K • 1 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) "»> 1.0 i^Ui'lii m m I.I !if Ki |22 5 Uk ^^ I^JiJ4 iJ4 // I. :/- .^ « ■I ^ . ala. loraqua oala «tait poaaiblt. ggt iMfpt n'ont. paa «t« film^aa. t '^^^ Additional eomrhanta:/ Commantfiraa tupplAmantoiraa; L'Inatitut p microfilm* la maillaur axamplaira qu'il lui a it« poaaibia da aa procurar. Las d«tailt da cat axamplaira qui sont paut-«tra uniquas du point da vua bilTiiographiqua. qui pauvant modifier una imaga raproduita. ou qui pauvant axigar uha modification dana la mAthoda normala da filmaga . sont indidute -ci-dalaaous. □ Colourad pagaa/ Pagaa Pagaa da coulaur Pagaa dahiagad/ Pagaa andomrtnag'daa □ Pagaa raatorad and/or laminalad/ Pagaa raataur«as at/ou palliculias 0y* frfi P»g«a dlscolouripcl, stalnad or foxad/ ucJ Pagas d«color«aa. tachatias ou piqu*aa Pagaa dotae'had/ Pagaa ditachias QShowthrougA/ Tranaparanet >* n a Quality of print variaa/ Oiuallt«'in«gaia da limproaslen Indludaa supplamanf ary matariai/ Comprand du material supplAmantaira 9 OnlVadltion avalkibia/ Sauki Mition diaponibia .^ Pagaa wholly or partially obscurad by arrata slips, tissuaa, ate. hava baan rbfilmad to ansura tha b*st possibia imaga/ Las pagas totalamant ou partiailamant obacurcias par un fauillat d'arrata. una paiura. ate., ont «t« fllmias A nouvaau da favon A obtanir la maillaura imaga poaaibia. % . This Itam is fllmad at tha raduetlon ratio ehaokad balow/ Ca dooumafit aat fllmA au taux da rMuction indlquA oidassoua. 10X MX ' •x«mplair« urar. L«s detail* ^tra uniquas du pauvant modiffar ivant axigar uila rnnaia da filmaga . lalad/ biiliaa tr foxad/ ou piquAaa an •rial/ imantaira eurad by arrata I rkf ilmad to !•/ iailamant rrata. una palura. lu da fa^on i asibl«. \ % . 3I)X. ,Th« copy fllmMl hara hat baan raproduead thanka to tha ganaroaity^of: Bit>lioth*qua nationala du Quibac Tha imagaa appaariog hara ara tha bMt quality poaaibia conildarihg tha condMonarid iagiblHty of tha original copy and in kaaping with tha filming contract apaciflcatlona. Original copiaa in printad papar covara ara filmad baginning with ttf front covar and anding on tha iaat paga wi^ a printad or iiluatratad impraa* aion, or tha back covar whan appropriata. All othar original copiaa ara flimad bagihning on thf f irat paga wfth a printad or iiluatratad impraa- alon, and anding on tha Iaat paga with a printad or HJuatratad impraaaton. Tha Iaat racordad frama on aach microficha ahaii contain tha aymbol -•-► (moaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha aymbol ▼ (moaning "END"), whichavar appliaa. •» Mapa, piataa. charta, ate, may ba filmad at diffarant raduction ratioa. Thoaa too iarga to ba antiraly inciudad In ona axpoaunKara flimad baginning in tha uppar iaft hand cornar, iaft to right and top to bottom, aa many framaa aa raquirad. Tha following diagrama illuatrata tha mtthod: tr'axamplaira film* f ut raproduit grlnBa A la g«n«roait4 da: BibiiothAqua nationala du QuAbac Laa Imagaa auhrantaa ont At* raproduitaa avac ki piua grand aoin. compta tanu da la conditton at da la nattati da I'axamplaira fllmA. atpn cOnformit* avac laa conditiona du cofltrat da filmaga. i . Laa axamplalraa originaux dont la couvartura an papiar aat ImprimAa aont fiimAa an commanfant ^rjpar la pramiar plat at an tarminant aoit par ki damlAra paga qui comporta una ampralnta d'impraaaion ou dlHuatriitlqn. aoit par ki aacond . pkit. aalon ia caa. Toua laa autraa axamplalraa originaux aont flimAa an^comman^nt pwr la ilramlAra pa#B qui comporta una ampraltna d'impraaaion ou d'illuatration at an tarminant par ki darnlAra paga qui comporta un» talla ampralnta. Un daa aymbdaa wKranta apparaltra aur ia darnlAra imaga da chaqua microficha. aalon ia caa: la aymbda — »• aignHia "A 8UIVRE". ia aymbola ▼ aignifia "FIN". Laa cartaa, planchaa. tabiaaux, ate., pauvant Atra filmAa i daa taux da riduction difftranta. Loraqua la documant aat trop grand pour Atra raproduit w un aaui cliohA. II aat fllmA A partir da I'angia aupAriaur gaucha, da gauaho A droita, at da haut an baa, an pranant la nombra d'imagaa nAooaaaira. Laa diagrammaa auivanta iilustraht ki mAthoda. -7--::*- > 'ii '^^'^ ' '■4%\ ■'■ J "■^' ■r>':: ^:-T-+ ■"'■/--■.■ '. ■ J '; ■^ •iw--'' 'Kf.. 1 -■:>', >■ . .*. 3 * ^,i' 4; '■:» . 3 mmmmmm w t ♦ >•» y", *•■■ • J OF THS PRINCIPAL leVIDENCES •TRUra AND :0V TH,1S Christian ' DU3ICit|lt. rETLT FOR THE USE OF YoJNG PHtSOMS* : A POEM ON DEATH. :i4tr F#;. rji^" , ^ BY BIELBY PORTEUS, D. »: >» BISmP OF LONDO:^. i^U NEir BDitlON. »| i !iL ''B SCS=C5MS|(»30 ■»»■ I ll lU'- P' K£§ ' MONTREAL: /3 ^ PRINTED BY NAHpM MOWffll. ♦ i 1 ■^- *, » "T * 1 S^' 0t ')/* f. !m. ti •V^-. v'l^. %.-. « -«**'% i' r"^^ ""• " :.:»:' -rr ff ,-« <-' '>" '\ * ' K A^''^^:^m^:^^^i mt^ V'vt ■' H'^ ,H , • , %' ^ m W l»4 >hr\ i .i *'i ^n^l"? ^^V#|ef^'>-^ : -it.^.'f 1 •• . ;*' <^< .?4 « ^ % M '#«.'!'*.#, I' «^> '*' m\Jt ^k' < '♦^ I l1^Hn^'^^'^>i ■ -'f.^ '\ ,f i »•>• / 1 ' »• ^ -f ^ <«"»j* ^/ /ri-ij^ 1 . .« \ \\ \ o^ t /'a» >5I> t, -^'f Uf 'Ji. i1 J ( .^A 'V ^'^^V ■i#'Vi"'^i::t^ i#- f -V •- « i kt;; • ' "' • • /. . . . t !oR readers 0^ a in«ttw4|f m4' judffineot, there Mcfo many excellent trcatifcs on the Eyidcnt tSbcw yiw ftm wanting fonwthing in a ihorter, a chcapet* a more me- ,tht>dical and fitmitiar form. This m a time, w*eh it is |xcttUarly proper to communicate to young people the frbicf grounds of thoirfaith, and to lay jthe foundations @f a firm belief m the ^ iiwilttion^ leaiw(|it M • ni.'*' ' iv PR££AC£* evidences which j-cafon furpifties ix\ favor of Chriftiaoity, thofe funher proofs of its trmh^ vwtivch I Uvift they wWherea£ter^dMv^#M^ highet and better fources ; frooi gii intiaiate^ acquaintAncewiththefacred writings; from the illumin%fiflig and ftnftifying - influences of the Hply Spirit vpon tjhcir vnderftandings and th^ir hearts i; and from the ^xpcirimental convifltMM- «(^|Nxfti i» «^Ani|itit^ii% "ikm&df of ccnfeidBtCi ?p^iyiiif fi df to ^^; Ilvwtbnc^rnpFiBch i^aiiUe importi^ fAcr, no jpf^tc^lildf^'idtfboe^i^ ti$ be difcouT^gcd-j. d>epr€ciat|rf^ or whh^ liekbt Anitas tfais^titne n^x^re p^tkiif a^ htilyi vtrlicn i»w^ cotnpettidSdin$Jof id4 JAdity^and new l^tdk^mChrifiitoity -■*.'-^ .";**^ ■''.* ^- It »f e ^pcrtoi C6at! wftli iiidc^ fatigabte mdutry, through cirtry part of tb6 kingdoiii^aiid^vcry clafe ofthc ^[^^(11^ fecms ^highly ^xpedi. IJi^Xq m^ Jthcfc hoftilc attempts with j)^^catip0s .of m <^pofit^ tendcncyi, netnii ito lor^ijfy th^ mindife of tttofe who brc jjuft entjerin^ kxto the world, by |)lain and qonj^ife ftatemciiJts of the principal ;ir.g,umeiU:s in favor ofChrif- tianity, again ft tl^c .efforts that wiU be made to miflead their jiwignaentl^ ^corrupt their principles, iiid^^^i^^ I their b-elief in the |ol]^ s)f Chriftit "VV^th ayiew tberjafore ,of fulj&lUtig $hit4uty towards the youth, jn^m imnfiediatejy under m^^^re, I ha^;^ draw« up the following Uttje tracl. My cl^icf -objca, has been to CQl|ecl together intp one view, and to c0ii;i- prefs together in a narrpw conipa{s,aU |he naoftiorcible arguments ;q| the liP^th of 4!j||^€cUg^^^ which are to be \n Q urlieft wrrterHjWi^h the a^> > , i-4': ■'-ii'^' ratal fe-.:- n f d tiftdeft a few fcort^'ipleat^l^iftin^a iptapoSxmm ; »» ai : ■ ■ ' . l : ■ . ■ f =LU=-=tIlJ= "■i.y -. 4-\ ittj'Aaji^ vH Ufciples, thk wheil the^ |ibiftleli,al^ that i;j^othii)gjTtore is rei quired a^ their h^^^^ Ttie^Bq^ ini^ pQi-t2|rjt jw| erf tJ^ bufinleCk ftiil^i^^^^^ mains to . bg accooijdlpicd^, J^&!tK |belng fatisfied that the Chriftian Reli-. igion doM€$ froinii God, their lititt flea is to ittfl^ tatcfuliy wh« thalt rel|^ IgiOfi fsi,#Ratthe dt) iifeful C|||th€rik to begin v^itfJvGaftrelf s. GhrimSii* ItiflStiitas, antf AfcJi^Wfedf) ^^(kk^fitA&iifesim the church cat^ chisii^ tilt the fi?ft' they will fiad thi| doatte^r aJ^ of tfeie tJhriftah |(d!gion i1iiij|«l"urida- theiir proj*»er^ ftliads' in th^> v*2ry vt^)rdij of fcriptuire. « «•» ^m VKE¥AejL. by ;^t moft able, pious, and judicibu| di^ac* ' i^lil^ this tbey may prof eed tc^dy the fcripturet tht®[)ltJves, j^ morcpartfoydarly th^NewT^airieRt; mi* the afliftai^c* ctf f)n Doddr^^ Family^ Expofit^r^ to %bh^ t^ fliould add ioriic of tht iermcms of j our beft diyines, Biflic^ Taylor, patr . K^' : ,■■ f. •-■ ■■ -A:' '- ■ - ■ ■■ ■•>^' :•■- ,.,... . Whsn tlifiYJizvt Ihrm I^mt whit Chvifk ianity h, apd v%^ it^mwdi iudifffin^Ue duty (m # i^ijwnq^ft lionably t^eir tjcy# ifitereft) tp be- Ikvip implicitiy allthe^dodrincjS, mi pbey ^h i^ec^rfirtn ^ jy coWr f[\^,d^yj^i their Majccr aijd'jis^tfil-/ .^ry Ka fdcvj^ct tp ihtm^ ^nd tQ,thev fmrxm mM(^m arid ir i-e^ylgr defires j to preferyp-fhemfelve^ jurt(|ottcdiTjqp^ the worlds aad it^ impjore the a)pft.. ''''■, i J*. pREFAea,. i^ dicibuf aipent, 6ns of I rsi to render tiiek beliif in tfiegot jpel ^feftual to the £an5tifi?:atio|i ^f re^,5Mr)^|their heart$^ thp rcgulatioir of thai- llive^^ind theialvation of their fqulsi* . Jthayc^Qnly to ad4i tlml althougk^ ttiis little tr^atiie |s de%ned prpd^ p^lly for the inftrudion ^; Y^uth^ ygt cQttfidCired as a kind of rcc^pituls^ioa ]pf thq EvidenciBs of ehriftiahity, it inniay befound of^^fo td perfqn^ of ^ mqTe~ mature age, by rtfKikmg wheirtmemorifes, and taringpg^ back t(i their recolkdioa thofe^proofs ^f their, religion, ^imch ^h^f have formerly re^d ia larger and more elalfeprate works; and which they will here fee. brought together iatoooe point of view. . ' it what * tlieir to ¥e- z^y and et^eenj* n tu '■\ ,/■ i^i -»T- » •-> '- f *> 1 i ) 4 A A^*' ^» -J ^'^'">. .«.' »v H» ' ^ Ji*' .1 k •it; ~ f .; - .■#,'" • A -J . ooooooooooood Sir Mia A Kit ■ii}i^i^'J-.'''l '*,%"' l ''*'»*.v .1 ,t 'i. • A''a.< '^ or rut PRINCIPAL EVIDENCES FOR 'int TRUTH AND BlVJffM OMWf0 OF TUB CHRISTIAN REVElA'rtOSfc '■■'■•* \:rv X H£ ilietk3d I intend to purine in this Irea^ifei u to prefem to tny yoimg ^eader^ t&c following feries of pro| 15 On the Truth and blvme OngiH thc'Heathien world, before the appear since of t>ur Lord upon earth, it is cvi; dent that there was in abrolutc necfcfj Iky foF^ revelation of God^s thrill, and^ of coiir^^ ii^lel^ff^^ before, hand that fuch a revelation would b< gftnted. ■-'»'5!,"'S- ix^as^a general e;?;peiQl^tionin the worl( of fome extraordinary perfonage mafc ing > ftid> ap^iFa<^?t %- it, a p*fot called Jeftxs Chrift did aftu^lly appeal upon earthy afferting that he was thi Sqii *dingly found ' religionj which from him was callo thcChriftian Religion, aniwh1cji|^j nbcncri profeflfcd-by g<*eat nurabersiJjoi ^Mimdis^ ivQm iiha^ ttme i£i i , ^ Jllf ThcbftDka f>f^he Ng mcnt were written J>y tioicip5rii&ii*.to i^i^^mim is t fekWol hidorjr of Chrift ind m religipn 2 and itos aceotint there gti^. tt of both, Jftiy be fecurdly relfed upon ^Amddf trh IV. the fcriptiii^ erf the Old tet iitritibt (which iMd cm^tctcd ^ith tliofe of iheNe^^ writings of thofe bear, and give at ij arc tlite feiruine who^ Panics t^ey *iie acc6unt of tte* Mofaic d[ilp€nfati<|ni of the hiftoticil facts, the divine ctWimand«,thlrTttora^ precepts^ and th they contain. ■ . ' ■ I .< 1^ The chjura^t rcfentedln tfeie ^ flrong ip'diind 1p0] uras a divine per , VI. The fublimitf and the purity of confirm tMa^ belL prophecies which azi r^rT"^ <, "" ,» i 5l9» stfFords very bcficving tlm he )f his diClfittes is moral prcacpts < I? » J: *■ VA v¥p, He rapid and iuccefsfiil pfdpagatfon g£ the gofpcl by the firft teachers of it^ through a la|:gc part of timmoiiA, is a proof that they wetc ia^ipirc^ with divine affiftance and fhjf^ port. . . ? ' i- X Wok Acompmhtk betwixt Chrift tod Mahdoiet and their refpedive religi^ns^ leads us to conclude, that a« lliifi jrdj^on of the bttcr was confeff- •dly lliMiiiivention of matr, that of the loipir was derived from God. ■ \ If, ^ , • *? j.> PL The predi^ons delivered by tkr ancSnt prophets, and fulfilled in iHir Sav:i<»]ft#Kiw that he was the Meffiak afeded % the Jews, and thstf he oune into tte^ world by divine appointment, to be the great deliverer md redeemer of mankind. %* Tie prophecies delivered by our Saviour himfclf, prove that he \iikh tfiff ' %-^' #,- 6f fiiture events, which btHongg bnly to God and ta thofc in{pil^ ■by hm XI. The miradet qperi^i^ii^ bi^ our Lord, demonftratc hi^i^liiN poffefled divine power. XII. The refurreaiii«rof\bu '1^ *r* n?-i:, ^ > 1»^.. t nx .i-.-.M, f. » .> -f w*.i *' *5i ' .%. the our tba for WO: H T that I and I for ir pcarc adut Irork tilted with ."^. ''^^•*^,>' ■ 1 «•'• i i0.,iX |»R0 POSITION X. >a?^ .IIM'- Mi *■'.;■.:«• nfidering the fltate of the hea- then wot Id ^ before the appearance i^ our to f 4 upon edrth^ it is evident that there was an qhfotute necejfftty for a divine revelation (f Qo^^ will^ pnd^ ofcourJe^(i:griatprobabilit'l teforehatid^ that Jiich a revelatiof^ would be granted. ' ^'* ' I' HEY who are iiqu»i«yd witi anciciitliiftory, kri#w perfcftly well ihatthere Is no one fe^^^^ ail mine O^gi^ «rv al5 -^S ^f^ ^ idol 1 S- ^"H i^^ "^'^ft aboffiSie cor. rupuon and depravity of manner^ n^rft.5 "'^V^^V^^ attributes and rn« worjhiR that F^s acceptkble to required from hi§ creatures : nor had Mhey any clear nption, or CfaS pftheimmortaliiVofthefo^anda ftate of rewards an^ punifhmemfin tnultuude of go4s :»nd goddefes. ta ^^*^";.