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FAMILIAR  SURVEY 
 
 OF    THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN    RELIGION. 
 
 mmmmtrnKam 
 
FAMILIAR    SURVEY 
 
 OF    THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN    RELIGION, 
 
 AND  OF  HISTORY 
 
 AS    CONNECTED    WITH    THE    INTRODUCTION  OF  CHRISTIANITY, 
 AND  WITH  ITS  PROGRESS  TO  THE   PRESENT  TIME. 
 
 INTENDED    PRIMARILY 
 
 FOR  THE  USE  OF  YOUNG  PERSONS  OF  £I7HER  SEX, 
 
 DURING    THE    COURSE    OF 
 
 PUBLIC  OR  OF  PRIVATE  EDUCATION. 
 
 -^ 
 
 BY  THOMAS  GISBORNE,  A.  M, 
 
 "Jesus  saith  to  Peter, — Simon,  son  of  Jonas,  lovest  thou  me  .'—He  salth  unto  Him, 
 Yea,  Lord ;  thou  knowest  that  I  love  thee.    Jesus  saith  unto  him,  Feed  my  Lambs." 
 
 John,  xxi.  15. 
 
 DUBLIN : 
 
 Crimea  fig  JKaiHiam  J|pomr, 
 
 FOR  W.  WATSON  AND  SON,  G.  BURNET,  P.  WOGAN,  W.  PORTER,  B.  DORNINj 
 J.  RICE,  N.KELLY,  J.  STOCKDALE,  R.  E,  MERCIER  AND   . 
 CO.    AND  J.  PARRY. 
 
 l800. 
 
TO    THE   REVEREND 
 
 BENJAMIN  HEATH,  D.  D. 
 
 FELLOW  OF  ETON  COLLEGE,  ETC, 
 
 DEAR,  SIR, 
 
 IF  I  venture  to  afTert  that  more  than  cuftomary 
 attention  might  advantageoufly  be  allotted  to  the 
 inculcation  of  Chriftian  principles  and  knowledge 
 on  the  youth  of  this  country ;  let  me  not  be 
 thought  defirous  of  loading  their  inftructors  with 
 harm  and  indifcriminate  cenfure. 
 
 My  own  perfonal  experience  might  lead  me  to  a 
 more  equitable  conclufion.  Nearly  fix  of  the  ear- 
 lier years  of  my  education  were  configned  to  the 
 care  of  a  clergyman  (<z)  >  whofe  life  exemplified 
 the  religious  lefTons,  which  he  endeavoured  to  im- 
 prefs  on  his  pupils.  The  years  intervening  between 
 A  2  private 
 
 {a)  The  Rev.  John  Pickering,  of  Mackworth,  near  Derby. 
 
(     vi     ) 
 
 private  tuition  and  the  univerfity  were  pafled  at  the 
 very  eminent   public  fchool  (b\  over  which  you 
 then  prefided.     I  recoiled;  with  pleafure  that  the 
 head  clafs,  which  was  under  your  immediate  fuper- 
 Intendence,    was   regularly   occupied    during   one 
 morning  in  the  common  days  of  the  week  in   the 
 ftudy  of  fomebook  of  a  religious  nature.     Nor  was 
 this  the  only  effort  pointed  to  the  fame  end  in  the 
 conduct  of  the  fchool.     But  I  fear  that  many  young 
 perfons,  if  fummoned  from  feminaries  of  repute  to 
 a  public  examination,  would  give  a  better  account 
 of  the  fabled  wanderings  of  Ulyffes  and  JEneas  than 
 of  the  heaven-directed  journeyings   of  Mofes  and 
 Saint  Paul ;  and  would  difplay  a  more  intimate  ac-. 
 quaintance  with  the  fortunes  of  Athens  and  Rome, 
 than  with  the  hiftorical  progrefs  of  a  religion  de- 
 signed to  be  their  fupreme  comfort  and  guide  thro* 
 life2  and  the  means  of  acquiring  eternal  happinefs. 
 
 The  principal  fault,  when  faults  exift,  is  not  in 
 the  preceptor,  but  in  the  parent.  The  former  is  to 
 water  the  plant ;  the  latter  muft  fow  the  feed.  But 
 how  often  does  the  parent  limit  his  concern  for  the 
 beft  interefls  of  his  children  to  the  decorum  of  mere 
 morals  :  without  imprefling  on  their  minds,  per- 
 haps without  feeling  on  his  own,  a  firm  and  habi- 
 tual conviction,  that  there  is  no  liable  foundation 
 on  which  morality  can  reft  except  a  Chriftian  fear 
 and  love  of  God !  How  often  does  the  parent  ex- 
 pend 
 
 (/')  At  Harrow  on  the  Hill. 
 
(     vii     ) 
 
 pend  his  folicitude  in  unremitting  efforts  to  fit  his 
 children  for  worldly  eminence  j  to  prepare  them  to 
 make  their  way  as  politicians,  as  merchants,  as  fol- 
 lowers of  lucrative  profeffions  ;  to  be  fkilful  fea- 
 men,  intrepid  foldiers,  men  of  learning,  of  tafte,  of 
 accomplilhments,  and  what  the  world  is  pleafed  to 
 call  "  men  of  honour  :"  regardlefs  of  the  duty  of 
 training  them  up  as  fervants  of  a  God  of  holinefs, 
 and  difciples  of  a  crucified  Saviour ! 
 
 A  work  intended  to  facilitate  the  attainment  of 
 the  moft  important  knowledge  will  experience,  I 
 am  confident,  your  favorable  acceptance.  I  offer  it 
 to  you  with  additional  fatisfaclion,  as  it  affords  to 
 me  an  opportunity  of  conveying  to  you  an  affurance 
 that  I  retain  a  grateful  remembrance  of  your  in- 
 ftru&ions. 
 
 I  am, 
 
 Dear  Sir, 
 Your  obliged  and  faithful  fervant, 
 THOMAS  GISBORNE. 
 
 YOXALL  LODGE,  NEAR  LICHFIELD, 
 
 Nov.  ii,  1799. 
 
BBgaMBaMiii'i  -irrimmegca 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 AMONG  perfons  who  are  convinced  that  youth, 
 the  fpring-time  of  life,  is  the  feafon  when  the  feeds 
 which  are  to  occupy  and  fill  the  heart  are  to  be 
 fown ;  and  who  regard  the  acquifition  of  eternal 
 happinefs  through  Jefus  Chrift  as  the  great  object 
 of  human  exiftence  ;  it  is  a  common,  and,  I  fear, 
 a  juft  complaint,  that  in  any  mode  of  education  fuf- 
 ficient  attention  is  too  feldom  devoted  to  religion. 
 
 Of  late  years  much  has  been  done,  and  ably  done, 
 to  facilitate  the  communication  of  religious  know- 
 1  edge  to  youth.    Many  excellent  elementary  works, 
 
 having 
 
X  PREFACE. 
 
 having  for  their  object  the  explanation  of  fcriptural 
 hiftory,  and  fcriptural  doctrines,  in  a  manner  at 
 once  inftructive  and  engaging  to  the  opening  mind 
 of  the  pupil,  have  been  given  to  the  public :  and 
 they  have  been  received  with  the  gratitude  which 
 the  writers  merited.  Let  me  not  be  fufpected  of  a 
 difpofition  to  detract  from  the  value  of  thofe  works, 
 the  circulation  and  ufe  of  which  I  wifh  to  fee  every 
 day  more  widely  extended,  when  I  venture  to  ob- 
 ferve,  that  an  additional  treatife  on  a  plan  fomewhat 
 enlarged  has  appeared  to  me  to  be  wanting  j  a  trea- 
 tife which  might  fitly  intervene  between  the  perufal 
 of  books  of  the  clafs  to  which  I  have  alluded,  and 
 the  ample  range  of  reading  fcarcely  to  be  expected 
 but  from  the  leifure  and  induftry  of  manhood.  The 
 deficiency  which  I  conceived  to  exift,  I  have  endea- 
 voured in  the  following  pages  to  fupply. 
 
 My  intention  has  been  to  lay  before  the  reader  a 
 familiar  and  compendious  view  of  the  Chriftian  reli- 
 gion, and  of  the  principal  historical  events  connected 
 with  its  introduction  and  progrefs,  its  corruption 
 
 and 
 
PREFACE.  Xi 
 
 and  reformation  :  including  a  concife  account  of  the 
 fcriptures  of  the  old  and  new  Teftaments,  and  a  fum- 
 mary  of  the  evidences  of  the  truth  of  Chriftianity,  to- 
 gether with  fome  remarks  on  forms  of  church-govern- 
 ment and  religious  eftablifhments.  Bearing  in  mind 
 that  I  have  been  addrefling  myfelf  to  natives  of  Great 
 Britain  ;  I  have  been  folicitous  to  draw  the  attention 
 of  the  reader,  wherever  the  fubject  afforded  a  fit 
 opportunity,  to  events  or  circumftances  which  have 
 had  a  particular  influence  on  his  own  country  ;  and 
 by  rendering  him  acquainted  with  the  principles  on 
 which  its  religious  inflitutions  are  eftablifhed,  to 
 guard  him  betimes  from  being  haftily  prejudiced 
 againft  thofe  inflitutions  by  mifreprefentations  or 
 groundlefs  objections.  I  have  endeavoured,  on 
 fuitable  occafions,  to  obviate,  without  entering  too 
 deeply  into  argument,  fome  of  thofe  cavils  of  fcep- 
 ticifm  and  infidelity  which  a  young  perfon  may  pro- 
 bably hear ;  and  thus  to  lead  him  to  withhold  im- 
 plicit confidence  from  others,  which  he  may  after- 
 wards have  to  encounter.  Throughout  the  whole 
 work  it  has  been  my  predominant  defire  to  diredt 
 
 the 
 
XII  PREFACE. 
 
 the  acquisition  of  knowledge  to  its  proper  purpofe  ; 
 the  eftablifhment  and  confirmation  of  Chriftian 
 views,  motives,  and  practice  through  life. 
 
 I  may  truft  that  the  candour  of  the  public,  which 
 I  have  repeatedly  experienced  refpecting  other 
 works,  will  be  extended  to  the  prefent,  perhaps, 
 more  humble,  yet  I  would  hope,  under  the  bleiling 
 of  God,  not  lefs  ufeful  attempt.  My  objects  in 
 drawing  up  this  performance  would  be  abundantly 
 anfwered,  if  it  mould  be  deemed  worthy  of  being 
 placed  as  a  manual  in  the  hands  of  the  youth  of  both 
 fexes  during  their  education  at  home  or  in  public 
 feminaries.  I  am  alfo  willing  to  perfuade  myfelf 
 that  it  may  prove  a  convenient  fummary  to  many 
 perfons  of  all  ages,  when  they  happen  not  to  have 
 leifure  and  opportunity  for  the  perufal  of  larger 
 works. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 UUM MART  View  of  the  State  of  Mankind  from 
 the  Creation  of  the  World  to  the  Calling  of  Abra- 
 ham,   , Page  i 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 Summary  View  of  the  Origin  of  the  Jewi/h  Race,  and 
 of  the  Hi/lory  of  that  People  to  the  Death  of  Mo- 
 fes, 20 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 Summary  View  of  the  Hi/lory  of  tfe  Jews  from  the 
 Death  of  Mofes  to  the  prefent  Time, 44 
 
 CHAP, 
 
XTP  CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP.   IV. 
 
 On  the  Books  of  the  Old  Tejlament,  .......    79 
 
 CHAP.   V. 
 
 On  the  Books  of  the  New  Teflament, 115 
 
 CHAP.   VI. 
 
 Summary  of  the  Evidences  of  the  Chrijlian  Religion,  1 53 
 
 CHAP.  VII. 
 
 On  the  leading  doclrines  of  the  Chrijlian  Religion ,  176 
 
 CHAP.  VIIL 
 On  the  Character  ofjefus  Chrijl, 213 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 Tjhe  Hi/lory  of  Chrijlianity  to  the  Subverjion  of  the 
 Wejiern  Empire, .  .  .     23 1 
 
 CHAP.   X. 
 
 On  tho  Hi/lory  of  Chrijlianity  from  the  Subverjion  of 
 the  Wejiern  Empire  to  the  End  of  the  Thirteenth 
 Century, 264 
 
 CHAP. 
 
CONTENTS.  XV 
 
 CHAP.  XI. 
 
 Continuation    of   Chrijlian    Hi/iory    to   the  prefent 
 Time, ;  .  .  308 
 
 CHAP.  XII. 
 
 On   Forms  of  Church-Government  and  Kcclefiajiical 
 EJiabliJhments, 346 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 Conclufion,  ....  * .  357 
 
FAMILIAR  SURVEY 
 
 OF       THE 
 
 CHRISTIAN    RELIGION. 
 
 CHAPTER  I. 
 
 \ 
 
 SUMMARY  VIEW  OF  THE  STATE  OF  MANKIND 
 FROM  THE  CREATION  OF  THE  WORLD  TO 
 THE    CALLING    OF    ABRAHAM. 
 
 Jl  HE  eftablifhment  of  Chriftianity  was  the  great 
 object,  to  which  the  feveral  difpenfations  of  Divine-. 
 Providence,  intervening  between  the  creation  of  the 
 world  and  the  birth  of  Chrift,  were  defigned  to  be 
 fubfervient.  If  therefore  we  are  folicitous  clearly 
 to  comprehend  the  nature  of  the  Chriitian  Religi- 
 on, and  fully  to  perceive  the  magnitude  of  the  blefT- 
 ings  which  it  offers  to  every  perfon  who  fincerely 
 embraces  and  faithfully  obeys  it :  6ur  attention 
 ought  in  the  firfl  place  to  be  directed  to  the  origi- 
 nal fituation  of  the  parents  of  the  human  race  ;  and 
 to  thofe  fucceffive  events,  whether  in  the  extraordi. 
 
 B  nary 
 
1  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 nary  dealings  of  God  with  man,  or  in  the  civil 
 hiftory  of  particular  nations,  which  were  evidently 
 calculated  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  advent  of  the 
 great  Redeemer. 
 
 God  (a),  faith  the  fcripture,  created  man  in  his 
 own  image.  Wherein  did  this  refemblance  of  man 
 to  his  Maker  confift  ?  The  anfwer  to  that  queftion 
 muff  be  derived  from  the  facred  writings.  The  true 
 explanation  of  the  counfels  of  God  can  be  obtained 
 only  from  the  word  of  God.  Some  perfons,  obferv- 
 ing  that  after  the  Almighty  had  faid,  "  Let  us 
 make  "  man  in  our  own  image,  after  our  likenefs," 
 he  immediately  fubjoined  ;  "  and  let  them  have  do- 
 "  minion  over  the  fifh  of  the  fea,  and  over  the 
 *e  fowl  of  the  air,  and  over  the  cattle,  and  over  all 
 "  the  earth,  and  over  every  creeping  thing  that 
 "  creepeth  upon  the  earth  (b) ;"  have  concluded 
 that  the  image  of  God  imprefled  upon  man  con- 
 fided in  the  fovereign  authority  delegated  to  man- 
 kind over  the  whole  inferior  creation.  This  opi- 
 nion may  not  be  deftitute  of  truth.  Yet  it  feems 
 to  overlook  the  principal  circumflance  indicated 
 by  the  expreffion  under  confederation.  The  mod 
 diftinguifhing  characteriftic  of  the  Supreme  Being  is 
 holinefs.  And  we  have  fcriptural  grounds  for 
 inferring,  that  the  primitive  uprighnefs  and  purity 
 of  man  was  the  feature  in  his  foul,  which  confti- 
 tuted  his  likenefs  to  his  Maker.  St.  Paul,  exhort- 
 ing the  Ephefians  to  labour  for  that  radical  change 
 of  heart  which  Chriftianity  requires  in  her  follow- 
 ers j  a  change  from  the   corrupt    frame    of  mind 
 
 natural 
 («)  Gen.  i.  27.        (J>)  Gen.  i.  26. 
 
STATE    OF    MANKIND.  3 
 
 natural  to  fallen  man,  to  one  refembling  the  date  of 
 innocence  and  happir:efs  in  which  Adam  was  creat- 
 ed ;  ufes  thefe  remarkable  words :  "  Put  on  the 
 "  new  man,  which  after  God"  (that  is,  after 
 the  image  of  God)  "  is  created  in  righteouf- 
 "  nefs  and  true  holinefs(c)."  And  when  addrelT- 
 ing  his  Coloflian  converts  on  the  fame  fubject, 
 "  Ye,"  faith  he,  "  have  put  on  the  new  man, 
 tc  which  is  renewed  in  knowledge,"  (the  know- 
 ledge of  righteouinefs,)  "  after  the  image  of  him 
 "  that  created  him  (d)"  The  refemblance  there- 
 fore which  man  originally  bore  to  God  confided 
 chiefly  if  not  entirely  in  holinefs  and  righteouinefs, 
 fimilar  in  kind,  though  infinitely  inferior  in  de- 
 gree, according  to  the  diflance  between  the  Creator 
 and  the  created,  to  the  holinefs  and  righteoufnefs 
 of  his  heavenly  Father. 
 
 But  this  bleffed  date  was  of  fhort  continuance. 
 Enfnared  by  the  Devil,  who  is  repeatedly  denomi- 
 nated in  the  Scriptures  "  the  Old  Serpent,  Satan," 
 (the  Adverfary,)  <c  who  deceiveth  the  whole  (e) 
 world  j"  and  is  exprefsly  declared  by  our  Saviour 
 to  have  been  a  "  murderer  from  the  beginning,  the 
 "father  of  lies,  who  abode  not  in  the  truth,  be- 
 "  caufe  there  is  no  truth  in  him  (/)  ;"  our  firfl 
 parents  concurred  in  breaking  that  fingle  command- 
 ment, the  obfervance  of  which  God  had  enjoined 
 as  the  ted  of  their  obedience.  They  ate  of  the 
 forbidden  fruit  of  the  tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good 
 and  evil  j  that  fruit  which  taught  them  the  differ- 
 
 B  2  ence 
 
 (c)  Ephef.  iv.   24.  (d)  ColofT.  fit   10 
 
 (*)  Rev.  xli.  9.  and  xx.  2.         (/)  John,  viii.  44. 
 
4  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 ence  between  good  and  evil,  by  rendering  them 
 ^acquainted  with  evil,  which  until  that  hour  they 
 never  had  known.  Thus  they  annulled  the  cove- 
 nant betwen  them  and  their  Maker.  They  for- 
 feited  all  claim  to  every  bleffing  which  they  had 
 antecedently  poffefled.  They  dripped  themfelves 
 of  all  title  to  every  favour,  which  their  Creator 
 had  previouily  given  them  hopes  of  receiving  from 
 his  bounty.  For  all  was  to  depend  on  the  fteadfaft- 
 nefs  of  their  obedience  to  the  original  command- 
 ment. They  incurred  the  penalty  of  death ;  the 
 penalty,  which  from  the  beginning  had  been  an- 
 nounced to  them  as  annexed  to  the  breach  of  that 
 commandment.  They  became  obnoxious  to  what- 
 ever puniihment,  in  addition  to  death,  the  lofs  of 
 their  exiftence,  the  unerring  juftice  of  God  mould 
 perceive  to  be  merited  by  their  tranfgremons, 
 They  loft  their  uprightnefs  and  purity  of  heart,  the 
 image  and  likenefs  of  Jehovah  in  which  they 
 were  created  :  and  thus  were  become  more  fimilar 
 in  the  difpofition  and  frame  of  their  fouls  to  the 
 Author  of  evil  to  whom  they  had  fubmitted,  than 
 to  the  glorious  God  of  holinefs  whom  they  had 
 difobeyed. 
 
 The  Supreme  Being  in  pronouncing  judgment 
 on  his  guilty  creatures  mercifully  fufpended  the 
 execution  of  the  penalty  of  death.  ExcluMve  of  the 
 fentence  uttered  againlt  the  Serpent,  the  import  of 
 which  will  fhortly  be  considered  ;  he  impofed  on 
 Eve  the  pains  of  child-bearing,  and  entire  fubmifii- 
 on  to  the  authority  of  her  hufband.  On  Adam  he 
 devolved   the  laborious    cultivation  of  the  earth, 
 
 now 
 
STATE    OF    MANKIND.  5 
 
 now  rendered  above  meafure  productive  of  plants 
 troublefome  to  the  hufbandman,  and  noxious  to 
 the  crop.  And  both  he  expelled  from  the  garden 
 of  Eden,  left  they  fhould  put  forth  their  hand, 
 "  and  take  alfo  of  the  tree  of  life,  and  eat,  and 
 "  live  for  ever  (g)  ;"  left  by  having  accefs  to  the 
 fruit  of  the  tree  of  immortality  they  mould  be  en- 
 abled from  time  to  time  to  counteract  the  natural 
 tendency  of  their  bodies  to  decay,  and  thus  hope 
 to  evade  the  unchangeable  decree,  "Duft  thou  art, 
 "  and  unto  dud  fhalt  thou  return(/6)."  To  pre- 
 vent any  ram  attempt  on  the  part  of  man  to 
 re-enter  his  original  abode,  God  placed  eaftward  of 
 Paradife  a  fiery  guard  of  Angels,  "  Cherubim  and 
 6C  a  flaming  fvvord,  which  turned  every  way,  to 
 "  keep  the  way  of  the  tree  of  life  (0*" 
 
 Perhaps  you  may  be  inclined  to  deem  it  fome- 
 what  fmgular,  that  a  circumftance  of  a  nature  ap- 
 parently fo  trivial  as  the  eating  or  forbearing  to 
 eat  of  the  fruit  of  a  particular  tree,  mould  be  felecled 
 by  the  Divine  wifdom  for  the  trial  of  the  obedi- 
 ence of  our  firft  parents.  You  would  have  expecled, 
 it  may  be,  fome  trial  of  a  more  grand  and  dignified 
 caft  ;  refembling  fome  of  thofe  fplendid  demon- 
 ftrations  of  human  virtue,  which  hiftory  records 
 for  the  admiration  of  the  world.  In  the  firft  place, 
 however,  you  may  be  iatisfied,  that  the  mode  of 
 proof  which  thus  furprifes  you  was  perfectly  proper, 
 becaufe  it  was  the  mode  which  the  Divine  wifdom 
 thought  fit  to  felect.     If  the  temptation  to  tranfgrefs 
 
 were 
 
 (g)   Gen.  in.    22.  (Z>)   Gen.  iii.    19. 
 
 (i)   Gen.   iii.   24 
 
6  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 were  in  your  apprehenfion.  inconfiderable  ;  ceafe 
 to  wonder  that  one  more  powerful  was  not  chofen, 
 when  you  recollect  that  even  this,  weak  as  it  was, 
 proved  capable  of  overcoming  the  religious  refo- 
 lution  of  thcfe  whom  it  afTailed.  Reflect  further,  in 
 the  next  place,  that  in  the  fiiuation  in  which  Adam 
 and  Eve  found  themfelves  in  Paradife ;  the  only 
 exifting  individuals  of  the  human  race  ;  with  every 
 want  anticipated  ;  before  the  fight  or  found  of  dif- 
 trefs  wa^  known  ;  antecedently  to  the  introduction 
 of  arts,  and  of  commerce,  and  of  feparate  property, 
 and  of  gradations  of  rank  and  power,  and  of  all 
 thole  habits  and  inftitutions  of  civil  fociety  which 
 have  proved,  fince  the  earth  became  replenifhed 
 with  inhabitants,  the  moft  efficacious  ftimulants  of 
 the  paiilons  of  men,  and  confequently  the  moft  dan- 
 gerous incentives  to  fin  ;  few,  if  any,  of  thofe 
 temptations,  by  refiftance  to  which  from  a  principle 
 of  obedience  to  the  will  of  God  human  virtue  is 
 now  to  be  evinced,  could  poffibly  have  had  an  op- 
 portunity of  prefenting  themfelves. 
 
 Still  however  you  may  think  that  the  punifhment 
 was  diiproportioned  to  the  offence.  So  flight  a 
 tranfgreffion  as  the  gathering  of  a  prohibited  fruit 
 to  be  inftantly  followed  by  the  lofs  of  the  Divine  fa- 
 vour, by  the  forfeiture  of  exigence,  by  woes  and 
 calamities  reaching  to  the  latelt  polterity  of  the 
 offenders  !  Recollect,  then,  that  this  punifhment, 
 great  as  it  might  be,  was  no  new  penalty  devifed 
 after  the  tranfgreffion.  It  was  that  penalty  which 
 the  tranfgreflors,  fore-warned  and  fully  inflructed, 
 had   known  from   the  day  of  their  creation  to  be 
 
STATE    OF    MANKIND.  J 
 
 already  ordained  as  the  inevitable  confequence  of 
 guilt.  Recollect  alfo  that  the  direct  communicati- 
 on, which  the  Supreme  Being  had  permitted  to 
 take  place  between  himfelf  and  his  creatures,  had 
 precluded  the  poffibility  of  a  doubt  in  the  minds  of 
 Adam  and  Eve  as  to  the  reality  of  the  Divine  com- 
 mand. But  you  judge  mod  erroneouily  in  term- 
 ing their  tranfgreffion  flight.  The  fin  confided 
 not  fimply  in  gathering  the  fruit ;  but  in  breaking 
 the  commandment  of  God,  who  had  enjoined  them 
 to  abftain  from  it :  the  fmgle  commandment  of  him, 
 who  of  his  own  free  grace  had  called  the  offenders 
 into  being;  had  crowned  them  with  innumerable 
 benefits  ;  had  put  immortality  and  unimpairable 
 happinefs  into  their  power,  fubjecl:  only  to  the  obfer- 
 vance  of  one  condition  ;  a  condition  fo  plain  as  to 
 be  incapable  of  being  mifunderftood,  and  fo  eafy  of 
 performance  as  fcarcely  to  feem  to  admit  the  poffi- 
 bility of  failure.  The  mode  in  which  difobeditnce 
 might  be  manifefted  was  of  little  moment.  The 
 guilt  was  in  the  difobedience  itfelf :  and  was  evi- 
 dently moft  heinous. 
 
 Let  us  now  return  to  the  judgment  pronounced 
 againft  the  Serpent :  a  judgment  not  more  full  of 
 terror  to  the  victorious  enemy  of  mankind  than  of 
 confolation  to  thofe,  whom  he  had  degraded  into  a 
 ftate  of  fin  and  mifery.  To  him,  under  the  emblem 
 of  the  reptile,  whofeinftrumentality  he  had  employ- 
 ed in  his  diabolical  machinations,  the  Divine  venge- 
 ance foretold  difappointment,  and  humiliation,  and 
 anguifh,  and  irrecoverable  destruction.  A  future 
 "  feed  of  the   woman"   was   darkly   announced } 
 
 who 
 
o  SUMMARY   VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 who  after  experiencing  fome  temporary  injury? 
 equivalent  to  a  bruife  on  the  heel,  from  the  power 
 and  malignity  of  the  ferpent,  mould  vindicate  the 
 caufe  of  man,  and  the  glory  of  God,  by  a  complete 
 triumph  over  the  adverfary,  by  "  bruifmg  the  fer- 
 pent's  head." 
 
 Here  there  was  a  direct  intimation  given  to  man 
 of  the  great  plan  formed  and  predetermined  in  the 
 divine  counfels  for  the  redemption  of  the  human 
 race  through  the  atoning  facrifice  of  Jefus  Chrift, 
 the  Son  of  God  ;  who,  in  reference  to  this  prede- 
 termination, is  ftyled  in  the  New  Teftament  "  the 
 "  Lamb  flain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world 
 "  (k)."  To  what  extent  the  details  of  this  graci- 
 ous and  ftupendous  plan  were  then  unfolded  to 
 Adam,  the  Scriptures  do  not  explain.  Sufficient 
 however  was  revealed  to  enable  him  to  look  up 
 with  humble  hope,  on  the  part  of  himfelf  and  of 
 his  pofterity,  to  their  future  deliverer  from  the  do- 
 minion of  fin  and  the  grave. 
 
 In  procefs  of  time  a  firft-bora  fon  and  other 
 children  fucceffively  encreafed  the  family  of  Adam, 
 now  no  longer  an  inhabitant  of  Paradife  ;  children 
 born  "  in  his  own  Ifkenefs,  after  his  image  ;"  with 
 a  nature  depraved,  corrupt,  and  iiriful,  like  that  of 
 their  progenitor  -?  not  "  in  the  likenefs  of  God," 
 which  the  Scriptures  almoft  in  the  fame  fenience 
 (/),  as  though  it  were  to  prevent  the  poflibility  of 
 iniftaking  their  meaning  refpecting  the  image  in 
 which  the  children  of  Adam  were  born,  again  aver 
 to  have  been  that  in  which  Adam  was  originally 
 
 formed. 
 
 (/)  Rev.  xin.  8.  (/)  Gen.  v.   1—3. 
 
STATE    OF    MANKIND.  ^ 
 
 formed.  Here,  according  to  the  analogy  which 
 we  ftill  fee  fubfifting  throughout  the  whole  living 
 creation,  in  which  the  offspring  univerfally  inherits 
 and  partakes  of  the  nature  of  the  parent ;  man, 
 become  frail  and  prone  to  guilt,  produced  a  race 
 frail  and  prone  to  guilt  like  himfelf.  The  corrupt 
 tree  could  not  but  bear  corrupt  fruit.  In  like 
 manner  the  next  generation  refembled  in  its  nature 
 that  from  which  it  fprang.  Every  individual  of 
 the  human  race  born  or  yet  to  be  born,  with  the 
 Tingle  exception  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrifl  when 
 he  aflumed  the  form  of  man,  inevitably  brings  with 
 him  into  the  world  the  nature  of  fallen  Adam. 
 And  "  as  in  Adam  all  die,  even  fo  in  Cnnd"  only 
 fhaii  any  "  be  made  alive  (jii)." — "  There  is  none 
 "  other  name  under  heaven  given  among  men5 
 <s  whereby  we  ffiuit  be  fayed^)." 
 
 The  radical  corruption  of  human  nature  is  one 
 of  thofe  truths,  which  their  very  plainnefs  renders  it 
 the  lefs  eafy  to  fupport  by  formal  proofs.  If  a  per- 
 fon  be  unmoved  by  the  decifive  arguments,  which 
 prefs  upon  him  every  moment  at  every  turn  ;  you 
 fcarcely  know  in  what  manner  to  addrefs  him  on  the 
 fubjech  liappiiy  the  minds  of  youth  are  not  thus 
 hardened  againft  fair  reafoning  and  honed  con- 
 viction. They  have  not  been  famiiiarifed  with  fin 
 fuiHciently  to  have  become  blind  to  its  inherent 
 enormity.  They  have  not  yet  been  inured  by 
 long  habits  of  guilt  to  "  call  evil  good,  and  good 
 "  evil  (o)"     They  are   not  obflrucled  with  thofe 
 
 prepoiTeilions,. 
 
 (m)    I   Cor.  xv.   22,  (n)  A&s,  iv.    i  2. 
 
 (s)  Ifaiah,  v.  20. 
 
ID-  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 prepoffemons,  nor  intoxicated  with  that  felf-conceit, 
 fo  common  among  perfons  more  advanced  in  life  -y 
 who  have  formed  to  themfelves  a  favorite  fyftem, 
 and  examine  not  all,  or  without  candour,  any  evi- 
 dence agamft  it.  Let  young  perfons  then  fearch 
 the  Scriptures,  to  fee  whether  thefe  things  be  fo  or 
 not  \  and  they  will  find  the  depravity  of  human  na- 
 ture inculcated  in  the  ftrongeft  terms  throughout  the 
 facred  writings  *  and  inculcated  not  only  as  an  un- 
 deniable fact,  but  as  the  corner-ftone  of  Chriftianity. 
 Let  them  look  diligently  into  their  own  minds  ;  and 
 they  will  be  convinced  that  the  continual  indifpofi- 
 tion  to  righteoufnefs  and  pronenefs  to  tranfgreffion, 
 which  they  will  difcover  there,  can  be  afcnbed  to 
 no  other  caufe.  Let  them  behold  what  pafTes  in 
 the  world  around  them  ;  and  they  will  be  fatisfied 
 that  the  prevailing  wickednefs  of  mankind  can  be 
 traced  to  no  other  fource.  They  will  perceive  that 
 in  this  as  in  every  other  inftance  reafon  and  experi- 
 ence unite  in  bearing  teftimony  to  the  truth  of  the 
 word  of  God. 
 
 The  natural  effects  of  the  Fall  were  foon  felt  mod 
 feverely  in  the  family  of  Adam,  Cain,  his  eldefl 
 fon,  murdered  his  own  brother  Abel ;  murdered, 
 him  becaufe  the  righteoufnefs  of  Abel  procured 
 from  Heaven  the  acceptance  of  his  facrince,  while 
 the  guilt  of  Cain  caufed  his  offering  to  be  rejected 
 by  the  Lord.  The  avenging  juftice  of  God  imme- 
 diately drove  Cain  from  the  land  ;  and  condemned 
 him  to  be  a  wretched  vagabond  on  the  face  of  the 
 earth,     Adam  had  to  deplore,  in  the  lofs  of  two 
 
 fons 
 
STATE    OF    MANKIND.  I   I 
 
 fons  in  one  day,   his  original  breach  of  the  Divine 
 command. 
 
 By  our  acquaintance  with, the  laws  and  the  trans- 
 actions of  the  Jews,  and  alfo  with  the  hiftory  of  dif- 
 ferent Pagan  nations,  we  are  made  fo  familiar  with 
 the  practice  of  facrifices,  that  it  does  not  ftrike  our 
 minds  as  fingular.  Yet  if  we  regard  it  as  a  human 
 invention,  fcarcely  any  thing  can  appear  lefs  capable 
 of  an  eafy  explanation.  How  could  any  man  think 
 that  to  take  away  the  life  of  an  unoffending  animal,, 
 and  to  confume  its  flefh  in  the  fire,  would  be  a  deed 
 calculated  to  procure  for  him  the  favour  of  God  ? 
 If  it  be  difficult  to  anfwer  this  queftion  in  the  cafe  of 
 a  heathen,  much  more  difficult  is  it  in  the  cafe  of 
 Abel.  For,  as  the  ufe  of  flefh  for  food  was  not  per- 
 mitted before  the  deluge,  to  flaughter  an  harmlefs 
 animal  was  an  ad  to  which  Abel  would  be  unaccus- 
 tomed ;  and  one  which,  unlefs  it  were  commanded 
 by  the  Almighty,  he  would  probably  eflimate  as  a 
 crime.  Thefe  confiderations  lead  us  to  believe  that 
 facrifices  were  of  divine  inftitution  ;  and  that  they 
 were  enjoined  on  the  family  of  Adam  and  on  his 
 individual  defcendents,  as  we  know  that  they  were 
 afterwards  made  a  part  of  the  religious  worfhip  of 
 the  Jewifh  people,  principally  with  a  view  to  raife 
 their  thoughts  and  expectations  habitually  to  that 
 effedual  atonement,  which  was  to  be  accomplished 
 in  the  fulnefs  of  time  by  the  facrifice  of  Jefus  Chrifi 
 on  the  crofs.  The  ufe  of  facrifices  thus  introduced 
 would  gradually  extend  itfelf  among  heathen  na- 
 tions. 
 
 When 
 
12  SUMMARY    VIEW   OF    THE 
 
 When  the  third  generation  of  men  had  arifert 
 upon  earth,  we  may  conclude  that  iniquity  had 
 fpread  far  and  wide  :  for  then  the  family  of  Seth? 
 joined  in  all  probability  by  others  of  a  fimilar  difpo- 
 fition,  appear  to  have  been  diftinguifhed  from  the 
 re  it  of  men,  on  account  of  their  adherence  to  true 
 religion,  by  being  called  "  by  the  name  of  the 
 "  Lord  (_£>)  ;"  being  ftyied  according  to  the  He- 
 brew idiom,  the  "  fons,"  that  is  to  fay,  the  follow-? 
 ers  and  fervants,  of  God  (q).'*  In  procefs  of  time, 
 however,  the  general  corruption  overwhelmed  them 
 alfo.  The  fons  of  God  took  to  themfelves  wives  of 
 "  the  daughters  of  men  ;"  the  daughters  of  the  un- 
 righteous offspring  of  Cain.  In  confequence  of  thefe 
 intermarriages  the  contagion  of  iniquity  became  uni- 
 verfal.  Hufband  and  wife,  parent  and  child,  relation^ 
 friend,  acquaintance,  became  the  victims  of  "  evil 
 communication,"  which  from  thofe  days  to  the  days 
 of  St.  Paul,  and  from  the  days  of  St.  Paul  to  the  prefent 
 hour,  has  corrupted  and  "  corrupts  good  manners 
 "  (r)  ,"  and  feldom  more  fatally  than  in  the  cafe  of 
 perfons,  who  unite  themfelves  by  marriage  with 
 others  whofe  hearts  are  devoid  of  true  religion, 
 The  confequences  of  thefe  molt  rath  and  dangerous 
 connections  are  emphatically  fcated  in  few  words  by 
 the  facred  hiftorian  :  "God  faw  that  the  wickednefs 
 "  of  man  was  great  in  the  earth  ;  and  that  every 
 "  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  his  heart  was  only 
 
 "  evil 
 
 ( p)  Gen.  iv.  26.  "  Then  began  men  to  call  themfelves  by 
 **  the  name  of  the  Lord" — as  th»  verfejls  rightly  tranfiated  in 
 the  margin  of  the  Bible. 
 
 (g)    Gen.  vi.  2.  (r)    1  Cor.  xv.  23. 
 
STATE    OF    MANKIND.  .    IJ 
 
 "  evil  continually.— And  the  Lord  faid,  I  will  de- 
 "  flroy  man,  whom  I  have  created,  from  off'  the 
 "  face  of  the  earth  (*)•"  Yet  here  again  the 
 Divine  juftice  was  tempered  with  mercy.  The  ex- 
 ecution of  the  fentence  was  delayed.  God  declared 
 that  the  days  of  man  upon  earth,  the  period  of  trial 
 during  which  the  univerfal  detlrucl:ion  ihould  be 
 poftponed  that  opportunity  might  be  afforded  for 
 repentance,  mould  be  one  hundred  and  twenty  years. 
 But  trial  was  granted  in  vain.  The  fatal  period 
 drew  to  its  clofe.  "  God  looked  upon  the  earth., 
 "  and  behold  it  was  corrupt  ;  for  all  flefh  had  cor- 
 "  rupted  his  way  upon  the  earth.  And  God  faid 
 "  unto  Noah,  the  end  of  all  fiefh  is  come  before 
 "  me  (/).". 
 
 Though  the  Divine  Wifdom  referves  for  a  future 
 life  the  great  diftribution  of  rewards  and  punlila- 
 ments  between  the  righteous  and  the  wicked  j  yet 
 it  frequently  diftinguimes  even  in  this  world  the 
 faithful  fervant  of  the  Almighty  by  fignal  mercies 
 and  bleffings,  while  it  crufhes  the  workers  of  ini- 
 quity with  exemplary  vengeance.  Thus  it  was  on 
 the  approach  of  the  deluge  :  w  Noah  found  grace 
 "  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord."  The  caufe  is  affigned 
 in  the  next  verfe  :  "  Noah  was  a  juft  man,  and  per- 
 "  feci:  in  his  generations,  and  Noah  walked  with 
 *c  God  (11)"  So  likewife  when  God  afterwards 
 faid  unto  Noah,  "  Come  thou,  and  all  thy  houfe 
 "  into  the  ark  ;"  he  immediately  fubjoins  the  rea- 
 fon  of  this  gracious  deliverance  :  *'•  for  thee  have  I 
 
 "  ken 
 
 (s)  Gen.  vi.  5 — 7.     (/)  Gen.  vi.  12,  13.     (»)  Gen.  vi.  8f  9, 
 
14  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    TH£ 
 
 tc  feen  righteous  before  me  in  this  generation  (v).9* 
 St.  Peter,  fpeaking  of  the  old  world,  chara&erifes 
 Noah  by  the  appellation  of  "  a  preacher  of  right- 
 "  eoufnefs  (w )"  From  that  expreffion  we  may 
 conclude  that  he  was  not  only  an  example  of  reli- 
 gion in  his  own  private  conduct,  but  that  he  publicly 
 proteited  againft  the  abandoned  depravity  of  the 
 human  race ;  ftrenuoufly  laboured  to  roufe  the 
 finners  to  a  conviction  of  their  guilt ;  and  de- 
 nounced againft  the  unrepenting  world  the  im- 
 pending judgments  of  God.  Confiding  in  the 
 merciful  protection  of  that  Power  whom  he  loved 
 and  obeyed,  he  entered  the  ark  with  his  family ; 
 and  with  thofe  individuals  of  the  animal  race,  which 
 God  had  brojght  to  him  that  they  might  be  pre- 
 ferred to  replenifh  the  earth  :  and  "  the  Lord  fhut 
 Si  him  in."  Then  "  were  all  the  fountains  of  the 
 "  great  deep  broken  up  ;"  the  ocean  was  heaved 
 out  of  its  bed  by  convulfions  and  earthquakes ;  and 
 "  the  windows  of  heaven  were  opened  :"  floods  of 
 rain  rufhed  from  the  fky  :  "  the  waters  prevailed 
 "  exceedingly  upon  the  earth  ;  and  all  the  high 
 "  hills  that  were  under  the  whole  heaven  were  co- 
 "  vered."  The  ark,  containing  the  fole  remnants 
 of  the  human  race  and  of  the  animated  world, 
 floated  on  the  boundlefs  deluge. 
 
 This  awful  teftimony  ot  the  Divine  indignation 
 againft  fin  took  place,  as  the  Scriptures  exprefsly 
 affirm,  when  Noah  was  fix  hundred  years  old  ;  and, 
 according  to  the  common  computation,  one  thou- 
 fand  fix  hundred  and  fifty  feven  years  after  the  cre- 
 ation 
 
 (i>)  Gen.  vii.  i.  (w)  2  Peter,  if.  5. 
 
STATE    OF    MANKIND,  S| 
 
 ation  of  the  world,  and  two  thoufand  three  hundred 
 and  forty  feven  years  before  the  birth  of  Jems 
 Chrift. 
 
 At  the  expiration  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  days 
 the  waters  were  fo  far  abated,  that  the  ark  reded  on 
 the  mountains  of  Ararat,  in  Armenia-  At  the  end 
 often  weeks  more  the  fummits  of  the  mountains 
 appeared  above  the  furface  of  the  flood.  At  length, 
 on  the  firft  day  of  the  fucceeding  new  year,  Noah, 
 after  having  fucceffively  fent  forth  a  raven  and  a 
 dove,  that  he  might  judge,  accordingly  as  they 
 fhould  return  to  him  or  not,  of  the  (late  of  the 
 ground,  removed  the  covering  of  the  ark  ;  and  per- 
 ceived that  the  furface  of  the  earth  was  dried.  And  on 
 the  twenty- feventh  day  of  the  fecond  month,  after 
 having  refided  in  the  ark  one  year  and  fome  days, 
 he  and  all  its  inhabitants,  by  Divine  command,  .de- 
 fended from  the  frail  fabric,  in  which  Omnipotence 
 had  preferved  them  amid  the  univerfal  deftru&Ion 
 of  their  fellow-creatures. 
 
 On  this  fecond  father  of  mankind,  and  on  his 
 family,  the  Supreme  Being  conferred  bleffings  and 
 privileges  in  mod  refpects  fimilar  to  thofe  which  he 
 had  bellowed  on  their  firft  parents  :  confirming  to 
 them  the  fovereignty  of  the  earth  and  of  the  infe- 
 rior animated  creation  ;  and  in  one  point  enlarging 
 the  original  grant,  by  permitting  to  them  the  ufe  of 
 animal  food.  To  remove  the  apprehenfions  of  ano- 
 ther deluge,  by  which  it  might  not  be  unnatural  for 
 them  or  their  descendants  to  be  harrarTed ;  he  fo- 
 lemnly  declared,  that  there  never  mould  again  be  a 
 flood  to  deftroy  the  earth.  And  with  the  mod  be- 
 nignant 
 
l6  SUMMARY   VtEW    OF    THE 
 
 nignant  condefcenfion  to  the  weaknefs  of  human 
 faith,  he  further  pronounced,  that  the  rainbow,  an 
 appearance  uniformly  produced  by  drops  of  tailing 
 rain  illuminated  by  the  fun,  was  ordained  to  be  the 
 fign  of  this  everlafting  covenant  between  himfelf 
 and  his  creatures  ;  and  when  beheld  by  him,  mould 
 for  ever  bring  his  promife  to  his  remembrance. 
 And  in  order  that  he  might,  completely  diffipate  the 
 fufpicious  fears  of  men,  that,  if  not  a  deluge,  yet 
 fome  other  convulfion  mould  afterwards  be  com- 
 miflioned  k)  ravage  the  earth  and  extinguifh  their 
 race  ;  he  made  known  his  merciful  and  unalterable 
 determination :  "  1  will  not  again  curfe  the  ground 
 "  any  more  for  man's  fake — neither  will  I  again 
 "  fmite  any  more  every  thing  living,  as  I  have 
 •"  done.  While  the  earth  remaineth,  feed-time  and 
 "  harveft,  and  cold  and  heat,  and  fummer  and  win- 
 "  ter,  and  day  and  night,  (hall  notceafe  (#)." 
 
 Shortly  after  the  deluge,  Noah,  in  confequence 
 of  the  difference  between  the  conduct  of  his  eldeft 
 and  youngeft  fons  towards  him,  and  that  of  his 
 other  fon  Ham,  was  commiffioned  prophetically  to 
 announce  to  the  latter  the  future  fubjeclion  which 
 the  pofterity  of  Canaan,  the  child  of  the  offender, 
 mould  experience  under  the  defcendants  of  Shem 
 and  Japheth  ;  and  to  foretel  that  fignal  bleflings 
 fhould  attend  the  race  of  thefe  two  righteous  men. 
 Among  the  reafons  for  which  the  prophecy  was  em- 
 phatically detailed  by  Mofes,  we  may  conclude  this 
 to  have  been  one  ;  that  it  was  Angularly  adapted  to 
 encourage  the  children  of  Ifrael  to  carry  without 
 
 fear 
 (*)  Gen.  via.  22. 
 
STATE    OF    MANKIND.  IJ 
 
 fear  into  the  land  of  the  Canaanites  that  impending 
 invafion,  by  which  the  judgments  proclaimed  by 
 Noah  were  to  be  accomplifhed. 
 
 Im  the  days  of  Peleg,  who  was  born  about  one 
 hundred  years  after  the  flood,  and  was  the  fourth 
 in  defcentfrom  Shem,  "  the  earth  was  divided  (y)." 
 Mankind,  ftill  forming  one  great  family,  fpeaking 
 the  fame  language,  and  journeying  ftill  towards  the 
 weft,  fixed  themfelves  in  the  land  of  Shinar,  or 
 Chaldea  ;  and  arrogantly  refolved  to  "  build  them- 
 "  felves  a  city,  and  a  town  whofe  top  might  reach 
 "  unto  heaven  ;  and  to  make  themfelves  a  name, 
 "  left  they  mould  be  Scattered  abroad  upon  the  face 
 "  of  the  earth."  Baffled  in  their  proud  defign  by 
 the  diverfity  of  languages,  which  the  Supreme 
 Being  fuddenly  introduced  among  them,  as  the  in- 
 ftrument  both  of  bringing  to  confufion  their  pre- 
 fent  enterprife,  and  of  facilitating  their  difperfion  into 
 different  regions  where  they  were  to  become  the 
 founders  of  many  nations  ;  they  feparated  in  fmall 
 bodies  from  each  other,  accordingly  as  Provi- 
 dence impelled  them,  whether  by  fpecial  com- 
 mand, or  by  the  familiar  courfe  of  events, 
 through  which  the  Deity  influences  the  proceed- 
 ings of  men,  no  lefs  powerfully  and  no  lefs  effica- 
 cioufly,  for  the  furtherance  of  his  own  purpofes, 
 than  by  interpofitions  evidently  miraculous.  By 
 the  pofterity  of  Japheth,  "  the  ifles  of  the  Gentiles" 
 (many  of  the  maritime  countries  warned  by  the  Me- 
 diterranean fea)  "  were  divided  in  their  lands  j 
 "  every  one  after  his  tongue,  after  their  families, 
 
 G  "in 
 
 (y)  Gen.  x.  25. 
 
I O  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 "  in  their  nations  (z  )•"  The  defcendants  of  Ham 
 occupied,  among  other  lands,  Affyria,  Egypt,  Pa- 
 leftine,  Ghaldea,  and  part  of  Arabia.  Among  the 
 pofleffions  of  the  pofterity  of  Shem,  we  find  Perfia, 
 and  other  regions  of  the  eafh 
 
 By  this  time  a  finking  change  had  been  experi- 
 enced in  the  duration  of  human  life.  Adam  lived 
 nine  hundred  and  thirty  years.  His  posterity  be- 
 fore the  flood  appear  to  have  paffed,  upon  an  aver- 
 age, nearly  as  large  a  portion  of  time,  and  fome  in- 
 dividuals even  a  longer  period,  upon  earth  (a). 
 Noah  lived  to  the  age  of  nine  hundred  and  fifty 
 years  (J>).  His  fon  Shem  fell  far  fliort  of  antedi- 
 luvian longevity  :  and  in  the  days  of  Peleg,  man  (**) 
 appears  not  to  have  attained  to  one  half  of  the  ori- 
 ginal meafure  of  his  exiftence*  In  fucceeding  gene- 
 rations a  rapid  diminution  continued  to  take  place  : 
 until  at  length  by  the  time  when  the  children  of 
 Ifrael  came  out  of  Egypt,  and  perhaps  a  century 
 before  their  departure,  the  length  of  the  pilgrimage 
 of  man  upon  earth  v/as  reduced  nearly  or  altogether 
 within  the  prefent  fpan. 
 
 Was  this  event  then  the  natural  refult  of  alter- 
 ations occafioned  by  the  deluge  in  the  temperature 
 of  the  air,  the  fertility  of  the  earth,  and  the  nutritive 
 powers  of  the  fuftenance  of  man  ?  Or  was  it  effected 
 by  a  fecret  change  wrought  in  the  human  frame  and 
 conftitution  by  the  immediate  hand  of  the  Creator  ? 
 The  caufe  is  known  to  God  ;  but  immaterial  to  us. 
 Our  concern  is  to  draw  from  the  fad  the  moral  and 
 
 religious 
 
 (z)  Gen.  x.  5.  (3)  Gen  ix.  29. 
 
 {a)  See  Gen.  v*  {c)  See  Gen.  xi. 
 
STATE    Of    MANKIND.  I9 
 
 religious  inflru&ion,  which  it  is  fo  well  adapted  to 
 fuggeft  ;  that  our  lives  are  in  the  hands  of  God,  and 
 depend  for  their  continuance,  moment  after  mo- 
 ment, folely  on  his  will.  We  may  alfo  difcern  rea- 
 fons  for  concluding  that  the  fhortening  of  the  period 
 of  human  life  was  intended  to  be  a  bleffing  to  man- 
 kind ;  and  that,  notwithftanding  the  frailty  and 
 corruption  of  man,  it  has  proved  and  continues  to 
 prove  fo.  Among  the  circumftances  which  contri- 
 buted to  fwell  the  wickednefs  of  the  ancient  world 
 to  its  enormous  magnitude,  there  were  few  probably 
 more  powerful  than  the  apparent  diftance  to  which 
 death  was  removed.  In  the  prefent  day,  when  he 
 who  has  numbered  feventy  or  eighty  fucceffive  units, 
 has  numbered  the  years  within  which  he  and  almoft 
 all  his  cotemporaries  of  the  human  race  will  be  cal- 
 led to  Hand  before  the  tribunal  of  their  judge  j  to 
 what  an  excefs  of  iniquity  do  multitudes  advance  I 
 What  then  would  be  the  meafure  of  their  guilt,  if 
 they  might  with  reafonable  expectation  look  to 
 many  additional  centuries  of  life  ?  At  prefent  too, 
 the  reign  of  the  oppreffor,  whether  in  a  private  or 
 in  a  public  ftation,  is  neceffarily  fhort.  The  hour 
 that  (hall  fweep  him  away  is  at  hand.  Were  life 
 reftored  to  its  antediluvian  period,  he  might  conti- 
 nue for  nearly  a  thoufand  years  to  render  his  fellow 
 creatures  miferabie.  "  I  have  feen  the  wicked," 
 faith  the  Pfalmilt,  "  in  great  power,  and  fpreading 
 "  himfelf  like  a  green  bay-tree.  Yet  he  pafled 
 "  away,  and  lo,  he  was  not :  yea  I  fought  him,  but 
 "  he  could  not  be  found  (d)."  The  common 
 courfe  of  nature  fpeedily  puts  an  end  to  his  career  ; 
 C  2  and 
 
 (<r/)  Pfalm  xxxvii.  35,  36. 
 
20  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF 
 
 and  his  place  may  be  filled  by  the  righteous.  To 
 the  righteous  thenifelves,  more  efpecially  if  they  are 
 burthened  with  afflictions,  the  fhortnefs  of  life  is  a 
 gracious  difpenfation.  They  enter  the  fooner  into 
 the  manfions  of  the  "  bleffed  which  die  in  the 
 "  Lord  :  that  they  may  reft  from  their  labours  ;  and 
 "  their  works  do  follow  them  (/)•" 
 
 CHAPTER     II. 
 
 SUMMARY  VIEW  OF  THE  ORIGIN  OF  TFIE  JEWISH 
 RACE,  AND  OF  THE  HISTORY  OF  THAT  PEOPLE 
 TO    THE    DEATH    OB    MOSES. 
 
 X  H  E  fallen  nature  of  man,  that  inherent  fource 
 of  corrupt  difpofitions  and  corrupt  practice,  remained 
 unaltered  by  the  flood.  There  does  not  indeed  ap- 
 pear to  have  been  any  circumflance  in  that  difpen- 
 fation, awful  and  ftupendous  as  it  was,  which  could 
 reach  the  internal  conftitution  of  the  foul.  The 
 truth  of  this  conclufion  is  afcertained  by  the  unequi- 
 vocal declaration  of  God  himfelf;  who,  when 
 fpeaking  immediately  after  the  deluge  concerning 
 the  future  race  of  mankind  which  was  to  fpring 
 from  the  family  that  defcended  from  the  ark,  and 
 even  when  promifing  to  that  future  race  his  conti- 
 nual protection  and  bounty,  characterifes  them  col- 
 lectively 
 
 (e)  Rev.  xiv.  13. 
 
THE    JEWISH    RACE.  21 
 
 iectively  in  terms  fimilar  to  thofe  which  he  had 
 applied  to  their  wicked  anceftors  whom  he  had  re- 
 cently deftroyed  :  "  the  imagination  of  man's  heart 
 "  is  evil  from  his  youth  (#)."  The  uniform  tenor 
 of  the  holy  Scriptures,  and  the  univerfal  teftimony 
 of  experience,  concur  in  evincing  the  undiminifhed 
 power  of  the  original  depravity. 
 
 The  facred  hiftorian,  hastening  to  record  events 
 fo  interefting  to  his  own  people  and  to  all  mankind, 
 as  the  vocation  of  Abraham  and  the  Divine  promifes 
 confirmed  to  the  fucceeding  Patriarchs,  panes  rapidly 
 over  the  period  iniervening  between  the  deluge  and 
 the  call  of  the  father  of  the  Jewifli  race.  The  flight 
 notices,  however,  which  hegivesof  theconducl:  of  men 
 are  fuch  as  feem  to  indicate  the  general  prevalence 
 of  prefumptuous  guilt.  Their  attempt  to  build  the 
 tower  of  Babel  was  evidently  in  direct  oppofition  to 
 an  humble  dependence  upon  God.  And  the  terms, 
 in  which  the  Supreme  Being  manifefts  his  indigna- 
 tion on  that  ocoafion,  ftrongly  fugged  the  idea,  that 
 men  were  arrived  at  a  very  advanced  ftage  of  gene- 
 ral and  daring  wickednefs :  "  This  they  begin  to 
 "  do  :  and  now  nothing  will  be  reftrained  from 
 "  them,  which  they  have  imagined  to  do  (£)."  In 
 the  fulnefs  therefore  of  wifdom  and  mercy,  the  Su- 
 preme Being,  in  order  to  preferve  true  religion  alive 
 among  mankind,  and  to  prepare  the  way  for  the 
 coming  of  the  promifed  Redeemer,  had  determined 
 to  felecl  to  himfeif  from  among  the  families  of  the 
 earth  a  peculiar  people  ;  to  place  them  in  a  country 
 which  fhonld  belong  to  them  from  generation  to 
 
 generation  j 
 
 {a)  Gen.  viii.  21.  (£)  Gen.  xi.  6. 
 
22  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF 
 
 generation ;  to  reveal  to  them  a  clear  knowledge 
 of  his  attributes  and  perfections ;  to  deliver  to  them 
 a  fyllem  of  laws  and  facred  rites  adapted  to  anfwer 
 the  purpofes  both  of  rendering  thofe  who  mould 
 receive  them  religious,  and  of  fhadowing  out  the 
 future  fufFerings  of  Jefus  Chrift  and  the  bleffings 
 thereby  to  be  purchafed  ;  and  to  reward  the  obe- 
 dience of  this  chofen  race  with  temporal  mercies  fo 
 fignal,  and  to  chaftife  their  difobedience  by  tempo- 
 ral calamities  fo  fevere,  as  might  be  fuited  to  pre- 
 ferve  this  people  faithful  to  their  Divine  Benefactor, 
 to  reclaim  them  when  they  mould  revolt  from  him, 
 and  to  convince  the  inhabitants  of  furrounding 
 countries  that  He  was  the  only  Godo 
 
 Accordingly  the  Supreme  Being,  nearly  two 
 thoufand  years  before  the  Chriftian  era,  appeared 
 to  Abram,  the  fon  of  Terah,  an  inhabitant  of  Ur 
 in  Mefopotamia,  and  faid  to  him  :  <;  Get  thee  out 
 "  of  thy  country,  ana  from  thy  kindred,  and  from 
 "  thy  father's  houie,  unto  a  land  that  I  will  (hew 
 "  thee.  And  I  will  make  of  thee  a  great  nation  ; 
 fe  and  I  will  blefs  thee,  and  make  thy  name  great ; 
 "  and  thou  fhalt  be  a  bleffing  :  and  I  will  blefs 
 "  them  that  blefs  thee,  and  curfe  him  that  curfeth 
 "  thee."  To  thefe  glorious  promifes,  which  were 
 to  be  the  confequences  of  Abram's  obedience,  the 
 Deity  added  another  infinitely  more  glorious ;  that 
 from  him  mould  defcend  the  Redeemer  of  man- 
 kind :  "  and  in  thee  (hall  all  the  families  of  the 
 sc  earth  be  bleffed  '(e)"  Abram,  at  the  time  when 
 this  divine  communication  was  made  to  him,  was 
 
 •  very 
 
 (c)  Gen.  xii.  i— 3» 
 
THE    JEWISH    RACE.  2J 
 
 very  probably  an  idolater.  The  country  of  the 
 Chaldees,  which  he  inhabited,  appears  to  have  been 
 diftinguifhed  from  the  earliefl  annals  of  Pagan  an- 
 tiquity for  magic  and  fuperftition.  And  Jofliua  (d) 
 feems  nearly  to  remove  the  poffibility  of  doubt  on 
 the  point  under  confideration  by  the  following  ad- 
 drefs  to  the  Israelites,  which  proves  the  idolatry  of 
 Abram's  family:  "  Thus  faith  the  Lord  God  of 
 "  Ifrael :  Your  fathers  dwelt  on  the  other  fide  of 
 "  the  flood,'*  (the  river  Euphrates,  fo  denominated 
 from  its  extraordinary  magnitude,}  "  in  old  time, 
 "  even  Terah  the  father  of  Abraham,  and  the  father 
 "  of  Nachor,  and  they  ferved  other  gods."  Abram, 
 however,  convinced  of  the  reality  of  the  Divine 
 command,  and  of  the  truth  of  the  Divine  promifes, 
 immediately  prepared  to  depart.  After  the  death 
 of  his  father  Terah,  who  accompanied  him  on  his 
 journey  towards  the  promifed  country,  but  died  by 
 the  way  at  Haran,  Abram  proceeded,  with  his  ne- 
 phew Lot,  and  their  families,  into  the  land  of  Ca- 
 naan :  and  on  his  arrival  there,  God  appeared  to 
 him  again  ;  and  faid,  "  Unto  thy  feed  will  I  give 
 "  this  land  (<?)•"  Abram  had  at  this  time  no  child  : 
 and  the  expectation  of  an  offspring  was  for  a  very 
 long  period  a  continual  and  decifive  trial  of  his 
 faith.  Some  years  after  the  time  when  the  promife 
 was  originally  given,  it  was. twice  renewed  to  him 
 in  terms  which  foretold  an  innumerable  multitude 
 of  defcendents  :  and  "  Abram  believed  in  the  Lord  ; 
 "  and  He  counted  it  to  him  for  righteouinefs  (/)." 
 
 At 
 
 (</)   Jofliua,  xxiv.  2.  (f)  Gen.  xii.  7. 
 
 (/)  Gen.  xiii.   14,  &c.  and  xv.  4 — 6. 
 
24  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF 
 
 At  length  about  eleven  years  after  his  arrival  in 
 Canaan  he  was  rejoiced  by  the  birth  of  his  fon 
 Iflnnael.  Four  years  afterwards  Abram  was  in- 
 formed that  the  fon  indicated  by  Divine  promife 
 was  yet  to  be  born  to  him  :  and  at  the  fame  time 
 his  own  name  was  changed  to  Abraham,  and  that 
 of  his  wife  to  Sarah  ;  an  alteration  which,  according 
 to  Hebrew  etymology,  alluded  to  the  incalculable 
 number  of  their  pofterity.  But  it  was  not  until 
 about  fourteen  years  after  the  birth  of  Ifhmael, 
 when  the  age  of  Abraham  and  Sarah  precluded, 
 according  to  the  common  courfe  of  nature,  all  prof- 
 peel  of  a  child  being  born  to  them,  that  they  were 
 bleffed  with  Ifaac,  the  long-expected  fon,  who  was 
 to  inherit  the  promifes  made  to  his  father,  particu- 
 larly that  of  being  the  anceftor  of  the  Meffiah. 
 
 The  Almighty  in  the  mean  time  imparted  to 
 Abraham  feveral  prophetic  intimations  of  the  fu- 
 ture fortunes  of  his  dependents.  He  had  informed 
 him  that  one  branch  of  his  pofterity  mould  dwell 
 as  ftrangers  in  a  land  that  was  not  theirs,  (namely, 
 in  the  land  of  Canaan,  while  it  was  as  yet  in  other 
 hands,  and  afterwards  in  Egypt,)  during  a  period 
 of  four  hundred  years  ;  but  fhould  then  be  brought 
 forth  in  great  triumph  and  profperity  from  the 
 fcene  of  their  diftrefs  (g).  And  concerning  Ifhmael 
 God  declared  that,  though  he  mould  be  a  wild 
 mm,  his  hand  againit  every  man,  and  every  man's 
 hand  againft  him ;  he  mould  be  the  father  of 
 twelve  princes  and   of  a  great  nation,  and  fhould 
 
 dwell 
 
 (g)  Gen.  xv.   13,  14.. 
 
THE    JEWISH    RACE.  25 
 
 dwell  in  the  prefence  of  all  his  brethren  (/?),  In 
 this  cafe,  as  in  the  cafe  already  noticed  of  Canaan, 
 and  conformably  to  the  general  import  of  fcriptural 
 prophecies  in  fimilar  inftances ;  the  prediction  de- 
 livered refpedling  the  individual  was  defigned  to 
 be  delcriptive  of  the  characteriftic  events,  which 
 were  to  diftinguifh  the  fate  of  his  pofterity.  Suc- 
 ceeding generations  were  witneffes,  as  we  ourfelves 
 are  in  this  our  day,  of  the  accurate  fulfilment  of 
 this  prophecy  in  the  lot  of  the  Arabians,  the  depen- 
 dents of  Ifhmael.  The  twelve  tribes  of  the  Ara- 
 bians are  fpecified  in  Pagan  hiftory.  Dwelling, 
 like  their  progenitor,  in  the  deferts ;  wild  men, 
 their  hand  againft  every  man,  and  every  man's 
 hand  againfl  them ;  engaged  in  perpetual  hofiility 
 with  each  other,  and  with  every  neighbouring 
 power  :  they  have  fleadily  maintained  their  nation- 
 al independence.  In  vain  have  the  mod  formida- 
 ble armies  of  the  greatefl  empires  endeavoured  to 
 overturn  it-  They  have  retired  baffled  and  difmay- 
 ed  ;  or  have  perifhed  by  the  fword  and  famine  in 
 the  wildernefs.  The  Egyptians,  the  AfTyrians,  the 
 Perfians,  the  Macedonians,  the  Romans,  the  Turks, 
 have  fuccefhvely  confirmed  by  their  fruitlefs  efforts 
 the  veracity  and  omnipotence  of  God.  After  fuf- 
 taining  the  molt  active  enmity  of  the  molt  power- 
 ful nations  for  three  thoufand  feven  hundred  years, 
 the  Arabians  ftill  live,  unfubdued  and  fearlefs,  in 
 the  prefence  of  all  their  brethren. 
 
 About 
 
 (h)  Gen.  xv?.  12 — xvif.  20. — and  xxv.  16.  See  Bifhop 
 Newton's  Diflertation  on  the  Prophecies^  vol.  i.  p.  37—63. 
 3d  edition,  8vo, 
 
25  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF 
 
 About  the  time  of  the  birth  of  Ifaac,  the  merciful 
 acceptance  given  to  the  interceffion  of  Abraham 
 for  the  cities  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  afforded  a 
 memorable  proof  of  the  condefcending  goodnefs  of 
 the  Supreme  Being  ;  and  was  gracioufly  adapted  to 
 encourage  the  faithful  fervants  of  God  to  earneft- 
 nefs  of  fupplication  in  behalf  of  themfelves  and 
 others,  by  teaching  the  confoling  truth  which  we 
 learn  alfo  from  the  Apoftle ;  that  "  the  fervent 
 "  prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much  (*')•" 
 The  prefervation  of  Lot  from  the  general  destruc- 
 tion evinced  that  the  hand  of  Providence  discrimi- 
 nates between  the  upright  and  the  wicked. 
 
 In  procefs  of  time  it  pleafed  God  to  "  tempt5* 
 Abraham  ;  that  is  to  fay,  to  try  him,  to  put  his 
 obedience  to  a  further  teft.  The  trial  appointed 
 was  mod  fevere.  The  father  was  commanded  to 
 take  his  fon,  his  only  fon  Ifaac,  This  only  fon  by 
 Sarah,  and  the  child  of  jthe  promife,)  whom  he 
 loved,  and  to  offer  him  as  a  burnt-facrifice  in  the 
 land  of  Moriah  upon  a  mountain,  which  was  to 
 be  pointed  out  to  him.  Abraham,  flrong  in  faith, 
 immediately  proceeded  on  the  journey.  He  knew 
 that  whatever  God  commanded  it  was  his  duty  to 
 perform.  He  knew  by  long  experience  the  power 
 and  the  truth  of  the  Almighty.  He  knew  that  the 
 promife  which  he  had  received  of  an  innumerable 
 poflerity,  and  one  of  them  the  Saviour  of  the  world, 
 by  that  very  fon  Ifaac  who  was  now  to  be  flain  on 
 the  altar,  would  affuredly  be  accomplished.  He 
 confided  that  God,  in  return  for  this  demonstration 
 
 of 
 («)  James,  v.   16, 
 
THE    JEWISH    RACE.  27 
 
 of  unreferved  obedience  and  entire  dependence* 
 would  fpeedily  reftore  his  fon  to  life  (k).  The  willing 
 mind  was  fufficient  in  the  fight  of  God.  The  fatal 
 injun&ion,  at  the  very  moment  when  it  was  about 
 to  be  executed,  was  countermanded  by  the  voice  of 
 an  angel.  The  full  approbation  of  God  was  an- 
 nounced to  Abraham  ;  and  every  former  promife 
 made  to  him  and  to  Ifaac  folemnly  reiterated  and 
 confirmed.  It  is  evident  that  the  facrifice  of  Ifaac 
 was  a  type  of  the  future  facrifice  of  Jefus  Chrift:. 
 And  the  mountain  on  which  the  tranfadtion  took 
 place  is  by  many  conceived,  and  on  no  improbable 
 grounds,  to  have  been  the  identical  mountain  on 
 which  Chrift  fufTered  upon  the  crofs. 
 
 Jacob,  the  younger  fon  of  Ifaac,  was  afterwards 
 pronounced  by  the  Supreme  Being  to  be  the  perfon 
 in  whofe  line  the  great  promifes  made  to  his  grand- 
 father and  father  were  to  be  continued.  And  his 
 mother  Rebecca,  inftead  of  implicitly  depending  on 
 God  for  the  fulfilment  of  his  own  word,  had  re- 
 courfe  to  a  very  unwarrantable  ftep  in  order  to  fe- 
 cure  to  him  the  patriarchal  bleffing  accompanying 
 the  right  to  thofe  promifes  ;  a  bleffing  which  me  ap- 
 prehended that  the  partiality  of  Ifaac,  now  far  ad- 
 vanced in  years,  would  aflign  to  his  firfl-born  Efau 
 in  contradiction  to  the  purpofe  of  Heaven.  Ja- 
 cob, flying  from  the  refentment  of  his  brother  Efau, 
 who  deemed  hi mfelf  defrauded  of  his  right ;  a  right9 
 however,  which  while  he  had  imagined  it  to  be  in 
 his  power  he  had  profanely  flighted  (/)  ;  received 
 from  God  a  full  affurance  of  protection,  and  ©f  the 
 
 fulfilment 
 
 (4)  Heb.  xi.  17 — 19.       (/)  See  Gen.  xxv.  34.  and  Heb.' 
 xii.   16. 
 
2§  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF 
 
 fulfilment  of  the  original  promife,  in  himfelf  and 
 his  pofterity  (772).  And,  after  many  years,  when  he 
 returned  into  the  land  of  Canaan  with  his  wives 
 and  children  and  great  pofTeffions,  the  promife 
 was  again  repeated  :  and  as  a  fignal  mark  of  Di- 
 vine favour,  his  name  was  changed  to  Ifrael ;  a 
 term  denoting  a  perfon  who  had  power  with  God 
 («).  He  returned  in  time  to  pay  the  lad  offices  of 
 duty  to  his  father  lfaac  ;  and  experienced  the  kind- 
 eft  reception  from  his  reconciled  brother  Efau. 
 
 After  dwelling  fomewhat  more  than  thirty  years, 
 yet  (till  as  a  ftranger,  in  the  countries  occupied  by 
 the  Canaanites,  Jacob  removed  with  all  his  family 
 into  Egypt.  For  this  event  God  had  prepared  the 
 way  by  the  fale  of  Jofeph  as  a  Have  into  that  king- 
 dom ;  by  having  bellowed  on  that  young  man,  as 
 a  reward  for  his  fignal  virtue,  the  power  of  inter- 
 preting the  prophetic  dreams  of  his  fellow-prifon- 
 ers  the  fervants  of  Pharaoh,  and  afterwards  the 
 vifions  of  Pharaoh  himfelf;  by  having  raifed  him  to 
 be  the  fecond  perfon  in  the  kingdom,  pofTeffed  in 
 fact  of  the  full  exercife  of  fovereign  authority  ; 
 and  by  having  thus  enabled  him  to  provide  for  his 
 father  and  his  repentant  brethren  an  afylum 
 during  the  continuance  of  the  general  famine, 
 When  Jacob  was  now  commencing  his  journey,  he 
 was  encouraged  with  this  aifurance  from  the  Al- 
 mighty -,  "  I  am  God,  the  God  of  thy  father: 
 Fear  "  not  to  go  down  into  Egypt ;  for  I  will 
 "  there  make  of  thee  a  great  nation.  I  will  go 
 "  down  with    thee    into  Egypt  j    and  I  will  alfo 
 
 "  furely 
 
 (m)  Gei\  xxviii.   13— 15.  («)  Gen.  xxxv.  io,  &c 
 
THE    JEWISH    RACE.  I9 
 
 *s  furely  bring  thee"  (thy  pofterity,  at  the  end  of 
 the  time  predicted  to  Abraham)  (0)  "  up  again : 
 "  and  Jofeph  mail  put  his  hand  upon  thine  eyes 
 (j> )."  At  the  end  of  feventeen  years  Jacob  died 
 in  Egypt ;  and  was  carried  into  the  land  of  Canaan, 
 according  to  the  folemn  charge  which  he  had  given 
 to  Jofeph,  and  buried  in  the  fepulchre  of  his  fa- 
 thers. Foretelling  on  his  death-bed  the  appointed 
 fortunes  of  his  poiterity,  he  bellowed  on  Judah  a 
 decided  pre-eminence  over  his  other  fons  :  and  in- 
 timated that  he  mould  be  the  immediate  anceftor 
 of  the  promifed  Meffiah  ;  and  that  until  the  Saviour 
 fhould  appear,  the  defcendents  of  Judah  mould  re- 
 main in  pofTeffion  of  a  national  habitation  and  an 
 eflablifhed  form  of  government  (_q).  Jofeph  in  his 
 turn  confirmed  to  his  brethren,  at  the  time  of  his 
 death,  the  certainty  of  their  future  departure  to  the 
 promifed  land  :  and  enjoined  them  to  carry  his 
 bones  thither  with  them  (r). 
 
 Other  kings  who  had  not  known  Jofeph  now 
 arofe  fucceffively  in  Egypt.  Alarme^  at  the  vaft 
 and  ftill  increafing  number  of  the  lfraelites,  they 
 haraffed  the  unhappy  Grangers  with  the  fevered 
 bondage  ;  condemning  them  to  be  inceffantly  em- 
 ployed in  the  conftruclion  of  cities  and  public 
 works  ;  and  ultimately  commanding  that  every 
 man-child  that  mould  be  born  unto  the  Hebrews 
 mould  be  call  into  the  Nile.  Mofes,  the  chofqn. 
 inftrument  for  the  deliverance  of  this  people,  was 
 miraculoufly  preferred  from  deftruclion,  and  educa- 
 ted 
 
 (0)   Gen.  xv.    13,    14.  (p  )  Gen.  xlvi.   3,  4, 
 
 )q)   Gen.   xlix.   S — 10.  (r)   Gen.  1.   25. 
 
lO  SUMMARY    VIEW  'OF 
 
 ted  in  the  court  of  Pharaoh.  When  arrived  at  the 
 age  of  forty  years,  he  flew  an  Egyptian  who  was 
 fmiting  an  Hebrew.  He  trufted  that  from  this 
 tranfa&ion  the  children  of  Ifrael,  "  his  brethren, 
 "  would  have  underflood  that  God  by  his  hand 
 "  would  deliver  them.  But  they  underflood  not 
 «c  (/)."  Compelled  therefore  to  fave  his  life  by 
 flight  from  the  refentment  of  Pharaoh,  he  retired 
 into  the  land  of  Midian.  There,  after  about  forty 
 additional  years,  while  feeding  the  flocks  of  his 
 father-in-law  on  Mount  Horeb,  in  the  wildernefs 
 inclofed  between  the  two  northern  points  of  the 
 Red  Sea,  his  attention  was  attracted  by  the  appear- 
 ance of  a  conflagration  raging  in  a  thicket,  by 
 which  however  the  thicket  was  not  confumed. 
 God,  who  thus  manifefled  himfelf  to  Mofes,  com- 
 manded  him  to  return  into  Egypt ;  that  in  con- 
 junction with  his  brother  Aaron  he  might  bring 
 forth  the  children  of  Ifrael  from  captivity,  and  con- 
 duct them  into  the  land  of  Canaan  to  poflefs  it. 
 After  fome  degree  of  improper  hefitation  arifing 
 from  timidity,  Mofes  obeyed  ;  and  thenceforth  exe- 
 cuted with  undaunted  refolution,  refulting  from 
 fteady  confidence  in  the  promifed  afliftance  of  the 
 Almighty,  the  commiflion  with  which  he  was  charg- 
 ed. His  countrymen,  convinced  by  the  miracles 
 which  God  enabled  him  to  work,  received  him  as 
 their  leader  and  deliverer.  Tamed  by  ten  fuccefUve 
 judgments  clofed  by  the  death  of  all  the  firft-born 
 in  Egypt,  the  hardened  heart  of  Pharaoh  funk 
 within  him.     The  children  of  Ifrael,  loaded  by  the 
 
 Egyptians 
 [s)  A£s,  vii,  23—25. 
 
THE    JEWISH    RACE.  Jl 
 
 Egyptians,  who  trembled  at  their  prefence,  with 
 the  mofl  valuable  gifts,  defigned  to  procure  their 
 forgivenefs  for  the  cruel  oppreilion  which  they  had 
 fuftained,  departed  in  triumph  from  the  land  of 
 bondage.  But  Pharaoh  fpeedily  relapfed  into  ob- 
 duracy. Enraged  at  the  lofs  of  fix  hundred  thou- 
 fand  flaves,  for  to  fo  great  a  multitude  were  the  men 
 of  Ifrael,  exclufive  of  women  and  children,  increaf- 
 ed,  the  king  of  Egypt  followed  them  at  the  head  of 
 his  armies ;  and  continued  the  purfuit  into  the 
 midft  of  the  Red  Sea,  which  God  had  divided,  that 
 it  might  afford  a  paflage  on  dry  ground  for  his 
 people.  The  waves  at  the  Divine  word  returned  to 
 their  place  ;  and  not  a  fmgle  Egyptian  furvived. 
 
 The  departure  of  the  children  of  Ifrael  from 
 Egypt,  after  a  refidence  there  of  two  hundred 
 and  fifteen  years,  took  place  about  fifteen  hundred 
 and  fifty  one  years  before  the  Chriftian  Era.  It 
 was  fignalifed  by  tire  inftitution  of  the  paffover  9 
 a  religious  rite  appointed  to  commemorate  the 
 mercy  of  God  in  charging  the  deflroying  angel  to 
 pafs  over  the  houfes  of  the  Ifraelites,  when  he  fmote 
 all  the  firft-born  of  the  Egyptians ;  and  ordered  to 
 be  annually  obferved  from  generation  to  genera- 
 tion untill  the  coming  of  Jefus  Chrifl  to  put  au  end 
 to  the  Mofaic  difpenfation,  and  to  make  that  effec- 
 tual atonement  for  fin,  of  which  the  Pafchal  offer- 
 ing was  an  emblem  (/). 
 
 The  fhorteft  road  from  Egypt  to  the  land  of  Ca- 
 naan lay  along  the  coafl  of  the  Mediterranean  thro* 
 the  country  of  the  Philiflines.     The  Ifraelites,  how- 
 
 ev  cr» 
 
 (t)   1  Cor.  v.  7. 
 
32  SUMMARY    VIEW    OP 
 
 ever,  with  minds  depreiTed  by  ilavery  and  unaccuf- 
 tomed  to  repofe  full  confidence  on  their  God,  would 
 have  preferred  a  return  into  their  former  bondage  to 
 a  contefl  with  warlike  nations  hoflile  to  their  paf- 
 fage.  For  this  reafon  therefore,  among  others  (li), 
 the  Supreme  Being  had  conducted  them  circuit- 
 oufly  by  the  way  of  the  Red  Sea.  He  now  directed 
 their  courfe  through  the  wildernefs  towards  Mount 
 Sinai,  one  part  of  the  chain  of  Mount  Horeb  ;  the 
 place  concerning  which  he  had  faid  on  his  firft  ap- 
 pearance to  Mofes,  "  when  thou  had  brought  forth 
 "  the  people  out  of  Egypt,  ye  fhall  ferve  God  upon 
 "  this  mountain  (i>)."  On  their  way  thither,  by 
 their  fucceffive  murmurings,  at  Marah,  in  the  wil- 
 dernefs of  Sin,  and  at  Rephidim,  notwithstanding 
 the  reiterated  miracles  by  which  they  were  protected 
 and  fuftained ;  they  gave  early  proofs  of  meriting 
 the  denomination  fo  frequently  applied  to  them  in 
 the  Scriptures,  that  of  a  "  (tiff-necked"  people  ;  a 
 people  (tubborn  in  unbelief,  and  obftinately  rebel- 
 lious. One  of  thefe  miracles  was  nothing  lefs  than 
 the  daily  fupply  of  a  fubftance,  termed  Manna,  in 
 quantities  fufficient  for  the  fuftenance  of  the  whole 
 multitude  ;  and  ultimately  continued  to  them  with- 
 out interruption  during  forty  years.  In  the  third 
 month  after  their  departure  from  Egypt  they  en- 
 camped before  Mount  Sinai. 
 
 It  was  here  that  the  Almighty,  gracioufly  accom- 
 modating his  conduct  to  the  apprehenfions  and 
 ufages  of  men,  propofed  the  eftablifhment  of  a  fo- 
 lemn  covenant  between  himfelf  and  the  people  of 
 
 IfraeL 
 
 (w)  Exod.  xiii.  17,  18.  (<y)  Exod.  ill.  12. 
 
THE    JEWISH    RACE.      n  33 
 
 Ifrael.  cc  Mofes  went  up  unto  God  ;  and  the  Lord 
 "  called  unto  him  out  of  the  mountain,  faying-— 
 "  Thus  flialt  thou  fay  to  the  Houfe  of  Jacob,  and 
 "  tell  the  children  of  Ifrael :  Ye  have  feen  what  I 
 "  did  to  the  Egyptians ;  and  how  I  bare  you  oil 
 "  eagles'  wings,  and  brought  you  unto  myfelf. 
 "  Now  then,  if  ye  will  obey  my  voice  indeed,  and 
 **  keep  my  covenant,  then  ye  mall  be  a  peculiar 
 "  treafure  unto  me  above  all  people  :  for  all  the 
 "  earth  is  mine  :  and  ye  fhall  be  a  kingdom  of 
 "  priefts  unto  me,  and  an  holy  nation.  Thefe  are 
 "  the  words  which  thou  flialt  fpeak  unto  the  chil- 
 "  dren  of  Ifrael.  And  Mofes  came  and  called  for 
 ce  the  elders  of  the  people,  and  laid  before  their 
 "  faces  all  thefe  words,  which  the  Lord  commanded 
 fe  him.  And  all  the  people  anfwered  together,  and 
 "  faid  :  All  that  the  Lord  hath  fpoken  we  will  do. 
 "  And  Mofes  returned  the  words  of  the  people  unto 
 "  the  Lord  (w)"  In  confequence  of  this  unequi- 
 vocal acceptance.and  ratification  of  the  covenant  pro- 
 pofed,  the  Supreme  Being  proceeded  to  deliver  to 
 the  Ifraelites  thofe  laws  and  mftitutions,  the  faithful 
 obfervance  of  which  was  the  condition  on  their  part 
 that  fhould  entitle  them  to  the  privileges  and  blef- 
 fings  reciprocally  promifedby  their  God.  That  the 
 obedience  already  due  for  unnumbered  mercies 
 might  be  confirmed  by  a  difplay  of  the  terrors  of 
 his  majefty,  he  revealed  his  glory  in  the  moft  awful 
 manner  on  Mount  Sinai.  "  There  were  thunders 
 **■  and  lightnings,  and  a  thick  cloud  upon  the 
 -Is  Mount  5  and  the  voice  of  the  trumpet  exceeding 
 
 D  "  loud 
 
 (w)  Exod.  xix.  3 — 8. 
 
34  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF 
 
 "  loud ;  fo  that  all  the  people  that  was  in  the  camp 
 ."  trembled.  And  Mount  Sinai  was  altogether  in  a 
 "  a  fmoke,  becaufe  the  Lord  defcended  upon  it  in 
 "  fire :  and  the  fmoke  thereof  afcended  as  the 
 "  fmoke  of  a  furnace  ;  and  the  whole  Mount 
 "  quaked  greatly.  And  when  the  voice  of  the 
 "  trumpet  founded  long,  and  waxed  louder  and 
 "  louder,  Mofes  fpake  ;  and  God  anfwered  him  by 
 "  a  voice  (#)."  When  the  voice  of  God  had  pro- 
 claimed the  ten  commandments,  the  people,  unable 
 to  fupport  the  tremendous  manifeftations  of  the  Di- 
 vine Prefence,  earneftly  intreated  (v)  that  they  might 
 no  more  hear  the  voice  of  God ;  but  that  his  will 
 might  be  communicated  to  Mofes,  and  by  Mofes  be 
 declared  to  them.  The  Supreme  Being  liftened  to 
 their  requeft.  The  people  retired  afar  off.  "  Mo- 
 "  fes  drew  near  unto  the  thick  darknefs,  where 
 "  God  was $"  and  received  many  additional  laws 
 and  regulations*  which  he  recited  to  the  Ifraelites, 
 and  then  recorded  in  a  book :  and  the  people  fo- 
 lemnly  renewed  their  promife  of  punctual  obedience 
 (z).  Mofes,  then,  according  to  the  Divine  com- 
 mand, re-afcended  the  mountain,  leaving  the  Ifrael- 
 ites under  the  conduct  of  Aaron  and  Hur,  and  conti- 
 nued there  forty  days  :  during  which  period  he  was 
 inftrufted  in  the  ritual  of  the  fervice  of  the  taberna- 
 ele*  and  the  appointment  of  the  family  of  Aaron  to 
 the  priefthood  j  and  received  two  tables  of  ftone 
 containing  the  ten  commandments,  written  by  the 
 
 finger 
 
 (»)  Exod.  x!x.  16 — 19.  (y)  Exod.  xx.  19.     See  alfo 
 
 Deut.  v.  22,  &c 
 
 (»)  Exod.  xxiv.  3.  7. 
 
■THE    JEWISH    RACE.  35 
 
 finger  of  God.  In  the  mean  time,  the  people, 
 weary  of  his  abfence,  and  prefumptuoufly  regardlefs 
 of  their  covenanted  obedience  to  the  Almighty,  who 
 had  exprefsly  prohibited  them  from  worfhipping  or 
 making  any  image  as  an  emblem  of  himfelf,  induced 
 Aaron,  who  moft  criminally  permitted  himfelf  to 
 be  overborne  by  their  importunities,  to  form  a  gol- 
 den calf ;  a  form  probably  adopted  in  confequence 
 of  their  having  been  accuftomed  to  fee  it  adored  in 
 Egypt ;  that  it  might  be  carried  at  the  head  of  the 
 hoft  as  a  vifible  reprefentation  of  Jehovah.  On  the 
 earned  interceffion  of  Mofes,  God  forbore  to  de- 
 stroy the  people.  Their  guilt,  however,  was  punch- 
 ed by  the  lofs  of  the  two  tables,  broken  by  Mofes 
 in  his  indignation  on  firft  being  informed  of  the 
 idolatry  eftablifhed  in  the  camp  ;  by  the  ftill  more 
 grievous  lofs  of  the  immediate  prefence  of  God,  who 
 ordered  his  tabernacle  to  be  removed  out  of  the 
 encampment,  and  declared  that  an  angel  inftead  of 
 himfelf  mould  now  be  their  conductor  ;  by  the  me- 
 nace of  future  vifitations  on  account  of  this  tranf- 
 greflion  ;  and  by  the  actual  penal  inflictions  implied 
 in  the  words  of  Scripture,  "  The  Lord  plagued  the 
 "  people,  becaufe  they  made  the  calf  (a)."  Two 
 freih  tables  of  (tone,  in  the  place  of  thofe  which  had 
 been  broken,  were  then  prepared  by  Mofes,  and 
 taken  up  unto  the  Mount,  according  to  the  com- 
 mandment of  God,  who  wrote  upon  them  the  words 
 which  had  been  infcribed  on  the  former  ;  and  after- 
 wards-delivered to  Mofes,  during  this  his  fecond 
 
 D  2  continuance 
 
 {a)  Exod.  xxxlf.  34,  35. 
 
3^  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF 
 
 continuance  there  of  forty  days,  additional  ordi- 
 nances and  directions  to  be  obeyed  by  the  twelve 
 tribes.  The  remainder  of  the  Jewifh  code  was 
 from  time  to  time  imparted  to  Mofes,  chiefly  from 
 the  tabernacle,  and  by  him  made  known  to  the  peo- 
 ple :  and  the  tribe  of  Levi  was  let  apart  for  the  fer- 
 vice  of  the  fan&uary. 
 
 In  the  fecond  month  of  the  fecond  year  of  their 
 departure  from  Egypt,  the  Ifraelites  were  com- 
 manded to  refume  their  march  towards  the  promifed 
 land ;  and  in  the  fourth  month  of  the  fame  year 
 they  arrived  on  its  confines.  Even  the  few  inter- 
 vening weeks  did  not  pafs  without  exhibiting  two 
 fcenes  of  rebellious  murmuring  againft  God  (b), 
 together  with  a  fedition,  in  which  Aaron  himfelf 
 was  a  party,  directed  againft  Mofes.  Thefe  out- 
 rages were  but  the  preludes  to  more  flagrant  acts 
 of  incredulity  and  difobedience.  Twelve  leading 
 men,  felected  one  from  a  tribe,  were  difpatched  by 
 Mofes,  conformably  to  the  defire  of  the  people,  to 
 examine  into  the  ltate  and  productions  of  the  land 
 of  Canaan.  All  of  them,  on  their  return  from  ex- 
 ploring the  land  during  forty  days,  concurred  in 
 extolling  its  fertility.  But  ten  of  them  gave  fo  for- 
 midable an  account  of  the  perfonal  ftrength  and  mi- 
 litary power  of  the  inhabitants,  that,  notwithftand- 
 ing  the  utmoft  efforts  of  their  affbciates  Caleb  and 
 joihua,  who  ftrenuouily  exhorted  the  Ifraelites 
 to  go  up  inftantly,  trading  in  the  might  and  the 
 promife  of  the  Lord  of  Holts,  the  people  abfolutely 
 refufed  to  venture  into  the  country.     They  even 
 
 prepared 
 
 [b)  At  Taberah,  and  at  Kibroth-hattaavah,     Numb*  xi, 
 
THE    JEWISH    RACE.  37 
 
 prepared  to  flone  to  death  Caleb  and  Jofhua,  and, 
 as  it  feems,  Mofes  and  Aaron  alfo.  At  the  fervent 
 fupplication  of  Mofes,  the  deftrucuon  with  which 
 the  Almighty  threatened  inftantly-to  overwhelm  his 
 rebellious  people  was  delayed.  But  God  folemnly 
 declared,  that  not  one  of  the  whole  congregation 
 who  had  arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  his 
 faithful  fervants  Caleb  and  Jofhua  excepted,  fhould 
 ever  fet  their  foot  on  the  promifed  land.  All  the 
 reft  were  gradually  to  perifh  during  the  forty  years, 
 to  be  numbered  from  the  time  of  their  leaving 
 Egypt,  which  he  now  doomed  them  to  pafs  in  wan- 
 derings in  the  defert.  The  facred  hiftorian,  though 
 he  gives  a  catalogue  of  the  fubfequent  journies  and 
 places  of  encampment  of  the  Ifraelites  during  this 
 period  ;  .has  recorded  little  concerning  the  further 
 tranfactions,  which  took  place  antecedently  to  the 
 concluding  year.  In  the  brief  account,  however, 
 which  he  has  delivered,  we  meet  with  one  of  the 
 cuftomary  rebellions  of  the  people,  commenced  by 
 Korah,  Dathan,  and  Abiram,  who  with  their  fami- 
 lies were  fwallowed  up  by  the  earth,  which  opened 
 beneath  them  ;  and  drawing  after  it  the  deftruction 
 of  near  fifteen  thoufand  of  the  congregation  by  fire 
 from  Heaven,  or  by  a  peftilence  (7).  In  the  begin- 
 ning of  the  fortieth  year,  when  they  were  encamped 
 near  Kadefh  on  the  confines  ofEdom,  they  again 
 rebelled  for  want  of  water  ;  and  by  their  violence 
 enfnared  Mofes  and  Aaron  into  a  degree  of  prefump- 
 tion  and  diftruft,  which  drew  from  the  Almighty 
 this  awful  fentence':    "  Becaufe  ye  believed  me  not, 
 
 "to 
 
 (c)  Numb.  xvi. 
 
38  SUMMARY   VIEW    OF 
 
 "  to  fan&ify  me  in  the  eyes  of  the  children  of  Ifraeli 
 *c  therefore  ye  mail  not  bring  this  congregation  into 
 "  the  land  which  I  have  given  them  (d)."  About 
 four  months  afterwards  Aaron  was  accordingly 
 commanded  to  afcend  Mount  Hor,  with  his  fon 
 Eleazar  and  Mofes,  in  the  fight  of  all  the  congrega- 
 tion ;  where  Mofes  took  off  the  prieftly  garments 
 from  Aaron,  and  put  them  on  his  fon :  and  Aaron 
 died  before  God  on  the  top  of  the  mountain  (e). 
 At  the  clofe  of  the  fortieth  year,  yet  not  until  they 
 had  again  broken  forth  into  rebellion,  and  had 
 been  punifhed  by  fiery  ferpents  (/)  $  '  they  en- 
 camped, after  completely  fubduing  the  Amorites 
 who  oppofed  their  march,  in  the  plains  of  Moab, 
 near  the  river  Jord,an,  oppofite  to  Jericho.  The 
 terror  of  their  name,  and  the  multitude  of  their  hoft, 
 filled  Balak,  the  king  of  Moab,  with  confirmation. 
 He  inftantly  difpatched  meflengers  to  Balaam,  a  ce- 
 lebrated prophet  of  Pethor  in  Mefopotamia,  inviting 
 him  to  come  and  pronounce  folemn  maledictions 
 againft  the  Israelites,  as  an  infallible  method  of  en- 
 furing  their  defeat.  Balaam,  obeying  the  directions 
 which  he  received  from  God,  refufed  to  return  with 
 them.  A  more  numerous  and  more  honourable  fet 
 of  ambafladors  arrived  from  the  king  of  Moab. 
 Balaam,    "  who  loved  the  wages  of  unrighteouf- 
 
 "  nefs 
 
 {d)  Numb.  xx.  12.  (e)  Numb.  xx.  23,  &c.  xxxiii.  38. 
 
 (_/*)  Numb.  xxi.  4 — 9.  From  the  bite  of  thefe  ferpents  they 
 were  not  to  be  cured  except  by  looking  on  a  brazen  ferpent, 
 ■which  God  commanded  Mofes  to  make,  and  to  raife  on  a  pole  in 
 the  camp.  Our  Saviour  alludes  to  this  tranfa&ion,  John,  iii.  14. 
 as  emblematical  of  that  faith  in  him,  by  which  alone  mankind  can 
 be  delivered  from  the  deadly  confequences  of  guilt. 
 
THE    JEWISH    RACE.  39 
 
 ««  nefs  (g)"  Inflamed  with  the  defire  of  poffeffing  the 
 riches  and  honours  promifed  on  his  compliance  with 
 the  royal  requeft,  again  laid  the  matter  before  God ; 
 although  he  had  before  received  an  anfwer  which 
 precluded  all  further  application :  "  Thou  malt  not 
 *?  go  with  them ;  thou  fhalt  not  curfe  the  people ; 
 "  for  they  arebleffed  (h)."  The  Supreme  Being, 
 to  whom  the  covetoufnefs  of  Balaam's  heart  was 
 manifeft,  gave  him  permiffion  to  accompany  the 
 princes  of  Moab,  on  condition  of  his  fpeaking  con- 
 cerning Ifrael  that  only  which  God  fhould  put  into 
 his  mouth  ,  yet  fhewed  him  on  the  journey  by  feve- 
 ral  miraculous  intimations  that  his  avaricious  defire 
 to  undertake  it  was  highly  ofFenfive  in  the  eyes  of  his 
 Maker.  Three  fucceffive  times  did  Balaam  difap- 
 point  Balak  by  pronouncing  bleffings  inftead  of 
 curfes  on  the  children  of  Ifrael.  But  the  corrupt 
 mind  of  the  foothfayer  devifed  another  method  of 
 gratifying  his  employer.  He  inftrucled  Balak  to 
 endeavour  to  enfnare  the  Israelites  into  idolatry  and 
 its  attendant  vices  j  and  thus  to  withdrew  them 
 from  the  Divine  protection  (7).  The  fcheme  was 
 attended  with  confiderable  fuccefs.  Ifrael  worfhip- 
 ped  the  Gods  of  Moab :  the  anger  of  the  Lord  was 
 kindled  ;  and  twenty-four  thoufand  of  the  congre- 
 gation were  immediately  deftroyed  by  a  peftilence. 
 The  zeal  of  Phinehas  for  the  honour  of  Jehovah 
 was  rewarded  with  the  promife  of  a  perpetual  prieft- 
 hood  to  himfelf  and  his  pofterity.  The  Israelites 
 were  commanded  to  make  war  on  the  nation,  which 
 
 had 
 
 (g)  z  Peter,  u.  15.  (h)  Numb.  xxii.  12,  (i)  Numb. 
 
 xxxi.  1 6. 
 
$.0  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF 
 
 had  feduced  them  into  tranfgreffion.  The  Midian- 
 ites  were  utterly  deftroyed  by  the  fword  of  Ifrael : 
 and  Balaam  perifhed  with  them. 
 
 But  why,  it  may  be  faid,  did  the  all-knowing 
 Searcher  of  hearts  vouchfafe  to  hold  converfe  with 
 fo  worthlefs  a  character  ?  Whencs  comes  it  that  in- 
 fpiration,  and  prophetic  knowledge,  and  other  efpe- 
 cial  favours  of  Heaven,  bellowed  on  fo  few  indivi- 
 duals of  the  whole  human  race,  are  not  uniformly 
 conferred  upon  the  righteous  ?  On  the  righteous 
 they  have  been  beftowed  almoft  exclufively  :  yet  to 
 this  rule  there  have  unquestionably  been  exceptions. 
 Balaam  was  an  exception-:  Judas  Ifcariot  was  an 
 exception  :  and  perhaps  one  or  two  more  may  be 
 difcovered  in  the  Scriptures.  We  may  be  fatisfied, 
 that  He  who  can  beftow  en  his  creatures  the  gifts 
 of  infpiration  and  prophecy,  and  miraculous  powers, 
 will  not  in  any  inftan.ee  diftribute  them  without  fuf- 
 ficient  reafons,  whether  his  reafons  be  perceptible 
 to  us  or  not.  Can  we  then  difcover  no  one  advan- 
 tage likely  to  refult  from  the  occafional  felection  of 
 an  unworthy  objecl:  for  the  reception  of  thefe  pecu- 
 liar favours  ?  One  benefit  feems  obviouOy  to  prefent 
 itfelf  to  our  confideration.  We  learn  the  momen- 
 tous leiTon,  that  it  is  neither  infpiration,  nor  pro- 
 phetic knowledge,  nor  the  power  of  working  mira* 
 pies,  which  can  lead  to  falvation  ;  but  a  life  exer- 
 cifed  in  the  fear  and  the  love  of  God.  It  is  to  be 
 ©bferved,  that  the  Divine  juftice  has  ufually  difplayed 
 itfelf  in  the  fignal  punifhment,  in  this  world,  of  the 
 guilty  wretch,  whom  not  even  the  pofTeffion  of  the 
 peculiar  favours  of  God  had  fubdued  unto  holinefs. 
 
 Balaam 
 
*THE    JEWISH    RACE.  41 
 
 Balaam  died  by  the  hand  of  thofe  whom  he  had 
 beguiled  into  idolatry  :  Judas  Ifcariot  by  his  own. 
 
 During  the  two  concluding  months  of  the  fortieth 
 year,  Mofes,  knowing  that  his  death  was  at  hand, 
 delivered  to  the  then  exifting  generation  of  the 
 Israelites,  molt  of  whom  either  were  not  born  when 
 the  law  was  originally  given,  or  were  too  young  to 
 enter  fully  into  its  meaning,  a  recapitulation  (£)  of 
 the  Divine  commands,  with  fuch  flight  additions  or 
 variations  as  he  had  been  instructed  to  make.  That 
 he  might  infpire  them  with  the  deeped  conviction 
 of  their  own  unworthinefs,  and  of  the  long-fuffering 
 and  kindnefs  of  their  heavenly  Benefactor  ;  he  re- 
 called to  their  remembrance  all  the  wonderful  works 
 which  God  had  wrought  in  their  behalf,  and  their 
 own  frequent  acts  of  obftinate  incredulity  and  re- 
 bellion. And  to  perfuade  them  by  every  motive  to 
 continue  ftedfait  for  the  future  in  obedient  fervice 
 to  that  Power,  who,  notwithstanding  fo  many  pro- 
 vocations, was  about  to  give  them  pofTeflion  of  the 
 land  of  Canaan  ;  he  laid  before  them  in  detail  a  moll 
 encouraging  catalogue  of  the  bleffings  which  would 
 accompany  them  as  long  as  they  mould  remain 
 faithful  to  Jehovah;  and  prophetically  denounced,  in 
 terms  equally  circumftantial,  the  miferies  with  which 
 Divine  juftice  would  purfue  the  .difobedience  of 
 themfelves  and  their  pofterity.  Having  performed 
 this  concluding  office  of  duty  and  affection  to  his 
 countrymen ;  and  having  appointed,  as  the  Lord 
 directed  him,  Jolhua  to  be  their  leader  in  his  place  ; 
 
 having 
 
 (£)  That  recapitulation,  and  the  other  fubje&s  mentioned  in 
 this  paragraph,  form  the  contents  of  the  book  of  Deuteronomy, 
 
42  SUMMARY    VIEW    Qf 
 
 having  committed  the  Book  of  the  Law,  which  he 
 had  written,  to  the  care  of  the  Levites,  that  it  might 
 £>e  preserved  by  the  fide  of  the  Ark  ;  he  afcended 
 to  the  top  of  Mount  Nebo  :  and  having  from  that 
 ftation  furveyed  the  promifed  land,  which  he  was 
 not  to  enter,  died  before  the  Lord,  His  body  was 
 buried  by  the  Lord  in  a  valley  in  the  country  of  the 
 Moabites,  in  a  fpot  not  difclofed  to  the  children  of 
 ifrael ;  left,  as  it  mould  feem,  their  reverence  for  the 
 memory  of  their  departed  lawgiver,  concurring  with 
 their  inherent  pronenefs  to  idolatry,  fhould  after- 
 wards lead  them  to  pay  religious  honours  to  his  re- 
 main s. 
 
 Such  was,  as  to  this  world  and  its  labours,  the 
 end  of  Mofes,  the  fervant  of  God.  In  every  inftance, 
 except  in  that  which  was  punifhed,  for  an  awful 
 proof  of  the  impartial  dealings  of  the  Supreme  Being 
 with  men,  by  his  being  forbidden  to  enter  the  land 
 of  promife  ;  he  appears  to  have  discharged  with 
 unabated  zeal  the  commifTion  with  which  he  was 
 entrufted.  The  law  which  through  his  inftrumerx- 
 tality  was  communicated  to  the  Ifraelites,  confided 
 partly  of  inftruclions  and  precepts  in  themfelves  of 
 a  moral  and  religious  nature  ;  partly  of  ceremonial 
 ordinances,  and  directions,  reflecting  points  origi- 
 nally indifferent.  The  former  branch  contained  a 
 clear  revelation  of  the  eternity,  the  power,  the  wif- 
 dom,  the  goodnefs,  and  the  other  infinite  perfecti- 
 ons, of  the  only  God,  the  Maker,  the  Preferver,  the 
 Governor,  and  the  Judge  of  the  univerfe.  In  the 
 ten  commandments,  the  fum  of  moral  duty  may 
 truly  be  faid  to  be  comprehended  j  fince  the  prohi- 
 bition 
 
THE    JEWISH    RACE.  43 
 
 bition  of  the  chief  crime  in  each  clafs  of  offences 
 evidently  includes,  by  parity  of  reafoning,  the  pro- 
 hibition of  all  inferior  crimes  of  that  clafs,  as  partak- 
 ing of  the  fmful  nature,  and  tending  ultimately  to 
 produce  the  guilt,  of  the  greateft.  The  fubordinate 
 duties  thus  implied  in  the  commandments  were 
 afterwards  in  a  great  variety  of  cafes  detailed  and 
 exemplified  at  large  in  other  parts  of  the  books  of 
 Mofes.  This  branch  of  the  law  is  manifeftly  of 
 univerfal  and  perpetual  obligation  ;  and  is  repeat- 
 edly mentioned  as  fuch  by  our  Saviour.  The  other 
 branch  was  defigned  to  be  obligatory  on  the  Jews 
 only  j  and  on  them  no  longer  than  until  the  com- 
 ing of  the  Meffiah,  whofe  fufferings  and  atonement 
 ,many  of  its  rites  and  ceremonies  prefigured.  If  in 
 this  part  of  the  law  we  mould  meet  with  fome  direc- 
 tions, the  object  and  utility  of  which  mould  not  at 
 firft  fight  be  apparent  to  us ;  let  us  beware  of  fetting 
 up  the  conclusions  of  our  ignorance  againft  the 
 unbounded  wifd©m  of  the  Deity.  A  clofer  con- 
 fideration  of  the  fubjecl:  will  teach  us  humbly  to 
 acknowledge,  that  all  thefe  inftitutions  anfwered  the 
 purpofes  of  exercifing  the  Ifraelitesin  faith  and  obe- 
 dience ;  of  preferving  them  a  diftinct  and  feparate 
 people  ;  and  of  training  them  by  a  peculiar  mode 
 of  difcipline  (/),  wifely  according  with  their  habits, 
 prepofleffions  and  circumftances,  for  the  reception 
 of  the  new  difpenfation  to  be  revealed  under  the 
 Meffiah.  It  will  teach  us  alfo  that  many  of  thofe 
 directions,  which    ramnefs    and    prefumption   are 
 
 fometimss 
 
 (/)  Gal.  iii.  23—35. 
 
