morals of the Vandals, p. i 57 — 160. and of the Goths, p. 162. lib. VII. de Gub. Dei. Contrary to the cuftom of Conquerors, theie Barbarians loft their own laws and religion, fondly affecting the Religion Laws and Language and the very name of Romans. Outof the Converfions of the Germans, Saxons, Swedes, and others to the then Church of Rome, hath arifcn the. Reformed Church, which prefcrves the true worfliip ef God. Daubuz. onRev.xii. 16. p. 549. K 4 late 1^2 D I S C O U R S E IX. late have exercifed fo much ingenuity to inveftigate ; that honour of Chaftity, that generofity to the vanquifhed, that juft di- vifion of the fpoils of war, that grateful attachment to their Chiefs, and popular fpirit of freedom, which ftill charm us, amidll: the barbarifm of the times, with virtues before unknown to the m.oft polifh- ed nations. One circumftance was lingular and difcriminating : Zeal for Religion was confpicuous among their romantic virtues : this paffion v^as not of gentile growth, which produced nothing better than a bar- barous fanaticifm, but was the genuine effect of Chriftianity. As the refult of the foregoing obferva- tions, let us refleft on the conclufions that follow from the true interpretation of this^ prophetic Pfalm. Be wife now therefore^ ye Kings y Be inJiruBed^ ye judges of the earth. In the primary and hiftorical fenfe, the tributary Princes are injoined to pay their homage to the theocracy, adminiftered in the perfon of King David ^s God's viceroy; their D I S C O U R S E IX. i^j their fervice being claimed by Jehovah as paramount : Serve t be Lord iDtih fear — But the fingularity of the fubfequent expreffion, Kifs the son, is an argu- ment, that the fecondary or rehgious fenfe was principal in the ideas of Infpiration. In the 7th verfe ' % thou art my Son, is no other wife applicable to David, than as God's viceroy : but in its theolo- gical fenfe, it is fo appofite to the Son of God, as to be a proof of his deity. In the 1 2th verfe, the expreffion is iHll more ap- propriate ^-^c Kifs the Son, The peculiar ufe of a Chaldaic word intimates a fmgular and exclufive idea of filiation. Abraham, a Chaldean, the great anceftor of the people of God, probably induced fome words of his national and domeftic language into the religious fpeech of his defcendents. The import of this title is admirably ex- prefTed in Ifaiah. Behold my fervant isohoin I uphold', mine elect, in whom my foul de- li ghteth, I have put my fpirit upon him, he foall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles, H^ Jhall 1^4 D I S C O U R S E IX. Jkall not fail nor be difcotiraged, till he have fet judgment in the Earthy and the if^es jJoall wait for his law 'K Nothing can be more appoiite and fublime, than the application of thefe texts to the fpiritual kingdom of Chrift. Monarch s are commanded to re- vere and obey him. It is their wifdom.and their fecurity to kifs the Son, to rule their fubjeds by his maxims, and by a power delegated from him, who is the King of Kings. The effeft indeed, marvellous as it is, hath followed the divine prediftion. The Imperial government, after a long and unavailing perfecution of Chrlftianity, at length eftabliflied it in the Eaft and Weft as the Rehgion of that extended Empire. From them, the barbarous Princes, and fmce, all the kings of Europe, have gloried in becoming its Nurfmg Fathers "-^^ and in receiving from it their moft fplendid titles^ »5 n^n*^ ^^^^* ^' ^'^^^^ ^y ^^* Matthew, xii. i8. *® Ifai. xlix. 23. Chrlftianity is 5 parts in 30. Mohammedanlfm, 6 parts, Gentilifm, 19. Mcde. p. 195. The Reformed Churches are, compared to the Idola- trous Churches, Weftern and Oriental, Twelve Parts \i\ Forty-Two : or as One to Three and an Half. Daubuz, oi) Kev. xi. 2. p. 501, The D I S C O U R S E IX. j^y The Chriftlan Religion was immediately protefted by Divine Providence. This propofition does not derive its proof merely from its fuccefs, but from its prevalence without adequate human means. All effects are virtually included in their caufes. A Religion, which fucceeds by its fmiplicity and internal excellence, and which difclalms all ways of making Converts but perfuafion, has a clear credential of Truth and Divinity, which difcriminates it from all impofture. This pofition is illuftrated by a remarkable contraft, which the hiftory of the Church affords us, as a complete exemplification of Religious Impofture : I mean the eftablifhment of Iflamifm ^ or the Religion of Mohammed. This impofture was in- vented by fraud and enthufiafm, and fup- ported by a military force. Mohammed and his coadjutors were, by means of their * I am precluded from contrafling the propagation of Chriftianity in its caufes and effects to the fuccefs of Mohammed in fprcading- his impofture, by the learned and eloquent and well reafoned Sermons before the Univerfity of Oxford, by Jofeph White, B. D. 1785: where the fubjcd is placed in the clearell and moll convincing point of view* €J:^thu- 1^6 DISCOURSE IX. enthunafm, the dupes of their own impof- ture \ jingebant fimul credebantque"^ , Europe, in the barbarous ages of Popifh poHcy, poured forth her myriads, to recover the holy land, and to convert the Infidels. But the effeft of thofe expeditions was abortive ; it being contrary to the genius of the Religion to extend itfelf by offenfive arms and religious wars. The divine pro- vidence flione forth confpicuous and with- out a cloud, in giving that fuccefs to the artlefs preaching of an holy and interior doctrine, which was denied to the combined power, wealth, and armies, to the fpirit of chivalry, and thirft of honour in the Euro- pean Princes, aftuated by the profound policy of the papal cabinet, in the view of weakening the Civil power in Europe, and of fubjugating the Greek Church and Empire to the authority of the Popes "' . Univerfality is the proper character, which difcriminates a divine Religion from * Tacitus, cited in a very finepalTage of the D. L, of Mofes, III. 6. p. 307. ^' See Daubuz. on the 2d and 3d Phials, and on the jEpiphonema : Rev, xvi* th^ D I S C O U R S E IX. 1^7 the inventions of men. God, as the com- mon parent and foverain, beholds all men with an impartial and paternal love. The Majefty of God, as well as the whole fyftem of Revealed Religion evinces, that all his proceedings with man are general and univerfal, including the whole fpecies. Redemption by his Son, and fanflification by his SpiRiT,are as unlimitedas the bounties of his Providence. The divine goodnefs, fo far from confining the bleffings of Re- demption to a few favoured Chriftians, hath in a confiderable degree extended them to all mankind. The Lamb flain from the foundation of the world hath merited falvation for rJl virtuous men ; whom he hath 7'edeemed to God by his bloody cut of every kindred and tongue and people and Jiation'^^ . He is the Saviour of ail jnen^ efpecially of them that believe ^^. He is not willi?ig^ that any ftdould perijh^ but that all fould come to repentance^" , It is a calumny on the Chriftian Religion, to fuppofe, that it con- demns virtuous heathens. They and all are faved by the univerfal extent of Chrift's *2 Rev. V. 9. ^» I Tim. iv. 10. ^o ^ Pet. iil. 9. 6 expi- 158 D I S C O U R S E TX. expiation. His merciful Religion con- demns none but the incurably vicious, the infidel, and the apoftate, who violate the law written on their hearts, and rejecfl with open eyes the only name under heaven by which men can be faved. That virtue which made a Socrates, a Cicero, an Aure- lius, in their feveral degrees of proficiency acceptable to God, was as much the gift of the Holy Spirit, and they are as much in- terefted in the Redemption by Chrift, as are profefled Chriftians. In this fenfe the Ghriftian Religion is at prefent and ever hath been Univerfal. With refpeft to the external knowledge of his Revealed Will, God indeed imparts it arbitrarily. As he diftributes the cli- mates of the Earth to its different inhabi- tants, from the flaming equator to the frozen poles : with a fimilar inequality, he affords them a greater or lefs degree of divine illumination. About a fixth part, and that the moft civilized part of this globe, profefles the Religion of Jefus Chrift: thefe are his Moral inftruments in the con- verfion of the reft. 5 There - D I S C O U R S E IX. J -^ There is an unexampled dignity in that command of Chiift to his Apoftles : Go ye hito all the world and preach the Gofpel to e'very creature''. And the performance correfponds to the command and promife. The Gofpel was preached in every nation: and St. Paul fpeaks in a ftyle that the moft victorious of Rome's heroes could not ex- ceed 5 that he had diffeminated the Chriftian Religion from Jerufalem to Illyricum. Chrift himfelf predicled, that his Religion fliould be generally publiflied before the excifion of Jerufalem. 'T'his gofpel of the kingdom Jh all be preached in all the world for a witnefs imto all nations^ that I am Chrift, and then Jl: all the e7id oi the Jewifh polity come'^-. St. Paul with his ufual precifion defcribes at once the dodtrine and furprizing fuccefs of it . Since we heard of your faith in Chrijl Jefus, and of your love to all thefai?tts ; for the HO ?E which is laid up for you in heaven ; whereof ye heard before in the word of the «» Murk xvi. 15. A<^3 i. x, '* Matth. xxiv. 14. TRUTH i6o D I S C O U R S E IX. TRUTH of the Gofpel^ which is come unto you, AS IT IS IN ALL THE WORLD ^K It is nOt neceffary to reftrain this expreffion to the Roman world : the Apoftle was commif- lioned both to the Greeks and to the Bar- barians : and there was not any habitable part of the world then known, without fome Chriftians. This he exprefTes with fuffi- cient clearnefs, If y^ continue in the Faith ^ ayid be not moved away from the Hope of the Gofpelj which was preached to every crea- ture WHICH IS under heaven. The fame obfervation is ftill more applicable to the prefent ftate of the world, and the Gofpel, as a feed-plant, is now a6lually fpwn in all lands. The times of Conftantine, of Juftinian, and of Charlemagne, were propitious to the extenfion of Chriftianity. A?2d I faWy and lo, a Lamb Jlajiding upoii Mount Sion^ and with him an hundred and forty four thoufandy the phalanx of the Chriftian converts, having his 7ia7ne and the Jiame of his Father ^written upon their foreheads. St. John *^ CololT. i. 4. applies D i S C O U R S E IX. j6i applies this emblem to the firft eftablifhment of the Church under Conftantme. If aw another angel, Jly in themidji of heaven y having the everlaftinggofp el, to preach unto theniy that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people ^ ^ , This pro- phecy relates to the middle ages, and the noble exertions under the New Empire, both in checking image-worfhip, and pro- pagating the Gofpel, efpecially among the Northern Nations. The Reformation, and the difcovery of the new world, were farther fteps towards univerfality. When the antichriftian Church fhall come to an end, then pure and genuine Chriftianity will difplay its native luflre, and fhine forth on all the world : agreeable to that pro- phecy, And the feventh Angel founded *j and there were great voices in heaven, faying, The ki?igdoms of this world are become the king* doms of our Lord and of his Chrifl; and he fhall reign for ever and ever ^^. 35 Comp, Rev. v;i. 4. andxiv. 6. *^ Rev. xi. 15. L APPEN- I J62 ] APPENDIX T O T H E NINTH DISCOURSE. A General View of the Progrefs of the Chriftian Religion: extrafted from the accurate Treatife of the moft learned Fabricius; Salutaris Lux Evangelii toti Orbi per divinam Cratiam exoriens. Hamb. 1731. 4. I. A colleftion of the Prophecies, Precepts, ^d Teftimonies of Holy Scripture ; after Eufeb, D. E. II. Profper, III. 35, fq. Huetius, prop.IX. capp.150, fq. Witfius, Mifc. II. 400. II. Jewifb, Heathen, Chriftian Teftimonies, of the early progrefs and fuccefs of the GofpeK Tacitus, XV. 44. non modo per Judaeam, fed per urbernetiam, multitudo ingens. Clemens R. de Paulo Apoftolo, §. 5. ^knonoa-wnv ^i^oc^oig i/ov rav jcocr^t^oj/^ kcci iiri to rsp/^a ^ycrtw? jAGw;/. III. Converfion of the Jews and Samaritans. Nazarenes, a general name of Chriftians, was more confined to the Jewifh converts, who re- ttaijaed the ritual of Mofes, AQs xv. IV. 15 I S C O U R S E IX, l5^ IV. Converfion of the Gentiles, principally by St. Paul ; from his own miraculous conver- fion, A. D. 35, he went into Arabia, to Damaf- cus, to Jerufalem, to C^farea, to Cilicia, and Tarfus, to Antioch, Cyprus, Pifidia, Pamphylia, Macedonia; to Athens, Corinth, Ephefus; Phrygia and Galatia; Greece, Alia; Rhodes, Patara, Tyre, Ptolemais ; Jerufalem ; and to Rome, A. D. 61. See Tillemont's Life of St. Paul. Mem. I. 2. The Hellenifts were Gentile converts: A6ls xi. 18. Fabricius gives eight feveral opinions concerning them. V. The amplitude of the Roman Empire, and the difperfion of the Jews, gave free courfe to the Chrifbian Dodrine fupported by Miracles. Alphabetical Catalogue of the Apoftolic Churches. Tertulliandeprsefcriptione.c. 20 — 21, Provinces of each of the Apoftles. VI. Perfecutions and Calumnies, by which the Jews and Samaritans attempted to impede the Gofpel. Jerufalem taken, and deferted- The Jews in vain attempted to rebuild the Temple, under Hadrian, Conftantine, and Julian, VII. Gentile Perfecutions, for in Centuries, under Nero, A. 64 ; Domitian, A. 93 ; Trajan, A. 104; Hadrian, A. 125; M. Aurelius, A. 151; L 2. Severus, l64 D I S C O U R S E IX. Severus, A. 197; Maximin, A. 235; Decius, A. 250; Valerian, A. 257; Aurelian, A. 272; Numerian, A. 283 ; Diocletian and Maximian, and Licinius, A. 303—313. VIII. Philofophers and Heretics, who op- pofed the Chriftian Religion. Sadducees, Epi- cureans, Stoics, Falfe Apoftles : Tribes of here- tics, in the firft century, of whom Philaftrius, edit. 1721. 8. flill more numerous in the fecond century ; and more Wilful and dangerous, in the third. Thefe inteftine diforders would have ruined the credit of any Religion, not of divine original. Celfus, Lucian, Theollhenes, Porphyry, two anonymous writers in Bithynia (La6l. V. 2.) Hierocles, Demetrianus, Caecilius, Julian, Am- monius, Proclus, wrote againfl the Chriflian Religion. IX. The fmcerity, induflry, and fuccefs of the Apoftles concurred with the evidence of Miracles, and Prophecy, with catechetic in- Ilruftion, and preaching, and the Apologies for Chriilianity, to difleminate the Gofpel. X. The Lives and Manners of the Primitive ■f Chriftians. Of the German treatife of G.Arnold, lyoo f. and a fummary of its contents, fee Fa- bricius^ D I S CO U R S E IX, j6^ bricius, p. 197—201. The Chriftians were good and quiet fubje6ts to Government : ov^su oy,oi/oovi/^Bg Ci\j]co ^vi^ria-ov^oci. Orig. III. p. IT5. XL Martyrs. Prudentius, IT. Z. /. 85. Nee furor quifquam fine laude noftrum Ceflit, aut clari vacuus cruoris; Martyrum femper numerus fub omni Grandine crevit. XII. Chriftian Emperors. Tiberius, Do- mitian, Trajan, Adrian, Antoninus Pius, M. Aurelius, Severus, Julia Mamsea and her fon Alexander, Philip and Severa, Gallienus, had occafionally favoured and prote6ted the Chrif- tians. The corruption of manners, that pre- ceded the ftorm of Diocletian, is defcribed by Eufebius, H. E. VIII. i. A. 311. Galerius, Conftantine, and Licinius publifhedan Edi6t in their favour. Euf.VIII.17. which was followed by others of Maximin. IX. 1.9, 1 o.and of Licinius,X.5. Conftantine favoured the Chriftians, without adopting their Creed. He has the glory of eftablifhing Chriftianity as the Religion of the Roman Empire. His con- verfion was A.312. and during a fortunate reign of 30 years, A. 306 — 337, he extended Religion, with and beyond his victories and conquefts. L3 XHI. 266 D I S C O U R S E IX. XIII. Imperial Edi6ls for the Chriftian Reli- gion ; againft idolatry, temples, facrifices, gladi- ators ; Conftantine abolifhed the capital punifn- ment of the Crofs, Lipf. de Cruce, III. 14. againft Judaifm -, againll the errors and abufes which had impaired the difcipline of the Church. Conftantine committed the adminiftration of the Roman Empire to Four praetorian prsefeQs. On this divifion was fori^ed the Ecclefiaftical Government. 1. Under the prsfeQ of the Eaft, were five diocefes; the Eaft, 15 provinces: Egypt, 6 : Afia, 10 : Pontus, :^o : Thrace, 6. II. Under the prgefeO: of Illyricum, three dio- cefes, Macedonia, 6 provinces : Illyricum, 6 : Dacia, 5. III. under the prsfeft of Italy, two diocefes, Italy, 17 provinces: Africa, 6 provinces. IV. Under the prasfecl of Gaul, three diocefes, Spain, 7 provinces : France, 17: Britain, 5. Of the extent of the Church, we may form fomc idea, from the Subfcriptions of 307 Eaftern Biihops to the Council of Nice. * Haec de Conftantino, qui primus veneranda Chriftia- poram fide Romanum munivit imperium, prin- cipe prudente, felici, forti, humano, et, quan- quam paffus ali^uid et ipfe humani fit quandoque, tamen divinitus delefto ad res maximas geren- das, et Chriftianis nunquam fine grata venera- tione nominando/ p. 294. XIV, D I S C O U R S E IX. j6^ XIV. Julian's perfecution, by difperfing the ConfelFors, enlarged the bounds of the Church. Julian fays, Epift. 51. that the Chriftians were equal in number to the Gentiles. Jovian in a few months reverfed all that Julian had done in behalf of paganifm. All the Eaftern Churches were fubjeft to the four Patriarchs, of Conftan* tinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and JerufaleraJ Car. a S. Paulo, 1707, f. Bingham. B. IX. XV. Italy. Gunther. Ligurini 1. VI. 625^ — Romanus tempore prifco Pauper erat praeful; regali munere crevit. Nee tamen ut fafces, et regni jura Latini Veldarepraefumat,velcuiquamtollerepolIit, By the fuburbicary Churches, in Rufinus, H. E. I. 6. fome underftand the territory of the praefe6l of Rome, 100 miles from the city. Others extend them to include a Patriarchal power over all the Weftern Churches: or a Metropolitan power over the x Provinces of Italy which were under the Vicar of Rome* F. Spanheim. Opp. II, p. 439. Of the barbarians who infefted Italy, from the fourth century, the Goths, Herulians, Lorn-!' bards, all became converts to Chriftianity. XVI. Spain. Rom.xv, 24. Clemens,R.I.5r Tertullian, c. Judaeos, cap. 7. Hifpaniarum omne3 terroinos Chrifto fubditos, J.4 Of l68 D I S C O U R S E IX. Of St. James: Jo.RichardfonipraeleB:. XXVI I r^ The Saracens conquered the Goths, A. 711, and were expelled from Spain, A. 1491. 1570. 1610. Portugal. They deduce their converfion from the difciples of St. James. The Moors were expelled, A. 1112. Clement XL gave them a Patriarch. A. 1716. XVII. France. Of the pretended Diony- fius, Tillemont, II. 4. Richardfon, prael. 29,30. Martyrdom of St. Pothinus, Bifhop of Lyons ; Euf, H.E. V.8. Converfion of Clovis, A. 469. * narrant hiftorici, inclamaviffe regem cum fuis in media acie, Jefu Chrifle, li Deus es, oflende te vi6loria£f largitorem, ut venerer te numen cum regina mea Clotilde. Greg. Turon. II. 30. Con- verfion of the Burgundians, A. 417. Orof.VIL 32.41. Mofhem. de Ret). Chr. p. 449. XVIII. The British iflands: Tertullian. c. Jud. 7 . Britannorum inacceffa Romanis loca, Chrifto fubdita. The Angles and Saxons, A. 447. General Converfion of England, about A. 670. St. Auguftin, firft Archbifliop of Canterbury, converts king Ethelbert, A. 597. Ethelbert king of Kent gave the Miffionaries Jeave to try their powers of perfuafion : and when he himfelf became their convert, he left every D I S C O U R S E IX. i6g every one at liberty, either to reje6l or follov/ his example; on this noble maxim, that the fer- vice of Chriil fhould not be compulfive, but the voluntary efFecl of the excellence of the Gofpel. Beda. H. E. I. 25, 26. Scotland : Buchanan, b. IV. fays, that Donald and his fucceffors could not efface the ancient fuperftitions. And b. V. that Pope Celeftine, from A. 423 to 431, oppofing the Pelagian herefy in Britain, efFecled the conver- fion of the native barbarians. St. Patricius, Apoftle of L^ eland in the 5th Century. Tillemont*s Mem. Vol. XVI, UiTer. Antt. Brit, ad A. 431. Orcades infulae xxvii, quarum primus epif- copus Thorolfus, A. 1070. Torfaeus, rer. Oread, lib. III. 1697. fol, XIX. Germany, twv £v TspiJ.civiscig l^pvfAsvup iycyiXy](riuv meminit Irenseus, I. 3. St. Bonifacius converted all the nations between the Rhine and the Wefer, from A. 719 to 754, with great zeal for the Chriftian Religion, and (till greater for the Papal Power. Mabillon.Ann.Bened.tom.IJ. Few of the Northern nations were converted before the age of Charlemagne. In the old franco-faxon Confeffion, is this form. ' Ego irenuncio omnibus diaboli operibus et verbis, la- corum 570 D I S C O U R S E IX. corum cultui, Wodano et faxonico Otino^ et omnibus fpiritibus lualis, qui horum confortes funt. XX. Switzerland and the Netherlands. Theodoras a Swifs Bifhop fubfcribed the Coun- cil of Aquileia, A. 381. St. Vedaflus, firft Bp. of Cambray, converted Clovis king of France. XXI. Hun GARY J converted A. 1010. Bo- hemia and Moravia, conquered by Charlemagne, received Chrillianity in the ixth Century. Poland, A. 965. Dlugofs. lib. I. Lithuania, A. 1386. Tranfylvania : Baron, ad A. 1002. Of Scythia, converted by Nicetas, a Dacian Bifhop, Paulinus writes. Ad tuos fatus Scytha mitigatur, — Et Getas currunt, et uterque Dacus, The Sclavonians : Baron, ad A. 632. 1062, The Goths beyond the Danube : converted by Ulphilas, before A. 3^0. Alaric their firft Chridian king received Arian Bifhops from the Emperor Valens, A. 413. Orof. VII. 33. 37. Of the veneration of the Goths for the church of St. Paul and St. Peter, Procop. Goth. II. 4. and c. 14, 15, of the converfion of the Heruli. Of the Dacians and Befla, on the Riphaean mou^iains, Paulinus^ poem, 17, Nam D I S C O U R S E IX. lyi Nam fimul terris animifque duri £t fua Beffi nive duriores Nunc oves fafti, duce te, gregantur Pacis in aulam, XXII. Denmark. Saxo Gramm. 1. IX, p. 175, afcribes its converfion to King Harold, A. 826. under his fucceflbr Sueno II. the Chrif- tians were perfecuted, A. 980, (totam religionis ftirpem ab radice convulfit) but afterwards pro- te6led till his death ia 1048. Canute, monarch of fix kingdoms, died A. 1048, laudato fludio promovend:£ Religionis Chriftianae. Norway : Eric and his attendants were baptized, A. 930. Torfseus, hift. Norw.II.p.i83. Haco, king of Norway, A, 945, made the Chriftian Religion the national eilablifhment. He threw down the idols of Thor, of Odin, and of Freyra. Torf^us, p. 407. and fent Sigifmynd to convert the FiEreyan iflands-. Torf. p. 414. Drontheim, anarchiep. fee. Sweden : converted A. 813, but chiefly by St. Anfcharius, A. 829, and by the Swedifh Evangelift St. Rembert, A. 853. Upfal, chief fee. Livonia, Courland: by St. Bertold and St. Mainard : Bifhopric of Riga, A. 1186. Finland : by Henry bifhop of Upfal, and Eric, king of Sweden, A. 1150, Pagi,«3A.ii68. Lapland: 172 DISCOURSE iX. Lapland: A. 1160; and under Guftavus Ericfon, Charles IX. Guftavus Adolphus, and Oueen Chriflina. Schefer's Lapland, Oxf.1674. Iceland : the ancient Thule : Torfeus. hift. Norw. t, II. p. 378. 418. Paris 1678. GroenlXnd : c. A. 996. Torfaeus. p. 434. hift. Norw. et Groenlandia antiqua, Havniae^ 1715.8. XXIII. Russia: Conflantine porphyrog. (or Leontius Byz.) in the life of Baiilius Macedo, c. 66, relates an incredible miracle, of the Gof- pels unburnt in a fierce flame, by which the Ruffians were converted in the ixth Century. Bonifacius Camaldulenfis, the Ruffian and Pruffian Apoftle, died A. 1008. Aga, wife of George prince of Ruffia, profef- fed the Chriftian Religion, A. 955. her nephew Woldemir was baptized A. 988, with twenty thoufand Ruffians. The author of the Life of Bafilius, c. 65. 38, 39. relates the fuccefs of the Gofpel in Bul- garia, A. 870. and in other pagan nations. The Patzinacites were converted under Con* ftantine monomachus, A. 1042. Siberia was held by the Mohammedans, and from 1587, by the Ruffian Chriftians. The Oftiaes received chriftianity fo late as 1712, by the care of Philotheus archbiffiop of Siberia. Under D I S C O U R S E IX. 173 Under the Ruffian Patriarch appointed 1588, were four metropolitans. The patriarchate was aboiifhed A. 1699. and a new Church govern- ment formed by Peter the Great. Frid. Span- heim. Opp. II. 501. Buddeus. M.S. II. 165. XXIV. The Prophecies relating to the pro- pagation of the Gofpel may be ^clafled under four kinds : 1, relative to the univerfality of the Chriftian Religion, of which fee ch. i. 2, re- fpeding the enemies of the Church, herefies, and fcandals. 3, of the fafety and perpetuity of the Church. 4, Of removing the candleflick or light of the Gofpel, from thofe who negleB: or abufe it : inftanced in Ephefus and the Afian churches, in Greece and Africa : occalioned by hoftile armies, and idolatrous barbarians, chiefly by the Saracens and Mohammedans. XXV. Mohammed, A.622. Abulfeda, Oxf. 1723. f. TheSaracensunderAbubeker,Omar,Othman, fubdued Arabia, Syria, Perfia, and Egypt ; made inrodes into the Greek empire; and carried their viQorious arms into Media, Chaldea, India, Tartary; from A. 714, held Spain for many ages; but were driven out of France in 726; infeftcd Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Corfica, Majorca, Crete; founded in Africa the kingdoms of Fez, Morocco, J74 D I S C O U R S E IX. Morocco, and Algiers^ Tunis and Tripoli ; and became mafters of Conftantinople, May 29, 1453, The fuccefs of their Arms was attended with the propagation of Iflamifm. Mohammed's definition of War was * decertatio pro via Dei/ and in the Koran, Sura viii. 39. * Pugnate contra infideles.' He gave a Charter of pro- te£lion to all Chriftians who fhould fubmit to him. The caufes of his fuccefs, were 1. The do6lrinc of the Unity, in cppolition to the Koraifhites. 2. Suppreffing all mention of the Jewifh and Chriflian myfteries. 3. The fadions, herefies, and idolatries of the Chriftians. 4. The dif- iT[iembering the Roman Empire, theweaknefs of the Byzantine Empire, and the growing power of the Barbarous Nations. 5. Mohammed's military fucceffes feconded by his enthufiafm. 6. The fucceffes of Heracliusagainft the Perfians opened a way to the Mohamm>edan conqueft of Perfia. 7. His impoftures. 8. His armies. 9. Liberty of confcience. 10. Senfual gratifi- cations. 11. Commerce. 12. Silencing all difputes about Religion. Demetr. Cantemir, de flatu Imp. Turcici. 