^^^y«^'»bedthclorfi>Soi; ^tcedLr^ ''*=^^ that everts ™>pped alio dead men and wn*)^ birds and beafls. infers anitSS (/?fpecully that moft odioM andS V. 0'Xihnm^dm ttm^^^ t$ ftoiie. Witt i^fp^^^iiNieir i:lwa condutSt, they wei^« f h^oft unl verlaUf of 4i^v^^n ymicc ibeii^cr|[^e gtlli m of liWiP^rftre tttcnded wi^ tJi| m^ ^ va|p luad^ criid iupcrftitiioiis^ a^d Jt^rietiBiei €VC9 vith%«cian fac- IM Pagans bjr St. Pwl, is the ir^t chap. $et ot his epiftle to the Romans, ^ ^riftly »nd litjufally tti^v '**^^'They were filled with all uimghteQujfnefe, ^oruiicjttion, wickwtoei^lsetetdulfBcls, pnclcannpls, njalicionfeifi, fuU of «ri- «y, iaurder,^ debate, a«ceki aaalignityj whifpiveiv, b»clcbiter»iii||iKBf Qad, ^ Ij itifo l, fbttud, b0afeWF ittiNSAt. «!i of eviithiags|>di&*«(feint t#p». :L^_=t£_i. 1 \ » -f ' COfW' 20 On the Truth Jt BWine OHgi*, »a»t;hr^dE^S, wItKout natual affcc tiQD> iajpiacabl%,ijtunercifiil.'' .^;; ^'J''\'i i,i>» . ^"^^foW*? aaere general de- 7 ?^f ^^w of the tunes » thev are %hf«| ^.ejcacl piaures of thei*^! i!S^ *^*i^^' ^'^^^ *^^ ^^e fully and ^icftiiien, ^nteriw- ibey arc applied ?«?:*fegr«itfitiidi»^oJt: «- Oa tie TrM mdJbMKe Origin ^orttHty oCthe foul, tile reality of tW !?• '^t P'i"*'^«*»«^^» hereafter, gq^werefull of doubt, uncertaint Viifi^d^d hoped for, than coni «$» «xpeaed andbeli€Ved,lh^m^ l^Ji,, wea what th^*^^"^«fc«^the virtues |g^Omhxended;theyhad>u,a «Pt?,Md«lto«o*^| th*« S ^o6tE^ne|| a^d tjie dcteftable vicOi to *-i«i'^ ,:«:.■"% 1 f V. 4, I , ' ' W *5fSy=rr J — 111"* \ \: ■ ^ ristidn kevelaiion. %^ , ' ^iipftroycd the effic^ of whal they taught. ^ " ^ Abdve all, they were deftkuce or jofe awfiil fenafons of rcligio^ « we the ttibffieflfeaual reftr^M m the paffioits and vices of 4Hli" 'Jl |L< 'l ^^U ->. ''n J^t ty very time when tMfretwas a genem extraordinary perjonage making bis appearance in it., § per/on called ^e- Jus Chrijfi did finally dpfear upon ec^tb^ 0l^rti^tbai^y^ Son if Qod^ and J^4t be came from hmr en to tiach mankind^ true religion ; an4 be did accordingly found d reti^ gion, wFuh from hipt wal t called^ tbf Chriftian Religion^ *^^ wbicb Sm been, profejffed by greai numbers ^ people from that time to the pref^nt. It was acceffary juft to ftatc this propofition, as ttc tbiiocfat^ df aH' the rcafonirtg that is to follow : but the truth of it is fo univcrfally a€- knowlcdgcd, that it requires buit vcrf few words 10 be faid in fupport of it. ^ (M ilm TmA mi Pivine O^^jf \ That tljicre «is, sJ>oi»t tl|f1|«M^ fur ^vioi^c's t^tk, » general expK S^nlpread over the eaftern pgirt the ^ocidf^tjiatibaie very ejtifwpi,™, nar jr,ger% wo^M gppeah iA Jfudea^fe »T'*^ ^ojt^ froin Uii ftfipcd hjftbry »nd from P^gan witfrs. St. Matthew »'*(?'■«» >s» tl»at when Jefiw v?» bb«i *fti.%|Wfihei« of Jud^a; there qtawj |j.^i#?9 (fifobal^ly meo of CQafidcr. ?#H;»#Jt4qd: learnUjg ift the'- ' *^0W9J1) frp^ the Eaft, »,.»b %W«^o|| h J^ acnt wd fi|tft4 Qpiniw»ir^«ti th/ iljould arife oujf* of< fwidksft fet^ yhoflpal4obffw(<^ f ^ tt ti^w time, iffacft ^se£»s w^ Emptk<^ <^^iyTney z per- fon callect Jefus Ck^ was aftaalljf ' irn in Judeft } that he profieffed to lt#^^ fytatven to teach mariltiiid Itriie ffel^gion, ^nd that lit had a tnulti. tudijBpf foJk)vt^jwsf 'Ihe iicred hiftorl- \wg ttii9x^i«»ujh|r yflNn^ j^d iev«rd ifillcriwMk^i^ alfc^ Jwar tcftitnony [to the &me fa#?. T?hcy mention tl)^ very naine of Chjrift, and acknowL Udge that heh»d m great nqmber of teidples, who from hin) were djifled ChfittitOf. ?h«|ey 9,^ though prt?. flffed eneoi^i ti^ ptiir 1 teeli^n, ac- |hano«i|Bdge tlielt ihings to be true ; a»d none, eycfv of the «rU«*ft Fag^n? ^hoitlWit ag!riftft.<^friftian>ty, pvet lietrtiJdedto ^u^fti^i their r«a!&|r. th«& tilings, ihtitlgore, arc *» certaW and uniftiiitile « ancient hi^ty, hQ(h$Mre4|4wd p^o^kfte, knd the tioti. fcuruHit teftiwwiy htotfi of friends iiid oies, cm poffiblyujaalse thipD^ ■ V mU 4ii* .•*-.. m f :^i r fn^._ ^'i* Iff ..«.i^ 'fiJ^t^^^'-^- -k- V. #R r J^e afc \pay hi truf^ s«. V jry of Icligim trk^ L jorc rcj fftorks imciol :-A., ;iON III. ■'■% nprikenbym^^ii^hsto whom the f ^re qfcribe4j Md c&ntain i^ fdifhful |^?'7 ^ JO^0 ^^d ^ rilipan : land the acmM there given of both^ \imy befecurely relied ufan as Jlriilly true»^ B^ io0l«;s >ir!ii(A contain tl^e liif- |ry of CJtirift and pf tb^ ChHftian [cligioii, |ure tif four ftQ%cbi and tke Is oyf tiye. Apoftles, That ttie goC- Is iwrcyre written byi%e perjTons whofei imc tbejr bc2^r» njinridj^ M|itthj£^, ark,' L^iec, 5M3d John, there is xm pre rc^fon to dqubt, than that th% fftarie^ whtcfe wc have under . the Ktici ol'lcnOphon, Liyy, of "tacttus,, 54 On the Trntkmd Difimp^igi^ A grcut many paflages s^re allud to or quoted frofn (he Evingelif ^xa£lly 49 we j:ip:a|[ t^^ now,^by t|er% Brom tHe time pf tlie' Apolp^ cjopii to thirl^ W|:^^i ly^fripa their paroc^ as the authors^ pf thcff reft)e^i ve els; which is more thmcan fi^fl ipy^ C|thfr aticient iirorian W' evcr> .V cic books hpivc always b^en coj fidcrc^ by the whug^c Chriftian work a ftli|jif;^l ti^y of theif religion, ai tn^rcfpre th(?y Qught tqbe ri^eived §^\ ; mSl as "^^0 allp w t Kc Kprah cjMlaih af^ accbuntirf t^ m tomctan rehgion, and mc ucr< hm>i4 erf t^ ^i^min* 4 '^riiain trtie tcprelratatioi^ of the Hindoo 1 tJUrdiiisfs €redtbfttt}r| b. i. and P«le|j L/ ,./" '^■: ^ii ^rcry thing otir Safiout fii^l and didi ^ [dc alfo §ndl^ trtii^ tire ]iii#f tli^^ joft fty^iaitial gt%iiidi loi* t^ Fwf in tlie firft pls&e, 4lie irtitert* ^ [ad thai very beft means of informa- pB, and could not poffibly be dep eivi. thebafelyes. V> ■" .- . ■.■„■■ .r', ..:■.■ '■ ' • •.. ; Andf in the n^t plat<^y they could [ave no conceivable iiiducrement iQpl ^ J ■ ■> « St* Matthew and Stt John mert pim. |f our tord-^ Apoftlci ; h^sim Hipanibns and attendants througli- |ut the whole of hk miniftry, Tliey ^erc tftuaUy prefent at the fcene$ ^hich they defcrlbe | |||p-witneffcs If the f a£ts> a nd car wi tn. « There arc» in all the iacred writlngt of the New-Teftament, continual al- lufions and references to things, i»r- fonj^ places, maancrs, cttftoms and IP . On fhM^^" fmd Dk4n€ Chigin foftiy fODialme^le to tbc rfftl ft^trp^ntci4>j Mjmrt&td ami xQ^%fmmmv W- tcftcd ill 4iWir iW^Jtee miMlm<^m^ ces, which yet they have neygf 4^] been., - )...:./%.,,. ^i: 1$" .-*. Then, as t;Oithi hdi% tjiemfclvf!}! Ythidk tiwrf rel*i*, l^fe^t ay pilfers 6ieroai>e,iiitfiticij|fd:MdMif¥jt^^ If j^lnifli and Rcwwiu hiftoriap^ 1 feck ittthfi ft«r th»t iifiiiitr44 ?t mn\ SftMiour'^ birth, ttii JowWf of 4 urife men to B«tWfftic^fi, BNwd^ m dcr of iJkia&ntiii^ many particulars concerning John tBqJ %{Mttft and Bdrodi ih^frvcf ^09 ofl fiilr Lord under PoiJtW? PU»lc, ^n4 i^ which aittii&ilfd M* l^i^j fY^M] ^- vv;^-,>ife tf the Christian Revetatidn. #1 many of the tijilracles which Jefus himfelf wrought, particularly the cur- ing the lame and blind, and cafting out devils, are, as t6 the mattitt-^ fij^^ cxprefsly owned aad admittedly fev- eral of the earlieft and moft implaca- ble enemies of Chriftianity. P«r though they afcrihed thefe mitaclei to the affiftance df evil fpirits, yet they allowed that the miracles them* fclves were aftuiJly wrought;* This teftimony of fur adverfaricf^ leven to the mkaculous parts of the facred hiftory, is the ftrongcft- poffibli confirmation of the truth and author* |ity of, the whole« It is alfo certain, that the l^oks of [the New-Teftament have comi down to the prefent times without an^map ♦ Ct«rkcfs 1? IdwEieei of Iftt. mmI %m. Re» lllgion. i w " •" 1 0;*rtfJ^#^^^*W^ ^ Ifbii 4* t}i0 imr il^ iTaRferiptfr p| mp^4^9 m^y have i)e^n -|t|f|rfpdi J?vf5 iib »ot |>r«tend to 4eny i but ibd dulent corruption of any confiderable' iiii0 hi|s ever ftt^ompted, or tf en al ^0 pvm^ ll)d^4 it Wis ^l^lutel] impofilble. There ,e*0 be pf> j^ul but that, as foon as any of tflc origli tt irritti^gt cwtt 9^% lif t^ fe%|i# (iHtir luthpr^ $jm% t^umfcieri i»f cf to all the different Chriftian churchc "Wr kpow that they wcxe publjcl] rca4m;t3ie, religious aflfeMfc q( ih Plj" i;i.r,.v i;i_'^.ti -._ s.:C,-e^A.^ 1 ar_' '*■' V [th^y V^^r^ y?ry fipQP iTiflflat^iiitqji lall p^^S pf t|i!6/k|^v«^^^ tven f?«cral of t||e piigin^l nFi%nij|- IX^ftiiaiiept %pvrifti^ Wll«^f^#ifr«»i all whkhfubj^^t Willy a^^^^l^^ ^ prcfenf text ot the iacrcd writingsi Befides whicb^ a Viptrfctyf qf fe^^i tnd hcicfios iboR irofe in -the; CSiriftian^ church, and qach 6f thefe ap^^lcd ^. ^bjB 4riptHr^3^ 'Iw ih? trutft (^ their dodrinqs. I; ^ouW, therefp^jcr, haMC been utterly impofliblc for aitiy one it&, tb have fjtiadt i^y tnateriki altm- w ^^:^A|- On the Truth and JOivine Origin lion in the facrcd books, without; log immediately detefted and expofe byv^tt t|^^ Their mutua jealouiy and fufpicipn of each otbei wo^d effcftually jirev^nt afiv gi^ adulteration of the iacr^ voluma, and with refped toleffer matters, thi beft and moft able critics have, {^6 the moftminut^ examination, dfl^rte( and proved, that the holy fcripturt of the New-Teftament have fufferec icfe from the injury of time, and th( errors pf tranfcrifaers, than any othci tndent writings* whatfoever*t ♦Battle, Vol. 1. |>. 188.. t The style, too, of the gotpe! (says i\ amiable and efegant author of the Miostrei bears intrinsic evidence of its truth. W(i iind there no appearance 6f artifice or of |iar| ty spirit ; no attempt to exaggerate on ik one hand, or depreciate on the other ; nort marks thrown in to anticipate objectbni^ iiothing^9f that caution which never fails t( distinjyish the testimony of those who ai consoousof imposture ; no endeavor to re j^ . .til.- \ ^ fh • ,1-4,1 in Nevj^ are th 0nuine mritims vf • ' ■" ft ■ ,♦' » \ m n'^ i ' '}■■• foncile the readcrts mind fp wfcat ipay l^ ejf, N, ^nd aia>p|e. The hUtMrl^n^ m4Hc |?tt l^flcctia^M of i\m^ owo, Init confine theiH| 5i?«s to matter 0/ faci; that is, to^what iii» Pf 4$ Oh the Truth and Divine Origiio itions, fainft lji iri ^ *>mc pof . tf, fonvcSetai and perceptive, lome prophetical ; written at different] times, and by different perfonp, an< pUea*d into ione,yo|uw by J^^^^ , of the J^4jte^ til Jhaos, w a€fi?r}l^ai 1>y -Mofes ; tlrfe Ifortnaekiii^fthe fun/ihe mootij atifl le fttrs, wd if tw*?w& ^f ^*m Wm- UM^tkt deflwipten givcnWm Ovet- oiber aniimte 1 1^ C0»0^1ettanof.tlrte fftat i«^^ ia*« tlai^j^thc; d|dftrue- ■*'•' J. <^r 40 Off lAe 7V«M tmd Divine Origin circumfianc^ of tlte ark aiad the dpve j the punifliment of Sodom by fiire th e ancieot rite of cirmmafion ; m^ njr particuli^ relating tp Mofes, t^ giving of the law, and the Jewifli rit u^I ; the names of David and Sole inon, and their leagues wit| the M rians : thefe things ^hd inan^ othcn of the feme fort, are cxprefely men tioned,or plainly alluded to^ in fevera Pagin authors of ||ie higheft antiquitj and the beft creflBk to ar i;^iiwtfe,; ^h fcui^ Ciorner oS thof thofe predttftionn,. as they aire drawri together by a moft aWe writer. It was foretold by Mofcs,that when Ithc Jews forfook the true God, " they ftiould be remov^ into ijl the king, doms of the earth, {Uoi^d ^ £cattcr« %'•. l.** :ig-. Tli ".■Jlif:" 'k s'-. «i; Vmm ^^'- ^»^?e»». »nifWgF all! i^Q c?yr^, neither fliouJd^tjiiA.fipkr thftir fiopt y>re; r^ ;, tmft tfec ' i&owjd give. tI;c«j,2mnqj»Wil»«; ... VHi faiHug 0^. cyos, and /forrnv*^ , ^pd,, and f«i4a,f»}]nt|icf8,iptftij»c£ hwJ»,i^ the lat\4 ^ t^sir, qjcmipj,^ fp thatf the^ found, of, a 4Mkci» li (KouW cbafe thiftnji,"*^. l^^e. f things arccontii\u*jry,R|rfidi^d;ti*f ^,thc fojjowiing Bropftfit»,;v *J Tlj,i O.odrWOiuld difperiip^hoiB ttffougtrjtl cpMntries.Q^. the hea.g ai} n^iou, like as dorn is fiftcd in a ficve ; th; (/ ^TkuttW, 26 ; Jjty.W m Dent 4. ^d ■-.^.;^:^\' wr %/'V ^^^ "H^ ^ tk§yDim^ilfm.Rmd0^m ftKi m v^ IMd any thing like this, in thMime ^ofes or of the prophets, ever hap- led ito.any iia*TOii| ik tbt t w^rid ? jOr wasthcrc^in nature any probability that any fuch thing ihould ever hap- pen to any people/ That when th^y were conquered by tfcffif enemies, and Ifd into captivity, they jDbouId neither continue in thepiiceplthcir captivity, nor be fwilliiwed ii(^ and Ifii fiwoiig conquereiS, but h§ i§am^ # ♦ Ezok. %0. 18; U, 15; Amo« 9. 9; %. |4, 9j W. 18 i Hoieaa. 4. .^ sS- ^' t i$ On the Trui^ Ski JHvdK Ortgl^p ^« aifeong Hi the nations of tjbe worll^ and hated^perifGut#by aU nftti^ for many ages, and yet (Contimie ji diftinft people ? Or could any dcfcrip^i tiitfi of the Jews, written at this day^ be a mose ekaS: and livdy pidure the fiate they have now been in for] many ^ges, than thefe prophetic de. fciipti^e, cipeciatly that ol IMfofcs, given more than three tjioufand yearsj ' ♦#«rke*j Evidences, p, 176, W7, :-^\- • - ♦ •♦ /. > I, v.