44-  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 fometimes  heard  to  cenfure  as  trifling,  and  unworthy 
 of  the  Divine  attention,  were  fpecifically  calculated 
 to  guard  the  people  of  Ifrael  from  being  betrayed 
 into  certain  particular  modes  of  idolatry  and  wick- 
 ednefs  prevalent  in  the  nations  among  whom  they 
 were  to  dwell. 
 
 CHAPTER     III. 
 
 fUMMARY    VIEW     OF    THE    HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS 
 FROM    THE    DEATH    OF  MOSES  TO    THE  PRESENT- 
 
 TIMLE. 
 
 OSHUA,  having  received  from  the  Almighty  a 
 promife  of  unfailing  fupport  (#),  and  a  grant,  in  be- 
 fialf  of  the  Ifraelites,  of  the  whole  region  extending 
 from  the  Euphrates  to  the  Mediterranean,  and  from 
 the  mountains  of  Lebanon  on  the  north  to  the  Wil- 
 dernefs  of  Sin  on  the  fouth  (£) ;  prepared  to  put 
 the  twelve  tribes  into  pofleffion  of  their  inheritance. 
 The  hand  of  God  was  ftretched  out  to  aid  him.  The 
 waters  of  the  river  Jordan,  at  that  time  overflowing, 
 like  the  Nile,  with  its  annual  inundation,  were  mi* 
 raculoufly  parted  afunder  to  afford  a  paffage  on  dry 
 
 ground 
 
 (a)  Jodiua,  i.  5. 
 
 (b)  Jodi.  i.  4.  See  alfo  Numb,  xxxiv.  3.— Deut.  xi.  24, — . 
 asd  Gen.  xv.  18. 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  4^ 
 
 ground  to  the  hod.  The  walls  of  Jericho  fell  to  the 
 earth.  The  fun  and  the  moon  ftood  (till  to  afford 
 Ifrael  time  for  the  complete  overthrow  of  his  ene- 
 mies. The  extirpation  of  the  Canaanites  was  gra- 
 dual ;  that  the  beads  of  the  field  might  not  have 
 time  to  multiply  and  overfpread  the  land  (V).  But 
 before  the  death  of  Jofhua,  the  country.,  though  a 
 confiderable  portion  remained  to  be  fubdued,  was 
 divided  by  lot,  according  to  the  command  of  God5 
 among  the  tribes ;  with  the  exception  of  that  q£ 
 Levi,  and  of  thofe  which  had  already  received  at 
 their  own  requeft  their  inheritance  in  the  conquered 
 kingdoms  of  the  Amorites,  on  the  other  fide  of  the 
 Jordan.  The  Levites  were  provided  with  cities  for 
 the  refidence  of  their  families ;  and  with  an  ample 
 fubfiftence  from  the  facrifices  and  tithes  of  other 
 tribes,  on  whofe  behalf,  as  well  as  on  their  own, 
 they  were  to  minifter  at  the  altar. 
 
 The  command,  which  God  had  given  to  Ifrael 
 refpeeting  the  Canaanites,  was,  that  they  mould  be 
 exterminated.  "  Of  the  cities  of  thefe  people, 
 "  which  the  Lord  thy  God  doth  give  thee  for  thine 
 "  inheritance,  thou  (halt  fave  nothing  alive  that 
 "  breatheth."  The  reafon  of  this  injunction  is  im- 
 mediately fubjoined :  "  thou  {halt  utterly  deilroy 
 "  them,  as  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  commanded 
 "  thee  ;  that  they  teach  you  not  to  do  after  ail 
 "  their  abominations  (d)."  Perfons,  who  feem  to 
 have  conceived  that  to  cavil  at  the  Bible  is  a  mark 
 of  difcernment,  have  eagerly  feized  upon  this  paf- 
 fage ;  and  have  reprefented  it  as  containing  a  fan- 
 
 guinary 
 
 (c)  Deut.  vii.  22.  (<!)  Deut.  xk,  16. 
 
4&  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    TrfE 
 
 guinary  edict  unworthy  of  a  merciful  Governor  of 
 the  univerfe ;  and  as  affording  in  fact  a  conclufive 
 proof  that  the  Bible  is  not  the  Word  of  God.  Our 
 faith  however  in  the  truth  of  Scripture  is  founded 
 on  too  many  irrefragable  arguments  to  be  ftaggered 
 by  fuch  an  objection  as  this,  even  if  an  anfwer  in 
 every  point  fatisfa£tory  could  not  be  returned  it.  In 
 every  work  of  God  around  us  there  is  much  that  we 
 cannot  perfectly  underftand.  Why  then  mould  we 
 be  furprifed,  if  he  mould  permit  that,  for  the  exercife 
 of  our  understandings  and  the  trial  of  our  faith, 
 fome  difficulties  mould  exift  in  his  word  alfo  ?  But 
 the  difficulty  in  queftion  is  of  no  formidable  nature. 
 The  command  is  fully  juftified  even  to  human  ap- 
 prehenfion  by  the  reafon  which  God  himfelf  afligned 
 for  it.  We  know  that  the  Canaanites,  in  their 
 grofs  and  bloody  idol-worihip,  a  worfnip  celebrated 
 with  the  facrince  of  their  own  children,  and  in  the 
 univerfal  and  unbridled  profligacy  of  their  manners, 
 had  abandoned  themfelves  to  fuch  mamelefs  and  de- 
 teftable  wickednefs,  that  in  the  emphatical  language 
 of  holy  writ,  the  land  itfelf  abhorred  and  vomited 
 out  her  inhabitants  (<?).  We  know  the  obftinate 
 propenfity  of  the  Ifraelites  to  forfake  their  fupreme 
 Benefactor  ;  and  to  pollute  themfelves  with  idolatry 
 and  all  its  attendant  abominations.  We  know,  too, 
 that  when  they  difobeyed  the  injunction  to  extirpate 
 all  the  nations  which  dwelt  in  Canaan,  and  content- 
 ed themfelves  with  fubjecting  fome  of  them  to  tri- 
 bute •,  thofe  Canaanites,  who  were  thus  permitted 
 to  remain,  proved  thorns  and  fnares  to  the  people 
 
 of 
 (e)  L;v,  xviii.  24,  25,  &e«     Deut.  xii.  31. 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  47 
 
 of  Ifrael ;  grievous  as  enemies,  corrupting  as  friends, 
 and  ultimately  the  caufe  of  their  ruin,  according  to 
 the  previous  warnings  delivered  from  God  himfelf 
 by  the  mouth  of  Mofes  and  of  Jofliua  (/).  The  de- 
 finition of  the  Canaanites  therefore  was  fully  de- 
 fended by  their  crimes  ;  and  was  requifite  to  preferve 
 Ifrael  from  being  enfnared  by  them  or  by  their  pos- 
 terity into  the  fame  crimes.  The  latter  circum- 
 ftance  explains  the  reafon  why  even  the  young 
 children  of  the  [people  of  Canaan  were  included  in 
 the  fentence  of  extirpation  :  and  "  juftifies  the  ways 
 "  of  God  to  man"  in  an  inftance  which  has  been 
 alleged  as  contrary  to  all  ideas  of  the  Divine  recti- 
 tude by  objectors,  who  feem  to  have  forgotten  that 
 in  earthquakes  alfo,  and  in  famines,  and  in  pefti- 
 lences,  the  Deity  fees  fit  to  let  unoffending  infancy 
 be  involved  in  the  common  defolation  (g) ;  and 
 that  a  future  life  affords  ample  fcope  for  the  com- 
 plete difcrimination  between  innocence  and  guilt. 
 The  employment  of  the  Ifraelites  as  minifters  to 
 execute  the  Divine  vengeance  was  calculated  to  im- 
 prefs  them  with  a  deep  conviction  of  the  enormity 
 of  the  fins  of  their  predeceffors  in  the  land  :  and 
 with  an  awful  recollection  that  the  fame  punifh- 
 ment  was  already  denounced  againft  themfelves,  if 
 they  (hould  fall  into  fimilar  tranfgreffions. 
 
 Jofhua,  now  far  advanced  in  years,  affembled  the 
 twelve  tribes  of  Ifrael  to  hear  his  lafl  inflructions. 
 He  recounted  the  wonders  which  God  had  wrought 
 
 for 
 
 (/)  Numb,  xxxiii.  55,  56.     Jofh.  xxiii.  13.     Judg.  ii.  3. 
 (g)  See  Bifhop  Watfon's  Apology  for  the  Bible,  3d  edition, 
 p.  14,  &c. 
 
48  SUMMARY   VIEW   OF    TH2 
 
 for  them  in  Egvpt,  in  the  Wildernefs,  and  in  the 
 land  of  Canaan,  notwithstanding  their  many  pro- 
 vocations ;  pointed  out  the   punctual    accomplilh- 
 ment  of  every  one  of  the  Divine  promifes :     and 
 having  declared  beforehand  the  ftedfaft  determina- 
 tion of  himfelf  and  his  family  to  remain  faithful  fer- 
 vants  of  the  Lord,  received  from  the  whole  congre- 
 gation a    fimilar    affurance    repeated    in  the  mod 
 folemn  terms.     He  then  difmiifed  the  people,  every 
 man  to  his  inheritance,  and  fhortly  afterwards  died. 
 During  the  life-time  of  the  elders,  who  had  been 
 cotemporaries  with  Jomua,  the  Ifraelites  continued 
 true  to  their  engagement.    The  following  generation 
 gave  themfelves  up  to  idolatry.     For  the  fpace  of 
 about  three  hundred  years  from  the  death  of  Jofhua, 
 their  hiilory  exhibits  a  conftant  fucceffion  of  idola- 
 trous revolts  from  God,  punifhed  by  captivity  under 
 the  hand  of  the  neighbouring  nations ;  and  of  deli- 
 verances mercifully  vouchsafed  to  them,  when  diftrefs 
 and  anguifh    drove  them   to   repentance.     During 
 this  period   they  were  governed,  when  free  from  a 
 foreign  yoke,  by  magiftrat.es   denominated  judges  : 
 who  were  in  general  the  perfons  by  whofe  hand  the 
 Supreme  Being  had  refcued  them   from  the  power 
 of  their  oppreffors.     The  judge  was  not  regarded 
 as  the  head  of  the  nation,  occupying  a  ftation  fimi- 
 lar to  that  filled  by  kings  or  other  chief  magiftrates 
 in  modern  times.     That  ftation  was  confidered  as 
 filled  by  God  himfelf.     Thus  when  "  the  men  of 
 "  Ifrael  faid  unto  Gideon,"  (their  judge,)  "  Rule 
 "  thou  over  us ;  both  thou,  and  thy  fon,  and  thy 
 "  fon's  fon  alfo  >  for  thou  haft  delivered  us  from 
 
 «s  the 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS*  49 
 
 "  the  hand  of  Midian  :  Gideon  faid  unto  them,  I 
 "  will  not  rule  over  you,  neither  fhall  my  fon  rule 
 "  over  you.  The  lord  (hall  rule  over  you  (£)." 
 At  length,  in  the  latter  days  of  Samuel,  who  had 
 long  been  their  judge;  and  fomewhat  lefs  than 
 eleven  hundred  years  before  the  Chriftian  era ;  the 
 people  clamoroufly  infilled  on  having,  like  other 
 nations,  a  king  to  govern  them.  The  Supreme 
 Being  testified  his  difpleafure  at  this  act  of  rebelli- 
 ous ingratitude  :  "  They  have  rejected  me,  that  I 
 "  mould  not  reign  over  them  (J) :"  but  he  com- 
 manded Samuel  to  anoint  a  king  over  them,  confor- 
 mably to  their  defiie.  Samuel  accordingly  afiembl- 
 ed  the  tribes.  And  having  fet  before  them  their 
 bafenefs  in  renouncing  the  immediate  fovereignty 
 of  God ;  and  having  forewarned  them,  according 
 to  the  directions  which  he  had  previoufly  received 
 from  the  Almighty,  of  the  chaflifement  which  they 
 muft  expect  from  Divine  juftice  through  the  inftru- 
 mentality  of  kings  refembling  their  fubjeets  in 
 wickednefs  (k)\  he  yielded  to  the  determination 
 in  which  they  dill  refolutely  perfifted.  Saul,  the 
 Son  of  Kifh,  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  was  fele&ed 
 by  the  defignation  of  Heaven  to  be  king  of  Ifrael : 
 and  the  continuance  of  the  Divine  prote&ion  and 
 favour  was  promifed  to  the  fovereign  and  the  people, 
 on  the  condition  of  their  fidelity  to  the  worfhip  and 
 the  laws  of  God. 
 
 The  obedience  of  Saul  was  exercifed  by  two  fpe- 
 cific  trials.     In  both  of  them  he  failed :  breaking 
 
 E  the 
 
 (h)  Judg.  viii.  22,  23.     (i)  1  Sam.  vlii.  7.     (£)  1  Sam.  viii* 
 IO — 19.  x.    19.  xii   12. 
 
5^  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 the  pofitive  commandment  of  God,  in  the  firft5 
 through  impatience  and  diflrufl:  (/) ;  in  the  fecond, 
 through  fear  of  giving  offence  to  the  people  (ni). 
 Samuel  was  in  confequence  obliged  to  inform  Saul, 
 that  the  fceptre  mould  not  continue  in  his  family  ; 
 and  to  anoint  David,  the  fon  of  Jeffe,  of  the  tribe 
 of  Judah,  to  be  the  fucceffor  to  the  throne.  David, 
 fignalifed  foon  afterwards  by  his  miraculous  victory 
 over  Goliah  ;  and  held  in  the  higheft  eftimation  by 
 the  people  on  account  of  the  wifdom  of  his  conduct ; 
 preferved  his  life  with  difficulty  during  many  years 
 from  the  perfecuting  jealoufy  of  Saul.  On  the 
 death  of  that  monarch,  after  a  reign  of  forty  years, 
 in  battle  againfl:  the  Philiitines,  he  went  up  to  He- 
 bron, as  God  directed  him  ;  and  was  there  crowned 
 king  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.  And  after  feven  years 
 of  war  with  the  houfe  of  Saul,  he  afcended  the 
 throne  of  alllfrael. 
 
 One  of  the  earlier!  actions  of  his  reign  over  the 
 twelve  tribes  was  to  acquire  complete  poffeffion  of 
 the  city  of  Jerufalem,  by  forcibly  diflodging  the 
 Jebufites,  the  old  inhabitants  of  the  land,  from 
 the  fortrefs  of  Zion,  which  they  had  hitherto  re- 
 tained. This  city  he  enlarged  and  beautified,  and 
 made  it  his  capital ;  and  finally  brought  thither  the 
 Ark  of  God.  For  its  reception  he  propofed  to 
 build  a  fumptuous  temple.  The  Supreme  Being 
 gracioufly  accepted  the  piety  of  the  intention  ;  but 
 forbade  the  king  to  execute  the  undertaking,  in  con- 
 fequence of  his  having  neceiTarily  fried  much  blood 
 
 in 
 
 (/)  i  Sam.  xiii.  8—13.         (m)  1  Sam.  xv,  1—24 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  51 
 
 in  the  wars  in  which  he  had  been  engaged  (n)« 
 This  prohibition  however  was  accompanied  with 
 many  glorious  promifes  to  David  and  his  family  5 
 and  with  an  affurance  that  one  of  the  fons  of  David 
 who  mould  inherit  the  throne,  and  be  "  a  man  of 
 "  reft,"  mould  erect  the  temple.  For  the  magnifi- 
 cence of  this  future  ftructure  David  made  the  moll 
 ample  preparations :  and  previoufly  to  his  death 
 folemnly  charged  his  fon  and  fucceifor,  Solomon,  to 
 devote  himfelf  to  the  work ;  and  to  complete  it, 
 under  the  Divine  protection,  in  a  manner  worthy  of 
 the  facred  purpofe  for  which  it  was  defigned. 
 
 The  character  and  conduct  of  David,  with  the 
 exception  of  certain  well-known  inftances  of  molt 
 flagrant  criminality,  which  were  followed  by  public 
 and  exemplary  punilhment  from  God,  and  by  the 
 deepeft  anguim  and  repentance  on  the  part  of  the 
 offender,  were  diftinguifhed  by  holinefs  and  virtue 
 He  was  free,  and  prefer ved  his  people  free,  from 
 the  flighteft  taint  of  idolatry.  His  confidence  in  his 
 Maker  was  unfhaken.  To  his  enemies  he  was  pla- 
 cable, to  his  friends  fingularly  affectionate.  His 
 Pfalms,  whether  they  defcribe  the  glory  and  majefty 
 of  God  ;  pour  forth  fupplications  for  his  favour  ;  re- 
 turn the  effufions  of  gratitude  for  mercies  received  ; 
 breathe  forrow  and  humiliation  for  fins,  general 
 and  particular  ;  or  prophetically  defcribe  the  future 
 fufferings  of  the  Meffiah,  ordained  to  defcend  from 
 the  family  of  David  ;  are  models  of  ardent  devotion, 
 and  will  continue  to  the  end  of  the  world  to  exalt 
 the  piety  and  gladden  the  bofoms  of  thofe,  who 
 
 E  2  labour 
 
 (w)  2  Chron.  xxii.  8, 
 
52  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 labour  to  imitate  the  righteoufnefs  of  David  "  the 
 "  man  after  God's  own  heart  (<?)."  This  phrafe,  the 
 meaning  of  which  has  fometimes   been  profanely 
 mifreprefented,  as  though  the  Supreme  Being  re- 
 garded with  indifference  the  heinous  tranfgreffions 
 into  which  David  was  occafionally  betrayed  ;  refers 
 to  the  earneft  and  prevailing  defire  of  David  faithful- 
 ly to  ferve  God,  and  his  unfeigned  contrition  when 
 he  was   enfnared  into  guilt.     It  feems  alfo  to  allude 
 particularly  to  his  utter  abhorrence  of  idolatry  (p  ). 
 Solomon,  furrounded  with  peace  and  profperity, 
 and  endued  from  above  with    that  wifdom  which 
 he  had  juftly  preferred  to  every  worldly  pouefTion, 
 immediately  on  his  acceffion  began    to    erect  the 
 Temple  ;  and   finifhed   it  in  lefs  than   eight  years. 
 Afterwards  it  was  dedicated  to  God  with  the  utmoft 
 folemnity  by  the  king  and  the  affembled  people  of 
 Ifrael.     The  Lord  teftified   his  acceptance  of   the 
 
 building 
 
 (o)  Acts,  xiii.    22. 
 
 (p)  So  God,  by  the  mouth  of  the  prophet  Abijah,  faid  to 
 Jeroboam,  "  Thou  haft  not  been  as  my  fervant  David,  who  kept 
 *f  my  commandments,  and  who  followed  me  with  all  his  heart, 
 "  to  do  that  only  which  was  right  in  mine  eyes.  But  thou  haft 
 *'  done  evil  above  all  that  were  before  thee  :  for  thou  haft  gone 
 *'  and  made  thee  other  gods  and  molten  images,  to  provoke  me  to  an- 
 te  ger»  and  haft  cajl  me  behind  thy  back."  I  Kings,  xiv.  8,  9.  And 
 of  Solomon  it  is  faid  that  when  he  was  old  "  his  wives  turned 
 u  away  his  heart  after  other  gods  ;  and  his  heart  was  not  perfeS 
 "  with  the  Lord  his  God,  as  was  the  heart  of  David  his  father :" 
 I  Kings,  xii  4.  The  Phrafe,  a  heart  "  perfect"  or  "  not  per- 
 "  feft,"  and  other  equivalent  exprefiions,  are  frequently  ufed  in 
 the  Scriptures  to  chara&erife  the  conduct  of  fubfequent  kings  of 
 Ifrael  tefpe&ing  idolatry.  See  1  Kings,  xv.  3  1 1.  14.  2  Kings,, 
 s.  31.     2  Chron.  xxii.  9. — xxv.  2.  14,  &c.-~  xxxi.  I-  3. 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS,  53 
 
 building  thus  confecrated  to  him  by  filling  it  with 
 his  glory  :  "  the  cloud  filled  the  Houfe  of  the  Lord  ; 
 "  fo  that  the  prielts  could  not  ftand  to  minifter 
 "  becaufe  of  the  cloud  :  for  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
 "  had  filled  the  Houfe  of  the  Lord  (q)."  And 
 afterwards  God  appeared  unto  Solomon,  and  de- 
 clared that  if  the  kings  and  people  of  Ifrael  would 
 continue  faithful  in  their  obedience,  his  eyes  and 
 his  heart  fhould  be  on  that  temple  perpetually ; 
 but  that  otherwife  it  fhould  be  utterly  deftroyed. 
 From  that  time  the  altar  in  the  Temple  became, 
 conformably  to  the  Divine  command  given  unto 
 Mofes  (V),  the  eftablifhed  and  only  lawful  place 
 for  offering  burnt  facrifices  unto  God. 
 
 Notwithstanding  the  fignal  marks  of  Divine  fa- 
 vour which  he  had  enjoyed,  Solomon  in  his  declin- 
 ing years  was  feduced  by  his  foreign  wives  into  ido- 
 latry. And  although  there  is  great  reafon  to  believe 
 that  he  afterwards  repented  ;  and  in  the  feafon  of 
 his  grief  and  remorfe  compofed  the  book  of  Eccle- 
 fiaftes,  in  which  he  feelingly  proclaims  the  vanity 
 of  every  thing  except  holinefs  ;  he  was  punifhed 
 with  the  information  that  the  fovereignty  over  ten 
 of  the  tribes  of  Ifrael  fhould  be  taken  from  his  fa- 
 mily, and  given  to  Jeroboam,  one  of  his  officers. 
 Immediately  after  the  death  of  Solomon,  the  rafh 
 and  intemperate  anfwer  of  his  fon  Rehoboam  to 
 the  Ifraelites,  who  requefted  to  be  delivered  from  the 
 burdens  impofed  upon  them  by  the  deceafed  mo- 
 narch, was  the  incident  employed  by  the  hand  of 
 Providence  to  effect  the  predicted  revolution.     The 
 
 ten 
 (?)  I  Kings,  viii.  10,  11.         (r)  Deut.  xii.   11 
 
54  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 ten  tribes  revolted  from  the  Houfe  of  David  :  and 
 Jeroboam  became  their  king,  and  Samaria  their  capi- 
 tal. The  tribes  of  Judah  and  Benjamin  remained 
 tinder  the  government  of  Rehoboam.  From  that 
 time  the  two  kingdoms,  discriminated  by  the  appel- 
 lations of  Ifrael  and  Judah,  continued  diftintt.  This 
 feparation  took  place  about  nine  hundred  and 
 feventy-five  years  before  Chriib, 
 
 The  men  of  Ifrael  were  bound,  purfuant  to  theMo- 
 faic  law,  to  prefent  themfelves  three  times  in  a  year 
 In  folemn  affeoibly  before  the  Lord  (j)  at  Jerufalem, 
 But  Jeroboam,  fearing  left  they  fhould  thus  be  led 
 to  return  to  the  dominion  of  their  former  matter, 
 would  not  truft  his  power  in  the  hands  of  God  who 
 had  bellowed  it.  He  "  took  counfel"  with  the 
 irreligious  politicians  of  his  court ;  and  received 
 fuch  advice  as  men  of  that  defcription  commonly 
 give.  Profeffing  that  the  diftance  of  Jerufalem  ren- 
 dered the  attendance  of  his  fubjecls  there  incon- 
 venient to  them,  he  erected  two  golden  calves,  one 
 at  Dan.  the  other  at  Bethel,  two  places  at  the  op- 
 pofite  extremities  of  his  dominions ;  and  com- 
 manded his  people  to  refort  thither  to  offer  facrifi- 
 ces  and  to  worfhip.  Unawed  by  the  Divine  judg- 
 ments denounced  againft  him,  and  by  thofe  which  he 
 jnlraculoufly  experienced  (f)  he  refolutely  perfevered 
 in  the  eftablifhment  of  idolatry.  Hence  he  is  dif- 
 tinguifhed  in  fubfequent  parts  of  Holy  Writ  by  the 
 awful  appellation  of  "  Jeroboam,,  who  did  fin,  and 
 made  Ifrael  to  fin  (u)  ;"  the  man  who  deliberately 
 
 renounced 
 
 (s)  Deut.  xvi.  1 6.         (t)   t  Kings,  xiii.   i.  to  the  end„ 
 (-a)   I  Kings,  xiv,  i6.—-xv.  30,  &c.  &c 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  55 
 
 renounced  his  allegiance  to  his  God,  and  eftablifhed 
 the  worfhip  of  idols  among  his  own  fubje&s  through 
 many  generations. 
 
 During  eighteen  fucceflive  reigns  the  throne  of  Je- 
 roboam palling,  chiefly  by  confpiracies  and  ufurpati- 
 ons»  into  eight  new  families,  was  occupied  by  princes 
 like  himfelf  j  princes  differing  from  each  other  in  de- 
 grees of  depravity,  but  alike  refolute  in  adhering  to 
 the  idolatrous  worfhip  of  the  golden  calves.    In  vain 
 did  the  Lord  fend  prophet  after  prophet,  and  among 
 them  Elijah  and    Elifha,   armed  with  the   power  of 
 working    flupendous     miracles,  and  commiffioned 
 to  call  the  nation  to  repentance,  and  to  predict  the 
 vengeance  ready  to  fall  on  them,  if  they  mould  con- 
 tinue in  their  fins.     In  vain   were  the  territories  of 
 Ifrael  cut  fhort   and  laid   wafte  by  potent  enemies 
 raifed  up  from  time  to  time  as  minifters  of  the  Di- 
 vine vengeance.     At  length  in  the  ninth  year  of  the 
 reign  of  Hofhea,  about  thirty  years  after  the  foun- 
 dation   of    Rome  by    Romulus,  and  about  feveii 
 hundred  and  twenty  one  years  before   Chrift,  the 
 Supreme  Being  poured  forth  the  fulnefs  of  his  in- 
 dignation on  a  people,  whom  neither  chaftifements 
 nor  mercies  could  reclaim.     Shalmanefer,  the  kins: 
 of  Affyria,    took  the  capital  city  Samaria,  after  a 
 fiege  of  three  years  ;   and  became  completely  mailer 
 of  the  whole  kingdom.     It    was    in    thofe  days  a 
 maxim  of  policy  among  eaflern  conquerors  to  remove 
 vanquiflied  nations  to  fettlements   far  diilant  from 
 their  native  country  :  that,  all  hopes  of  returning  thi- 
 ther being  precluded,  and  all  local  incitements  cal- 
 culated to  ilimulate  the  defire  of  independence  and 
 
 render 
 
$6  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 render  flavery  lefs  tolerable  being  removed,  the 
 wretched  captives  might  remain  lefs  prone  to  infur* 
 rection  and  revolt.  The  depopulated  territories 
 were  ufually  replenifhed  with  colonies  of  inhabi- 
 tants tranfplanted  from  a  remote  part  of  the  domi- 
 nions of  the  victor.  Conformably  to  this  practice 
 Tiglath-Pilefer,  king  of  AfTyria,  having  conquered, 
 about  twenty  years  before,  the  countries  of  the  Gadi* 
 tes,  theReubenites,  and  theManaflites  eaftwardof  the 
 Jordan,  together  with  Galilee  occupied  by  the  tribe 
 of  Nephthali,  had  carried  away  the  inhabitants  into 
 AfTyria ;  and  had  placed  them  "  in  Halah,  and  in 
 "  Habor  by  the  river  of  Gozan,  and  in  the  cities 
 "  of  the  Medes."  To  the  fame  cities  Shalmanefer 
 now  carried  the  remainder  of  the  ten  tribes  :  and 
 "  brought  men  from  Babylon,  and  from  Cuthah, 
 fs  and  from  Aya,  and  from  Hamath,  and  from  Se- 
 <s  pharvaim,  and  placed  them  in  the  cities  of  Sama- 
 ria inftead  of  the  children  of  Ifrael ;  and  they  pof- 
 f  ft  fled  Samaria  and  dwelt  in  the  cities  thereof 
 "  (v)."  Of  the  fubfequent  fate  of  the  ten  tribes, 
 thus  carried  into  captivity,  little  is  known  unto  the 
 prefent  hour.  Many  individuals  of  each  tribe  ap- 
 pear to  have  returned  about  two  hundred  years 
 afterwards  in  company  with  the  tribes  of  Judah  and 
 Benjamin.  But  the  great  mafs  of  the  ten  tribes  has 
 continued  in  obfcurity  to  this  day  :  yet  in  that  ob- 
 fcurity  preferved,  as  we  believe  from  the  fure  word 
 of  prophecy,  againft  that  appointed  period,  when 
 all  Ifrael  mall  be  re-united,  and  reilored  to  their  own 
 
 land. 
 
 Let 
 
 (<y)   1  Cfaron.  v.  26.  1  Kings,  xv„  20.  z  Kings,  xvii.  6.   24* 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  5^ 
 
 Let  us  now   return   to  the  kingdom  of  J  ad  ah. 
 There  the  fceptre  invariably  remained,   according 
 to  the  promife  of  God,  in  the  hands  of  the    family 
 of  David.     The  fuccefibrs  of  Rehoboam,  who,  like 
 the  kings  of  Ifraei  after  Jeroboam  during  a  much 
 fhorter  period,  were  eighteen  in  number,  were  of 
 extremely  various  characters.     Some   of  them,  as 
 Afa,    Jehoihaphat,    Hezekiah,    and    Jofiah,  were 
 bright  examples  of  piety.     Or  hers,   among  whom 
 Jehoram,  Ahaziah,  and  Manaffeh  are  confpicuous, 
 notwithftanding  the  denunciations  of  prophets  and 
 the  judicial  infliction  of  national  calamities,  aban- 
 doned themfelves  to  idolatry.     Manalfeh   in  parti- 
 cular not  only  "  built  up  again   the  high   places, 
 *'  which  Hezekiah,  his  father,  had  defrroyed  ;  and 
 6i  reared  up  altars  for  Baal,  and  worihipped  all  the 
 ?e  hoft  of  heaven  and  ferved  them ;"  but,  as  it  were 
 in  defiance  of  the  true  God,  "  built  altars  in  the 
 *c  Houfe  of  the  Lord,  of  which  the  Lord  had  faida 
 *e  In  Jerufalem  will  I  put  my  name:  and  he  built , 
 **.  altars  for  all  the  hoft  of  heaven  in  the  two  courts 
 *e  of  the  Houfe    of  the  Lord- — and  he  fet  a  graven 
 "  image  of  the   grove,  that  he  had    made,  in  the 
 ^  Houfe  (w)."— -His  conduct  during  this  period  was 
 throughout  confident  in  wickednefs.    "  He  made  his 
 *6  fon  to  pafs  thro'  the  fire,  and  obferved  times,  and 
 "  ufed  inchantments,  and  dealt  with  familiar  fpirits 
 #  and  wizards — "  and  feduced  his  "fubjects  to  do 
 "  more  evil  than  did  the  nations  whom  the   Lord 
 "  deftroyed  before  the  children  of  Ifraei — and  fhed 
 sc  innocent  blood  very  much,  till  he  had  filled  Je- 
 
 "  fufaleai 
 
 (w)  2  Kings,  xxi.  3.  7. 
 
$0  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 *  rufalem  from  one  end  to  another  (#)."     The  Su- 
 preme Being,  therefore,  declared  that  the  crimes  of 
 Judah  mould  be  punifhed  by  a  fate  fimilar  to  that 
 which  had  overtaken  the  guilt  of  Ifrael.     "  I  will 
 "  ftretch  over  Jerufalem  the  line  of  Samaria — and 
 "  I  will  wipe  Jerufalem  as  a  man  wipeth  a  difh, 
 "  wiping  and  turning  it  upfide  down  (y)  :"  a  com- 
 parifon  defcribing  in  the  moft  expreflive  terms  the 
 utter  fubvernon  of  the  city,  and  the  complete  remo- 
 val of  its  inhabitants.   Captivity  and  anguim  opened 
 the  eyes  of  Manafleh ;  and  led  him  to  bitter  and 
 durable  repentance  (%).     But  his  fuccefTbrs  imitated 
 him  only  in  tranfgreflion.     The  kings  of  Babylon, 
 foretold  from  the  reign  of  Hezekiah  as  instruments 
 ordained   to  execute   the  wrath  of  Heaven  againfl 
 Judah  (a),  and  already  employed  for   the  chadife- 
 inent  of  Manafleh,  appeared  anew  before  Jerufalem ; 
 unconfcious  that,  while  they  were   bent  folely  on 
 ambitious  views  of  aggrandizing  their  empire,  they 
 were  fent  forth  by  Providence  to  fulfil  its  predeter- 
 mined purpofe.     About  fix  hundred  and  fix  years 
 before  the  Chriftian  era  Jerufalem  was  delivered  into 
 the  hands  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  who  fent  to  Babylon 
 a  part  of  the  veflels  and  treafures  of  the  Temple  of 
 the  Lord,  together  with  many  perfons  of  the  royal 
 blood  and  of  the  principal  families  ;  and  bound  Je- 
 hoiakim,  the  king  of  Judah,  in  fetters,  that  he  might 
 alfo  be  carried  thither  (J?)  :  but  at  length  permitted 
 him  to  remain  a  tributary  vaflal  in  Judsea.     Eight 
 
 years 
 
 (x)  2  Kings  xxi.  6.  9.  1 6.  (z)  2  Chron.xxx.  1 1.  i8« 
 
 {y)  2  Kings,  xxi.  13.  (a)  2  Kings,  xx.  17, 
 
 {b)  2  Chro.  xxxvi.  6.     Dsn  i.  1 — 6* 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  59 
 
 years  afterwards  the  fon  and  fuccefibr  of  Jehoiakim, 
 together  with  ten  thoufand  of  his  fubjects,  was  car- 
 ried captive  into  Chaidea  (V).  And  finally  in  the 
 eleventh  year  of  the  reign  of  Zedekiah,  about  five 
 hundred  and  eighty-eight  years  before  Chrift,  and 
 one  hundred  and  thirty-three  years  after  the  com- 
 mencement of  the  captivity  of  the  ten  tribes,  Jeru- 
 falem  was  taken  by  Nebuchadnezzar  at  the  end  of  a 
 fiege  of  eighteen  months ;  and,  together  with  the 
 Temple  of  God,  was  burned  to  the  ground  and 
 utterly  deftroyed.  Zedekiah  was  brought  at  Riblah 
 into  the  prefence  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  who,  after 
 having  commanded  his  eyes  to  be  put  out,  fent  him 
 in  fetters  to  Babylon  :  thus  fulfilling  unawares  two 
 feemingly  difcordant  predictions  of  Jeremiah  and 
 Ezekiel ;  the  former  of  which  prophets  had  declared 
 concerning  Zedekiah  that  as  a  captive  he  mould  fee 
 the  king  of  Babylon  face  to  face,  and  be  carried  to 
 that  city  (d)  j  the  latter,  that  his  eyes  mould  never 
 behold  it  (e).  The  principal  part  of  the  tribes  of 
 Judah  and  Benjamin  was  alfo  led  captive  into  Chai- 
 dea (/*).  Over  the  people  of  the  poorer  clafs 
 which  were  left  in  the  land,  and  were  joined  by  fu- 
 gitives from  contiguous  diftri&s,  Gedaliah  was  ap- 
 pointed governor.  He  being  fhortly  afterwards 
 killed  by  a  confpiracy  ;  the  remnant  of  the  Jews, 
 dreading  the  vengeance  of  the  Chaldeans,  refolved 
 to  fly  into  Egypt.  This  meafure  Jeremiah  was  di- 
 rected by  the  Almighty  to  forbid  ;  and  was  com. 
 mimoned  alfo  to  inform  the  Jews,  that  if  they  per- 
 mitted 
 
 {c)  2  Kin.  xxiv.  10,  &c.  (d)  Jerem.  xxxii.  4.  and 
 
 xxxiv.  3.  (if)  Ezek.  xii.  13,  (/)   2  Chron.  xxxvi.  20. 
 
6o  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 filled  in  their  defign,  they  mould  be  overtaken  in  the 
 country  where  they  fought  for  refuge  by  their  dread- 
 ed enemy  Nebuchadnezzar ;  who,  in  the  fublime 
 language  of  Scripture,  fhould  "  array  himfelf  with 
 "  the  land  of  Egypt  as  a  fhepherd  putteth  on  a 
 "  garment  (£).'*  But  the  people  would  not  be  re- 
 trained. Carrying  Jeremiah  with  them,  they  hail- 
 ed into  Egypt ;  which  country,  according  to  the 
 Divine  declaration  was  fubdued  about  fixteen  years 
 afterwards  by  the  king  of  Babylon.  Thus  was  Ju- 
 dsea  emptied  of  its  inhabitants.  So  extreme  was  the 
 predicted  defolation  to  be,  that,  four  years  after  the 
 burning  of  Jerufalem,  while  Nebuchadnezzar  was 
 employed  in  the  liege  of  Tyre  ;  Nebuzaradan,  the 
 captain  of  his  guard,  fwept  away  to  Babylon  the 
 fcanty  reliques  of  the  people,  who  had  collected  to- 
 gether in  their  native  land,  amounting  to  feven  hun- 
 dred and  forty-five  perfons  (/>). 
 
 The  duration  of  the  Babylonian  captivity  had 
 been  previoufly  limited  by  the  Supreme  Being  to 
 the  term  of  feventy  years,  which  are  to  be  computed 
 from  the  captivity  of  Jehoiakim  in  the  fix  hundred 
 and  feventh  year  before  Chrift  ;  and  the  deftined 
 period  had  been  revealed  to  the  Jews  by  the  mouth 
 of  Jeremiah  at  the  time  of  its  commencement  (/)•—" 
 Ifaiah,  fpeaking  prophetically  concerning  Cyrus 
 above  an  hundred  years  antecedently  to  his  birth, 
 had  pronounced  him  to  be  the  monarch  deftined  in 
 the  counfels  of  God  to  reftore  the  people  of  Judah 
 to  their  native  land  (ij.     Accordingly,  "  in  the 
 
 firft 
 
 (g)  Jerem.  xlii.  and  xliii.  12.  {b)  Jerem.  Hi.  30. 
 
 {i)  Jerem. xxv.  u,  12.  (£)  Ifa.  xliv.  28.  xly.  lr-6. 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  f>\ 
 
 "  firft  year  of  Cyrus,  king  of  Perfia,"  (the  fecond 
 year  after  he  had  become  fovereign  of  the  eaft  by 
 the  death  of  his  father  Cambyfes  king  of  Peril  a, 
 and  his  father-in-law  Cyaxares  king  of  Media;  and 
 five  hundred  and  thirty-fix  years  before  the  Chrif- 
 tian  era,)  "  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  fpoken  by  the 
 "  mouth  of  Jeremiah  might  be  accomplifhed  ;  the 
 "  Lord  ftirred  up  the  fpirit  of  Cyrus  king  of  Perfia, 
 "  tfyat  he  made  a  proclamation  throughout  all  his 
 "  kingdom,  and  put  it  alfo  in  writing,  faying  :  Thus 
 "  faith  Cyrus,  king  of  Perfia.  All  the  kingdoms 
 "  of  the  earth  hath  the  Lord  God  of  Heaven  given 
 "  me  :  and  he  hath  charged  me  to  build  him  an, 
 "  houfe  in  Jerufalem,  which  is  in  Judah.  Who  is 
 "  there  among  you  of  all  his  people  ?  .  The  Lord 
 **  his  God  be  with  him  :  and  let  him  go  up  (/)." 
 Cyrus  at  the  fame  time  commanded  that  affiftance 
 fhould  be  given  to  the  poorer  Jews,  in  order  to  en- 
 able them  to  undertake  the  journey  ;  and  delivered 
 up  the  velfels  of  gold  and  filver,  brought  away  from 
 the  Temple  of  God  to  Babylon,  that  they  might  be 
 placed  in  the  new  Temple,  which  was  now  to  be 
 erected  (jii). 
 
 In  confequence  of  this  encouragement,  great 
 numbers  belonging  to  the  tribes  of  Judah  and  Ben- 
 jamin, having  been  joined  alfo  by  many  individuals 
 of  the  ten  tribes  j  and  amounting  altogether  to  near 
 fifty  thoufand,  fervants  and  profelytes  being  includ- 
 ed (n)  ;  returned  to  Jerufalem  under  the  conduct  of 
 Zerubbabel    (otherwife   called   Shefhbazzar  (o)  )  a 
 
 chief 
 
 (/)  2  Chron.  xxvi.  22,  23.  (m)  Ezra,  i.  4.  7.  S. 
 
 (»)  Ezra,  ii.  64,  65.    (0)  Compare  Ezra,  iii.  8.  10.  with  v.  16. 
 
62  R  SUMMARY   VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 chief  descended  from  David,  and  of  Jofhua  the  high 
 priefr.  In  the  beginning  of  the  following  year  they 
 proceeded  to  rebuild  the  Temple  on  its  old  founda- 
 tions. In  this  work  the  Samaritans  defired  to  join; 
 Thefe  were  the  pofterity  of  the  Cutheans  and  other 
 colonics,  who  had  been  placed  about  two  hundred 
 years  beiwre  that  time  by  the  king  of  Afiyria  in  the 
 land  or  lirael ;  and  had  united  with  the  fervice  of 
 JJiovah  the  worfhip  of  their  peculiar  idols  Q>).— 
 The  Jews  rejected  the  propofal :  and  the  Samaritans, 
 eager  for  rtvenge,  exerted  themfelves  to  impede  the 
 rebuilding  of  the  city  partly  by  force  of  arms,  and 
 partly  by  mifrepreientations  addrefTed  to  the  court 
 of  Perila  (q).  The  work  was  by  thefe  means  inter- 
 rupted :  but  a  favourable  decree  having  at  length 
 been  obtained  from  Darius,  it  was  refumed  and 
 completed  :  and  the  new  Temple  was  folemnly  de- 
 dicated twenty  years  after  the  Jews  had  begun  to 
 rebuild  it.  The  Jews  had  been  ftrongly  excited  to 
 zeal  and  perfeverance  in  the  undertaking  by  the 
 prophets  Haggai  and  Zechariah.  And  when  the 
 aged  Jews,  fome  of  whom  had  feen  the  former  Tem- 
 ple, wept  at  the  recollection  of  its  fuperior  magnifi- 
 
 cencej 
 
 (/>)  2  Kings,  xvii.  24  — 41. 
 
 (q)  This  hoftile  condud  appears  to  have  been  the  fource  of 
 that  rooted  averfion,  with  which  the  Jews  continued  for  feveral 
 centuries  to  view  the  Samaritans.  It  was  aggravated  by  fubfe- 
 quent  quarrels,  and  by  the  afylum  always  afforded  at  Samaria  to 
 fugitive  and  difcontented  Jews.  Long  before  the  time  of  our 
 Saviour  the  Samaritans  had  entirely  renounced  idolatry.  Still, 
 however,  the  Jews  had  "  no  dealings  with  the  Samaritans  ;"  and 
 uted  the  very  name  of  Samaritan  as  a  term  of  the  higheft  re- 
 proach. 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  63 
 
 cence  ;  deploring  alfo  the  irrecoverable  lofs  of  the 
 ark,  the  rod  of  Aaron,  the  two  tables  of  ftone,  the 
 pot  of  manna  which  had  been  preferved  by  Divine 
 appointment  from  the  days  of  Jofhua,  and  the  reft 
 of  its  miraculous  diftinctions  ;  Haggai  was  commif- 
 fioned  to  affure  them  that  the  glory  of  this  latter 
 houfe  fhould  be  greater  than  the  glory  of  the  for- 
 mer (r) :  a  prediction  fulfilled  when  that  latter 
 houfe  was  glorified  by  the  prefence  of  Jefus  Chrift, 
 the  Son  of  God. 
 
 About  fifty  years  afterwards  Ezra,  inverted  with 
 ample  powers  by  Artaxerxes,  arrived  from  Babylon; 
 bringing  with  him  fome  additional  veffels  belonging 
 to  the  Temple,  and  accompanied  by  about  fifteen 
 hundred  Jews.  He  employed  himfelf  with  great 
 diligence  in  reforming  abufes  and  tranfgreffions  pre- 
 valent among  the  people.  Thirteen  years  after  his 
 arrival  he  was  joined  by  Nehemiah,  appointed  gover- 
 nor of  Judaea  by  Artaxerxes,  with  authority  to  re- 
 pair the  ruined  walls  of  Jerufalem  :  an  undertaking 
 which,  notwithstanding  the  oppofition  of  factions 
 and  of  furrounding  enemies,  was  at  length  effected. 
 At  this  time  Ezra  appears  to  have  devoted  his  atten* 
 tion  wholly  to  religious  concerns,  and  to  the  collec- 
 tion and  revifal  of  the  canonical  books  of  the  Scrip- 
 tures of  the  Old  Testament.  The  Jewifh  people 
 now  deliberately  renewed  their  covenant  with  God  : 
 and  from  that  period  to  the  destruction  of  Jerufalem 
 by  the  Romans,  they  faithfully  abstained  from  every 
 fpecies  of  idolatrous  worfhip. 
 
 After 
 
 (r)  Jlxraj  iii.  12.     Haggai,  if,  7 — 9. 
 
64  SUMMARY   VIEW    Of    THE 
 
 After  the  days  of  Nehemiah  no  mention  is  made 
 of  any  diftinct.  governor  of  Judsa  while  it  conti- 
 nued fubjecT:  to  the  Perfians.  The  country  was  re- 
 garded as  a  part  of  the  province  of  Syria.  In  the 
 time  of  Alexander  the  Great  the  Jews  exhibited  & 
 fignal  proof  of  fidelity  to  their  engagements  by  re- 
 futing, on  the  ground  of  the  allegiance  which  they 
 owed  to  Perfia,  to  fupply  that  conqueror,  then  oc- 
 cupied in  the  fiege  of  Tyre,  with  the  fuccours  which 
 he  required  of  them.  Alexander,  having  at  length 
 rendered  himfelf  mafter  of  Tyre,  marched,  inflamed 
 with  refentment,  at  the  head  of  his  army  towards 
 Jerufalem.  At  a  fhort  diitance  from  that  city  he 
 was  met  by  a  folemn  proceflion  conducted  by  the 
 High  Prieft,  Jaddua,  in  his  pontifical  robes.  Alex- 
 ander, on  their  near  approach,  haftened  forward ; 
 and  to  the  extreme  aftonifhment  of  his  followers, 
 bowed  himfelf  down  before  the  High  Prieft,  and 
 adored  the  name  of  Jehovah  infcribed  on  his  mitre. 
 In  reply  to  Parmenio,  who  expreffed  his  furprife 
 that  the  victorious  monarch  of  fo  many  nations 
 fhould  pay  reverence  to  a  Jewim  prieft ;  Alexander 
 declared  that  many  years  before,  when  he  had  been 
 revolving  his  meditated  expedition  againft  Perfia, 
 the  appearance  of  this  very  perfon  had  flood  before 
 him,  and  had  promifed  him  fuccefs  in  the  name  of 
 God.  Alexander  accompanied  the  High  Prieft  to 
 Jerufalem,  offered  facrifices  in  the  Temple,  and  be- 
 llowed many  privileges  and  immunities  on  the  Jews: 
 but  gave  an  evafive  anfwer  to  the  Samaritans,  whom 
 his  unexpected  bounty  to  the  Jews  encouraged  to 
 
 apply 
 
HISfORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  $$ 
 
 apply  for  fimilar  favours  (j).  Nor  were  thefe  the 
 only  proofs  of  regard  which  he  (hewed  to  the  Jews. 
 When  he  founded  Alexandria,  he  fixed  many  of 
 that  nation  there  ;  and  bellowed  on  them  the  fame 
 rights  as  were  enjoyed  by  the  Macedonians.  Arid 
 when  the  Samaritans  rebelled  againft  him,  he  affign- 
 ed  their  country  to  the  Jews,  to  be  held  by  them 
 under  the  fame  exemptions  from  tribute  as  Judaea. 
 
 Soon  after  the  death  of  Alexander,  an  event 
 which  took  place  three  hundred  and  twenty-three 
 years  before  Chrift ;  Paleftine,  in  the  divifion  of  the 
 Macedonian  empire,  fell  under  the  power  of  Ptole- 
 my king  of  Egypt ;  and  about  an  hundred  years 
 afterwards  paffed  into  the  hands  of  the  Grecian 
 kings  of  Syria  j  who  permitted  the  Jews  to  be  go- 
 verned by  their  own  laws  under  the  High  Priefl  and 
 his  council.  In  confequence  of  the  intermediate 
 fituation  of  their  country  between  Egypt  and  Syria 
 they  fuffered  much  and  frequently  from  the  conten- 
 tions, which  arofe  between  thofe  rival  empires.  The 
 Greek  language  gradually  fpread  into  familiar  ufe 
 among  them.  And  from  their  connection  with  fo- 
 reigners they  progreffively  imbibed  foreign  manners 
 and  foreign  vices.  Their  High  Priefts  became  cor* 
 rupt,  obtaining  the  office  by  purchafe  from  the  Sy- 
 rian king  Antiochus  Epiphanes;  and  recommending 
 themfelves  to  him  by  lending  their  aid  to  draw  afide 
 the  people  from  the  obfervance  of  the  Mofaic  law  to 
 the  adoption  of  Grecian  cuftoms.  By  his  hand, 
 however,  Providence  inflicted  on  the  Jews  a  mernor- 
 
 F  able 
 
 (j)  Jofephi  Antiq.  lib.  ii.  c.  8.  and  fee  Bifhop  Newton's  Dif- 
 fertations  on  the  Prophecies,  3d  edition,  vol.  ii.  p.  37 — 47. 
 
66  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 able  chaftifement.   Irritated  by  the  oppofition  which 
 he  had  experienced  in  fome  of  his  plans,  he  feized 
 upon  the  city ;  flaughtered  or  fold  for  flaves  vaft 
 multitudes  of  the  inhabitants ;  defpoiled  and  mat- 
 tered the  Temple  itfelf ;  and  at  length  abolifhed  the 
 daily  facrifice  ;    burned  all  the  copies  of  the  law 
 which  he  could  difcover  ;  fixed  an  image  of  Jupiter 
 in  the  Temple ;  and  endeavoured  to  conftrain  the 
 people  throughout  the  whole  land  by  the  moll  cruel 
 tortures  to  fubmit  to  the  worfhip  of  idols.     After 
 fome  few  years,  and  about  one  hundred  and  fixty- 
 feven  before  the  Chriflian  era,  God  was  pleafed  to 
 raife  up  a  deliverer  to  his  people  in  Mattathias  the 
 Maccabee,  a  prieli  of  equal  piety  and  fortitude ;  who 
 levied  an  army  againft  the  tyrant,  and  pufhed  on 
 the  war  with  fuccefs.    After  his  death,  the  celebrated 
 Judas  Maccabeus    and    his   other  fons    repeatedly 
 overcame  the  Syrian  armies ;  and  ultimately  expel- 
 led them  from  Judaea.     The  Temple  was  repaired 
 and  purified  ;  the  ©bfervance  of  the  Mofaic  law  re- 
 ftored  ;  and  the  fupreme  authority,  civil  as  well  as 
 ecclefiaftical,  was  united  for  feverai  generations  in 
 the  head  of  the  Maccabean  family,  of  whom  Arifto- 
 bulus  was  the  firfl  who  alTumed  the  title  of  king.  In 
 a  conteft  for  the  crown  between  two  of  his  descend- 
 ants, about  fixty-five  years  before  Chrift,  both  par- 
 ties applied  for  amftance  to  the  Romans.     Pompey 
 availed  himfelf  of  thefe  dilTenfions  to  render  Judaea 
 tributary  to  Rome.     He  appointed  Hyrcanus,  one 
 of  the  competitors,  High  Prieft  ;  but  allowed  him 
 not  to  poffefs  any  other  denomination  than  that  of 
 prince.     Some  years  afterwards  the  avarice  of  Craf- 
 
 fus 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  6j 
 
 fus  plundered  the  Temple  of  all  its  treafures.  Dur- 
 ing the  domeftic  troubles  which  engaged  the 
 attention  of  the  Romans  ©n  the  death  of  Julius 
 Casfar  ;  Hyrcanus  was  deprived  of  his  authority 
 by  his  nephew  Antigonus,  who  afTumed  the  re- 
 gal title.  Herod,  an  Edomite,  the  fon  of  one  of 
 the  officers  of  Hyrcanus,  repairing  to  Rome,  and 
 being  there  appointed  king  of  Judaea*  took  Antigo- 
 nus prifoner  ;  and  fent  him  into  Italy,  where  he 
 was  put  to  death.  Being  thus  eftablifhed  in  the 
 quiet  pofleffion  of  the  country,  Herod  gradually 
 augmented  his  dominions  :  and  expended  vaft  fums 
 in  adorning  Jerufalem,  and  in  repairing  and  enlarg- 
 ing the  buildings  of  the  Temple.  To  his  family  and 
 his  fubjects  he  was  a  cruel  and  fanguinary  tyrant. 
 His  reign  is  memorable  for  the  birth  of  the  Saviour 
 of  the  world  ;  whom  he  dreaded  as  a  rival,  and  en- 
 deavoured to  deftroy  by  the  flaughter  at  Bethlehem. 
 In  the  following  year  he  died  in  the  agonies  of  a 
 mofl  loathfome  diftemper.  £lis  territories  were  dis- 
 tributed by  the  Romans,  who  ratified  the  difpofition 
 which  he  had  made  in  his  will,  among  his  three  fons, 
 thenceforth  called  tetrarchs  or  ethnarchs.  Arche- 
 laus  governed  the  ancient  pofleffions  of  the  tribes  of 
 Judah  and  Benjamin,  together  with  Samaria,  and 
 the  land  of  Edom.  Herod  Antipas,  by  whom  John 
 the  Baptift  was  beheaded  and  Jefus  Chriil  derided 
 before  his  crucifixion,  ruled  in  Galilee  and  Peraea.  / 
 
 Philip  obtained  the  districts  of  Trachonitis  and  Itu- 
 raea.  Archelaus,  in  the  feventh  year  of  the  Chriftian 
 era,  (  which  era,  according  to  the  received  computa- 
 tion, begins  with  the  fifth  year  after  the  birth  of 
 Chriftj)  was  deprived  of  his  government  by  the  Ro- 
 
 F  2  mans, 
 
68  SUMMARY    VIEW    01'    THE 
 
 mans,  in  confequence  of  the  complaints  of  his  fub- 
 jec"ts.  His  dominions  were  immediately  reduced 
 into  the  flate  of  a  Roman  province.  On  the  death 
 of  Philip,  and  the  depofition  of  Antipas,  the  Roman 
 emperor  Caligula  gave  their  dominions,  with  the 
 title  of  king,  to  Herod  Agrippa,  the  perfon  who 
 put  the  death  the  Apoftle  James,  and  imprifoned 
 Peter  (?),  and  was  grandfon  of  the  firft  Herod.  He 
 was  fucceeded  in  his  title  and  part  of  his  territories 
 by  his  own  fon  of  the  fame  name,  the  Agrippa  be- 
 fore whom  Paul  («)  was  produced  by  Feftus  the 
 Roman  governor. 
 
 In  the  mean  time  jefus  Chrift,  the  promifed  Mef- 
 fiah,  had  manifefted  himfelf  in  Judaea,  and  fulfilled 
 his  miniftry.  Though  Uniting  in  himfelf  the  ac- 
 complishment of  every  ancient  prophecy  refpe&ing 
 the  Redeemer  of  mankind ;  born  of  the  tribe  of 
 Judah,  in  the  lineage  of  David,  of  a  pure  virgin,  in 
 the  town  of  Bethlehem  ;  having  for  his  forerunner 
 a  prophet,  John  the  Baptift,  commiffioned  to  preach 
 repentance  in  the  power  and  fpirit  of  Elijah ;  per- 
 forming  all  thofe  miracles  which  the  predicted  Savi- 
 our was  to  work,  in  proof  of  his  Divine  authority  ; 
 executing  his  office  at  the  precife  time  prefixed  near 
 five  hundred  years  before  by  the  Prophet  Daniel ; 
 and  repeatedly  receiving  in  the  fight  and  hearing  of 
 the  people  fpecial  tokens,  in  atteftation  of  his  Mef- 
 fiahfhip,  from  God  his  father;  He  was  ignomini- 
 oufly  rejected  by  the  Jewifh  nation.  One  general 
 caufe  of  offence  was  his  appearance  in  that  humble 
 ftation,  which  the  prophet  Ifaiah  had  exprefsly  (V) 
 
 foretold : 
 
 (t)  A4U,xii.        («)  A&s,xxv.  xxvi.         (v)  Ifaiah,  liii. 
 
HISTORY    GF    THE    JEWS.  69 
 
 foretold  :  while  the  ambitious  and  prejudiced  minds 
 of  the  Jews  were  blindly  attached  to  the  idea  of  a 
 temporal  MefTiah,  who  mould  expel  every  foreign 
 enemy  from  the  land  of  Canaan,  and  reign  in  tri- 
 umph on   the  throne  of  Jerufalem.     Among  the 
 higher  claffes,  the  principal  enemies  of  Chrift  were 
 the  Scribes,  the  Pharifees,  the  Sadducees,  and  the 
 Herodians.     The  Scribes,  a  proud  and  corrupt  fet 
 of  men,  were  the  eftablifhed  teachers  and  expound- 
 ers of  the  Mofaic  law.     The  Pharifees  were  a  religi- 
 ous feci:,  who  distorted  that   law  from  its  genuine 
 import  by  the  traditional  interpretations  andacceffi- 
 ons  with  which  they  loaded  it :  and  under  the  mafk 
 of  much  outward  and  ceremonial  fan&ity  difguifed 
 the  utmoft  depravity  of  heart  and  conduct.     The 
 Sadducees  held  as  their  diftinguiming  tenet,  that 
 there  was  to  be  no  future  life  ;  and  were,  as  might 
 be  expected,  practically  regardlefs  of  virtue  in  this. 
 The  Herodians  were,  as  their  name  intimates,  per- 
 fons  devoted  to  the  interefts  of  Herod  ;  and  formed 
 a  political  faction  rather  than  a  religious  party.—- 
 Thefe  jarring  fe£ts,  enraged  at  the  boldnefs  and  fe- 
 verity  with  which  Chrift  reproved  their  vices,  and 
 dreading  from  his  influence  the  ruin  of  their  power, 
 co-operated  for  his  deftru&ion.     The  common  peo- 
 ple at  firft  received  him  with  joy :  but  afterwards, 
 according  to  the  ufual  inftability  of  popular  favour, 
 they  liftened  to  the  calumnious  artifices  of  his  per- 
 fecutors,  and  aided  with  vehement  and  clamorous 
 importunity  the  demand  of  their  fuperiors  for  his 
 crucifixion.     With  this  demand  Pilate,  the  Roman 
 governor,  though  avowing  his  conviction  of  the  per- 
 fect: 
 
fO  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 fe£t  innocence  of  Chrift,  and  vainly  attempting  by 
 warning  his  hands  in  the  prefence  of  the  multitude 
 to  transfer  the  whole  guilt  of  that  innocent  blood 
 from  himfelf  to  them  ;  while  they  blafphemoufly 
 cried  out,  "  his  blood  be  on  us  and  on  our  chil- 
 "  dren  ;"  flagitioufly  complied.  Chrift  was  nailed 
 to  the  crofs ;  and,  while  the  earth  quaked,  and  the 
 heavens  were  darkened,  and  the  beholders  flood 
 aghaft  with  aftonifhment,  and  terror,  yielded  up  his 
 life  as  the  great  atoning  facrifice  for  the  fins  of  the 
 human  race. 
 
 The  meafure  of  Jewifh  guilt  was  now  full :  and 
 the  vengeance  of  Heaven,  of  which  that  infatuated 
 people  had  been  mercifully  forewarned  by  the  pro- 
 phets and  by  Chrift  himfelf,  was  poured  out  upon 
 them  i-  and  poured  out  by  the  hands  of  that  very 
 nation  whom  they  had  inftigated  to  cut  off  the  Mef- 
 fiah.  Irritated  by  the  oppreftion  of  the  Roman 
 governors,  they  broke  out  into  open  rebellion  againft 
 Florus,  in  the  reign  of  Nero,  Ceftius,  and  after- 
 wards Vefpafian,  took  many  cities,  and  ilaughtered 
 immenfe  multitudes  of  the  Jews.  At  length,  at  the 
 time  of  the  paftbver,  in  the  feventy-firft  year  of  the 
 Chriftian  era,  when  the  principal  part  of  the  nation, 
 affembled  from  many  different  countries  for  the  pur- 
 pofe  of  celebrating  that  folemnity,  were  cooped  up, 
 as  victims  prepared  for  flaughter,  within  the  walls  of 
 Jerufalem  ;  Titus  encamped  his  army  before  that 
 devoted  city.  Unconfcious  that  he  was  exactly  ful- 
 filling the  predictions  of  Chrift  (u>),  he  furrounded 
 the   whole   city  with  an    uninterrupted   bulwark, 
 
 (w)  Luke,  xixo  43, 
 
HISTORY    GF    THE    JEWS.  7 1 
 
 nearly  five  miles  in  circuit.  The  miferies  which  the 
 Jews  then  fuilained  from  famine,  from  peflilence, 
 from  the  aflaults  of  the  Romans,  and  from  the  im- 
 placable fury  of  contending  parties  among  them, 
 felves,  far  furpafs  in  horror  every  account  of  any 
 fiege  in  the  records  of  the  world  (#).  The  city  was 
 taken,  burned  to  the  ground,  and  razed  from  its 
 foundations.  Eleven  hundred  thoufand  Jews  pe- 
 rilhed  during  the  fiege.  Of  ninety-feven  thoufand 
 captives,  fome  were  referved  to  grace  the  triumphal 
 return  of  Titus  to  Rome  ;  and  the  reft  difperfed  as 
 flaves  or  as  criminals  throughout  the  empire.  A 
 fubfequent  revolt,  in  the  reign  of  Adrian,  carried  on 
 with  the  mofl  furious  outrages  by  the  Jews,  great 
 numbers  of  whom  had  again  colle&ed  in  their  na- 
 tive land,  was  followed  by  the  flaughter  of  more 
 than  five  hundred  thoufand,  and  by  their  entire  ex- 
 pulfion  from  Judea.  From  that  day  to  the  prefent, 
 during  a  period  of  feventeen  centuries,  they  have 
 had  no  national  existence.  They  have  continued, 
 according  to  the  unfailing  truth  of  prophecy,  "  fcat- 
 <s  tered  among  all  people  from  one  end  of  the  earth 
 "  unto  the  other  ;  an  aftonifhment,  a  proverb,  and 
 "  a  by-word  among  all  nations  (/)." 
 
 Though,  in  the  language  of  St.  Paul,  "  the  vail  is 
 flill  upon  their  hearts  (z)  j"  though  they  dill  con- 
 tinue 
 
 (x)  See  a  very  ftriking  fummary  of  the  events  of  thefe  "  days 
 "  of  vengeance,"  and  of  the  completion  of  every  particular  in  the 
 prophecies  of  Chrift  refpe&ing  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem,  in 
 Archbifhop  Newcome's  "  Observations  on-  our  Lord's  Conduct." 
 ?d  edit.  8vo.  p.  203 — 276. 
 
 (y)  Deut.  xxviii;  37.  64.  (»)  2  Cor. i.'i.  15, 
 
72  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 tinue  inveterately  hoftile  to  Chriftianity  ;  yet  to  the 
 devout  and  reflecting  among  them  the  difappoint- 
 ment  of  their  expectations  as  to  the  coming  of  the 
 Meffiah,  and  the  long  continuance  of  their  calamit- 
 ous difperfion,  are  fubjects  of  extreme  embarraff- 
 ment.     When  Jefus  Chrift   entered  on   his  public 
 miniftry,  they  were  confefTedly  looking  out  (a)  with 
 great  anxiety  for  the  promifed  Redeemer  ;  as  the 
 time  predicted  by  Daniel  for  his  manifeftation  was 
 arrived.     Jefus  Chrift  they  rejected  :  and  no  other 
 perfon  has  fince  appeared,  in  whom  their  descend- 
 ants perceive  any  of  the  chara&eriftics  of  the  Mef- 
 fiah.    To  account  for  this  feeming  failure  of  the 
 accomplifhment  of  the  prediction  has  long  been,  as 
 it  ftill  continues,   to   the  Jews  a  very  difficult  and 
 perplexing  tafk.     Some  of  their  rabbis  allege  in  ge- 
 neral terms,  that  the  wickednefs  of  their  nation  pre- 
 vented the  Meffiah  from  being  fent  at  the  appointed 
 period.     Others,  finding  themfelves  unable  to  re- 
 concile this  Solution  with  the  truth  of  the  promifes 
 of  God7  affirm,  that  he  was  actually  fent  into  the 
 world  at  the  time  Specified  by  Daniel  ;  but  that  he 
 forbore,  in  confequence  of  the  finful   ftate   of  the 
 Jews,  to  make  himfelf  known  ;  and  that,  for  fmiilar 
 reafons,  he  has  ftill  continued  in  obfcurity.     They 
 
 are 
 
 (a)  Thus,  when  John  the  Baptift  began  to  preach,  "  the 
 4C  people  were  in  expe&ation,  and  all  men  mufed  in  their  hearts 
 **  whether  he  were  the  Chrift  or  not ;"  Luke,  iii.  15.  and  a  depu- 
 tation of  priefts  and  Levites  was  fent  from  Jerusalem  to  put  the 
 queftion  to  him,  John,  i.  19 — 27.  Tacitus  (Hift.  lib.  v.  c.  13.), 
 and  Suetonius  (lib.  viii.  c.  4.),  record  the  general  hope  of  the 
 approach  of  the  predi&ed  Deliverer. 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  73 
 
 are  however  entirely  unable  to  difcover  what  thofe 
 heinous  tranfgreffions  are,  which  have  occafioned 
 their  difappointment  and  their  miferies.  From  ido- 
 latry, the  great  crime  of  their  forefathers,  they  have 
 been  free  for  above  two  thoufand  years.  And  for 
 that  crime,  deteftable  as  it  was  in  the  fight  of  God, 
 a  captivity  of  only  feventy  years  was  deemed  a  fuffi- 
 
 cient  punifhment. <s  I  would  fain  learn  of  thee, 
 
 out  of  the  teftimonies  of  the  law,  and  the  pro- 
 phets, and  other  Scriptures,  why  the  Jews  are 
 thus  fmitten  in  this  captivity  wherein  we  are : 
 which  may  properly  be  called  the  perpetual  anger 
 of  God,  becaufe  it  hath  no  end.  For  it  is  now 
 above  a  thoufand  years  fince  we  were  carried 
 captive  by  Titus.  And  yet  our  fathers,  who 
 worfhipped  idols,  killed  the  prophets,  and  cad  the 
 law  behind  their  back,  were  punimed  only  with 
 a  feventy  years  captivity  ;  and  then  brought 
 "  home  again  !  But  now  there  is  no  end  of  our  ca- 
 "  lamities  :  nor  do  the  prophets  promife  any."  It 
 was  thus  that  Rabbi  Samuel  Moroccanus  wrote 
 about  feven  hundred  years  fince,  to  his  friend  {b). 
 The  great  council  of  the  Jews,  affembled  five  hun- 
 dred and  fifty  years  afterwards  in  Hungary  to  deli- 
 berate on  that  very  fubjecl,  found  it  altogether 
 inexplicable  \c).  It  is  at  this  moment  equally  in- 
 explicable to  the  Jews.  Nay  every  additional  year 
 aggravates  the  difficulty.  But  the  difficulty,  infu- 
 perable  to  the  Jews,  is  none  to  us.  Their  own  im- 
 precation 
 
 {V)  See  Bifhop  Patrick's  Commentary  on  Genefis,  xlix.  10. 
 (c)  Appendix  to  the  Bifhop  of  Clogher's  Diftertatiqn  on  {he 
 Revelations. 
 
74  SUMMARY    VIEW    OF    THE 
 
 precation  has  been  tremendouny  fulfilled.  -  The 
 blood  of  Chrift  has  been  "  on  them  and  on  their 
 "  children," 
 
 Such  has  been  the  hiftory  of  the  chofen  people 
 of  God   from  the   calling  of  their  forefather  Abra- 
 ham to  the  prefent  day  ;  a  period   of  nearly  three 
 thoufand  eight  hundred  years.     Their  fituation  has 
 in  all  ages  been  characterifed  by  miracles.     Their 
 prefervation  is  at  this  moment  a  {landing  miracle. 
 The  hoftile  tribes  of  invaders,  who  fucceflively  efta- 
 blifhed  themfelves  in   Great   Britain,   difcordant  in 
 religion  and  in  mannners,  Saxons,  Danes,  and  Nor- 
 mans, are  all  abforbed  and  loll  in  one  common  mafs. 
 The  innumerable   hofls  of  Pagan  barbarians,  who 
 overwhelmed  the  Chriftian  empire  of  Rome,  fpee- 
 dily  coalefced  with  the  natives  whom  they  had  fub- 
 dued,  each  hoft  in  the  region  where  it  fettled,  into 
 one  homogeneous  affemblage,     Faith  and  practice, 
 laws  and  cuitoms,   even   perfonal  appearance    and 
 complexion,  became  fimilar,  in  the  courfe  of  a  very 
 few  centuries,  among  the  victors  and   the  vanquish- 
 ed.    Not  fo  with  the  Jews.     Scattered  in  fmall  par- 
 cels throughout  many  nations ;  now  here  living  under 
 their  own  laws,  and  in  few  places  indulged  in  the 
 free   exercife   of  their  religion  ;  urged  by  general 
 contempt,  and  even  in  many  Chriftian  countries  by 
 fhameful    oppreilion,  ta  withdraw  themfelves  from 
 notice    by  affimilating  themfelves    to    the  natives 
 among  whom   they  dwell ;  they  have  every  where, 
 multiplied  under   affliction,   and  have  every  where 
 continued  a  diftinct  and  feparate  people.    Why  have 
 they  thus  been  exempted  from  the  common  fate  of 
 
 nations  ? 
 
'       HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  75 
 
 nations  ?  They  have  been  exempted,  that  after 
 having  in  their  difperfion  exhibited  to  the  inhabi- 
 tants of  oppofite  extremities  of  the  earth  a  ftupend- 
 ous  proof  of  the  power  and  juftice  of  God  ;  they 
 may  be  reftored  at  the  time  predetermined  in  his 
 counfels  to  the  perpetual  pofTeiiion  of  their  native 
 land.  There  is  fcarcely  any  topic  on  which  pro- 
 phecy is  more  copious  in  the  Old  Teftament,  than 
 on  the  final  reftoration  of  the  Twelve  Tribes  of  If- 
 rael.  Our  Saviour,  when  he  foretells  that  "  Jeru- 
 "  falem  fhall  be  trodden  down  by  the  Gentiles  uritU 
 "  the  times  of  the  Gentiles  be  fulfilled '  (//)  ;"  clearly 
 implies  that  after  an  appointed  time  it  fhould  revert 
 to  its  original  pofTeffors.  St.  Paul,  iii  perfect  har- 
 mony with  the  old  prophets,  predicts  the  future  con- 
 verfion  of  the  Jews  to  the  religion  of  their  crucified 
 Saviour ;  and  the  powerful  and  glorious  effect: 
 which  their  converfion,  together  with  the  ilgnal 
 wonders  with  which  their  re-eftablifhment  mail  be 
 attended,  will  produce  in  opening  the  eyes  of  unbe- 
 lieving nations,  and  convincing  them  of  the  truth  of 
 the  Chriftian  faith  (<?), 
 
 From  the  hiftory  of  this  people  let  it  be  your 
 care  to  draw  and  apply  to  your  own  heart  and  con- 
 duct the  great  practical  truth,  fo  forcibly  impreffed, 
 and  fo  beautifully  illuftrated  by  the  Apoftle  (/). 
 f*  Becaufe  of  unbelief  they  were  broken  off:  and 
 6i  thou  ftandeft  by  faith.  Be  not  high-minded  $ 
 *c  but  fear."  Reflect  on  the  unparalleled  bleffings 
 by  which   they  were  diftinguifhed.     They  are  the 
 
 chofen 
 
 (d)  Luke,  xxi.   24  (<?)  .Romans,  x'u 
 
 (/)  Romans,  xvii,  M-. 
 
7^  SUMMARY   VIEW   OF    THE 
 
 chofen  nation,  "  to  whom  pertaineth  the  adoption, 
 "  and    the   glory,  and  the  covenants,  and  the  giv- 
 "  ing  of  the  law,  and  the  fervice  of  God,  and  the 
 "  promifes ;  whofe  are  the  fathers  ;  and  of  whom, 
 "  as  concerning  the  flefh,  Chrift  came,  who  is  over 
 "  aD,  God,  bleifed  forever  (g)."     They  were  the 
 favoured  "  olive-tree,"  planted  in  the  vineyard  of 
 God.     The  branches  became  unfruitful,  and  were 
 broken   off;  and    the  Gentiles,  the  "  branches   of 
 "  the  wild  olive-tree,"  were  grafted  into  their  place. 
 *c  Be  not  high-minded  )  but  fear.     If  God  fpared 
 "  not  the  natural  branches,  take  heed  left  he  alfo 
 "  fpare  not  thee.     Behold  the  goodnefs  and  fevcfi- 
 "  ty  of   God  :  on  them   which   fell,  feverity :  but 
 "  towards  thee,  goodnefs,  if  thou  continue  in  his 
 "  goodnefs  :  otherwife  thou   alfo  (halt  be  cut  off." 
 Let  this  leffon  of  ftedfaftnefs   in  faith  and  holy  obe- 
 dience recur  to  your  bofom,  whenever  you  behold  an 
 individual  of  the  jewifh  race.     Let  it  teach  you  to 
 behold  him    with    humility,  and    with  kindnefs  j 
 and  to  meditate  on  the  dealings  of  your  Maker  with 
 the  tribes  of  Ifrael.     And   while  you  confider  the 
 paft  and  the  prefent  ftate  of  the  chofen  defcendents 
 of  Abraham  ;  remember  the  reftoration  that  awaits 
 them.      They  are  "  the   natural   branches  :"  and 
 when  "  they  no  longer  abide  in  unbelief,  God  will 
 "  graft  them  in  again." 
 
 There  is  yet  another  leffon  of  ufeful  inflru&ion 
 which   the  confideration  of  the  Jewifh  hiftory  may 
 imprefs  with  particular  force  upon  the  mind.     The 
 mterpofitions  by  which  Providence  guided  and  pro- 
 tected 
 {g  )  Romans,  ix.  4,  5. 
 
HISTORY    OF    THE    JEWS.  77 
 
 te$ed  the  Jews  were  in  general,  as  it  has  already  been 
 obferved,  in  a  high  degree  miraculous.  Yet  all 
 thefe  fignal  and  unmerited  favours  produced  not  in 
 that  people  either  durable  gratitude  or  obedience. 
 Remember  then,  in  the  firft  place,  the  favours 
 which  God  has  beftowed  and  is  ftill  beftowing  up- 
 on yourfelf.  Thefe  blefTings  are  not  the  lefs,  be- 
 caufe  they  are  beftowed  daily  and  hourly ;  nor 
 becaufe  they  are  beftowed  on  many  other  perfons, 
 as  well  as  upon  you.  Thefe  bleffings  are  as  truly 
 the  free  and  unmerited  gifts  of  your  Almighty  Be- 
 nefactor, as  the  miracles  wrought  for  the  delive- 
 rance of  the  Ifraelites  in  Egypt,  in  the  wildernefs, 
 in  the  land  of  Canaan.  What  title  had  you  to  the 
 bleffings  of  creation,  of  protection,  of  redemption, 
 more  than  the  Ifraelites  had  to  a  paffage  on  dry 
 ground  through  the  Red  Sea  ;  to  the  prefence  of 
 God  in  a  cloudy  pillar  to  guide  them  by  day,  and  in 
 a  pillar  of  flame  by  night ;  to  the  fupply  of  manna, 
 during  nearly  forty  years  ;  to  the  fupernatural  des- 
 truction of  the  army  of  Sennacherib ;  or  to  the 
 warnings  during  many  centuries  of  a  fucceffion  of 
 infpired  prophets  ?  Were  mighty  works  wrought 
 by  the  hand  of  Omnipotence  for  the  Jews  ?  Thofe 
 very  works  were  wrought  not  for  the  Jews  only,  but 
 for  your  admonition  ;  for  your  benefit.  Mighty  as 
 they  were,  mightier  have  been  wrought  for  you. 
 Chrift,  of  whofe  coming  and  office  the  Jews  had 
 learned  through  the  medium  of  prophecies  then 
 involved,  as  to  matters  of  detail,  in  much  obfcurityr 
 has  fince  their  day  defcended  from  Heaven  ;  has 
 lived  as  man,  and  fuffered  more  than  man ;  has 
 made  that  full  atonement  on  the  crofs,  which  the  law 
 
 given 
 
78  SUMMARY   VIEW,    ETC. 
 
 given  by  Mofes  was  intended  only  to  prefigure  an4 
 introduce.  The  interceffion  of  Chrift,  now  plead- 
 ing for  you  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  was  to  the 
 jews  altogether  unknown.  The  fanctifying  aid 
 of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  to  enable  you  to  will 
 and  to  do  what  is  acceptable  to  the  Deity,  was  by 
 the  jews  very  imperfectly  underftood.  Do  you  ad- 
 mit the  magnitude  of  thofe  your  obligations  to  Hea- 
 ven ?  Aik  yourfelf  then,  in  the  fecond  place,  whe- 
 ther you  are  leading  fuch  a  life  as  correfponds  with 
 an  avowed  fenfe  of  thofe  obligations  :  fuch  a  life  as 
 correfponds  with  a  conviction  of  the  extraordinary 
 bieflmgs  conferred  upon  you  by  the  Almighty  of  his 
 own  free  grace.  While  you  are  wondering  that  the 
 jews,  enlightened  by  immediate  communications 
 from  above,  could  reiapfe  with  fuch  frequency  into 
 the  darknefs  of  idolatry  ;  alk  yourfelf  whether,  in 
 the  full  enjoyment  of  greater  light,  you  are  not  de- 
 viating into  the  paths  of  darknefs.  "  The  covetous 
 "  man,"  faith  the  Scripture,  "  is  an  idolater  (/->)," 
 and  "  hath  no  inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  Chrifl 
 "and  of  God."  The  glutton  is  branded  in  the  fa- 
 cred  volume  with  the  fame  ftigma  (i)  :  and  his  end 
 is  declared  to  be  "  deftruction."  Whenever  you 
 permit  any  inclination,  any  paffion  to  predominate 
 in  vour  heart  over  the  fear  and  the  love  of  God  ;  you 
 incur  the  guilt  of  idolatry.  And  unlefs  through  the 
 Divine  grace  you  fmcerely  repent,  and  turn  from  fin 
 unto  habitual  holinefs ;  you  mall  have  "  no  inheri- 
 6t  tance  in  the  kingdom  of  Chrifl:  and  of  God  :" 
 *j  your  end  mall  be  deftruction." 
 
 (o)  Ephef.  v.  5.  (*')  Philipp.  iii.   19. 
 
(     79     ) 
 
 CHAPTER     IV. 
 
 ON    THE    BOOKS    OF    THE    OLD    TESTAMENT. 
 
 JlN  the  preceding  Chapters  the  Scriptures  of  the 
 Old  Teftameiv;  have  been  regarded  as  racred  records 
 of  unqueftionalpie  authority.  As  the  faith  of  Chris- 
 tians ought  in  every  particular  point  to  be  eftablifh- 
 ed  on  rational  evidence  and  fober  conviction ;  it 
 will  be  proper  in  the  prefent  Chapter  to  lay  before 
 the  reader  a  brief  flatement  of  the  grounds,  on 
 which  the  claim  of  the  Jewilh  Scriptures  to  his  belief 
 and  reverence  is  eftablifhed. 
 
 The  Old  Teftament  refolves  itfelf  into  two  lead- 
 ing divifions ;  the  canonical  books,  and  the  apo- 
 cryphal books  (a).  The  canonical  books  are  thofe 
 which  were  written  by  the  aid  and  under  the  gui- 
 dance of  Divine  infpiration.  The  apocryphal  books 
 were  compofed  by  uninfpired  men ;  and  are  there- 
 fore liable  to  error  :  but,  on  account  of  the  relisri- 
 
 ous 
 
 {a)  Thefe  general  terms,  together  with  many  of  the  modem 
 names,  as  Genefis,  Exodus  &c.  by  which  the  books  of  the  Old 
 Teftament  are  diftinguilhed,  have  been  borrowed  from  the  de- 
 nominations ufed  by  the  Greek  tranflators  and  commentators. 
 The  words  "  canon,"  and  "  canonical,"  are  derived  from  K«w», 
 a  rule:  and  imply  that  the  authenticity  and  infpiration  of  the 
 books  of  Scripture  to  which  they  are  applied  have  not  been 
 haftily  taken  for  granted  ;  but  have  been  examined  and  afcertain- 
 ed  by  the  proper  rule  or  criterion.  Apocrypha  and  apocryphal, 
 words  derived  from  uiraxgvirrwp  to  hide,  denote  that  the  writings 
 to  which  they  are  affixed  are  not  of  mav.ifeft  and  indifputable  au- 
 thority. 
 
7§  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 ous  inft:ruct.ion  and  the  hiflorical  fads  which  they 
 contain,  were  fubjoined  by  the  Jews,  yet  feparately 
 and  as  a  detached  appendix,  to  the  facred  volume  ; 
 and  hace  been  for  the  fame  reafons  continued  in  that 
 place  and  character  by  the  Chriflian  church. 
 
 The  canonical  books  were  again  fubdivided  by 
 the  Jews,  for  the  fake  of  convenient  reference  and 
 quotation,  into  three  claffes  ;  not  fo  diftinguifhed 
 through  any  difference  in  the  authority  affigned  to 
 them,  (for  in  that  refpect  they  were  all  held  perfect- 
 ly equal,)  but  through  a  degree  of  difference  in  the 
 fubjefts  of  which  they  refpe&ively  treat.  Thefe 
 claffes  were  denominated  "  the  Law,"  "  the  Pro- 
 "  phets,"  and  "  the  Pfalms."  "  The  Law"  con- 
 tained the  five  books  of  Mofes  ;  Genefis,  Exodus, 
 Leviticus,  Numbers,  Deuteronomy  (F) :  and  re- 
 ceived its  name  from  the  fubjeft  mod  prominent 
 in  thofe  books.  In  "  the  Prophets"  were  compre- 
 hended not  only  the  books  of  Ifaiah,  and  of  all  the 
 other  prophets  to  Malachi  inclufively,  together  with 
 the  book  of  Job  ;  but  like  wife  the  hiflorical  books  of 
 Jofnua,  Judges,  Ruth,  Samuel,  Kings,  Chronicles, 
 Ezra,  Nehemiah,  and  Eflher  :  thefe  books  alfo  hav- 
 ing been  written  or  revifed  by  prophets.  "  The 
 "  Pfalms  (c),"    included    Proverbs,    Ecclefiaftes, 
 
 and 
 
 (£)  The  five  Books  of  Mofes  are  frequently  termed  the  Pen- 
 tateuch, a  word  of  Greek  etymology,  implying  a  collection  of 
 five  volumes. 
 
 (e)  This  clafs  was  alfo  termed  emphatically  by  the  Jews 
 "  writings"  (chetubim)  ;  and  by  the  Greeks  hagiographa,  fa- 
 ered  writings.  In  latter  times  we  have  become  accuftomed  to 
 apply  the  terms  "  Scriptures,"  that  is  to  fay,  "  the  writings," 
 
 by 
 
THE    OLD    TESTAMENT.  8 1 
 
 and  the  Song  of  Solomon,  together  with  the  book 
 of  Pfalms ;  from  which  book,  as  being  placed  firft, 
 and  of  primary  importance,  this  concluding  fubdi- 
 vifion  received  its  appellation  (d~). 
 
 What  proof  then  of  the  infpiration  and  authen- 
 ticity of  the  canonical  Scriptures  of  the  Old  Tefta- 
 ment,  in  the  very  form  in  which  we  have  them  at 
 this  hour,  is  the  utmofl  which  even  an  objector 
 could  reafonably  demand  ?  He  might  require  this 
 and  this  only  :  fatisfactory  evidence  that  thofe  Scrip- 
 tures were  written  under  the  fuperintendence  of  in- 
 fpiration :  and  that  they  have  been  tranfmitted  in 
 their  primeval  integrity  to  the  prefent  day.  That 
 proof,  I  apprehend,  may  be  demonftratively  fur- 
 niflied. 
 
 It  will,  however,  be  proper  antecedently  to  flate 
 with  preciilon  what  we  mean,  when  we  affirm  that 
 the  books  in  queftion  were  written  under  the  fuper- 
 intendence of  infpiration.  We  do  not  mean  that 
 the  Holy  Spirit  of  God  dictated  to  the  infpired 
 writer  every  word,  or  every  fentence,  of  his  compo- 
 
 G  fition* 
 
 byway  of  eminence,  and  "the  Bible,"  ("  the  Book,"  from  the 
 Greek  word  |2;/3aos,)  to  the  Old  and  New  Teftaments  taken  col- 
 lectively. 
 
 (J)  The  number  of  canonical  books  in  our  Bible  is  thirty- 
 nine  :  whereas  Jofephus  and  other  Jewilh  writers  enume- 
 rate only  twenty-two.  The  caufe  of  the  feerrring  difference  is 
 this  :  the  Jews  united  Judges  and  Ruth  into  one  volume,  or  book; 
 the  two  books  of  Samuel  they  count  as  one  book,  and  alfo  thof« 
 of  Kings,  and  of  Chronicles,  refpedtively  ;  Ezra  and  Nehemiah. 
 form  one  book;  the  Prophecies  and  Lamentatious  of  Jeremiah, 
 one  ;  and  the  twelve  minor  prophets,  fo  called  merely  on  ac- 
 count of  the  comparative  brevity  of  their  compofitions,  one. 
 
82  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 fition.  The  Divine  interference  to  fuch  an  extent 
 was  not  requifite,  as  far  as  we  may  prefume  to 
 judge,  for  the  attainment  of  the  objects  which  in- 
 fpiration  was  defigned  to  accomplifh.  And  the 
 opinion  of  its  interference  to  that  extent  appears 
 to  be  contradicted  by  the  great  fimilarity  of  ftyle 
 and  manner,  which  is  found  to  pervade  the  writings 
 of  any  one  of  the  infpired  penmen  confidered 
 fingly  ;  and  by  the  ftriking  difference  in  fentiment 
 and.  language,  by  which  the  feveral  writers  are  dif- 
 tinguifhed  from  each  other :  circumftances  which 
 indicate  that  each  writer  was  permitted  to  follow  in 
 an  ample  degree  the  natural  bent  of  his  faculties  and 
 thoughts  as  to  the  mode  of  expreffing  the  Divine 
 communications.  Neither  do  we  mean  that  the 
 mind  of  the  prophet  or  hiftorian  was  in  every  cafe 
 fupernaturally  impreffed  with  the  full  knowledge  of 
 facts,  which,  by  his  own  prelent  observation,  or  by 
 his  diftant  recollection,  or  even  by  true  and  fuffici- 
 ent  intelligence  received  from  others,  he  already 
 was  thoroughly  competent  to  defcribe.  We  mean 
 that  infpiration  was  given  fo  far  as  it  was  effentially 
 neceffary  to  effect  all  the  purpofes,  fpecial  and  ge- 
 neral, for  which  it  was  beftowed  ;  namely,  to  en- 
 courage the  righteous  and  reclaim  the  guilty  ;  to 
 confirm  the  truth  and  unfold  the  import  of  the  Jew- 
 ifh  difpenfation  ;  and  when  that  introductory  fyftem 
 mould  be  done  away9  to  demonftrate  the  Divine 
 origin,  illuflrate  the  nature,  and  forward  the  uni- 
 verfal  dominion,  of  the  religion  of  Jefus  Chrift. 
 For  thefe  purpofes  it  feems  effentially  neceffary  that, 
 in  communicating  religious  truths,  in  declaring  a 
 
 revelation 
 
THE    OLD    TESTAMENT.  8j 
 
 revelation  of  unknown,  or  imperfectly  known,  tranfc 
 actions,  and  in  predicting  future  events,  the  in- 
 ftrument  employed  mould  be  preferved  from  all 
 error ;  and  that  in  reciting  facts  from  his  own 
 knowledge,  and  in  drawing  conclufions  by  the  na- 
 tural powers  of  his  judgment,  he  mould  be  pre- 
 ferved from  material  inaccuracy  and  omiffion. 
 That  infpiration  was  vouchfafed  further,  the  Scrip- 
 tures do  not  pronounce  :  that  it  was  necefTary  fur- 
 ther, there  appears  no  fufficient  reafon  to  conclude  I 
 and  consequently,  that  it  was  given  further,  is  a  po- 
 rtion for  which  there  feems  no  obligation  to  con- 
 tend. 
 
 We  may  now  proceed  to  flate  the  feveral  proofs, 
 general  and  particular,  which  fhew  that  the  cano- 
 nical books  of  the  Old  Teftament  were  written 
 under  the  fuperintendence  of  infpiration  ;  and  that 
 they  were  preferved  in  their  original  integrity  to 
 the  days  of  our  Saviour.  That  they  have  been  pre- 
 ferved in  the  fame  ftate  from  the  coming  of  Chrift 
 to  the  prefent  time,  is  a  truth  which  will  afterwards 
 beeftablifhed. 
 
 The  books  of  Generis,  Exodus,  Leviticus,  Num- 
 bers, and  Duteronomy,  containing  an  account  of* 
 the  creation,  and  of  the  fall  of  man,  the  heads  of  the 
 early  annals  of  the  world,  and  a  full  recital  of  the 
 Jewifh  law,  and  of  the  events  which  had  happened 
 to  that  nation  until  it  had  now  finally  reached  the 
 borders  of  the  land  of  Canaan,  were  written  by  Mo- 
 fes.  An  exception  however  muft  be  made  of  the 
 concluding  chapter  of  Deuteronomy,  evidently  add- 
 ed after  his  death  in  order  to  complete  his  hiftory  is 
 
 G  2  and 
 
84  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 and  perhaps  of  one  or  two  pafTages  (as  of  that  In 
 Genefis  (<?)  refpecting  the  kings  of  Edom)  which 
 may  have  been  inferted  by  fome  fucceeding  prophet, 
 not  improbably  by  Ezra,  for  the  purpofe  of  convey- 
 ing illuftration  or  additional  intelligence.  I  mention 
 thefe  flight  exceptions,  obvious  as  they  are  ;  becaufe 
 abfurd  cavils  have  fometimes  been  founded  upon 
 them,  as  though  they  afforded  an  argument  to  (hew 
 that  Mofes  was  not  the  author  of  the  other  parts  of 
 the  books.  The  proofs  of  his  having  been  the  author 
 of  thofe  books  are  numerous  and  decifive.  The  fa£t 
 has  ever  been  firmly  believed  by  the  Jews  :  and  con- 
 tinues to  this  day  to  be  one  of  the  thirteen  articles 
 of  their  creed  (/).  It  is  virtually  afferted  in  the  very 
 books  themfelves  :  "  Mofes  wrote  all  the  words  of 
 ci  the  Lord  ;  and  took  the  book  of  the  covenant,  and 
 "  read  in  the  audience  of  the  people  (  g  )."  Again, 
 near  the  clofe  of  the  book  of  Deuteronomy  which, 
 it  muft  be  remembered,  was  in  fubftance  a  recapi- 
 tulation of  the  preceding  books,  it  is  faid  that, 
 "  when  Mofes  had  made  an  end  of  writing  the 
 "  words  of  this  law  in  a  book,  until  thev  were 
 "  fini filed,  Mofes  commanded  the  Levites,  which 
 "  bare  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord,  faying  : 
 "  Take  this  book  of  the  law,  and  put  it  in  the  fide 
 "  of  the  ark  of  the  covenant  of  the  Lord  your  God, 
 "  that  it  may  be  there  for  a  witnefs  againft  thee  (£)." 
 In  the  book  of  Jofhua,  in  both  the  books  of  Kings, 
 in  the  fecond  book  of  Chronicles,  in  the  books  of 
 
 Ezra, 
 
 {e)  Gen.  xxxvi.   31 — 43.     (/)  See  Bifhop  Watfon's  Apo- 
 logy for   the   Bible  p.   45,  46,      (g  )    E::od,   xiiv.   47. 
 (/•)  Deut.  xxxi.  24—26. 
 
THE    OLD    TESTAMENT.  85 
 
 Ezra,  of  Daniel,  and  of  Malachi,  the  writing  of  the 
 lav/  is  unequivocally  afcribed  to  Mofes  (z).  And  let 
 it  be  obferved  that  if  we  for  the  prefent  admit,  what 
 will  fnortly  be  demonftrated,  the  infpiration  of  thefe 
 feveral  books  of  Scripture ;  the  paffages  to  which 
 Ihavejufl  referred  are  fo  many  difhinct  and  irrefra- 
 gable teflimonies  to  the  infpiration  of  the  books  of 
 Mofes.  The  fame  remark  may  be  extended  to  the 
 firfl  bookof  Chronicles,  the  book  of  Pfalms,  of  Ifaiah, 
 and  of  Jeremiah  ;  in  all  of  which  the  Divine  million 
 of  Mofes  is  atteded  (£).  Let  us  proceed  to  the  evi- 
 dence which  the  New  Teftament  prefents  concern- 
 ing Mofes.  Jefus  Chrifl  exprefsly  affirms  that  Mo- 
 fes gave  the.  law  to  the  Jews  (/).  He  continually 
 refers  to  that  law  ;  fpeaks  of  it  with  the  highefl  re- 
 verence ;  appeals  to  it  as  containing  decilive  pre- 
 dictions concerning  himfelf;  affirms  that  had  his 
 hearers  believed  Mofes,  they  would  have  be- 
 lieved himfelf;  and  that  they  who  would  not 
 believe  Mofes  and  the  prophets,  would  not  be 
 perfuaded,  though  one  fhould  be  raifed  from  the 
 dead  purpofely  to  convert  them  (nij.     After  the  af- 
 
 cenfion 
 
 (z)  Jofhua,  viii.  34,  35.  xiv.  10,  Sec.  1  Kings,  in  3.  2 
 Kings,  xxiii.  25.  2  Chron.  xxiii.  18.  xxx.  16  Ezra,  iii.  2. 
 Dan.   ix.    11  — 13.  Malachi,  iv.   4.  {k)    1  Chron.  xxiii.    14. 
 
 Pfalm  cii<.    7.   cv.   26.     Kaiah,  Ixiii.    12.     Jerem.   xv.    I. 
 
 (1)   John,  vii.    59.      See  alio  i.    17.  (/«)Matt.   v.    17,  1 8- 
 
 vii.  12.  xxiii.  2  Mark,  x.  3.  Luke,  xvi.  29.  31.  xx.  37. 
 xxiv.  27.  John,  iii.  14.  v.  46.  Thefe  are  by  no  mean  all 
 the  teflimonies,  which  the  Gofpels  bear  to  the  authority  and  in- 
 fpiration of  the  Mofaic  writings. 
 
$6  THE  BOOKS    Of 
 
 cenfion  of  Chrift,  his  apoftles  add  their  teftimony 
 in  the  cleared  language  to  the  fact,  that  the  law  was 
 written  by  Mofes,  and  written  under  the  guidance 
 of  infpiration  (n).  And  each  of  the  five  books  is 
 feparately  quoted,  or  referred  to  by  Chrift  himfelf 
 in  the  Gofpels ;  and  by  the  facred  writers  in  the 
 fubfequent  parts  of  the  New  Teftament  (0).  In  re- 
 counting the  atteftations  by  which  the  Jewifh  law- 
 giver is  thus  honourably  diftinguifhed,  it  muft  not 
 be  forgotten,  that  when  our  Lord  was  transfigured 
 on  the  mount,  Mofes  was  one  of  the  two  prophets 
 who  were  commiffioned  to  appear  to  him  in 
 glory  (/>). 
 
 Ante- 
 
 {n)  See  among  many  other  pafTages,  A£s,  iii.  22.  vii.  35— 
 37.  xiii.  39.  xxvi.  22.  xxviii.  23.  Rom.  x.  5.  I  Cor.  x.  ii« 
 3  Cor.  iii.  7—15.  Heb.  iii.  2.  vii,  J4.  x.  28.    Rev.  xy.  3. 
 
 (©)  Of  thefe  quotations  and  references  which  are  extremely 
 numerous,  many  are  fpecified  under  the  proper  heads  in  Gray's 
 Key  to  the  Old  Teftament  ;  a  work  which  will  be  found  highly 
 ufeful  to  a!l  who  are  folicitousto  attain  an  accurate  knowledge  of 
 the  feveral  parts  of  their  Bible. 
 
 (p)  Luke,  ix.  30,  31.  After  the  numerous  and  decifive  proofs 
 of  the  Divine  commiffion  of  Mofes,  which  have  been  produced 
 from  the  Old  and  New  Teftaments  ;  it  would  be  almoft  fuper- 
 jluous  to  mention  the  early  Heathen  writers,  who  concur  in  af- 
 eribing  the  Jewifh  law  to  Mofes.  But  it  is  not  unimportant  to 
 add,  that  in  diftant  regions  of  the  world,  among  the  Egyptians, 
 the  Phoenicians,  the  Greeks,  the  Hindoos,  traditions  and  prac- 
 tices have  prevailed  ;  which,  however,  loaded  and  debafed  with 
 fable  and  fuperftition,  are  yet  capable  of  being  traced,  as  Grotius 
 and  other  writers  have  (hewn,  to  Patriarchal  or  Mofaical  inftitu- 
 tions.  It  is  remarkable,  too,  as  Biftop  Watfon  pointedly  ob- 
 serves, that  the  books  which  come  neareft  to  the  book  of  Genefis 
 
THE    OLD    TESTAMENT.  8f 
 
 Antecedently  to  any  particular  obfervations  on  the 
 hiftorical  books  of  the  old  Teftament,  Jofhua, 
 Judges,  Ruth,  the  two  books  of  Samuel,  of  Kings, 
 and  of  Chronicles,  together  with  the  books  of  Ezra, 
 Nehemiah  and  Either ;  fome  general  remarks  may 
 fitly  be  premifed.  After  the  death  of  Mofes,  hifto- 
 rical accounts  of  the  transactions  of  the  Jews  appear 
 from  the  Scriptures  to  have  been  compofed  by  per- 
 fons  profefledly  favoured  with  affiftance  from  above, 
 and  commonly  bearing  the  prophetic  character. 
 That  Jofhua  was  appointed  by  the  Supreme  Being 
 to  govern  and  inftruct  the  Ifraelites  is  manifeft.  Sa- 
 muel was  alfo  a  prophet  or  feer  (cf)  :  and  his  em- 
 ployment as  an  hiftorian,  and  that  of  other  feers,  is 
 exprefsly  ftated  in  the  firft  book  of  Chronicles  j~— 
 "  Now  the  acts  of  David  the  king,  firft  and  laft, 
 "  behold  they  are  written  in  the  book  of  *  Sa- 
 muel the  feer,  and  in  the  book  of  Nathan  the 
 prophet,  and  in  the  book  of  Gad  the  feer  (/*)/* 
 Again,  when  the  acts  of  Solomon  are  mentioned, 
 it  is  faid,  "  are  they  not  written,  firft:  and  laft,  in  the 
 w  book  of  Nathan  the  prophet,  and  in  the  pro- 
 "  phecy  of  Ahijah  the  Shilonite,  and  in  the  vifions 
 
 "  of 
 
 in  age,  "  are  thofe  which  make  either  the  moft  diftindt  mention 
 *'  of,  or  the  moft  evident  allufion  to,  the  fafts  related  in  Genefis 
 "  concerning  the  formation  of  the  world  from  a  chaotic  mafs  ; 
 '*  the  primeval  innocence  and  fubfequent  fall  of  man  ;  the  lon- 
 "  gevity  of  mankind  in  the  firft  ages  of  the  world  ;  the  depravity 
 "  of  the  antediluvians,  and  the  deftruction  of  the  world."  Apo- 
 logy for  the  Bible,  p.  75. 
 
 (q)  That  "  feer"  and  "prophet"  were  terms  of  the  fame 
 import  is  exprefsly  affirmed  in  1  Sam.  ix.  9. 
 
 (r)   1  Chron.  xxix.  29. 
 
OS  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 "  of  Iddo  the  feer  againft  Jeroboam  the  fon  of  Ne- 
 «  bat  (0  ?"     The  afts  of  Rehoboam,  firft  and  laft, 
 are  afterwards  affirmed  to  be  written  in  the  book  of 
 Shemaiah  the  prophet,  and  of  Iddo  the  feer,  con- 
 cerning genealogies  (t).     The  acts  of  Abijah,  the 
 fon  of  Rehoboam,  and  his  ways,  and  his  fayings 
 were  alfo  written  in  the  ftory  of  the  prophet  Iddo 
 (n).      So   likewife    the    a£ts   of    Jehofhapat,    firft 
 and  lad,  are  faid  to  be  written  in  the  book    of 
 Jehu,  the  fon  of  Hanani  (<v)  ;  which  Jehu  is  prov- 
 ed   by  another  paffage    in   Scripture  (w)  to  have 
 been  a  prophet.      The  a£ts  of  Uzziah,   firft   and. 
 laft,  and  alfo  the  acts   of  Hezekiah,  the   prophet 
 Ifaiah  is  faid  to  haye  written :    and  many  of  the 
 actions  of  ManafTeh  are  faid  to  be  "  written  among 
 the  fayings  of  the  feers  (#)."     Thefe  examples  war- 
 rant the  conclufion,    that  the  tranfactions   of  the 
 other  reigns,  though  the  writers  are  not  fpecifically 
 named,  wereinferted  into  "  the  books  of  the  Chro- 
 "  nicies  of  the  kings  of  Ifrael  and  of  Judah  ;"  thofe 
 larger    records,  to  which  reference  is  fo  frequently 
 made  in  the  two  books  of  the  Old  Teftament  now- 
 bearing  the  fame  name  ;  and  alfo  in  the  books  of 
 Kings,  by  perfons  inverted  with  the  prophetical  cha- 
 racter.    After  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  the  Ba- 
 bylonian captivity,  their  hiftory  was  continued  by 
 Ezra  and  Nehemiah.     Though  it  is  not  exprefsly 
 aiTerted  in  the  Scriptures  that  thefe  two  holy  men 
 
 were 
 
 (s)  2  Chron.  ix.  29.  (/)  2  Chron.  xii.  15. 
 
 (k)  2  Chron.  xiii.  22.  (v)  2  Chron.  xx.  24. 
 
 [w)  I  Kings,  xvi.   1. 
 
 (#)  2  Chron.  xxvi.  22.  xxxii.  32.  xxxlit.  19. 
 
THE    OLD    TESTAMENT.  89 
 
 were  prophets  (y)  ;  yet  we  may  be  well  allured  that, 
 if  they  had  not  been  confeffedly  under  the  guidance 
 of  infpiration,  their  writings  would  not  have  been 
 added  by  the  Jews  to  the  infpired  books  of  the  fa- 
 cred  volume  ;  nor  included  by  our  Saviour,  as  will 
 ipeedily  appear  to  have  been  the  cafe,  among  the 
 canonical  books  of  the  Old  Teftament. 
 
