'/Of s? A M HISTORIC DEFENCE O F EXPERIMENTAL RELIGION I N \VII 1C H THE D O C T R I N E O F DIVINE INFLUENCES, is s i: p r o r, T E :> c Y THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE, AND THE EXPERIENCE OF THE WISEST AXD BEST MEN IN ALL AGES AND COUNTRIES. IN TWO VOLUMES VOL I. Co -.'.Son : T " ! ' TFD F. R TH." AVTilv". > K V \V. T A Y I ', T, '.. A C y T '.' 1 \ ; VlViil.L-: -y T. i;;TTIN T STAL!., rkir-S.vut; and W. HUTTON', ell ill'.) i- M. P.'il.'oTi. v ", <:.: TK . r r\ !'< T O SIR RICHARD HILL, Br. M. P. SIR, f j-\ JL HIS Addrcfs is not intended to infuit You with Adulation; but in an A^e fo depraved and diffipated as the prelent, it is a pleafure to be able to point out any man nf R.KI'-C and r'o:t-::;e, v>ho is MJ ; : aihamcd of Experhn;ntal Rt'!:^h>!, iv.>r a dilgrace t-j it. Tiut thelj Truths may continue to a fiord You, both living and dyinir, much confolation ; and tiiat your example may excite the emulation of manv> is the ai dent and iincere wifh of Your nioft obliged humble Servant, THE AUTHOR, L',fn!.'t) io.'/; Or.V /(-, 1705. R E 1- A C E. 'LD be fjrry to ofler to the Public, a work winch really needed an apology ; and not lefs fo, to trouble them with an apology when unneceflary. TheyW>/Vt7 of the following work appears to me of the Urlt iinportanc; Lhc general argument conclu- live and irruV.i^ublc the bylirit: methyl likely to in- tereft the reader's aitcntioi: of the reft I can only f.iy, time and attention have not been Iparcd. So far from deprecating crltlcijm^ I implore it. Kvery ^:oJ nature. I critic is my friend : and fnould even malevolence induce an enemy to point out blemiflies or errors, fo that the work may be im- proved u therein (hull I rejoice : yea, and WILL rejoice." I he Argument is hijhrical : it i> contended for as a_/i/i;/, that good men in all ages, in all countries, and of every denomination, have felt the reality uf vital Crod'.ineh have attributed their experience to the agency of the HOLY Sri KIT and have lane- tioncd vi PREFACE. tioned their teftimony by holy lives and triumphant deaths. Thefc witnefies arc fele&ed, not from among prophets, apoftles, and divines only \ but from among the moft eminent characters in every walk of public and private life in every branch of literature and fcience. Whatever other defects may attend it, I pleafe my- felf with the idea, that my collection is in one refpect like heaven itfelf it receives good men of (ill Lets and parlies, as well as of all agc, c . ar.d cc'^.'itrus, without refpecl to any thing but their piety. Happy {hould I be to hail the return of that golden age, when the followers of Chrift were diltiruuifhed only by his name ; and when all thofe who loved the Lord Jefus in finceriiy, loved one another alfj. Doubly happy {hould I be, if, by the blcfllng of God, this liule work {hould in any degree contribute to its reviv.il ! In the late exertions of difF'.rent denominations to make a conimon caufe of Chiiilianity, and fj'H...d it throughout the woilil, 1 Hatter n.vl'eU' may b traced fome gleams of the dawning uf fucli .'. day. (jivirious day' Angels ;.nd fiinls {hall hail ils nhn- ' -And f O v.T while we wait its appearance, " like tiiuf.- that watch PREFACE. vii watch for the morning," let us beguile our anxieties with a triumphant requiem over the funeral of that black and intolerant monfter BIGOTRY ! d the ancient Rabbins 98 V. The Evidence of the Nc\v Tcftament Wri- ters, and Expcrier.c of the frit Clriftians 12^ VI. Some Ti\.cc ; of tliefe Truths amo-'g; the Greek and Roman Pliiloi'opher?, Periian?, Indians, Chinefe, eminent!-, (....vnijnufheJ from the brute creation, as by m.^ion. S:.nu ; n .nals ret'.'inblj the hu;iu.n form; o;'./s po.'.t is a G;\icit' very hin'l.irto iv.il,.n: and lc\\T:.l f])^cics of 'oii'J'. ad- ;ni.,i''iv i:iiit:itc t 1 ^- accents ot a h.unun voice; ! ut n.-:i:j ('1 tlii. . i, Jiicovcr a C'.iucit . >t icii. ion : th : ;:!.:': ,\s as lu'.ir as [Viiu'.ii, 1 to a L'\','l \viih t!u* bc.i';>; th. y fioMid I r.ic:',b. r, ho\VL M .'CT, l!i;:: t!ii:ii^!i c'v.'y nv\' div-:ll th -mll-lvcs of almo,']: (.".LTV ihi:i r >.>!- tlvxt is human, th.-y c.iiinot put .: llxir inviu.rLaiav; vt Men may live bruics ; buL bin: s il;.v dtaiioi JL*'." * VOVM.. Ji Hut 2 IN'TRODUCTIOX. But what is RELIGION : If I were to define i(, Ifliouldcall it a DEVOTEDM^ of HEART to GOD. This is the fjjence o\ ieiitMon. ]Jut in the nivfent flate oi human nature, it is u;i indifnui.iMe and a \vful fact, that the heart is not ;.vn.vr.,7/y ik voted to Clod. Religion, rhenvtore implies foinc;.hinL: nio-c ; mmciv a \VORK of (JKAt E upo.i the heart. \Ve may tiiei; i.C.-.l \v\il\ .lie grec.t Comir.iflioner // ,'<,';.',_,'., in our r. ctm " I'here i.- buL ONE TRl'E RELKJION in tile v,\,rld, r.nd that is the \VCKK ol the i: ,.-, ' . of Ciru in t!ie UEARr> of men." The h.-art is the fm :H! of ACTK X. I [ciKV a ralit\ f a r~.ip.cttu! attention to p.^tiliv: 1 in!t!'u'.i cis a:'*i a heartv iic (-ce'.:M:ud :n ii:\ d .;i.-.:ro:; , niiiie.ke 1 . h 0:111. :e I;.N c .Tr.ai p :;i (.1 ; li :ion (A^ UK -,...! ..n-J i . . ; i-.:. e u,. ., , titk-.-j 1 . i: for i ,;-.: ' Itruvui,-.- 'vn:.-.i v.v reli j :on in u.e H : AT. 'i' ; v. ' de; ii and.nL., r^ i-inus tii: . and evidence-) ii.ll!; in a h 'i'his religion \ve c.i.i : :. . T :iii - ' :.\ r.M., t <' ti-e fanit, 1 rtTifon lhat Wv >.pp! , ii;. u-r;, 1 . to cei't-ni 'cr/.ncii-s ' 1 'J::r.. iMMonrcTi'oN*. 3 \ i science; n.iivub;. bcc.;ule i: is not founded in ipc- cuhuion or conj.jchire, b.it on :i n.d and ien!;ble experience' ofdu'ine things; ciih'd by the Pie.! mill, a t:i /!'!:* and /-Y/'/;, "th.it the LO:ID ;s L r ood ; . : ' Since the \vh,.'e . >f this i> confidered in icripcure us the \v,n\v (.: tlie di'tii.!'!' or lj,:J, our lubicct be- co:r,es n.cs. ::e.r:'.y connected with the doctrine of PiviM-: i M'Li t.xci- > ; and that ii^ciin i:-.vV:i>_s tlie d jet. ine of ;'i.- ie\:.L (convr.o-i!y termed 'jrl^inal Jin] (:C the natui'.d d-.--pr.-,vity <:' :n.v\ and his incapacity to rc'eover hunk-It to hoiini.lV, .,:.d to CJo.L i r.-e '.'.'or.c. 01 (.rod r> L^on'it ;s ui'.K'.i: y divided, or rr.lhcr ci^i i.^a^:c4 y into ie\ ;:r:ii /// \i'::, : .\-s, which f ,vc ill...! .: v.v ^n : ;Kre.:c, .ind . ".d :.iv :ir, ;IL th j iaine tin;, , tj i-1 1.) ne clu.'.-id ::i >:i o;' ;h j fo.ih-Mr.ll t.c/:n-, i;i". 1 :n thi- tub; :e: it b.i.: ^ rn . :h : > : . ;b..r. 1 th.:': :';: ," ;.:.;;:S u.-.i.:tch':-j: b e t ) n : .\^:i ;.i ih'., U;:hii:r.:i c jiinL'/y, ;.s i,.j cer ;.j -,,-r . - ';:..!:'Vj or t; 1 . j ;.:bi.;r.e ;v, .- lhe;n.,o. .>. RE.a-.VLRATiON", or the iK\v-birth, is the cc r.r.v,:- mc.itKHi ot .1 new principlj oi'lVn itnal lite to the foul, wn.-r-j.iy, :;s S:. I'ct.T cxpix-Hjs it, we are m.idc p:\r- t.-.ra 1 ; - oi A ni VIM-; N vi' ; u ;; ';. C ;v ',. ;i i iv, \vne ; \ rippoL> the former (fincc bib mu;t iv prior to .,.;t., n) i, the turning from (la to hr.b.iuf j' ,,ni S ^.\-\ t () ( ; (i j. REI'IiNTA.VCE, 4 INTRom'CTlGN. REPENT ASCI-, which is ncaily the fame, fliLh'y fignifies a c'.':i>:^-t' of win,!, attended with a change- of cond'M'J. It i> th.it Jifpohtion of heart \vhep-by u the wicked ir.an turncth from hi-, wiclu-div. f~, anc! d >:h that which \< lawful and ri /lit." ] AIT'! ;s a conlid ;MC-J in the profile of di\ ine m.rcy through (Jhrlt Ki"us; <-,; as a linij-ik 1 c!i; ;.ii.i:i o;;cj :v! nirably cxprciLd it, " LI'.J i.ikin.i C;od :\i his word." 'I'his fuhjixt nny, ]i 'rh.ips, h.- f.irthor cKicidatcd by Ci-:.!'il.-i ;;,'; !,!;ti; 1:1 ... L'l'Ci'.t ;\-!pccl>. Faith Lhu'i) nu;y b.- d; Hn^uiihcd as i'. is pi'oup.Jod, '. --!' o'i a divine o: h i IKI ! t; . i:nony, and is thcrc- r C-, :; ,;-:;,. .!'..;:) 11. .';,' ;.'i' b;- c .r.n Icrcd as havir ; Rfp.-a i.!,i. CT ui .'..^t- or p; .ni:L>. 'i'lic belie;" oi" i hut : s i'un- p:v jiving credit to th rclaior; ihcbclicf of apromife i:::;-iixs rrl: Mice ;MK! d.-[:Li;dancf. Supp.ifj a man of go d icpulaiion ai lv lii.ili diilribattu t\rt.i:u bw-;j''.fi:> to c. a : ". , rl"i;i : , I 'ivc him credit tor his afi":. l:o:,; bu. i, ! ic to bellow the I'.i'iie bc- CcfT.'.ie , then ! P.V.I. \ >. 1,1 his \vo.d, and waic t.>r it- acv - . i ! - : . ' , ! / t!;is to (]or>. The for- mcr i- hi it -ri : ' f iv be dc..d ; the latter i- tni ., liv . % ; . ' c.d f. i:h. S .:. '., t'tT rei.t , -\v- i : i'-; i IP', i- ct !;ave occahoned foiiv \ ;.' ie,\ in ti.e v! ,1 itu-'.s "t -o 'd d viiio, which n....y pu/zlc r.'jv'.CvS in d!vinit\ i yet arc perhaps no IN'TRuDUCTION T . 5 more reallv inconiillcnt than leveral views of the fame country tik.cn in J.:.7.:.-c:u prvnn ot light. The:e is ailo i'-'iu difficult/ in arranging the two graces of iaith and r .-p..-n;ancc. The fcnptures com- monly place rcjjiu.in-:.- iirit ; yet as lt without faith it is irnpoiliblc to n!c;Uj God '," it ftiould 11: cm th.it t'i..-vinull DJ t-.s'!ii iiitcr-j -| . A degree ot repen- tance Lx-.ns however, to precede tV.iih in order of na'.uiv, if r.ot of linic. A hght of the e\ il of fm is iV-ceiT..;')' to tr.:\k.- I'.ivj.fion dehrablc; but then a fi_ht of Chriit render-, Tin more odious. Repentance h.s the ix fure be-."! be-.utifaily called "a tear dropped f/.rn the .ye of faith." u They (hail look ((kith the proph : hi. 11 whom iheyhr.ve p:'.TCvunr{;.'* R ;.e;r.i:..'e i:, rot thj \v.r'< of" a d.;y only ; it is a cr.ice and a dutv, \vhieh. as v.xl! a> tl'ith, p' rvad^s the \\ !i ,Ie ot a c'v; i.tian'.-- 1'fe : an ; \cr ainvj U:,i(e of fin cun:lant!y ..Fordif. ; tVjfii exe;c::'e ior faii'i; and be- :e\ iii - \ i .-,- oi a c: :. ,n_\! II..'. rner, i'.i, plving con- l::ui.:l c.nfj for p. :: :.uice :\\^\ co trnuon. 'I'luis the!-: j.;.i; .-.-> : . c> >r j^. 1 .''. v ad\ ancj each ojier ; and oc- .t \. caion 6 INTRODUCTION'. callon a variety in the believers experience not un- Hk.e th" alternate hicc,-fiio:i of (bowers and iunfhinc in th- !priM 3 . " J'.:ft fuch \- the chri (lian : his race he begins, " Like the lu.n in a milt, while he mourns for his (Ins, tc Ana melts into tearb : then he breaks out .uul ilnnes, tc AnJ ir.'iVels on his hc:iv"n'y \v,i) *." SANCTIFICATION is Lhe gradual puriiication of the heait and hie. It is the cor.timi.'.iion of th.u y;xat work (A the SPIRIT, \vhichis be^un in rcgen-.;\uion and complete d at ue.'.lh. ILLU.MINATIC;N' oi t!u mind is anotlv r branch of tins work, v.hich \'. :i\--> fpiiitual ob'^ct- in a new light) and is as nec(.i!.<.ry t> the proper difco\'ery of hich oi'i'.'^s ;;-! the lol.u' beams are to the d;iee. nni^nt ul c\Lenial things. COMMUNION v. 1th (>-od iinplie^ two things a communication ,-! V ::,< ^i\c.'S ircm hin,, and a re- turn of devout ;'.ri.;tio:v.i to hi ii. 'i h:- e. 1.1;:, union i a privilege ;;t ;,il ti'iics t! ..;.'', hut ir.oil clpe- Ci.ill\' in ihe cxei '. ivli^i .1 1 duue-. C . N ; iLA'i'IuN is .1 ;;.;.;' term, including llie vn- rioiis comforts an 1 ]:iys \v!::c!i believers derive liuni n.'i appb.:ati'>ii c'f ih d!\ :;/. |5:milei-, hy 'v 1 i.!y Spi- iit, u ,der ;iii their \ arii u - '. ., '- a .d ..lai^t, ,ji. Abot-'K ANCi\ i : - a ; .iu.;!iiii5, tiih'r oi i.ur '/:;/'/ to an in'A'ie'i in t!ie b.iuli's ot in/ ;M ip.l ln - the ter.oi c.f it 1 - pro;nil.-> , or of our ailini! peilunal inieiell: * WATT f. in INTRODUCTION. 7 in thefe bk-fiing^. The one has rcfpeJl chiefly to (j-.)d's w.nd ; the other, to our own tiding. The former ha-, been diitinguilhed by fome perfons ;:s the afi'urance oftaith, and the letter, that of fenfe: but both arc commonly included under the general term 1 ihall elofe this Introduction with t\vo or three remark?. I. 1 obforve an oflcatial connexion, a mutual relation, and a kind < >\ ;>eri ecTion, in the work uf grace. It is " a new creation," and, like the new-born infant, pof- feffes r.li it> puts at or.ee, though but in miniature ; a: id lime i.- r-. ijuilite for their growth before many of the members can be uled. Although we come into the world with eyes and hand-, and feet; thefe dj not 'ill come into ule immediately, or at once, but re- quire d.rrVren'; degrees oS m;iturity to enable u-- to ob- fe.'ve to 1:. indie :.nd to uaik. So it is with the n.".v c;\ itir.'e : every gi'aCe mdeed .s iv!:nied atonee; .ought into immediate u(e. It is by a gradation 01 experience, and by repeated cxercife, that our Braces are ma'.u ed. Every converte-1 li,;.l s i.-'.'h, r '.[/, nt-'.r.c , anu iome d give pi ii'.imination a:',d lan^L.,:c.itioM : but. to live in the conllant c.xer- c.i-'wi :....!) c.::ij r ; -iUniR-,; to er.jc.y daiiv comfurt- abl; 1 co'iimuiuoM with Cl^d to a'.t.iin coniiderable in the. lubiim-er mylieries <,,i~ the '-("ij an.i to grovv mo.x- a;id more in'.o t'le im.i: r e cl' C r. r;;l 's holmel-, aie g;\.it alt:'.mmeiit-, and mark the pel Lc- tion of the chriiliau c!uu\.eter. 2. Thou-h 8 INTRODUCTION'. 2. Though the work of grace is cjfi;:tlnlh'i\\e. {Vmc iu every iubjccl, and wrought by the fame pov, e; ; yet there is the iike varh-iy in this a ; . in all the other works of God. Human artiils c.ften affect unifoimiu ; but variety is the glory of the divine architect. '1 here are not perhaps in nil the c.irJi, two animals, two plants, two ;rains oi f..iid, perfectly alike. So in the viiibie heavens chere is the like diverfity. "One ftar differed! from an .;iher liar in pjnry *." The varieties in a wjrk of ^race anie, cither ironi a dif- ference of natural d:f k jo!itio;i, ntuation, or ciiciim- ftances ; or from the various methods which the I.^rd the Spiiit, (uhoaclsas a lovercignj uleih in coiuxr- ii', n ; u There are diverfities of operations, but it is the fame God \vliich woiiveui all in all \." One thiny; is pa. ;icuhirly ohf;rvabl'_- th,.t ir.uch depends upon the order and degree in which divine illumination is communicated to u^. To iuine t!^,e Lord -j;;ves an c.-i'iier .;nd ftronger conviction or" their fin and danger, whiht th. glory of the Saviour is, for wife realbns, v,'.i'i;:e',d trorn them. To others the Lord makes an immediate and full difcovery of the l;ofp 1 falvc.tion, wr.ich prevent t'veir l,ii}er;i;g tl:e fame d.-^ree of d'ulrc f- witli the former. 3. I obl'rve that fo:ne t'lings aic r-.prefentcd :is \vho;1v wr<>'i.|lit i-i u-, fnme AV u l a;ul v> t OUUTS, in ; o niit;'.;icc :n regeneratioji we are wholly [jaliive in good works, properly active ; * i C'^r. xv. 41. f I L'vi. xii. 6. but INTRO DUCT ION\ Q but faith and repent ance arc both (rod's nUr^, and our U'.itic^. Tiu Lid i-, theie capac'-t'ia are wholly f;o.n (jod ; but we are rcrjtsircd to ,v/i' them. S > m n itural thirds (jod pivcs u- tyes to fee, and hands to v.'ork ; therefore ieei;i.r and working arc both i! i:ie?. 4. Thou .h I have end:avouad to explain thcfe tilings \vi'h tr.j uti:i':ft c'jiiuvjiV ;.nd fimnlicity, I iVoc!\- c >iirci> iny f.-;irs, th.it to m.uiy rc..c!,TS wlv.t I h,\vo .;d-,.inccJ \v;!l b'_- equally unint'jl!i';:blj wi'.h a dilcourfj on lii'it and colj'.irs to a p-,ri vi born blind. \\t did I know ludi a man, a: 1 .'.'. .:ilo a IV.M: : e.vMble ofinf.rillbiv curing h.:m, I fhould tliink it aiv duly to c )nvmjo iiiv nbi'.d .icvnia'nl'anc?, tl~.at tiicre v.'..s a dj- i:r.ibij fo n jthiii.! w'-.ich I c..;': /.'-/'/, in order to excite him in ;;-; -l-.-i'i;- f.:c!i relief. \\'i;!i this vii.w I ad- drei"-. the I";;;: itu.il'y b.ii'.d may that urac'ous Sa- viour, \vlio alone is jbL-, work ^/;1 ill :t'js of grace.-, ar.v mo.-e tlum thule of -lory. ". I d::b.Miei!ly paf> over fevcral tiling-, not eilen- tii'l to ipy e;;d. For this ivafm', 1 fh :i ;l avoid (.is much as maybe) the. diioir.^ -f the fchocis rtfpedin^ IJ INTRODUCTION'. n/iY ; and a:i.>, :'.H uKjuhL? into the Deity o: j*.- IOM..:>V PI the Jioiy Spi it: th le topics have- h,. -;i :ib' \' ;u'u th";'i ; . ; ul! i'>. I rc.l \v. 'i all'ur.-'.i, tK.it :' . : . rate \v;'i ' ' i to ;ui . :c . . v .;:.!: ^ i. ;i,-fs ; n;;.! .... \v ii; i' t . i'!v ot hini, ui' 1 : :' . v ' 1 nis work. OM- : D! C iS :!: VVCVJl' ut" IMlj lO b-7 obil;\'' ' Lhat whv'a \vc irc.it of the ! l'>ly Snivir i:i 1 1 cable i:ii!iuncvs than his ina nimun. table cilciice /. r. it is tioi the DJty itfelfj b;ii his ^rjcious ln~ /./'.;;:: th:.: \vc r'nrnc-ui.ivjj in:crn.l. CHAT. I ! I C [I A ?. I. THE TESTIMONY or j:-S' ? Crlili.-T TO THE VARI- oi s nuANC-i:: Jt-' L^I'IIIUMKN' TAL RELIGION. V.TI.L not fo much olTeivJ iny readers a? to queftion th-'ir c'iK'iilia.iiiy f ; r i :Uj)iv.>ij that very few, e\ca c;" i'.', 1": /,';. o i 1 -.'.' thj l..:it atte;U:o!i c-itlicr to its rloc- t...- or i-- '-VC_'JK> \\{."a'.d \vil.i;' :.'v ^i\c up the ;.,.,]['/; '.;]: !;..:';'-' v i; i their auth T, uxvjl j yet be th"> ; .i.;ht t r.tai'i ibnie u^^ree oi rcvcrep.c.- for jtlus Cbriil and >e!. I c.\r.!i >t ! C'i:ic'ij i : .; , inconfillency, ;,-. ih li L a;'.e;i:nt it; but oalv tal;e occailon h\;:u t'..- r.i.t, \; r : i is Kiibe.e.ur,- ii'.jtui Ln:5 , tj aJ^lres ;" : : ; :-, L .nd reilju \/u.h them on their cns'ii ! i:; ;(! b. (J ii ; , \ -e ;u . bouiui t'> receive his i . t ; !;, a, L>:f\il!;Hei fincc i.lii' . ref.ly :... .;'...! ti^ic he receive! his i! i.,...:e iVu , tl'.j h _f';e:t iourcr, ;u-.J tliar l^is \v-,;\!s \-. .;-.. ; : !i'. !M. u\vn, imt I'.e \\>i;'J>> oi t!',e i-'ath.er \vi;j ,: h' is -. II 'v.-c/er, ;!'(/.!/!) tiie iru;h rf c>n/ I^e- tl.v.v.L! . U'..^'u : : ; j diie-i ;v>t reii i;n the tii'jiiity ol his j;.:ib.i : \ et a-, L.e d, j :.'; \' oi a ;n .lle:i.:et --.MVvS w\i ;hc 12 THE TF.STIMON'Y and importance to hi-, mdl^e ; !o the more exalted notions we cntv.-rt.iin ol the per ton and eh. -.racier of Jcfus, wiih the greater ixipcct arid attention ihali \vc be induced to receive his iubiime dslcourfes. "We (hail bejjn our LO-U'J* utlimony wii.li his re- markable converfaiion v.'