- V' "■ 5 ,.t' ._.!y , I 'f -*-i- - t. « I ' ; ' \ — ■ ■( v. Ifc> ,■(.. %1 Bty>efic€«dfei^ ir* tor hit iitfcif)lBSi)c will wfm^ iSmiircp II iM[0iilyf&yiofl4m wliHi ttf e 6])dl of l|iii% aw) fifdp^ ^^r ■ V , 61 5a Ofi ike Tnak aid Ditnm Origin Qtjbietpcrfoiithjd: ev>m tsme intd tKi worldi. But thi^ is going kvfery litt' ymy indeed m .tlw cx?eHeocc of * charj^iSter. He ;wsw J^ free frd fifed every iittagliialjte' virtue, ipi^ards his h&avenly Father he cxpre^ fed the jrnoft ardleut loire, the m ferwnt yet rational d^^of iim, played in hi$ whole c^ndud the ahfoliilt llfignariicm to hiai wiU, ani QbedieBbe itv his ibmiuands/ ^*^ DIMtiners were gentle, W^d^ Iteiiding, and jrradUM : his hi Qferfte^ed ^ith kiiidfie&, totttj fifen, and tendeitiefi to the wliok man race. Ihe gr«ti enjoyment his lift wi» toudo' fwd to the " md ibuls aii^mm ^ this aH thoughts and all his time were ilantly anil ita^ft »^^ f ied Be wtm l/m^ y God hiinfelf to cftablifli that religion ; ^and unkfs he was con. fcious that hc'pc^iid the pow^ of amply recotftpenfing I hofc w9to prci- Iferred his religion to every other con- Ifideration ? The comnaon fenfe and commoiv feeliiigs of mankind nmft :volt at futh a prepofterous idea. I It follow!, then, that Chrift ^^as, in truth, a divine teacher, and bk W^ igion the |^ft of God. ^ •J lw« '1 Li- fe^^Nj.-^ ;K > -^ ■^ over al tBdPbSlTION TI \The -JiAHmity sf mr^ tt^rd^s ikSrims and the purity (f hU moral precef^s confirm ibr beliif ^ bii divine mif Jion. There mF^y^ .» u w»-i Ifuch importapt iBformation,^nd fuch paft and noble fentip^nts c^nccrni|i|p IGod and Religion, as in the {QKip* tures of the Ncw/reftament. They tcadh us, in th^ firft iJac% [that thei:e is one Altfiighrf Being> [who created all thinfp of i^fiuilfe pw€f , wtfdom, |tiftice, mcrcy^ go^- nefs ; that he is the governor and preferver of this W0r!d, which he h^ made V that "i^li' pi?ovidentistf cstfe k I over all his works ; and thtt he moif 1? % iiJ*: J6 Oilfc Trntk md Pivint Origin. ^partfculiriy t^rds the affairs ai condiia; of ftieii. Ttiey tttclnrg, tl we are to worllup this grwt Being ii Spirit and in tr^h ; and that th^ lov( 0|. htta isi thrpft and great o litfLlidment, tlie 3il.virtuA Th^ tc^h m, inore parj ticularly, how tolpray to him, and foi that purpofe fupbly us with a forr of orayer, called the Lord's Prayt <»^Wich iH a nn^l tl<>nal d^votion,and wb^ fot its^a dftn^i its^ctearHftfe, tp every^onditioa^attdfortbfe Wdghij petitions, is without an equal or a ri mV*^ ^tifcy ' teach u$ moreover] what we' all ilel to be tru«, that tl hwiKip heart i th$| man is fiUea from hte^ ottoni innocence ; that he»is re(!llw»fd t^n t€^thr*ivor'ofv aimth* ef'iPorld ;. that aU mankind Chatt rife frona tht^grave^ anii/ftand before the judgment ftal of Chrift, who (ball rewatd thte^^ttuoui, aiid punlfti th^ wicked, ia ^f itttre Itttd elf mat ^e of c3tMleiicd| afccordtej^ to thek dc^ fcrts^ .t4 Thefc arc the great, tn^tertfftli^i and momentous truths, either whci- If unknown, or bW very imperftft- ly kndifmnb t!fifeWofid'beTo*»e ^ i^ thef render thb meineft pMifafil^^ 'ti\U mmt^ bm$i mrmMe^ w^ . ■-. « :' \- :\ 68 On the Truth tin4 Divine Origin the riatinrc of the Supreme Being, andl the relation in which we ftand to fiinpy than were any of the greateft fegcs ancient times^ 4 * ^ Equally e^jcellcnt, and ftjpcrior to] dU other rules of life, are the moitli precepts of th^ gofpel. Our Dmnc Matter, In the firft place, laid down two great leading principles for our conduft, love t|i| God, and love to mankinds and thence deduced (as occafions ottered,] and incidents occurred, ii^hich gavCj peculiar force and energy to his in-! flruaions)all the principal duties to-! wards God, pur neighbor and our, felvea. * With rcfpeft to God, we are cowi-j inandcd to love, fear, worfhip, and abey him j to fet him always before^ |» } to do all things to his glory ; to .^«'. i^^ if'tk&&U^im RevekHqm 0^ ^iSm^hw kingdom ^nd his right- coufocli; to rcfiga lourfcivcs Mfboy^ to his pleafijre, awd fubmit, with pa* ticBce, ch^BrftilOT^V atod i?»figi«ation, to ev^Y^ thiDg: hj^ tWiU|» fc W4thr»mgaKi mom ndipbor, w^ ^urc taiS^ccrcife toiW^f di htm thedtititit ^fl^pdw^julflo!, ci}tiityvanf hufbands and wives, of parents and phiklr«n, oi^mafters and fervants, of Ihriftian teachers and their difciplei^ )f governors and fubjefts 5 that it immands us^to be^ as it were, lights' the world, and exa^npies of gd6d ^ la all ; to ttijure no man, but to bear Injuries patiently ; niver to feek re- rcnge, but to return good for evtt j : * |o l^ve; oiH^ V€|y eneaiies, aii ;t^e oii^hf rs^a^^e hope to be to^ve^ to raife ou r thoughts ^nd v ie ws above he preieni Uf% ipd tolKx our aft^«f |i()Tvs principally 00 tbat^^ch is to ^^ otne. *.,. Fill. S^U''- -,„•; .»',,- fhis ^ t hi^ jfMtf Mf r ifii i ■ si--' ^ \ % ^ to 22 «ti^ ac Tmi and pivme Origin ii vlM our Lord dr*^'^^ ^ ^^ j^i^ and^Uihi^ • |ilia4j9as iti#wifch Ipgenjerfiif c tl^py, and i^liimftancca gfvf a ^ight, j^d dig iilty aiid inciportaliOe to the precepl l^f holy writ, wha^l^ jqo other .uxor can boajL' ll ^ ^ i^w we ak, as It i$ yory »? tp ai^ wto that oxtraocdinfticy pf ffoi i.<0uW be, that was theauthor of lii< fiincomtnodiy iCScdUb^t moraililqr Ifcis? the aalwcr i8,.th«t he was, M aU 4:mtward tppearafice* ttw tep^i (bfi of il/mrpentcrvl^iog with his ther and mother iA|^ remote and ire corner oLtiwworld, until tb( 7?*r x:.ti.:!^ :^'-- „^- - yuTSt:** % %:■ ^ of ih ChfisHan Rivetaiim. ** f^9 '^ Whence, then, had thif i»an theft; things, and what wiWjj^rn is this that was give0 unto Min^ JHe had evidently none of the tifual means drQf^ortunities of cii^ltivating Ms underftiwiding Of iitprovin^^ hi*: mind. He was born iC a law and Uflfdigent condition without cduGation^ withoujt learning,without sk^y^i^neient teore&irop whence to draw his wit dom and his molality, that wcac at all likely to fall into his had were j| few filhermen oil the Lake of Tib My as Uiikirned aAd uneducated^ and^i fw tk^^p^^ of framing ruks orf un^rality, a^ ufipmrnifing, as himfelf. Is it poflibkj then, that fuch men ai thefe co^Id, without arty affiftance whatever, produce fych perfect and] incompafaWte rules of life as tjiiofe of thegofpei f fo greatly fuperidr in pu- ' rity, folidity, perfpicuity, and univer- fal mfrfulneft, to all tife motal leffons . of all the philofpph ers upon earth pu^ togetbfr I Ev^ mail of commoii fenfe muft fee that this is abfolutelyj impoffiblc : and tKkt there is no oth- er coiioeivable way of VacecMinting fpr thin, than by admitting what th( '^ *■ 'K If .f -^-71 • » t of the'Christian Revekthn. -fs fcrfprn CQiiftantly affirmed, that rtheif dtiruig and their prec^^ came from the Ibmitm of all perfcdion m "nr-r t ' ■!! • ■: -r fi- >,' =fe- J, A|5^f':ia( week- af this* three thoiifand were adde^ u one day :t and the number of Chril tians publicly baptized, and publid] affociating togct her, was very fooj in^reafed to five thduiand.| In l fevf^ years after this, the ton verts M^er^ d^f ii)€d 7i% incf eaiing iii great nuni^ Bm; in great multitudes, and even i^ myriads, tens of thousands :§ an( multitudes both of men and womei th^ Gtll pread] almoft all part even ti froi fevei^al churchJ wer( * r, 4>^ 4if the Christian Revelation, 79 large Gcmgregatlonsof CRriftiapSjbotlj [at Roipe and in all the principal cities of Greece? and Afia. This account is confirnied by contemporary Rotnati ! hiftorians ; and Pliny, about eighty I years after the afcenfion, complains that this fuper^itipn* as he calls It, had feized not cities only, feut tl^ leffer towns alfo, and the open conn- try ; that the Pagan temples were at- moft defcrted, the facrcd folemnitics fufpendcd, and fcarce any purchafers to be found for theviftims. About twenty years after this, JuftinMartyr, a Chriftian writer, declares, that there was no nation pfmehjwhetherGreeks or barbarians, not excepting even those ikvages that wandered in clanis from or^e region ta-another, and had no fixed habitation, who had not V-.- * The tiif iis well i^s- i. ^0. I lleutUi'Q»3 a^iy ^hich n^dvfn Uugans^ '\4. IL i I W On the -Truth md Divine Origin .learned to pffer prayers and thanisi; ^^W ^to the Father and Maker o{ pXi m the name of Jefiis, who v crudfioi, And thiu$ the Cturiph Chrift w^nt on increafing mpre an« inore, till, iinder Copftahtine, the ei wre became Chpftian j at which tim ^ijercjs every reafoq to b^lieyt thi tne Chriftiaiis wjetl more liuitiero^ fnd more powerful tha^ the!^a»s, i ♦ t, ** ; ,^ In what manner, now, t&iMifei a& pount for this wonderFul and une* ampled progreft of the Chriftian Brrupt pafliops of man-j >ind and hdd up fxh^pp^ pea of power, wealth, rswl^, or plcafcl Ure as tjie rewards of their Vonvcr-i fion ; rf it had Toothed their Mefc ,^ humored their prejudices, and encour- ' ISC4 their ancient^ fupcrftitionft -. }d ■ ' i B . >. " ' V . ^ < i 'w . ,. ' <. '1 . n^ ; f J » :•} •It - Ju- - J^-A. 1 ■*':,.: •. 4 s» * *i .« #^^-» >«.,.- .^^ i» ai»d th; i^iltejMlofjbeiag ^4ed%/heawt^ ty andiafivkence pf the c^va powei ^'igf'-were 9p^f?d, and harraffcd, a^ pc!fccamAm (^ rfiii ftligiofi, M«iw)fMty n lid to l^a pirdtohet fem^iwn tn #b%/ ^i not Mahomctani, iiid *^^e^M*ld ^^ c^arcf i^ly into i* V f 16 On tie truth and Dipine Origi$$ he was an enthufiaft and sin hnpoftc and that his religion was a ^onjtrivanj of hti own. Even thoft |)€rforis wj rejea: Chriftianity, do not think": homctanifm to be true ] nor do ever hear of a^ Deift eii|bracii^ from convi^fion. ir.**l>* ,'^-=?'. / Ifcre^ then, weliave two rel^i co.ex;ifting^ together in the world, a both pretending tobe r^velatipnsf^< heaven j one of thefe we know to a fraud, the oth^r we affirm and lirk to be true^ If this be fo, up (Comparing . thcin and their imtk together, wc may expeft to find] moft marked and effential diflerej between them, fuch a difference may naturally be^iUppofed to between an impoftQr and a di^ teadner, between truth and falfehc As4 this, I apprehend^ will appKorl be aaually tfe cWfc with tcfpea: -±' :h.;r 'i-^r ,* P-. M w of i^e Chriitian lUpelation. - ^ t7 irift aiid MaEonict, and tHcir rjBf' jeftiye religions. Rfahoitnet yraa a irian bf confidera* \t rank^ in Hi3 own conntry ; he uvz$ le grabdibn jQi£ a pian pt the naofi )w^rfw and bpnor,^Me fanafly in [ecca, andf ifeough pot bprn to a reat fortune, j^c foon apqw^d one marriage. Thefe pircumftancey ^ould of themfelvcs, 'j^v^ithput ^j fur ernatural affiiiancej^ gwajtjy icontrir [utc t6 the fuicceis djf ^15 religion. Eerfon confiaer;ible ^y his wealth, igh deftent, and neajrly jdjied to lie chiefs of hi$ country, taking upon iimjfelf th^^ charafte^ of a rwgious [eacher in an age of knofance and ' >ar;ifpa, coulcf npt faU of aUra^|p| ttent ion. and followers, '^^ Chrift did not po0efs'thefc iwiran- tSgesof rank 4nd wealth, and pow- Jrrul conneftidfis. He was born of \ -^ -™ »' # /•^ — * ■«- 88 On tie TriUh t^d Hhmc Prigin to^nti m ai #fery piean coniditlon , fife. Hi? relations and friends wei 4|Iin tl^i fame hunibl^ fituation j i was.bre(;l up itt pbVerty,an| continue^, if »t#Jliis life, having frigiiently fad pJace w^ere !»<; c/>jild %'•-'- ^' ' ^ A liia^ fo dfc«niftanced:w iy* l^y Ms owjft ipcrfenal iyiuence, t( lorte a-new Jreligibn, iiuch lefe /#.P|ie, upp^ thi; world; .*■■'♦■' ^ .)^ ' -'•■,' ^'' 4 . , ' • » < V ^ ' V ' ■ ■" * ifehdmet indulged Wmfeif ia tA, grpffeftpieafurts. He pcrbetuaU^flfll ^effcd even ' ih'ofe '■ Ucentibus rul«§j wuch he hM prefcnbtfti to hutiB He made ufe of thft p^wer £e had L, ,^ircd, tp r«»fy his paflioni >v1thout cfttttrc^ i^nd h# Hid clfii^ Jo a fpecial permifllort'ftbm heaxien'tP ri<» & ty' inoft vnliniited fenfuaKt-*. ^*''* V- ^'^^ ■■ ■ . ' • .. . ... < ; ' ^ Jems, jftn tj^e contrary, prdfervv throughout life the Dftoft unblcmisiie puKky apd ianaity pf minfters. m •>■ ■':-!: .< i . c>^ cf the Ckn€iian Revelation* w (lid no fin, but was perfeftly holy an4 [undefiled. ^t the leait ilain w^ cv€§: thrown on his mor^ ^jb^jwjtejr by U% |l>ittcreft epcmies. Mahomet was viokiit, impetuous, land fenguinary, f 1 , ■ Chrift was meet, gejitlc^ benevp, [lent, and merciful, Mahomet pktended to liave fecret commumcations with God, andwitlj the angel Gabriel, which nopther pey- foH ever faw or heard, ' Jcfus was repeatedly declared to be the Son of God by voices from heav* en, which were plainly and diftiiition ov(;r all tjbeEaft,' tiiat fome great and extraordinary per- pnage would then manifeft himfdf O'the world. . Ma^onict never prefumed toforc- tcl aAy futxire events, for this plain rcafcwiy becayfe he could not forefeel theih.; andhadheforetoidar^ thing %hich did not come to pais, it mutt, have^entirdy mined J^i^, <;j;edit with 4is followersf. - ; ,, ' , 1 * , • of tbfi "' v«. and 10^ in the isbirtli heEaft,: iryper-j himfill ;0'fore; \ plain forefecl f thini t mui t 0/ th Christian R,evel0imi. 9X. (p4 a^^lly come wjpjMI lis ovm 4^ath apd refiirred|5>int^ ail the de^tru^oii of Jcrufalem,'* " "'* *,«^*i-,"'*--#t; .. V, * «' ■- ■ v ^ahomct never pir?tepde4 to VTf rk iniracles yon the pern c^prfeflt iy idi£i|aiipai anl' 'llir power, aiici jniakcs Ifeyeral labored apd awkward apologiesfbr pot ipoflelfirifis dtt^ f' ' ' a'wV ,, J. t'fW'-^i-fk- J€&0^ v^csSa kppw> worked a g5«a{ nuniberpf tl^e mott ajftbnifhing miraj dea 16' tHe open fac^ of day, and i)^ tha fight of great xhultitud^^^ He ftfiade the deaf to |iear , the dirmb |a*fi)eak, the lanie to walk, the blind b fee, aM;even thfcc dead tp rife from mt grave. I IVfahonj^t, duripg the firft twdw years-of his miffion, made ufe only of argument and perfuafion, andincoQ- H ^^ A 1 \1 77 ^ , . <* .