 The  book  of  Jofhua  may  owe  its  name  either  to 
 the  fubject  of  which  it  treats^  the  eftablifhment  of 
 the  Ifraelites  in  the  promifed  land  by  Jofhua,  with 
 an  account  of  whofe  death  the  narrative  terminates  ; 
 or  to  its  having  been  actually  written  by  Jofhua 
 himfelf,  with  the  exception  of  the  five  concluding 
 verfes  of  the  book,  and  perhaps  of  fome  other  verfes 
 (z),  which  may  have  been  inferted  for  the  purpofe 
 of  elucidation  by  one  of  the  fubfequent  infpired 
 writers,  or  by  Ezra,  when  he  collated  the  canon  of 
 Scripture.  The  opinion,  however,  that  the  book 
 was  written  by  Jofhua,  refts  on  much  flronger 
 grounds  than  the  other.  It  is  fupported  by  the  ac- 
 cordant fentiments  of  the  earlier!  Jewifh  commenta- 
 tors ;  by  the  paffages  in  the  book  itfelf,  which  indi- 
 cate that  it  was  compofed  by  a  perfon  cotemporary 
 with  the  events  which  he  defcribes  (a)  :  and  by  a 
 
 pafiage 
 
 (j)  Nehemiah  however  profeffes  to  a£t  under  the  immediate 
 guidance  of  God.  Nehem.  ii.  8.  18. 
 
 (z)  Jofh.  xix.  47,  48.  The  remark  may  alfo  apply  to  xv.  13 
 —19. — if  the  fame  expedition  when  mentioned  in  Judges,  xi. 
 11.  be  not  there  mentioned,  according  to  the  manner  in  which 
 fome  think  the  Hebrew  words  fhould  be  tranflated,  as  the  recapi- 
 tulation of  events  which  had  taken  place  during  the  life  of  Jofhua. 
 
 (a)  The  author  reprefents  himfelf  as  one  of  thofe  who  had 
 parted  through  the  river  Jordan,  when  divided  before  the  If- 
 raelites, 
 
§0  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 paflage  near  the  clofe  of  the  book,  which  proves  that 
 jofhua  himfelf  wrote  at  leaft  a  part  of  its  contents, 
 and  probably  therefore  the  whole,  with  the  excep- 
 tions mentioned  above,  ct  in  the  book  of  the  Law 
 "  of  God  (b) ;"  the  volume  which  Mofes  had  de- 
 pofited  by  the  fide  of  the  ark.  The  predictions  of 
 Jofhua  concerning  the  rebuilding  of  Jericho  are  de- 
 nominated in  the  firfl  book  of  Kings  c;  the  words  of 
 ec  God  (/)."■  And  the  book  of  Joihua  is  repeat- 
 edly noticed,  either  in  the  way  of  quotation  or  of 
 reference,  in  the  New  Teftament  as  well  as  in  the 
 Jewiih  Scriptures  (<i). 
 
 The  book  of  Judges,  comprifing  the  hiftory  of 
 the  Ifraelites  during  rather  more  than  three  hundred 
 years  ;  a  period  in  which  their  native  governors 
 were  diflinguifhed  by  the  title  of  Judges ;  has  been 
 afcribed  to  different  authors.  It  is  attributed  with 
 the  greateft  probability  to  Samuel :  as  he  was  the 
 lad  of  the  Judges ;  as  he  is  known  to  have  written 
 a  fubfequent  part  of  the  Jewifh  hiftory ;  and  as  a 
 comparifon  of  fome  paffages  in  the  book  itfelf  (hews 
 it  to  have  been  written  in  his  time.  Some  of  thefe 
 paffages,  ftating  that  the  events  which  they  relate 
 happened  "  in  thofe  days,  when  there  was  no  king 
 in  Ifrael  (i)"  imply  that  the  book  was  written  when 
 there  was  a  king,  namely  after  the  acceffion  of  Saul : 
 
 while 
 
 raelites, — v.  i. — and  fpeaks  of  Rahab,  who  hid  the  fpies  at  Jeri- 
 cho, as  ftill  alive. — vi.  25. 
 
 (b)  xxiv.  26.  (c)   1  Kings,  xvi.  34.  See  alfo  Jofli.  vi.  26, 
 
 id)  As  1  Chron.  ii.  7.    xii.  15.    Ifaiah,  xxvjii.  21.  Afts,  viL 
 45.  Heb.  xi.  30,  31.  xiii.  5.  James,  ii.  25. 
 {/)  Judges,  xjuij  6.  xviii.  1.    xix.  1.    xxi:  25, 
 
THE    OLD    TESTAMENT.  91 
 
 while  another  paffage  (/),  which  defcribes  the  Je- 
 bufites  to  be  ftill  dwelling  in  Jerufalem,  proves  it  to 
 have  been  compofed  before  David  afcended  the 
 throne  of  Ifrael ;  iince  immediately  after  that  event 
 he  expelled  them  (g).  Quotations  are  taken  from 
 this  book,  or  references  made  to  it,  in  both  Tefla- 
 ments  (7>). 
 
 The  book  of  Ruth,  which  records  with  much  af- 
 fecting fimplicity  the  fhort  hiftory  of  a  Moabitilh 
 woman,  who  became  a  profelyte  to  the  Jewilh  faith, 
 and  was  an  anceftor  of  David,  belongs  alfo  to  the 
 times  of  the  Judges  (7).  The  writer  is  not  certainly 
 known ;  but  is  generally  fuppofed  by  Jews  as  well 
 as  Chriftians  to  have  been  Samuel.  It  was  evidently 
 not  written  until  after  the  birth  of  David  (£)  \  nor, 
 probably,  until  David  was  rendered  an  object  of  ge- 
 neral attention  by  being  anointed  king.  A  princi- 
 pal purpofe  -of  the  writer  is  to  fhew  that  David,  in 
 conformity  with  J:he  prophecy  refpecling  the  Mef- 
 fiah  who  was  to  fpring  from  him,  was  regularly  de- 
 fcended  from  Judah.  The  genealogy  is  confirmed, 
 with  a  direct,  allufion  to  Ruth,  by  Saint  Matthew  (/). 
 
 The  two  books  of  Samuel  carry  on  thehiftory  of 
 the  Ifraelites,  during  a  period  of  about  one  hundred 
 and  fifty  years,  from  the  birth  of  Samuel  to  the  clofe 
 of  the  reign  of  David.  As  Samuel  is  exprefsly 
 declared  in  a  paffage  already  quoted  from  the  fir  ft 
 book  of  Chronicles  (ni)  to  have  recorded  together 
 
 with 
 
 (/)  Judges i. 2i.     (g)  2  Sam.  v.     (h)  As  l  Sam.  xii,  9.  n~ 
 2  Sam.  xi.  21.    Ifaiah,  ix.  4.    x.  26.  Heb.  xi.  32. 
 (i)  Ruth.i.  1.  (6)  iv.  22.  (/)  Mat.i.  3.  6, 
 
 lm)  i  Chroiii  xxix,  .29. 
 
$2  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 with  Nathan  and  Gad  the  a&ions  of  David  :  there 
 appears  no  improbability  in  the  opinion  maintained 
 by  the  early  Jewifh  commentators,  and  adopted  by 
 many  learned  Chriftians,  that  Samuel  compofed  the 
 firfl  twenty-four  chapters  of  the  frrft  book  (ri)  :  and 
 that  Nathan  and  Gad  were  the  infpired  writers, 
 who  continued  his  work.  Several  very  noble  pro- 
 phecies are  contained  in  thefe  books.  Our  Saviour 
 refers  pointedly  to  the  fir  ft  book  (<?),  when  vindicat- 
 ing on  a  particular  occafion  the  conducT:  of  his  difci- 
 ples  :  and  it  is  to  be  obferved,  that  in  the  Hebrew 
 canon  the  two  books  were  confidered  as  forming  but 
 one.  The  latter  portion  however,  now  called  the 
 fecond  book,  is  not  unnoticed  in  the  New  Tefta- 
 ment  (p). 
 
 The  two  books  of  Kings,  which  form  only  one 
 book  in  the  Hebrew  canon,  continue  the  hiftory 
 during  nearly  an  hundred  and  thirty  years  to  the 
 Babylonian  captivity.  The  author  of  them  is  not 
 ascertained .  The  uniformity  of  the  flyle  and  man- 
 ner throughout  both  of  them  affords  a  prefumptive 
 argument  that  the  whole  was  arranged  by  one  per- 
 son. And  the  prevailing  opinion  is,  that  they  were 
 compiled  and  abridged  by  Ezra,  or  fome  other  in- 
 fpired perfon,  from  the  larger  accounts  of  the  acls 
 of  the  kings  of  Ifrael  and  Judah,  which  have  been 
 already  mentioned  as  written  by  Nathan,  Gad, 
 Ahijah,  and  other  fucceeding  prophets.  To  thefe, 
 or  fimilar,  records  frequent  reference  is  made  (y). 
 
 In 
 
 («)  His  death  is  related  in  the  beginning  of  xxv. 
 (o)  Mat.  xii.  3,4.  (/>)  Heb.  I.  5.  (?)  I  Kings,  xi. 
 
 41.  xiv.  29.  and  in  various  other  places. 
 
THE    OLD    TESTAMENT.  93 
 
 In  thefe  books  many  flriking  predictions  are  con- 
 tained. Eachofthefe  books  is  authoritatively  cited 
 by  our  Saviour  (r)  :  and  the  nr(t  book  is  afterwards 
 quoted  and  referred  to  by  his  apoftles  (j). 
 
 The  two  books  of  Chronicles,  originally  regarded 
 as  one  by  the  Jews,  recapitulate  the  Jewifli  hiflory 
 from  the  reign  of  Saul  to  the  Babylonian  captivity : 
 confirming  by  their  agreement  the  hiftorical  books 
 of  Scripture  already  noticed  \  and  adding  various 
 genealogical  tables  and  other  particulars  either  not 
 ftated  in  thofe  books,  or  lefs  copioufly  detailed. 
 They  are  fuppofed  to  have  been  compiled  from  the 
 records  fpecified  in  t'he  preceding  paragraph ;  and 
 probably  by  Ezra.  This  account  of  the  manner  in 
 which  the  books  of  Chronicles,  and  alfo  of  Kings, 
 were  compofed,  is  confirmed  by  an  obfervation 
 which  has  been  made  by  perfons,  who  have  ftudied 
 them  with  accuracy  :  namely,  that  fome  of  the  ex- 
 preffions  contained  in  them  are  thole  of  cotempo- 
 rary  defcription ;  while  others  denote  that  the 
 writer  is  recording  tranfaclions  which  had  long 
 taken  place.  The  books  of  Chronicles  were  com- 
 piled after  the  captivity  ;  as  they  mention  the  refto- 
 ration  of  the  Jews  under  Cyrus  (/).  They  contain 
 occafional  predictions.  And  the  firfl;  book,  and 
 confequently  the  fecond,  which  in  the  days  of  o.ir 
 Saviour  was  a  part  of  it,  received  undoubted  fane- 
 tion  by  being  quoted  in  the  new  Teftament  (k). 
 
 The 
 
 (r)  Mat.  xii.  42.      Luke  iv.  25 — -27. 
 
 (j)  Romans,  xi.  2 — 4.    James,  v.  17,  18. 
 
 (*)  2  Chron.   xxxvi.  22,  23.  («)  Mat  i.    Luke,  iii.     See 
 
 alfo  Heb.  i.  5.  and  compare  1  Chron.  xxix.  10,  ir.  with  Mat. 
 vi.  13.  and  Rev.  v.  12,  13. 
 
94  THE    BOOKS    Of 
 
 The  book  of  Ezra,  fo  denominated  from  the  narrt€ 
 of  its  author,  takes  up  the  Jewifh  hiftory  from  the 
 fecond  book  of  Chronicles,  with  a  repetition  of  the 
 two  lad  verfes  of  which  this  continuation  opens ; 
 and  relates  the  tranfaetions  of  nearly  eighty  years. 
 Part  of  the  work,  namely  from  the  eighth  verfe  of 
 the  fourth  chapter  to  the  twenty-feventh  verfe  of  the 
 feventh  chapter,  is  compofed  in  the  Chaldee  tongue  j 
 probably  from  a  defire  in  the  hiftorian  to  recke  with 
 accurate  fidelity  the  public  letters,  difcourfes  and 
 decrees  there  mentioned,  which  were  framed  origi- 
 nally in  that  language.  Of  Ezra  himfelf  I  have  al- 
 ready had  fuch  repeated  occafion  to  take  incidental 
 notice,  that  much  needs  not  to  be  added.  He  was 
 defcended  from  Aaron,  and  fucceeded  Zerubbabel 
 in  the  government  of  Judaea  ;  which  he  held  about 
 ten  or  twelve  years.  We  afterwards  find  him  hear- 
 tily co-operating  in  the  pious  labours  of  his  fuccef- 
 for  Nehemiah  (i;). 
 
 The  book  of  Nehemiah  is  a  continuation  of 
 Ezra's  hiftory  during  thirty-fix  additional  years ; 
 and  on  that  account,  though  confeffedly  written  by 
 the  former,  was  fubjoined  in  the  Hebrew  canon  to 
 the  work  of  the  latter.  With  Nehemiah  the  Sacred 
 hiftory  terminates,  about  four  hundred  and  nine 
 years  before  the  Chriftian  era.  There  is  fome  au- 
 thority for  the  opinion  of  the  Jewifh  writers,  that 
 he  affifted  Ezra  in  collecting  the  canonical  Scrip- 
 tures (w~).  I  do  not  know  that  there  is  any  parti- 
 cular and  feparate  reference  in  the  New  Tefiament 
 to  the  books  of  Ezra  and  Nehemiah,  or  to  the  book 
 
 of 
 
 (t)  Nehem.  viii.  2.  6.  (w)  2  Maccab.  ii.  13. 
 
THE  OLD    TESTAMENT.  95 
 
 of  Efther.  Their,  title,  however,  to  a  place  among 
 the  infpired  writings  will  be  eftablifhed  by  the  tefti- 
 monies  yet  to  be  produced  of  our  Saviour  and  his 
 apoftles  to  the  whole  collective  body  of  the  Jewifh 
 Scriptures,  of  which  thefe  three  books  indifputably 
 formed  a  part. 
 
 The  book  of  Efther  relates  the  hiflory  of  a  Jewiih 
 captive,  who  became  the  wife  of  Ahafuerus,  king  of 
 Perfia,  and  the  inftrument  in  the  hands  of  the  Su- 
 preme Being  by  which  a  fignal  deliverance  was 
 wrought  for  her  countrymen.  Ezra,  among  others, 
 has  been  accounted  the  author  of  the  book  9  but 
 on  that  fubjedt  nothing  is  certainly  known.  It  has 
 alfo  been  a  queftion,  which  of  the  Perfian  monarchs 
 is  intended  by  the  denomination  Ahafuerus.  The 
 opinion,  however,  of  the  Jewifh  hiftorian  Jofephus, 
 who  affirms  Artaxerxes  Longimanus  to  be  the  per- 
 fon,  is  deemed  to  reft  on  the  mod  folid  foundations: 
 and  confequently  the  events  related  took  place  about 
 four  hundred  and  fifty  years  before  ChrifL  The 
 fidelity  of  the  narrative  is  attefted  by  the  annual  fo- 
 lemnity  with  which  the  Jews  after  their  return  from 
 the  captivity  continued  to  celebrate  the  feftival  of 
 Purim  ;  a  feaft  inftituted  (#)  in  confequence  of  the 
 deliverance  which  they  experienced  through  the  in- 
 terceffion  of  Efther.  It  is  obferved  by  the  Jews  to 
 this  day. 
 
 From  the  examination  of  the  hiftorical  books  we 
 may  proceed  to  confider  the  remaining  canonical 
 
 books 
 
 (*•)  Efther,  iii.   7.  and  ix.  22.  28.     It  is  alfo  called  among 
 the  Jews  the  feaft  of  Haman  and  Mordecaf. 
 
go  %Me  books  of 
 
 books  of  the  Old  Teftament,  according  to  the  order 
 in  which  they  (land  in  the  Bible. 
 
 The  book  of  Job  has  been  afcribed  to  various 
 authors.  The  fubjecl:  alfo  has  been  fometimes  re- 
 garded as  a  poetical  flclion,  fometimes  as  an  alle- 
 gory, rather  than  as  a  real  hiftory.  The  reality, 
 however,  of  the  hiftory,  though  the  ftyle  be  poeti- 
 cal, is  confirmed  not  only  by  the  uniform  tefti- 
 mony  of  eaftern  tradition ;  but  by  the  prophe- 
 cies of  Ezekiel,  in  which  the  Deity  repeatedly 
 (0  mentions  job,  as  a  man  of  extraordinary 
 righteoufnefs,  in  conjunction  with  Daniel  and  No- 
 ah ;  and  by  the  reference  made  by  St.  James  (z)  to 
 the  patience  of  job  and  to  its  reward,  as  an  exam- 
 ple and  encouragement  to  fufTering  Chriftians.  The 
 land  of  Uz,  where  Job  refided,  is  fuppofed,  with 
 much  probability,  to  have  been  'in  Edom  :  though 
 by  fome  writers  it  is  placed  in  Arabia  Deferta.  From 
 the  longevity  of  Job,  and  from  his  filence  refpe&ing 
 the  Mofaic  difpenfation,  he  is  thought  to  have  lived 
 during  the  period  when  the  Iiraelites  were  in  bon- 
 dage in  Egypt.  The  ftyle  of  the  work,  and  the 
 cuftoms  incidentally  defcribed  in  it,  bear  the  marks 
 of  patriarchal  antiquity.  And  it  appears  to  have 
 been  compofed  either  by  Job  himfelf,  or  from  co- 
 temporary  memorials  committed  to  writing  by  him- 
 felf or  his  friends.     The  book  of  Job  contains  mofi 
 
 fublime 
 
 (jy)  Ezek.xir.  14.  16.  18.  20. 
 
 (z)  James,  v.  11.  "Ye  have  heard  of  the  patience  of  Job  ; 
 "  and  havefeen  the  end  of  the  Lord,  that  the  Lord  is  very  pitiful 
 "  and  of  tender  mercy."  A  form  of  expreffion  very  unlikely  to 
 be  applied  to  a  fictitious  character,  or  to  fictitious  events. 
 
TtiE   OLD    TESTAMENT.  QJ 
 
 fablime  defcriptions  of  the  power  and  other  attri- 
 butes of  God  ;  and  is  exprefsly  cited  by  St.  Paul 
 as  facred  Scripture  (a). 
 
 Of  the  Pfalms  the  principal  part  was  compofed 
 by  David  j  and  his  name  has  been  in  confequence 
 affixed  to  the  book.  They  are  a  collection  of  Sa- 
 cred hymns  written  on  various  occafions  and  under 
 various  circumftances.  Some  of  them  were  prepared 
 for  particular  folemnities  in  the  Jewifh  worfhip  : 
 others  appear  to  have  been  defigned  generally  to 
 celebrate  the  glorious  perfections  of  God':  and 
 others  to  have  been  drawn  from  the  Pfalmift  by  the 
 fituations  of  joy  or  of  forrow,  in  Which  he  was  fuc- 
 ceflively  involved.  Hence  they  abound  in  fenti* 
 ments  of  the  pureft  devotion  ;  in  grand  and  ani- 
 mated defcriptions  of  the  works  of  the  Almighty* 
 and  of  his  dealings  with  men  ;■  and  in  the  warmeft 
 erTufions  -of  prayer  and  praife,  of  gratitude  and 
 thankfgiving,  of  humble  contrition,  and  of  pious 
 hope.  They  abound  alfo  in  the  moil  impreffive  and 
 confoling  predictions.  One  greater  than  David  is 
 continually  prefenting  himfelf,  even  Chrift  the  Re- 
 deemer. Divine  infpiration  fo  guided  the  Pfalmift, 
 that  in  many  inftances  his  words,  at  the  fame  time 
 that  they  referred  with  fufficient  precifion  to  the 
 circumftances  of  his  own  life,  prefigured  in  terms  the 
 moft  accurate  and  the  moll;  fublime  the  humiliation 
 the  fufferings,  the  triumphant  refurredion,  and  the 
 eternal  kingdom  of  the  Mefliah.  The  book  of 
 Pfalms  is  continually  cited  as  of  infpired  authority 
 
 11  by 
 
 (<?)  i  Cor.  iii.  ipj 
 
9$  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 by  our  Saviour  and  his  Apoftles ;  and  the  prophetic 
 import  of  many  feparate  paflages  illuftrated  and  ex- 
 plained (£). 
 
 The  book  of  Proverbs,  which  were  compofed  by 
 Solomon  according  to  the  declarations  at  the  com- 
 mencement and  in  a  fubfequent  part  of  the  work 
 (r),  eonfifts  partly  of  maxims  of  religious  inftruc- 
 tion,  partly  of  lefibns  of  prudence  and  difcretion, 
 drawn  up,  conformably  to  the  cuftom  of  the  eaft, 
 in  a  pointed  and  fententious  form.  The  infpiration 
 of  Solomon  is  manifeft  from  the  accounts  concern- 
 ing him,  which  are  fupplied  by  the  books  of  Kings 
 and  Chronicles.  Learned  men  have  fhewn  that  this 
 book  has  furnifhed  many  heathen  authors  with  their 
 brighteft  fentiments.  It  is  imitated,  in  thought  and 
 expreffion,  by  feveral  of  the  Sacred  writers  who 
 fucceeded  Solomon  :  and  is  cited  in  various  parts  of 
 the  New  Teftament  (d.). 
 
 The  book  of  Ecclefiaftes  is  another  of  the  com- 
 pofitions  of  Solomon  (<?)  ;  and  is  commonly  fup- 
 pofed  to  have  been  written  towards  the  clofe  of  his 
 life,  when  diftrefs  and  anguifh  had  reclaimed  him 
 from  idolatry.  Its  object  is  to  convince  men,  by  an 
 examination  of  particulars,  that  every  earthly  pof- 
 
 feflion 
 
 (b)  The  Sacred  writers  have  fixed  the  fenfe,  by  their  citations, 
 of  nearly  fifty  diftinft  Pfalms.  The  titles  prefixed  in  our  Bible 
 to  the  feveral  Pfalms  are  often  of  conjeftural  authority  ;  and 
 foraetimes  indicate  not  the  compoferof  the  Pfalm,  but  the  perfon 
 appointed  to  fet  it  to  mufic. 
 
 (c)  Prov.  i.  I.    xxv.  i. 
 
 (d)  See  Luke,  xiv.  10.  Rom.  xii.  1 6.  17.  20.  I  Pet.  iv.  8. 
 v.  5.     James,  iv.  6. 
 
 (/)  Eccl.  i.  1. 
 
THE   OLE    TESTAMENT.  99 
 
 feflion  is  vain  in  its  nature,  and  neceflarily  accom- 
 panied with  anxiety  :  and  thence  to  lead  them  pioufly 
 to  fix  their  hearts  on  that  date,  in  which  there  will 
 be  no  vanity  nor  vexation  of  fpirit.  In  the  courfe 
 of  his  argument  the  writer  fometimes  produces, 
 without  previous  notice,  the  abfurd  fayings  and  te- 
 nets of  fuppofed  objectors  for  the  purpofe  of  refut- 
 ing them.  From  a  want  of  attention  to  this  cir- 
 cumflance  we  occafionally  hear  at  the  prefent  day 
 pofitions  afTerted  on  the  authority  of  Solomon,  which 
 he  quoted  only  to  condemn.  The  conclufion  of  the 
 work  is  worthy  of  any  infpired  author  :  "  Fear  God, 
 "  and  keep  his  commandments ;  for  this  is  the  whole 
 "  duty  of  man.  For  God  fhali  bring  every  work 
 "  into  judgment,  with  every  fecret  thing,  whether 
 *c  it  be  good  or  whether  it  be  evil  (/)»" 
 
 The  book  called  the  Song  of  Solomon,  from  the 
 name  of  its  author,  is  generally  allowed  to  have  been 
 compofed  by  him  as  a  nuptial  poem,  on  his  marriage 
 with  the  daughter  of  Pharaoh.  Solomon  is  related 
 to  have  written  above  a  thoufand  fongs  or  poems(g); 
 of  which  this  alone  (with  the  exception,  perhaps,  of 
 fome  few  of  the  Pfalms  which  may  have  been  his 
 productions)  was  admitted  into  the  canon  of  the 
 Jewifh  Scriptures.  This  fingle  circumftance  ap- 
 pears to  intimate  that  under  the  allegorical  veil  of 
 nuptial  emblems  a  higher  meaning  was  concealed : 
 and  the  opinion  feems  confirmed  by  various  paflages 
 in  the  work  not  eafily  admitting  a  literal  interpreta- 
 tion. Moft  commentators,  therefore,  have  con- 
 H  2  eluded 
 
 (/)  Eccl.  xli.  13,  14.  compare  2  Cor.  v.  10. 
 {§)  1  Kings,  iv.  32. 
 
100  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 eluded  that,  in  fhadowing  out  things  divine"  by 
 earthly  figures,  this  book  has  a  typical  reference  to 
 the  then  future  connection  between  Chriit  and  the 
 Chriftian  church  :  a  connection  which  in  the  Pfalms, 
 and  alfo  in  the  New  Teftament,  is  reprefented,  in 
 accommodation  to  human  ideas,  under  the  figurative 
 allufion  of  the  clofeft  and  mod  affectionate  of  all 
 human  connections,  that  of  marriage  (£). 
 
 The  remaining  canonical  books  of  the  Old  Tef- 
 tament are  confeffedly  the  works  of  the  feveral  pro- 
 phets, whofe  names  they  refpectively  bear.     To  de- 
 clare to  the  Jews  the  impending  judgments  of  God 
 for  idolatry  and  other  fins ;  to  comfort  that  people, 
 when  in  affliction  and  captivity,  with  promifes  of 
 deliverance  ;  and  to  denounce  againft  their  oppref- 
 fors  the  retributive  punifhments  merited  by  their 
 cruelty  and  rapine,  were  among  the  fpecial  objects  of 
 the  prophetical  commiffion.     But  the   moft  noble 
 and  important  office  of  prophetic  infpiration  was  to 
 bear  teftimony  to  the  Meffiah  ;  to  predict  his  com- 
 ing, the  circumftances  of  his  birth,  of  his  life,  and  of 
 his  fufferings  ;  his  victory  over  death  and  the  grave, 
 and  the  powers  ofdarknefs;  the  diffufion  of  his  re- 
 ligion over  the  face  of  the  earth  ;  the  final  reftora- 
 tion  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Ifrael  to  their  own  land 
 in  the  faith  of  the  Saviour  whom  they  pierced  ;  and 
 the  complete  union  of  Jews  and  Gentiles,  of  all 
 
 countries, 
 
 (//)  Pfalm  xlv.  2  Cor.  xi.  2.  Ephef.  v.  25—32.  Rev.  xix. 
 7,  8.  xx.  9.  xxil.  17.  The  covenant  between  God  and  the  Jevvifh 
 church  is  very  frequently  denoted  in  the  prophets  by  emblems 
 borrowed  from  marriage.  See  Ifaiah,  liv.  5.  xii.  5.  Ezek.  xvi.  &c. 
 Hcfea,  ii.  16.  and  various  other  pnfTages  in  the  Old  Teftament. 
 
THE    OLD    TESTAMENT.  I0t 
 
 countries,  tongues  and  nations,  into  one  fold  under 
 one  fhepherd.  That  the  prophets  were  divinely  in- 
 fpired,  the  fpeedy  accomplifhment  of  many  of  their 
 predictions  attefted  to  their  own  cotemporaries.  To 
 us,  who  live  after  the  lapfe  of  numerous  ages,  in 
 which  fo  many  additional  predictions  have  been  ve- 
 rified ;  who  know  that  the  great  Redeemer  has  fuf- 
 fered  and  performed  what  they  only  foretold ;  who 
 fee  at  this  moment  the  predictions  delivered  by  Mo- 
 fes,  the  earlieft  of  the  prophets,  nearly  four  thoufand 
 years  ago,  verifying  in  every  quarter  of  the  world  in 
 the  fate  of  the  Jews  "  fcattered  among  all  people 
 "  from  one  end  of  the  earth  to  the  other,  an  afto- 
 "  nifhment,  and  a  proverb,  and  a  byeword  among 
 "  all  nations :"  to  us  the  kind  of  evidence,  which 
 was  beftowed  on  the  cotemporaries  of  the  prophets 
 in  a  degree  fufficiently  convincing,  comes  with  an 
 accumulation  of  force  irrefiftible  to  every  thing  but 
 ignorance  or  obdurac)'.  To  this  evidence  the  New 
 Teftament  adds  its  fulled  atteftation.  The  proofs 
 which  it  fupplies  of  the  infpiration  of  the  feparate 
 books  of  prophecy  will  be  noticed  in  the  fhort  ac- 
 count of  each  book  about  to  be  given.  But  in  this 
 place  it  is  proper  to  mention  fome  of  the  many  tefti- 
 monies  which  are  afforded  to  the  writings  of  the  pro- 
 phets taken  collectively.  "  Prophecy  came  not  in 
 "  old  time  by  the  will  of-  man  j  but  holy  men  of 
 "  God  fpake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy 
 "  Ghoft  (/>)." — "  God,  at  fundry  times  and  in  di- 
 "  vers  manners,  fpake  in  time  pail  unto  the  fathers 
 "  by  the  prophets  (/)." — 6i  If  they  hear  not  Mofes 
 
 "  and 
 
 (h)  2  Pet.xx:.  21.  (/)  Hcb.  i.  x. 
 
3o2  THE   BOOKS    OF 
 
 u  and  the  prophets ;  neither  would  they  be  per- 
 "  fuaded,  though  one  rofe  from  the  dead  (£)."— 
 "  Beginning  at  Mofes,  and  all  the  prophets,  he 
 "  (Chrift)  expounded  unto  them  in  all  the  Scrip- 
 a  tures  the  things  concerning  himfelf  (/)," 
 
 Ifaiah  prophefied,  as  we  learn  from  himfelf  (ni)a 
 in  the  reigns  of  Uzziah,  Jotham,  Ahaz,  and  Heze* 
 kiah,  kings  of  Judah.  He  probably  did  not  enter 
 upon  his  office  until  towards  the  clofe  of  Uzziah*? 
 reign,  about  feven  hundred  and  fifty-eight  years  be* 
 fore  Chrift  ;  and  he  was  certainly  living  about  for* 
 ty-five  years  afterwards,  in  the  fourteenth  year  of  the 
 reign  of  Hezekiah  {n).  His  work,  with  the  excep* 
 tion  of  fome  hiftorical  parts  contained  in  it,  is  com* 
 pofed,  according  to  the  general  cuftom  of  the  He* 
 brew  prophets  (V),  in  metre.  It  is  characterized  by 
 grandeur  of  conception  and  elevation  of  ftyle  ;  and 
 abounds  in  paflages  of  the  fublimeft  poetry.  The 
 predictions  of  Ifaiah  were  addrefled  principally  to 
 the  kingdom  of  Judah  ;  though  he  occasionally  ad* 
 verts  to  the  ten  tribes.  He  proclaims  the  impend- 
 ing deftruction  of  the  Affyrian  empire  j  the  utter 
 and  perpetual  defolation  of  Babylon  ;  and  the  fub* 
 verfion  of  the  Philiftines,  Syrians,  Egyptians,  and 
 other  furrounding  nations.  And  in  his  predictions 
 concerning  the  Meffiah  and  the  final  glories  of  the 
 
 Qhriftiau 
 
 (£)  Luke,  xvl.  31.  (/)  Luke,  xxiv.  27. 
 
 (m)  Ifaiah,  i.  I.  («)  2  Kings,  xx.  i. 
 
 (o)  On  the  fubjeft  of  Hebrew  poetry,  and  the  discriminating 
 excellences  of  the  feveral  Hebrew  poets,  confult  Bifliop  Lowth's 
 admirable  Prele&ions  on  Hebrew  Poetry,  his  preliminary  dif- 
 courfe  to  his  new  Tranflation  of  Ifaiah,  and  Archbimop  New° 
 come'8  Tranflation  of  the  minor  Prophets. 
 
THE   OLD   TESTAMENT.  1*3 
 
 Chriftian  church  he  expatiates  with  fuch  accuracy 
 and  fuch  magnificence  of  defcription,  that  he  has 
 been  emphatically  denominated  the  evangelical  pro- 
 phet. His  book  is  quoted  with  high  diftin&ion  by 
 Chrift  and  the  apoftles  (p). 
 
 Jeremiah  was  called  to  the  prophetic  miniftry  fix 
 hundred  and  twenty-eight  years  before  the  Chriftian 
 era,  in  the  thirteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  Jofiah 
 king  of  Judah  ;  and  continued  in  the  exercife  of  it 
 during  rather  more  than  forty  years,  until  the  de- 
 ftruction  of  Jerusalem  by  Nebuchadnezzar  (q).  In 
 his  writings,  which  are  diftinguifhed  for  precifion 
 and  energy,  and  for  their  peculiar  pathos ;  the  Ba- 
 bylonian captivity,  the  time  of  its  continuance,  the 
 reftoration  of  the  Jews,  the  deftru&ion  of  Babylon 
 and  of  fome  other  nations,  and  many  circumftances 
 refpedting  the  birth  and  office  of  the  Meffiah,  are 
 prominent  features.  He  is  fpecifically  mentioned 
 and  quoted  in  the  new  Teftament  (r). 
 
 Ezekiel  prophefied  in  Mefopotamia,  on  the  banks 
 of  the  river  Chebar,  where  he  had  been  placed  with 
 many  of  his  captive  countrymen  by  the  Chaldeans 
 (j).  His  prophecies,  the  chief  portion  of  which  is 
 not  written  in  poetical  meafure,  are  remarkable  for 
 indignant  vehemence  of  flyle.  They  are  darkened 
 by  myfterious  vifions ;  and  contain  many  things  yet 
 to  be  accomplifhed.     Of  fome  parts,  however,  as  of 
 
 the 
 
 (/)  As  in  Matt.  iv.  14.  vlii.  17.   xii.  17.  xlii.   14.    Mark, 
 
 vii.  6.  Luke,  iti.  4.    iv.  17.  John,  xii.  39.  41.    Afts,  viii.  38. 
 
 xxviii.  25.    Romans,  ix.  27.  x.  16.  20,  &c. 
 
 (g)  Jerem.  i.  1—3.  (r)  Matt.  ii.  17,  18.  xvi.  14, 
 
 (s)  Ezek.  i.  1 — 3. 
 
T&4  "^HE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 the  deftru&ion  of  the  Ammonites,  Moabites,  Philif- 
 tines,  and  other  countries  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  the 
 accomplifhment  was  fpeedy :  and  to  the  irreco- 
 verable defolation  of  Tyre,  according  to  his  predic- 
 tions, many  revolving  ages  have  borne  witnefs. 
 Saint  John  in  the  book  of  Revelations  appears  to 
 allude  in  a  pointed  manner  to  Ezekiel  (t). 
 
 Daniel,  who  was  of  the  royal  houfe  of  Judah, 
 was  carried  captive  fix  hundred  and  fix  years  before 
 Chrift,  with   Jehoiachim  from  Jerufalem  by  Nebu- 
 chadnezzar ;  and   was  advanced  by  that  monarch 
 and  his  fucceflbrs,  in  confequence  of  Divine  infpira- 
 tion  fignally  beftowed  upon  him,    to   the  higheft 
 offices  in  the  Babylonian  empire.    Amid  the  enfnar- 
 ing   allurements  of  his  exalted  condition,  he  exhi- 
 bited   for    the  inftruclion  of  future   ages,  and   of 
 flatefmen  in  particular,  a  glorious  example  of  active 
 and  unihaken  piety  \  and  of  ftedfaft  obedience  to 
 the  commandments  of  God,  in  defiance  of  all  perfo- 
 yial  hazard,  and  of  the  crooked  fuggeflions  of  world- 
 ly wifdom.     He  lived  to  fee  his  countrymen  return, 
 on    the  acceffion  of  Cyrus,  to  their  native  land  : 
 but  being  then  nearly  ninety  years  of  age,  he  pro- 
 bably  remained    in    Babylon.      His    predictions, 
 which  are  written  in  profe,  relate  principally  to  the 
 four  great  empires  which  fucceeded  each  other,  the 
 Aflyrian,  the  Ptrfian,  the  Grecian,  and  the  Roman  ; 
 the  precife  time  of  the  coming  of  Chrift  ;  the  rife 
 and  duration  of  Antichrift ;  the  final  triumph  ancj 
 univerfal    prevalence    of    the    Chriftian    religion. 
 
 Many 
 
 (t)  Compare  Rev.  xix.   1 7.  to  the  end,  and  xx.  8,  9  vyU^ 
 TSzekiel  xxxviii,  and  xxxix.  to  20. 
 
THE    OLD    TESTAMENT.  I05 
 
 Many  of  his  prophecies  have  been  fulfilled  with  fuch 
 manifeft  precifion,  that  fome  fceptical  writers,  with 
 boldnefs  equalled  only  by  their  folly,  have  afferted, 
 in  the  face  of  demonftrative  evidence  to  the  contrary, 
 that  the  predictions  were  written  fubfequently  to  the 
 events  which  they  defcribe.  To  the  celebrated  wif- 
 dom  of  Daniel  a  memorable  teftimony  is  given  by 
 the  cotemporary  prophet  Ezekiel  (ji) ;  in  whofe 
 predictions  alfo  the  Supreme  Being  himfelf  declares 
 Daniel's  extraordinary  righteoufnefs  (y).  To  thefe 
 evidences  is  to  be  added  the  unequivocal  atteftation 
 of  our  Saviour  (w). 
 
 Hofea  was  coeval  with  Ifaiah  (#).  His  prophe- 
 cies, which  are  couched  in  a  flyle  fententious  and 
 abrupt,  and  are  attended  with  confiderable  obfcurity, 
 were  addreffed  in  part  to  Judah,  but  principally  to 
 Ifrael.  Together  with  predictions  relating  to  thofe 
 kingdoms,  he  intermingles  others  refpe&ing  the 
 Mefliab.  His  book  has  the  exprefs  fanclion  of  the 
 New  Teflament  {j). 
 
 Joel  was  probably  cotemporary  with  Hofea : 
 but  the  exacl:  time  in  which  he  lived  is  not  afcertain- 
 ed.  His  prophecies,  which  are  animated  with  the 
 mod  poetical  deicriptions,  wrere  addreffed  to  the 
 kingdom  of  Judah  ;  and  foretel,  together  with  the 
 invafion  of  the  land  of  Judah  by  the  Chaldeans,  and 
 the  deftruction  of  Jerufalem  by  the  Romans,  the 
 glories  of  the  Chriftian  difpenfation.  He  is  cited  by 
 the  evangelical  writers  (s). 
 
 Amos 
 
 (u)  Ezekiel,  xxviii.   3.  (<?')  Ezek.  xiv.   14.    18.   20. 
 
 («/)  Matt.  xxiv.   15.     Mark,  xiii.    14.  («)  See   Hof, 
 
 3.   I,  and  Ifaiah,  i.    1.  (y)  Matt.  ii.   15.  ix.  xii.   7. 
 
 Romans,  ix  25,  26.  (s)  Ads,  ii.  16.     Romans,  x.  j^. 
 
ioS  THE   BOOKS   OF 
 
 Amos  alfo  lived  during  the  earlier  part  of  Hofea's 
 miniftry  (a).  His  compofitions,  which  are  replete 
 with  boldnefs  as  well  as  elegance,  chiefly  relate  to 
 Ifrael ;  though  he  occafionally  menaces  Judah,  and 
 other  contiguous  nations,  with  Divine  judgments. 
 The  happy  reign  of  the  M email  is  alfo  announced. 
 Amos  is  twice  quoted  by  St.  Luke  in  the  Acts  of  the 
 Apoltles  (£). 
 
 The  period  in  which  Obadiah  delivered  his  fhort 
 prophecy,  confiding  of  denunciations  againft  the 
 Edomites,  and  promjfes  of  future  reftoration  to  the 
 Jews,  is  not  known :  but  is  aiTigned  with  probability 
 to  the  early  part  of  the  Babylonian  captivity. 
 There  is  much  beauty  in  his  language.  I  do  not 
 know  that  a  diftincl:  and  fpecial  reference  to  this 
 fingle  chapter  has  been  obferved  in  the  New  Tef- 
 tament. 
 
 The  book  of  Jonah  relates  the  prophetic  commif- 
 fion  given  to  him  againft  Nineveh ;  his  refufal  to 
 undertake  it,  his  punilhment  and  deliverance  ;  the 
 repentance  of  the  Ninevites ;  the  mortification  of 
 Jonah  at  having  been  charged  with  prophetic  threat- 
 enings,  the  accomplishment  of  which  was  thus 
 averted  (V)  :  and  the  condefcending  expostulations 
 of  the  Supreme  Being  with  the  angry  prophet. 
 Jonah  appears  to  have  lived  in  the  reign  of  Jerobo- 
 am, the  fecond  of  the  name  who  was  king  of  Ifrael, 
 above  eight  hundred  years  before  Chrift  (d).     His 
 
 language 
 
 (a)  Amos,  i.  i.  (3)  A£s,  vlf.  42,  43.  xv.   15.   17. 
 
 (<r)  It  is  apparent  from  xv.  2.  that  the  dread  of  experiencing 
 fuch  a  mortification  was  the  caufe  of  his  original  relu&ance  to 
 Tse  the  melTenger  employed.  (d)  z  Kings,  xiv.  25. 
 
THE    OXD    TESTAMENT.  I07 
 
 language  is  generally  that  of  fimple  narrative.  Ac- 
 cording to  the  typical  nature  of  the  Jewifh  difpenfa- 
 tion,  the  miracle  by  which  Jonah  was  punifhed  was 
 appointed  to  prefigure  the  time  of  the  continuance 
 of  Chrift  in  the  grave :  and  is  thus  applied  by  Chrift 
 himfelf  (/). 
 
 Micah  lived  jufl  before  the  deftru&ion  of  Sama- 
 ria (/),  and  prophefied  both  againft  Ifrael  and 
 againft  Judah.  Together  with  the  captivity  of 
 thofe  kingdoms,  and  the  deftru&ion  of  their  Aflyri- 
 an  oppreflbrs ;  he  foretold  the  birth-place  of  the 
 Mefliah,  and  the  exaltation  of  his  dominion  over 
 the  whole  earth*  His  language  is  extremely  ener- 
 getic as  well  as  beautiful.  A  reference  to  one  of 
 his  prophecies,  when  it  had  been  delivered  above  an 
 hundred  years,  faved  the  life  of  Jeremiah  (g).  In 
 the  new  Teftament  his  prophetic  character  is  fully- 
 confirmed  (hi). 
 
 The  time  when  Nahum  lived  is  doubtful ;  but 
 from  a  comparifon  of  certain  paffages  in  his  book  it 
 feems  probable  that  he  lived  in  the  reign  of  Heze- 
 kiah.  His  prophecy  is  a  complete  and  regular 
 poem,  in  the  higheft  degree  animated,  glowing  and 
 fublime,  denouncing  the  deftruction  of  Nineveh. 
 It  is  not  clear  that  his  prophecy  is  fpecifically  quoted 
 in  the  New  Teftament  (/). 
 
 Habbakkuk 
 
 (e)  Matt.  xii.  39—41.     xlv.  4.     Luke,  xi.   29.     30. 
 
 (/)  Micah,  i.   1. 
 
 (<?)  Jcrem.  xxvi.   17—24. 
 
 (£)  Matt.  ii.  5,6.  John,  vii.  42.  Compare  alfo  Matt.  x. 
 35,   36.  with  Micah,  vii.  6. 
 
 (*)  Romans,  x.  15.  is  a  reference  either  to  Ifaiah,  52.  7. 
 or  to  Nahum,  i.   15.  or  to  both  paffages. 
 
IoS  THE   BOOKS   or 
 
 Habbakkuk  was  probably  cotemporary  with 
 Jeremiah.  He  predicts  the  Chaldean  invafion ; 
 but  he  refers  to  the  redemption  to  be  wrought  at 
 the  appointed  time  for  the  people  of  God,  when  the 
 earth  fhall  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the  glory 
 of  the  Lord ,  "  as  the  waters  cover  the  fea."  The 
 hymn  with  which  his  prophecy  concludes  is  one  of 
 the  mod  fublime  and  impaffioned  compofitions  in 
 the  whole  compafs  of  infpired  poetry.  The  evan- 
 gelical writers  repeatedly  quote  the  book  of  Hab- 
 bakkuk (£). 
 
 We  learn  from  Zephaniah  himfelf  (/),  that  he 
 prophefied  in  the  reign  of  Jofiah  king  of  Judah. 
 He  foretells  in  an  impreflive  manner  the  punifhment 
 of  his  idolatrous  countrymen,  and  of  fome  of  the 
 the  neighbouring  nations,  together  with  the  def- 
 truclion  of  Nineveh  :  and  concludes  with -eonfoling 
 promifes  of  the  final  reftoration  of  the  Jews  under 
 the  Gofpel  covenant.  I  am  not  acquainted  with  any 
 paffage  in  the  New  Teftament,  in  which  he  is  fpe- 
 cifically  quoted. 
 
 The  three  remaining  prophets,  Haggai,  Zechari- 
 ah,  and  Malachi,  flourifhed  after  the  return  of  the 
 Jews  from  the  Babylonian  captivity.  The  two  for- 
 mer were  alfo  cotemporaries  ;  and  prophefied  dur- 
 ing the  time  when  the  Jews  were  rebuilding  the  city 
 of  Jerufalem.  Haggai,  in  language  commonly 
 unornamented,  but  always  impreflive,  and  occasi- 
 onally fublime,  reproves  his  countrymen  for  their 
 eagernefs  to  decorate  their  own  habitations  inftead 
 
 of 
 
 (l>)  A&s,  xiii,  41.  Romans,  i.  17.  Gal.  iii.  2.  Keb.  X. 
 27,  S8.  (/)  Zephaniah,   i.   1. 
 
THE    OLD    TESTAMENT.  I09 
 
 of  exerting  themfelves  in  the  re-edification  of  the 
 Temple ;  excites  them  in  the  name  of  the  Almighty 
 to  reflore  the  facred  edifice  ;  and  folemnly  aflures 
 them  that  this  latter  houfe  mould  be  crowned  with 
 glory  greater  than  the  glory  of  the  former,  and  be 
 filled  with  the  prefence  of  the  Meffiah,  the  Defire  of 
 all  Nations.  Haggai  is  quoted  by  St.  Paul  in  the 
 epiftle  to  the  Hebrews  (rri). 
 
 Zechariah  co-operated  with  Haggai  (ji)  in  exhort- 
 ing the  Jews  to  rebuild  their  Temple.  Under  vari- 
 ous emblems  and  figurative  reprefentations  he  pre- 
 dicts the  future  profperity  of  his  countrymen  ;  and 
 their  union  with  Gentile  nations  under  the  bleifed 
 government  of  Chrift.  In  ftyle  he  fo  nearly  re- 
 fembles  Jeremiah,  that  the  Jews  have  been  accuf- 
 tomed  to  fpeak  of  the  fpirit  of  Jeremiah  as  refting  on 
 him.  Some  of  the  concluding  chapters  of  his  book 
 appear  to  differ  in  ftyle  from  the  reft  ;  and  a  pafTage 
 from  one  of  them  is  quoted  by  the  evangelifts  (0), 
 in  the  prefent  copies  of  our  Bible,  as  the  prophecy 
 of  Jeremiah.  Zechariah  is  repeatedly  cited  in  other 
 parts  of  the  New  Teftament  (p  ). 
 
 Malachi, 
 
 (jn)  Heb.  ii.  26. 
 
 («)  Ezra  defcribes  the  effect  produced  by  the  prophefying  of 
 Haggai  and  Zechariah,  Ezra,  v.    1.  vi.     14. 
 
 (0)  Matt,  xxvii.  9.  The  word  Jeremiah  may  have  been  ori- 
 ginally inferted  inftead  of  Zechariah  by  the  error  of  a  tranfcri- 
 ber  :  or,  as  fome  learned  men  fuppofe,  the  roll  containing  thefe 
 concluding  chapters  may  fometimes  have  been  attached  by  miftake 
 to  the  book  of  Jeremiah.  Either  of  thefe  circumftances  was  the 
 more  likely  to  happen,  if  the  Jews  were  already  accuftomed  in  the 
 days  of  Chrift  to  fpeak  of  the  fpirit  of  Jeremiah  as  refting  on 
 Zechariah. 
 
 (p)  Matt.  xxi.  4,  5.  xxvi.  31.  Mark,  xlv.  27.  John,  xii. 
 15,  xix,  37.     Rev.  i.  7. 
 
11Q>  THE    BOOKS  OF 
 
 Malachi,  who  appears  to  have  lived  about  four 
 hundred  years  before  Chrift  (7>),  was  the  laft  of  the 
 Jewifh  prophets.  He  reprehends  both  the  priefts 
 and  the  people  for  their  difregard  of  God  and  his 
 laws  :  foretells  punifhments  to  the  wicked,  and  re- 
 compence  to  the  righteous  ;  and  announces  the  com- 
 ing of  the  Meffiah,  "  the  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs 
 "  with  healing  in  his  wings ;"  and  of  his  forerun- 
 ner John  the  Baptift,  to  preach  repentance  in  the  fpi- 
 rit  and  power  of  Elijah.  He  clofes  the  facred  vo- 
 lume with  a  folemn  ^command  faithfully  to  obferve 
 the  law  of  Mofes  until  the  manifeftation  of  the  pro- 
 mifed  Redeemer.  The  writers  of  the  New  Teflament 
 afford  the  cleared  atteftations  to  the  prophetic  cha- 
 racter of  Malachi  (r). 
 
 To  the  particular  proofs  which  have  been  produced 
 to  mew  the  authenticity  and  infpiration  of  thefeveral 
 books  of  the  Old  Teflament,  it  remains  to  fubjoin  the 
 general  and  decifive  teftimony  given  by  the  infpir- 
 ed  apoftles  of  Chrift,  and  by  Chrift  himfelf,  to  the 
 whole  facred  volume  of  the  Jews:  a  teftimony  deliver- 
 ed from  an  infallible  fource,  and  accompanied  with  no 
 exception.  In  the  firft  place  let  it  be  duly  confider- 
 ed,  that  whenever  our  Saviour  andhisdifciplesfpeak  of 
 
 the 
 
 ((j)  He  was  evidently  fubfequent  to  Haggai  and  Zechariah : 
 for  he  fpeaks  of  the  Temple  as  rebuilt  and  the  facrifices  as  per- 
 forming. 
 
 (r)  Matt.  xi.  10 — 14.  xvii.  10 — 12.  Mark,  i.  2.  ix.  I2~ 
 Luke,  i.  16,  17.  vii.  27.  xvi-.  16.  Romans,  ix.  13.  Itistobe 
 obferved,  that  the  Jews  expected  Elijah  the  Tifhbite  to  be  ac- 
 tually reftored  to  life,  and  fent  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  Meffiah. 
 In  that  fenfe  John  the  Baptift  denied  that  he  was  EUas » 
 John,  i.  21. 
 
THE   OLD   TESTAMENT.  Ill 
 
 the  Scriptures  in  general,  they  fpeak  of  them  with 
 the  utmoft  reverence  as  the  word  of  God  :  and 
 whenever  they  appeal  to  any  part  of  the  Scriptures, 
 they  make  the  appeal  in  a  manner  which  recognizes 
 the  authority  of  the  whole.  In  the  next  place,  le  t 
 the  import  of  the  following  evidence  be  weighed :— 
 "  From  a  child,"  faith  St.  Paul  to  his  difciple 
 Timothy,  "  thou  haft  known  the  Holy  Scriptures," 
 (the  Jewifh  Scriptures,  the  only  Scriptures  exifting 
 when  Timothy  was  a  child,)  "  which  are  able  to 
 f*  make  thee  wife  unto  falvation,  through  faith 
 "  which  is  in  Chrift  Jefus.  All  Scripture  is  given 
 "  by  infpiration  of  God  (»•"— "  The  Scripture," 
 faith  our  Saviour,  "  cannot  be  broken  (/)." 
 And  at  another  time  ;  "  all  things  muft  be  fulfilled 
 "  which  were  written  in  the  law  of  Mofes,  and  in 
 <c  the  prophets,  and  in  the  Pfalms,  concerning  me 
 "  (u)"  When  we  recollect  that  our  Saviour  thus 
 cites  the  Scriptures  conformably  to  the  three  divifi- 
 ons  which  contained,  according  to  the  diflribution 
 eftablifhed  among  the  Jews,  all  the  books  of  the 
 Old  Teftament ;  we  fhall  perceive  that  his  fan&ion 
 comprehended  every  portion  of  the  facred  volume. 
 
 That  the  Scriptures  had  been  preferved  in  their 
 primitive  integrity  to  the  time  of  our  Saviour,  was  a 
 part  of  the  original  propofition  to  be  eftablifhed. 
 On  that  head  I  might  with  propriety  refer  to  the 
 acknowledged  veneration  with  which  the  Jews  re- 
 garded their  facred  books ;  to  the  extreme  care 
 which  is  known  to  have  been  beftowed  in  tranfcribing 
 
 them  j 
 
 (/)  2  Tim.  iii.   15,   16.         (/)  John,  x.  35. 
 (v)  Luke  xx iv.  44. 
 
112  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 them  ;  and  to  the  impoffibility  that,  when  the  Scrip* 
 tures  were  in  the  hands  of  fuch  numbers  not  only 
 in  Judea,  but  in  many  other  countries,  any  material 
 corruption  could  have  taken  place,  either  by  negli* 
 gence  or  defign,  without  having  been  fpeedily  de- 
 tected. But  to  enlarge  on  thefe  and  other  collate- 
 ral topics  is  wholly  needlefs.  The  unqualified  fane- 
 tion  which  was  bellowed,  as  has  recently  been 
 fhewn,  by  our  Saviour  on  every  part  of  the  Old  Tef- 
 tament  completely  proves  its  purity.  Had  it  been 
 corrupted,  he  would  not  have  failed  to  enumerate* 
 among  the  crimes  with  which  he  charged  the  Jews, 
 the  fraudulent  or  carelefs  deterioiation  of  the  writ- 
 ten word  of  God :  nor  would  he  have  unrefervedly 
 appealed  to  the  Scriptures,  or  have  permitted  his 
 infpired  apoftles  thus  to  appeal  to  them  after  his  af- 
 cenfion,  as  records  of  Divine  and  univerfal  authority. 
 But  though  the  Jewilh  Scriptures  were  pure  in 
 the  days  of  our  Saviour,  have  they  defcended  in 
 their  original  integrity  through  the  lapfe  of  feven- 
 teen  centuries,  many  of  them  centuries  of  ignorance 
 and  darknefs,  to  the  prefent  hour  ?  This  to  a  Chrif- 
 tian  is  a  very  important  queftion.  It  is  a  queftion 
 which  demands  a  conclufive  anfwer :  and  it  may 
 receive,  in  few  words,  a  moff.  fatisfaclory  reply. 
 In  the  firft  place,  the  corruption  of  them  vould 
 have  been  impracticable.  For  fince  during  the 
 whole  of  the  period  in  queftion  they  have  been  ani- 
 verfally  in  the  hands  both  of  Jews  and  of  Christians 
 in  all  parts  of  the  world  ;  and  not  only  perilled  by 
 all  parties  as  a  rule  of  faith,  but  produced  and  quot- 
 ed as  criterion?  of  the  truth  in  every  religious  dif- ' 
 
 cuffion  l 
 
THE    OLD    TESTAMENT.  II3 
 
 cuffion :  the  watchful  jealoufy  of  Jews  againft 
 Chriftians,  and  of  contending  Chriflian  feds  againft 
 each  other,  would  immediately  have  detected  any 
 material  variation,  whether  introduced  by  inadver- 
 tence or  by  defign.  But,  in  the  next  jplace,  the 
 integrity  of  the  Scriptures  does  not  reft  on  fpeeula- 
 tive  arguments.  It  is  afcertained  by  indifputable 
 facts.  We  are  in  pofteffion  of  a  Samaritan  versi- 
 on of  the  Pentateuch  made  above  two  thoufand 
 years  ago ;  which  varies  from  the  Hebrew  origi- 
 nal in  very  few  cafes,  and  thofe  immaterial,  and 
 admitting  an  obvious  explanation*  We  are  in, 
 poffeffion  of  a  complete  Greek  verfion  of  the 
 Old  Teftamentj  called  the  Septuagint  verfion, 
 from  a  tradition  that  once  prevailed  refpecting 
 the  number  of  perfons  employed  in  the  tranflation: 
 a  verfion,  the  whole  of  which  Was  confefledly  made 
 long  before  the  birth  of  Chrift,  and  thoroughly  con- 
 firms the  accordance  of  the  original  Hebrew  co* 
 pies  from  which  it  was  rendered  with  thofe  which 
 we  now  retain  (v).  Add  to  thefe  fads,  that  nearly 
 feven  hundred  Hebrew  manufcripts  of  the  fcrip- 
 tures  difperfed  in  various  parts  of  the  world  have 
 been  recently  compared  with  each  other  by  Dr.  Ken* 
 nicott  and  his  affiftants,  and  a  very  large  additional 
 number  by  De  Roffi.     The  refult  of  thefe  very  me- 
 
 I  ritorious 
 
 (v)  The  Chaldee  paraphrafes,  called  Targums,  of  the  Old  Tes- 
 tament, which  were  made  for  the  benefit  of  the  Jews  on  their 
 return  from  the  Babylonian  captivity,  during  which  great  num« 
 bers  of  them  had  adopted  the  Chaldee  language,  a  dialeft  of  their 
 native  tongue,  and  could  not  eafily  underrtand  the  original  Scrip- 
 tures (fee  Nehem.  viii.  8.  )  confirm  the  integrity  of  our  Hebrew 
 text. 
 
114  THE    BOOKS,    &C. 
 
 ritorious  labours  has  demonftratively  proved,  that, 
 although  many  verbal  variations  have  found  their 
 way  into  particular  manufcripts  through  the  erro* 
 neous  proceedings  of  tranfcribers ;  and  have  thus 
 created  in  detached  pafifages  incidental  obfcurities? 
 which  by  means  of  thefe  collations  have  been  hap- 
 pily removed  j  the  integrity  of  our  Hebrew  text  is 
 indifputable. 
 
 Concerning  the  apocryphal  books,  as  they  are 
 not  of  infpired  authority,  though  unaccountably 
 received  as  fuch,  the  prayer  of  Manafleh  excepted, 
 by  the  church  of  Rome,  it  is  not  neceflary  to  enter 
 into  detail  (w).  From  the  perufal  of  them,  though 
 human  compofitions,  much  religious  inftruc"tion 
 may  be  drawn  j  particularly  from  the  book  of  Ec- 
 clefiafticus.  And  the  author  of  the  firft  book  of 
 Maccabees  exhibits  many  ftrong  marks  of  hiftorical 
 knowledge  and  fidelity. 
 
 The  flatement  of  particulars  contained  in  the  pre- 
 fent  chapter  ftrongly  fuggefts  the  duty  of  gratitude 
 to  God,  for  having  attefted,  by  fo  many  proofs,  the 
 Divine  authority  of  the  canonical  books  of  the  Old 
 Teftament,  "  which  are  able  to  make  us  wife  unto 
 "  falvation  through  faith  which  is  in  Chrift  Jefus :" 
 and  loudly  calls  upon  us  habitually  and  diligently  to 
 apply  them,  with  a  pious  and  humble  heart,  to  the 
 momentous  purpofe  for  which  they  have  been  bef- 
 towed. 
 
 (w)  A  particular  account  of  each  of  thefe  books  may  be 
 found  in  Gray's  Key  to  the  Old  Teftament. 
 
(     "5    ) 
 
 CHAPTER    Vs 
 
 ON  THE  BOOKS  OF  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 
 
 IF  the  enquiry  purfued  in  the  preceding  chapter 
 fefpecting  the  canonical  jewifh  Scriptures  be  a  mat- 
 ter of  high  importance  to  Chriftians ;  a  fimilar  en- 
 quiry refpecting  the  books  of  the  New  Teftament 
 is  of  ftill  greater  moment.  For  the  Divine  author 
 rity  of  the  latter  books  is  not  only  the  ground,  oil 
 which  the  moft  obvious  proofs  of  the  authenticity 
 and  infpiration  of  the  former  depend ;  but  is  the 
 foundation  of  the  whole  fabric  of  Chriftian  faith. 
 
 The  moft  perfpieuous  method  of  conducting  the 
 prefent  investigation  will  be  to  ftate,  in  the  firft 
 place,  the  nature  and  purport  of  each  of  the  books 
 of  the  New  Teftament :  and,  in  the  fecond  place, 
 to  lay  before  the  reader  a  brief  account  of  the  con- 
 curring proofs  which  demonftrate  that  the  books, 
 fingly  and  collectively,  were  written  by  the  perfons 
 Whofe  names  they  feverally  bear,  and  under  the 
 fuperintending  guidance  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God* 
 
 The  writings  comprifed  in  the  New  Teftament  («)■ 
 may  be  divided  into  three  clafTes  j  hiftorieal,  epif- 
 
 I  2  tolaryj 
 
 (a)  The  original  word,  A»aG>?xn»  fignifies  either  a  teftament 
 (that  is  to  fay,  a  will)  or  a  covenant.  It  is  ej^prefsly  applied 
 by  St.  Paul,  2  Con  iii.  14.  with  the  epithet  "  Old"  to  the 
 Jewifh  Scriptures.  From  this  circumftance,  and  from  the  re- 
 peated ufe  of  the  term  by  Chrift.  aqd  hisdifciplea  as  chara&eriftic 
 
lit)  THE   BOOKS   OF 
 
 tolary,  and  prophetical.  In  all  of  them  do&rina 
 truths  of  the  utmoft  confequence  are  included :  and 
 in  the  hiftorical  and  epiflolary  books  prophecies 
 are  occasionally  delivered.  With  this  explanation 
 the  preceding  divifion  may  be  ufefully  made.  The 
 hiftorical  books  are  the  four  Gofpels  (ti)  and  the 
 Acts  of  the  Apoftles.  The  epiflolary  books  are 
 thofe  to  which  the  title  of  Epiftles  is  always  pre- 
 fixed. Of  the  prophetical  clafs  there  is  only  book, 
 that  of  the  Apocalypfe  (/),  or  Revelations. 
 
 The  Gofpels  contain  a  recital  of  fuch  leading 
 particulars  relating  to  the  life  and  difcourfes  of 
 Jefus  Chrift,  as  appeared  to  the  writers  molt  effen- 
 tial  to  be  recorded  for  the  information  and  benefit 
 of  the  Chriftian  church.  Of  thefe  Gofpels  there 
 are  four,  written  by  four  different  perfons,  and  ac- 
 cording to  internal  marks,  under  different  circum- 
 flances  and  at  different  periods. 
 
 The 
 
 of  the  Chriftian  difpenfation,  Matt.  xxvi.  2§.  Hebrews,  vii. 
 22.  viii.  8.  it  has  been  afiigned  from  a  very  early  period  of  the 
 church  to  the  Chriftian  Scriptures.  The  term  "  Covenant" 
 would  however  have  been  on  the  whole  a  more  appropriate  tran- 
 slation. The  word  "  Teftament,"  in  its  natural  meaning  is  not 
 very  applicable  to  the  Jewifh  canon  :  but  may  be  afcribed  with 
 pertinence  to  the  collection  of  the  facred  writings  of  the  Apof- 
 tles and  Evangelifts ;  as  implying  a  book  wherein  the  inhe- 
 ritance of  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  is  bequeathed  and  fealed  to 
 true  Chriftians,  as  children  and  heirs  of  God,  through  the  death 
 of  jefus  Chrift  ;  and  the  death  of  Jefus  Chrift  as  the  teftator  is 
 and  applied  to  their  recorded  full  advantage.  Sec  Hebrews, 
 ix.  15 — 17. 
 
 (b)  Gofpel,  a  word  of  Saxon  etymology,  has  precifely  the 
 fame  meaning  as  the  Greek  word  'Evxyy&u>v)  good  tidings. 
 
 (f)  A7rox«Ai4'Ki  a  revelation. 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  II7 
 
 The  Gofpel  compofed  by  Saint  Matthew  was  con- 
 feffedly  written  antecedently  to  any  of  the  other 
 three  ;  though  learned  enquirers  vary  in  their  con- 
 clusions as  to  the  precife  date  to  be  affigned  to  it. 
 Some  (d)  have  thought,  on  no  flight  grounds,  that 
 it  was  not  compofed  u/>.til  A.  D.  61.  At  the  fame 
 time  considerable  weight  belongs  to  the  arguments 
 which  carry  back  the  date  to  within  fome  few  years 
 of  the  death  of  our  Saviour.  The  book  evidently 
 was  compofed  primarily  for  the  ufe  of  Jewifh  con- 
 verts. The  Chriflian  authors  of  the  fecond  and 
 many  following  centuries,  in  fpeaking  of  this  Gof- 
 pel, concur  in  affirming  it  to  have  been  originally 
 written  in  Hebrew.  A  Greek  tranflation  however 
 is  acknowledged  to  have  been  fpeedily  made;  and, 
 in  confequence  of  the  deftru&ion  of  Jerufalem  and 
 the  Jewifh  ftate,  foon  to  have  been  in  more  general 
 ufe  than  the  original.  That  every  other  part  of  the 
 New  Teftament,  the  Epiftle  to  the  Hebrews  ex- 
 cepted, was  compofed  from  the  firft  in  Greek  is 
 a  fact  univerfally  admitted :  and  the  aflertion  of 
 fome  writers,  who  have  maintained  that  epiftle,  as 
 it  ftands  in  our  Greek  Teftaments,  to  be  only  a  ver- 
 fipn  from  the  Hebrew,  appears  not  to  be  fupported 
 by  adequate  proof.  The  Greek  language  was,  in 
 fact,  familiar  to  the  Jews  long  before  the  time  of 
 our  Saviour  :  and  was  incomparably  fuperior  to  the 
 Hebrew  tongue  as  a  vehicle  of  inftru&ion  to  Gen- 
 tile converts  and  to  fucceeding  ages.  Saint  Mat- 
 thew, 
 
 (J)  See  the  fubject  difcufled  in  Bifliop  Percy's  Key  to  the 
 New  Teftament ;  a  manual  of  great  utility. 
 
llB  THE    BOOKS    Ot 
 
 thew,  from  being  a  publican,  or  collector  of  taxes 
 under  the  Roman  jurifdiction,  became  one  of  the 
 twelve  apoflles  of  Chrift ;  and  was  an  eye-witnefs  of 
 almoft  all  the  tranfactions  which  he  relates.  It  is 
 uncertain  in  what  countries  he  exercifed  his  apofto- 
 lical  labours  after  the  afcenfion  of  his  mafter  ;  and 
 equally  uncertain  whether  thofe  labours  were  termi- 
 nated by  a  natural  death  or  by  martyrdom. 
 
 The  Gofpel  of  Saint  Mark  was  written  by  that 
 Mark,  whom  St.  Peter  fignalifes  by  the  affectionate 
 appellation  of  fon  (e) :  probably  the  fame  perfon 
 with  "  John  furnamed  Mark,"  who  is  mentioned 
 in  the  Acts  of  the  Apoftles,  and  the  epiftles  of  St. 
 Paul  (/).  Though  not  actually  an  apoftle  him- 
 felf,  he  was,  to  fay  the  leaft,  a  companion  and  inti- 
 mate friend  of  St.  Peter.  His  qualifications  there- 
 fore to  record  with  knowledge  and  fidelity  the  trans- 
 actions related  in  his  Gofpel  cannot  be  doubted. 
 From  the  care  with  which  in  feveral  inftances  he 
 explains  Oriental  circumflances  and  Jewifh  cuftoms, 
 it  is  evident  that  he  compofed  his  book  with  an  e£ 
 pecial  regard  to  the  inftruction  of  Gentile  converts. 
 And  the  concurrent  voice  of  antiquity  affirms  that 
 it  was  drawn  up  at  Rome  for  the  ufe  of  the  Chrifti- 
 ans  of  that  part  of  the  world ;  and  was  written  from 
 the  exprefs  information  of  St.  Peter,  if  it  were  not 
 even  penned,  as  fome  early  writers  affert,  under  the 
 actual  fuperintendence  of  that  Apoftle.  St.  Mark 
 preferves  feveral  particulars  refpecting  our  Saviour, 
 
 which 
 
 (e)   I  Pet.  v.  13. 
 
 (/)  A&6,  xii.  12.  25.  xv.  39.  Col.  iv,  10.  2  Tim.  iv.  n, 
 Philem.  24. 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  II9 
 
 which  St.  Matthew  had  omitted :  and  pafifes  over 
 others  recorded  by  that  evangelift,  as  not  immedi- 
 ately calculated  to  make  a  ftrong  impreffion  on  a 
 Heathen  difciple,  unaccuftomed  to  the  ftudy  of  the 
 Jewifh  Sciiptures.  His  own  impartiality  (and,  if 
 St.  Peter  revifed  his  Gofpel,  the  contrite  humility  of 
 that  righteous  man)  is  pointedly  fhewn  by  his  relat- 
 ing fully  in  detail  the  failings  of  St.  Peter,  and  the 
 aggravating  circumftances  which  attended  his  de- 
 nial of  Jefus  Chrift ;  and  by  his  forbearing  to  re- 
 cord the  confoling  tokens  of  favour  bellowed  on 
 the  penitent  apoftle,  by  his  forgiving  Lord  after  his 
 refurrection.  St.  Mark  afterwards  appears  to  have 
 preached  the  Gofpel  in  Egypt ;  and  to  have  died 
 at  Alexandria,  probably  by  a  natural  death. 
 
 Saint  Luke,  the  frequent  companion  of  St.  Paul 
 («?)>  profeffcsto  have  compofed  his  Gofpel  from  the 
 information  of  eye-witnefles  of  the  fa£ts  which  he 
 defcribes.  He  is  allowed  to  be  the  perfon  ftyled  by 
 St.  Paul  "  the  brother,  whofe  praife  is  in  the  Gofpel 
 "  throughout  all  the  churches  (£)."  He  records 
 many  particulars  unnoticed  by  his  predecefTors :  and 
 by  his  large  explanations  of  Jewifh  ufages  (hews 
 that  he  wrote  at  a  period,  when  a  great  acceflion  of 
 Gentiles  had  augmented  the  Chriftian  church.  It 
 feems  probable  that  he  publifhed  his  Gofpel  in 
 Greece.  The  place,  time,  and  manner  of  his  dea.t}i 
 are  not  ascertained. 
 
 The 
 
 (g)  See  Col.  iv.  14.  Philemon,  24.  and  various  paffages  in 
 the  Ads  of  the  Apoftles,  which  prove  St.  Luke  to  have  been 
 with  St.  Paul  in  his  travels  through  many  different  countries. 
 
 (h)  2  Cor.  viii.   18. 
 
120  THE    BOOKS    Ot 
 
 The  Gofpel  of  Saint  John,  the  peculiarly  favoured 
 apoftle  of  Chrift,  is  univerfally  admitted  to  have 
 been  compofed  fubfequently  to  the  other  three  (/'). 
 It  was  written  in  Afia,  and  with  an  efpecial  defign 
 to  refute  certain  heretical  opinions  concerning  the 
 nature  of  Chrift,  with  which  the  fenfelefs  and  irreli- 
 gious philofophy  of  the  Gnoftics  had  by  that  time 
 infected  the  Chriftian  world.  In  another  refpect 
 alfo  it  is  particularly  interefting  :  as  by  reciting  at 
 length  fome  mod  impreffive  difcourfes  of  our  Savi- 
 our when  in  private  with  his  twelve  difciples,  it 
 feems  to  render  us  more  familiarly  acquainted  with 
 his  holmefs,  with  his  love  for  his  followers  and  for 
 mankind,  and  with  the  other  virtues  of  his  heart. 
 Saint  John,  who  according  to  the  teftimony  of  anti- 
 quity, had  perufed,  as  indeed  we  might  conclude 
 without  any  fpecific  evidence,  the  three  preceding 
 Oofpels,  confirms  them  by  his  tacit  alTent ;  and 
 confines  himfelf  chiefly  to  circumftances  which  they 
 had  not  mentioned,  or  which,  if  mentioned  by  them, 
 furnifhed  him  with  an  opportunity  of  fubjoining  an 
 important  addition.  Like  his  predeceffors,  he  ex- 
 plains Jewifh  rites  and  occurrences  for  the  informa- 
 tion of  his  Gentile  readers.  St.  John  refided  during 
 the  latter  part  of  his  life  at  Ephefus ;  having  the 
 cpifcopal  fuperintendence  of  that  city,  and  of  others 
 in  the  neighbouring  part  of  Afia  Minor  :  and  died 
 there  in  a  very  advanced  age. 
 
 The  A&s  of  the  Apoftles  were  confelTedly  written 
 by  St.  Luke :  and  probably  foon  after  the  expira- 
 tion 
 
 (f)  Bifhop  Percy  (in  his  Key  to  the  New  Teftament,  p.  8.1.}, 
 feems  to  demonftrate  that  it  was  written  in  A.  D.  69. 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  121 
 
 tipn  of  that  refidence  of  St.  Paul  at  Rome  during 
 two  years,  with  an  account  of  which  the  hiflory, 
 comprehending  a  period  of  about  thirty  years  after 
 the  afcenfion  of  Chrift,  terminates.  After  reciting 
 the  early  augmentation  of  the  Chriftian  church  at 
 Jerufalem  in  confequence  of  the  promifed  defcent  of 
 the  Holy  Ghoft  on,  the  apoflles :  and  the  eftablifh- 
 ment  of  the  right  of  the  Gentiles  to  all  the  privi- 
 leges of  the  Gofpel  covenant,  demonftrated  by  the 
 million  of  St.  Peter  to  Cornelius,  and  its  attendant 
 circumftances ;  St.  Luke  reftricls  his  narration  al- 
 moft  exclufively  to  the  labours  of  St.  Paul,  whofe 
 ■violence  againft  the  Chriltians  during  the  perfecu- 
 $ion  which  began  with  the  death  of  Stephen,  toge- 
 ther with  the  miraculous  converfion  of  the  enemy 
 into  the  preacher  of  Chriftianity,  he  had  previoufly 
 recorded.  After  mentioning  the  preaching  of  St. 
 Paul  for  a  year  at  Antioch  in  Syria,  St.  Luke  re- 
 cords three  diftincl;  and  very  extenfive  journies  of 
 the  great  apoftle  of  the  Gentiles.  The  firft,  begun 
 from  Antioch,  in  obedience  to  the  exprefs  direction 
 of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  about  A.  D.  45.  and  occupying 
 the  fpace  of  two  years,  included  the  Ifle  of  Cyprus, 
 Pamphylia,  Pifidia,  and  Lycaonia.  The  fecond, 
 after  an  interval  in  which  Paul  had  been  fent  with 
 Barnabas  to  Jerufalem  to  confult  the  other  apoflles 
 reflecting  the  afferted  obligation  of  the  Gentile  con- 
 verts to  receive  the  Mofaic  law,  was  undertaken 
 from  Antioch  alfo  about  A.  D.  50  ;  and  compre- 
 hended Cilicia,  Lycaonia,  Phrygia,  Galatia,  Myfia, 
 Macedonia,  Athens,  Corinth,  in  which  city  he  re- 
 sided eighteen  months,  and  Ephefus.     He  reached 
 
 Antioch 
 
122  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 Antioch  after  an  abfence  of  three  years.  After  a 
 fhort  flay  there,  he  commenced  his  third  journey, 
 the  laft  before  his  imprifonment  at  Rome  ;  revifit- 
 ing  Phrygia,  Galatia,  Ephefus,  (in  which  city  he 
 continued  during  two  years,)  Troas  (/),  Macedo- 
 nia, Corinth :  and  returning  by  the  way  of  Mace- 
 donia, Troas,  Aflbs,  Mitylene,  Miletus,  whence  he 
 failed  to  Tyre,  and  proceeded  to  jerufalem,  and 
 arrived  there  at  the  feaft  of  Pentecoft,  A.  D.  58.  St. 
 Luke  was  his  faithful  affociate  in  many  parts  of  thefe 
 laborious  and  dangerous  expeditions  by  fea  and 
 land  (*). 
 
 To  the  genuinenefs,  the  authenticity,  and  the  in- 
 fpiration  of  thefe  hiftorical  books  the  Chrillian 
 writers,  who  lived  at  and  near  the  period  of  their 
 publication,  bear  decifive  teftimony.  Barnabas, 
 one  of  the  companions  of  St.  Paul  (/),  in  a  fingle 
 epiftte  yet  remaining,  quotes  the  Gofpel  of  St.  Mat- 
 thew, and  quotes  it  as  facr.ed  fcripture  (ni).  Cle- 
 ment of  Rome,  another  of  the  companions  of  the 
 fame  apoflle  («)  quotes  it  with  the  higheft  refpect ; 
 and  alfo  the  Gofpel  of  St.  Luke.  Hermas,  incon- 
 teftably  a  writer  of  the  earliefl  Chriftian  antiquity, 
 and  ufually  fuppofed  to  be  the  Hermas  mentioned 
 
 by 
 
 ij)   2  Cor.  ii.  12,  13. 
 
 {k)   A&s,  xvi.  11.  xx.  5,  &c  &c. 
 
 (/)  See  A&s,  xi.  to  xv.  inclufively. 
 
 (m)  The  teftimonies  of  the   Fathers  to  the  feveral  books  of 
 
 the  New  Teftament  are  recited  at  length  by  Dr.  Lardner  :  and 
 
 from  his  work  a  judicious  compendium  of  the   principal  attefta- 
 
 tions  is  given  in  Dr.  Paley's  View  of  the  Evidences  of  ChriftL 
 
 nity. 
 
 (n)   Phil.  iv.  3. 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  123 
 
 jby  St.  Paul,  manifeftly  alludes  to  the  two  Gofpels 
 already  named,  and  alfo  to  that  of  St.  John ;  and 
 probably  to  the  A6ts  of  the  Apoftles.  Ignatius, 
 who  became  biihop  of  Antioch  about  thirty-feven 
 years  after  the  afcenfion  of  Chrift,  repeatedly  alludes 
 to  the  Gofpels  of  Matthew  and  John.  Polycarp, 
 who  had  converfed  with  many  perfons  who  had  feen 
 pur  Saviour,  had  himfelf  been  inftru&ed  by  the 
 Apoftles,  and  was  by  them  appointed  bifhop  of 
 Smyrna,  alludes  to  the  Gofpel  of  St.  Matthew  and 
 perhaps  to  that  of  St.  Luke,  and  certainly  to  the 
 Acts,  in  a  letter  yet  extant ;  which,  though  very 
 fhort,  contains  nearly  forty  clear  allufions  to  the 
 books  of  the  New  Teftament,  particularly  to  the 
 writings  of  St.  Paul.  Papias,  who  was  a  hearer  of 
 St.  John,  and  the  companion  of  Polycarp,  fpeaking 
 of  the  Gofpels  of  St.  Matthew  and  St.  Mark,  men- 
 tions them  in  a  manner  which  fhews  that  their  ge- 
 nuinenefs  was  a  fad  which  had  long  been  recognifed. 
 Let  it  be  obferved  that  all  the  witnefies  already 
 quoted  had  lived  and  converfed  with  fome  of  the 
 apoftles :  and  that  by  one  or  more  of  them  attefta- 
 tion  is  thus  given  to  each  of  the  five  hiftorical  books 
 of  the  New  Teftatament.  Juftin  Martyr,  about 
 twenty  years  after  Papias,  quotes  all  the  four  Gof- 
 pels and  the  Acts ;  and  refers  to  them  as  books  of 
 Holy  Scripture.  Of  the  writings  of  Hegefippus, 
 who  lived  about  thirty  years  afterwards,  fome  frag- 
 ments are  preferved ;  and  in  them  he  quotes  the 
 Gofpel  of  St.  Matthew,  and  apparently  refers  to  the 
 other  Gofpels  and  the  Acts.  An  epiftle,  of  the 
 lame   period,   and   ftill  extant,    addrefled   to   the 
 
 churches 
 
124  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 churches  of  Afia  and  Phrygia  by  the  Gallican 
 churches  of  Vienne  and  Lyons,  whofe  bifhop  Pothi- 
 nus,  then  ninety  years  old,  had  lived  in  the  days  of 
 St.  John,  refers  diftincfcly  to  the  Gofpels  of  Luke 
 and  John,  and  to  the  Acts.  Irenseus,  fucceflbr  of 
 Pothinus  and  the  difciple  of  Polycarp,  who  had  been 
 inftrucfed  by  St.  John,  affirms  in  the  moll  pofitive 
 and  diftinct  manner  the  genuinenefs  and  the  Divine 
 authority  of  the  four  Gofpels  and  of  the  A£ts.  If  it 
 ■were  necelfary  to  continue  the  line  of  teftimony 
 lower,  Theophilus  bifliop  of  Antioch,  and  the  co- 
 temporary  of  Irenasus;  Clement  of  Alexandria,  who 
 Sourimed  fixteen  years  afterwards,  (A.  D.  190); 
 Tertullian  of  Carhage,  who  followed  Clement  (A. 
 D.  200)5  Origen  of  Alexandria,  (A.  D.  230),  and 
 Eufebius  of  Caefarea,  (A.  D.  315),  with  numerous 
 intermediate  writers  of  inferior  note,  might  be  pro- 
 duced as  corroborating  in  their  different  countries 
 ihefe  fundamental  truths  (<?). 
 
 The  order  of  the  propofed  examination  of 
 the  books  of  the  New  Teftament  now  leads 
 us  to  the  Epiftles.  Of  thefe  Epiftles,  the  greater 
 number  was  addrefied  to  particular  churches  or 
 to  particular  perfons.  Thofe  which  are  not  of 
 that  defcription  are  denominated  Catholic,  or 
 univerfal.  Of  the  former  Epiftles  fourteen  were 
 written  by  St.  Paul.  He  was  peculiarly  the  apoftle 
 of  the  Gentiles.     He  began  in  no  long  period  after 
 
 his 
 
 (o)  It  ought  to  be  recolle&ed  that  all  the  teftimonies  which 
 have  been  produced  in  this  paragraph  from  the  days  of  the  apof- 
 tles  to  Eufebius  are  independent  of  each  other,  "as  well  as  that 
 the  perfons  who  thus  concur  in  one  confident  account  lived  ia 
 widely  feparated  regions. 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT*  125 
 
 his  converfion  to  extend  his  labours  into  countries 
 far  diflant  from  Judaea  ;  which,  until  the  deftruc- 
 tion  of  Jerufaiem,  was  the  principal  fcene  of  the  ml- 
 niflry  of  the  apoflles.  And  though  it  was  regularly 
 his  practice,  whitherfoever  he  came,  to  addrefs  him- 
 felf  in  the  firfl  inflance  to  the  Jews  ;  their  incredu- 
 lity and  oppofition  commonly  was  fuch  as  foon  to 
 compel  him  to  direct  his  endeavours  almofi:  exclti- 
 fively  to  the  Gentiles.  It  not  unfrequently  hap- 
 pened that  the  churches,  which  were  thus  planted 
 in  different  parts  of  Europe  and  Alia  by  the  apoille^ 
 were  diffracted  after  his  departure  by  novel  teachers,, 
 who  came  among  them  ;  or  were  perplexed  by  re- 
 ligious doubts  ariling  from  local  circumftances  and 
 events.  For  the  removal  of  thefe  difficulties  they 
 occafionally  confulted  their  original  intruder. — - 
 Many  of  the  Epiftles,  or  letters,  of  St.  Paul  were 
 written  in  reply  to  letters  of  this  nature,  which  lie 
 had  received  from  particular  churches :  or  were 
 addreffed  by  him  fpontaneoufly  to  fome  particular 
 church  in  confequence  of  the  information  whicli 
 he  had  received  refpecting  the  animoiities,  the  cul- 
 pable practices,  or  the  erroneous  doctrines  which 
 prevailed  there.  They  were  in  many  cafes  difpatch- 
 ed  by  fpecial  meffengers  of  diftinguifhed  character 
 in  the  Chriftian  miniftry  ;  who  were  commiflioned 
 by  Saint  Paul  to  rectify  what  was  amifs  in  conjunc- 
 tion with  the  elders  of  the  church.  In  fuch  a  cor- 
 refpondence  we  mud  expect  to  meet  with  fome  ob- 
 fcurities,  arifing  from  brief  references  to  prejudices 
 and  opinions  then  afloat,  with  which  wre  are  imper- 
 fectly acquainted,  and  allufions  to  local  incidents  to 
 
 us 
 
12$  THE   BOOKS   0# 
 
 us  wholly  unknown.     The  principal  caufe  howcvef 
 which  troubled  the  newly  eftablifhed  churches  ii 
 evident.     It  was  the  arrival  of  Jewifh  Chriftians 
 jealous  for  the  honour  of  the  Mofaic  law  ;  and  pe- 
 remptory  in  requiring  the  converted  gentiles  to  fub- 
 mit  to  all  the  inftitutions  of  that  law  in  addition  to 
 the  GofpeL     The  Jewifh  people*  feparated  by  thd 
 Divine   command  and  by  their  peculiar  rites  and 
 ufages  from  the  reft  of  mankind  ;  elated  by  the 
 lignal  marks  of  favour  conferred  upon  them  by  the 
 Supreme  Being,  which    they  began   to  regard  as 
 proofs  of  their  own  pre-eminent  merit ;  and  proudly- 
 unwilling  to  difcern  that  their  fore-fathers  had  been 
 entrufted  with  the  oracles  of  God,  and  diftinguifhed 
 by  a  fpecial  difpenfation,  for  the  benefit,  not  merely 
 of  themfelves  and   their   defeendents,    but  of  the! 
 whole  human  race  ;  regarded  all  other  nations  with 
 contempt  and  abhorrence  as  impure,  profane,  and 
 ©utcafts  from  the  mercy  of  Heaven.     Though  fd 
 many  of  the  ancient  prophets  had  announced  that 
 the  Meffiah   fhould  bring  falvation  to  all  the  inha- 
 bitants of  the  earth  \  though  Simeon  had  proclaim* 
 ed  him,  when  prefented  in  the  Temple,  "  a  light  td 
 "  lighten  the  Gentiles  (q)  :"    though  our  Savioutf 
 himfelf  whofe  perfonal  miffion  was  confined  to  ic  the 
 "  loft  fheep  of  the  Houfe  of  Ifrael  (r),"   had  re- 
 peatedly intimated  that   the  Gentiles  were  a  part  of 
 his  flock  ;  and  had  charged  the  difciples,  in  his  laft 
 inftructions,  to  "  go  and  baptize  all  nations,  and 
 "  preach  the   Gofpel   to  every  creature  (j)  :"  the 
 
 very 
 
 (q)  Luke,  1.32.  (r)   Matt,  xv.'  24.  . 
 
 (j)  Matt,  xxviii.  19.     Mark,  xvi.  15. 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  127 
 
 very  apoftles,  no  lefs  than  their  immediate  affociates, 
 continued  for  fome  time  after  the  afeenfion  of 
 Chrift,  under  the  influence  of  the  prepoffeffions 
 which  governed  their  countrymen;,  When  St.  Pe- 
 ter, in  obedience  to  the  fpecial  command  of  God^ 
 vifited  the  Gentile  Cornelius ;  he  unequivocally  de- 
 clared that  without  that  command  he  mould  not 
 have  thought  himfelf  authorised  to  enter  into  the 
 centurion's  houfe  (7).  When,  on  the  preaching  of 
 Peter,  "  the  Holy  Ghoft  fell  on  all  them  which 
 "  heard  the  word  ;  they  of  the  circumeifion,  which 
 "  believed,  were  aftonifhed,  as  many  as  came  with 
 "  Peter,  becaufe  that  on  the  Gentiles  alfo  was 
 "  poured  out  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  («)."  On 
 St.  Peter's  return  to  Jerufalem,  he  was  ftri&Iy  re- 
 prehended by  the  apoftles,  who  had  heard  an  indif- 
 tin£t  account  of  his  journey  to  Caefareaj  for  having 
 afiociated  and  eaten  with  Gentiles  (i;)*  And  when. 
 in  his  own  vindication  he  recounted  the  events 
 which  had  preceded  and  thofe  which  had  attended 
 his  miflion  to  Cornelius  ;  they  exclaimed  with  afto- 
 nifhment :  "  then  hath  God  alfo  to  the  Gentiles 
 "  granted  repentance  unto  life  (w)  !"  They  how- 
 ever, being  filled  with  the  Chriftian  fpirit  of  univer- 
 fal  benevolence,  "  glorified  God  (#)"  for  his  exten- 
 fion  of  his  mercy  in  Chrift:  to  all  mankind.  The 
 ufual  temper  of  Jewifh  converts  was  very  different. 
 They  received  the  doctrine  with  extreme  repug- 
 nance ;  and  when  they  could  no  longer  withftand 
 
 it 
 
 (/)  A&8,  x.  28,  29. 
 
 (»)  Ads,  x.  44,  45.  (v)  A&s.  x>.  2. 
 
 (w)  A&s,xi.  18.  (x)  Ibid. 
 
128  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 it,  endeavoured  to  uphold  the  Mofak  law  in  its  pri* 
 mitive  eminence,  by  contending  that  although  the 
 Gentiles  were  indeed  admimble  into  the  Chviftian 
 covenant,  the  law  of  Mofes  muft  be  alfo  accepted 
 and  punctually  obeyed  by  them  as  an  indifpenfable 
 condition  of  their  Salvation.  In  almoft  every  place 
 where  a  church  was  fettled  by  Saint  Paul,  he  was 
 followed,  as  foon  as  his  abfence  furnifhed  the  oppor- 
 tunity, by  teachers  of  this  description :  men  who, 
 partly  from  an  ardent  defire  to  eftablifh  their  favour- 
 ite tenet,  partly  from  interefted  views,  and  an  am* 
 bitious  eagernefs  for  distinction,  vilified  and  tra- 
 duced the  character  of  the  apoftle,  reprefenting  him 
 as  unacquainted  with  the  eflentials  of  Chriftianityj 
 the  ignorant  teacher  of  an  imperfect  Gofpel.  When 
 St.  Paul,  by  virtue  of  his  divine  commiffion,  pro- 
 claimed the  total  abolition  of  the  ceremonial  law,  as 
 to  Jews  as  well  as  Gentiles ;  and  loudly  called  on 
 his  converts  of  the  latter  clafs  to  (land  fall  in  the 
 liberty  with  which  Chrifl  had  made  them  free ;  the 
 indignation  of  the  Judaizing  teachers  encreafed  to 
 inveterate  hatred  againfl:  him  ;  and  difplayed  itfelf 
 in  every  poffible  fhape  (j). 
 
 The 
 
 (y)  From  the  A&s  of  the  Apoftles  and  the  writings  of  St. 
 Paul  it  may  be  collected,  that  the  doctrine  of  the  admiffibility  of 
 the  Gentiles  to  an  equal  participation  with  the  Jews  of  the  pri« 
 vileges  of  the  Gofpel  covenant,  was  one  of  the  circumftances 
 which  moft  powerfully  exafperated  the  unconverted  Jews  againfl: 
 Cluiftianity  and  againft  St.  Paul.  Thus,  when  in  making  his 
 defence  at  Jerufalem  before  the  people  (Ads,  xxi.)  he  recounted 
 the  miraculous  manner  of  his  converfion  to  faith  in  Chrifl,  the 
 Jews  liitened  to  him  with  calmnefs.     But  when  he  added  that 
 
 the 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  I  29 
 
 The  firfl  of  the  Epiftles  according  to  the  feries  in 
 which  they  are  difpofed  in  our  Bibles ;  a  feries  re- 
 gulated by  attention'  to  the  fuppofed  rank  of  the 
 churches  or  individuals  addreffed  rather  than  to  ac- 
 curacy of  chronological  arrangement,  is  that  of  St. 
 Paul  to  the  Romans.     To  the  city  of  Rome  Chriiti- 
 anity  had  been  conveyed  not  by  any  man  of  apofto- 
 lical  authority  ;  but  probably  by  converts  drawn  by 
 their  own  private  concerns   from  diftant  countries 
 to  the  capital  of  the  empire.     But,  however  intro- 
 duced, it  had  made  a  rapid  and  efficacious  progrefs. 
 Of  the   celebrity   of  the   Roman   church  St.  Paul 
 fpeaks  in  this  Epiflle  (z),  which  he  wrote  from  Co- 
 rinth, and  as  appears  from  a  comparifon  of  different 
 circumftances,  A.  D.    58,   to  confirm   the   Roman 
 converts  in    the  true  faith  ;    and    particularly   to 
 guard  them  againft  the  errors  of  Judaizing  inftrucl:- 
 ors,  and  to  place  the  Gentile  difciple  on  a  level  in 
 every  particular  with  his  Jewifh  brethren.     Saint 
 Paul  demonftrates  at   great  length,   that  the  Jews 
 and  the   Gentiles  were  equally  in   want  of  a   Re- 
 deemer :  alike  expofed  to  the  wrath  of  God  ;  the 
 latter  by  their  grievous   fins  againft   their  natural 
 confcience ;  the  former  by  their  violation  of  the 
 
 K  Mofarc 
 
 the  Lord  faid  unto  him,  '«  Depart ;  for  I  will  fend  thee  far  hence 
 **  unto  the  Gentiles  ;"  at  that  word  they  inftantly  broke  forth 
 into  uproar,  caft  off  thtir  clothes,  threw  duft  into  the  air,  cried 
 out  "  Away  with  fuch  a  fellow  from  the  earth  :  for  it  is  not  fit 
 "  that  he  mould  live  :"  and,  bad  it  not  been  for  the  intervention 
 of  the  Roman  officer  and  his  band  offoldiers,  would  have  torn 
 the  apoftle  to  pieces. 
 
 («)  Rom.  i.  §. 
 
13°  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 Mofaic  covenant,  and  by  the  very  nature  of  that 
 covenant  itfelf ;  which,  promifing  juftification  only 
 to  finlefs  obedience,  was  inefficacious  to  fave  tranf- 
 greffors,  and  referred  by  its  types  to  the  perfect 
 atonement  of  Chrift.  At  the  fame  time  he  com- 
 pletely vindicates  the  wifdom  and  the  goodnefs  of 
 the  Supreme  Being  againft  objections  which  might 
 be  occafioned  by  this  account  of  the  imperfection  of 
 the  Mofaic  law :  and  proves  that  from  the  days  of 
 Abraham  the  falvation  of  the  Gentiles  through  faith 
 in  Chrifl:  was  predetermined  and  foretold.  He  tef- 
 tifies  very  warm  affection  for  his  unbelieving  coun- 
 trymen the  Jews ;  and  predicts  their  'final  conver- 
 fion  and  reftoration.  He  interweaves  among  his 
 doctrinal  inftructions  many  practical  leifons  of  piety, 
 and  morality  ;  inculcates  the  duty  of  confcientious 
 obedience  to  lawful  magistrates ;  and  earnestly  ex- 
 horts all  the  members  of  the  church,  Jews  and  Gen- 
 tiles, to  unity  and  brotherly  love. 
 
 St.  Paul's  firft  Epiftle  to  the  Corinthians,  great 
 numbers  of  whom  he  had  converted  during  a  refi- 
 dence  of  eighteen  months  in  their  city,  appears  from 
 internal  marks  to  have  been  written  from  Ephefus5 
 A.  D.  56,  about  three  years  after  he  had  left  Co- 
 rinth. The  apoftle  vindicates  his  own  character 
 againft  the  calumnies  of  Judaizing  teachers ;  and, 
 after  praifing  the  Corinthians  on  fome  accounts, 
 feverely  reproves  them  for  various  inftances  of  mif- 
 conduct.  He  then  proceeds  to  anfwer  certain  quef- 
 tions  refpecting  marriage,  the  ufe  of  meats  offered 
 to  idols,  and  other  points  concerning  which  the  Co- 
 jjiuhian  church  had  confulted  him  by  letter  :  cen- 
 
 fures 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  131 
 
 fures  the  grofs  irreverence  manifefted  in  their  mode 
 of  celebrating  the  Lord's  fupper :  explains  the  di- 
 verfity  of  fpiritual  gifts  bellowed  by  the  Holy  Ghoft: 
 exhorts  to  unity  and  charity :  and  delivers  a  moft 
 impreffive  leffon  on  the  refurrection  of  the  dead,  a 
 truth  which  by  fome  was  allegorized  or  denied. 
 
 About  a  year  afterwards  St.  Paul,  then  in  Mace- 
 donia, having  received  from  Titus,  tfcfc  bearer  of  the 
 preceding  epiftle,  an  account  of  the  refpectful  atten- 
 tion with  which  the  injunctions  contained  in  it  had 
 been  obeyed  at  Corinth,  and  of  the  warm  attach- 
 ment of  the  great  body  of  the  church  to  the  apoftle, 
 addreffes  a  fecond  letter  to  the  Corinthians.  Among 
 other  points  he  enlarges  in  the  ftrongeft  terms  on 
 the  joy  which  he  derived  from  this  intelligence,  and 
 on  his  ardent  affection  for  his  repentant  converts  : 
 vindicates  himfelf  from  the  charge  of  inconfiftency 
 and  fkklenefs,  on  account  of  not  having  yet  fulfilled 
 his  known  purpofe  of  vifiting  them  again  :  dilates 
 on  the  glorious  office  of  a  minifter  of  Chrifl :  re- 
 futes the  malignant  imputations  of  his  Judaizing 
 opponents ;  and  zealoufly  excites  the  Corinthian 
 church  to  godlinefs,  to  purity  of  life,  and  to  liberality 
 in  contributing  to  the  relief  of  the  diftreffed  Chris- 
 tians in  Judaea. 
 
 Galatia  was  a  country  of  Afia  Minor.  St.  Paul 
 appears,  from  the  hiftory  in  the  Acts,  to  have  preach- 
 ed there  A.  D.  51,  and  again,  A.  D.  53  (a).  The 
 Epiftle  was  probably  written  in  the  interval  between 
 thefe  two  vifits  ;  as  he  fpeaks  at  the  commencement 
 of  his  letter  as  though  he  had  recently  been  among 
 
 K  2  them 
 
 («)  Afts,  xviii.  11, 
 
I32  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 them  (£),  yet  does  not  intimate  in  any  part  of  it 
 that  he  had  inftru&ed  them  twice.  It  was  evidently 
 occafioned  by  the  information  which  had  reached 
 St.  Paul  of  the  fuccefs  with  which  Judaizing  teachers 
 had  laboured  to  fubvert  his  own  credit  with  the 
 Galatian  converts,  and  to  bring  them  into  fubjeclion 
 to  the  Mofaic  law.  He  therefore  eftablifhes  in  the 
 firft  place  his  own  fpecial  appointment  from  Chrifl 
 to  the  office  of  an  apoftle,  and  to  a  perfect  equality 
 in  rank  and  authority  with  the  original  apoftles.  He 
 then  proceeds  to  fhew  that  the  Mofaic  law  was  in- 
 tended to  be  of  temporary  obligation,  and  to  ceafe 
 when  it  had  performed  its  office  of  preparing  the 
 way  for  the  coming  of  the  Meffiah :  that  it  was 
 thenceforth,  as  to  its  ceremonial  rites  and  ordinances, 
 totally  abolimed  (*)  :  and  that  to  look  to  it  for  fal- 
 yation  was  in  effect  to  renounce  all  reliance  on  re- 
 demption through  Jefus  Chrift.  He  concludes  with 
 various  pertinent  and  practical  admonitions. 
 
 Ephefus,  a  city  of  Ionia,  was  the  capital  of  the 
 whole  region  denominated  under  the  Roman  go- 
 vernment the  proconfular  Afia.  St.  Paul  had  efta- 
 blifhed  a  Chriftian  church  there  partly  in  the  year 
 A.  D.  53  ;  and  partly  in  a  fubfequent  refidence  of 
 two  years  beginning  A.  D.  54.  He  wrote  this  Epif- 
 tle  during  his  ftrft  imprifonment  (W)  at  Rome,  and 
 probably  about  A.  P..  61.  It  was  occafioned  by 
 the  intelligence  which  the  apoftle  had  received 
 concerning  the  (late  of  the  Ephefian  Church  (<?).  In 
 the  former  part  of  the  letter  he  affectionately  ex- 
 horts 
 
 (b)  Gal.  i.  6.  (0  Gal.  in.  iv. 
 
 (d)  Ephcf.  iv.  1.  vi.  20.  (f )  Ephef.  i.  15* 
 
THE    PW    TESTAMENT.  133 
 
 horts  the  Ephefians  to  ftedfaftnefs  in  the  genuine 
 doctrines  of  the  Gofpel,  and  enlarges  on  the  free 
 mercy  of  God  as  extended  to  the  Gentiles  :  inti- 
 mating that  his  zeal  in  upholding  the  Chriftian  pri- 
 vileges of  the  Gentile  converts  had  been  the  caufe 
 of  his  prefent  imprifonment  (/).  In  the  latter  part 
 he  delivers  many  practical  injunctions  ;  and  points 
 out  the  moral  duties  peculiarly  incumbent  on  indi- 
 viduals in  confequence  of  their  different  relative 
 fituations. 
 
 Philippi,  a  city  of  Macedonia,  was  vifited  by  St* 
 Paul,  A.  D.  51,  and  at  leaft  once  afterwards.  His 
 Chriftian  converts  there,  who  had  already  given -a 
 ftrong  proof  of  their  faithful  regard  for  him  (g), 
 hearing  of  his  imprifonment  at  Rome,  lent  one  of 
 their  number,  Epaphroditus,  to  fupply  his  pecuniary 
 Wants,  and  to  enquire  concerning  his  welfare.  By 
 his  hands  St.  Paul  returned  this  Epiftle,  which  ap- 
 pears to  have  been  written  (£)  after  a  residence  of 
 fome  length  at  Rome,  and  probably  about  A.  D.  62, 
 towards  the  clofe  of  his  imprifonment  (/').  It 
 abounds  in  expreffions  of  afFe&ion  for  the  Philip* 
 pians  ;  and  in  doctrinal  and  practical  exhortations, 
 fimilar  in  feveral  refpe&s  to  thofe  contained  in  the 
 Epiftle  to  the  Ephefians. 
 
 Coloffe  was  a  large  city  of  Phrygia  in  Afia  Minor, 
 which  has  been  thought  not  to  have  been  vifited  by 
 St.  Paul  himfelf  (£)  ;  but  to  have  received  the  Gof- 
 pel 
 
 (/)  Ephef.  iii.  1.     See  A&s,  xxii.  21,  &c. 
 
 (g)  Philipp.  iv.  15,  i-6.  {h)  Philipp.  n.  2$.  \l  jg. 
 
 («)  Philipp.  i.  12—17.  "•  23»  *4\ 
 
 (i)   CololT.  ii.  X. 
 
134  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 pel  through  the  preaching  of  his  "  dear  fellow-fer- 
 vant  Epaphras  (/)."  In  that  cafe  it  might  probably 
 be  to  confirm  by  the  fan&ion  of  his  own  apoftolical 
 authority  the  doctrine  preached  by  Epaphras  (ni), 
 that  St.  Paul  addreffed  his  Epiftle  to  the  Coloflians. 
 Yet  the  known  fad  of  St.  Paul  having  already  vifit- 
 ed  Phrygia  twice,  and  having  in  the  latter  journey 
 gone  over  all  the  country  in  order,  ftrengthening  the 
 difciples  («),  concurs  with  the  tenor  of  the  Epiftle 
 itfelf,  in  which  affection  and  authority  are  happily 
 blended,  to  confirm  the  fuppofition,  that  St.  Paul 
 had  originally  founded  the  church  at  ColofTe  ;  and 
 that  Epaphras  had  afterwards  laboured  with  fidelity 
 and  diligence  for  its  edification.  The  epiftle  was 
 written  during  the  apoftle's  imprifonment  at  Rome 
 (o).  And  the  ftriking  refemblance  which  in  many 
 paffages  it  bears  both  in  fentiment  .and  language  to 
 the  Epiftle  to  the  Ephefians,  affords  a  very  ftrong 
 prefumption  that  the  one-  epiftle  was  compofed  be- 
 fore the  train  of  thought  fuggefted  by  the  other 
 had  quitted  the  mind  of  the  writer.  They  appear 
 alfo  to  have  been  fent  by  the  fame  meffenger  (/>). 
 
 Theffalonica, 
 
 (/)  Col.  i.  7.  and  fee  iv.  12,  13. 
 
 (77?)  Epaphras,  who  was  himfelf  a  Colofiian,  and  was  now  at 
 Rome,  Coloff.  iv.  12, '13,  had  probably  been  fent  by  the  church 
 at  ColofTe  for  a  purpofe  fimilar  to  that  for  which  Epaphroditus 
 had  been  difpatched  by  the  Philippians.  We  find  afterwards, 
 Philem.  23,  that  he  was  imprifoned  as  well  as  St.  Paul ;  and  we 
 cannot  doubt  that  it  was  for  the  fame  caufe,  the  preaching  of  the 
 XJofpel  of  Chrift  to  the  Gentiles. 
 