.J.i NicDdemu^, o the fub- ject of REGENERATION, which is the in 1 1 branch of cxpcriniLiital rcl^i^n. " 1'here \va-, a man ol ;!ie pharife:'s (l";ys the fa- crcd hiftoi ian : ' ] na:!i:d N ;c. d. mus, a Miler [or ma- gillr.ite i.f ihc J^'.vs. The fame came to Jdus by m^ht, and laid unto h:m, R .bb;, we k.no\v that tr.^u art a teacher conic horn God; lor i;o man can c!o thefe miracles ci.at thou il.ilf, except Clod be \v;th him. J-ei'js aniVvcred ar.d laid unto lii^i, " Vtrilv, verily,! lay uniotli"., }'. \ccpt a man lv i;oi:\ AC,AI\' he cannot fee ihe kin:iu>'ni oi Ciiid. Nicodciiius faid unto him, How can a mail be born when lie is old : (Jan he enter t!;e tec md time int.-' hi.> moiher's womb and be born r fj'u ar.fv red, \\rily, verily, 1 (.;'> iiiiu) thce, except a man be born ol \ ..; :r a; d of the Spint, lie cannot enter the km".dom <'! (KK!. Tiiat \vhieh is born of th-. tl. ill is i"! . ,h ; ,:nJ th..t which i> born ui die Spirit i> ipirit. Alarvc! not t'i.it I laid un.o th_-e, \u n;j!l be >RN AOAJV. 'I'iu wind blovV'-th \vhcrcit li.fKtii, and th >u luaruA ihe found thcivot, but c.iiill not tcli wli..-nce it coiiKth, and f rather W5'"l whither it iroeth : lb is evirv one that is \. J O burn of the Spirit," - jj.uii;. i s. This OF jESUS CHRIST. 13 This difcourfe fuggefts ur.J anf.vers t'.vo enquiries verv i;nnoria:it to our iubjecl, namely, the x \TL-RE of this nL>\v-bi;th and the cAU:> or AUTHOR, or" ir. As to the arft, it is evident from the very t:rm, cc horn ;-^.'. : ::'," >-H-.it it cannot intend a natural birth: an:! it U equally clear, from the connexion of the dif- couife, that it refers not to adoption, education, bap- tif;n, or anv thinj; merely human or na'anal. For, faith the Eva ^elitl of theib perfons, they vvcr^ born, " not ui blood," by natural generation ; " nor of the \vill of the lleili," bv any eiTort r,f Iv.nr.an pov/er or il^lll ; u nor of the will of man,'" ;;i in die cafe of human adoption; " but of God |." J'aptifm >vi-.h \vater canno: be inter.J.cl, bccaufj v- .: t r i--..kr ;i.- a.;u.?i:; ; i'...\: lo. S^:; \.;r. .;. F.i :. i , ,f. <,,,!. i. i.]~. -{ ; '."i i. i > t i !\i.. iii. i i. !' llxv. rt ; ::. :\ :v bor. 1 . oi ". ""i' ,i! - >i ' ! ' ''pii :r, i. ;-. cxc/:-' i i^ ;^L: b."rn : -n'.y F" . . r, ! --..t >.','. -i t'-.,' - r'. h ---tM 'r .-. v JIA !'. L jv-j:-: ~rdc /'.-re' .: NV'.'.I :h; r.icrcJ wii;-.-:--. ?.T.!vk ix. 37. J. >!:'. v. 31. >.':..; 4. v k i'-.t; Irtjv I'X-VL-Tio:! : -_ ; ^ 'i. i'. , r' ;',:-. ;'.>v!:vr, : x :cp: a run 1-c i .r.; -,r \v.-.\r-v, i \ . or" }:. ^ } ir, '.. ..''.!: i > ;Vc.ji:c::.iy l";\ :.v;i ' t \:-.-.. ' - 'i '_ 11. r .'. ; ) ' i/ : i. t\i \v!r!i ,he ' -oly Gi>v.l .in a v. i 'r. I'.ix 1 .'" ULT or it, [t : ul s ki- ;; 1 >mj he rri-'l r. .: i !\!y .-.- !< ; i/c !, I u '..-..; ever enci' riic ii'n-'.v'ru .vi.i 1 i\;tlt , i:m inrl 1 .; -K-. . < > '.'i f "'y ~ ' on his M 'i', t j v!; 1 '.!.U ;. ir >m t,.c i-.jwcr o; "o >rr.i; ti ::, ." 1 :o j;ii.r..::c a,.J 'iuicktn i". '"j a ^ivir.c .u.J u-ir u: .'. lit'j. !'. :;:. L>;-^;. -, uJ. i. C It 14 THE TESTIMONY It dcfervcs alfo to be confident, that to make this ordinance nea-flary to falvation, is to fhut the gates of Heaven againft all unbaptized infants 5 and that for an omiflion, for which they cannot be fupnofcd accountable. And farther, to make any external rite the grand efiential of chriftianity, is to contradict the very defign of the Gofpel ; which is, to draw men from a depcndance on rites and ceremonies (which formed the body of the Jewifh religion and Gentile fuperftition,) and to raife their attention to fpiritual and divine objects. Neither will any change of femiments, profefTion, or external conduct, fufficiently explain the idea. For a man to change his fentiments c-r reform his con- duct, implies nothing fublime or myrtcrious ; nor could it be fo unintelligible to the Jev, ifh luler; and indeed it has been very juftly remarked, that if our Lord by regeneration only intended a reformation of life, " inftead of making a new difcovery, he has only thrown a great deal of obfcurity on what was before plain and obvious not only to tSe Jews, but the wifer Heathens*." Neither mult it be pretended by the advocates of this opinion, that the influences of the Spirit of God are neccfl'aiy to any fuch external reformation of manners, which indeed is the duty of all men, but not fo regeneration. ' O Perfectly agreeable to this difcourfe are the re- peated aircrtions of our Lord, that men muit " be converted and become as little children," in order to * Dr. J. Owen, on the Sphit, p. 175? be OF JESUS CHRIST. 15 he admitted fubjecls of his kingdom * ; but that this lenfe of the paflage is oppofed and endeavoured to be evaded, is no wonder, finrc it was fo myfterious and incomprehenfible to the Jewifh ruler, and ever will be to all, however learned and ingenious, who arc not acquaint _-d with it from experience : For as " the wind bloweth where it liftcth," and we know not u whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth ;" fo im- poflible is it, on principles of natural reafon and phi- lofophy, to account for the fecret, powerful and fove- reign influences of God's Spirit. In our Lord's difcourfe with the woman of S:ima- ria, (bon after that with Nicodemus, he affures us, that they who worfhip God acceptably, muft wor- fhip him " in Spirit and in truth -j ," i. c. in a fincc-rc and fpiritual manner, in oppofition to the hypocritical and ceremonial worfhip of the Jews, and the blind and carnal fervices of the Samaritans. In the fame converfation Jefus Chrift fpeaks e\- prefsly of the doctrine of divine influences, under the fimilitude of " living waters," yea, " of a well of living waters fpringing up unto cverlafung life ^." 'I hat this was fpoken of the Holy Spirit, appears from our Lord's frequent ufe of the fame images elL-- where, and particularly in a fubfequent chapter ^, where v.e aix tu!d, that on the " laft day of the fcafi'' c-i tabernacles, \\henthe Pricfls uLd to draw water from the fountain of Siloam, iaord.r, as fo;ne R.ib- t J-i l6 THE TE5TIMOXY bins affirm, to invoke the cri-ufion of the Holy Spirit >"' < The,i Jefus flood and cried, " If any man thiril, let him corns unto me and drink. He that beKeveth on me, as the fcripture hath iUid (in dirierent places) out of his belly," or from within him, as water out of the bellies of the f;.crxd vale:'., u lhall flow rivers of living water." "This fi\s the evangelical hif- torian) fp.ike he of the SPIRIT, which they that be- I'.eve on him fhou'ld receive." \Ve muu r.jt ornit to obferve, that thou2h our Lord evidently rerers to tlie extraordinary eiTuiion of ilic Holy Ghoft after his ai- ccnfion; yet it cannot be confined to miraculous gifts, fince we can hardly fay, in any fenfe, that thefe " fpring up unto everlaftinglife." In the fermon on the Mount, this fame divine teacher pronounces a blerting on " the pure in heart f," and in the parable of the lower, fpeaks of " an honeft and crood heart ^," in which his word is O <& ' received, and becomes fruittul; but this implies a chaniie of heart analogous to that of regeneration, O O O fince we are toid, from the fame divine authority, tii.it the heart of man is naturally the feat of" every c\il principle, " Out of the heart proceed evil thought?, murder*, adulteries, fornications, thefts, iu'.ie wit- ntfs, blafphcmies |." In atiotl 1 . LT of our Lord's difeourLs with the JLWS, he tells them, " No man can co;ne to me, -except OF JF.SUS CHRIST. IJ the Father which hath fcnt ine draw him, and I will raifc him up at the lafl day. It is written in the Pro- phet*, they (hall be all taught of God *. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Fa- ther, cometh unto me f." The fir ft obfervution of the drawing and teaching here mentioned, is, tint it is neceflarily connected with faith and lalvation, "he cometh unto me, and I will raili-' him up at the laft day;" to interpret the cxpreifions therefore of the preaching; of the Gofpel, as fonie have done, is to make our Lord aflert, that all who hear the Gofpel believe it, and lhall be finally fav~d, than which, unhappily, nothing can be more filfe. This teaching is farther explained in a fubfe- quent verfe of a divine communication from the Fa- ther, Jefus faid unto the Jews {, u There are fome of you that believe net 'I heretore faid I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of mv Ktih.r." Where coming is ex- / O plained of believiirj:, a:id tliis faith cxprefsly faid (as by the Apo(iL') to be the gift of God. A farther obfervation to our purpofe is, that this had been IvJore predicted by the holy Prophets, as it is writuiij " 'Fh,-y fliall be all taught of God," cve r y man ihjrcfore that hath heard and learned fro:n the Father, cometh unto me," i. e. as Dr. Dadlridce C 3 cxprcfll:j; i8 THT TESTIMONY* cxprefies it, by virtu <- d^pairurc, to fcr.u tli,:ii " ;i:ufhcr con !".>: tvr, cvr-ii ih? S'.v v it of Truth -j-." In thef.- proiv'f^, it is ruidily ackivnv- 1'jd^cd ib.'.t, he reter" t- t'v iv,iracnlwus powers e^n- L';T^U oil rh Ap;)ft! . - ar.d hril FMrri^lcs, at ;.;:ci f ) -n ::f.cr tli- 1 I.;.;/ f.f 1'cr.ULi :'! ; h;;< th.-.t thei": pro-vilc5 \v\rc ' i have a f i^her ucc. -" plifl'.nier.t, ;;;rvars no Lfs iii. J !-.-:v ': c-iTi:e < f th 1 - Sj-iri 1 , as " the Coiii- fortcr;!,'' \.r:h t: r ; ii;;t. j;:l: y be id'.r. intd to his iriirac;;!. IL> i'i' '.::-i.c.xs, ih v ^-' !i " ! g iv.itiicr evi- (!;;ic-_>- ';;-- v.i'i he h.:,- r : r ,!, ;: .:,itr..tcil) of the di- \ ;..- f. v ...,;:-, i -..or car i .:'.> of fituie h ; ; j, ; ;, ;>, ;: M d '.he ;'';(. r.n;lj ;.fr')rJ bu p:)ur conK. lotion. y\nd t;-ou ); \'.'L .it; : n't that ihe : IK.C'C; \vrousjht h\ - the Apofti'-S "S they W.TJ c nLLjueivo f the Split's iniiF;*' r., \verc fnilici.-:.! picol.s of the innocence uf Jcfus OF JtSUo t-Hkl^T. / J-1US, of th? fr.i of liis cruciheiv, and of the Cer- tainty of a future judgment ; yet it is but too evident, tha% without fjaie more immediate and eri-ectual inilu 'nee oa the mind-; of men, there is hide hope of ih .-ii converfion : tor, 2div. " T!VJ wo; Id cannot receive the Spirit of Trjth, became it fee: 1 ! h;.n not, neither knoweth him v " which i ,i.;o:'Ls no oilier th.m theapollolic doc- trine, f'v.it " the natur.:! m.:n rcc.iveth not the things of the S.iint of God : ;" and perfectly agrees with oth.r of our Lord's (.llfcourfes already cit-.d. 3'ih". '1'he Spirit ij promiicd to abide \vith them 4t n/r ever ,'' \vh:.:h c.iniiot truly b; rcierred to his extraordinary :ijid ir/iraculous ij- : ;lu-.aces, which \\cre only :ernpor.iry, and l.ti^ed iut in a'iy dogre ', b 1 .it for two or thiec Centuri-s a' trie nu'lV, until the (Jjf>el obtained a permaiu-i:t ei.abhliinient in the world. I kn->\\ tli.it t'-.e phrafe '' f >r ever" may in fotne places .'.d.:v.L c>f a verv rei:ra'i!i 'd ienie ; and it is pof- lible that fome irir.v r.ere \v.:ii t ) re cri^t it : J]ut not to ( ;l y ho\v cold and fl/.t iueh a Vernoii reads, [ho fn.id abide \v;th yon tor a i -.'.ge ! _j it toial'v enj; \.aes tn_- argument our L-.>rd uf'd to c >;nf )/t his d!fc;pl'?.s. u I ,o axvay, fiy-. he, bur, when I a:n gone, { v.-iil :;f r : the I^ither, ar.d lu f!:--ll give v. /a anotiier Com- i'orrer, nut to remain ;v:'h you ,i f,-v/ year^-, a> I h.ive djiiC, but perpetua'lv and for ever." L'])on t!:L- tir- faimiunce the force o> the argument reils. *Vf ej7 . J John >-. 44, 45. |jVt-rfci6. hideu 20 THE TESTIMONY Indeed, while human infirmity remains trie faine, and good men continue cxpofed to the like tempta- tions, there can be no lei's need of the Spirit's influ- ences ; but the beft corroboration of this interpreta- tion may, perhaps, be the proof that will be adduced from facts, that thole communications are continued to the prefent day. 4thly. The particular ends for which the Spirit is promilcd, are fiich ^s were not peculiar to the fir ft dilciples. They are to " lead into all truth," or rathe r, " ail THE truth '," i. e. all evangelic tni'.h, favs Bifhop Lowlh, to glorify Chrift in their view, and to comfort them under the fufferings of perfecu- tion and arfiiction : None of which reafons are pe- culiar to the tinv-s of primitive ch rift unity. ^thly. In other paflages our Lord encourages all men to implore the gilt of the Holy Spirit, with a promife of beftownig this blcfling on all who truly feek it. " If ye, being evil, know how to L r ivc ^ocd gifts uiito your children, how much more fhall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that afk him -f !" It is to be obterv^d, that our Lord li.id in his preceding difcourfes encouraged his dilciples to fjek the belt blelliiig'i, with the fullcft ;-.flu ranee of fuccefs. " Seek, and ye (hall find," J [eh. xv.J a moil: iK'.'j'jt'ui ill uft ration of experi- mental religion, and vital uni in \vith him, by compar- in;: himk-if to ai/v'/.v, of which his dileriies are branches, This difc.jurfe happened, as I conceive, while Jefus was walking from the fupper chamber to Gethfcmane between the city and the brook Kedron f , where probably were many furrounding vineyards ; and, as it was now the 2d of April j[, when the vines in Judea are pretty forward, and the full moon, his dilciples might, perhap? > admire the plantations as they p:uled along, Jefu^, ever ready to divert their mind-, fro:n natural to fpiritual objects, improves the fubjed; and, in itriet conformity to the imagery of the Jewiili prophets, compares himfelf to a vine. " 1 am the true vine ye the branches my Father the huf- lundman. As brandies are engrailed in the vine.]., fa * " Hi.-V.k, r.-.J :hc -^r.^-KJsof :hr .'.rr to certainly f [': c. -r;-.l] t'.,r. :!'-;. v.',:! !.-\j:b^ (.':. :i'.i-J in thi.-r.i tl; : .iU ti.cni of t'-.j I'.iihir. -[ C .rup. [..I::-, xlv, - r. x\' : ". I. | : Si ( '.<. ('. M.i .;. j--',, p. TIO. T i !i it Vii'i. . * .11 iv.v. ! v v. ci\', .1" I !'.'.', ;;c, In i' : :'..'vi, rn {!,./ : v, ):,> i -' l ' 22 THE TESTIMONY arc ye by difciplcihip in me *. As the fucccfsful graft unites its fap with the fh.ck, and abiding in the vine, brings forth fruit : So my true difciples being united to me by divine grace, derive from me fpiritual life, and bear the fruits of a holy converfation. But thofe who follow me by a barren profeflion only, are like that graft which, never properly uniting with the flock, withers, and becomes a dry ftick, fit only far the fire. The living branches muft be pruned, in- derd, to continue and improve their bearing ; but dead ones gathered for the flames." Such I fuppofe to be the import of this fimilitude : and the grand truth intended to be inculcated is, that all our fpiritual life and holinefs depends on Chrift " Without (or fepa- rate from f ) me, ye can do nothing.*' To fum up our Lord's evidence in a few words he after ts the awful depravity and imbecillity of human nature The confequcnt necellity of regeneration by the grace and Spirit of God and his agency in carry- ing on and completing the work of peribnal lalvation : he graciouHy promifes that Spirit for thole very ends not to a few Anoftles and. Evangel! (Is only ; but to all that d.ligcntly feck it- --not to abidj with them for a fh >rt time, and for temporary purpofes, but for ever. Who tiun U there whj cJls Jelus Lord, and us f.ch a,:.)ie> him who eitcems him the pti..p'aet of the higheit, kuj calls himfelf his dilbi- OF JESUS CHRIST. 2^ pie -or, who only acknowledges the Son of God to be a wife and go:. d man. who c.in d -r.y, or i veil queili >n, the reality of Experi nenMl Religion, or the nece ili ty of divine ii.flu:r.CvS th-veunto ? But thoii Ji Jefus Chi ift taught nil the great truths of Experiment! Rxl'igio.*, in the moft clear and for- cible ma:.:rr, y 't CMII we not properly educe himiclf as an inftaricc or Kxaaiple of it. Not being a finncr, he co-. id ;r>t be ihe I jbjet of rcgener;iting grr.cc. Ar.d ihot'gh p.. poOeli^d ihe Spirit without nieafure, ond '. \.h u..,!;jtk:i's ;he;-'jby Iti'engthcned a.id uflifted in !.:> ii.burnc -L-\ otio:;:- (as \ven;.iy conceive ange's and iti!nt-> li 1 !-)ry to be) yet could he not be UK luhject of tnoL- i:'. : .ctii) ing influences which are communi- cated to his peo; le ; becaufc innocent and undepravcd, CHAP' 24- THE TESTIMONY C ii A P. IT. WITNESSES UNDER THE PATRIARCHAL DISPEN- SATION . Jr! AViNG given the teftimony of Jcfus ChriiT. that preference and diftinction it demands, we proceed to other evidence, and that of an experimental kind, which {hall be introduced as nearly in chronological order as circumftances will r.dmit. For this pin pofe, let us turn back the leaves oi the iacrtd volume, and enquire for the faints of ancient times. EncompaiTed with fo " great a cloud of witruflcs," xvherc {hall we begin r The author of the Lp.itie to the Hebrews (St. Paul, as I believe) will -j.lv ally a {lift us, by having drawn up ahil of C-'ld I eft am cut worthies, to which we irnii adhere, with iotr.e le\v exceptions and additions. The Apoftle prefaces his catalogue of believers \vith a comprchcnfwe delmition ot i.ut.'., v, inch the reader n:;:y, if he pleafcs, compaiv wiih the hints of- fered on that liu'v,rct above '' . Me (ays, .iccurdiivr to our verfioi. u Now fait'n is the fubftuiice of things hoped for, and the evidence (it thin^.s not (c;n !' ]]ut the original is too full to be wholly cun^.nied in 3. * ScC p. A. Jitcral Ot- ABEL. 25 literal verfion, and implies as much as the Wow- ing paraph rafe " Faith is fuch a confident cxpecta- tio:i as realizes the things hoped for in the promife, ar,d brings the cle;-reft demonftration of unieen reali- ties to the mind ." This it docs in proportion to i:s vigour and decree. Our infpircd writer proceeds to educe a variety of inftanees to confirm his p.