* r « - - , '' "1 / /■ a t - 1 1 I -r f -/» • ■ ■ • ■ --far- '' »> 'i W ' • *u ' ■ - 1 V ■' - ■■■1 • i^. t ^1 ■I ■■ - ,i ■ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^H ^^^^^^^^^■^^H ■ ■ a 1 sm ^^^HHHI^^I 1 I HI^HiHil 1 ^wpf^p^^^^^^^p ^^^^^^^^^^^^ / " ■•■■■' v^^ ' ■ ■'.. - ; ,, ' \ ,' « If \ » V • • #,rl li s^ ^ . f • s t v''. " ■ i 0- - • u V. :' \ _, ■ t,' ' \ . - :--:• • * ' fc- ; „ 1 ■ 4> , fc^...:. .. ■ > ' . - i - >' ^^m ^^^^^^^^H ^^^^^^H ^^^M ^^^■T' '* HH ^^^^^^H ^^^^H ■ ^Hr^ » . ' ■■'■ m BUI ||||H p W- ^^^^^^^^ / :;■;/;. - v '^ ■ ',.'■- . '" fj''^'- p- '■■* 1 ■*■ ' - » • 1 m 1^ 1 ■ J: ' ■ ■: »,' u \ # . ■• •■■ i* a ^ , 4> f ^ ^ - ,■>' ' \^ ■■ ■ "TV tt '.,,■■? t • "XSW^WF*?*-^?^ \ 'J^Z^i -■-■«.- -^ :.^x:i. ;. r: .|; ■ ♦*■*:-. - ■"■■ -.-H-.i-y'tt.'.-y.-.-'.-. .. ;,, , .-^-^ -1 - > V - " - ■ ■ • \ ■^ ' . . V , " ^ ■ ; *' -■■■.. , .- ■ ♦, « 1 * >^ '„ ■> 'Ui ?i''. # *■ .f f -A" '-r. , ««' , Akl»^ -Mi 1 k ««f. » " •.t^y*^'* , I. • JL_ 4' ' '-^ " ■ Jt Gn4hkfrutkand DMne Origin^ eiliicnde)3f that gained very few coi|« rerts. la three years he mtwle only Iburtden ^rbfelytes, and in fevcn ctoty cigh^y.threc Jtoen and eightepn women, Ih the fame fpacc of time o\xr Sav- i^ur and hfs ^poftlcs ^onv^ed thon* lands and ten^of thoufands,and fprcad the Chriftian Rclidpn over a ^ great part qf Afia. / ; Mahomet told thf Jews, the Chrit tians, and the Arabs, that he tanght Up othe^ religion titan that which was originally tatight to their forefathers, y?j Abraham, ifmi^td, Mcrfoft and fe. fus. This would /natyraSy prcjumce them in fwdr of his rdigion. '■ ■ ' \ ■ I '^ Chrift preacihed a religion which c5«. reaiy oppofed thte mod favorite opm- ion« and prc^iadiibes of the Jews, .ai| fubverted, from ^he very foundation^ the whole fyftdm of Ps^gan fup^-j ftition, ' M weAJ difci yfhk yio|( dtilg lefi t ^. hisi tion con! fed( ^ut ther thot rifin foul •^ .•i J(^ho|tiet ]p^id court td lhe|K5c«3H^ ^yioifnt, he alIo^^4 111^9^ 3t .fibc|id||i-» /iiilgfeiice m li^lJad^a^C^ y^l Ids than iFoiir wite^' to jeabh of hi$ ftjDo^e^^ with the Jiberty rf dhrt«r- cing tfeip thrice* "'^- * ** •; In ilip fame diiriat?i, *nd firtoiig |n^h of the fame ftrong paffidris^ Je- fus m^ peremptorily 'rcftraine4 alj' his fdHoWfers frouii adultery, forGica]- tion, and every kind of impurity. H? confined them to oiie wile, and for* Jt^dedivorte, e$c^t fot ^dulteiy onlji - But what wais jftiu more, h* require*^ then! to gb^yewi tfiMr eyes z^ thdv mcyo^ts, and fb checktl|# yery firft nfing of any trtmtnal defirc in the K)uU He told them, that yrl^oevar fup^, I * » Kor.0, c. 4. p. 4?, fk, c. 3. p. 41. I. >■ $4f On the Ti uth an^iDipin^ Otigm looked upon a womai m luft aftei her, had committed adultery with her iadready in Ws heartland he allured tfccm, WnonI but th<: pure in hca^ ihould fea pod. He aeclarcd open fvar, in ihort, againft all th^i criminal paffion^, and eyil ijiiplinatipm of man- jdind, and cxprefsly required all his followers to renounce tnofe favorite i&ns that did mqft eafily hefet thgm ; n?y,>veft U) leay^ falbcr, mother^ brethren, fillers, houfcs, land#, and every thing that wm ijaoft dear tq them, and tstl^e ttp th^l cro& andfoU With thi Ifeltie vie^r above-i tioried of bribing men to embrace hi% religion, JMahomej: prppl&d tq rfef ward bi| fplloweh v^\tk th'^ 4?%^^*! di ^ inoft voluptupui mracjilei wfcre; the ofcjcflS o^ their afilftfon were to' be almoft innumeraUch^ and all p| thfetti gifted iidth i^raim^i^ beauty and etertial yout «iitird^ jpirtscludcd his dii^^ |fc from all hopes of fctifual indul- gcncds hereafter, affurmg them that m hcavem thfey iiould Beit^ier matry Iftor be given in marriage, and prom^ ifing them nothing but |mre ccleftial fpintnal joys, fuch as eye hatb not i^nyjom, ear beards nor the heai:!i;^of naan*coftccived» / ' . $. %■: Befides the powerfii^^Maions of (enfual deUghts, lfeih|^tnet had atiotb- er ftiU more efficacious mbde of pro- ducing conviaion, and gaining profc- lytos:! and that was %ce, vpence, ftc^ aorms. tte prt^l^tedh^ refi- gion by the (word v ^d, till he made ufe of that inilruminl ^f cdrtyerfion, tbr number of his p}i||Jy tcs ^wai - a -rr • Ei»mB| ic.?^gft^#»^^i^ ^ 6i ik frtiti and ijiviae Wj^n, prbphctj^ i iktrrioTy a general, M^^f tohquttoty ,lt was ^tha liead of his ^rmites tkrt^^ |Mreat3he^ th^e kcnf^ah^ His nSdigioi Ind hiV 0onq^d[fe' wertt on tc^etker f atid tKe forfti^r' nev^ jliliraiiced olie ite^ fritiLout life Jattci?; JH[^ lObtmailde^ in pi^ibii m dgki *iraScral eAgagem^^^ undcrtcS^; iy td^nndHF hi* Ifc^ttifiaats, fifty tnilitary cntftrprizes. Death or coa- tcrfion was the oiily |hoic^ offered to idolkcrs^ahd tribute bt coiiverficm to lews acid dirii&uiit; |d!tis cn^^ con^lNrting ibieii to his religion, bnt perfuafiojl, ai^^ument, exhortatiori, iinra(^((^, and f)rophe<^s. He made u&oi no other force biit the force of 0^^ He had ^God. to fig l kb oaufe. He was me Prince of '■ '-l- Mcei doi his Its, fifty or coii- Jeredto jrfion to :icsins of on, but jirtation, [c ma4c force of le (Word ofGpd. t o fig ht c>=.y ,. If^ijbt^ and J)rea(tKld pai^^W^^ world. power, wi rince of twelve per lliini^ cirowmuaAGe ctf attraftionf influeiice,* Cij* compulfiofl/ )ke tiiumpilid over ths prejudices, t'&e leariiihg^ thie rell- gk^ i)t his couftti^ ; over the andeiif rites, idolatry, and fuLperftitioil, over tke {^ofoiihyjWil'domj^amd t»t^ of^ the whole Ronten Efh^e*^^ ^ Th^psait objell of Mahotaa vn^ Wm^^ his ftdlowers fiddlers, and W Itt^ifa^ theitt with a paflibii for vio- lence, bloodftied, vengeance, andper- fecution. life Was continualtye^s^Kprt- ing them to fight for the religioA 6# God: avid, tcrencourage Aemto ddP fb, Ik If dniiied them the highell honors, and the richeft rewards, i# paradife. *'They who have fxifFered tor iiiy fal fe t fndhave^bcen flain fj^ ^^lle^fiifi^T^n^^pclheSr^K ". » i i I It '1 '» 45eds from thetft^ andl t^ foi%*f bring them into ^ garden watered by rivers^ a rev^d ftoin G^d^ and wk&i God is moft excellent reward/'*^---^ Thii duty of warring againft infidds is^ire9 i^te^^ man ; refift not evft, Be yf 'merd. ful, even as your Father in heaven it mcrcifuL Kcffird are tfcd ipi^cifiit |pr tiiey fhall obtain i|icrcy/'t ■ ■■*■ tLnke m5Si3okn »h. «t : Lake liL Nip 1 •■-,'.', \ V y^ "y^ On the Truth 0nd Dmne Origin ■■■■* i ^prueky ari^ liymg by r^piti^^ liprscii Jeiks yi^i^f meii a| m^ ^qui|t, -inpffeiifivf ., peaceable marmers, ic^tiprs of the Vffo religigns wp ^' been V^^iM^ff^fifi ^ ^ hptt 3»iew pf t|^ facred |)Ooks _o| Ihd^ i;eligipn^, fhe k^an ajptd Jhe g# J^ng between theip ;"ipf0left,%jQi|^ p^nwkirig t|ei tnitE pi thp p|^ sn^ j|? 1^^,^ the cf"^ " ^ ' 4^' The korawr is highly ^pp3 J^oth by ^hornet hiinftsif ^u^i l^w^ff , fijif thp^3i^uiftte bea)iiy> puri^- i(y, iaiitd de^ant^ cf the langu?^ gbl<$ Ihcy reprefefit ^, ^ ^an^ing H,^V :0' of the ChrUiian B^tlatian. mirad^ greater thaa evcli that i;^ iraifmg the dead. But admitting kn excellence (wh|ch yft*p been quef- tioned by feVerai learned |nen)if beau- ty of ftyle; and eompofeidfi is to be cbnfidered as a proof of divine ini^i- ration, the writing of Plato aild Xen- opbon, cif Ci^erd and C&Mj md A pultitude of other ininritable writers in various lan^ageSj will b^ve asjuft a claipi to a miraculous origin as the koi^n.^ J^ truthjthele graces of didion, fo far from being a prcum- ftance favorable to the koran, create % ftrong fiiijicion of its bd%.aminiaa fabrication, calculated to cniarm /ihd captivate men hj the arts of thetpric and the fafcination of wg|ii, and thus draF offtheir attei^tion pom the futil- ity of its niatter, and the weakncfs of its pretenfion$. Thefe arc the artifices of * fmnd and f aWshood. The gofpd wants them npt. It difdains the aid of human cloquencC|^ arid dgpen^l ■>.;.'j,i.:-^-.-..*4^" - :■"■ >' not with the ejitjiciiig wot^s^g( m^k :^k jfnoriPtoridus, unmtereflling .; ioadeoi \^th en^ef^ repetitioiis, \^it;h fcnfen kft^nd pi;epQftei:ou^ fal^esj v^ tidy diC^mn^i and' 'even imrnoral^ prec;epts. ' iAcM to Jtliisv tliatvit'hgi^ ^ery Kttle npvehy pr p^igipsdi^ l^minend it^ |li| moft ii^teria( ■|)arts(^ J. ♦ j jqbT. ii I, 4, ft. -r — J- l ^ } *. f^ the Qhisllm RmBatjpn* ■ %^ ^ j^l ft ' J^miig feoirrowed ^iiaigeUfts, cither on thcmMra ot tJieir writings. . Even the viiftiiPes of their divine Maftcr arc not diftin£Hy j^ecified^ or brought forward into % confpictioiis point of view. It is from Ms aclions only, and his difcourfes, mot from the obfervations of his hifto- riansj that we can qoUeft the various tratifcendent ^tellencies of his charac- Hj|ti Here we. plainly fee the fober inodisfty of Jtrutn oppofcc^ to the of- (tentatious vsCnity ctf unpdftur c. .,* ' f >J ^ In th§. defcription of future rewards tnd pMiriihments, the koran is minute liiigumllantial, and extravagant, botl in painting*the horrors of the one and ^the delights of the other. It defcribes TkhingS/ which cannot^ a|id ought not : ,to be defcribedt^ anil enters into dct^il| too horrible, or too licentious, to be prefpatcd to 1^ hf ^ ^ |n the gofpel, the pains and the fT^'t •?■*■'' X''?'/' 'riff- * %■ 1 ■ 4if the Christian Rev elation, loS fleafuras of afutur€ilife are l^e^lit- ^ concifely, ^m^rOftgi %^ lenci^ ajid indefinite teri;ns, fuffiden^ to give ,thepa 11 jw^iyierfy,^ but ,;idt .%» over- l^l>^ipg, in%eii(:€ €^f ||e mift|' ■ ' ^ ■.. *■ ■ , • "I ■ ■ i .^ .' ..p?herei$ ilill another, ;#li4 a yery na^tfirial miri^ ^ 4ifc4w^^Qi^ b^ ptw^ the^^tpfc>ilj[t^e gQljp^^ M^ hoH^ ihpws ^Jtrpupjout t|id|lt?|>e|| anxiety tp gua^d a^i«ft obje#Ol* ia^ecoilnt for hi3 worltiiig jfio %^^ cl^ fnd to 4e%nd 449 condiwa:, ifi fej*ral inftances, >gainft the jph^VgRS iiH^h he fufoe^s^mjiybebir^)!!^! ar "'ipll hi«^« 'i^it|s .a^ m^ imfofturt » • It is alwi^^ fufpiT- liWi^^raid Qf l^ng dcteflteidcalive tQ iWy ajpppraii^ gl lioflgitys, ^(tjJiciV ^ to antiapate,. and eager %^ repefli ^ k:cufations of enemies^. ; . . . , , ^ ^ .,# - TV^^hjbasfJip oGc#vx far iticfepi^li autions, and therefore never ufes . + ->! vi t 106 On (he Truth ttnd Divine Origin them- We fee nothing of this fort in the gofpd. The fecred hiftoriaus ftiow not the fmaUeft foKcitude, ho? i^ks the leaft pains t^oWi^te cavib or remove difficulties* They teiml plainly and fimply what they kaow"-^ be true/ ^Ttiey entertain no doubt it themfelves^ and feem to have m ^ * fufpidon that any one elfe can doubti it ; they thareforc leave the fa£l8 tO| ifpcakfor themfelves, aiid |tnd therai tinproteaed into the world, to make 4hdlr way (as they have done)by theirj mfrti native force and incontrovertible truth. V '^ Such are the leading leatuits @l Mahomet and his religion on the one hand, and of Chrift andihis reltglili on the other, and never wis thctc a ftronger or more ftriking coirtnft feen than in tWs inftance. They are, ia ihort, in every eflential article, the dir^ oppofitcs of each othm And %i ii*i ■' ' -t-' ' }3 It is on afi hands adknoMoi^ that [ahomet was an impoftor, it is Mt to condudc that Chrift, who was the rery revcrfc of Mahomet, was the i^ ^erfe of an impoftor, that is, a real leffenger from heaven. In K|ahom* we fee every diftinftive mark of raud 5 in Jefus, not one of thde is [obc found: but otl the contrary, : indiatti(»(i^ and charac* ^ let of truth. » •,'W •u / Y ^1? I . •> ' \M ..i- ' i. Ic*^^? 1^' '•^' ■^-»' *■• .t*'" «1 ^J^ ••,<, Jo,,.'*-. '..'» . 't^ 'k >.' V y' i.5 ; : -. M- r. y Ja- • jfV biB PROPOSITION IX ThepreiMiQns delivered by^ ikem^eni £rpphets^ and ful0ed in ourSa^ ' fxpe^efi by tH J^'^^^f Jfpd^ti^^ jff came into the world iy^^vf^ of- pointment^ to Be ihe great heliverer and Redeemer of mankind. ,.■*■,■ The wQUd l^#aK fignifie* antynt- ed J that, is, a perf^ appdinM tf> lome high ftatiqii,^igmty» or office ; becaufc originally jiUiong the eallefli n^lon* men fa appovftt!e4 CparAi?%'?rly kj«K8w pricfts, and prophets) were an<«n^4, w,itb qU. Hence thf ^ord Miftah ' means the pcrfon pre-or- dained and oppointcd by» God to be -• ,,- K ■■ fc*M' i -^ , ■ •! ' ■ %■'■■ '•'- K':l J — —7 * ■ V . ■ ■ %^ 1. t^ I!- *• 1 ■ ' if' 1 lf» Ob the Trvth and tivcim yrigin the great Deliverer of the Jcwifli na- tif}n, and the Re - « *f -V — n ■■i^- 1, V 0f^ the Chmiian Reoehiion. 