 (a)  A&s,  xvi.  6.  xviii.  23.  (0)   Coloff,  iv.  3.  18. 
 
 (p)  Tychieus — Eph.vi.  21,22.  Coloff.  iv.  7 — 9.  Onefimus, 
 as  being  of  ColofTe,  is  joined  with  Tychieus  as  a  meffenger  to  that 
 city. 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  135 
 
 Thefifalonica,  the  chief  city  of  Macedonia,  had 
 been  vifited  A.  D.  51,  by  St.  Paul ;  who,  being 
 driven  away  after  a  fhort  refidence  by  a  perfecution 
 raifed  by  the  Jews  (5-),  had  foon  afterwards  fent  Ti- 
 mothy thither  (r)  again  from  Athens,  to  eftablifh 
 the  church.  Timothy  returned  to  St.  Paul  at  Co- 
 rinth (s)  ;  from  which  place,  probably  A.  D.  52, 
 that  apoftle  addreffed  his  firft  Epiftle  to  the  Thefla- 
 lonians.  Among  other  topics  which  he  introduces, 
 he  thanks  God  for  the  Chriftian  attainments  and 
 conduct  of  the  ThefTalonian  converts,  notwithstand- 
 ing the  oppofition  of  thofe  among  them  who  were 
 enemies  to  the  Gofpel :  dwells  on  his  own  affeftion 
 for  them  :  and  exhorts  them  not  to  faint  under  per* 
 fecution,  and  to  abound  more  and  more  in  Chrif. 
 tian  virtues,  efpecially  in  purity  :  intimates  that  to 
 defpife  his  admonitions  is  to  defpife  God,  by  whofe 
 infpiration  he  fpeaks :  warns  them  againft  immode- 
 rate forrow  for  the  dead  j  encourages  them  with  the 
 profpeft  of  the  refurreSion  ;  and  expatiates  on  the 
 fuddennefs  of  the  coming  of  Chrift. 
 
 The  exhortations  of  Saint  Paul  to  be  at  all  times 
 prepared  for  the  tribunal  of  Chriil  appear  to  have 
 been  in  part  mifunderftood  by  the  Theflalonlans ; 
 and  to  have  impreffed  them  with  the  opinion  that 
 the  diffolution  of  the  world,  and  the  day  of  judg- 
 ment were  at  hand.  To  correcT:  this  mifapprehen- 
 fion  feems  to  have  been  the  leading  objecl:  of  the 
 apoftle  in  his   fecond  letter  j  which  was  probably 
 
 written 
 
 (g)  Aas,xvii.  (r)   ,  Theff.  iil.    1,2. 
 
 (  s  )   Ads,  xviii.  5. 
 
I36  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 written  within  fome  few  months  after  the  former 
 He  inftru&s  them  that  before  the  arrival  of  that 
 awful  period  an  apoftafy  mould  take  place  in  the 
 church  of  Chrift,  under  the  influence  of  an  hoftile 
 potentate  figuratively  denominated  the  "  man  of 
 "  fin,  "  the  fon  of  perdition  ;"  whonrthe  apoflle 
 defcribes  as  exalting  himfelf  againfl  the  Divine 
 jurildiftion,  and  as  feating  himfelf  in  the  Temple 
 of  God,  and  ufurping  the  power  of  God  :  terms 
 which  clearly  denote  an  ecclefiaflical  power  alfum* 
 ing  to  itfelf  a  preminence  over  the  Chriflian  church, 
 and  a  right  to  fuperfede  and  abrogate  the  laws  of 
 the  GofpeL  St.  Paul  refers  the  Theflalonians  to  the 
 information  which,  when  prefent,  he  had  commu- 
 nicated to  them  refpecting  this  fubjeft  :  and  con- 
 cludes according  to  his  general  cuftom  with  fome 
 practical  admonitions. 
 
 Timothy,  the  difciple  and  companion  of  St.  Paul, 
 had  been  left  at  Ephefus  with  epifcopal  authority  to 
 quiet  the  diforders,  and  rectify  the  abufes,  preva- 
 lent in  the  church  of  that  city  (t).  To  inftrucl:  and 
 animate  him  in  the  execution  of  this  office  was  the 
 main  purpofe  of  the  firft  Epiftle  which  St.  Paul  ad,- 
 dreffed  to  him.  It  contains  many  directions  con- 
 cerning the  adminiftration  of  divine  worfhip,  the 
 government  of  the  church,  atd  the  qualifications  of 
 bilhops  and  other  miniflers  of  the  Gofpel :  pre- 
 dicts the  rife  and  fuecefs  ofapoftate  teachers  ;  and 
 folemnly  calls  on  Timothy  to  be  faithful  in  the  dif- 
 
 charge 
 
 (j)  1  Tim.  i.  3. 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  iff 
 
 charge  of  his  duty.  The  epiftle  was  probably  writ- 
 ten about  A.  D.  64.  (u) 
 
 St.  Paul,  when  he  wrote  his  fecond  Epiftle  to 
 Timothy,  was  evidenly  a  prifoner  at  Rome  (v). 
 This  imprifonment  appears  from  various  circumftan- 
 ces  not  to  have  been  that  which  is  recorded  in  the 
 conclufion  of  the  Acts  ;  but  a  fecond,  which  he  un- 
 derwent according  to  the  concurrent  voice  of  the 
 early  Chriftian  writers  before  his  martyrdom  under 
 Nero.  The  date,  therefore,  of  the  prefent  epiftle 
 was  probably  A.  D.  65.  Whether  Timothy  was  Hill 
 at  Ephefus  is  not  certain  :  but  he  appears  from  feme 
 paifages  in  the  epiftle  to  have  been,  if  not  there,  in. 
 the  neighbouring  parts  of  Alia.  The  topics  notic- 
 ed in  this  epiftle  are  of  the  fame  nature  with  fome 
 of  thofe  difcufied  in  the  former ;  and  the  exhortati- 
 ons to  Timothy  are  equally  folemn  and  affectionate. 
 Towards  the  conclufion  of  it  St.  Paul  fpeaks  with 
 triumphant  joy  of  his  own  approaching  difiblution9 
 and  of  the  profpect  of  his  eternal  reward. 
 
 Titus  was  a  Greek  converted  early  by  St.  Paul 
 (jw)  ;  who  had  now  left  him  in  Crete  to  fuperin- 
 tend  the  churches  with  epifcopal  power.  Neither 
 the  date  of  the  epiftle,  nor  the  place  whence  it  was 
 written  is  afcertained  \  but  it  feems  not  improbable 
 that  it  was  written  from  Greece,  and  about  A.  D. 
 
 64 
 
 («)  For  the  elucidation  of  the  controverted  date  of  thefe  two 
 epittles  to  Timothy  fee  Dr.  Paley's  Horse  Paulina:,  p.  323,  and 
 Bifliop  Pretyman's  Elements  of  Chriftian  Theology,  vol.  it.  p, 
 420,  &c. 
 
 (•u)  2  Tim.  i.  8.   16,  17. 
 
 (w)  Gal.  ii.   1 — 3.     Titus,  i.  45. 
 
I3S-  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 64.  The  prefent  office  of  Titus  refembled  that  of 
 Timothy  at  Ephefus.  Hence  many  of  the  directions 
 in  the  Epiflle  to  Titus  are  fimilar  to  thofe  contained 
 in  the  firft  Epiftle  to  Timothy.  The  Jewilh  eon- 
 Terts  among  the  Cretans  are  mentioned  by  St.  Paul 
 with  particular  cenfure. 
 
 Philemon,  to  whom  St.  Paul,  who  converted  him 
 to  the  Chriftian  faith  (x),  has  addreffed  an  epiflle, 
 was  an  inhabitant  of  Colofle  (y).  His  fervant 
 Onefimus  had  run  away  (%)  from  him  to  Rome-: 
 and  had  been  converted  by  St.  Paul,  then  a  prifon- 
 er  there.  St.  Paul  fent  him  back  to  Coiofife  as  the 
 bearer,  in  conjunction  with  Tychicus,  (a)  of  a  public 
 epiftle  to  the  church  in  that  city  ;  and  charged  in- 
 dividually with  a  private  letter  to  his  mafler,  written 
 with  force,  yet  with  fingular  delicacy,  and  admira- 
 bly calculated  to  conciliate  forgivenefs  for  One- 
 fimus. 
 
 It  has  been  doubted  both  in  ancient  and  in  mo- 
 dern times  whether  the  Epiftle  to  the  Hebrews  was 
 written  by  St.  PauL  This  epiftle  has  been  attri- 
 buted fucceffively  to  the  companions  of  the  apof- 
 tle,  St.  Luke,  Barnabas,  and  Clement.  But  the 
 weight  of  early  teftimony  is  in  favour  of  the  received 
 opinion,  which  afcribes  it  to  the  apoftle  himfelf. 
 
 And 
 
 («)   Philem.    19. 
 
 (y)  For  Onefimus,  his  fervant,  was,  Col.  iv.  9.  and  fo  was 
 Archlppu3,  Col.  iv.  17.  whom  St.  Paul  joins  in  the  beginning 
 of  his  letter  with  Philemon. 
 
 (a)  That  Onefimus  had  robbed  Philemon  has  been  afferted 
 on  the  authority  of  ver.  18  which  by  no  means  bears  out  fuch 
 a  conclufion.  (a)  Col.  iv.   7 — 9. 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  I39 
 
 And  that  opinion  is  confirmed  by  internal  evidence 
 furnifhed  by  the  letter.  It  was  written,  as  the  con- 
 cluding words  demonfirate,  from  Italy  ;  and,  as 
 various  paflages  which  fpeak  of  the  fervice  of  the 
 Jewifh  Temple  as  ftill  performing  (Jf)  evince,  before 
 the  deftru&ion  of  Jerufalem.  The  writer  defcribes 
 himfelf  as  having  been  in  bonds  (c)  for  the  caufe 
 of  the  Gofpel :  a  circumftance  which  renders  it  pro* 
 bable  that  the  date  of  the  epiftle  was  about  A,  D. 
 63,  after  St.  Paul  was  releafed  from  his  firft  impri- 
 sonment at  Rome.  It  was  addreffed  to  the  Jewilh 
 converts  of  Paleftine,  denominated  Hebrews  in  con- 
 tradiftinclion  (  d-)  to  the  Jews  of  Greece  and  other 
 regions.  Refiding  in  the  very  country  which  had 
 been  the  fcene  chofen  for  the  eftabliftiment  of  the 
 Mofaic  ritual,  and  furrounded  by  an  hoftile  multi- 
 tude of  unconverted  Jews  ;  the  Chriftian  difciples  of 
 that  race  were  under  peculiar  temptations,  if  not  to 
 apoftatife  from  the  faith  of  Chrift,  yet  to  debafe  it 
 by  additions  borrowed  from  Judaifm.  St.  Paul 
 therefore  opens  his  epiftle  with  defcribing  in  the 
 ftrongeft  and  mod  fublime  expreflions  the  Divine 
 nature  and  tranfcendent  dignity  of  Jefus,  the  Son  of 
 God.  He  then  enlarges  on  the  guilt  of  refufmg  to 
 believe  in  him  and  to  obey  him  ;  enforces  and 
 illuftrates  by  various  arguments  peculiarly  adapt- 
 ed to  have  weight  with  the  Jews,  the  fuperiority  of 
 the  unchangeable  priefthood  and  complete  atone- 
 ment of  Chrift  over  the  temporary  ineffectual  and 
 now  fuperfeded  Levitical  inftitutions.  By  the  ex- 
 ample 
 
 (b)  Heb.  vlil.  4.  ix.   25.  x.   11.  xiii.   :o, 
 
 (c)  x.  34.  (J;  A&a,  vu   1. 
 
14^  THE    BOOKS    OP 
 
 ample  of  the  ancient  patriarchs  and  prophets,  He 
 encourages  the  Hebrews  to  perfeverance  in  faith 
 and  patience  and  conftancy  under  the  perfeeutions 
 to  which  they  were  expofed. 
 
 St.  James,  who  addreifes  his  epiftle  "  to  the 
 6t  twelve  tribes  which  are  fcattered  abroad,"  was 
 one  of  the  twelve  apoftles.  He  is  denominated  by 
 St.  Mark,  "  James  the  Lefs  (>),"  to  diftinguim  him 
 from  the  other  apoftle  James,  the  brother  of  St* 
 John ;  and  was,  as  the  Scripture  informs  us,"  the 
 "  brother"  (a  Jewifh  appellation  for  any  near  kinf- 
 man)  "  of  Chrifl  (/)«"  He  feems  to  have  refided 
 eonftantly  at  Jerufalem,  and  to  have  been  a  perfon 
 of  eminent  diftinction  among  the  apoftles  (g)<  Ac- 
 cording to  the  account  of  Eufebius,  in  his  Ecclefi- 
 aftical  Hiftory^  he  was  put  to  death  in  a  tumult  by 
 the  unbelieving  Jews,  A.  D.  62  ;  and  is  thought 
 to  have  compofed  his  epiftle  not  long  before.     He 
 
 ftrenuoufly 
 
 (e )   Mark,  xv.  40. 
 
 (/)  Matt.  xiii.  55.  Mark  vi.  3.  St.  Paul  fpeaks,  Gal. 
 i.  xix.  of  "  the  apoftle  James,  the  Lord's  brother."  There  is 
 no  reafon  to  fuppofe  that  the  other  James  was  related  to  our  Sa- 
 viour. James  the  Lefs  is  thought  by  fome,  but  apparently  without 
 reafon,  to  have  been  the  fon  of  Jofeph  by  a  former  wife  antece- 
 dently to  his  marriage  with  the  Virgin  Mary.  But  as  Alpheus-, 
 the  father  of  James,  is  deemed  by  learned  enquirers  to  have  been 
 the  fame  perfon  with  Cleopas ;  and  as  the  wife  of  Cleopas  is 
 ilyled  the  filter  of  the  Virgin,  (John,  xix.  25. )  and  bore  the 
 fame  name  with  the  mother  of  James,  (Mark,  xv.  41.)  this 
 apoftle  appears  to  have  been  coufin-german  to  Chrift. 
 
 (#  )  A  els,  xii.  17.  (the  other  apoftle  James  was  already  put 
 to  death  by  Herod,  2.)  xv.  13.  xxi.  18.  1  Cor.  xv.  7. 
 Gal.   i.    19.   ii.  9.   12* 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  141 
 
 ftrenuoufly  exhorts  his  countrymen  to  ftedfaftnefs 
 under  perfecution,  and  to  holinefs  and  humility  ; 
 and  feverely  reprehends  the  animofities,  arrogance, 
 luxury,  and  vice  prevalent  among  them,  efpecially 
 among  the  rich.  He  alfo  dwells  on  the  true  nature 
 of  faith  ;  and  exerts  himfelf  with  great  earneftnefs 
 in  oppofition  to  the  doclrines  of  thofe  perfons,  who 
 mifunderftanding  the  import  of  St.  Paul's  arguments 
 refpecling  the  neceffity  of  faith  to  falvation,  had 
 inferred  and  taught  that  there  was  no-  neceflity  for 
 good  works, 
 
 St.  Peter  writes  his  firft  general  epiftle  "  to  the 
 *'  ftrangers  fcattered  throughout  Pontus,  Galatia, 
 *'  Cappadocia,  Alia,  and  Bithynia;"  countries  in. 
 which  he  has  faid  to  have  preached  the  Gofpel  in 
 the  latter  part  of  his  life.  Some  authors  confider 
 the  "  fcattered  ftrangers"  as  implying  excluiively 
 the  difperfed  Jewifh  converts.  And  others  conceive 
 the  terms  to  include  the  Gentile  Chriftians,  as  being 
 thinly  fpread  among  furrounding  idolaters:  and 
 as  abroad  all  Chriftians  may  with  equal  propriety 
 be  termed,  in  the  fubfequent  words  of  the  apoftle, 
 M  ftrangers  and  pilgrims  (Z>)"  upon  earth.  The 
 letter  was  written  from  "  Babylon  (i) j"  under 
 which  name  the  apoftle  is  generally  fuppofed  to 
 mean  Rome,  fp  denominated  by  St.  John  in  the 
 Revelations.  As  there  is  no  intimation  in  the  Acls 
 that  St.  Peter  was  at  Rome  antecedently  to  the  re- 
 leafe  of  St.  Paul,  A.  D.  63,  from  his  firft  imprifon- 
 ment  there ;  this  epiftle  was  probably  not  written 
 prior  to  that  year.  It  expatiates  on  the  full  atone- 
 ment 
 [b)   1  Peter,  ii.  11.  («)  1  Peter,  v.  13. 
 
142  ■     THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 ment  and  glory  of  Chrift ;  on  the  obligation  of 
 being  ready  to  fuffer  for  the  Gofpel ;  and  on 
 other  ChrifUan  duties,  general  and  particular,  en- 
 forced by  the  confideration  of  the  judgment  to 
 come. 
 
 The  date  of  the  fecond  Epiftle  of  St.  Peter  is  fix- 
 ed by  his  allufion  to  his  (k)  approaching  martyr- 
 dom ;  which  took  place  at  Rome  A.  D.  6y  ;  and, 
 as  Chrift  had  forewarned  him  (/),  by  crucifixion. 
 It  was  addrefled  to  the  fame  perfons  to  whom  the 
 former  had  been  written  (jn).  In  this  epiftle  he  fo- 
 lemnly  affirms,  as  (landing  on  the  brink  of  the  grave, 
 -$,he  truth  of  Chriftianity  ;  and  calls  on  the  believers 
 in  Chrift  to  advance  by  the  grace  of  God  from  one 
 virtue  to  another  towards  Chriftian  perfection.  He 
 predi&s  the  rife  of  heretical  teachers,  corrupt  in 
 their  lives  as  well  as  in  their  do&rine,  who  mould 
 introduce  the  moft  deteftable  tenets,  and  even 
 "  deny  the  Lord  who  bought  them;'*  and  mould 
 be  punimed,  like  the  finners  of  the  antediluvian 
 world,  with  the  exemplary  vengeance  of  Heaven. 
 In  reply  to  the  fcoffers  of  his  time,  he  gives  an  aw? 
 ful  defcription  of  the  future  deftruction  of  the 
 world  by  fire,  and  the  final  judgment  of  all  man* 
 kind  :  and  notices  the  perverfe  interpretations  affix- 
 ed to  parts  of  the  epiftles  of  his  "  beloved  brother 
 4C  Paul,"  whofe  epiftles  he  exprefsly  affirms  to  be 
 iacred  Scriptures.  He  probably  was  the  more  fo- 
 licitous  to  mention  that  apoftle  in  terms  of  the  high- 
 eft  and  moft  afFe&ionate  praife  :  as  knowing  that  in 
 
 one 
 
 (k)  2  Peter,!.   13,  14.  (/)  John,  n.   18,  19. 
 
 (tn)  1  Peter,  iii.   1, 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  143 
 
 one  inftance  his  own  timidity  and  weaknefs  had  been 
 juftly  reproved  by  St.  Paul  (n^  ;  and  that  the  Ju. 
 daizing  Chriftians  were  defirous  of  falfely  reprefent- 
 ing  himfelf  as  favourable  to  the  impofition  of  the 
 Mofaic  law  on  the  Gentile  converts. 
 
 Of  the  firft  Epiftle  of  St.  John  the  date  is  not 
 afcertained,  nor  the  place  whence  it  was  written. 
 It  contains  no  paflage,  which  feems  to  imply  that  it 
 was  addrefled  otherwife  than  to  Chriftians  in  gene- 
 ral. The  apoftle,  who  begins  by  affirming  his  own 
 knowledge  as  an  eye-witnefs  of  the  truth  of  the  Gof- 
 pel,  aflerts  the  pre-exiftence  and  incarnation  of  the 
 Son  of  God,  and  other  fundamental  doctrines  of 
 Chriftianity,  againft  the  Gnoflic  and  Cerinthian 
 herefies  which  already  prevailed.  He  likewife  de-r 
 livers  various  admonitions  to  the  performance  of 
 Chriflian  duties ;  and  particularly  to  the  mainte* 
 nance  of  univerfal  kindnefs  and  brotherly  love, 
 founded  on  gratitude  for  the  Divine  love  manifefte4 
 in  our  redemption. 
 
 The  fecond  Epiftle  of  St.  John  inculcates  the 
 fame  doctrines  as  the  former,  and  nearly  in  the  fame 
 terms.  From  thefe  circumftances  it  appears  to  have 
 been  written  about  the  fame  time.  It  is  not  known 
 who  "  the  lady"  was,  to  whom  it  is  addreffed. 
 
 Gaius,  whofe  hofpitality  to  minifters  of  the  Go& 
 pel  St.  John  applauds  in  his  third  Epiftle,  was  not 
 improbably  the  Gaius  of  Corinth,  whom  St.  Paul 
 ftyles  his  hoft,  and  that  of  the  whole  church  (o);~ 
 
 but 
 
 {»)   Gal.  ii.    II  — 16. 
 
 (0)  Romans,  x-vi.  23.     1  Cor.  i.   14, 
 
144  THE  B00KS  0F 
 
 but  that  point  is  uncertain.  Nor  is  the  date  of  the 
 epiftle  known. 
 
 Jude,  the  author  of  the  remaining  general  epif- 
 tle, was  the  "  Judas .,  not  Ifcariot,"  and  the  "  Ju- 
 *'  das,  fon  of  Alpheus,"  mentioned  in  the  Gofpels. 
 He  was  brother  to  James  the  Lefs,  and  nearly  rela- 
 ted to  our  Saviour.  Nothing  is  recorded  either  of 
 the  fcene  of  his  minifterial  labours,  or  of  the  time 
 and  manner  of  his  death.  His  epiftle  was  evidently 
 written  fubfequently  to  the  Epiftles  of  St.  Paul  to 
 Timothy  (p  ),  and  the  fecond  Epiftle  of  St.  Peter  ; 
 the  latter  of  which  he  clofely  copies,  after  having 
 earneftly  exhorted  Chriftians  to  contend  for  the  true 
 faith  as  originally  delivered  to  the  faints. 
 
 The  only  book  of  the  New  Teftament  which  re- 
 mains to  be  confidered,  belongs  to  the  prophetical 
 clafs  ;  and  is  denominated,  from  the  nature  of  its 
 contents,  the  Apocalypfe,  or  Book  of  Revelations, 
 It  was  written  by  St  John  in  the  Me  of  Patmos,  to 
 which  he  was  banifhed  in  the  reign,  as  Irenaeus  and 
 other  early  writers  affert,  of  Domitian.  It  contains, 
 after  a  moft  fublime  introductory  vifion,  a  defcription 
 of  the  exifting  ftate  of  the  Chriftian  churches  in 
 feven  cities  of  Afia  Minor,  under  the  epifcopal  juris- 
 diction of  St.  John ;  and  afterwards  an  emblema- 
 tical feries  of  prophetical  Revelations,  madowing 
 out  the  fortunes  of  the  church  of  Chrift  from  the 
 times  of  the  apoftle  to  the  day  of  judgment.  The 
 fulfilment  of  many  of   thefe  prophecies  has  been 
 
 indifputably 
 
 {p)  Compare  Jude,  17.  19.  with  1  Tim.  iv.  1. — 2  Tim- 
 in.   1.— -2  Pet.  iii-  3. 
 
the  new  Testament*  i$$ 
 
 indifputably  proved :  and  the  gradual  accomplifh- 
 ment  of  the  remainder  will  explain  parts  of  the  book 
 which  are  yet  obfcured,  and  add  new  evidence  to  the 
 truth  of  Chriftianity. 
 
 The  testimonies  borne  by  the  eariieft  Chriftiar* 
 Writers  to  the  Epiflles  and  to  the  book  of  Revelations 
 are  not  lefs  fatisfactory  than  thofe,  which  have  been 
 already  produced  in  fupport  of  the  Divine  authority 
 of  the  Gofpels  and  Acts  of  the  Apoftles.  The  prin- 
 cipal atteftations  afforded  to  the  Epiflles  of  St.  Paul 
 mall  be  mentioned  in  the  firft  place.  At  the  head 
 of  thefe  atteftations  muft  be  placed  the  noble  evi- 
 dence already  cited  as  given  to  thefe  Epiftles  by  St» 
 Peter,  who  unequivocally  ranks  them  among  the 
 facred  Scriptures  (§-).  Clement  of  Rome,  the  com- 
 panion of  St.  Paul,  quotes  paifages  from  the  Epiftle 
 to  the  Romans,  the  firft  Epiftle  to  the  Corinthians, 
 and  the  Epiftle  to  the  Hebrews :  mentioning  in  the 
 fecond  cafe  St.  Paul  as  the  author ;  in  the  others^ 
 citing  the  paffages  without  the  narnd  of  the  writer, 
 according  to  the  method  of  quoting  Scripture  pre- 
 valent among  the  early  Chriftians.  Ignatius  quotes 
 the  Epiftle  to  the  Ephefians.  Polycarp  cites  the 
 fame  Epiftle,  and  alfo  that  to  the  Philippians ;  and 
 refers  incidentally  to  fourteen  or  fifteen  books  of  the 
 New  Teftament,  among  which  are  ten  of  St.  Paul's 
 JEpiftles  ;  calling  them  in  general  terms  Holy  Scrip- 
 tures, and  oracles  of  the  Lord.  The  fhort  Epiftle 
 to  Philemon  is  in  fact,  the  only  one,  to  which  there 
 is  not  a  diftinct.  reference  in  the  fcanty  remains 
 which  have  reached  us  of  the  works  of  the  apofto- 
 
 L  licai 
 
 (y)   2  Peteiv  Hi.  15.  16. 
 
I46  THE    SOOKS    OF 
 
 lical  fathers;  that  is  to  fay,  of  thofe  Chriftian 
 writers,  who  lived  and  converfed  with  fome  of  the 
 apoftles.  It  is  fcarcely  neceffary  to  carry  down  the 
 line  of  teflimony  further.  It  may  however  be  add- 
 ed briefly,  omitting  fuch  writers  as  refer  only  to  few 
 of  St.  Paul's  Epiftles,  that  Juftin  Martyr  alludes  to 
 feven  of  them  :  Theophilus  of  Antioch  to  eight ; 
 Irenssus,  Clement  of  Alexandria,  and  Cyprian,  to 
 all  except  that  to  Philemon,  and  to  the  Hebrews : 
 Epiphanius  and  Auguftine  to  all  except  that  to  the 
 Hebrews:  and  Tertullian  (who  afcribes  indeed  the 
 laft  mentioned  Epiftle  to  Barnabas),  Origen,  Dio- 
 nyfius  of  Alexandria,  Eufebius,  Athanafius,  Jerome, 
 and  Chryfoftom,  to  every  one  of  the  fourteen  with- 
 out exception. 
 
 With  refpect  to  the  feven  remaining  Epiftles, 
 there  are  references  in  the  brief  writings  of  Clement 
 of  Rome  and  of  Hernias  to  that  of  St.  James,  to  the 
 firft  and  fecond  of  St.  Peter,  and  to  the  firfl  of  St. 
 John.  Polycarp  alfo  and  Irenasus  refer  to  the  fe- 
 cond and  fourth  of  thefe  :  Origen  and  Eufebius, 
 not  to  mention  other  feparate  teftimonies,  to  all  the 
 four.  The  fecond  Epiftle  of  St.  John  is  noticed  by 
 Irenseus,  Clement  of  Alexandria,  Origen,  Dionyfius 
 of  Alexandria.  The  third  is  fuppofed  to  be  noticed 
 by  Ignatius ;  and  is  exprefsly  mentioned  by  Origen, 
 Eufebius,  Cyril,  and  others.  The  Epiftle  of  Jude  is 
 quoted  by  Clement  of  Alexandria,  Tertullian,  Ori- 
 gen, Dionyfius  of  Alexandria,  and  the  fucceeding 
 fathers.  Of  the  feven  preceding  Epiftles,  five,  namely 
 thofe  of  James,  the  fecond  of  St.  Peter,  the  fecond 
 and  third  of  St,  John,   and  that  of  Jude,  were  not 
 
 acknow- 
 
THE    KEW    TESTAMENT.  I47 
 
 acknowledged  as  facred  Scriptures  by  the  Chriftian 
 church  fo  early  as  the  remaining  two.     The  tempo- 
 rary doubt  refpecling  the  Epiftle  of  St.  James  was 
 this :  whether  James,  the  firft  biihop  of  Jerufalem, 
 its  acknowledged  author,  was  the  fame  perfon  with 
 the  apoftle  James  the  Lefs,  or  only  his  cotemporary 
 (r).     The  fecond  and  third  Epiftles  of  St.  John, 
 being  addreffed   to   private  individuals,  were  for  a 
 time  not  generally  known  :  and  when  known,  there 
 was,  for  a  certain   time,  a  doubt  in  the  minds  of 
 fome,  whether  one  at  lead  of  them  might  not  have 
 been  written  by  a  prefbyter  of  Ephefus  of  the  fame 
 name  with  the  apoftle.     The  epiftle  of  Jude  was  re- 
 jected by  many,  as  we  learn  from   St.  Jerome,  in 
 confequence  of  its  containing  a  quotation  from  a 
 prophecy  (probably  traditional)  of  Enoch.     Per- 
 haps the  refemblance  which  this  Epiftle  bears  to  the 
 fecond  Epiftle  of  St.  Peter  might  render  that  alfo 
 fufpected.     All  thefe  doubts  however  were  by  due 
 enquiry  fatisfactorily  removed. 
 
 To  the  book  of  Revelations  the  atteftations  are 
 equally  decifive.  By  Juftin  Martyr  it  is  afcribed  to 
 St.  John  ;  and  alfo  by  Irenseus.  The  teftimony  of 
 the  latter  writer  has  particular  weight,- as  he  relates 
 that  he  had  received  an  explanation  of  a  paflage  in 
 the  Revelations  from  thofe  who  had  converfed  with 
 St,  John  the  author  :  in  which  declaration  he  pro- 
 bably alludes  to   his  own  inftructor  Polycarp,  who 
 
 L  2  had 
 
 (r)  The  antiquity  of  the  Epiftle  was  undoubted  ;  as  It  Is 
 found  in  the  Syriac  verfion,  which  was  made  within  the  firft 
 century  :  and  made  for  the  ufe  of  converted  Jews,  the  very  per» 
 fons  to  whom  the  Epiftle  of  St.  James  is  addreffed. 
 
14^  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 had  been  the  difciple  of  Saint  John.  Clement  of 
 Alexandria,  Tertullian,  Origen,  Cyprian,  and  many 
 fucceeding  fathers  concur  in  attributing  the  work  to 
 the  fame  apoflle.  In  fome  of  the  antient  catalogues 
 of  the  Scriptures  this  book  was  omitted  :  a  circum- 
 fiance  which,  when  the  early  tefti monies  already 
 recited  are  conftdered,  cannot  eafily  be  attributed  to 
 any  doubt  having  ever  been  entertained  refpecting 
 its  genuinenefs  or  authenticity  ;  but  was  probably 
 owing  to  its  being  regarded  as  lefs  adapted  than  the 
 other  Scriptures,  from  its  myfterious  nature,  for  ge- 
 neral ufe  in  the  churches. 
 
 In  addition  to  the  proofs  which  have  been  cited 
 in  theprefent  chapter  to  fubftantiate  the  authenticity 
 and  Divine  authority  of  the  New  Teftament,  the 
 attention  of  the  reader  is  requefted  to  the  following 
 facts  ;  which  Dr.  Lardner  and  other  learned  en- 
 quirers have  mdifputably  afcer  rained  by  tefti  monies 
 deduced  from  the-  remaining  works  of  the  early 
 Chriftian  writers.  The  Scriptures  were  very  foon 
 collected  into  one  diftinct  volume  (j).  They  were 
 regularly  diftinguifhed  by  the  terms  "  Holy,"  "  Di- 
 "  vine,"  and  other  fimilar  appellations.  They 
 were  publicly  read  and  expounded  in  Chriilian  af- 
 iemblies.  They  were  tranilated  into  various  lan- 
 guages, 
 
 (j)  Ignatius,  who  wasbifhopof  Antloch  A.  D.  73*  ufes  lan- 
 guage that  implies  this  to  have  been  the  cafe  in  his  time.  See 
 Paley's  Evidences,  v.  i.  (ift:  edit)  p.  283,  284.  Quadratusand 
 Irenasus  are  ftill  more  diilin&.  Melito,  bifhop  of  Sardis,  A.  D. 
 178.  proves  by  an  incidental  exprefllon  that  the  volume  of  Chrif- 
 tian  Scriptures  was  then  denominated  the  "  New  Tcftament." 
 It  was  atfirft  called  **  the  Gofpels  and  Apoftles." 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  I49 
 
 guages,  and  illuftrated  by  harmonies  and  commen- 
 taries. The  were  generally  appealed  to  as  decifive 
 by  contending  feds  of  Chriftians.  They  were  re- 
 garded by  the  enemies  of  Chriflianity  as  the  records 
 of  the  religion,  and  attacked  as  fuch.  The  feverai 
 books  were  arranged  in  regular  catalogues.  And 
 no  book  was  received  into  the  facred  canon  without 
 ample  enquiry  into  its  title  to  admiflion  :  an  enquiry 
 rendered  the  more  rigorous  by  the  exiftence,  tho' 
 not,  as  it  appears,  until  the  fecond  century  (7),  of 
 pretended  Gofpels  and  other  apocryphal  books,  to 
 which  the  reverfe  of  each  of  the  preceding  proposi- 
 tions may  be  diftinctly  applied.  "  Befides  our  Gof- 
 &  pels  and  the  Acts  of  the  Apoftles  no  Chrifliaa 
 P  hiftory,  claiming  to  be  written  by  an  apoftle  or 
 H  apoftolical  man,  is  quoted  within  three  hundred 
 *'  years  after  the  birth  of  Chrift,  by  any  writer  now; 
 ^  extant  or  known ;  or,  if  quoted,  is  not  quoted 
 &  with  marks  ofcenfureand  rejection  («).*'  They 
 were  rejected,  becaufe  they  had  no  evidence  in  their 
 favour  :  and  the  canonical  books  were  received,  be- 
 caufe the  evidence  in  their  favour  was  irrefiftible. 
 It  deferves  to  be  noticed  that  the  apocryphal  books 
 corroborate  the  credit  of  the  real  Scriptures.  Their 
 very  exiftence  indicated  that  real  Scriptures,  which' 
 they  imitated,  were  publicly  received.  They  fre- 
 quently profelfed  to  be  the  works  of  men  of  diftin- 
 guifhed  character  in  the  real  Scriptures.  They  af- 
 fumed  the  truth  of  the  facts  recorded  in  the  real 
 Scriptures  j    and   contained  no   contradictions    to 
 
 thofe 
 
 (/)  Paley's  Evid.  vol.  i.  p.  373. 
 {u)  Paley's  Evid.  vol.  i.p.  368. 
 
1$0     "  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 thofe  fa£te,  but  merely  ventured  to  accumulate  un- 
 authorifed  additions. 
 
 With  refpecl  to  the  nature  and  the  extent  of  in- 
 fpiration,  as  afforded  to   the  writers  of  the  New 
 Teftarnent,  I  would  refer  to  the  general  remarks 
 which  have  been  made  in  a  former   chapter  on  the 
 Infpiration  of  the  Jewifh  Scriptures.     The  argu- 
 ments in  the  prefent  chapter  which  have  tended  to 
 eftablifh  the  conclufion,  that  the  writers  of  the  New 
 Teftarnent  were infpired,  may  fitly  be  clofed  with  3, 
 brief  ftatement  of  the  evidence  which  the  Scriptures 
 themfelves  advance  or  fuggeft.     In  the  firft  place 
 then,  let  it  be  confidered  whether  it  is  not  a  thing  in 
 jtfelf  utterly  improbable  that  the  Supreme  Being, 
 after  having  ordained   that  the  religious  books  of 
 thofe  who  lived  under  the  introductory  Mofaic  dif- 
 penfation  mould  be  written   by  infpired  penmen, 
 mould  leave  the  Chriflian  world  to  depend  for  the 
 records  of  its  religion  on  uninfpired  authority.     In 
 the  next  place,  let  it  be  remembered  that  Chrifl,  in 
 addition  to  his  perfonal  inftruclions  antecedently  to 
 his  crucifixion,  and  to  thofe  delivered  in  the  forty 
 days  after  his  refurre&ion  during  during  which  he 
 continued  with  his  difciples,  "  fpeaking  of  the  things 
 '*  pertaining  to  the  kingdom    of  God  («)*"  Pr°- 
 mifed   them   "■  the  Comforter,"    the   Holy  Spirit, 
 "  the  Spirit  of  Truth,"  who  mould  teach  them  al| 
 things,  and  bring  all  things  to  their  remembrance, 
 whatsoever  Chrifl  had  faid  unto  them ;  and  mould 
 cuide  them  into  all  truth,  and  abide  with  them  for 
 
 ever 
 
THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  151 
 
 ever  (w).  The  aid  of  this  heavenly  Guide  was  af- 
 furedly  not  withheld  from  them,  when  they  were 
 engaged  in  delivering  written  inftruclions,  whether 
 in  the  form  of  Gofpels  or  of  Epiftles,  for  the  edifi- 
 cation of  the  Chriftian  church  to  the  end  of  time. 
 The  very  words  of  the  promife,  that  it  mould  abide 
 with  them  for  ever,  contradict  the  fuppofition  :  and 
 the  more  fo,  as  we  know  that  the  full  inspiration  of 
 the  Holy  Ghoft  was  fpecially  promifed  always  to 
 attend  them  on  a  lighter  occafion,  namely  when 
 they  were  to  make  their  defence  before  magistrates 
 (x).  Now  five  of  the  writers  of  the  New  Teftament 
 were  of  the  number  of  the  apoflles,  to  whom  all 
 thefe  promifes  were  personally  made.  Of  the  re- 
 maining three,  St.  Paul  repeatedly  afferts  his  own 
 infpiration,  and  his  equality  in  every  point  with  all 
 the  other  apoftles  (j).  With  refpect  to  the  others, 
 St.  Mark  and  St.  Luke,  we  cannot  conceive  that 
 God,  after  infpiring  the  writers  of  two  Gofpels, 
 would  leave  two  other  Gofpels  containing  additional 
 facts  concerning  the  life  of  Chrift,  and  alfo  a  very 
 important  hiftory  of  the  early  Chriftian  church,  to 
 be  written  by  uninfpired  men  :  nor  that  thefe  latter 
 writings  would  have  been  immediately  placed  on  a 
 level  with  the  former,  as  it  has  already  been  fhewn 
 that  they  were,  unlefs  the  early  Chriflians  had 
 known,  what  they  appear  to  have  unanimoufly  af- 
 
 ferted 
 
 (w)  John,  xiv.  16:7-26. 
 
 («)  Matt.  x.  19,  20.  Mark,  xiii.  1 1.  Luke,  xii.  n,  iz. 
 (y)  Gal.  i.  11,  12. — I   Cor.  ii.   10— 13.— 2  Cor  xi.  5.  xii. 
 IT.  1  Thef.  iv.  8, 
 
1$2  '  THE    BOOKS    OF 
 
 ferted,  that  St.  Mark  and  St.  Luke  were  filled  with, 
 the  Holy  Ghoft.  Even  if  it  were  fuppofed,  though 
 there  is  no  ground  for  the  fuppofition,  that  thefe 
 two  writers  were  not  actually  infpired ;  but  wrote, 
 the  one  under  the  fuperintendence  of  St.  Peter,  the 
 Other  of  St.  Paul ;  the  Divine  authority  of  the 
 writings  would  remain  the  fame.  Finally,  the  ful- 
 filment of  predictions  recorded  in  the  N[ew  Tefta- 
 rnent  forms  an  additional  link  in  the  chain  of  proofs, 
 by  which  its  infpiration  is  eftablifhed. 
 
 That  the  Scriptures  of  the  New  Teflament  have 
 clefcended  pure  to  our  hands  is  evinced  by  the  ac- 
 cordance of  the  early  verfions  with  our  prefent 
 Greek  text :  by  the  collations  which  have  taken 
 place  of  great  numbers  of  exifting  manufcripts, 
 fome  of  them  extremely  ancient ;  which  collations, 
 while  they  mew  that  miftakes,  as  it  was  to  be  ex- 
 pected, have  been  made  in  the  individual  manu- 
 fcripts by  the  transcribers,  prove  thqfe  miftakes  to 
 be  of  trifling  importance,  and  afford  the  means  of 
 correcting  them  :  and  by  the  utter  inrpoffibility  that 
 either  negligence  or  defign  could  have  introduced, 
 without  detection,  any  material  alteration  into,  a 
 book  difperfed  among  millions  in  widely  diftant 
 countries,  and  among  many  difcordant  fects ;  re- 
 garded by.  them  all  as  the  rule  of  their  faith  and 
 practice ;  and  in  conftant  and  regular  ufe  among 
 them  all  in  public  worfhip,  in  private  meditation, 
 and  in  their  vehement  and  unceafing  controverfies 
 with  each  other. 
 
 Receiving  then,  on  thefe  fo.lid  grounds  of  rational 
 conviction,  the  Holy  Scriptures  with  thankfulnefs 
 
 and 
 
.    THE    NEW    TESTAMENT.  I53 
 
 and  reverence  as  the  word  of  God  ;  regard  and 
 ftudy  them  daily  as  the  rule  tq  which  you  are  to 
 conform  every  thought  and  word  and  action  :  and 
 as  the  rule  by  which  all  your  thoughts  and  words 
 and  actions  will  be  tried  at  the  laft  day  before  th<? 
 judgment-feat  of  thrift. 
 
 CHAPTER    VI. 
 
 SUMMARY  OF  THE  EVIDENCES  OF   THE    CHRISTIAN 
 RELIGION/ 
 
 I.  J-F  the  authenticity  and  infpiration  of  the  Scrip* 
 tures  "have  been  eilablimed  in  the  two  preceding 
 chapters ;  then  the  truth  of  the  Chriftian  religion 
 has  alfo  been  demonftated.  This  propofition  is 
 felf-evident.  Nay,  if  there  had  remained  any  doubt 
 concerning  the  infpiration  of  the  writers  of  the  Old 
 and  New  Teftament ;  if  it  had  not  pleafed  God  that 
 the  Bible  mould  be  able  to  claim  a  higher  character 
 than  that  of  an  authentic  narrative  written  by  unin- 
 fpired  men ;  Chriftianity  (till  would  have  been 
 proved.  If  the  predictions  there  recorded  were  ac- 
 tually delivered ;  if  the  facts  there  related  actually 
 took  place ;  in  other  words,  if  the  Bible  had  merely 
 fpoken  truth  thro"  the  aid  of  human  information  and 
 veracity;    the  certainty  of  the  Chriftian  religion 
 
 would 
 
154  EVIDENCES    OF    THE 
 
 would  ftill  have  been  indifputable.  If  the  miracu- 
 lous circumftances,  which,  according  to  antecedent 
 prophecies,  were  to  characterize  the  birth,  the  life, 
 the  deaths  and  the  refurre&ion  of  the  Meffiah,  all 
 united  in  Jefus  Chrift  ;  he  was  the  Meffiah.  If  the 
 predictions  which  Jefus  Chrift  delivered  were  lite- 
 rally fulfilled  ;  if  the  fupernatural  powers  which  he 
 engaged  to  beftow  on  his  difciples  were  punctually 
 conferred ;  he  was  what  he  affirmed  himfelf  to  be, 
 the  Son  of  God,  the  promifed  and  long  expected 
 Redeemer.  But  when  the  real  flate  of  the  cafe  is 
 taken  into  the  account ;  when  we  confider  that,  to 
 render  knowledge  perfect  and  to  enfure  fidelity  from, 
 fufpicion,  the  fuperintending  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
 of  God  ever  accompanied  the  facred  penmen  ;  we 
 might  prefume  that  every  pofllbility  of  doubt  as  to 
 the  certainty  of  the  religion  thus  introduced  and 
 confirmed  to  mankind  muft  vanilh  from  the  breafls 
 of  unprejudiced  enquirers.  The  queftion  therefore 
 of  the  truth  of  Chrifiianity  might  fafely  be  refted 
 on  thefe  grounds.  It  may  be  of  ufe,  however,  on 
 account  of  the  fupreme  importance  of  the  fubject ; 
 and  from  regard  to  the  difference  in  the  degree  of 
 force,  with  which  experience  (hews  that  different 
 arguments  flrike  different  minds ;  to  fubjoin  to  the 
 foregoing  remarks  fome  collateral  arguments,  which 
 evince  that  the  Chriftian  religion  came  from  God. 
 
 II.  The  general  (late  of  the  world,  at  the  time 
 when  Chrifiianity  was  promulgated,  was  confefledly 
 fuch  as  to  render  a  further  revelation  of  the  will  of 
 God  highly  defirable  to  mankind.     The  Heathen 
 
 nations, 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  155 
 
 nations,  Greeks,  Romans,  Barbarians,  were  im- 
 merfed  in  the  groffefl  idolatry.  It  was  not  merely 
 that  they  worfhipped  flocks  and  (tones.  Their  fup- 
 pofed  deities  were  ufually  represented  of  characters 
 fo  deteftably  flagitious,  that  we  mould  rather  have 
 expected  them  to  have  been  fmgled  out  as  objects  of 
 abhorrence  than  of  adoration.  We  know  with 
 how  much  greater  pronenefs  and  facility  men  imi* 
 tate  a  pattern  of  vice  than  of.  virtue.  We  know 
 how  extremely  imperfect  are  the  piety  and  morality 
 of  the  collective  body  of  Chriltjans,  who  nominally 
 at  leail  profefs  to  take  their  holy  and  fmlefs  Re- 
 deemer for  their  model,  and  to  look  for  eternal 
 happinefs  or  mifery  as  the  certain  confequence  of 
 their  conduct  in  the  prefent  fcene  of  probation. 
 We  might  therefore  form,  by  fpeculative  reafoning, 
 a  juft  opinion  of  the  flate  of  morals  likely  to  be  pre- 
 valent among  nations  who  worfhipped  Jupiter,  and 
 Bacchus,  and  Mercury,  and  their  aflbciates  in  the 
 Heathen  Pantheon.  Turn  to  hiftory,  and  you  find 
 the  difplay  of  depravity,  which  your  imagination 
 had  pictured,  delineated  in  ftill  more  glaring 
 colours.  The  fcattered  examples  of  eminent 
 virtue  recorded  in  the  annals  of  Greece  and 
 Rome,  examples  the  brighter  on  account  of  their 
 fcarcity  and  of  the  gloomy  contraft  with  which 
 they  are  furrounded,  militate  not  againfr.  the 
 truth  of  this  general  reprefentation.  The  occa- 
 fional  efforts  of  fome  philofophers  to  introduce 
 better  principles  and  better  practice,  had  no  effect 
 pn,  the  great  mafs  of  the  community.  The  philofo- 
 phers 
 
156  EVIDENCE 3    OF    THE 
 
 phers  themfelves  were  frequently  ftained  with  open 
 vice.  Many  of  their  tenets  were  abfurd  and  even 
 impious  -:  and  the  reft  were  too  obfcure  and  too  rer 
 lined  for  popular  apprehenfion,  or  too  little  interest- 
 ing for  popular  attachment :  and  being  founded  on 
 conjecture  and  theoretical  arguments,  earned  with 
 them  no  fan&ion  which  could  enfure  ftedfafl:  belief 
 or  habitual  obedience.  Socrates,  the  wifeft  of  the 
 philofophers,  avowed  in  the  ftrongeft  terms  the  ne- 
 ceffity  for  the  int-erpofition  of  a  Divine  inftruclor 
 for  the  reformation  of  the  world.  From  the  Hea? 
 thens  call  your  eyes  on  the  Jews.  What  had  been 
 the  fruit  of  a  difpenfation  delivered  to  their  fore- 
 fathers by  the  voice  of  God  himfelf,  confirmed  by 
 unnumbered  miracles,  upheld  by  national  rewards 
 and  national  judgments,  and  enforced  by  a  long 
 fucceflion  of  prophets  ?  Little  more  among  the  bulk 
 pf  the  people,  for  I  fpeak  not  of  the  more  virtuous 
 exceptions,  than  that  they  were  at  length  purified 
 from  idolatry.  In  other  refpecls  they  were  prover- 
 bially proud,  felfifh,  and  intolerant :  placing  their 
 confidence  on  their  groundlefs  traditions,  rather 
 than  on  the  Scriptures ;  on  their  defcent  from 
 Abraham,  rather  than  on  perfonal  righteoufnefs ; 
 on  the  obfervance  of  ceremonial  ordinances,  rather 
 than  on  the  practice  of  piety  and  good  works.  Such 
 being  the  general  condition  of  mankind,  in  confe- 
 quence  of  their  having  rendered  thus  inefficacious, 
 by  their  own  frailty  and  perverfenefs,  the  invitations 
 and  motives  to  righteoufnefs  which  their  merciful 
 Creator  had  for  fo  many  ages  fet  before  them,  partly 
 by  the  light'  of  natural  confeience,  and  partly  by 
 
 fpecial 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION  15^ 
 
 fpeciai  revelation  :  it  perhaps  was  pot  wholly  un- 
 reasonable humbly  to  hope,  that  He  who  had  al- 
 ready done  fo  much  of  his  own  free  will  for  his 
 undeferving  and  finful  creatures,  might  yet  in  his 
 infinite  mercy  do  fomewhat  more*  At  lead  it  was 
 evident,  that  if  he  mould  vouchfafe  to  them  a  fur- 
 ther difcovery  of  his  good  pleafure,  and  encourage 
 them  with  additional  aids  and  incitements  to  virtue; 
 fuch  a  difpenfation  would  be  a  bleffing,  for  which 
 the  warmed  gratitude  would  be  a  mod  inadequate 
 return.  Now,  if  a  confiderate  man,  antecedently 
 to  all  knowledge  of  the  Chridian  plan  of  redemption, 
 had  been  afked  what  particulars,  confident  with  the 
 attributes  of  God  and  the  fituation  of  mankind,  he 
 mould  be  principally  folicitous  to  find  in  a  future 
 revelation  ;  what,  after  full  reflection,  would  have 
 been  his  reply  ?  He  would  have  replied,  that  the 
 tttmod  dretch  of  his  hopes  and  of  his  wifhes  ex* 
 tended  to  the  following  points :  full  afiurance  that, 
 on  proper  and  practicable  terms,  his  pad  fins  and 
 even  his  future  offences  might  be  forgiven  ;  a  clear 
 and  accurate  delineation  of  the  path  in  which  he 
 ought  to  walk ;  the  piomife  of  Divine  help  to  aflsd 
 him  in  following  that  path,  and  in  regaining  it  if  he 
 mould  go  adray  ;  and  the  certain  inheritance,  if  he 
 mould  prove  obedient,  of  a  life  of  happinefs  beyond 
 the  grave.  All  thefe  points  are  offered  and  afcer- 
 tained  in  the  Chridian  Revelation.  Do  thefe  facts 
 bear  no  witnefs  to  the  truth  of  Chridianity  ? 
 
 III.  The  truths,  which  the  New  Tedament  reveals 
 or  confirms  refpe&ing  the  Deity,  and  the  leffons  of 
 
 morality 
 
t$3  EVIDENCES    OF    THE 
 
 morality  which  it  teaches,  are  fuch  as  thoroughly  to 
 accord  with  the  expectations  and  conclusions  which 
 reafon,  unprejudiced  and  enlightened,  would  form. 
 And  thus  the  facred  book  -approves  itfelf  worthy  of 
 God  to  that  faculty  which  he  has  bellowed  upon  us, 
 that  it  might  be?  fubordinately  to  Revelation,  our 
 conftant  guide.  The  power,  the  wifdom,  and  the 
 goodnefs  of  God  are  manifell  in  his  works.  His 
 moral  government  of  the  world,  his  love  of  virtue, 
 his  abhorrence  of  guilt,  were  evinced,  as  St.  Paul 
 teaches  us  (a),  even  to  the  Gentile  nations  by  the 
 frame  and  adminiftration  of  the  univerfe.  And  as 
 virtue  and  vice  did  not  appear  to  be  regularly  and 
 fully  rewarded  or  puniflied  under  his  moral  govern- 
 ment in  the  prefent  life  >  a  prefumption  thence  arofe 
 -that  another  ftage  of  exiftence  remained  behind,  in 
 which  human  actions  fhould  receive  the  recompence 
 which  they  hadfeverally  deferved.  Take  the  Chrif- 
 tian  Scriptures  into  your  hands  ;  and  behold  all 
 thofe  fuggeftions  of  reafon  eftabliined,  illuftrated, 
 and  expanded  to  perfection.  Behold  all  the  duties 
 which  a  creature  fuch  as  man  can  owe  to  God ; 
 piety,  devotion,  prayer,  praife  and  thankfgiving, 
 cheerful  refignation,  patient  confidence,  grateful 
 obedience,  reverent  fear,  habitual,  fupreme,  and  un- 
 fhaken  love  ;  defcribed  in  terms  the  mod  precife,  in- 
 culcated in  language  the  mo  ft  energetic,  recommend- 
 ed by  motives  the  mod  perfualive,  and  enforced  by 
 fan&ioEte  the  mod  awful.  Confider  in  the  next 
 g|ace  the  indructions  delivered  in  that  facred  volume 
 
 refpecling 
 
 (a)  Rom.  i.  18 — 21. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  I  59 
 
 refpe&ing  the  moral  obligations  owing  from  man  to 
 man.  Hear  it  fumming  up  the  whole  of  that  divi- 
 fion  of  human  duties  in  the  fimple  and  univerfally 
 applicable  injunction,  to  love  your  neighbour  as 
 yourfelf.  Hear  it  abolifhing  all  the  narrow  distinc- 
 tions, and  cutting  off  all  the  pretences  and  evaflons 
 which  ignorance,  and  pride,  and  enmity,  are  perpe- 
 tually labouring  to  eftablifh  ;  by  declaring,  that  in 
 the  term  neighbour  every  individual  of  the  human 
 race  is  comprehended.  Hear  it  illuftrating,  by  a 
 variety  of  details,  the  import  of  its  universal  precept, 
 in  exhortations  to  juftice,  to  mercy,  to  forgivenefs 
 of  injuries,  to  unfailing  kindnefs,  meeknefs,  gentle- 
 nefs,  peace,  and  purity,  and  in  the  ftrongeft  denun- 
 ciations againil  the  oppofite  vices  :  and  anticipating 
 tranfgreflions  in  their  very  fource,  by  proclaiming 
 that  the  wifh  to  commit  fin  is  in  effect:  the  commif- 
 fion  of  it ;  that  fanctity,  uprightnefs,  and  purity  of 
 thought,  no  lefs  than  of  word  and  action,  are  indif- 
 penfably  neceflary  to  every  one  who  feeks  falvation 
 through  Chrift.  A  tree  is  known  by  its  fruits.  A 
 fyflem  of  doctrines  thus  in  every  particular  worthy 
 of  God  could  come  from  God  only  (&). 
 
 IV. 
 
 (£)  In  Dr.  Paley's  View  of  the  Evidences  of  Chriftianity,  a 
 work  which,  on  account  of  its  general  and  very  great  excellence, 
 I  will  ftrongly  to  recommend  touniverfal  attention  :  the  chapter 
 which  treats  of  the  morality  of  the  Gofpel,  though  abounding 
 in  judicious  obfervations,  appears  to  me  ;n  feveral  material  points 
 liable  to  juft  objection.  It  is  indeed  the  general  merit  of  the 
 work  which  makes  me  feel  obliged  by  motives  of  duty  tofuggett 
 
 aa 
 
i6o  EVIDENCES    (JF    THE 
 
 IV.  Look  in  the  next  place  into  the  character  of 
 the  teacher  of  this  religion,  Jefus  Chrift.  Confide* 
 him  in  his  public  miniftry,  and  in  his  private  retire- 
 ment ;  in  his  actions  and  his  difcourfes,  his  miracles 
 and  his  fufferings.  Compare  the  piety,  the  mora- 
 lity, the  unbounded  love  of  God  and  of  man, 
 which  he  inculcated  on  his  difciples,  with  his  own 
 unvarying  practice*  Afk  yourfelf  whether  he,  who 
 taught  and  who  practifed  fuch  a  religion,  could  bs 
 iefs  than  the  fon  of  God  (V)  ? 
 
 V.  The  fads  related  in  the  Gofpels  and  the  Acts 
 receive  confirmation  from  the  accounts  incidentally 
 given  by  Pagan  hiitorians  who  lived  about  the  fame* 
 period.     It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  the  Roman 
 
 writers^ 
 
 an  efpecial  caution  to  the  reader  with  refpe£t  to  the  particular 
 chapter  in  queftion.  That  I  may  give,  as  I  ought  to  do,  fome 
 reafon  for  this  caution,  it  feems  neceiTary  to  obferve,  without 
 dwelling  on  other  points,  that  Dr.  Paley's  account  of  the  mora- 
 lity of  the  Gofpel  is  radically  influenced  by  the  equally  falfe  and 
 dangerous  ftandard  of  morals,  general  expediency,  adopted  >by 
 him,  under  an  improved  form,  from  its  original  afTertor,  Mr. 
 Hume  :  that  it  is  deteriorated  by  a  ftudied  dtftin&ion  wholly  un-> 
 Warrantable,  and  if  unwarrantable,  extremely  pernicious,  between 
 public  and  private  morality  ;  and  by  a  limitation  fubjoined  to 
 certain  direftions  of  our  Saviour,  a  limitation  unfupported  by 
 argument,  and  completely  overthrown  (vol.  ii  p.  i  jo.  I  ft  edi- 
 tion) by  the  very  firft  of  the  texts  brought  forward  to  fupport  it  : 
 "  out  of  the  heart  proceed  evil  thoughts,  murders,  &c.'* — And 
 fee  the  preceding  paragraph. 
 
 (c)  1  forbear  to  enlarge  in  this  place  on  the  character  of  our 
 Saviour,  as  that  fubjed  will  afterwards  be  treated  in  a  dillinft 
 chapter. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION*  I  6*1 
 
 writers,  who  held  the  Jews  in  fupretrre  contempt, 
 and  in  confequence  of  that  contempt  take  little  no- 
 tice  of   the  internal  affairs  of  this  people,  mould 
 throw  much  light  on  the  details  of  the  Gofpel  hifto- 
 ry,  or    of   the  progrefs   of  the  Chriftian  religion* 
 The  religion  they  regarded  as  a  feci;  of  Judaifm  kP 
 and  did  not  give  themfelves  the  trouble  of  making 
 any  inquiries  concerning  it.     The  litjde,  however, 
 which  they  do  fay  relative  to  the  fubjecl,  has  its  im- 
 portance ;  and  is  the  unfufpe&ed  teflimony  of  ene- 
 mies.     Tacitus    exprefsly  afcribes   the  rife   of  the 
 Chriftians  to  Chrift  ;  whom  he  alfo  affirms,  to  have 
 been  put  to  death  by  Pontius  Pilate  the  governor 
 of    Judea.       Suetonius   reprefents    the   Chriftians, 
 whom  he  confounds   with  the  Jews,  as  railing  tu* 
 muits  in  Rome  at  the  mitigation  of  Chrift,  (Chref- 
 tus,  ofwhofe  death  he  feemsto  have  been  ignorant,) 
 and  as  banifbed  on  that  account  from  the  city  by 
 the  emperor  Claudius.     Amidit  the  want  of  accurate 
 intelligence  which  the  hiftorian  here  manifefts,  he 
 unconfcioufly  bears  atteftation  to   the  truth  of  the 
 book  of  the  Acts  of  the  Apoftles ;  which  records 
 the  circumftance,  that  "  Claudius  had  commanded 
 "  all  Jews  to  depart  from  Rome  (d)."     The  rapid 
 progrefs  of  Chriftianity  and  the  oppofition  it  expe- 
 rienced, which  the  fame  book  defcribes,  are  alfo 
 corroborated  by  both  thefe  hiftorians,  and  likewife 
 by  Pliny.     Tacitus,   fpeaking  of  Chriftianity,  avers 
 that  this  "  deteftable  fuperftition,"  an  appellation 
 from   which    a  judgment  may   be   formed  of   his 
 knowledge  of  its  doctrines  and  morality,  had  not 
 
 M  only 
 
 (<-/)  A£ts,  xvlif.  2. 
 
1 6" 2  EVIDENCES    OF    THE 
 
 only  overfpread  Judea  where  it  originated,  but  had 
 alfo  extended  itfelf  to  Rome  ;  and  relates,  that  a 
 "  vaft  multitude"  of  Chriftians  were  condemned 
 there.  Suetonius  corroborates  this  relation  by 
 mentioning  the  persecution  (his  expreffion  is,  the 
 punimment)  of  the  Chriftians  at  Rome  by  Nero. 
 Pliny,  in  his  memorable  letter  to  the  emperor  Tra- 
 jan, defcribes  Bithynia  as  fo  filled  with  Chriftians, 
 both  in  the  towns  and  the  villages,  that  a  general 
 defertion  of  the  Pagan  temples  and  worfhip  had 
 taken  place  ;  and  ftates  himfelf  as  fending  to  exe- 
 cution all  perfons  who  were  brought  before  him  on 
 the  charge  of  being  of  this  religion,  and  avowed 
 themfelves  to  be  fo.  All  thefe  accounts,  it  may  be 
 added,  fupport  in  a  manner  equally  ftrong  the  truth 
 of  the  Gofpels,  in  which  our  Saviour  repeatedly 
 forewarns  his  difciples  of  the  perfecutions  that  await- 
 ed them  ;  and  of  the  epiftles  likewife,  in  which  St. 
 Paul  and  the  other  facred  writers  fpeak  of  thofe 
 perfecutions  as  then  actually  taking  place. 
 
 VI.  It  is  impoflible  to  fuppofe  with  any  madow 
 of  reafon  that  the  apoftles,  in  preaching  Chriftianity, 
 wrere  deceived  themfelves  as  to  the  truth  of  the  re- 
 ligion which  they  taught.  How  was  it  poffible  that 
 they  could  be  deceived  ?  They  did  not  take 
 up  their  do&rine  from  hearfay,  or  from  written 
 documents ;  in  either  of  which  cafes  there  might 
 have  been  opportunity  for  fraud  or  error  to  have 
 infinuated  itfelf.  They  were  convinced  by  the  long 
 experience  of  their  own  fenfes.      They  were  the 
 
 conftant 
 
Christian  religion.  16$ 
 
 eonftant  and  familiar  companions  of  Jcfus  Chrifl. 
 His  life   and  actions  were    thoroughly  known    to 
 them.      His    inflructions  they  received   from    his 
 own  lips  :  in  public  and  in  private  ;  before  his  re- 
 furrection,  and  after  it.     Of  his  numerous  miracles 
 they  were  eye-witneffes.     The  miracles  too  were  of 
 fuch  a  fort,  that  thedifciples  could  not  be  miflaken 
 in  judging  as  to  their  reality.     Whether  men  ac- 
 knowledged to    have  been  blind   even  from  their 
 birth  became  polfeifed   of  fight ;  whether  hearing 
 was  reftored  to  the  deaf,  foundnefs  to  the  lame,  life 
 to  the  dead  :  thefe  were  facts  concerning  which  the 
 apoftles,   who  were  fpedtators,  could  entertain  no 
 doubts.     If  fuch  deeds  as  thefe,  performed  too  in 
 various  places,  in  the  face  of  day,  of  multitudes,  and 
 of  enemies,  had  been  deceits  and  mere  pretences  to 
 miraculous  power  j    the  impofture  mufl  have  been 
 detected  inftantly.     The  object  of   the  miracle  re» 
 mained  there  to  be  examined  j  and  was  examined, 
 as  we  know,  by  the  adverfaries  of  Chrifl,  whenever 
 occafion  offered,  with  fufficient  ftrictnefs.     Exami- 
 nation might  always  take  place,  and  would  naturally 
 take   place  if  any  doubt  fubfifted,  by  the  difciples 
 themfelves.     They  affociated,  as  well  as  Chrifl  him- 
 felf,  with  Lazarus,  who  had  been  raifed  from  the 
 dead.      They  affociated  for  forty  days  with  Chrifl 
 after  his  own  refurrection.     Could   they  be  igno- 
 rant whether  Lazarus  or  Chrifl  were  really  rifen  ? 
 Could  they  be  ignorant  whether  they  actually  faw 
 Chrifl  afcend  into    heaven,  after  giving  them  his 
 final  benediction  ?  Could  they  be  ignorant  whether 
 M  2  two 
 
164  EVIDENCES    OF    THE 
 
 two  angels  ftood  by  them,  on  the  difappearance  of 
 our  Saviour  among  the  clouds,  and  told  them  that 
 He  mould  again  vifibly  return  from  heaven  to  earth 
 at  the  end  of  the  world  ?  Could  they  be  ignorant 
 whether,  on  the  day  of  Pentecoft,  the  Holy  Ghofl 
 did  actually  come  upon  them,  according  to  the  pro- 
 mife  of  their  departed  Lord  ;  whether  they  were 
 actually  able  from  that  moment  to  fpeak  various 
 languages,  with  which  they  had  until  that  moment 
 been  unacquainted  ?  All  this,  and  much  more  that 
 might  be  added  on  the  fame  head,  is  utterly  im- 
 poffible. 
 
 VII.  But  though  the  fuppofition,  that  the  apof- 
 tles  were  themfelves  deceived,  muil  be  given  up 
 as  untenable  ;  might  not  they  knowingly  deceive 
 the  people?  This  new  fuppofition  implies  three 
 things.  It  implies  that  the  apoilles  were  wicked 
 enough  to  preach  a  religion  which  they  knew  to  be 
 falfe :  that  they  had  fufficient  inducements  to  be 
 guilty  of  this  impofition  :  and  that  they  could  car- 
 ry on  fuch  an  impofition  without  detection.  Let 
 us  inveftigate  each  of  thofe  points  feparately.  Firfl 
 then  with  regard  to  the  wickednefs  of  the  apoftles. 
 Not  considering,  or  not  regarding,  the  charges  of 
 wickednefs  which  might  be  advanced  againft  them 
 in  future  ages  ;  they  have  not  drawn  up  any  for- 
 mal char  afters  of  each  other.  Nor  is  the  orniffion 
 material.  For  to  thofe  who  fee  other  grounds  for 
 trufting  the  apoftles,  fuch  characters  would  have 
 been  fuperfluous ;  and  by  thofe  who  charge  them 
 with  wickednefs,  would  not   have  been  believed. 
 
 You 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  'l6*£ 
 
 You  mu ft  therefore  collect  their  characters  from  the 
 incidental  notices  of  the  conduct  of  the  Individuals, 
 which  you  find  difperfed  in  the  Scriptures.  What 
 then  do  you  find  recorded  in  the  Scriptures  con- 
 cerning them  ?  You  find  many  inftances  of  human 
 frailty.  You  find  an  extreme  unwillingnefs  to 
 relinquifh  the  ambitious  hopes  whic  they  had  che- 
 riflied  of  worldly  power  and  grandeur  under  the 
 kingdom  of  the  Meffiah.  You  rind  a  rooted  attach- 
 ment to  the  prejudices  of  their  countrymen  againft 
 Samaritans  and  Gentiles.  You  find  a  cowardly 
 defertion  of  their  Lord  and  mailer  in  the  hour  of 
 his  affliction  :  and  in  the  cafe  oi  Peter,  a  repeated 
 and  blafphemous  denial  of  Jeius  Chrift,  for  whom 
 he  had  recently  affirmed  himfelf  ready  to  die.  Is 
 the  plain  and  unvarnifhed  confefiion  given  by 
 themfelves  of  thefe  and  other  inftances  of  infir- 
 mity a  mark  of  wickednefs  ?  Is  it  not  a  token,  of 
 candour  and  integrity  ?  Is  not  their  opennefs,  in 
 recording  to  pofteri&y  what  they  had  done  amifs, 
 an  argument  that  what  incidentally  appears  to 
 their  credit  in  the  fame  writings  may  be  trufted  ? 
 If  you  believe  the  account  of  St.  Peter's  denial,  and 
 all  its  aggravations ;  will  you  not  credit  the  ac- 
 count contained  in  the  fame  books  of,  his  bitter  and 
 permanent  repentance  ?  If  you  believe  the  dilciples 
 when  they  tell  you,  that  on  the  apprehenfion  of 
 Chrift  they  all  forfook  him  and  fled;  and  that  on 
 firft  being  informed  of  his  reiurreclion,  they  regard- 
 ed the  report  as  an  idle  tale  :  will  you  not  believe 
 them  when  they  aiTert  their  own  fubfequent  convic- 
 tion, their  intercourfe  with  their  mailer  after  his 
 turn  to  life,  and  their  commimon  from  him  to  go 
 
 and 
 
%66  EVIDENCES   OF    THE 
 
 and  baptife  all  natiorts  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
 and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  ?  To  thefe 
 confederations  let  me  add  another  fuggefted  by  the 
 doctrines  which  they  taught.  The  religion  which 
 they  preached  was  undeniably  a  religion  of  confum- 
 mate  holinefs  and  purity.  They  went  from  pro- 
 vince to  province,  from  country  to  country,  incul- 
 cating the  love  and  the  fear  of  God,  abhorrence  of 
 fin,  and  the  perpetual  practice  of  integrity,  fincerity, 
 truth,  and  every  other-  fimilar  moral  obligation. 
 And  this  doctrine,  it  feems,  they  laborioufly  preach-? 
 ed  day  after  day  and  year  after  year,  confcious  dur- 
 ing every  moment  that  their  own  conduct  was  an 
 uninterrupted  fcene  of  deliberate  falfehood  and  hy-> 
 pocrify  !  Is  there  the  fainted  appearance  of  credibi- 
 lity in  the  fuppofition  ?  What  could  induce  villains 
 to  preach  virtue  ?  Nothing,  you  reply,  except  to 
 gain  by  it.  Gain  by  it !  Let  us  enquire  then,  in  the 
 fecond  place,  what  the  apoftles  were  to  gain  by 
 preaching  Chriftianity  ?  Upon  the  prefent  fuppofiti- 
 on, that  they  wickedly  preached  it,  knowing  it  to 
 be  an  impofture,  they  of  courfe  looked  for  no  advan- 
 tage in  the  next  world  as  a  reward  for  their  preach- 
 ing, Their  reward,  whatever  it  might  be,  muft  be 
 fought  in  the  prefent  life.  What  then  did  they  ex- 
 pect, to  gain  in  the  prefent  life  ?  They  expected  to 
 gain  what  they  did  gain ;  perfecution,  fcorn,  and 
 mifery.  "  The  fervant  is  not  greater  than  his  Lord, 
 ci  If  they  have  perfecuted  me,  they  will  alfo  per- 
 *s  fecute  you.  Becaufe  ye  are  not  of  the  world 
 "  therefore  the  world  hateth  you.  Ye  mail  be 
 "  betrayed  both  by  parents  and  brethren  and  kinf, 
 «*  folks  and  friends,     They  will  deliver  you  up  to 
 
 «  ths 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  167 
 
 s<  the  councils ;    and  they   will   fcourge   you    in 
 "  their    fynagogues.      They   fhall   lay    hands    on 
 "  you,  and  perfecute  you,  delivering  you   up   to 
 '*  the  fynagogues  and   into  prifons,  being  brought 
 "  before    kings  and    rulers   for  my  name's    fake. 
 "  They  mall  deliver  you  up  to  be  afflicted,  and 
 *'  fhall  kill  you  ;  and  ye  (hall  be  hated  of  all  nations 
 "  for  my  name's  fake.     The  time  cometh,  that  he 
 "  that  killeth  you  will  think  that  he   doeth  God 
 "  fervice.     Thefe  things  have  I  toM  you,  that  when 
 ~"  the  time  mall  come,  ye  may  remember  that  I  told 
 "  you  of  them  (>)."     Such  was  the  earthly  recom- 
 pence  which  our  Saviour  had  taught  his  difciples  to 
 expect.  -     Confult    Tacitus,   and     Suetonius,    and 
 Pliny ;    confult  the  Acts   of  the  Apoilles,  and  the 
 Epiftles,  efpecially  thofe  of  St.  Paul  ;   and  you  will 
 find  that  thefe  expectations  were  not  difappointed. 
 "  If  in  this  life  only  we  have  hope  in  Chrift/'  faid 
 St.  Paul  moil  truly,  of  himfelf  and  the  apoftles  and 
 the  other  Chriftians  of  his  day  ;  and  in  this  life  only 
 the  apoilles,  if  they  were  deceivers,  could  have  hope; 
 **  If  in  this  life  only  we  have  hope  in  Chrift,  we  are 
 "  of  all  menthelmofl  miferable  (/)."     The  expec- 
 tations of  the  apoftles  for  their  reward  were  mani- 
 feftly  directed   beforehand  to  a  better  life,  and  to 
 that  alone.  And  that  fmgle  circumftance  is  fufficient 
 to  prove  that  they  were  not  deceivers.     Thirdly,  if 
 they  had  been  deceivers,  detection  would  have  flar- 
 ed them  in  the  face,  and  would  have,  been  inevita- 
 ble.    If  their  whole  narrative  was  replete  with  falfe- 
 
 hoods 
 
 (<?).  Luke,   xxi.    12.   16.      Matt.  x.     17.    xxiv.  9.      John, 
 xv.   19,  20.  xvi.   2.  4. 
 
 (/)  Cor.  xv.  j  9.  and  fee  iv.  9.   13. 
 
l6B  EVIDENCES    OF    THE 
 
 hoods,  they  were  falfehoods  which  the  inhabitants  of 
 Judea  could  not  but  know  to  be  fuch.  If  Chrirt  did 
 not  fulfil  the  predictions  which  the  apoftles  affirmed 
 him  to  have  accomplished;  if  he  did  not  perform 
 the  miracles  which  the  apoftle  affirmed  him  to  have 
 wrought ;  all  this  the  Jews  mint  have  known. 
 Their  willingnefs  to  difcoyer  fraud  in  the  apoftles, 
 and  to  make  the  mod  of  any  difcovery,  will  not  be 
 doubted.  They  were  as  eager  to  expofe,  as  to  flone 
 and  to  crucify.  But  from  the  Ads  we  find  that  they 
 admitted  the  miraculous  fads  averred. by  the  apof- 
 tles, and  endeavour  to  explain  them  away.  The 
 premises  they  allowed  ;  but  drew  through  bigotry 
 and  prejudice  an  erroneous  conclufion.  Yet  even 
 of  thefe  bigotted  and  prejudiced  men  thoufands  were 
 converted  almoft,  immediately  after  the  afcenfion. 
 of  Chrift.  Had  there  been  fraud,  detection  mufl 
 inftantly  have  followed.  And  the  fraud,  detected 
 and  exploded  in  Judea,  could  never  have  hoped  tq 
 gain  a  profelyte  among  the  Gentiles. 
 
 VIII.  The  difficulties  which  Chriftianity  had  tq 
 encounter  from  its  very  commencement  and  during 
 its  progrefs  were  fuch,  that  its  prevalence  could  re-, 
 fuk  only  from  the  irrefiftible  force  of  truth.  Confider 
 under  what  unfavourable  circumftances,  as  to  worldly 
 advantages,  it  was  introduced.  Jefus  Chrift,  the 
 founder  of  the  religion,  appeared  in  the  moil  hum- 
 ble ftation  of  life.  Without  rank,  or  wealth,  or 
 friends,  known  only  as  "  the  carpenter,  the  fon  of 
 6i  Mary  (V),"  and  as*  the  inhabitant  of  Nazareth, 
 
 a  place 
 
 U)  Mark,  vi,   3. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION".  iQg 
 
 a  place  proverbially  in  fuch  difrepute  that  the 
 mere  fact  of  his  belonging  to  it  was  thought  almoil: 
 conclufive  again  ft  his  pretentions  to  be  the  Meffiah 
 (//)  •  he  announced  himfelf  as  the  promifed  Saviour 
 of  the  world.  The  difciples  whom  he  jelected  to  be 
 his  inftruments  in  this  undertaking  were,  like  him- 
 felf, poor,  deftitute,  and  difregarded :  and  one  at 
 leaft  of  them  was  of  an  occupation  which  rendered 
 thofe  who  purfued  it  fingulariy  odious.  In  pro- 
 pounding his  new  religion  to  his  countrymen  he  en- 
 joyed none  of  thofe  favourable  circumftances,  he 
 ufed  none  of  thofe  arts,  to  which  the  authors  of 
 new  doctrines  have  fo  often  been  indebted,  and  to 
 which  Mahomet  in  particular  owed  his  whole  fuc- 
 cefs.  He  did  not  begin  his  undertaking  in  a  coun- 
 try divided  into  many  petty  and  disjointed  fects  : 
 but  among  a  people  united  in  attachment  to  a  ve- 
 nerable eftablifliment  armed  with  no  fmail  (hare  of 
 civil  power,  as  well  as  of  ecclefiaftical  authority.  He 
 had  neither  the  inclination  nor  the  means  of. pro- 
 moting the  diifufibn  of  his  do£trine  by  force  of 
 arms.  He  neither  permitted  vicious  indulgences 
 nor  promifed  licentious  rewards  to  his  adherents. 
 He  flattered  no  feet,  however  powerful :  he  attach- 
 ed himfelf  to  no  party,  however  numerous :  he  dif- 
 guifed  no  truths,  however  unpalatable  :  he  fpar- 
 ed  no  criminals,  however  formidable  and  malig- 
 nant 
 
 (/.>)  Philip  frndeth  Natbanael,  and  faith  unto  hira  ;  we  have 
 found  him  of  whom  Mofes  in  the  law,  and  the  prophets,  did 
 write,  Jefus  of  Nazareth,  the  fon  of  Jofeph.  And  Nathanael  faid 
 unto  him  ;  can  t'ners  any  good  thing  come  out  of  Nazareth  ; 
 John,  i.  45,  46. 
 
IfO  EVIDENCES    OF   THE 
 
 nant.  The  Pharifees,  the  Sadducees,  the  Herodians, 
 were  alike  the  objects  of  his  fevered  reprehenfion. 
 Towards  the  common  people  he  ufed  no  fpecies  of 
 undue  conciliation.  Their  prejudices  in  favour  of 
 a  temporal  Meffiah  he  discountenanced :  their  offers 
 to  make  him  their  king  he  fteadily  rejected  :  their 
 interefted  attendance  in  hopes  of  being  fed  by  a  re- 
 petition of  the  miracle  of  the  loaves  and  fifties  he 
 pointedly  and  publicly  reproved.  So  little  hold  had 
 he  obtained  on  their  affections,  that  after  he  had 
 employed  between  three  and  four  years  in  his  minif- 
 try,  they  eagerly  cooperated  with  their  rulers  in 
 procuring  his  death.  He  died  forfaken  by  his  fol- 
 lowers ;  as  a  malefactor  y  and  by  a  mode  of  death, 
 according  to  the  opinion  of  the  age  and  country, 
 the  mod  infamous.  When  the  preaching  of  his 
 doctrine  was  renewed,  after  his  afcenfion,  by  his 
 difciples,  labouring  under  the  weight  of  the  odium 
 which  had  overtaken  their  mailer  ;  it  was  renewed 
 with  additions  which  rendered  it  (till  more  hatefui 
 to  the  Jews.  The  apoftles,  befides  charging  them 
 with  the  innocent  blood  of  Jefus,  and  affirming  his 
 refurre&ion  from  the  grave,  and  his  exaltation  to 
 the  right  hand  of  God  j  not  only  announced  in 
 plainer  terms  than  he  had  employed,  the  abolition 
 of  the  Mofaic  rites  and  ordinances,  fo  dear  to  the 
 hearts  of  the  whole  Jewifh  people  ;  but  they  fpee- 
 diiy  proclaimed  a  doctrine,  if  poffible,  Itill  more  ob- 
 noxious, to  which,  in  confequence  of  his  own  ex- 
 clufive  million  to  the  Jews,  he  had  but  .{lightly  and 
 feldom  alluded,  the  annihilation  of  all  the  peculiar 
 privileges  of  the  Jewifh  race,  and  the  free  admiffion 
 
 of 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  \Jt 
 
 of  the  abhorred  Samaritans  and  Gentiles  to  every 
 bleffing  of  the  Chriftian  covenant.  The  active  op- 
 pofition,  the  unrelenting  enmity  and  vengeance, 
 with  which  the  Jews  perfecuted  Chriftianity  and  its 
 teachers,  were  correfpondent  to  the  virulent  deteila- 
 tion  which  thefe  tenets  were  adapted  to  excite.  When 
 the  apoitles  turned  to  the  Romans,  the  Sovereign 
 matters  of  every  country  recorded  in  the  Acts  as 
 having  been  the  fcene  of  apoftolical  labours  j  were 
 they  likely  to  experience  a  more  favourable  recep- 
 tion than  they  had  found  among  their  own  country- 
 men ?  The  very  circumftance  of  their  being  Jews 
 enfured  to  them  at  once  the  averfion  and  the  con- 
 tempt of  the  Roman  world.  Perfonally  odious, 
 they  were  rendered  more  odious  by  their  doctrine : 
 a  doctrine  which  not  only  alarmed,  by  being  miscon- 
 ceived, the  jealous  fufpicions  of  the  Romans  con- 
 cerning a  king,  a  rival  of  Cssfar,  whom  they  ex*. 
 pected1  to  arife  in  Judea  (/)  ;  but  declared  war  to 
 extermination  againft  every  deity  of  the  Pantheon, 
 againfl  every  one  of  the  idolatrous  facrifices,  rites, 
 _and  inftitutions,  public  or  domeftic,  in  which  the 
 Romans  had  been  trained  from  their  childhood  ; 
 and  to  which  they  afcribed  the  gradual  rife  of 
 Rome  during  more  than  feven  centuries,  from  an 
 obfcure  village  to  the  rank  of  Imperial  metropolis 
 
 of 
 
 (*)  This  prevailing  expectation  is  recorded  by  Tacitus  (Hill. 
 lib.  v.  c.  13.  )  and  by  Suetonius  (lib.  viii.  c.  4.  ).  And 
 of  the  jealoufy  which  it  occafioned  among  the  Romans  ample 
 proof  is  afforded  by  the  conduit  of  Pilate,  Matt,  xxvii.  1  r. 
 John,  xix.  12 — 16.  and  by  the  proceedings  at  ThefTalonica  re- 
 lated Acts,  xvii.  fee  particularly  ver.  7. 
 
172'  EVIDENCES    OF    THE 
 
 of  the  earth.  The  numerous  and  fanguinary  per- 
 fections, which  the  apoflles  and  the  early  Chriftians 
 endured  from  the  Romans,  bear  indifputable  tef- 
 timony  to  the  abhorrence  with  which  that  people 
 regarded  and  oppofed  Chriflianity.  Yet  in  the  face 
 of  univerfal  opposition  Chriftianity  inarched  forward 
 from  conquefl  to  conqueft  ;  and  before  the  end  of 
 three  centuries  from  the  death  of  Chrift  reigned 
 triumphant  over  the  whole  Roman  empire.  "  Thus 
 "  mightily  grew  the  word  of  God,  and  prevailed." 
 "What  could  have  thus  prevailed,  but  the  word  of 
 God? 
 
 IX.  There  remain  two  other  leading  heads  of  ar- 
 gument ftrongly  confirming  the  truth  of  Chriftianity, 
 which,  at  the  fame  time  that  I  pafs  over  fome  fub- 
 ordinate  yet  not  unimportant  confiderations  tend- 
 ing to  the  fame  conclufion,  muft  not  be  omitted. 
 One  of  thefe  arifes  from  the  completion  of  many 
 prophecies  delivered  in  the  New  Teftament ;  par- 
 ticularly from  the  fulfilment  of  thofe  which  con- 
 cern the  Christian  church,  and  the  apoftacy  and 
 ufurpations  of  Papal  Rome.  The  other  is  drawn 
 from  the  numerous  coincidences  reciprocally  fub- 
 fifting  between  the  feveral  Epiftles  of  St.  Paul,  and 
 between  thofe  epiftles  and  the  book  of  Acts :  co- 
 incidences which,  while  they  prove  themfelves  be- 
 yond difpute  on  clofe  examination,  are  fo  little  ob- 
 vious to  common  obfervers  that  it  is  impoffible  to 
 fuppofe  they  were  -defignedly  infer  ted,  or  that 
 they  were  produced  otfrerwife  than  by  the  unifor- 
 mity of  truth.  The  advantages,  however,  of  un- 
 folding thefe  two  heads  of  argument  in  detail  I  am 
 
 obliged 
 
CHjfcBTIA'N    RELIGION.  173 
 
 obliged  to  forego :  as  the  ftatement  and  inveftiga- 
 tion  of  particulars  requifite  to  enable  the  reader 
 to  fatisfy  himfelf  refpecting  their  validity  would  in- 
 evitably occupy  a  fpace  difproportioned  to  the 
 nature  '•and  fize  of  the   prefent  work  (£). 
 
 Such  and  fo  many  are  the  diftincl  lines  of  proof, 
 by  which  the  truth  of  the  Chriftian  religion  is  efta- 
 blifhed  !  So  provident  has  been  the  goodnefs  of  the 
 Ruler  of  the  Univerfe  in  confirming  by  unanfwera- 
 ble  arguments,  all  concurring,  like  the  rays  of  a 
 circle,  in  one  central  point  ;..  yet  differing  in  their 
 nature,  and  thus  the  more  adapted  to  make  impref- 
 fion  on  different  minds,  the  facred  Gofpel  of' his 
 Son  !  Why  then  are  there  thoufands,  enabled  by 
 their  attainments  and  opportunities  fully  to  examine 
 and  accurately  to  appreciate  the  evidences  of  Chrif- 
 tianity,  who  doubt  or  difbelieve  its  truth  ?  The  cau- 
 fes.  are  obvious.  Thefe  unhappy  men  do  not  en- 
 quire into  the  fubjecl: ;  or  they  enquire  not  with 
 fuitable  difpofitions  of  heart.  Immerfed  in  the  pur- 
 fuits  of  ambition,  of  profit,  or  of  pleafure  \  puffed 
 up  with  arrogant  opinions  of  their  own  knowledge 
 and  of  their  own  virtue  ;  revolting  at  the  humilia- 
 ting doctrine  that  human  nature  is  corrupt,  and  in 
 need  of  an  atoning  Redeemer  \  accuftomed  to  dif- 
 dain  whatever  they  think  it  poffible  to  clafs   among 
 
 common 
 
 (k)  On  the  firft  of  thefe  heads  of  argument  the  reader  is  refer- 
 red to  Blfhop  Hurd's  twelve  Sermons  on  Prophecy  :  to  Biftiop 
 Newton's  Diflertations  on  the  Prophecies  ;  and  to  other  writers 
 on  the  fubjeft  :  and  on  the  fecond  to  Dr.  Paley's  Horse  Paulina:  ; 
 a  work  in  which  it  was  originally  brought  forward,  and  is  illuf- 
 tiated  with  great  acutenefs  and  felicity. 
 
i?4  EVIDENCES    OF    THE 
 
 common  prejudices  and  vulgar  fuperftitions  ;  hear- 
 ing of  the  prevalence  in  different  times  and  places 
 of  different  religions,  all  of  which  they  know  can- 
 not be  true,  but  all  of  which  they  conclude  may 
 equally  be  falfe  :  prepofTefTed  againfl:  Chriflianity  by 
 difficulties  which  they  imagine  it  to  contain ;  by 
 witty  cavils  and  objections  aimed  againfl  it,  which 
 they  take  for  granted  are  juft ;  and  by  a  caufe  ftill 
 more  to  be  regretted,  the  unchriftian  lives  of  many 
 of  its  profeffors  ;  and  above  all,  averfe-  to  abandon 
 thofe  vicious  principles  and  habits,  which  they  per- 
 ceive to  be  utterly  prohibited  by  the  Gofpel,  and  to 
 acknowledge  the  certainty  of  that  punifhment, 
 which,  if  they  admit  the  Gofpel  to  be  true,  they 
 mud  neceffarily  own  to  await  themfelves  mould 
 they  continue  in  their  fins :  actuated  by  fome  of 
 thefe,  or  fimilar  prepoffeffions.  they  refufe  to  ex- 
 amine into  the  evidences  of  the  Chriflian  religion  ; 
 or  they  examine  flightly,  partially,  uncandidly,  with 
 minds  predifpofed  to  find  objections,  to  take  offence, 
 and  to  condemn.  The  faith  which  Chriftianity 
 claims  is  not  credulity  ;  but  affent  founded  on  will- 
 ing enquiry  and  rational  conviction.  "  The  people 
 "  of  Berea,"  faith  the  evangelifl,  "  were  more  no- 
 "  ble  than  thofe  of  Theffalonica,  in  that  they  re- 
 "  ceived  the  word  with  all  readinefs  of  mind ^  and 
 -"  fearched  the  Scriptures  daily  whether  thofe  things 
 "  were  fo  (/)."  "  Be  ready  always,"  faith  the 
 apoflle,  "  to  give  an  anfwer  to  every  one  that  afketh 
 "  you  a  reafon  of  the  hope  that  is  in  you  (ni)" 
 But  in  all    enquiries  refpe&ing  religion,   as   with 
 
 refpect 
 
 (/)  Aas,  xvii.   ir.  (m)   I  Pet.  iii.  15. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  17^ 
 
 refpecl  to  every  other  fubjecl:,  the  enquirer,  if  he 
 would  really  difcover  truth,  muft  examine  with  fe- 
 rioufnefs,  with  patience,  with  humility  ;  with  a  heart 
 fmcerely  difpofed  to  embrace  whatever  he  fhall  dif- 
 cover to  be  true  j  and  with  a  reverent  defire  that 
 the  Supreme  Being,  who  is  the  fountain  of  know- 
 ledge, may  lead  him  into  all  truth.  If  he  examines 
 without  thefe  difpofitions,  what  can  be  expected  but 
 that  his  examination  mould  confirm  him  in  his  pre- 
 judices and  errors  ?  "  He  that  will  do  the  will  of 
 *'  God,"  faith  our  Saviour,  "  (hall  know  of  the 
 "  doclrine,  whether  it  be  of  God  (ft)."  Have  you 
 any  doubt  as  to  the  truth  of  Chriftianity  ?  Let  your 
 heart  be  prepared  to  obey  whatever  Chriftianity,  if 
 true,  mail  be  found  to  command :  and  you  will  not 
 conclude  a  patient  enquiry  without  being  convinced 
 of  its  truth.  But  "  keep  thy  heart  with  all  dili- 
 "  gence :  for  out  of  it  are  the  iffues  of  life  (V)." 
 
 (n)  John,  vii.  17.  (0)  Proverbs,  iv.  23. 
 
!j6 
 
 CHAPTER     VII. 
 
 ON    THE  LEADING  DOCTRINES    OF   THE  CHRISTIAN 
 RELIGION. 
 
 I.  X  H  E  being  and  the  attributes  of  God  are 
 truths,  which  lie  at  the  root  of  all  religion.  "  He 
 <e  that  cometh  to  God,  niuft  believe  that  He  is; 
 <e  and  that  He  is  a  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently 
 "  feek  him  (V)."  They  are  truths  to  the  difcovery 
 of  which  the  Heathen  world  was  perfectly  compe- 
 tent. In-  the  days  of  Pagan  darknefs,  when  the 
 lignt  of  the  Divine  countenance  feemed  as  it  were 
 withdrawn  from  mankind,  "  God,'5  faith  the  apoftle, 
 "  left  not  himfelf  without  witnefs  ;  in  that  he  did 
 "  good,  and  gave  us  rain  from  Heaven;  and  fruitful 
 "  feafons,  filling  our  hearts  with  food  and  gladnefs 
 "  (£)."  Why  is  it  that  St.  Paul  pronounces  the 
 idolatrous  and  abandoned  Gentiles  inexcufable  ? 
 "  Becaufe  that  which  may  be  known  of  God  is  ma* 
 "  nifeft  in  them :  for  God  hath  fhewed  it  unto 
 "  them.  For  the  invifible  things  of  Him  from  the 
 "  creation  of  the  world  are  clearly  feen,  being  un- 
 "  derflood  by  the  things  that  are  made  ;  even  his 
 "  eternal  power  and  Godhead :  fo  that  they  are 
 "  without  excufe,  becaufe  that  when  they  knew 
 £i  God,"  (or  might  thus  have  known  him  had  they 
 
 been 
 
 (a)  Hebrews,  si.  6.  {b)  Afts,  xiv.  17. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  1 77 
 
 been  willing,)  im  they  glorified  Him  not  as  God  (/)" 
 by  purity  of  worfhip  and  holinefs  of  life.  The 
 eternal  exiftence,  and  the  attributes  of  the  Deity, 
 his  omniprefence,  his  infinite  power,  wifdom,  and 
 goodnefs,  his  holinefs,  his  juftice,  and  his  other  un- 
 bounded affections,  were  inculcated  on  the  Jews  by 
 exprefs  revelation  ;  and  are  defcribed  in  the  fublim- 
 cft  language  by  the  facred  writers,  efpecially  by  the 
 prophets,  in  the  Old  Teftament;  Thefe  funda- 
 mental truths  neceflarily  form  the  ground-work  of 
 Chriflianity.  They  are  however  fo  obvious  in  their 
 nature,  and  fo  generally  recognifed,  that  to  dilate 
 upon  them  is  not  requifite.  I  proceed  therefore  to 
 confider  fuch  of  the  other  leading  doctrines  of  the 
 New  Teftament  as  are  either  peculiar  to  the  Chrif- 
 tian  religion,  or  have  received  from  that  religion 
 fuch  additional  illuftration  as  to  require  to  be  fepa- 
 rately  noticed.  Thefe  doctrines  may  be  comprifed 
 under  four  general  heads ;  which  will  be  arranged 
 in  the  order  according  to  which  they  may  be  mofl 
 conveniently  difcufTed.  The  firft  will  relate  to  the 
 corruption  of  human  nature:  the  fecond  to  the 
 refurre&ion  and  the  future  judgment :  the  third  to 
 the  nature  and  office  of  Chrift :  the  fourth  to  the 
 nature  and  office  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
 
 II.  The  depravity  of  human  nature  has  already 
 been  unavoidably  noticed  in  fpeaking  of  the  fall  of 
 man,  by  which  it  was  produced.  We  learn  from 
 the  book  of  Genefis,  that  our  firft  parents,  deluded 
 by  the  evil  fpirit,  who  availed  himfelf  of  the  inftru- 
 
 N  mentality 
 
 (c)  Romans,  i.  19,  20. 
 
T78  DOCTRINES    OF    THE 
 
 mentality  of  the  ferpent  to  accomplifli  their  ruin, 
 concurred  in  difobeying  the  fole  prohibition  which 
 their  Creator  had  impofed  as  the  trial  of  their  obe- 
 dience. By  this  rebellion  againft  their  Sovereign 
 and  Benefactor  they  loft,  together  with  their  title 
 to  immortality,  their  primeval  innocence :  they  loft 
 their  purity  and  holinefs,  the  image  of  God  in  which 
 they  had  been  created.  Sin,  the  forerunner  of  death, 
 entered  into  the  world,  and  clave  infeparably  to 
 fallen  man.  The  children  of  Adam  were  born  "  in 
 u  his  own  image,"  no  longer  that  of  God.  The 
 tide  of  wickednefs,  fhewing  its  early  power  by  the 
 murder  of  Abel,  and  gradually  fpreading  itfelf  un- 
 til it  had  abforbed  in  its  groffeft  impurities  the 
 whole  race  of  man,  Noah  and  his  family  excepted, 
 proved  in  the  antediluvian  world,  that  from  a  cor- 
 rupted origin  nothing  but  what  was  corrupt  could 
 proceed.  After  the  flood  the  antecedent  depravity 
 remaine4  unaltered.  "  The  imagination  of  man's 
 "  heart"  ftill  continued  "  evil  from  his  youth." 
 At  the  time  of  the  call  of  Abraham,  almoft  before 
 the  eyes  of  Noah  were  clofed,  and  long  before  the 
 death  of  his  fon  Shem,  idolatry  and  its  attendant 
 enormities  had  enfnared  almoft  all  mankind.  The 
 hiftory  of  the  Jews,  the  chofen  people  of  God,  in- 
 structed by  an  immediate  and  fpecial  revelation 
 from  Heaven  ;  feparated  by  rites  and  ufages  fcareely 
 lefs  than  by  religious  knowledge  from  the  contagion 
 of  furrounding  guilt ;  excited  from  time  to  time  to 
 ftedfaftnefs  in  their  duty  by  miracles,  by  prophets, 
 by  unmerited  mercies  and  by  fignal  judgments  j 
 
 yeta 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  179 
 
 yet,  under  all  thefe  appeals  to  their  understandings, 
 their  gratitude,  their  hopes,  and  their  fears,  obfti- 
 nately  and  irreclaimably  wicked  ;  the  hiftory  of  this 
 people  from  their  origin  to  their  difperfion  by  the 
 Romans  is  no  other  than  a  practical  and  unbroken 
 exemplification  of  the  native  corruption  of  the  hu- 
 man heart.  The  blindnefs  and  flagitioufnefs  of  the 
 ancient  Gentile  world  which,  enjoying  much  fainter 
 gleams  of  religious  light,  became  proportionally  im- 
 merfed  in  blacker  depths  of  ignorance  and  profli- 
 gacy ;  the  continuance  of  the  fame  (late  of  darknefs 
 and  guilt  in  regions  not  irradiated  by  revelation ; 
 the  lamentable  prevalence  of  wickednefs  among 
 thofe  who  enjoy  the  full  light  of  the  Gofpel ;  all 
 thefe  facts  unite  in  attefting  and  exemplifying  the 
 fame  corruption. 
 
 To  this  corruption  the  Chriflian  Scriptures,  in 
 recording  the  wonders  of  that  plan  of  redemption 
 by  which  its  fatal  confequences  were  to  be  removed, 
 refer,  directly  or  indirectly,  on  many  occafions,  and 
 in  the  cleared  manner.  It  is  indeed  on  that  cor- 
 ruption that  the  whole  plan  of  Chriftianity  is  efta- 
 bliihed.  We  are  therefore  not  furprifed  at  the 
 gloomy  catalogue  of  crimes,  which  our  Saviour  de- 
 fcribes  as  proceeding  from  the  human  heart  (d) : 
 nor  at  the  enumeration  given  by  St.  Paul  of  the 
 works  of  the  fleih  (<?),  the  works  to  which  men  are 
 by  nature  prone.  We  are  not  furprifed  to  hear  this 
 apoftle  affirming,  "  we  have  proved  both  Jews  and 
 "  Gentiles,  that  they  are  all  under  fin  :  as  it  is 
 "  written,  There  is  none  righteous,  no  not  one : 
 N  2  "  There 
 
 {d)  Matt,  xv,  19.  (<?)  Gal.  v.  19.  21. 
 
?0O  DOCTRINES    OF    THI 
 
 <e  There  is  none  that  underftandeth,  there  is  none 
 "  that  feeketh  after  God  :  they  are  all  gone  out  of 
 "  the  way ;  they  are  altogether  become  unprofit- 
 "  able ;  there  is  none  that  doeth  good,  no  not  one 
 "  (/)•"  We  are  not  furprifed  to  hear  him  affirm- 
 ing, "  I  know,  that  in  me,  that  is,  in  my  flefli, 
 "  dwelleth  no  good  thing  :  for  to  will  is  prefent 
 "  with  me  ;  but  how  to  perform  that  which  is  good 
 <e  I  find  not.  For  the  good  that  I  would,  I  do  not ; 
 V  but  the  evil  which  I  would  not,  that  I  do  (g)." 
 Nor  are  we  furprifed  when  he  avows  concerning 
 himfelf  and  his  Ephefian  converts,  that-  they  alfo 
 were  formerly  <c  dead  in  trefpaffes  and  fins  accord- 
 "  ing  to  the  courfe  of  this  world,  fulfilling  the 
 cc  lufts  of  the  fleih,  and  of  the  mind  ;  and  were, 
 "  by  nature,  children  of  wrath,  even  as  others  (h)" 
 To  accumulate  fimilar  paffages  is  needlefs. 
 
 In  this  doctrine  of  the  natural  corruption  of  the 
 human  heart,  taken  in  conjun&ion  with  another 
 doctrine,  on  which  the  Scriptures  are  no  lefs  expli- 
 cit ;  that  the  remedy  for  this  corruption  is  provided 
 by  the  Almighty  not  as  a  debt  owing  to  man,  but 
 as  the  free  bounty  of  Divine  grace  ;  certain  perfons 
 have  imagined  that  they  have  discovered  difficulties 
 not  to  be  obviated  confidently  with  fome  of  the  at- 
 tributes of  God.  If  you  feel  a  doubt  of  this  kind 
 fpringing  in  your  bread,  remember  the  infinite,  dis- 
 tance between  yourfeif  and  your  Maker.  Remem- 
 ber how  little  qualified  you  are,  in  confequence  of 
 that  diftance,  to  criticife  or  to  appreciate  the  details 
 
 of 
 
 (/)  Rom.  iii.  10,  &c.  (g)  Rom.  vli.  18,  &c. 
 
 (h)  Ephef.  ii.  1,  &c. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  l8t 
 
 of  his  plans  of  governing   the  univerfe;  plans  of 
 which  you  perceive  fo  very  fmall  a  part.     Remem- 
 ber that  in  every  one  of  his  works  which  you  inves- 
 tigate there  are  depths  to  you  unfathomable.     Re- 
 member that  the   corruption  of  human  nature  is  A 
 fact  demonftrated  by  experience.     Suppofe  Chrifti- 
 anity  to  be  falfe,  or  never  to  have  been  revealed  : 
 the  ftate  of  human  nature  remains  unaltered.    That 
 doctrine  therefore,   let  it  inevitably  bring  with  it 
 whatever  difficulties  it  may,  brings  none  which  prefs 
 harder  upon  Chriftiaiiity  than  upon  any  other  reli- 
 gion.    Confult  the  Scriptures.     If  you  there  find 
 the  exiftence  of  this  corruption  unequivocally  de- 
 clared ;    be  fatisfied  that  its   exiftence  is   perfectly 
 compatible  with  the  juftice,  with  the  mercy,  with 
 every  attribute  of  God;     If  you  find  a  further  and 
 unequivocal  declaration,  that  the  remedy  for  this 
 corruption  and  its  confequences  is  a  free  gift,  not 
 a  debt,  on  the  part  of  the  Deity  :  be  fatisfied  that 
 this  arrangement  likewife  is  entirely  confiftent  with 
 all  his   perfections.     You   already   know,   or  may- 
 know,   from  the    dealings    of     God    with    men* 
 what   is   fufficient    to  convince   you    that,     altho' 
 "  his  ways   are  unfearchable  and  his    judgments 
 "  pad  finding  out  (J)  ;"  although  "  clouds  and 
 *4  darknefs  are  round  about  him ;   yet  righteouf- 
 "  nefs  and  judgment  are  the    habitation  of   his 
 "  throne  (£)." 
 
 The  influence  of  this  original  depravation  of  na* 
 ture  affects  every  individual  at  every  period  of  his 
 
 life 
 
 (»)   Rom.  xi.  33.  (i)  Pfalm  xcvli.  2. 
 
I&2  DOCTRINES   OF    THE 
 
 life.  It  is  an  eternal  enemy  always  at  work  ;  but 
 operating  in  the  mofl  dangerous  manner,  when  the 
 concurrence  of  favourable  circum dances  arms  it 
 with  additional  force.  It  perverts  the  inclinations 
 of  men  ;  darkens  the  underflanding ;  adds  ftrength 
 to  paffion,  efficacy  to  temptation ;  difpofes  the 
 heart  to  evil,  indifpofes  it  to  good.  Would  you 
 learn  to  place  a  true  value  on  the  bleffings  of  re- 
 demption through  Chrift ;  on  that  difpenfation 
 which  is  revealed  as  the  only  method  by  which  the 
 Divine  wifdon  hath  appointed,  that  the  fallen  des- 
 cendants of  Adam  mould  be  reftored  to  the  image 
 and  favour  of  God  ?  Confider  the  corrupt  nature  of 
 which  you  partake  ;  the  guilt,  and  the  punifhment 
 with  which,  but  for  the  grace  of  God  in  the  Chrif- 
 tian  difpenfation  of  mercy,  you  would  in  confe- 
 quence  of  that  corrupt  nature  be  overwhelmed. 
 