>fition. Ail we kno\v of creation is through faith in the word of Gcd, and it was by faith that the ancients were equ:;l to inch exertion: as enrolled' their names with lu^i<;>>f in the iacred vulunv. He enumerates Abel, No.ih, Aln'a- !:un. P.:-..: > , whofc cliaradlcrs, with his remarks, \viii no'v come under immediate i'cviev/. Lu this idea remain \','ith us as we proceed, that r thcfj piitria.chs v/ere believer-;, t'v^y mill have be ; \\ favo'uv.! wit'h Icmc clc^rrj c>f d'viue revei: .ion A >> /.' ~>re Chrift/'r. ;::'.. Slain '.-cfor: drift 3875, ^~ t: ' ; : - with ,'.bel whom din lv.il^d ;;pd fl.-\v. word?: i'y ;n:h AhJ o.Tered unto G-.damo-c 2 THE TESTIMONY excellent facrificc than Cain, by which he obtained witncfs that he was righteous, God teftifyino- o f his gifts; and by it hi.-, being dead, yet fpeakah '." The larger account which Alofls gives of thefc two brothers, is well knr.vni nr.d iv ed not he recital. The reafon of the rtfpect paid to Abel's facrifice, in preference to Cain's, is here clearly accounted for ; it was offered in faith, \\hile that of ihe other w::s not; and " without f.ith it is imp'.fllhle to pleafe God." There is a voice, therefore, in the faith and facrificc of Abel, as well as in hi.- blood; a;.d if it be true that " actions fpeak louder than word.-," our attention to them may compenf.uc the want of a fuller narrative. Behold then, the pious Abel with his facrifice ! Confcicus of guilt, arid fenfible th.it without {licddino- of blood there is no re million |-, he pours out its life at the foot of the altar. Can any thing fpeak more explicitly than thi> action, the language of a true penitent " God be mcr^-ful to >nc n Juimr ! I con- fefs my guilt and drpravi'v acknowledge nv; in. Abi- lity to make atonement fly for refuge to thine own inititution, and look through this to the great facri- 1 DO fice thou haft proni : fjj for human tranfgrc/fion !' But lee his elder brother ! v.'itli what an haugh- ty air he brings his offering : " Ciod, 1 thank thee, (is his langua^i ) I ^ni not like other m n r.ot the miferable fniner which that poor wretch con- fcfTes himfelf to be." Here, we may b\hold the * Htb. xl. 4. f Hcb. Ix. 22. juft OF ABEL. 2>/ juft emblem of all felf-nghteous Fharifees ' ihey have -;* / /.' sc-.7>- 5/ CAIN '," they have trull- cd in Lhemdlves th.it they arc righteous," and rc- jcJl.'U \.j"d'- (alvatio'i. Ah Cain! " \\"hy art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen: If thou djft well, (bait thou not be acevpted . ' If thy works are perfect, flult thou not be juft'fied ? and if not" A SIN- OFFERING layeth at the door i ;" thou knoweil the appointed L.cnfic^ j thefe is the (ame atonement, the {".line mercy, for every felt-convielxd aa:;er. Alas ! u when the hearts of the fo;is of men are fully fei in them to do evil" warning and counkls are in vain ! But we mu ft return to Abel, who did well and \vas accepted, (iood fruits indicate a good tree, and food works mult lorinir from a renewed heart. So J3 ' tO Chriilians are " created uneiu un.o ^ood works j" and tliiis we infer that Abel was a iubjccl of re^ene- raiing ^race. A v ..in, the irreat fearcher of hearts has diitin- o o gii!-h.d the protomarfy r by the cpichet of )'^'.tn:ts A'.icl ;; : " r.' x w as by nature there are none righteous, r.o not one"- nor cv.n any be made Ib, bat by Cjod liivmting or imparting righteoufnefs ujito them : we, thcierorc, conclude th.it Abel was " Hmetuied ai.d ju Rified in the n:ime of the L(.MX! Jefus [t!ie promiled AIclTiah] ,i:,d by the Spirit of our G ,.>d ." 5. ^ : Cor. vi. 1 1. D 2 0:i.;c 28 THE TESTIMONY Once more. Abel facrinced by faith " faith is the gift of God '," the work of God s Spirit. -{ ; therefore Abel's religion had the fame origin as ours, I would here alfo icmark that the New TcnV.ment writers (peak of the religion of the patriarch?, in what mr.y be called Chnjllan terms. In particular, St. Peter affirms that Chrill by his Spirit, preached to the inhabitants of the oid world t : and when God declared that his Spirit fhould " not always drive with man ," in whatever fj/ife tliat cxprcffion is to be taken, it muil imply an ager.cy of the Spirit on the hearts of men, analogous to what we have repre- ientcd. Thwfe texts and circurnftanccs laid together, con- tain, I hope, fufficient evidence, not only of Abel's piety (v.i.ich nobody difputes) but alfo that his piety was not the work of the flefb, but of the Spirit of th.it God, from whom every good and perfcdl gift dcfccndeth. As we proceed farther, and our materials enlarge, the reader will have a right to expect more and clearer evidence, and it will be the author's endea- vour not to difappoint him. The light of revelation, like that of the fun, " fhincs more and more unto the perfect day." * F.ph. ii. S. -\ Co!, ii. 12. \ \ Per. iii. 10. ^ Ccn. vi. r ENOCU OF ENOCH. ?9 E N C If. Born B. C. 3382. Transited 3^17. This is the next character on oar apoftle's roll, " Bv f'ti'.h Enoch was tranflated that he fhould not fee i!_-a:h, :v.d was not found, becaufe God had tranf- lated hi ii ; for before his tranflation he had this tef- tini'viv, t'u f ho ph-af-d God." Tins teftimony is rc- C'>:d-d !n r M.i(':s un.ljr the terms " he WALKED \v ; :h CjMci;" the Svpaiagint frnj^ly renders it, "he I'Lr. .-\r.r) C; id ;'' v/'iiLh the ;;;;olf,..- (as in many other cji.-} rcMi;;- a^ ui:Hcie!.;!y cxe'i"ucal of che metapho- ricai jx; 1 ,. ill M, though not fo comprehenfive : for tiie t.T.n " v'.'-.i-.i.i -, ., i:h ( j.\i," [ c nccive includes, I. R- -:::::. :.:.:: to l/:m. Cm L'vo walk together, O ' (iaiih the pr(' t Iv.'t) except ih '..c igre-jd * :" cer- tain'.v; n ; )t, \\-i.h ar,} d ^;ee of jil./aiure and liuisfic- l!"!l. 2. ': - v! l;e^f ti.-J: " Ai.qn. ii:it now thyfdf i.o at ;v,.ce ' ,' \vas :'ie ad\ ice of K' : ph..v, ta-j 'I':i:M-i:,., o:;e of Job's h ie^ds. 3. !;;- te '.'.ri'e < .u c ; ;-,.!! . ..;;.)], like t';at of a man \viJi h:s Cd.npaaii-n : ; > \' ra''.a;r vvus tile f r i:!id of Go'.i ;' ; thi!^ M ; 'v ..I.-, .i >v ; .h G'.d, :-nd the- Lord ?o;i- v.: i ,;;;!, iu:i. ' i iv\ ;o face (.>r r,.:her ni^ui'n to niou'.h ' a iv "i c )ir/erf'S ' . i;!i in , fi ii..;d S." ll r .;i.t>. .'.' wi'ii (j"J t : :e.i ;.-r,-)ii .s evcrv braijc.ii of D gO THE TESTIMONY experimental religion ; and rot only fo, but the mak- ing a prcgrcfs in it.- The original term properly implies a Heady progrcflivc courfe thus the voice of the Lord (the thunder) walked in the ep.rden of Eden * thus the trumpet of Sinai walked (as the Hebrew phrafe i, 1 - f ) it appeared to come nearer and nearer, as the found increafcd. 'J ne fame phrafe of walking with God is applied to David, and other Old Tellament believers, la the New Teftament, walking by (or /;.-) faith is an expreffion of iimilar import; as is alfo walking alter, or according to, the Spirit ; that is acling under the Holy Spirit s guidance and influences and thefe cx- preflions may, I conceive, be fairly lukcn as explan- atory of the former. JBut reducing the term to the fimple idea of rLEA.siNO God, this will be f und fuilicient fur our argume.', 1 , according to our apoftle'i method of rca- fonhrj ; Icr he prccc- d ; thus : I'.n; eh plcafed (:cd ; but a without fa ; 'i it is ; mpofiible f > ple..fc him :'" therefore, \ve aikime, }MIK!\ li...l ; jipniiic :-.i'vay? fpeak- ; d of him." This al! fprang from grace, and kd him inio the pailis o; : progrcilive pu-iy. Noah, it fhould feem, was taily brnu_ht up to hufbajidry, in order to cafe his father's family, \vi:o fweated beneath the haner.nefs of the accuiftd ground, and with this view t!v,jy called him i\OAi-f, \vhich implies rcjl from labour *. Abi;at this time ;v)pulati(,n gre.itly encn:::(ccJ, tie wickedncis or men enereahr.a; alio. 'i'lic n.oic r^l'^i- ous exceedingly i\L.xed in tlieir moral o.)."duJl ; .uu!, as human nature naturally degenerates, the kicec-.'d- ir.fr generation became mc.nller^ in violence, ambition, and Icwdr.eiV, infun.ueh tri.u the Loid ;- reprelentcd aficr L'le manner oi m.n, 'jiicvtd and repealing that ediufs of man was imagination ot L!IL co;:t;:ui.. 'i ! i : ; jr. rail diii - cor.i'ili al~'\ f.'i.n wh.it lijme wri'.-rh have d.'uwn i h:,!i.,.r, ;....u;\ : ri'ii. d.uereiK'c v. : >li !>e ya: i'jiu'ly accouiii^ci , ,r i v , (.^d^rs. I conkis tli.i' I atcou/.t i--r it, !,o:n th.e e! ileient \icws v/hieh CJIK! a:,d nan iuac oi tiie- hi:m.;;i I.e.. it. II'' c fee only ftmic r- \v p:'>;Vi i.,iit feature: oi uepi.ivicj, ; the txTlj theblaekell, are i r. r. u \; uii inte-'Umenis impervi- ous to hum..n li^ln : UUL "all things are naked and (Jvii. v. 29. f CD:. \i. c ; 6. ise L' 6 '. '.'.'^. OF N'oAir. 33 opened '' to his view, like the bi fueled facrifice to the prii'ft ; i'k? the anatomical fubjcct to the dilTector. And the LORD faid, " .My Spirit (hall not always drive with man : ." .But: Ivjw did the Spirit of God ih-ivc with the inhabitants of the old world ; V/hen St. Peter informs us in one nhce, that " Noah was a p-.x-ache: of righteoufnefs +;'' and, in another, that the " Spirit of Chrift preached " to Noah's con- tcinpoi'iiries, I think it is very natural to infer that it \vas by Nwi.h's mimicry, the Spirit of God pkz.lt 3 or flrove with mankind then, as he docs now by the miniftry of the gefpel; and iarthcr I am not deiirouS to carry the cxpofition, though I know fome apply it to the work of the Spirit upon the conferences of men in their converfion. It is now time to advert to the author of the Epifllc to the Hebrews, who tells us, that " by faith, Noah beinir divinely admonifticd of things not feen as yet, [the flood] prepared an ark to the faving of his houfe ; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteoufncfs which is by faith ij." He condemned the w n'ld, as cv;-ry good man does, by a holy life: and became " heir of the righteoufnefs ot faith," th.at is, the ri.;hte..uifnefs of the gefpel, by being ad'--pt/d through faith into God's family, in one of h;s children. The event which follows is not fo lionoiu'.ible to lice, .\i. 7. Ncr.h's 34 THE TF.STIMOXY Ncvih's memory; but liic f.iii':^ <>f -roat characters at'c often no L is initruclive t : \m Ji . ir virtues. After the Hood, N;\.!, commenced Inn', nnury anew, lie pLuU'.u a vi.^y.'.rd, ;:nd .. i:- d. unxen \v; : h it- inns. "Without any ati'jri)])t to p.il.i.tte v,cc, it may lv !'".,)- pofed that the flood h.vi j 1 od.icx'd ;ui alccration in tlic earth, of' wh.c'i th;: i\iLri.tich 'I'l^'u not lit- ;uv.)rc. li- the wacers of the Nile, by their aiinual overflow, fructi- fied ihelanaot Egypt, iiovv iimeh more mult the f.iiuc eflxct be produced by th:. 1 ^i:p,er.il dciu.r 1 . 1 , and ihe uiHb- lution of all animal and vegetable lubflances? The cuiic might, tii fome tncaiurc, be ix.i oved ir, -m Jie ground ; and the fru.p produced iniirtCi. ..iy atLer t!ie Hood, richer, and their juices of more ilren^ih t!i:ui heretofore : lie mi^ht therefore be iu \v intoxicated with the fame quantity of v\ine that formerly only ferved to ftrcngthen and refrefh hiin. I hat he was uncovered in his tent v,\is a natural efR-cl of the heat oi uie. wine. The rudeiKls o( ll.uMS behaviour, and the filial tenderncil; of his br'.'ihivp, ai - e fubjeets finely iiiitruci'Ve ; but ue mull pJs tb.em ov>;i . if we h.ivc erred in our apology for Noah, we have only con; d the conduct of his dutiful chiiJi'e:: ',ve 'nave t\.il u veil over his naked;?. Is, o: AI:R. \HAM. 35 A3 R All A -V. B.-.-ii B. C. 1996 Died 1821. The Je .'.- s have a tr.ulii.ioa that :T< >v/!> was a fta- n::.:y, a: id li\ cd by m .'.cip^ ar.d felling idols, and t''.;t hi> foil Abivun was occasionally his fh"pinan. '1 hey tcl! a fl:\U:L:-j 'l> r\ ./ his OMCC brc:ik.iiij ul! his flirlm's inv/j. ; , - i::d i; 1 na'culc, telling hiiii, th-jy had fj'jai'i'L-ilc.'J .ir.a d: :!r '.. .a o.i- another ' :: -. Tliis u'C e.li.-vni n fv'.vini r.::!'j : 'I ; ;urc is no u.-ubr, howevci'j b :t '\V;'..r;.:ii's iu'iii.v vv.:s oii^inaliy Idolatrous ; and d:.:: hini^ir was cd.:j..kd ill '.hr fame iirpicry, which :r.aJ:j the :-r.ice of God m::re diiliir v ui{hab!c in his O -~j CMiV/crho':. Y\'hi ;.hiT A :-if.-.b: ; m b:->l any fcriuus i!iip:x-fni'ii-, in c.trly life 'as die ;ibovc ftory implies) mail be kti'. " \\'|KH (he G; d of Giory appeared There is an ei"Hc:;cy in the voice of (bverei^n i^race th.it inuft bj h.card, and a perfpicuity that cannot be miftaken. c My fhje;^ hear my voice ;{:,' laith the Shepherd, thj roc!c of Ilracl. It ;s the principle of our obedience which recoai- m:nds it to the diviiu acceptance. It was " by faith Abi\.ii.un, wlien he was ca'Kd, or.KVi.D :'' and there is a flrcn^th in that faith, inure than cc;ual to all the . * Sec Lev!'. HCJ. Di:l. in - :x t A : vii. 3l j j,;., s , 37 . obftruc- 3& THE TESTIMC.Vy obftru&ions that the world and the flefh can lit n:v. j. &-., As OF ABRAHAM. 37 As this is the fir!! mention of believing in God in the Old Teftanient, for thi-, as well as for the emi- nency of his fa.m, he h honored with that appella- tion " the father of the faithui 1 ,'' or of believes s ; and his faith hath this extrao; dinary commendation, tint " a^aind hope, he b.iieved in hope he ff.-.':ered not :>'. the i .;ife throujh unbjlicf but wa>> iL'on^ in iV.i.li, i:;'vin.; g!'">ry t^ C.7ud ' i" for we can no way f..; ni'a.-h p. nrify God, as b\- ;;n uiilin.ited confidence i;: hit pro.: 1 .;!. - . The r.iOil cxLraorui:iary circumfranca in Abra- h.;:'/:, lii., v,' ; .s r'-e int.-ni.K-d Lcr;:ice. of h.i> f.-.n. . Tiii-. !i,lLL-ry is we.l !.r^)v/ii, ni.d b.a^ IK--.-II ili'iih\iteJ bv ablj \v:i^e:'s : tv.it there is one circuniflance toj i:i;e:xiLipj- t--. onr fab 'eel to be tot.'Kv (>vn!t;cd. u Abuth-.m (laicli our Lord) r.joK\\i t;i fee niy c.iy, be f.i.v i:, ;';- ; d w..s ;. b:d f-." Ab;-.t'u:n had, ubib.f-, varii.iM-N difcev-jri-.s of the f IK lire glories of the M ;n..'i ; ; ,i;t tl'.j n,: ii clear and renv.sri.abk- icen.s to have LVC;I at t'r.b ti;: -. 'I o this obfervation, I a:n K'd, partly by a cireirnliance \:\ the 'ni'tory, and partly by a : Paub Ail.-r l!aac had been fba'xd, and llio Ki;n fuc: i.i .vd in bi {L-;ul, ;;s a m.ino \br. b.'.rn ( a!i,d ;l-c name of th.it pbu.e "Jr.:; ,.-.M ji:u;;. " \vh-_r.ce ii iKc:mc a 1-ind of proverbial p;^;>b 'ey, even to the time of M'^ibs u In the nioui.L Jl- IMVAII Jf iiicii ;' ! that h, tb; Lord fiKiil appear, or be iee ; ; : iu J it is fu:dyre- uiarkablc 3$ THE 'IT TKMON Y markablc that in this very place, not only was Solo- mon's Temple buii:, but J'-fus Chrill crucified, and perhaps on the very Ipot. But what e 1 . iJei.ce have V/c that Abraham k ok.ed thus far : Hear the infpi- red commentator on ihis hiftoiy " 15 y i'.nili Abra- ham, when IK- was t icd, olil i\d up liaac : account- ing t!:at (j ;J was ;,b!c to raik: h, in up, even lro:n the cl.-ad ;" and polv.bly expcc'iipg tlu- to be the ii- fuc of LJiC event : tc from whence ,'iio !u recei\ p ed him (as one ahvj f:om tlie cL',id in a ( r ure * :'"- .^irc cf what- ()f our redemption: tven b'ihcp \\'AR- r.i'R'rciN r.dnvits thi.; ; and nh.ifi: beautifully it filmed (as a p-ira'\.-; the vicarious a;:d v )lun'. irv death, the fpe.dy a:.J triumph ml i\iurr.Jtio:i, c>f tlie Re- deemer. Abraham beheved a future ft.ite : but we have far- th.cr evidence of i!:i -- ct He look d \ r i\ city"- ciiv " \.hicii h;r.!i f .uiuLrions \.:.c/j iiiiiker ;..id builder is God ! :" in other words, lie knev,' t'-it \\b-en u ihe e;:rt!:!\' h.>:;fe of h> t.ine.ii'H - V.MS e !- folved, he I 1 . ad a bi.iMir,-. 1 ; in l';,c lu'. t \v, (.." bo 3 '.-.irlv w..s the i'.u'th <.> C'id and Nev/ 'ieilamLnt faints allied ! '] 'in:? lar i, clear, that Abr.Jrvn not only bolit v.d t'-e i'uthfuhiLS ( f (j'v'c! in promifuu him a pc !i:ritv, ?.nd to that poftenty the l.md of C'a -.'an ; but his f.tich had a partieuLr relerencc to tb.r.t u lied," ia * Mel,. :'. I7---I 9 . -j Vcr. ic. OF A P. RAH A' !. 39 v.hom ;t ail the nations of the ca:th" were to be u bleileJ. ' He law the day of his incarnation, death, ai.d r^.'ui ! cv' i;>n, and r.jnlccd in the comio: t: he d.:.ived ftom the believing view thus his faith eminently realized u thin, s hop: d h-'V' a:;d afforded an i..ternal evidence ot u things as yet u::fee:i. " ']":,-.:. Abraham walked with God, as we frill d^, not by fight, but bv faith ; and for the remarkable intimacy of communion \\i.h which he was favoured, is honour'.. d with this noble;!: of all ti.le-, " t'.o FlviKND of Ci od -* ;" and t'u- Lni\l himfelf is .pii .f. .1 to ail'ume the ^c-iLr ll;lo of u ihj Ged ,.f AhiM- But wh-:nce had Abraham tin's fai;.h ' Was l',eboi';i with it? Nay; but lie was an idol. .tor till called by divine ]y co:;;i- J;;r:ib!c ; \V!)IL!I raniccd ; ; ini v,;ih conlcrnp^iTry k'njs iina j>, ii'iCjs. I J kly i:i fj c!cv:U.d a iiluatic;:, iviiiil be r-'-;v;.rkably c\);ifpicuous ; u a i^ht fci u: \>n A hill," vvhou: luili-j c..niio: be c^nccakJ. 5 .-; J? A H. Dora 13. C. 1986. Died 1859. In Chriit Jcftis is cr - neither male nor female." It v.v.s fj unuci- ihc f-jrp.icr, as well as under the prclent dirpenfution ; and there were " holy women of old/' a* \veli a:s f.iihful ir.e:?. Among thefe Sarah is par- ticularly poiiited out as an example to believers of her own fc.x : \vhofe daui> liters thev are cxhoittd to * O -' approye themfclvcs *. Sar..h bcir.;j; rep.o-.vr.cd for cxercihng tlic fame faith, muft be fu])pofjd to have been partaker ol the lame experience as her h't(Vund. 