113 lay on Wiethe ifji^iry of us all •AM which was exa(ftiv accomplilhcdiii the fuffirings of ChVift, ^^whodiedior our fins, the juft f()jr the unjuft, that he might bring us to God/*|;; It was foretold, that to him ftiould tfce gat hearing of the people be f >nd thatGod would give him the heat hpi for his inheritance, and the utmoft parts of the earth fpr hb pcfleffion,| which was pundually fulfilled by the wonderful fuccefe of the gofpel, and its univerCil propagation throughout the wo Jd. Laftly, many minuter circur ces were told of the great Delivcror, or Redeemer, that was to come, ♦ Isaiah liii. throuRhout, a«d DaA, ix. ^6.W ft Pet in. 14 1-, -. K * lU On thi TrMth and Bif^m Origin ■ ■ '■ » ■■ ,, ' V ; That he fhouldbe t)qrii pf ^^ij^^^ tfiat h^ fcauld bpof th^ t^i^^^^ of Jpdah, and 1$^ ijeed ofDavid j ' thiit h€f fl>oukl be born in the tc)wn of Bethlehem j^ t[hat"Ke ihoald ride jURon an afe in, humble tnu^nph inta the city of Jeru- f^lem > ^baj; he, IKopld 1^^^ nxap of foTrpws, and acquainted with, grief ; that he^ould be fold fpr thirty pieces, of lilver ; that he (hould be fcourged, buiettedand fpit upon ^ that he fliould be; numbered with the traiifgreffor& (that Is, ihould be crucified, ashe was. between two thieves y) that he fliould have gall and vinegar given him tOj drink ; that they, who fawhim cruci- ficd ihould niocka^t him, and ft has tri^fting in God to clelivei^ him ; that the foldiefs fhould caft lots foif his gar- ments ; that he jihould make his grave;, with the rich : and that he Ihpuld rife again withou| feeing corruptipn,^-^. * Isaiah, vii. JL4 > Mic. K. 4^ Zech. ix./0 ; s#'. ...u^rl ., thefe circuaiftanq^i, it ip wel^ ».noj»rn, wer?i foretold, and, tp ttie greateft poflible ?xa#oeptt. ^ hions that can be ms^de concerning it ^ either. thajt. tMs wa^a ipere fort^itous^ coincidence, ariiipg entirely frpipr^ chance and accident, or that thefe pro- pl^g^ w;eii; ^v^^ afteic th^^e^enti. r [lsaiah,-l1iJ, 3 ; Zech. x'l. 12 j* Isaiah i" 8; Isaiah, liij. 12 ; l»$a!m, Ixix. 22; Psalm «is.. i I tli pNir Tr^f^ mAmn^ Origin lii«^ taken plaice ; or laftly, that the^^ wrtrc real p^cdi^ions, delivered iiianf ycafi before thefe events came to pafe, and all fulfilled in Chrift. T)iat any one fiiouid by chance Ii,it upon fo ma* ny things, which&ould all prove true, and prove true concerningone and the fame perfon, though fcveral of them tvere of fuchji nature as were un- likely to happen j?^?j^/)f, and by far the great eft part of which had never be- fore hippeheci jf«g;i5'» ^^ any per/hn whatever ; this, t f^ e:Kcbeds all bounds of credibility, Itid all power of conjedure or cakulation. ; That thefe prophecies were, not writ|pn or delivered after; the thing^ pjri?dicl:ed had happened ii itibft taiii ; becaufe they are feund in bj Whichqxifted long bctore thofcewnts cainejo^ais, th^t is, in the bopks pf the ^ |y^ l|an3ipnt ; and the Jews themfelJPlll^i.Jite Hiurul enemies of -^.-«l ame iiit^ lil^Birlci. Chrlft .■■*■'.,■-.; ^dverfariesj who wqtild undqufeledly [ake eflfeckial care that liqthiiig favor- ^bki to Chrift fliould be frat^duiently [nferted into them. I'he^ Jews Wer^ )ur librarians*. The prophecies were In their aiftody, and ar6^ t^id in all jheir copies of the '011^ aa^ rell as in ours. They have made nja^ ly attempts p^ ixj^^n thetn ^awiy,^ )ut rio^ to qmfeftioti thlif aUthei^tiJ ;;ity, /^ \^, It remains then tHit' thefc ^tc att real prediaioiis, alj centering in dtir aviour, and in him oMIy, and deliv- gtcd many centuries ^)e^Qre he JP* ■ if. . » . ■■ 4 IfT lis Oni^e Tfuih and pivii^t Origin^ SfC. Tsf raa -^}' 1IO Qne b^^^ God has tht! ji>rektmwTedge of cvepts, it is froirf him ihefe prophecies niiift have pro. ceeded ; add they -ihow of courft^ that Chrift. was the jp^fbn whom hi^ had for a great length of time pre de- tlrnnned to fend into the world to bej . the great Deliver*^^^' Ri^dcemcr, and] Saviour oi mankindr^??:/r y. 5^ t\ .i'. *i <• * » ( .' » 't^ -rnH'-m • 1 I ■ d has the it is froia jbpve pro- nepredc- orld to bcl mar, aud .'"'iji' tj^^ V4.»^ *' ^1^'* ( . i M '*• '■t , f.n' y.^ f ^"f fbefr^hecm di^v0td^ifi tm^^avUw^ wi/A the fareknowlid^e of fuiuPt i0venj^kMipiwiikb.iifelongs only H:Q^: andtd thofe irj/pimd^J^imm .k 4 \i4 Kt -f k'ri - ^.'.1' -:u:*i-. \?l T ", r:^Sl?if ^m » '• i . -It ') '• ^ c^ u ' ',m\ • : \ i ' : ''■• • ; ,.i',,>: ■■■^>* .'•| JjI E did very particularly, and at feyeral different times, foretei his owli death, and the ^cumflpliiccs q£ i^ |^ that the chie£^ ' |)rl^fts and fcribes ihpuld coia^teop li^m to d^(h, and 4^ivet^ M^ Gentiles, that is, to Pilate and the Roman foldiers, m, pock| and icf^urgi^ and <:ruqtf y hiWki lianas ; thil;Jiida8 tejii*iat m^s tki pcr(o»)^prho ftiouid betray 1iim ; ths|t ' I \ ' I *t \ 4 and flee ; and that Peter^ would par* ticular^thrke deny him j»tme night He foretold fiirther, that he woulc rife again the third day ; that aft( his afcfenfion, he would fend dqwi theH^lyGbollorfhis^pbftfe tvhicl fliould enabfe them to wotk m^n; jnkacles^* He foretold, likewife, man] paVtituMs conCcrnitig the future fyo cefs of th« gof|^» and what feould happen to feveral of his difciplesj h^ foreto)d *what oppofitiqn and pif^ §cutiori tlie^^ffimiW thret wi in "theif preaching ; he foretold what flri^ "ticulk kind of death Peter (hould^di^^ ithtt intimated that St. Johh Ihould Hvie >t he did) tin after the deftriiftioli d 'crufilcm ; he foretolij' that, not witH ^.an^ti^^ kir opfKirition apd pcrfecu^ #^oil, the gbfpel fhould yet have firch Tucccfs as tcrfplread itfclf over tk world'; antf, 'laftly, he foretolcj tk ^iftruftiWn of JcrulkfeitW, i»^tt1[uch| pif tkuiar and minuttr drcutn- kf th christian kivdailoh. Mi dances, in the 24th chapter of Sh Matthew, the 13th of St. Mark, and the 2iftof St. Luke, that no orie who^ rcaids the delcriptioii of that event, in the hift wians of thole times^ can h4vd the fmalleft doubt of our Sayioiir's divine foreknowledge, We have a moft authentic, ckad, and circum* ftantiy^ account of the fiege and de- ftriAOTlSn of that cityiy the Romans, tvife^in by Jofephus<» a Jbwiih and contemporary hiftorian } and the de.. fcription he has given of this tetrible calamity fopertedly correfponds with our Saviour's prophecy, that one would have thought, had we not [ known the contrary, that it had been \v itten by a Chrlftian, on purpofeto illultiate that prcdiftion. -■^v'^ - -"■■■■■• ■ ■ "' ;^^ This power of foretcllirtg future events is a plain proof that Chrift ramc from God, and was endued with this power from abova • r^ i3i ■•« '^ '» t .X X i*. * - il^' * ♦ • ,*«f. \ "he )0 ion id !erf hi, urc Ihe r It I *i <- ■>• .W\ ** :' if .. ■«(»; < ^ '■'■■, ** . ifb / > #* * yf;. *" !^') * ,%W': LTHQUGH the pf«M«sdinls pro, >fit?iciniSi^ii^wi: ivory fcmvincmg / « r oft of ihe divine miflloii of Chrift, lid the divine «tfeonry of ^ rcli- rion, ycty ispdriubtcdly, tKc ftrongeft . idcnt2« of this arifes frotn the wo«p I leritil and well attcftcd miriclelsi ..ch he wrought from the b|5g|i« |ntnjf to iKetndf «i fck ttiiniilry. Ml :d tke pioft inveterate d3li»fi» i nade tkc lime to ♦«& I he opcn« c 1 the eye* of tli« Wi*l and the «*« i M the de^ I he caft out devtis | i#^, / ; IH On tie Truth and Bviiu Origin walked upoa the fet; he fed fivethour. aiid fiflie^^'if^d eyeft rlifed m^ Sts^ life, again. Thefe miracles were all l«;r0ughf: in open day, in the fi|Wt o* lDttitittidc|t. 0^ vi^il^€^, wbQ c^uld n<» b^ impe£ptfeuf^n ifl^thiEgs whidi they iaw plainly with th(i(ifi€>;vf n ey^ 'who had an pppprtunity of fcrutiniz- ing, xhtm as tnucli as they pleafed, pxa who did aftuaily fcrutinize theni irith^a indfr<3rk|cii!o3dM3i^^ ^4 v^ip* pe^i^ fton) theyf itoy BjcfflKirkablc in- il^mt of^he Blindi i»aa mftored: tg |igl(t>by ci|ii^ i.oi^^ ohafhT |$ir>«i[f i^t; John, i^ trctii&(ftion ifKiiioh 1 "iWd^imJBe vary^mrafiftLv- to the '^ Ss xm%t^ diatr miracljBsdbeihg. very uiTuCmal apd exlmor^tnaryi 6x€^i they rei|iike ^r:v;: Bcfides a tmflrittidfc^^^^^^^ per- fom who yi^erc cyev^tneffes to th^fe miracfe, and ii^Jio wcreactually co^ yinccd'and contrcfted by rhciii, tHfere wiere twelve pcrfons called Apof- tles, plain, boneft, unprejudiced men, whom onr ^ Saviour cHofe to ^ Ws conftant ctinnpanionsand fricndSj^lid- were almoft always about his pcrfon^ accompanied him in his travel?, heard all his difcourit^s, faw all hi$ miracles, and attended hrm through iU the dif. fer-^nt fcencs rrf his life, death, and refurrcftion/ till tiietime of his afcen- ■ ■.. . • . '^ '|\ ^ Thefe per{cins \|em' pcrlbiS:!)^ pipabJe of ^^rlping "VKbethcr tbf ^pi;^ wl^^^ im jefuslper^ town ^dr^ieal oika^les^ cyr licft ,i th^yj could idlj whetliec f thqy ;I)[|i4 Is^PP^o to 1^ t4ia4 all hia lifi^^m fuuddculy r^ftpred ip %hx Ir^ our Sax^o^% 01^^ wori or touching his eyes •> mey. could tpl|. whether he did ^dually, in opon day lights w^k upon th^i^iwi^iout {m^^^ iiig, and without ariy vifible fupport j. \yHeth?r a peirfon <;aU^d JUazairus^ wlipm they were weU .ac<})xainted witjij a«d wliom they l^ew to ha:^ b^eu four day 3, dead and buried, Wasi^ ifaJrcd to life agaiq merely by .qi^iift'% /Ip thefe, and othcr*fa£l:s of j;hi§ ioft^^ thcy^ could, not pofiibly be cleceive(|„ Novf 4hefc» ; apd mapy otjier miraclesi equally ailouifliing, they aiErm thafe ^jcu t bemifeiv^s^ ^iftuaHy fa w pcrlpr oif V-^ -' T *' 4-±lL M )tthisi from being|ews,,?ri(l()f cpuri^ .lis outwartl #ppcafa»^« which. Wit* he very , reverfe of; every, taking ihcy ■xpe^ed io their Meifi^i^^ tiiey b^- :ame. bi« difdRles, ; and ontUPMm pf tbeip converfions and flaorftparttWi^ [ariy on account d their afigrtia^ th? 'r»tj| 4^M« Wfaci?* *"4 hi* refurrec. ^on, ttiey cadjired for along courlc pt rears tlie fev^cft labon, feardlhipa, jffiffj^gl, and pe?:fec\>tion, that, qW- aan nature <;j8uld|?e expofcd^o,, and It lift fabmitted to the moil, ctpej and. •xcruQiating deaths ; ail which they iglijt paiiiy havfi avj^4ed, if .they .x.)uldonIy have faid that Chrilt was loi; th^: Son of God, that he never ,york?a,any naixacies, and never rofe Jrotn the dead. T«itthis,riiey rcfufed to fay, and were content Jo^die xphst [than lay it.* 1 « {V,f i^iarvcTcrlaid down Ws W* for th« Ifcouor df J iiviit cr, Niiptuae, Of Apollo ; bat ^A itTt-ki '^r^ .,.* 128 Oniki^^^tndBi^i/feQkgk Isnot/tKisflvffigtK^!^ of their fincerity, arid ctf the r^liity of Cfrritt^^ miraefo^ that ikiniim liaiure aifd hilbilnHeftimbtoy arfe c^pablt: o^ giving ? The coreurreht ar|d tine6n. tpdicted tcftlmony of ^twelve : (u($ fliNSi ill thi rtifcg j^^'^vMenol, ftiifecifant to eftabHfh the truth of any onefilft in the wdrU^^^ hcrwcjver cistraordinif yj howevei* 'imi^} If riferre had beeft ;aiiy poic^ tmnptiitibR tthrQwn iiithe way of Meie xnen ;'|f;t|iey had befcri bribed^ like the followers of Mahomrti with fen- ' iual indulgences ;or^ like Jiidas^^I^ carior, with a fum of money*, one ihpuld not have beeri much furprifed ?it their perfiftirigj for a time at leaft, in a premeditated falfehood. But when , J now many ihonsHnds have scaled tf^ €M&J :l ■■;' > . •■■*.• t,' • *i '»^!S: 4 • fif the Chn$liaH UeveUHoJU If § wcfenow that, iilfteadof any of tibcfe ^ dUifcmi^ts ibciiXf? hdld gut to Jthieni^ titefr ^laftic^always foretold to thfem,- IpM^n^ythattl^y could gain liotiing, ^^i^ muft fefe ^is^y fliing! in thi^i Iworfd^ fey erribricing Chriffiiaiu^y ; it • li|^ttttcriy- impa®^ %q account %" y^iiDettibradiigitoii any^tber gitn^trfcj^ [ jrfi^h t3ieir cotiviidio^ oiit^ truth from Ithi^itiiraclcs which they iipiir. to fad, myxQk they not have bech abfolutply madKo 44w incil^rixd ^li^itary^^^ mit)^ : mifcry, and iuch cerlaiia">JfeC- rnij3iQii^ for affirming thing? Jo be itM whicfe'rria^y knew tpB<^ Wfe| Ijndre ^ecially as theif owa'tidigioiiv taught theoi, that they would \m pun- I Jftied iiMSi& fcyerely in another world, > ^swell Jfe Id thisi for -fo wicked a fraud ? Is it ufual for men thus to |fpt|ri ipth their qwDbappinefi, an4 th^irryfit"y Uvesi, and to bring upon |tymfe'l¥cs»jyi^ tM'^ ^y^^ Qp^'^y ^^ ^A ■ft, .'- ^y' r- ■ ■ - 150 On ty Tmtk^ni Dhi9ik Orij^ dreadful evils^ wftlf^ttt^ifif teafim^k^^ the world, and without the Icaft p^f- fible fcenefij:^ advantage, eredk^ or pleafurc .reiulting> rfroiti it ? • ^ ^here have ym ever he^ ot %ny iriftjfece^ this fort ?• Would any twekenien 4^dti; eii^et ^ eifrecial^ men of credit^nd Ghafaaef iakf Arimathea, we ate told, laid th£ bo^^in l»ir wn new t6rtb, hewn out of a rock, and rolled a great ftonc t^ ttie door of the fepuichre. . , Jp order iSfecurc themfttees agaihft"any fraud, tfie Jews defirted th«j Mm^iS«]|*^, lior, Pilate, to grant them'af oahd of YpldSers to guard the ftpulchre, kit, as they, laid, the difc;ples fhould' torae^ by night and Ileal the corpfe away.*»| Pilate's anfwer was in thefe wqids, w?iH and made tne fepulcjuj|,furc, ■ f:cec\s to relate tKe grc||_,^vent of the hfijrreftion with that ingenuoiis and %tui!lii|mplici#'mich charaApiizis ' WSm hilVorlanf inC Vhich car- ncs upon the face oij^cvfty mark of f Miiti U, A if U. O^M . \ ■ , f« Ifr the c«il <^iM- iafeM."