1722. f. XXVI. Peffecution and War are falfemeans of extending Chriftianity. Juft Limits of Toleration. XXVII. D I S C O O R S E IX. 17^ XXVII. The true and apoftolic means, arc a folid open and confiftent faith and doftrine, exemplary manners, and invincible patience. XXVIII. The Chriftian Doaors injured their caufe by employing the Sibylline and other forgeries, falfe revelations, and other pious frauds. The Emperors availed themfelves too much of worldly inducements. The zeal of the Popes was artful and ambitious. Yet their fervices to the Chriftian name, in Germany, and other nations, merit that approbation, which is expreffed by St, Paul to the Philippians^ i. 18. XXIX. Marriages, glory, wealth, power, politics, hereiy, the Difciplina Arcani, and the perfidy of the Helcefaites in occafionally denying Chrift. Eufeb. H. E, VI. 38. XXX. Crufades, began in 1090. After the Franks had taken Antioch, A. 1098, and Jeru- falem, A. 1099. and the vi6lory at Afcalon, A. 1100, they ere6led a Chriftian kingdom. St. Louis took Damietta, A. 1249. In 1204 the Franks founded the French Empire at Conftantinople, which continued till 1260. Jerufalem taken by Saladin, 1 188, was recovered by Frederick II. 1229: but the Saracens re- gained it in 1224, 2ind Antioch in 1268, and I expellecl 176 D I S C O U R S E IX. expelled the Chriftians from all Syria in 129I0 The Popes purfued the ruinous proje6; of the Crufades with unremitting zeal for many ages, till they were alarmed with the dawn of Refor- mation in Europe, and dire6led the Holy War againft the Schifmatics, as they ftyled the Greek Church, or the heretical Albigenfes, Bohemians, Huffites. See Gretfer. de Cruce. torn. III. lib. 2. XXXI. Religious Orders, falfely afcribed to Conftantine the Great, were not inftituted till the Crufades. Knights of St. John Baptifl: — Hofpitalers — of Rhodes, now of Malta, A.i 113. Of the Holy Sepulchre, 11 20. Templars,iii8, extincl, 1308. Teutonic Order, A. iigo. in PruiTia, 1224. Enfiferi, 1204, againft the Pagans in Livonia. The Orders inftituted in the xivth, xvth, and xvith Centuries were not religious, but military ; except that of the Golden Fleece, in 1429. XXXII. MiffionarieSjin thexvith,xviith,and XVI nth Centuries. 1. The Jefuites, inftituted A. 1540, took a fpecial vow, of obedience to the Pope in the religious Miffions ; as is expreffed in the bull for canonizing Ignatius Loyola and Francis Xavier, A. 1623. ' Xaverius, novus Indiarum Apoftolus. Nam praeter Indos, Brachmanes, et Malabares, Ipfe primus Paravis, Malais, D I S C O U R S E IX. 177 Malals, lais, Acenis, Mindanais, Malacenfibus, et Japonibus Evangelium annunciaverat.* Corn. Hazart. S. J. Chriftianifmus Catholicus per univerfum orbem propagatus faecc. xv. xvi. Viennae, 1684. fol. 11. tomis. This Book treats of the Miffions to Japan, China, Tartary, Co- chinchina, Tunquin, Siam, India; to Abyffinia, Guinea, Angola,Congou,Monomotapa,Marocco, Pez, Tunis ; to Peru, Paraguay, Brazil, Florida, (Canada, Mexico, and Maragnan. 2. The Francifcans : St. Francis d'Affife with XII companions travelled over Italy, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, England, Scotland, Sweden — Afia, Greece, Syria, Egypt, Marocco; and formed 58 miffions. Raym. Caron, apofto- latus evang. Antv. 1653. 8. gives an account of the miffions of the Francifcans, Dominicans and Carmelites, Benediftines, Ciflercians, Pr^mon- llratenfians, Auguftinians, Jefuites. Epiftolae et Relationes Miffionariorum, ab A. 1542. vid. Fabric, p. 555. A. 1699. 1731. P. du Halde, &c. Lettres edifiantes et curi- enfes, ecrites des miffions etrangeres — xix vols. 12°. et ab A. 1715. Nouveau Recueil des Lettres, &c. R. Millar, II. 263, obferves, that * none of thefe Miffionaries ever put the Sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Teflaments into the hands of their pretended profelytes, nor gave them M 178 D I S C O U R S E IX. any methodical inflru6lion in the principles of the Chriftian Religion/ Yet I concur with the good Fabricius, p. 566. Nomen Chrifli etiarn Miffionariorum fludiis latius proferri, atque inter gentesperfonare^gaudeocumApoftoioetgaudebo, qiianquam ut apud majores noftros olim obfcu- ratum traditionibus humanis : nam ita quoque non dubito, illud falutare fore multis, donee pod hoc crepufculum, puriorem plenamque lucem Evangelii populis illis concedere luminum Patri vifum fuerit. XXXIII. 1. The Roman College de propa^ ganda fide was inftituted, A. 1622, and wifely provided with a printing-office for the foreign Languages, diftjnguiflied by many capital im- preffions. 2. The tribunal of the Inquifition, began by Innocent III. w^ho fent his Legate and twelve Ciflercians to perfecute the Albigenfes, A. 1204. It was eflabiifhed by Dominic at Thouloufe, A. 1 2 1 2. its authority confirmed by the Emperor, A.I 225. and admitted into Italy, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Sicily, Sardinia, Flanders, and Artois : biit reje8ed in France, Venice, the Netherlands which it w^as the means of liberating from the, Spanifh yoke. It is alfo eftabliflied at Goa, Carthagena, and Mexico. H.Grotii Annales Belgici. lib. I. P. Limborch. Hift. Inquis, 1692. f. 4 XXXIV, D I S C O U R S E IX. 179 XXXIV. Pope Gregory XIII. eftablifhed kxiii Seminaries for the educatioal of MifTio- iiaries; and there are above i.xxxfuch Seminaries. Ant. Walaeus, a Calvinift, formed a Seminary in Holland, A. 1622. for thepurpofe of fending annually Twelve Mifiionaries to India, v. Walsei Opera 1643. torn. II. p. 437. * Etiam vulgares animae conflitutam ecclefiam confervarequeunt ; fed aliquam de novo erigere, ut Rempublicam, tantum Heroum eft.' XXXV. Proteftant Miffions, From Geneva to America, A. 1556. From Holland to the Eail-Indies. J. Vifcher (in the Biblioth. Brem. torn. III. et V.) gives extravagant accounts of loOjOoo Chriftians in Batavia. Fabricius gives interefting notices of the Tranflations of the Holy Scriptures into the language of Formofa, 1661 ; of iVlalaye,i687. The heroic munificence of that great Chriftian Philofopher, R. Boyle, procured editions of the New Teftament in the Malayan Language, to be difperfed over the Eaft Indies. Under his aufpices, a Turkifli verfion was publiflied at Oxford, 1666, by W. Seaman, and was well received in the Eaft. 8000 Copies of the Arabic verfion were difperfed at the expence of 2400^'. by the Society for the propagation of the Gofpel. Biblioth. Brem. torn. VI. p-7ii. M 2 The l8o D I S C O U R S E IX. The Virginian or Indian Bible, by John Elliof^ 1663.4. TheBrafilian. the Finniflr, 1642. the Lapland, 1669. the Eflhonian, 1715. the Lettifh, i68g. The Royal College of Copenhagen, founded by Frederick IV. 1714. have Printing-Offices at Tranquebar, from whence the Miffionaries have publifhed the Bible in the Malabaric Tongue, and other works in Theology, The New Teftament was publiflied at Madras, 1727. Benjamin Schukze, a diftinguiflied Miffionary, printed verfions of the Scriptures and many religious Tra61s in the Damulic and Telugic lansua^e and charader; of which fee Fabric, p. 611 — 616. The Swedes have generoufly laboured in diffufing the Gofpel among the Finns and Lap- landers. Hans Egede was fent Paftor to Groen- iand, 172 I, and publifhed the Pfalms and St. Paul's Epiftles in that language. XXXVI. St. Bartholomew, St. Thomas, St.Panta£nus,St.Frumentius, are reported tohave carried Chriltianity into the Eaft, Tamerlane founded his Empire, A. 1399. and his fuccefTors have occafionally favoured the Miffionaries. Catrou, Empire da Mogol. 1705. 4. For one Mohammedan, there are two or three hundred Idolaters, in the Mogul's country. It D I S C O U R S E IX. i8i is deemed, far more difEcult to convert the Mohammedans, than the Idolaters. XXXVII. Persia. Perfecutionby Sapores; Eufeb. vit. Conft. IV. 9. 13. Mohammedifm prevailed, on the conqueft of Perfja by the Sa- racens, A. 651. The Chriftians are Georgians, Armenians, Neftorians and Jacobites, and European Proteflants. Chardin. 3 vols. 17 11. 4. Chriltians of St. John Baptift, the Zabians of Maimonides, M. N. III. 29. XXXVIII. Armenia. Mofes Chorenenfis, fl.A.430. Chardin. II. 232. Ilsmaintienncnt leur foi, fans en vouloir embrafler d'autre, fe confervant egalement et contreles vexations des Mahometans leurs Souverains maitres, et co;itre ies miffions de Teglife Romaine. XXXIX. China, the D^J*D of Ifa. xlix. 12. St. Thomas is confidered as the Apoftle of India and China. Abdias, lib. VII. Euf. H.E. V. 10. Taprobana, the modern Ceilan. Of the Jefuite miffions, Lettres Edif. tom. I. VII. VIII. XV, Buddei anale6la, p. 163. XL. Japan. Tavernier, in pr^claris itine- jribus, 1679. Bayle, in voce, Japon. Kempfer, 1731. 3 vols. 12°. Si AM, LeClerc. B.U, IV.424. XIV.445* M3 XU, j82 DISCOURSE IX. XLI. Tartary. I. Afiatic Tartars. 2.CrIni Tartars, orof Precop. Their extended Empire under Genghizchan, who died A. 1230, ancj under Tamerlane, who died 141 5 in the 36th year of his reign. The Tartars conquered China, A. 1643, and expelled the ancient Chriftians. Arabia^ received the Gofpel from St. Paul and St. Peter. Gah i. 17. There were many Chriftians before Mohammed. Pocock. fpecim. p. 136. In the Turkish Empire are Chriftians, of the IV Patriarchates^ Greeks, Romanifts, Armenians, Copts, Maronites, Melchites, Neftorians, Jaco- bites, Iberians, Colchians. XLII. Afiatic Iftands : 1200 Philippines: 1500 Maldivian ifles. Java, Ceilan, Goa, j/Ialabar, the Moluccas. Lettr. edif. t.X.XI,6cC, XLIIL African Iftands : Canaries. Azores. Madera. Cape Verd. St. Thomas. Malta. XLIV. Afts-ica. Its Church planted, a. i2o« Paganifm was abolifhed at Carthage, A. 399. Auguftin. de CD. XVIII. 54. Accuratiihme Ruinart, ad Vidor. Vit. p. 123 — 217. M. Leydecker. hift. eclef. Afric. 1690,4. The Vandals were driven out by Juftinian, A. 533. Procop, B.V.IL9. The Saracens invaded Africa, A. 666; conquered it^ A. 691. and perfecute4 the D I S C O U R S E IX. i8^ :> the Chrlitians, A. 707. who were proteQed by Charlemagne A. 790. In 1087 the Chriftians defeated the Saracens in Africa and Sicily. Pagi's Annals. The Mozarabic Churches flou- riihed in the twelfth Century. Marmol. 1677. torn. II, p. 54, mufarabe fignifie un homme^ qui fcait I'arabe. XLV. ABYssiNiAjOr Ethiopia. Aftsviii. 27. Eufeb. H. E. II. 2. Candace was Queen of Meroe. St. Frumentius was their Evangelift, in the ivth Century, The king of Abyflinia alfumes the titles of the ' moil illuftrious of Chriftian Soverains — the equal arbiter between Chriftians and Mohammedans.* Job Ludolfus. hift. yEthiop. 1681. f. et Commentarius, i69i.f. XLVI. Egypt. Plandel'ouvrageduP.Sicard fur I'Egypte. p. 741. Copts, p. 752. Lettr. Edif. torn. II. et nouveaux memoires, torn. VI • of their prefent ftate. XLVII. America. V»'itfius, Mifc. Sacr. torn. II. p. 400. 426. — Lafitau, 17 14. 4. opus amoenum et eruditum. Veftiges of Jewifli rites; p. 756. XLVIII. North America, difcovered 1492. Carrere, Columbus, poema, Romae 17 15. 8. Alexander VI. in bulla apud Bzovium, ad A. 1493. ^^ ^ Populos in hujufmodi infulis et M 4 terris lS4 D I S C O U R S E IX. terris degentes ad Chriftianam Religionem fuf-» cipiendam inducere velitis/ XLIX. South America. Of the ifthmus of Panama, whofe Bifliop is a fuffragan of the Archbifhop of Lima, fee Dampier, 1699. Paraguay : Lettr. Edif. tom. XI — XV. Peru: Frezier, p. 398, on the multitude of monks and nuns. Lima, founded by Pizarro, A. 1 535, has more than 50 fplendid Churches; befides 24 mona- fleries, and 12 nunneries, 4000 nuns. Lettr. Edif. tom. VI L Of Brafil, Surinam, Chili, Amazone, Magellan, fee the fame Colledion. tom. XII p. 219.231. Le P. Samuel Fritz fuivit le cours de la riviere Maragnon vers fon embouchure : il a etabli fa mifiion fur cette grande riviere, laquelle en plii* fieurs endroits reffemble a une vafte mer. II a foin de trente nations Indiennes, qui habitent autant d'Ifles, de celles, dont le Maragnon eft couvert. L. The prevalence of the Chriftian Religion is, under all its apparent difadvantagcs, a divine work : it cannot be ever extinft, though it may be removed from particular places : and there is not only prophetic affurance, but fome pro- bable reafons, to fuppofe that it will go on increafing, and become univerfal, DISC. DISCOURSE X. CHARACTERS of ANTICHRIST, Isaiah LVII. I o . Thou art wearied in thegreatnefs of thy way^ Yet faidjl thou not^ there is no hope : Thou haji found the life ofthiiie hand^ Therefore thou waft not g?'ieved. THE evangelical predi6lions of this great Prophet proceed for the moft part in the order of time, though with that latent method which becomes this kind of Infpiration. Having in the Liiid Chapter induced the Meffiah expiating by his crofs the fms of the worlds in the Livth he de- fcribes the purity of the Church in the Apoftolic age ^ in the Lvth invites both Jews and Gentiles to accept its privileges, by fulfilling its conditions of Faith and iR^epentance : predicting ch. lvi. the pre- valence of the New Religion : for mine houfe Jhall be called an hoife of Prayer for all people. But ig6 D I S C O U R S E X. But no fooner fhall this happy event be accompiifhed by the civil eftabUfhrnent of the Church and the converfion of the J^arbarous nations 3 than a new and afto- nifhing fcene opens : the iuvafions of the barbarians, and the corruptions of Anti« chrift. J. VI. 9. All ye be a/Is of the fields come to devour % Yea^ all ye beafls in the forrejl, 10. His watchmen are blinds, they are all ignorant^ "They are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark ', Sleeping, lying down, loving tojlumber. i I . Tea, they are greedy dogs, which can never have enough. And they are Jloepherds that caiinot underjiand : 7hey all look to their own way. Every one for his gai?! from his quarter, 12. Come ye, fay they, I will fetch wine. And we will fill ourf elves with ftrong drink ; And to-morrow pall be as this day^ And much more abundant. The J) I S C O U R S E X. 187 The difmembering of the Roman Empire, and the devaftation of the Eaft, confequent on the corruption of the clergy, is predicted by emblems well adapted to the barbarous invaders : ^11 ye beajls of the field, come to devour 5 Tea, all ye heafis in theforrefi. By the beafts of the field we may under- ftand the fanatic armies of the Saracens, fomewhat humanized by letters and laws: by the beafts in the forreft, the more brutal Huns, Turks, and Tartars, fwarming from their uncultivated wood-lands. We may find the direft completion in, that age of revolutions, the 5th Century : when the Goths, the Huns, the Vandals, and the Heruli, invaded Italy, Germany, France, and Africa. In the 6th Century, the Sclavi and Bulgarians pafied the Danube, and brought great calamities on the Greek Empire. In Italy, the fucceffors of Theo- doric were conquered by Belifarius: and the kingdom of the Lombards by Charlemagne, in whofe weak defcendents the kingdom of Jtaly continued till the end of the ixth age: during i88 DISCOURSE X, during which, the Saracens infefted Apulia and Calabria, and fubdued Sicily and the Italic ifies. The Hungarians, Normans, Danes, and Turks continued for feveral ages their predatory expeditions ; till at the end of the xiiith Century, the founders of the prefent Turkifli empire advanced into Europe in quell of new habitations. In this arid the next age, the Tartars under Tamerlane with immenfe though divided armies invaded Europe and Afia, and brought fuch horrors on Chriftendom as give pain in the relation. Since the irrup- tion of Tamerlane, and the diifolution of his empire, Hiftory mentions no new in- curfions of Barbarians : by the conqueft of China, the civilization of Rufiia, and the new art of War, thofe formidable emigra- tions have ceafed; and there opens a pro^ fpect more favourable to Religion and Humanitv. The caufes of the barbarifm and defola- tion of Europe in the middle ages, here alligned by Infpiration, are the corruptions of the Eailern and Weftern Churches^ efpecially of the hierarchy and whole body ^ of D I S C O U R & E X. igg of the clergy, by Ignorance and remiffnefs in their facred office ; by a depraved ftupi- dity m fpiritual and divine things ; by in- fatiable avarice, luxury, and ambition. The v^atchmen here cenfured are the Bi (hops and Clergy in Europe and the Lower Empire ; who, awed by the fanftity of their office from more fcandalous and open vices, w^ere corrupted by the more fpecious purfuits of ambition, luxury, and gain. The completion of this prophecy muft not be fought in a narrow corner of ancient Paleftine, but in the Chriftian Church, now far and widely diffufed 5 in its Bifiiops and more eminent Pallors, and the whole, cccleliaftical order y till the mifchief ended in the ufurped dominion of Antichrift. I. The primary caufe of the corruption of the Clergy was the temporal fplendour of the Church, under its nurfing-fathers the Roman Emperors : when its patriarchal and epifcopal dignities became fuch objefts of ambition, as Ammianus defcribes, (peaking of the See of Rome, for which Urfinus and Damafus were competitors. " When I «« reflect, fays the military hillorian, on the 1! luxury 150 D I S C O U R S E X. " luxury of Rome, I do not wonder, that ** they who" are emulous of fuch difthic- tions, fliould ufe every exertion to pro- cure them, and fhould exult in obtaining the objeft of their ambition : enriched by the gifts of noble matrons*, they ap- pear in fplendid equipages, are magnifi- cently habited,and are more fumptuoufly feafted than at royal tables. Yet they *' would be far more happy and refpe6lable, if, defpiiing the luxury of the capital, which only elicites and difplays their vices, they would conduft their lives like fome provincial Bifliops, whofe ftrid: fo-* briety, the fimplicity of their exterior, and the modefty of their afpeft, render them eftimable in the eyes of the true worlliippers of the eternal deity." cc cc (C cc \ 10. T^hou art wearied in the greatnefs of thy wayy Tetfaidji thou not there is no hope, O 3 How 214 D I S C O U R S E X. How lively a portrait of Romifli fuperfti- tion, Iribouring Vv'ith its own weight ! and of fuch prodigious extent and complicated vari- ety, that tlie detail of her ceremonies^the lives of her faints, the records of her monaflic orders, the decifions of her fchool-men and cafuifts, and the annals of her pontiffs, are a labyrinth of prolixity and impofture. Yet fuperflition, ever ingenious in finding pretences to evade reformation, and to fup- port itfelf under its oppreffive burdens, hath found her account in the gratification of her paflions, efpecially of worldly intereft and ambition : ^hou hajl found the life of thine hand^ Therefore thou waf ?20t grieved, f. II. ^nd f whom hajl thou been afraid^ cr feared^ That thou hafi liedy and hafl not remembered me^ Nor laid it to thv heart ? An ironical cenfure of that mixture of ido- latrous worfliip with the principles of true Religion, vvhich hath ever chara61:erized the apoflate Church, whether of ancient Ifraelj, D I S C O U R S E X. ^i^ Ifrael, or of Antichrift. Both have lied to God, and have been falie, and forgetful of him, by debafing his vvorfhip with their idols and fuperftitions. Have not I held my peace ^ even of old^ And thou fear ejl me not'? A long connivance and profperous im- punity made the Church of Rome fecure in her enormities ^ carelefs of true Faith, corrupting divine worfhip, relaxing moral obligation, and given up to a worldly fpirit of wealth and dominion. But f, 12. J will declare thy right eoufnefs and thy works J For they fh all not profit thee. Rome boafts of her ov/n righteoufnefs : fhe ftyles herfelf the only Church, the infal- lible judge of controverfies : flie condemns, as heretics, all who oppofe her decifions : fhe glories in her religious orders, her numerous faints, her pompous altars, and theatrical ceremonies : and, which is the O 4 peculiar ^l5 D I S C O U R S E X. peculiar fcope of the Prophecy before us, fhe exprefsly aflerts as a fundamental doc- trine, juftifi ration before God by the merit of her own rigbteoufnefs and moral works; yet lay ng more ftrefs on fuch Grants and endowments as increafe her opulence and power, than on the Virtues of the Heart. El t the event has verified the prediftion; they pall not profit thee. For, by the light of the Holy Scriptures, the darknefs of popery and myftery of iniquity hath been explored ; the nullity of her fuperftitious claims evinced ; her falfe pretences to good works exploded ; her doftrine of merit clearly refuted; and the juftification of Unners placed on its only true foundation, a lively and fruitful faith in Jesus Christ. ^.13. When thou criefi^ let thy CQmp antes delii:er thee ; But the wind fijall carry them all away : vanity JId all take them. . Companies may denote thofe hoftlle armies, crufades, and facred wars, in paft and perhaps future times, to fupport the Antlchriltian caufe, How memorably veri« D I S CO U R S E X, 217 verified ! all are diffipated by the breath of God! reduced to vanity and annihilation! The greajteft military enterprizes leaving no traces of power, or conqueft, or converfion ! Or, thy companies may mean alfo thofe numerous fraternities of monaftic orders, the great fupporters of the Roman hierarchy, whofe diminiflied luftre in the prefent age promifes the completion of that claufe -, Vanity p:) all take them \ the wind f:all carry them all away. But he that putteth his triijl in me Jfjall pojfefs the land^ Andjhall inherit my holy mountain, that is. The true Religion, reftored in the reformed States of Europe, fhall at length be every where profefTed in the Unity of the Spirit, and peaceably eftablifhed by wife and Chriftian Princes. This great event is clearly predi6led in the fequel of this Chapter : )^. 14. Cajl ye up, cajiye up, prepare the way^ T^ake up the Jlumhling-block out of the %vay of ?ny people. The 2i8 DISCOURSE X, The emphatic repetition implies the ruin of true Religion which preceded the reformation: Gaft ye up a caulley or high-way of holinefs " . God commands his Minifters to reform his Church. Obedient to the heavenly mandate, an illuftrious band of learned and good men undertook the arduous work; with fuch zeal and fuccefs, as to emulate the Apoftolic Age. The ftumbling-blocks in the Papacy are well known to fuch as are converfant in the annals of the Reformation. The acceptablenefs of the Reformation to Almighty God, refults from that noble chara6leriftic of Proteftantifm, The Renun- ciation of Merit, which I wifh to imprefs on our minds and hearts as the proper confeStary from this difcourfe. f.i^' For thus faith the high and lofty One^ ^hat inhabiteth eternity^ whofe name is Holy y I dwell in the high and holy pi ace ^ " Ifai. XXXV. 8. 6 With D I S C O U R S E X. 2ig With him alfo that is of a contrite and humble fpirit ; ^0 revive the fpirit of the humble^ And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. High and lofty, high In his effence, fublime in power: eternal and immenfe: whofe name is Holy, and, as fuch, demands an holy worfhip : dwelling in the higheft Heavens, yet refiding in the contrite and humble heart : rejeding the proud,— thofe, who are either elated with the pride of :^eafon and of confcious Virtue ; or with the pride of Superftition, and its vain pre- tence to fupererogating Merit: giving grace to the humble, to thofe, who in the true evangelical poverty of Spirit ' Renounce their righteous and unrighteous deeds/ and rely only on a Saviour's infinite defert, to pardon their Sins, and to prefent to God's acceptance their lowly andunaflum- ing Virtues. Tb revive the Spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones : a graceful and emphatic repetition, much in ufe with the Sacred Writers, when they defcribe the oeconomy of the Holy "^ Spirit 220 DISCOURSE X. Spirit, in reftoring the Soul to its original integrity, fanftifying it wholly, and refrefli- ing it with the confolations of divine favour. 5^. 17. For the iniquity of his covet oiifnefs was I wroth Andfmote him : I hid me^ and was wroth: And he wenf'm frowardly in the way of his heart. Covetoufnefs * here denotes any inordinate paffion, particularly that felfifhnefs, com- bined of ambition and avarice, which is the fource of every evil, fubftituting for faith and probity a proud and venal im- piety. The papal fuperftition, founded in thefe infatiable appetites, had long excited * Covetoufnefs f* y^"^ l denotes any inordinate paffion or purluit: particularly, that felfiflinefs, com- pounded of Avarice and Ambition, fo well defcribed by the moralizing profligate, Saluil. in Catil, c. x. primo pecuniae, deinde imperii cupido crevit : ea quafi materies omnium malorum fuere. namque avaritia fidem, probita- lem, ceterafque artis bonas fubvertit; pro his fuperbiam, crudelitatem, deos negligcre, omnia venalia habere edo- cuit. et c, XI. fed primo magis ambitio, quam avaritia, animos hominum exercebat. the D I S C O U R S E X. 221 the divine difpleafure; which expreffed itfelf both in temporal calamities and fpi- ritual defertions. Yet, in vain the Northern barbarians invaded the corrupted Church; in vain the Weftern Chriftians turned their crufades againft the Greek Empire; in vain, were both difmembered by the fanatic armies of the Saracens. In both the thrones of Antichrift, Superftition went its train, till it grew in its progrefs equally- corrupt and calamitous. It is obfervable, that the hiftory of the Middle Ages afcribes thofe calamities, to tHe aT^rice, the luxury, and defpotic policy, of the Roman court and hierarchy. In this crifis, the Divine interpofition is thus expreffed : ^" . 1 8 . I havefeen his ways, and will heal him ; I will lead him alfo, and rejlore com^ forts to him, and to his mournet^s. I have feen with compafTion the fimplc and credulous world feduced by Antichrift. I vvill/jtWhimby remiffion and reformation : I will 222 D I S C O U R S E X. I will lead him by my faithful Minifters : I will reftore the confolations of my Spirit unto hinty the bewildered people 3 and to his mourners^ the witnefles of Truth, who, amidft the papal darknefs, were the iliuf- trious alTerters of the faith and rights of Chriftians. fAg» I create, the fruit of the lips : I alone give povver and efficacy to the Miniftry of the Gofpel. Peace ^ peace ^ to him that is far cffy and to him that is ncar^ faith the Lord^ and I will heal him. As the original Gofpel was a general bleffing, offered to Jews and Gentiles ; fo, the Reformation propofed anew the fame eternal Gofpel, to all who fought reconciliation and peace with God, through Faith in Jesus Christ; — to all, remote and near. The progrefs of the Reformation was worthy of the purity of its principle. The moft potent States and Republics of Europe were the ample theatre of this great revolution -, the effe6ls of which v/ere anfwerable to the difpofitions, v/ith which fo divine a benefit was either received or reje6led. The Re- for- D I S C O U R S E X. 223 formation, produ6live of Liberty, Science, Peace, wherever it hath been eftablifhed by Law and cherlilied by the People; hath htQn the caufe of long and frequent wars and civil commotions, in the Popifh Govern- ments, who have attempted to check its progrefs by force and intolerance. Of which we have m.emorable examples ; on the one part, in the glory and tranquillity of the reign of Elizabeth : on the other, in the declining power of the Court of Rome ; of the Spanifh monarchy, from Charles V. to Philip IV. and in France, during the tragical and inglorious reigns of Charles IX. and Henry III. All which abundantly verifies the conclufion of this prophecy, in its colle6live as well as private application : }^.20. But the kicked are like the troubled Se a ^ When it cannot reji^ whofe waters cajl up mire and dirt, 21. T^here is ?io pe ace ^ faith my God^ to the wicked. PROOFS PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS, PAGE 186. INTERPRETERS differ in applying thofe marks of a corrupt Church. The Rabbins apply them to the Jewifli priefthood about the times of the Captivity. More probably, they refped the unworthy H. PP. and priefthood^ who fucceed- ed Onias III. a^ appears from Jofephus and the books of Maccabees. Eufebius, Jerome^ Cyril, apply them to the Scribes and Pharifees of the age of Our Bleifed Saviour ; but the charaQers donotagree to that priefthood, more diftinguifhed by the fpiritual than carnal vices. They were fadly verified by the Romifh clergy of the middle ages : and the application is confirmed by L VI. 8. which defcribes the Chriftian Church com- poCed of Jews and Gentiles, and, f, y.thehoufe of God made an houfe of prayer for all people : and to this period of the Middle Age the feries of the prophecies evidently leads us. Qu2ere mecumim.plementum hujus prophetlse, non in angulo Terrae Chananasae, fed in Ecclefia Chriftiana, latiffime jam diffusa, poft plures gentes finu fua receptas ; ejus praefe6lis, pafto- ribus, et Epifcopis, et Ordine Ecclefiaftico, pofl Con- D I S C O U R S E X 225 Conflantini et Juftiniani tempora, fenfim magis niagirquecorrLipto,ufquequopofl;ixChriftianifmi feculum, labes totum fere pervaferit corpus, tarn in Oriente quam in Occidente. See the Authors cited by Vitringa : Matthew Paris — Aventinus— Ufher, de fucc. E.Occ.c.23. i — Mczerai — Nicetas — Wilhelmus Tyrius, i. 8w — LambertusSchafnab. — St. Bernard — William of Newburg— and P. Langius, in Piftorius. p. 843. 