'I"h,/a_li the walk of fe- male piety be di til rent from that t;f the other I'Vx, it requires the f.mu di\ ir.e afTiftancc to fupport it with dignity and confiftcnc'/. o Sarah's peribn was remarkably handfomc ; fo much OF SARAH. 41 fo, that her huflrand was fearful of being taken for fuch, left it ihould endanger his own life. It is hardly poflible for the fiercefr. republican to exprefs a feverer fatyr againft courts, than is implied in Abraham's conduct. If it was not fate for a handfome woman at the d clinc of life (65 and 90) to travel with her hufband, ai'.d that not in an uncivilized country, nor under the worft of king 4 ;, to what a h eighth inuft in- juilice ar.d debauchery have then arifen ? There is form-thing myfter : ous in the repeated equivocation of this venerable pair, which can only be accounted for f 0:11 the inconfiftency of man, and that wjakn i"-> a;.d imperfect k n difc^vered in the con- duJ: of the ^reat^fl faints. That the fime man, who could Lave his country and kindred, to become a pil- grim and fo : ou;-ner in a roivi^n lard, ihould yet be afr;:ld to trut't providence in iueh a circumfhince : . and tli ^ he \\lsc c..a'd at one time reiign his beloved Il'.ae, ih-.-u'.tl here betray f) much weaicn.-f, ai;d ir;e- f.ilution, is oiilv crcuibi:; to fuch as ixc.'Kxl th;it therni'Jive"", t.;i.;U'_:h enabled t:) trjfi CjoJ r.iti'-faet-'.rily with thc-ir (ouN, and eternal conrcr:.-, yet '!"..n uiltrult hi;n in th.e (ni-.tilell circum!?".uices of c..):nm to be wond:r^d ;:'. in a p ; { n <..! her accompliflimcnts and cxalt-cd fp'iKTe. Cj .ace does n,;t crad.e-ite our natuial tanper^, th-ju^l:, in a meailire, it fubd'^s ;ii:J rc- itrains them. Sari.'r.'b character is not intro-l-'ced for ;'." flrenfrt.li it afi'ord.s to our argument, fo nutch as in coir.pliiMent to her iex, ar.d to vindicate her iai.h and pi -ty r, f.me uiuccountab 1 ..- t'lii^'jiuiis ih-t have L. en thiovvp. rcljctir. it. I lorn I). C. iu.;5 Died 1716. iiaac and Jacob were co-heirs \vith tlieir fat'nci \brah;im, of the -rent promiicof thu Old Teaa Salva- 43 Salvation by the MeflLh ; and being f.ieh, they allo, as our Apoitle obferve>, were content to ib- journ as pilgrims and (Irangers upon earth #. We have an early and pleaiing proof of luac's un- affected piety, ar.d contemplative difpofition in his w..lkini; out in the fields in the early part, " the //;/;- ing-fst'thj' ol the evening (as the Hebrew beautifully e.xpreiies it) to exercife himfelf in prayer and medita- tion ;-. Delightful exercifes, when '.lie heart is pre- pared by divine grace ! and I ftippofr that no fituation is more calculated to cheriih private devotion, or to feed our ferious reflection?, than rural fcenes. Sc- cLuVd i'rom the world, we find company at home, a -a L^.rn at oi^ce the privilege of communion with OL;I- ;\vn h-e.irt?, ai:d wi;:h our God. A thoufr.nd fur- tounding oojeets u.rve to f xd our meditation, and fujgeil: matter for our pet'ni >ns. In t'nofe caftern ce-unt.ics ihiii \v:is emuiendv true. A clear unclouded !kv- a brilii.int c!..'ci!ni;v; i'un a rur.'.i fe.:icr\ r that !. '( n-. ver been p.ofuitd bv L!V iia: 1 ..: of art ;.nd the :'.,ft \vliiiperir.g of tlie evenine; 1 d ney to foleinni/,e t:ie !V:':;;d communion v, ith its Cre:;.or, \vlv,i'j prelenee peoples the dJert, and renders folitude delightful. \\'c ih'juid not (.-mi;., i!"o;; ^h it nny be a trite cb- ferva, ; ..,n, t:v.:t \vnile It'nc was thus ineditating, he r.iet ;\'ith his beloved Rebecca ; and it is haidiy c.in-- jeetuiv, to LI\', tiuit I'^c formed one iubjJet ol lus niedita- 44- THE TESTIMONY meditation ; and l.e received her perhaps \\iih icnti- iTH'nts not very diii'erent from thole with which Adam received live, Led by her heav'nly Maker thu' unfeeii, And quilled by his voice ...... Grace was in all her i'le;--^ heaven in her cy?, In ail her gellures modelly and love *. The p'. ty of I la ic \VMS farther obfervablc in his grief for the marriage of Kfau with the idolatrous daughters of the land ; as \ve!l as afterward-'- in the care he to,,>k (:is Abraham had done by hin.) to pre- vent Jacob's, committing the fame f\/'ly. ljut, r!,e Apollle cir.cls us for ;n ii;ll.;nc,? of Ifaac's faith to a ctrcii.tUl-ance in tiie uociii'.e c-f his l:f-, thou-h fonie few years before he died -- u By e '-." It appear? dijTivTult-, to acccv.ip.t for [fane's bk fling lii!- children in f.,it'i, v/hen it is evident he knew n-t \vhieh he blell^d. The L-i i'-, tlvat, b-:iivj iV.led U'iih tl.c proph'elic ipi:ii, ' - proiioi'.ncrd ilie bleiiir.g in der :, te.tuin'y tli.xt he 1 a-.e i \ di\i;.c i: fpiration, and i:i firm confidence, that tb.e Lord v.i.uld accomplifh i% tlv.Hi:'h l',e knew I'.ot pctfee.tly t'r.e nieai.'.n^ of his own pr.dietior.s. i'or this rcah-n (namely, Ins iiifpiration) he could not revoke the bLflin^, tlu,u^h Liau ilu.! t OF i; -A AC. 45 it auxiouii ', ar.d wi:h tear c , ar.d his own natural af- fections \v.rc but too part'ui to the elJeit ;<>n. The prophecy itteit leems chuflv ;j ivfpecl the difrvren: f.ucs of their pcllerity, bin the pre-eminence or' Jacob's bkfM::i; :,hove his brother's, c.uinot be v/ell acL'ount^il tj: - , v.'iihoMC including in ittho promiL 1 ot' the I\I-.:I1.'\ f rim iiis loins. It is in hi.s kingdom t'-.u the fuvcn-'ignty ci" the rr.tions rcild.s ; eiJ u the go\\:riii:v!:t: is ir-.r.i his {boulders : ' and v/ilhont in- t!;;J!,i ; :';'^, v/e ui:.ll hii.l it very diiilcuk to juftify rise v^:~;,city of the prediction. Lid/cc;, ilic bk-flin^ \v.is c >;v. -v.!L-d vvich ihc bir.h-: i^iit ; a.id h. .ing pro- cured the o:;e, he i^v/ the iir.portuncc oi Lcuring the other. This \vas in union with the deh\;n of provi- dence, and therefore fuccced'-u ; though v/ithout afford- ing any excufe for the wenkn/fs of one party, or the duplicity of the other. " We may fee h. -rein (lays Dr. '/. Oiccn] the infinite pumv of the divine will, cllVeliu.'ly ace mipiifiiing its ov.r purpoies and dc- ligns, through, the taihn^s and miicarriages converfl'i:-! ir.; v, I conC-ive, l/c dated from the vihon at Lu/, v.'ieii h.e Ivad Ivs in it vie.v into the fpirhu; 1 w>r'.d, and to which he rre juenl refers as a nicmoruMc a'f\i <,<[ h\: I if. 1 . This or JACOR. 47 K This viilon, in whatever point of view we con- f.Jer it, wa-. a mofl beautiful dif.-'ay ofthecomn uni- cation opened between heaven and earth, through the medium of a Kcd^:MK r. Its extending fiom earth to heaven, p. tints out a vvay of accefs to God tor lal- Jen mar ; . The various Reps mark the progi\i's of the d;\ ine life, and the walic of a believer, every ftcp of Vvhich approaches nearer to heaven and glory. The iiTcei.d.iv: and iklc, r.cl.pg oi the angels, {hews the of- fice of those mir.ifhing fpirlts, in perfoiming embaf- iies of i, indnef, for u-. And the L->rd ihu.ding above, a; d renewing his cyve:ra;' v .r, tnay teach us that a'.' its b'efiings are I'eilowed in that means of com- i^iunic;.t:on, nan.ch, through ti;c mediation of the Son of God . ' b fays, " Surely Ciocl wai in this place, a;-,d I kiv, \v it n-'t; and he was afraid und fait!, I low f.a;f.d (A'VI > i.) is this place f !" t have kno.vn tli.it G-d is every where, t'..oiig!i lie had no experience of his fpecul prefence : I'Ut c<\\ thi-i occ.ifion he vowed a vow, layiiiLT, " If (jod \v:ii be with me, arid keep me in this way that I go, and will give me breed to cat, and raiment to jv.it on, lo t.iat 1 return to m\- f ulur's lionfc in peace : t : ie;i the Lnvn (ii;'.ll be my (Jnd : a'ld this llone (the Hone on which h .- h,d il -pt) iaall be (}od's Houfe; and of all th..t thou fli.i'.t give m , 1 \vill lur.ly give * I'.';:.;. ..V, lii.t. of R,-l mr -I c.. 4$ THE TESTIMONY the tenth unto thec *." It fhould be obferved, that the blefllngs for which Jacob here covenants, \verc all virtually, and almoft lueral!y, included in the promifc made him in the preceding viiionj nor docs his language imply any dillruft of the c!i\inc faith- fulnefs, but rather (at lead: in the original Hebrew j ) u confiderable degree of confidence. If there is any thing to ccnfure here, it is that the patriarch lays a greater (I re is upon food and raiment, th.m the pro- mi fe warranted ; and pafies over too lightly the more important bieiTir.g included in the prorniie of the MeiTiah. Lut we are ail 10 apt to coir mi t the fame error, if it was one, that we fnould ceniure him with tendernefs and caution. 1 he Lord gracioufly fi:!- h'lled his p^: t of the engagement, and Jacob kept his fow. The believer's life i? a continued intcrcourfe with heaven. Such was Jacob's. Another inilance of it is obiervabic, when he was much alanr. .d ar.d dif- treiLd under the expectation of meeting Efau, and humbled under a fer.ie of hi.-, own unwoi thinef?. " I am not worthy Jays he) of the lealt of all thy mercies" or more lite, ail}' u I am lefs than ANY ;|; of thy mc;-cies, and than ANY of thy truth, w'r.ich * Gen. xxv'.n. ?.o--a;. (' -\inf. 'in ioc- ..nd Paik. m-*. t The different iJi.Mi of our J in^tnij? fu.,ucnt!y rt quires 'T3 .-^LJ., to uc vrr.ocrjil ,.ny, ..t.J our ir.ii'fijtori li.ivi. iU v.c fo in txod. xx, 4. Lev';:, iv. 2. ct ;d trtq. Jiiii f;.ou!j L..\t done Ua f:ijic i;i foir.c oi.!.L-r places. thou OF JACOB, 49 thou haft fhewed [or performed] unto thy iervant*." On which we may obferve, that he learned this lef- fon, where moft of us do, in the fchool of aillichon; one great defign of which is, to humble the believer, who is therein exercifed, " Before honour is humility." T he fucceeuing night Jacob was honoured with a divine appearance under a human form ; nor was it a mere aerial fha- dowy form ; for when he was left alone, " there wreitled a man with him until the break of day ;" :>.nd this man, it appears from a variety of circum- itances, could be no other than the Son of God (-, and was fo understood to be by the patriarch, from the name he gave the place, PENII.L, the face of God ; for, faid he, u 1 have feen God face to face." And from his prevalence with this divine pcrfoil, he received his bitter name of I : RALL, a prince with 'i<,d ; bccaufe, p. id the angd, " as a prince thou haft power with God and nv-n, and haft prevailed {." In which inihnce, his carneftnefs and perfe\'crance was a pattern to lubL,|ti. nt believers. " The kingdom or heaven [llul] ui.^reth violence, and the violent take it bv force.'' Jacob's hte was too much v.-'riep^.tcd for us to review it article by article ; we haiun, therefore, to the clffj of it. " ijy faith Jacob, \vhen he was dying., bldled both the fjns of Joieph, and worfliijipcd * flcji. xxxli. i,-). f s,cr.:;,.w -, r:;.v, 50 THE TESTIMONY [leaning] upon the top of his ft a ft .'' The Time probably with which he firft parted Jordan f, and which now reminded him of the various flao-es of liis O mortal pilgrimage. The fcenc to which we are now introduced, is one cf the fincft a fentimental mJnd can witncfs. It is that of an old man, grey with years and rich in vir- tues, like a fhock of corn fully ripe, gathered unto the garner fuch a man DYING .- no ! that term d^es not accurately ddcribe the exit of a good man, who has filled up his generation work, and with hopes full of immortality, waits for his difmilTioii. Such. was the fituation of the patriarch Ifrael, when he gathered his family around his couch, an his departure with the lame chcarfulneG-, only fetting out upon a journey, to take .in inheritar.ee. This indeed was the Confidercd himfelf a pilgrim and f journer on :..: in, as his fathers had been before, and looked for an in- heritance oevond the ikies. I could with much pleafure, did niv room ;.J.r.r, review the various and dillm-D: bkllin - J.:c>,li pro- nounced upon his children, a> moft oi tiv.-ai dilcover a mind filled with great objects and noble fenti.ni-nts : Vu: I muft confine myfelf to a finale rbfervation that in the midll: cf his predictions, and in hr.mcd:- ?.te connexion with the- ble-ffing (f D.>';, he breaks cut into this pious exclamation : "I have waited for * I-Itb. xi. II. -f Gen xxxii. 10. th OF JOSEPH. 51 Uiy falvation, O LORD * !" On which the Chaldee paraphrase thus expatiates '' I expect not the falva- tion of" (jid-or., fun of Joafli, which is a tempural falvation ; nor the faivatioa of Sampfon, fon of AL.- noah, \vhich is a tr.inhtorv falvation; but the fal- vati'jn of MP.SSIAII, the ion of David, who fliall coir.e tu bring unto himfelf the fons of Ifracl ; whole falvation my foul deiireth." Thus Jacob, as well as Abraham, dciired to l--e Chrift's day, and may we not add that by faith " he faw it and was plad :" an I thus he L'ft the world in the fame fpirit as a^cd Si- meon u Now, Lord, L-Lteit t!:uu thy fe/vaut oj- part in peace, for mine eyes have feen thy great fal- vation r." j O S E P If. Born 13. C. 1755 Died 1635. This patriarch has been more frequently the fub- jecl of the biographic pen, than any of the preceed- in_>-. Ir,d-.-cd his life abounds \\ith thofj flrikinir in- cidents and wonderlul turns of providence, which rciuicr it pccaiiarlv intcr'-iting. Jod-ph was his tathei's i.ivourite before Benjamin; whence Ills parti-cnlouud coat, .'.nd thence the hatred his bivthren. 1'arei.ts ihould coniider that by * Ccn. xlix. iS. [ Lui;-j ii. zy. i - ' 2 tliftin- 52 THE TESTIMONY diiliiiguilhing a darling child, th-. v often nvak inn-. out as the butt of envy in the 1 firmly. The Lord revealed to Jofeph his future fortunes, in tv o remarkable dreams. The relation of thrfe raiftd the envy of his brethren; and their accom- plifhment fecmed highly irr.proballe, even to his fa- ther. Indeed, there arc few of i:? but may recollect providences, under our owi. obfervation, that feemed equally ur.lik.cly but a fho:t time before they took place. - We may alfo, perhap, call to mind other i;.ftanc~ c , in which the very means ulld to hii.der events, have in the end produced them. This was remarkably the cafe here ; and flicws the fove- rcignty of God in cfFecling his purpofes. When ~?n of the world oppofc hi" chfig! 1 ^. and endeavour to thwart his decrees, " he that fitteth in the hea- vens (hall LiUL'h ; the Lord fhall have them in deri- fion." " He takeih the wife in their own crafci- nefs ;" and "with t : e fro ward he will fhew him- felf" not " froward," but tortuom, intricate, myf- terious *, " great in cjuncil and excellent in work- ing." We proceed to Jofeph's advancement, and con(e- qucnt temptation -\ ; v. hen however u his bow abode j- I be.; K- .vr OF JOSEPH. 53 in ilrencrth, the arms of his hands being; made ftrong O ' "*-* by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob." The confequence, indeed, through the bafencfs of his miitref, Lemcd fatal to his hopes, and he became a prifoncr. It is probable, however, that when Pharoah's chief butler was reitored, whofe dream Jofeph had inter- preted, he thought his deliverance near; but alas! " the butler forgot Jofeph," and it was full two years before he recollected him. Then he is brought be- fore Pharaoh, as an interpreter of dreams ; but he frankly declare?, " It is not in me; God {hall give Ph:.raoh an anfwtr of peace *." When his dreams had been ex; lamed, moit remarkable is Pharaoh's reafon lor his promotion; " Can we find fuch an one as :hi^ i-, a man in wruai the Spi;it of God is f ?" 'I his undoubtedly refer-, to the fpirit c f prophecy, as it i-, exrLined by the pfJmiit '[', and in the Chaldee par,phra!e. i here i^ (umething peculiarly amiable and pious, ;n the manner in which [ofeph difeovers himielf to iu-> brelhren, c-lpecialiy li \ve Compare it with his af- f.-cteJ. il-'.'.r ty before. " I am Jofeph, your brother, whom you lold into h;:ypi ! Now tli ere fore" ieein: r pr viJ.-nee I'.itli thus dllpcjfed event-, " he r.o: ;/ne\Ld, nor ;;irj ry with yourfelves, for Cjoddid lend ;fie belure you to preierve lite ." How tendeiJ / '" Ctn. x'.i. 16 | Vcr. -S. -* I',. ,--,. ,-,. { C.:-.. x!v. 4. Sic .uUj 1. ;.. F 7 do,: 54 THE Ttr:Y docs he prevent their felf-reprojchc?, and check their jifuig grief; referring all things to the fupcrintcn- dencc of a divine providence ! By faith J-feph died alfo, and then in confidence of the fidelity ot God's promife ; " made mention of the departing of the children of Ifrael" out of Kgypt, and as a proof of his faith, " gave commandment concerning his bones ," that they fhould be carried with them into Canaan ; which afterwards was done accordingly f. No ru.man character is without its blemifhcs ! Thofe of Joleph in particular, teach us the contami- nating nature of court-. Good men, like Jofeph,. may indeed u<>/h virtue th.rc, but can hardly be cx- pcdk'd to v.fcape without f>mc infection fro:n their vices. 1'vcn Jofe; h learned that pi.ce of court ido- btry, to fvvjar by tlielife c.f i'haraoh. |. If tliere co- id b? r-:y doubt cf the real piety or any of th..- p;eciL('ii i^ characTiers, the author c.f the cpiftle to the Hcbi'ews has fai:l enotioh to remove it in his genera! remark, trvt " All tlufj died in faith, not havin; received" ihe fulfilment (>i " the pro- inids ; but h;tvi;-g fcen them afar off, were" fully ;t uad^d" of their truth, u embraced" them with the r. ,i\ cordial afilcli('r,-, and " confdlld that they we,- ibanreis and pil'/rims on the earth." V or they l >.a: fax fuvh things declare plainly that they ilek u C.:i. 1. 