*'! ^: began to dalwn towardSi "the firft ^ay of the Avcek; tame Mpyi I^ag^algn, and thcJiil^en iMary*flP i^f pieje^- ukhr^tf:|fcn4' behold iherfe-oWaf » greit earthqyake jivfcft the angel <>i rolled bag |#^ |one 1^ $hf ^^doftrii, %p4 fat upon iWvs His counteparii^. ^ iNtif like %l|tnirig, and W^-#inaeati^ the fee*epcrs did fhake, an# became ts deafi, me^n. An4the,angc*l of ,th? vr|fn€%,.' R8^ not yq;il^^%|f|iiR^^.* . that yeCcXus( ihat ^aCsCrilcifi^; Jid^isiwt^hpev for hetiHsrifen fron^ the dea4a and. behold hC/ g©yorihippcd.Wnii JT ^ 1^. afralH ; -p^n ttiy bre«hf*Sii tfttft «lif«#»4nto mBee, and ther* they Ihall fW me, NW, when they were goirv|, be- hold fettte of th**atch came into ^the^ dty, and fhewed untot #fi Hucf pritfts all that was donCp And whcft dteV w^ic %ffemfeled with the elders, and hadr^kett couftfel^^Sfey^vc large money unto the foldiers, fay- jhgjl Say- y«l»'lij^ ^iftiplcs came^ by jmk and ftole vWm -away while we nept } and if this cott*. I<^^ gov- ernor's ears, we will perfuade him iMl ftiUre youj, '; Ste -iSiey took this mdntfiUnA did Hi th*y #«(« Wught j jirtd this faying i* cohimofnlfreportcd the }P^§ W»to this day."* \ -''rt' y) }*:.*. 4 t, i t.. 4 i^^i WTeli^Sdt/ 6f this derful fa^ given by St. Mai l^hich corrtprebends not only h^ owi» won- MattheWj liLUlfit ttflfe IM ,t>,V !-■?." -,. i . 7^' r V- ■m 1 .*f" !k ' ;M&f the Chridian 'mmUm. J^ ,.-■,.'."< • ' ■ ^ -■ ', • , •■ . , '*. fepunt- of it' biit' tliat alfo whici tht chief priefts #j4»rttJef8 of*^:^ l^^i' Here ^henwe'ftave fairly 'be- forc^*'Slfei*i»^ different reprefcnta*- ti6«s©f this «^W y5l?*the friehds and by the enemit^S'Of Ctvtift #^f wHich' the' fbrmer afferts that if "Was a real ^ rdWfr*J ^.f i.4r. fl^ Om th TriUAtfd^ipine Origin jlft^^ecp rth^ poffibly tfli ill what ifianiief thi^(^ was Iblcn away;, or by wham*^ If ^i con- fideripg the extreme fevertty of the Bi^b military <|iicipline, is it cred- ^^ ^at if i4p^ b^ aflcep, ^ey i^ould have confcfled it, . For feiiipyi^ certain death to a Roman fol^ diet toM fiM^ Nothing could have prevailed upon tihem to malce*fuch a declaration as diat, but a previous j)romife of im- 1 punity and reward, frohi l^it Jej^i^ rulers ; a plain proof that they had been tampered with, ^n^t^at k.wai ■:;a, conqeitod fltory,-, ^■^:'':J^'- %r.A ■f*' ,y ' It!- ■i:}t.i#^ ■*"'■'* 14,:^ v> -^lil^ #ie next plitce, foppofing the ftory;eriie>.Qf wfcat ufc coul^ the dead body be ;t|i iii; dilciplc$ if • # fcould hot prove to them, 6r to others, that ihcir Maftcr was rifcn from the dead j it nnuft fwi^ been a contrary vifib l c # the C'i''^M*f' ■» > '.7-1 1^ >> *ri* ^a^w*« t ,,, But there is another moft decinve jsroof, arifing from their own cohdwct, that they were perfeftly convinced of the realty of our Lord's refurreaion. ■ ■ . ,■■;■>.• ^ :;',: .:' "'■ " ■'' ■•'■..*'■■:• it ap^rs *at the apoftles were fiir from being men of natural couragt and firmnefs of mind, When^out Lord wa& apprehended, all his difCJr pies, we are told, fbrfook himi aim fled, ?f pet . ^liowcfi hifn aiar off. i^. .-.-.Ja^. J._^,:A. .A-v'-:^ -,!***/ »':.-' f I ^ Al On^ih Truth and Divine Ori><» trt^'WeWt iiitsi* Kail imthtfl palace ol the high-'ptieft^ Wh«ce tfeCi '.fc*vants ■««arm*«^dge^ the llighteft cohntftiob iwitk hSns, aaidjufterly till- able to face the dangers that feenfted to l^JMKtP thcw»iy#B^,:4lfamedi^tely^ at- W.5the) tfefutteftfew af^^hf^f liord, a iMofl afliotiithing cfeaSgc tfeokplace in ^^}f*c«Bd«a.^^rom bejng the imoft 'Wid of inM% ^ey Ufti^y |ecam« ,, * f - , ; 'i wm ' ■■.,. ' . i» ' . . — :— - . U^^ . !? — ■%^r _ ■h ■ -\ key boiaiy preached that very: Jefti4 wham but a fhort time tefore they had defcrted ? im^^his^ gf eatcft diftrc^s..; Lnd althotigh hit iiropfii^i^^ ^»5 frc& before their ^y es; mk^t^h$^m^a [to expcft the lame or a fimilarlface^, Ret they perfiftcd in avowing them- - felves liis difciples, aiid-toW ^tfe^Jp^s publicly, .^*Jlte God had fnadc ebafc, (ame J^iu9,:whorn they had crucifitr^ bothvi^r^^*n# Chtift ;*'*^ anwi whca they wei^^ brougfir , before/ the rivWm ind elders to bc^xamined refpeftj'ng ' thjB la^ jp»n vilhoiirt they had qured at ^^1^ of thtH^jpif^ m0.y#u all (laid they) and tofiUrdie ^ple . ,5.« + Acts iv. 10, 11, *^* of the Chistiah Rrcdalum. 14S count for this ludden and moft finp- Ur change in the difpofit.6n, and as it were in the very conftitution, ot theApoftlcs. If Chrift >*d not tiftn ftom the grave, and his dead body, was in the poffeffion of his dilcples, was this calculated to infpire ^thetn with afeaion for tkeir leader, and with courage to preach a dofttine. which they knew to be falfe ? Would^it not, on the contrary, have ihcrcafed their natural ftmi^/Vy, depreffed their fpir- its, extinguiftied all ^heir zeal, and filkd them with indignation ^and hor- f©r againft a man who had fo grolsiy deceived them, and robbed them un- der falfe pretences; of every thing that was dear and vataable to them m the world ? Moft unqueftionably it would. Nor is it poffible to account in any rational way, for the ftrange revolu- tion which took plj«:c jn their mmds. fo foon after their Maftcr's death, but by admitting that t|jey were (uUy it may be faid, perhaps, that this pcrruafion was the cffeft,^ not of irre- fiftible evidence, but of-enthufialm, which made them fancy that fome vif- ionary phantom, created folely by their own heated imagination, was the real My of their Lord , ritftorca to life. But nothing could be more dif- tantfrom enthufialm than t>c charac- ter and cofti^ua of thefc men, and the courage they-.,manifcftcar,,^WcJi was .perfea:ly caW; foboj, collcfted, and cool. But what5f/«fly repels dus fufpicion 1% thatjlbejr bitterctt lilipirfarics never once accufcd them , of cnihufiafm, but charged them '«^^ilwith a crimc'which ^t^itterly mcon- ^t fiftent with it, fVaud and theft it with 1 > ftijaling away the body from the grave. ;And ifthcy did i^is, if that dead bo- dyy/M aflually before -WKWjfyc^ '.-7- C '\ ■■-•>», " >>- •t of the CKristiafi Revelation. /■ 14>7 roft I how was it poffiWe for any degree^ of cnthufiafm fhort of madncfs| (which was never alleged againft them) t\ Hiiftake a dead body for a living nnan,^ whom they fayi and touched and converled VitI||^o iuch inftance of enthufiafm ever octur red in the world. le 'MM-' ' at this of irxe- lufiafm, >me vif- lely by was the or^; to more dif- / charac- ^ iod the ^ich was ited, and repels bitter^ft fed ihep ed them ly inCon- -ft ; with the grave. deJ^d bo- leir eyes, :.). . ... ■■■, ■ ■^i,- ■ V?£. - • * ' ' ' '7 * i t " ' ' ' '" The refiirf^ftion or our Lbrd be- ing thus eftabllfhed on the firmeft grounds, it afF)rds an un^nfwerablc proof of the truth bfotir Saviour's pretenfions, and, 'confequcntly, of the tiuthof his religion : for had he not been what he aflumed to be,, the Son of God, it i$ im^t^offible that God (hould have raifed him from the dead, and thereby given his fanftio"h to an }mpofture» But ft^ |«; did aftually reffore him to life, he thereby fet his feal to the divinity which he claimed, and acknowlcdge4,hia}t ia jhe moft e^z^ ..£fi te;i -V \ \ ■\ \. A ■ * ' ■ \ *" ■ 148 On the Truth And Divine Origin public and authoritative manner, to be ^^ hS beloved Son, in whom he w^v ;;wdl- plcaled."* ^^ .^^^^^ ,, ' 'And ttV evtdence of our Lord's | diviiie miffion is of the more import- , ancei becaufe', our Saviour himfelf ■ apptakct to k as '#* grand proof of ' his being fent from heaven to inftruft to redeem mankind. For whenj ,« J^ lht'%ijyers and fellers out of the tcm^e, 'and the Jews required of ijim a fign, that is, a miraculous proofJ that he had the authority of God fori loing thofd tilings, ^Ws arjfwer was, *t)cftroy tWs temple, (ft^fcaning his bo- '%y«nd in three days I will raile it %i. When thercforef ht was rifea . *from ; th^ dead, his difciplcs remem- bered that^ had faid this unto them ; and they, bcUeved.thc fcriptures, ^n^ --r*^^^ ^ -^ ^# MattBv ill. l7te,fiS^^-^'"-- " It' %tTl ^. .' f^ ' • \ .■". •■•111:. .■-:.#,. ; J' "T T~T' m #3/ of il^eCiinstiah Revelation. 14» the ' wora which Jcflis had faid ;"♦ and they tlemfelves conftantly refer- yjced to the refurreilion, more th^ to any other evidence, as the great foundation on which their faith wa^ built, • f^ ii« The rcafon for this, perhaps, wa^ that this great event contained in it- felf, at oncct the evidence both of. miracle andJll* prophecy. It was certiinly onHP'the moft ftupendous manifeftations of divine power that could b« prefented to the obfcrvation of mankind 5 and it was > at the tame tim*,the completion of two moft re- I markable prophecies; that of our Sa- viour's above mentioned, and that well known one of king David's, which St. Peter exprcfsly applies to Shf i^cfttr«aion of Chrift : <* Thou >aft-ifl 1 > ^it , , J • •ioliti u. 19, ?!• -- '*!•>'•'■ 4 w^ .160 0« Mf Truth aniit Divine Origin wilt not leave my foul in hell, neitlxeif wilt thoiiluffer t|\y Jtiol^ Qne t:o ^e corruptionpft ' ';,*? ;: /■:**. + psatm xtI. 10. Acts M^'f?. Ob thi^ subject of Christ's resiirreciion. T must again refer my yanrig rfeaders to Dr. Paley. toL ii. ch. ix. p. ^09, and also to the condusion of hit work ; tlie force of which it seeibs to me scai'ce possible for a|. unprejudiced reader tq ^ .i?/ I, t* I -t ^ »•- V - V ^ "^ **--^ - ^ fe J^ "~- . .) i ^ -* 1 • . -"^ ^^jj^^^ftt * ' *- ,^^ "i^^^x : ' ^ -^T-^ 4a_-. .. If' ! ** '* •> • THfeSt arc tlie pf incrpat proofs of the truth of the Chriftian Religion, Many others of a very fatisfa^^iory na- ture might be added ; but the (jUeftioA Hiay be lafely refted on thofc that hay^ liei-elp^cnftatcd. , r^^^^^^ , ;^^^^^ ^ ■■/ -.f'^' And when wc collet thenni all tc^ gether into one point of view^ when wc confider the, deplorable ignoranGc and inconceivable depravity of xW heathen world before the ^ birth of Chrift, >yhich rendered a divine inter- pofition eflentially heceffary,' anJ therefore highly probabk v the ap- pearance of Chrill upon earth, at the very tirtic when his ^preki;ure was moft wanted, and when th^re was % ■ ... ^ -.; -. " , ..„ , ,. .u ' ' ' M '■ ", ' ■■' " ■ " ■ y "" ~ " ' "" ' " ' ; ■ " -■'■ " ■ —- ■I. ■■_l-l- -.1 ,.I M . L I. -I I.I.I I!.! —.11. M il II ■!■■■■ -i-^-^z,:. »_:■ 7« ,#; ■* V I M On M« TrirfA and Dlvmt Ongif§ C, general exp^^tion t^onghout t ^aft, I hat fomc great and.extraordin fy perfonage was foon to come m the 'vorld ; the tranlccndcnt excel lenccof our Lord^s ch^raftcr, fb infi 4 nitc4y beyond that of every othc f jnoral teacher J tte calninels, tH confipofijwc, the dignity, the mtegriit^ the fp§tlefs fanftity of his nrianne fo uttfily inconfiftent with every idc of enthjufiaftii tir impoftare % the (life Jimity and to r^ his doi trines ; .the xoniurrt mate wifdom an jerfed purity of his moral precepts f xcceding ll^i^ii^ii powera <)iF * jTj$n t>ora iri the huhiblcft fituation %fnd in a reoiote and cbfcure corner ol ^e world, without lear n}i^ cduca ^^^(^ lang^ books ; the rapic ana aftonilhihg propagation of his ;c ligion> in a very rtiorc fpace of time, through alinoft evn^ region of the ^£iyfti iby thelbie f ffbrts of nimfelfarKi ^ fa few iUuerate fifhermcn, in dircft op mi ■ . A 'a corner ot of tht dhrisiian Revelatiutt. 1*3 pofltion to. all the power, the autlv^r ity, the learning, the philofophy, the reigning vices, preiudices and ftiper- ftitTons ofthc world j the compete and marked oppofition, in eycry^f^ fential point, between the chara^er and jeligion of Ch rift and the characr; ter and religion of Mahomet, exaftly fuch as might be .expeaed tietwe^fl truth and falfehood. ■ The minute def- cription of all the moft m.^terial cirr cumftances of his birth, life, fuffer- ings, death, and refur|eaiotT, givet^ by the ancient prophets, many hun-; dred years before hewas born, and ex-, ftftly fulfilled in hiiTi, and him wly* p6inting him out . as t^hc Mcffiah of the Jews and the Redeenaer of man- kind ; the varipus prophecies dern^cr- cd by Chrift himfdf; which were all punftually accompjilhed, mors «fpe-"" cially the dcftruaion of Jerufalcm by . the Romans i the many aftoni(hing. n^ir^ic** vroug'^'^ t>yi ieifl% Wi.tb^ .•■-H ^ V-..-: ,154 ' 0n4h Truth and Divine Origin Open face o£ day before thouftnds of ipeftiatars, tihe reality of which isj proved t)y multitudes of the moftun* exceptionable witnefles, who foaled -^ir tcftinnony with their blood, andi was even acknowledged by the earlieft and nioft inveterate enemies of the eofpel i '«nd, laftly, that moft afton- ifhing and well authenticated miracle of Q*ir Lord's refurreftbn, which was the ieal and confirmation ofhis owni divine origin, and that of his religion ; when all thefe various evidences arc! t^brought together, and rrhpartially weighcd^ it fcem« hardly within the power of a feir and ingenuous mind, ^ to refift, the imprcflion 6f their united '1^^ combination of evi- I dence AS ifiis is not {ufficient to fatisfy an honeft inquirer into truths it is ut- terly impoflible that any event, which f.j^afied in f^rmrrtinf>#§, and which we "jd not fee with our own (eyes, can "er be proved to have happened, by v^ * nces arc of the Chrisiian Revelation. 