883. PAGE I9C). Ammianus. XXVII. 3. Daraafus et Urfiniis fupra humanum modum ad rapiendam epifco- patus fedem ardentes fciflis ftudiis acerrime con- fli8:abantur, adufque mortis vulnerumque difcri- mina adjumentis utriufque partis progreflls. Oucenec corrigere fufnciens Juventius nee mol- lire, coaftus vi magna feceffit in fuburbanum. Et in concertatione fuperaveratjDamafus, parte quae ei favebat inft'ante : conftatque,in bafilica Sicinini, ubi ritus Chriftani eft conventiculum^ uno die centum triginta feptem reperta cadavera peremp- torum, efferatamque diu plebem segre poftea delenitam. Neque ego abnuo^ oflentationem rerum confiderans urbanarum, hujus rei cupi- dos, ob impetrandum quod adpetunt, omni con- tentione laterum jurgari debere, cum id adepti futuri fmt ita fecuri, ut ditentur oblationibus P matro- 226 D I S C O U R S E X. niatronarum, procedantque vehiculis infidentes, circumfpefte veftiti,epulascurantesprofuras,adea ut eorum convivia regales fiiperent menfas. Qui efTe poterant beati revera, fi, magnitudine urbis defpe6la, quam vitiis opponunt, ad imitationem Antiftitum quorundam provincialium viverent : quos tenuitas edendi potandique parciffime, vilitas etiam indumentorum, et fupercilia humum fpe8;antia, perpetuo Numini verifque ejus cul- toribus ut puros coramendant et verecundos. In compiling this account of the Papal Ufur- pations, not having accefs to original authors, I have chiefly followed a very learned Differtation of S. Deylingius, ObfT. Mifcc. Lipf. 1736. 4, De Novitate Regiminis Monarchici in Ecclefiam Univerfam : p. 420 — 536. PAGE 193. Irenaeus II. 3. p. 201. potentiorem principa- litatem. Amniianus XV. 7. audoritate, quapo- tiores aeternac urbis epifcopi. vid. Mofhem. de Reb. Chr, p, 258 — 263. PAGE 195. Nic. Alemannus, praef. in arc. hift. fpeaking of Juftinian's fupporting the arrogant pretenfions of the Cptan patriarchs, and giving the faftuous title of oecumenical bifliop to John of Cappa- docia; has this expreiTion; vixque tandem dex- trum D I S C O U R S E X. 2iJ7 trum ecclefifc folium Pontifici Romano segr^ concefTerit, where the dextrum folium is very appofite to the two horns of the Antichriftian Lamb, as explained by Daubuz of the Greek and Latin Churches. See Anecd. c. xiii. In the anecdota, c. xv. we read, that the Emprefs Theodora's courtiers kilTed her feet: rocpcrov sKoclspov -uTo^og ccKpcc yetXei a^^a^skoi. ThlS woman a6led, as if file had ftudioufly formed her whole character on that of the Babylonian harlot, the reprefentative of both the corrupted Churches. The Emperors Caligula and Domitian exa6led the homage of kiffing their feet, of being deified, and of having the divine titles : and give a fignal refemblance of the pagan Pontifex Max. to the fame office and title in Antichrift, as God fitting in the Temple of God, and Jhcwing hiinjelf that he is God, 2 ThefT. ii. 4. P A G £ 200.- Gregorius VIL lib. IV. Epift. 12. * Ad * oppidum Canufiii, in quomorati fumus, [Rex] * cum paucis advenit ; ibique per triduum ante * portam, depofito omni regali cultu, mifera* * biliter, utpote difcalceatus, et laneis indutus, « perli{lens,nonprius cum multo fletuApoftolicas * miferationis auxilium et confolationem implo- * rare deftitit, quam omnes, qui ibi aderant, et ad P 2 * quos 228 D 1 S C O U R S E X. * quos rumor ille pervenit, ad tantam pietatem ' et compafTionis mifericordiam movit, ut, pro * eo mukis precibas et lachrymis intercedentes, « omnes quidem infolitam iioftrse mentis duri- * tiam mirarentur ; Pionnulli vero in nobis non ^ Apoftolicas feveritatis gravitatem, fed quaii « tyrannies feritatis crudelitatem efle clamarent. "^ Denique inftantia compunftionis ejus, et tanta * omnium qui ibi aderant fiipplicatione devidi, * tandem eum, relaxato anathematis vinculo, in * communionis gratiam, et fmum fanft^e matris « ecclefiGe recepimus.' Ha:c in prsefata epiftola Plildebrandus, qui3e fane ipfum tantse arrogan- tise hominem fuiffe arguunt, ut alterum illi' asqualem baud facile protuleris, fi modo duos alios Pontifices, Alexandrum III. et Cseleftinum itidem III. excipias. Jo. Ricbardfoni prsleft. XXXIV. p. 228. Sigonius, de Regnoltalise, lib.IX. ad A. 1077. Francifci Pagi breviarium, illuftriora Pontifi.^ cum Rom. gella compleBens, torn. II. p. 438. Fabricius. B. G. XI. 589. ' Gregorii VII. Regillrum, five Epiftolarum Libri, finguli fm- guli's Pontificatus ejus tributi annis. Primus continet epiftolas 85. Secundus jj. in cujus 55ta ad Laudenfes, exftant celebria ilia DiBata Pap^y fuprematum five totatum Pontificias po- Jeftatis nullis circumfcriptge limitibus y^i^^^ rn D I S C O U R S E X. 229 MsS)y//yi Chriftiano orbi obtrudentia. — Ut vero flppareat, quofque pudor pofTit pcrire de rebus, adfcribam qu:« modo memoravi diftata papa?, illifque ex lib. IX. epift. 3. juramentum Imp. Henrico IV. delatum fubjiciam. Videant inte- rim, qui hodie defpoticiim principum imperiuru ita commendant et exacuunt, conculcata Sacer- dotii et Ordinum auftoritate, an peftilentiorem etiam Hildebrandifmo ipfo peflem, quantum ia ipfis eft, in Chrillianum orbem inducant/ DicTATA Pap.e. Labbe. Cone. torn. X^ p. 110. Harduin. VI. p. 1304. 1. Quod Romana ecciefia a folo Domino (it fundata. 2. Quod folus Romanus pontifex jure dicatur univerfalis. 3. Quod ille folus poffit deponere Epifcopos vel reconciliare. 4. Quod Legatus ejus omnibus Epifcopis praifit in Concilio, etiam inferioris generis, et adverfus eos fententiam depofitionis polTit dare, 5. Quod abfentes poifit deponere. 6. Quod cum excommunicatis ab illo, inter C2etera, nee in eadem domo debemus manere. 7. Quod illi foli licet pro temporis neceflitate novas leges condere, novas plebes congregare, de Canonica Abbatiam facere, et contra, divitem epifcopatum dividere, inopes unire. P 3 8. Quod 2^0 D I S C O U R S E X. 8. Quod folus poffit uti imperialibus infigniis. 9. paod folius Papse pedes omnes principes deofculentur. 10. Quod illius folius nomeii in ecclefiis recitetur. 11. Quod unlcum eft nomen in mundo. 12. Quod illi liceat imperatores deponere. 13- Q^o^ ^^^^ liceat de fede ad fedem necef- fitate cogente Epifcopos tranfmutare. 14. QuoddeomniEcclefiaquocunquevoluerit clericum valeat ordinare. 15. Quod ab illo ordinatus alii Ecclefiae prae- effe poteft, fed non militare : et quod ab aliquo epifcopo non debet fuperiorem gradum accipere. 16. Quod nulla fy nodus abfque praecepto ejus debet Generalis vocari. 17. Quod nullum capitulum, nullufque liber Canonicus habeatur abfque illius au6loritate. 18. Ouod fententia illius a nullo debeat re- traftari, et ipfe omnium folus retrafta re poffit. 19. Ouod a nemine ipfe judicari debeat. 30. Quod nuUus audeat condemnare Apofto- licam fedem appellantem. 21. Ouod majores caufae cujufcunque Eccle- fiae ad eum referri debeant. 22. Quod Romana Ecclefia nunquam erravit, nee in perpetuum, Scriptura teftante, errabit. 23. Quod Romanus Pontifex, fi canonice fuerit ordinatus^ meritis B. Petri indubitanter efficiter D I S C O U R S E X. 231 cfficitur San6lus, tellante S. Ennodio Papienfi epifcopo, ei multis fanftis patribus faventibus, licut in decretis beati Symmachi Papae continetur, 24. Quod illius prascepto et licentia SubjeQis iiceat accufare. 25. Quod abfque fynodali conventu poflit Epifcopos deponere et reconciliare, 26. Quod Catholicus non habeatur, qui npn concordat Romanae Ecclefiae. 27. Quod a fidelitate iniquorum fubjedos poteft abfolvere. JuRAMENTUM Regis. Labbc. p. 279, Harduin. p. 1481. * Ab hac bora et deinceps fidelis ero per re6lara fidem beato Petro Apoftolo ejufque vicario Papae Gregario, qui nunc in carne vivit : et quodcunque mihi ipfe papa praeceperit, fub his videlicet verbis^ per veram obedientiam, fideliter, ficut oportet Chriftianum, obfervato/ De ordi- natione vero ecclefiarum, et de terris vel cenfu, quae Conftantinus Imp. vel Carolus Sanfto Petro dederunt, et de omnibus Ecclefiis vel praediis, quae Apoftolicse fedi ab aliquibus viris vel rauli- eribus aliquo tempore funt oblata vel conceffa, et in mea funt vel fuerint poteftate, ita conve- niam cum Papa, ut periculum facrilegiiet perdi- tionem animae meae non incurram : et Deo, fanSoque Petro, adjuvante Chrifto, dignum P 4 bono- 232 D I S C O U R S E X. honorem et utilitatem impendam : et eo die^ quando ilium primitus videro, fideliter per manus meas miles Sanfti Petri et illius efficiar, PAGE 201. Sal. Deylingius : de novit. Regiminfs monar- chici in Ecclef. Univerfam. p. 535- * Multi veterum Hildebrandum tanquam ferociflimam belluam execrati funt. Legantur Ada Concilii Brixienlis, An. mlxxx. celebrati, apud Harduinum, T. VI. P. I. f. 1595, ubi ejus fcelera vivis coloribus depinguntur ; necnon Aventinus, lib. V, f. 455. Sed recentiores tan- torum malorum au6lorem ob res adeo pr^clare geftas non folum divorum numero adfcripferunt^ fed nuper admodum novam ut appellant Legendam in honorem et memoriam divi Gregorii VII. promulgarunt. De Gregorio VII. divis ad- fcripto legantur Acla San61orum ad diem xxv Maii, tom. VI. f. 70. feq. Hoc ipfumofficium in Hildebrandi memoriam et honorem compofi- tum, antea in fola ecclcfia Salernitana, ubi papa ifte in exilio mortuus eft, recitatura, fed a Eene- di6lo XIII. univerfo orbi obtrufum exhibetur in Bihliothcque Fran^oife.^ T. XIII. p. 299. Videatur etiam Bibliotheque Italique T. VI, Num. y, de la Legende de Gregoire VI L p. 205.' ? AGE D I S C O U R S E X. 233 PAGE 202, * Ipfe autem Henricus cum fuls fautoribus, in omni congrefiTione belli, nullas vires, nullam- que in vita fua vi8:oriam obtineat/ Bulla Excomm. ap. Ricbardfon, p. 231, The Antichriftian harlot, exciting this unna^ tural war againft Henry, reminds one of Virgil's Aleao. Cura tibi divura effigies et templa tueri : Bella viri pacemque gerant, queis bella gerenda. VII. 444. En ego vi61a fitu, quam veri efFoeta feneQus Arma inter regum falfa formidine ludit. Refpice ad haec : adfum dirarum ab' fede fororum ; JBella manu lethumque gero. — f, 455, PAGE 203, Adamantino velut nexu propofitionls Veritas conftat. — Hierarchiam ecclefias Romanse domi- nantem,inde aGregoriiVII.temporibusmaxime, efle ceetum talem, qui (1) Babyloni Chaldseac quadantenus conveniens, (2) fub myfteriorum, feu religionisChriflianasprastextu, (3) imperium incivitate magna in populum magnum animalem, Chrifti nomen profellum licet, feptem collibus, totidemque provinciis diftinftum, multorum Jlegum potentia fuffultum, obtineti feque im- mani 234 DISCOURSE X. mani faftu, habituque prstumido, (5) ceu numen Divinitatis particeps, ab eo religiofe coli patitur, (6) adeoque populum fibi obnoxium a vero Dei cultu ad fui et creaturarum cultum falfamque religionem modis omnibus feducit; (7) fandos veri Dei cultores atrociter perfe- quitur; (8) blafphemiis, (9) luxuria, (10) vene- ficiis, (11) avaritia et nundinatione fpirituali fefe immaniter poUuit, (12) feverumque idcirco Dei judicium provocans, illud aliquatenus jam fubivit, et porro fubiturus eft. Quae duodecim demonftrationis capita, ordine ut figillatim per- fecuturus, Deumveneror, ut confilium laborem- que meum Ecclefias profperet ; et aperta rerum luce, praediQionum fa8:orumque harmonia per- fpe6la, Babylonem agnofcant falutariter, pro- pereque deferant, quotquot ejus amore praspof- tero ad perniciem fuam ha6lenus arferunt. This definition of Antichrift is taken from Jo. Henr. Heideggeri nHI b^l ^ID feu in Divi Johannis Apocalypfeos Propbetiam de Babylonc Magna Diatribae. Lugd. Batav. 1687. ^ voLs. 4to. DifT. V. and it is illuftrated in that work with great erudition and the cleareft evidence. Of the parallel between Babylon and Rome fee the elaborate Notes of Daubuz, on Rev. xvii. 3, and Heidegger, DifT. VI. PAGE D I S C O U R S E X. 23s PAGE 20g. P. S. Polano. C. T. lib. I. p. 20. ed. 1629, Jan. 1522. Adrian VI. Temevano alciini, ch'egli JoJ/e pur troppo inclinato alia Riforma^ Non dava altro titolo alia dottrina di Luther 0^ Je non d'injipiday pazza : il cominciay par una leggier riforma in Ro7na. Card. Soderini coiijiglia la via della forza, ' NiJJuno haver mai ejiinto rjierejie con le rifornxe^ ma con le Crociaie. Innocenze terzo con tale mezo cpprejje/elicementt gli Albigeji de Lingiiadoca: et i Pontejici fequentiynon con altri modiy ejlinfero in altri luoghi, i Valdeji, Piccardiy poveri di Lio7ie, Arnaldijiiy Speronifii^ tt Tatarini! — Non ejfendo la Corta degna d'un tal Pontejice. p. 31. NiJJiLna Riforma poterji.fare^ laquale non dimi^ nuijca VEntrate Ecclefiajiichc : lequali havendo quattrofontiy uno temporaky le rendite dello Stato EccleJiaJlicOy gli altri fpiritualiy L'Indulgenze, Le Difpenfe, La Collatione dc Benejicii : nonjipuo otturar alcuno di quejiiy che le entratc non rejiino tr one ate in un quarto, p. 24. Marcellus II. vita exutus 2 2doEle61ionisdie, incredibili omnium bonorum dolore, quibus fpes affulferat emendationis, et aurei fub illo feculi; fublatus forte divina benignitate, ne malitia mutaret intelleUum ejus, Spondanus. 1555. n. vii. Polano. lib. Y. p. 399. 236 DISCOURSE X. PAGE 210. Jo. Geo. Walchii Mifcc. Sacra. 1744. 4. lib. III. 5. de Lollardis. p. 652. Haecvefana eft Pontificiorurn ratio, ut a partibus fuis difce- dentes probrofis verbis afficiant : qua ratione, faepius viri integerrimi adpellationes tulerunt nefarias. Ita quoque Lollardorum majores, nimirum Waldenfes, vocatos cf[e Albigenfes, Arianos, Manicheos, Gnoflicos, Adamitas, Ca- tharos, i\rnoIdiilas, Jofephinos, pauperes de Lugduno five Leoniflas, Fratricellos, Begardos, Pallagerios, Paterinos, TholoTanos, Bulgaros, Picardos, Infabbatharios, Turlupinos, Lollardos de quibus nobis res eft, Pileatos, Caputiatos. See the notes on that, diflertation, in which tbe oriein of thefe names is invelligated. Of the Valdenfes, A. 1 170 : Thuanus, 1. VL A. 1550. p. 185. edit. 1620. XXII oranino vici numerantur, de quibus fummum ab Oppeda fumtum fupplicium eft. p. 191. Walter Lollard was condemned to the flames, 1322 : in his own lifetime, he had 80,000 dif- ciples : his doclrine foon fpread in Auftria, Bohemia, &c. and was revived in England by John Wiclef, Limborch. hift. inquif. I. 18. 22. Huguenots. Egnots, du mot Eidgnoften, a/Iih par jtrmmt. Voltaire. Hift. Gen. ch. cxii. et Spondanus, A. ^307, et 1560, P A GS D I S C O U R S E X. 237 PAGE 212. Mr.Mann's MS. cited by Bilhop Newton,V.3, p. 304. * Quis igitur rex feptimus erit ? Nimi-« rum, ipfe papa. Nam ex quo, A.D. 534. euin Eccleliarum omnium Caput declaravit Juftinia- nus, alii omnium judicem, ipfum a nullojudi- candum ; tanta reverentia et obfequio ab Impp. ipfis cultus eft, tanta auftoritate ipfos fubinde reprehendit,interdum etiam anathemateperculit, ut non minus dicendus fit regnajje in fpirituali- bus, quamvis fe fubditum Temper fervumque fervorum diceret, quam in temporalibus impera- tores. Tunc igitur Papa e feptem illis, id eft, ex genere atque ordine illorum principum qui oras- ceflerant, efle dicendus erat : donee A. D. 727. Leonis imp. jugum,quem anno fuperiore excom- municarat,prorfus excuffitGregoriusII. Romam- que et regiones vicinas fibi fubjecit. £x iilo enim tempore, Papa rex oBavus merito haberi poteft, cum gladio fpirituali temporalem quoque dehinc adeptus.' Compare Mr. Daubuz. p. 567, and p. 791. Of the revolutions in the Middle Ages, fee Vitringa on this place of Ifaiah, and on Rev.ix, p. 413, where he recounts the conquefts of the Saracens, the Turks, the Tartars, the Othmans; Of Tamerlane, Spondanus, A. 1390 — 1402. His Laws have been lately publifhed ; * Jnftitutes of Timour/ 1784. 4to. PAGE 23^ DISCOURSE X. PAGE 214. Quaeris, quae infania homines in hac operofa fuperftitione detineat? una ratio eft, accommo- data eft ad cupiditatem carnis ; haec fuftinet vitam manus, ne manus fatigetur ac lafTetur, aut cultor fatifcat. Vitringa, p. 757. The Romifh Superftition is a perfeQ; contraft to the fimplicity of the Gofpel. The Gofpel revealsOne Mediator and Interceflbr with God : Popery appoints very many. The Gofpel ap- points no feftival, but the Lord's Day : Popery confecrates every day in the year to one or more of her interceffors. For one order of Chriftians, fee fubftitutes many orders of eremites and friars. Black, white, and grey, with all their trumpery. For houfes of Prayer, fhe delights in fuperb Temples and Altars. All the priviieges, and the facraments, of the Gofpel are given gratis: Popery exaBs a round fum of money, for' Maffes, Indulgences, and Remiffions. In fine, our liberty in Chrift Jefus is here exchanged for the jurifdi6lion of an ecclefiaftical defpot, ufurp- ing the throne of God and of Chrift, that is, the Tribunal of Confcience. D I S C« DISCOURSE XL THE MYSTIC TYR E. EZEKIEL XXVIII. f. I. Tbe word of the Lord came again unto ?ne^ faying^ 2. Son of many Jay unto the prince of TyruSy Thus faith the Lord God; Be^ caife thine heart is lifted up, and thou haji faid, /am a god^ I fit in the feat of Gody in the midjl of the feas-y yet thou art a maji and not God^ though thoufet thine heart as the heart of God. 3 . Beholdy thou art wifer than Daniel : there is no fecret that they can bide from thee, 4. With thy wifdom and with thine underJiandiJig thou hafi gotten thee riches^ and haft gotten gold andfJver into thys treafures, 5 . By thy great wifdom ^ and by thy traffiek haft thou increafed thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up b^caufe of thy riches. 6, There* 240 D I S C O U R S E XL 6. T^herefore thus faith the Lord God ^ Becaufe thou hajl fet thtJie heart as the heart of God "^ J. Behold therefore^, I will bring ftr angers upon thee^ the terrible of the nations : and they fhall draw their fwords agaiifl the beauty of thy wifdom^ and they fo all defile thy brightnefs, S . They JJjall bring thee down to the pity and thou fhalt die the deaths of them that are fain in the midfi of the fe as. 9. Wilt thou yet fay before him that fiayeth thee^ 7am God"? but thou fhalt be a man^ a?id no God in the hand of him that fiayeth thee. JO. Thou fhalt die the deathsof theuncir- cuyncifed^ by the hand of firajigers : for I have fpoken it ^ faith the Lord God. MA I M O N I D E S elegantly illuftrates the Myftic Allegory, from a paflage in the Book of Proverbs. ' A word fitly * fpoken is ^like apples of gold in piBures of * filver \ Thefe piftures are fculptures in * relief on works of filver perforated in net- Prov. XXV. 1 1, 8 " work. D I S C O U R S E XL 241 *^ work, or filagree. The apples or fruits of * gold within fuch a net-work of filver, is ^ the parabolic fenfe of literal expreffion. ' In a word, which has a double face, in ^ which there is fomething vifible and fome- ^ thing concealed, it is requifite, that the ' external and apparent fenfe fliould be as * lilver,but the internal fenfe by far fuperiour, ^ in the proportion that Gold bears to Silver. ' The exterior is fo contrived, as to call the ^ attention to that which is within. For as ' the golden fruits in a filver bafket, if care- ' lefsly feen through the apertures, will feem * mere filver like the veffel that contains ' them, to the inattentive and diftant Spec- ' tator; fo, when nearer and more accurately * infpeded, the filvef balket difclofes the ' gold within. Thus in the parables of the ' prophets of blefled memory the exterior ^ and apparent fenfe contains excellent wif- ' dom, of much utility to the confervation * anddireclion of human fociety: but within, ^ it includes that fuperiour wifdom, which * inftru6ts us what ought to be bdieved and ' highly valued in Religious Science. The ' prophetic Parables are of two kinds ; in Q_ fome, 2^2 DISCOURSE XL ^ fome, fdichfmgk word denotes fome propei" * counterpart. But there are others, in ' which the 'whole Parable is fignificant of ^ the hidden fenfe ; in which,, amidft the ^ abundance of expreffion, every word has ' not its weight in the emblem, and does not * apply to the thing fignified ; but either ^ ferves thepurpofeof mere elegance,.or more •^ eiFedlually to involve and hide the Allegory. '•' For the diftion follows the nature of the * fubje6l,from whence the parable is taken/ I fhall feled an inftance of a Myftic Allegory, or Prophetic Emblem, in which the completion, though ftiil future and perhaps remote, is fo clearly afcertained, as to eftablifh the principle on which it is founded. In the fublime predid:ions of Ezekiel againft the king and city of Tyre,, the divine prefcience not only foretels a near event, the taking of that great com- snercial city by the Chaldeans; but alfo extends its view to the Myftic Tyre, the fpiritual mart of gainful fuperftition, and to its idohzed and felf-deified Monarch. Thehiftoric completion of this prophecy is related by the Prophet himfelf > for it was 3 . * of D I S C O U R S E XI. 243 of fo near an event, that, but for the myftic fenfe, it would hardly have been given {6 circumftantially. Tyre was taken by Nebuchadnezzar, after a long and obftinate fiege of XIII years. I?2 the /even and twen^ tieth year^ of Ezekiel's own captivity, after this memorable fiege was tnAtAythewordofthe Lord came unto Ezekiel^ fayi?ig^ Son of ma?ty Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caufed his army toferve a great fervice againji T'yrus ; every head was made bald^ and every fhoulder was peeled : yet had he 720 wages nor his army for Tyrus,for the fervice that he had ferved /igainjl it, Therefore thus faith the Lord God, behold I will give the land of Egvpt, unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon^ and he Jhall take her multitude ^ and take her fpoily and take her prey ; and it Jhall he the wages for his army, I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour^ wherewith he ferved againji T'yrus^ becaufe they wrought for me^ faith the Lord God \ When the prevailing fortune of Nebu- chadnezzar (who, according to Strabo \ ex- tended his conquefts farther than Hercules) * Ezek, xxix. 17 — 20, ^ Strabo. l.xv. p« 687* 0^2 had 244 DISCOURSE XI. had born down all refiftance: after the taking of Jerufalem, Continental or Old Tyre was rafed to the ground, under Ithobalus II. the primary fubjeft of this Prophecy. During a fiegeof xiiiyears5theinhabitantstranfported their richeft effedts to the Illand on which they built the New Tyre, which was taken by Alexander, in the ift year of the cxiith Olympiad '^. The Old City was never rebuilt, and it is of that city,, not the New- one, that the Prophecy is to be underftood hiftorically. Scylax accurately diftinguiflies the two Cities : i . the ancient City, with its Port included within the walls, iii ftadia from the Sea, with a River paffing through it. 2. the infular Tyre, about VIII ftadia from the Land, which was the refidence of the Kings,, from the death of Ithobalus II. to the reign of Azelmicus, when Alexander took it *. * Dlodor. XIII. 40 — 47. & XIX. 86, " Buddeus, H. E. 571.710. Jof. c. Apion. i. 18. An-tt, VIII. 15. X. II. Vitringa, in Efaiam, torn. i. p. t'jQ^ Scylax, apud Marfliam. C.C. foec. xviii. p. 578. ^ccaiXeicc Tvfbv y.xk >^ix.yiVf ocrov H ^u^iscuTro yy,(;' AA^V3 •nroAi? Tv^oq, Xifjuvcc t^wax tvlo(;r ei^Qv^y (ajjjj ^e vi vr,a'o<; /?a7»A«a Tvpiov) nxi uitiyii^ '^sihcc UTTO ^aAalxiJS T. UaXuHv^o^ vroXiq, y.cct imoicc^o^ ^ix fxearii; pet. The B i S C O U R S E XL 24^ The Tyrians of both periods were cUftin- guifhed by their magnificent fuperftition* Hiram, the friend of Solomon, joined the Temple of Jupiter Olympius to his Capi- tal, and dedicated in it a Column of Gold, with many rich donations. He confecrated other Temples., efpecially thofe of Hercu- les and Aftarte. The Baal fo much wor- fliipped by Ahab, was the Tyrian Hercu^ ks, that is, Moloch or the Sun- The Myftlc Tyre will be confidered in a double point of refemblance, its COMMERCE, and its superstition. That emporium of Religious Traffic is defcribed by St. John in charafters pur- pofely copied from Ezekiel, in order to efta- blifli the coincidence of both Prophecies, both terminating in the fame fubjeft. The Traffic of the Church of Rome is fpe- citied both literally and allegorically, the literal cenfure of the luxury of the Romifh Church being founded on Ezekiel's hiftoric defcription of the Tyrian Commerce. The Merchants of the Earth Jha II weep and moiam Qver ber^ for no man biiyeth her merchandiz^e 0^3 ^^fy 246 DISCOURSE Xi; "J*}J} Human ^U . DISCOURSE XI. Human writings obtain the praife of accuracy and truth of compofition, when the ftyle and diftion correfpond to the fubjedl, and clearly exprefs the writer's idea. Infpired writings, claiming their origin from the Spirit of Truth, may be tried by the fame teft. If magnificent expreffion was employed on trivial ideas, it would be vain to have recourfe to poetic didion and eaflern figures. The expreflion of Scrip- ture however fublime, is always temperate, and even below the ideas, when it propofes to our view fpiritual and infinite objects, whether in a primary or fecondary fenfe. Jeremiah, and our Bleffed Saviour, defcribe the fall of Jerufalem, by the darkning of the fun and moon, and nature reverting to its original chaos. A more awful event is intimated, when the elements fliall literally melt with fervent heat, and all things be diffolved. In inftances more parallel to our prefent fubjeft, when we read the for- tunes of Egypt, of Idumsea, of Aflyria, or Babylon ; the defcription rifes above the fubjeft, and leads us to refleft on fome ofher argument, analogous to the hiftory, but DISCOURSE XI; 255 but of more general intereft and import- ance. The Affyrian Monarch, Senna- cherib, defcribed with io much elegance and fublimity by Ezekiel % as a tall and fpreading Cedar, — So that no tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty ; fo that all the trees of Eden envied him ; is the reprefentative of another and a fpiritual Domination, flill more proud and impe- rious, and menacing deftrudlion to the Church of Chrift. The refemblance in their pride, their example and their fall, is fo diftinftly marked, as to lead us to the myftic and principal fenfe. To the end that none of all the trees by the ^waters exalt them- f elves for their heighth^ for they are all deli- vered unto deaths to the nether parts of the earthy &c. f. 18. To whom art thou like, in glory and iii greatnefs^ among the trees of Eden ? Tet Jhalt thou be brought down^ with the trees of Eden^ to the nether pa?