 III.  The  prolongation  of  human  exiftence  be- 
 yond the  grave  is  a  fubjed  which  in  all  ages  has 
 exercifed  the  underflandings,  the  hopes,  and  the 
 fears    of  mankind.      To  ferious    enquirers    there 
 could  not  but  appear  a  confiderable  probability,  an- 
 terior to  the  light  of  revelation,  that  man  would  fur- 
 vive  the  ftroke  of  death.     That  mere  matter  mould 
 be  pofferTed  of  thought,  of  imagination,  of  reafoning 
 powers,  of  choice,  and  fpontaneous  agency,  was  a 
 pofition  feemingly  incomprehenfible.     Hence  it  was 
 juftly  inferred  that  the  foul  was   di(Hn£t  from  the 
 body  ;  and,  if  diftintt.,  not  very  likely  to  be  involved 
 in  the  deftru&ion  of  the  frame  which  it  inhabited. 
 The  ftrong  repugnance  to  annihilation  implanted  in 
 
 human 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  183 
 
 human  nature  by  the  hand  of  God,  formed  a  pre- 
 emption that  annihilation  was  not  defigned  to  be 
 the  lot  of  humanity.  The  capacity  of  progreffive 
 improvement  in  the  faculties  of  the  mind,  the  ar- 
 dent defires  of  the  foul  for  degrees  of  knowledge 
 and  happinefs  unattainable  on  earth,  excited  a  rea- 
 fonable  hope  that  a  ftate  of  being  yet  remained,  in 
 which  thofe  faculties  might  be  advanced,  and  thofe 
 defires  gratified,  to  perfection.  Another  and  ftilt 
 more  weighty  argument  could  not  efcape  notice. 
 That  the  world  was  under  a  moral  Governor  was 
 apparent :  yet  that  virtue  and  vice  were  not  uniform- 
 ly or  accurately  recompenfed  with  prefent  happinefs 
 and  prefent  mifery  was  undeniable.  Hence  it 
 feemed  an  almoft  neceflary  deduction,  that  complete 
 retribution  was  referved  for  another  fcene  of  exift- 
 ence.  All  thefe  arguments  however  were  only  pre- 
 emptions. They  were  highly  probable  conjectures. 
 But  in  a  matter  of  fuch  extreme  importance  the 
 mind  could  not  repofe  itfelf  with  fatisfactory  aflur- 
 ance  on  fpeculations.  The  natural  and  moral  ar- 
 guments for  the  immortality  of  the  foul  were  alfo 
 too  abftrufe  to  make  a  general  or  a  durable  impref- 
 fion  on  the  vulgar.  To  philofophers  themfelves 
 they  carried  no  permanent  conviction  (/).  Pluto, 
 and  Minos,  and  Tartarus,  and  Elyfium,  afforded 
 
 imagery, 
 
 (/)  Nefclo  quomodo,  dum  lego,  affentior :  cum  pofui  librum, 
 et  meceum  ipfe  de  immortalitate  animorum  ccepi  cogitare,  affen- 
 fio  omnls  ilia  elabltur.  This  is  the  language  even  of  Cicero ; 
 Tufc.  Quaeft.  lib.  i.  c.  II.  In  another  place,  fpeaking  of  the 
 fame  fubject,  he  defcribes  himfelf  as  "  dubitans,  circumfpeftans, 
 hsfitans,  tanquam  ratii  in  mari  immenf©  vchituw"  c.  30, 
 
184  t>OCTRINES    OF    THE 
 
 imagery,  and  allufionSj  and  epifodes  to  poets  :•  but 
 reached  not  the  underftanding,  nor  influenced  the 
 heart.  Among  the  Jews,  in  the  early  periods  of 
 their  hiftory,  indications  that  a  life  after  the  con- 
 clusion of  this  was  expected  are  few  and  obfcure. 
 In  later  times  thofe  traces  became  more  numerous 
 and  more  diiliri£l.  Yet  even  in  the  days  of  our 
 Saviour  one  of  the  principal  feels,  the  Sadducees, 
 denied  a  future  exiftence  j  and  does  not  appear  to 
 have  been  rendered  generally  unpopular  to  the  Jew- 
 ifh  nation  by  its  doctrine.  How  therefore  were  the 
 minds  of  men  to  be  fet  at  red,  but  by  a  free  com- 
 munication of  the  truth,  in  terms  which  could  not 
 be  mifunderilood,  and  from  authority  which  could 
 •not  be  queftioned  ?  The  Gofpel  has  made  this 
 communication.  "  It  has  brought  life  and  immor- 
 tality to  light  (W)."  It  has  lifted  up  the  veil  which 
 hung  over  eternity.  It  has  revealed  to  man,  that  in 
 the  unknown  and  unbounded  realms  of  Omnipo- 
 tence an  habitation  is  leferved  for  him ;  an  ha- 
 bitation of  blifs,  or  of  mifery,  proportioned  to 
 his  conduct  upon  earth.  It  has  revealed  to  him 
 that  all  his  thoughts,  words,  and  actions,  mall 
 be  examined  in  the  prefence  of  afiembled  men 
 and  angels  on  the  great  day  appointed  for  judg- 
 ment, before  the  throne  of  Jefus  Chrift.  It  has  re- 
 vealed to  man  that  his  mortal  body  (hall  be  raifed 
 from  the  grave  ;  mall  be  re-united  to  his  foul ;  fhall 
 be  rendered,  like  his  fouls  immortal ;  fhall  be  par- 
 taker with  his  foul  of  punifhment,  or  of  reward. 
 .".  As  the  Father  hath  life  in  Himfelf,  fo  hath  he 
 ■**  given  to  the  Son  to  have   life  in   Himfelf:  and 
 
 hath 
 
 (w)  2  Tim,  i.  10. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  l8j 
 
 **  hath  given  him  authority  to  execute  judgment 
 "  alfo,  becaufe  He  is  the  Son  of  Man  (n)  i"  be- 
 caufe,  being  the  Son  of  God,  he  vouchfafed  to  be- 
 come the  Son  of  Man,  and  to  take  upon  himfelf  the 
 perfonal  experience  of  human  infirmities  (0).  "  The 
 "  Father  judgeth  no  man,  but  hath  committed  all 
 "  judgment  unto  the  Son  :  that  ail  men  may  ho- 
 "  nour  the  Son,  even  as  they  honour  the  Father 
 «■  (^y__«  The  hour  is  coming,  in  which  all  that 
 "  are  in  the  graves  fhall  hear  his  voice,  and  fhall 
 "  come  forth  :  they  that  have  done  good,  unto  the 
 "  refurrection  of  life  5  and  they  that  have  done 
 "  evil,  unto  the  refurreclion  of  damnation  (q)" — ■ 
 "  The  Son  of  Man  fhall  come  in  the  glory  of  his 
 "  Father  with  his  angels :  and  then  he  fhall  reward 
 "  every  man  according  to  his  works  (r)." — '*  When 
 "  the  Son  of  Man  fhall  come  in  his  glory,  and  all 
 "  the  holy  angels  with  him  j  then  fhall  he  fit  upon 
 "  the  throne  of  his  glory,  and  before  him  fhall  be 
 "  gathered  all  nations  :  and  he  fhall  feparate  them 
 "  one  from  another,  as  a  fhepherd  divideth  his 
 "  fheep  from  the  goats.  And  he  fhall  fet  the  fheep 
 "  on  his  right  hand ;  but  the  goats  on  his  left. 
 "  Then  fhall  the  King  fay  unto  them  on  his  right 
 "  hand,  Come,  yeblefled  of  my  Father,  inherit  the 
 "  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation 
 "  of  the  world. — Then  fhall  he  fay  alfo  unto  them 
 "  on  the  left  hand,  Depart  from  me,  ye  curfed, 
 "  into  everlafting  fire,  prepared  for  the  devil  and 
 
 "  his 
 
 («)   John,  y.  26,  27.  (0)    Heb.  iv.  15. 
 
 (/>)  John,  v.  22.  (q)  John,  v.  28,  29, 
 
 (r)   Matt.  xvi.  27. 
 
1 86  DOCTRINES    OF    THE 
 
 "  his  angels.- — And  thefe  fhall  go  away  into  ever- 
 "  lading  punifhment ;  but  the  righteous  into  life 
 "  eternal  (/)»"—>"  We  mud  all  appear  before  the 
 "  judgment-feat  of  Chrift  j  that  every  £>ne  may 
 44  receive  the  things  done  in  his  body,  according  to 
 44  that  he  hath  done,  whether  it  be  good  or  bad  (/}.'* 
 "  God  fhall  judge  the  fecrets  of  men  by  Jefus  Chrift, 
 44  according  to  my  Gofpel  (u)." — •"  The  Lord 
 44  himfelf  fhall  defcend  from  heaven,  with  a  fhout, 
 "  with  the  voice  of  the  archangel,  and  with  the 
 44  trump  of  God  (v)" — "  For  the  trumpet  fhall 
 44  found ;  and  the  dead  fhall  be  raifed  incorrupt- 
 44  ible,  and  we  fhall  be  changed.  For  this  corrupt- 
 44  ible  muft  put  on  incorruption :  and  this  mortal 
 "  muft  put  on  immortality  (w)."  Conformable  to 
 thefe  reprefentations  was  the  prophetic  vifion  of  the 
 final  judgment  revealed  to  St.  John.  "  I  faw  a 
 44  great  white  throne,  and  Him  that  fat  on  it :  from 
 "  whofe  face  the  earth  and  the  heaven  fled  away  ; 
 44  and  there  was  found  no  place  for  them.  And  I 
 44  faw  the  dead,  fmall  and  great,  {land  before  God. 
 "  And  the  books  were  opened :  and  another  book 
 44  was  opened,  which  is  the  book  of  life :  and  the 
 44  dead  were  judged  out  of  thofe  things  which 
 44  were  written  in  the  books,  according  to  their 
 "  works.  And  the  fea  gave  up  the  dead,  which 
 64  were  in  it :  and  death  and  hell  delivered  up  the 
 44  dead  which  were  in  them  ;  and  they  were  judged, 
 "  every  man,  according  to  their  works  j  and  who- 
 
 46  foever 
 
 (s)  Matt.  xxv.  3* —34.  41.46.  (t)  2  Gor.  v.  io. 
 
 \u)    I.om.  ii.  16.  (?)   I  Theft  iv.  16, 
 
 ^w)    1  Cor.  xv.  52,  53. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION*  187 
 
 "  foever  was  not  found  written  in  the  book  of  life, 
 "  was  call  into  the  lake  of  fire  (#)." 
 
 The  ftate  of  happinefs,  and  the  (late  of  mifery, 
 feverally  prepared  for  the  righteous  and  the  ungodly, 
 are  not  defcribed  to  ns  in  detail :  partly,  we  may 
 prefume,  becaufe  a  knowledge  of  them  in  detail 
 would  not  have  been  advantageous  to  us  during  our 
 mortal  courfe  :  and  partly,  becaufe  the  full  compre- 
 henfion  of  the  blifs  to  be  enjoyed  by  the  glorified 
 fpirits  of  juft  men  made  perfect,  and  of  the  fuflfer- 
 ings  to  be  endured  by  thofe  whofe  obftinate  wicked- 
 nefs  (hall  have  involved  them  in  deftruction,  is  be- 
 yond the  grafp  of  the  prefent  faculties  of  man.  "  Eye 
 "  hath  not  feen,"  faith  the  apoftle,  "  nor  ear  heard, 
 "  neither  hath  it  entered  into  the  heart  of  man  to 
 "  conceive,  the  things  which  God  hath  prepared 
 "  for  them  that  love  him  (y)."  The  fame  defcrip- 
 tion,  it  is  probable,  might  be  applied  to  the  punish- 
 ments which  await  the  wicked.  With  refpec~t,  how- 
 ever, to  that  happinefs  and  that  mifery,  two  things 
 are  clear :  that  each  is  extreme ;  and  that  each  is 
 unchangeable.  The  reft  is  conveyed  in  general 
 terms,  adapted  to  imprefs  on  the  heart  thofe  mo- 
 mentous truths.  The  recompenfe  of  thofe  who  are 
 received  into  happinefs  is  denominated,  "  Glory, 
 "  honour,  immortality,  eternal  life  (3);  eternal 
 5t  falvation  (a) ;  the  prefence  of  the  glory  of  God 
 "  (J>)  9    a  crown  of  righteoufnefs  (7) ;  a  crown  of 
 
 "  glory 
 
 (x)  Rev.  xx.  ii— 15.  (jv)  2  Cor.  H.  9. 
 
 (2)  Rom.  ii.  7.  (a)  Heb.  v.  9. 
 
 (b)  Judc,  24.  (r)   z  Tim.  iv.  8. 
 
so8  Doctrines  of  the 
 
 *c  glory  that  fadeth  not  away  (d)  \  an  exceeding 
 "  and  eternal  weight  of  glory  (i) ;  an  inheri- 
 <s  tance  incorruptible  and  undefiled,  referved  in 
 "  Heaven  (/*).  The  righteous  fhall  lhine  forth  as 
 "  the  fun  in  the  kingdom  of  their  Father  (g).  They 
 *c  can  die  no  more  ;  for  they  are  equal  unto  the  an- 
 "  gels :  and  are  the  children  of  God,  being  the 
 *$  children  of  the  refurreelion  (£).  They  fhall  be 
 tfc  with  Chfift  (i) :  they  fhall  be  for  ever  with  the 
 "  Lord  (£)  ;  and  be  like  Him,  and  fee  Him  as  he 
 *fc  is  (/),  face  to  face  (ni).  There  fhall  be  no  more 
 **  death,  neither  forrow,  nor  crying  ;  neither  fhall 
 "  there  be  any  more  pain  («).  And  there  fhall  be 
 **■  no  more  curfe :  for  the  throne  of  God  and  the 
 46  Lamb  fhall  be'*  among  the  righteous.  "  And 
 **  they  fhall  fee  his  face  :  the  Lord  God  giveth  them 
 "  light :  and  they  fhall  reign  for  ever  and  ever  (<?)/* 
 The  future  ftate  of  the  wicked  is  termed  "  indigna- 
 4C  tion  and  wrath,  tribulation  and  anguifh  (p)  :  the 
 "  lake  which  burnetii  with  fire  and  brimftone 
 "  (q)  :  outer  darknefs,  and  a  furnace  of  fire,  where 
 "  fhall  be  weeping,  and  wailing,  and  gnafhing  of 
 "  teeth  (r):  everlafting  punifhment,  eternal  dam- 
 "  nation  (j)  :  everlafting  deftruction  from  the  pre- 
 
 "  fence 
 
 (d)    I  Pet.  v.  4.  (e)   2  Cor.  iv.  17. 
 
 (/)    i  Pet.  i.  4.  \g)   Matt,  xiii.43. 
 
 (A)  Luke,  xx.  36.  (/)   John,  xii.  26.  xvii.  24, 
 
 {k)    1  Thef.  iv.  17.  (J)    1  John, Hi.  2. 
 
 (/•«)    1  Cor.  xiii.  12.  («)    Rev.  xxi.  4. 
 
 (0)   Rev.  xxii.  3  —  5.  (/>)   Rom.  ii.  8,  9. 
 
 (y)    Rev.  xxi.  8.  (r)    Mat.  viii.  12.  xiii.  42. 
 
 (j)    Mat.  xxv.  46.  Mark,  iii.  29. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  1S9 
 
 c?  fence  of  the  Lord  and  the  glory  of  his  power  (/) : 
 **  hell,  where  the  worm  dieth  not,  and  the  fire  is 
 *'  never  quenched  (u)  :  the  place  of  torment,  day 
 '  •  and  night,  for  ever  and  ever  (v)," 
 
 IV.  How  then  is  this  happinefs  to  be  attained,  this 
 mifery  to  be  efcaped,  by  a  being  like  man,  frail  and 
 prone  to  iniquity  ?  The  Scriptures  anfwer  the  ques- 
 tion :  by  the  grace  of  God,  through  Jefus  Chrift  our 
 Saviour.  Tn  the  Scriptures  this  difpenfation  of 
 mercy  is  unfolded.  They  reveal  the  nature  and  the 
 office  of  Jefus  Chrift. 
 
 The  nature  of  this  great  Redeemer  is  defcribed  in 
 language  which  proclaims  him  intitled  not  merely 
 to  our  gratitude,  our  love,  our  reverence,  our  ho- 
 mage, but  to  our  adoration.  Many  centuries  before 
 his  appearance  upon  earth  he  was  announced  by 
 Ifaiah  under  the  denomination  of  "  The  Mighty 
 "  God,  God  with  us  («*).'?  The  Nevv  Teftament- 
 prefents  him  to  the  world  in  the  fame  character. 
 He  is  ftyled  "  the  only  begotten  Son  of  God  (#)  ; 
 "  the  brightnefs  of  his  Father's  glory,  and  the  ex- 
 **  prefs  image  of  his  perfon  (j)  ;  the  image  of  the 
 **  invifible  God  (z)  j  the  Word  of  God  (a) ;  the 
 if  Lord  of  Glory  (b) ;  the  true   God,  God  mani- 
 
 "  felled 
 
 (i)   2  Thef.  i.  9.  («)  Mark,  ix   43.  46.  48. 
 
 (•y)  Luke,  xvi.  28.     Rev.  xx.  10. 
 
 («/)   Ifaiah,  ix.  6.  vii.  14.     Mat.  i.  23. 
 
 (x)  John,  iii.  1 6.  (j/)   Heb.  i.  3. 
 
 (z)  Colof.  i.  15.  (a)   Rev.  xix.  jj. 
 
 (J)   1  Cor.  ii.  8.     James,  i.  2. 
 
3  9©  DOCTRINES    OF    THE 
 
 "  fefled  in  the  flefh,  God  over  all  blefled  for  ever 
 "  (<r) ;  the  Word,  who  in  the  beginning  was  with 
 "  God,  and  was  God  (d)."  By  the  Father  himfelf 
 he  is  exprefsly  called  God  (<?).  Of  himfelf  he  fays, 
 *'  I  and  my  father  are  one  (jf)."— "Before  Abraham 
 "  was,  I  am  (#)."  He  commands  his  difciples  to 
 baptife  all  nations  in  his  name  conjointly  with  that  of 
 the  Father  and  of  the  Holy  Ghofl  (£).  He  affirms 
 that  none  knows  the  Father,  but  the  Son  :  and  that 
 none  knows  the  Son,  but  the  Father  (7).  All  the 
 angels  of  God  are  commanded  to  worfhip  him  (£). 
 In  him  dwelleth  all  the  fulnefs  of  the  godhead  bo- 
 dily (/).  Adoration  and  prayer  were  addrefled  to 
 him  by  St.  Stephen  ;  and  at  the  very  time  when  that 
 martyr  was  "  full  of  the  Holy  Ghofl  (ffz)."  He  is 
 reprefented  in  the  book  of  Revelations  as  receiving 
 vmiverfal  worfhip  in  conjunction  with  the  Father  (n). 
 His  name  flands  united  with  that  of  the  Father  and 
 the  Holy  Ghofl  in  the  apoflolical  benediction  (0). — 
 He  is  characterifed,  and  characterifed  by  himfelf, 
 when  he  appears  to  St.  John,  by  the  identical  terms, 
 expreffive  of  eternal  exiftence  and  perfection,  which 
 are  at  the  very  fame  time  applied,  and  had  alfo  been 
 applied  in  the  Old  Teitament,  as  characteriflic  of 
 
 Go4 
 
 (c)  John,  xx,  28.   Rom  ix.  5.    I  John,  v.  20.  I  Tim.  iii.  1 6 
 
 (d)  John,  i.  1.  (0  Heb.  i.  8. 
 (/)  John,  x.  30.  and  fee  53. 
 
 (g)  John,  viii.  58.  and  compare  Exod.  Hi.  14. 
 (£)  Mat.  xxviii.  19.  (/')  Mat.  xi.  27. 
 
 (i)  Heb.  i.  6.  (/)  Colof.ii.  9. 
 
 (m)   A&s,  vii.  55.  (n)   Rev,  v.  13 
 
 (0)  2  Cor.  xiii.  14.  and  fee  Rev.  i.  4,  5. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION,  I9I 
 
 God  the  Father  (/>).  Further;  to  this  great  and 
 glorious  Saviour,  the  fecond  perfon  in  the  Divine 
 Trinity,  the  immediate  agency  of  creating  and  pre- 
 ferving  the  world  is  unequivocally  and  repeatedly 
 afcribed.  It  is  he  by  whom  God  "  made  the 
 "  worlds  (7)."  It  is  he  who  "  upholdeth  all  things 
 "  by  the  word  of  his  power  (r).'s— ^"  All  things 
 "  were  made  by  him ;  and  without  him  was  not 
 **  any  thing  made  that  was  made  (/)." — ?"  By  him 
 "  were  all  things  created  that  are  in  heaven, 
 *e  and  that  are  in  earth,  vifible  and  invifible; 
 "  whether  they  be  thrones,  or  dominions,  or 
 "  principalities,  or  powers  :  all  things  were  created 
 "  by  him,  and  for  him.  And  he  is  before  all 
 "  things  ;  and  by  him  all  things  confift  (/).'* 
 Finally,  by  his  heavenly  Father  himfelf  he  is  thus 
 addreifed :  ^  Thou,  Lord3  in  the  beginning  haft  laid 
 "  the  foundation  of  the  earth,  and  the  heavens  are 
 "  the  works  of  thine  hand.  They  mall  perifh ;  but 
 "  thou  remained:  and  they  all  fhall  wax  old,  as  doth 
 "  a  garment.  And  as  a  vefture  fhalt  thou  fold  them 
 "  up,  and  they  (hall  be  changed  :  but  thou  art  the 
 "  fame,  and  thy  years  fhall  not  fail  («)." 
 
 To  fome  perfons  this  fundamental  doctrine,  the 
 Divinity  of  our  bleffed  Saviour,  feems  attended  with 
 infuperable  difficulties.  That  it  is  attended  with 
 difficulties  I  do  not  deny.     But  confider,  in  the  firfl 
 
 place, 
 
 (j>)  Compare  Ifaiah,  xliv.  6.  xlviii.  12.  (and  at  the  fame 
 time  obferve  carefully  the  latter  part  of  v.  11.)  Rev.  i.  8.  with 
 Rev.  i.  17.  ii.  8.  xxi.  6.  xxii.  13. 
 
 (?)  Heb.  i.  2.  (/•)  Heb.  i.  3. 
 
 (j)  John,  i.  3.  (/)  Colof.  i.  16,  17. 
 
 (u)  Heb.  i.  10 — 12. 
 
19?  DOCTRINES    OF    THE 
 
 place,  the  difficulties  on  the  other  fide  of  the  quefti- 
 on.  Suppofe,  for  a  moment,  the  dodrine  of  the 
 Divinity  of  Chrift  to  be  falfe  :  then  read  once  more 
 the  preceding  paragraph  ;  weigh  the  natural  im- 
 port of  the  titles,  attributes,  and  defcriptions  there 
 quoted  as  being  applied  in  the  Scriptures  to  Chrift ; 
 and  afk  yourfeif  whether,  if  he  to  whom  they  are 
 fo  applied  be  other  than  God,  there  is  any  mean- 
 ing in  words,  any  confidence  to  be  repofed  in  lan- 
 guage, even  in  the  language  of  Revalation;  Afk 
 yourfeif  whether  it  be  poffible  that  infpiration 
 would  be  given,  and  given  by  the  God  of  wif- 
 dom,  goodnefs,  and  truth,  in  fuch  a  manner  as 
 to  have  deceived,  it  is  not  too  much  to  fay  necef- 
 farily  to  have  deceived,  the  mafs  of  the  Chrif- 
 tian  world  from  the  days  of  the  apoftles  to  the  pre- 
 fent  hour:  and  to  have  deceived  Chriftians  as 
 to  a  point  confeffedly  of  fupreme  importance,  the 
 very  God  whom  they  were  to  adore.  Afk  yourfeif 
 whether  it  be  poffible  that,  when  the  Jewifh  Scrip- 
 tures had  been  uninterruptedly  directing  their  whole 
 force  for  more  than  fifteen  hundred  years  to  effect 
 the  extermination  of  all  idolatrous  worfhip  ;  the 
 Chriftian  Scriptures,  deriving  their  authority  from 
 the  fame  divine  fource,  mould  come  forth  abound- 
 ing in  expreffions  precifely  fitted,  on  the  prefent  fup- 
 pofition,  to  re-eftabliih  idolatrous  worfhip  ;  for  if 
 Chrift  be  not  God,  to  worfnip  him,  or  to  pay  to 
 him  any  fpecies  of  divine  honour,  is  idolatry.  Afk 
 yourfeif  whether  it  be  poffible  that  God,  who,  when 
 alluding  to  idolatry,  continually  chara&erifes  him- 
 
 felf 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  I93 
 
 felf  as  "  a  jealous  God  (v)  5"  who  folemnly  affirms 
 tJ  I  am  the  Lord  :  and  my  glory  will  I  not  give 
 "  to  another  (W) ;"  would  himfelf  addrefs  his  Son 
 in  thefe  terms,  "  Thy  throne,  O  God,  is  for  ever 
 "  and  ever  (x)  ;  if  that  Son  were  not  a  partaker  of 
 his  godhead.  Are  thefe  difficulties  lefs  embar- 
 raffing  than  thofe  which  attend  the  true  doctrine, 
 the  divinity  of  our  Redeemer  ?  For,  in  the  fecond 
 place,  what  are  the  difficulties,  which  that  doctrine 
 involves  ?  You  may  fum  them  up  in  thefe  few  words. 
 You  feel  that  it  is,  in  your  apprehenfion,  hard,  per- 
 haps you  will  choofe  to  fay  impoffible,  to  reconcile 
 the  divinity  of  Chrifl  with  that  great  fcriptural  truth, 
 the  unity  of  God.  The  unity  of  God  is  unquesti- 
 onably a  great  fcriptural  truth  :  and  the  divinity  of 
 Chrifl,  if  it  were  irreconcilable  with  that  truth, 
 would  be  no  true  doctrine.  But  dare  you  aver, 
 that  the  divinity  of  Chrifl  is  irreconcilable  with  the 
 unity  of  God  ?  Dare  you,  who  experience  in  your 
 own  perfon  the  intimate  Union  of  two  fubflances  of 
 oppofite  natures,  the  one  fpiritual,  the  other  corpo- 
 real ;  dare  you  prefume,  in  the  face  of  this  experi- 
 ence, to  affert  that  it  is  impoffible  for  two  kindred 
 fpiritual  beings  to  be  united  in  the  fame  godhead  ? 
 Dare  you,  the  child  of  a  day,  affect  to  meafure  with 
 the  fcanty  fpan  of  your  ignorance  the  fecrets  of 
 eternal  infinity  ?  Dare  you,  who  cannot  examine  the 
 fmalleft  of  your  Creator's  works  without  finding 
 
 O  yourfelf 
 
 (•u)  See  Exod.  xx.  5.  xxxiv.  14.     Deut.  iv,  24.  and  many 
 other  pafiages. 
 
 (w)   Ifaiah,  xlii.  8,     and  fee  xlviii.   11,   i», 
 (*)  Heb.  i.   8. 
 
1-94  BO CT RIMES    OF    THE 
 
 yourfelf  furrounded  with  inexplicable  difficulties'  j 
 dare  you  take  upon  you  to  define  what  is  pofiible 
 and  what  is  not  poffible  in  the  divine  nature  of  Him 
 who  made  you  and  all  things  ?  If  you  claim  fuch 
 high  prerogatives  for  your  reafon,  act  confidently 
 with  that  reafon :  forbear  authoritatively  to  pro- 
 nounce on  fubjeets,  which  exceed  the  grafp  of  your 
 comprehehfion  ;  and  humbly  believe  what  he,  who 
 cannot  lie,  reveals  concerning  himfelf.  The  mode 
 of  union  exiding  in  the  godhead  between  the  Fa- 
 ther and  the  Son  is  unknown,  and  incomprehenfible 
 to  you.  Be  it  fo.  Seek  not  to  explain  the  mode, 
 b'ecaufe  God  hath  not  unfolded  it  to  man :  but  ac- 
 knowledge the  union,  becaufe  God  hath  declared 
 it  in  the  Scrip'tures. 
 
 If  your  mind  remains  unfatisfied,  let  me  dill  re- 
 qued  your  deliberate  attention.  Reflect  that  difficul- 
 ties refpecting  moral  poffibilities,  difficulties  equally 
 great  with  thofe  which  you  conceive  to  belong  to 
 the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  and  arifmg  from  the 
 fame  caufe,  the  limited  nature  of  your  faculties  j 
 attend  you  during  the  invedigation  of  the  plained 
 attributes  of  God.  Take  his  eternity  for  an  exam- 
 ple. What  maxim  are  you  lefs  difpofed  to  call 
 controvertible,  than  this ;  that  nothing  can  take 
 place  without  a  caufe?  What  can  be  more  dagger- 
 ing, more  overwhelming  to  reafon,  than  that  a  being 
 fhould  exift  without  a  beginning,  without  a  caufe  ? 
 ■If  you  fay  that  God  is  the  caufe  of  his  own  exidence, 
 you  multiply  words  only  to  leave  the  fubject  more 
 obfcure.  For  if  you  mean  this  explanation  to  re- 
 move the  difficulty,  it  mud  imply  thefe  palpable  and 
 
 impious 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  I95 
 
 impious  abfurdities  :  that  the  Supreme  Being  onee 
 did  not  exift  j  and,  before  he  exifted,  operated  to 
 produce  his   exiftence.     Begin   now  to  reafon  in 
 another   line :    infer  from  your  own  exiftence  and 
 that  of  the  univerfe,  the  neceffity  of  the  exiftence 
 of  a  Creator  :  and  you  find  that  this  train  of  argu- 
 ment necefiarily  leads  you  on  to  perceive  that  a  be- 
 ing muft  have  exifted  for  ever,  without  beginning, 
 and  without  caufe.     But  obferve,  for  this  is  at  pre- 
 fent  the  material  point,  that  although  it  obliges  you 
 to  acknowledge  this  truth,  it  does  not  in  the  fmalleft 
 degree  leffen  or  remove  the  original  difficulties  with 
 which  you  found  it  accompanied.     It  takes  no  no- 
 tice of  them.     It  leaves  them  untouched  ;  precifely 
 as  they  were.     The  truth  remains  in  itfelf  as  ftagger- 
 ing  and  overwhelming  as  before;     You  fee  that  it 
 is  undeniably  a  truth  :  but  are  utterly  incapable  of 
 comprehending  the  mode  of  the  fact.     You  clearly 
 perceive,  however,  that  what  your  reafon  is  incapa- 
 ble of  comprehending,  what  it  is  at  firft  difpofed  to 
 reject  as  irreconcilable  with  fome  undeniable  propo- 
 rtion, may  on  other  grounds  of  reafoning  be  proved 
 to  your  complete   fatisfaction  indifputably  certain, 
 even   while  your  original  difficulty  remains  undi- 
 minished and   untouched.     Apply  this  example  to 
 the  cafe  of  the  Trinity.      And  if  you  ftill  feel  the 
 continuance  of  the  difficulties  as  to  the  mode  of  the 
 union,   which  at  firft  inclined  you  prefumptuoufly 
 to  regard  the  exiftence  of  three  divine  perfons  (for 
 to  the  divinity  of  the  Holy  Spirit   all  the  foregoing 
 reafoning  refpecting  the  divinity  of  Chrift  may  be 
 transferred)  as    inconfiftent  with  the  unity  of  the 
 
 O  2  godhead 
 
1^6  DOCTRINES    OF    THE 
 
 godhead  :  remember  that  on  other  grounds  of  rea- 
 soning, namely  on  the  declarations  of  the  infpired 
 Scriptures,  you  ftill  have  indifputable  warrant  for 
 believing  that  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghoft,  are 
 God,  and  One  God. 
 
 But  all  thefe  glories  were  laid  afide,  voluntarily 
 laid  afide.     "  The  Word  was  made  fleih,  and  dwelt 
 "  among  us  (w)"- — "  Chrifi  Jefus,  who,  being  in 
 "  the  form  of  God,  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be 
 "  equal  with  God,  made  himfelf  of  no  reputation, 
 "  and  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  fervant,  and  was 
 "  made  in  the  Iikenefs  of  men.     And  being  found 
 "  in  fafhion  as  a  man,  he  humbled  himfelf,  and  be- 
 "  came  obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death  of  the 
 *e  crofs  (#)>" — "  He  took  not  on  him   the  nature 
 66  of  angels,  but   (that  of)  the  feed  of  Abraham: 
 "  and  was  in  all  things  made  like  unto  his  brethren  : 
 "  and  was  in  all  points  tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet 
 *  without  fin  ()')•"     When  he  became  partaker  of 
 flefti  and  blood,  his  life  was  marked  by  humiliation 
 and  fufferings.     He  was  born  in  the  loweft  ftation. 
 His  mother,  indeed,  conformably  to  the  prophecies 
 concerning  the  Mefliab,  was  a  defcendant  of  the  roy- 
 al houfe  of  David.     But  it  is  evident  to  what  obfcu- 
 rity  and  poverty  that  branch  of  the  race  of  David  was 
 reduced,  from  the  circumflcance  of  the  Virgin  Mary 
 being  efpoufed  to  Jofeph,  who  was  a  carpenter.    The 
 very  place  of  our  Saviour's  birth  was  a  liable ;  there 
 being  no  room  for  his   mother  and  Jofeph   in  the 
 inn.     In    a    very  fhort  time  he  was  hurried  into 
 
 Egypt, 
 
 (w)  Jobn,i.   14.  (x)  Philip,  ii.  6—8. 
 
 (y)  Heb.  ii.   16,  17.  iv.   15. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  I  §J 
 
 Egypt,    that  he  might  efcape  the  jealous  fury  of 
 Herod.    When,  after  a  youth  paffed  in  obfcurity,  he 
 entered  upon  his  public  miniflry,  he  was  employed 
 in  conftant  and  laborious   journeyings  and  preach- 
 ings in  towns,  in  villages,  in  the  wildernefs,  without 
 leiiure,  relaxation,  or  a  fettled  home.     The  foxes 
 have  holes ;  the  birds  of  the  air  have  nefts  :  but  the 
 Lord  of  all  things,  become  the  fon  of  man,  had  not 
 where  to  lay  his  head  (%).     Though  he   was  conti- 
 nually occupied  in  doing  good  to  men,  healing  all 
 kinds  of  bodily  difeafes,  and  teaching  the  way  to 
 everlafting  happinefs  ;  he  met  with  unceafing  oppoi 
 fition,  reproaches,    calumny,  and  perfecution :  and 
 was   repeatedly  compelled  to  deliver  himfelf  by  a 
 miracle  from  attempts  made  upon  his  life.     This 
 courfe  of  unjuft  treatment  he  well  knew   to  be  pre- 
 paring the  way  for  ufage  flill   more  iniquitous  and 
 cruel.     Again  and  again  he  forewarned  his  difciples 
 of  the   death  that  awaited  him  :  and  the  nearer  his 
 death  approached,  the  more  frequently  did  he  recall 
 it  to  their  remembrance.     On  the  evening  at  the 
 clofe  of  which  he  was  feifed  by  his  enemies,  having 
 retired  to  the  garden  of  Gethfemane  with  his  dif- 
 ciples, he  underwent  the  mofl  bitter  agony  at  the 
 profpecl:  of  the  fufferings  which  he  was  about  to  un- 
 dergo :  and  prayed  in  the  anguifh  of  his  foul,  that, 
 if  it  were  poffible,  poffible  confidently  with  the  full 
 attaiment  of  thole  objects  for  the  accomplishment  of 
 which  he  took  human  nature  upon  himfelf,    the 
 bitter  cup  might  pafs  from  him  without  his  drinking 
 of  it.     Yet  he  added  with  perfect  refignation  to  the 
 
 good 
 (»)  Mat.  vili.  20. 
 
I98  DOCTRINES    OF    THE 
 
 good  pleafure  of  his  Father ;  <:  never  fhelefs,  not  my 
 "  will,  but  thine,  be  done !"     The  circumftances 
 which  then  took  place  were  fuch  as  were  peculiarly 
 calculated  to  augment  the  weight  of  his  afflictions. 
 He  was  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  his  murderers  by 
 one  of  his  own  difciples.     "When  he  was  feifed,  all 
 his    other  difciples    forfook  him  and    fled.     And 
 though  Peter  afterwards  followed  him  to  the  houfe 
 of  the  High  Prieft  ;  it  was  not  to  comfort,  but  to 
 deny  him  three  times,  deliberately,  and  with  oaths. 
 When  he  was  brought  to  trial,  though  the  falfe  wit- 
 neffes,  fuborned  to  accufe  him,  could  prove  none  of 
 the  charges   which  they  advanced  ;  though  Pilate, 
 the  Roman  governor,   declared  himfelf  convinced 
 of  his  innocence,  and  fhewed  a  ftrpng  defire  to  fet 
 him  at  liberty ;  the  malice  and  violence  of  his  ene- 
 jnies  prevailed.     Expofed  to    the  groffeft  and  the 
 molt   favage  infults,    fcourged,    derided,    fmitten, 
 crowned  with  thorns,  he  was  nailed  by  his  hands  and 
 feet  to  the  crofs :  while  the  triumphant  feoffs  of  his 
 perfecutors   continued,  and  even   one  of  the   two 
 malefactors,  crucified   together   with   him,   joined 
 in   reviling  frim.     On  that  crofs,  however,  it  wa.s 
 iiot  neceiTary  that  he  mould  linger  in  anguifh.     The 
 paft  mifery  was  all  that  his  glorious   undertaking 
 exacted  of  him.     He  therefore  cried    with  a  loud 
 voice,  "  It  is  finifhed  (a)  :"    and  while  the  earth 
 quaked,  and  the  rocks  were  rent,  and  the  beholders 
 ilood  aghaft  with  aflonimment  and  terror,  bowed  his 
 head  and  gave  up  the  gho(t. 
 
 Such 
 
 (a)  John,  xix.  30, 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  1 99 
 
 Such  were,  in  few  words,  the  fufferings  of  Jefus 
 Chrift.  They  were  fufferings  fo  extraordinary  in 
 their  nature  and  extent,  and  fuftained  by  one,  who. 
 was  not  only  free  from  all  taint  of  fin,  but  of  fuch 
 tranfcendent  dignity  and  power  ;  that  the  caufe  for 
 which  they  were  endured  mult  necenarily  have 
 been  of  unparalleled  importance.  What  was  that 
 caufe  ?  You  will  fay,  and  you  will  fay  truly,  that 
 one  great  purpofe,  for  the  attainment  of  which  JefuS 
 Chrift  came  in  the  flefh,  was  to  communicate  to  men 
 a  clearer  knowledge  of  their  duty  to  God,  and  to 
 fet  before  them  in  his  own  conduct  a  pattern  of 
 practical  holinefs.  Without  all  doubt  this  was  one 
 of  the  momentous  purpofes  for  which  the  Son  of 
 God  became  man.  But  was  this  the  only  purpofe  I 
 Confider,  before  we  examine  further  what  the  Scrip- 
 tures teach  us  on  the  fubjecl,  how  improbable  it 
 feems  that  this  mould  have  been  the  only  purpofe. 
 Confider  the  methods  which  the  Almighty  on  for- 
 mer occafions  had  feen  fit  in  his  wifdom  and  good- 
 nefs  to  adopt.  When  the  Jewifh  religion  was  ef- 
 tablifhed  by  revelation  from  heaven ;  God  did 
 not  judge  it  neceffary  to  fend  down  to  earth  a  mef- 
 fenger  higher  than  men  and  angels.  He  deemed  it 
 fufficient  to  employ  a  mere  prophet,  Mofes,  for  that 
 purpofe.  When  the  Jews  had  grievoufly  departed 
 from  the  holy  worfhip  which  they  had  been  com- 
 manded to  obferve  ;  Elijah,  and  other  mere  pro- 
 phets, were  the  minifters  whom  God  £ent  forth  to 
 reclaim  them.  It  is  not  unreafonable,  therefore, 
 humbly  to  conclude  that  if,  at  the  time  when  Chrik 
 Canity  was  firft  revealed,  the  only  purpofe  of  the 
 
 Deity 
 
20O  DOCTRINES    OF    THE 
 
 Deity  had  been  to  inftrucT:  men  in  a  purer  mode  of 
 worfhip,  and  a  more  holy  courfe  of  life  ;  he  might 
 probably  have  employed  fome  prophet  to  execute 
 the  commiffion,  inftead  of  his  own  fon,  the  Lord  of 
 glory.  Again ;  if  no  other  purpofe  than  that  which 
 has  been  fpecified  was  to  be  accomplished  by  the 
 coming  of  Chrift  in  the  fTefri  ;  why  was  it  ordained 
 that  he  muft  be  put  to  death*  and  even  to  the  mod 
 cruel  and  ignominious  death,  that  of  the  crofs  ? 
 "When  the  Deity  appointed  prophets  in  ancient 
 times  to  preach  a  new  religion,  or  to  recall  men 
 from  wickednefs  and  idolatry  ;  he  did  not  think  it 
 requifite  that  thofe  prophets  mould  be  put  to  death, 
 either  as  a  proof  of  the  truth  of  all  that  they  pro- 
 nounced inhis  name,  or  as  an  example  of  patient  con- 
 stancy and  obedience  to  their  follower  Mofes  died 
 a  natural  death,  in  peace,  full  in  years  and  of  honour. 
 Elijah,  inftead  of  being  cut  off  by  his  enemies,  was 
 blefTed  with  the  privilege  of  not  dying  at  all ;  and 
 was  taken  up  alive  into  heaven.  There  appears 
 then  very  ftrong  reafon  to  conclude,  before  we  con-_ 
 fultthe  Scriptures  further,  that  God  would  not  have 
 fent  his  own  fon  as  man  upon  earth,  and  fent  him 
 to  be  "  a  man  of  forrows,  and  acquainted  with 
 66  grief  (£),"  to  be  betrayed,  to  be  fcourged,  to  be 
 derided,  to  be  crucified  :  if  fome  other  moil  impor- 
 tant end,  beyond  that  of  giving  to  men  directions; 
 for  their  future  conduct,  had  not  been  thus,  perhaps 
 thus  only,  to  be  attained.  What  then  wa3  that  other- 
 end  for  the  attainment  of  which  ChriuV  came  and 
 buffered  ?  Turn  to. the  facred  volume;  -"Surely  he 
 :  i;  "       -  '"  >  "hath 
 
 (b)  Ifaiah,  liii.  3. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  201 
 
 "  hath  borne  our  griefs,  and  carried  our  forrows." 
 "-—He  was  wounded  for  our  tranfgrefTions :  he  was 
 <c  bruifed  for  our  iniquities  :  the  chaflifement  of 
 <c  our  peace  (by  which  our  peace  with  God  was 
 "  effected )  was  upon  him :  by  his  ftripes  we  are 
 "  healed.  All  we,  like  fheep,  have  gone  aftray  ; 
 "  and  the  Lord  hath  laid  on  him  the  iniquities  of 
 "  us  all  (/)."  His  foul  was  made  "  an  offering 
 "  for  fin :  for  the  tranfgreflion  of  the  people  was 
 ';?  he  ftricken  (<7)."  Such  is  the  language  of  the 
 Old  Teftament,  prophetically  defcribing  the  then 
 future  facrihce  of  the  Meffiah  as  already  paft.  Con- 
 sult the  New  Teftament,  and  acknowledge  the  pre- 
 diction verified.  Chrift  is  "  the  Lamb  of  GodV, 
 "  which  taketh  away  the  fins  of  the  world  (£).'* 
 He  is  "  the  good  fhepherd,"  that  came  to  "  lay 
 "  down  his  life  for  the  fheep,  to  give  his  life  a  ran- 
 "  fom  for  many  (/)•"-— "  Chrift,  our  paffover,  is 
 "  facrificed  for  us  (g  )."—-"  Chrift  hath  loved  us  ; 
 "  and  given  himfelf  for  us,  an  offering  and  a  facri- 
 "  fic'e  unto  God  (Z>).  We  were  reconciled  to  God 
 "  by  the  death  of  his  foil ;  by  whom  we  have  now 
 "  received  the  atonement  (i)." — "  We  have  re- 
 "  demption  through  his  blood,  even  the  forgivenefs 
 "  of  our  fins  (£)."-— "  He  has  reconciled  us  to  God, 
 e£  having  made  peace  through  the  blood  of  his  crofs 
 66  (/)."— God  made  him,  who  knew  no  fin,  to  be 
 
 "  fin 
 
 (c)  Ifaiah,  liii.  4 — 6.  (cl)   Ibid.   8,    10. 
 
 (>)  John,  i.  29.  (/)  John,  x.   15.  Mat.  x.   z8. 
 
 (g)  1  Cor.  v.  7.  (i)  Ephef.  v.  2. 
 
 (i)  Rom.  v.   10,  lie  (6)  Colof.  i.  14. 
 
 (7)  Colof.  i.  20. 
 
2C2  DOCTRINES    OF    TH2 
 
 "  fin  (a  fin-offering)  for  us,  that  we  might  be  made 
 the  righteoufnefs  of  God  in  him  (;;z)  :  who  his  own 
 "  felf  bare  our  fins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree  (»)." 
 "  Chrift  fuffered  for  fins,  the  jufl  for  the  unjuft, 
 "  that  he  might  bring  us  to  God  (0)."-— "  He  wafh- 
 "  ed  us  from  our  fins  in  his  own  blood  ()>)." — ■ 
 "  We  were  redeemed  with  the  precious  blood  of 
 "  Chrift,  as  of  a  lamb  without  blemifh  and  without 
 "  fpot  (q)."  He  it  is  "  whom  God  hath  fet  forth 
 "  to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his  blood ' 
 "  (r)." — "  He  hath  appeared,  to  put  away  fin  by 
 *s  the  facrifice  of  himfelf.  By- his  own  blood  he 
 "  hath  obtained  eternal  redemption  for  us.  We 
 "  are  fanctified  with  his  blood  (/)."  But  is  it  clear 
 that  you,  that  I,  may  have  an  intereft  in  thefe  bleff- 
 ings  ?  Did  Chrift  fuffer  and  make  atonement  for  all 
 mankind  ;  or  but  for  a  part  of  the  human  race  ? 
 Thefe  are  momentous  queftions.  For  if  Chrift  died 
 pnly  for  a  part  of  the  human  race,  he  may  not  have 
 died  for  you  or  for  me.  But  let  us  take  comfort. 
 Pur  God,  the  God  of  mercy,  is  no  refpecler  of  per- 
 fons.  Hear  hjs  gracious  language  long  before  the 
 coming  of  the  Redeemer.  "  Have  I  any  pieafure 
 "  that  the  wicked  fhould  die,  faith  the  Lord  God  I 
 "  As  I  live,  faith  the  Lord  God,  I  have  no  pieafure 
 "  in  the  death  of  the  wicked;  but  that  the  wicked 
 "  turn  from  his  way  and,  live.     Turn  ye,  turn  ye, 
 
 "  from 
 
 (wi)  2  Cor.  v.  21.  («)   1  Pet.  ii.  24. 
 
 (0)   Ibid.   iii.    18.  (/>)   Rev.  i.   5. 
 
 ('/)   I  Pet.  i.   18,  19.  (r)  Rom.  iii.  "25. 
 
 (j)  Heb.  ix.  12.  26.  xiii.  12. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION*  '£©3 
 
 *'  from  your  evil    way  ;    why   will    ye    die  (/)." 
 Hear  the  voice  of  the  fame  God  proclaiming  by  the 
 infpired  writers  of  the  New  Teftament  the  univer- 
 fality    of  the    offer    of    falvation    through   Chrift. 
 "  The  Lord  is  not  willing  that  any  fhould  perifh ; 
 "  but    that  all  fhould  come    to    repentance  (zi)." 
 —f*'  God  our  Saviour  will  have  ail  men  to  be  faved 
 (?;)." — "  Chrift  gave  himfelf  a  ranfom  for  all  (w)." 
 •— "  Jefus  Chrift  the  righteous  is  the  propitiation 
 "  for  our  fins :   and  not  for  ours  only,  but  alfo  for 
 "  the  fins  of  the  whole  world  (V)."     Hear  the  gra- 
 cious invitation  of  Chrift  himfelf.   "  £ome  unto  me, 
 ?'  all  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden  ;  and  I  will 
 f  give  you  reft  (j)."    Hear  his  explicit  declaration : 
 "  The  Son  of  Man  muft  be  lifted  up  (on  the  Crofs), 
 <4  that  whofoever  believeth  in  him  mould  not  pe- 
 "  rifh,  but  have  eternal  life.     For  God  fo  loved 
 "  the  world,  that  he  gave   his  only-begptten  Son, 
 "  that  whofoever  believeth  in  him  fhould  not  pe« 
 "  rifh,  but  haye  eyerlafting  life  (%)."    Hear  his  final 
 commiilion,  on  his  departure  from  earth,  to  his  dif- 
 ciples.     "  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the 
 *'  Gofpel    to    every  creature.     He  that  believeth, 
 "  and  is   baptifed,  fhall  be  faved  (a)."     But  per- 
 haps there  may  be  crimes  of  too  deep  a  dye  to  be 
 warned   away  by  the  blood  of  Chrift  !    Fear  not : 
 ¥  The  blood  of  Chrift  cleanfeth  us  from  all  fin  (by 
 
 la 
 
 (/)  Ezek.  xviii.  23.  xxxjii.   11. 
 («),  2  Pet.  iii.  9.  (t>)   1  Tim.  ii.   3,  4. 
 
 (<zx>)    1  Tim.  ii.   6.  (x)   1  John,  ii.    12. 
 
 (y)  Matt.  xi.  28.  (z)   John,  iii.    15.    iS. 
 
 (a)  Mark,  xvi,   15,  id       (5)   1  John,  i.  vii. 
 
204  DOCTRINES    OF    THE 
 
 In  return  for  the  meritorious  obedience  and  fufFer- 
 ings  of  our  blefled  Saviour,  "  the  Lord  from  hea- 
 "  ven,"  when  he  appeared  as  the  Son  of  Man,  "  the 
 "  Second  Adam  (V),"  to  repair  the  evils  brought  up- 
 on the  human  race  by  the  firft  (for  "  as  in  Adam  all 
 "  die,  even  fo  in  Chrift  mall  all  be  made  alive  (d)  ^ 
 and  to  bruife  the  head  of  the  ferpent,  the  devil,  who 
 by  corrupting  our  fir  ft  parents  had  entailed  fin  and 
 inifery  on  a  ruined  world  ;  his  Heavenly  Father  ex- 
 alted him,  in  his  human  nature,  to  his  own  right- 
 hand,  and  placed  him  at  the  head  of  the  univerfe. 
 44  Chrift   Jefus,  being  found  in  famion  as   a  man, 
 humbled  himfelf ;     "  and    became    obedient  unto 
 "  death,  even  the  death  of  the  crofs.     Wherefore 
 "  God  alfo  hath   highly  exalted,   him ;  and  given 
 "  him  a  name  which  is  above  every  name  :  that  at 
 "  the  name  of  Jefus  every   knee    mould  bow,  of 
 "  things  in  heaven,  and  things  in  earth,  and  things 
 "  under  the  earth  :  and  that  every  tongue  mould 
 £<  confefs  that  jefus  Chrift  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of 
 "   God  the  Father  (V).     God  raifed  him  from  the 
 "  dead,  and  fet  him  at  his  own  right-hand  in  the 
 "  heavenly  places,  far  above  all  principality,  and 
 "  power,  and  might,  and  dominion,  and  every  name 
 "  that  is  named   not  only  in  this  world,  but   in 
 "  that  which  is  to  come :    and  hath  put  all  things 
 "  under  his  feet :  and  given  him  to  be  head  over 
 "  all  things  to    the   church  (/)."     The  apoftle, 
 when  he. affirms  that  "  the  Saviour,  the  Lord  Jefus 
 
 "  fhall 
 
 (t)   i  Cor.  xv.  47.  (d)   1  Cor.  xv.  22- 
 
 (je)   Philip,  ii.  5 — 10. 
 
 (/)  Ephef.  i.  20 — 22  :  and  fee  Coloff.  u  iS.  ii.  ic. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION*  205 
 
 6C  mall  change  our  vile  body  that  it  may  be  fafhioned 
 "  like  unto  his  glorious  body,"  carries  the  mind 
 forward  to  his  omnipotence ;  "  according  to  the 
 "  working  whereby  he  is  able  to  fubdue  even  all 
 "  things  to  himfelf  (g)."  Hear  our  Saviour's  own 
 words :  "  All  things  are  delivered  unto  me  of  my 
 "  Father  (h).  All  power  is  given  unto  me,  in 
 "  heaven  and  in  earth  (/)."  In  this  ftate  of  fupreme 
 exaltation  the  church,  which  he  purchafed  with  his 
 blood,  is  ftill  the  object  of  his  affectionate  and  unre- 
 mitting  care.  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even 
 "  unto  the  end  of  the  world  (£).  Where  two  or 
 "  three  are  gathered  together  in  my  name,  there 
 "  am  I  in  the  midfl  of  them  (/)."  At  this  hour  he 
 pleads  his  merits  as  an  atonement  for  the  continual 
 tranfgreflions  to  which  even  his  faithful  fervants  are 
 expofed  during  their  date  of  probation.  "  He  is 
 "  entered  into  heaven  itfelf,  now  to  appear  in  the 
 "  prefence  of  God  for  us  (ni).  If  any  man  fin,  we 
 "  have  an  advocate  with  the  Father,  Jefus  Chrift  the 
 tc  righteous  («).  He  is  able  to  fave  them  to  the 
 "  uttermoft  that  come  unto  God  by  him  :  feeing  he 
 "  ever  liveth  to  make  interceflion  for  them  (0)." 
 This  mediatorial  kingdom  of  Chrift  in  his  human 
 nature  fhall  continue  to  the  confummation  of  all 
 things.  "  He  muft  reign,  till  he  fhall  have  put 
 "  down  all  rule,  and  all  authority,  and  power  5  till 
 "  he  hath  put  all  enemies  under  his  feet.     And 
 
 "  when 
 
 (g)  Philip,  iii.   21-  (h)   Matt.  xi.  27. 
 
 (i)   Matt,   xxviii.    18.  (k)  Matt,  xxviii.   20. 
 
 (/)  Matt,  xviii.   20.  (m)   Heb.  ix.   24. 
 
 (n)   1  John,  ii.   1.  (0)  Heb.  vii.  25. 
 
2b6  DOCTRINES    OF    Tl4t 
 
 "  when  all  things  fhall  be  fubdued  unto  him;"  when 
 he  fhall  have  raifed  the  dead,  and  pronounced  judg- 
 ment on  the  whole  human  race,  on  the  fallen  angels, 
 and  on  Satan  himfelf  (p)$  "  then  fhall  the  Son 
 "  deliver  up  the  kingdom  to  God,  even  the  Father  : 
 "  then  fhall  the  Son  alfo  himfelf,"  as  man,  "  be  fub- 
 <c  jefk  unto  him  that  put  all  things  under  him,  that 
 "  God  may  be  all  in  all  (q)>" 
 
 Such  is  the  difpenfation  of  redemption  through 
 Jefus  Chriftj  the  Son  of  God,  What  are  the  im- 
 preffions  with  which  it  fills  your  heart  ?  Are  you 
 overwhelmed  with  the  magnitude  of  the  mercy  j  and 
 ready  10  cry  out  in  aftonifhment  with  the  Pfalmift, 
 "  Lord,  what  is  man,  that  thod  hafl:  fuch  refpecT: 
 "  unto  him  ;  and  the  fon  of  man,  that  thou  fo  re- 
 "  gardeft  him  (r)  ?  The  thoughts  of  God  are  not 
 "  as  our  thoughts  ;  nor  his  ways  as  our  ways  (Y) :" 
 the  mercy,  vafl  as  it  is,  is  not  too.  great  for  the  God 
 of  Mercy.  Are  you  furprifed  that  you  cannot 
 fathom  the  depths  of  this  myfterious  plan  for  the 
 falvation  of  mankind  ?  It  is  a  my  fiery  into  which 
 the  very  "  angels  defire  to  look  (/)•"  Or  are 
 vou  proudly  difpofed,  with  prefumptuous  and 
 profane  reafoners,  to  cavil  at  the  infcrutable  eoun- 
 iels  of  Infinite  Goodnefs :  to  queftion  the  juftiee  of 
 God  in  permitting  his  guiltlefs  Son  to  fuffer  for 
 fmful  man — while  yet  his  Son  voluntarily  took  the 
 iufferings  upon  himfelf — or  to  contend  that  human 
 tranfgreffions  might  have  been  freely  forgiven  with- 
 out" 
 
 (f>)  2Pet.i1.  4.  {q)  Jude,  6.   Rev.  xx.  2.  10. 
 
 (r)  Pfalm  viii.  4.  (j)    Ifaiah,  lv.    8,  9. 
 
 U)   1  Pet.  L  12. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  ioj 
 
 but  an  atonement — while  yet  it  is  impoffible  for  you 
 to  know  that  they  could  thus  have  been  forgiven 
 freely  in  confidence  with  the  attributes  of  God  ; 
 and  while  it  feems  highly  probable,  as  far  as  our 
 limited  faculties  can  prefume  to  conje&ure,  that 
 fuch  an  example  of  impunity  would  hate  been  an 
 encouragement  to  difobedienee  throughout  the  uni- 
 verfe  ?  Leave  to  God  "  the  fecret  things  which 
 "  belong  to  him  (it)  :"  and  accept  with  humble 
 thankfgiving  the  ftupendous  bleffing  which  he  has 
 revealed.  Remember  too  that  this  bleffing  is,  as  to 
 yourfelf,  conditional.  Salvation  through  Chrift  is 
 offered  to  you,  not  forced  upon  you.  It  is  promik 
 ed  to  you  only  on  the  terms  of  entire  fubmiffion  to 
 him  and  to  his  laws.  If  you  love  that  Saviour  who 
 has  loved  you ;  if  you  give  yourfelf  to  him,  who 
 gave  himfelf  for  you ;  he  will  reward  you  with 
 everlafting  glory.  "  But  how  fhall  you  efcape,  if 
 "  you  neglecl:  fo  great  falvation  (y)V  There  is 
 falvation  in  no  other  :  "  there  is  no  other  name 
 "  under  Heaven  given  among  men,  whereby  we 
 "  mufl  be  faved  (zv)."  If  Chrift  affirmed  to  his 
 difciples,  when  he  charged  them  to  preach  the  Gof- 
 pel  to  every  creature,  "  He  who  beliveth,  and  is 
 "  baptifed,  mall  be  faved  i"  he  added,  in  the  fame 
 fentence,  "  He  who  believeth  not  fhall  be  damned 
 "  (#)."  To  you  the  gofpel  is  preached :  and  the 
 alternative  is  is  fet  before  you,  that  you  may  make 
 your  choice.  If  you  reject,  the  Gofpel  ;  or  if,  fpe- 
 culatively  believing  its  truth,  you  lead  the  life  of  one 
 
 who 
 
 (u)  Deut.  xxix.   29.  (<i>)   Hcb.  ii.   3. 
 
 (w)  A&8,  iv.   12.  (a)  Mark,  xvi.   15,16. 
 
2o3  JDOCTRINES    OF    THE 
 
 who  difbeiieves  it :  if  you  follow  the  maxims  and 
 practices  of  a  wicked  world,  inftead  of  the  com- 
 mandments and  the  example  of  Chrift  :  you  have 
 already  read  your  doom* 
 
 V.  But  how,  you  exclaim,  is  a  being  like  man, 
 by  nature  prone  to  evil  and  difinclined  to  good  | 
 furrounded  with  powerful  and  unceafing  temptati- 
 ons ;  and  aiTailed  by  the  unremitted  malice  of  the 
 fame  fubtle  adverfary,  who  enmared  the  inhabitants 
 of  Paradife:  how  is  fuch  a  being,  fo  circumftanced, 
 to  fulfil  the  conditions,  on  the  performance  of  which 
 his  falvation  is  to  depend  ?  This  queftion  leads  to 
 the  difclofure  of  another  bleffing  purchafed  for  you 
 by  your  Redeemer.  He  has  purchafed  for  you 
 the  affiftance  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  enable  you  to  do 
 what  by  nature  you  cannot  do. 
 
 The  Holy  Ghoft  is  one  of  the  perfons  of  the  Tri- 
 nity ;  partaking  of  the  Godhead  with  the  Father 
 and  the  Son,  yet  in  fome  refpects,  unexplained  and 
 probably  inexplicable  to  man,  diftinct  from  each. 
 It  has  already  been  fhewn  that  the  myfterioufnefs  of 
 this  doctrine  affords  not  any  argument  for  hefitating 
 to  receive  it,  if  plainly  revealed  in  the  Scriptures. 
 Many  are  the  proofs  which  the  Scriptures  fiirnifh  of 
 the  Divinity  and  the  diftindt.  perfonality  of  the  Holy 
 Ghoft.  In  the  form  of  baptifm  prefcribed  by  our 
 Saviour  for  all  nations  (j ),  His  name  is  united  with 
 that  of  the  Father  and  of  the  Son.  He  is  again 
 united  with  them  in  the  apoftolical  benediction  (a). 
 To  lie  to  him  is  to  lie  unto  God  (#)»     To  defpife 
 
 him 
 
 (y)  Matt,  xxviii.   19^  («)  2  Cor*  xiii.  14. 
 
 [a)  A*£s,v-  3,4,  9. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION,  200, 
 
 him  is  to  defpife  God  (hi).  To  blafpheme  liim  is  an 
 unpardonable  fin ;  and  the  only  unpardonable  fin 
 (c).  He  is  denominated  the  Spirit  (of);  the  Spirit 
 of  God  (e)  ;  the  Spirit  of  Chriit  (/)  ;  the  Spirit  of 
 Truth (g);  the  Eternal  Spirit (Z?);  the  Comforter  (/'). 
 He  is  faid  to  fearch  all  things,  even  the  deep  things 
 of  God  (k).  His  diftincT:  agency  is  frequently  fpe- 
 cified  in  the  Scriptures.  "  The  Spirit  faid  unto 
 "  Philip  ;  Go  near,  and  join  thyfelf  to  this  chariot 
 "  (/)  :"  and  afterwards  "  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
 "  caught  away  Philip,"  and  conveyed  him  to  Azo- 
 tus.  Unto  St.  Peter  "  the  Spirit  faid,  Behold  three 
 "  men  feek  thee  :  arife  therefore  and  get  thee 
 "  down,  and  go  with  them,  doubting  nothing  :  for 
 "  I  have  fent  them."-—"  The  Spirit  bade  me  go 
 "  with  them  (jri)?'  faith  St.  Peter,  reciting  the  fame 
 event.  "  The  Holy  Ghoft  faid,  Separate  me  Bar- 
 "  nabas  and  Saul  for  the  work  whereunto  I  have 
 "  called  them  («)."  Afterwards,  when  Paul  with 
 Timothy  "  had  gone  through  Phrygia  and  the  regi- 
 
 P  "  on 
 
 (b)  1  Thef.  iv.   8. 
 
 (c)  Matt.  xii.  31,  32,  Mark,  iii.  28,  29.  Luke,  xii.  10. 
 The  fin  is  probably  unpardonable,  as  not  to  be  followed  by  re- 
 pentance :  for  they  who  blafpheme  the  Holy  Ghoft,  blafpheme 
 {hat  fpirit  who  alone  worketh  repentance. 
 
 (J)  A&s,  xi.   12,  xvi.   7.      1  John,  v.  6. 
 (e)   Rom.  viii.  9. 
 
 (/)  Gal.  iv.  6..  1  Pet.  i.  10,  11.  compared  with  1  Pet. 
 1.  21. 
 
 (<?  )   John,  Xiv-   !7*  xv-   26,  and  fee  I  John,  v.   6. 
 (/&)  Heb.  ix.    14.      (/)  John,  xlv.    16.   26.    xv.   26.  xvi.   7. 
 (/')    I  Cor.  ii.    xo.  (/)  Ac\s,  viii.   29.  39. 
 
 (m)  Ads,  x.  19,  20.  xi.  12.         (n)  Ads,  xiii.  2. 
 
210  DOCTRINES    OF    THE 
 
 "  cn  of  Galatia,  and  were  forbidden  of  the  Holy 
 "  Ghoft  to  preach  the  word  in  Afia  ;  after  they 
 "  were  come  to  Myfia  they  affayed  to  go  into  Bi- 
 "  thynia  :  but  the  Spirit  fuffered  them  not  (o)." — ■ 
 "  Feed  the  church  of  God,"  faith  the  fame  apoftle, 
 "  over  which  the  Holy  Ghoft  hath  made  you  over- 
 "  feers  (p  )."  He  it  was  who  fpake  by  the  mouth 
 of  the  ancient  prophets  (a)  :  and  who  revealed  to 
 Simeon  that  he  fliould  not  die,  until  he  had  feen  the 
 Meffiah  (r).  He  vifibly  defcended  in  a  bodily  fhape 
 on  Jefus  Chrift,  when  baptifed  (V)  :  and  was  given 
 without  meafure  to  the  Son  of  God  now  become  man 
 (/).  Our  Saviour  promifed  to  his  difciples  that 
 after  his  own  departure,  he  would  fend  to  them  from 
 the  Father  the  Holy  Ghoft^the  Comforter,  to  teach 
 them  all  things,  to  (hew  them  things  to  come,  to 
 bring  to  their  remembrance  whatfoever  Chrift:  had 
 faid  to  them,  to  guide  them  into  all  truth,  to  endue 
 them  with  power  from  on  high,  and  to  enable  them 
 to  make  good  their  caufe  againft  worldly  oppofition 
 (it").  Thefe  promifes  were  faithfully  accomplilhed. 
 On  the  day  of  Pentecoft  the  Holy  Spirit  defcended 
 on  the  apoftles,  and  ever  afterwards  abode  with 
 them  (V).     He  empowered  them   to  fpeak  various 
 
 languages 
 
 (s)  AQ.s,  xvi.  6,  7.  (p)  Aas,xxix.  28. 
 
 (q)  Mark,  xii.  16.  A&s,  i.  16.  xxi.  11.  xxviii.  25.  2 
 Pet.  i.   21.      Heb.   iii.  7. 
 
 (r)  Luke,  ii.   26.  (j)  Luke,  iii.   22. 
 
 (t)  John,  Hi.   34. 
 
 (a)  John,  xiv,  2.6.  xv.  2  5.  xvi.  7,  13.  Matt.  x.  18 — 20 
 Mark,  xiii.  il.  Luke,  xii.  if,  12.  xxi.  12  — 15*  xxiv.  49. 
 Ads,  i.  8. 
 
 (•u)     ohrij  xiv    16. 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION.  211 
 
 languages  previoufly  unknown  to  them  ;  to  attain 
 to  extraordinary  degrees  of  wifdom,  of  knowledge, 
 and  of  faith  ;  to  prophefy  ;  to  heal  difeafes  ;  to  per- 
 form many  other  fignal  miracles  ;  and  by  impofition 
 of  hands  to  convey  to  others  the  gifts  of  the  Spirit 
 (w).  Thefe  miraculous  powers  and  endowments 
 were  calculated  for  the  infancy  of  the  Chriftian 
 church.  They  qualified  the  apoflles  to  preach  the 
 religion  of  Chrift  to  the  inhabitants  of  far  diftant 
 countries  ;  and  in  every  country  to  produce  indif- 
 putable  credentials  that  they  came  ambafladors 
 from  God  (xj.  In  procefs  of  time,  when  Chriftia- 
 nity  had  taken  fuch  firm  root  in  different  parts  of  the 
 world,  that  it  no  longer  needed  for  its  fupport  and 
 progrefs  fuch  vifible  and  wonderful  interpofitions 
 of  Divine  power,  they  were  gradually  withdrawn. 
 The  influence  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  has  fince  continued 
 to  be  exercifed  principally  in  another  moft  import- 
 ant office,  an  office  in  which  it  was  alfo  employed 
 no  lefs  actively  in  tlfe"  days  of  the  apoftles,  that  of 
 enlightening  and  purifying  the  heart  of  each  parti- 
 cular Chriftian.  It  is  "  God  that  worketh  in  us 
 «c  both  to  will  and  to  do  (y)"  that  which  is  right : 
 and  he  worketh  by  the  agency  of  the  Holy  Ghoft. 
 "  Except  a  man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit, 
 <c  he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God  (z)." 
 We  are  10  be  Cs  lavd  by  the  renewing  of  the  Holy 
 "  Ghoft  {a}"     By  him  we  are  to  be  changed  into 
 
 P  2  the 
 
 (w)   A&Sj  ii.  4..  viii.  17.     Rom.  xv.19.      1  Cor.  xii.   4.  &c. 
 (#)    2  Cor    v.  20.  (y  )  Phil.  ii.    13. 
 
 (s)  John,  iii.  5.  (a)  Tit.  in.  5. 
 
212  DOCTRINES    OF    THE 
 
 the  image  of  Chrift  (b).     "  Love,  joy,  peace,  long- 
 w  fuffering,   gentlenefs,  goodnefs,  faith,  meeknefs, 
 "  temperance,"   are  enumerated  by  the  apoftle  as 
 "  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit ;"  in  oppofition  to  a  lid  of 
 the  mofr.  flagitious  crimes,  which  he  denominates 
 "  the  works  of  the  flefh,"  the  works  to  which  the 
 corrupt  nature  of  man  difpofeth  him  :  with  refpecl: 
 to  which  latter  works  he  folemnly  affirms,  that  they 
 who  do  fuch  things  fhall  not  inherit  the  kingdom  of 
 God  [c).     But  have  we  full  affurance  that  the  affift- 
 ance  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  effential  as  it  is  to  our  fal- 
 vation,  will  be  afforded  ?  Our  Saviour   has  antici- 
 pated the  queftion.     "  Aik,  and  it  fhall  be  given 
 "  you  :    feek,    and  ye  fhall  find :    knock,   and  fa 
 "  fhall  be   opened   unto  you.     If  ye,  being  evil, 
 "  know  how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  your  children  : 
 "  how  much  more  fhall  your  Heavenly  Father  give 
 "  the  Holy  Spirit   to   them  that  aik    him   (d)  V* 
 How  then  may  his  bleffed  help  be  fecured  ?  By  fer- 
 vent prayer  to  God,  and  by  earneft  endeavours  to 
 "  grow  in  grace  (e);    to  improve  day  by  day  in 
 piety  and  good  works.     Think  not  that  the  Divine 
 afnftance  will  be  bellowed  unafked,  unfought,  unfo- 
 licited.     Nor  think  that  it  will  be  beftowed  that  it 
 may  fuperfede  the  neceffity  of  your  own  exertions  -7 
 that  it  may  enable  you  to  lead  a  carelefs  life,  with- 
 out  labouring  to  "  work  out  your   falvation  with ' 
 "  fear  and  trembling  (/)►"     Aik  in  the  name  of 
 
 Jefus 
 
 {b)  2  Cor.  iii-  rS.  (c )  Gal.  v.  18— 2j. 
 
 {d)  Luke,  xi.  9.  13.  (f)   2  Pet.  iii.  18. 
 
 (/)   Philip,  ii.  12, 
 
CHRISTIAN    RELIGION*  213 
 
 Jefus  Chrift  for  the  fanftifying  aid  of  Divine  grace  ; 
 and  it  will  not  be  wiihheld  ;  ftudy  to  improve  by 
 that  which  is  bellowed,  and  more  will  be  granted. 
 But  "  grieve  not"  by  tranfgreflion  the  "  Holy  Spirit 
 "  of  God  (g)  -"  left  you  be  abandoned  to  yourfelf* 
 "  and  given  over  to  a  reprobate  mind  (b)*" 
 
 CHAPTER     VIII. 
 
 ON    THE    CHARACTER    OF    JESUS    CHRIST. 
 
 JL  H  E  great  pattern  which  a  Chriftian  is  uniformly 
 to  propofe  for  his  imitation,  is  the  character  of  his 
 Saviour.  "  Learn  of  me ;  for  I  am  meek  and 
 "  lowly  in  heart  :  and  ye  (hall  find  reft  unto  your 
 "  fouls  (V).,J— "  I  have  given  you  an  example,  that 
 "  ye  mould  do  as  I  have  done  (b)" — "  Chrift  fuf- 
 "  fered  for  us,  leaving  us  an  example,  that  ye 
 "  mould  follow  his  fteps  (<:)•"--"  -Be  like-minded 
 "  one  towards  another,  according  to  the  example 
 "  of  Chrift  jefus  (<)."— "  Let  that  mind  be  in 
 "  you,   which  was   in   Chrift  jefus   (<?)."     When 
 
 our 
 
 (g)   Epbef.  iv.  30.  (h)    Rom.  i.  28. 
 
 (a)   Matt.  xi.  29.  (£)  John,  xiii.  15. 
 
 (c)    1  P^t.  ii.  21. 
 
 {d)   Rom.  xv.  5.  in  the  marginal  tranflation. 
 (f)   Philip,  ii.  5. 
 
214  THE    CHARACTER    OF 
 
 our  Lord  laid  aiide  the  glory  which  he  had  with 
 the  Father  before  the  world  was,  and  took  human 
 nature  upon  him  ;  "  he  was  made  like  unto  his 
 "  brethren,  and  was  in  all  points  tempted  like  as 
 "  we  are  (/)."  Hence  he  is  repeatedly  ftyled  in 
 the  Scriptures  the  Son  of  Man,  the  man  Chrift 
 Jefus ;  and  is  defcribed  as  growing  not  in  ftature 
 only,  but  in  wifdom,  and  in  favour  with  God.— » 
 Hence  too  there  appears  an  obvious  reafon  for  thofe 
 expreffions,  in  which  he  fpeaks  of  his  inferiority  to 
 his  Father,  and  his  ignorance  of  a  part  of  the  di- 
 vine counfels  (g) :  expreffions  which,  but  for  this 
 confideraiion,  might  havp  been  deemed  inconfiftent 
 with  other  expreffions  of  his  own  (h),  and  with  the, 
 doctrine  of  his  divinity.  Regarding  him  then  in  the 
 flate  in  which  he  manifefted  himfelf  in  the  flefh,  as 
 a  man,  converfant  with  men,  encompalfed  with  the 
 infirmities  and  fubjecl  to  the  pains  and  forrows  of 
 mortality  ;  let  us  inveftigate,  with  fome  degree  of 
 detail,  the  example  which  he  has  left  for  our  imita- 
 tion. 
 
 The  firft  duty  required  of  men  is  piety  towards 
 God.  The  fervent  piety  of  our  Lord  was  his  earlieft: 
 and  mod  prominent  diftindion.  At  the  age  of 
 twelve  years  he  left  his  mother  and  Jofeph,  and  re- 
 paired to  the  Temple  at  Jerufalem  ;  where  he  was 
 found  by  them  in  the  midft  of  the  Jewifh  teachers, 
 hearing  them,  and  alking  them  questions.  In  ah- 
 fwer  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  whofe  addrefs  to  him  im> 
 
 p]ie4 
 
 (/)  John,  xvii.  5.     Heb.  ii.  17.   iv.  15. 
 (g)  John,  xiv.  28.     Markj  xiii.  32. 
 (/>)  John,  x.  15.  30. 
 
JESUS    CHRIST.  215 
 
 plied  confiderable  furprife,  he  faid,  "  How  is  it  that 
 "  ye  fought  me  ?  Wift  ye  not  that  I  inuft  be  about 
 "  my  Father's  bufinefs  (i)  ;"  employed  in  promot- 
 ing the  object  for  which  I  came  into  the  world,  the 
 glory  of  my  Heavenly  Father  ?  When  occupied  in 
 the  labours  of  his  public  miniftry,  we  find  that  it 
 was  his  cuftom  regularly  to  attend  the  fynagogues, 
 the  eftablifhed  places  of  wormip,  on  the  Sabbath, 
 and  to  explain  to  the  people  the  word  of  God  (k). 
 On  every  occafion  he  fpoke  with  the  utmoft  rever- 
 ence of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  He  exhorted  his 
 hearers  to  read  and  fearch  them  out  :  he  interpreted 
 fiach  parts  as  related  to  himfelf :  he  affirmed  that 
 they  .could  not  be  broken  ;  that  not  one  circum- 
 ftance  recorded  therein  mould  pafs  away  without 
 being  fulfilled.  In  one  of  his  parables  he  fpeaks  in 
 the  fevereft  terms  of  thofe  who  defpifed  or  neglected 
 the  Scriptures  ;  declaring  that  if  the  perfons  whom 
 he  defcribed  would  not  hear  and  obey  Mofes  and 
 the  prophets,  neither  would  they  be  convinced, 
 though  one  fho.uld  even  be  raifed  from  the  dead 
 for  their  converfion.  The  rejection  of  Chriftianity 
 by  the  Jews  after  his  own  refurrection  practically 
 confirmed  the  truth  of  this  declaration.  In  all  his 
 actions  he  mewed  the  warmed  zeal  for  the  glory  of 
 Gpd.  When  he  came  into  the  Temple,  and  faw 
 the  outward  court  crowded  with  people  who  fold 
 oxen,  fheep,  and  doves  for  facrifices ;  and  with 
 money-changers,  who  fupplied  fuch  as  wanted  Jew- 
 ifh  money  in  exchange  for  foreign  coin  ;  he  drove 
 them  from   the  place  with   indignation  :  and  told 
 
 them 
 
 (*')  Luke,  Ii.  48,  Sec.  (k)  Luke,  iv.  16. 
 
2l6  THE    CHARACTER    OF 
 
 thern  that  the  houfe  of  God  was  to  be  a  houfe 
 of  prayer  j  but  that  they  had  made  it  a  den 
 of  thieves.  All  his  own.  mighty  works,  his  doc- 
 trines, his  fufferingSj  and  his  refurrection,  he  af- 
 cribed  to  the  glory  of  God  his  Father.  To  him  he 
 habitually  gave  thanks  on  partaking  or  diftribut- 
 ing  of  food.  To  Trim  he  prayed  continually,  at  all 
 feafons,  fometimes  alone,  at  other  times  with  his 
 difciples.  He  encouraged  them  to  be  earneft  and 
 conftant  in  offering  their  petitions  ;  and  at  their  re*-, 
 quell  drew  up  a  form  of  prayer,  admirable  alike  for 
 piety,  fimplicity,  energy,  wifdom,  and  comprehen- 
 fivenefs,  to  direct,  and  affift  their  devotions.  In  all 
 things  he  fubmitted  himfelf  wholly  to  the  will  pf 
 God.  And  in  his  laft  agony,  when  he  prayed  with 
 fuch  fervency  that  his  Father  would  remove  from 
 him,  if  it  were  poffible,  the  bitter  cup  ;  he  clofed 
 his  Amplication  with  thefe  words ;  "  Neverthelefs5 
 "  not  my  will,  but  thine,  be  done."  Thus  com- 
 pletely did  our  BlefTed  Saviour  in  all  things  obey 
 the  "  firft  and  great  commandment:  "Thou  fhalt 
 "  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  ail  thy  heart,  and 
 "  with  all  thy  foul,  and  with  all  thy  mind,  and  with 
 "  all  thy  ftrength  (/)/• 
 
 Let  us  proceed  to  the  fecond  great  command- 
 ment, which  Chriit  pronounces  to  be  "  like  unto 
 "  the  firft  :  Thou  fhalt  love  thy  neighbour  as  thy- 
 fc  felf  (rii)"  Of  this  command  love,  in  the  lan- 
 guage of  Scripture,  that  is"  to  fay,  perfect,  benevo- 
 lence neceffarily  including  perfect  juftice,  is  the  ful- 
 filment., 
 
 {/)  Matt.  xxii.  37,  38.     Mark,  xii.    30. 
 (rnj   Mark,  3*ii.  30, 
 
JESUS    CHRIST.  217 
 
 filment(;z).  "He  that  loveth  another  hath  fulfilled  th  * 
 '?  law.  For  this  ;  thou  fhalt  not  commit  adultery 
 "  thou  fhalt  not  kill ;  thou  fhalt  not  fteal  ;  thou 
 "  fhalt  not  bear  falfe  witnefs  ;  thou  fhalt  not  covet  j 
 "  and  if  there  be  any  other  commandment,  it  is 
 "  briefly  comprehended  in  this  faying,  namely, 
 "  thou  fhalt  love  thy  neighbour  as  thyfelf.  Love 
 "  worketh  no  ill  to  his  neighbour :  therefore  love 
 "  is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law  («)."  Chrift,  by  lay- 
 ing afide  the  majefty  of  his  Divine  Nature,  and  fuf- 
 fering  upon  the  crofs  for  our  fins,  gave  a  proof  of 
 love  towards  mankind,  fo  wonderful  as  to  exceed 
 the  grafp  of  the  moil  capacious  underftanding,  and 
 the  acknowledgments  of  the  warmeft  gratitude. 
 Well  do  the  Scriptures  attempt,  and  they  can  do  no 
 more  than  attempt,  to  illuftrate  the  tranfcendent  love 
 of  Chrift  towards  a  depraved  and  guilty  world,  by 
 contrafling  his  conduct  with  the  ftrongeft  examples 
 of  human  affection,  W  Greater  love  hath  no  man 
 "  than  this ;  that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his 
 "  friends.  Scarcely  for  a  righteous  man  will  one 
 6i  die  :  yet  peradventure  for  a  good  man  fome 
 "  would  even  dare  to  die.  But  while  we  were  yet 
 "  finners,  and  enemies,  Chrift  died  for  us  (0)."-— 
 During  his  abode  upon  earth,  he  was  continually 
 occupied  in  works  of  kindnefs  and  cpmpaffion.  In 
 the  words  of  the  apoftle,  "  he  went  about  doing 
 "  good."  For  the  comfort  of  the  foul,  he  preach- 
 ed forgivenefs  of  fins  through  his  own  death  ;  and 
 pointed  out  the  fure  way  to  the  kingdom  of  God. 
 
 For 
 
 (n)    Rom.  xiii.  8 — io. 
 
 (o)  John,  xv.  13.  Rom.  v.  7 — 10.  See  alfo  Coloff.  i.  21,  22. 
 
21  S  THE    CHARACTER    OF 
 
 For  the  relief  of  the  body,  he  healed  all  kinds  of  dif- 
 eafes.  He  made  the  blind  to  fee,  the  deaf  to  hear, 
 the  dumb  to  fpeak,  the  lame  to  walk.  He  cleanfed 
 lepers,  caft  out  evil  fpirits,  raifed  the  dead.- — 
 Though  in  general  he  performed  his  miracles  upon 
 thofe  perfons  who  ftopd  mod  in  need  of  his  affift- 
 ance,  and  were  alfo  the  mod  recommended  to  it  by 
 their  faith  :  on  fome  occafions  he  fignalifed  his  Di- 
 vine mercy  by  bellowing  benefits  upon  objects, 
 whofe  unworthinefs  excluded  them  from  any  pre- 
 tenfion  to  his  favour.  Speaking  of  the  loving-kind- 
 nefs  of  his  Father,  he  defcribes  him  not  as  pouring 
 out  his  mercies  only  upon  righteous  men  ;  but  as 
 making  his  fun  to  mine  on  the  evil  as  well  as  on  the 
 good  ;  as  fending  rain  on  the  juft  and  on  the  unjuft. 
 The  fame  defcription  may  be  applied  to  himfelf.  It 
 is  recorded  of  him  that  he  frequently  affocjated  with 
 "  publicans  and  finners,"  notwithstanding  the 
 odium  which  his  condefcenfion  excited,  labouring 
 for  their  conversion.  When  the  ten  lepers  requeft- 
 ed  that  he  would  heal  them,  he  immediately  cleanfed 
 them  all ;  though  he  knew  beforehand  that  only  one 
 of  them  would  acknowledge  the  kindnefs  by  return- 
 ing to  give  thanks  to  God.  His  benevolence  ap- 
 pears in  a  diftinguifhed  light  from  his  fteady  difcou- 
 ragement  of  Jewifh  prejudices.  At  the  well  of  Ja- 
 cob, he  revealed  his  Meffiahfhip  to  a  woman  of  Sa- 
 maria ;  and  abode  two  days  in  the  city,  delivering 
 inftru&ions  to  the  inhabitants.  In  his  parable  of 
 the  wounded  traveller,  the  companionate  man  was  a 
 Samaritan.  Though  in  fending  forth  his  twelve 
 difciples  to  preach  during  his  own  life-time  he  for- 
 bade 
 
JESUS    CHRIST.  219 
 
 bade  them  to  go  into  the  countries  of  the  Samari- 
 tans.or  of  the  Gentiles  ;  he  explicitly  declared  to 
 them  antecedently  to  his  afcenfion,  that  they  ihould 
 be  his  witneffes  not  in  Judsea  only,  but  in  Samaria, 
 and  to  the  uttermofl  parts  of  the  earth  Qs).  When 
 two  of  his  apoftles,  enraged  at  the  Samaritans  who 
 would  not  receive  himfelf  and  his  difciples,  becaufe 
 their  journey  was  towards  Jerufalem,  were  defirous 
 of  confuming  the  inhofpitable  city  by  fire  from  Hea- 
 ven -?  they  experienced  from  their  Matter  a  fevere 
 reprehenfion.  He  not  only  exhorted  his  followers 
 to  love  each  other,  but  taught  them  a  further  lefTon 
 ftrange  to  their  ears :  "  I  fay  unto  you,  love  your 
 "  enemies  j  blefs  them  that  curfe  you  ;  do  good  to 
 "  them  that  hate  you  ;  pray  for  them  that  de- 
 *{  fpitefully  ufe  you  and  perfecute  you :  that  ye 
 <s  may  be  the  children  of  your  Father  which  is 
 "  in  Heaven."  Still  more  forcibly  to  imprefs  up- 
 on us  the  duty  of  benevolence,  he  conftrains  us 
 to  acknowledge  in  our  daily  prayers  that  we  cannot 
 defire  the  forgivenefs  of  our  fins,  unlefs  we  forgive 
 them  that  trefpafs  againft  us  ;  even  them  that  tref- 
 pafs  againft  us  times  without  number  (g).  For  his 
 own  murderers  he  prayed  while  he  was  hanging 
 upon  the  crofs,  at  the  time  when  he  was  enduring 
 the  utmoft  force  of  their  torments.  He  folemnly 
 affures  us  in  language  the  mod  encouraging,  that  by 
 whomfoever  any  act  of  kindnefs  mall  be  rendered, 
 any  afliitance  adminiftered,  even  if  it  be  but  a  cup  of 
 cold  water,  to  theioweft  of  his  followers,  from  a 
 fpirit  of  Chriilian  charity  j  he  will  look  upon  it  and 
 
 reward 
 
 (j>)  Matt.  x.  5.     Ads,  i.  8.  (y)  Matt,  xnil  ?i,  72. 
 
220  '    THE    CHARACTER    0? 
 
 reward  it  as  done  to  himfelf  (r).  And  now  that  he 
 is  afcended  into  Heaven,  he  ftill  continues  his  affec- 
 tion for  mankind.  He  guards  and  upholds  his 
 faithful  fervants  ;  and  guides  and  comforts  them  by 
 the  Spirit  of  his  grace.  By  the  fame  Spirit  he  la- 
 bours to  lead  the  wicked  to  repentance.  He  is  at 
 this  hour  making  interceffion  for  us  at  the  right 
 hand  of  God.  And  at  the  laft  day  he  will  beftow 
 everlafting  glory  and  happinefs  on  thofe,  who  ihall 
 have  kept  his  commandments,. 
 
 It  is  to  pride  that  a  very  large  portion  of  the  im- 
 piety, the  injuftice,  and  the  other  crimes  prevalent 
 in  the  world  may  be  traced.  This  delegable  paffion 
 our  Saviour  oppofes  in  the  mod  decided  and  point- 
 ed manner  (j)  :  and  particularly  by  fetting  before 
 us  in  his  own  conduct  a  perfect  pattern  of  meeknefs 
 and  humility.  Forbearing  to  recur  to  the  unparal- 
 leled condefcenfion  which  he  evinced  in  "  taking 
 "  upon  himfelf  the  form  of  a  fervant  in  the  place 
 "  of  that  of  God,  and  being  made  in  the  likenefs 
 ee  of  men  j"  confider  the  ftation  in  which  he  chofe 
 to  appear  upon  earth.  He  was  born  of  lowly  pa- 
 rentage, and  laid  in  a  manger.  To  this  beginning 
 his  whole  life  was  conformable.  Though  Lord  of 
 all  things,  he  had  not  where  to  lay  his  head.  He 
 chofe  for  his  difciples  not  the  powerful  and  the 
 wealthy,  not  the  wife  and  the  learned,  but  individu- 
 als who   were  poor,  ignorant,  and   defpifed.      His 
 
 conducj 
 
 (r)   Matt.  x.  42.  xxv-  35 — 46. 
 
 (j)  Yet  in  tliefe  days  we  hear  people,  who  prqfefs  themfelves 
 Chriftians,  applauding  and  inculcating  what  they  call  "  a  proper 
 "  pride." 
 
JESUS    CHRIST.  221 
 
 conduct  towards  them  was  marked  with  Angular 
 milc|nefs.  He  bore  with  their  prejudices,  their 
 blindnefs,  their  unbelief;  corrected  their  mis- 
 takes with  gentlenefrf  ;  and  explained  to  them  in. 
 private  with  unwearied  kindnefs  the  inftructions 
 which,  when  delivered  in  public,  they  had  not  un- 
 derstood. After  his  lad  fupper  before  his  crucifix- 
 ion, with  his  own  hands,  and  partly  for  the  purpofe 
 of  impreffing  on  them  a  leffon  of  humility  (/),  he 
 warned  their  feet.  "  I  have  given  you,"  faid  he 
 on  that  occafion,  "  an  example,  that  ye  mould  do 
 "  as  I  have  done." — "  He  came,"  he  faid,  "  not  to 
 "  be  miniftered  unto,  but  himfelf  to  minifter  unto 
 "  others  («)•"  He  was  not  elated  by  the  mighty 
 wonders  which  he  had  performed :  but  was  accuf- 
 tomed,  after  he  had  wrought  a  fignal  miracle,  to 
 afcribe  the  glory  to  God.  "  Go,"  faid  he  to  the 
 Gadarene,  out  of  whom  he  had  caft:  many  devils, 
 "  retire  to  thine  own  houfe,  and  fhew  how  great 
 "  things  God  hath  done  unto  thee  jv').*'  By  in- 
 ftances  fuch  as  thefe,  conclufive  as  to  his  own  unaf- 
 fuming  character,  he  has  left  a  memorable  admoni- 
 tion to  every  one  who  may  be  diitinguifhed  by 
 fuperior  powers  of  body  or  mind,  to  beware  of 
 being  puffed  up  by  thefe  endowments,  as  though 
 they  were  proofs  of  merit  in  the  poffelfor :  to 
 afcribe  to  God  with   thankfulnefs  and  humility  the 
 
 glory 
 
 (/)  His  conduct  was  alfo  meant  to  be  emblematical  of  the 
 atonement  which  he  was  then  about  to  make.  See  the  whole 
 account  of  the  tranfaction,  John,  xiii.     See  alfo  Luke,  xxii.  2X- 
 
 (»)  Matt.  x.  28.  (i>)   Luke,  viij.  39. 
 
£22  THE    CHARACTER    OF 
 
 glory  of  his  own  gifts :  to  pray  that  by  the  aid  of 
 his  grace  they  may  ever  be  applied  to  righteous  pur- 
 pofes  ;  an  to  remember  that  it  is  not  the  poffeffion 
 but  the  right  application  of  abilities  which  is  praife- 
 worthy.  Our  Saviour  commanded  his  difciples  to 
 guard  under  all  circumftances  againfl  vain-glory 
 and  oftentatiori ;  efpecially  in  the  great  Chriftian 
 duties  of  prayer  and  of  alms-giving.  *'  When  ye 
 "  pray,  be  ri<  t  as  the  hypocrites  are  :  for  they  love 
 "  to  pray  in  the  corners  of  the  ftreets,  that  they 
 "  may  be  feen  of  men.  But  thou,  when  thou 
 "  pray  eft,  enter  into  thy  clofet  :  and  when  thou 
 "  halt  fhut  the  door,  pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in 
 "  fecret.  And  when  thou  doeft  thine  alms,  do  not 
 "  found  a  trumpfet  before  thee,  as  the  hypocrites  do, 
 "  that  they  may  have  glory  of  men.  But  when  thou 
 "  doeft  thine  alms,  let  not  thy  left  ham:  know  what 
 "  thy  right  hand  doeth  :  that  thine  alms  may  be  in 
 "  fecret."  To  thefe  injunctions  he  fubjoins  this 
 encouragement :  iL  And  your  Father,  which  feeth 
 "  in  fecret  fhall  reward  you  openly  (w)."  And 
 at  the  fame  time  he  explicitly  teaches  his  follow- 
 ers, that  they  who  perform  thefe  or  other  du- 
 ties "  to  be  feen  of  men,5'  for  the  fake  of  human  ap- 
 plaufe,  "  have  their  reward"  in  this  world,  and  fhall 
 "  have  no  reward  from  their  Father  who  is  in 
 "  Heaven."  The  barren  and  fleeting  breath  of 
 praife  they  may  obtain  from  the  world  which  they 
 deceive  :  from  God,  whom  they  feek  not  to  pleafe 
 and  cannot  delude,  they  have  nothing  to  expect  but 
 the  punifhment  due  to  their  hypocrify.     From  the 
 
 brief 
 (w)  Matt.  iv.  i—6. 
 
JESUS    CHRIST.  223 
 
 brief  accounts  of  our  Lord's  conduct  recorded  in 
 the  Gofpels  we  learn  that  the  rules  which  he  pre- 
 ferred to  his  difciples  were  ooferved  by  himfelf. 
 He  fet  before  them  &n  example  of  conftant  atten- 
 dance on  public  worfhip  by  regularly  frequenting 
 the  ynagogue  :  but  we  are  repeate  1  told  of  his 
 retiring  to  a  mountain,  or  into  a  defert,  for  the  pur- 
 pofes  of  prayer.  And  it  incidentally  appears  that  he 
 did  not  himfelf  keep  the  purfe,  out  of  which  alms 
 were  diftributed  to  the  poor  ;  but  committed  the 
 charge  of  it  to  Judas,  who  afterwards  betrayed  him 
 (#).  One  of  the  fevered  reproofs  which  he  gave  to 
 the  Jewifh  rulers  is  this :  that  they  were  ambiti- 
 ous of  receiving  honour  one  from  another,  and 
 fought  not  the  honour  which  cometh  from  God 
 only  :  or,  as  it  is  expreffed  in  another  place  by  the 
 evangelifl,  "  they  loved  the  praife  of  men  more  than 
 "  the  praife  of  God  :"  a  difpofition  to  which  our 
 Saviour  afcribed  as  an  almoft  neceffary  (j)  confe- 
 quence,  their  rejection  of  the  Chriftian  faith.  In  con- 
 tradiftinction  to  this  fpirit  hear  his  own  inftructions. 
 "  Blefled  are  the  meek.  He  that  humbleth  him- 
 "  felf  mall  be  exalted.  Whofoever  mall  hum- 
 "  ble  himfelf  as  a  little  child,  the  fame  mail  be 
 "  greatefl  in  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  (z)."  It  has 
 been  fhewn  that  his  own  a&ions  were  a  faithful 
 illuftration  of  thefe  precepts. 
 
 Our   Saviour,  whofe  abhorrence  of  all  mixture 
 of  hypocrify  in  ads  of  charity  and  of  devotion  has 
 
 been 
 
 (x)  John,  xii.  6.  xiii.  29. 
 O)  John,  v.  44.  xii.  43. 
 {%)  Matt.  v.  J.    xviii.  4.     Luke,  xiv.   12. 
 
224  THE    CHARACTER    OF 
 
 been  recently  noticed,  ftigmatifes  deceit  in  general, 
 and  in  terms  which  imply  extreme  averfion.  The 
 falfehood  of  the  Jews  he  pointedly  reproves  (#)  : 
 and  afcribes  lies  to  the  Devil  as  their  author  (b). 
 Of  himfelf  he  fays,  £t  For  this  caufe  came  I  into  the 
 "  world,  that  I  might  bear  witnefs  to  the  truth  (<:).'' 
 - — "  Becaufe  I  tell  you  the  truth,  you  believe  me  not 
 "  (  d  J." — "  In  my  Father's  houfe  are  many  manfi- 
 "  ons  :  if  it  were  not  fo,  I  would  have  told  you  (<?)." 
 His  veracity  {hone  confpicuous  under  the  hardeft 
 trials.  He  boldly  rebuked  and  expofed  the  vices  of 
 the  Jews,  and  difcountenanced  their  darling  pre- 
 poiTeffions,  though  perfectly  aware  of  the  hatred  and 
 active  enmity  which  he  thus  drew  upon  himfelf. 
 The  great  purpofe  of  his  life  was  to  eftablifh  his  re- 
 ligion. Yet  he  never  concealed  from  his  followers 
 the  dangers  and  the  perfecutions  which  they  would 
 bring  upon  themfelves  from  the  powers  of  this 
 world  for  profeffing  his  doctrine :  but  plainly 
 forewarned  them  that  they  mould  be  hated  and 
 defpifed  of  all  men,  that  they  mould  be  driven  from 
 city  to  city,  that  they  mould  be  fcourged,  affli&ed 
 and  put  to  death.  In  anfwer  to  Pilate's  queftion, 
 whether  he  was  a  king,  he  returned  without  hefita* 
 tion  the  dangerous  avowal,  that  he    was  (/).     A 
 
 clear 
 
 (a)   John,  viii.  55.  (b)  John,  viii.  44. 
 
 (t)  John,  xviii.   37.  (*/)  John,  viii.  45. 
 
 (<?)  John,  xiv.  2. 
 
 (f)  John,  xviii.  37.  Pilate  therefore  faid  unto  him,  "Art 
 "  thou  a  king  then?"  Jefus  anfvvered,  "  Thou  fayeft  that 
 *'  I  am  a  king  :"  that  is,  according  to  the  idiom  of  the  lan- 
 guage, Thou  fayeft  rightly,  that  1  am  a  king.     That  this  mode 
 
 of 
 
JESU3    CHRIST.  11$ 
 
 clear  and  forcible  admonition  is  4fiis  to  us  that  no 
 worldly  advantage  "whatever  will  juftify  a  deviation 
 from  the  paths  of  truth. 
 
 Courage  is  a  quality  which  obtains  from  mankind 
 much  higher  praife  than  it  deferves.  In  confe- 
 quence  of  its  obvious  utility  it  is  commonly  permit- 
 ted without  inquiry  to  take  its  place  among  the  vir- 
 tues. But,  confidered  in  itfelf,  it  has  no  more  an  in- 
 herent title  to  be  denominated  a  virtue  than  bodily 
 ftrength,  or  fwiftnefs,  or  than  wit,  or  reafon.  It  is 
 an  inftrument :  and  becomes  the  object  of  approba- 
 tion or  of  difapprobation  (for  in  this  cafe  as  in  others 
 we  transfer  to  the  quality,  according  to  the  ordina- 
 ry ufe  of  language,  the  praife  or  blame  which  be- 
 longs to  the  agent)  folely  according  to  the  principles 
 upon  which  it  is  cultivated  and  employed.  When 
 natural  fortitude  is  cultivated  by  its  poiTeffor  for  the 
 fake  of  promoting  the  glory  of  God  and  the  welfare 
 of  his  creatures  ;  and  is  exerted  in  the  face  of  dan- 
 ger for  the  purpofe  of  promoting  that  glory  and 
 that  welfare  ;  we  behold  it  with  reverence*  Such 
 was  the  fortitude  of  Jefus  Chrift.  In  this  fenfe  his 
 whole  life  was  a  demonstration  of  his  fortitude. 
 Several  of  thofe  particulars  in  his  conduct,  which 
 have  been  cited  as  proofs  of  his  veracity,  might  be 
 
 (^  repeated 
 
 of  expreffion  was  an  acknowledgment  and  affirmation  of  the 
 fact,  concerning  which  the  queftion  enquired,  is  evident  from 
 Luke,  xxii.  70,71.  and  alfo  from  a  comparifon  of  Matt.  xxvi. 
 64.  with  Mark,  xiv.  62.  where  the  latter  evangelift,  inftead  of 
 the  words,  "  Thou  haft  faid,"  fn  our  Saviour's  anfwer  to  the 
 queftion  whether  he  was  the  Son  of  God,  fubftitutes  the  words, 
 "  I  am," 
 
226  THE    CHARACTER    OF 
 
 repeated  as  fhihirig  examples  of  religious  magnani- 
 mity. As  the  hour  of  his  death  drew  nigh,  and 
 afterwards  when  the  fatal  period  had  now  overtaken 
 him,  the  manifestations  of  his  magnanimity  were 
 numerous  and  matchlefs.  Though  he  knew  the 
 fufFerings  which  awaited  him  at  Jerulalem,  he  un- 
 dauntedly went  thither  to  the  paffover  ;  foretelling 
 to  his  difciples,  who  followed  him  in  amazement  and 
 terror,  every  thing  which  was  to  befal  him.  At 
 his  laft  f upper,  when  Judas  was  about  to  betray  him? 
 jefus  calmly  faid  to  him,  "  That  which  thou  doeft, 
 "  do  quickly/'  And  when  the  traitor  arofe,  and 
 went  out  to  conduct  the  foldiers  that  they  might 
 feize  upon  his  Mailer,  our  Lord,  who  knew  the  rea- 
 fon  of  the  departure  of  Judas,  far  from  mewing  any 
 marks  of  fear,  rejoiced  at  the  approach  of  his  death 
 for  the  redemption  of  mankind  ;  and  faid,  "  now  is 
 "  the  Son  of  Man  glorified  ;  and  God  is  glorified; 
 **  thro'  him."  In  his  agony  in  the  garden,  his  human 
 nature  recoiled  at  the  thoughts  of  the  anguilh  which 
 he  was  to  undergo.  But  his  moil  fervent  prayers 
 to  be  delivered,  if  it  were  poffible  confidently  with 
 the  redemption  of  man,  from  that  anguifh,  were  ac- 
 companied with  another,  that  the  determination  of 
 his  heavenly  Father  mould  take  place.  Let  it  be 
 remembered  that  the  death  and  fufferings  of  our 
 Saviour  were  perfectly  optional.  All  was  in  his 
 own  power.  "  I  lay  down  my  life  :  no  man  taketh 
 "  it  from  me  ;  but  I  lay  it  down  of  myfelf  (g)." — 
 si  Thinkeft  thou  that  I  cannot  now  pray  to  my  Father, 
 6t  and  he  mall  prefently  give  me  more  than  twelve 
 
 "  legions 
 
 (s)  John,x.   17,  18. 
 
JESUS    CHRIST.  227 
 
 st  legions  of  angels  ?  But  how  then,"  added  our 
 Lord,  "  mall  the  Scriptures  be  fulfilled,  that  thus  it 
 "  muft  be(7>)  ?"     He  fpoke  \  and  refigned  himfelf 
 to  his  enemies.     When  Peter  denied  him,  Chrift 
 looked  upon  the  fallen  apoftle  with  an  eye  of  calm 
 pity  that  pierced  his  heart.     When  fmitten  unjuftly, 
 he  replied  with  magnanimous  compofure  ;  f  If  I  have 
 "  done  evil,  bear  witnefs  of  the  evil :  but  if  well> 
 "  why  fmiteft  thou  me  V*  When  derided  and  blaf- 
 phemed  before  his  crucifixion  by  the  chief  priefts, 
 fcribes,  and  elders,  by  the  Roman  foldiery,  and  by 
 Herod  and  his  men  of  war  ;  when  mocked  and  re- 
 viled, as  he  hung  on  the  crofs,  by  his  enemies  who 
 exulted  in  the  fpectacle,  and  even    by  one  of  the 
 malefactors   crucified   with  him  :  he  bore  without 
 emotion  all  that  malice  could  devife  \  and,  as  the 
 prophet  had  foretold  (7),  was  like  a  lamb  led  to  the 
 flaughter,  and  opened  not  his  mouth.     A  principal 
 foundation    of  this    holy  fortitude  in  our  Saviour 
 was    his  conviction  of  the  perfect    innocence  and 
 righteoufnefs  of  his  life.     Herein  alfo  he  hath  given 
 us  an  example.     He,  who    confcientioafly  and  ha- 
 bitually endeavours  to  difcharge,  as   the  difciple   of 
 Chrifl,  his   ditty  to  God  and   his  neighbour,  will 
 receive  fuch  gracious   affiPtance  from  above  as  will 
 fuflain  him  under  all  the  diftreffes  and  afflictions  of 
 life,  and  fill  him  with   hope  and  confolation  on  the 
 bed  of  death. 
 
 By  fuperficial  enquiries  it  has  been  affirmed  that 
 the  Gofpel  inculcates  not  either  patriotifm  or  friend- 
 ship.    And  this  falfe  afTertion  has    been    brought 
 
 Q^  2  forward 
 
 (h)  Matt.  xxvi.  5$,  54.  (<*)  Ifaiah,  liii.  7. 
 