155 aiiy degree of teflimony whatever. It niay fafely be affirmed, that no inftance can be produced of any o'ne faft or |evcnt,faid to have taken place in paft jages, and eftabliftied by fuch evidence IS that on which the Chriftian Revela- tion refts, that afterwards turned out to )e falfe. We challenge the enennies of )iir faith to bring forward, if they can, iny fuch inftance. If they cannot >nd we know rt to be inipoffibley we lave a right to fay, that k religion, |upported by fuch ^n exti*aqrdniary ac- rumulation of evidence, nnuft be true j md that all nnen, who pretend to be {mded by argument and by proof, are )ound, by ^he moft facred obligations, b receive thfe religiori of Chrift as a teal revelation from God. i..: V C if. £_% - -V «^:l ' 4 ^«U • n^ ''-*)y^n ^: »r. i58 J»oEM on vt Bufies herfelf in pointing all his ftings, ^ And tipping every (haft with venom drawn. From her itifernalftorel ground him rang'd In terrible array and mixtjare ftrange i^ ^^ Of wicouth (hapes, ftand^is dread Mimfters : Foremoft Old Age, his neural aJJiy. . ; ^ lAndfirmeft friend ; next him dileafes thick, A motley train ; Fever, with cheek of £re ; Conftmption,wan ; Palfy, half warm with Ufe, And halt a clay-cold lump; joint-tot'ring Gout, And ever-gnawing Rheum ; Convalfion, wild ; Sworn Dropfy ; panting Afthma ; Apoplex FuU-gorg'd —There too the Peflilence that wall ;in darknels, and the ficknefs that deftroys At broad noon-day. Thefe, and a thouiand moi Horrid to tell, attentive wait ; and when By Heaven's command I^S-^^" waves his eboii ■ wand, ■■'•.^■,- ''ti-f;;'^- •■■ ■ ^-^v, Sudden ru(h forth to execute his -^urpbre^ And fca':ter defoUtion o'er the Earth, ^ lU-fiited Man, for whom fuch various fornli' ' Of iMis'ry wait, and mark their future prey* ^ Ah! why, AlUrigbtems Father. d^i^ik^ This creature Man,! tWhyiwake ti^eund duft ^ - -"- Tdlife and wretchednefs ? Oh better fat Still had he (lept in uncreated night, ^ ?; If this the lot of Being l^Was it for this^ Thy breath divine kindled within hts breait The vital flame ? For this was thy fair image Starapt on his foul in godlike lineaments? For this, dominion giv'n him abfolute O'er all diy works, only that he might Ifeign Supreme iit-jyoe^^r^-^jam theLJalcft ^ m y rc^. MCrOS Could Pain andDeath proceed I Could iuch foul il 4" U POEM ON DFATH. n9 Fall from fair Mercy's hands ?— Far be tht thou^t. The impious thougn I Ood never made a creature But what was good. — He msidt a linjtng Soul : The nvretched M&rtal was the Work of Man. Forth from his Maker's handi; he iprunc to life, Frefhwth immortal bloom ? No jpain he knew, No fear of change no check to kis deiires. Save one command r^l hat one command, (which ftobd 'Twixt him and De*th» the teft of his obedience) I Urg'd on by ^yanton cufidfity, u^^ [He broke.— There in one moment Jfp«|one The Faireft of God' s works-r-T ^l^MW^ hmd^ That pluck'd iaeyii hou^ th/e fat^l fPffl^^ Unbarr'd the gates of Hell, and J^Mpe^in, And Death , and all the family of Pain, To prey upon Mankind.r-^Young Nature faw [The monftrous crew, and fhook thro' all her fram«^ [Then fled her new-born luftre> then began [Heav'n's cheerftJ face to iow'r, then yapors choak'4 JThe troubled ajr- and form 'da fell of clouds [To hide the willing Sun, The earth convuls'd [With painful throes threw forth a briftly crop lof thorns and briars ; and Infeft, Qird andBealli [That wont before with admiration fond 'o gaze at Man, and fearlefs croud around him [Now iled before his face, fhunning in hafte ITh* infedlion of his mifery. He alone, |W ho juftly might, th' offended Lord of Man, iTurn'd not away his face ; he, full of pity, iForfook not in this uttermoft diftrefs * ^ ' iHis beft-lov'd work. That comfort ftill iremainM, |(That beft that greateft comfort in afRi(5honV iThe countenance of God, and through the gloom l ^ot|grth iom c Idnd^^^ to ch eei ai\ ( | wj»1ft :# I 16» POEM ON DEATH. Th' ofFeDder's finkmgfaul. Hope fcnt from Heav'n Uprais'd his droopii^g head, and ihow'd afar X happier fcene of things, the Promised Seed Trampling upon the Serpent's humpled creft, Death of his iling; difarmM, and the dark grave Made pervious to the realms of endlefs day. No m6re the limit but the gate of hfe. / ' Cheer'd with the view, JMak went U> m tM -.,:.,,._^_grouQd,^^ .^^,. ,-..---^.^ . . ._ • '. FpMti Whence he rote ^fentcnc'd indeed to tpft As to a puniiliment, yet (ev*n in wrathr v ^^ , ^ ■ 80 n\traful is Heav'n) this toil became • ^|;4ie folacc of his woes, the fweet employ ./- ^ Of many a live-long Kour, and furcfl guaid> ^ , ; Ag^f^difeafe and l^eath. Death , though d€- Was yet a diftant 111, by '^eeble arm ,, - Of Age his i^e fupport, led (loWly on,^ . Mot then as fmce, the il\prt-hv'd ions ot mc« rlock'd to WsTrejJms ia countlefs multitudes .5 Scarce in die courife of twice five hundred ycar^ One foUtary ghoft went f^iv'nng down To his unpeopled fhofc-^In iober ItaTe, , ,,^, ^^ Through the fcquefter'xi vale of »iJ>al lift, The venerable PATp.uacH guilelcfs held , . / The tenor of his way ; tabor prewar A ;. - j. His iimple" f^ire^ and Tcmp'riHice rul'd^is bo^iic^, Tir'd with his dafly toil, a^early CYC / " He fu^k to fuddcn reft ; gentle and pwc A* breath of evening /ilephyr and ^'8 fwccr Were ali his flumjscrs >, with the Sun he rofc, jftr i^lcrt and vigorous a&,He, ta run . ^ ;y . , : His dcilin'd c<||rfc. Thu^ ncrvM with Gi^nt - - " ' and f lood Ute fli^k He ttem agei 'd the tide o||time» and flood U rollig Imrrtlfefwi 'Cr Jiis head. \ TOTM ON DEATH. J«| ^t life's meridian pcMnt arriv'd, he ttpod, , And looking rouni iaw all ihe valjiesi^fill'd With nations from his loins ; full well content ; To leave his race thus fc^ttcr'd o'er the £arth, Atong the gentle flope of lifers decline He bent his gradual way, till ftill of .years ; He dropt like mellow (ruit into his grave. Such in the infancy of time was Man, So calm was life, fo ipipotent w^s Death> Gh, had he but preferv'd thefe few remains ,^^ L The (hatter'd. fragmcpts of loft happinefs Snatched by the hand of heav'n from the fad wrec Of' innocence primaeval ; ftill jia^ he liv'd In ruin great ; though fall'n, yet not forlorn, l^j, Tliough mortal, yet not every where befet With Death in every (hape ! But He, impatient To be completely wretched, hafles to fill up The meafure ©f his woes, 'Twas Man himfelf Brought death mto the world, and Man himfelt ^ Gave keeneit to bis darts, quicken'd his pace, ^^ And multiplyM deftruftion on manWnd. " f Firft Envy, eldefl-born of Hell. cmbrue4 ^ Her hands in bfood, and taught the Sons of men To make a Death which Nature never made, ^ And God abhorr'd, with violence rude to brea^ The thread of life ere half its length was run. And rob a wretched brother of his being. With joy Ambition faw, and foon improv*4. The execrable deed. 'Twas not enough^. " By^ifabtile fraud to'fnatch a finglc life, // . ; Puny impiety ! whole kingdoms fell '^ ' . To fate the lull: of power j more horridjtilli The fouleft ftain and fcandal of our nature . ¥? Became its boaft. One Murder made a Villain, ' pillion/ a Hero. Princes were privitcdg'd . . . % '"- * 1 1 t'4 ■ 4e ^B F 91 % i ^11, and numBers En»SlIEeff the cnmf • ■ 1 u ^ ^lir* I "" " \-- ri,.,,«. ^,1. lit ill 105 tOEM ON DEATH. Ah \ why williitigs forget that they are Men J And Men that they are brethren ? Why dehght in human iacrilice i Why burft tfee ties Of Nature, that ftiould knit their fouls together In one soft bond of amity and loye ? Yet ftill they breathe deftruaion, ftill go on Inhumanly ingenious to find out J^Tew p^ins for life, new terrors/or the grave, Artificers of De^th ! Still Monarchs dream Of univerfal Empire growing ^h^ ^ From univerfal ruin. Blaft the defign ^ Great God of Hosts, nor let thy creatures fall Uii pitied yidims at Ambitioo's flirine I ^ *, . ^ Yet fay, fhould tyrants le^jn ^t laft to feel. And the loud din of Battle ccafe to bray ^5 ^ ' Should dove-eyed Peace o'er all the earth extend tier olive-branch, and give the world repofe, / ■ Woujd E>eath be foiPd ? NVouKJl hcaldi and ftrcngth and youth ^ ' Defy hi« power ? Has he no arts in ftorc, No other fliafts Hve thofe of war ? Alas I '^ Ev'n in, the Jmife of Peace, that fniile which ihcdi A heav'nly funfliinc o'er the foul, there bafl« * Yet reigns he not cv*n there lo abfolutc, ^ ,^ So mercilefs, as in yc^ franticlcenca Of midnight revel and tumultuous mirtJt, • Where in ^rintoxicaiing draught conceal'd. Or couch M beneath the glance of lawlefs love, .He fnareithcfinTple youth, who nought fuipe^ini^ l^ins to be blcit^but finds himfelt undone.' ^ Down the fmooUi fl:rcani|Qf life the Itripling " ^' ' '^urts, " ' "" ' ' ' "^'■' -^ • ^ ' tiay w *c moift ; bright glows iht rctnal ftfi r- *■ J'- • ^. POEM.^N DEATH. 163 Hope fwells his feil^i a^^i paffi^n ^eers his courfe, Safe glides his littl^ bark along the ftiore _ Where Virtue takes her (land, but it too iar He launches fortli^'beyond Diicretjon's mark, Sudden the tcm^eft fcowls, the furge^ roar,^ Blot his fair dayi ahd plunge him in the deep. - Oh, fad but fur6 miichance ! Oh, happier far To lie like galjant Howe, 'midft Indian wilds . A breathlefs cbrfe, cut ofF by favage handi ,^„ In earliqft prifne, a generous iac^ce ^^ ^ To freedom'^ holy caufe j than io^o taU ^ Torn immature from Jife^ mendian joys, ^^ A prey to Vice, Intemperance, and JDileale; Yet dieeyn thus, thus rather penih ftiU , ^ '10 wrejt trom i>od s own iiaiiu "**-•* '^^*"^" •» And be yciur pvvn aveh^ers. Hold, f*m Man Though With anticipating fpced thou ft rang ^ Through /every region ot delight, norJw One joy to gild t^ie evening of thy daf^ t . / Though/life feem one uncomfortable void, V , Guilt at/thy heels, before thy face delp^jr \ Yet gay this fcene, and light tliis load of woe, Compaf'd with thy hereafter. Think, oh, thmlcg And, ei-e thou plunge into the vaft*^by6, m . Paule on the verge a while : look down and iee^ )Thy f Jture manfion. Why that ftart of^ bf ^W , From ihf flack hand why drops th' uplifted iteel f Didft khou not think fuch vengeance muft await The wretch, thai with his crimes all fielh aboutliim ■Rufhek irreverent, unprepared, uncalrd,. ' Into His Maker's prefencc, throwing hick . Withmfolentdirdain his choiccft gtft ? ^ • / t msM^' m - ^^ ^^"» "^^^ Heaven m pity 1c«4p iW liti» "€: ff* n W ' .'C.Miji'i ■■ ■li "' ^ V 1^4 POEM ON DKATH. And think it all too (hpixxo wafli a\vay By penitential tears and deep contrition The fear let of thy crimes. So fhalt thou Reft to d^y foal,fo unappaird fhall meet l)eath when he comes, not wantohly invite His Jing'ripg' |lroke. Be it thymic concehx With innoc^nc^ to live, with paticWe wait , Th' appointed hour ; too foon tlia\hour will coip^* Tho* ^Nature run her courfe : But Nature's God,. If need require, by thoufand variousways, Without thy aid, can fhonen tliat fhort fpa'n. And qtnench the lamp of life. *Oh, when he comes RousM Ijy the cry ot wicked nefs extreme Wo Heaven alccnding from fomc guilty land * Now ripe for vengeance ; when he comes airay'd ' In all the terrors orAlmiffhty wrath ;«; ;' Forth from hirbofom pkicks his lingering Arm, And on tlie.mifcreants pours deftrudion down ! ^Who can ^bide his coming ? Whacan bear His; whole difpleafurc ? In no common form Death then appears, but ftarting into fizc . . » EnormoiK, mifafures with gigahtic ftride Th' aftonlfli'd Earth, j^ jfrom his looks throiw round Unutterable horror and difmay. AllNature lends her aid. Each Element Arms in his cauie. Ope flv the doors of Hcav'nj i The fountains of die cieep dicir barncrs break | Above, below, the rival torrents pour, And drown Creation ; or in floods of fire Dcfcends a livid catara^, and confumes • An impious race. Sometimcs,wheB allTccms pcacc^ Wakes the grim. Whirl wind, and with rude cm»^ S^P-?. " ^ /^^^^^. ^^^"^^ graye* oflifi^tie deep "^^ hclsia tBfproud wooden wodd [Wn^iSiyayoutS" ^ ,•* » f OEM 0:N BEATH. IfiS I On fome fad de&rt (hare !--At de^d of night In fallen filence ft^lks forth ?£ stile ncf^: Contagion clofe hehrndtaints all her ftep^ Witli poiibnous 4c^j no fmitmg Hand is leen, ^ No found is heard ; but f#on her fecret path Is mark'd with defolatipn ; heaps on heaps Promifcuous drop :^No friend, no refuge near | All, all,.is falfe^ni treacherous around, ^ ^ All that they ^uph, or ttfte, or breathe, is ^^^j- I But ah ! what means th^t ruinp^s rpar t whf iThefe tottW ftetT^tarth to its centre M^ V^ The GodlieacPs power, and trembling at his touc» Through all its pUlars- and^ih ev*ry pofc. Hurls to the grqund, with one convuUive heayc^.,. ' Precipitating.domes,.and towns, and tow^. ^ . ^ Th^ work of ages. Cruf^'d beneath th€ j^eigW Gf general ^evalktion, mijhons find ..