^ts of the earth. And, to fhew the extent of the myftic allegory, allufive to different fubjefts, the Prophet fubjoins an application of it to Egypt. This is, or reprefents, Pharaoh and all his ?nultitude^ faith the Lord God. * ch. xxxi. Son 2^6 D I S C O U R S E XL Son of man J fay unto the prince of Tyrus^ thus faith the Lord God ; becaufe thine heart is lifted tipy and thou haf faid^ I am a god ; I fit in the feat of God in the 77iidft ofthefeas-y yet thou art a man^ and 7iot God^ though thou fct thine heart as the heart of God ' ° . Tlie king of Tyre, afFefting divine honours, is a fit and expreffive emblem of him who oppof eth and exalt eth himfelf above all that is called God, or that is "worfipped : fo that he^ as god^ fit t eth in the temple of' God, fiewiiig Imnfelf that he is God'\ That noble prophecy or epinicion of Ifaiah '% furniflieth a parallel to thefe places of Ezekiel and St. Paul. Thou hafi faid in thine heaj^t^ I will afce?id into heaven^ I will exalt 7?iy throne above the fiars of God, I will fit alfo up07i the 77iou7it of the co7igregation^ in the fides of the 7i07'th, I will afce7id above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the Mofi High. Here we dif- cern the traits and features, not only of the king of Babylon profaning the Jewifli temple -, but of the prince of angels falling from heaven : the emblems of an eccle- fiaftical Monarch, felf-deified, and rival of '° Ezek. xxviii. 2. *^ 2 TheiT. ii. 4. *^ ch.xiv. the D I S C O U R S E XL ^^7 the Deity, fitting as god in the temple of God, and prefiding over the myftic Babylon. The Romifli clergy have written exprefs treatifes on the adoration of the Pope. At his eleftion, he is placed on the high altar, and adored by the Cardinals : and with flill greater folemnity at his coronation* In the form of adoration, all things are fubmitted to his ' more than divine difpofal/ ' plufquam divinae fuaedifpolitioni.' I ufe the Latin here, and in fome things that follow ; for our native Englifh is abhor- rent from fuch impious flattery* He is alfo adored In the mafles, proceffions, jubilees. This adoration is not civil but religious, as the very word imports, being inapplicable to any but a perfon afTuming divinity. The ceremonies performed, the benefits expefted, and the refem.blance to their own faint-worfhip, prove it to be a religious aft. Hence thofe impious flat- teries — ' Quem Nu minis infl:ar Vera colit pietas/ — and that of an Egyptian Abbot in the Council of Florence, addrefled to Eugenius IV. ' Pulvis fum et cinis, coram R Te ^58 D I S C O U R S E XL Te Deo In terrls verba faciens : es namquc Deus in terris, et Chriftus, et Vicarius ejus: tu princeps regum/ Baronius and his epitomizer fpeak with much complacency of the Mohammedan prince who killed the feet of Alexander III. and adored him, * tanquam fanftum et pium Chriftianorum deum, unicum in terris deum/ Julius IL more a foldier than a biflhop, was openly ftyled ^ alter in terris deus/ His pontifi- cate of IX years cofl the lives of 200,000 men. One Puccius afcribed to the atheift Leo X. ' divinse majeftatis confpeftur^, cujus rutilanti fulgore imbecilles oculi caligant/ As Antichrift fucceeded to the civil powers of Paganifm, he emufated the Dragon in all the extravagance of the pagan apotheofis, new modelled on anti- chriftian ideas. The Emperor Domitian * was ftyled Dominus et Deus : and Caius had ahars, images, and facrifices. So the papal dignity has been ftyled Divinuni imperium , and, in the ceremonial, Sedes * The glofs upon one of the extravagantes fpeaks of Pt. John XXII. Dominum Deum nollrum Papam, in the rerj^ ftyle of Domitian, Dominus et Deus nofler fic iieii jubet. SuetoD, c. xiii. Dei: D I S C O U R S E Xf. 259 Dei : and the Canon-law affirms, that to violate the decrees of the Pope is to blaf^ pheme againft the Holy Ghost*. Ithobal prince of Tyre, afFe6ling divine- honours in the ftyle of eaftern defpotifm, was a fit emblem of that ecclefiailical power, which almmes the title of a Vice- God and Vicar of Chrift. In tiie perfon of this King, moreillarriious in his emble- matic than hiftoric charafter, Ezekiel not only predicts but dcfc7'ibes the fall of the papal power and of its feat of Dominion ^ and the prophetic fymbols are with admir- able concinnity adapted both to the type and antitype. The affuming divine ho- nours, is fpecified as the primary caufe of the fall of the Tyrian monarch r /. 6. Be^ caufe thou hafv Jet thine heart as the heart of God^ 7. Behold therefore I ivill bring Jirangers upon theey the terrible of the ?2ations : and they fhall draw their fwords againfl the beauty of thy wifdom^ and they fhall defile thy brightnefs. 8. They f jail bring thee down to the pity and thou fhalt die the deaths of them that arefiain in the midfi of the fe as, 9. Wilt thou yet fay R 2 befort 26o D I S C O U R S E XL before him that Jlayeth thee, I am God? but ihouJJ:alt be a man and no god, in the hand of him that flayeth thee. This whole context is lefs applicable to the perfonal fall of a king, than to the fall of a great polity. This poUty is chara6lerized by its fecular greatnefs, and its prudence or reafon of ftate : and the vice-god of Rome extends his pretenfions even to infallibility, as w^ell as Supremacy over all earthly fovranty ; while the Italian policy has been carried to the moft vitiated refinement, f. 3 . Behold, thou art wifer than Daniel: there is no fecret that they can hide f'om thee, 4. With thy wfdom and with thine underflanding thou haft gotten thee riches, 5. By thy great wifdoffn and by thytraffck hafl thou i?icreafed thy riches. The literal eminence of Tyre, in policy, navigation, commerce, arts and opulence, IS verified in the Papal Cabinet; in the unequal returns of real opulence for her vifionary commodities of bulls and pardons; and in the whole beneficiary and financing fyftem of the Cliurch and Court of Rome. The D I S C O U R S E XL 261 The lelTus or elegy on the king of Tyre, in the fplendour of poetic imagery is emi- nent among the fubhmeft traits of Infpi- ration . Son of man^ take up a larnejitation upon the king of T^yriis^ and fay unto hiniy T'hus faith the Lord God : thou fealef up the fum of all perfeSiio7ifull of uoifdofn andperfeB in beauty ^^, Rome hath in all ages exulted as the niiftrefs of the world, in ftrength and policy, fplendour and beauty, and even eter- nity. 1 3 . T'hoii haf been in Eden the gardeii of God. Paradife is the emblem of the Church; and all that follows in this elegy denotes an ecclefiaftical power. Every precious J{o?2e was thy coverings the fardius^ topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jafpery the fapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle ^ and gold. He is compared to the Jewifh High-prieft in the fplendour of his auguft office, inverted with the Sacerdotal orna- ments, efpecially the Perioral blazing with gems. Emblems of the majefty of the Church, which the Papacy aflumes. The antichriftian harlot is defcribed by St. John, as decked with gold and precious flones and pearls. The myftic fenfe leads our '* xxviii. 12. R 3 at' 262 D I S C O U R S E XI. attention to the external fplendour of the Papacy. Perhaps it may feem too minute to obferve, that a paflion for jewels and precious ftones has been remarkable in the Court of Rome. Witnefs the Tiara, and the image of Loretto. Her tafte for eccle- fiaftical mufic feems alfo intimated: The ivorhnanjlnp of thy tabrets and of thy pipes "was prepared in the day when thou wajl created, or inaugurated. 14. Thou art the anointed cherub^ that covereth ; Covering with expanded wings the throne of God : emblemized by the cherubim covering the propitiatory, and I have fet thee fo. Thou i£ajl upon the holy moimtain of God : thou haft ivalked up and down in the midji of the flones rffre, 15. Thou ivajl perfeB in thy ways^ from the day when thou waft created: till iniquity was found in thee. The king of Tyre, as typical of Antichrift, is compared to Lucifer, the fon of the morning, the anointed cherub, the regal Angel, nearefl to and covering the throne of God. ^nd I have ft thee Jo : I have given thee thy original brightnefs. Thou waji upon the holy mou72tain^ the embkm of the Churcli. Thou D I S C O U R S E XL 263 Thou hajl walked up ajid down in the midjl of the Jlones of fire : allufive perhaps to that fublime defcription of the Son of God witl^, a retinue of angels defcending on Mount Sinai. u4nd they faw the God of Ifrael, (the Second of the Divine Perfons) and there was as it were a paved %vork of afapphire-fioney and as it were the body of heaven in its clear-- nefs ^K As the miniftrations of the Jewifli tabernacle were after the patterns of hea- venly things, they aptly reprefent their owi> archetypes. Erraticorum fiderum per Ordines, Per lafteas vehor plagas, Velocitatem faspe miratus novam 5 Donee nitentes ad fores Ventum eft Olympi, et Regiam chryr ftallinam, et Stratum fmaragdis atrium '^ The fpiritual Author of the grand apo- ftacy is, both in his original brightnefs and fubfequent depravity and degradation, the fitteft emblem of that apoftate power^ which *5 Exod. xxiv. ^* Miltonus, In obit, pricfulls EUenf. f* 59, P-4 264 D I S C O U R S E XL fixed the throne of Antichrlft in the purefl: and greateft of the Apoftolic Churches ; in the very bofom of that Church, whofe Faith wasfpoken of throughout the world '^\ and which, as the future feat of delufion and idolatry, was, even then, the fubjeft of that prophetic caution : Boaji not againjt the branches : becaufe of unbelief they were broken of, and thou Jiandejl by Faith : he not high-minded^ but fear : for if God fpared not the natural branches^ take heedy left he alfofpare not thee '\ The caufes of the divine rejection arc thus fpecified: >^ 16. By the multitude of thy merchandize they have filled the midjl of thee with violence , ajid thou haft finned. — • 17. lihine heart was lifted up becaufe of thy beauty ; thou haft corrupted thy wifdom by reafon of thy brightnefs : 18. Thou hafi defiled thy fanBuaries by the multitude of thy traffic^ St. John, adopting thefe ideas, fuggefts their true interpretation. T!hy merchants were the great men of the earth, for by thy SORCERIES were all natioiis deceived. And in *^ Rom. i. 8. '^ Rom. xi. 18-^21, ber D I S C O U R S E XI. 265 her was found the blood of prophets and of faints andof all that were fain iipontheearth^"^. In both prophets, fecularity, fuperftition, and perfecution are the characleriftics of Antichrift : whofe fate and fall is graphi- cally defcribed in many paffages of this fublime prediction as applied by St. John. /. 16. Therefore I will caft thee as profane cut of the mountain of God: and 1 will dejlroy thee^ covering cherub ^ from the 7nidf of the fiones of fire. This energy of expreffion is ultimately applicable to an ecclefiaftical power long held facred and inviolable, but which (hould be degraded from its confpi- cuous ftation on the Mountain and Church of Godj and fhould refemble Lucifer both in his pride and fall. f, 17. I will caf thee to the ground^ Twill lay thee before kings that they may behold thee. It is probable, that the fall of the pontifical empire will be preceded by a defeftion of thepppifh powers of Europe, who will even turn their arms againft her. Thus St. John, ^'^ And the ten horns ^ which thou faweft upon 's Rev. xviii. 33, 24. '"^ Rev, xvii. i6* th$ 2^6 D I S C O U R S E XL the hcaft, (to whom they gave their power end \\\6x Jlrength) even thefe Jhall hate the ivhore, andjioall make her dcfolate and .naked, and p^ all eat hcrflejh^ and burn her withjire^ The political phenomena fmce the -Re- formation confirm thefe prophecies. At that sera, many Princes and Republics emancipated themfelves from the ufurped fupremacy of the Pope. The Court of Rome, though ftill treated with exteriour ceremony and refpeft, has powerful pre- judices to contend with, and has every day lefs influence over Princes. It has indeed been the maxim of the pontificate in the prefent century, to court the fecular powers, and inflead of lording it over them, to folicite their protection. Which leads us to expe6l a probable event of things, agreeing to the very letter of this Prophecy, I will bring fir angers upon thee, the terrible of the nations 'y ajid they JJoall draw their /words againfi the beauty oj thy wifdom, and they fi: all defile ihy brightJiefis. The machia- velian policy of Rome will be unavailing againfi thole armies, which, not unexamp- led DISCOURSED!. 267 led in their enterprife, will afTault the very throne and capital of Antichrift, and will defile her bfightfiefs. The R uiN of this ecclefiaftico-commercial empire, the Myftic Tyre, is predidted in the moft awful terms : but the event being ftill future and perhaps diftant, it becomes us, to colleft from Infpiration fuch circumftances only, as are perfpicu- oufly revealed) and to content ourfelves with a probable interpretation of fuch particulars, as are fpecified by EzekieU f, 16. T'herefore, I will c aft thee as profane out of the mountain of God -, and I will deftroy. thee^ O covering cherub , from the ?7iidfiof the fiones of fire. He predicts the ruin, not of a civil polity, but of an Apoftate Church : ^ will cafi thee as profane out of the mountain cfGod, the conftant formularly to exprefs the univerfal fociety of Chriftians : and this prophetic menace affures us, that the cor- rupted part^ which abfurdly afTumes the name and honours of the Catholic Church, fhall in God's appointed time be no part of it at all: but fhall fall from an earthly 2 hierar- 268 D I S C O U R S E XI. hierarchy, by a revolution awful and afto- nifhing, as when the bright Archangel was hurled with all his legions from the battle- ments of heaven, yrc;« the midjl of tJoe Jloiies cfjire. Thus faith the Lord God to Tyrus\ fiall not the ifes shake at the found of thy fall^ when the ^wounded cry^ when the f aught er is made in the mid/i of thee"-". Among the chief judgments of God on the throne an4 territories of Antichrift, the prophets fre- quently fpecify tremendous earthquakes *\ In our own memory, thefe concuffions have been perhaps beyond former examples. In 1 75 1 Lilbon was laid in ruins, by an earthquake which was felt in the four parts of the world. Very recently, Febr. 5, 1783. Sicily and Calabria expe- rienced a dire calamity, in the deftrudtion of more than one hundred towns and flourifhing cities, with the lofs of 40,000 people, and Nov. 16, 1784, The earth- quakes ftill continued with fome force in ^^ xxvi. 15. ** Ifa'iah ii. 21, v. 25. xxiv. Rev, yi, 14, viii. 5, xi, 19. xvi. 18, D I S C O U R S E Xl. 269 Calabria *^ By a later account, moft of the buildings that had been damaged by the former earthquakes, were deftroyed, with great quantities of grain, but few people. Calabria ultra is fuppofed to be undermined : and Naples is in great appre- henlion from Vefuvius, which rages more than ufual ''^. Great-Britain, to her immor- tal honour, fent immediate relief to Portugal. I wifh the fame attention could have been paid to Naples : and that we had received the accounts of that ftupendous calamity, with a more religious fympathy. But alas ! no earthquakes, even in their own capital, can awaken the fupinenefs and impiety of a luxurious corrupted and irre- ligious people : though, it is hoped, every virtuous Proteftant will lay it to heart. The cataftrophe of Rome by the com- bined elements of fire and water is the fub- je£l of many prophecies ; which, when verified by the event, will probably put an end to fcepticifm and unbelief. Thus Ezekiel, f, 18. Therefore will I biding forth a fire fro7n the midfi of thee ; it Jloall devour *» Lond. Gaz. of Dec. 14, '^^ St. Ja, Chr. No. 3532. thee. 270 D I S C O U R S E Xli thee, and he refumes the fubjed, in that elegant allegory wherein the deftruftion of a maritime city is compared to a fhipwreck. 'I'hy rowers have brGiight thee into the great waters : the Eajl wind hath broken thee in the midfi of the feas. Thy riches — and all thy com-- panv, which is in the midjl of thee ^ jlo all jail into the midjl of the feas in the day of thy ruin. The Jliburbs pail jhake — Th-yjhall lament over thee J fiiying what city is like Tyriis^ like the ' dejlroyed in the fnidjl of the fea.—In the time when thodjhalt be broken by the feas in the depths of the waters ; thy merchandife and all thy company in themidf of thee fhall falL — Thou fdalt be a terror^ and never jhalt be any more. And again, / will make thee a terror J and thou fialf be no more ; though thou be fought for ^ yet fait thou never be found again i faith the Lord God ^' *. "^ xxvil . 26 — 36. xxvi. 21* * ninbll a^^''r''*fl'-'^ Iblet vertere Symmachus. Grot. This is the true fenie of the word, from p^^^ inveteravit. avuXnx E-yEvoy.lxx. vvhofe traiiflation of Ezekiel is efleemed the befl of the Greek or Alexandrian veriion of the Pro- phets. Grotiuo dilutely interprets thofe expreliions, of the period of Seventy years, during which Tyre was .dcfolate, as Ifaiah foretold, c. xxiii. In fempiternum, in longum tempu3, Septuaginta anui, menfura communis 4\umana vita;. The D I S C O U R S E XL 271 The Intelligent Reader of Holy Scripture, will confider the colle6led energy of thofe expreffions — When IJhall make thee a defolate city — when IJloall bring lip the deep upon thee — and great waters fiall cover thee, &c. as too emphatical for any lefs idea, than of a great city and its adja- cent territory falling into the ocean by the force of earthquakes and of fiibterraneous fires. Such was the fate of Port Royal in Jamaica, which hath been thrice deftroyed, in 1692 by an earthquake, in 1702 by fire, and in 1722 by the overflowing of the fea. A cataftrophe not improbable with refpe6l to Rome and the Ecclefiaftical State : and many of thofe horrors were verified in the late deftruftion of Mefiina. The foil of Rome, and of Italy and Sicily, abounds with fulphur, and by the eflx^rvefcence of many ages is highly inflammable. Xiphiline in his abridgment of Dio *, relates the deftrudtion of Herculaneum and Pompeii buried under the afhes of Vefa vius. And in the next year, A. D. 80. while the Emperor Titus \vas exercifing his humanity in vifiting * P. 1094 of Reimar's edition. and 272 D I S C O U R S E XI, and relieving the diftreffed Campanians, a fubterraneous fire broke out in the midft of Rome : and, as if intended to mark the divine difpleafure againft the Pagan Idolatry, it confumed the principal Temples, of Serapis, Ifis, Neptune, the Pantheon, and the facred edifices of the capitol. The ancient and modern accounts of Vefuvius andx-Etna confirm the probability of the prophetic intimations '"^'. There is nothing more terrible in all nature than fiery mountains, to thofe who live v^ithin the view or noife of them. Thefe are fre- quent in both continents of Europe and America, in the Afiatic oriental iflands, in Iceland. But there are no Volcanoes, that deferve our obfervation fo much, as thofe that are in and about the Mediterranean, the Vulcanian ifles, ^Etna, and Vefuvius overlooking the port and city of Naples. Alphonfus Borellus after the great eruption of iEtna in 1669 went into Sicily to view the effefts of it. The torrent of Fire was ** Sec Procop. de B. Goth. II. 4. IV. 36. Burnet's Theory, III. 7. fome- D I S C O U R S E XL 273 fometimes two miles broad, (others com- puted, fix or feven miles broad) and ten or fifteen fathoms deep, and forced its way into the fea near a mile. The Vulcanian ifles are matter caft up from the bottom of the fea, by the force of fire*. Burnet *^ obferves that a fulphureous foil, and an hollow mountainous conftrudion of the ground, are natural predifponents of con- flagration. The myftic Babylon is aiTerted in Scripture fo to perilh^^ Rome the feat of Antichrifl: will be confumed with fire, at the coming of Chrift, or when the period of her apoftacy is expired, in 1260 years from the rife of Antichrifl. Italy is a ftorehoufe of fire. Vefuvius, iEtna, and all the Vulcanian iiles, will burfl into flames. By earthquakes new eruptions w^ill probably be opened in the Apennines; and near to Rome, and in Rome itfelf ; which will be abforbed into a lake of fire, and fink into the fea^ as is more than inti- mated in the Apocalypfe^^ ^7 Theory. B. III. Ch. x. ^^ i ThefT. i. 7. ii. 8. Rev.xviii.8. i9.xix.3. DHn.vii.9 — 11. -9 Rev.xviii.21, * See Sir W. Hamilton's interefting- Accounts of the late Earthcjiiukes, and eruptions of Vefuvius. S The 2^ DISCOURSE XL The civil powers, the fupporters of the Great Apoftacy, fhall fympathize with her in her fall. 'I'hen all the princes of the fea Jhall come down from their thrones^, and lay away their robes ^ and put off their broidered garments : they Jkall clothe themfelves ivith trefnbling:, they ftmllfit upon the ground^ and tremble at every moment y and be ajionijhed at thee ^% All this emphalis is difproportioned to fo common an incident, as a maritime city befieged and taken by warlike kings, and again recovering its former fplendour. Such a Ts-otv(joXiQpi(x, is not applicable to the hiftoric Tyre : which after lxx years defo- lation which followed the expedition of Nebuchadnezzar, became again a great commercial city fubjed to the Perlian Empire. After it was taken by Alexander, it flourifhed more than ever, for many ages 5 it was the fcat of Philofophy, the birth- place of the famous Porphyry. Under the Chriftian Emperors it became a renow^ned Archiepifcopal fee, which perhaps improves the parallel : In the middle ages, it was involved in the Saracenic conqueits^ during ^® xxvi. i6» the D I S C O U R S E XL 275 the Crufades, it was pofTeffed by the Franks together with Paleftine, as feuda- tories to the Popes ; till it was loft by the difcords of the Chriftians in the Eaft, and in 1 29 1 fell under the dominion of the Sultan of Egypt. The ruins of the walls of ancient Tyre are ftill remaining; and the modern town of a mile and an half in cir- cumference is thinly inhabited by 4 or 500 Turks. I infer from this lliort hiftory, that all that was intended in EzeldeFs Prophecy was literally fulfilled in the fates and fortunes of that city. But the myftic fenfe of this prediction is only applicable to an event which will verify fuch circumftances as have hitherto no hiftoric completion literally correfponding to them \ but which are only applicable to the moft awful cataftrophe of prefent Rome, when by an eruption of fire the mountai- nous foil, being undermined, will fall into an abyfs, and be covered with the fea *. T^herefore will I bring forth a fire from the midjl of thee : it Jl:all devour thee. For thus * Heidegger. M.B.M, diif, xvii. S 2 faith ^^fy D r S C O U R S E XI. faith the Lord GoD; when Ijhallmake thee a defolate city^ like the cities that are not inha- bited-, when I Jhall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters Jhall coiner thee-, when T Jhall bring thee down with them that defcend into the pit, with the people of old time ^'; a7id Jhall Jet thee in the low parts of the earthy in places defolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited-, — - 7 will make thee a terror, and thoufialt be no more; though thou be fought for, yet fhalt thou never be found agai?!, faith the Lord God, Our Bleffed Saviour affirms that if his mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in fack- cloth and afhes ^\ They would have yielded to the force of thofe miracles^ which had not their proper efFeft on Chorazin, Bethfaida, and Jerufalem. If I might con- jefture the reafon of this declaration of Chrift, I Ihould afcribe it to xht frequency of miracles in Judea, which had weakened their effect ; as all our ideas are weaker, ■'^ The icphalin,(leftroyed in the Deluge, Prov.vii. 26,27. Ifaiahxiv. 9. ^^ Miiith. xi. 20—24. by D I S C O U R S E XL 277 by often paffing through 'the mind. But the fame miracles would have produced their proper effecfls at Tyre and Sidon,where a miracle was never {qqvi. Thus profefled Chriftians are lefs moved with the fubli- mity and perfection of the Gofpel which is familiar to them, than any virtuous and intelligent heathen would be on Jirji hearing it. The remarkable claufe in the 20th verfe confirms the Myftic fenfe : ^W IJJjall fet [my] GLORY ill the Imid of the Iroing, * The Glory, thus contrafted to the extinclion of the Myftic Tyre, is the intelleftual Light or Glory of the Gofpel, which will fliine without a cloud, when the darknefs of * Ezek. xx,vi. 20, ^j^\» The lxx omit this claufe, and the vulgate adds it to the next verfe. ' Porro, cum dedero trloriam in terra vivcntium, in nihilum redio-am te, et non eris.' Gloriam, ecclelite Judaorum et imprimis N. T, ut, optime Tremellius. ' Proprius iflorum judi- ciorum finis, falus ccclcliae ad gloriam Dei : ut copiolius exponitur xxviii, 25, 26. de pace et tranquillitate Eccle- iixDei coepta perEvangelium, et abfolutafutura fecundo adventu Chrifli. Nam promilfionem hanc evangelicam elTe, et ad Eccleliam ChrilH vetere Ecclefia figuratam proprie pertinere, res ipfa docet, quamvis typo Terras t\. yerbis allegoricis exponatur.' S 3 Anti- 2^8 D I S C O U R S E XI. Antichrift fhall be difpelled. The Lxxxvfn Pfalm, fo fvveetly defcriptive of the grace of Redemption, has a parallel expreffion, that Glory may dwell in our land. Thus the Glorious Land, and the Glorious Holy Mountain is conftantly in Daniel a defcrip- tion of the Holy Land, and fo, of the Chriftian Church ^^ Thus in the New Teftament Chrift is fly led the Glory of his people. Such is the very important fenfe of this Prophecy, the extinftion of Anti- chrift, and the glory of the Church. The fcope of fuch predictions is to fupport the Faith and Patience of the Saints 5 the hopes of virtuous Chriftians : that the fpiritual v^ickednefs and moral evil of this w^orld, fliall gradually difappear ; and give place to a far more perfeft difplay of the divine government, than hath yet been experienced on this our earth : a profpeci: too dazling for our prefent contemplation, but which I hope in my next difcourfe to reprefent in fuch a point of view, as to induce us to concur v/ith the divine fcheme of progreffive Virtue and religious Felicity. 