228  THE    CHARACTER    OF 
 
 forward  as  an   objection  to  Chriftianity.     That  the 
 Gofpel  mentions  not  the  term  patriotifm,  nor  com- 
 mands under  the  fhape  of  a  formal  precept  the  duties 
 obvioufly  comprehended  in  the  term,  is  true.     And 
 he,  who  confiders  that  the  Jews  regarded  the  love 
 of  their  country  as  confifting  in  contempt  and  abhor- 
 rence of  every  other  nation  ;  and  that  the  Romans 
 had  converted  the  fame  principle  into   a  pretext  for 
 fubjugatmg  the  world  to  the  dominion  of  Rome  ; 
 will  not  deem  it  wonderful  that  Chrift  was  cautious 
 of  referring  to  the  fubject.  in  direct  precepts,  which 
 in   confequence  of  the  erroneous  and  mifchievous 
 opinions  univerfally  prevalent  on  the  fubject,  would 
 probably  have  been    perverted  or    mifunderdood. 
 Yet  while  by  teaching  the  equality  of  all  nations  in 
 the  fight  of  God  under  the  Gofpel,  and  by  incul- 
 cating on  all  men  the    duty  of  mutual  benevolence 
 as  between  brethren,  he  guarded  againft  the  miftakes 
 and  exceffes    to  which   patriotifm,  ill  understood, 
 has  fo  often  led  :  he  taught  both  by  precept  and  ex- 
 ample the  duty  of  loving  our   country.     When  in 
 reply  to   an  enfnaring  inquiry  he  commanded  the 
 jews  to  render  unto  Crefar  the  things  which  wereCas- 
 far's  ;  he  taught  the  nrft  duty  of  patriotifm,  faithful 
 obedience   to   lawful  governors.     Tribute  he  paid 
 himfeif:  and  wrought  a  miracle  that  he  might  pay 
 it  (£).     The  impending  deftru&ion  of  Jerufalem  he 
 lamented  with  the  molt    affectionate  concern,  and 
 with  tears  (/).      After  having  been  obliged  when  he 
 came  to  preach  at  Nazareth,   the   place  where    his 
 youth  wTas  palled,  to  fave  his  life  by  a  miracle  from 
 
 the 
 (i)  Matt.  xvii.   27.  (/)   Luke,  xix.  41,  42. 
 
JESUS    CHRIST.  229 
 
 the  rage  of  his  unbelieving  countrymen  ;  he  return- 
 ed in  the  following  year  to  that  city  to  renew  his 
 attempt  at  the  rifk  of  equal  danger  (ni).  With  ref- 
 pecl:  to  friendfhip,  our  Saviour  confirmed  its  obliga- 
 tions by  the  fanction  of  his  own  example.  His 
 whole  conduct  to  his  difciples  is  a  pattern  of  tender 
 friendfhip,  St.  John  is  particularly  diflinguifhed  as 
 "  the  difciple  whom  Jefus  loved."  Lazarus,  who 
 was  not  one  of  his  difciples,  is  called  by  (Thrift  him- 
 felf  his  friend  (n)  ;  and  was  one  of  the  very  few  per- 
 fons  whom  Chrift  raifed  from  the  dead.  The  affec- 
 tionate regard  of  our  Saviour  to  Lazarus  and  his 
 fillers  is  beautifully  expreffed  in  the  fimple  and 
 touching  language  of  the  evangelifl  :  "  Now  Jefus 
 "  loved  Martha,  and  her  fifler,  and  Lazarus  (<?)." 
 Confider,  too,  the  remarkably  kind  attention  of  our 
 Saviour  towards  Peter  ;  who,  after  his  fhameful  de- 
 nial of  his  Lord,  might  juftly  apprehend  that  he 
 ihould  no  longer  be  owned  as  a  difciple.  One  of  the 
 angels  who  appeared  to  the  women  at  the  fepulchre 
 on  the  morning  of  the  refurreclion,  addrefled  them, 
 conformably,  we  may  prefume,  to  the  injunction  of 
 Chrifl,  in  thefe  terms  :  "  Depart,  fay  to  his  difci- 
 "  pies,  and  to  Peter,  he  goeth  before  you  into  Gali- 
 "  lee  Q0«"  To  St.  Peter,  and  to  him  only,  Chrift 
 ihewed  himfelf  feparately  on  the  very  day  on  which 
 he  arofe.  And  afterwards,  in  the  prefence  of  fix 
 of  his  other  difciples,  he  confirmed  St.  Peter,  with 
 marks  of  great  confidence  and   diftin&ion,  in  the 
 
 apoflolical 
 
 (m)  Luke,  iv.    16 — 30.     Matt.  xiii.  54-—  58. 
 («)  John,  xi.   11.  (0)  John,  xi.  5. 
 
23O  THE    CHARACTER    ETC. 
 
 apoftolical  office  (q).  Finally,  it  was  in  the  very 
 act.  of  bleffing  his  difciples,  that  Chrift  afcended  into 
 heaven  (V). 
 
 To  the  inflances  which  have  been  produced  of  dif- 
 ferent virtues  fo  glorioufly  exemplified  in  our  Saviour's 
 actions,  many  circumftances  of  his  life  evincing  the 
 fame  and  other  virtues  might  have  been  added  (j). 
 Far  from  wifliing  to  exhauft ,  had  it  been  poffible  to 
 exhauft,  the  fubject  ;  my  deiire  is  to  lead  you  to 
 apply  habitually  to  the  facred  fource,  from  which 
 the  preceding  examples  have  been  derived.  Study 
 the  life  of  your  Saviour,  in  his  thoughts,  words,  and 
 deeds.  By  prayer  and  exertion  endeavour  to  be 
 conformed  to  his  image  upon  earth,  as  you  hope  to 
 be  conformed  to  it  in  heaven.  Take  for  your  guide, 
 imitate  as  far  as  human  weaknefs  can  imitate,  this 
 perfect,  pattern  of  perfect  holinefs.  Far  as  you  will 
 ever  remain  fhortof  it,  labour  (till  to  approach  nearer 
 to  it.  The  more  earneftly  you  ftrive  to  be  a  faithful 
 difciple  of  the  Lord,  the  more  of  ^  that  mind  will 
 "  be  in  you,  which  was  in  Chrift  Jefus  (/)." 
 
 (p  )  Mark,  xvl.  7.         (g)  Luke,  xxiv.  34.     I  Cor.  xv.  5, 
 
 (r)  John,  xxi.    15,  &c. 
 
 (j)  .Luke*  xxiv.  51.  A  very  copious  teledtion,  accompanied 
 with  many  excellent  obfervations,  may  be  found  in  Archbifhop 
 Newcome's  Obfervations  on  our  Lord's  conduct. 
 
 (*)  Philipp.  ii.  5. 
 
C    %*    ) 
 
 CHAPTER    IX, 
 
 THE  HISTORY  OF  CHRISTIANITY    TO   THE    SUBVER- 
 SION   OE    THE    WESTERN    EMPIRE. 
 
 VV  HEN  the  divine  author  of  Chriftianity  had 
 withdrawn  his  vifible  prefence  from  the  earth ;  his 
 religion  fpeedily  experienced,  according  to  his  pre- 
 dictions, the  encreafing  enmity  of  a  world  whofe 
 practices  it  condemned,  whofe  forms  of  worfhip  it 
 fuperfeded.  The  pure  gold  was  to  be  tried  in  the 
 furnace  of  adverfity.  Scarcely  had  the  apoftles  of 
 Chrift  opened  their  commiffion,  when  a  violent  per- 
 secution, commencing  with  the  martyrdom  of  Ste- 
 phen, was  raifed  "  againft  the  church  which  was  in 
 ?e  Jerufalem :  and  they  were  all  fcattered  abroad 
 "  throughout  the  regions  of  Judea  and  Samaria, 
 "  except  the  apoftles  (a)."  This  fudden  difperfion 
 of  the  Chriftians  was  rendered  by  the  overruling 
 hand  of  God  the  caufe  of  an  immediate  and  exten- 
 five  diffufion  of  the  true  faith.  "  They  which 
 "  were  fcattered  abroad  upon  the  perfecution  that 
 "  arofe  about  Stephen,  travelled  as  far  as  Phenice, 
 "  and  Cypras,andAntioch,  preaching  the  word  (£).,Jl 
 The  implacable  hatred  of  the  Jews  remained  undi- 
 minifhed.  Some  few  years  afterwards  "  Herod  the 
 "  king  ftretched  forth  his  hands  to  vex  certain 
 "  of  the  church  :  and  he  killed  James,  the  brother 
 "  of  John,  with  the  fword.     And,  bccaufe  he  faw  it 
 
 "  p  leafed 
 
 (a)  A&s,  vui.  I.  (J>)  A&s.,  xi.   19. 
 
232  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 "  pleafed  the  Jews,  he  proceeded  further  to  take  Peter 
 "  alfo  (/)'*  The  virulence  with  which  St.  Paul  was 
 conflantly  oppofed,  and  his  life  repeatedly  attempted, 
 by  the  Jews  both  in  Judea  and  in  diftant  countries, 
 attefted  the  rooted  inveteracy  with  which  that  nati- 
 on beheld  Chriltianity  and  its  preachers.  From  this 
 enemy,  however,  the  faith  of  Chrift  was  in  a  great 
 meafure  delivered  by  the  victories  of  Titus. 
 
 But  an  enemy  far  more  terrible  remained ;  the 
 idolatrous  empire  of  Rome.  From  his  throne  in 
 that  capital  the  emperor  from  time  to  time 
 6i  flretched  forth .  his  hands,"  not,  like  Herod, 
 merely  to  feize  fome  unfortunate  victims  within  the 
 walls  of  the  city  where  he  dwelt  5  but  ".  to  vex 
 "  and  to  kill,"  even  in  the  utmoft  parts  of  the 
 Roman  world,  thofe  who  confcientioufly  refufed  to 
 burn  incenfe  to  the  gods  of  the  pantheon.  The 
 perfections  which  the  Chriftians  endured  under  the 
 emperors  are  ufnally  enumerated  as  ten  :  a  number 
 not  very  accurate,  as  it  exceeds  in  amount  the  per- 
 fections which  were  general  throughout  the  em- 
 pire ;  and  falls  far  fhort  of  thofe  which  raged  at 
 different  times  in  particular  provinces.  Polytheifm, 
 limited  by  no  bounds,  was  always  ready  to  admit 
 the  reception  of  a  new  deity.  The  Romans  had 
 never  fcrupledto  venerate  the  gods  of  the  countries 
 which  they  fubdued  :  and  the  conquered  countries 
 had  without  hefitation  united  the  gods  of  Rome  with 
 the  original  objects  of  their  national  worfhip.  The 
 Chriftians,  therefore,  who  fteadily  refufed  all  inter- 
 c.ourfe  with  idols,  were  regarded  by  the  polfefTor  of 
 
 the 
 
 (c)  A&s,xii.    1 — 3. 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY,  233 
 
 the  throne  of  the  Csefars  as  rebels  alike  againfl  the 
 majefty  of  heaven  and  his  own.  They  fuffered  alfo 
 from  being  to  a  certain  degree  confounded,  in  the 
 common  apprehenfion,  with  the  Jews  ;  whom,  in 
 the  words  of  Tacitus,,  the  Romans,  like  the  Perfians 
 and  the  Greeks,  confidered  as  *'  the  moft  defpica- 
 "  ble  portion  of  their  fiaves."  In  addition  to  thefe 
 caufes  of  fufpicion  and  abhorrence,  they  had  to  en- 
 counter the  effect  of  the  grofTefl  and  molt  malignant 
 calumnies  raifed  and  fpread  abroad  with  unwearied 
 activity  by  their  Jewifh  and  Pagan  adverfaries :  ca- 
 lumnies partly  calculated  to  roufe  the  imperial  jea- 
 loufy,  by  reprefenting  the  Chriftans  as  the  partifans 
 of  "  another  king,  one  Jefus  (d)  •/'  partly  ro  render 
 them  objects  of  univerfal  deteftation,  by  defcribing 
 them  as  addicted  in  fecret  to  the  moft  flagitious  and 
 horrible  crimes,  and  as  being  the  caufe,  by  their  im- 
 piety and  vices,  of  every  calamity,  foreign  or  domes- 
 tic, which  afflicted  the  ftate.  Hence  arofe  the  mise- 
 ries which  they  fuftained  during  nearly  three  centu- 
 ries, fometimes  from  the  fury  of  legal  vengeance,  at 
 other  times,  from  the  unauthorifed  but  unreftrained 
 outrages  of  the  people. 
 
 The  Chriftians,  for  fuch  were  evidently  the  per- 
 fons  whom  Suetonius  ignorantly  denominates  "  the 
 "  Jews  who  raifed  continual  tumults  in  Rome  at 
 "  the  inftigation  of  Chrift,"  were  expelled  from 
 that  city  by  Claudius  (/)"     With  this  indication 
 
 of 
 
 (</)  Acts,  xvii.  17. 
 
 (e)  The  fa6t  probably,  was,  that  the  Jews,  ftigmatifed  andop- 
 preffed,  might  create  forae  difturbances  ;  and  that  the  Chriftians, 
 being  regarded  as  a  feet  of  Jews,  were  involved  in  the  fentence 
 of  banifhment. 
 
234  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 of  difpleafure  the  emperor  appears  to  have  beei\ 
 fatisfied.  His  fucceflfor  Nero  led  the  way  in  ex- 
 acting fanguinary  laws  againft  the  Chriftians  ;  and 
 in  fubje&ing  the  wretched  objects  of  his  antipathy  to 
 the  moft  cruel  tortures.  Sufpe&ed  of  being  him- 
 felf  the  author  of  the  conflagration  by  which  Rome 
 was  defolated,  he  laid  the  crime  to  the  charge  of 
 the  Chriftians ;  fixing  the  accufation,  as  Tacitus 
 informs  us,  ©n  them,  in  confequence  of  the  general 
 abhorrence  in  which  they  were  held.  He  caufed 
 many  of  them  to  be  crucined  ;  to  be  devoured  by 
 wild  beafts ;  or,  being  nrft  wrapped  in  garments 
 overfpread  with  pitch  and  fulphur,  to  be  faftened  to 
 flakes,  and  in  that  fituation  burned  to  illuminate  his 
 gardens  by  night  (/).  With  his  death,  A.  D.  68, 
 this  perfecution  clofed  ;  and  his  edicts  were  annul- 
 led by  the  fenate.  About  twenty-five  years  after- 
 wards the  flame  broke  out  afrefh  with  great  violence 
 under  Domitian.  It  was,  however,  extinguiihed  in 
 a  fhort  time  by  the  death  of  the  tyrant ;  whofe  laws 
 were  abrogated  by  Nerva.  But  let  it  not  be  fup- 
 pofed  that  in  thefe  or  other  times,  when  there  exift- 
 €d  no  law  againft  Chriftians,  they  enjoyed  a  freedom, 
 from  perfecution.  They  were  in  fact  fubjected 
 throughout  the  empire  to  local  perfections  even  to 
 death  ;  whenever  the  populace,  impelled  by  its  own 
 blind  rage,  or  flimulated  by  an  interefted  and  idola- 
 trous priefthood,  clamoured  for  their  deftru&ion. 
 On  this  head  it  will  be  fufflcient  to  refer  to  the  well- 
 known  letter  of  Pliny  the  younger,  written  by  him 
 while  governor  of  Pontus  and  Bithynia,  to  Trajan:  in 
 
 which 
 
 (/)  A.  D.  64.     See  the  account  in  Tacitus. 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  235 
 
 which  he  appears  weary  at  length  of  ordering  to 
 execution  the  numbers  of  perfons  brought  before 
 him  on  the  charge,  and  on  the  Tingle  charge,  of 
 Chriftianity ;  and  requefts  directions  from  the  em- 
 peror for  his  future  conduct.  Trajan  replies,  that 
 the  Chriftians  mould  not  be  officioufly  fought  out : 
 but  that  every  perfon  who  mould  be  accufed  and 
 convicted  of  being  a  Chriftian,  and  fhould  refufe  to 
 recant,  mud  be  put  to  death.  Such  was  the  treat- 
 ment which  the  Chriftians  received  from  a  prince 
 celebrated,  and  juftly  celebrated,  for  general  mild- 
 nefs  and  equity  !  What  treatment  then  muff,  they 
 have  experienced  under  fuch  characters  as  commonly 
 rilled  the  imperial  throne  ?  Under  this  edict,  by 
 which  the  fituation  of  the  Chriftians  was  certainly 
 meliorated,  many  diftinguifhed  perfons  fuffered  mar- 
 tyrdom. Simeon,  the  bifhop  of  Jerufalem,  and  fon 
 of  Cleopas,  was  crucified  :  and  Ignatius,  bifhop  of 
 Antioch,  was  flung,  by  the  command  of  Trajan,  to 
 wild  beafts  in  the  amphitheatre, 
 
 In  the  reign  of  Adrian  it  fpeedily  became  the 
 practice  of  the  people  in  different  provinces,  to  re- 
 quire during  the  celebration  of  their  public  games 
 the  deftruction  of  the  Chriftians  :  a  demand  with 
 which  the  magiftrates,  fearing,  or  pretending  to 
 fear,  that  popular  commotion  would  be  the  confe- 
 quences  of  a  refufal,  frequently  complied.  Adrian 
 at  length  iffued  an  edict,  commanding  that  the  law 
 of  Trajan  mould  be  punctually  obeyed, 
 
 In  the  reign  of  Antoninus  Pius,  the  charge  of  a  the 
 ifm  and  impiety  reiterated  againft  the  Chriftians, 
 and  made  the  ground-work  of  many  feverities,  was 
 
 repelled 
 
236  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 repelled  by  Juflin  Martyr  in  his  "  Apology"  pre- 
 ferred to  the  emperor ;  who,  in  confequence,  con- 
 firmed the  edict  of  Adrian.  That  law,  which  for- 
 bade the  Ghriftians  to  be  fought  after  and  punifhed 
 unlefs  they  were  guilty  of  fome  crime,  being  evaded 
 afrefh  by  their  enemies,  who  interpreted  Chrifti- 
 anity  itfelf  to  be  a  crime  j  the  emperor  interpofed 
 with  equal  juftice  and  vigour  to  prevent  the  repeti- 
 tion of  the  cruel  enormities,  which  under  that  fub- 
 terfuge  had  been  committed. 
 
 His  fuccelfor  Marcus  Antoninus,  without  ex- 
 prefsly  revoking  any  exifting  law  which  afforded 
 protection  to  the  followers  of  Chrift,  difgraced  him- 
 felf  by  liftening  to  the  obloquy  poured  forth  againft: 
 them  ;  and  by  edicts,  in  which  he  branded  them  as 
 arrogant,  obflinate,  and  wicked.  In  confequence  of 
 thefe  proofs  of  the  temper  of  the  prince,  a  furious, 
 perfecution  of  the  Chriftians,  A.  D.  177,  arofe  in 
 many  parts  of  the  empire.  Againft  a  Chriflian,  the 
 moil  improbable  accufation  was  inftantly  received  ; 
 and  great  numbers,  among  whom  was  the  aged  Po- 
 lycarp,  bifhop  of  Smyrna,  and  the  difciple  of  Saint 
 John,  fuffered  death  in  its  moft  horrid  forms.  In 
 fome  places  Chriftianity  was  almofl  annihilated. 
 
 After  an  interval  of  comparative  quiet,  perfecu- 
 tion raged  again,  at  the  end  of  the  fecond  century, 
 and  the  beginning  of  the  third,  under  Severus;  who 
 promulgated  a  law  prohibiting  any  of  his  fubjects 
 from  renouncing  the  religion  of  his  anceftors  for  the 
 Chriflian  faith.  The  names  of  various  eminent 
 perfons  who  fuftered  death  under  the  operation  of 
 
 this 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  237 
 
 this  edict  are  recorded  by  ecclefiaftical  hiftorians. 
 And  in  this  persecution,  no  lefs  than  in  others,  the 
 holy  fortitude  of  the  weaker  fex  under  dangers  and 
 torments  was  as  confpicuous  as  that  of  men. 
 
 From  the  death  of  Severus  to  the  reign  of  Max- 
 imin,  the  Chriftians  experienced  no  moleftation  ; 
 and  occasionally  enjoyed  marks  of  favor  from  the 
 intervening  emperors.  With  the  acceffion  of  Max- 
 imin  their  calamities  recommenced.  Dreading  the 
 refentment  of  the  Chriflians,  on  account  of  his  afiaf- 
 fmation  of  the  younger  Severus,  whom  they  loved 
 as  their  protector  ;  he  in  the  firfl  inftance  feized  and 
 put  to  death  the  bimops,  whom  that  emperor  had  re- 
 ceived into  the  number  of  his  intimate  friends :  and 
 afterwards  directed  his  vengeance  againft  the  leaders 
 of  the  church  with  a  degree  of  fury,  which  roufed 
 the  enemies  of  the  gofpel  to  vent  their  rage  in  the 
 mod  fanguinary  manner  againft  Chriftians  of  every 
 description. 
 
 When  Decius  afcended  the  throne,  A.  D.  249, 
 the  horizon  grew  darker  than  ever ;  and  fuch  a 
 florin  fell  upon  the  Chriftians  as  they  had  never 
 yet  encountered.  The  emperor  commanded  the 
 Praetors,  on  pain  of  death,  to  annihilate  the  Chrif- 
 tian  name,  by  extirpating  all  perfons  of  that  reli- 
 gion, or  by  torturing  them  until  they  fhould  recant. 
 During  two  years  vaft  multitudes  of  Chriftians 
 were  put  to  death  with  circumftances  of  the  moil 
 favage  cruelty.  Vaft  multitudes  alfo,  fhuddering  at 
 the  profpect  of  the  lingering  horrors  which  awaited 
 them,  "  having  no  root,  fell  away  {£);"  and  Screen- 
 ed 
 (g)  Luke,  viii.  6.  13. 
 
%$B  tiiE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 ed  themfelves  by  apoftacy  or  by  diffimulation.  Un- 
 der the  two  fucceeding  emperors,  Gallus  and  Volu- 
 fianus,  the  perfecution  continued.  The  Chriftians 
 were  not  only  expofed  in  common  with  the  reft  of 
 the  empire  to  the  general  miferies  of  the  age  ;  among 
 which  famine  and  civil  war,  and  a  peftilence  raging 
 during  fifteen  years  with  unexampled  havock,  are 
 painted  in  the  ftrongeft  language  by  cotemporary 
 writers ;  but  they  had  alfo  to  bear  the  odium  of 
 being  the  caufe  of  the  public  calamities,  and  to  meet 
 the  vengeance  which  this  accufation  drew  upon 
 them. 
 
 Valerian,  A.  D.  254,  becoming  emperor,  reftor- 
 ed  peace  to  the  church  during  the  firft  years  of 
 his  reign.  But  when  Macrianus,  a  bitter  foe  to  the 
 Chriftians,  acquired  the  afcendant  in  his  councils ; 
 he  forbade  their  affemblies,  and  fent  their  bifhops 
 and  principal  teachers  into  exile.  In  confequence 
 of  another  edicl:,  a  confiderable  number  of  Chrif- 
 tians, among  whom  were  Cyprian,  bifhop  of  Car- 
 thage, and  Sixtus,  bifhop  of  Rome,  were  put  to 
 death.  The  perfecution  extended  itfelf  throughout 
 the  empire  ;  and  was  accompanied  with  every  pofTi- 
 ble  aggravation  of  torture.  Valerian  was  at  length 
 taken  captive  by  the  Perfians  :  and  the  Chriftian 
 world  refted  until  the  reign  of  Aureiian.  In  the 
 year  A.  D.  2J$,  this  prince  was  meditating  its  de- 
 ftru&ion.  But  his  plans  were  rendered  abortive  by 
 his  own  death.  And  the  church,  though  not  ex- 
 empt from  occafional  inftances  of  oppreflion,  was 
 fufrered-to  remain  during  the  remainder  of  the  cen- 
 tury in  tolerable  tranquillity. 
 
 Early 
 
bv    CHRISTIANITY.  239 
 
 Early  in  the  following  century  a  persecution, 
 more  fevere  and  bloody  than  any  of  thofe  by  which 
 it  had  been  preceded,  affailed  and  almoft  over- 
 whelmed the  profeffors  of  Christianity.  Diocletian, 
 who  governed  a  large  portion  of  the  Roman  em- 
 pire, which  now  began  to  be  divided  among  feveral 
 colleagues,  was  averfe  to  fanguinary  meafures,  and 
 Was  originally  no  enemy  to  the  Chriftians.  But 
 the  calumnious  artifices  of  the  Pagan  priefts,  who 
 now  faw  additional  caufe  of  alarm,  as  Conftantius 
 Chlorus,  one  of  the  junior  emperors,  had  renounced 
 idolatry,  were  aided  by  the  indefatigable  Solicitati- 
 ons of  the  other  Csefar,  Galerius,  the  Son-in-law  of 
 Diocletian.  The  enemies  of  the  true  faith  prevail- 
 ed. An  edict  iffued  by  Diocletian,  A.  D.  303, 
 commanded  all  the  churches  to  be  demolifhed  j  and 
 the  Chriftians  to  be  deprived  of  their  facred  writ- 
 ings, and  of  all  their  civil  privileges  and  immunities: 
 and  occasioned  the  death  of  many  individuals,  who 
 refufed  to  Surrender  to  the  magistrates  their  religious 
 books.  A  fecond  edict  ordered  the  imprisonment 
 of  all  bifhops  and  minifters  of  the  Gofpel.  A  third 
 commanded  that  the  moft  exquifite  tortures  Should 
 be  employed  to  conftrain  thefe  captives  to  lead  the 
 way  in  open  apoftaSy.  A  fourth,  promulgated  A.D. 
 304,  enjoined  all  magiftrates  to  exercife'  theSe  tor- 
 tures upon  all  Chriftians,  without  diftinction  of 
 rank  or  Sex,  for  the  purpofe  oS  forcing  them  to  re- 
 nounce their  religion.  TheSe  edicts,  which  ex- 
 tended over  the  whole  Roman  empire,  with  the 
 exception  of  the  province  of  Gaul,  over  which  Con- 
 ftantius Chlorus  prefided,  were  executed  with  fuch 
 
 active 
 
240  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 active  and  unrelenting  zeal,  that  the  Chriftian  faith 
 was  reduced  to  the  extremity  of  diftrefs.  On  the 
 resignation  of  Diocletian,  Galerius  was  advanced  to 
 the  vacant  dignity  :  and  the  Sufferings  of  the  Chrif- 
 tians  in  the  provinces  under  his  control  were  aug- 
 mented. Soon  afterwards*  to  his  extreme  mortifi- 
 cation, the  vacancy  in  the  Imperial  throne  occasi- 
 oned by  the  death  of  Conftantius  in  Britain,  A.  D. 
 306,  was  filled  by  Conftantine,  fon  of  the  deceafed 
 emperor,  and  afterwards  denominated  the  Great.  Be- 
 tween Conftantine  and  Galerius  a  civil  war  fpeedily 
 commenced.  At  length  the  latter,  weighed  down  to 
 the  grave  by  a  horrid  diftemper  accompanied  with  in- 
 conceivable anguifh,  commanded  by  a  folemn  edict,  A. 
 D.  3 1 1 ,  the  perfecution  againft  the  Chriftians  to  ceafe. 
 It  was  prolonged,  however,  by  his  fucceifors  Iviax- 
 imin  and  Licinius;  and  by  Maxentius,  who  had 
 made  himfelf  mafter  of  Italy  and  Africa.  The  war 
 continuing,  and  Maxentius  having  perifhed  in  the 
 Tiber,  after  a  defeat  from  Conftantine,  A.  D.  312  ; 
 the  victorious  emperor  immediately  publifhed,  in 
 conjunction  with  his  colleague  Licinius,  who  now 
 faw  the  propriety  or  the  neceffity  of  acquiefcence, 
 an  edict  which  accorded  to  the  Chriftians  the  un- 
 molefted  enjoyment  of  their  religion.  In  the  fol- 
 lowing year  Maximin,  being  vanquifhed  in  a  con- 
 teft  with  Licinius,  ended  his  own  life  by  poifon. 
 And  Licinius  himfelf,  who  in  the  fecond  of  the 
 civil  wars  which  afterwards  broke  out  between  him- 
 felf and  Conftantine,  renewed  his  perfecution  of  the 
 Chriftians,  and  tortured  and  flew  many  -of  their  bi- 
 fhops  ;  being  finally  defeated  and  depofed,  A.  D. 
 324,  left  Conftantine  fole  mafter  of  the  Roman  world. 
 
 The 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  24I 
 
 The  protection  which  this  emperor  granted  to  the 
 Chriftians  in  the  early  part  of  his  reign  does  not 
 appear  to  have  flowed  from  a   decided  conviction 
 that   their  faith  had  an   exclufive  title   to  univerfa* 
 reception  (//).     His  humanity  rendered  him  adverfe 
 to   perfecution.     His   found   undemanding   taught 
 him  the  policy  of  cultivating  the   good-will  of  his 
 Christian  fubje&s.     And  he  appears  to  have  enter- 
 tained a  favourable,  though  very  indiftincl:,  opinion 
 of  the  claims  of  their  religion  to  a  divine  origin.  He 
 regarded,  however,  the  ancient  religion  of  the  em* 
 pire  as  alfo  true  and   ufeful ;  and  profefled  an  im- 
 partial defire  that  the  old  and  the  new  faith  mould 
 be  equally  exercifed  and   honoured.     But   he  who 
 already  knew  fomewhat  of  Chriftianity,  and  was  de- 
 firous  of  knowing   more,  could   not  permanently 
 continue  in  a  ftate  of  indifference  and  fufpence.    By 
 degrees  the  emperor  perceived  that  Chriftianity  was 
 true,  and  that  every  other  religion  muft  neceflarily 
 be  falfe.     Conformably  to  this  conviction  he  ear- 
 nestly exhorted  all  his  fubjects,  by  edicts  iffued  A.D, 
 324,  to  receive  and  embrace  the  Gofpel :  and  to- 
 wards the  clofe  of  his  reign  proceeded  to  exert  the 
 force  of  bis  authority  for  the  abolition  of  idolatrous 
 facrifices,  and  for  the  destruction  of  heathen  temples. 
 He  died  A.  D.  337. 
 
 During  the  three  centuries  which  had  now  elapfed 
 fince  the  death  of  our  Saviour,  Chriftianity,  upheld 
 by  the  promifed  affiftance  of  its  Divine  Author,  and 
 
 R.  rifing 
 
 (5)  See  Moflieim's  Ecclefiaftical  Hiftory,  translated  by  Ma- 
 chine, Svo.  1782,  vol.  i.  p.  321.  To  the  fame  author  I  refer 
 the  inquirer  into  the  controverted  fubjed  of  the  crofs,  faid  te> 
 have  appeared  to  Conftantine, 
 
242  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 rifing  with  augmented  force  from  the  bloody  con- 
 flicts of  perfecution,  had  overfpread  almoft  every 
 part  of  the  known  world.  From  the  unquestion- 
 able teftimony  of  Irenseus  it  is  manifeft,  that  Chrifl 
 was  worfhipped  in  the  fecond  century,  and  worfhip- 
 ped  as  one  of  the  perfons  of  the  Godhead,  almoft 
 throughout  the  whole  Eaft ;  and  likewife  among 
 the  Germans,  the  Spaniards,  the  Gauls,  the  Bri- 
 tons, and  many  other  nations  ;  among  whom  Ter- 
 tullian  fpecifi.es  the  Gastulians  and  the  Moors.  In 
 the  third  century,  the  true  faith  prevailed  more  and 
 more  in  the  countries  which  it  had  previoufly  reach- 
 ed :  and  was  communicated  to  the  inhabitants  of 
 other  regions,  among  whom  a  tribe  of  Arabians 
 converted  by  the  labours  of  Origen,  part  of  the 
 Goths,  who  occupied  Maefia  and  Thrace,  and  part 
 of  the  neighbouring  tribes  of  Sarmatia,  are  particu- 
 larly mentioned.  Among  the  fecondary  caufes 
 which  a  late  hiftorian  (/')  enumerates  as  having  con- 
 duced to  the  rapid  progrefs  of  Chriftianity  ;  caufes 
 to  which  it   is  plainly  his  intention  adroitly  to  lead 
 
 his 
 
 (;)  Mr.  Gibbon.  Youthful  readers  ought  to  be  apprifed  that 
 thishiftorian,  while  continually  labouring  to  undermine  the  faith 
 of  Chriftians  occafionally  by  delufive  argument,  but  more  fre- 
 quently by  fneering  reflections  aimed  at  the  doftinesor  the  pro- 
 feflors  of  Chriftianity,  adopts  an  infidious  and  difhoneft  cuftom 
 very  general  among  unbelievers;  namely,  that  of  affe&ingat  pro- 
 per intervals  to  ufe  language,  which  feems  to  imply  their  belief 
 in  the  religion  they  are  endeavouring  to  fubvert.  If  any  perfons, 
 after  reading  the  Hiftory  of  the  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman 
 Empire,  mould  ftill  fuppofe  Mr.  Gibbon  to  have  been  a  believer 
 in  Chriftianity  ;  the  perufal  of  his  pofthumous , works  cannot  fail 
 to  remove  the  miftake. 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  243 
 
 his  readers  to  transfer  the  whole  effect,  to  the  ex- 
 clusion of  the  firft  caufe,  and  confequently  to  the 
 exclufion  of  the  truth  of  the  religion ;  he  Specifies 
 one,  which  undoubtedly  exifted  and  was  confiderably 
 efficacious  :  the  virtues  of  the  early  Chriftians. — 
 "  Let  your  light  fo  fhine  before  men,"  faid  Chrift 
 to  his  difciples,  "  that  they  may  fee  your  good 
 "  works,  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  Hea- 
 "  ven  (£)."  The  "  good  works"  of  the  early 
 Chriftians,  and  the  fuperiority  in  point  of  rectitude, 
 manifeft  among  the  profefTors  of  the  religion  of 
 Chrift  over  furrounding  Pagans,  were  undeniable. 
 "  Neither  in  Parthia  do  the  Chriftians,  though 
 "  Parthians,  ufe  polygamy :  nor  in  Perfia,  though 
 "  Perfians,  do  they  marry  their  own  daughters : 
 "  nor  among  the  Baftri,  [or  Galli,  do  they  violate 
 "  the  fanclity  of  marriage  ;  nor,  wherever  they  are, 
 "  do  they  fuffer  themfelves  to  be  overcome  by  ill— 
 <s  conftituted  laws  and  manners  (/)."  Is  this  tef- 
 timony  fufpicious  becaufe  it  is  that  of  a  friend,  a 
 Chriftian  writer  ?  Hear  then  the  confeffion  of  ene- 
 mies. When  Pliny  enquired  of  Trajan,  in  the  let- 
 ter already  cited,  concerning  the  future  treatment 
 of  the  Chriftians ;  what  account  does  he  give  of 
 them  to  the  emperor  ?  He  relates  that  they  were 
 "  accuftomed  to  aflemble  on  an  appointed  day  to 
 "  ling  a  hymn  to  Chrift,  as  a  God :  and  to  bind 
 "  themfelves  by  oath,  that  they  would  not  be 
 "  guilty  of  theft,  nor  of  robbery,  nor  of  adultery  j 
 "  that  they  would  never  falfify  their  word  j  nor 
 "  deny  a  pledge  committed   to   them,  when  called 
 
 ^  "  upon 
 
 (I)  Matt.  v.  16.  (/)  Bardefanzs  quoted  by  Eufeblus. 
 
244  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 "  upon  to  return  it."       Lucian   (jn)  fays  of  the 
 Chriftians,   againft  whom  he  directed  the  utmoft 
 poignancy  of  his  wit,  "  that  their  lawgiver,  whom 
 "  they  worfhip,  has  taught  them  that  they  are  all 
 "  brethren :  that  they  have  an  extreme  contempt 
 "  for  all  the  things  of  this  world  :  that  the  expe- 
 "  dition  which  they  ufe  when  any  of  their  friends 
 "  is  known  to  be  in  trouble  is  inconceivable  ;  and 
 "  that  on  fuch  an  occafion  they  fpare  nothing  :  that 
 "  they  defpife   death,  and   furrender  themfelves  to 
 "  fufferings."     Notwithftanding  the  numerous  in- 
 flances  of  individuals,  who  "  in  time  of  perfecution 
 "  fell  away  ;"  who  purchafed  by  dimmulation,  by 
 unwarrantable  compliances,  or  by  open  apoftafy,  an 
 exemption  from  the  cruelties  to  which  a  confcienti- 
 ous  adherence  to  their  religion  would  have  expofed 
 them  :  yet  the  promptitude  with  which  multitudes 
 encountered  exile,  connfcation,  tortures,  and  death 
 in  the  moft   dreadful  fhape,  for  the  fake  of  their 
 faith,  made  fo  ftrong  an  impreffion  on  their  perfecut- 
 ors  as  to  be  deemed  a  charadteriftic  feature  of  the 
 Chriftians.     Of  this  aflertion  the  paifage  recently 
 quoted  from  Lucian  is  a  proof.     Epicletus  the  floic, 
 and  the  emperor  Marcus  Aurelius,  affirm  the  fame 
 thing.     The  former  indeed  ignorantly  afcribes  the 
 intrepidity  of  Chriftians  to  madnefs  or  fafhion  ;  and 
 the  latter  to  obftinacy.     The  fact,  however,  they 
 concur  in  attefting.     We  could  not  doubt,  even  if 
 hiftory  were  filent  on  the  fubjedt,  that  the  holy  re- 
 fignation  and  conftancy  evinced  by  the  martyrs,  and 
 even  by  thofe  of  tender  age  and  of  the  weaker  fex, 
 would  not  only  animate  their  furviving  friends  to 
 
 patient 
 
 (m)  De  Morte  Peregrlni. 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  245 
 
 patient  endurance,  and  to  ftrenuous  exertion  for  the 
 diffufion  of  their  faith ;  but  would  alfo  draw  the 
 attention  of  many  of  the  Pagan  fpe&ators,  and  even 
 occafionally  of  the  Pagan  tormentors  and  execution- 
 ers, to  a  religion,  by  which  fuch  heroical  refolution 
 was  infpired. 
 
 Among  the  obstacles  which  Chriftianity  had  to 
 encounter  in  its  progrefs,  one  which  was  no  fmalj. 
 impediment  has  not  yet  been  noticed  ;  the  internal 
 diffenfions  of  Christians  concerning  points  of  reli- 
 gious doctrine  or— clifciplme.  The  apoftle  had  faid 
 to  his  Corinthian  converts,  "  I  hear  that  there  are 
 "  divisions  among  you ;  and  I  partly  believe  it : 
 "  for  there  must  alfo  be  heresies  among  you  ;  that 
 "  they  which  are  approved  may  be  made  manifest 
 "  («)."  The  fame  fpecies  of  probation  by  which 
 St.  Paul  thought  it  probable  that  Providence  would 
 permit  the  Corinthians  to  be  tried,  was  one  of  the 
 tests  by  which  the  Supreme  Being  thought  fit  that 
 the  whole  Christian  church  fhould  be  put  to  the 
 proof.  Scarcely  had  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  "  open- 
 "  ed  the  door  of  faith  to  the  Gentiles,"  before  "  cer- 
 "  tain  men  came  down  from  Judea,  and  taught  the 
 fi  brethren,  faying  ;  except  ye  be  circumcifed  after 
 "  the  manner  of  Mofes,  ye  cannot  be  faved."  And 
 though  the  apostles  and  elders,  asTembled  in  council 
 at  Jerufalem,  decidedly  condemned  thefe  teachers 
 and  their  doctrine :  the  Judaizers  long  continued 
 to  "  trouble  and  fubvert  the  fouls  (0)"  of  the  Gen- 
 tile congregations.  Other  fymptoms  of  a  ftrong 
 tendency  in  the  Christians  to  form  themfelves  into 
 feels,  and  to  arrange  themfelves  under  diftinct.  lead- 
 ers, 
 (n)   1  Cor.  xi.  19.  (0)  Ads,  xiv.  27.  xv.  1,24. 
 
24-6  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 ers,  foon  appeared.  Such  diffenfions  were  the  chief 
 occafion  of  St,  Paul's  firfl  epiftle  to  the  Corinthians: 
 in  which  he  complains  that  "  every  one  faith,  I  am 
 "  of  Paul ;  and  I,  of  Apollos ;  and  I,  of  Cephas  ; 
 "  and  I,  of  Chrift  (p)."  At  another  time  the  fame 
 apoftle  fpeaks  of  teachers,  "  whofe  word  will  eat  as 
 ^  doth  a  canker ;"  and  mentions  by  name  "  Hy- 
 "  meneus  and  Philetus,  who  concerning  the  truth 
 "  have  erred,  faying  that  the  refurreclion  is  pad 
 *c  already  ;  and  overthrow  the  faith  of  fome  (q)" 
 Hymeneus  had  previoufly  been  characterifed  by  St, 
 Paul  as  having  "  put  away  a  good  confcience,  and 
 "  made  fhipwreck  concerning  the  faith  :"  whom, 
 and  Alexander,  he  adds  "  I  have  delivered  unto 
 "  Satan,  that  they  may  learn  not  to  blafpheme  (r) :" 
 that  is  to  fay,  as  we  colled  from  the  import  of  the 
 fame  phrafe  in  another  pafTage,  the  apoflle  had  by 
 his  miraculous  power  inflicted  upon  them  a  bodily 
 diftemper,  that  being  reclaimed  by  that  fignal  chaf- 
 tifement,  their  fouls  might  be  faved  in  the  day  of 
 the  Lord  (V).  Corrupt  and  felfifh  introducers  of 
 herefies  are  ftigmatifed  with  great  feverity  by   St. 
 
 Peter 
 
 (p)   i  Ccr. ;.  12. 
 
 (y)  2  Tim.  ii.  18.  The  doflrine  of  ttiefe  falfe  teachers  ap- 
 pears to  have  been  this  ;  that  the  refurrettion  fpecined  in  the 
 Gofpels  was  not  a  real  but  a  figurative  refurreftion  ;  not  a  future 
 cxiftence,  but  a  prefent  reformation  ;  a  death  unto  fin  and  a  rifing 
 again  unto  a  life  of  righteoufnefs  ;  which,  however,  was  not  likely 
 to  be  real  or  durable  among  thofe,  who  thus  fophiftically  explained 
 away  the  fandb'ons  of  religion.  Hymeneus  had  accordingly  loft 
 hh  "  good  confcience"  as  well  as  his  faith. 
 
 (r)   i  Tim.  i.  19,  20.  (s)   1  Cor.  v.  4,  5. 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  247 
 
 Peter  and  St.  Jude  (7) :  the  latter  of  which  apoftles 
 reprefents  them  as  even  then  "   denying  the  omy 
 "  Lord  God  and  our  Lord   Jefus  Chrift."     Saint 
 John,  in  his  firft  and  fecond  Epiftles,  exerts  himfelf 
 with  great  earneftnefs  in  oppofition  to  heretics  who 
 "•  denied  the  Father  and  the  Son,  and  confeflfed  not 
 "  that  jefus  Chrift  is  come  in  the  fledi,"  denied  the 
 divinity  and   the   incarnation  of  Chrift  ;  and  com- 
 mands them   to   be   cut  off  from   all    communion 
 and    intercourfe   with    the    adherents    to    the   true 
 faith.      In   the  book   of  Revelations,  the   Nicolai- 
 tans   and   other   heretical  feds    are    mentioned  by 
 Chrift     himfelf    with    extreme     abhorrence,    and 
 are    threatened    with    condign   punifhment  (V), — 
 Among  the  fources  of  the   wildeft  and  moft   de- 
 teftable  herefies   one  of  the  moft   productive  was 
 the  attachment    fecretly  entertained    by   many    of 
 the  Chriftian  converts  to  the  tenets,  which  they  had 
 formerly  imbibed  from  the  Oriental,  or  from  the 
 Grecian  philofophy.     "  Beware/*  faid  St.  Paul   to 
 the   Coloflians,  "  left  any  man  fpoii  you  through 
 "  philofophy  and  vain  deceit ;  after  the  tradition 
 "  of  men,  after   the  rudiments  of  the  world,   and 
 "  not  after    Chrift  (w)"      The    admonition  was 
 moft    neceffary.       The    philofophifmg    Chriftians 
 fpeedily  began  to  reprefent  their  former  tenets  as 
 fubftantially  confirmed   and   illuftrated  by  the  Gof- 
 pel ;  and  to  twift  the  Scriptures  to  fuch  interpreta- 
 tions as  might  feem  to  uphold  the  aftertion.     Of  all 
 
 thefe 
 
 (/)  2  Pet.  ii.  13 — 21.     Jude,  3,  4,  &c. 
 
 (?/)    1  John,  ii.  18 — 23.     2  John,  7  —  n. 
 
 (i>)   Rev.  ii.  6.  14,  15,  16.  20 — 23. 
 
 (w)  Coloff.  ii.  8.  and  obferve  the  foLir  preceding  verfes. 
 
24§  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 thefe  philofophers  the  Orientalifts,  or  Gnoilics  (#), 
 were  the  moft  extravagantly  chimerical.     In  their 
 hands  Chriftianity  evaporated  into   the  mod  abfurd 
 and  blafphemous  myfticifm.     The  divinity,  the  hu- 
 manity, and  the  furferings  of  Chrift  were  alike  de- 
 nied by  them  :  Mofes  and  the  Old  Teftament  were 
 regarded  with  utter  abomination :  the  Divine  Au- 
 thor of  the  Jewifh  law,   and   the   Creator   of  the 
 world,  was  reviled  as   a  fubordinate  being,   and  as 
 a  being  intrinfically  evil :  the  books   of  the  New 
 Teftament  were  either  totally  renounced ;  or  were 
 curtailed,  enlarged,   corrupted,   and  perverted.     It 
 was  in  Egypt  that  thefe  peftilent  doctrines  produced, 
 in  the  fecond   century,  under  various  forms   and 
 teacherss    the   greateft    mifchief   to   the    Chriftian 
 church.     Among  the  fanatical  founders  of  other 
 fects  before  the   clofe  of  that   century  a   principal 
 place  is  due  to  Montanus,  who  affirmed  •  hi mfelf  to 
 be  fent  with  a  Divine  commiffion  to  exalt  to  a  pro- 
 per tone  the  weak  and   imperfect  morality  of  the 
 Gofpel.     Though  he  was  feparated,  in  confequence 
 of  his  impious  fanaticifm,  from  the  communion  of 
 the  church ;  the  aufterity  of  his  do&rine   obtained 
 to  him  the  refpect  of  many  followers,  among  whom 
 we  lament  to  fee  the  name  of  Tertullian.     In   the 
 third  century  the  philofophy  of  Plato  advanced  in 
 credit  among  many  of  the  learned  Chriftians,  and 
 became  a  confiderable  mare  to  Origen  and  his  dif- 
 ciples :    who  alfo  encumbered  the  fimplicity  and 
 
 clouded 
 
 (#)  The  Gftoftics  derived  their  name  from  •yvuo-H;,  fcience  or 
 knowledge.  For  an  account  of  their  philofophy  confult  Mo- 
 fheim,  vol.  i.  133,  &c. 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  249 
 
 clouded  the  light  of  the  Gofpel  by  fubtle  and  alle- 
 gorical interpretations.  About  the  fame  period 
 Manes,  or  Manichssus,  a  Perfian(^),  incorporating 
 with  the  Chriftian  fyftem  the  tenets  of  his  country- 
 men the  ancient  Magi ;  particularly  their  leading 
 doctrine  of  the  coeternal  exiftence  of  two  adverfe 
 beings,  the  one  the  ruler  of  light  or  good,  the  other 
 of  darknefs  or  evil ;  and  rejecting  the  greater  part 
 of  the  New  Teftament,  announced  himfelf  as  com. 
 miffioned  from  above  to  eftablifti  a  right  faith  and 
 right  practice  by  a  new  Gofpel,  dictated  to  him,  as 
 he  averred,  by  God  himfelf.  Regarding,  like  the 
 Gnoftics,  matter  as  intrinfically  and  efTentially  cor- 
 rupt, he  enjoined  on  his  elect  followers  the  perpetual 
 mortification  of  the  body,  the  renunciation  of  ex- 
 ternal comforts,  and  the  extinction  of  all  defires 
 tending  to  the  purfuit  of  external  objects.  To  the 
 fubordinate  clafs  of  his  difciples,  denominated  hear- 
 ers >  he  permitted  fome  relaxation  of  his  frantic  auk 
 terity.  Noetus,  Sabellius,  Paul  of  Samofata?  and 
 others,  became  diftinguifhed  in  this  age  by  various 
 heretical  opinions  concerning  the  Trinity  :  opini- 
 ons which  appear  to  have  arifen  chiefly  from  an 
 abfurd  and  prefumptuous  defire  to  elucidate  two 
 fubjects  which  mull  ever  remain  inexplicable  by 
 man,  the  mode  of  union  between  the  perfons  of  the 
 Godhead,  and  between  the  Divine  and  the  human 
 nature  of  Chrift.  Several  inferior  topics  of  dif- 
 fenfion  contributed  to  agitate  the  Chriftian  church. 
 Among  thefe  controverfies  there  may  be  noticed 
 
 the 
 
 (y)  The  principal  tenets  of  the  Manichseans  are  explained  by 
 Mofheim,  vol.  i.  p.  395,  &e. 
 
250  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 the  difputes  concerning  the  method  in   which  re- 
 canting heretics  were  to  be  re-admitted  into  the  con- 
 gregation.     Many  of  the    Oriental    and     African 
 churches  required  fuch   perfons   to  be  re-baptifed : 
 while  the  greater  part  of  the  European  Chriftians 
 ufed  no  other  form  on  fuch   occafions   than  prayer 
 and  the  impofition  of  hands.     On  the  one  fide  Cy- 
 prian, bifhop  of  Cartharge,  a  man  of  moderation., 
 and,  on  the  other,  Stephen,  bifhop  of  Rome,  a  vio- 
 lent and  imperious   prelate,  took   the  lead  in  this 
 controverfy.     The   reception  alfo  into  the  church 
 of   perfons  who  had  been  excommunicated  on  ac- 
 count of  heinous  tranfgreftions,   or  had  apoftatifed 
 under  perfecution,  was  a  topic  which  excited  vehe- 
 ment contention.     The  Novatians,  fo  called  from 
 their  leader  Novatus,  became  remarkable  by  adopt- 
 ing on  this  fubjecl  the  line  of  unrelenting  rigour.    It 
 muft  be  acknowledged  with  regret  that  in  each  of 
 thefe  controverfies    Chriftian  charity,  though  not 
 violated  by  all  the  combatants   without  exception, 
 was  frequently  difregarded.     And    it  muft   alfo  be 
 confeffed,  that  many  of  the  Chriftian  writers,  in  de- 
 fending the  true  faith  againft  erroneous  brethren  or 
 againft   unbelievers,    were  accuftomed    to    employ 
 rhetorical   fophiftries,  arts,   evafions,   incompatible 
 with  fimple  and  fober  inveftigation. 
 
 Antecedently  to  the  commencement  of  this  cen- 
 tury the  feci;  of  Afcetics  had  gradually  arifen  in 
 Egypt ;  and  had  extended  itfelf  into  Syria  and  the 
 adjoining  regions.  They  were  characteri/ed  fome- 
 times,  like  the  Grecian  and  Roman  philofophers, 
 by  a  peculiar  garb  ;  and  at  all  times  by  an  extreme 
 
 and 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  25  I 
 
 and  unnatural  ftri&nefs  of  voluntary  difcipline.  So- 
 litude, abftinence,  watchings,  profound  and  continu- 
 ed meditation,  were  among  the  religious  Severities 
 by  which  they  laboured  to  abftradt  their  minds  from 
 earthly  objects,  and  to  render  their  fouls  more  adapt- 
 ed, as  they  conceived,  for  communion  with  God. 
 Hitherto  they  had  contented  themfelves  with  exer- 
 cifmg  their  aufterities  in  the  courfe  of  domeftic  life. 
 But  now,  becoming  more  and  more  gloomy,  unso- 
 cial, and  morofe,  they .  frequently  renounced  their 
 friends  and  their  families  ;  fequeftered  themfelves 
 in  caves  and  deferts ;  and  tortured  themfelves  with 
 the  wildefl  penances  which  a  difordered  imagination 
 could  fuggeft.  A  considerable  portion  of  myfti- 
 cifm  derived  from  the  Platonic  fchool  generally  went 
 hand  in  hand  with  thefe  extravagances  of  conduct. 
 
 After  the  deceafe  of  Conftantine,  his  empire  was 
 divided  among  his  three  fons  ;  until  by  the  death  of 
 the  eldeft  brother  in  a  civil  war  againft  the  young- 
 eft,  and  the  fubfequent  afiaffination  of  the  conqueror 
 by  a  rebel,  it  centered  in  Conftantius.  The  three 
 brothers  were  favourers  of  Chriftianity  ;  and  la- 
 boured, though  not  always  by  unobjectionable 
 means,  to  abolifh  the  Pagan  fuperftition.  That 
 fuperftition  however  experienced  a  determined  fup- 
 port  from  the  emperor  Julian,  who  afcended  the 
 throne  A.  D,  361.  His  averfion  to  the  Chriftian 
 religion,  which  the  artifices  of  the  Platonic  philofo- 
 phers  chiefly  led  him  to  renounce,  was  aggravated 
 by  antipathy  to  the  other  branches  of  the  Conftan- 
 tine family,  ftained  with  the  blood  of  his  neareft 
 relations.     Affecting  moderation,    he   aflailed  the 
 
 Chriftians 
 
2$2  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 Chriftians  with  equal  dexterity  and  bitternefs.  He 
 abrogated  their  privileges ;  fhut  up  their  fchools ; 
 encouraged  fedtaries  and  fchifmatics  :  and  exercifed 
 againft  the  Gofpel  the  wit  of  his  Imperial  pen.  In 
 order  to  decry  the  prophecies  of  Chrift,  he  encou- 
 raged the  Jews  to  rebuild  the  Temple  of  Jerufalem, 
 But  the  undertaking  was  fruftrated,  according  to 
 the  relation  of  Ammianus  Marcellinus,  a  Pagan 
 philofopher,  by  earthquakes,  and  the  eruption  of 
 balls  of  fire,  which  difperfed  the  terrified  workmen, 
 and  demolimed  their  labours.  After  a  fhort  reign 
 of  twenty  months  Julian  died  in  the  Perfian  war.  By 
 enemies  to  the  Chriflian  faith  his  character  has  been 
 undefervedly  exalted.  His  genius  was  confidera- 
 ble :  his  love  of  letters,  and  his  military  courage, 
 flill  greater.  But  he  was  the  flave  of  fuperftition ; 
 addi&ed  to  magic ;  credulous  and  vain-glorious 
 in  the  extreme  ;  and  confirmed  in  habits  of  cun- 
 ning, diffimulation,  and  duplicity.  His  fucceffor 
 Jovian,  and  the  emperors  who  followed  to  the  clofe 
 of  the  century,  particularly  Theodofius  the  Great, 
 exerted  themfelves  with  various  degrees  of  zeal  for 
 the  fupport  of  Chriitianity.  The  ancient  religion 
 of  the  empire  declined  on  all  fides  more  and  more  : 
 and  the  Gofpel  advanced  into  new  regions,  Armenia, 
 Iberia,  and  Ethiopia. 
 
 Yet  this  century  was  in  many  refpecls  productive 
 of  the  moil  ferious  calamities  to  the  church.  Per- 
 fection indeed,  after  its  fhort-lived  efforts  under 
 Galerius  and  his  coadjutors,  had  been  nearly  idle  j 
 except  when  it  roufed  Athanaric,  king  of  the  Goths, 
 againft  the  converted  part  of  his  fubje&s :  or  when, 
 
 infufins: 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  253 
 
 infufing  into  the  mind  of  Sapor,  the  Perfian  mo- 
 narch, fufpicions  of  the  political  fidelity  of  the 
 Chriftians,  it  deluged  Perfia  with  their  blood.  Perfe- 
 ction, however,  may  deferve  to  be  ftyled  the  friend 
 of  Chriftian  virtue.  At  lead  it  is  an  enemy  far  lefs 
 dreadful  than  profperity  accompanied  by  fchifms, 
 herefies,  and  corruption  of  difcipline,  morality,  and 
 do&rine.  Among  fchifms,  that  of  the  Donatifts  in 
 Africa  (lands  pre-eminent.  It  arofe  A.  D.  311,  in 
 confequence  of  the  election  of  a  bifhop  of  Carthage 
 by  the  neighbouring  prelates,  without  the  accuftom- 
 ed  concurrence  of  thofe  of  Numidia.  The  latter 
 chofe  another  bifhop :  and  the  controverfy  was 
 brought  before  Conftantine,  who  appears  to  have 
 been  defirous  of  acting  with  great  impartiality. 
 Two  fucceffive  councils  of  bifhops,  convened  from 
 various  provinces,  decided  againft  the  Donatifts : 
 and  the  judgment,  being  brought  by  appeal  before 
 the  emperor,  was  by  him  carefully  examined  in  the 
 prefence  of  the  contrary  parties,  and  confirmed. 
 Hence  he  was  loaded  by  the  Donatifts  with  the  mofl 
 acrimonious  abufe :  until  at  length  he  deprived 
 them  of  their  churches,  banifhed  their  feditious  bi- 
 fhops, and  put  fome  of  them  to  death.  He  foon 
 hwever  returned  to  milder  counfels :  and  to  ter- 
 minate the  ravages  and  maffacres  of  the  Circumcel- 
 liones,  a  numerous  and  powerful  fet  of  banditti, 
 compofed  of  the  frantic  populace  who  embraced  the 
 party  of  Donatus,  revoked  the  laws  which  had  been 
 enacted  againft  that  faction.  His  fons  alfo  endea- 
 voured to  heal  the  fchifm.  But  Donatus  and  his 
 affociates  oppofed  .  all  accommodation  j  and  pro- 
 nounced 
 
$54  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 nounced  the  adverfe  churches  to  have  fallen  from 
 Chriftian  communion.  The  defeat  of  their  army, 
 the  Circumceiliones,  by  Macarius,  broke  their  pow- 
 er :  numbers  of  the  Donatifts  were  banimed,  and 
 others  put  to  death  ;  and  much  unjuftifiable  feverity 
 was  exercifed.  Julian  reftored  the  exiles  to  their 
 country  and  their  privileges:  and  their  influence  foon 
 became  predominant.  Gratian,  A.  D.  377,  depriv- 
 ed them  by  his  edicts  of  their  churches,  and  prohibit- 
 ed their  afTemblies.  But  in  the  face  of  thefe  laws 
 they  foon  afterwards  weie  found  able  to  number  no 
 fewer  thanfour  hundred  African  prelates  of  their 
 party.  Aboutthe  clofe  of  the  century,  however,  they 
 rapidly  declined,  through  internal  divifions,  and  the 
 zealous  exertions  of  Auguftine  bifhop  of  Hippo. 
 
 About  the  time  when  the  Donatifts  arofe,  Anus, 
 a  prefbyter  of  Alexandria,  advanced  his  peculiar 
 opinions  refpecling  the  Son  of  God  ;  affirming  him 
 not  to  partake  of  the  Divine  nature,  and  to  be  no 
 more  than  a  mere  creature,  although  the  firft  in- 
 deed and  nobleft  of  thofe  which  the  Almighty  had 
 formed.  Notwithflanding  the  expulfion  of  Arius 
 from  the  communion  of  the  church  by  a  council 
 held  at  Alexandria,  his  tenets,  which  he  ftrenuoufly 
 laboured  to  eftablifh,  attracted  fo  much  attention, 
 and  gained  fo  great  a  number  of  partifans;  that 
 Conftantine,  to  quiet  the  troubles  and  commotions 
 fpreading  throughout  the  empire,  affembled  a  coun- 
 cil of  the  deputies  of  the  church,  A.  D.  325,  at  Nice 
 in  Bithynia,  by  which  the  Arian  doctrine  was  con- 
 demned. In  fome  few  years  the  emperor,  perfuad- 
 ed  by  the  friends  of  Arius  that  their  leader  had  been 
 
 unjuftly 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  255 
 
 unjuftly  treated ;  and  receiving  from  them  fuch  an 
 explanation  of  his  opinions  as  rendered  them  in  ap- 
 pearance not  effentially  different  from  the  faith  of 
 the  church,  recalled  him  from  the  banimment  into 
 which  he  had  been  fent,  and  diftinguifhed  him  by 
 marks  of  favour.  Among  the  fuceeffors  of  Conflan- 
 tine,  feveral  were  favourers  of  Arianifm.  And  the 
 opinions  of  the  Chriltian  world  too  often  fluctuated 
 in  compliance  with  the  changing  fentiments  of  its 
 matters.  Each  party  in  turn  laboured  to  eftablifli 
 its  victory  by  unjuflifiable  proceedings  againfl  the 
 other.  In  procefs  of  time  the  Arian  doctrine 
 branched  out  into  various  forms  and  fubdivifions. 
 Apollinaris,  in  oppofing  it,  fell  into  the  contrary 
 error  of  dening  the  humanity  of  Chrifl:. 
 
 In  other  refpects  the  internal  flate  of  the  church 
 had  now  undergone  a  fatal  change.  Superftition 
 advanced  with  rapid  ftrides;  and  made  fuccefsful  in- 
 roads into  every  quarter.  The  reverence  Ihewn  to  the 
 memory  and  example  of  thofe  holy  men,  who 
 had  fuftained  martyrdom  for  the  religion  of  Chrifl, 
 had  been  carried  in  the  preceding  century  to  excefs. 
 Their  tombs  had  been  fele&ed  as  places  of  prayer  : 
 and  the  fanctity  afcribed  to  the  fpot  where  their  re- 
 mains were  depofited  was  gradually  extended  to  the 
 remains  themfelves.  The  evil,  once  eftablimed, 
 augmented  daily.  A  pilgrimage  to  the  fepulchre  of  a 
 martyr  was  now  efteemed  mod  meritorious.  Feftivals 
 in  commemoration  of  the  fufferers  were  multiplied. 
 The  places  of  their  burial  were  explored  with  un- 
 wearied ardour.  Pious  frauds  relative  to  fuch  dif- 
 coveries    became    frequent. ,    Earth   brought  from 
 
 Palestine 
 
§.$6  THE    EARLY   HISTORY 
 
 Paleftine  and  other  fcenes  held  in  veneration  was 
 efteeraed  a  potent  remedy  againft  the  violence  of 
 evil  fpirits,  and  fold  at  a  very  high  price*  The 
 worfhip  of  relics  and  of  images  commenced.  Pray- 
 ers for  the  dead  became  common ;  as  likewife  the 
 belief  in  the  exiftence  of  a  purgatorial  fire  deftined 
 to  purify  the  fouls  of  the  departed.  The  Lord's 
 fupper  was  occasionally  celebrated  at  the  tombs  of 
 martyrs,  and  at  funerals  :  a  practice  which  led  to 
 the  fubfequent  ufage  of  mafTes  performed  in  honour 
 of  the  faints  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  dead.  And 
 the  groundwork  for  the  future  adoration  of  the  bread 
 and  wine  was  prepared  by  the  cuftom  of  holding 
 them  up,  previoufly  to  their  diflribution,  for  the  re- 
 ligious contemplation  of  the  people.  The  gaudy 
 ceremonies  of  Heathen  idolatry  were  transferred 
 or  accommodated  to  the  fervice  of  the  Chriftian 
 church.  Chriftianity  was  tortured  that  it  might  feem 
 to  agree  with  the  doctrines  of  the  Platonic  fchool ; 
 and  was  defended  by  fubtleties,  fophiftry.  and  invec- 
 tive. Two  moft  abominable  maxims  prevailed:  the 
 one,  that  deceit  and  falfehood  for  the  advantage  of  the 
 church  were  virtues  ;  the  other,  that  obflinate  error 
 in  religion  was  juftly  punifhable  by  civil  penalties 
 and  corporal  inflictions.  Monkifh  inftitutions  were 
 formed  into  a  fyftem.  The  folitary  Afcetics  difperf- 
 ed  in  the  caves  and  deferts  of  Upper  Egypt  were 
 perfuaded  to  incorporate  themfelves  into  a  fociety 
 by  Antony,  who  prefcribed  a  code  of  rules  for  their 
 obfervance.  The  practice  immediately  paffed  into 
 Paleftine  and  Syria ;  and  advancing  into  Mefopota- 
 mia,   fpeedily  overfpread  the   Eaft.     Italy  and  the 
 
 neighbouring 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  257 
 
 neighbouring  iflands,  Gaul,  and  other  provinces  of 
 Europe  in  fucceffion,  became  rilled  with  monafteries. 
 In  different  monafteries  different  rules  were  purfued  : 
 and  the  auflerities  of  the  Orientals  exceeded  thofe 
 of  the  Europeans.  Such  however  was  the  general 
 prepoffeffion  in  favour  of  an  institution,  which 
 exchanged  the  innocent  pleafures  and  the  natural 
 connections  and  charities  of  life  for  a  morofe  and 
 gloomy  fuperitition  :  that  when  Jovinian,  an  Jtalian 
 monk,  taught  that  all  perfons  who  fulfilled  their 
 baptifmal  vows,  and  lived  conformably  to  the  Gof- 
 pel,  were  equally  acceptable  to  God,  and  equally 
 entitled  through  Chrift  to  the  rewards  of  futurity, 
 with  thofe  who  lived  in  folitude,  celibacy,  and 
 mortification  ;  he  was  condemned  by  the  church 
 at  Rome,  and  by  a  council  at  Milan,  and  banifhed, 
 by  the  emperor  Honorius. 
 
 In  the  beginning  of  the  fifth  century  the  Roman 
 Empire  was  divided  into  two  portions.  The  Wef- 
 tern  Empire  comprehended,  under  Rome  its  capi- 
 tal, Italy,  Gaul,  Britain,  Spain,  the  neighbouring 
 part  of  Africa,  and  other  provinces  of  the  Weft. 
 The  Eaftern,  called  alfo  the  Greek  Empire,  becaufe 
 it  included  the  dominions  of  ancient  Greece, 
 comprifed  Afia,  and  the  neighbouring  parts  of  Eu- 
 rope, together  with  Egypt ;  and  had  Constantino- 
 ple for  its  metropolis.  The  Weftern  empire  was 
 now  affailed  with  redoubled  violence  by  the  Nor- 
 thern barbarians,  who  had  for  a  confiderable  time 
 haraffed  and  endangered  its  frontiers.  The  banks 
 of  the  Rhine  and  the  Danube  no  longer  oppofed 
 a  fuccefsful  barier.     Fortreffes   and   legions   were 
 
 S  ,       fwent  - 
 
 \ 
 
258  ,  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 fwept  away  before  the  military  deluge.  Goths, 
 and  Huns,  and  Quadi,  and  Heruli,  with  many 
 other  favage  fwarms,  pufhing  each  other  forward 
 in  fucceffion,  even  from  the  diftant  regions  of  Tar- 
 tary,  poured  in  their  myriads  through  the  breach. 
 Province  after  province  was  rent  from  the  declining 
 ftate,  At  length,  A.  D.  476,  Odoacer,  king  of 
 the  Heruli,  having  vanquifhed  Auguftulus,  the  laffc 
 emperor  of  Rome,  extinguifhed  the  Weftern  Em- 
 pire, and  eflabliihed  his  own  dominion  over  Italy. 
 Seventeen  years  afterwards  Odoacer  was  killed,  and 
 his  dominions  feized  by  Theodoric,  king  of  the  Of- 
 trogoths.  The  new  monarchs  faintly  profeffing  a  no- 
 minal fubordination  to  the  emperor  of  the  Eaft,  ruled 
 in  perfect  independence. 
 In  thefe  convulfions  the  Chriflians  underwent  pecu- 
 liar fufterings :  as  they  not  only  fhared  in  they  com- 
 mon miferies  of  the  times  ;  but  had  alfo  to  encoun- 
 ter the  cruel  ufage  which  their  religion  drew  upon 
 them  from  the  invaders,  who  were  principally  Pa- 
 gans. By  degrees  however  their  new  matters  em- 
 braced the  religion  of  Chrift.  But  that  circum- 
 ftance  did  not  in  every  inftance  prevent  perfecution, 
 Genferic,  king  of  the  Vandals  eftablimed  in  Africa, 
 was  a  bigoted  adherent  to  Arianifm  ;  and  eagerly 
 perfecuted  the  Chriftians  of  a  different  perfuafion. 
 Among  the  troubles  of  this  age  the  calamities  of  the 
 Britiih  church  muft  not  be  difregarded.  When  the 
 Roman  legions  had  retired  from  Britain  to  the  de- 
 fence of  the  more  important  parts  of  the  empire  ; 
 the  natives  of  the  fouthern  portion  of  the  ifland,  un- 
 able to  repel  the  fanguinary  inroads-  of  the  Scots 
 
 and 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  259 
 
 and  Pi&s,  applied  for  affiftance,  A.  D.  449,  to  the 
 Saxons.  Vortigern,  the  Britifh  king,  foon  found 
 his  German  allies  more  formidable  than  the  enemies 
 whom  they  had  vanquifhed.  New  armies  of  Sax- 
 ons arrived :  and  their  purpofe  to  feize  the  coun- 
 try for  their  own  ufe  became  apparent.  A  bloody 
 war  took  place  ;  and  having  continued  with  vari- 
 ous fuccefs  during  one  hundred  and  thirty  years, 
 ended  decifively  in  favour  of  the  Saxons.  Multitudes 
 of  the  ancient  inhabitants  fled  into  Wales  or  to  the 
 continent.  In  the  courfe  of  thefe  conflicts  vaft  num- 
 bers of  the  Britifh  Chriftians  were  put  todeath  with 
 the  fevered  tortures  by  their  idolatrous  aflailants  ; 
 and  the  religion  was  almofl  extinguifhed.  Ireland 
 in  the  mean  time  received  the  light  of  the  Gofpel, 
 Palladius,  who  was  fent  thither  by  the  Roman  pon- 
 tiff Celeftine,  for  the  converfion  of  the  people,  dy- 
 ing after  a  laborious  and  unfuccefsful  miflion,  was  re- 
 placed by  Succathus,  better  known  by  the  name  of 
 St,  Patrick,  a  native  of  Scotland.  He  arrived  A.  D. 
 432  ;  converted  great  numbers  of  the  Irifh ;  and 
 after  a  miniftry  of  forty  years  founded  the  archbi- 
 fhopric  of  Armagh.  During  thefe  tranfactions  Chrif- 
 tianity  continued  to  gain  ground  in  the  Eaftern  em- 
 pire over  the  remnants  of  Paganifm :  but  had  to 
 fuftain  a  fanguinary  perfecution  of  fix  years  from 
 the  Perfian  monarch  Vararenes. 
 
 In  the  courfe  of  this  century  new  herefies  and 
 fchifms  co-operated  with  the  unfubdued  remains  of 
 thofe  which  already  exifted  to  trouble  the  peace  and 
 impair  the  charity  of  Chriftians.  The  Donatifts, 
 fometimes  profperous,  fometimes  driven  into  obfcu- 
 S  2  rity 
 
2,6o  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 rity,  continued,  though  their  affairs  declined  on  the 
 whole,  to  afflict  Africa.     The  Arians,  flying  before 
 the  Imperial  edicls,  fpread  their  tenets  among  the 
 Goths,  the  Vandals,   the  Burgundians,  and   other 
 barbarous  tribes.     At  Rome,  and  in  the  Eaft,  Pela- 
 gius,  a  Britifh   monk,   denying  the  original  depra- 
 vation of  human  nature  at  the  fall,  and  the  neceflity 
 of  the  aid  of  Divine  grace  to  enable  man  to  arrive 
 even  at  the  higheft  degrees  of  piety  and  virtue,  be- 
 came the  head  of  a  feet.     Controverfies   ftill  more 
 vehement  were  excited,  firft  by  Neftorius  bifhop  of 
 Conftantinople ;  and  afterwards,  by  Eutyches,  ab- 
 bot of  a  convent  in  the  fame  city.     Neftorius,  who 
 is  to  this  day  held  in  the  higheft  efteem  among  the 
 Chriftians  of  Syria  and  the  adjacent  countries,  hav- 
 ing  publiflied    his  difapprobation  of   the    title  of 
 "  Mother  of  God,"  which  was  frequently  afcribed 
 to  the  Virgin  Mary  m,  was  accufed  of  dividing  the 
 divine  and  human  natures  of  Chrift  into  two  diftincY 
 perfons,  and  condemned  by  a  general   council  and 
 banilhed.     The  fentiments  afcribed  to  him  he  de- 
 nied to  the  laft :  and  at  any  rate,  though  his  pre- 
 emption   and   violence   are    unqueftionable,    was 
 treated'with  harfhnefs  and  injuftice,  being  condemn- 
 ed unheard,   his  explanations  of  his  doctrine  not 
 being  even  read,  nor  any  attention  paid  to  his  offers 
 of  fubmiffion.      In  oppofing  Neftorianifm  Eutyches 
 plunged  into  the  oppofite  extreme  of  excluding  the 
 human  nature  of  our  Redeemer,     The  predeftina- 
 rian  opinions  attributed  to  Auguftine  were  alio  the 
 fource  of  warm  difcuflion.     Ignorance  in  the  mean 
 time  attended  the  progrefs  of  the  uncultivated  fub- 
 
 verters 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  20*1 
 
 verters  of  the  Weftern  empire.     And  both  in  the 
 Weft  and  Eaft  the  fuperftitions  of  the  preceding 
 century   took    firmer    root,    and    extended    their 
 branches  far  and  wide.     Departed  faints  were  afli- 
 duoufly  invoked  ;  and,  in  order  to  conciliate  their 
 protection,   their  very  images   were  honoured  with 
 religious  worfhip.      Reliques  of  martyrs  were  valued 
 more  and  more  :  pilgrimages  augmented  :  ceremo- 
 nies encreafed  in  number  and  oftentation :  austeri- 
 ties became  more  extravagant  and  fenfelefs  (z).     In 
 the  decifion  of  religious  controveriies  it.  was  adopted 
 as  a  (landing  law,  even  in  councils,  to   determine 
 queftions  according  to  the  fentiments  of  the  plurality 
 of  the  ancient  doctors,  who  had  left  behind  them  an 
 opinion  applicable  to  the  fubje£L 
 
 It  is  now  time  to  attend  to  the  conduct  and  au- 
 thority of  the  bifhops  of  Rome.  Antecedently  to 
 the  reign  of  Conftantine,  while  a  new  capital  of  the 
 world  had  not  yet  arifen  on  the  fhores  of  the  Hellef- 
 pont ;  the  bifhop  of  the  metropolis  eafily  obtained 
 not  only  a  precedence  in  dignity  over  all  his  brethren 
 
 of 
 
 (z)  Among  the  fanatics  of  this  age  the  pillar-faints  were  the 
 mod  remarkable  and  the  moft  venerated.  Simeon,  denominated 
 Stylites,  (from  a  Greek  word  fignifying  a  column,)  is  recorded 
 to 'have  paffed  thirty-feven  years  on  the  top  of  five  fucceffive  pil- 
 lars;  the  firft  of  which  was  fix  cubits  high,  and  the  laft  forty. 
 His  reputation,  and  the  fame  of  his  miracles,  was  unbounded  : 
 and  the  defire  of  imitating  him  extreme.  The  practice  conti- 
 nued in  theEafl;  even  to  the  twelfth  century.  In  the  Well  it 
 was  never  permitted  to  eftablifh  itfelf.  Wulfilaicus,  an  imitator 
 of  Simeon,  having  ere&ed  a  pillar  in  the  vicinity  of  Treves  ; 
 he  neighbouring  bilhops  ordered  it  to  be  pulled  down. 
 
fc62  THE    EARLY    HISTORY 
 
 of  the  provinces,   but  fome  degree  of  juiifdi&ion 
 over  fuch  of  them  as  were  ftationed  within  his  reach. 
 The  power  which  by  his  rank,  his   magnificence, 
 his  princely  revenues,  and  his  facred  character  he 
 had  acquired  over  the  people  of  Rome,  rendered 
 him  by  degrees  dreaded  and  courted  by  the  emper- 
 ors.    His  authority  was  in  confequence  enlarged. 
 He  received  about  A.  D.  379,  by  an  edict  from  the 
 emperors  Valentinian  and  Gratian  a  fomewhat  un- 
 defined yet  apparently  fupreme  jurifdiction  over  the 
 church  of  the  Weftern  empire.     The  pope  thence- 
 forward iffued   decretal   epiftles  ;  appointed  vicars 
 in  the  provinces ;  cited  the  bifhops  to  Rome ;  con- 
 voked  general   councils  ;     and   openly   announced 
 himfelf  as    head   and    fovereign  of  the    univerfal 
 church  (a).     From  Thedofius  and  Valentinian  III. 
 he  obtained,  A.  D.  445,  another  edict  (F)  confirm- 
 ing in  the  ampleft  manner  thefe  enormous  pretenfi-. 
 pns  :  which  we  find  fully  recognifed   within  fome 
 few  years  in  the  letters  of  the  Gallican  bifhops ;  and 
 afcribed  to  the  pope  on  the  very  grounds  on  which 
 he  refted  his  claim,  namely,   as   being  fucceffor  to 
 the  inheritance  and  the  fovereignty  of  Saint  Peter. 
 But  when  a  rival  of  Rome  became  the  feat  of  em- 
 pire, at  the  oppofite  extremity  of  Europe  ;  the  pre- 
 late 
 
 (a)  In  proof  of  thefe  fads,  and  of  others  to  be  mentioned,  fee 
 Sir  lfaac  Newton's  Obfervations  on  the  Prophecies  of  Daniel, 
 chap.  viii. 
 
 (£)  See  the  edid  in  Sir  I.  Newton  as  above  :  which,  though 
 recogmung  in  the  moft  extravagant  terms  the  power  claimed  by 
 the  pope,  afcribes  it  not  to  Divine  right,  but  to  the  grants  of 
 preceding  emperors. 
 
OF    CHRISTIANITY.  263 
 
 prelate  of  the  ancient  capital  furveyed  with  an  eye 
 of  jealous  indignation  the  growing  honours  and 
 authority  of  his  brother  of  Conftantinople  :  and  ex- 
 erted himfelf  with  the  utmoft  vigour  to  uphold  a 
 pre-eminence,  which  the  latter  laboured  with  equal 
 zeal  to  fhake  off.  Every  weapon  which  prefented 
 itfelf  was  employed  to  check  the  riling  independence 
 of  the  Eaft.  When  the  provincial  bifhops  who 
 were  fubjecled  to  the  patriarchal  fee  of  Antioch,  or 
 of  Alexandria,  felt  their  rights  invaded  by  their 
 rulers  ;  when  thofe  patriarchs  themfelves  perceived 
 their  inability  to  refill  the  lordly  prelate  of  Byzan- 
 tium :  the  Roman  pontiff  heard  with  delight  the 
 complainants  appeal  to  himfelf.  As  yet  however 
 he  contended  in  vain.  He  faw  the  weight  of  the 
 Eaitern  emperors  thrown  into  the  fcale  of  his  com- 
 petitor. He  faw  Alia,  Thrace,  and  even  the  Illyrian 
 {hores  of  the  Adriatic,  fubjecled  to  the  Oriental 
 bifhop.  He  faw  that  bifhop  triumphant  over  his 
 raoli  violent  efforts,  A.  D.  451,  in  the  council  of 
 Chalcedon :  and  crowned  by  its  decrees  with  rights 
 ^nd  honours  in  every  refpect  equal  to  thofe  which 
 had  been  conferred  on  the  ecclefiaftical  fovereign 
 of  Rome.  The  unchriftian  fpirit  of  thefe  ambitious 
 rivals  inflamed  their  partifans  throughout  Afia  and, 
 Europe :  and  moft  efficacioufly  contributed  to  ex- 
 cite diffenfions  and  virulence  and  a  worldly  temper 
 in  the  church. 
 
(   264 
 
 CHAPTER    X. 
 
 ON  THE  HISTORY  OF  CHRISTIANITY  FROM  THIS 
 SUBVERSION  OF  THE  WESTERN  EMPIRE  TO  THE 
 END    OF    THE    THIRTEENTH    CENTURY. 
 
 V^LOVISj  the  king  of  the  Franks  who  had  fixed 
 their  refidence  in  Gaul,  had  embraced  the  Chriflian 
 faith,  A.  D.  496.  Hence  a  more  willing  ear  was 
 lent  in  the  beginning  of  the  next  century  by  his 
 fubje&s  to  the  preaching  of  Remigius :  and  numer- 
 ous converts  profeffed  the  Gofpel.  Converts  multi- 
 plied alfo  among  the  Heruli,  the  Alani,  and  other 
 barbarous  nations  of  the  Weft :  and  in  the  Eafl 
 among  the  Abafgi,  who  bordered  on  Mount  Cauca- 
 fus.  It  is  however  to  be  feared  that  many  of  the  new 
 Chriftians  were  imperfectly  acquainted  with  the 
 doctrines,  and  ftill  more  imperfectly  with  the  fpirit, 
 of  the  religion  which  they  adopted.  And  the  con- 
 verfion  of  vaft  numbers  of  Jews  in  France,  Spain, 
 and  Libya,  appears  to  have  been  effected  rather  by 
 menaces  and  violence  than  by  the  influence  of  fair 
 argument  on  the  underftanding.  Columbas,  an 
 Irifh  monk,  paffing  as  a  mimonary  into  Scotland, 
 laboured  among  the  natives  with  fuccefs.  In  Eng- 
 land alfo  the  foundations  of  the  true  faith  were  laid 
 afrefh.  Ethelbert,  monarch  of  Kent,  the  moft  pow- 
 erful of  the  cotemporary  Saxon  princes,  was  gradu- 
 ally 
 
HISTORY,    ETC.  265 
 
 ally  difpofed  towards  Chriftianity  by  his  queen 
 Bertha,  the  daughter  of  Cherebert,  king  of  Paris. 
 At  this  period,  A.  D.  596,  the  Roman  pontiff  Gre- 
 gory, furnamed  the  Great,  fent  Auguftine,  at  the 
 head  of  forty  Benedictine  monks,  to  preach  the 
 Gofpel.  The  king,  and  the  greater  part  of  his  fub- 
 jects  were  baptifed  :  and  Auguftine  became  the  firfl: 
 archbifhop  of  Canterbury.  In  other  parts  of  the 
 ifland  the  idolatrous  Saxons  continued  to  exercife 
 unrelenting  cruelties  againft  the  antient  inhabitants, 
 who  retained  the  Chriftian  faith.  In  Italy  the  king- 
 dom of  the  Oftrogoths  was  deftroyed,  A.  D.  566, 
 by  Narfes,  the  general  of  the  Eaftern  emperor  Jufti- 
 nian  :  and  Rome,  transformed  into  a  dukedom, 
 and  -degraded  from  the  rank  of  a  capital,  was  fub- 
 jected  to  the  lieutenant  of  that  monarch,  who  refid- 
 ed  with  the  title  of  exarch  at  Ravenna.  Two  years 
 afterwards  a  new  revolution,  terrible  to  the  Chrifti- 
 ans,  fupervened.  A  Pagan  army  of  Lombards 
 lufhing  from  Pannonia,  overwhelmed  Italy:  and, 
 with  the  exception  of  Rome  and  Ravenna,  having 
 maftered  the  whole  country,  and  eftablifhed  their 
 kingdom  at  Ticinum,  grievoufly  afflicted  the  fol- 
 lowers of  the  Gofpel.  In  a  fhort  time,  however, 
 they  embraced  the  religion  which  they  had  cpprefT- 
 ed.  Autharis,  their  third  monarch,  adopted,  A.  D. 
 587,  the  tenets  of  Arianifm :  and  his  fucceftor  ac- 
 knowledged the  Nicene  faith.  During  the  courfe 
 of  thefe  tranfactions  Perfia  upheld  its  eftablifhed 
 character  for  cruelty  to  the  Chriftian  name.  Chof- 
 roes,  its  monarch,  denouncing  vengeance  not  only 
 againft  the  perfon  but  againft  the  God  of  Juftinian, 
 
 flaughtered 
 
±66  THE    HISTORY   OF 
 
 flaughtered  the  Chriftians  with  every  aggravation 
 of  torture,  which  inhumanity  and  impiety  could  fur- 
 nifli. 
 
 Not  many  new  controverfies  of  moment  broke 
 forth  in  this  century.  Of  the  old  feels,  Arianifm, 
 after  a  ihort  triumph,  received  a  blow  from  which 
 it  never  was  able  to  recover,  by  the  expulfion  of  the 
 Italian  Goths  and  the  African  Vandals  before  the 
 arms  of  Juftinian ;  and  by  the  defection  of  Rec- 
 cared,  a  Spanifh  fovereign,  and  of  other  princes. 
 The  Donatifts  alfo,  having  loft  the  protection  of 
 the  Vandals,  finally  dwindled,  after  a  concluding 
 effort,  into  oblivion.  But  the  advantage  which  the 
 church  gained  in  thefe  refpecls  was  balanced  by  the 
 ftill  encreafmg  prevalence  of  ignorance  and  fuper- 
 ftition.  In  the  Weft,  the  little  learning  which  re- 
 mained was  confined  within  the  walls  of  the  monaf* 
 teries.  Jt  was  by  the  protection  of  thofe  walls  that 
 the  manufcripts  of  the  claffical  authors,  though 
 neglected,  were  preferved  ;  and  have  defcended  witfji 
 the  facred  records  of  antiquity  to  a  happier  age. 
 The  tranquillity  and  the  tafte  of  the  Eaftern  empire 
 were  rather  more  favourable  to  fcience  and  litera- 
 ture ;  yet  were  unequal  to  the  prevention  of  their 
 decline.  Additional  rites,  no  lefs  trivial  than  cum- 
 brous, and  ufages  fitted  only  to  lead  men  from  look- 
 ing for  falvation  through  a  life  of  Chriftian  holinefs, 
 disfigured  and  tended  to  explode  true  religion  both 
 in  Europe  and  in  Afia.  The  honour  due  unto 
 God  was  transferred  more  and  more  to  faints.  An 
 opinion  was  induftrioufly  circulated  by  a  corrupted 
 and  avaricious  priefthood,  that  the  fbrgivenefs  of 
 
 fins 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  267 
 
 fins  was  to  be  purchafed  by  liberality  to  rrionafteries 
 and  convents,  which  multiplied  daily  :  and  that  the 
 irrefiftible  interceffion  of  departed  faints  would  be 
 exerted  for  the  man,  who  had  enriched  the  temples 
 dedicated  to  their  memory.  After  dating  this  fact, 
 it  is  almoft  needlefs  to  add  that  vice  rapidly  encreaf- 
 ed  among  the  clergy  as  well  as  among  the  laity. 
 The  bifhops  of  Rome  and  of  Conftantinople  were 
 flill  antagonifts.  The  tidings  that  John,  prelate  of 
 the  latter  city,  had  affumed  the  title  of  oecumenical, 
 or  univerfal  bifhop,  flruck  Pelagius  the  Roman  pon- 
 tiff with  horror.  Routing  himfelf  at  length  to  repel 
 the  fatal  blow,  he  declaimed  by  his  reprefentative 
 Gregory  (who  afterwards  became  pope)  againft  the 
 blafphemy  of  the  title  ;  and  thundered  againft  his 
 daring  rival  the  portentous  appellation  of  Antichrift. 
 Perhaps  he  forgot  that  his  own  predeceifors,  whofe 
 rights  he  was  thus  eager  to  maintain,  had  long 
 claimed  the  jurifdi&ion  implied  in  the  name  of  uni- 
 verfal bilhop ;  and  had  affumed  the  kindred  deno- 
 mination of  head  of  the  univerfal  church.  At  this 
 period,  however,  the  Gothic  kings  of  Italy,  no  lefs 
 than  the  Eaftern  emperors,  denied  the  unlimited 
 authority  of  the  pontiff  5  and  exacted  from  him 
 various  tokens  of  fubmiffion. 
 
 The  feventh  century  witneffed  the  extenfion  of 
 the  Chriftian  faith  in  the  Eaft  to  China  and  the  re- 
 mqteft  parts  of  Afia,  chiefly  by  the  labours  of  the 
 Neftorians.  In  the  Weft  the  faith  of  the  Gofpel 
 became  univerfal  throughout  our  own  ifland ; 
 whence  it  was  carried  to  Batavia,  and  other  parts 
 of  the  continent,     Compulfory  converfions  of  the 
 
 perfecuted 
 
268  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 perfecuted  Jews  were  urged  forward  by  the  emperor 
 Heraclius :  and  by  the  monsrchs  of  Gaul  and  Spain, 
 in  the  face  of  the  avowed  difapprobation  of  the  Ro- 
 man pontiff.  Darknefs  and  ignorance  overfpread 
 the  Chriftian  world,,  under  the  aufpicious  aid  of  the 
 fubtleties  of  Ariftotelian  logic.  The  vices  of  the 
 monadic  clergy  augmented  with  their  riches.  The 
 fuperftitions  of  the  preceding  age  multiplied.  Peni- 
 tential difcipline  was  formed  into  a  fyftem  ;  and 
 became  generally  recognifed  as  a  full  expiation  for 
 fin.  By  a  law  of  pope  Boniface  V.  the  churches 
 were  rendered  places  of  refuge  to  all  perfons,  who 
 mould  fly  to  them  for  protection  ;  and  thus  became 
 public  afylums  for  the  raoft  abandoned  criminals. 
 To  the  turbulent  remains  of  ancient  divifions  the 
 new  fed  of  Monothelites  was  added  ;  and  tormente4 
 and  perplexed  the  Eafl  and  the  Weft  with  metaphy* 
 fical  difputes  concerning  the  unity  of  will  in  the  two 
 natures  of  Chrilt.  In  the  courfe  of  this  controverfy 
 pope  Honorius,  and  his  Monothelite  doclrine  were 
 formally  condemned  in  the  prefence  of  the  papal 
 legates  by  the  general  council  of  Conftantinople :  a 
 circumftance  which  has  produced  no  fmall  embar- 
 raflment  to  Roman  Catholic  writers,  who  have  felt 
 themfelves  bound  by  their  faith  to  uphold  the  perfect 
 infallibility  both  of  general  councils  and  of  popes. 
 The  claims  however  of  papal  fupremacy  were  urged 
 with  fuch  unceafing  ardor,  that  Boniface  HI,  fought 
 and  obtained,  A.  D.  606,  from  the  emperor  Phocas, 
 one  of  the  moft  deteftable  of  tyrants,  that  very  title 
 of  oecumenical  or  univerfal  bifhop  j    the  defire  of 
 
 which 
 
CHRISTIANITY,   ETC.  26*9 
 
 which,  Gregory,  his  predeceifor  in  the  fee  of  Rome, 
 had  ftigmatifed  in  John  of  Byzantium  as  a  character- 
 iftic  of  Antichrifl.  Yet  much  opposition  continued 
 to  be  made  to  them  by  temporal  fovereigns.  Pope 
 Martin,  having  treated  the  Imperial  edicts  with  ex- 
 treme contempt,  in  confequence  of  their  being  fa- 
 vourable to  Monothelitifm,  of  which,  unlike  to  the 
 future  pope  Honorius,  he  was  a  bitter  enemy  ;  and 
 having  folemnly  anathematifed  and  configned  to 
 the  devil  and  his  angels  the  Monothelites  and  their 
 patrons ;  was  feized,  at  the  command  of  the  enraged 
 emperor  Conftans,  by  the  exarch  of  Italy,  and  de- 
 tained prifoner  for  a  year,  with  much  cruel  ufage, 
 in  the  ifle  of  Naxos.  The  ancient  Britons  and  the 
 Scots  diftinguifhed  themfelves  by  perfeverance  in 
 maintaining  their  religious  independence. 
 
 In  the  midft  of  thefe  contentions,  and  from  a  re- 
 mote and  difregarded  corner  of  the  Eaft,  a  new  and 
 tremendous  fcourge  of  Chriftianity  had  arifen.  Ma- 
 homet had  eftablifhed  his  impofture  in  Arabia. 
 Born  of  the  nobleft  family  of  the  molt  honourable 
 tribe  among  his  countrymen,  yet  befet  with  indi- 
 gence and  obfcurity,  he  palled  his  early  years  in  the 
 humble  occupations  of  a  camel-driver  and  of  a  com- 
 mercial agent  to  a  wealthy  widow  ;  until  he  was 
 raifed  to  diftin&ion  by  becoming  the  hufband  of  his 
 employer.  In  the  political  and  religious  fituation 
 of  the  inhabitants  of  Arabia  he  perceived  an  open- 
 ing, by  which  a  daring,  and  fagacious,  and  unprin- 
 cipled adventurer  might  arrive  at  unlimited  domi- 
 nion.  Divided  into  a  number  of  unconnected  and 
 hoftile  tribes,  the  Arabians  were  not  likely  to  unite 
 
 into 
 
2J0  THE   HISTORV   OF 
 
 into  a  general  confederacy  againft  any  perfon,  who 
 might  appear  to  aim  at  fuperiority  over  one  or  two 
 tribes.  The  very  enmity  of  fome  was  likely  to  con- 
 ciliate to  him  the  friendfhip  and  affiftance  of  others. 
 Thofe  whom  private  and  national  antipathies  had 
 thus  feparated,  were  kept  afunder  flill  more  widely 
 by  differences  in  religion.  Arabia,  the  land  of 
 freedom,  was  peopled  with  difcordant  fedts  of  every 
 perfualion.  With  Jews  it  abounded  as  early  as  at 
 the  day  of  Pentecoft  ;  and  had  received  numbers  of 
 fugitives  from  the  arms  of  the  Romans.  In  many 
 parts  of  the  country  Chriftianity  had  made  powerful 
 advances.  Among  fome  tribes  the  religious  tenets 
 of  the  Magi  had  been  introduced  from  Perfia.  The 
 reft  of  the  people,  though  generally  holding  the 
 unity  of  God,  were  abforbed  in  idolatry.  But  Jews, 
 Chriftians,  and  idolaters  were  enveloped  in  univerfal 
 ignorance.  What  then  might  not  be  hoped  by  a 
 deceiver,  who  mould  cautioufly  lay  before  the  Ara- 
 bians as  coming  from  God  a  form  of  religion  dex- 
 troufly  accommodated  to  the  leading  tenets  of  the 
 different  parties,  on  whofe  ignorance  he  wifhed  to 
 impofe  ?  On  this  foundation,  and  according  to  this 
 plan,  Mahomet  erected  his  fuperftructure.  Having 
 attracted  during  fome  years  the  public  attention  by 
 frequent  retirements  to  a  cave  in  a  mountain  in  the 
 neighbourhood  of  Mecca,  the  city  where  he  refided  ; 
 he  at  length  announced  himfelf,  A.  D.  609,  pri- 
 vately in  the  outfet,  and  to  his  own  family,  as  a 
 prophet  invefted  with  a  Divine  commiffion  to  eita- 
 blifh  true  religion  upon  earth.  His  facred  doctrine 
 and  inftitutions  he  profefTed  to  receive  from  Hea- 
 ven 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  2yl 
 
 ven  by  the  communication  of  the  angel  Gabriel. 
 He  imparted  them  to  the  world  in  the  Koran  ;  the 
 chapters  of  which  he  produced  in  flow  fucceffion 
 during  three-and-twenty  years :  and  ufually  for  the 
 evident  purpofe  of  meeting  fome  emergency  in  his 
 affairs,  or  of  authorifing  the  gratification  of  his 
 licentious  pafTions.  Difcarding  all  myfteries  as  ad- 
 verfe  to  his  profpect  of  fuccefs,  he  unremittingly 
 inculcated  the  tenet  in  which  all  defcriptions  of  his 
 hearers  were  difpofed  to  agree,  the  unity  of  God. 
 The  Jews  he  conciliated  by  upholding  the  Divine 
 authority  of  the  Old  Teftament :  the  Chriftians  he 
 allured  by  paying  fimilar  refpect  to  the  New.  Mo- 
 fes  and  Chrift  he  averred  to  have  been  fent  as  fore- 
 runners of  himfelf;  and  to  have  predicted  his  ap- 
 proach and  his  fuperiority,  in  pafTages  which  had 
 been  blindly  mifunderflood,  or  malicioufly  corrupt- 
 ed or  expunged.  Pretentions  to  miraculous  powers 
 he  warily  difclaimed.  Miracles,  he  faid,  had  been 
 proved,  by  the  examples  of  Mofes  and  of  Chrift,  in- 
 effectual to  fecure  the  reception  of  truth.  Unbe- 
 lievers he  menaced  with  unfpeakable  and  eternal 
 anguifh  in  a  future  life.  To  believers  he  promifed 
 the  everlafling  pleafures  of  a  fenfual  paradife.  But 
 he  referved  the  higheft  enjoyments  and  glories  of 
 the  world  to  come  for  thofe  who  mould  expend 
 their  poffeffion  or  their  blood  in  fupport  of  his  reli- 
 gion. The  tardinefs  of  his  progrefs  might  have 
 driven  a  lefs  refolute  impoftor  to  defpair.  Four- 
 teen profelytes  were  the  fruit  of  three  years.  Some 
 years  afterwards  the  number  fcarcely  exceeded  one 
 
 hundred 
 
272  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 hundred  (a).  The  rage  of  his  enemies  conftrained 
 him  to  fave  his  life  by  flight  from  Mecca,  A.  D. 
 622  :  an  event  from  which  the  Mahometans  date 
 their  era,  denominated  the  Hegira,  or  the  Flight.  His 
 fortunes  now  changed.  He  was  received  at  Medina 
 as  a  prince  and  a  prophet.  Converts  and  adven- 
 turers flocked  to  his  ftandard.  Laying  afide  the 
 tolerating  language  which  his  feeblenefs  had  infert- 
 ed  into  the  earlier  parts  of  the  Koran  ;  he  declar  ed 
 himfelf  fent  forth  to  eftablim  true  religion,  the  belief 
 in  the  unity  of  God  and  in  himfelf  as  the  apoftle  of 
 God,  by  the  fword.  Againft  all  Infidels,  he  declared 
 war.  To  idolaters,  he  offered  converfion,  or  death. 
 To  the  followers  of  Mofes  and  of  Chriit,  a  more 
 liberal  choice  was  offered.  "  Ye  Chriftiali  dogs  (£), 
 "  pe  know  your  option  :  the  Koran,  the  tribute, 
 "  or  the  fword."  Such  was  the  addrefs  ufual 
 among  his  fucceffors  to  their  enemies  of  the  Eaftern 
 Empire.  Victory  and  defeat  were  alike  converted 
 by  Mahomet  into  engines  for  confolidating  his 
 power.  The  one  was  a  fpecial  proof  of  his  Divine 
 miffion  ;  the  other  a  punifhment  on  the  incredulity 
 of  his  followers.  At  length  his  arms  were  every 
 where  triumphant.  He  was  enthroned  in  Mecca, 
 and  acknowledged  and  obeyed  throughout  all  Ara- 
 bia 
 
 (a)  Gibbon's  Hiftory,  4to.  vol.  v.  p.  220,  &c. 
 
 (b)  Dog  was,  and  ftill  remains,  the  common  term  of  infamy 
 appropriated  to  .unbelievers  by  the  Mahometans.  "  The  Gre- 
 tk  ciandog"  was  the  ufual  title  of  the  emperor  of  Conftantinople. 
 See  Ockley's  Hiftory  of  the  Saracens.  The  letter  of  the  caliph 
 Harun  al  Rafhid  to  the  emperor  Nicephorus  is  addrefled,  "  To 
 *f  the  Roman  Dog."     Gibbon,  vol.  v.  p.  433.     ■ 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  273 
 
 feia  as  a  Divinely-appointed  lawgiver  and  fovereign. 
 Tranquil  at  home,  he  looked  around  for  conquer!. 
 Paleftine  he  invaded  ;  and  fixed  his  eye  on  the  fer- 
 tility of  Syria.  But  his  career  was  arrefted,  A.  D. 
 632,  by  death.  The  tide  of  victory,  however,  flow- 
 ed on  without  interruption.  Succeeding  caliphs 
 trod  in  his  footfteps.  Frantic  with  religious  zeal 
 and  the  thirft  of  plunder,  and  fteeled  againfl  fear 
 and  danger  by  a  belief  in  the  moil  rigid  predeftina- 
 tion  ;  innumerable  hofts  of  Saracens,  fo  termed 
 from  a  principal  tribe  of  the  Arabians,  ruffled  forth 
 on  all  fides.  Within  fix  years  after  the  death  of 
 Mahomet,  Syria,  after  the  deftruftion  of  immenfe 
 armies  difpatched  for  its  protection,  was  completely 
 wrefted  from  the  emperor  Heraclius ;  who  publicly 
 acknowledged  that  the  flagrant  wickednefs  of  the 
 Chriftians  had  juftly  withdrawn  from  them  the  pro- 
 tection of  their  God.  Egypt  and  Perfia  fpeedily 
 bowed  to  the  fame  yoke.  The  whole  extent  of 
 Africa  as  far  as  the  Atlantic  was  fubdued  by  the 
 commencement  of  the  following  century.  Crofling 
 the  (freights  of  Gibraltar,  A.  D.  710,  the  victorious 
 Saracens  invaded  Spain  :  and  having  in  the  courfe 
 of  fome  few  years  reduced  that  kingdom,  paffed 
 forwards,  A.  D.  721,  over  the  Pyrenean  mountains 
 into  France,  and  occupied  all  the  fouthern  provinces. 
 But  thefe  inftruments  of  Divine  Vengeance  began 
 now  to  exceed  in  this  direction  the  limits  of  their 
 commiflion.  Preiling  on  to  the  very  centre  of 
 France,  they  were  defeated  near  Tours,  with  dread- 
 ful and  decifive  (laughter  by  Charles  Martel,  A.  D. 
 732  ;  and  the  remains  of  their  forces  were  driven 
 
 T  back 
 
274  THE    HISTORY   OF 
 
 back  into  Spain.  In  the  mean  time  their  armies 
 from  Afia  had  twice  befieged  Conftantinople  itfelf. 
 The  firfl  fiege  commenced  A.  D.  668,  and  lafted 
 during  feven  fucceffive  fummers.  During  the  win- 
 ter months  the  aflailants  regularly  retired  to  the  ifle 
 of  Cyzicus,  where  they  had  eftablifhed  their  maga- 
 zines. The  city  proved  impregnable :  but  was 
 obliged  to  purchafe  peace  by  a  tribute.  The  at- 
 tempt was  ineffectually  renewed  by  the  Mahomet- 
 ans, from  A.  D.  71 6,  to  A.  D.  7 1 8. 
 
 During  the  courfe  of  the  eighth  century  the  ca- 
 lamities of  the  Eaft  were  continued.     The  Turks,  a 
 favage  nation  of  Tartarian  defcent,  rufhing  from  the 
 folitudes  of   Mount   Caucafus,    overran    Colchis, 
 Iberia,  Albania,  and  Armenia :    and  having  van- 
 quished the  Saracens  in  thofe  quarters,  turned  their 
 fury  againft  the  Greeks.     During  the   laft  twenty 
 years  of  this  century,  and  in  the  beginning  of  the 
 next,  Afia  Minor  was  cruelly  ravaged   by  the  Ca- 
 liphs, and  tribute  again  exacted  from  the  emperor 
 of  Conftantinople.     But  no  calamities  appear    to 
 have  retarded  the  progrefs  of  fuperftition  and  vice. 
 A  new  controverfy  concerning  the  proceffion  of  the 
 Holy  Ghoft  embroiled  the  Greek  and  Latin  Chrif- 
 tians  with   each  other ;  the  Orientals  maintaining 
 that  the  Holy  Spirit  proceeded  from  the  Father,  only, 
 the  Weftern  churches,  from  the  Father  and  the 
 Son.     A  difTenfion  ftill  more  vehement  broke  forth 
 refpecting  images.     Bardanes,  the  Greek  emperor, 
 A.  D.  712,  having  removed  from  the  church  of  St. 
 Sophia  a  pifture  of  the  meeting  of  the  fixth  general 
 council,  becaufe  that  affembly  had  condemned  his 
 
 favorites 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  275 
 
 favorites,   the  Monothelites  ;  fent  orders  to  Rome 
 for  the  adoption  of  fimilar  proceedings.     The  Ro- 
 man pontiff,  not  fatisfied  with  manifefting  his  indig- 
 nant contempt  by  a  formal  rejection  of  the  Imperial 
 edicl:  5  commanded  fix  pi&ures  reprefenting  the  fix 
 general  councils  to  be  placed  in  the  porch  of  the 
 cathedral  of  St.  Peter  :  and  fummoning  a  council  at 
 Rome,  caufed  the  emperor  to  be  condemned  as  an 
 apoftate  from  the  true  faith.     Leo  the  Ifaurian,  a 
 fucceeding  emperor,  mocked  at  the  idolatrous  wor- 
 fhip  paid  to  images,  and  at  the  confequent  reproaches 
 and  farcafms  poured  out  againft  the  Chriftians  by 
 Mahometans  and    Jews,   commanded   the  flatues, 
 A.  D.  726,  to  be  removed  out  of  the  churches.     A 
 civil  war  in  feveral  parts  of  his  dominions  was  the 
 refult.     Pope  Gregory,  without  ceremony,  excom- 
 municated the  emperor,   as  the  Greek  writers  all 
 affirm,  and  as  many  learned  Roman  Catholic  writers 
 acknowledge  :  the  Italian  provinces  fubject  to  the 
 Greek  empire  rofe  in  rebellion :  and  Rome,  with 
 part  of  the   adjacent  country  became,  in  the  fame 
 or  the  following  year,  an  independent  ftate,  really 
 or  nominally  under   the  civil   government  of  its 
 fenate  (V).     Leo  and,  in  general,  his  fucceffors  per- 
 fifted  in  their  efforts  to  exterminate  image-worfhip  : 
 and  the  pontiffs  were  (till  more  outrageous  in  their 
 exertions  to  uphold  it.      A  new  potentate  of  the 
 T  2  Weft, 
 
 (?)  Nominally  under  that  of  its  fcnate  ;  but  really,  as  it  mould 
 feem  from  the  words  of  Sigonius,  (fee  Bifhop  Newton  on  the 
 Prophecies,  vol.  iii.  p.  398,)  under  that  of  the  Pope.  '•  Ita 
 Roma,  Romanufque  ducatus  a  Graecis  ad  Romanum  Pontificem.-— 
 perven.it." 
 