15, 16. Heb. xl. :i -j- Exod. x';ii. 9 .t G:u. xlii. 15, 16. coun- OF JCihf'H. 5^ country even u an heavenly country ; where- fore Gjd 1> not aiham.'d to be called their God, be- caufe HJ ha-> provided for them a city*" namely, the New Jerulalem. No words could exprcfs more fully the faith of the Hebrew patriarchs in a fu- ture ftate- Indeed, the i:r.L;le exprcfiion of dying in fa:ti.\ ftrongly implies as much ; for how can that man dye in faith-, who has no expectations beyond the grave - : \Yc fee alfo the force of our Lord's ar- gument againft the Sadducees, who denied both the rcfurreftion and the foul's immortality f: for God would have been afhamcd to have been called the God or th. ancient believers, it he had made no provifion ;jr tlv.ni beyond the tomb. Religion, we may alfo ohiervc, is tVe fame thin?' urider every difpenfation. Go:/d men were ar.vays pilgrims and frra;;j;ers upon earth. Heaven is their coirurv, and tliat (as our Lord obfervo) is the rea- fjn v. hy t':C world Jots no: know them '. \' e mull now turn aiide to relate a li'. fiery im- portant to our deti^n, though the fubjeci ( f it was '")L oi the chofen iiii': ; nor is in our apoitlc's hfh I he t<>lu,>.vi:ig may tluicrore be conhderd as an ap- Vvnd.x to tb.is chapter. JOE, 5-6 THE TESTIMONY JO 3 Flouriflied about ijco B. C. It i? generally agreed that this venerable per Ton lived in the patriarchal age?, and that his ftory was \vritteu by Mofes, even betorc the Pentateuch. From its great antiquity, as well as fonie other circumftancef, liiis is reckons-d the moil difficult to tranflate, and, in many places, to- interpret, of any Ixx k in the Old Teihiment. It is written in a dramatic furm, ar.d in the hi^heft ftile (A Hebrew poefy. I cannot fuppofe that the fevu'al fpeakers uttered the exact wou'> nild by Alof-S ; becaufe. it is quite out ot j;::ture fur per Tons in .reut d.ilrefV, or in wurm debate, to expixfs them- ll-iv^s in [:oet;-y. l^ut the author be^i^ acquainted, the fublhuice i.-f the convcrlation, thicvv it into this dramatic f. ; ui. In thj f.in.c r.i:inni.r 1 acco\i!:t ior tlv^ mr.ch.inerv ^;:^ i!ie i1:i(ic-\vriti.Tb call , ) introduced, as tliat ii' the I^cvil conveiiinj, \viili tlv Al;r,i.;luv, v.ho is u of purer eyes ih..n to behold inicju::y, }; n;ueh I. Is would he admit the author t-.i it t > famili;ir ronverle. J) :t tlvj wr:.i.T, to account 1 .r I'Avs misfortunes, intro- duci.-- ii.ieriK'.l eiii'-atsT ; . ri , ,.b!e to Liu !hbre\v philo- ( phy (whicli !> j er'.ap.- m r.c true th.in tuis generally 1 ecu f-Mipoled^ as t!i. perpetrators j and yet, le(t this flxoukl t'F jot. 57 fhould appear to infringe the rights of providence, he refers the whole to the divine permiilion. Thus far I conceive to be fact ; the reft poetry. The books opens with informing us of the cha- raJL-r and circumfhmcxs of Job : that he was an Arabian, and the mo ft wealthy man of all the Kail ; that )-.'.: was equally eminent for piety as tor profperity : hi..;i;iv beloved of God; and univerfally efteemed by men. Yet it pleafed God, for tire trial of his faith and pati-.-nc.*, to permit him to fall into the molt dif- tr:;Ti,-,g c.i'..'.:niti-s. He \vas ftrinp.d of his poilef- fion-, bcrei.ved of his family, ir.iiitea with a loath- fonie diil-.ifj, and reproached by the few friends who did not utter! v for fa Ice him, Thefe men, though emi- * zj nent in years, in wifdom, and even in religion, ap- pear to have grofs'y mift.ikcn the doctrine of provi- dence. They imagined Job's uncommon affliction to be evidence of his infmcerity ; that had he been upright in his religion, G^d would not have differed him to f.'.H into lucn. misfortunes : But Job knew his own integrity ; and \vas aware that " no man know- i.-lh cither love or hatff:d by nil that is before him ;'* thiit, in the prclciit li:.-, u all thin:;;- h..ppen alike to ali ' j" and even tivj wor;c characters fjmeti,r.e> meet With the grcalell f'jtxc-f-; ;;nd t.'mp .r.d pri/pefity. In this \ie\v lie Ipak-j o!' God a:u! l,i.- prcn id 'nee, " Ju' tl'.mgs that were right," n friends. 5 3 TIIK TESTIMoN / 1 he u.e I purpofj making of this book, is to ex- tract the pa!!."."-':-j in it, \vh;c'i refer to the dnlerent branch. 1 ; oh Experimental P-el; . ->:i 5 particularly from the ipecches of Job hi mil if . I. J-.o i ew.uU th-j depravity of his natuir. T'^re are L .-crul hinls t ) LP.:5 L ;] :dt in hib conv^i f..t.ion \v:t:i his friends: but t!ie mull: cxpr-vis acknowledgment is after the Loicl !u-.d (p^liL-:: to hi,n :ro:n :iu \viiirlvvind : thin he ciies, t; JJJull, I am GULTV ; i v.'lut fliull I a:if-,v:r ihcc? I v/ill by my hanJ upon my mouth \. ." 15 ut the fpecch of Lliphaz, is yet more beautiful and pertinent. " What is man, that he f)un;ld be clean ? He thiiti;> born of woman, c. - , ahjih julol;, righteous? Behold, in his holy ones, he p'.:ie;.lt :v< co.ihdenc:. And the heavens are n, t pure in lii; ll^ht : Hov. How much I.E? * aiioniin.iV.'e ati',1 filthy man, Who d.inketh up iniquity like water | i'' 2. In feveral pafiages Job reflects on his former profpcrity, and compares it \vith his prefeiu ftate oi darknefs and uJeruon- " O that [ were as [in] months patted ; As [iaj chc d.iys ^\vl. n] CjoJ prcferved me ! \Vho;i li'> LAMP fn me upon ivy head ; [When] by his !i : ht I walked thro' d.irknci; ! A^ I \vas i the d/.v^ c/f my P;I :si'^[TV I, "When the PRF.SEVCF-: ^ c-t (JOG vv.is upon my u nt, When the All-bountiful w.is \vitl; c..c ! !" " If'v.v m.uiv are n^.y :ni;v:i i-s and fins ! My tranf . '\i HI and my IIP., c.n:. r l- me to know ^\'i:.:t^;^!-- lii-idl thc?u thy f..c ; And r jpi;tvj;'i ..'j an enenr,' un" > L'iee ." ^\'^lLlhv>u b,-eak tlvj \-\ifud 1 . ; : l-'/cii the d:'v Itubbic wilt tiioi: nuriae r i .I"; i ; : t p .,: :;r, n,: R J'.'a &0 THE TESTIMONY Yet thou writoft bitter things againft me, And makeft me to poflcfs t' j iniquities of my youth *." 3. Under fuch circumftances he particularly im- plores the divine prefence and favour, in the follow- ing language, c < O that I knew where I might find him ! I would come unto his judgment-feat ; I would prepare [my] caufc before him, And fill my mouth with arguments. 1 iluuld know the words which he would anfvver me, And underftaml what he would fay unto me. With great power would lie plead againft me ? Nay, rather himfelf would infuib [llrcngth] into me, There ihe upright might reafon with him, And (there) I fhould be delivered for ever from my judge 4 ." 4. Li the mid it of nil Job's complaints and f MTOWS. he ftrongly exprefles conRdencc in God: 'I he moil remarkable inflance of this follows : tc O that n-y words were now written ! O thai they were delineated in a book^ That they were engraven with an iron pen and lead ! That they were fculptured in the rock for ever ! * Job xiii. "4---: / '>. t Ch-p. xxiii. ---7 OF JOB. 6l I/or 1 know that my REDEEMER liveth, And at the laft he (hall arife upon the duft ; And hereafter fhaii rnv fkin [again] (unround this [body,] And in my flefh fn.ill I behold the DEITY * : \Vhom I ihall behold a? mine :nine eyes fhall fee, and not a Granger's. My reins arc cc'iilumed within me |- !" The lad fentence exprefies the good man's ardent tlefires for the blefledaefs his faith rurcfaw. But the prand objection to a;- plying this p..li.ige to the ivfur- rcction and a iuturc il-ac (as I have d.uic) is thn: Job h:id in a preceeding part ol the b:>ok (ch. xi\ r .) fp^iccii il'jciiivelv againlt tli.il 1 tl.'ctrincs. Ailnitti.ig tn^ . (, tb.it j.ib really queftiojied or defied thcfe in the h^ar or" temptation and diftreis, .t i-> nj mor-j than n:.iny good nu-n have done, and \vi.! not prove bat that !iis \icvvs r.r.Ju be more clear and bright a.'tei vvarJ, I confefs myielt, howv.ver, itrongly iliip*. led to believe that tlu 1 p:ili .ge oi-'._ht to be rendered in a vuy difFer- cnt nr.; nner, and tliat the following \vr!ion, thoi.'fh St nr.'.y i-j^m a little Orange to ionic ;enders, is more conliitent, argumentative, ;.nd p^eiic, as well as more devotional, than tlie common one. Yet I wifh to oiler it with diffidence, us LOO much of it is my own to fpeak coniideiuly. Man 62 THE TESTIMONY " Man born of woman is few of days and full of trouble ; As a flower he cometh forth, and is cut down : Alfo, as a fhadow he fleeth, and continueth not. Yea, upon fuch an one openeft thou thine eyes *, And bringefl me into judgment before true ? Who can bring a clean (thing) out of an unclean? No one. ) SINCE [then] his days are determined, the number of his months with thee, Since thou haft appointed his bound*, which he cannot pafs ; Withdraw from him, and he fliall ceafe [from la- bour] Until, like an hireling, he fliall be fatisfied [for] his day. For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it may fprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not ceafe [to vegetate,] Though the root thereof decay in the earth, And its ftock die in the ground ; Thro' the fcent of water it will bud, And bring forth boughs like a [young] plant : So J man dieth a.;d wafteth away ; He expireth, and where (is) he ? Wat-is fail from the fpring-head, * Thit is to fix th m, with particular r.iten'/un, as upon n pvifoner at t!.c b.ir. t ON. be. I^ck. xxxv. 6. t 1 S e vfr - ! -' n:id if - 1 1:ii ' 7" l ' : FIclj - The OF JOB. 63 The ft ream alib wafteth, and drieth up: So man layedi down, and {hall not arife, until the heavens be no more *: [ nil then] they fh.ul not awake, nor be roufed from their deep. O that thou wouldft hide me in the grave ! That them wouldft conceal me, till thy wrath be pafild ! That thou would ft appoint me a fet time, and re- member me ! SINCE man dyir/j; ihall yet live [.'.gain], All the d.-.ys or" my appointed wariare will I wait. Until my RENOVATION f- come. [Then] thou {halt call, and I will anf\ver thee : For th.ou {halt have a d.Tire to the work of thine own hands |." For brevity's fake, the reader wiii excufe my en- tering at l.ir_re iiuo the reafons on which this verfion is grounded ), especially as a juftiiication of it is not cilentia! to our grand point. Indeed, the whole \vhieh \ve h.i'/e Liid on t'ne refurreelion ar,d a future fh'.U', i> ;; digreflion ; yet it is a di.nxfiion in feme views ini; nrvnt to our hiliiee"!, ii:.ee I conceive the djct.inc .; a future Ire i_il-.ntiul to true godlincfs ; ) "1 'nl v, j. j 1, r-.-l r .: :,> " i',>ri,ut:," VV.T. 7. t ['.. x'.v. i ,5. ^ b, :l : of '.!:-.-:', rr. '.;.'. c f ul :J in ^-.-.., P.r -, /),-.:.', P.;-^,^, i- c . C 2 and 64 Ti; Tr.STiAK'N'Y and cannot but much worker at the pL-ufurc ioim- learned men feeui to have taken in endeavouring to eradicate it from the Old Tdtam'.-nt ; a;id in ivpre- fcnting the holy patriarchs ;r; involved in iLrknei> worfe than heathen, lince the wifer heathens certainly hoped for another life, and made that the ;-Tand llimu- * * O lative of their virtue. But to return, I would only aJd to the above paf- iii^cs from y r ,b hin-.ieif, a fcv/ extracts fi'om the fnceches of ELIHU, a periur/a^e introduced in fo ex- traordinary a manner, that the commentators know no what to make- of him. Some have taken him for a prophet; ethers, for the Son of God himfclf ; but all for a moft wife and food mail. o He opens his difcourfe thus : 11 I (m) young, and ye arc very aged, "Wherefore I was timid; and feared to fhew you mine opinion. I faid, Days fnould fpeak, and the multitude of years teach wildom ; But the Spirit himfelf [dwelleth] in man, ^"d he infpiration of the All-bountiful * givcth iii underftanding -f-." Jjort p.iflage, from Eliliu, fhall clofe thcfc urcr OF JOB. ^5 45 Surely it fliould be fa;d co the Almighty, I have borne punifhment I will offl-nd no more j What I difcern not yet, da thou teach me ; If I luve wrought iniquity, I will acid no more *." Such fliould, and ever will be, the language of a true penitent, though it may b_- varied in exprefiion, a>:c >:il ';ig tu the d ipeniation he is under. 'i he p.ifi'ages tranfciibed from Jon's fpeeches, au- t'.'..M'izj us to add him to the inflances of primitive pup; ; a:;d \ve have reafjn to believe that he died in faith, as well as that he tiniihed his days with a double por.i >n of peace and external profperity. 'i'h: c-vtracts from Kr.im' Ihew th.it great, cha- ract'. 1 ; i vie\v> cf true reli.pon, and the foil rce whence it is d.-i'ivjd, nam.ly, trom the infpiratioii of the Jivinc Sniiit. G ; CHAP, 66 THE TESTIMONY C II A P. III. WITNESSES UNDER THE MOSAIC a CONOMY. M OSES. Bern B. C. 1571. Died 1451. Y\ E no\v return to our infpired guid", and nurfue the hi (lory of piety th.-jugh the remainder of the Old Tcflament. The infant beauty of Mofjs is particularly remarked in the fcripture?. Stephen fays he was u divinely fair*;" and this was ordered by Providence, as a means of prelervmg hi c > lire, and introducing him to the Egyptian cour". Here he acquired the fciences of that famou.- country ; but thefe formed the leail valuable p.at of his knmv- ledge : for the Lord appears to have nude him early difcoveries of him I elf, and of his grace. Aloil"--, was C'/ider/Jy a r,:\n of tlio fublimelt genius, ;;;;j knew the refill of \vhat we call literary acr,uirc- ir.euts i but vv'.ui-- f !! ; n-,s were iialurally gain to \\l:r., thole he "co'JiKcd U. ," '".' ..:c ' e of true reli- jion. iVj, he counted all things " j. I'- ;:jiu dung * ,' ; in com; ".rifon v.'ith the rlefTiiv:s implied in \]YJ piomiie cf red*, mvtton to his lathers. " Lflc-em- iiv the reproacli of Chriit (or the MeUial,} grc-itei O A * Aft- vii 10. Af'i&- TU, Oii. 1 . J- I:,i?:*?. } carir.c, ecu b meat.. I'hil. iii. ?, OF MOSES. 67 riches than the treafures in Egypt *." It fhould icem, that Mofes, and fome others, would often exprtfi their confidence in the divine promifes, and that expofed them (as it ever will good men) to re- proach and ridicule, to affliction and perfecution. Moles, in particular, when he was come to years of knowledge and maturity, " refufed to be called the fon of Pharoah's daughter," being enabled thereto by faith, and fupported therein by having " refpect unto the recompence of reward," and as" feeing him who is invifible" to carnal eye=. Thefe expreflions are fo ftroiiir, that even IVarlitrtsn is forced to admit MoLs believed in a future ftate, though fie will by no means admit the fame ot the Ifraelites in general. " Through faiji alfo he kept the paffjver, and (he iprinkliug of llooi; left he th.it deliroved the firft- boni fhouid touch thu :r. -<- :" And this faith, doubt- lei 1 ., rclpeeLd not only rK; p;\> .,iie of i" curity in that :nftti::ce, Ivj.: alfo lot/ ice u lorv',.id t>> the '_ reat Anti- type ot tin-, inftitutUHi, u the t.;.:nb v-r" God, wiio '...keth away the fi;i., of the v/en!d i'' for we have fv.cn Moles w; ; .s a chrilii.'.n, and gloriv-d in f'~at rurroi.ch. If ^ lofi: 5 , and the b.lievin^: Iir;u'lit'^, Kept the pailbver bv L'.ith, by arvtlo^y of re .fining, ib did they ution-. Liideed there IN no ftippoii'.ion aiid ih.it of their I;' hieroglyphics were tlic - H.;b. xl. :.(,, f Vji. :S, tvtf THE TESTIMONY fir It letters, and particularly familiar in E^ypt, (us they certainly were) types may be coiifidcred as the caficit and moft natural means of preaching the :;of- pel to tlie primitive Ilraelites. It may be f.id of types, as of parables, that they are the belt adapted means for inilraction to thofe whole heart"- were p: e- vioufly difpofed to receive it ; and leaft calculated to cxpofe the lublime mylteries ot religion, to thofe who would abuie or ridicule them. "1 his was the grand reafon that JH-US fp..ke in parables*, and probably that J// ( j taught by type?. Here the reader may naturally enquire, whether any of th.efe tvpeS taught th.e truths we are defend- ing : l.i my appreheniioa th:y moft certrtinly did. The various cerem HI;:.! ablxti ns intimated the iul calls " the circumcifion made without li.uida i in putting ofr the body of the li:is of the iLih by the circumcifion of" Cluiil j ," or the Lh.'iitian circumciiion. "For we are the true circumciiion, faith the fame in!p;,ed wiiter) v/ho worfliip God hi the fpirit, and rcj.j.ce in Chrift Jefus, and have no confidence in the floib ;];." " For he is not a Jew [in the belt fcnfe] who is one outwardly ; neither is that [the true] circumciiion, which is out- ward in the fldh : but he is a Jew [indeed] who is one inwardly, and [the true] circumciiion is that of the hi_art, in the fpirit, not in the letter, whofe praife is not of men, but of God ^." But to return to Mofes, his character in the (crip- tiucs is compofed of fidelity, fervor, and especially mecknefs ; in which laft virtue, however, he particu- larly failed at the " waters of Alaribah, 1: by mixing as is but too common, human pafiions with his religi- ous y.eal. It flu-uld be added, Mofes was " niig'ity in prayer," and admitted to the moil intimate commu- nion with Deity, that was ever granted to a mere creature JI-HOVAH fpakc with him u mouth to mouth ||." Dcut. xxx. 6. f Co!!, ii. ii. t 1 "- ;; - :;i - 3- ^ Rom. -I. :.S,2> |! Kr.Tib.xii. 5---S. This 70 THE TESTIMONY This leads me to remark, that Mofes alib was a prophet, the fir (I of the infpired writer?, and particu- larly eminent for the di'jrtihcd fimplicity and true fubli- mity of his fhle. Belides the Penteteuch, he wrote the QOth Plalm, on which I beg leave to ofFer a rc- m.ir.