33 Mede. p. 8i6. Dan, xi. 45. PROOFS [ 279 ] PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS, PAGE 240, A TAIMONIDES M. N. praefat. ** * * ♦ •*'^-*- Dicit Sapiens; Mala aurea cum ma(ki- joth Jiguris argeriteis, efl verbuvi diElum Juh modis: ad cujus dicti explicationem attende. Majkijoth five Figurae ills, funt corpora fculpta, fculpturis perplexis vel reticulatis, fub- tilibus et perforatis, ad inftar operis aurifa- brorum ; vocanturque ita, quia per ilia vifus tranfit et penetrat. — Ait, in verbo, quod du- plicern habet faciem, b. e. in quo eft aliquid apparens quod videtur, et aliquid abfcondi- tum, requiri, ut externum et apparens fit in- ftar argenti, interius autem melius externo, ita ut inter illud, et externum, ea fit proportio quae eft auri ad argentum : deinde ut externum ita fit comparatum, ut poflit Le6torem attentum de eo quod intus eft docere. Sicuti enim mala iftiuf- modi aurea reticulis argenti perforatis obdufta, cum de longinquo et fine attentione confpici- untur, videntur efle mere argentea; propius autem infpefta a viro acuto vil'u praedito, often- dunt quid intus conclufum habeant, aurum vide- licet : ita quoque in parabolis prophetarum S ^ beata^ 28o D I S C O U R S E XL beatae memoriae, externum et apparens contlnet quidem fapientiam, quae muiupiicem habet utili- tatem in confervanda et dirigenda hominum Societate; interius vero continet fapientiam,quas nos erudit de iis, quae in Reiigione funt ere- denda et ample6tenda. Parabolae autem pro- phetical duplicis funt generis. * In quibufdam enim fingulse voces rem aliquam peculiarem denotant: aliae vero funr, ubi tota parabola rem fignificatam tot am exhibet, in quibus multa quidem habentur verba, fed non fingula pondus habent, et rei lignificatae aliquid addunt; verum inferviunt tantum ad elegantiam, vel, ut rem tanto magis occultent et involvant. Scquuntur verba rationem rei illius, unde parabola eit defumpta. PAGE 242. Jo. Henr. Michaelis, in Bibliis Halenfibus: EzechieL Cap. xxvi. -jj, 1—14. Prophetia contra Tyrum devaitandam per Nebuchadne- zarem. i^\ 15 — 21. Lamentatio vicinarum fuper ejus devaftatione. f. 6. Qiiandoquidcm vero in fequentibus, praefertim cap. xxviii. ubi eft threnus fuper rege Tyri, multa allegorice dicantur; vix poifumus dubitare quin Spiritus S, Tyxx proprie tifpiritu- aliier diftae judicium in unum cumulum conje- cerit. Ita ut quidem hie intelligamus proprie earn D I S C O U R S E XL 281 cam cladem, quae a Nebuchadnezare primum fa6la, ab Alexandre repetita, ac denique con- fummata eft per Saladinum A. C. 1291. cum, capta Ptolemaide, habitatores Chriftiani earn prae metu deferuifTent : deinde vero etiam extin8:i- onem illius regni et magnae civitatis, qu^, turn per metaphoram, ut fpirituale emporium et me- tropolis nundinationis fpiritualis in mundo, turn propterea quod aliquando Tyrus ejus pars fuit, Tyrus appellatur, &c. Cocceius, qui latius hoc deducit in Comment, ad hoc caput. Conf. not. in Efai. xxiii. i. It is obfervable, that the menace of utter de- ftru6lion is fulfilled hiftorically, only on the Continental Tyre: the infularTyre ftill fubfifts. Yet the mode of deftruftion agrees only to the latter, fubmerfion and conflagration, which feeming contrarieties can only be reconciled or verified in the Myftic fenfe. Cap. XXVII. f. 2. Pergit hoc capite Propheta, in Babylonia degens, vaticinari adverfus Tyrum (novaniy fee. Gurtler. p. 308.) ejufque defcribit I. Spkndoremy quoad aedes magnificaSj rem iiauticam, et vires condu6litias, f. 2 — 11. II. Me }-catum ejus, et commercia cum omni- bus ferme gentibus recenfet, )!r, 12 — 25. III. Maximam ejus ruinam et devaftationem deplorat, et per antithefin amplificat. /.26— 36. Sunt 2g2 D I S C O U R S E XI. Sunt tamen etiam intelligenda de emporio quodam alius generis, quod et Tyrus et Babylon adpellatur, ut conftat ex Efai. xxiii. et parallelia Apoc. xviii. 13. ubi colon fecundum de Babylone ufurpatur, quod de Tyro erat didum in prophetia Efai. xxiii. 1. J. H. Michaelis. Bib, Heb. ex Cocceio. PAGE 248, Polano. P.3O0 Longa jarcbbc efprimer ilcontenuto de Cento grav ami. ma injoinmafi querelevmio del pa- gamcnto per Ic difpenje et ajjolutioni ; de denari che Ji cavavano per I' Indulgenze : delle liti^ che fi tira^ vano in Roma : delli rifervationi de' benejicii, ct altri abufi di comviende et annate: i quali riducevano a ire principali Capi — al metier in J'ervitu i popolit—fpogliarli de' danari — et appro- priarfi la giurijdittione del Magijlrato fecolare, V, Fajcic. rer, expet, etfugiend. I. 352. Courayer. p. 59. note 3. Ce qui chagrinoit les AllemanSy etoit de voir les exactions onereufes de la Cour de Rome, la venalits de toutes les chofes fpiri^ iiiellesy ces domaines immenfes quils avoient acquis, et qui enfaijoient hien moins des Eveques que des Princes, — ces immunitez excejfives quifaijoient des Ecclejiajliques autant defujets indcpendans, etcommc une Societe tout a fait dijlinguee de VaMre, P. 56. // Card Mattheo Langi arcivefcovo di Saltzburg a tutti diceva^ ejfer honejla la Riforma, 2 ' C?c. D I s c o u R s E xr. 283 tBc'^^tna chc un mifero monaco riformi tutti^ non ejfer coja da fopportare, Eb Cornelio Scopero^ Secretario dell' Imptratort^ dijjcy Che ft i predica- tori Protejianti haveffero danariy facilmente corn- prerebbono dagli Italumi qual rcligione piu git pia^ cejje : ma^ fenza Oro^ non potcvano fptrare die la loro potejje rilucere ncl mondo, XXVIII. 2. ^nn*^-^ o^n^K nti^irj '>^^ ba This is the original of that defcription of Anti- chrift by St. Paul : cofs a-i^tou a; rov vccoy rov S-£cu wj 3-fov KaOio-flfi* 2 Thefif. ii. 4, Of the mercenary fpirit of the Romifli Super- ftition, fee Heidegger, M.B.M. diff. XVI. where is an ample and furprizing detail, fupported by Popifh authorities : P. du Moulin, of papal ufurpations in England: and Mr. Daubuz. p.8 10. 8 17. 823. 828. VitringaonIfaiah,p.7o6, andontheRevel. p. 798— 809. Fleury, diiT.IV^. prefixed to the 1 6th vol. of his E. H. . andefpe- cially, Ludov. Aiu. Muratorio, Antiquitates Italicas Medii ^vi. Milan. 1738. Diff. lxix. Lxx. Lxxi. which treat of the Majefty and Opulence of the Church of Rome in the barba- rous ages; and of her patronage of kingdoms, and the immunities of her Clergy. Giornale de Firenze : torn. III. p. 3. Mantu- 284 D I S C O U R S E XL Mantuanus,inAlphonf.l.III. — venallaRomse Templa, facerdotes, akaria, facra, coronae. Ignis, thura^preces, caelum eft venale,Deufque. Bapt.MantuaniOpera.Antv.1576. IV torn. 8^ PAGE 252. Fra- Paolo. 1. 2. p. 258. Era^io commejfe gravi ejforhitanze nel numero de Beneficii commendati, tanto chcy in quejlojecolo^ dopo nati i moti Lutherani^ € mentre tuttol mondo dimandava Riformay non hehbe rifpettOy ne vergogna. Papa Clcmente VII, del MDXXXIV. di comincndare, ad Hippolito Cardinal de Medici^ fuo nipote, tutti i Beneficii di tutto 7 mondo, fecolari e regolariy [ij] dignita e ferj'onaliy femplici, et ciiratiy vacanti per fei mejiy dal di die ne havejfe preja la pojfejfioncy confacolta di dijponer e convertir injuo iifo tutti ifriUti, La qual' ejorbitanza, ficomefu il cclmOy cofi ne tempi inanzi non ardiva la Corte valerfi di qiiejlo, dando in commenda ad iinOy mcraero moho grande, and a little after, ajavor de qualche Cardinale, gran perfonaggioy fojjcro uniti injieme trenta e qua^ ranta hcnejiciiypofli in diverji luoghi diChriJlianita. Pallavicino IX. 9. contefts this piece of Hiftory. ButCiacconius, tom.iii. p. 503, relates that Hippolito, who had been deprived for his unworthy condiift, had all his Benefices and Dignities rcftored to him in 1534. Courayer. p. 404. PACK D I S C O U R S E XI. 285 PAGE 253. f' IDHD^. Nomen proprium Gentis ignotse. PfeifF. D. V. h, 1. et Ludolf. Comment. Hid. ^th. p. 73, 74. Lud.de Dieu ex Syriafmo, homines feroces. Grotius intelligit habitatores Acconis Phcenices; nam ccyxjav eft *T,*3J|. J. H. Michaelis. Fuller, Mifc. vi. 3. Lxx. (pvXocyisq, which fuggefts the true fenfe ; Thofe demons, mediating and tutelar deities^ Hefiod. Ezek. xxvi. 1 1 . r\:2\)^ r))2'^0 The DHD:! of Ezekiel are the DUI^D of Daniel xi. 38, 39. tutelary faints, expreffed by antichriftian writers under the name and idea of guards and fortreffes: as in the diftich of Venantius on St. Peter and St. Paul ; A facie hoftili duo propugnacula pr^funt, Quos fidei turres urbs caput orbis habet. Imperial Rome two towers of Faith contains. To guard her fafety on the hoftile plains. There feems a ftriking refemblance between the hero-worfhip of the Tyrians, and the faint- worfhip oF Antichrift. They ufed their tutelar Hercules much as the Neapolitans do their St. Januarius. They bound him with chains, left he fhould defert to the enemy. Curtius. lib. IV. PACK 285 D I S C O U R S E XL P A G L 2f^6. J. H. Michaelis: PrMerea factum ejly ad fu- perioRim vaticiniorum confirmationem et illuf- trationem. ERque in hoc Capite xxviii I. Sententia in regem f. principem Tyri, cui fuperbiaih exprobrat, f, 2 — 5. et poenam de- nunciat, y. 6— 10. II. Threnus fuper ejufdem excidio, ii, 11 — 19. III. Sententia adverfus Tzidonem, f, 20 — 24. Promiffio colligendi Ifraelis, f. 25, 26. f, 2. Superbifiimo Principi f. Rcgi Tyri, Ithobalo II. — Grot. Gurtlerus, Th. Proph. p. 6G9. 719. de Tyro inftaurata five Chriftiana, et a Saracenis expug- nata, hoc Caput accipit, ct plura ejus commata hue adplicat, fed per accommodationemi ut nobis videtur. Cocceius vero ita ad h. 1. * Rex Tyri gloriofus fui aeilimator et admirator, et fe cfferens in profperitate fuaet civitatis fuae, aptus et idoneus fuit, ut fieret typus et hieroglyphicuni fymbolum ejus, qui ecclefiam convertit in em- porium, et in ea vult regnare, et fe dixit vica- rium Dei effe/ Cf. omnino not. Ef. vi. 9. xiv. 1. xxili. 1. ct pluribus ipfum Cocceium; qui maxime fenfum viyjlicwni hujus capitis fludiofe perfequitur, ut nos liieralemtt.\mmt6\2ii\iv[\ illuf- trare lludemus.- — myfticum non rejicientes. jsJ". 1 3. Cf. Langius. G. C. p. 310. de TyroMyftica. Daniel D I S C O U R S E XL 287 Daniel declined divine honours, ii. 46. The king of Tyre afFedts them. >^'. 3. Rex Tyri propria fortaffe nihil de Daniele audivit: eft hie fermo, de eo qui Danielem novit. f. 6 — 1 1. Confequitur^ fi quis affirmet fenon crrare, et id credi velit : eum fibi cor Dei aflli- mere, et fe declarare oi^ivh* Occafus regis Tyri non eft unius hominis in- terfeQio, fed deletio illius nominis et poteftatis. Maria fignificant populos totius Mundi. Apoc. xvii. 1. 15. /. 12. Threnus eft joct/^rj7tKcs-. — Enumerantur hie prserogativjE ipfius, f, 12 — 15. Culpa, f, 15 — 17. Interitus, f. 17 — 19. f, 13. Gemm^ et auium. q. d. gemmae in auro. H^c comparanda funt cum mundo Meretricis Magna^, Apoc. xvii. 4. f, 15. Integer Juiffe in viis tuis a die Creationis iu^: Hie diftinguitur tempus operantis Myfterii iniquitatis et A^r^oi; manifeftati. Tribuitur ipfi Integritas viarum ante revelationem injuftitias ipfiius, et quidem a die Creationis ipfius. f. 17. Rex Tyrius hie etiam in initio in viis fuis fuit reftus, et ea ratione faftus eft magnus. Nam h^erefes damnavit rigide. — Sed corrupit fapientiam fuam, et omifTo verbo Dei, foli dominationi fe dedit, et Paftoris (lulti inftru- menta ufurpavit. Zech»xi. 15— 17* Non 288 D I S C O U R S E XL Non es in feculum.'] Haec eft ocvccXwtnq et xoIapytio-K de quo loquitur Apoftolus, 2 Theff.ii.8* CoccEius. PAGE 257. J. H. Heidegger. M. B. M. diff. X. §. I. qua Papam R. divinitatem afFe6lare, turn ex nomine Dei, turn ex o8;o attributis divinis, quae fibi vindicat, demonftratur. §. II. Qua Papam R» fibi cultum divinumreligiofumvindicare, adftru- itur. The Pope aflumes divine honours, 1. By making the papacy the objeQ: and rule of Faith P.L§. lO 2. By afTuming legiflative powers in Revealed Religion . 15 3. AfTuming juftifying powers of recon- ciling fnmers to God 20 4. Afluming the power of remitting fins 27 5. Styling himfelf the head, foundation, and rock of the Church. 43 6. Transferring kingdoms, and affeBing fupremacy over kings 4^ 7. Difpenfing with Oaths, contrary to the divine Law 51 8. Canonizing and creating Saints 62 The fame Author proves that the adoration of the Pope's perfon is not civil but religious : 1. From the name of Adoration P. II. §.38 2. Fromthe perfon pretending to divinity 40 3. From 6 t S C O U R S E XI. 2 §. From the titles, prorex, vice-chriflus, vice-deus §-43 4. From the benefits expe8:ed by his worfhippers 45 5. From the ceremonies of adoration 46 6. From its refemblance to their own faint-worfliip 49 7. Duha, hyperdulia, latria, are all held to be religious a6ls 5! 8. The papifts avowedly ufe this ftyle 53 P. 449. " Ille fe oItto^hki/vIoh demonjlrat quod Deusjity 2 Their, ii. 4. qui aliquid eorum quae foli Deo competunt, fibi arrogat. Ita Optatus Milevitanus, lib. III. Donati Carthaginenfis temeritatem exagitans, fie ei inlultat merito : *^ Hoc modo exaltatum eft cor ejus, ut jam non homo, fed deus, videretur." et paucisinterje8:is, '* Ad quem Deus fequitur, dicens, Dixifti, Ego fum deus. Ideo quamvis non fit ufus hac voce, tamen aut fecit aut paffus eft, quod defectum hujus vocis impleret. Extulit cor fuum, ut nullum hominem fibi comparandumarbitraretur: et de tumore mentis fuae altior fibi vifus eft effe: quia quicquid eft fupra homines, jam quafi Deus eft. Deinde cum Epifcopi Deo debeant famu- lari, tantum fibi de epifcopis exigit, ut eum non ininori metu omnes venerarentur, quam Deum, Hoc eft, quod fibi Deus vifus eft." Rurfus, ** Dum Epifcopus inter fuos coepifcCpos non T fuit. 290 D I S C O U R S E XI. fuit, nee homo inter homines efTe voluit; Gonftat, quod extulit cor fuum, et Deus fibi ftiifife vide- batur/' Compare Daubuz. p. 581, who cites this infcription on the triumphal arch of Sixtus V. Oraclo vocis, Mundi moderaris habenas, Et merito in terris crederis effe Deus. PAGE 262. Boniface VIII. added a fecond Crown to the Pope's Tiara, then called Regnum [fee Du Cange, in Mitra, Regnum.] Urban V. added a third ; by thefe odd and unbecoming diftinC'- tions, aiming at a fupremacy over Kings and Emperors. In 1300, he celebrated the [firft] Jubilee, ordering full indulgencies to all who vifited the Bafiliques of St. Peter and St. Paul, for 30 days. This Jubilee is fuppofed to be a copy of the Secular G ames ; but when Clement VI. reduced it to the 50th year, it was then fuppofed to emulate the Jewifh jurbilee. Urban VI. had three in a Century: and Paul II. four: merely to make more money. Boniface augmented the revenues of the Roman churches, with 50 thoufand florins, collected in fmall fums from the infinite number of Pilgrims who reforted to the Jubilee, as Villani an eye-witnefs relates. La preffe fut grande le jour ou Ton montroit la Veronique. Floury, liv. Ixxxix. n.69. p. 550* 4 J? AG E D I S C O U R S E Xi. 291 PAGE ■:62. Leo X. calls the Virgin a Goddefs. * Ad Recanatenfes de Lauretana imagine apud Bemb im lib. VIII. ep. 17. and Turceliti the jefuite, divine majeltatis lociam. in hiit. Lau^ retana.* Bp. Taylor, diliuas. p. 218. Turlellihus is outdone by a ftill more voluminous hiltorian* Teatro hiftorico della S. Cafa Nazarena, e iua ammirabile traflazione in Loreto. daMartorellio. in Roma, 1732. 2 vol. folio. La6lantius refutes the image-worfhip of the Virgin and all idolatry with a fingle fentence : dubium non eft, quin Religio nulla fit, ubicun- que fimulachram eft : non Religio in fimula- cris, fed mimus Religionis eft. De Orig. Erroris, lib. II. c. 19. Of Loreto, f'^t ^ Frauds of the Monks, 1691. Lett. P. ' and Addifon's Travels, p. 95. ^ who ever were the firft inventors of this iraporiiire, they feem to have taken the hint from the veneration that the old Romans paid to the Cottage of Romulus. Jn fummo cuftos Tarpeis ManMus arcis Stabat pro templo, et CapUuliu celfa tenebat: Romuleoque recens horrebat regia :jlmo.' ^n. VIII. 652* PAGE ^64.. The Hildebrandine Dilates, or the political fyflem of the Court of Rome, is of a piece with T 2 her 2(^2 DISCOURSE XL her theological do6lrines, as exprefTed by Pius IV. who in the year 1564, comprifed the decifions ot the Council of Trent in the xii Articles of his famous Creed : enjoining the belief of 1. Ecclefiaftical Traditions and Conftitutions. 2. Holy Scripture in the fenfe of the Churck-. of Rome. 3. Seven Sacraments. 4. The Council's decifions concerning Sin and Juitification. 5. That in the Mafs a true and propitiatory Sacrifice is offered for the quick and dead : and that in the Eucharift the Bread and Wine are tranfubftantiated into the body and blood of Chrift. 6. That under one kind whole and perfeQ; Chrift and the true Sacrament is received. y. That there is a Purgatory, and that the Souls there detained are helped by the prayers of the Faithful. 8. That the Saints and their Reliques are to be worfhipped, and that the Saints intercede for us. g. That the images of Chrift, the Blcffed Virgin and the Saints are to be retained, and that due honour and veneration be paid to tlfeir images* 10. That the power of Indulgences was left by Chrift to rbc Church. 11, That D I S C O U R S E XL 293 11. That the Roman Church is the Mother and Miftrefs of all Churches, and obedience is fworn to the Bifliop of Rome, as the fucceffor of St. Peter and Vicar of Chrift. 12. That all the oecumenical Councils and Canons, and efpecially the Synod of Trent, are to be received and believed. This Creed is added to the Nicene Creed, and is received on oath.' D^dic. of Bifhop Jewel's works, 161 i. P A G E 270. St. Jerome, a Commentator of the greateft genius, was fo puzzled with the literal fenfe, as to exprefs his doubts of the completion : Quod fcquitur : nee aedificaberis ultra, videtur facer© quaeftionemi quomodo non fit aedificata, quam hodie cernimus Phcenices nobiliflimam et pul- cherrimam civitatem. Ex quo, quidam volunt, in ultimo tempore base Tyrum effe paffuram, quae poftea non fit aedificanda. He then has recourfe to an anagogic fenfe, which is that of the beft Fathers, Regem Babylonis diabolum intelligi, ^c. in Ezekiel. lib. VIII. p. 400. he concludes, * Loca difiBcilia funt, et prudens Le6lor ac dili- gens debet ignofcere labori meo.' P. 402. Portu tutiffimo . . quod quidem ufque hodie perfeveratj ut omnium propemodum gen- tium in ilia exerceantur commercia. Compare Jiufeb. H. E. X. 4. T3 Jn 294 D I S C O U R S E XL 111 Ills Comment on ' Tu Cherub extentus et protegens,' among other things he obferves, ex quo oftenditur, ad hominem urbis Tyiiae prin- cipem, hoc pertinere non pofie : fed aid fan^am quandam et pT2£C\ipn3LmJortitudinem, quae urbis Tyriae princeps pofita fit. Here is a glimmer* ing of the true fenfe : and more could not be expefted in that age. PAGE 275. A modern Traveller in an Hiflory of Ali Bey's revolt from the Othman Porte, Lond. 1784, relates ' that Ali Bey endeavoured to reduce * Said or Sidon,and in June 1772, croffing the * Antilibanus arrived at Soor or Tyrus, which ^ is 18 miles from Said bv land. — Paffinjz the * ifthmus, which is very fandy, you behold the * ruins of ancient Tyre, which confift of the * remains of the walls, fcattered in different ' parts, and moftly buried in the fand : they are ^ built of brick and ftone, and their thicknefs is * about ten feet. Proceeding to the Weft, * about a quarter of a mile, you enter the gate ' of the Modern Tyre. — The walls on the land * fide are of ftone; they are about 18 feet in * height, and 7 in breadth ; the circumference * of the whole town is about a mile and an half; * the inhabitants of the new town are about four ' or five hundred. I take the whole circum^ ■ ference D I S C O U R S E XL 295 ^ ference of the peninfula to be about fix miles. * Sidon is ftill in a flourifhing flate, inhabited by ' 16,000 Chriftians and Mahometans. Sidon ' ftands on a neck of land, over againft Tyre, ' and both form a bay about 16 miles in breadth.' PAGE 276. Fazellus, in his Annals of Sicily, decad. I. lib. II. c. 4. relates, that on an eruption of JEins. a river of fire near 28 miles long fell into the fea at Port Longina. ^tna has been burn- ing for more than 3000 years : as appears from Pindar*s defcription. Pyth, I*. A ovpocvia, (rui/f^£t, Xioi/og G^Biocg ri^nvoi.' -TO'J "urvpog uyi^olxloci E>c [J'^'o^uv ZTOcyoti' izqIccijah ^^Oll/KTO-Oi K'jXl]/^OtJt>£VCC (pXo^ £? (3:340fi- tci> (pspet Tjroj/lou zs?:Ccy.oc f^ 4. 204 DISCOURSE XII. f,^. A. id when the Seve?! ThwTde7's had uttered their voices^ I was about to write * The pofture and aftion of the Prophet is fymbolical of the raifed expedation of good men, that, when the Reformation was eftablifhed in the principal kingdoms and flates of Europe, the fall of Antichrift would foon follow, and introduce the glo- rious union of Truth and Peace on Earth. But a voice fr 0771 heaven commands him to Seal lip thofe thi7igs which the Seven T!hu7iders have uttered^ a7id write the7n 7iot : to intimate, that the firft Reformers would be miftaken in their zeal and difappointed in their ex- peflation ; that the New Reform would not foon be followed by the fall of Popery and the converfion of Unbelief 3 but that, by the divine permiffion, the free courfe and pro-^ grefs of the Reformed Religion fhould be checked by the power of temporal Princes^ not in the number of the Seven Thunders. Such was Charles V. young, afpiring, felfiih, and aiming by the influence of the papal fyftem to make himfelf abfolute in Germany. Such was his fon, Philip II. a tyrannical bigot, who made it his principal objefl:^ DISCOURSE xir. 305 objea, to eftablifli Popery and the Inqui- fition throughout his vaft dominions. In Poland, and the hereditary countries of the Houfe of Auftria, the fupreme Powers by perfecution and ill poHcy prevented the eftaUifliment of the Reformation. France was the theatre of the moft violent oppo- fition to it, during the inglorious reigns of Henry II. Francis II. and Charles IX. and Louis XIV. half unpeopled his kingdom by his great Armies and by the expulfion of his beft fubjefts, the Proteftants. So that, according to this prophecy, the happy ftate of the Church was not then to be effedled by the civil powers; but by fome other means in fome future time. The Angel in the vlfion, l(ftmg up Ms right hand.fivears by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the earth, and the fea (by the very formulary, pro- tefting againft the demon-worlhip of the apoftate church) that the time for the pure and happy ftate of the Reformed Church fhould not be as yet. In ^povog ovK es-ut Er/. But that in the days of the V I vmce -o6 DISCOURSE XU, ^ 'voice of the feventb Angel, ijohen he Jhall begin to found ^, then the My fiery of Godfimdd be finifi^ed\, fliould be brought to its per- fection. The Myflery of God is his eouiifel or fecret defign, of which Chrift is the counfeller and executer; a counfel,. which begins in the prefent converlion and happinefs of man on earth, will terminate in difFufmg that felicity over all the w^orld, and complete it in a ftate of immortality. St. John, reprefenting the Reformed Church, is commanded to take the little hook which was open in the hand of the Angel : which denotes, that the civil powers, cmblemized by the Seven Thunders, would by the light of Holy Scripture fettle and fupport the Reformation; and that the faithful mufl: by the fame Scriptures pre- ferve and adorn it to the lateft times. The Angel, when he delivers the book, com- mands him, to take if a?jd eat it up : and it (hall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it • Or rather, *when he lliall have founded,' o-xct,v /ae^Aij f Tf/\£o-9/3. lec^tio Velefiana, T£^£o■G^^(rsIat, Confumma* birur. vulgate. Jlmll D I S C O U R S E Xn. 307 fhall be as fweet as honey. The Reformed are to ftudy, to meditate, and to obey the GOSPEL, which is now an open book^ in every ones hands. Swallowed and digefled, it makes the belly bitter : it occafions, in cer- tain conjunftures, temporal affliflions, exile, perfecution, martyrdom. But in the mouthy it is fweet as honey ; the mouth is the fymbol of ruminating and meditating the word of God, and of fpeaking, or declaring it to others. In both refpefts, it isfweeter than honey and the honey -comb ^: produftive of delight in God ; of the divine confolations of Faith, Hope, and Love; and of the Peace, which attends the free exercife of True Religion, as it is contained in the infpired Writings. This circumftance of the Vifion defcribes that ineftimable advan- tage of the Reformation, the free and popular ufe of the koly scriptures; and the general diffufion of them in all the modern toneues is one of the obvious bleffings of Proteftantifm, w^hofe Creed is the Bible. It is probable that the little open book^ has a peculiar refpeit to the apoca- 9 PlVilm xix. U 2 lyptic 3o8 DISCOURSE XII. lyptic prophecies, which are now fo much illuftrated by the great event of the Reformation. The Angel concludes by afluring the Reformed Church, that its great work was ftill incomplete ; that it muft ftill continue to witnefs againft the corruptions of the Gofpel, both domeftic and antichriftian : that it muft go on to reprove the anti- chriftian fuperftitions; to correct its own errors and fupply its own defects , and under the aufpices of Divine Providence, to promote the caufe of True Religion, Virtue, and Happinefs. f.ii, Thou muji frophecy again ^ before^ concerning, or againft, many peoples y and nations ^ and tongues^ and kings^ II. It is evident, from the fcope and feries of the apocalyptic vifions, that the Seven Trumpets include all that period of hiftory denoted by the Seventh SeaP% which, commencing with Conftantine's eftablifli- '* viii, I—- 6. ment D I S C O U R S E XII. 309 ment of Chriftianity, extends to the Great Sabbatifm, when the kingdoms of this world fhall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chriji ". As the events of the firft Five Trumpets are all paft, and the events of the Seventh Trumpet are all future; the Reformed Church, commencing with the fecond * epoch of the Sixth Trumpet, is co-extended to its whole duration. This aera continues from Luther to the Church's laft conflift with Antichrift ; the prelude to her perfed: ftate on earth. We of the prefent age, aftually living under the Sixth Trumpet, are coeval with the Eaftern and Weftern Antichrift ; are witnefies to the declining ftate of antichriftianifm ; and are fo connefted with the Proteftant Reforma- tion, as to be deeply interefted both in its prefent imperfections, and in its gradual advancement, which is to occupy the long period till the myftery of God fhall befinijlded in the perfe6lion of his Church. Although the counfel of God will not be defeated, either by the indolence or malignity of " xi. 15. * The firfl epoch of the Sixth Trumpet is the Turkifh Empiie, 1453. U 3 man ^ 3IO DISCOURSE XIL man ; yet it is evident from Reafon, as well as the terms of this Prophecy (which places us under the immediate influence, not of a miraculous adminiftration, but of an open Gofpel) that this improving ftate of Religion and Happinefs is to be effected by the inftrumentality of men, in a courfe of meafures and events not generally fuperna- tural, though never excluding the divine direction and fuperintendence. From this view of the prefent fituation of the Re- formed Church, under fome long period of the Sixth Trumpet, previous to a more perfe6t Itate of things, we may illuftrate this propofition: that it is the high PRIVILEGE AND INDISPENSIBLE DUTY OF ALL WHO ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF THE REFORMED RELIGION, TO PROMOTE ITS PROGRESS AND ADVANCEMENT IN THESE AND SUCCEEDING TIMES. Let it not be imagined, that the prefent attempt to follow the unerring guidance of Prophecy by anticipating thofe views of Holinefs and Peace which it augures to the world, originates from a predileftion for that DISCOURSE XIL 311 that waking dream of the millenaries; which, at firft a Jewifh dehrium, took its rife from too Uteral interpretation. The prophets ufe the millennial emblems to exprcfs the fpiritual bleffings of the Gofpel <:onfequent on the converfion of the Jews and Gentiles. To give one inftance '": And itfiall come to pafs m that day. That the mou?itains Jh all drop do'wn new wine.y And the bills JJjall flow with milky And all the rivers of yiidah jloall flow with waters^ And a fountain fld all come forth of the houfe of the Lord, And floall water the valley ofShittim. It would be a puerility uninformed in the firft principles of the fymbolic language, to underfland this prediction of any other fubjeft, than that which is now before us, the laft and beft ftate of Chriftianity on earth. Nothing can be more chimerical, than thofe ideas of complete felicity, which have been drawn from fuch prophecies by the " Joel iii. 18. U 4 ancient 312 DISCOURSE 'XII. ancient and modern chiliafts. One popular miflake hath confifted in over-rating this happy ftate of things, which yet hath been often debafed into a Mohammedan paradife; by fuppofmg it to be fuch a ftate of perfec- tion, as is abfolutely incompatible with the condition of human nature. This error neceflkriiy involves another, which is de- ftruftive of all honeft and generous exer- tion on the part of man -, that this happy change in the ftate of the world will be efFefted folely by the miraculous energy of the Divine Providence. That golden age which is promifed to mankind, as the refult of the univerfality of