2j6  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 Weft,  Charlemagne,  who  had  eflablifhed  himfelf  in 
 Imperial  power  over  France  and  Germany,  united 
 with  the  Eaftern  emperors  againft  the  pontiffs  in 
 this  controverfy  :  and  in  a  council  of  three  hundred 
 bifhops  affembled  at  Francfort,  the  worfliip  of  images 
 was  unanimoufly  condemned  :  a  decifion  heartily 
 and  openly  approved  by  the  Britifh  church.  Charle- 
 magne alfo  was  fuccefsful  in  his  purpofe  of  convert- 
 ing his  enemies,  the  Saxons  and  Huns,  to  a  profef- 
 fion  of  the  Chriftian  faith.  Violence  however  was 
 his  chief  inftrument :  and  political  expediency  feems 
 to  have  been  one  of  his  predominant  motives.  The 
 perfevering  miniftry  of  Winfrid*  a  Britifh  Benedic- 
 tine monk,  among  the  Frieflanders  and  Germans., 
 appears  entitled  to  very  confiderable  praife.  His 
 folicitude,  it  mud  be  owned,  for  the  glory  of  the 
 Roman  pontiff,  equalled  his  zeal  for  the  glory  of 
 Chrift  :  and  his  proceedings  were  in  feveral  refpe&s 
 highly  objectionable.  But  he  purfued  his  labours 
 during  forty  years :  and  was  at  length  murdered* 
 with  fifty  of  his  affociates,  by  the  barbarians. 
 
 In  the  Weft  the  privileges  and  the  wealth  of  the 
 clerical  order  became  enormous.  The  future  pu- 
 nifhments  of  fin  might  be  prevented,  it  was  fuppofed, 
 by  liberality  to  God  and  the  faints  ;  in  other  words, 
 to  the  churches  and  monafteries.  Hence  the  accu- 
 mulations of  a  life  of  rapine,  and  the  treafures  that 
 had  furvived  a  life  of  profligacy,  were  alike  trans- 
 ferred on  a  death-bed  to  the  monks.  Emperors, 
 kings,  and  princes  expiated  their  crimes  by  invert- 
 ing bifhops  and  churches  with  the  poffeffion  and 
 fovereignty  of  caftles,  cities,  and  provinces.     The 
 
 higher 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  277 
 
 higher  ecclefiaflics,  now  become  temporal  poten- 
 tates, were  feen  clad  in  armour  at  the  head  of  armies 
 of  their  vaflals.  The  Roman  pontiff,  advancing 
 daily  in  ftrength,  and  extolled  as  a  fort  of  god 
 throughout  the  Weftern  world,  by  the  innumerable 
 fwarms  of  monks  devoted  to  his  caufe  and  received 
 under  his  fpecial  prote&ion,  reared  his  head  aloft 
 above  the  fovereigns  of  the  earth.  His  conduct  to 
 the  Eaftern  emperor  has  been  related.  An  opinion 
 was  encouraged  and  eftablifhed,  that  any  perfon  ex- 
 communicated by  the  Pope  forfeited  not  only  his 
 civil  rights  but  the  common  privileges  of  humanity. 
 Pepin,  firft  officer  to  Childeric  III.  king  of  France 
 afpired  to  the  crown  :  and  convened  and  confulted, 
 A.  D.  751,  the  ftates  of  the  realm.  By  the  direc- 
 tion of  the  flates  ambafladors  were  difpatched  to  the 
 pontiff  to  folicit  his  decifion  on  the  queftion — "  whe- 
 "  ther  the  divine  law  did  not  permit  a  valiant  peo- 
 "  pie  to  dethrone  an  indolent  and  pufillanimous 
 "  fovereign,  and  to  elecl:  a  more  worthy  fuccefTor." 
 The  Pope  pronounced  in  the  affirmative  :  Childeric 
 was  depofed,  and  Pepin  appointed  king.  Three 
 years  afterwards  the  fucceeding  pontiff  repaired  to 
 France ;  confirmed  his  predeceflbr's  decifion ;  ab- 
 folved  Pepin  from  his  allegiance  to  Childeric  5  and, 
 having  crowned  him,  requefled  his  aid  againfh  the 
 Lombards.  Pepin  complied;  marched  into  Italy ; 
 and  conftrained  Aiftulphus,  the  vanquished  king  of 
 the  Lombards,  to  engage  to  furrender  for  ever  to 
 the  Pope  and  his  fucceffors  in  the  fee  of  Rome,  the 
 Exarchate  of  Ravenna  and  its  dependencies.     On 
 
 the 
 
27^  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 the  retreat  of  the  conqueror  Aiftulphus  retraced, 
 and  befieged  Rome.     The  Pope  renewed  his  appli- 
 cation to  Pepin,  with  menaces  of  excommunication 
 in  cafe  of  tardinefs  (d).     Pepin  obeyed,  and  com- 
 pelled the  Lombards  to  an  immediate  performance 
 of  the  agreement.     From  this  time,  A.  D.  755,  the 
 Pope,   acknowledged   as  a  temporal  fovereign,   no 
 longer  dated  his  epiftles  and  bulls   by  the  years  of 
 the  reign  of  the  Eaftern  emperor.     A  fubfequent 
 invafion  of  the  Lombards  added,  A.  D.  774,  another 
 crown  to  the  pontiff.     Charlemagne,  the  fon  of  Pe- 
 pin, flew  to  his  aid,   overturned  the  Lombard  em- 
 pire, and  beftowed  fome  of  its  provinces  on  the 
 Pope.     Towards  the  clofe  of  the  century,   A.  D. 
 796,  Charlemagne  was  folicited  by  the  Pope  to.  re- 
 duce by  his  interposition  the  Roman  people  to  alle- 
 giance to  the  holy  See  (e).     In  the  confequent   dif- 
 fenfions  which  arofe  at  Rome,  the  Pope  being  feiz- 
 ed,  imprifoned,  and  formally   accufed,  efcaped  to 
 Charlemagne;  who,  on  his  arrival  at  Rome,  A.  D. 
 800,  prefided  in  a  council  of  French  and  Italian 
 bilhops  convened  to  judge  the  caufe.     The  council, 
 however  without  entering  into  the  matter,  declared 
 that  the  Pope,  the  fupreme  judge  of  all   men,  was 
 above  being  judged   by   any   other    than  himfelf. 
 Averring,  therefore,  his  innocence,  he  was  deemed 
 acquitted.     Charlemagne,  by  the  influence  of  the 
 
 Pope 
 
 (d)  See  the  words  quoted  by  Sir  I.  Newton,  Obfervatlons 
 on  Daniel,  p.  79, — "  pro  data  fibi  potentia,  alienandum  fore  a 
 "  regno  Dei  &  vita  eterna." 
 
 (<?)  To  bind  them  by  oath  "  in  fide  &  fubje&ione."-  Sir  L 
 Newton's  Obfervations,  p.  85. 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  279 
 
 Pope  over  the  Roman  people,  was  now  gratified  in 
 his  defire  of  being  elected  emperor  of  the  Romans. 
 In  return  he  beflowed  on  the  Pope  full  jurifdiction, 
 fubordinately  to  his  own  Imperial  pre-eminence, 
 over  Rome  and  its  territories.  Thefe  three  princi- 
 palities, Rome  and  its  dependencies,  the  Exarchate 
 of  Ravenna,  and  the  Lombard  provinces,  are  cited 
 and  folemnly  confirmed  by  oath  to  the  pontiffs  in  a 
 fubfequent  grant  of  Louis  the  Pious,  fon  of  Charle- 
 magne, to  be  held  of  the  Roman  emperor  for  the 
 ufe  of  the  church.  Amidft  thefe  folid  acquifitionj 
 the  vi&ory  of  the  pontiff,  A.  D.  787,  in  the  fecond 
 council  held  at  Nice  in  Bithynia  over  the  Icono- 
 clafts  (the  breakers  of  images)  and  the  enemies  of 
 his ,  fupremacy,  fcarcely  deferves  notice  :  nor  the 
 loffes  which  he  fuflained  through  the  indignation, 
 of  the  Greek  emperors,  who  confifcated  his  trea- 
 fures,  and  abolifhed  his  jurifdicltion,  in  Sicily  and 
 other  provinces  of  their  dominions. 
 
 In  the  ninth  century  the  Saracens,  matters  of  the 
 greater  part  of  Africa,  and  of  Afia,  even  to  the  ex- 
 tremities of  India,  awed  numbers  of  the  Chriftians 
 into  apoftafy  ;  and  cruelly  haraffed  the  ftedfafl  Ser- 
 vants of  Chrift.  In  the  remnant  of  the  Grecian 
 empire  religious  diffenfioas  prevailed.  The  difputes 
 concerning  the  proceffion  of  the  Holy  Spirit  conti- 
 nued. Violent  perfecutions,  ultimately  productive 
 of  a  civil  war,  were  inflituted  by  the  emperors  of 
 Conftantinople  againfl  the  Paulicians,  a  fe£t  efta- 
 blifhed  in  Armenia,  and  charged  with  Manichaean 
 tenets  j  yet  ftedfafl  in  maintaining,  among  various 
 
 errors 
 
28o  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 errors,  one  excellent  but  moil  offenfive  doctrine* 
 the  unlawfulnefs  of  worshipping  the  Virgin  Mary- 
 The  controverfy  reflecting  images  was  alfo  upheld 
 in  the  Eaft  with  uncertain  fuccefs  until  A.  D.  842 : 
 when  a  council   at  Conftantinople   decifively   pro- 
 nounced in  favor  of  idolatry  :  and  the  whole  Eaft, 
 Armenia  excepted,  adored  without  further  ftruggle 
 the  victorious  mediators  of  wood  and  (lone.   Among 
 the  Latins  the  fame  unchriflian  practice  fiowly  yet 
 perceptibly  gained  ground  againft  vigorous  oppofi- 
 tion.     New   foundations  for  a  complete  fchifm  be- 
 tween the  Eaftern  and  Weftern  churches  were  lard 
 by  the  appeal  of  Ignatius,  the  depofed  patriarch  of 
 Conftantinople,  to  the  Roman  pontiff ;  by  the  proud 
 interference  of  the  latter  ;  and  by  the  reciprocal  ex-, 
 communications  fulminated  by  the  Roman  and  the 
 ..Byzantine  prelates  againft  each  other.     The  doc- 
 trine of  the  Myftics,  who  profeffedly  aimed  in  their 
 fanatical  precepts  at  the  total  abftraction  of  the  foul 
 from  earthly  objects,  and  its  union  in  an  ineffable 
 manner  with  the  Deity,  having  long  been  in  high 
 efteem  among  the  Greeks,  efpecially  among   the 
 monaftic  orders,  now  invaded  and  infected  the  La- 
 tin provinces.     The  doctrines  too  of  predeftination 
 and  reprobation  obtained  adherents.     Another  arid 
 an  entirely  new  difcuffion  was  fuperadded  by  Pafcha- 
 fius  Radbert,  a  German  monk ';  who  ftepped  for- 
 ward from  his  cloifter,  and   confounded  the  world 
 by  afTerting  the  doctrine  of  tranfubftantiation.  Gor- 
 geous ceremonies,  reverence  for  reliques,  the  fubfti- 
 tution  under  countlefs  fuperftitions  of  the  mew  of 
 religion  for  the  reality,  increafed  with  the  growing 
 
 -'  darknefa' 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  28  I 
 
 darknefs  of  the  times.  Trials  by  fiery  ordeal,  by 
 water,  by  fingle  combat,  by  the  crofs  (/),  advanced 
 in  repute.  The  canonization  of  faints  became  fre- 
 quent :  and  Europe  was  deluged  with  legendary  ac- 
 counts of  their  miracles  and  their  merits.  The 
 monadic  clergy  continually  deferved  lefs  and  obtain- 
 ed more  of  public  eftimation.  Monks  and  abbots 
 crowded  the  courts  of  princes  ;  and  occupied  civil 
 employments  wholly  foreign  to  their  profeflion.— • 
 The  apparent  limits  of  the  Chriftian  world  were  in 
 fome  parts  extended,  in  others  curtailed.  Crete 
 and-Sicily  were  completely  fubdued  by  the  Saracens; 
 who  twice  pufhed  their  victorious  incurfions  to  the 
 walls  of  Rome.  The  Pagan  Normans,  ifiuing  from 
 the  Baltic,  not  only  infefted  the  coafts  and  iflands  of 
 the  German  ocean,  but  carried  their  ravages  and 
 maffacres  into  Spain  and  Italy  ;  and  forcibly  obtain- 
 ed permanent  fettlements  in  France  and  other  coun- 
 tries. Such  of  them,  however,  as  were  eftablifhed 
 in  the  neighbourhood  of  Chriftian  ftates  gradually 
 embraced  the  gofpel.  And  the  labours  of  fome 
 eminent  miffionaries,  particularly  of  the  celebrated 
 Anfgar,  in  Sweden,  Denmark,  and  the  adjacent  re- 
 gions, though  inculcating  a  greatly  corrupted  fpecies 
 of  Chriflianity,  appear  to  have  flowed  from  good 
 inotives,  and  to  have  been  generally  conducted  in 
 
 an 
 
 (/)  The  contending  parties  ftretched  out  their  arms  in  the 
 form  of  a  crofs :  and  the  caufe  was  gained  by  him  who  perfevered 
 during  the  longer  time  in  that  pofture.  In  the  trial  by  water, 
 the  accufed  perfon,  having  his  right  foot  and  left  hand  bound 
 together,  was  thrown  naked  into  water.  If  he  fank,  he  was  ao 
 quitted  :  if  he  floated,  condemned, 
 
282  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 an  equitable  manner,  and  to  have  been  crowned  with 
 important  fuccefs.  About  the  fame  period -Chrifti- 
 anity  was  introduced,  at  one  time  in  a  laudable  me- 
 thod, at  another  by  the  aid  of  compulfion,  among 
 the  Ruffians  and  Sclavonians.  In  England  the  great 
 Alfred  diitinguifhed  himfelf  as  much  by  his  earned 
 endeavours  to  diffufe  religious  knowledge  anion0" 
 his  fubjects  as  by  his  other  noble  undertakings. 
 
 The  Roman  pontiff  now  fucceeded  after  repeated 
 ffruggles  in  throwing  off  a  badge  of  fubordination, 
 by  which  he  felt  himfelf  degraded.  Hitherto,  after 
 the  election  of  a  Pope  by  the  facerdotal  order  and  the 
 voice  of  the  people  of  Rome,  the  Imperial  fanction 
 was  neceffary  to  authorife  his  confecration.  But 
 Charles  the  Bald,  in  return  for  the  important  aid  of 
 the  pontiff  in  the  acquisition  of  the  dignity  of  em- 
 peror, exempted  the  fucceflbrs  of  his  benefactor 
 from  that  humiliating  neceffity.  The  popes  of  this 
 century  are  in  general  memorable  for  ambition  and 
 for  crimes.  Taking  advantage  of  the  frequency  of 
 competitors  for  the  Imperial  throne  among  the  pof? 
 terity  of  Charlemagne,  they  ufurped  additional  pre- 
 rogatives with  refpect  to  the  election  of  an  emperor. 
 They  extorted  by  degrees  from  the  European  princes 
 a  furrender  of  the  fupreme  authority  in  religious, 
 affairs,  originally  poffeiTed  by  the  temporal  fovereign. 
 They  fuccefsfully  inculcated  a  perfuafion,  that  the 
 bifhop  of  Rome  was  appointed  by  Jefus  Chrift  to 
 be  fupreme  legiflator  and  judge  of  the  univerfal 
 church  :  that  other  bifliops  confequently  derived  all 
 their  authority  from  the  Pope  :  and  that  councils 
 could  not  determine  a'ny  point  without  his  permif- 
 
 fion 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  283 
 
 fion  and  confent.  To  uphold  thefe  afpiring  preten- 
 tions, fo  repugnant  to  the  ancient  and  not  yet  for- 
 gotten rules  of  ecclefiaftical  government,  the  autho- 
 rity of  oftenfible  proofs  appeared  requifite.  What 
 truth  could  not  furnifh,  fraud  flood  ready  to  fupply. 
 Conventions,  acts  of  councils,  decretal  epiftles,  and 
 other  fimilar  records  were  fabricated  :  and  lo  fabri- 
 cated as  to  reprefent  the  fee  of  Rome  to  all  appear- 
 ance inverted  in  the  firft  ages  of  the  church  with  the 
 plenary  right  and  exercife  of  fupremacy.  By  many, 
 and  particularly  by  the  French  bifhops,  thefe  impi- 
 ous manoeuvres  were  difcerned  and  detected :  and 
 vehement  oppofition  was  made  to  the  reception  of 
 the  forgeries  as  laws  of  the  church.  But  the  obfti- 
 nacy  of  the  Popes,  efpecially  of  Nicholas  I.  prevailed. 
 Active  refiftance  feemed  at  an  end.  Tyranny  and 
 impofture  were  left  to  range  at  large  :  and  the  bold- 
 eft  fpirit  fcarcely  looked  to  the  poflrbility  of  reviving 
 the  dying  liberties  of  the  church. 
 
 The  tenth  century,  according  to  the  teftimony 
 even  of  Roman  Catholic  writers,  furpaffed  all  pre- 
 ceding ages  in  ignorance  and  in  flagitioufnefs.  Ba- 
 ronius  himfelf  terms  it  an  iron  and  a  leaden  age ; 
 an  age  in  which  Chrifl  feemed,  as  it  were,  to  fleep, 
 while  the  fhip  was  covered  by  the  waves.  Gene- 
 brard  fpeaks  of  it  as  diftinguifhed,  in  conjunction 
 with  half  of  the  next  century,  for  producing  near 
 fifty  Popes  more  like  to  apoftates  than  apoftles  (g). 
 The  profeffion,  indeed,  of  Chriftianity  in  a  very  cor- 
 rupt form  was  introduced  by  the  Neftorians  of  Chal- 
 
 dea 
 
 (5)  §ee  Bp.  Newton's  Difiertations,  yoI.  iii.  p.  156,  157. 
 
284  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 dea  among  a  tribe  of  Tartars.  Poland  alfo  and 
 Norway  heard  of  the  Gofpel :  Denmark  and  Hun- 
 gary faw  an  increafe  of  its  profeffors.  But  the  reli- 
 gion preached  was  that  of  popery :  and  the  fword 
 was  frequently  the  inftrument  of  converfion.  In 
 the  Eaft  the  Chriftians  were  trodden  down  by  the 
 Saracens :  in  the  Weft  they  endured  the  perfecuting 
 vengeance  of  the  unconverted  or  apoftatifmg  barba- 
 rians of  Sarmatia,  Sclavonia,  and  fome  parts  of  Ger- 
 many. The  multiplication  of  faints  and  of  ceremo- 
 nies was  immenfe  :  the  practice  of  piety  and  of  good 
 works,  and  the  dependance  of  Jefus  Chrift  the  only 
 mediator  between  God  and  man,  proportionally 
 fmall  and  declining.  On  the  Virgin  Mary  in  parti- 
 cular new  acceffions  of  idolatrous  honours  were  ac- 
 cumulated. The  worfhip  of  images  was  univerfal. 
 When  every  church  exhibited  a  reprefentation  of 
 the  Supreme  Being  in  a  human  form,  it  is  not  fur- 
 prifmg  that  in  fomeinftances  the  Anthropomorphic 
 herefy  revived.  Towards  the  conclufion  of  the  cen- 
 tury Europe  trembled  with  the  apprehenfion,  origi- 
 nating in  a  mifinterpretation  of  a  pafTage  in  the  Apo- 
 calypfe,  that  the  end  of  the  world  was  at  hand.  In 
 many  places  temples  and  palaces,  as  no  longer 
 needed,  were  pulled  down  or  left  to  decay.  Multi- 
 tudes of  people,  abandoning  their  families,  occupa- 
 tions, and  property,  flocked  to  Paleftine,  the  expect- 
 ed fcene  of  the  advent  of  Chrift.  The  favour  of 
 God  and  the  faints  was  fought  by  donations  to  the 
 vicegerents  of  heaven,  the  facerdotal  and  monaftic 
 orders,  whofe  vices  became  undifguifed.  The  juris- 
 diction of  abbots  and  other  leading  ecclefiaftics  ex- 
 tended 
 
CHRISTIANITY,   ETC.  285 
 
 tended  itfelf :  and  of  none  more  than  of  the  Roman 
 pontiff.  Yet  the  doctrines  upheld,  and  the  claims 
 advanced,  by  the  bifhop  of  Rome  had  to  encounter 
 fome  oppofition.  The  decrees  of  the  councils  of 
 Francfort  and  Paris  againft  the  worfhip  of  images 
 had  not  in  all  parts  loft  the  whole  of  their  force. 
 Tranfubftantiation  was  denied  by  many  ;  efpecially 
 by  Alfric  in  England,  who  among  other  writings 
 pointed  againft  this  doctrine,  diftinguifhed  himfelf 
 by  a  homily  for  Eafter,  which  was  wont  to  be  read 
 in  all  the  churches.  Several  countries  retained  the 
 ufe  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  vulgar  tongue :  and  in 
 England  they  were  tranflated  by  the  command  of 
 Athelftan  into  Saxon.  In  England  too,  and  elfe- 
 where,  the  celibacy  of  the  clergy  was  condemned. 
 In  a  fummary  of  Chriftian  faith  and  practice  pub- 
 lifhed  by  a  council  held  A.  D.  909,  at  Trolly  near 
 Soiffons,  neither  a  belief  in  the  fupremacy  of  the 
 Pope,  nor  in  the  facrifice  of  the  mafs,  nor  in  purga- 
 tory, nor  in  additional  facraments,  nor  in  the  duty 
 of  confeffion  to  a  prieft,  nor  of  worfhipping  created 
 beings,  obtains  a  place.  Even  kings  and  bifhops 
 were  found  who  refilled  the  papal  fupremacy.  An 
 edict  prohibiting  the  election  of  a  pontiff  without 
 the  previous  knowledge  and  confent  of  the  emperor 
 was  promulgated  by  Otho  the  Great  about  the  mid- 
 dle of  this  century ;  and  remained  in  force  until  the 
 commencement  of  the  next.  Gerbert,  archbifhop 
 of  Rheims,  affirmed  in  a  council  held  in  that  city, 
 A.  D.  99 1,  that  a  Pope,  if  he  acted  amifs,  was  liable 
 to  the  cenfures  of  the  church  :  and  after  intimating 
 that  John  XV.  the  reigning  pontiff,  was  deftitute  qf 
 
 charitv, 
 
S86  THE    HISTORY   OF 
 
 charity,  pronounced  him  to  be  in  that  cafe  "  Anti- 
 "  chrift,  fitting  "  in  the  temple  of  God,  and  (hewing 
 "  himfelf  that  he  is  God."  Had  Gerbert  then  fore- 
 feen  his  own  future  elevation  to  the  Papal  throne  ; 
 perhaps  he  might  have  expreffed  himfelf  with 
 greater  caution. 
 
 The  eleventh  like  the  preceding  century  was  an 
 age  of  fhame,  darknefs,  and  calamity  to  the  church 
 of  Chrift.  Converts,  it  is  true,  were  multiplied 
 among  the  Tartars  by  the  Neftorians :  Sicily  was  re- 
 gained from  the  arms  and  the  faith  of  the  Saracens  : 
 and  fome  of  thePruflians  were  perfuaded,  and  more 
 dragooned,  into  a  profeflion  of  the  Gofpel.  To 
 balance  thefe  victories,  the  Saracens  in  Spain,  and 
 in  part  of  Afia  ;  and  the  Turks,  who  in  their  turn 
 had  dripped  the  Saracens  of  many  of  their  conquefis, 
 and  had  torn  from  the  Grecian  emperor  his  faireft 
 provinces  bordering  on  the  Euxine  fea  ;  enfnared 
 cr  perfecuted  into  apoftafy  great  numbers  of  Chrifti- 
 ans.  And  the  Pagans  of  the  Northern  countries  of 
 Europe  omitted  no  opportunity  of  wreaking  their 
 vengeance  on  the  Chriftians  within  their  reach.  In  the 
 mean  time  new  monaftic  orders  arofe  in  the  Weft  : 
 and  the  fubtilties  of  a  metaphyfical  theology,  com- 
 monly termed  fcholaftic  divinity,  advanced  in  re- 
 pute ;  and  afforded  to  ignorance  and  to  artifice  fit 
 weapons  for  upholding  the  groffeft  fuperfcitions  of 
 popery.  The  conteft  between  the  Latin  and  the 
 Greek  church  proceeded  from  bitter  animofity  to 
 an  open  fchifm.  The  patriarch  of  Constantinople, 
 A.  D.  1053,  enraged  at  tne  efforts  of  the  pontiff  to 
 reduce  the  Oriental  patriarchs  under  his  dominion, 
 
 accufed 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  287 
 
 accufed  the  Roman  church  in  a  public  letter,  of  va- 
 rious errors.  The  Pope  Leo  IX.  iflued  a  mod  im- 
 perious reply  ;  affembled  a  council  at  Rome ;  and 
 iblemnly  excommunicated  the  Greek  churches. 
 The  Grecian  emperor,  whom  political  exigences 
 rendered  not  unfavourable  to  Rome,  invited  Leo  to 
 fend  legates  to  Confrantinople,  that  an  agreement 
 might  be  eftablifhed.  Leo  complied.  But  the  le- 
 gates, enraged  at  the  fteady  refiftance  made  to  the 
 arrogant  pretenfions  of  their  mafter,  publicly  excom- 
 municated the  Greek  patriarch,  with  all  his  adhe- 
 rents, in  his  own  cathedral :  and  laying  on  the  altar 
 a  written  record  of  their  imprecations  and  anathe- 
 mas, fhook  the  dull  off  their  feet*  and  returned  to 
 the  Pope.  The  patriarch  retaliated  by  a  fimilar  ex- 
 communication. 
 
 To  refcue  the  Holy  Land,  the  fcene  of  the  minif- 
 try,  the  miracles,  and  the  fufferings  of  Chrift,  from 
 the  profane  power  of  the  Mahometans  ;  and  to  ter- 
 minate the  infults  and  oppreffions  endured  by  the 
 fwarms  of  pilgrims,  who  repaired  thither  from  all 
 quarters  of  the  Chriftian  world ;  were  objects  which 
 had  long  excited  the  folicitude  of  the  pontiffs. 
 Near  the  clofe  of  the  preceding  century  Sylvefter  II. 
 had  ineffe&ually  exhorted  the  potentates  of  Europe 
 to  take  up  arms  for  the  attainment  of  thefe  purpofes. 
 Gregory  VII.  raifed  to  the  Pontificate,  A.  D.  1073, 
 refolved  to  undertake  the  holy  war  in  perfon  j  and 
 had  already  muftered  fifty  thoufand  followers,  when 
 his  attention  was  abforbed  by  other  wars  hereafter 
 to  be  noticed.  The  enthufiafm  at  length  of  Peter 
 the  Hermit  founded  the  alarm  throughout  Europe. 
 
 He 
 
288  THE   HISTORY   OF 
 
 He  defcribed  in  the  mod  pathetic  terms  the  miferies 
 which  he  had  beheld  inflicted  on  the  Chriftians  in 
 Palefline  ;  and  roufed  the  avenging  zeal  of  -every 
 faithful  fon  of  the  church  by  producing  a  letter  ad- 
 dreffed  to  all  true  Chriftians,  which  he  averred  to 
 have  been  written  in  heaven.  Urban  IL  feized  the 
 favorable  moment.  His  fpeech  in  the  council  of 
 Clermont  before  two  hundred  bifhops,  four  thoufand 
 inferior  ecclefiaftics,  and  three  hundred  thoufand 
 laymen,  was  received  as  a  declaration  of  the  will  of 
 God.  A  countlefs  multitude  aflumed  the  crofs,  the 
 badge  of  this  enterprife  of  fanaticifm  and  injuftice  : 
 and  the  unwieldy  hoft  proceeded,  A.  D.  1096,  in 
 different  bodies,  towards  the  city  of  Conftantinople* 
 which  trembled  at  the  tidings  of  the  approach  of 
 eight  hundred  thoufand  armed  men.  Myriads,? 
 however,  after  fignaliling  their  march  in  the  facred 
 expedition  by  unparalleled  rapine  and  flagitioufnefs„ 
 perifhed  by  famine  and  the  fword  before  they  reach- 
 ed the  borders  of  the  Hellefpont.  Additional  my- 
 riads perifhed  in  their  courfe  through  Afia  Minor 
 and  Syria.  But  the  furvivors,  (till  forming  an  im- 
 menfe  army,  were  defcried,  A.  D.  1099,  from  the 
 walls  of  Jerufalem  advancing  under  Godfrey,  duke 
 of  Lorrain,  from  fubordinate  conquefts  to  the  fiege 
 of  the  Holy  City.  In  five  weeks  it  was  taken. 
 The  fovereignty  of  the  new  Chriftian  kingdom  was 
 conferred  on  the  truly  heroic  and  excellent  God- 
 frey. 
 
 The  effects  of  thefe  enterprifes  on  the  religious 
 date  of  the  European  Chriftians  were  mod  lamen- 
 table.    An  enormous  acceffion  of  wealth  inftantly 
 
 accrued 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  289 
 
 accrued  to  the  monasteries  and  churches.     In  order 
 to  obtain  the  prayers  of  monks,  and  thus  to  fecure 
 'the  protection   of  faints,  on  a   diflant  and  perilous 
 expedition,  the  molt  ample  donations  were  bellow- 
 ed ;    and  fatisfa&ion   was  eagerly  tendered   for  all 
 real  or  fuppofed  injuries  offered  to  the  church  by  the 
 individual  himfelf  or  by  his  anceflors.     The  fancli- 
 ty  of  the  undertaking  began  alfo  to  be  confidered 
 as  an  atonement  for  all  tranfgreffions  of  the  divine 
 law,  and  a  certain  pafTport  to  heaven.     Bifhops  and 
 abbots  girded  on  the  fword  :  and  the  vicious  clergy 
 whom  they  left  behind  difcovered  that  the  abfence 
 of   their  fuperiors  was  the    removal  of    reftraint. 
 Unknown  faints  and  martyrs,    fome  of  whom  had 
 never  exifted,  were  imported  in  numbers  from  Syria 
 into  the  Weftern  church  ;  and  fhared  the  wormip 
 that  had  been  monopolifed  by  the  ancient  occupiers 
 of  the  calendar.     The  armies  which  returned  from 
 the   conqueft  of  the  Holy  Land  came  loaded  with 
 faintly  reliques,    fome  of  the    reliques    neither  of 
 faints  nor   of  human  beings  ;  but  all  purchafed  at. 
 high   prices  from  the  unfailing   magazines  of  the 
 artful  Greeks  and  Syrians,  who  fmiled  and  exulted  at 
 the  credulity  of  Europe. 
 
 In  this  century  the  Roman  pontiffs  rofe  in  defiance 
 of  civil  and  ecclefiaftical  oppofition,  and  of  the  in- 
 ternal contefts  between  rival  claimants  of  the  papal 
 throne,  to  the  zenith  of  their  power.  In  the  com- 
 mencement of  it  they  received  the  magnificent  appel- 
 lation of  Mailers  of  the  World,  and  Popes,  or  Uni- 
 verfal  Fathers  :  prefided  by  their  legates  in  all  coun- 
 cils: affumed  the  right  of  deciding  every  controverfy 
 
 U  refpecling 
 
±go  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 refpe&ing  doctrine  and  difcipline ;  and  refolute 
 ly  defended  their  ufurpations  againft  princes  and 
 kings.  Leo  IX.  who  fucceeded  to  the  pontificate, 
 A.  D.  1048,  led  the  way  to  the  claims  urged  with 
 unremitting  vehemence  by  his  immediate  fucceffors, 
 of  diltributing  and  taking  away  kingdoms,  and  of 
 being  temporal  as  well  as  fpiritual  fovereigns  of  the 
 world.  On  the  Normans,  fettled  in  Italy,  he  for- 
 mally conferred  the  lands  which  they  had  wrefted 
 or  were  preparing  to  wreft  from  the  Greek  emperor 
 and  the  Saracens.  But  the  boldeit.  efforts  of  pre- 
 ceding popes  lofe  their  fplendor  when  compared 
 with  the  exploits  of  Gregory  VII.  known  by  the 
 name  of  Hildebrand,  who  was  elected  to  the  pon- 
 tificate A.  D.  1073.  He  unceafingly  purfued  an 
 enterprife  which  his  predecefibrs  had  in  vain  labour- 
 ed to  accomplifh,  the  fubjugation  of  the  whole  wef- 
 tern  world  to  a  uniform  reception  of  the  Roman  ce- 
 remonies  and  forms  of  worfhip  ;  and  to  the  perfor- 
 mance of  that  worfhip  in  the  Latin  language,  now 
 become  an  unknown  tongue.  His  life  was  occupied 
 by  a  fteady  plan  of  rendering  all  fovereigns  his  tri- 
 butary vaffals.  Saxony  he  claimed  as  a  feudal  te- 
 nure under  the  Roman  fee.  He  tcld  Philip  I.  king 
 of  France,  that  his  kingdom  no  lefs  than  his  foul 
 was  under  the  dominion  of  St.  Peter ;  in  other 
 words,  of  his  pretended  fucceffor  the  Roman  pontiff. 
 But  the  tribute  which  he  demanded  was  denied. 
 He  ordered  William  the  Conqueror,  who,  when 
 about  to  invade  England,  had  defired  the  fanction. 
 of  papal  authority,  to  do  homage  for  that  kingdom, 
 
 and 
 
CHRISTIANITY,  ETC.  Spl 
 
 and  to  pay  up  the  arrears  of  Peterpence.  (hi).     The 
 arrears  were  paid  ;   the  homage  was  fternly  refufed. 
 Among   the  Chriftian  kingdoms  gradually  forming 
 againfr.  the  Moors  in  Spain,  a  country  which   Gre- 
 gory affirmed  in  his  letters  to  have   belonged  from 
 time  immemorial  to   the  fee  of  Rome,  though  by  a 
 grant  which  he  faid  had  been  loft  with  other  ancient 
 records,  he  had  more  fuccefs.     The  tribute  required 
 was   annually  paid.     The  kings  of  Hungary  and  of 
 Denmark,  and  the  princes  of  Germany,  he  openly 
 exhorted  to  furrender  their  territories  to  the  apoftle 
 Peter,  and  to  hold  them  as  dependencies  of  the  Ro- 
 man bifhop.     He  induced  the  fon  of  Demetrius  king 
 of  the  Ruffians  to  come  to  Rome  ;  and  to  make   a 
 fimilar  furrender  of  the  kingdom,  which  he  was  to 
 inherit  from  his  father.      He  raifed  the  duke  of 
 Croatia  to  the  regal  title,    upon  the  terms  of  an 
 annual  tribute.     He   excommunicated  and  depofed 
 Boleflaus  II.  king  of  Poland,  who  had  affaffinated  the 
 bifhop    of   Cracow ;     and  prohibited    the    nobles 
 and  clergy  of  Poland   from  electing  a  new  king 
 without  his    confent.     He    deprived  the  emperors 
 of  the  privilege,  never  fmce  regained,  of  ratifying 
 the  election  of  the   Roman   pontiff.     He   engaged 
 the  princefs  Matilda  to  fettle  her  great  Italian   and 
 other  poffeffions  on  the  fee  of  Rome.     Enraged  at 
 the  oppofition  which  Henry  the  emperor  of  Germa- 
 ny prefumed  to  make  to  the  new  edict  refpe&ing 
 
 U  2  Inveflitures 
 
 (A)  Peter-pence  was  a  tax  of  a  penny  per  houfe  originally 
 appropriated  to  the  fupport  of  an  Englifh  college  at  Home,  but 
 afterwards  converted  by  the  popes  to  their  own  ufe. 
 
2Q2  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 Inveftitures  (/') ;  he  commanded  that  prince  in- 
 ftantly  to  repair  to  Rome  and  clear  himfelf  from 
 the  charge.  Henry  fummoned  the  German  bimops 
 to  Worms,  and  induced  them  to  pronounce  Gre- 
 gory depofed  from  the  pontificate.  Gregory  in  re- 
 turn excommunicated  and  depofed  Henry  ;  roufed 
 feveral  of  the  German  princes  to  take  arms  againfl 
 him  ;  obliged  the  unfortunate  monarch  to  pafs  three 
 days  in  the  depth  of  winter  in  the  open  air,  with 
 bare  feet,  his  head  uncovered,  and  his  body  nearly 
 naked,  at  the  papal  threfhold,  waiting  for  abfoluti- 
 on ;  and  finally  confirmed  the  election  of  a  new 
 emperor,  Rodolph.  On  the  fudden  death  of  Ro- 
 dolph,  A.  D.  1080  the  miferies  of  the  civil  war 
 continued,  and  the  affairs  of  Henry  revived. 
 Another  pope  was  elected  in  oppofition  to  Gregory. 
 On  the  death,  five  years  afterwards,  of  the  latter, 
 whofe  character  is  ftained  with  private  vice  no  lefs 
 
 than 
 
 (/)  When  bifhoprics  and  abbeys  had  become  of  great  value, 
 princesbegan  not  only  to  confer  them  on  unworthyfavou  rites,  but 
 to  fell  them.  To  counteract  thefe  manoeuvres,  the  clergy,  to 
 whom  the  right  of  election  originally  belonged,  adopted  the  prac- 
 »ice,  on  any  vacancy,  of  inflantly  electing  and  confecrathg  a 
 fucceflbr.  The  prince  foon  difcovered  a  method  of  eluding  this 
 reftraint.  On  the  death  of  a  bifhop  or  abbot,  he  required  the 
 ring  and  crofier  of  the  deceafed  10  be  delivered  to  him  ;  know- 
 ing that  invelliture  by  their  means  was  eiTential  to  confecration. 
 He  could  then  make  his  own  terms.  'Gregory,  indignant  at 
 thefe  fimoniacal  contracts  ;  at  the  interference  of  the  temporal 
 power  in  the  choice  of  ecclefiaftical  rulers;  and  at  the  facn'legi- 
 ous  profanation  of  the  ring  and  crofier  by  the  unfanclified  touch 
 of  a  layman  ;  promulgated  an  anathema  againfl  thofe  who  mould 
 receive  the  invelliture  of  a  bifbopric  or  abbacy  from  lay  hands, 
 and  alfo  agatnll  the  perfons  performing  fuch  invefliture. 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  293 
 
 than  with  inordinate  ambition,  a  fucceffor  of  his 
 party  was  chofen :  and  two  hoftile  popes  agitated 
 Europe  until  the  end  of  the  century. 
 
 Even  in  this  age,  blind  and  bigoted  as  it  was,  the 
 corrupt  doctrines  of  popery  were  refilled  and  attack- 
 ed. The  edicts  of  the  tyrannical  Gregory  VII. 
 againft  the  marriage  of  the  clergy  raifed  commotions 
 in  Germany  ;  and  were  ftrongly  oppofed  in  France, 
 in  Flanders,  in  Italy,  and  in  England.  Berengarius 
 of  Tours  contended  againft  tranfubftantiation,  with 
 unequal  conftancy,  but  with  fignal  fuccefs.  In  the 
 face  of  perfecution  he  fhamefully  and  repeatedly  re- 
 tracted his  opinions  :  but,  according  to  the  com- 
 plaint of  the  monkifh  hiftorians,  he  had  corrupted 
 with  his  Berefy  almaft  all  the  French,  Italians,  and 
 Englifh.  And  the  Albigenfes,  whofe  tenets  will  be 
 considered  in  reviewing  the  fucceeding  century,  al- 
 ready began  to  attract  notice. " 
 
 The  twelfth  century,   though  the   learning  and 
 fcience   of  the  age,  fuch  as  they  were,  began  to  re- 
 ceive the  active  fupport  of  the  princes  and  great  men 
 of  the  Weft,  and  flourifhed  ftill  more  under  Imperi- 
 al patronage  at  Conftaniinople  ;   difplayed  the  fame  • 
 features  which   had  characterifed   preceding  times. ' 
 Pomerania,  theifle  of  Bregen,  Finland,  and  Livonia, 
 were    inftructed    in    Chriftianity    by    the    fword. 
 Againft  the  Pagans  of  the  latter  province  the  pon- 
 tiff Urban  III.  proclaimed  a  holy  war.     Three  fuc-' 
 ceflive  bifhops   led  the   armies,  which  were  raifed 
 chiefly  in  Saxony,   to  accomplifh  the   work  of  con- 
 verfion  :      and    in    conjunction   with    the   military 
 order  of  knights-fword-bearers,  inftituted  afterwards  ■ 
 
 by 
 
294  '  THS    HISTORY   OF 
 
 by  the  direction  of  pope  Innocent  III.  for  the  fame 
 falutary  purpofe,  fucceeded  in  arrogating  to  them- 
 felves  and  their  affociates  the  plunder  of  Livonia, 
 and  in  extorting  from  the  inhabitants  a  nominal  pro- 
 feffion  of  the  popifli  corruptions  of  the  Gofpel.  In 
 the  eaftern  parts  of  Afiatic  Tartary,  John,  a  Neilo- 
 rian  prieft,  taking  advantage  of  the  death  of  a  Tarta* 
 rian  monarch,  acquired  by  force  of  arms  the  va- 
 cant throne.  AfTuming  the  name  of  Ungchan, 
 though  he  is  better  known  by  his  original  appellati- 
 on of  Prefbyter  (or  Prefler)  John  ;  he  announced 
 by  embaffies  to  his  Chriftian  brothers  the  Greek 
 and  Roman  emperors  his  fuperiority  in  grandeur 
 and  in  power  to  every  other  monarch  of  the  earth* 
 The  fplendid  boafl  expired  in  the  days  of  his  fuc- 
 ceiTor  ;  who  was  overwhelmed  by  the  refiftlefs  force 
 of  the  celebrated  Tartar,  Genghis  Chan*  The  con- 
 queror, turning  his  armies  again  ft  the  Turks  and 
 Saracens,  reduced  Cathay,  Perfia,  and  part  of  India 
 and  Arabia  under  his  dominion. - 
 
 Tidings  in  the  mean  time  arrived  in  Europe  of  the 
 declining  ftate  of  the  Chriftian  kingdom  of  Pales- 
 tine ;  and  of  the  cruel,  and  as  they  were  termed, 
 unprovoked,  perfecutions,  which  the  profefTors  of 
 the  Gofpel  in  the  Eaft  endured  from  the  Saracens. 
 The  pontiffs  re-echoed  the  intelligence  from  the 
 ..Mediterranean  to  the  Baltic.  At  length,  A.  D, 
 1 147,  Louis  VII.  king  of  France,  and  Conrad  III. 
 emperor  of  Germany,  departed  for  the  Holy  Land 
 at  the  head  of  immenfe  armies ;  with  the  difgraced 
 and  feeble  remains  of  which  they  returned  two  years 
 afterwards    to  Europe.     The  kings  or   Jerufalem 
 
 ftruggled 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  295 
 
 ftruggled  in  vain  againfl  the  {kill  and  bravery  of 
 Saladin.  Guy  of  Lufignan,  the  lait  monarch,  fell 
 in  battle,  A.  D,  1187  :  and  the  city  in  the  fame 
 year  furrendered  to  the  victor.  To  repair  this  ca- 
 lamity, a  third  expedition  was  conducted,  A.  D. 
 1 189,  by  the  German  emperor  Frederick  the  firft. 
 After  fome  fucceffes,  he  was  drowned  :  his  fon  and 
 the  greater  part  of  the  army  were  fwept  away  by 
 penitence  :  the  remainder  returned  in  mifery  and 
 defpair.  In  the  following  year  Philip  Auguftus 
 king  of  France,  and  Richard  I.  king  of  England, 
 proceeded  by  fea  with  their  armies  to  the  Holy 
 Land.  After  the  reduction  of  Acre,  a  city  render- 
 ed then,  as  in  the  prefent  year,  memorable  by  a  mod 
 obftinate  defence,  the  former  returned  to  Europe. 
 Richard,  weakened  by  eVery  victory  which  he 
 gained,  and  alarmed  by  the  domeitic  perfidy  of  his 
 brother,  concluded  a  truce,  A.  D.  1 192,  with  Sala- 
 din, and  quitted  Palestine,  with  his  whole  army. 
 JDuring  thefe  conflicts  between  the  Chriftians  and 
 the  Mahometans  three  eminent  military  orders  arofe: 
 the  knights  HofpitalJers  of  St.  John  of  Jerufalem  ; 
 the  knights  Templars  ;  and  the  Teutonic  knights  of 
 St.  Mary.  The  knights  Hofpitallers,  originally 
 united  for  the  relief  of  indigent  and  difeafed  pilgrims 
 arriving  at  Jerufalem,  acquired  fuch  vail  refources 
 from  the  donations  of  princes  and  of  wealthy  fub- 
 jects,  that  they  took  upon  themfelves,  with  the  ap- 
 probation and  authority  of  the  pontiff,  the  obliga- 
 tion of  perpetual  hoftility  againfl:  the  followers  of 
 Mahomet.  In  the  final  ruin  of  the  Chriftian  affairs 
 in  Palestine,  they  retired  firft  to  Cyprus,  and  thence 
 
 to 
 
Q,g6  THE    HISTORY    0? 
 
 to  Rhodes;  and  being  expelled  in  the  fixteenth 
 century  from  the  latter  ifland  by  the  Turks,  re- 
 ceived from  the  emperor  Charles  V.  a  grant  of 
 Malta,  which  they  ftill  retain.  The  knights  Tem- 
 plars were  alfo  bound  to  protect,  pilgrims,  and  the 
 Chriftian  caufe,  by  force  of  arms.  The  Teutonic 
 knights,  who  were  all  to  be  Germans  of  illuflrious 
 birth^  contracted  a  fimilar  engagement  ;  and  were 
 characterifed  atfiril,by  rules  ofaufterity  and  fruga- 
 lity, which  fpeedily  melted  away  before  the  influence 
 of  growing  wealth.  The  two  latter  orders  will  be 
 noticed  again. 
 
 In  this  century  many  of  the  popes  mewed  thivm*. 
 felves  worthy  fucceffors  of  Gregory  VII,  Pafcal 
 rekindled  the  diffenfions  concerning  inveflirures, 
 A.  D.  i  io2,  by  freih  excommunications  againft  the 
 emperor  Henry;  whofe  rebellious  fon  was  afterwards 
 abfolved  from  Jbis  allegiance,  and  fupported  in  his 
 unnatural  war  againft  his  father  by  the  fame  pontiff. 
 Succeeding  emperors,  popes,  and  antipopes,  for 
 there  were  repeatedly  two  cotemporary  claimants  of 
 Saint  Peter's  chair,  prolonged  the  calamities  of 
 this  conteft  by  temporal  as  well  as  fpiritual  arms  ; 
 until  it  was  at  length  adjufted,  A.  D.  1122,  by  a 
 ccmpromife.  The  right  of  election  was  relinquished 
 by  the  emperor :  that  of  invefliture,  but  by  .  t 
 fceptre,  not  by  the  ring  and  crofier,  was  conceded 
 to  him  by  the  pope.  New  fchifms,  commonly  occafi- 
 oned  by  turbulence  ot  parties  at  Rome,  divided  the 
 papacy:  and  the  competitors  were  varioufiy  ac- 
 knowledged by  different  kingdoms.  New  Cornells 
 alfo  arofe  between  the  pope  and  the  emperor,  each 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  297 
 
 eager  to  reduce  the  power  of  the  other  ;  in  which 
 the  emperor  was,  according  to  cuflom,  excommuni- 
 cated and  depofed.  The  king  of  England  too, 
 Henry  II.  received  his  allotment  of  the  general  hu- 
 miliation. Becket,  archbiihop  of  Canterbury,  hav- 
 ing acceded,  A.  D.  1164,  to  certain  rules,  called 
 the  conftitutions  of  Clarendon,  which  limited  fome 
 of  the  exorbitant  privileges  of  the  clergy,  repented  -, 
 and  fufpended  himfelf  from  his  ecclefiaflical  office, 
 until  he  mould  receive  abfoiution  for  his  offence 
 from  the  pope.  Violent  contentions  enfued  ;  and 
 Becket  retired  to  France.  An  apparent  reconcili- 
 ation at  length  took  place  between  the  prelate  and 
 the  king.  The  archbiihop  returned  to  his  fee  ;  and 
 perfifted  in  his  former  meafures  with  inflexible  ar- 
 rogance. The  king,  then  in  Normandy,  heard  the 
 account,  and  dropped  expreffions  of  indignation. 
 Four  knights  of  his  court  liftened  and  departed. 
 The  king  fufpetled  their  purpofe ;  but  the  meffen- 
 ger  whom  he  difpatched  in  purfuit  of  them  was  too 
 late  (/).  The  archbiihop  was  afTaffinated  before  the 
 altar.  Henry,  in  obedience  to  the  mandate  of  the 
 enraged  pontiff,  presented  himfelf  barefooted  and 
 proflrate  before  the  lfnine  of  Becket,  now  revered 
 as  a  faint  aiic  martyr  ;  (pent  the  day  in  failing  and 
 i  y  r,  and  the  night  in  watching  by  the  holy  re- 
 -i ;  affeinbled  the  monks  of  the  chapter  j  put  a 
 irge  into  the  ha^ds  of  each  ;  and  received  on  his 
 ack  the  lames  which  they  fucceflively  inflicted. 
 •i  /eipecls  the  authority  of  the  church  and 
 the  pope  increafed  in  ftrength.     A  decree,  in  force 
 
 a 
 t 
 
 (  ;")   See  the  account  in  Hume's  Hiftory  of  England. 
 
29S  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 at  this  day,  was  paiTed  under  Alexander  III.  exclud- 
 ing the  Roman  people  from  all  power  in  the  election 
 of  a  pontiff,  and  veiling  the  right  of  voting  exclu- 
 fively  in  the  cardinals.  At  the  fame  time  fpkitual 
 wars  were  firfl  declared  againfl  heretics.  The  right 
 of  nominating  and  canonizing  faints  was  monopoliz- 
 ed by  the  pope.  But  his  greateft  and  moil:  pernici- 
 ous power  was  that  of  indulgences.  Various  bifhops 
 had  for  fome  time  augmented  their  revenues  ty  fell- 
 ing to  tranfgreffors  theie  remiflions  of  eccleilaitical 
 penalties.  The  politic  popes  uiicerned  the  advan- 
 tage j  affumed  nearly  the  whole  or  the  traffic  to 
 themfelves  ;  and  extended  it  from  the  temporal 
 chaftifements  of  the  church  to  the  future  punifh? 
 ments  of  hell.  This  prerogative,  hrrt  employed  for 
 the  encouragement  of  the  ciuades,  was  vindicated 
 by  the  blafpher^ous  dc. chine,  now  invented,  and  im- 
 proved in  the  next  century  ;  that  the  Roman  pon- 
 tiff was  invePted  with  a  power  of  transferring  to  any 
 one  a  portion  of  an  immenfe  treafure  of  fuperfluous 
 merit,  which  the  faints  by  their  pious  deeds  had  ac- 
 cumulated, over  and  above  what  was  requifite  for 
 their  own  falvation. 
 
 "When  fins  might  thus  be  expiated  by  money,  and 
 fuperftitions  of  every  kind  were  patronized  j  the 
 vices  of  the  clergy  in  general,  as  well  as  of  the  laity, 
 advanced  to  a  height  of  iniquity  fcarcely  credible. 
 Corruption  fo  glaring  in  doftrine  and  in  practice 
 excited  the  indignant  oppofition  of  thofe  whom  it 
 had  not  blinded.  Multitudes  now  bore  witnefs  in 
 behalf  of  genuine  Chrjftianity.  Among  thefe  the 
 Albigenfes,  fo  denominated  from  Albi,  a  town  in 
 
 France, 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  299 
 
 France,  or  Vallenfes  and  Waldenfes,  from  the  val- 
 lies  of  Piedmont  which  they  occupied,  and  fome- 
 times  Leonids,  from  a  merchant  of  Lyons,  Peter, 
 furnamed  Valdo  in  confequence  of  his  exertions  in 
 their  fupport,  were  the  moft  confpicuous.  They 
 are  faid  in  part  to  have  originated  from  the  Pauli- 
 cians,  who,  retiring  into  Thrace  from  the  perfecu- 
 tion  of  the  Grecian  emperors,  proceeded  through 
 Bulgaria  into  Italy  and  the  neighbouring  parts  of 
 Europe.  The  Albigenfes  are  loaded  by  many  of 
 their  enemies  with  the  imputation  of  Manichean 
 and  other  abominable  tenets.  The  truth  probably 
 is,  that  fome  of  the  feels  into  which  they  were  fub- 
 divided,  and  others  improperly  clafled  with  them  by 
 the  church  of  Rome,  which  indifcriminately  brand- 
 ed its  oppofers  with  the  denomination  of  Albigenfes ; 
 held  with  many  juft  opinions  others  which  were 
 erroneous.  To  their  fuperiof  virtues,  however,  the 
 atteftations  of  their  adverfaries  are  afforded  (£).—* 
 Among  their  leading  doctrines  we  find  thefe  parti- 
 cularly fpecified  :  that  fcripture  is  the  rule  of  faith  : 
 that  the  fcriptures,  ought  to  be  open  in  the  vulgar 
 tongue  to  all :  that  there  are  only  two  facraments : 
 that  maffes  for  the  dead  are  abfurd,  and  the  wotfhip 
 
 of 
 
 (/?)  One  writer  againft  them  fays  :  "  Sunt  in  moribuscompo- 
 "  fiti  &  modefti  :  fuperbiam  in  veftibus  non  habent,"  &c. — An- 
 other, "  Prseter  hsec  quae  contra  fidem  religionemque  noftram 
 "  afiumunt,  in  reliquis  ferme  puricrem  quam  casteri  Chviftiani 
 "  vitam  agunt.  Non  enim  nifi  coa&i  jurant  ;  raroque  nomen 
 "  Dei  in  vanum  proferunt  ;  promiflaque  fuabona  fide  implent," 
 &c.  Another,  "  In  moribus  &  vita  boni  funt ;  veraces  in  fer- 
 "  mone  ;  in  caritate  fraterna  unanirnes."  Eifhop  Newton's 
 Differtations,  vol.  iii.  p.  174J  175,  notes. 
 
300  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 of  faints  and  the  dead,  idolatry  :  that  purgatory  is  a 
 human  invention:  that  monaftic  inflitutions,  and 
 the  multiplicity  of  feftivals  and  ceremonies  are  in- 
 jurious to  religion  :  that  the  marriage  of  the  clergy 
 is  lawful  and  necefTary :  that  the  pope  is  entitled 
 to  no  fupremacy  :  that  the  church  of  Rome  is  the 
 antichriflian  church  defcribed  in  the  Revelations. 
 The  hiftorian  Thuanus,  a  catholic,  honeftly  difcri- 
 minates  between  the  doctrines  which  the  Albigenfes 
 held,  and  thofe  which  were  falfely  afcribed  to  them. 
 And  Mezeray,  alfo  a  catholic,  decifively  characlerifes 
 them  thus :  "  They  had  very  nearly  the  fame  opi- 
 "  nions  as  thofe  perfons  who  are  now  called  Cal- 
 "  vinifls ;"  the  ufual  term  in  France  for  prote(jt« 
 ants  (/), 
 
 In  fome  of  the  northern  and  eaftern  parts  of  Afia, 
 Chriftianity,  though  gradually  declining  in  the  face 
 of  Mahometan  power,  dill  retained,  in  the  thirteenth 
 century,  numerous  difciples.  Embaffies  alfo  were 
 fent  by  the  Roman  pontiffs  to  the  emperors  of  the 
 Tartars,  who  had  ravaged  Hungary  and  the  adjoin- 
 ing countries :  and  Tartarian  ambaffadors  prefented 
 themfelves  in  return  before  the  council  held  at 
 Lyons.  The  intercourfe  produced  the  eftablifh- 
 ment  of  Roman  catholic  congregations  among  the 
 heathen  ;  as  well  as  much  benefit  to  the  papal  caufe 
 among  the  Neflorians,  many  of  whom  adopted  the 
 do&rines  and  owned  the  fupremacy  of  Rome.  The 
 Chriftian  fovereigns  in  Spain  enlarged  their  king- 
 doms 
 
 (/)  Bifnop  Newton's  DilTertations,  vol.  i!i.  p.  175.   177.  and 
 fee  the  notes. 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  $0S 
 
 doms  daily  at  the  expence  of  the  Moors.  The 
 Pruflians,  obftinate  in  Pagamfa,  were  invaded  by 
 the  Teutonic  knights  ;  and,  after  a  bloody  corv:eft 
 of  fifty  years,  acknowledged  the  religion  and  the 
 fovereigntv  of  the  victors.  Lithuania  endured  the 
 fame  cruelties,  and  fubmitted  to  the  fame  yoke.  The 
 diftrefs  of  the  Chriftians  in  Palestine  at  length  over- 
 came the  growing  reluctance  of  Europe  to  Eaftern 
 campaigns.  The  firft  expedition  confiding  of  French 
 and  Venetians,  realifed  the  apprehenfions  of  the 
 Greek  emperor ;  who  had  repeatedly  trembled  for 
 his  fceptre,  on  the  approach  of  the  armies  of  the 
 Weft.  They  ftormed  Conftantinople:,  A.  D.  1203, 
 originally  for  the  purpofe  of  reinftating  the  rightful 
 prince  who  had  been  dethroned  :  but  on  his  mur- 
 der in  the  following  year,  they  feized  the  city  for 
 their  own  benefit,  and  elected  Baldwin,  count  of 
 Flanders,  emperor  of  the  Greeks.  His  claim  was 
 difputed  by  the  native  emperors,  who  chofe  Nice  in 
 Bithynia  for  their  capital ;  and  after  a  contefl  of 
 fifty-feven  years  recovered  Conftantinople,  A.  D. 
 1 26 1,  and  put  an  end  to  the  Eaftern  empire  of  the 
 Latins.  In  the  mean  time  Andrew,  king  of  Hun- 
 gary, with  other  princes,  had  conducted  new  armies, 
 A.  D.  1 2 17,  to  the  aid  of  Paleftine,  and  commenced 
 their  operations  in  Egypt.  After  fome  fucceffes, 
 they  experienced  the  fate  of  preceding  undertakings. 
 Frederic  II.  emperor  of  Germany,  renewed  the  en- 
 terprife,  A.  D.  1228  :  and  by  treaty  in  the  following 
 year,  obtained  from  the  fultan  of  Egypt  the  poflefH- 
 on  of  the  city  and  kingdom  of  Jerufalem.  New 
 fuccours,  however,  became  indifpenfable :  and,  after 
 
 two 
 
3'02  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 two  intervening  and  unfortunate  expeditions,  the 
 one  under  the  king  of  Navarre,  A.  D.  1239  \  the 
 other  in  the  fubfequent  year  under  Richard,  Duke 
 of.Cornwall,  and  brother  to  the  Engiifh  king,  Henry 
 III.  ;  the  French  monarch  Louis  IX.  landed,  A.  D. 
 1 249,  with  a  moll  formidable  army  in  Egypt.  After 
 the  capture  of  the  ftrong  city  of  Damietta,  a  fatal 
 reverfe  overwhelmed  him.  Defeated  in  a  bloody 
 aclion,  he  was  taken  prifoner  ;  and  only  a  handful 
 of  his  forces  returned  to  France.  Impelled  by  mif- 
 guided  piety,  he  refumed  the  attempt,  A.  D.  1270  : 
 and,  commencing  his  operations  againfl  the  Maho- 
 metans with  the  fiege  of  Tunis,  periflied  with  the 
 greater  part  of  his  army  by  a  peftilence.  No  future 
 fovereign  trod  in  his  footfteps.  The  Chriftian 
 kingdom  of  Palefline  rapidly  declined  ;  and  was 
 extinguished,  A.  D.  1291  by  the  capture  of  Acre. 
 
 Innocent  III.  who  filled  the  papal  chair  during 
 the  firit  fixteen  years  of  this  century,  equalled  the 
 moft  ambitious  of  his  predeceffors  in  zeal  to  eftablifh 
 the  favorite  maxim  of  Rome  5  that  the  pope  was  by 
 divine  right  fupreme  lord  of  the  world,  and  the 
 fountain  of  all  authority  ecclefiaftical  or  civil.  He 
 claimed  for  the  Holy  See  the  power  of  difpofing  of 
 bishopries,  abbeys,  and  canonries,  left  heretics  mould 
 intrude  into  the  church  of  Chrift.  tie  reduced 
 under  his  jurifdiclion  the  prefect  of  Rome,  who 
 until  this  period  had  taken  an  oath  of  allegiance  to 
 the  emperor.  He  made  himfelf  mafter  of  Ancona, 
 Spoletto,  and  other  Italian  cities.  In  Afia  he  gave 
 a  king  to  Armenia.  In  Europe  he  conferred  the 
 regal  dignity  on  the  duke  of  Bulgaria  j  and  alfo  on 
 
 Peter 
 
CHTUSTIANITY,    ETC.  303 
 
 Peter  of  Arragon,  who  bad  rendered  his  dominions 
 tributary  to  Rome.  Philip,  king  of  France,  he 
 anathematifed  into  compliance  wilh  his  mandates. 
 Succeflive  emperors  of  Germany  he  excommunicat- 
 ed and  dcpofed.  But  the  weight  of  his  fury  fell  on 
 John,  king  of  England.  John  refufed  to  recognife, 
 as  archbifhop  of  Canterbury,  cardinal  Langton, 
 whom  the  pope  by  his  fiat  appointed  to  that  dignity. 
 Innocent  laid  the  kingdom  under  an  interdict  (ni)  : 
 followed  the  interdict  by  a  bull  abfolving  the  fub- 
 je£ts  of  John  from  their  alliance,  and  command- 
 ing all  men  to  fhun  him  as  excommunicated. :  de- 
 clared by  another  bull  the  throne  vacant,  and  ex- 
 horted Philip  of  France  to  invade  the  kingdom,  and 
 unite  it  for  ever  to  his  dominions  :  and  by  a  third 
 bull  excited  all  Chriftian  princes  to  aid  Philip  in  the 
 enterprife,  and  bellowed  on  every  perfon  who  ihould 
 promote  it  the  fame  plenary  remiffion  of  all  fins  as 
 was  granted  to  thofe  who  engaged  in  crufades  againft 
 the  Mahometans.  The  French  monarch  made  im^ 
 menfe  preparations  :  and  was  already  grafping  in 
 idea  the  fceptre  of  England,  when  Innocent  dexter- 
 oufly  feized  it  for  himfelf.  John,  alarmed  and  en- 
 fnared  by  the  arts  of  the  legate  Pandulf,  formally 
 furrendered  his  kingdom  to  the  See  of  Rome. 
 After  detaining  the  crown  and  other  enfigns  of  roy- 
 alty five  whole  days,  the  legate  returned  them  to 
 John,  now  a  papal  vaflal,  who  did  homage  and  fvvore 
 
 fealty 
 
 (/»)  The  immediate  effe£b  of  an  interdict  were,  that  the  cele- 
 bration of  Divine  Worfhip  was  fufpended,  and  the  chinches 
 were  (hut  up  :  no  facrement,  except  baptifm,  was  adminiftered  : 
 ■the  dead  were  buried  in  highways  without  funeral  rites. 
 
304  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 fealty  to  the  reprefentative  of  Innocent ;  prefente'd 
 to  him,  as  a  mark  of  dependance,  a  fum  of  money, 
 which  the  latter  proudly-  trampled  under  his  feet ; 
 anJ  bound  himfelf  and  his  fucceffors,  on  pain  of 
 forfeiture  of  the  crown,  to  pay  the  ftipulated  annual 
 tribute  to  Rome,  The  fucceffors  of  Innocent  imi- 
 tated him  with  varying  ability.  Emperors  conti- 
 nued to  be  depofed,  and  kingdoms  to  be  granted. 
 The  pontificate  of  Gregory  X.  was  fignalifed,  A.  D. 
 1274,  by  the  fubjugation  of  the  Greek  church  to 
 the  See  of  Rome,  through  the  influence  of  Michael 
 Palseologus,  emperor  of  Conftantinople  ;  who  re- 
 garded rhe  protection  of  the  pope  as.  a  fecurity 
 againfc  a  renewal  of  the  Latin  invafions.  But  the 
 ignominious  treaty  was  renounced  ten  years  after- 
 wards by  the  Greeks ;  who  faw  their  emperor,  like 
 his  biethren  of  the  Weft,  excommunicated  by  the 
 Roman  pontiff. 
 
 During  the  courfe  of  thefe  tranfaclions,  the  pa- 
 pacy dictated  new  laws  to  the  church  ;  and  added 
 to  its  encreafmg  wealth  and  territories  additional 
 fupports,  which  rendered  mofl  important  fervice. 
 By  Innocent  III.  A.  D.  1215,  tranfubftantiation  was 
 folemnly  pronounced  an  indifpenfable  article  of 
 faith,  and  auricular  confeffion  an  indifpenfable  duty. 
 He  promulgated  at  the  fame  time,  and  equally  with- 
 out deigning  to  confult  any  individual,  fixty-eight 
 other  decrees  extending  and  confirming  the  papal 
 power.  The  decree  reflecting  tranfubftantiation 
 naturally  introduced  the  idolatrous  adoration  of 
 what  was  now  blafphemoufly  called  the  deified  bread. 
 
 Boniface 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  305 
 
 Boniface  VIII.  enacted,  that  whoever  fhould  vifit, 
 in  the  concluding  year  of  each  century,  the  churches 
 of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  at  Rome  with  fentiments 
 of  contrition,  mould  thus  obtain  the  plenary  remif- 
 fion  of  fins.  His  fuccevTors  in  later  times,  perceiv- 
 ing the  luflre  and  the  riches  which  the  centenary 
 crouds  of  pilgrims  added  to  the  church,  gracioufly 
 reduced  by  degrees  the  period  to  twenty-five  years. 
 But  greater  things  remain  to  be  dated.  In  the 
 courfe  of  the  century  there  arofe  feveral  orders  of 
 mendicant  friars  ;  men  who  difclaimed  endowments 
 and  revenues,  and  profefied  voluntary  poverty. 
 The  contrail  which  their  feeming  humility  exhibited 
 to  the  luxury  and  pomp  of  other  monaftic  orders  ; 
 and  its  refemblance  to  the  lowly  circumftances  of 
 Chrift  and  his  apoftles,  won  the  public  favor.  But 
 the  two  orders  founded,  the  one  by  Dominic,  a  Spa- 
 niard, the  other  by  Francis,  an  Italian,  took  the  lead 
 in  general  eflimation:  and  notwithstanding  their 
 bitter  contefts  with  each  other  for  pre-eminence^ 
 and  the  internal  hoftilities  no  lefs  bitter  of  the  Fran- 
 cifcans  among  themfeives,  they  not  only  reigned 
 unrivalled  in  the  unintelligible  jargon  of  fcholaftic 
 divinity,  but  almofl  monopolifed  until  the  reforma- 
 tion the  chief  offices  in  the  church  and  in  the  flate. 
 The  popes,  whofe  policy  had  long  been  accuftomed 
 to  favour  the  monks,  in  order  to  prefs  down  into 
 due  fubordination  the  influence  and  authority  of  bi- 
 fhops  ;  warmly  patronifed  the  Dominicans  and  the 
 Francifcans.  The  protection  was  abundantly  repaid 
 by  ceafelefs  exertions  for  the  extenfion  of  the  papal 
 power.     Thefe  exertions  came  very  opportunely. 
 
 X  Heretics, 
 
306  THE    HISTORY    OF 
 
 Heretics,  that  is  to  fay,  opponents  of  Rome,  confiili 
 ing  partly  of  the  Albigenfes  and  fimilar  feels,  partly 
 of  blind  or  criminal  fanatics,  fwarmed  on  all  fides, 
 Againft  thefe  enemies  the  Dominicans  in  particular, 
 whofe  avowed  object  was  to  extirpate  error  and  to 
 deftroy   heretics,    declared    war.     This    expreffion 
 was  by  no  means  figurative.     Innocent  III.  exafpe- 
 rated  at  the  unwillingnefs  or  the  incapacity  of  the 
 bifhops  to  reprefs  the  numerous  adverfaries  of  po- 
 pery in  Savoy,  Dauphine,  and  the  reft  of  the  domi- 
 nions of  Raymond  earl  of  Thouloufe,   difpatched 
 thither  fpecial  legates  for  the  extirpation  of  herefy. 
 They  were  joined,   A..  D.  1206,  by  Dominic  ;  and 
 by  the  fole   authority  of  the  pope  inflicted  capital 
 punifhment  on  thofe  whom  they  could  not  reclaim. 
 They  were  fpeedily  diftinguimed  by  the  appellation 
 of  inquifitors.     Senfible  of  the  vaiue  of  their  fer- 
 vices,  fucceeding  pontiffs  eftablifhed  fimilar  officers 
 in  every  fufpe&ed  city,  and  reduced  the  fyftem  into 
 form.     Gregory  IX.  however,  A.  D.   1233,  com- 
 mitted the     inquifitorial    office     and    jurifdiction 
 exclufively   to   the  Dominicans.     Thus   arofe    the 
 tremendous    tribunal  of  the     inquifition  ;     which 
 foon  renouncing   the  common  forms  of  trial  bor- 
 rowed at  firft  from  courts  of  jufHce,  arrayed  itfelf  in 
 darknefs,  and  let  loofe  its  mercilefs  tortures  on  the 
 flighted  fufpicion  of  guilt.     But  with  refpeet  to  the 
 heretics  of  Thouloufe,  Innocent  waited  not  for  the 
 tardy  operations  of  thefe   minifters  of  vengeance. 
 The  extirpation  by  fire  and  fword  of  the  devoted 
 victims  he  committed,  A.  D.   1207,  to  the  king  of 
 France  and  his  armies,  under  the  promife  of  the 
 
 moff. 
 
CHRISTIANITY,    ETC.  307 
 
 moll  ample  indulgences:  and  fhort'y  afterwards  com- 
 miflioned  the  Ciftercian  monks  to  proclaim,  as  from 
 himfelf,  throughout  France,  this  crufade  againft 
 Chriftians.  A  formidable  army  of  crofs-bearers 
 took  the  field,  A.  D.  1209,  under  the  eye  of  a  pa- 
 pal legate,  and  the  command  of  Simon  earl  of  Mont- 
 fort.  Raymond,  at  one  time  trembling  under  ex- 
 communication, at  another  provoked  to  defperation 
 by  the  ambitious  defigns  of  Montfort,  was  alter- 
 nately the  deftroyer  and  the  defender  of  his  fubje&s. 
 The  war,  in  which  Louis  IX.  ultimately  embarked 
 with  the  utmofc  ardour,  continued  many  years  with 
 various  fuccefs,  but  with  unrelenting  barbarity 
 againft  the  oppofers  of  the  pontiff.  Victory  at 
 length  crowned  the  fupporters  of  the  church.  And 
 the  earl  of  Thouloufe  faw  the  pious  labours  of  the 
 pope  and  the  French  king  rewarded  with  no  fmall 
 portions  of  his  dominions  («). 
 
 («)  In  this,  century  Robert  Greathead,  bi(hop  of  Lincoln, 
 diftinguiihed  himfelf  by  his  exertions  againft  papal  tyranny  and 
 the  vices  of  ecclefiaftics.  Matthew  Paris,  a  cotemporary 
 monk  of  St.  Albans,  relates  his  dying  difcourfes,  in  which  the 
 prelate  ftigmatifed  the  pope  as  an  heretic  and  antichrift ;  and 
 concludes  with  ftyling  him  "  the  refuter  of  the  pope,  reprover 
 "  of  prelates,  corrector  of  monks,  director  of  priefts,  inftructor 
 •'  of  the  clergy,  and  the  hammer  to  beat  down  the  Romans  into 
 "  contempt."  When  excommunicated  by  the  pope,  he  appealed 
 to  the  tribunal  of  Chrift.  See  bifiiop  Newton's  Differtations, 
 vol.  iii.  p.  1S1. 
 
 X    2 
 
(     3°3     ) 
 
 CHAPTER     XI. 
 
 CONTINUATION    OF    CHRISTIAN    HISTORY    TO    THE 
 PRESENT    TIME* 
 
 XHOUGH  the  Chriftian  world  had  ftill  conti- 
 nued, during  the  two  preceding  centuries,  over- 
 whelmed with  the  darknefs  of  papal  night ;  fome 
 glimmerings  of  twilight  had  begun  to  appear.  We 
 now  advance  to  times  in  which  the  indications  of 
 approaching  dawn  continually  grew  ftronger  ;  until 
 at  length  it  broke  forth  and  brightened  into  the  ra- 
 diance of  perfect  day. 
 
 During  the  fourteenth  century  feveral  pontiffs 
 laboured  to  rekindle  the  flame  of  the  crufades 
 again!!  the  Saracens.  But,  after  feveral  antecedent 
 difappointments,  thay  had  the  mortification  to  fee 
 the  laft:  of  the  armies  about  to  be  embarked  for  Pa- 
 leftine  difperfeci,  A.  D.  1363,  by  the  death  of  its 
 leader  John,  king  of  France.  The  Mahometan 
 power  in  different  quarters  daily  became  more  for- 
 midable. Among  the  Afiatic  Tartars,  one  of  whole 
 chans  had  now  honoured  the  pope  with  a  folemn 
 embafly  to  Avignon  ;  and  in  China,  whofe  capital 
 Cambalu,  the  prefent  city  of  Pekin,  was  the  refi- 
 dence  of  an  archbifhop,  Chriftianity  was  extirpated 
 by  the  victorious  Timur  Beg,  who  faithfully  exerted 
 againft  the  profenors  of  the  Gofpel  the  perfecuting 
 
 fpirit 
 
HISTORY,    ETC,  3Q9 
 
 fpirit  of  the  Koran.  In  Conflantinople  the  neceffity 
 of  the  affiftance  of  the  Weft  to  withftand  the  en- 
 croaching hoftility  of  the  Turks  was  fo  apparent, 
 that  fcarcely  any  facrifices  for  the  purpofe  of  ob- 
 taining it  were  thought  too  great.  Three  fucceffive 
 embaffijes  were  fent  to  different  pontiffs  to  prepare 
 the  way  for  the  union  of  the  two  churches.  Rome, 
 at  length,  beheld  within  her  walls,  A.  D.  1367,  the 
 Grecian  patriarch  negrtiating  for  his  own  fubmiffion 
 to  the  pope.  The  patriarch  was  followed  two 
 years  afterwards  by  a  nobler  fuitor,  the  Greek  em- 
 peror himfelf.  But  the  majority  of  his  fubjecls 
 dreaded  and  abhorred  the  Turk  lefs  than  the  pontiff  r 
 and  the  treaty  evaporated  in  furious  debates. 
 
 Though  feveral  of  the  pontiffs  of  this  century  ex- 
 erted themfelves  no  lefs  fiercely  than  their  predecef- 
 fors  in  excommunicating  and   depofmg  emperors 
 and  kings ;    and    extended  under  the   names   of 
 referves  and  provifions  the  claims  of  the  papacy 
 to  fill  up  ecclefiaflical  vacancies  of  all  kinds  and  in 
 every  quarter :    the   authority  of  the  holy  fee  en- 
 countered fome  mocks   by  which  it  was  manifeflly 
 impaired.     The  firft  of  thefe  concuffions  took  place 
 in  the  quarrel  between  the  popes  and  the  king  of 
 France.       Boniface   VIII.   having    acquainted    the 
 •world  in  a  memorable  bull,  that  the  fucceiTor  of  St. 
 Peter  ruled  the  earth,  by  Divine  right,  with  the 
 temporal  fword,  no  lefs   than  the   church   with  the 
 fpiritual :   and  that  every   man   who    prefumed    to 
 queftion  this  doctrine  was  excluded  from  the  poffi- 
 bility  of  falvation  :    was   accufed,  A.  D.    1303,  of 
 herefy  and  other  crimes,  by  the  command  of  the 
 
 French 
 
310  HISTORY  OF  CHRISTIANITY 
 
 French  monarch  Philip  the  Fair  ;  and  afterwards 
 feized  and  wounded  by  one  of  the  officers  of  Philip. 
 On  the  fubfequent  vacancy  of  the  papal  chair,  A.  D. 
 1305,  Philip  by  his  manoeuvres  procured  the  elec- 
 tion of  Clement  V.  a  French  prelate;  who,  at  the 
 defire  of  the  king,  transferred  the  papal  refidence 
 from  Rome  to  Avignon,  where  it  continued  during 
 feventy  years,  denominated  by  the  Italians  the  Ba- 
 bylonian captivity.  By  this  long  abfence  the  pow- 
 er of  the  pontiffs  experienced  in  Italy  confiderable 
 diminution.  Formidable  factions  eftablifhed  them- 
 felves  even  in  Rome  :  and  many  cities  revolted  from 
 their  allegiance.  French  ecclefiaftics  continued  to 
 fucceed  to  the  popedom  ;  until  another  event  gave 
 a  frefh  blow  to  the  papal  authority.  On  the  death 
 of  Gregory  XL  A..  D.  1378,  Urban  VI.  was 
 chofen  to  fucceed  him.  But  a  party  of  the  cardi- 
 nals, fpeedily  repenting  of  the  choice,  profeficd  to 
 difcover  a  flaw  in  the  election  ;  and  raifed  a  rival, 
 Clement  Vil.  to  the  pontificate.  Thus  began  the 
 great  fchifm,  which  divided  the  Weftern  church  dur- 
 ing fifty  years.  The  reverence  of  the  Catholic 
 world  was  claimed  at  the  fame  moment  by  two, 
 fometimes  by  three,  competitors  ;  each  afferting 
 his  own  plenary  apoftolical  authority,  and  fulmi- 
 nating anathemas  againft  his  oppofers.  A  third 
 fource  of  detriment  to  the  papal  dominion  may 
 be  traced  to  the  new  hoftilities  which  raged  be- 
 tween its  mod  ufeful  adherents,  the  Dominicans 
 and  the  Francifcans  concerning  the  antient  fubjecl: 
 of  their  diffenfions,  the  abfolute  poverty  of  Chrifr. 
 John    XXII.    unfortunately  decided,    that   Chrift 
 
 was 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  31 1 
 
 was  not  altogether  without  a  certain  fpecies  of  pro- 
 perty in  the  clothes  which  he  wore,  and  the  food 
 by  which  he  was  fuftained.  Every  true  Francifcan 
 ear  tingled  at  the  blafphemous  affertion.  The 
 fame  pontiff  alfo  prefumed  to  mitigate  in  fome  re- 
 flects the  rigid  inftitutions  of  St.  Francis.  The 
 Francifcans  exclaimed  that  the  rules  of  their  foun- 
 der were  an  infpired  Gofpel  imparted  to  him  by 
 Chrift,  and  unalterable  by  man.  John,  in  a  trans- 
 port of  rage,  denounced  his  curfes  on  the  apoftate 
 contemners  of  his  authority  :  and  the  Dominican 
 inquifitors  were  the  eager  inftruments  of  his  venge- 
 ance. Not  even  Jews  or  judicial  aflrologers  were 
 hunted  with  greater  fury.  France,  Spain,  Italy, 
 Germany,  faw  numbers  of  the  Francifcans  perilh  at  - 
 the  flake.  Succeeding  pontiffs  at  laft  owned  the 
 prudence  of  more  lenient  meafures  :  and  by  mutual 
 conceffions  peace  was  reftored  between  the  Francif- 
 can order  and  the  holy  fee.  The  increafe,  partly  of 
 myftics  and  other  fanatical  fects,  partly  of  feels  who 
 deferted  the  yet  unknown  appellation  of  Proteftants, 
 mud  be  enumerated  as  a  fourth  caufe  of  injury  to 
 ihe  fovereignty  of  the  pontiff.  In  every  quarter  the 
 inquifitors  chafed  their  victims  with  fury  alike  a 
 ftranger  to  mercy  and  to  wearinefs.  But  the  reviv- 
 ing crop  fprung  up  too  rapidly  to  be  kept  down  by 
 the  fcythe  of  the  church.  And  the  lift  of  the  ene- 
 mies of  popery  now  acquired  an  unexampled  force 
 by  the  acceffion  of  the  name  of  Wicliff. 
 
 John  Wicliff"  was  born  A.  D.  1324,  in  the  reign 
 of  Edward  II.  Having  diftinguifhed  himfelf  at  Ox- 
 ford by  fupporting  the  privileges  of  the  univeriity 
 
 againil 
 
31 2  HISTORY   OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 againft  the  encroachments  of  the  Mendicant  Friars, 
 fettled  within  its  precincts  ;  he  was  appointed  war- 
 den of  the  new  college  of  Canterbury-Hall.  Being 
 ejected  from  that  ftation  by  the  archbifhop  of  Canter- 
 bury who  fucceeded  the  founder,  he  appealed  to  the 
 pope.  Edward  III.  in  the  mean  time  withdrew,  with 
 the  approbation  of  his  parliament,  the  tribute  which 
 John  had  engaged  to  pay  to  the  fee  of  Rome.  The 
 pope  menaced  j  and  the  clergy  in  general  clamour- 
 ed on  his  fide.  Wicliff,  in  a  Spirited  treatife,  op- 
 pofed  the  papal  claim*,  and  his  caufe  was  immediately 
 decided  at  Rome  againft  him.  Wicliff,  diffatisfied 
 with  the  fcholaftic  commentators,  had  long  been 
 a  diligent  Student  of  the  Scriptures.  Shocked  at  the 
 fcandalous  lives  of  the  monadic  clergy,  and  at  the 
 temporal  usurpations  of  the  Romifh  church  ;  he 
 the  more  eafily  became  fenfible  of  Several  of  the 
 doctrinal  corruptions  of  popery.  The  errors  which 
 he  detected  were  the  Subjects  of  his  pointed  animad- 
 verfion  from  the  chair  of  the  profefforfhip  of  divini- 
 ty, to  which  he  had  now  been  elected.  Of  that  pofl 
 alfo  he  was  in  confequence  deprived.  John  of 
 Ghent,  duke  of  Lancafter,  governed  England  at  this 
 period  for  his  feeble  father  Edward  III.  The  po- 
 pifh  clergy  he  detefted :  and  regarding  Wicliff  as 
 one  of  their  victims,  took  him  into  confidence  ; 
 and  fent  him  with  the  biShop  of  Bangor  at  the  head 
 of  an  embaffy  to  Bruges  to  reclaim  the  national 
 right  of  conferring  ecclqfiaftical  benefices,  with  the 
 general  liberties  of  the  Englifli  church,  from  the  pa- 
 pal commifUoners ;  who  acceded,  and  paid  no  re- 
 gard, to  a  compromising  treaty.     The  infight  which 
 
 Wicliff 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  313 
 
 Wicliff  gained  on  this  occafion  into  the  proceedings 
 of  Rome,  contributed  to  open  his  eyes.  On  his  re- 
 turn he  became  rector  of  Lutterworth  in  Leicefter- 
 fhire.  Scarcely  had  he  repaired  thither,  when  a 
 profecution  for  herefy  was  commenced  againft  him, 
 under  the  aufpices  of  the  archbifhop  of  Canterbury 
 and  the  bifhop  of  London.  He  was  refcued  by  the 
 forcible  interpolation  of  the  duke  of  Lancafter.  On 
 the  acceflion  of  Richard  II.  the  power  of  Lancafter 
 expired :  and  five  papal  bulls  inftantly  reached  the 
 two  prelates,  the  king,  and  the  univerfity  of  Oxford, 
 requiring  the  condign  punifhment  of  Wicliff.  Lan- 
 cafter again  contrived  to  fave  him.  He  now  fent 
 forth  into  the  world  the  noble  work  on  which  he  had 
 been  for  years  employed,  a  tranilation,  the  fir  ft  com- 
 plete tranflation  which  ever  appeared  in  our  language, 
 of  the  Bible.  The  clergy  were  thunderftruck  at  the 
 profane  expofure  of  the  Scriptures  :  and  the  hilltops 
 brought  a  bill  into  parliament  for  the  fuppreffion 
 of  the  book.  Scarcely  had  they  beheld  the  rejection 
 of  the  bill  by  a  great  majority,  when  they  heard  that 
 Wicliff  was  preaching  againft  tranfubftantiation. 
 At  Oxford  they  rallied  their  forces  ;  procured  the 
 condemnation  of  WiclifPs  tenets  ;  and  obliged 
 him  finally  to  retire  from  the  univerfity,  which  he 
 had  ftill  continued  occafionally  to  vifit.  He  with- 
 drew to  Lutterworth  ;  and  died  A.  D.  1384.  The 
 feed  which  he  had  fown  made  rapid  progrefs  during 
 his  life  :  and  ripened  after  his  death  into  a  glorious 
 harveft  (a). 
 
 Among 
 
 (a)  For  a   full    and  impartial  ftatement  of   the  opinions  and 
 conduct  of  Wicliff,  fee  Gilpin's  Lives  of  the  Reformers. 
 
314  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 Among  the  heretics  of  this  century  the  firft  place 
 would  be  due,  if  accufations  were  to  be  accounted 
 proofs,  to  the  Knights  Templars.  Philip  the  Fair 
 could  not  forgive  the  affiftance  which  they  had  af- 
 forded to  his  enemy  Boniface  VIII.  Of  Clement  V. 
 whom  he  raifed  to  the  popedom,  he  required  their 
 deftruction.  At  an  appointed  time,  A.  D.  1307, 
 they  werefeized,  unfufpicious  of  danger,  throughout 
 Europe.  Blafphemy,  apoftacy,  idolatry,  and  the 
 moft  deteftable  vices,  were  laid  to  their  charge. 
 The  knights  who  refufed  to  confefs  were  put  to 
 death  :  they,  from  whom  tortures  or  promifes  ob- 
 tained an  acknowledgment  of  guilt,  were  fet  at  li- 
 berty. By  the  council  of  Vienne,  A.  D.  1311,  the 
 order  was  abolifhed.  Of  its  vail  pofleffions  part 
 was  bellowed  on  the  knights  of  St.  John  :  and  the 
 remainder,  fituated  in  various  countries,  was  con- 
 fifcated  for  the  ufe  of  princes  and  kings. 
 
 In  the  fifteenth  century  the  church  appeared  to 
 receive  fome  extenfion  by  the  nominal  fubjugation 
 of  all  Spain  to  the  Chriftian  faith.  Ferdinand,  hav- 
 ing extinguifhed  the  laft  of  che  Saracenic  kingdoms 
 by  the  conqueft  of  Grenada,  A.  D.  1492  ;  compel- 
 led, by  perfecution,  great  numbers  of  Moors,  as 
 well  as  of  Jews,  to  aiTume  an  outward  profeffion  of 
 the  Gofpel.  In  that  year  too  Columbus,  by  the 
 difcovery  of  America,  opened  a  new  hemifphere  to 
 Chriftianity.  A  dreadful  calamity  had,  in  the  mean 
 time,  overwhelmed  a  large  portion  of  the  Chriftian 
 world.  The  Grecian  empire,  which  for  feveral  ages 
 had  been  fhrinking  into  narrower  and  narrower 
 limits  before  the  face  of  the  Turks,  now  fhook  Eu- 
 rope 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  315 
 
 rope  with  its  fall.  Conftantinople  was  taken  A.  D. 
 1453,  by  the  fultan  Mahomet  II.  The  Afiatic  pro- 
 vinces were  already  his :  and  the  European  depen- 
 dencies of  the  capital  followed  its  fate.  Over  the 
 fcenes  of  the  miniftry  of  Chrift  and  of  the  labours  of 
 his  apoftles;  over  Paleftine,  and  Syria,  Afia  Minor9 
 and  Macedonia,  and  Achaia,  and  Attica,  and  the  reft 
 of  Greece,  the  crefcent  of  Mahomet  now  inone  tri- 
 umphant. Ephefus  and  Smyrna,  and  the  furround- 
 ing  cities,  cherifhed  by  the  affectionate  fuperinten- 
 dence  of  St.  John  ;  Corinth  and  Theffalonica,  and 
 Philippi,  and  Colofle,  and  Galatia,  infiructed  by  the 
 ardent  zeal,  and  confirmed  by  the  animating  epiflles 
 of  St.  Paul  ;  now  alike  beheld  their  churches  de- 
 molifhed  or  converted  into  mofques:  and  the  confci- 
 entious  remnant  which  adhered  to  the  Gofpel,  pre- 
 carioufly  retaining  the  exercife  of  its  religion,  in 
 corners,  under  tribute,  infamy,  and  oppreffion.  At 
 the  clofe  of  the  eighteenth  century  Chriftian  Europe 
 has  hull  the  fame  awful  fcene  to  contemplate :  and 
 may  read  in  the  fate  of  thefe  once  highly  favoured 
 regions  the  judgments  which  await  herfelf,  unlejs, 
 renouncing  her  corruptions,  flie  turns  in  purity  of 
 faith  and  practice  to  Him  who  "  is  no  refpecter  of 
 "  perfons." 
 
 Yet  in  fome  particulars  the  ruin  of  the  Eaftern 
 empire  contributed  ultimately  to  the  advantage  of 
 genuine  Christianity.  The  literature  of  the  Greeks, 
 however  infected  with  their  characteriftic  fubtleties 
 and  other  defects,  was  far  fuperior  to  that  of  the 
 Weft.  Their  learned  men,  flying  from  theTurkHh 
 power,  carried  with  them  into  exile  their  know- 
 ledge. 
 
3"t6  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 ledge,  together  with  many  of  their  books.  Preferr- 
 ing thernfelves  in  Italy  and  the  neighbouring  king- 
 doms, where  a  tafte  of  learning  had  gradually  taken 
 root  j  pitied  for  their  fufferings,  and  patronifed  for 
 their  acquirements  ;  and  on  many  oecafions  taking 
 upon  thernfelves  theofHceofinftru&ors  for  thepurpofe 
 of  gaining  a  fubfiitence  :  they  univerfally  excited  a 
 thirft  for  improvement,  and  a  pailion  for  inveftigati- 
 on,  which  extremely  facilitated  in  the  next  century 
 the  progrefs  of  the  reformers.  The  general  diftufi- 
 on  and  defire  of  knowledge  received  about  the  fame 
 period  the  moll  fignal  aid  and  encouragement*  by 
 the  difcovery  of  the  art  of  printing,  invented  about 
 A.  D.  1440,  by  Cofter  of  Haerlem,  and  fpeedily 
 improved  by  Guttemberg  of  Strafburgh,  and  Schq- 
 efTer  of  Mentz  (b). 
 
 In  the  Roman  church  the  great  fchifm  continued? 
 After  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  clofe  it  by  the  courts 
 cii  of  Pifa,  which  excommunicated  and  depofed  the 
 two  contending  pontiffs,  and  elected  a  third  ;  a  ge- 
 neral council  was  arTembled,  A.  D.  1414,  at  Con- 
 ftance,  through  the  exertions  of  Sigifmund,  empe- 
 ror of  Germany,  By  two  of  its  decrees  the  Pope 
 was  declared  inferior  and  fubject  to  the  aflembled 
 delegates  of  the  univerfal  church.  The  three  com- 
 petitors, after  fruulefs  ftruggles,  refigned  or  were 
 depofed ;  and  Martin  V,  was  raifed  to  the  papal 
 throne.  The  zeal  of  the  council  was  at  the  fame 
 time  directed  with  equal  ardor  to  another  object ; 
 the  deftru&ion  of  John  Hufs.  Hufs  a  native  of 
 Prague  was  appointed,    A.  D.  1408,  re&or  of  the 
 
 univerfity 
 [b)  See  the  Translator's  note,  Mofheim,  vol.  iii.  p.  392. 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  317 
 
 univerfity  in  that  city.     He  became  acquainted  with 
 fome  of  the  writings  of  Wicliff  ;  and  did  not  con- 
 ceal   his  admiration  of  them.     The   neighbouring 
 clergy,  to  whofe  lives  the  piety  of  Hufs  was  a  con- 
 fpieuous  contraft,  complained  to  Rome  :  and  Hufs, 
 without  being   heard,  was    excommunicated.     He 
 daily  received  additional  countenance  and  refpect  in 
 Bohemia,  and  from  perfons  of  the  highefl:  claffes. 
 At  this   period  John  XXIII.  being  at  war  with  the 
 king  of  Naples,  difpatched  a  legate   to  Prague,  as 
 to  other  places,  to  raife  troops  by  granting  indul- 
 gences.    The  fpirited  writings  of  Hufs  ruined  the 
 levy.     Accufed  of  herefy,  he  was  required  to  attend 
 the  council  of  Conftance  ;  and  received  from  Sigif- 
 mund  an  imperial  fafe- conduct,  fpecifically  guaran- 
 teeing both  his  journey  thither  and  his  return.     On 
 his  road  through   Germany  he  was  welcomed  from 
 city  to   city  with  the  higheft  reverence.     When  he 
 arrived  at  Conftance,  he  was  thrown,  after  a  trifling 
 examination  before  the  pope  and  cardinals,  into  a 
 dungeon  and  loaded  with  fetters.     Unceafing  exer- 
 tions were  made  by  his   enemies  to  obtain  from  Si- 
 gifmund  a  retraction  of  his  fafe-conduct,  and  to  pro- 
 cure from  the  council  the  condemnation  of  Hufs. 
 Both  attempts  were  fuccefsful.     Petitions  figned  in 
 Bohemia  by  nearly  all  the  nobles  and  gentlemen  of 
 the  kingdom,  claiming  the  faith  of  the  Imperial  pro- 
 mife,  were  prefented  to  the  council  and  to  the  empe- 
 ror in    vain.     Hufs,   though  he  appears  to  have 
 held  feveral  of  the  leading  doctrines  of  the  Romifh 
 Church  ;  refufmg  to  acknowledge  the  fupremacy  of 
 the  Pope,  and  to  admit  is  their  full  extent  other 
 
 Romilh 
 
3*o  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 Romifh  tenets,  was  condemned  to  the  flake.  Seven 
 bilhops  immediately  advanced  to  perform  the  cere- 
 mony of.  his  degradation  from  the  prieftly  office,  an- 
 tecedently to  his  execution.  Each  prelate,  adding  a 
 curfe,  took  off  a  part  of  the  facerdotal  garments  of  their 
 victim,  The  fcene  was  clofed  by  one  of  the  bifhops  ; 
 •who  placing  a  cap,  painted  with  forms  of  fiends,  on 
 the  head  of  Hufs,  cried  out :  "  Hereby  we  commit 
 "  thy  foul  to  the  devil."  Hufs  fmiled,  and  anfwered, 
 "  It  is  lefs  painful  than  a  crown  of  thorns/'  He 
 was  immediately  burned  j  and  his  allies  were  fcat- 
 tered  into  the  Rhine.  His  difciple.  Jerome  of 
 Prague,  who,  on  hearing  of  his  mailer's  danger,  haf- 
 tened  to  his  comfort,  was  at  firfl  terrified  at  the 
 profpecl:  of  death,  and  recanted.  But  he  was  foon 
 reflored  to  Chriilian  fortitude,  and  encountered 
 martyrdom  with  joy  (<:).  The  remains  of  Wicliff 
 had  already  experienced  the  vengeance  of  the  fathers 
 of  Conftance.  His  bones,  by  their  command,  were 
 dug  up  j  and  committed  with  his  works  to  the 
 flames.  The  Council,  having  decreed  that  the  laity 
 mould  no  longer  receive  the  cup  at  the  holy  facra- 
 ment,  and  disappointed  all  Europe  by  poflponing 
 that  reformation  of  the  church  which  it  had  origin- 
 ally averred  to  be  its  principal  purpofe,  was  diffolv- 
 ed,  A.  D.  1 41 8. 
 
 Five  years  afterwards  the  encreafing  cry  for  re- 
 formation conltrained  thereluclant  Martin  V.  to  af- 
 femble  a  council  at  Pavia,  which  was  ultimately 
 removed   to   Bafil.      Its   boldnefs  and  zeal    filled 
 
 the 
 
 (c)  For  an  account  of  the  life,  opinions,  and  death  of  Hufs, 
 and  of  Jerome  of  Prague,  con  full  Gilpin's  Lives  of  the  Re- 
 formers. 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  319 
 
 the  fucceeding  pontiff,  Eugenius  IV.  with  alarm. 
 To  elude  the  danger,  he  affembled  a  rival  coun- 
 cil at  Ferrara,  and  excommunicated  its  oppo- 
 nent ;  which  defpifed  his  thunders,  and  eledted 
 another  pontiff.  During  ten  years  this  new  fchifm 
 divided  the  kingdoms  of  Europe.  In  the  mean 
 time  Eugenius  enjoyed  the  perfonal  folicitations  of 
 the  Greek  patriarch  and  emperor,  fhuddering  at  the 
 menaces  of  the  Turks,  for  ecclefiailical  amity  and 
 temporal  protection.  Rigorous  conditions  were 
 prefcribed  and  accepted.  The  Greeks  acknow- 
 ledged that  the  Holy  Ghofl  proceeded  from  the 
 Son  as  well  as  from  the  Father :  that  purgatorial 
 fire  awaits  the  fouls  of  the  righteous :  that  unlea- 
 vened bread  may  be  ufed  in  the  facrament :  and 
 that  the  Roman  pontiff  reigns  fupreme  over  the 
 univerfal  church.  On  their  return  to  Conftantino- 
 ple  they  difclaimed  the  treaty  :  and  the  fchifm  is  (till 
 unclofed  at  this  day.  Of  the  remaining  pontiffs  of 
 this  century  two  require  briefly  to  be  noticed. 
 iEneas  Sylvius,  who  had  ftrenuoufly  fupported  at 
 Bafil  the  pre-eminence  of  councils  over  popes,  be- 
 coming polTeffed  of  the  papal  throne,  publifhed, 
 A.  D.  1463,  a  complete  recantation  of  his  former 
 declarations :  and  fhamelefsly  avowed  that  as  iEneas 
 Sylvius  he  was  "  a  damnable  heretic,"  but  as  Pius 
 II.  an  orthodox  pontiff.  Alexander  VI.  whofe 
 name  was  Borgia,  was  one  of  thofe  monfters  of 
 guilt,  which  the  world  has  rarely  witneffed.  "  His 
 *'  life  and  actions  fhew,"  fays  Moflieim,  "  that 
 "  there  was  a  Nero  among  the  popes  as  well  as 
 65  among  the  emperors." 
 
 The 
 
320  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 The  more  auflere  part  of  the  Francifcan  fe£i> 
 known  by  the  name  of  Minorites,  again  renounced 
 the  allegiance,  and  roufed  the  fury  of  the  pontiffs ; 
 who  in  vain  employed  imprifonment,  exile,  civil 
 magiflrates,  armies.,  and  inquiiitors  to  fubdue  their 
 obflinacy.  The  Fiagellants,  a  feet  of  fanatics,  the 
 Waldenfes,  and  other  contemners  of  Rome,  were 
 aifo  committed  in  numbers  to  the  flames.  In  Bo- 
 hemia the  followers  of  Hufs  took  up  arms  for  the 
 maintenance  of  their  religion,  and  the  exclufion  of 
 the  emperor  Sigifmund  from  ,  the  throne  of  that 
 kingdom.  Under  their  renowned  leader,  Zifca,  they 
 defeated  year  after  year,  with  immenfe  Daughter, 
 the  Imperial  armies.  After  the  death  of  Zifca  they 
 were  ruined  by  internal  diffenfion.  Divided  into 
 hoftile  parties,  one  of  which  granted,  while  the 
 other  denied,  the  facramental  cup  to  the  laity,  they 
 turned  their  arms  againft  each  other.  Sigifmund, 
 recovering  from  defpair,  eafily  reduced  the  vanquish- 
 ed and  the  victors.  In  England  the  difciples  of 
 Wicliff  multiplied  fo  rapidly,  that,  in  the  language 
 of  the  monkifh  writers,  if  you  met  two  perfons  upon 
 the  road,  you  might  be  certain  that  one  of  them  was 
 a  Lollard :  a  term  of  reproach  borrowed  from  the 
 Germans,  among  whom  it  was  ufed  to  fignify  a 
 finger  of  hymns.  Their  molt  eminent  patron  was 
 Oldcaftle  Lord  CobHim,  a  nobleman  of  extraordi- 
 nary talents  and  undaunted  piety  ;  and  high  in  the 
 favor  of  Henry  V.  until  the  malevolent  artifices  of 
 the  Romifh  clergy  alienated  the  regard  of  the  king. 
 Cobharo.,  abandoned  to  the  fury  of  the  ecclefiaftical 
 order  now  elated  by  having  recently  obtained  from 
 the  parliament  a  law  for  the  deftruction  of  heretics ; 
 
 and 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  321 
 
 and  calumnioufly  charged  with  a  treafonable  con- 
 fpiracy,  efcaped  from  the  Tower  into  Wales.  Af- 
 ter four  years  his  retreat  was  difcovered.  He  was 
 dragged  to  St,  Giles's  Fields ;  fufpended  in  chains 
 upon  a  gallows ;  and  as  a  traitor  and  a  heretic, 
 burned  alive  (d). 
 
 The  early  part  of  the  fixteenth  century  witneflfed 
 an  event  the  mod  glorious  that  had  occurred  fince 
 the  apoftolic  age,  the  reformation  of  corrupted 
 Chriilianity  by  the  blefling  of  God  on  the  exertions 
 of  Luther  and  his  affociates.  Luther,  a  man  dit- 
 tinguifhed  for  talents,  fcriptural  knowledge,  and 
 piety,  was  profefTor  of  divinity  in  the  univerfity  of 
 Wittemberg  in  Saxony.  Tetzel,  an  agent  of  Leo 
 X.  arrived  there,  A.  D.  15  17,  with  a  commifiion 
 from  the  pontiff  to  grant  plenary  indulgences  to 
 every  perfon  who  mould  contribute  to  the  expence 
 of  building  the  Roman  cathedral  of  St.  Peter.  Lu- 
 ther, feandalifed  at  this  venal  remiffion  of  all  fins, 
 pad,  prefent,  or  to  come  (e),  expofed  with  vehe- 
 ment indignation  the  impious  traffic  from  the  pulpit 
 and  the  prefs.  His  arguments  and  his  boldnefs 
 were  equally  admired  throughout  Germany.  Leo, 
 naturally  fond  of  eafe,  and  occupied  in  the  purfuits 
 of  pleafure  and  ambition,  defpifed  what  he  deemed 
 a  mere  fquabble  among  monks.  He  was  roufed  by 
 the  tidings  of  Luther's  rapid  fuccefs;  and  by  the  cla- 
 mours of  the  popifh  eeclefiaftics  for  aid  and  for  ven- 
 
 Y  geance. 
 
 {d)  See  the  Life  of  Lord  Cobham,  and  alfo  of  Zifca,  by  Mr. 
 Gilpin. 
 
 (e)  See  the  form  of  the  Indulgences  at  full  length  in  Robert- 
 fon's  Hiftory  of  Charles  V.  8vo.  1782,  vol.  ii.  p.  107,  note. 
 