-; or rvo. The former part contrafts the eternity of God with our mortality Me is from everlalting to everlafting our lives, even at the largeft antidduvian ft.mdard, are in his light as yefterd.iy : not while we are wear- ing it out in laborious buhneiV, he:i:".L-i"s devotion, or infipid a:, ufements but as it appears v\hen it is PAST. The pro^r-^fs of human life is compared to the fwceping flood the morning deep * trie chang- ing grafs. " For we are confumed in thine anger, And in thy wrath a:e we hunud away. Thou halt fa our iniipiities before thee, Our f.er-jt (iiiiJ-) in the linht of our countenance ; For our d.iys p.ifs away in thy gr::at an^er, \\"e iciiu our ;.a:s a.s a u:-: , i-.iiik ."' out; but there is OF MOSF. S. /I not only fecth thofe aclions \vhich arc alfo expoLd to the wo:i'J bat our molt fecrct iniquities, the word that yet is upon our tongue ; yea, the thought that is within our heart : he not only lex-ih thcic, but places them in the nv..>tl confpicuous view before him u i;i the light of his countenance :" he beams his glory directly upon them : fets them in contrail to his own purity: Thus teeth he the whole of our moil fecret impurities, and feeth them in ail their deformity. But the fulnefs of the text is not yet exhaufted : Vv' hen our fecrct iir.s are placed in the light of God's countc- IUH.C-, tlien we behold them too, and in a very diffe- rent manner from wh.it we are ufed to do. In his " light we fee light." Motes are viilble in the fun beams ; to thofe fins which appear trivial to us, or rather which do not appear at other times, now ftrikc us as enormities. His glory d,icovers our vilcnefs, his Vu >lmits difplays our impurity. Job long juftiried lumle'f, and fkilfully par; led the charges o. iii-, iriends : This was f.ufb, arid that was aggravated: But when he f.iw the dix ine glor) beaming around h'ir. then he cried, in a mixture of ailomlhmcnt and confufion, ;t H-liold, 1 am vile, I abhor mydif in dufl and afhes." 70SHUJ 7* THE TESTIMONY . y o SUVA. Darn B. C, 1553 Died 1443. When Mod's died, the Spirit of Wifdom" dc- fcended upon Jofhua, and he, the typical Jefua kd the chofen people into Canaan. Jufhua, it may be remembered was one of the faithful fpies, who not only brought a good report of the promifexl land, but encouraged the people to attack it, in confidence of the divine fupport. " If the LORD delight in us ((aid he), then will he bring us into this land, and give it us, aland flowing with milk and honev .'' Juihua and his partner Caleb, who concurred with him, were therefore the only two or that gene;at;on which were fpared to enter Canaan, and fubdue the devoted inha- bitants. On this occahon Joftiua was honoured in a moft fmgular manner. The fun and moon flood {till at his command -j- : i. e. cither the earth (and with it the moon) was ftopped in its diurnal courfc ; or rather pei haps, the light of thoie ceieiti;.! luminaries ir.iracu- loufly protracted on the icene of action, until the victory was complete. This mi^ht be innumerated among the wonders wrought by Faith, but our infpired guide, St. Paul, has chokn to llkct another inllancc to cui'brate the faith of Jofhua. lt By faith the walls of Jericho fell Nv: xiv. S. ] Jt-ili. x. 12, 13. down Or JOSHUA. 73 uovvn after they had bcencompafkd about fevcn days." Though Joihua is not cxprctsly mentioned here, yet there is no doubt, -is Dr.Oitvw obferves, but the Apoille had an u efpecia! rufped 1 ' to him. A .id indeed, it requi- red faith to conduct fuch a preceflion amid the ridicule and taunts, in ?ll probability, ot thebefieged; wea- pons that have been found too powerful for many that have u laughed at the Avord and fpear in battle." There is tomething very noble and pious in the clonng fcene of Joihua's life. After a variety of ar- guments to urge [fracl to perfevere in ferving JKHO- VAH and him only, he thus (peaks of himfelf " JSe- hukl, this day, I am going the \vay of ail the earth !" with what complacency docs the good man fpealc of his departure ' I confefs this fat: fr.clion in death \'.'h:cii \vc find in many old-tenv.ineiit b^lie\-crs, is with me a ftrong argument, that th-y expend a future ftate. No n:an, I conceive, cither Jcwifh, Heathen, or Chriilian, ever died happily, or coir.fjrt- iibly, Without a hope beyond the grave. " I -\m way of a'i the earth, and }e know in all gong hath failed of all the ::ood things which the LORD }ou; Ciod Ipukc concerning vou : ;!! are come to pafs unto you ; n.r,t one thing h.ith fai led thereof." From threatnings in caie of dif. b u'ienee. In a fuMeqiient. and his hit, aiKirefs. to tr.e perip!-, he exhort, than full more earneilly to tlie tor and vorlhip of JEHOVAH" If it. fcem evil : you u H 74 THE TESTIMONY fcrvc the LORD ; choofc you this day whom you will fcrvt but as for me, and my houfe, WE will icrvc the LORD/' In this fpirit and temper the good man took leave of the world, and died an hundred and ten years old. R A II A B. Flourished about i '.51 B. C. " By (or through) faith the harlot Rahab perifhcd not with them that believed nor, becaule fhe received the- fpics with p-ace." From the ambiguity of the Hebrew term applied to Rahab in the O'.J Teitament, and which equally fignifies a harlot or an /.'//./>, jomc divines have endeavoured to clear her mural charac- ter. It hurts then feeling?,, perlv.p?, that a harlot fhouid be the c-n!) pe:|n;i laved in a populous city. BIK as v.c know th.it u harlo'^ enter tiic kiiuJnin of H'_.;ven *" beio;e nuue i^ecscus cl;a: aeiei -, and a> St. Ptul's laiimjain- i^ lets equivocal, 1 choo'e to glorify ci.v'i.ie ^race in believing that fh; 1 liad Ivan ut lha.t cri- minal ir >L ilinr. before her com crliun. 1'ut howfliall \\eaccotrit inr ihe (pies lodj^in^ at her houie ' it t 1 '. ie \\ho k -p; houies of cntei uinment were :.;ene- r.i.lv .'t n.!.ht cli.: raster, as it fhould llem, thev had no J and tneir preference ot Ir.r h.mfc i.> iulli- OF RAHAB. 75 c'.ciulv accounted for, from recollecting its fituation, which be!;;g upon the wall, was bull adapted for their clc.'.pe, as rhe event proved. Tne hilt >ry evinces, however, that whatever nii;;ht have been her former character, (he was now ur.d ; fjiiouj inipreilions, and a belicvtr in the God of IlVa !. " I know (f.tid live) that the LORD hath [riven you the land, and th.it your terror is fallen upon u^-, .Hid i hat all the inhabitants of the land MELT % Ixc-.uL- of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you, when ye came out ot kgypt, and what ye did to the two Icings of the Amorites that were on the other fide of O Jorda;-, Sihon, a;,d Og, whom ye utterly deflroyed. And as l')v)ii as we had heard, our lr:arts did melt, neither arofj r anv more courage i;i any man, bjcauie (.if you: t >r t'-.e !.; RD your (,J'>d, he is God in ihe II MVJII .ib;ivc, and in the eartli beneath !.." Agree- no ie to t'-.is c itiK-ilion fhe covenanted with the fpieS for Iv.-r O'.vn liie, .'.;id the lives of her family, which \Y-.e the-L-f )re p/ei'^rved w'ven they took: the city. In th; ivuiouia'Ve ir,e;uion of Ra!;.,b's faith., we led up n to juft'.fy tiie mean^ by which ihc : Ipie?, nanvely, the f.dfeh-jjd.- (lie told !' . Ij-^^ui:^ ir,e:i.. I.nga.ied in ;i g/;od c.i'afe, (the prc- '.'.on (4 molt probfeiy flie thought any nu.u.s 1 .wful thit ini^ht acco:up!ifli her dcliirn i nor is tlus to be wondered at in a woman, but juit emerg- * " ' I ; Mi:.; t Jil. . 9 11. H 2 in /6 THK TI'STIMGN'y ing from heathenifm, when \ve have too often teen the ia;nc maxim adopted by thole of long {landing in re- ligion. THE ] U D G S. To recur apain to our apoftolic guide, he adds " Time would fail me to tell of GIDEON*, and BA- R.V<, and Ji-i'THA, and DAVID, and SAMUEL, and t> . .-'!..>> 'icU" But few of thci'e char alters have any t: n ing related of them very material to our purpofe : Tlie three former I {hall therefore entirely omit, very briefly mention Samuel the prophet, and pafs on cur v./ay to David, who will arrcft our attention more particular!-/. S4MUE L. Born B. C. 1171 Died 1060, HANNAH, the mother of Samuel, \vas a woman 01 a for :.) \vful i,ni it, and the vent Ihe gave her paflions was io uncommon, that the good old prophet ELI thought (he was intoxicated, and reproved tier for it: But what was an abomination to the Prieft, was ac- ceptable to the Lord : thus cafy is it lor us to mi (lake human actions ; but the Lord reads the hc;ut. Some .To- OF SAMUEL. pcrfons of flrong paflions are apt to expfefs them- felves with that vehemence, which appears more like cnthuhafm than devotion ; but we (hould be extreme- ly cautious in our cenfures, where we can form no certain judgment. Her prayer \vas heard. Samuel was given her as an p.nf.ver to her prayers, and fhe lent him to the Loid. 'i hus was her forrow turned to joy, and her mourning to a fong *. The child grew, like our infant Redeemer, both in favour with God and man; was very early called, not only by the fpirit of grace, but alf) by the fpirit of prophecy, and acknowledged for a futhiiil prophet throughout all Ifrael. Nothing immediately to our purpofe occurs in the life of Samuel ; but the doling Icene is too fine to be omitted -after appealing to Ifrael with rcfpect to the int'.-grity of his conduct, and his impartial admi- n. Oration of juflice among th/.-m, he concludes his Lit exhortation with prcfiing them to cleave unto the L --R1) alone : " For the LORD (fays he) will not for- l.ike h.s people, for his great name's fake: bccaufe it l.at'i p'.eafed the Lord to make you his people . f" A eivat encouragement this to weak and difconfolate miud^ ! 1 \~ if the Lord's choice of his people arofc from work'- forefeen, t?r from any oiher fource than his own got:d pleaiure, there is tar too much caufe to fear thai the bell of us might at lait come fhort of his appointed reft. 5 i S.cn. II. f CL.ip xii 22,. H 3 DAl'lD, THE TESTIMONY DAVID. Born B. C. 1085. -Died 1015. We now come to one of the moft intereftinjr clia- O racters in the Bible, the materials of whofe life, arc happily very copious. I have no clefign, however, to be David's biographer, that office his been per- formed by a much abler hand * ; what I dcfuni i?, a mere fketch of foine principal circumllanccs of his experience ; in order to which I {hall confider his PSALMS in a light perhaps fomewhat novel, but I hope no lefs juft 3 namely, as a diary of his cxpcrl- fWtv, in \vhich we might trace, by throwing them into chronological ord.r, the variety of his frame?, and feelings under his various circuzuitances and iitu- O ations. The early part of David's life was fpent among the flieep-folds, i".:i(! \\\ the inn >cent ai:d pk'afm^ scenes of pafloral limplici 1 , from w'lich he borro\ve(l the fccnery or' iVveral pLui:; -, pi.iticularly th : 2^J, though I I'D not conceive any ot them compofed at this early period. Though we cannot date accnr.it. 'y the conversion of i^avid, w. 1 have f.i:"!\i;"at re..a)ii to conciude ii preceded h'.s anoiiuiu^, :'.: d took p!;'.cc vvhik 1 he \va* a young man in his f:tth-:r's houfe j lyr notwithftand- Dr. Cis"J'< . OF DAVID. in? neither his parents nor the prophet Samuel fa any thing remarkably promifing in him ; yet the Lord, who " fearcheth the heart," and " feeth not as man fceth," faw the grace he had conferred, and approved the early buds of that piety which he had im- planted. It is alfo probable that, foon af:cr this event, he became the fubjecl: of prophetic influences, and ac- companied his divine raptures upon the harp. There is no certainty, however, that we have any of his compofitions of a date fo early, though his mufical fame firft introduced him at Saul's court. His combat with Goliah is one of the moil: cele- brated events of his life ; and feveral pfalms arc thought to have been compofcd about this time, and with peculiar reference thereto ; but I conceive that ibrne, and perhaps all of them, may with more pro- priety be referred to fublcqucnt events. During his perlecutions from Saul, however, we know that he compiled i.wral, and it will not be foreign irom our purpofe, to notice feme of them with a view of difcovering the various affe, : !i ins and fenf.itions of his mind, during this period of trials and vicifTictides. The thirty-flxth pfalm * was, probably, one of the * Tl.l.. p:~.;ii:'i is ali'h r.e'KMl, c.xa \c:f- Li-;- '.n:\'.r i \viih n d'.rT^rf "t '.ett-jr or" '.he Li.'-.ih.i'-.'r. <^'.ry: \\\ iv ivu j'.l thtie ] f.ilr.-.S co;::;-._,i. J ",:i a ft.itc o! \.'..-. it: i:v.; ' ,:-i'. \vurc ih'jy rioi \vvir 'a' :i .ii, '...'buL^ai!) on : 'urr,j;c 'o imprci'i then 1 , n- >rc f.vrigl;' ci: i.Ib n;c;i.':ry, v. !;.;: in: v.'an'.cd '. !> .e opportunitj v-i \viicc '.hem duv/n ? Jirft 50 THE TESTIMONY firtt of tlicfc, when Saul h.m " left oft" f o bo wife and to do good," and " when i.e devifed iniquity on his bed;" about the time that his jealoufy firit brake out. It is true, that he wa at thi< time partially infanc ; but it was a wicked infinity; a ,d it is well known that pride, cvvv, and jealoufy, arc among the common caufes or m : 1: 'Yo return tu David " - i' : :ul 'rave himlVlf up to fin, j):'.vid crave hinif-.-lt t>) .:.;: r, and to c.inlcm- platiun on tile ': \;i. ies cl ;-.r.)vii.i i;ce, and the ex- cellent p:'iu; .o:i> made ; r ihe r_htc. u-, l-i^h l:cr<_ and in a future iL te. " How excellent is thy loving-kindiK-fs, O(IHD! 'j hcufore the ch,ld:xn oi ni':n c.^nlidj beneath tht {h;:c:'.''.v ot thy v, : ', . They dial! b:- abun.Iairly Qtisfi. ,1 v/iih the richncfi (.if th\- h. )!!' ; Ahu tluu fh.i.i give them tj d;ink. of tl'.e river of thy p!e;.iu;es 5 Or DAVID. t For with thcc is the fountain of life. In thy light (lull we ice light *." In this pafTagc the pfalrniil cvidciuly refers to the gracious communications which, the; righteous receive from heaven ; and which are to be confidercd as i.r earned and forctafle of the fulnefs of joy therein re- ferved. There is the fountain of life and bleilednefs - whence the ftreams are plentifully communicated ; wherewith the righteous arc u abundantly futisfied" and rcfrefhed yea, as it were, inebriated (as the He- brew term implies -j ) even in the prefent life. The lair claufe is ajuft philofophical truth: "In thy light {hall we fee light." God, like the fun, (lays biftiop Hirne) cannot be fecn, but by the light which himfelf emits." 'I he pfalmiil el ft- where ni'^re cxpreilly compares the Deity to this celeilial luminary, He is not only the author and conlerver of natural, and the giver of eternal life j but, eminently the fource ot that which is fpiritual and divine. 1 he cfF:cts of the fall are like thofe of winter. When man had forfak.cn God, and lie, in confequcncc, had withdrawn from man, v\'e were left in the condition of certain animals, which remain torpid during the winter months ; but when the fun gains ftrcngth, it rcftorcs lire and li -lit together. O O David Ivjing fettled in peace, now brings up the '.irk of God with much foleinnity to Jerufalem, on * Pi'. x:ix\i. -O. I r , T Liybrubuntur. P^.K-UT. which $2 THE TESTIMONY which cccahon he wrote fevcra! pf.Jin?, me. ft of \vhkh have a double P. f renc: i the ark, and to the refurrcclion and afcer.fion of the ALlliah. One ot thefe (the iixty-ei j^hih) has alfo an evident relation to our fuhject, bein^ explained by St. Paul, of the de.- fcent of the holy Spmt on ihe day of Pentccoft. u The chariot of God is [attended bv] innumer- aolc th.uji'.r.ds *, The LORD is aiiion./ Lheni Sinai is in the fanctu- ary ' . Thou haft afccnd. d up on hi^h, thou haft ltd cap- tivi'.y captive, Thou hail ci\ LN |_ ^ifts unto men, yea, even unto the r_bel.;ous, That the LuRD CJOD mi ; -ht dwell Tamonp them] -,." O L Z3 -* - The great apoftle applies tiiis pailage to the af- c:nd-d - >iy of the .Mi-.-siAil, vvr.ofj ti iumph \vas atteiid d liy ap,.!...;^:! i ?.n -els ; a il \vh;i to;.-k Iroin a:ro:u: nv.n u prophets, evi-.n^fiiiH, a:ul ap 1 >fl!es, ?> cr.'.l'V/c'd them \viili , : -.-. i;-- : :;: ry : ihs, and li.ltri- but-. i them ainoirj h! - p oplc, :i> inftru:ue:it^ t-> prc- ; ,i u h.ibitatiuu" in the luart.i or mcr. throiij.il the " povvor of his holy Spirit." * TV. . ' . . .':. ml" .r.ih i-r" l! "-. r.'i ..' ! V. C ' j 1. '.'..' l.tii.i / -v H!\:, :;; ,.:.d r. >r:.i. r. v ;; .> fmil .'.:'! v. I Hub. I' K :-:- - iut to .'. :.:,, '. tj =,-:; u;.l-, ELS .V : '. T ; ' ' >.- <, I';/.:- Jxv'.i:. 7-, itf. OF DAVID. 83 Pf.il m CX. was probably compofed by Dpvid* about the fa.nc time, and relates to the fame lubjctSt the victories of divine grace. " JEHOVAH faid unto my Lord, fit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footftool. JEHOVAH fliall fend the rod of thy ftrcngth from Zion ; Rule thou in the midft of thine enemies ! Thy people [fliall be] volunteers in the day of thy power, To the beauties of holinefs More than the dew from the womb of the dawn fliall be thy progeny *." Thus far I confider as the promife of Ji HOVAH unto his (on, and it includes the following ar.ic'cs: 1. Complete victory over his cne.i ie-, an.l uni- verfal dominion over the world. He is " kinrd of lords.'' 2. A more plealing and no lef- nnivcrfal fovereign- ty in the hearts of his people, " thy people fliall be wilhiij- volunteers fli .11 b:in:r tr.eir.felv-'s . s free- will ofrcnn.'?, in the day < A thv power :' but to wh.it fliall they bee -me vc^'untary converts ? to the beauties of holinvls. Or p;'i Ii;ij--.-> " thv volunteers fliall affemb!" and cnlili their. fJves IX thy beautiful * I.it.T i'.'.y, ' IV \ -)-..i i!;j \v JIM cf i',c nori'.iiij [J.uvnJ ii thi iJiN i'-.v^.c-iy to ;l, vv ." ii;;..