the Gofpel, is not a mere fatality, con- fequent on the divine prefcience : but ori- ginates and ends in moral caufes and effects, flovv^ing from the intrinfic nature of the Chriftian Religion, and correfponding to the rational exertion of human means. A great hindrance to the melioration of Religion and Society (befides thofe which refult from the indi^erence of moft men, and DISCOURSE XII. 21$ and the oppofition of bad men) is that cold and timid caution, which prevents the more eminent part of mankind from imparting their own ideas, or approving thofe of others, either from a fear of committing their perfonai dignity and repofe, or from an exceffive dread of innovation. Hence, Rehgious and good men, even when in- vefted with power to promote great and ufeful defigns, have ufually contented themfelves with wijhing their accompUfh- ment ; hoping for the completion of thofe Prophecies, which they might affift in completing. It is alfo true, that thofe who are deftitute of power and authority, are too fanguine in their projects : yet the many reluftancies and hindrances to Reformation make it expedient, to ufe a decent liberty in projeding fuch improvements as may be received with candour; efpecially, if we advert to the wife advice of Plato, ' tantum contendere in republica, quantum probare civibus tuis poffis.' But the Philofopher and the Divine, who would treat this fubje6l in a manner becoming thofe titles, fliould abftract himfelf from all temporary and local 314 DISCOURSE XII. local regards , annihilating felf and perfonal confiderations ; as a citizen of the world and of future times, aftuated only by the pure and univerlii! philanthropy of the Gofpel ; as without prefiimption, fo without defpondency, referring all to the wifdom and will and glory of God. The true Reformation is the holiness of the Church, and of its individual members. Outward Reforms are only defirable as they promote inward Faith and Probity . With this principle ever in view, we may impart our ideas of fuch improvements, as feem adapted to the prefent times. Private and perfonal Virtue, in any ftate of life, is an eminent mean of pro- moting the kingdom of Chrift. It is giving one good citizen to the Chriftian common- wealth. Chriftian integrity is the true bafis of public fpirit and of enlarged philan- thropy. Let every one who has generous views in private life, have a rational plan and formed intention to promote Chrift's kingdom, and he will not want occafions of 3 exert- DISCOURSE XII. 315 exerting it. In clomeftic life, fuch a plan will execute itfelf, by forming Chriftian Families, the conftituent parts of the univerfal Church. But in ftations of poli- tical or ecclefiaftical authority, the good fubjeft of Chrift ftands on the vantage- ground of ufefulnefs, and has a more extenfive fphere to move in. Two important confiderations favour the advancement of Chriftianity in the pre- fent and fucceeding times : I. The decline of Popery. II. The civil ftate of the World. I . It is a fubje6l of complacency to a true philanthropift, that the Proteftant Refor- mation hath in many refpe6ls Reformed the antichriftian Church itfelf. It excited that indignation in the Seceders, and that fliame or emulation in corrupted Rome, that fhe fet herfelf, though faintly and fcarce in earneft, to Reform fome abufes. The Popifli enormities grew to that excefs, by 3i6 DISCOURSE XII. by negleding the teftimony of the witnefTes of Truth in every age , and by refifting Reformation, till their remedy was as into- lerable as their difeafe. Had the more moderate Popes complied with the demands of the firft Reformers, they would them- felves have had the glory of the Reformation : but that glory was not defigned for them, becaufe it would not have reftored the purity of Religion. The concurrence of the Reformation with Literature and Hu- manity have, at length, foftened the fero- cious features of Perfecution, which l^ath now fubfided into a fpeculative Intolerance. Some few honefl Popes perhaps intended more than they could accompliih : but had the Church of Rome reformed itfelf, even under fuch men as Adrian VI. and Marcellus II. the principal abufes, from the very genius of the hierarchy, would have fcili remained. A liberal tafle and patronage of Erudition in that Church, have in the laft and prefent age, furnifhed arms to ftorm her own citadel, the papal fupremacy ; which hath declined DISCOURSE XIL p^ declined fo low, that the Popes, from Lords of the Chrifcian world, are become fuppliants to Princes of their own com- munion. By fome late regulations, his Imperial Majefty, whofe charafter excites the atten- tion of all the world, hath fupprefTed the religious orders of both fexes, who devote themfelves to an idle and ufelefs hfe : the Carthufians, Hermites, Eenediftines, Ber- nardines, Dominicans ; the Francifcans of different orders, the Minims and other Tribes of Indolents. The female religious orders, fuch efpecially as are not engaged in the education of young perfons, have alfo been in part abolifhed : the nuns of Mount Carmel, of St. Clara, of St. Francis, and others 5 referving penfions to fuch, as do not quit the Auftrian dominions. In Auftria only, above fifty ufelefs Convents have been fuppreffed. In 1783 the great Reform in the Convents began to take place : the Jacobines, the Laurentines, the Urfulines, the nuns of St. Elizabeth, and thofe of La .Porte au Ciel, were to have it in their choice, either to be fecularized, or to 3i8 DISCOURSE XII, to be removed from their convents. So that probably, before the revolution of many years, proteftantifm will be the eftablifhed Religion of the Auftrian circle of the Empire. That opprobrium of humanity, the Auto de Fe, is difcontinued both in Spain and Portugal. In 1780, the Duke of Modena, on the death of the Grand Inquifitor at Reggio, ordered that tribunal to be for ever aboUfhed, its revenues to be appUed to more laudable purpofes, and the prifons and other buildings, which could preferve any memory of its having ever exifted, to be entirely demolifhed. A happy Re- form feems alfo to be in a profperous train in the Two Sicilies, by applying the pro- perty of the Monafteries to the relief of the fufferers by the late Earthquakes*. * See a political furvey of the Roman Empire, by J.T.Dillon, p. 3 19. andp.323,of the interview between the Emperor and the reigning Pope, at Vienna, in March 1782. Alfo, the Primate of Hungary, Count Bathiani's Letter to the Emperor, 1783. For other particulars here mentioned, fee the Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. LIII. p.703. Annual Ilegifter, 1781. p. 31. While I am writing thefe difcourfcs, the Emperor has diflblved many Religious Houfes, and even Spain has opened feveral Convents. In DISCOURSE XIL 319 In order to the farther reformation of Popery ; if the fpirit of Superftition cannot be fubdued, its noxious influence will be much abated, by depriving it of the deadly weapon of intolerance. Let Princes every where favour a toleration of all Chriflian feels, which are not hoftile to civil peace : thus, without any fliock to government, they will favour the imperceptible advances cf Religious Truth. There are two clafles of men in all popifli countries, whofe difproportioned number and influence are pernicious to Society, The firfl: are, thofe fwarms of ecclefiafl:ics of both fexes, who live immured in Monaflieries, and incorporated in com- munities with large endowments. Of thefe, each living individual fhould have their option, either to adhere to a life of retired fludy and devotion, — a fublime and celefliial life ! or, difclaiming the hypocrify and pretenfe of it, to become ufefiil citi- zens, by carrying the virtues of retreat into towns and villages, into paftoral or literary ftations;, 320 D I S C O U R S E XII. ftations, and the endearments of honourable marriage. The abfurdities of the monadic life, and of that forced ceUbacy which de- populates the earth to people hell, are too grofs for this or any age, that has the leaft tinfture of philofophy, of politics, or of true Chriftianity which accords with both. Another clafs of men, by whom the world is widowed and defolated, are marines and foldiers. Reduce their numbers. Europe might difband by mutual compa6t half her armed force. Her relative ftrength would be the fame : fhe would take breath and gain arefpite from intolerable exertions. The fplendour of military glory dazzles the eye, and prevents the difcerning its fatal effefts, not only in aftual war, but in im- poverifhing the fubjefts, exhaufting the revenues, and checking populoufnefs and cultivation. Tum genus humanum pofitis fibi con-* fulat armis, Inque vicem gens omnis amet.— 2. The DISCOURSE XIL 321 2. The univerfal Peace, which took place In September 1783, fhould it be (by divine favour) of long continuance, prefents to the chriftian mind a dehcious contempla- tion, both as a refpite from the ravages of war, and as a fit and favourable feafon for the melioration of Society. The prefent ftate of the world feems in many refpeds aufpicious to the great ends and objefts of Chriftianity, as it refpe6ts human life and our mortal condition here, preparatory to our deftined Immortality. I. The civili- zation and converfion of rude and bar- barous nations. 11. The bringing back the relaxed and corrupted manners and principles of the Proteftant Reformation to the purity and fimplicity of the Gofpel. III. In confequence of both, the dimi- nifliing the influence of Popery, and augmenting the general felicity of the Times in the free courfe of the Gofpel of Chriil. If it be permitted to indulge a pleafing fpeculation, on the practicable means of verifying fuch Theories s we muft premife V certain ^22 DISCOURSE XII. certain poftulata, fuch as, i» That the improvements of Society be hmited to fuch obje'fts as have a general influence on the well-beingof mankind, without refinement, 2. That the Civil Government, regal, ariftocratic, popular, or mixed, fhould au- thorize and promote fuch improvements : and 3. That the v/ifer and more religious citizens in every community be employed to meliorate the mafs of the people. To apply thefe axioms to each of the foregoing confiderations : and firfl: to that of Civilization. I. A great part of Chriftian Europe is yet in a ftate of deplorable ignorance and barbarifm, v/hich ftill more prevail in the other quarters of the globe. The prefent ftate of the Greek Church will exemplify the means of Civilization, in the immenfe tradts of the Ruffian Empire, which occu- pies half the northern regions of Europe and Afia ; governed by a pohtic and mag- nanimous Quieen, emulous of advancing the improvements v/hich were projefted and begun by Peter the Great. Had that I Prince DISCOURSE XII. 323 Prince been more enlightened by philofophy and religion, he would have merited the firft rank of true Glory. The flavifli, the fuperftitious, and brutal condition of very many nations, which compofc that Empire, would exceed belief, if not fo well attefted by recent obfervation. Yet all concur in this truth, which is applicable to the ftate of Man in all parts of the world : that the grofs defe6ls in the national chara6ler refult from want of culture. There are two charadlers in uncivilized humanity, which feem to oppofe each other, and both to refifl improvement 5 a fpirit of imitatioji; and of habit. To divert them both into a right channel, muft be the work of time and of fucceffive changes. Yet a change in the national charadier from great rude- nefs and brutality, to that juft medium between barbarifm and luxury, which conftitutes the true well-being of Society, may be effefted in the courfe of one or two generations or fucceflions, efpecially when the firft efforts have had that fuccefs as to difpofe men to farther advances. V 2 From 324 DISCOURSE XII. From the late accounts of Ruffia, amidft an aftonifhing barbarifm, I fhall adduce one inftance from the difciples of Moham- med, which fliould excite a generous emulation in Chriftian States. " The Mohammedan Tartars ofKafan take *^ a diftinguijhed care of the education of ** their Children, They habituate their youth ^"^ to LABOUR,/^ SOBRIETY — they are taiight * ' to READ and WRITE ^ and are injlru5ied in " the Arabic tongue^ ajid in the principles of * ' their religion. Even thefmallejl village " has its CHAPEL, its school^ its priest, " ^W schoolmaster*." The happy effects of this very fimple and prafticable, but wife and exemplary infti- tution, diftinguifh the tribe of Kafan, from the other barbarous provinces. The 2:re2:arious and imitative charafter of man makes public inftitutions, which afFe6l them equally and alike, far more efficacious, than the feeble and varying modes of perfonal care and inftruftion. * Account of Rufiia, 8°. 1783. Vol.11, p. 23. Should DISCOURSE Xii. 325 Should Schools and Churches be eftab- lifhed in every diftrift town and village, by- one comprehenfive Edict prefcribing a wife regulation of fuch eftablifliments : the village paftor and the village fchoolmafter (both the refpeftable charafters fometimes united in one perfon, with a public com- petence, that he might tt^ich graUs) would in a few years form a new race of men, of citizens, and of Chriftians, who would blufn at the barbarous and beftial cuftoms of their Fathers. Iil order to efFed: an uniform improvement, fuch Schools and Churches fhould have a Dubhc code of Education and Divine Worfhip, both of great fimplicity and purity, without block- ing the national manners and prejudices- Barbarous and fordid cuftoms permitted to adults, but made difrepiitable in thofe who w^ere educated on the national eftablilliment, would grow^ into difufe. Idolatry and Superftition, being kept out of the public Formulary, would be gradually negle6led and forgotten. Tranilations of the holy SCRIPTURES, efpecialiy of the New Teila- V 3 ment. ^26 DISCOURSE XIL ment, every where difperfed at the public charge, would at once civilize and inftruft the youth ; and tend to fix an uniform and ftandard fpcech, by a model of exad purity, throughout the empire. The great prin- ciples of Chriftianity, in the Apoftle's Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the Deca- logue, fhould be every where the authorized method, rule, and balis of Religious inftruclion. V/Lat is h^^'e delineated with refpedl to Ruffia, where there is fo happy a difpofi- tion to adopt improvements ; would be applicable to many other countries, per- haps to many parts of the moft civilized : they would be applicable to Poland, to Hungary, and all the countries to the North of the Danube : they would be applicable to the nvorthern and weftern parts of Great-Britain ; to Ireland ; to the northern Illes : they would be applicable to America, South and North : to India, and the Eaft : and to the African Continent, fo much negleftcd, oppreffed, and inflaved. The fuccefs of fuch a procefs depends on its being DISCOURSE XII. ^27 being authorized and protefted by the Civil Government, begun in infancy or childhood, and condufted by pt"; J men ; for it requires only that comjmn ability which is every where the portion of cultivated Reafon, and that honejly which refults from the firil principles of the Gofpel. The Error of projectors is excefs of refinement, and high philofophical theories, which are never oi general ufe. Such fimple but ex- tenfive attentions, on general and well- concerted plans, would much change and humanize the barbarity, which flill over- fpreads fo great a part of the earth : and in its place would induce gradual and pro- grefiive order, induftry, perfonal and focial morality, and the faving light of Religious knowledge, faith, and piety, with all their divine efFefts on human happinefs. Whenever God is pleafed to accomplifli his defigns to extend the glories of the Gofpel, he will excite the hearts of Princes to be his inftruments in difFufing Science, Humanity, and Religion : and he will, pro- bably, excite the attention of Princes to V 4 fuch ^.28 DISCOURSE XII. ♦J fuch glorious and beneficial defigns, by the modeft and refpeftfal reprefentations of Truth, of Reafon, and of Literature. In the education of the poor, the labour of the hands fliould always be united with that elementary inftruftion, which is here fpecified, in the principles of Revealed Reli- gion and Morality : in every part of their inftitution impreffing an early contempt of floth and begging, an early habit of cheerful Induftry. To this excellent and moft ufeful of all virtues the indolence of human na- ture is very averfe, unlefs habituated in early youth to patient labour and application. In capital cities efpecially, the health of the poor is im.paired by a fedentary life and confined fituations : Vv^hich inconveniences are beft remedied by aclive employments in the open air, elbecially, fuch as have a tendency to give fome fkill in Agriculture, Agriculture is perhaps the only art, which governments muft patronize, if they would have their people emerge from bar- barifm. In the rude but fertile regions of the uncultivated earth, Societies for promot- ing DISCOURSE XII. 329 ing agriculture, with rewards and immu- nities to the moft fkilful and fuccefsful labourers, would much forward the national induftry, civilization, plenty, and populouf- nefs. Mankind are by nature indolent and voluptuous, and would be funk in lazinefs and icnfuality (as barbarians ufually are) did not the difficuUy of fubfiftence call forth their virtues and their exertions. The natural mean of civilization is Induftry, united w^ith Inftruclion, which is the in- duilry of the Mind. Thus, Agriculture and the Gofpel are the two great inilru- nients of divine Providence, to check the voluptuoufnefs and exercife the virtues of man. The great Poet almoft divinely exprefies the effedl and tendency of rural labours ; Pater ipfe colendi Haud facilem effe viam voluit, primufque per artem Movit agros, curis acuens mortalia corda. Nee torperegravi pafius fua regna veterno. — Tum variae venere artes. labor omnia vicit Jmprobus^ et duris urgens in rebus egeftas. Georgic. I. 121 — 146. The 330 DISCOURSE XII. The eternal fire immutably decreed 'That tillage Jhould with toil alone fiicceed^ With cares he rousd and Jharpen d human hearts^ Bright' ning the rujl of indolence by arts. — • Then all thofe arts that polijh lifejiicceed \ What cannot ceafelefs toil and prefjing need f MR. JOS. WARTON. II. Previous to the difcuffion of the means of recovering the Proteftant Churches from the languor or hikewarmnefs, brought upon them by modern luxury : it would amply recompence our attention, were w^e to develope thofe Prophecies, which relate to this period and ftate of Chriftianity : efpecially that exaft defcription of the im- perfed:ions and blemifhes of the Reforma- tion, in the Lviiith and Lixth Chapters of Ifaiah. In the Lviith Chapter we have leen an exaft fpecification of the enormous corruptions of theantichriftianChurch :Per- fecution ', Idolatry % the Papal Supremacy % andincurableSuperftition^^ threatened with the divine difpleafure ^; and contrafted with thebkffingsandfanftityoftheReformation'^. The DISCOURSE XII. 331 The evangelic Prophet having difplayed the corruptions of Popery and the bleffings of the Reformation, proceeds to reprove the vices, and to paint the decHne of Faith and Virtue in the Proteftant Churches ; defcrib- ing v^' ith a furprizing Hkenefs, every feature of our prefent manners ; both in external worfhip, and intrinfic rehgion. In ch.Lix. The faithful Minifters of the Reformation fliew the caufes of the calamities of the Reformed Church, its deviations from the GofpelFaith and morality ' . foecifying thofe deviations in feveral particulars : and their effeds and confequences, in the decline of public felicity ^ . The remedies of fo great evils are alfo fpecified, confeffing and revers- ing all the vices of the times ' : and, vvhich is ftill future and perhaps diftant, when the ftate of the Reformed Church fhail be mofl deprelTed, moft deftltute of hum.an '°refources, then the Son of God will be it» deliverer, by a fignal difplay of his power ' % in the proteftion of his people, the deftruc- tion of his enemies, and the converfion both of the Gentiles and Jev^'S'\ The cer- tainty of this great deliverance is founded ''/a— 8. »9— II. ^12— 15. »°i5,i6. "17,18, *»i9— 21. in 3j2 DISCOURSE XII. in God's federal promife of the perpetuity of the Reformed Church, whofe perfeftion and univerfality Ch. lx. concludes this Prophecy. This defeftive flate of the Reformation includes the whole period from its eftablifnment to the fall of Antichriit; with a general progieiiion, as we hope, towards better things and more virtuous times. The fcope of this Prophecy is ap- parent, both from its place and order in the feries of predictions ; and from its internal charafters, which are not applicable either to the idolatrous intercommunity of the Prophet's own times, or to the antichriftian corruptions of Popery : but are expreflive of a plaufible exteriour in the national Religion, with very great defefts in Faith and Morals, and ending in that deliverance of his Church, which Chrift fliall accom- plifh in the lad times '^ I have not time or fcope, to particularize the defers of the Proteftant Churches there predided; nor fhould I adventure to fpecify them, if all private and perfonal regards were not too inconfiderable to be even »3 Ch, lx— hiii. thought DISCOURSE XIT. ^2^ thought of, when we conlider fuch public and univerfal prediflions, as we have the infelicity to fee aftually verified, by the formality, the hypocrify, the injuftice, the indevotion, the want of Equity and Chrif- tian Love among profefied Religionifts : by the contentions, herefies, impious dodrines and flagitious manners, of the enemies and corrupters of divine Revelation. Some of the prophetic charafters, which refpeft the formality and affefted exteriour of Religion, may feem more applicable to the laft age than the prefent : others, more fuitable to the prefent, than the preceding times of the Reformation. Speculative impiety, falfe philofophy, the fophiftry of irreligion and infidelity ^ cannot be arraign- ed with greater force and evidence, than in thofe figures of the prophetic ftyle : Lix. 5. 'Tbey hatch cockatrice eggSy And weave the fpide?^'s web : He that eateth of their eggs dieth^ And that which is crujhed breaketh out into a viper, 6. T^heir webs jhali not become garments^ Neither fiall they cover themfelves with their works* Irre- 234 DISCOURSE XII. Irrellffion Is the fource of evil : and, iii the prefent light and evidence of Revela- tion, whofoever deferts its guidance be- comes a corrupt citizen. If he is learned, he corrupts fociety by fpecious but always pernicious fyftems — of Materialifm — Rati- onalifm — and relaxed Ethics. If he is of the large clafs of the corrupt populace, the great and fmall Vulgar; he impudently avov^s his profligate opinions, by gaming, duel, concubinage, forgery, and every diforder. For there is no reftraint on the confcience of that man, who either by his writings or converfation, either by his pradice or example, rejefts Chriilianity. f.6. T^heir works are works of iniquity^ And the aB of violence is in their hands, 7. 'Their feet run to evil^ Andtheymake hajle toJJdedinmce7it blood: Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity -, Wajtiitg and defiruBion are in their paths. 8 . The way of peace they know not : And there is no judgment in their goings : They have made them crooked paths, Whofoever .goeth therein Jl:all not know peace. The DISCOURSE XII. 22S The fad efte61:s of practical and fpecula- live irreligion are defcribed in very awful terms : ^\ 9. 'Therefore is judgment far from uSy Neither dotkjujiice overtake us-^ We wait for lights but behold obfcurity \ For bright7iefs^ but we walk in darknefs.--^ 14. fudgment is turned away back%vard^ And jujiice Jiandeth afar of : For truth is fallen in thefreety And equity cannot enter : 15. 17a y truth faileth, And he that dep art eth from evil niaketh himfelf a prey. He goes on to trace the crimes and the calamities which flow from this bitter fource of immorality and impiety : and who- ever is folicitous to obliterate thofe crimes and avert thofe calamities from the Prote- ftant Churches, cannot have a furer guide to conduft his fteps than this Prophecy of Ifaiah : who particularly fpecifies the reli- gious obfervance of the Chriftian Sabbath as one of the beft means of Reformation ^^. *♦ Ch. Iviii. 13, 14, Reli- 336 DISCOURSE Xlt. Religion itfelf Is too often wounded in the houfi of her fi^iends '\ Even the Proteftant Clergy feemfcaixe agreed amongthemfelves, v/liether they fliould teach the duties of an Holy and Chriftian Life. So far is this anti- nornianifm fpread, that the Chriftian Ethics are as much relaxed, as they were by the Jefu- ites themfelves; and the people love to have it fo^^. I enter no farther into the unhappy confideration of the fatal efFe6ls both of fanaticifm and luxury on virtuous pradice, than to obferve that the privileges of Redemption, and the conditions of Salva- tion are infeperable in the New Teftament, which certainly is the moil: moral book in the world. One remedy for this great evil is a judi- cious plan of preaching the Gofpel : by illuflrating the life and maxims of Chrift» and the writings of the Apoftles, in a man- ner both popular and critical. The Mini- fters of Religion, if they would be fuccefs- ful, befides being examples of the believers in ivord^ in converfation^ in charity ^ infpirity infaith^ in purity '\ fhould be very careful »5 Zech. xiii. 6. *^ Jerem. v. 31. " i Tim. iv. 12. not DISCOURSE XIL 337 not to relax the duties and temper of the Gofpel; but to oppofe the felfifh and vohiptuous manners of the times, by in- forcing fpecial duties ; avoiding thofe un- meaning generalities which reform no one, and defcending to an exacl: detail of each part of Chriftian Ethics, leaving no evalions to pretended ignorance, by the cleared praftical rules of devotion and eucharift, of moderation and felf-denial, of juflice and equity, of charity, compaffion, and alms : preffing much on the people the fliortnefs and the moment of life, and the interefting views of death and judgment, heaven and hell. Of the peculiar do6lrines of P.evelation I will only obferve, that they fhould be taught in the very words and ideas of Revelation itfelf, efpecially the divinity and facriiice of Jesus Christ. The education of youth fliould be a great inftrument of amendirsg manners. Let the ingenuous youth throu^^hout civilized Europe be formed to the fyftematic know- ledge of the beft thin;^^, as well as the le.l: X am^ 338 DISCOURSE XIL compofition ; through a regulated courfe of annual ftudies, Grammar, Rhetoric, Poetry, Hiftory, Arts, Philofophy, and Revealed Religion. As a principal improvement in the lite- rary education of the ingenuous youth, permit me to fuggeft that it be a Chriftian education; by laying before them fele£l parts of HOLY SCRIPTURE, in Hebrew and in Greek, and of the beft ancient Chriftian Writers. There are exquifite pieces of Chriftian Antiquity, which would form the tafte as well as the heart of a ftudent : and a feledlion might be made from St. Luke and St. Paul ; from Minucius, Laftantius, Prudentius, Jerome ; Juftin, Clement, Origen, Chryfoftom, Bafil, Macarius ; and the Poems of Nazianzen, Nonnus, and Synefius ; which might rival in elegance and far exceed in utility the very beft Claflics. Thus have I briefly ftated fome obvious means of reviving the zeal and purity of proteftant Chriftianity : but alas ! the divine prefcience, leaving inviolable our freedom to abufe his beft bleffings, forefaw that the Reformed and Proteftant Churches, when 4 Romifti DISCOURSE XII. 33^ Romifh perfecution fhould fubfide, would leave their firjl love^ and too well defervc thofe tharafters of the Laodicean ftate, which probably* was meant to be defcriptive of our own at prefent. 