322  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 geance.     The  papal  legate  in  Germany  fummoned 
 Luther  into  his  prefence,   and  commanded  him  to 
 recant,     Luther  refufed  to  retraft  antecedently  to 
 conviction.     As  yet  he  had  no  thoughts  of  queftion- 
 ing  the  fupremacy  of  the  pope ;  nor  any  fufpicions 
 of  the  radical   corruptions   of  the  Romifh  church. 
 But  thofe  corruptions  are  fo  linked  together,  and  fo 
 dependent  one  upon  another,  that  the  difcovery  of 
 one  naturally  and  almofl  neceffarily  draws  after  it 
 the  detection  of  more.     Such  .was  the  progrefs  in 
 the  mind  of  Luther.     While  attempts  at  accommo« 
 dation  were  taking  place  in  Germany,  the  pontiff 
 inftigated  by  the  impatient  fury  of  thofe  around 
 him,  iflued  a  bull,   A.  D.    1520.  denouncing  de* 
 ftru&ion  againfl  Luther  as  an  excommunicated  he- 
 retic, unlefs  he  mould  recant  within  fixty  days.  The 
 reformer,    firmly   convinced    that    the  Church  of 
 Rome  is  the  idolatrous  and  antichriftian  church  of 
 the  Apocalypfe,    immediately   and   publicly  relin- 
 quifhed  its  communion.     In  the  mean  time  he  was 
 encouraged  by  the  fuccefles  of  a  diftant  coadjutor. 
 The  fale  of  indugences  at  Zurich  ftirred  up  the  fpi- 
 rit  of  Zuinglius,  a  man  equal  to  Luther  in  zeal  and 
 intrepidity,  and  more  fpeedily  convinced  of  the  duty 
 of  renouncing  the  Romifh  Church.      His   efforts 
 were  ably  feconded  by  other  learned  men  :  and  the 
 reformation  eftablifned  itfelf  rapidly  in   the  greater 
 part  of  Switzerland.     In  the  following  year  Luther 
 was  required  to  appear  before  his  avowed   enemy, 
 the  emperor  Charles  V.  in  the  diet  at  Worms.     Un- 
 moved by  the  apprehenfions  of  his  friends,  who  re- 
 minded him  of  the  fate  of  Hufs,  he  inftantly  obeyed: 
 
 acknow- 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  323 
 
 acknowledged  that  his  writings  had  occafionally  been 
 violent  and  acrimonious :  but  refufed  to  retract  his 
 opinions,  until  they  mould  be  proved  erroneous  by 
 the  Scriptures.  An  edict,  pronouncing  him  an  ex- 
 communicated criminal,  and  commanding  the  fei- 
 zure  of  his  perfon  as  foon  as  the  duration  of  the  fafe- 
 conduct  which  he  had  obtained  mould  have  expired, 
 was  immediately  promulgated.  Frederic  the  Wife, 
 elector  of  Saxony,  who  had  countenancd  him  with- 
 out profeffing  his  doctrines,  now  withdrew  him  from 
 the  ltorm.  As  Luther  was  returning  from  Worms, 
 a  troop  of  horfemen  in  mafks  rufhed  from  a  wood, 
 feized  him,  and  conveyed  him  to  the  caflle  of  Wart- 
 burg  ;  where  he  was  concealed  during  nine  months, 
 encouraging  his  adherents  by  his  pen,  and  cheered 
 in  return  by  accounts  of  the  rapid  diffufion  of  his 
 doctrines.  John,  the  fucceffor  of  Frederick,  took 
 a  deciiive  flep  ;  and  eftablifhed  the  reformed  reli- 
 gion, A.  D.  1527,  throughout  his  dominions,  under 
 the  eye  of  Luther  and  of  the  mild  and  excellent, 
 though  fometimes  too  timid,  Melancthon.  In  a 
 diet  at  Spires,  held  about  the  fame  time,  the  execu- 
 tion of  the  edict  of  Worms  againit  the  Lutherans, 
 at  prefent  too  formidable  to  be  oppreffed  with  impu- 
 nity, was  fufpended  until  the  convocation  of  a  gene- 
 ral council  to  remedy  the  diforders  of  the  church. 
 But  in  another  diet  held  at  the  fame  place,  A.  D. 
 1529,  the  fufpenfion  was  revoked  by  a  decree  ob- 
 tained through  the  influence  of  Charles,  who  now 
 found  himfelf  at  leifure  to  pufh  forward  his  views 
 againit.  the  fupporters  of  the  reformation.  Againfl: 
 this  new  decree  the  electors  of  Saxony  and  Bran- 
 
 Y  2  denburg, 
 
^24  HISTORY   OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 denburg,  the  landgrave  of  Heffe,  feveral  other 
 princes,  and  thirteen  Imperial  cities  and  towns,  fo- 
 lemnly  protefted.  Hence  the  appellation  of  Pro- 
 tectants became  common  to  all  who  embraced  the 
 reformed  religion.  At  the  diet  of  Augfburg  in  the 
 following  year,  a  clear  ftatement  of  the  reformed 
 faith  drawn  up  by  Luther  and  MelanQhon,  was  pre- 
 fented  on  behalf  of  the  Proteflant  members  of  the 
 empire.  It  obtained  the  name  of  the  confeffion  of 
 Augfburg.  By  this  time  Sweden  had  completely 
 adopted  the  reformed  tenets  which  had  likewife  ob- 
 tained perfect  toleration  in  Denmark,  where  they 
 were  adopted  fome  years  afterwards  as  the  doctrines 
 of  the  national  church.  They  were  alfo  daily  gain- 
 ing converts  in  other  kingdoms  of  Europe. 
 
 The  proteflant  princes  of  Germany,  continually 
 receiving  frefh  tokens  of  the  hoflile  defigns  of  the 
 emperor,  united  at  Smaleald,  A.  D.  1530,  in  a  con- 
 federacy for  the  mutual  defence  of  their  religion. 
 Charles,  whofe,  meafures  were  not  yet  mature,  tem- 
 porifed.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1 546  Luther 
 died.  At  that  time  alfo,  the  procraftinating  evafi- 
 ons  of  the  pope  being  exhausted,  the  long  expected 
 general  council  aflembled  at  Trent.  The  protect- 
 ants, however,  refufed  to  attend  or  obey  a  council 
 convoked  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the 
 pope,  and  governed  by  his  legates.  Charles  aflem- 
 bled troops  on  all  fides  ;  and  concluded  a  treaty  with 
 the  pope  for  the  deftru&ion  of  the  reformed  reli- 
 gion and  its  adherents.  The  proteftants  could  no 
 longer  be  amufed,  and  took  the  field.  Charles  was 
 completely  fuccefsful.     The  elector  of  Saxony  was 
 
 deprived 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  325 
 
 deprived  of  his  dominions,  which  were  giyen  to  his 
 nephew  Maurice,  whofe  perfidy  had  ruined  the  pro- 
 teftant  caufe  ;  and  was  treated  with  cruelty  and  in- 
 fult,  and  detained  prifoner.  The  landgrave  of  Heffe 
 threw  himfelf  on  the  mercy  of  the  emperor.  Charles, 
 Shamefully  violating  the  treaty  concluded  between 
 them,  kept  him  alfo  in  confinement ;  where  his  in- 
 dignant fretfulnefii,  fucceeded  by  offers  of  unquali- 
 fied fubmiffion  to  the  Imperial  will,  was  flrongly 
 contrafled  by  the  pious  refignation  and  firmnefs  of 
 the  depofed  elector.  The  emperor  now  proceeded 
 to  complete  his  triumph.  A  rule  of  faith,  denomi- 
 nated the  Interim,  becaufe  it  was  intended  to  remain 
 in  force  only  until  a  general  council  mould  termi- 
 nate the  difputes  concerning  religion  j  and  contain- 
 ing  under  a,  fpecious  form  all  the  effential  doctrines 
 of  the  church  of  Rome  4  was  promulgated,  by  the 
 emperor's  command,  and  enforced  by  Ms  arms 
 nearly  throughout  Germany.  His  career  was  at 
 length  flopped  by  an  unfufpected  foe.  Maurice  of 
 Saxony,  (king  by  the  universal  reproaches  of  the 
 protectants  ;  enraged  at  the  Imperial  breach  of  faith 
 towards  the  landgrave  of  Heffe,  his  father-in-law ; 
 and  convinced  that  Charles  was  meditating  nothing 
 iefs  than  the  entire  fubjugation  of  the  civil  and  reli- 
 gious liberties  of  Germany ;  took  his  meafures  with 
 the  infidioufnefs  belonging  to  his  character,  and  fud- 
 denly  appeared  in  arms  with  a,  force,  which  Charles 
 was  wholly  unprepared  to  refift  The  confequences 
 were  "  The  Religious  Peace,"  eftablifhed  A.  D. 
 1555,  by  the  diet  at  Augfburg;  and  the  complete 
 Security  of  religious  freedom  to  the  proteftant  ftates. 
 
 During 
 
326  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 During  the  courfe  of  thefe  events  the  reformed 
 opinions  were  extending  their  influence   in  various 
 other  countries.     They  acquired  many  friends,  even 
 in  Italy.      They  privately  difiufed    themfelves   in 
 Spain,  notwithstanding  the  crowded  dungeons  and 
 bufy  flames  of  the  inquifition.     In  France  they  had 
 {till  more  ample  fuccefs.      At   Geneva  they  were 
 firmly  eftablifhed  by  Calvin.      But  their  principal 
 triumph  was  in  Great  Britain.     When  Luther  fir  ft 
 declared  war  againfl  the  pope,   Henry  VIII.  proud 
 of  his  theological  might,  rufhed  into  the  battle.  His 
 Treatife  on  the  Seven  Sacraments  was  repaid  by 
 the  enraptured  pontiff  with  praife  little  inferior  to 
 that  of  infpiration  :  and  with  the  title  of  Defender 
 of  the  Faith,  which  in  a  fenfe  diametrically  oppofite, 
 and  by  a  claim  of  higher  defert,  belongs  in  modern 
 times  to  his  fucceffors.     But  Henry  was  faithful  in 
 allegiance  only  to  his  paflions.     In  procefs  of  time  he 
 felt  fcruples,  increafed  by  his  growing  attachment  to 
 Anne  Boleyn,  as  to  the  lawfulnefs  of  his  long-efta- 
 blifhed  marriage  with  Catherine,  who  had  originally 
 been  contracted  to  his  brother ;  and  folicited  the 
 pope  for  a  divorce.     The  pope,  balancing  the  dif- 
 pleafure  of  Henry  againfl  the  indignation  of  the 
 emperor  Charles,  the  nephew  of  the  queen,  procraf- 
 tinated  a  decifion.     After  bearing  the  papal  delays 
 during  fix  years,  Henry  loft  all  patience.     The  opi- 
 nions of  univerfities,  learned  men,  and  rabbis,  in 
 various  parts  of  Europe,  collected  by  the  advice  of 
 Cranmer,  now  archbiihop  of  Canterbury,   had  de- 
 clared the  marriage  unlawful :  and  the  fentence  of 
 divorce  was  pronounced  by  that  prelate.     The  pope 
 
 threatened 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  ^2J 
 
 threatened  excommunication.  Henry  replied  by 
 an  appeal  to  a  general  council.  The  appeal  was 
 notified  to  the  pope,  then  at  Marfeilles,  by  Bonner, 
 offanguinary  memory,  with  his  chara&eriftic  vio- 
 lence. The  pontiff,  not  lefs  outrageous,  talked  of 
 throwing  the  audacious  meffenger  into  a  cauldron 
 of  melted  lead  :  and  Bonner  returned  precipitately 
 to  England.  By  the  interpofition  of  Francis  I.  the 
 "French  king,  hopes  of  a  favourable  fentence,  on  fub- 
 miflion  within  a  limited  time,  were  held  forth  to 
 Henry  from  the  pope :  and  Bellay,  bifhop  of  Ba- 
 yonne,  was  difpatched  by  Francis  to  foothe  Henry 
 into  compliance.  Bellay  fucceeded,  The  pope, 
 with  difficulty,  retrained  himfelf  until  the  appointed 
 day.  It  arrived  without  tidings  from  Henry  :  and 
 the  pontiff  eagerly  annulled  the  divorce.  Two  days 
 afterwards  the  mefTenger,  who  had  been  retarded  by 
 adverfe  winds,  appeared  with  the  fubmiffion.  But 
 the  decrees  of  infallibility  were  irrevocable.  Henry 
 heard  the  news,  and  affembled  his  parliament.  The 
 papal  fupremacy  was  renounced  ;  and  the  king  de- 
 clared head  of  the  church.  Henry  fcon  call  his 
 eye  on  the  wealth  of  the  monafteries.  A  rigorous 
 inquiry  into  their  internal  ftate  was  inflituted. — • 
 Scandalous  enormities  were  difcovered :  all  the  re- 
 ligious houfes  were  terrified  or  compelled  into  a  fur- 
 render  of  themfelves  and  their  poffeflions  to  the 
 king  :  and  the  parliament  fan&ioned  their  downfall. 
 Henry,  however,  was  no  proteftant.  Power  he 
 loved,  and  plunder  :  but  in  do&rines,  avowedly 
 continued  attached  to  the  faith  which  he  had  de- 
 fended.     All  the  changes  in  the  public  worfhip 
 
 which 
 
328  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 which  were  introduced  during  his  reign  were  effect- 
 ed by  the  piety  and  conciliating  influence  of  Cran- 
 mer,  almoft  againft  the  wiflies  of  a  perfecuting 
 tyrant,  who  would  fcarcely  fuffer  any  one  to  think, 
 differently  from  him  on  any  fubject,  yet  preferyed 
 towards  the  prelate  a  warm  and  uniform  regard- 
 The  archbifhop  was  obliged  to  proceed  gradually, 
 and  with  caution  :  and  was  repeatedly  driven  back 
 from  points  which  he  had  gained.  He  began  by 
 reforming  the  abufesofhis  own  ecclefiaftical  courts, 
 by  diminifhing  the  number  of  holidays ;  and  by 
 attempting  to  improve  the  wretched  ftate  of  public 
 preaching,  and  to  leffen  the  credit  of  variou  parts 
 of  the  popular  fuperftition.  He  directed,  with  the 
 authority  of  the  convocation,  that  the  creed,  the 
 ten  commandments,  and  the  Lord's  prayer,  fhould 
 be  taught  in  Englifh ;  and  prevailed  on  Henry  to 
 allow  the  ufe  of  fome  other  prayers  in  the  vulgar 
 tongue.  But  his  great  work  was  the  printing  of  an 
 Englifh  Bible  founded  on  the  verfion  of  Wicliff, 
 now  become  obfolete,  and  that  of  Tindal,  which 
 had  recently  been  publifhed  abroad.  The  tranfla- 
 tion  was  licenfed  by  the  king  ;  and  fixed  to  a  defk 
 in  the  churches.  The  ardour  with  which  it  was. 
 received  was  extreme.  The  churches  were  filled 
 with  crowds  to  read  or  to  hear  it :  and  many  per- 
 fons  learned  to  read  in  their  old  age,  that  they 
 might  at  length  perufe  the  word  of  God.  The  ca4 
 tholics  befieged  Henry  and  the  parliament  for  the 
 fuppreffion  of  the  book  :  but  could  not  entirely  fuc- 
 ceed.  On  the  death  of  Henry  the  reformation 
 began  to  advance  in  earneft  during  the  fhort  reigrl 
 
 of 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  329 
 
 pf  his  fuccefTbr.  But  when  Mary  afcended  the 
 throne  all  was  reverfed.  Latimer,  and  Ridley,  and. 
 Hooper,  and  Ferrar,  and  Rogers,  and  other  eminent 
 protectants,  with  numbers  of  their  followers  fealed 
 their  faith  with  their  blood.  Switzerland  and  the 
 Low  Countries  were  filled  with  Englilh  exiles,  who 
 fled  for  their  lives.  Cranmer,  like  St.  Peter,  fell  in 
 the  hour  of  trial ;  and  like  §t-  J?eter,  "  wept  bic- 
 "  terly,'  -  and  repented.  At  the  ftake,  as  the  fmoke 
 was  removed  by  the  wind,  he  was  feen  ftretching 
 forth  his  right  hand,  with  which  he  had  figned  a 
 recantation,  into  the  midft  of  the  flames  ;  and  was 
 heard  exclaiming,  "  That  hand  offended ;  that  un- 
 fe  worthy  hand  !" — -The  acceffion  of  Elizabeth  dif- 
 pelled  the  ftorm :  and  the  reformed  religion  was 
 immediately  eftablifhed  throughout  her  dominions. 
 In  the  courfe  of  thefe  changes  Ireland  followed  the 
 fteps  of  the  filter  kingdom  (/).  Two  years  after- 
 wards, 
 
 (f)  The  fhedding  of  blood  in  Ireland,  under  queen  Mary, 
 was  providentially  prevented  by  the  following  Angular,  yet  au- 
 thentic, incident.  Mary  difpatched  Dr.  Cole  thither,  with  a 
 commiffion  for  the  deftru£tion  of  Proteftantifm.  At  Chefter, 
 Cole,  difcourfing  with  the  mayor,  pointed  to  a  box,  and  faid — 
 s<  Here  is  a  commiffion  that  mall  lam  the  heretics  of  Ireland." 
 The  miftrefs  of  the  houfe,  who  was  a  proteftant,  and  had  a  pro- 
 teftant  brother  in  Dublin,  heard  the  expreffion  ;  and  in  the  ab- 
 sence of  the  Do&or,  took  away  the  commiffion,  and  fubftituted 
 a  pack  of  cards,  with  the  knave  of  clubs  uppermoft.  Cole  pur- 
 sued his  journey  ;  and  made  the  difcovery  in  the  privy  council 
 chamber  at  Dublin.  He  returned  in  confufion  to  England  for 
 a  new  commiffion  ;  and  on  his  way  to  Ireland  with  it,  was  (lop- 
 ped by  tidings  of  the  queen's  death.— See  Mofheim,  vol.  iv.  p. 
 328,  the  Tranflator's  Note. 
 
330  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 wards,  A.  D.  1559,  John  Knox  introduced  the  re- 
 formation from  Geneva  into  Scotland ;  where  it 
 rapidly  prevailed  oyer  all  oppofition,  and  was  efta- 
 blifhed  according  to  the  Caiviniftic  model.  One  of 
 its  principal  fupporters  was  the  earl  of  CafTilis.  That 
 nobleman,  having  been  taken  prifoner  by  the  Eng- 
 lish, A.  D.  1542,  at  the  battle  of  Solway  Mofs,  wag 
 conveyed  to  London,  and  committed  by  Henry  to 
 the  care  of  Granmer ;  from  whom  he  imbibed  the 
 principles  of  proteftantifm.  England  alfo  rendered 
 very  important  and  timely  affiftance  to  the  proteftant 
 caufe  in  the  Low  Countries.  Thofe  provinces  then 
 belonged  to  Spain.  The  relentlefs  cruelty  of  Philip, 
 aiming  to  root  out  the  reformed  religion  by  the  in- 
 quifition  and  the  fword,  found  a  worthy  agent  in 
 the  blood-thirfty  duke  of  Alva.  The  Proteftants,  at 
 length,  took  up  arms  in  defence  of  their  lives  and 
 liberties,  under  William,  prince  of  Orange.  In  the 
 courfe  of  a  long  and  mod  eventful  war  the  fuccours 
 of  Elizabeth  were  among  their  moft  powerful  en- 
 couragements. Upon  the  death  of  William,  on 
 whofe  head  Philip  had  fet  a  price,  by  the  piftol  of 
 an  aflanm,  A.  D.  15B4  ;  his  place  was  fupplied  by  his 
 fon  Maurice.  At  the  clofe  of  the  conteft,  A.D.  1609, 
 the  feven  maritime  or  Dutch  provinces  were  eftab- 
 lifhed  in  civil  and  religious  liberty.  In  the  mean 
 time  the  proteftants  in  France  had  been  compelled 
 to  defend  themfelves  by  force  of  arms.  The  civil 
 war  was  attended  with  various  fuccefs.  At  laft  the 
 French  court,  defpairing  of  conqueft,  had  recourfe 
 to  perhaps  the  blackeft  treachery  that  flains  the  an- 
 nals of  mankind.     By  a  feigned  accommodation, 
 
 ■  and 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  331 
 
 and  by  the  mod  infidious  teftimonies  of  favor, 
 Charles  IX.  king  of  France  enfnared  the  Proteftant 
 leaders  to  Paris.  On  the  eve  of  the  feftival  of  St. 
 Bartholomew,  A.  D.  1572,  they  were  there  maffa- 
 cred,  with  above  five  hundred  men  of  rank,  and 
 nearly  ten  thoufand  perfons  of  inferior  condition. 
 Orders  were  difpatched  to  all  the  provinces  for  a 
 fimilar  execution  ;  and  Rouen,  Lyons,  and  many 
 other  cities  emulated  the  horrors  of  the  capital. 
 The  furvivors  flew  to  arms.  Five  years  afterwards 
 the  famous  Catholic  league  was  formed  againft  the 
 proteftants,  who,  under  Henry  king  of  Navarre, 
 withflood  its  fierceft  efforts.  Henry  was  affifted  with 
 large  funis  of  money  by  Elizabeth.  He  fucceeded, 
 A.  D.  1589,  to  the  throne  of  France;  and  four 
 years  afterwards,  facrificing  confcience  to  policy, 
 renounced  the  proteftant  faith.  In  A.  I).  1598, 
 however,  he  granted  to  the  proteftants,  by  the  edicl: 
 pf  Nantes,  the  fecure  enjoyment  of  their  religion 
 and  of  their  civil  rights. 
 
 The  active  fpirit  of  enquiry,  natural  to  men  who 
 had  juft  broken  loofe  from  the  defpotifm  of  popery, 
 operating  differently  on  different  intellects  and  dif- 
 pofitions,  almoft  neceflarily  produced  a  variety  of 
 fects ;  and  in  fome  cafes. extreme  wildnefs  and  ex- 
 travagance of  unfcriptural  doctrine  and  practice. 
 One  great  fource  of  contention  refpected  ceremo- 
 nies and  church-government.  Some  proteftant 
 churches,  regarding  with  abhorrence  whatever  had 
 been  an  appendage  of  the  Romifh  religion,  re- 
 nounced, together  with  ancient  rites,  the  primeval 
 Inftitution  of  epifcopacy.     Others  were  of  opinion 
 
 that 
 
333  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 that  it  was  more  wife  to  preferve  whatever  was  in 
 kfelf  innocent,  and  to  be  content  with  the  removal 
 of  corruptions.  Points  of  doctrine,  too,  caufed  di- 
 visions. And  the  controverfies  among  the  reform- 
 ers, fome  of  whom  long  retained  a  portion  of  the 
 virulent  fpirit  of  popery,  were  too  often  conduced, 
 even  when  they  related  to  matters  of  fecondary  im- 
 portance, with  the  violence  and  acrimony  by  which, 
 in  oppofmg  the  Roman  catholics,  a  good  caufe  had 
 been  difgraced  (g).     Among  the  fanatical  feels  of 
 
 this 
 
 %g)  Many  of  the  writings  of  Luther  himfelf  abound  in  the 
 fcurrilous  inventive  almoft  univerfal  in  the  age  in  which  he  lived, 
 The  perfecuting  fpirit  of  popery  infedted  many  protectants.  The 
 death  of  Servetus  is  an  indelible  {lain  on  the  memory  of  Calvin. 
 Even  the  mild  Cranmer  perfuaded  the  reluctance  of  Edward  VI. 
 £o  confent  to  two  executions  at  the  flake.  Some  of  the  do&rines 
 of  popery  adhered  long  to  particular  minds.  Cranmer  believed 
 in  tranfubftantiation  until  within  fome  few  years  of  his  death. 
 And  Luther,  though  he  relinquidied  that  tenet,  embraced  and 
 retained  the  kindred  and  equally  unferiptura!  and  abfurd  do&rine 
 of  confubftantiation. 
 
 The  fpirit  of  our  own  church  from  the  reformation  to  the  ptre- 
 fent  time  is  briefly  defcribed  with  juftice  and  candour  by  Bifhop 
 Porteus. — "  Although,  after  it  had  fhaken  off  the  galling  yoke 
 of  popery,  it  could  not  of  a  fudden  dived  itfelf  of  all  its  ancient 
 hereditary  prejudices :  although  it  was  a  confiderable  length  of 
 time  before  it  could  fancy  itfelf  fecure  agamft  the  protectant  fe- 
 paratifts  without  that  body-guard  of  pains  and  penalties,  with 
 which  it  had  been  accuflqmed  to  fee  itfelf  as  well  as  every  church 
 in  Europe  furrounded :  yet  even  in  the  plenitude  of  authority, 
 and  when  its  ideas  and  exercife  of  ecclefiaftical  discipline  were  at 
 the  higheft,  it  (lands  chargeable  with  fewer  a&s  of  extravagant 
 feverity  than  any  other  eftablifhed  church,  of  the  fame  magni- 
 tude and  power,"  in  thj  Christian  world.     By  degrees,  however, 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIWTE;  jjj 
 
 this  age,  the  turbulent  German  anabaptifts,.  or 
 Mennonites,  (land  pre-eminent.  Among  the  fedls 
 remarkable  only  for  receding  the  moft  in  doctrine 
 both  from  the  catholics  and  the  mafs  of  protectants, 
 the  Socinians,  who  derive  their  name  from  two 
 teachers,  an  uncle  and  a  nephew  of  the  name  of  So- 
 cinus,  are  confpicuous.  They  denied  the  divinity 
 of  Chrift  and  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  and  other  leading 
 doctrines  of  Chriftianity.  Their  principal  fettle- 
 ments  were  in  Poland,  whence  they  fpread  into 
 Hungary  and  Tranfilvania.  In  mentioning  the  new 
 religious  communities  of  the  fixteenth  century,  a 
 Romifli  order,  that  of  the  Jefuits,  muft  not  be  for- 
 gotten. It  was  founded  by  Ignatius  Loyola.  Im- 
 plicit obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  pope  was  a  fun- 
 damental part  of  their  inftitution.  By  their  artful 
 policy,  their  clofe  union,  their  regular  internal  fub- 
 ordination,  their  unremitting  attention  to  the  affairs 
 of  the  world,  and  their  accommodating  and  infam- 
 ous maxims  of  morality  which  prepared  them  for 
 every  indulgence  and  every  compliance  ;.  they  fpee- 
 dily  became  univerfally  powerful,  and  ruled,  at  dif- 
 ferent periods,  the  meafures  of  the  principal  courts 
 of  Europe  (£). 
 
 In 
 
 — — — "'         '  V  ""  ■   ■'    ■ 
 
 as  it  improved  in  knowledge,  it  improved  in  mildnefs  too.  The 
 laft  century  faw  the  beginning,  and  the  prefent  times  have  feen  the 
 farther  extenfion,  of  a  moft  noble  fyftem  of  religious  liberty, 
 which  has  placed  legal  toleration  on  its  true  bafis  :  a  meafure  no 
 lefs  confonant  to  found  policy  than  to  the  fpirit  of  Chriftianity." 
 Sermons,  edit.  2d,  vol.  i.  p.  292. 
 
 (h)  In  Ipeaking  of  popes,  Jefuits,  and  other  clafTes  of  men, 
 the  brevity  of  this  hiftorical  review  foraetimes  obliges  me  to 
 
 notice 
 
334  HISTORY    OF   CHRISTIANITY 
 
 In  the  feventeenth  century,  though  fome  of  the 
 Roman  pontiffs  rivalled  in  their  pretentions  the  moil 
 ambitious  of  their  predeceffors,  the  papal  authority 
 in  countries  of  the  Romifh  communion  was  impair- 
 ed by  a  diftin&ion  which  princes  began  to  eflablifh 
 between  the  church  of  Rome  and  the  court  of 
 Rome  ;  and  by  the  denial  of  the  pope's  right  of  in- 
 terference in  the  civil  concerns  of  other  fovereigns. 
 Some  exertions  even  of  his  fpiritual  power  were 
 boldly  and  fuccefsfully  oppofed  by  the  Venetians, 
 and  by  Louis  XIV.  The  pontiffs  appeared  folici- 
 tous  to  balance  their  European  loffes  by  acquifitions 
 in  other  parts  of  the  globe.  Their  miffionaries 
 were  numerous  and  indefatigable.  Among  thefe 
 the  Jefuits  took  the  lead.  In  China,  India,  Japan, 
 and  Abyffinia,  great  multitudes  became  converts. 
 Chriftianity,  however,  in  the  two  latter  countries  was 
 fuppreffed  by  political  fufpicion.  From  Abyffinia 
 the  miffionaries  were  irrevocably  excluded,  A.  D. 
 1634.  About  the  fame  period  a  perfecution,  more 
 barbarous  than  any  recorded  in  hiftory,  exterminat- 
 ed the  Chriflian  faith  in  Japan.  The  modes  of  con- 
 verfion  employed  by  the  Jefuits  were  loudly  con- 
 demned by  their  hoftile  affociates  the  Dominicans 
 and  the  Francifcans :  and  fometims  extorted  marks 
 of  reluctant  difapprobation  from  the  pontiffs.  The 
 fact  is,  that  the  Jefuits  proceeded  in  religion,  as  in 
 other  points,  on  the  unchriftian  principle,  that  the 
 end  fan&ifies  the  means.  They  modelled  Chriftia- 
 nity 
 
 notice  them  collectively,  and  in  general  terms.  The  reader  will 
 remember  that  there  have  been  among  them  many  individual*;. 
 however  deluded,  of  fincere  p-'ety. 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT   TIME.  335 
 
 nity  to  the  tafte  of  their  converts ;  and  permitted 
 them  to  retain,  under  a  thin  difguife,  their  favour- 
 ite and  even  idolatrous  cuftoms.  They  ferupled  no 
 deceit  to  effect  their  object.  Robert  de  Nobili,  who 
 conducted  the  celebrated  Indian  miffion  of  Ma- 
 dura, disfiguring  himfelf  into  the  likenefs  of  a  Bra- 
 min,  announced  himfelf  to  the  natives  as  fuch  from 
 a  diftant  country  5  produced  a  parchment  writing, 
 forged  by  himfelf  in  the  ancient  Indian  character, 
 which  ftated  that  the  Bramins  of  Rome  were  older 
 than  thofe  of  India,  and  that  the  Jefuits  were  de- 
 fcended  in  a  direct  line  from  the  god  Bramah  :  and 
 (as  jouvenci,  a  Jefuit,  teftifies  in  the  hiftory  of  his 
 order)  when  quaftioned  in  an  aflembly  of  Bramins 
 concerning  the  authenticity  of  the  parchment, 
 confirmed  it  upon  oath.  He  gained  immenfe 
 numbers  of  profelytes.  His  fucceflbrs  continued 
 the  artifice  j  and  boldly  denied  themfelves  to  be 
 Europeans.  During  this  century  popery  extended 
 itfelf  in  America  :  while  new  colonies  were  at  the 
 fame  time  founded  in  that  continent  by  proteftant 
 fettlers  of  various  perfuafions. 
 
 In  the  mean  time  violence  and  treachery  were  let 
 lofe  againft  the  proteftants  of  Europe.  In  Auftria 
 and  Bohemia  the  treaties  which  fecured  religious 
 liberty  were  defpifed  by  the  catholics,  and  every 
 oppreffion  was  practifed.  The  Auftrian  proteftants 
 yielded  to  violence  :  the  Bohemians  took  up  arms, 
 and  chofe,  A.  D.  161 9,  the  elector  Palatine  for  their 
 king.  His  defeat  in  the  following  year  brought 
 ruin  on  himfelf  and  his  caufe.  The  victorious  em- 
 peror now  h^ped  to  fubjugate  Germany  to  Rome 
 
 and 
 
$$6  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 and  himfelf.  By  the  edict  of  reftitutiori,  iffued  A; 
 D.  1629,  he  commanded  the  proteftants  to  reftore 
 to  the  church  of  Rome  all  the  poifeffions  which  they 
 had  acquired  from  it  in  the  preceding  century  by 
 the  peace  of  religion.  Guftavus  Adolphus,  king  of 
 Sweden,  checked  his  career.  After  thirty  years  Of 
 war,  the  reftitution-edifl:  was  abrogated,  and  the 
 peace  of  religion  renewed,  A.  D.  1648,  by  the 
 treaty  of  Weftphalia.  But  religious  liberty  was 
 not  reftored  to  the  Attftrian  and  Bohemian  protef- 
 tants ;  nor  the  whole  of  the  Palatinate  to  its  ancient 
 fovereign.  From  A.  D.  1671  to  A.  D.  1681$ 
 the  proteftants  of  Hungary  were  cruelly  opprefledi 
 Some  years  before,  the  Socinians  had  been  condemn- 
 ed to  capital  .  puniihment  in  Poland  j  and  all  the 
 feci  was  driven  in  mifery  out  of  the  country.  '  And 
 during  the  whole  century  the  reft  of  the  Polifh  pro- 
 teftants found  that  no  treaty  was  regarded  by  the 
 Catholics.  The  remains  of  the  Waldenfes  in  Pied- 
 mont  were  repeatedly  perfecuted  with  fire  and  fword 
 by  the  dukes  of  Savoy.  In  England,  an  attempt 
 was  made,  A.  D.  1604,  under  the  direction  of 
 Garnet,  fuperior  of  the  Englifh  Jefuits,  to  deftroy 
 the  king  and  the  parliament  by  gunpowder..  The 
 proteftants  of  France,  after  fuftaining  many  fuceef- 
 five  injuries,  together  with  the  lofs,  A.  D.  1628, 
 of  their  chief  city  Rochelle,  which  they  had  been 
 authorifed  to  fortify,  were  attacked  in  procefs  of 
 time  by  local  and  moft  favage  perfecution.  The 
 revocation  of  the  edict,  of  Nantes,  by  Louis  XIV.  A. 
 D.  1685,  crowned  his  guilt  and  their  miferies. 
 More   than  half  a  million  fought  refuge  in  other 
 
 -   countries 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  337 
 
 Countries  from  the  rage  of  an  unrelenting  foldiery: 
 and  nearly  fifty  thoufand  found  an  afylum  in  Eng- 
 land. The  faith  of  the  reformed  churches  was  like- 
 wife  afTailed  by  Romifh  writers,  who  publifhed  infi- 
 nuating  and  delufive  explanations  of  the  tenets  of 
 popery.  Among  thefe  authors  the  mofl  eminent 
 was  BofTuet,  bifhop  of  Meaux  ;  whofe  expofition, 
 though  now  in  high  reputation  among  the  catholics, 
 was  at  firfl  (Irongly  cenfured  by  individuals  and 
 univerfities  of  that  perfuafion,  and  was  difapproved. 
 and  applauded  by  fucceflive  Popes.  Some  protef- 
 tant  authors  were  enfnared  by  a  defire  of  Chriftian 
 union  into  an  improper  approach  to  antichriftian 
 doctrines.  Chriftina,  queen  of  Sweden,  and  feveral 
 German  princes  embraced  in  this  country  the  Ro- 
 mifh communion  :  but  without  effect  as  to  the  nati- 
 onal religion  of  their  fubj eels  (/). 
 
 In  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  many  of  the  Englifb, 
 who  had  fled  to  Geneva  during  the  perfecution  un- 
 der Mary,  returned  to  England  with  ftrong  prepof- 
 lemons  in  favour  of  Caiviniflic  doctrines  and  forms ; 
 and  being  diflatisfied  with  the  eftablifhed  church,  be- 
 caufe,  in  their  opinion,   it  was  not  formed  after  a 
 
 Z  pure 
 
 (/')  In  Spain  the  fpirit  of  popery,  to  which  many  Christians 
 were  facrificed  by  the  inquifition,  fell  with  extreme  fury  on 
 the  Morefcoes,  the  defcendants  of  the  Saracens.  Thefe  un- 
 happy people,  after  experiencing  the  utmoft  perfidy  and  cruelty 
 from  Ferdinand,  Charles  V.  and  his  fuccefibrs,  were  now  fud- 
 denly  expelled,  A.  D.  1609,  from  Spain  by  Philip  III.  in  the 
 mofl:  barbarous  manner;  and  fet  on  ihore,  deftitute  of  protection, 
 on  the  coaft.  of  Africa,  where  more  than  a  hundred  thoufand  of 
 them  perifhed.  See  their  whole  Hiftory  in  Watfon's  Life  cf 
 Philip  III.   Book  4th. 
 
338  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 pure  model,  produced  a  feci  of  non-conformifts  de- 
 nominated Puritans.  They  were  reftlefs ;  the  age 
 was  intolerant ;  the  queen  .  hoftile  and  defpotic  in 
 the  ufe  of  prerogative  :  in  confequence  they  were 
 treated  with  harfhnefs  and  injuftice.  From  James, 
 though  the  arrogant  violence  of  the  Scottifli  clergy 
 of  the  day  had  rendered  him  a  warm  friend  to  epif- 
 copacy,  they  experienced  greater  humanity.  In  the 
 reign  of  Charles  I.  they  met  with  opposition  and 
 vexation  from  Laud,archbimop  of  Canterbury,  who 
 regarded  them  with  horror.  But  their  party  gra- 
 dually derived  ftrength  from  the  political  meafures 
 of  the  king  :  and  had  a  lading  fhare  in  precipitating 
 the  kingdom  into  civil  war.  In  the  courfe  of  the 
 conflict  they  were  deprefTed  and  fupplanted  by  the 
 more  recent  feci:  of  Independents ;  who  difclaimed 
 every  form  of  union  between  churches,  and  affign- 
 ed  to  each  congregation  the  exclufive  government 
 of  -itfelf.  Both  puritans  and  independents  haraff- 
 ed  in  every  poffible  way  the  national  church  j 
 and  ultitimately  fucceeded  in  abolifhing  epifcopacy, 
 and  ejecting  the  epifcopal  clergy.  Under  Crom- 
 well, who  was  alike  averfe  to  epifcopacy  and  prefoy- 
 terianifm,  the  church  of  England  was  delivered  to 
 the  management  of  a  fet  of  commiffioners.  It  re- 
 fumed,  with  the  reftoration  of  Charles  [I.  its  ancient 
 form  ;  and  upwards  of  two  thoufand  of  the  pref> 
 byterian  clergy  relinquished  their  cures  in  one  day. 
 In  Scotland  alfo,  where  Charles  I.  inftigated  by 
 Laud,  had  attempted  with  equal  impropriety  and  ill 
 fuccefs  to  eftabliih  epifcopacy  by  force,  the  church 
 was  now  placed  under  the  government  of  bifhops. 
 Charles  II.  whofe  profligacy  would  have  difgraced 
 
 any 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  339 
 
 any  religion,  was  fecretly  a  favourer  or  convert  of 
 the  catholics.  His  fucceflfor  was  an  avowed  papift ; 
 and  by  the  moft  flagrant  attacks  on  the  religious  and 
 civil  liberties  of  Great  Britain,  laboured  to  accom- 
 plifh  the  re-eftablifhment  of  popery.  The  revolu- 
 tion, A.  D.  1 638,  delivered  the  nation  from  the 
 dread  of  arbitrary  power  and  idolatrous  fuperilition  ; 
 and  fettled  political  and  ecclefiaflical  freedom  on  fo 
 firm  a  bafe,  that  under  the  bleffing  of  God  they 
 have  remained  ftedfaft  unto  this  day.  May  this 
 blefling  long  preferve  them  !  The  national  church 
 of  Scotland  was  again  reftored  to  prefbyterian  go- 
 vernment, fo  acceptable  to  that  part  of  the  ifland. 
 But  the  epifcopalian  congregations  ftill  continue 
 to  be  governed  by  a  regular  fucceffion  of  bifhops. 
 
 The  catholic  and  the  proteftant  churches  were 
 alike  agitated  in  this  century  with  internal  contro* 
 verfies  and  diffenfions.  In  the  Romifh  communion 
 the  Dominicans  and  the  Jefuits  were  engaged  in  fu- 
 rious difputes  concerning  the  necemty  and  the  na- 
 ture of  divine  grace  ;  and  befieged  the  papal  chair 
 for  a  decifion.  But  death  or  policy  repeatedly  pre- 
 vented the  pontiffs  from  committing  themfelves. 
 Each  party  was  thus  at  liberty  to  boaft  with  equal 
 loudnefs  of  poflefling  the  fecret  approbation  of  popes. 
 Soon  afterwards  the  flame  was  rekindled  by  the 
 popularity  of  a  pofthumous  work  of  Janfenius,  bi= 
 {hop  of  Ypres,  favorable  to  the  tenets  of  the  Do- 
 minicans. Sophiftry  and  invectives  were  arms  com- 
 mon to  both  parties.  To  papal  bulls,  royal  edicts, 
 and  troops  of  foldiers,  which  arranged  themfelves 
 on  the  fide  of  the   Jefuits,  the  Janfenifts  oppofed 
 
 Z  2  fubtle 
 
34©  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 fubtle  diftin£r.ions,  popular  applaufe,  and  the  frau- 
 dulent aid  of  pretended  miracles.  Among  the  pro- 
 teftants  the  new  feci:  of  Quakers  arofe  in  England. 
 But  the  principal  contefts  which  troubled  the  peace 
 of  the  reformed  churches,  were  thofe  which  broke 
 out  between  the  Calvinifts  and  the  followers  of 
 Arminius  of  Leyden.  After  feveral  conferences 
 between  the  contending  parties  in  Holland,  the  Ar- 
 minians  faw  their  tenets  condemned,  A.  D.  1618,  in 
 a  fynod  held  at  Dort,  their  civil  rights  fupprefled, 
 their  minifters  filenced,  and  the  difobedient  congre- 
 gations punimed  by  fine,  imprifonment,  and  exile. 
 Some  years  afterwards  they  were  recalled.  But  it 
 is  to  be  obferved,  that  their  theological  fyftem  foon 
 underwent  a  conliderable  change ;  and  embraced 
 many  perfons  whofe  opinions  refpe&ing  the  neceflity 
 of  the  aid  of  divine  grace  and  other  fundamental  doc- 
 trines of  Chriflianii|/  appear  to  have  fallen  far  below 
 the  ftandard  of  the  Gofpel.  It  is  the  more  neceffary 
 to  attend  to  this  circumftance,  becaufe  the  term 
 Arminian  is  not  uncommonly  applied  as  defcriptive 
 of  the  church  of  England.  As  far  as  it  indicates  the 
 rejection  of  the  Calviniftic  doctrines  of  predeftinati- 
 on  and  reprobation  by  mod  of  the  members  of  that 
 church,  it  is  applied  with  juftice  ;  but  it  mufl  not  be 
 ufed  with  a  wider  meaning. 
 
 Early  in  the  eighteenth  century,  the  Ruffian 
 church,  which  is  of  the  Greek  communion,  under- 
 went a  material  alteration  as  to  external  form,  by 
 the  fuppreffion  of  the  office  of  Patriarch,  under  Peter 
 the  Great ;  who  thus  became  like  the  Englifh  mo- 
 narch, head  of  the  national  church.  He  alfo  abolifhed 
 
 penal 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  34I 
 
 penal  laws  againft  Chriftians  of  other  perfuafions  ; 
 and  exerted  himfelf  to  check  fuperitition,  and  to 
 enlighten  the  inconceivable  ignorance  of  the  clergy. 
 But  the  radical  depravation  of  Chriftianity  by  the 
 groffeft  idolatry  towards  faints  and  pictures  of  faints 
 Hill  overfpreads,  amidft  other  inferior  corruptions, 
 the  Ruffian  empire.  The  Roman  pontiffs  in  this 
 age  have  been  on  the  whole  considerably  fuperior 
 in  piety  and  learning  to  mod  of  their  predeceifors. 
 The  inteftine  divifions  in  that  church  have  continu- 
 ed. The  breach  between  the  Dominicans  and  the 
 Jefuits  remained  unclofed :  and  .the  latter  party 
 obtained  a  fignal  triumph  over  the  Janfenifts,  by 
 procuring  the  papal  condemnation,  A.  D.  17 13,  by 
 the  bull  denominated  Unigenitus,  from  the  word 
 with  which  it  commences,  of  an  hundred  and  one 
 proportions,  extracted  from  the  annotations  of  Que- 
 nel,  a  celebrated  Janfenift,  on  the  New  Teftament. 
 Cardinal  de  Noailles,  however,  archbifhop  of  Paris, 
 fupported  by  numbers  of  his  clergy  zealous  for  the 
 liberties  of  the  Gallican  church,  iteadily  refufed,  in 
 defiance  of  the  indignation  of  the  pontiff  and  of 
 Louis  XIV.  to  recognize  the  authority  of  the  bull. 
 The  kingdom  was  divided  into  two  parties.  By 
 the  aid  of  penal  inflictions  and  the  violence  of  Louis, 
 the  Jefuits  at  length  prevailed.  But  the  downfall 
 of  the  victors  "was  at  hand.  A  confpiracy  for  the 
 affaffination  of  the  king  of  Portugal,  A.  D.  1758, 
 under  the  guidance  of  fomt;  principal  Jefuits,  oc- 
 casioned the  expulfion  of  the  whole  order  from 
 that  kingdom.  The  odium  purfued  them  through- 
 put Europe.     In  1761  fome  fraudulent  mercantile 
 
 transactions, 
 
34^  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 tranfa&ions,  in  which  the  Jefuits  had  been  engaged, 
 drew  the  attention  in  France  of  the  civil  power.  In 
 the  following  year  the  pernicious  tendency  of  their 
 writings  furnifhed  new  charges.  Their  difcuflions 
 at  length  dragged  to  light  the  hitherto  concealed  in- 
 stitute or  rules  of  their  order,  replete  with  maxims 
 fubverfive  of  focial  peace  and  of  morality.  Their 
 colleges  were  feized  ;  their  effects  were  confiscated  ; 
 the  order  was  extinguished  in  France,  and  all  its, 
 members  were  banifhed.  In  the  Spanifh  empire, 
 within  which  they  had  eftabliflied  in  Paraguay  an  in- 
 dependent empire  of  their  own,  a  fimilar  fate  over- 
 whelmed them.  And,  finally,  the  fuppreflion  of  the, 
 whole  order  was  obtained,  A.  D.  1773,  from  the 
 pontiff  Clement  XIV. 
 
 A  ftorm  was  in  the  mean  time  gathering  againft: 
 Chriftianity  itfelf.  In  England  there  had  arifen  a  fuc- 
 ceflion  of  fceptical  or  deiftical  writers,  who  had  in  vari- 
 ous ways  carried  on,  with  little  apparent  concert,  their 
 attacks  againft  the  religion  of  Chrift.  Some  afiailed 
 the  outworks,  fome  the  ftrong  holds  j  fome  proceed- 
 ed openly  ;  more,  covertly  and  in  djfguife.  If,  on 
 the  one  hand,  they  had  in  many  inftances  weakened 
 or  fubverted  the  faith  of  the  ignorant,  the  unfufpect- 
 ing,  or  the  vicious  ;  they  had  called  forth,  on  the 
 other,  fuch  exertions  of  piety  and  learning  in  the 
 friends  and  for  the  vindication  of  Chriftianity,  as  in 
 effecl:  to  have  benefited  the  caufe  which  they  were 
 folicitous  to  injure.  Their  publications  fpeedily  croft- 
 ed the  channel ;  and  found  on  the  continent,  parti- 
 cularly in  France,  hands  ready  to  fharpen  and  to 
 brandifh  every  weapon  with  which  they  fhould  be 
 
 furnifheef 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  343 
 
 furnifhed.  It  now  appears  from  an  accumulation 
 of  unqueflionable  documents,  and  more  efpecially 
 from  the  acknowledged  works  and  correfpondence 
 of  Frederick  king  of  Pruffia ;  that  Frederick,  to 
 whom  the  title  of  Great  will  henceforth  be  only  a 
 deeper  brand  of  infamy  ;  that  the  foreign  enemies  of 
 the  Gofpel,  far  from  limiting  their  efforts  to  deful- 
 tory  and  unconnected  attacks,  have  during  many 
 years  been  united  in  one  firm,  widely-extended,  and 
 regularly-organifed  confederation,  for  the  exprefs 
 purpofe  of  exterminating  by  fraud  and  by  force  the 
 name  of  Chriftianity  from  the  earth.  In  the  doc- 
 trinal corruption,  and  the  degrading  fuperftition, 
 by  which  the  religion  of  Chrift  was  disfigured  and 
 polluted  in  the  countries  where  their  principal  ma- 
 chinations were  purfued  j  and  in  the  political  cir- 
 cumftances  of  that' kingdom,  where  the  meditated 
 explofion  took  place  $  they  found  advantages  almoft 
 beyond  the  power  of  computation,  Of  the  events 
 which  have  recently  paffed,  and  are  ftill  palling 
 before  our  eyes,  the  termination  and  the  con- 
 fequences  are  yet  in  the  bofom  of  Providence- 
 Judging  from  the  prefent  appearances  of  worldly 
 affairs,  and,  I  think  we  may  humbly  add,  from  the 
 word  of  prophecy ;  there  feems  little  reafon  to  be- 
 lieve that  even  that  corrupt  form  of  Chriftianity,  on 
 which  the  blow  has  fallen,  will  prove  to  have  re- 
 ceived either  a  mortal  or  a  permanent  wound  ;  a 
 wound  fufficient  to  prevent  it  from  exercifing  at  a 
 future  period,  by  a  final  trial,  of  fhort  and  limited 
 duration,  but  of  unparalleled  feverity,  the  faith  and 
 
 conftancy 
 
344  HISTORY    OF    CHRISTIANITY 
 
 conftancy  of  the  univerfal  proteftant  church.     But 
 with  refpecl  to  genuine  Chriftianity,  that  religion 
 <c  againft  which   the  gates  of  hell  (hall  not  pre- 
 "  vail  (£),"  we  know  that  every  effort  of  human 
 guile  and  human  malice  is  but  an  additional  link  in 
 that  chain  of  events  by  which  the  enemies  of  God  are 
 unconfcioufly  forwarding  his  purpofes:  an  additional 
 flep   in    that    determined    progreffion,    by   which, 
 amidfl  the  fhock  of  nations  and  the  convulfion  of 
 empires,  "  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  fhall  become 
 "  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and  of  his  Chrifl:  ;  and 
 "  He  fhall  reign  for  ever  and  ever  (/)." 
 
 Throughout  the  courfe  of  this  century,  and  even 
 to  the  prefent  moment  of  its  awful  clofe,  the  church 
 of  thefe  kingdoms  has  been  bleffed  with  fecurity  and 
 peace.     Of  the  other  clalTes  and  feds  of  Chriftians 
 in  this  country,  fome,  as  the  methodifts,  generally 
 profefs   to  remain  united  to  the  national  eftablifh- 
 ment :  fome,  as  the  Anabaptifts,  diffent  from  it  only 
 in  few  points  of  doctrine  or  discipline :  fome,  as 
 thofe  who    without    reafon  afcribe  exclufively  to 
 themfelves  the  title  of  Unitarians,  recede  in  mod 
 fundamental  points  to  the  utmoft  extreme  of  Sepa- 
 ration.     Concerning  the   diftinguiflnng  tenets  of 
 thefe  and  other  fedts  it  becomes  me  to  be  filent.  The 
 number  and  the  fubdivifions  of  the  fe£ts  in  queftion, 
 and  the  duty  of  defcribing,  if  at  all,  with  fullnefs 
 and  precifion,  opinions   differing  from  my   own, 
 would  neceffarily  lead  to  an  extent  of  detail  incon- 
 fiftent  with  the  brevity  of  my  general  plan.     Thofe 
 
 opinions 
 
 (i)  Matt.  xvi.  18.  (/)  Rev.  xi.  15. 
 
TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME.  345 
 
 opinions  may  eafily  be  learned  from  the  difcourfes 
 or  the  writings  of  the  individuals  who  hold  them. 
 Yet  I  would  not  willingly  difmifs  the  fubjeft  without 
 preffing  the  importance  of  warm  and  habitual  re- 
 gard to  two  momentous  and  mod  confident  branches 
 of  Chriftian  duty :  the  obligation,  on  the  one  hand, 
 of  "  earneftly  contending  for  the  faith,  which  was 
 "  once  delivered  to  the  faints  (m)  ;"  and  on  the 
 other  of  "  putting  on  charity,  which  is  the  bond 
 "  of  perfeclnefs  («),"  and  of  habitually  evincing 
 the  fpirit  of  the  apoftolic  prayer  ;  "  grace  be  with 
 "  all  thofe,"  all  of  very  defcription,  "  who  love 
 "  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  in  fincerity  (o). 
 
 (m)  Jude,  3.  («)  Coloff,  id.  14* 
 
 (0)  Ephefians,  vi.  2^. 
 
(     346    ) 
 
 CHAPTER     XII. 
 
 ON  FORMS  OF  CHURCH-GOVERNMENT    AND  ECCLE- 
 SIASTICAL ESTABLISHMENTS. 
 
 AT  is  an  apoftolical  direction,  that  a  Chriftian 
 fhould  always  be  prepared  to  give  "  a  reafon  of  the 
 "  hope  that  is  in  him."  The  ground  of  the  injunc- 
 tion extends  to  all  institutions  clofely  connected 
 with  his  faith.  My  prefent  purpofe,  therefore,  is 
 to  aflift  the  judgment  of  the  younger  part  of  my 
 readers,  by  endeavouring  briefly  to  fatisfy  them, 
 that  reafonSjfubftantial  reafons,  may  be  advanced  in 
 fupport  of  the  ecclefiaftical  inftitutions  of  their  own 
 country. 
 
 In  every  community  or  body  of  men,  civil  or 
 ecclefiaftical,  fome  fpecies  of  government  is  requi- 
 fite  for  the  good  of  the  whole.  Otherwife,  all  is 
 irregularity,  confufion,  and  interminable  conten- 
 tion. How  then,  in  any  particular  country,  is  the 
 Chriftian  church  to  be  governed  ?  €C  Every  feparate 
 "  congregation,"  anfwers  the  independent,  "  is  a 
 "  fovereign  church  ;  amenable  to  no  extnnfic  jurif- 
 "  diction,  and  entitled  to  no  jurifdi&ion  over  other 
 "  churches." — "  That  mode  of  government,"  re- 
 plies the  prefbyterian,  "  is  calculated  to  deftroy 
 "  unity,  co-operation,  and  concord  among  Chrifti- 
 W  ans.  All  congregations  within  the  fame  ftate, 
 "  which  agree  in  doctrine,  ought  to  be.  under  the 
 
 "  general 
 
ON    FORMS,    ETC.  347 
 
 "  general  fuperintendance  of  a  reprefentative  af- 
 •c  fembly,  compofed  of  their  minifters  and  dele- 
 "  gates." — "  Such  a  reprefentative  afiembly,"  re- 
 turns the  epifcopalian,  "  wants  vigour  and  difpatch ; 
 "  and  is  perpetually  open  to  tumult,  partiality,  and 
 &  faction.  Divide  the  country  into  diocefes  ;  and 
 "  flation  a  bifhop  in  each,  armed  with  fufficient 
 "  authority,  and  retrained  by  adequate  laws  from 
 fi  abufing  it.  Such  was  the  apoftolical  government 
 "  of  the  church  :  men,"  perhaps  he  adds,  "  was 
 "  the  government  enjoined  on  fucceeding  ages." — 
 "  Away !"  cries  the  papift,  "  with  thefe  treafon- 
 "  able  difcumons.  The  Pope,  the  fucceflor  of  St. 
 ?<  Peter,  is,  by  divine  right,  the  only  fource  of  ec- 
 "  clefiaftical  power ;  the  univerfal  monarch  of  the 
 "  univerfal  church," 
 
 Writing  as  I  am,  to  proteflants,  I  may  pafs  by  the 
 claim  of  the  fucceflor  of  St.  Peter.  But  the  con- 
 cluding words  of  the  epifcopalian  are  of  prime  im- 
 portance. If  Chrift,  or  his  apoftles,  enjoined  the 
 uniform  adoption  of  epifcopacy ;  the  queftion  is 
 decided.  Did  Chrift  then  or  his  difciples  deliver 
 or  indirectly  convey  fuch  an  injunction  ?  This  topic 
 has  been  greatly  controverted.  The  fact  appears  to 
 be  this  :  that  our  Saviour  did  not  pronounce  upon 
 the  fubjecl: ;  that  the  apoftles  uniformly  eftabliihed 
 a  bifhop  in  every  diftricl,  as  foon  as  the  church  in 
 that  diftrift  became  numerous ;  and  thus  clearly 
 evinced  their  judgment  as  to  the  form  of  ecclefiafti- 
 cal  government  mod  advantageous,  at  lead:  in  thofe 
 days,  to  Chriftianity :  but  that  they  left  no  com- 
 mand, which  rendered  epifcopacy  univerfally  indif- 
 
 penfable 
 
48  ON    FORMS    OF 
 
 penfable  in  future  times,  if  other  forms  mould  evi- 
 dently promife,  through  local  opinions  and  circum- 
 ftances,  greater  benefit  to  religion.  Such  is  the 
 general  fentiment  of  the  prefent  church  of  England 
 on  the  fubje£t  (a). 
 
 That 
 
 (a)  1  have  pleafure  in  quoting  on  this  point  the  words  of  two 
 eminent  prelates  and  defenders  of  the  church  of  England,  one  at 
 the  beginning,  the  other  at  the  end*  of  the  prefent  century. 
 "  Ecclefias  Reformatas,  etfi  in  aliquibus  a  noftra  Anglicana  dif- 
 "  fentientes,  libenter  arnpledtor.  Optarem  equidem  regimen 
 "  epifcopale  bene  temperatum,  et  ab  omni  injufta  dominatione 
 e{  fejun&um,  quale  apud  nos  obtinet,  (et  fi  quid  ego  in  his  re- 
 "  bus  fapiam,  ab  ipfo  apoftolorum  s?vo  in  ecclefia  receptum 
 ef  fuerit,)  et  ab  iis  omnibus  fuiffet  retenturn :  nee  defpero  quin 
 **  aliquando  reftitutum,  fi  non  ipfe  videam,  at  pofleri  videbunt. 
 *'  Interim  abfit  ut  ego  tarn  ferrei  pectoris  fim,  ut  ob  ejufmodi 
 "  defectum  (fie  mihi  abfque  omni  invidia  appellare  liceat)  ali- 
 *'  quas  earum  a  communione  noftra  abfeindendas  credam  ;  aut, 
 "  cum  quibufdam  furiofis  inter  nos  fcriptoribus,  eas  nulla  vera  ac 
 ««  valida  facramenta  habere,  adeoque  vix  Chriftianos  efie,  pronun- 
 "  tiem."  Letter  from  Wake,  arch-bifiiop  of  Canterbury,  to 
 Mr.  Le  Clerc,  publiflied  in  the  appendijc  to  Maclaine's  Tranfla- 
 tion  of  Moftieim,  8vo.  vol.  vi.  p.  124.  M  We  may  fafely  chal- 
 "  lenge  the  enemies  of  epifcopacy  to  produce  evidence  of  the 
 "  exiftence  of  a  fingle  antient  independent  church,  which  was 
 "  not  governed  by  a  bifhop  :   I  mean,  after  it  was  fairly  efta-, 
 
 ti  blifbed. But   though   I   flatter  myfelf  that    I  have  proved 
 
 «'  epifcopacy  to  be  an  apoftolical  institution  ;  yet  I  readily  ac- 
 "  knowledge,  that  there  is  no  precept  in  the  New  Teftament, 
 tl  which  commands  that  every  church  fhould  be  governed  by 
 "  bifhops.  No  church  can  exift  vrithout  fome  government. 
 "  But  though  there  muft  be  rules  and  orders  for  the  proper  dif- 
 "  charge  of  the  offices  of  public  worfhip  :  though  there  muft  be 
 "  fixed  regulations  concerning  the  appointment  of  minifters  ; 
 "  and  though  a  fubordination  among  them  is  expedient  in  the 
 
 "  higheft 
 
CHURCH-GOVERNMENT,    ETC.  349 
 
 That  the  two  orders  of  priefls  and  deacons,  into 
 which,  fubordinately  to  bifhops,  the  whole  body  of 
 Englifh  clergy  is  diftributed,  were  inftituted  by  the 
 apofties,  is  a  fact  too  plain  to  require  a  formal  proof. 
 The  deacons  were  inferior  to  the  priefts ;  they  were 
 authorifed  to  baptife  ;  they  aflifted  in  the  adminis- 
 tration of  the  facrament,  but  were  not  permitted  to 
 confecrate  the  bread  and  wine  :  and  they  were  Spe- 
 cially entrusted  with  the  care  of  the  poor.  The 
 Several  functions  of  our  priefts  and  deacons  are  in 
 no  effential  point  different  from  the  correfponding 
 offices  of  Similar  minifters  of  the  church  in  primitive 
 times.  The  Silence  of  the  Scriptures,  and  the  ufages 
 of  the  antient  church,  Sanctioned  the  appointment 
 of  archbifhops,  archdeacons,  and  other  ecclefiaftical 
 officers ;  whenever  the  appointment  appeared,  as 
 the  numbers  of  Chriftians  were  multiplied,  benefi- 
 cial to  the  interefts  of  religion.  If  any  ftate  mould 
 be  of  opinion,  that  to  -give  to  Some  of  its  leading 
 eccleSiafiics   a  fhare    in    the   legiflative    authority 
 
 would 
 
 i(  higheft  degree  ;  yet   it  does  not   follow  that  all  thefe  things 
 
 "  mult  be  precifely  the  fame  in  every  Chriftian  country.     They 
 
 •*  may  vary  with  the  other  varying  circumftances  of  human  foci- 
 
 "  ety  ;  with  the  extent  of  a  country,  the  manners  of  its  inhabi- 
 
 "  tants,  the  nature  of  its  civil  government,  and  many  other  pe- 
 
 "  culiarities  which  might  be  fpecified.     As  it  has  not  pleafed 
 
 "  our  Almighty  Father  to  prefcribe  any  particular  form  of  civil 
 
 "  government  for  the  fecurity  of  temporal  comforts  to  his  rati- 
 
 "  onal  creatures  :  fo  neither  has  he  prescribed  any  particular  form 
 
 "  of  ecclefiaftical  polity  as  abfolutely  neceffary  to  the  attainment 
 
 •'  of  eternal  happinefs.  The  Scriptures  do  not  prefcribe  any  defi- 
 
 "  nite  form  of  church-government." — Biftiop  Pretyman's  Ele- 
 ments of  Chriftian  Theology,  vol.  ii.  p.  583.  396.  39S. 
 
350  ON    FORMS    OF 
 
 would  alfo  advance  the  interefts  of  religion ;  there 
 is  no  fcriptural  objection  to  the  plan.  Thus  Eng- 
 land ftations  its  bifhops  in  the  upper  houfe  of  parlia- 
 ment. Obferve,  however,  that  the  clergy  in  Eng- 
 land, form  not  a  diftinct  body  from  their  fellow- 
 fubjedts.  They  are  amenable  to  the  fame  laws  : 
 they  pay  the  fame  contribution  to  taxes  :  they  fuffer 
 the  fame  punifhment  for  crimes.  The  property 
 which  they  poffefs  as  clergymen,  from  the  bifhop  to 
 the  curate,  is  the  falary  of  an  office  :  and  the  fuccef- 
 lion  to  it  is  open  to  any  family  in  the  kingdom. 
 
 But  why  are  the  clergy  to  have  falaries  ? — Why  ? 
 Upon  the  fcriptural  principle  of  univerfal  juftice  ; 
 that  "  the  labourer  is  worthy  of  his  reward  ;"  that 
 he  who  labours  mould  live  by  his  labour ;  that  he 
 who  employs  his  time  and  his  talents  for  the  bene- 
 fit of  others  mould  receive  from  them  an  adequate 
 retribution.  Is  not  this  general  principle  applicable 
 to  the  clergy  ?  Jefus  Chrift  himfelf  has  applied  it  to 
 them  :  "  The  Lord  hath  ordained,  that  they 
 *s  which  preach  the  Gofpel  mould  live  of  the  Gof- 
 "  pel  (£)." 
 
 But,  although  the  clergy  ought  to  be  fupported, 
 why  fhould  not  they  be  left,  as  in  apoftolical  times, 
 to  the  voluntary  fupport  of  their  congregations  ? 
 Becaufe  in  thefe  days,  voluntary  fupport,  it  is  to  be 
 feared,  would  too  often  be  no  fupport.  Through 
 the  affectionate  zeal  of  the  Chriftians  towards  their 
 pallors  in  early  ages,  legal  provifions  were  needlefs : 
 and  if  they  had  been  neceffary,  they  could  not  have 
 
 been 
 
 (t>)  i  Cor.  ix.  13= 
 
CHURCH-GOVERNMENT,    ETC;  35I 
 
 been  obtained  from  Pagan  law-givers.  At  prefent, 
 fuch  affectionate  zeal  would  be  very  rare.  Even  by 
 many  of  the  Englifh  diffenters,  whom  the  exiftence 
 of  an  eftablifhed  church  of  another  perfuafion  natu- 
 rally fiimulates  to  exertions  in  behalf  of  their  own 
 clergy  ;  the  inadequate  payment  of  their  minifiers 
 is  lamented.  The  law,  therefore,  interpofes  with 
 refpect  to  the  national  church  to  prevent  the  many 
 injuries  to  religion,  which  would  refult  from  general 
 poverty  in  the  clergy :  and  the  temptations  to  re- 
 medy that  poverty  by  conciliating  accommodation 
 of  doctrine  and  practice  to  the  humour  of  wealthy 
 fubfcribers. 
 
 But  the  revenues  of  the  chuich  are  exceffive  !  The 
 great  Lord  Chatham  was  not  of  your  opinion.  "  The 
 "  church,"  faid  he,  "  God  blefs  it !  has  but  a  pit- 
 "  tance."  Calculate  the  whole  annual  revenue  of 
 the  church,  and  the  number  of  the  clergy  :  compute 
 what  the  former  would  produce,  if  equally  divided, 
 to  each  of  the  latter :  confider  the  neceffary  ex- 
 pences  of  a  clerical  education  :  recoiled  rhat  a  cler- 
 gyman is  properly  excluded  from  ordinary  occupa- 
 tions and  their  profits  ;  and  you  will  not  think  that 
 Lord  Chatham  was  in  the  wrong.  But  their  reve- 
 nues are  unequally  divided  !  Are  you  fure  that  reli- 
 gion would  derive  advantage  from  their  equaliza- 
 tion ? 
 
 But  tythes  are  an  objectionable  mode  of  paying 
 the  clergy  !— It  is  true  :  and  what  mode  of  payment 
 would  be  unobjectionable  ?  What,  however,  are 
 your  objections  to  tythes?  They  impede  agiculturai 
 improvements  j  and  they  occafion  diffenfions  be- 
 tween 
 
35^  ON    FORMS    0? 
 
 tween  the  clergy  and  their  parifhioners.  I  admit 
 that  your  firft  objection  is  not  without  its  weight ; 
 though  I  believe  that  weight  to  be  commonly  over- 
 rated. For  it  is  not  according  to  human  nature, 
 that  men  mould  very  frequently  decline  to  improve 
 their  eftates  nine  pounds  a-year,  becaufe  another 
 perfon  would  be  entitled  to  the  tenth  pound.  Even 
 if  the  owner,  by  expending  the  fame  fum  in  another 
 way,  could  fecure  the  tenth  pound  to  himfelf ;  the 
 fatisfatlion  of  improving  his  own  permanent  landed 
 property  would  in  moil  cafes  turn  the  fcale.  The 
 fecond  objection  is,  I  confefs,  fo  forcible,  that  I  have 
 only  to  avow  my  fincere  regret  that  no  practicable 
 means  of  providing  for  the  clergy  lefs  objectionable 
 than  tythes  have  yet  been  difcovered  and  propofed. 
 But  when  I  make  this  avowal,  juftice,  not  profeffi- 
 onal  prejudice,  requires  me  to  exprefs  my  convic- 
 tion, that  in  by  far  the  greater  number  of  inftances 
 the  difienfions,  which  we  agree  in  deploring,  arife 
 from  the  felfifh  oppofition  of  thofe  who  are  to  pay 
 tythes,  not  from  the  exorbitancy  of  him  who  de- 
 mands them.  Of  feven  hundred  fuits  on  account 
 of  tythes  brought  by  the  clergy  into  the  court  of 
 Exchequer,  from  the  year  1660  to  17 13,  fix  hun- 
 dred were  decided  in  their  favour  (<:).  If  a  new 
 fearch  down  to  the  prefent  day  were  made  into  the 
 records  of  the  Exchequer,  the  refult,  I  apprehend, 
 would  bear  a  teftimony  no  lefs  honourable.  I  take 
 no  credit  for  peculiar  moderation  in  the  clergy  :  but 
 the  nature  of  the  cafe  fpeaks  for  itfelf.  The  clergy- 
 man 
 
 (c)  See  Archbirtiop  Seeker's  Charges,  p.  129. 
 
CHURCH-GOVERNMENT,    ETC.  353 
 
 man,  forefeeing  that  the  interefl  of  himfelf  and  of 
 his  family  in  the  profits  of  his  living  terminates,  at  the 
 lateft,  with  his  life,  is  much  more  likely  to  relinquilh 
 a  juft  demand,  through  a  dread  of  an  expenfive  con- 
 teft,  than  to  appeal  to  the  law  in  fupport  of  an  un- 
 reafonable  claim.  And  his  ufual  inability  to  fight 
 the  purfe  of  a  wealthy  lord  of  a  manor,  or  that  which 
 is  replenifhed  by  the  combination  of  inferior  pro- 
 prietors, inculcates  on  him  the  fame  leflbn. 
 
 But  is  it  not  invidious,  is  it  not  unjuft,  to  take 
 tythes  from  the  property  of  diffenters,  and  to  give 
 them  to  clergymen  of  another  perfuafion  ?  A  little 
 explanation  may  convince  you,  that  there  is  no  in- 
 juftice  nor  invidious  intention  in  the  matter.  In  the 
 firft  place,  the  tythes  are  not  required  from  the  dif- 
 fenter  as  fuch  :  they  are  an  ^outgoing  from  the  land 
 ( or  what  amounts  to  the  fame  thing,  the  produce  of 
 the  land)  which  he  happens  to  poflefs.  When  he 
 or  his  anceftor  bought  the  land  5  he  bought ,  it  pro- 
 portionally cheaper,  becaufe  it  was  fubject  to  that 
 outgoing.  In  the  fecond  place,  whenever  the  legif- 
 lature  impofes  a  tax  for  the  purpofe  of  applying  its 
 produce  to  an  object  which  it  deems  of  national 
 utility  5  the  tax  mud  be  impofed  on  the  country  at 
 large,  though  many  individuals  may  think  the 
 object  to  which  it  is  to  beapplied  ufelels  or  prejudi- 
 cial. On  no  other  principle  could  public  meafures 
 be  conducted.  Were  a  land-tax  impofed  for  the 
 profecution  of  a  war ;  would  you  exempt  the  land 
 of  thofe  who  difapproved  the  war  ?  Or  if  the  legifla- 
 tuie  believed  that  the  inftitution  of  a  medical  board 
 would  be  of  national  utility,  and  mould  lay  a  general 
 A  a  houfe-tax 
 
354  0N    FORMS    OF 
 
 houfe-tax  for  its  fupport;  would  it  be  unjuft  to  re- 
 quire the  tax  from  houfeholders  who  fhould  think 
 unfavourably  of  the  inftitution  ?  Were  the  legifla- 
 ture  to  prohibit  thofe  houfeholders  from  employing 
 any  other  than  the  eftablifhed  phyfician,  the  cafe 
 would  be  very  different.  But  if  it  leaves  them, 
 though  neceffarily  fubjecl  to  the  general  tax,  at  li- 
 berty to  employ  any  phyfician  of  their  own ;  they 
 cannot  complain  of  being  invidioufly  or  unjuftly 
 treated.  The  cafe  of  tythes  is  exactly  parallel. 
 The  legiflature,  deeming  the  maintenance  of  a  na- 
 tional church  eifential  to  the  public  good,  and  the 
 only  method  of  fecuring  the  univerfal  and  regular 
 performance  of  public  worfhip  in  a  fuitable  man- 
 ner throughout  the  kingdom,  impofed,  and  conti- 
 nues, for  its  fupport,  a  tax  on  land,  to  be  paid  by  the 
 owner,  whoever  he  may  happen  to  be.  But  with 
 the  confcience  of  the  owner  it  interferes  not :  it 
 leaves  him  at  liberty  to  attend  the  national  church, 
 or  any  other  church  which  he  may  prefer.  The 
 temptations  to  pretended  diffent,  the  complicated 
 and  endlefs  collufions  which  muft  enfue  were  the 
 legiflature  to  exempt  any  man  from  tythes  who 
 mould  profefs  not  to  belong  to  the  national  church, 
 would  render  fuch  a  plan  fubverfive  both  of  the  na- 
 tional church  and  of  fmcerity. 
 
 But  why  is  the  national  church  hedged  round  with 
 creeds  and  articles  ?  Becaufe  otherwife  it  either 
 could  not  exifl  at  all,  or  could  not  exift  with  public 
 utility.  Would  you  have  a  pulpit  open  to  be  filled  in 
 the  morning  by  a  proteilant,  in  the  afternoon  by  a 
 catholic  j    to-day  by  a  follower  of  Socinus  \  next 
 
 week 
 
CHURCH-GOVERNMENT,    ETC.  355 
 
 week  by  a  difciple  of  Swedenborg  ?  Would  a  con- 
 gregation be  edified  and  confirmed  in  "  the  truth  as 
 "  it  is  in  Jefus,"  by  hearing  the  fundamental  doc- 
 trines of  Chriftianity  alternately  afferted,  queftioned, 
 denied  ?  In  primitive  times,  when  a  variety  of 
 doctrines  fprang  up  among  Chriflians,  particular 
 churches  perceived  the  necellity  of  manifefting  their 
 opinions  by  drawing  up  creeds  and  confeffions  of 
 faith.  At  the  reformation,  the  church  of  England, 
 like  other  proteftant  churches,  added  to  the  creeds 
 adopted  in  its  congregations  a  fummary  of  its  faith, 
 contained  in  thirty-nine  articles,  and  directed  them  to 
 be  prefented  for  the  aifent  of  any  perfon  who  Ihould 
 apply  to  be  admitted  to  the  office  of  minifter  in  the 
 church,  as  a  teft  by  which  it  might  be  known  whe- 
 ther he  accorded  with  the  doctrines  of  the  church. 
 If  he  did  not,  he  was  of  courfe  an  unfit  perfon  to  be 
 appointed  one  of  its  public  teachers.  The  fame  prac- 
 tice is  continued  for  the  fame  reafon. 
 
 Is  the  ecclefiaftical  eftablifhment  then,  it  will  final- 
 ly be  faid,  free  from  attendant  imperfections  and 
 mifconduct  ?  It  is  free  from  neither.  Shall  I  exprefs 
 the  anfwer  in  other  words  ?  It  is  a  human  inftituti- 
 on  adminiftered  by  men.  Every  work  of  man  is 
 tinctured  with  imperfection  ;  every  proceeding  of 
 man  with  mifconduct.  But  what  is  the  rational 
 line  of  argument  ?  Take  the  moft  obvious  of  exam- 
 ples, civil  government,  and  apply  it.  A  king  may  be 
 oppreflive.  Is  a  republic  lefs  likely  to  be  oppreffive  ? 
 An  hereditary  crown  may  devolve  into  unworthy 
 hands.  Did  the  condition  of  Poland  before  its 
 downfall  recommend  an  elective  monarchy  ?  A  par- 
 A  a  2  Hamenj. 
 
356  ON    FORMS    OF,    ETC. 
 
 liament  may  be  mifguided  or  corrupted.  Would 
 you  be  ruled  without  a  parliament  by  the  defpotifm 
 of  an  individual  or  of  a  mob  ?  The  utmoft  to  be  ex- 
 pected in  a  human  institution  is,  that  the  advantages 
 mould  greatly  preponderate,  and  that  difadvantages 
 mould  be  open  to  consideration  and  remedy.  Try 
 the  ecclefiaftical  eftablifliment  and  the  administration 
 of  it  by  that  rule.  If  afterwards  you  ftill  feel  a 
 doubt  remaining,  remember  with  gratitude  to  hea- 
 ven that  you  live  under  the  legiflature  of  a  free 
 country  ;  a  legiflature  empowered  to  apply  a  remedy 
 in  its  wifdom  to  any  of  thofe  defects  which,  accord- 
 ing to  the  common  fate  of  all  things  below,  may 
 adhere  to  its  noblefl  works. 
 
(    357    ) 
 
 CHAPTER  XIII. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 AF  the  funlmary  accounts,  which  the  preceding  chap- 
 ters furnifh  concerning  the  feveral  fubjects  of  which 
 they  treat,  have  tended  to  evince  the  goodnefs  and 
 the  providence  of  God,  to  eftablifh  the  truth  of  Chrif- 
 tianity,  and  of  the  proteftant  faith  :  to  explain  the 
 nature  and  the  utility  of  our  ecclefiaftical  eftablifh- 
 ment :  the  conviction  thus  produced  may  juftly 
 derive  additional  confirmation  from  every  enquiry 
 into  the  detail  of  thofe  topics,  of  which  only  the 
 leading  features  have  been  fketched.  The  profecuti- 
 on  of  fuch  enquiries,  as  the  fource  of  moil  impor- 
 tant knowledge,  and  of  fledfaft,  rational,  and  un- 
 contaminated  faith,  it  is  difficult  to  reccommend  with 
 adequate  folicitude.  May  the  reader  profecute  them, 
 under  the  divine  bleffing,  with  the  attention  which 
 they  deferve  ;  and  with  a  difpofition  adapted  to  th« 
 difcovery  and  to  the  love  of  truth.  In  the  mean 
 time,  he  will  receive,  I  truft,  with  candour  fome 
 concluding,  and,  perhaps,  not  unneceflary  obfer- 
 vations  relative  to  Chriftian  faith  and  Chriftian 
 pra&ice. 
 
 I.  Young  perfons  who,  though  little  if  at  all  in- 
 ftrudted  in  the  evidences  and  groundwork  of  Chrif- 
 tianty,  have  been  accuftomed,  during  their  educati- 
 on, to  the  fociety,  the  language,  and  the  public  wor- 
 
 fhip 
 
35S  CONCLUSION. 
 
 fhip  of  Chriftians,  ufually  come  forth  into  active  life, 
 not  only  with  full  perfuafion  of  the  truth  of  their 
 religion,  but  with  fcarcely  a  fufpicion  that  there  can 
 be  many  perfons  in  this  country  who  doubt  or   dif- 
 believe  it.     An  avowed  fceptic,  or  unbeliever,  is  in 
 their  eyes  a  phenomenon  like  a  comet.  And  every  one 
 who  is  not  a  notorious  fceptic  or  unbeliever  they  re- 
 gard, as  in  faith  at  leaft,  tho'  perhaps  not  in  practice, 
 a  good  Chriftian.  It  may  be  well  for  them  to  know, 
 without  waiting  until  the    leffon  be  inculcated  by 
 longer  experience  of    the   world,    that  they  have 
 formed  a  fcanty  conception  of  the  number  of  thofe, 
 who  take  little  pains  to  conceal  their  fcepticifm,  or 
 their  unbelief ;  and  that  there  exifts  in  the  middle 
 and  higher  claries  of  fociety  a  large  defcription  of  per- 
 fons,  who,    without  openly  rejecting  Chriftianity, 
 can  by  no  means  be  faid  to  believe   it.     That  the 
 number  of  thofe  who  do  not  embrace  the  gofpel  afr 
 fords  no  argument,  either  againft  the  truth  of  the  reli- 
 gion or  the  goodnefs  of  God,  is  a  fact  which  I  have 
 already  had  occafion  to  explain  (a).     The  evidence 
 which  God  has  fupplied  on  behalf  of  the  religion  of 
 his  Son  is  wifely  adapted  to  the  fituation  of  moral 
 agents,  of  beings  in  a  ftate  of  trial.     It  is  not  inftan- 
 taneoufly  overpowering,   irrefiftibly  bearing   down 
 alike  the  aflent  of  the  prejudiced  and  the  candid,  the 
 carelefs  and  the  conilderate.    It  folicits  examination ; 
 it  demands  fair  enquiry  :  and  the  fair  enquirer  it  re- 
 wards 
 
 (a)  In  the  concluding  pages  of  ch.  6.  It  may  perhaps  be 
 proper  to  add  that  the  fame  fubje&  is  further  noticed  in  the  En- 
 quiry into  the  Duties  of  Men,  &c.  4th  ed.  vol.  ii.  p.  5 15 — 520. 
 
conclusion.  359 
 
 wards  with  conviction.  They  who  will  not  enquire, 
 or  who  enquire  not  rationally  and  fairly,  defervedly 
 remain  in  their  blindnefs.  This  obfervation  belongs  to 
 the  perfons  recently  defcribed  as  not  openly  rejecting 
 Chriftianity,no  lefs  than  to  its  avowed  oppofers.  They 
 came  forward  into  life,  as  you  perhaps  are  coming 
 forward,  with  an  extremely  fuperficial  knowledge  of 
 their  religion,  but  without  any  doubt  of  its  divine 
 authority.  In  no  long  time  they  began  to  hear  in- 
 direct cavils  and  witty  farcafms  aimed  againlt  de- 
 tached paffages  in  the  Scriptures  ;  intimations  drop- 
 ped with  a  fignificant  air  of  fagacity  about  prieft- 
 craft ;  and  expreflions  of  wonder  that  the  indulgence 
 of  natural  inclinations  mould  ever  be  a  fin.  Their 
 ears,  at  firft  a  little  mocked,  foon  became  familiar 
 jto  the  found  ;  and  learned,  by  degrees,  not  to  be 
 offended  at  plainer  language.  Dired  charges  of 
 abfurdity,  falfehood,  and  impofture  advanced,  firfb 
 2gainft  the  Old  Teftament,  then  againft  the  New, 
 though  they  did  not  produce  conviction,  were  heard 
 without  emotion.  In  the  mean  time  the  prejudices 
 of  education  in  favor  of  religion,  for  in  thefe  perfons, 
 uninftrucled  in  the  grounds  of  Chriftianiry,  belief 
 was  nothing  more  than  a  prejudice,  were  gradually 
 loofened.  Habits  of  life  too,  perhaps,  were  formed, 
 which  rendered  the  truth  of  Chri(lianity,and  the  con- 
 sequent certainty  of  future  punifhment  for  vice,  highly 
 undefirable.  However  that  might  be,  the  man  grew 
 abforbed  in  the  bufmefs  or  the  trifles  of  the  world. 
 Political  purfuits,  profeffional  occupations,  his  regi- 
 ment, or  his  veffel,  or  his  compting-houfe,  or  his 
 fhop  j  or  his  hounds  and  horfes,  his  gun,  his  com- 
 pany 
 
3°"°  CONCLUSION. 
 
 pany  at  home,  his  vifits  abroad,  filled  up  his  whole 
 time.     Religion  grew  more   and   more    foreign  to 
 his   thoughts.     Not  that    he  decidedly   difbelieved 
 it.     He  felt,  when  it  crofTed  his  mind,  doubts  of  its 
 truth,  and  a  fecret  wifh  that  it  might  not  be  true  : 
 he  felt  the  moft  prepofterous  of  all  perfuafions,  that 
 poffibly  there  might  btfomething  of  truth  in  it,  but 
 that  certainly  there  was   much  lefs  than  was  repre- 
 fented  :  but  he  had  not  thought  on  the  fubject  fuffi- 
 ciently  to  difbelieve  it  altogether,  or   to   have  any 
 clear  opinion.     Yet  perhaps  he  was  now  and  then 
 feen  at   church ;  at  leaft  in  the  country,  when  he 
 had  nothing  to  do  :  for  he  was  defirous  of  preferv- 
 ing  a  refpectable    appearance  ;    and   he   was  con- 
 vinced that  religion,  true  or  falfe,  fhould  be  encou- 
 raged among  the  lower  people  to  keep  them  in  or- 
 der, particularly  in  thefe  days  of  Jacobinifm.  Sufpici- 
 ons  too  of  the  poffibility  of  the  truth  of  Chriftianity 
 had  ftill  hung  about  him  :  and  at  times  he  had  half 
 intended  to  examine  into  the  matter.  Once  or  twice 
 a  fit  of  ficknefs,  or  a  domeftic  affliction,  had  encreaf- 
 ed  his  furmifes  :  and  he  had  determined    that  at 
 fome  future  convenient  opportunity  he  would  en- 
 deavour to  fatisfy  himfelf.     But  the  convenient  op- 
 portunity never  happened  to  arrive.     Days,  months, 
 and  years  found  him  occupied  as  before  :  and  death 
 furprifed  him  at  lafl:  in  his  grey  hairs,  uncertain  of 
 his  faith.     I  do  not  fpeak  lightly,  when  I  exprefs  my 
 apprehenfions  that  of  the  leading  features  in  this  pic- 
 ture many  originals  are  to  be  found.     The  guilt  of 
 fuch  conduct,  like  all  other  guilt,  maybe  diminifhed 
 or  aggravated  by  attendant  circumflances.     How  is 
 
 it 
 
CONCLUSION.  361 
 
 'it  in  the  prefent  cafe?  Was  the  object  in  queftion 
 unimportant  ?  The  eternal  falvation  of  the  indivi- 
 dual was  at  (lake.  But  had  he  means  of  informati- 
 on, and  encouragements  to  ufe  them  ?  He  lived  in 
 an  enlightened  age ;  in  a  proteftant  country;  he  lived 
 where  the  Scriptures  are  open,  and  enquiry  free,  to 
 every  man  ;  where  the  moft  eminent  learning  and 
 talents  have  devoted  themfelves  to  the  defence  of 
 Chriftianity  ;  where  religion  is  publicly  reverenced, 
 and  genuine  piety  the  molt  honourable  diftinction. 
 
 To  fet  before  you  this  example,  is  to  warn  you 
 againft  its  dangerous  contagion ;  and  to  imprefs 
 you  with  the  duty  of  warning,  on  fit  occafions,  and 
 with  the  earneftnefs  of  a  Chriftian,  thofe  whom  it 
 may  be  likely  to  infect. 
 
 As  long  as  you  remain  upon  earth,  a  fcene  of  pro- 
 bation, it  is  reafonable  to  expect  that  your  faith  no 
 lefs  than  your  conduct  mould  be  fubjected  to  trial. 
 When  you  have  been  convinced  on  rational  grounds 
 that  Chriftianity  is  true  ;  be  not  haftily  daggered 
 by  flight  difficulties,  which  Providence  allows  to  ex- 
 ift  probably  for  the  very  purpofe  of  exercifing  your 
 faith.  I  do  not  mean  that  you  mould  neglect  them. 
 Bring  them  to  the  teft  of  enquiry.  Count  as  no- 
 thing the  peremptory  aflertions,  with  which  they  are 
 advanced  ;  the  conclufions  fophiftically  and  dogma- 
 tically deduced  from  them  ;  the  fneers  and  the  con- 
 tempt aimed  at  all  perfons  who  acquiefce  not  in 
 thofe  conclufions.  Examine  the  difficulty  itfelf  with 
 care  :  confult  thofe  who  are  moft  converfant  with 
 the  fubject.  You  will  either  find  the  difficulty  va- 
 nilh,  perhaps  that,  it  even  affords  a  new  atteftation 
 
 to 
 
362  CONCLUSION. 
 
 to  Chriflianity  (&)  :    or  that  whatever  may  yet  be 
 unexplained  to  you  weighs  lefs,  when  compared  with 
 
 the 
 
 (£)  Thus  the  boafted  antiquity  of  Indian  Chronology,  which 
 has  been  fo  often  triumphantly  announced  as  a  conclufive  proof 
 of  the  falfehood  of  the  Mofaic  hiftory,  is  not  only  difproved  by  the 
 labours  of  Mr.  Maurice  and  Sir  William  Jones ;  but  is  (hewn  to 
 bear  unexpected  teftiniony  to  the  truth  of  that  hiftory.  For  the 
 very  earlieft  period  of  that  antiquity,  as  recorded  in  the  moft  fa- 
 cred  book  of  the  Bramins,  produces  a  narrative,  which  no  man 
 who  remembers  his  Bible  can  read  without  perceiving  it  to  be  a 
 traafcript  of  the  fingular  tranfaftions  of  Noah  and  his  three  fons. 
 
 Another  example  of  the  futility  of  an  argument  ftill  heard 
 againft  the  Mofaic  Chronology  may  fugged  to  the  reader  fome 
 ufeful  inferences  with  refpeft  tp  other  arguments  and  theories 
 now  afloat. 
 
 Mr.  Brydone,  in  his  Travels  through  Sicily  and  Malta,  writes 
 £hus  concerning  the  neighbourhood  of  Etna.  "  Near  to  a  vault, 
 "  which  is  now  thirty  feet  below  ground,  and  has  probably  been 
 ."  a  burial-place,  there  is  a  draw-well ;  where  there  are  feveral 
 "  ftrata  of  lavas  with  earth  to  a  confiderable  thicknefs  over  the 
 f*  furface  of  each  ftratum.  Recupero  has  made  ufe  of  this 
 **  as  an  argument  to  prove  the  great  antiquity  of  the  eruptions 
 "  of  his  mountain.  For  if  it  requires  2000  years  or  upwards 
 "  to  form  but  a  fcanty  foil  on  the  furface  of  a  lava,"  (a  calculation 
 framed,  I  believe,  from  the  eruption  of  Vefuvius  which  deftroyed 
 Herculaneum,)  "  there  muft  have  been  more  than  that  fpace  of 
 "  time  betwixt  each  of  the  eruptions  which  have  formed  thefe 
 "  ftrata.  But  what  (hall  we  fay  of  a  pit  they  funk  near  to  Jaci 
 ff  of  a  great  depth  ?  They  pierced  through  feven  diftincl:  lava? 
 "■  one  under  the  other,  the  furfaces  of  which  were  parallel,  and 
 "  moft  of  them  covered  with  a  thick  bed  of  rich  earth.  Now, 
 f*  fays  he,  the  eruption  which  formed  the  lowed  of  thefe  lavas,  if 
 f*  we  may  be  allowed  to  reafon  from  analogy,  muft  have  flowed 
 ?'  from  the  mountain  at  leaft  14,000  years  ago.  Recupero  tells 
 f  me  he  is  exceedingly  embarrafled  by  thefe  difcoveriesin  writing 
 .'*  the  hiftory  of  the  mountain  :    that  Mofe6  hangs  like   a  dead 
 
 "  weight 
 
CONCLUSION,  363 
 
 the  evidence  of  Chriftianity,  than  a  grain  of  fand  in 
 the  balance  againft  a  mountain. 
 
 On 
 
 ft  weight  upon  him,  and  blunts  all  his  zeal  for  enquiry :  for 
 *'  that  really  he  has  not  the  confcience  to  make  his  mountain  fo 
 *f  young  as  that  prophet  makes  the  world.  What  do  you  think 
 ?'  of  thefe  fentjments  from  a  Roman  catholic  divine  ?  The  Bi- 
 "  (hop,  who  is  ftrenuoufly  orthodox — for  it  is  an  excellent  fee — 
 **  has  already  warned  him  to  be  upon  hisfguard,  and  not  to  pretend 
 ?'  to  be  a  better  natural  hiftorian  than  Mofes  ;  nor  to  prefume 
 fl  to  urge  any  thing  that  may  in  the  fmajle ft  degree  be  deemed 
 «*  contradictory  to  his  facred  authority."  Vol  i.  p.  140 — 142. 
 To  this  argument  a  fatisfactory  anfwer  has  been  given :  that  dif- 
 ferent lavas  may  be  mouldered  into  foil,  by  the  a&ion  of  the  air, 
 within  very  different  periods  proportioned  to  the  hardnefs  of  the 
 lava  :  and  that  thefe  fuppqfed  beds  of  rich  earth  are  nearly  or  al- 
 together beds  of  aihes,  which  might  immediately  fucceed  the  lava, 
 and  be  almoft  immediately  fit  for  cultivation  :  and  that  it  is  pof- 
 fible  that  feveral  alternate  ftrata  of  lava  and  alhes  might  be  formed 
 even  during  the  fame  ei  uption.  The  material  parts  of  this  anfwer 
 are  confirmed  by  the  observations  of  Swinburne,  (Travels  in  the 
 Two  Sicilies,  2d  edit,  vol.  iv.  p.  141.)  who  incidentally  fays, 
 that  the  fmaller  mountains  thrown  up  by  eruptions  on  the  flanks 
 of  Etna  are  foon  covered  with  wood  planted  with  vines:  and  that 
 while  a  lava  which  flowed  in  1669  had  not  yet  a  blade  of  grafs  or 
 a  fibre  of  mofs  on  its  furface,  another  which  had  flowed  only  20 
 years  ago,  was  already  in  many  places  covered  with  lichens.  The 
 Sicilian  bifhop  then  feems  to  have  had  better  reafons  for  his  or- 
 thodoxy than  the  excellence  of  his  fee.  But  there  is  a  decifive 
 witnefs  againft  Mr.  Brydone,  who,  as  far  as  I  know,  has  not  yet 
 been  produced  :  I  mean  Mr.  Brydone  himfelf.  Speaking  of  the 
 country  near  Hybla,  (vol.  i.  p.  1  J2,  173,)  he  gives  the  following 
 recital. 
 
 "  It  was  fo  celebrated  for  its  fertility,  and  particularly  for  its 
 *f  honey,  that  it  was  called  Mel  Paffi,  till  it  was  overwhelmed  by 
 
 "  she 
 
364  CONCLUSION. 
 
 On  the  fubjeft  of  faith  I  have  yet  to  fubmit  an 
 additional  obfervation.  You  will  meet  among  be- 
 lievers in  Chriftianity  with  perfons  who  appear  to 
 think,  that  if  by  forced  explanations  they  can  repre- 
 fent  fome  fcriptural  narration  as  an  allegory,  or 
 pare  away  the  corner  of  a  miracle  j  they  lighten 
 
 the 
 
 *'  the  lava  of  Etna  :  and  having  then  become  totally  barren,  by  a  kind 
 "  of  pun  its  name  was  changed  to  Mai  Paffi.  In  a  fecond  eruption 
 *'  by  ajhoiver  of  a/hes  from  the  mountain,  it  foon  refumed  its  antient 
 c*  beauty  and  fertility;  and  for  many  years  was  called  Bel  Paffi. 
 "  Laft  of  all,  in  1669,  it  was  again  laid  under  an  ocean  of  fire 
 "  and  reduced  to  the  mod  wretched  fterility ;  fince  which  time, 
 "  it  is  known  again  by  its  fecond  appellation  of  Mai  Paffi.  How- 
 "  ever,  the  lava,  in  its  courfe  over  this  beautiful  country,  has 
 "  left  feveral  little  iflands  or  hillocks,  juft  enough  to  fhew  what  it 
 ««  formerly  was.  Thefe  make  a  fingular  appearance,  in  all  the 
 "  bloom  of  luxuriant  vegetation,  furrounded  and  rendered  almoft 
 M  inacceffible  by  large  fields  of  black  and  rugged  lava." — "The 
 "  firft  eruption  which  deftroyed  the  country  of  Mel  Paffi  is  of 
 "  very  old  date.  It  deftroyed  particularly  two  noble  churches, 
 "  regretted  much  on  account  of  three  ftatues  in  them,  which 
 "  were  reckoned  the  moil  perfect  in  the  ifland. — They  have 
 "  been  fearched  for  in  vain."  p.  174.  I  have  examined  feveral 
 authors  without  fuccefs,  to  difcover^the  date  of  this  firft  eruption. 
 By  the  particulars,  however,  which  Mr.  Brydone  fpecifies  con- 
 cerning the  churches,  it  muft  have  been  very  far  pofteriorto  the 
 Chriftian  sera  :  and  apparently  muft  have  been  fubfequent  to  the 
 recovery  of  Sicily  from  the  Mahometans  in  the  eleventh  century; 
 as  it  feems  impofiible  to  fuppofe  that  Jlatues  in  churches  ftiould 
 efcape  their  fury  throughout  a  period  of  nearly  two  hundred  and 
 fifty  years,  during  which  they  were  mailers  of  the  ifland.  At 
 a  ratc  there  cannot  be  a  more  complete  demolition  of  the  cal- 
 culations of  Recupero,  than  that  which  Mr.  Brydone  here  fur- 
 nifties  unawares. 
 
CONCLUSION.  365 
 
 the  difficulties  of  religion  to  reafoning  believers  and 
 unbelievers.  The  attempt,  however  well  intended, 
 is  palpably  molt  abfurd.  Miracles  are  the  founda- 
 tion of  Chriftianity.  The  fcriptural  hiftory  is  a  hif- 
 tory  of  miracles.  What  if  one  miracle  out  of  an 
 hundred  could  be  folved  into  natural  caufes?  Would 
 thofe  who  were  daggered  by  an  hundred  be  more 
 willing,  is  it  reafonable  that  they  mould  be  more 
 willing,  to  credit  the  ninety  nine  ?  Receive  with  fub- 
 miflion  the  hiftory  of  mankind  as  it  is  in  Scripture, 
 and  the  Chriftian  faith  "  as  it  is  in  Jefus."  In  your 
 prefent  ftage  of  existence  there  will  neceflarily  be 
 parts  of  the  Divine  councils  and  difpenfations, 
 which  you  "  fee  as  through  a  glafs  darkly  (V)." 
 Why  needs  your  faith  to  be  troubled,  be  the  amount 
 fomewhat  lefs  or  more  ? 
 
 II.  That  practice  is  Chriftian  practice,  which  pro- 
 ceeds from  Chriftian  motives.  He,  who  performs  the 
 duties  of  morality,  becaufe  he  fees  that  it  is  the  cuf- 
 tom  to  perform  them,  is  a  punctual  imitator  ;  and 
 may  be  deftitute  of  religion.  He,  who  performs 
 them  for  the  fake  of  worldly  intereft,  is  a  prudent 
 man  ;  and  may  be  an  unprincipled  hypocrite.  He, 
 who  is  obfervant  of  fuch  of  them  as  the  laws  of 
 honour  condefcend  to  fanclion,  is  "  a  man  of  ho- 
 "  nour  j"  and  may  be  a  villain.  He,  who  in  con- 
 formity to  the  dictates  of  cuftom  or  of  prudence,  (I 
 fpeak  not  of  honour,  for  it  meddles  not  with  the 
 fubject,)  attends  to  the  outward  duties  of  Chriftian 
 
 worfhip, 
 
 (e)   1  Cor.  xiii.  12. 
 
$66  CONCLUSION. 
 
 Worihip,  has  no  claim  to  the  reward  of  a  Chriftian. 
 Numbers  belonging  to  one  or  other  of  thefe  defcrip- 
 tions  you  will  hear  celebrated  in  the  world  as  mod 
 refpectable  perfons:  for,  "  man  looketh  on  the 
 "  outward  appearance,  but  the  Lord  looketh  on  the 
 "  heart  Kd)"  Leave  fuch  characters,  for  even  yet 
 they  may  be  awakened  and  reclaimed,  to  the  for- 
 bearance and  mercy  of  an  offended  God  :  but  make 
 it  the  bufinefs  of  your  life  not  to  be  like  to  them. 
 Love  and  gratitude  to  God  and  your  Redeemer 
 muft  be  your  ruling  principle,  if  you  are  really  a 
 Chriftian.  Every  duty  which  you  perform  on  that 
 principle,  your  God  and  Redeemer  will  reward. 
 For  any  duty  which  you  perform  on  fome  other 
 principle,  on  what  pretence  can  you  expect  a  re- 
 ward from  them  ? 
 
 The  ways  of  religion  "  are  ways  of  pleafantnefs ; 
 "  and  all  her  paths  are  peace  (V)."  Unqueftionably 
 they  are.  They  may  be  intricate,  and  craggy,  and 
 ftrewed  with  thorns  :  but  they  are  furrounded  with 
 "  joy  unfpeakable,  and  full  of  glory  (J")  •/'  with 
 "  the  peace  of  God  which  paffeth  all  underftand- 
 te  *ng  (£)•"  But  d°  you  f°rget  that  there  will  be 
 intricacies,  craggy  obftacles,  and  thorns  ?  Do  you 
 imagine  that,  after  all  that  Chrift  has  done,  nothing 
 on  your  part  is  neceflary  for  the  attainment  of  falva- 
 tion  ?  Or  do  you  think  that  whatever  you  may  have 
 to  do,  the  Divine  grace,  promifed  to  fervent  prayer, 
 will  enable  you  to  perform  without  difficulty  ?  Why 
 
 then 
 
 (d)  I  Sam.  xvi.  7.  (*)  Prov.  iii.  17. 
 
 (/)   1  Pet.  i.  8,  (g)  Phil.  iv,7. 
 
CONCLUSION.  367 
 
 then  do  the  Scriptures  fpeak  of  the  life  of  a  Chris- 
 tian as  a  warfare  ?  Why  do  they  fpeak  of  "  deny- 
 "  ing  yourfelf ;"  of  "  taking  up  the  crofs  j"  of 
 "  crucifying  the  flefh  with  its  affections  and  lulls  ;" 
 of  "  wreftling  againfl  principalities  and  powers  of 
 "  darknefs  j"  of  "  putting  on  the  whole  armour  of 
 "  God,  that  you  may  be  able  to  fland  againfl  the 
 "  wiles  of  the  devil  ?"  If,  with  the  affiflance  which 
 God  has  promifed  to  afford,  you  will  not  manfully 
 "  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith;"  if  you  will  not 
 watchfully  purfue,  through  whatever  intricacies,  the 
 path  of  duty  ;  if  you  will  not  flrenuoufly  labour  to 
 furmount  the  obflacles  which  impede  your  Ghriflian 
 courfe  ;  if  you  will  not  patiently  and  cheerfully  fuf- 
 tain  the  thorns,  with  which  the  ways  of  religion  are 
 flrewed  :  if  you  will  not  "  endure  hardnefs,"  call 
 not  yourfelf  "  a  good  foldier  of  Jefus  Chrifl  (£)." — 
 "  The  Captain  of  your  falvation  was  made  perfect 
 "  through  fufterings  (/)."  He  fuffered  for  you, 
 leaving  you  an  example  that  you  mould  follow  his 
 fteps  (£).  He  may  call  you,  as  he  did  his  primitive 
 fervants,  to  "  refill"  his  enemies  and  thofe  of  your 
 foul  even  "  unto  blood(/)."  You  are  not  the  faithful 
 fervant  of  Chrifl,  unlefs  you  are  wholly  his  fervant ; 
 prepared  to  relinquifh  all  things,  to  bear  all  things, 
 for  him.  He  calls  yon,  and  every  one  of  his  ferv- 
 ants, to  refill  and  overcome  "  the  world :"  its  ridi- 
 cule no  lefs  than  its  applaufe,  its  fmiles  no  lefs  than 
 its  frowns,  its  allurements  no  lefs  than  its  indigna- 
 tion.    Try  then  habitually  the  principles  on  which 
 
 you 
 
 (h)   2  Tim.  !!.  3.  (i)   Heb.  il.  10. 
 
 (i)  i  Pet.  ii.  21 1  (/)  Heb.  xii.  4. 
 
368  CONCLUSION. 
 
 you  act,  the  line  of  conduct  which  you  purfue, 
 the  ends  at  which  you  aim,  not  by  the  rule  of 
 worldly  cuftom,  of  worldly  intereft,  of  worldly 
 praife  ;  but  by  the  Gofpel  of  Chrift.  Afk  yourfelf 
 with  refpecl:  to  every  undertaking,  with  refpecl  to 
 every  mode  of  proceeding  and  every  difpofition  of 
 heart  with  which  you  profecute  that  undertaking, 
 whether  Chrift  on  his  throne  of  judgment  will  ap- 
 prove it.  If  you  cannot  anfwer  that  queftion  to  the 
 fatisfaction  of  your  confcience,  defift  :  whatever  ad- 
 vantage you  abandon,  whatever  detriment,  whatever 
 fcorn,  you  incur,  defift.  "  What  mall  it  profit 
 "  you,  if  you  gain  the  whole  world,"  all  its 
 wealth,  all  its  honours,  all  its  pleafures,  all  its 
 praife,  "  and  lofe  your  own  foul  (m)  ?"  Would 
 you  confefs  Chrift  in  the  face  of  perfecution  and 
 death  ?  Confefs  Him  then  in  the  face  of  fmaller  evils, 
 of  fmaller  facrifices.  Hear  and  remember  through- 
 out life  his  own  words  :  "  Whofoever  mall  confefs 
 "  me  before  men,  him  will  I  confefs  alfo  before  my 
 "  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  But  whofoever  fhall 
 "  deny  me  before  men,  him  will  1  alfo  deny  before 
 "  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven  (»).' 
 
 (to)  Mark,  viii.  36.  (n)  Matt.  x.  32,33. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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