^- L. .;;.;. and $4 THE TESTIMONY and glorious fanctuary *." Mow admii.il !y was this fulfilled, when the ftamlaul of the crofs wa, erected at Jerufalem, and thoufands flocked unto it. I>r, let it be remembered, thih was to be accompli (lied in the day of Mcfliah's power. Here is the fecrct of convcriion : they were volunteers, but he gave the will he communicated the power. Again, 3. It is promifcd that thele converts fhotild be in- numerable yea, as the drops oi: early dew, and no lefs beautiful : they indeed, endued with the graces of the Spirit, were ornaments of the fanctuary, yea, they were the living " polifhed Hones," of which the myftic temple is compofed. Pfalm XLV. alfo (though perhaps not compofed at this time) beautifully illuilrat ,-s this iubjccr. of the conquefts of the gofpel, which difier from tiMle of mortal heroes, in not being intended to er.flave a:-.d cmpovcrifti mankind ; but to make them free, rich, and happy. The pafiage I refer to is the f '!l'nvii:g, which, however, part of it may be accomodatcd to king David, certainly refer 1 -, in its firft and fublimefl. fenfe, to his greater Son and Lord. Ct - Thou art far more beautiful than the Tons oi Adam: (jlrace is noun'-d into th.y lips : rc God hath bleiled thec for ever. Gird OF DAVID. 85 Gnd thy fword upon (thy) thigh, O (moft) mighty , (Put on) thy gi>>ry and thy mojcfty. A:id ia thy niajelly ridj prolperoufly, (J;i thy word or truih |, meekaefs and rightcouf- OUi'il-fa : Thy relit hand (hall teach thcc terror?. h>...rp arc t'r.ir.c arrows, peoples ihall (ubmit unto th.:c, In t!:c heart t'f thir.c cne:nies (halt thou be king |. Thy throne, O Uod, is for ever and ever : Th'. 1 f .p'rc '! thy kingdom is a fccptre oi upright- IK'fs. T!iou 1 >V'.-il righteoufnef^, and hate ft iniquity: Therefore, C.) God, thy Ciod hath ano.ated thec \yiih live oil of j >y above thy t >:npanions. M)-;-rh, iiluc^j ar,u caHla, (perfume) all thy gar- Out of li.e iv'.Ty c.tfkets S, whereby they ha'/e re- fre filed thcc II." II.:'. thus d,Krib:-d the M-jfJ.i!] himil-If, in all the o;-:rij.-, oi hn j.cru>,'i an-.l mediatiM'ial character, the fu'ilowinj part (-1 the pi"..' ; m u/fcribes the churcli alio in nguriiti v'J lar.gu;'^e, aiid in terms equally beau- 86 THE TESTIMOS'V beautiful and poetic. Fler robe of rightcoufncfs, i^ wrought gold her garment of fanJlification is com- pared to needle work or embroider}-, in which are in- terwoven all the.graces of the Chriltian hf'. We muft now haitcn to a fcene in David's life, the mod interelling as well as unhappy. Alas ! how weak is human nature when left alone to ftruuglc with temptation ! To view this matter in its true light, we muft confider David's ctrcumftance?. Kiners are to much elevated above their fubiecl' 1 , o J t that they are eah;v tempted to uippole they owe them no reciprocal duties ; and there arc never wanting flatterers to teach them th.it they ate accountable to none but God. Nay, too of. en are they induced to confider their people as their propcrlv ; u> mm h i > as their flocks and herds. \\ hen this is the c.:k-, it is no wonder that thev Iport with the.r hve^, an.l make free with iheir poiicuion?, as in the c..le i-i Nabotli, Ahab, and hi-. wicUJ mother Je/eb,!. Samuel had, indeed, p:e-defcnhcd tu the IlVa.litcS the future cliaiacter of th.ir kin.s, in terms wliic'i too well f ;it; J t!i.- bell of tl'^m on lo.ne occalions ' ; and his pi,)p'" ; jtx- language might poHibly be per- verted by Ion:/, as a 1 c ncj I r tb.j enormities hj portr:iys. A Lin.: of ilVael wa^ prope.ly no more than th.- hill n a_:llra'e of the land, and \v.is bound to govern by the i. -AS ; but we know how ealily ui:s ;s forgot OF DAVID. 87 fr the inieir.Uvhty \vit!i which David adts, and the tameiuu with which his fervants obey his moft cruel a:id iniquitous commands. An abfolute mo- narchy implies all tin's and more. The doctrine of r.o;;-rehllar.ce ;md pafiive obedience, was enough to ill fie the confidence of David to render the officers of his court the panders of his lull and, perhaps, even led Eatbjlfla heifelf t:; fuppof.-, t'uit her allegi- ance to her princ. 1 , iiiperieJ.d tl'.e duty of hJeiity to her IvjfDand. In Inch circumftances, ho\vcvcr, one man \vas found who dared to reprove the bafenefs of the royal finner. Fie repreients his crime under a moft beau- tiful parable, and having madj liim condemn his own Conduct in the perlon ({ ar.other, he makes the appli- cation, with the authority of one intrufted \vi'h a mefi.'^e trom JKIIOVAH " Thou art the man !" 7 he ly.i.n .rch was thundcr-flruck. Conviction fliot, l;'-;e a be.irn oi hrjitniii-, into liis heart. Nathan d>ubtle!^ law his ittuation, and urjvd him to repent- . David lu'jinitted without any attempt to cx- or paiiatt: his im. " 1 have hnned (laid he) nft th. LORD." " And the LORD (rejoined the lwi) iuith put away tliy (in: thou fhalt not die'' this otience, biit the child of this adultery 1 2 {hall, 88 T!1K TESTIMONY fhall *. Here was ;i gracious fulfilment of th;; pro- mile to the AleiTiah ; " It thy children foi;'..\.c- my law, I will vifit tluir iniquities with {lri;;es ; ncvcf- thelefs mv loving kinunt-fs will I net lakj (rom them, nor fufrer my i.:ithfuln'. ^ to tail ." This aiiuranci.: of divine pardon, did r.c:t, hov/evcr, lead IIIITI to I'lnik jTohtly of his ll:i, or ikicr his !'c;KiUaiicc. R.u'ier, it (ccm?, to h.r, r j inf; ir:d tl:.:i. fine fcn'.inunl: in i'Li! ,! . " There is forgivcntfs with thcc, that til. ,ii mr.ycll be i'carc .1 |." Ail true fjar < r God m-1,1 be founded on his forgiving mercy ; but for the lionc of t! i;- we might indeed we nwjl dread \\\m \ bui could t:oc fiially and reverentially fear him. j'nt t!ic c!iicf rcc ird and monument of David's ron;_ni;!r.cv, is the fifty-firft plalm, which now de- nu::;ds our attentive review. " I]c jn'acious unto me, O Ciod, according to thy loving kindnef- ; According to the multitude of thy tender mercic?, blot out mv tranfgreffions ; Wafli me thorouj:hlv from my iniquity, and cleanfo me from my im ; For I acknowledge my tranfgrcilions, and my fin is continually before me. BE FORM ^ thce, thec only have I finned, And done tins evil in thy light j * -i S.nn. x ; i. -j IT Ixxxlx. 32. \ V ( r. 4. k b Sec 1'jrk. ftfiitc 16. The antithvfis requires thh trarlhtion. There- OF DAVID. 89 Therefore {halt thou bejuitified in thy fentence *, Aiid clear in thy judgment. " Behold, in iniquity was 1 BORN *, Yea, in iin did my mother conceive f me. Behold ! thou defireth truth in the inward parts J, And iii the hidden part thou wilt make me to know \vifdom.. Purify me wkh hyfop, and I (hall be clean : \Vafh. me, and 1 (hull be whiter than fnow. Create for me a clean heart, O God ; And a f-ETTi.ED fpirit renew within me. C..ft me not away from thy prefencc ; And take not thy' holy Spirit trom me. Reitore unto me the joy of thy falvation : And fupp:.rt me a fpirit of freedom |j." This pfa 1m exhibits the doctrine of divine influ- ence-, I think, in the iiron^cft point of view ; and it is worihv of rennrk, th.it David (if I in:, 'take not) is the iii it that c >mpare.- tiie converhon ot a iinner to a " Rro^h: tV.b." sl,-.j ..-{.. -\ '1 > b- f ip.ccivi.-J i:;J b.rn in iin,is to ! c bon of linfu! p.ircr,'.:. See |ol.:i ix. - 4 . ^ C i. K.ir.i vii. ?.z. F"!i. i:;. iCi. i I',:. i;i. 4. ; '',.; tiri.-.iii.i! i:;t'm.i;i , I c,-:..civv, .1 rr.i";! n.v.i'atc.1 a;-,J. .TOvorr.cd I y tin- I'.a'.y Sj-iii:, \vi;!i ;', rx.ichicA of .1 w-il u-^uhred ,:\:J.:,:c. j| Li'.ci.i'l'. - --" A volunteer fpiri;" i. c. he j-r.ivs Mill hf IV..TV !-? L: it liivrry !: .m ihc ri lir lint > of ^uilt .mi iiji, and b-.toms; a v^!un:':.r 1:1 Gu Is icrviee. btc above un I'l. ex. <)0 THE TESTIMONY new creation, and attributes that work entirely to the Holy Spirit. Though this pfalm by no means requires a com- ment to bring it to our purpofe ; yet I will beg leave to add Dr. Hammond's paraphrafe on the tenth and eleventh verfes a writer by the way, never guilty of too much evangelizing the Old Teftament. He makes the pfalmift fay " Lord, I have fadly fallen from my wonted purity and fmcerity ; Lord, by the good wrrk of thy grace upon my heart, reftore me to it again, and renew me inwardly and thoroughly, my very thoughts as well as my actions, that I never fall into the lead beginning of any fuch pollution again. " Lord, it is juft with trvx to n-je<5t me from all fpirltunl commerce and communication with thce, who have reilftcd thy Spirit, and wail -d my foul by fo many \vilful commilnons again ft t 1 -. -c ;/////, th/t thou {no.:M-.-ir. withdraw thy grace to \\hLh I have done fuch udpite . O do not thou thus feveivly pu- nifh m; 1 , by wichdraw'mg -.!vit wl.ich now more than ever I Hand in ne. d of." The long train of calamities wMeh followed Da- vid's Till, arc a warning to us not to ;ritle \vi.h f;n-, mi"-ht \ve be ever fo ceit.in of K:. ;VC J IK!S: amonp- to ^ o thef.. 1 , one of ihu feveixtt was, tlie I'.-belhon of his darling AbLlom, during which time, fjveral pfal.nsi are afcribtd to him, \vhich HKW the frame of his mind to hav<; been on the whole devout and pious. He certainly felt in tiie moil pungent manner the pain- OF DAVID. 9! painfulnefs of his iituation ; yet he bore 't r o r the moft part with the grcateft fortitude and conhde ice in God: " Felt like a man, but like a c rill .ui bore." Among the pfalms apparently written on this occa- fion, the eighty-fourth merits our peculiar atte tion, as evidently written during his banifhment from Je- rufalem and the Temple. After a paflionate admiration of God's tabernacle, he exclaims " BlefTed is the mnn whnfe ftrength is in thce, In whole heart are [thine] highways. Palling through the valley of i'.ica *, they make a well; Yea, the rJn overfloweth the pools '-. Th'-y Ihail go fro:n llrcngrh to ilreii^th [; : The Gun of (rods iha'l appear [to them] in Xion /' Tiien the pLihuiit refu;r.cs Ins nru idea. " For a day i.i thy courts i^ better than a t!io'ii'.nd, I would choofv tj ke-.-i) tire rhreiliv-ld of mv CiuJ, Rather than to iiihabi: the tents c f \v:ek.LUi;^f>. Diih' $2 THE TESTIMONY For the God, JEHOVAH, is a Tun and fhield; JEHOVAH will give grace and glorv ; And will not withhold good from thofc who walk uprightly. O JEHOVAH (God) of hofts, blefled is the man who trufteth in thee !" This beautiful, but difficult pfalm, defcribcs the character of an old-teftament believer, as one who delighted in the houfe of God, becaufe there he en- joyed communion with him as one who preferred fitting on the threfhold of the tabernacle, to a fpien- did reiidence in the tents of fmncrs. The world to /uch, may be as the rugged and thirfty vale of Baca ; yet here faith will find refources in the fountain of merer, and with joy fhall they draw water fiorn the wells of falvation : or, if we prefer the other render- ing, the vale of tent's becomes a -c.ilL-y of bleflings, when the believer, refreflied by the teachings of the Spirit (which Ibme underftand by the rain] is ena- bled to ^o on from ftrength to Itrcngth, till at the corr.pktion of his juunuy, he Illali behold the face of God in Zion. To fuch the Lord is both a fun and fliield to them he communicates both grace and glory: g;acc to ftn ngthen them in the w.iy, and glory to crown them in the end. Well may the pialmift conclude BleiTed is the man that truileth in the LORD ! During this trial, notwithftanding the comforts he received, OF DAVID. 93 received, he pfalmiil'sfufrenngsmufl: have been great, and one of the biuereli: m/ivui 'nt> in this cup of af- fliction, was the tre;i o.eiu ;o received f;om Shimc:, who curild him t> h;i lace. '. David's followers would have re.ulilv r.v.r.j-J him en them, but hj forbad thorn *' The I,nrd li.m laid unto hi.'ii curfj D.iv.d'' i. c. t!i: Lord h^th permitted him thu.-, to treat OK-, as a j'Uni:h : nont for my rebellion aL r aintl himfel,'". Thi.> article liaih airor.Jv fo much exceeded its proportion, that I am precluJ.d f: o,n introducing levcral event?, with their correfponding plalms, that \vou!d not be impertinent to our dcfmii ; there is one other pfu!m 5 however, which relates immediately to our purpoie, and which 1 fliall cite, thcnigh I cannot afccrtain either the time or occufion of its compofi- tion : I mean the nineteenth. The former part of this pfalm relates to the glory of the material w >rid. 1 he Inn is a bridegroom coming forth from h;s chambc'r a champion, re- joicing to run a r: CL> !vs rays extend through the earth, and nothing is [-.ixt ud--cl from his lvam. 1 he Kcond part of the pialm i-commonlv confidered as diftincl:, and irrelative to the f.vmcrjhut receives ;\ beautiful illuftration from conhdeiing them as related thus : 1 he various K rm law, precept, 5cc. are generally cxpreflions v/h;ch refer to divine revelation, and arc, )} THE TESTIMONY a. leaft, as applicable to the new difpenfrlion as to the old. Goipel truth, then, mav be confidcred as a fun, whole beams extend through the earth, and illu- mine every climate, and its cfte-its are no iefs bene- ficent and important. Doth the- fun (ubdue the tor- pidity of winter, and animate a dead creation ? the doctrine of JEHOVAH is pure and perfect, reilores and conveits the foul, dead in trefpaffes and fins. Doth the fun difiipatc the clouds, and pour light and glory all around us ? the teftimony of the Ciofpel in- ftrudts the limnle, and illuminates ma.ikind. Is the Jio-ht fvvcet, and is it pleafant to behold the fun ? - O J 1 the precepts of the new covenant rejoice 1 the heart. > 'J^his view of the p'Jm, it juft, fully accounts for St. I ) aul's application of it to the propagation of the gofpel *. But to return to David He was now declining o apace to his l ha\e forgot the anpointi.d oflering to Ciod upov. fuc'n occaiions |. \*r ]ultiy blame him for this j but ourleU'ei-. are generally the more forgetful cf cur obligations to 1'rovidence, in propo;tion as * r.c.m x. iS. 'j Sc^ Et^.i. xxx. iz 16. thofc OF DAVID. )$ thofe obligations arc encrcafld. Affliet;-:n; nifc our gratitude profpcrity deprclles it. David fin: cd was reproved, hurr.bleJ, and puni filed in the way moft correfponding to his crimes ; namely, by a re- duction of h:s people. I fhall now o.iiy ("ketch very flig'itly the cha acler of our hero. This has indeed been often d-?ne, and he has been variouflv repreiented as the bell ai.d the worft of men, according as h.s portrait has been drawn by friends or enemies; and the w'i;>le, \\hich has been remarked by both, rn.-y be reduced to three \virds he was a man of gr^al abilities, great vir. fje-~, ana great failings. Let us cunii'Jer him in the various characl rs he fi-tlaimd T. II- was a "jcarrl;f \ and it is not wor.c'erful that thofj w'lo fhidy the arts of h ;;n..n iL.rghter, frif'i/id lomet.nn-s be deaf t > tlie l^it en. s of i uman- i:v. Our hero, howevei', \vas certain' v edible of t'x 1 hnell ientiments of fi iendiliip, ap.d the ! rongelt p.itcriial teclin2 ; 5 as in the inllances treatment of S.iul, dem^j-.itratcs that he k:':e\v h.o'.v t ) be -eiierous :o rn on en v. 2. 'i'h;> \varrior was a /:':.'.;, :;r.d we l ,a\ , already remark. -d h^'V nri-e'i ki:v= are e\' !.-f.\l to f cophants ".'. J fl..tterev r . Add t) tho the te np\r 'oi.s which I- iv/er aiu! riehe? cor.ft-int'y brir:r -,vi h t'>em. Yet it i' >-5 n it appear th it !i \v > a:i ' p/r :^ r ' f the peo- ple upon the Y.V'e. On the cj..:r.iry, when they were <3& THE TESTIMONY were afflicted with a peftilence for his fin in number- ing them, \\hat a fine portrait have we of a father of his people weeping over them. " Thefe fheep, what have they clone * r" Contrail this with the conduct of Nero while Rome was burning. 3. The king was alfo ?.propbct^ and no other pro- phet before liaiah fo clearly predicted the blefiings of Chriftianity. But prophets are fometimes commif- fioned to denounce judgments and curf.-s ; and this accounts for feveral paiiagcs, which have been thought to breathe the fpirit of private revenge ; but are in reality predictions of the ruin of Mefiiah's ciiemies. 4. The royal foldicr and prophet appears in a Hill greater character, that of a good man, a believer, or, if you pleafe, a 67;r////V/w, " the higiicft fh'.e of man." But like other good men, he poilefled and acknow- ledged a depraved nature, a corrupted heart, and u every one that knoweth the plague of his own heart," will know how to account for many things otherwife unaccountable. But that which fecms principally to recommend his character above all the reft, is a certain lumclt and fimple '/.eal in the Ci'.u'e of Ciod and religion; and this, I conceive, is principally intended in the eulogy he received from the mouth of God himielf, \vho calls him " a man after his own heart" i. c. :\ man who fmcercly loved JEHOVAH, and heartily meant his fcrvicc in the general tenor of his condue r K however * y. S.'.m. x.x'iv i-. tempt- OF DAVID. 97 temptations might draw, and innate depravity betray him into vices, which, in his better hours, he detcftcd and abhorred. And fuch a character, I conceive, far preferable to many others, more ftrict and unex- ceptionable indeed before men ; but' comparatively o>ld and h^irtkfs in the fervice of the Mo ft " The leading r.au in David's ch.inufler, feems to h.\vc been /''.'_)' v Y. Ji \VL- . pprcbciM to he t!ic exac! import or" that exprfliion, [i Sam. x'.ii. 14.] ' A rrijn :;ficr God's own hear:, 1 i. e. a man eminently de- voted to God, :i:id full of zeal fur his glory. And it is obfervable, tli it, no-'.vithrt.inuini; i-'b many and grc^t fins (and fir ba it from us to fiiill n.bli' t'n.'