'Thefethmgs faith the Amen ^ the faithful a7id true witnefs^ the begiyining of th^ creation of God % I know thy works ^ that thou art neither cold 7ior hot ^ — Becaufe thou fay eft ^ I ant rich and increajed with goods , and have need of nothifig y and knoweji not^ that thou art wretched^ and mifer able ^ and poor ^ and blifid, and naked. I counfel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire ^ that thou mayefl be rich^ and white raiment that thou mayefl be clothed: '-^As ma?iy as I love I rebuke and chafie?! : be ZEALOUS therefore and repent, — TJ? him that over Cometh^ will I gra?7f to fit with me in my throne^ eve?i as I alfo overcame^ and amfet dow?2 with my Father in his throne^ III. The converfionof the heathens, Jews, and mohammedans is predi6ted as an effential in the amplitude and felicity of the Church. * In hac imagine eccleiiiE Laodicenae, nobis exhibetur flatus ecclsiiiirum Proteflantium. Vitringa, inApocal* p« i6i, X 2 The 340 DISCOURSE XIL The fyftem of African flavery is a pow- erful obftacle to the humane bufmefs of converfion. A diftuiguiflied prelate * hath excited the public compaflionto mitigatexV^ horrors : but a poUtic and peaceful feft have fet the example in their own diftrift of abolijlding it. They have freed their flaves, and allow them wages for their labour. How pleafmg would it be to indulge our hopes, that the prefent General Peace might be improved to extend the glories of the Gofpel to the remoteft regions of either hemifphere ! and to multiply as well as edify the Churches ! How happy, fliould God difpofe and enable the kingdoms of Europe, at this time, to extend the know- ledge and influence of the pure Gofpel, among the Gentile inhabitants of the Eaft and Weft} that the untutored Indian might derive from Europe the riches of Chrift, in return for that ill-omened opulence which they have fhowered on us. In particular, the mild and gentle temper of the Gentoos, and of many cafts and tribes in the vaft empires of Perfia, * The Bifliop of Chefler, Serm. xvn. Hill- DISCOURSE XII. 341 Hindoftan, Tibet, and China, their frugal fimplicity, and their commercial inter- courfe with Europe, are predifpofmg cir-? cumftances very favourable to their illumi- nation by the Chriftian Faith. But alas ! how JJjall they believe /;z.him, of whom they have not heard '^ and how jhall they hear without a preacher'? a?id how fiall they preach, except they be fent ? as it is wi^itteii^ how beautiful are the feet of them, that preach the gofpel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good thi. ngs'\ Would it not be prafticable, for the Eaft India Companies, aided by their refpe6live Governments here and abroad, to place Proteftant Miflionaries, acquainted with the popular languages of the Eaft, in all their factories 3 and to favour their communi- cation with the Mohammedans ? For this purpofe, the holy scriptures, efpecially the New Teftament may be difperfed over the Eaft in Arabic, Turkifli, and Perfian Tranflations. Such is my idea of that infpired book, that it finds it way direftly to y" }\ow\, X. 14, 15,. X t the 34a DISCOURSE XIL the heart, and conquers unbelief by a moro than human energy. There are circumftances in the Moham- medan countries favourable to Chriftianity. In the paft year ^ the Grand Signor hath permitted to all Chriftians, whether Catho- iicks, Proteftants, or Greeks, the free exer- cife of their religion throughout his ftates. The Catholic merchants highly extol the toleration of the prefent Sultan, and the prote6lion which he grants to all Religions.* It were eafy to demonftrate from the interior conftitution of the Chriftian Reli- gion, that it includes all the principles of perfonal and public good. \¥ith refpecl to the felicity of nations, a Religion prefcrib- ing moderation, temperance, induftry, and frugality, will tend to the pqpuloufnefs and competent fupport of any country in any climate : prefcribing godlike charity, it will mitigate the fufterings of human nature, and even the inclemency of climate and fituation. It will alfo promote that firm- nefs of mind and body, which averfe to aggreffionj fu^'niflies the means of defence. ' ^■■■'" The DISCOURSE XII. 24-3 The wifdom and fublimity of its principles have a direft tendency to improve human reafon -, to excite enquiry, meditation, com- parifon; to enable intelleft in man to be fuperior to fenfe ; and thus to re-eftab- lifh the rights of confcience. The equity and kind affeftion, that predominate in this Religion, v^ill have the beft effefts on Le- giflation, which, when tempered by Chrif- tianity, becomes not fo much a flrift execu- tive juftice as a kind of proteftion, afylum, and chancery, that tempers even punifh- ments with lenity, and reforms or prevents vice, as well as protc6ls virtue. When I confider the Chriftian Religion as an inftitute of happinefs, I do not mean Chriftianity as it is now pra6lifed in the world : I do not mean the Popifh Chrifti- anity, which is either a profligate hypocrify, or a gloomy fuperftition, which would exterminate the paffions by a flow and dreadful fuicide s of which we have memo- rable examples in fome of the beft men of that Communion. I exclude from my ideas of the Gofpel, that antinomlan fa- X 4 ^laticifm. 344 DISCOURSE XII. naticifm, which make Religion to confift in inexplicable Theories : much lefs, has the libertinifm of the vulgar Proteftants, and the cuftoms of the prefent age, any pre- tenfions to the name and honours of true Chriftianity. By this auguft name I mican that Religion which is defcribed and exem- plified in the New Teftament, a Religion of perfonal, domeftic, and public virtue : in which the paffions are not extirpated, but governed : in which, God is adored through Jefus Chrift, with love, admiration, fear, and gratitude : by which Society is conti- nually im.proved and meliorated ; while the individual is daily renewed and prepared both by the bleffings and adverfities of the prefent life for the endlefs felicity of the future '^ RECAPITULATION. This feries of Leftures prefents a con- nected argunent for the truth an4 certainty ot Revealed Religion, drawn froin the completion of predictions refpefting Chnftianity. Lefture I. It was expedient in the firft place to ftate the general idea of *5 2 Cor. iv, 17, 18, DISCOURSE XII. 24-S Infpiration, and to give a fhort Hiftory of Prophecy. Leftare II. we proceeded to eftabiiili the moil ufefal Canons of Inter- pretation ; efpecially that, which addrelTeth itfelf to the lincere and unvitiated Common Senfe of a wife and virtuous Man, reiulting from the natural and obvious coincidence of predictions with events : exemplified in the harmony, between the Religious Prophecies, and the Life of Jefus Chrift, whofe Doftrines as well as x\£lions are enveloped in the prophetic theology. To thefe Canons vv^ere annexed literary obfer- vations on the myftic and double fenfe, on prophetic aftions, and the fymbolic language. Left. IV. V. A memorable circumftance then engaged our attention : that the Divine Author and Dodtrine of the Chrif- tian Religion were announced to the pro- phet Daniel in the reign of Cyrus, with an exaft fpecification of the very time of Chrkl's Minifrry and the year of his Paffion : with his fignal judgm.ent on the Jewifh Nation after 40 years, when he fent forth his af^mieSy dejfroyed thofe murderers^ and burned 04.6 DISCOURSE XIL burned up their city ^"^ . The feveral cha- rafters of Redemption, there diltiiictly revealed were alfo fhewn to be inapplicablQ to any civil or fecular events, and a proper de- monftr^tion that the Religion of Chrift being divinely predicated v^'^as divinely revealed. Lefture VI. But as the Sealing of yifion and Prophecy is the principal dif- tindtion of the promifed Saviour; this noble argument, drawn from the long feries, dependence, and concatenation of the whole prophetic Syftem, was ftated, with fufficient examples to evince the certain conclufion, which follows from that admirable combi« nation of feparate proofs, refulting from predictions of the whole hiftory of the Meffiah, and of the moil refined Doctrines of his Religionc But In order to illuftrate the great- liefs and fanftity of his perfon and charafter, both human and divine, it was expedient, in Lefture III. to reprefent hiq yirgiu-birth and fublime attributes ; and in '° ;Matth. xxii. 7. Le^lura DISCOURSE XII. 347 Lecjture VII. the perfeft expiation of fin by his Death and Sacrifice. Lefture VIII. IX. The agreement of Prophecy and Hiftory was (hev/n in a general view of the adverfe and profperous fortunes of the Ghriftian Church, perfe- cuted both by the pagan and anti-chriftian powers,yet victorious, progreffive, univerfal. Le6lure X. We then viewed the Author of our Faith in contraftto that hoftile power, which hath fo long exerted its malevolence, in oppofition to the philanthropy of Chrift, This hoftile power was piewn to have been defcribed by the name and characters of Antichrift, and, Le6lure XL myftically by the Jewifli Prophets under the emblems of idolatrous and tyrannic kingdoms, parti- cularly that of the Commercial State of ancient Tyre, whofe myftic allegory was fhewn to coincide with the fecularity and mercenary fpirit of the antichriftian Church, and with the enormous ambition of its vifible head. It hath been demon- ftrated, that the Chriftian Prophecies have determined thofe myftical defcriptions to the 348 DISCOURSE XIL the City Rome and her eccleliaftical Do- minion. But the time and limit of theie Difcourfes not admitting of a larger detail, one certain charader of Antichrift, Idolatry and Creature- worfhip^together With various Superftitions, were fhewn to prevail in that Communion : while the Reformed Church labours under evils- of another defcription, unbelief, herefy, and relaxed morals. The prefent and laft difcourfe, Leflure XIL points out theremedies of thofe corruptions, the declining power of Antichrift, and the jD.oral means of advancing the promifed purity^ amplitude, and felicity of the Chriftian Church, probably on earth, to be completed in the heavenly State. Astheprediftion of Events has an evident tendency to produce in all who fee their completion, at leaft an hiftorical faith : the prediftion of Doftrines, properly meditated, has a ftill nobler efficacy, to improve that hifiorlcal into a confcicntious and religious Faith, adapted to its great purpofe of Salvation. Thus in the famous prophecy of Chrift's Paffion "% not only an hiftorical event DISCOURSE XIL ^^9 event is foretold, but the caufes and confe- quences of that event are laid open, in a feries of Doctrines, proper to exercife not merely a faith of credence, but a faith of reliance on the Divine Perfon and Charafter predicted. In comparifon with each other, the hiftorical predictions, efpeciaily thofe which are fulfilled in Chrift, are a grofs and palpable demonftration, which is fufii- cient to bear down the moft pertinacious unbelief, if reafon be properly exercifed: while the dogmatic and fentimerital pro- phecies are of a finer texture, and require a fpirituai taile and difcernment, to appre- hend their evidence, which is fubfequent to the former kind, and leads to its proper conclufion, not only that Jesus is the Saviour of the World, but that he employs fuch and fuch means in effecting the falva- tion of them that believe. Thus I have laboured to conftrud a prophetic demonftration, of the Divine original, eftablifhment, and univerfality, of the Chriftian Religion, under the aufpices. of a Divine Perfon, born of a Virgin, dyino- as a Vicl'im, raifed to a celeftial Em.pire, and at 350 DISCOURSE XIL at length triumphant over the unremitted oppofition of his mahgnant Enemy. His Divine Religion hath been occafionally de- pifted^as the moft amiable and perfect fyftem of rules and principles, for the advancement of Human Society5as vi^ell as fupernaturally efficacious, to conduft every one of his faithful votaries to all the felicity of v^hich their nature is capable, taking into the con- fideration both their mortal and immortal ftate : and armed w^ith irrefiftible power to confign to the hoftile and malignant party, in their punifhment, as in their apoftacy, all fuch faithlefs and unreformed mortals, who, in their prefent probation, rejefl their Divine Deliverer, and range themfelves under the ftandard of Rebellion againft God and Virtue, whether the profefTed Infidel, or the difloyal Chriftian. The clemency, the fandlity, the heroifm of the Divine Mediation have been illuftrated from the facred writings, fo far as our weak ability could reach fo exalted themes. Nor were the obftacles which oppofe themfelves to a rational belief at all difTembled or concealed ; difficulties, refulting from the very nature ©f DISCOURSE XII. 251 of things, from the fupernatural and miraculous agency, both in the Chriftian and antichriftian Scheme. But it hath appeared, on the folid grounds of reafon, that the prophetic evidence is of fuch force, as to furmount all the difficulties, which refult from the myfterious counfels of the Deity. For, all Prophecy being the Infpi- ration of God, a predicted Revelation mufl be true in all its Dodrines however incom- prehenfible. Much might be urged on this topic, and the argument ad verecundiam might be almoft irrefiftibly preffed on hu- man imbecillity, when it attempts to fathom the depths of the Divine Syflem, whether of Nature, Providence, or Re- demption. But you muft acquiefce in this attempt to aflert Revealed Religion by refting the flrefs of Demonftration on the Prophetic Evidence ; while a feeble advo- cate for this nobleft caufe regrets that his powers of argument and perfuafion are not more adequate to its dignity and import- ance. For, if there be aught in human life worthy 352 DISCOURSE xii, worthy of a wife man's beft attention, It is to know and obey the will of God con- cerni?ig Us in Christ Jesus ^*. And I am perfuaded that fuch an enquiry, conducted with the candour and diligence, probity and devotion which it demands, will terminate In a firm conviftion, that the argument from Prophecy, when rightly and amply ftated, is of that invincible ftrength as to fuftain the whole weight of the mystery OF GODLINESS, a myftery without co'dtroverfy great and auguft; God manifested in THE FLESH by a virgin-birth; justified BY the Holy Spirit, the author of Miracles, and who fpake by the Prophets; seen OF miniftring angels; preached UNTO the GENTILES; BELIEVED ON IN THE WORLD; RECEIVED UP INTO GLORY '\ ** I Theff. V. 1 8. *3 I Tim. iii. i6. PROOFS [ 353 ] PROOFS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. P A G E 297. DAUBUZ. p. 474. ' This facred book of the Revelation hath been fealed up for many ages, and did appear to all Chridians, who did earneftly wifli for the kingdom of God, as an unfathomable Myftery. But nov;, fince the Reformation, God hath opened the eyes of men, and let them fo much into it, as to conjeQure and ground very ^od hopes, for the glorious approaches of the happy ftate of the Church/ That by the more fure word of Prophecy, St. Peter ILi. 1 9. points to the Revelation of St. John, was the acute difcovery of Sir Ifaac Newton in his excellent obfervations on the Apocalypfe, p. 240. and afterwards afcertained by Bifhop Warburton, D.L. VI. 6. p. 304. and Sermons, Vol. IIL difc. XI. * The evidence of Prophecy * is juftly qualified a more fur c word when com- * pared to miracles, whofe demonflrative evidence ' is confined to that age, in which the power of * them was beftowed upon the Church : whereas « the prophecies here meant (namely, thofe of *St. Paul and St. John concerning the great ' apoftacy) are always fulfilling even to the laffc ^ confummation of all things, and foaflPording this * DEMONSTRATI VJE EVIDENCE tO thc mCD of all -f generations.' Y PAGE 354 DISCOURSE XII. PAGE 306. Daubuz. p.477. * The meaning is, to exclude all the period of time lapfmg between the fixth and feventh trumpets from having any (hare in the, perfeHion of that myjlery : and this is as plain as may be from Rev. xi. 15. that the founding of the Sev^enth Angel fliall give warning of the very beginning of that great revolution. To explain this, obferve, that the fubjun6tive mood hath no future in the Greek tongue ; and for that reafon the aoriflus is ufed, or elfe a circum- locution by the word //.eAXw, as here, which implies akvays the time to come. So that oroiv fj^iXAYii c-ccXTTil^si]/ — may be tranfiated here, %vhen he fiiall have founded the Trumpet, See, G. J. Voflius, de Analog, lib. III. cap. 15/ ViTRiNGA, p, 433. though he interprets the Seven Thunders of the vii Crufades as he reckons them, yet concurs with Daubuz in the fcope of the prophecy: 'moram nullamtemporis efle interceliuram inter clangorem Septima^ Tubse et oraculorum propheticorum implemen- turn, quod conjundum eifet cum pace amplitu- dine et profperitate ecclefias, deftruftis deftruc- toribus Terras.* He enlarges, ^s often elfewhere, on this fubiime fcope of Prophecy. See his fine comment on ;^.7.p.434 — 438. onxi. 15 — 19. p. 510. fq. ? A G £ DISCOURSE XII. 255 PAGE 310. Nepos the chief afTerter of the literal millen- nium, was a florid and poetical writer, like our Dr. Burnet. The topic is fuited to men of imagination. See Mofheim. de Reb. Chr. p. 726. and Whitby's judicious treatife : who makes it to confifi:, in the Converfion of the Jews and Gentiles, the Union and Univerfality of the Chriflian Church : and approves the fentiment of Oecumenius, u su ovpccvoi; y\ KXr.poifO" The faireft and moft reafonable ideas of Chiliafm were entertained by the great Mr. Mede. See his Life, §. 21, 22. and his Epiftles. Dr. Thomas Burnet, in the Fourth Book of his Theory has illuftrated the fubjeO: with much erudition,as well as adorned it with his romantic and bold imagination. Of the Ancient Chiliaft's fee his vith chapter. His'own do61rine is fum- med up in his Review of the Theory : p. 405. Engl. Tranfl. 1719. * We muft diftinguilh be- * twixt a Meliorution of the world, and a Mil- * Icnnium, We do not deny a reformation and ' improvement of the Church, as to peace, * purity, and piety. All this may, be, and I < hope will be, ere long. But the apocalyptical * Millennium, or the New Jerufalem, is Hill * another matter. It differs not in degree only Y 2 from -'6 DISCOURSE XIL ' from the prefent ftate, but in a new order of * things, both in the moral world and in the * natural. And that cannot be, till we come ' into the New Heavens and the New Earth. ^ Suppofe what Reformation you can in this ' world, there will ftill remain many things in- * confident with the true Millennial State.' This learned Author's own diftin6lion ihould have taught him, that as the melioration of the Church is the proper fubje8: of fuch prophecies as relate to ChrilVs kingdom in this world ; fo the proper fubjeft of the Millennial Prophecies is iXiQ: C el ejiial Sidiit of the Divine Empire. Hence, thefe Prophecies will be impenetrably obfcure, till that ftate arrives, becaufe we want ideas and expreffions for thoje things which God hath prepared for them that love him. i Cor.ii.g. from Ifaiah Ixiv. 4. As this part of Ifaiah's Pro- phecies is the original fource or fountain of St. John's concluding Vifions in theApocalypfe: a comparifon between them v/ould aiTifl; us in afcertaining the fenfe of both. Ifai.lxv. 17 — 25. compared with Rev. xxi.xxii. Vitringa, whofe genius brightens in his courfe of commenting this prophet, has, I think, entirely demoliflied Dr. Burnet's airy fyflem. p. 911. Ad verum tendenti fupponendum eft, Prophetam fub DISCOURSE XII. '3^7 fub Creatione ccelorum novorum et Terrae novas non loqui, primo utique fenfu,' de immutatione Status Mundi, five Caelorum et Terrs, naturali ; fed de forma nova ac meliore in flatum Ecclefide inducenda.Ouodadhypothe{inattinet,qusponit, Tellurem,poft con(lagrationem,poftquam novam adepta fuerit formam, rurfus inhabitatum iri a JLiftis (latu Paradifiacs Felicitatis ; cenfeo eflfe inexplicabilem. — RefteintelligimuSjpofTeEccle- liam cura Providentite divine, perduci ad longe perfediorem in hifce terris flatum ; et gaudere Pace, profperitate, et copia etiam atque abun- dantia rerum ad vitam et ufum necefiariarum, fed abfque ordine Naturae mutato. Si Naturae Ordinem mutes, quod facit dodiffimus Burnetus, turbas omnia. Ecquid enim tanti eft, San6los omnes refufcitatos in hifce terris per m annos bonis terreftribus ac temporalibus frui ad fatie- tatem, ut propterea Naturae ordo immutandus fit ? An minus habituri eflent, fi abfque hoc fe- licitatis terrenas millennio protinus in coelos ra- perentur ? Vis omnis hujus fententiae cadit in locum 2 Vtl. iii. 7. 13. illuftratum in Libris Obfervationum, IV. 16. Viderunt prudenti- ores, et in his Maimonides, M. N. II. 29^ Sententiam fuam hie do6le explicans, pbrafin Creationis calorum ac terrae novae effe prophetic cam et metaphoricam, Y 3 PAGE 58 DISCOURSE XII. PAGE 317. The fcope of the Emperor's Reform niay^be given in his own words, on declining the com- pliment of a Statue, offered to him by the inha- bitants of Buda. ^ When I lliall have been fuccefsful in my attempts to level alj thofe pre- judices, which Hop the progrefs of human rea- fon ; when every individual fliall join in a common effort to contribute to the fecurity and welfare of the monarchy ; when I fhall perceive equity and good order prefidmgover the courts of juftice; knowledge increafed by the perfe6lion of the means of acquiring it; the common people better informed; the clergy more regular in their difcipline; and a folid harmony eflablifhed between the Civil Laws and the Holy Precepts of our Religion : when population is enlarged ; hufbandry im- proved; induftry properly encouraged; when manufaftures are brought to confummate per- fection ; and their produce bringing in quick and fafe returns : when, in fine, a free and unbounded circulation, pervading all the pro- vinces, fhall have opened a wealthy fource of true eafe and riches ; as I wifh and hope to fee it one day : then perhaps fhall I deferve ^ ftatuc.' Vienna^ June 23, 1784, figned, Joseph, PAGE DISCOURSE XIL 359 PAGE 319. Mr. Mede, p. ^']^y excellently : ^ uttok/jjo-i? fignifies diffimulation — and this word we mult repeat ol-ko y.oivGi — for all (hould be counterfeit. Lying fhould carry the counterfeit of Truth : the feared confcience a femblance of devotion : the reftraint of marriage fhould be bur a (hew of chaftity : and abftaining from meats a falfe ap- pearance of abftinence/ It is a juft and fine obfervation of Bifhop Taylor, dilfuaf p. 259. ' That the goodnefs of God does fo prevail over all the follies and malice of mankind, that there are in the Romifh communion many very good Chriftians : yet they are not fuch, as they are Papifts, but by fbmething that is higher, and before that, fome- thing that is of an abftrad and more fublime confideration/ Yet, is it uncandid, to fufpe6l the SINCERITY of a Rollin, a Fenelon, or a Pafcal, in their profound refped for the dictates of the Church ? Such is the artifice of Popery, that it has reformed its principles by the light of the Reformation. But as a found judgment of Philofophy and Rcafon can only be deduced from their unaffifted exertions before a Revela* tion : fo a true eftimate of Popery is to be made from Popery in its plentitude of power, without that influx of light which hath beamed upon it fince and from the Reformation, Y ij ? A G a "Ao DISCOURSE XII. PAGE 322. Anecdotes of the Ruffian Empire, by W. Richardfon. 1784. 8vo. Lett. II. p. 15.207. * The Ruffians apprehend, every day in the year is confecrated to fome particular Saint. They are convinced, that every individual is under the prote8ion of that holy perfon, on whofe day he happened to be born; and all of them carry about them a fmall metal imacre of their tutelarv Saint. Herodotus gives a (imilar account of the Egyptians/ * In every houfe and fhop, you fee an image of the tutelary Saint : and, in days of religious folemnity, a wax candle or two is lighted be- fore him.* Of the flavidi condition of the Ruffian pea- fants, priefts, and foldiers, See Lett, xxviii^ XXIX. XXX. of the fame work. P. 2r.2— 2:1. ^ The defeds in the national charaQ;er of the Ruffians arife from want of culture. — Immortal would be the glory of that Soverain, who would reflore above xx millions of men to the rights of intelligent and rational [I add, of Religious] beings. — It muft flill be the work of time, and muft be carried on by fucceffive changes. But I , quit fuch Utopian fpeculations.