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that they should succeed in their attempt. Against all appearance, the success followed. In less than half a century, the sound of the gospel went out into all lands; and, within three centuries from the death of Christ, christianity ascended the imperial throne; and had the utmost parts of the earth for its possession.

To increase the wonder, this amazing revolution was brought about, by pacific methods only; as was, likewise, foretold

2. In the LATTER of the two prophecies to which I before alluded..

Jesus himself quotes this prophecy from Isaiah in the following words-Behold, my servánt, whom I have chosen, my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment, i. e. declare a new law, to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, i. e. (as all interpreters explain these proverbial expressions) he shall not employ the least degree of force or violence in the propagation of this law, till he send forth judgment unto victory, till it finally prevail against all opposition; And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. Matth. xii. 18–21.

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: Let any man read the history of christianity, from its first publication in Judea, to the conversion of Constantine, and then see whether this prophecy hath not been exactly and illustriously completed. The followers of Jesus were numerous enough, long before the empire became Christian, to have attempted the way of force, had it been permitted to them:* and the insults, the oppressions, the persecutions, which they suffered from their Pagan enemies, were enough to provoke the most passive tempers to some acts of hostility and resistance.†

* Si enim et hostes exertos, non tantum vindices occultos, agere vellemus, deesset nobis vis numerorum et copiarum? Tertull. Apologet. c. 37.

† Could it be foreseen, that nothing of this sort would happen? When the reformation was set on foot in Germany, Luther and his adherents resolved to carry it on in the spirit of the gospel, that is, by pacific measures. But how soon did passion and policy strike in, to drive them from this purpose! The Catholics were intolerant the Reformed grew powerful: and then, what was too naturally to be expected, followed.

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If it be said, that the gospel hath not been always propagated, without force; I acknowledge, it has not but then I observe, 1. That it was incontestably so propagated, till the conversion of the Roman empire; in which event, alone, the prophecies appear to have had a reasonablé completion: 2. That the force employed, has gener-ally been the force of one Christian sect, directed against some other (in which scandalous contentions the prophecies have no concern) not in the propagation of christianity itself in unbelieving countries 3. That the way of force, when professedly used against unbelievers, though, in some cases, it has contributed to the enlargement of Christ's kingdom, has yet, in others (where, too, the utmost force and zeal were combined) very signally failed of success; of which the crusades against the Mahometans afford a striking instance: and 4. lastly, That we expect the final universal prevalence

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But every one knows, that they had recourse to no arms, but those of the spirit: they took no advantage of distracted times, to raise commotions in behalf of the new religion, or to suppress the old one: a bruised reed did they not break, and smoking flax did they not quench: yet with meekness, and patience, and suffering; by piety, by reason, by the secret influence of a divine blessing attending on these feeble efforts, the doctrine of the cross insensibly gained ground, spread itself far and wide, and in the end became victorious over all the rage, and power, and sophistry of an unbelieving world.*

of the Christian faith from the same spiritual arms only, which were first employed with such success in the propagation of it.

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* An eminent writer, with the view, indeed, of disgracing the Reformation, hath set this matter in a very just light : Que nos freres," says he, "ouvrent donc les yeux; qu'ils les jettent sur l'ancienne Eglise, qui durant tant de siecles d'une persecution si cruelle ne s'est jamais echapee, ni un seul moment, ni dans un seul homme, et qu'on a vue aussi soumise sous Diocletien, et meme sous Julien l'apostat, lorsqu'elle remplissoit deja toute la terre, que sous Neron et sous Domitien, lorsqu'elle ne faisoit que de naitre : C'EST-LA QU'ON VOIT VERITABLEMENT LE DOIGT DE DIEU.”

Hist. des Variations, 1. x. c. 53.

The finger of God, as the learned writer says, was indeed conspicuous in this conduct of the primitive Christians, because it fulfilled the prophecies (so unlikely to be fulfilled) concerning the manner in which christianity was to obtain an establishment in the world. If the conduct of the reformed had not this merit, it was because the prophecies did not extend to the reformation of Christian religion, but to the introduction and first settlement of it. The agents, in this last work of Providence, were therefore left to the natural influence of their passions, and they acted too frequently as those passions impelled them.

That this victory hath not been, hitherto, so complete, as to answer the promise of an absolute universality, we readily acknowledge; but are in no pain for the event;* as the same oracles, which have thus far been verified, suppose the present condition of things; and, what is more, assure us of a time to come, when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in.

One word more, and I have done. If it be now thought, that these THREE prophecies—concerning the destruction of Jerusalem-the dispersion of the Jews-and the call of the Gentiles-have been clearly accomplished; and yet were of that nature, that no human foresight could deliver them, nor any probable conjuncture of human affairs account for the accomplishment of them, you will conclude that they were truly divine, and that we do not

For the rest, how far the general precepts of the gospel require a passive submission and non-resistance to outrageous intolerance, whether absolutely, and in all cases, is a point of nice discussion; in which I take no part, at present, because I am not now making the apology of the reformed, but shewing the completion of the prophecies concerning the propagators of christianity and the wonder to see them so punctually completed, is not lessened, but increased, by supposing, that the precepts of the gospel leave mankind to the free use of their natural rights, in the case of extreme violence and injustice.

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* The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it, because it shall surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk, ii. S.

abuse your credulity in alleging such prophecies, in proof of our holy religion. You will see and acknowledge that there are prophecies, recorded in scripture, concerning the Christian church: and that these prophecies, in particular, concerning it, have been remarkably fulfilled. Ye will, therefore, the less wonder to find, that there are still other prophecies, relative to the kingdom of Christ, as administered in this world; and will, of course, be disposed to consider, with less prevention, what may further be said in support of them.

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