^ ^ One common grave j nc^ev»n a widowlclt j., Te wail her fons : the houfc thatKliould prote^r . Entombs his mafter ; and the faithlefs plain, If Acre/he flies for help, with fudden yawn ^ itarts fi-om beneath himl Shield tne, graciou* ' Heaven, '.i^ii^ . ^s ,. ^-, r ■' ^ Oh, fnatch mc from deftruAion ! "If tins Globe, ^ This foU4 Globe, which thine pw|jjiand hath oaaat So firm and fure, if this my ftepmtray ; If my own mother Earth, from whfeng^ J Iprung^ Uifc up with rage unnatural to devour m^ ^ Her wretched offspring, whither fludi 1 Tly i , %here look for luccouf ? Where, but up to thet^ Almighty Father ? Save, oh, fave thy fuppliant From Horrors fuch as thefe At diy good ume^^ ~ th iporotch t I fipck pQt--7fiev hyn ip 6k % >. ia« .' y - .14 « I IM h m mm ON dIath. In genuine MB not with thy vengeance arm' <; Too njuch fo™an to bepr. Oh^ rather lend ' Thy kindly iiid to rtlitigaje Ins ftroke, .; And at that hour when all a&aft I Hand, , (A trembling C?andidatei|br thy GompajfRpn, On^this Wpfjd's brin^^d l<|k into^hlne When iny Souyiartirig^ from tie dar^ ' , , Caftsbacfca wnhful iook, aqdT&dly To herl^l prop, unwilling towwrep And ^llio;^ Irff 1^ Then ^fifiRf M||m me^N-then pQt^o The m^wW^m WMo dark Crimes Ip alUheitJW^6u^^P||^ ftartltig up ■ ' Plant^h. ^ JDifdain not Thou to fmooth the rcftftft bed * Of Sicknefs and of Pain., Forgive the tear .Thaj^^freble Nature drops, calm alj her ft ari^ WuktsBsall her hopes, and animate, her faith, ' .Till my ript Soul, anticij[Tpj.m^1|^v'ri '^<''- Buifls from the thrajiikrtn 6f incuinbrihg cla M. u And on thewinj igs intojjtbferty, ^ borne . , h. ,'4ti, I ^ »■ '*; « ^ %^HY Juftici, Keiv*niy feng ! and t^iat great day^ ^ 1 Wfen Virtue, }ong abandonM andTorlorn, Shall rai^e her penfiye head ; and Vice, that erft Ranged unreprov'd and free, (hall finkappall'd | I fing advent'rous-^But what eye cad pi€i?|»' ,1^1^ , The vaft inimeafurable rcalnos of ipacei j ^.y,i' O'er which Meffiah drives his flaminccar ^^ ^^ ' To that bright region, where eiuhroh*d he Kts, [' Firft-born of Heav'n, to judge afiemblcd worlds^ Cloth'd in celeflial radiance ; Can the.Muie^ Her feeble wing all damp with earthly dewy Soar to diat bright empyreal, where around ». / |^' Myriads of angels, God*s perpetual choirs. ^ ' -'• - livran hallelujahs, and in concert loud . / , , Chant fongs of triumph to their Maker's i^raife |i4^ Yet will I ftrive to (Ing» albeit unus'd , ' \l^ f To tt-cad poetic foil. . W hat, though the wile* ) ; pf Fancy me. enchanted, ne'er coidd lure ' ' To rove o*ei fairy lands ; to' fwim tha ftreams •f hat through her valleys wave their mazy way ^-^' . ,CV climb her mountain top* 'i yet will I rijjfe - ^^ • Mysfljeble voice to tdl what harmony ' ^f ft> H '*'»'',, « Uie roil in g it> h e r e »V (bwccta^. Attuacs the nacral wcrld $ that Virtue ftiU "M girpn Virt! .> ,,-.*.„» *i. T ■'■ : >■" k- 5* — f • •,.,A , r ftt" ffi ■ > » '-■ m Way hope ner promised crown ; that Vice may arei^ Vengeance, though late ; that reasoning Pride mat o\vn .Jutt, though unfearchible, the way9»of He^iven, Sceptic ! whoe'er thou art, who fay *ft the foul,; jThat divine particle which God's own breath *Jnfpir'd into the mortal m*ifs, fhall reft \ Annihilate, till Durajtion has unroll'd 3Hcr never-ending iSle ; tell, if thou know'fti Why>^very nation,. every clime, though ail Injaws, in rites, in manners difagfee, 'Witl^one confent expedt another worlrfj/ JlVhere wickednefs ftiall weep ? Why Paynlmbard ^JFabled Elyfian plains, Tartarean lakes, ' Styx and Cocytus ? Tell', why Mali's Ions .Have feign'd a paradife of mirth and lovCi Banquets, and blooming nyn^phs ?* Or rarfier Why, on the brink of Orellana's ilream, Where never Science rear'd her facrcd torcfi, Th'i.ntutor'd Indian dreams of happier worlds Behind the cloud-topt hill ? Why in each breaft Is plac'd a friendly monitor, that prompts, Informs, dire<5ls, encourages, forbids ? Tell, why on unknown evil grief attends, Or joy on fecret good ? Why confcience a^ls WiUi tenfold force, when ficKnefs,age.or pain iStands tott'ring on the precipice of death } Or why fuch Jiorror gnaws the guilty foul . Of dying fmners, whue the good man deeps . Peacefufandcalm, and with a fmile expires i Xook round the world ! with what a partial hani] 1, The fcale of blifs and mis'ry is fuftain'd i . Beneadi the fliade of Cold obfcurity - Pale Virtue lies ; no arm fupports her head, Ko hi c m Hy YtHceipeaks comfeftto hc r foul| Hot ioit^i^ Ifi^y dropi a meiuag umk , i&. PAY OP JUDGEMENT. ui But, in their ftead, Contempt and rude DiiKtaia Infult the banilh'd wanderef: on ihegoes, Negl€« ^^ Pours on Golconda'ipiW' early hght, ,. Drink Ganges' {,<^0^^, At once (haU rife Whdm diftant M^eS to each otljers fight _ Had long deDietl: before tite thr one fliaU k neel ^ Some K»eat Progenitor, while ^ypPtlb. i v*. Stahd his defendants through a Oioidin^linesi -^ Whate'e^ttet nation, and wha te'er their rank. Heroes apJ^tnafchs, flaves and fceptredkingsi With eq^lre the God of all (hall feej Zd iuW^iih equal love. What the' the great With coWv pomp and aromauc Iweets . . Emtelm'Slispo|r remains ; or thrgugh the^^omc A thoufend tapeH (hpd their gloomy .hght, / While folemn organs to his paiu^ ioul ^ • Chanted How orSbtis ?_Say, by what mMjr" g DoitthoB difcer^im from that lowly ^am • ' ■ Whofelould'riiltotes beneath the thorn-bouiii Longlay hegleftedT All at once (hall rde, [turf But not to equal ^lory ; for, ^s ! , With bowlings dire and exeer#ions lou<|,v _ gome wailtlienrfatal^thj^Fif »«°<>lg|'^^^« behold the mighty »d't4s of -a™ •-.:, Ttev who in fport whole kingdoms (lew ; pr ■WOio t«.the tott'ring 4*f*cl? 2f^^^,#„ „,rf. . Waded'through feas oT*lopd i IJcSS, wftthTy ctf*; ' >rhe^adnefs of ambition.! how lafflprt • ,4he*dear.bouBht laurels 4 v^n.W^dow'd v/ifi ^And chlldlefe mother at the imm'^f^^ ,,^ ^, Plead t^faT^tongu'd i^amtpelP Here are the . WiWunk an aged father to tKe grave : . C^th unkindnefs hard,, and cold diWaw, glilhted a brothf r'fi fai ffVmgs^-H«e are j^. V^mfr»ud*» :,■ Who from t}ie infant virgin tore her dowV, ^ And m the orphan's bread ; whoTpent theirftores Infelfifliluxury; or o'er their gold ^ Proftrate and pale ador'd the ufelefs heap.^ . Here too who ftain'd the chafte connubial bed ! . Who mix'd the pois'nous bOwl ;— or broke the tie^ Of hofpitable friendlhip ^— and the wretch Whofe Kfllefs foul lick with the cares of lite, , iJnfummo^M, to the prefence of his God . ^ - . ^Eufti'd in mi infult rude. How would diey loy \ Once more to vifit earth, kndUoughopprelsd - ' With all that pain and ffeine can mfl#, :::r Pant up the hk of Ufb > Vam wifh^l the Judge - Pronounces dSbm eternal on then* heads, -,. Perpetual punifhment, Seek not to know ^ ; What tJuniOxment ! for that th' Almighty will , ,' teas hid frcMmortal eyes |, and Ihall vam man Widi curiplfearch refinM prefume to pry r IntothyfecillU^ath^r? No 1 let hin> ^ Widi humble iience all thy works adorcj tnd walk in affly paths ; ib fha 1 his^meed e great in Heav'n, i haply (Kail he 'fepe ah' immortal worm Sid never-cealmg hre. ^ But who are they, who bound m ten-fold chains^ Staiid horribl V aghafl^ ? This is that crew W ho flrove tp pull Jehovah firom his throne, And in the place of Heaven's eremM King . - /Set up the phantom Chance, f^r them m vam - Alternate feafons cheer'd the rolling year ; ^ In vain the fun o*er .fe^rb, tree, fruit and flow r Shed genial influence mild t and the pale nyoon RepaiPd her waning orb.— iText thcfe is plac d The ^le blafphemer ; he whofe impious wit Profaned the facred myfteryis of /aim, ^ , And 'gaintt th* wnpenttrablc wal s uf Hcav'n j^ flantcd his feeble battery. Bythe^ft«%4^ ^" " , .life. m Iff Y I DAY OF JUDGMENT Tbe Arch|Apoftate : he with many a wil^ Exhortrmera ftill to foul revolt. Alas ! No hope have they from black defpair, no rav^ Shines through the gloom to cheer their finkini '■ '^ {o\m:r ■■^"■■'■^ y'0L /\ — V'' •.,.,: ■ ,„-* In agonies of grief they curie the hour ' *V:hen firft they left Religion's onward way. Thefe on the left are rang'd : but on the iigh| 4 chofen band appears, who fought beneath |rhe banner of Jefcovah, and defied ^ , ^ iSatan's united legions. Spmeunmbvd At the grim tyrant's frown, o?er barbarous clime> Ditfus'd the Gofpel's light : fome long imhiur'd (Sad fervitude i)in chains and dungeons pin'd f Or, i^ack'd with all the agonies of pain, Breath'd out their faithful lives. Thrice happy they Whom Heav'n eleded to that glofious ftrife I— Sere arfc they plac'd, whofe kind munificence ^ fade heaven-born Science rajfe her droopmg h^adf And on the labors ofa future race' 4 Entairdthdriust reward/ Thou pbngst these^ Good 5eatfl#! whofe well-judg a benevolence Fost'riig fair Genius, bade the poet's han4 Bring annual offerings to his Makerfs shrinej^ Shalt find the generous care was not in vam.— * Here is that fav'rite band, whom mercy mild, God's. beft-lov'd attribute, adorn'd ; whofe g|tft Stood «ver open tonhe stager's call ; wKo fed the hungry ; to^tbe thirsty lip ,^ Jleach'd out the Iriendlv cup ; whofe care bcmgi From the rude blaft feciir'd the pilgrim^s fide ! Who hear'd the widow''s tender tale, and fhook The galling (hackle from the prisoner's feet j , Who each endearing U^ |ach oifi c^ knew DFmeeK-5bTed,hea^n^efcendedeharity| 7 Charity, thou nymph divinely fair j, | / ' /• >% «f/; ifA DAY OF JUDGMENT, fiwerter than thofe whom ancient poets bound in amity's indiffolttble chain, , . The Graces ! how (kail I eflky to pamt SySs celeftialmaidl and.^^^^^^^^ filawn thofe deeds th>'felf d.dft ne er reyeiii . For thee nor ranking envy can wfeft^ ., g,r Rage "»"fP9"' "S? netrSS^^ Puff up with yarn fonceit . ne er uj^ui To fee the fmner as a yerdunt tjep ^ . _ And this gfpat day is <=W??' *°'i„^^^'tff? ' *halt lit triumphant. Thuber, V^JY .""^f •• Bear me, oh, hear me on thy fo^rmg wmg ! And through the adamanune gates ot Heav n Condua iv fleps. fafe from the fiery J^lph. And dark abyfs. where Sm and Ssun reign . But can the Mufe, ^er numbers all too weak, Tell ho^y that reftlefs element of ^r«M < Shall Yage with feas andearth inteft* war.-^ AnddWgeallcreattpn^ ^u'^'^^l' filu, of air Some think)the comet, as through fifl^s "t air , . Lawlefs he wanders, ftiall ru(b headlong on Thwarting t^»' fciirtic, where t^' f =°?i"r "™^ Rolls inher^wonted ccmtfe ; whether the lun With force dentripetellnto hjs orb ,^ ; Atttad her. long reluflant ; or the ca«es, . Thofe dead vokanos/yhereetoWMd ring ne Sulphureous minerals, from^e'M^'f ^^°Y*,r. ,- Tour ttreams of Uquidfirfi } wWfr""'. «]'°^^'. Aserft on Sodom, Heaven's avcngmg hanrt Rains fierce combuftion —Where are now the woj:^ -Of art. tfacto i^ of ages >—Whcrgare. now , rage s r " VvmHc^ux:^ ixuw..^ Th'u^eml cities, kpulchres, and domeS|' Im' ih t74 DAY QF JUDGMENT, ' ' Trophies and pill^s > Where is Egypt's boaft^ Thcfe lofty pyramids, which high in air iHear'd their afi)iring h^ads, to diftant times Gf Mcmphian's pridca litfting monument ?— Tell me where A thensrais'd her tow'rs? where! hebf^ OpenM her hundred portals ?— Tell me where Stood fea-girt Albion ) where Imperial Rome> ^ IVop'd by feyeri hilU, frt like a icef)tred quceOi * And aw.'d tlie tributary world topeac.e ?— ; .^ Shovyme die rampart which o'er many a hill, • Through many a valley, ftretch'dlts wide exten^ RaisM by that mighty monarch to rcpe( ' : r'^ The rbvinff Tartar, when with infult rude 'Gainfl Pckin''& toilers he bent th' unerring bow^ • But what is mimi^ arf ? E en Nature's work, Seas, mea4ows, paftures, the meand'ring ftreams, , And everlafting hills/fliallbenomore. ^ . i^ Ko more ilhall TenerifF^ cloud-piercing heip;ht' I , O'crhang th* Atlantic furge ; rtor that fam d cVxE^ Tliro' wnich the Pcrfian fteer d with miiny a im^^ Throw to the I^mnian ifle its evdhing fhade. '> ^ ^ O'er half the^wideEgean^— Where arc noMf: "^ The Alps thai cpn^n d with unnumbered rea|p9l|» And' from the Black Sea to the ocean ftrean? \ - 1 f,'.( . As now by ftreaming catarad!s pr fti^ Was whelm d fcy mighty water* ?-t All at pnce Are vaniih'd and di/tJv d *^ m trace fcmainsiv No4nark®fV^in diftinaiou : m"".- And magnitude, fome winged mmm^ '^ Shall quepch ; and(fureft lign that all on^arth* Is lofl) ftiall rend from heaven the myftic bow. " • Such is that ^wful, that tremendo# day, ; ^ „/■ WHQfe coming who ftiall teU f For a#;a thief ^ Unheard, nnleen, it ftcals with filent pace _ . Th^ughnight s dark gloom,-Perhaps as here I fit. And rudely cafolthele inconditp Jays, ^ . . Soon (hall die lian(|Jbe check d,and dumbfhe moutH ^That lifps the f^jtring ftram.— Oh, may it nc er ■Intrude unwelcome on an ill-fpent hour J ..^ B|^ find me wrapt-in meditations high;^ - Hymning my gre^t Creator ? — —- , .'' • m ' . ' - — .— -" Fowr Supreme ! V •* evcrlaiUng-Kiiig ! to thee I kneel, « To tKee Ulait^fcy v<^te. With fervent heat • " Melt, all 'ire ^Jcments U And thou high heaVftn, * •< Shrink Hl»ka>fhnveird fcroU ! Bufcthink,0 LoW « ThinV^i mbeft, the nol^left of thy works-Y " Think on tlWAs^yn bright image ! Think on him- ; Kf m '" ^''lo ^»e^ ^« ikveMs from thy n?;hteous wrath i^^ • top. ■ " Alid 'mida tt^ WrecH of worlds remember manf ^ 3 ft . ! *''*»*¥ If ■.-* I 4' n" f r' 4 V ^p • 1 ^H r 1^ 1 ^i^^^^^^^^^^^^r ' ^l. \ ' * ▼^ «-, . "■ . ' --if * i r • i ** % . . V 1. .V ' • . J ' '^% , - ■ " > >