* Travels DISCOURSE XII. 361 Travels by W.Coxe. A.M. 4^ Vol. II. p. 102. ^ Many of the parochial Clergy in Ruffia cannot even ready in their oidii language, the Gofpcl which they are commiffioned to preach. Three Volumes of Moral Sermons tranflated from the Englifh, French, and German were printing in the Ruffian Tongue. — The remedy is obvious ; the Clergy mult be better educated^ better Jiipported.' * Few of the Ruffian merchants and tradefmen can read or write.' p. 109. Of the ferfs or peafants, p.i 11. — ^' How can a coiintry be faid to be civilized, in which domeflic flavery ftill exifts V Agricultural Society, infli* tuted 1765. p. 151. L'Agriculture ne pourra jamais profperer, la ou Tagriculteurne pofTede rien en prop re. p. 118. from In{lru6lions pour le Nouveau Code. P. 140. ' Many of the Calmuc or Mongol hordes, roving in Siberia, are ftill plunged in the groffeft idolatry, and follow the religion of the Dalai Lama. — Engravings of the moft remarkable idols are given in Profeffor Pallas's Travels.' Tranflations from the Claffics, &:c. encouraged by the Emprefs, in 1768. P. 217. Population of the Ruffian Empire, 22 or 23 millions, Travels ^^^z DISCOURSE XIL Travels into Poland^ Ruffia, Sweden au^. Denmark by W, Coxe, F.R.S, 1784, 4(0. B,III.c.i.p.24i. ' In the largeft villages weob- fcrved fchoaks and other buildings comlru^ing at ihe expence of the Emprefs, and alfo churches ^kh doraes, sntended for the Folifb diffidentsof the Greek feci and the RufTians who chafe to fettle in the country/ P. P,29i. * At Mofcow are above looocborches, ^ith rude pidures of Saints; no carved images htmg admitted within the churches/ B. IV. ch, 1, p. 436. From Mofcow to Peterfburgb. * Every hoofe is provided with a piQure of Ibme Saint coarfely daubed upon wood, which frequently refembles more a Calmuc idol^ than the reprefentation of a human head : to this the people pay the bighefi marks of Tcneration/ See p. 454. F. 439. * Their progrefs tov/ards civilization is very inconfiderable, and many inllances of the ^rroifeft barbarifm fell under our obfervation/ Of their inceftuous marriages, ibid. PAGE 326. Of how great utility in refining and fimplify* ing ihtfpeech of mankind, and confequently their reafony would be pure and exa6l tranflations of the Bible into the principal diale6ls, efpecially, verlions of the New Teftament^ liberally and ^ppi- DISCOURSE XII. 263 copioufly difperfed, we may colle8: from a very curious Memoir of ProfefTor Pallas, in the Gentleman's, Magazine, 1785. p. 693. * The Empire of Ruffia, which extends over a great part of Afia, a country unknown to the learned till the time of Peter the Great, cer- tainly contains more nations and people, lan- guages and dialecls, than any other kingdom iix the world. The narrow fpace of Caucafus^ inhabited by a people [ew in numbers, and con- tiguous to each other, unites more than twenty- two dialers of eight or nine different languages. Siberia, which is much larger, affords a ftill greater number; and the peninfula of Kamt- chatka alone, whofe population at the time of its difcovery by the Ruffians feemedonly to have, commenced, contained nine various diale61s of three heterogeneous languages. Moflofthefc languages are much more ftrongly marked, and have much lefs refemblance to each other, and all thofe of Europe, than the European lan- guages have retained of the Ancient CeUic* PAGE 333, Vitringa. p. 783. Utrumque emblema eodenj tendit, et clariffime ante oculos ponit profana fhilojophcmatai foetus cogitationum et meditatio- num 364 DISCOURSE XIL rium animi, fubtiliter et artificiofe contexta ex varia cogitationum ferie, fubinde per modum lon^ioris ratiocinationis ex hypothefibus afTump- tis dedutta, et ad formam demonftrationis fub- tiliter compofita, quae ad primam fpeciem occul- tant peililens quid, quod intus latet, et incautos falHt ; fed preila ab his, qui ea examini diligen- tiori comrnittunt, deprehenduntur continere merum ac lethiferum virus; et ad ufum, ad quem ordinata videbantur, hoc eft, ad veritatem folide adftruendam, et veram Religionem diftinBius percipiendam, nihil valere : cujufmodi philofo- pheinata prodacerentur, publice vulgarentur, et excluderentur in illis communitatibus, quae Romanenfem communionem deferuerant, et quoque ab aiiquibus illorum, qui earum partem faciebant ; niagno ecclenae fcandalo,et multorum exitio. Nenno, non plane ignarus profanorum omnis generis foetuum et fophifmatum, quseproinfinita ouadam fcribendi lieentia et luxurie, quae in florentibus proteftantium terris dominatur, prc- trufa aique exclufa funt, hifce circiter feptua- pinta annis : non facile per fe adverterit, quor- fum refpexerim— ut pod et praeter innumeras hvpothefes, auftoritati Scripturae S. plane in- jurias, non contemnendo ingcnio, et variae faepe eruditionis literariae fuco, induilrie ac fubtiliter iriRruBas ornatafque, prodicrint integra fyfte- mate DISCOURSE XII. 365 mata profanorum philofophematum, per niodum demonftrationum matbematicis ufitatarum^dolofe ac fraudiilenter, licet fubtiliter, contexta, ad in- cautos implicandos ftudiofe adornata ; exeuntia tandem in merum atheifmum ; luxata omni VerbiDivini auOoritate ; foluto omnis focietatis civiiis vinculo; et fanQifTima fide proftituta atque irrifa. — Qui fpecimina defiderat, adire poterit |oh. Micrgelii Hiftoriam Ecclefiafticam, au8:am a Dan. Hartnaccio ; Lipf. 1699. 4(0. Botli the Prophet and his Commentator ex- prefs themfelves, as if they wrote in fasce Romuli, in the very dregs of the xviiith century. PAGE 341. Our late voyages have difcovered a fifth part of the world, (New Holland*} of larger extent than any country that does not bear the name of a Continent. Introd. to Capt. Cook's laft voy- age, p. XV. The form and extent of our earth is now well known : and to borrow the words of the judicious Editor of the laft Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, p. Ixxvii. * Who knows, but that our late voyages may be the means appointed by Providence, of fpreading in due time the blef- fings of civilization amongft the numerous Tribes of the South Pacific Ocean ; of abolifhing their horrid repafts and their horrid rites, and of * By far the largeft Ilknd in the whole world,I. p. 164. laying ^66 DiSCOURSfc XIL laying the foundation for future and more ef- fedual plans, to prepare them for holding an honourable ftation among the nations of the earth? Our having as it were brought them into cxiflence by our extenfive refearches, will fug- ged to us frefh motives of devout gratitude to the Supreme Being, for having bleffed us with advantages hitherto withheld from fo great a proportion of the human race ; and will incite lis tD perfevere in every attempt to be his in-^ (Iruments in refcuing millions of our fellow- creatures, from their prefent ftate of humiliation.' Give me leave to fuggeft, that fhips on voyages of difcovery fhould be furnifhed with Chaplains^ well qualified and well encouraged to make ob- Tervations on Religion and manners of the bar- barians, and to take opportunities of difcovering the Chriftian Religion to them. Of the Religion of the Friendly Ifland^ fee B. 11. ch. xi. p. 403. ' The Supreme Author of mod things they call Kullafootonga, vho, they fay is a female, refiding in the fl^y, and directing the thunder, wind, rain, and all the chano;es of the weather. Thev alfo admit a plurality of inferior deities : one, who is the god of tb.e clouds: another, who has the govern- ment of the fca, &c. The fame religious fyftem docsnot extend all over the clufterof the Friendly liles. They do not worfhip any thing, that is the DISCOURSE XII. ^67 the work of their own hands, or any vifible part of the creation : and they have (what the author calls, perhaps inconfiderately) proper fentiments about the immateriality and the immortality of the Soul;' they call it * life, a divinity, or in- visible being/ Here is a good bafis for inliruc- iion^ firft in Natural, then in Revealed Religion^ Capt. James King, in the 3d Volume of the Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, p. 368. * Befides the mildnefs of their government, the Ruffians have a claim to every praife for the pains they have beftowedi and which have been attended with great fuccefs, in converting the Kamtfcha^ dales to Chriftianity, there remaiiiing, at prefent, very few idolaters among them. If we may judge of the other Miffionaries, from the hofpi- table and benevolent Pallor of Paratounca (who is a native on the Mother's fide) more Juitabk perfons could not be fet over this bufmefs. It ts needlefs to add, that the religion taught is that of the Greek Churches. Schools are likewifc eftablifhed in many of the oflrogs [villages"] where the children of both the natives and Coffacks 3LY€ gratuitou/ly m{ivu6ied in the Ruffian language/ Thefe palfages contain excellent hints on the fubjecb I am recommending : and fiiould have the more weight, as they come from ib intelligent an obferver, Qui mores hominum multorum vidit et urbes. 5 p. 368 D I S C O U R S E XIL P. 380. ' The inhabitants of as many oFtlie iflands as are brought under the Ruffian domi- nion, are, at prefent, converted to Chriftianity. And probably the time is not very diftant, when a friendly and profitable intercourfe will be brouoht about between Kamtfchatka and the whole of this chain of iflands; and which will draw after it a communication with Japan itfelf.* PAGE 338. Rev. xviii. 1. And afUr theft things, I Jaw another angel come downjrom heaven^ having great power ; and the earth ivas lightened with his glo7y. The dawn of this bright day, which fucceeded to the darknefs of antichriflian barbarifm and ignorance, was the revival of learning. The Council of Vienne, A. 1311*, confidering the ill-fuccefs of the Crufades in converting the infidels, decreed, that the Oriental Languages, the Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldee, Arabic, and the Greek, fhould be taught in public fchools : and that the Sacred Scriptures in thofe languages lliould be applied to the converfion of the Saracens. This noble defign had little or no effe8; in fo dark an age, when all traces of foreign Literature had difappeared in the Latin Church. * Heidegger, hift. papatCis. §. cxLii — ctM. B. M.. diiT, XYIK §. xvii. — ' In DISCOURSE xir. 36^ In the next age, Univerlities and Schools were founded and reftored : and on the taking of Conftantinople, Nicolas V. humanely and iiberally patronized and prote8;ed the fugitive Greeks. But in the very epoch of the Refor- mation, by a fingular Providence, Cardinal Ximenes immortalized his name by publifliing at a vaft expencetheComplutenfian Bibles, begun A. 1 51 5. From this time, the day of Reformation dawned, and the day-ftar arofe in men's hearts. At the fame time Erafmus gave his firfl Edition* of the New Teftament, foon followed by his diffufe and eloquent Paraphrafe. Thefe publi- cations were perhaps no lefs inftrumental in fpreading the Reformation^ than the zeal of Luther, v;ho nobly diftinguifhed his retreat by a popular Tranflation of the Scriptures. I. In Biblical Learning, we have now attained to that period, which furnifhes the befl materials for improved Editions, Comments, and Tranf- lations of the Holy Scriptures. In the lad age, * Erafmus himfelf publiflied five editions of the New Teftament, 1516. 1519. 1522. 1527. 1535. which lail is reprinted in the Vlth Vol. of his Works, 170^. His Paraphrafes were firft printed, 1517. 1522, Luther publiflied his German tranflation, in parts, from i5i7to 1532, Jo. Vogtii catalogus libr. rarior. p. 103. 262, Z two o^o DISCOURSE XIL two illudrious Englifli Prelates formed and executed thofe great defigns, the Polyglot Bible^^ and the Sacred Critics. Works of the fame kind fhould be printed, at lead once in every century. The Text and Verfions of Scripture are now in a condition, to form a far more perfeQ Polyglot. The Sacred Critics fhould contain fuch Comments and Dill'ertations, as are not in the former Colle8:ions; and fuch, of all times, as deferve to be perpetuated ; among others, the beft rabbinical Commentaries with correal tranf- lations. Among other reafons for Biblical Colle6lions, the expence, and number, and bulk of the prin- cipal Editions and feparate Comments, is fo great, as to make them inacceffible to private Clergymicn till it is too late to read them. That mod ufeful edition of the Hebrew Bible by Michaelis, at Hall, 1720, is printed on fo minute a type, as to be fcarce legible to any but the ftrongefl and cleareft eye. All the Hebrew Bibles might be combined and reprefented in one edition, thofe of Michaelis and of Kennicott being the bafis of the new edition, which fhould include all the variations, &c. from the firfl imprefTion to the prefent time. It were to be wilhed, that fome portion of that wealth and patronage which falls in fo abundant fhowers on the voluptuary arts, 4 might DISCOURSE XII. 271 might fertilize the negleQed fields of Litcja- ture; and be employed erpecially in encou- raging Oriental and Biblical Studies, which by a flrange fatality, have been often ruinous to their mod afTiduous cultivators, as Le Jay, Cartel, and many others. 2. The Writings of the Chriftian Fathers fhould form part of a fyllem for illuftrating the Scriptures : and it is to be regretted, that they fhould have been generally preffed into the fer- vice of Superftition by Popifh Editors. There are many defiderata in this Clafs, and fuch Authors as Eufebius, and feveral of the Lower Empire, Photius^ Sec, merit more complete editions. 3. The Greek philofophy, the nobleft effort of human reafon, has been fo little attended to, that more than two centuries have elapfed fince the publication of the works of Plato, which ffiould be repubiifhed with all the platonifts. Such an undertaking would be worthy of a fplendid Univerfity : and the edition of Ariftotle and the Peripatetics might at the fame time oc- cupy fome other feat of Learning. By diftiibuting fuch defigns to various places, a few years would be fufficientto complete them. Z 2 ^ 4. The ^^2. DISCOURSE XII. 4. The learned Frofeflions might be engaged in giving complete Editions of the Ancient Jurifprudence — the Ancient Medical Writers —the Greek Mathematicians — 5. Hiftory might be formed into a complete and regular feries, afcertaining the Chronology; and giving the greater departments, the Roman, for inftance, in its proper connexion. 6. The ancient Geographers, whofe bell edi- tions are rare and imperfed, might be reprinted in one colle6tion, illuftrated with Maps and the Nmnmi Urbium et Populorum. n. We have not yet a complete edition of Homer, illuflrated with Comments and Anti- quities. There are many good fcholars, who never y^w the Commentaries of Euftathius. How elegant a work would be the Greek Drama, with all the Scholia, and the beft Cri- tic ifms I How ufeful, the Greek Orators^ of the Three Succeffions ! To accomplifh thefe and other defigns, would be the proper ufe of Royal Libraries and Typographies,fuch as that of the Louvre, fo mag- pificemly eftabliihed by Cardinal Richlieu, Solid DISCOURSE XII. 373 Solid Literature would be beft promoted by Typographical Societies, under the aufpices of Princes and Government, in capital Cities and Univerfities, wherever there are great Libraries printed and manufcript. The Ancient Learn- ing, and the Literature of their refpeftive States and Languages, and the bed original and inven- tive Writers, and fuch as have enlarged the bounds of Science, fhould exercife the nobleft of the arts, and, methodized in order of time and fubjeft, fliould proceed from the prefs with the utmoft attainable degree of corre61nefs, beauty, and arrangement. My idea is to reprefent \\\q prefent flate of Literature, without that anxious diligence of collating and commenting, which on any confi- derable writer would occupy a whole life. Sure I am, that Ancient Literature fo methodized would very much fhortcn our labour, at the fame time that it v^-ould extend true Science. Ifocrates, in Evagora. p. 73. Ta? i-mhc-Hq 'rw^, ov Sioe. roug sixi/,£i/ouloig roii; xaOfrwctj/, ocXXa ^loc, The ■<: "'^•J: :• The Prophetic -'Era of the New Testament^ The Ift Century. Auguftus A. D. 31 Tiberius 15 Caligula 37 Claudius 41 Nero 55 Galba 6S Otho. Vit. Vefpaf. 69 Titus 79 Doniician 81 Nerva 96 Trajan 98 lid Century. Antoninus Pius 130 M. Aurelius 161 Commodus 180 Pertinax, &c. 193 Severus 194 Converilon of the Roman Church, 34 Their numbers, and their faith cele- brated throughout the world> 60 Blpopi of Rome, Linus 67 Anacletus 78 Clement I. 91 Euarillus 100 Alexander I. loS {■ Sixtus 116 Telefphorus 126 Hyginus 137 Pius I. 141 Anicetus 157 Soter i5S Eleutherus 177 "Vidlor 192 Vldlor cenfures the Afian churches 195 Illd Century. Caracalla Macrinus Heliogabalus Alex. Mamaea Maximin The Gordians Gordian jun. Philip Decius 211 217 21S 22-2 236 238 249 Callus. Volufian 251 Zephyrinus Calixtus I. Urban I, Pontianus Anterus Fabianus Cornelius 251 St. Cyprian afTerts the parity of 253 Biihops 25X 255 Stephen aflumcs the right of appeal 2cr 219 224 231 236 Gallienus Claudius II. Aurelian Tacitus Probus Carus DiocUfian 254 26S 270 275 276 282 2S4 Lucius Stephen I. Sixtus II. Diony(ius Felix Entychian Caius Marcellinus 257 259 271 275 283 296 to the R.iman Church : and lords it ever the Spanifh, Afri- «an, and Eaftern Churches 250 IVth Century. ConftantiusChl. 304 Conftantine M. 306 Conftantius 337 Julian 361 Jovian 363 Valens 364 Theodofius M. 379 Arcadius 395 Weftern Empire, Valentinian I« 364 Gratian 367 Valentinian II. 375 Eugenius 39a Honorius 395 Vth Century. Valentinian III, 424 Maximus. Avitus 455 Majorian 457 Severus 46 1 Interregnum 465 Anthemius 467 Olybrius 47a Glycerius 473 Nepos 474 Auguftulus 475 Eajlern Empire, Theodofius II. 408 Marclan 450 Leo the Thraclan 457 Leo the younger 474 Zeno 474 Anailafius 49 1 Kings of Italy, Odoacer 476 Theodoric 493 Patriarch: of CP* Metrophanes 307 Alexander 317 Paulus 34.0 Eufebius 341 Macedonius 343 Eudoxius 360 Demophilus 370 Evagrius 372 Gregorius Naz. 3S1 Neftarius 381 Jo. Chryfoilome 400 dcpofed 403 died 407 Arfaclus Atticus Sifinnius Neftorius MaxJmianus Proclus Flavian Anatolius Gennadius Acacius Flavitas Euphemius Macedonius Bijhops of Rome* Marcellus 304 Eufebius 309 Melchiades 311 Sylvefter 314 Marcus, 8 m. 336 Julius 336 Liberius 35a Damafus 367 Siricius 385 Anaftafius 398 Conftantine by hj« bounties corrupts theRom. Church Marcus exalts the fee of Rome Liberies favours the Arians The Martyrs were Invoked 4-04 Innocent I. 406 Zofimus 425 Boniface I. 4^8 Celeftine 431 SixtusIII. 434 Leo I. 446 Hilary 45^ Simplicius 453 Felix II. 471 Gelafius 4^9 Anaftafius II, Symmachus Vtjlgotbs, 402 Alaric 417 Ataulfus 418 Wallia 423 Theodoric 432 440 Vandah, 461 Gunderic i 467 Genferic i 4^3 Hunneric ^ 492 Gundebaud l 496 Thrafimund i 498 Innocent I. claims the right of Appeals to Rome The three next Popes augment the Papal Power. Leo I. claims the Primacy The Council of Chalcedon decrees tct ura, 'nrpsa-^sia Felix excommunicates Acacius, Patriarch of CP, Gelafius claims the fupremacy, jure divino I'^Ith Century. Greek Emperors. Patr-arcbs of CP. ftinl. 518 Timotheus 512 ^Inian I. 527 Joh. Cappadox 517 ^in II. 56s Epiphanius 520 aerius If. 578 Anthimus 535 lurlclus 58a Mennas r^S Eutychius 552 Joh. Scholaftlcus 565 Eutychius reftored 577 Joan. Nefteutes 58Z Cyriacus 595 Unlan fubjedls the Eaftern clergy to he Roman See in aflumes the title of {Ecumenical Patriarch 5S© 53^ Bijhops of Rome, Hormifdas 514 augments his power. 523 imprifoned by Th*d» 526 doric. John I. Felix IV. Boniface II. John II. Agapetus Sylverius Vigilius Pelagius John III. Benedia I. Pelagius II, Gregory I. 530 532 535 536 537 The Italian blfliops pro- 555 left againft Viguiu*. 560 574 578 590 I llth Century. i)cas 6oz aclius 6/0 eral Emperors 641 jiftans II. 642 iftantlne Pogo- atus 668 inlan II. 68 s ntius 694 imarus 697 enus 69 8 Thomas diac. Sergius 606 6io Pyrrhus 639 Paulas prefb. 641 Pyrrhus reftored 654 Petrus diac. 655 Thomas diac. 667 John 669 Conftantine 674 Theodore 6j6 George 678 Theodore reftored 683 Paul 686 Callinicus 693 lammed began his Impofture 6c6, in le very year when Phocas gave Pope oniface JIX. the title of Univerfal Biftiop. Sabinlan Boniface III, Boniface IV. Deufdedit Boniface V. Honorius I. Severinus John IV. Theodore Martin I. Eugenius I. Vi tali an Adeodatus Donus I. Agatho Leo II. Benedia II. John V. Conon Sergius I* 604 606 608 615 619 625 640 640 64a 649 654 657 672 676 678 68z 684 685 6S6 687 2 2 Vlllth Century. Greek Emperors ■. Patriarchs of CP. Juftinian reftored 704 Cyrus 70s Philjppicus 711 John 711 Anaftafius II. 713 Germanus 7x5 Theodofius III. 715 Anaftafius 730 Leo Ifauricus 717 Conftantine 754 Conftantine VI. 741 Nicetas 766 Leo IV. 775 Paul 780 Conftantine VII. 780 Tarafius 785 Irene 797 Pepin makes the Pope a temporal prince Contefts concerning Image-worfhip 72.5- Charlemagne enriches the Roman Church, and confirms the Papal Supremacy, monaftic vows, pilgrimages, canoni- zations, &c. 756 -794 800 Bijhops of Rome, John VI. ' John VII. Sifinnius Conftantine Gregory II. Gregory III. Zachary Stephen ele£l Stephen II. Paulus I. Stephen III. Hadrian I. Leo III. IX th Century. "Nicephorus 802 Nicephorus 806 Michael I. 812 Theodoras 815 Leo Armenus S13 Antonius S21 Michael II. 821 John 832 Theophilus 829 Methodius 842 Michael HI. 842 Ignatius 846 Bafil the maced. 867 Photius 858 Leo philof. 8i6 Ignatius reftored 268 Photius reftored 878 Stephen 886 Antonius 893 Nicolaus 895 Emperors of the Weft Charlemagne 8co Louis leDebonnaireSi4 Lotharius 840 Louis II. ^55 Charles le Chauve 875 Charles le Gros 880 Louis III. 900 Irene 787, and Theodora 842,eftablilh idolatry by Law. The Vlllth General Cvjuncil. in favour of Photius ^79 The Popes forge the Decretals, and the donations of Conftantine, Louis, Otho 9C0 Stephen IV. Pafcal I. Eugenius 11. Valentine Gregory IV. Serglus II. Leo IV. Pope Joan Benedia IIL Nicholas Hadrian II. John VIII. Martin II. Hadrian III. Stephen V. Formofus Boniface VI. Stephen VI. Romanus Theodore II John IX. Benedid IV. Xth Century. Emperors oftheEafl. .kcanc-r 911 cr: -tan tine IX. 912 omanus 919 .omanus II. 959 icephorus phocas 963 olin Tziinifces 969 afil II. and Conftantine X. 975 Patriarchs of CP, Emperors of the Wejl. Eutbymiuc. 906 Conrad 912 Nicolas reftored 911 Hemy the fowler 920 Stephanus 925 Otho the Great 936 Trypho 9zS Otho II. 973 Vacancy 931 Otho ill. 9S3 TheophylacH: 933 Polyeudtus 956 Bafilius 970 N-icolaiis 983 Silinnius 996 Serglus 999 Bijhops of Rome. Leo V. Chriftopher 903 Sergius III. Anaftafius III. Lando John X. Leo VI. Stephen VII. John XI. Leo VII. Stephen VIII. Martin III. Agapetus II. John XII. 904 911 913 914 92S 929 931 936 939 944 946 956 The loweft depreflion of tnie Religion in the Weftern Church, A. 1000 or 150 years, in a Continued fucccHion of 50 Popes, there was fcarce one pious and virtuous man. See Abp. Tillotfon's Rule of Faith, Part III. §. vii. Leo VIII. antipope 964 Xlth Century. Romanus III. iczS Euftathius Benedia V. John XIII. IJenedia VI. Donus II. Benedia VII. John XIV. Bonif.VII.antipopc985 Johnel.&JohnXV.585 Gregory V. 596 John XVI. 997 Sylvefter II. 999 964 965 97s 974 975 984 VlichaellV. Vlichael V, 'onilantine XI. 'heodora II. Michael VI. 1034 Alexius 1041 Michael ic'z Conftantine 1054 Jo. Xiphiline 1056 Cofmas [faac Comnenus 1057 Euftratius onftantineDucas 1059 Nicolaus omanus IV. 1068 Michael VII. 107 I icephorus bot. 1078 lexis Comnenus loSi R( N Berenger afferts the true doftrine of the Eucharifl L^'urban II. proclaims the firft Crufade IOI9 John XVII. IC03 1026 The Frar.l and Sttabian Sergius IV. IC09 1043 Emperors. Ecnedia VIII. IGI2 1059 Henry II. IC02 JohnXVlII. IC24 1064 Conrad II. 1024 Benedia IX. 1034 1075 Henry III. 1039 Gregory VI. IC44 JoSi Henry IV. 1056 Clement 1046 1084 Damafus II. Leo IX. Vidor II. Stephen X. Nicholas II. Alexander 11. 104S JC49 1054 1058 1059 1069 ucharifl 1050 1095 Gregory VII. Viftor III. Urban II. Fafwal II. 1073 10S6 1088 IC99 Xllth Century. Empercrs of the Eaji, Painarchs of CP, Smperoi's of Germany , Bifkops ofR>. John Comnenus 1118 Jo. hieromnomon im Henry V. 1 106 Gelafius II. Manuel Comn. 1143 Leo 1134 Lotharius Saxo 11 25 Calixtus II. Alexis Comn. 1180 Michael 1 1 43 Conrad III. 1138 Honorius II. Andronicus C. 11S3 Cofmas 1146 Frederic Barba- Innocent II. Ifaac Angelus C. 1185 Nicolaus 1 147 rofTa 1152 Celeftine II. Alexis ill. 1^95 Theodotus 1151 Henry VI. afpor, 1190 Lucius II. Neophytus Philip 1 198 Eugenius III. Conftantine Anaftafius IV. Lucas "55 Adrian IV. Michael 1169 Kings of England. Alexander III. Charito 1177 Henry I. iioo Lucius III. Theodofius 1178 Stephen "35 Urban III. Bafilius Nicetas 1183 1186 Henry 11. II54 Richard I. 1189 Gregory VIII. Clement IlL Leon ti us Dofitheus George Xiphilln Jo. Camarerus iigo 1191 3192 1199 John I 199 Kings of France. Louis VI. le Gros i .tc8 Louis le Teune 1137 Celef.in 111. Idnoce'itlll. G rati an compiles the Decretals XIIIthCENTURY. French Emperors. Baldwin Henry Peter de Cour tenay Robert Baldwin II. Philippe VII. Augufte 1x80 Errpcrors of Nice, Emperors of Germany i 1204 Theodore Lalcaris 1204 Otho IV, 1206 John Ducas III. 1222 Frederick II. Theodore 1^55 William 1217 John IV. 1258 Interr. I7y. 1220 Michael ^2.59 1228 Andronicus Palseo- logus 1283 Of the Latin and Greek Patriarchs for 58 years, fee Fabric. B. G. VI . -jt^-J. Patriarchs of CP. I20» 1220 1250 3256 Aujlrian Family. Rodolph of Hapfturg 1273 Adolphus 3293 Albert I. 3298 titular French Em- perors. Fabric y p, 739 3263 3267 326S J27S Arfenius German us Jofeph Jo. Veccus Jofeph reftored George Athanafius Innocent III. augments the Papal Power and Superftition, eftablifhes the Inquifition, Tranfubftantiafion, Ccnfeflion, and the Orders of Domi- nicans, FrancifcanSj Mendicants> The Santa Cafa 1291 Kings of France, Lewis VIII. 3223 St. Louis IX. 3226 3283 Philip III. lehardii27o 3283 Philip IV. lebel 12S5 32QO John 1293 Honorius III. Gregory IX. Celeftin IV. Innocent IV. Alexander IV, Urban IV. Clement IV. Vacancy f 2 years. Gregory X. Innocent V. "^ Adrian V. i John XXI. J Nicolas III. Martin IV. Honorius IV. Nicolas IV. Vacancy, % years. Celeftine V. Boniface VIII. nakes the papt abjolute* Wth Century. erors of the Eaji, onicusIII, 1320 Palaedog 1341 antacuzenus ielPalaedegusi39i Nipho irkljh Sultans. lan 1298 la 1325 rati. 135S et I, J389 Patriarcbi of CP, John 1293 Athanafius reftor. 1302 Vacancy 1310 1312 Jo. Glycys 13 16 Gerafimus 1320 Efaias ^323 Jo. Calecas 1333 Ifidore 1347 Calliftus J350 1354 1377 Nilus 3380 Antonlus 1388 Calliftus 1396 Matthaeus ^ 397 Philotheus Macarius Houfe of Aujir'ia* Henry of Lux- embourg 1309 Louis IV. 1314 Charles IV, 1347 Wenceflaus 137S Rupert 1400 Kings of France. Louis X. Hutin 1314 Philip V. I 3 16 Charles IV. 1321 Philip VI. ,328 John II. J 35 1 Charles V. 3364 Charles VI, 13 So Btjhops of Rome. BenediftXI. 1305 Clement V. i^oc JohnXXIL 1316 BenediaXII. 133^ Clement VI, 134s Innocent VI. i-^j Urban V. j-^Sz Gregory XL 1370 Urban VL ,378 Boniface IX. J389 The Popes at Avig- ncn 1305— 1377 The Great fchfm 1378 Dante 1321 Petrarch J350 Jf'iclf 1360 :hCENTltRT. Patriarchs of CP. German Emperors. Palsologus 1424 Euthymius I4I0 Sigifmond 14 10 Innocent VIT, 1404. mtine P. 1448 kenMay 29,1453 Jofeph II. 1416 Albert II. 343S Gregory XII. 1406 Metrophanes 1440 Frederic III. 1440 Alexander V. 1409 Oman Emperors. George 1445 'vlaximilian I. J493 John XXIII. Vacancy 3 years 1410 1414 an 3403 Martin V. 1417 1431 1410 Pofl captan C?. Eugenius IV. 'met 1413 Geo. Scholarius H54 Nicolas V. H47 ■at II. 1421 Ifidorus, &c. 1460 Calixtus in. 1455 ■met 11. 1451 Maximus, &c. 14S0 - Pius II. 1453 J464 etil. 1481 Paul II. Sixtus IV. 147 1 :iis, of Pifa 14C9 Innocent VIII, 1484 ^ of Conftance « 1414 Alexander VI, i49» of Bafle 1431 of Florence 143? tion of Printing by Gutenburg 1440 js V. patronizes Literature 2450 • X\^th Century. OttcKJn Emperors, Patriarchs of CP, German Emperors* Btjbops of Ron Seiim J 512 Pachomius, &c. 1512 Charles V. 1 5 -'9 Pius III. Soliman II. 1520 Metrophancs 1566 Ferdinand I. 1558 Julius II. Seiim 11. 1566 Jeremias 157* Maximilian II. 1564 LeoX. Amurat III. 1574 Theoleptus 1527 Rodolph il. 1576 Adrian VI. Mahcmet III. 1595 Matrhseus 1594 Clement VII. Neofhytus 1599 Paul III. MatLhsus 1600 Julius in. Raphael Marcellus II. Council of Lateran 1512- -1517 Paul IV. Luther and Zulrigllus 15^7 Pius IV. Council of Cologne 1536 Pius V. Council of Trent 154s- -1563 Gregory XIII. Maflacre of Paris 1572 Sixtus V. Edidt of Nantz reftores the Peace of Religion 1 59S Urban VII. Gregory XIV. Innocent IX. Clement VIIT. XVIIth Century. Achmet I. 1604 Cyrillus Liicaris Matthias l6l2 Leo XI. Muftapha Ofman 16 17 I'icario ncmlnej 1600 Ferdinand II. 1619 Paul V. Amurat IV. 1623 Cyr. Luc. Patr. 1621 Ferdinand III. 1637 Gregory XV. Ibrahim 1640 Jtrangulatus 1637 Leopold 1658 Urban VIII. Mahomet IV. 1655 Partheuius 1639 Innocent X. Soliman III. 1687 Gabriel 1657 Alexander VII. Achmet 11. 1C90 Clemens 16 02 Clement IX. Muftapha II. 1695 Dionyiius 1671 Clement X. Callinicus 1687 Innocent XI. Gabriel 1700 Alexander VIII. Maflacre in the Valtelinc Viftories of Guftavus Adolphus 162c Innocent XII. 1630 t The IriHi Maflacre I 641 Maflacre in Piedmont 1655 Achmet III. i7°3 Peter the Great 1682 Jofeph I. 3705 Clement XI. Mahomet V. 1730 Catharine I. 1725 Charles VI. 17H Innocent XIII. Ofman III. 1754 Peter IL 17^7 Chr.rles VII. 1741 Fcnedift XIII. Muftapha III. 1757 A:inc 1730 Francis I. 1745 Ci.'ment XII. Abdhal Ahmet 1774 John in. Elizabeth Peter III. 6mo. Catharine II. 17^0 J741 1762 1762 Jofeph 11. 2765 Be:.edia XIV. Clement XIII. Clement XIV. Pius VI. H E END, DATE DUE , ; CAYLORD PNINTCDINU.S.A. wfm^mamfmmfmtm^ Pnnceton Tneoiogicai Seminary-Speei '-'t>'2'j lllllll 1 1012 01012 5658 L * i ♦ t ' . ? 1 • :. fj r > ? , 1 5 ' J '.I !i