.t :rj.i".y .i;-.d great they were) he never appears to have coun- d idol.if, y, thu- bel'ctting fin of Jfrael. The book of l'falms whii.ii -.v.is written at miny diilt rent times, and in a great variety of cir- curiill-inces, evina-: a nun i a.nverl.mt with the divine attributes, and rr.u(.h er.gaged in cor. ten plation on the bleirmgs ot the covenant of re- tij.Tint'.o-, . ; :.ij the Jiork-a of the Mcfliah, of whom he was both a type jnu a:ict:lor." ./:;v/-.a or> ReJcmp, Lord. Edit witli Notes, p. :ao. NoteM. CHAP. THE TESTIMONY CHAP. IV. INSTANCES OF EXPERIMENTAL RELIGION FROM SOLOMON TO THE END OF THE OLD TESTA- MENT. SOLO M O A". Born B. C. 1033. Died 975. J- His prince is undoubtedly another of the mod in- terefting and extraordinary charade;.-, in the i)ibk\ His early piety, illiterate dvdeniio;], and happv recovery, each afford ieiions of" the moil important lnft ruction. His early piety is unquestionable ; he was calkd Jedidiah) the beloved ol the Lord . \\ hen in the beginning of li;s re!_;n, he dedicated tlvj temple he had built, how fubhine the devotion with whuh he addrelled the throne of grace ! ho-.v beau'.iUil the pietv with wiiich he bkfkd tb.e pec>ple '. u Jeho\'nh our Lrod, he with us, as he was with our lathers ! Let him not leave us, nor 1 01 (ake us ! 1 hat he may INCLINE our hearts unto h ;: , to \val!c in all his ways, and to keep his commandments ! f" * l Sam. xii. 25. ] J K.'.ng! viii. 57, 5?- The OF SOLOMON'. QQ The book of Proverbs feems to have been partly written by Solomon himfclf, in his carlieft and belt year?, and partly collected by thofe who attended on his perfon, or enjoyed his eonverfation. There are feveral paflages which imply the doctrine of divine influences, but I take this to be inculcated at large in O ti-e fublimc allegory in the eighth and ninth chapters. JBy u-ijihm I underftand piety perfonified, which I fuppofe is the general fenfe of that term in the Old Teframent, where n\Co fs'/y intends wickedncfs. The v/iidoiri here dehjned, is net philofophy, nor natural feio:;: , \\hich is ot the earth ; hut th^.t faving know- ledge which is from on 'ligh. She is defcribcd as in- habiting the eternal manfions, as the companion and delight of Deity, as attended by Counfel, Prudence, Underftanding, Strength ; as directing the great in the way of happinefs, and enriching the poor with her treasures ; as making a feaft of fat thing?, and inviting the needy and the ftranger to it. 1 know that cvangelic.il cxpolitors generally apply thcfe paiT.ines to the Son of God himfclf, as did lonie of the Father^ ; and it is not unlikely that the apof- tle |o!ui had tome alluiion to them in the opening of his ::of,>el : but the nature of the Laftern allegories, and a comparifon with many other paffages of Icrip- ture, incline me to take the former for the primary fenfe, and ilie olher for an accommodation, though a Very beautiful and proper one. In the early part of his life, that is, before his de- K 2 clenfioji, XOO THE TESTIMONY clenfion, I conceive he alfo wrote the SONG, or poem, which bears his name, and on which 1 beg leave to offer a few remark?, previous to introducing fome quo- tations from it. The divine authority of this book, a? of fomc others, reds in great meafure upon its early a;ul uni- verfal reception in the Jewifh and Chriflian churches, in both which it has been received as an infpired work from the fir ft formation of the Canon * : and fo far v/ere the antien: Je\vs r:om rejecting it as a 1, oil- a;;j carnal poem, as fome late writers have ventured to pronounce it, that they called it the Holy of Holies, and, from the myftcries they fuppofed it to contain, forbade the reading of it to their youth before tlic age of thirtv. The occafion of it was doubtlcfs fome marriage, and probably that of Solomon with Pharaoh's daugh- ter, as generally fuppofed. The form is certainly dramatic feveral fpeaker? are introduced the fcenes p.re often fhifted and the whole is written in Hebrew verfe. The nature and defign of this fong has been much difputed ; fome moderns have fuppofed it nothing more than an encomium on chart e matrimonial love ; but the generality of interpreter?, both Jewifli and C hrif- tian, antient and modern, have confidered it as a fa- cred allegory, defigned to reprefent the relation and affection fubiiilm r between the Lord and his o * Sec Tifhop C'.jl'.i on t.iic canon. Church : OF SOLO.MOtt. 101 Church: and that this is a juft view of it, I think there can be little doubt with thole who confider how often the fame fort of images, and many of the very fame, arc applied in that view in dilVerent parts of the Pfalms, the Prophets, and the New Teftament*. But though I think interpreters have been thus far ri^ht in considering the whole as an allegory, I con- fef-, 1 think they have generally been very unhappy in the application of particular portions of it. This may be partly owing to their inattention to its plan, as a dramatic poem ; partly to the great obfcurity at- tending many of the images ; but chiefly, I think, to the explaining it verfe by verfe. Thus fhrcding it into piece-meal deftroys its beauty as a whole: the parts lole their connexion and proportion ; and an at- tempt to fay lomcthing new upon each member of the verfe has led expositors into a thoufand extrava- gancies and abfurdities. Si nee, however, the literal meaning of this long ha- been fo accurately invefti- g./.ed by the labours of a Lnctb, a Micbaelis^ a Hiii'mcr, and other Oi the nXi Hebrew critics, there is better hope of (ucceedmg in a modeit attempt to make a fpiritual application of the allegory. In the prcient work. [ can only quote a finale paiiage or two. At the 3d verle and following of the fecond chapter, the Ipuuie i>> relating to her vir- gin^, the plealure, the (attraction, and fectirity {he lound in the company of her beloved : the tendernefs, aiiectioii. 102 THE TESTIMONY affection, and generofity with which he had enter- tained her in a choifk, or arbor in the garden^ where file fuppofes him it ill at reft, as is the cuftom in thofe warm countries, during the heat of mid- day. tc As the citron-tree * among the trees of the wood. So is my beloved among the youths. In his fhade 1 delighted, and fat down ; And his fruit was fweet unto my tafte. He brought me into the houfeof wine f-, And his banner over me [was] Love. Support me [laid I] with refreftimcnts 1, Strew citrons round me, For I am fick of love. His left hand [was] under my head, And his right hand embraced me.'' There is no difficulty in allegorizing thcfe verfLs. Many of my reader, I hope, can recollect a period to which they may be applud: a ii:ne when all the pafii )ns were tired with devotion, and their religious imprcflions nothing kfs than c.xtacy and rapture. Such frames are not to be conftdered as the hi.'heit attainments in religion, yet the loU ot them cannot sec r,-x.->fi nn. |- W::ic-c/e." AtU^.-!'.:. J " l 'e;r<_<'.;Hc.r.ts j 1 ' Mr. l\nkLi.tJi think. " cct'.4\iw:iariei j " un- ioubttdly "'' fi-'fifeous. be OF SOLOMON'. IC'3 be reflected on without regret ; and often : nf/res the language of holy Job " O that it were with me r.s in months puft '." The following part of this chapter fccms intended to delcribe the introduction of the gofpel difpenfation, under the imj'je of returning fpring ; but I mud forbear, or I {hall write a comment. Suffice it to oblerve, that the book proceed? in the fame kind of imagery, with frequent and abrupt changes both of the characters and fcenery, till we come to the latter part of ihe fourth chapter, where the fpoufe, that i>, the church, is compared to an enclofed and well-cul- tivated garden. The Ia.ft verfc is commonly explain- ed as a pathetic invocation of the Holy Spirit, con- flantly compared to air or wind in the feriptures ; but I rather conceive (if our printed copies UP; ri:iht*) that the verfe ihould be divided ; fir it the bridegroom invokm the heavenly i;a!e:- ' Awake, () n.)rth-wind ! and come, O 1'nith ! Blow upon .MY garden, that its fpic-, s may f.o'y out ! " Then the fpoufe immediately fuhjoius, u Lvt my beloved come into HI.S garden, And eat liis plealant fruits." * Som-j MSs. read " MY ^.i;-Jc:i/\ in :K-j l.'.il incn.bc. tt" tlx vcifr, . . 1 r.iped Uicir .iu:i..j'ry. There IC4 THE TESTIMONY There is a beaut}-, if I miftuke not, in thus di- viding the verfe, a> it prelerves to the bridegroom the fuie property ot his -jurden. He ia>s, "MY gar- den i" and fhe chearfully acknowledges his claim t( Yes, lays (he, I am HIS garden yet I bear no fruits of <;oi,'d work.?, I exhale none of the cdours of a holv converfation, but as the Holy Spirit ac- tuates my heart and lite." I his is coming exacily to the grand point I am writing to fupport. But to proceed with Solomon. It is a moft un- plcafant tafk to record the vices of good men : hut the facred penmen (hew their impartiality in rccoid- in.r them with hiftoric. fidelity. It cannot be denied, and itou'fht not be dilTcmblcd, that Solomon in his O J fubfequent conduct (hewed at once the frailty of hu- man nature, and the danger of woildly fplendour. Endowed with an extraordinary capacity, he foar- cd ir.to the fublimeil fpeculations, wliich not being duly fandlified by pi aver, led \\m from God, infttrad of to :, ; n. With a vain up-lifted heart he looked on nei^H- bounnj; princes, envied and emtihited their ipien- dour, and ran into im It of their cxceiles, till it pleaied God, in confe(|uence of his iai'bitu! promiie (made to David his fuller x ) to bring him back again ; and, by reiiorir.; to liim his good Spirit, en- * " Ifliis chi'.ilrcM f f.cns v.ith a HH! Nc t'iAC from them," &t. 1'i.ilni IXXXIA. j. 73. abled or ISAIAH. 1^5 -.ibled him to write the book, of KccLEsiAsTES, as a hiftory of his own experience, and a. warning to fu- ture a^es. { mult here cl.>fe this article; anci it is with no tin, ill regret that I nuMl now pan over a number uf ', crv iiluftnous char.uter?, in order to keep as near as may In- to my propoled bounds. \Yt_re it not for tli:- neceiiity, ! ih u.'l J J;'..:e \vit!i plealarc on tb.e in- ti- : i!ityof Hez^lviah, the early piety of Jofiah, and the conveiTioa ot Manaiieh, with many others: but I muiL content myfeif with citing only a few of the prophets who have written more cxprefsly on the Ui'nject cf divine influences, and experimental godli- nefs. ISAIAH. Prophefied B. C. from about 760 to 710. ft is ealy for princes to lead their people into vice, but not lo ciiiv to brintr them back aoain. Thofe ^ O G that finned with Solomon did not, general! v, repent with him : but the declenfion now began, proceeded in the following reigns with a progreilion natural to a courle of evil. The goodnefs of CJod, however, Hill did not f irfaicc th-m ; but he continued among them a race of prophets, " riliii-j; up early and lend- ing them." Thefe, in themlelves experiencing the grace 106 THE TESTIMONY grace of God, taught it to others, at the fame time predicting a more extraordinary eftufion of the Spirit in gofpel times. One of the moil eminent of thefe was If;:iah, and the fir it we particularly notice. Ifaiah was of the blood royal, and prubuhiv educated in the court. This I mention not to reflect a dignity upon his character; but as another ii-ltance, to ihew that religion is poilible even in a palace. It rnav a:u account tor the peculiar elegancy of this pr'.j.-hec's ftile. Ifaiah bears the lame ranic r.ir.on." the Hebrew prophets that IT>;v,er does .imo,!.r the Greek ;x.<->s, Virgil .iiv.ong the La;:;;, i-r M:it..;i among our own. L^ery thing in ram is beauti'ul or magnificent, though with propriety ; but what is mod valuable is the evangelical truth he delivers relative to the Meffiah and h.s kingdom, and on account of which he ha* been called the evangelic prophet. There are many pafTages which d :fcnb<: th< fe com- munications of the Spirit with which the Goipel was iirfc promulged, with winch it is (till accompanied, and fhall be with incrcafm;: :.vlory in the latter days. I frK.Il preiui.: the render with only one beautiful ex- tract. In many paflagcs of this prophet th. cfTuf:n of the Spirit is compared to that of w.iter rair. floods river-, ; a;-.d i:^> ell eel -> all') to that of water upon the earth, ;.r.d v. /.-table creation. The- following is one of the i: uit Jtrikinz, fio:n the beginning of chapter " Fear OF HOSEA. Jf\j " Fear not, O Jacob, my Lrvant, And thou, Jcfliurun, whom i have cliofcn ; For i will pour water upon the thi.ity, And floods upon the dry ground : I will pour my Spirit upon thy feed, And mv blefliiiT upon thine offspring:: j O i * O And thjy fha!l fprinir up AS * gra:s, As willows bv the water-couries. One (hall fay I am JF.HJVAH'S, And another fhali be called by the name of Jacob j And this (hall infcribc his hand f unto JEHOVAH, And fliall be furnamed by the name of Ifrael |," // O 5 E A. Propheficd B. C. from about 785 to 725. A;i<;>, Ho/l-a, and y,v.', were all in fome mcafurc contemporary with Ifaiah, and might all with pro- priety be furnmoned in our caufe ; but brevity in- duces me omit the full and third, and make but a fmgij quotation from the fecond. The concluding chapter of Hofea (chap, xiv.) is extremely fine. It i\p!efents the language : f a re- turning penitent, and then of a forgiving God. * So 10 MRS. r:n'! ^ ahii iii->n may denote both, (o we cannot bur u.id eriland and i.-.k'.- in both together. Amo.i^ the chief of fuch iruit ;s \ve O o receive ironi hi'ii, bc'in^ po\ver and ^--Ce to enable us to be triiitful in ^ood, and bring forth fruit accep- table to him ; as thole th.it are in him (lull in hiai find all -^o.-.d things for then, fo will tiuy alio be ena- bled by him to do fuch things as are ^ood and plcaf- inir to him." y E R E Ml J If. Prophecied from about f':2Q to 5-SS \}. (J. I his pathetic \vriter pr.jphccied about JD y.\irs after liaiaii. lie \v..s a p:ijit (/ f the tribe of B.nja- nun, was cai^d \ery early to th-.- [iroplK'liC oia^e, and exciciled u more than fo;ty ycau. * l;i 1 -,. ^ Tin., THE TESTIMONY This prophet alfo introduces Ephraim in the cha- ndler of a true penitent : '' I have furely heard Ephraim bemoaning himlclf [thus:] " Thou haft chaftifcd me, and I am chaftifod, as an untrained bullock : Turn thou me [f.iid I] and I fhail be turned ; For thou, JEHOVAH, [art] my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented ; And .after that I was inihucTxd, I Imotc upon tiie thigh : I was afhamed, yea even confounded, Becaufe I did bear the reproach of my youth *." The prophet, in feveral pafTages, relates the natur-j of the new covenant, in terms perfectly hannor.i.ius with the above fern i men t thu c , naiVicuLrly, chapter xxxii. ''. IJ-'-JQ. J-:r. xv, 1 6. thin? OF NE HI- MIA Ft. 11^ th'r.j; in the facred volume, tor reverence, piety, and fj')li:n:ty. That noble renunciation of the worihip of the heavenly holt, who are all reprefentcd as wor- fhipping JEHOVAH, was peculiarly bo!d and ftriking 1,1 their prefent circumftances, and under a govern- ment that worshipped that heavenly hoft, as was no- torioufly the cafe in Perfia. - But what is moff, ob- ftrvablv to our purpofe, is his contention, in the fbl- 1 )\vi:i"- declaration " Thou aaveft them alfo thy o *- j nood SPIRIT, to inftruct them *." A fentiment (jftcn repeated in the Old Tcitament, as well as in the New. There is one thing, which I fhall mention, as it may fe.m inccinllftent with other parts of this cre:it character, and prove a fhimbling-block to weak minds ; namely, that Nehemiah (je:ns to plead a re- ward for his good works before God thus (chap. \,ii. 14.) u Remember me, O my God, c >,icjrn- m:: tin-, and wipe nor out my i>;ood deeds that 1 have done," ^cc. (>n wl'.ichl would oblervc, i. that thefe GOOD i>Li-i). c are in th : original prop-.-ilv " G'lAcr- ous actions j ," not or.ly acts of good.v.i> a:;j Lvne- volenc:, but proceeding fro.n the a reward not ot d.bt, hut of .'race u Reine;i'.;)^. me, O my God [concerning] t Il6 THE TESTIMONY this alfo, and fpare me according to THE GREATNESS OF THY MERCY." This obfervathn ni.iy be ex- tended to fome iimilar expreftions of David, Hcze- kiah, and others. We may certainly, without truft- ing to our own rightcoufnefie?, warrantably hope, that the little fervices we are enabled to do for God and his caufe, will not be forgotten, when every cup of cold water given to his diiciples (hall be reward- ed*. APPENDIX C IT A P. IV. FARTHER I;-. STANCES OF JEWISH PIETY FROM THE APOCRYPHA AND RABBINS. J\s there is a confidcrable vacancy between the times of the Old .It.uncnt and i';i- Now, we fhall fligl/lv inquire what rn'iLrht be the fentiments ui the more picus Jews during inat period ; which we (hall Malt. x. qz, be OF THE APOCHRYPHA. IJT be enabled to do, partly from the books called jipo- cryphal, and partly from fome ancient teftimonies prefjrvcd among the rabbinical writers. -ikibre I quou.- the Apocrypha, I fliall juil pre- rnife, that I quote none of thcfe books as lac.vd icrip- ture, but as human writings, of great antiquuy, and (fuchas 1 Hull quote) of confiderable value. WISDOM. 1 do not f;;;>n;:fj tho booL of H>'.jJo:.-i to be the gc- nuine work of Sjlomon, akhough it might be proba- bly compiled in a great meafure from his faying?, tra- ditional!}' rundod down, or prcferved in the private writi/.:^ ot lome religious Icribcs. This book has been alcribjd to Phih, a?ul perhaps he might put the finithing hand to it, and leave it in its prcfent form. The book begins with a general exhortation to wifdom and righteoulnefs. " Love righteoufnefs," (faith this writer) " for the HOLY SPIIUT of difci- pline will flee deceit, and remove fr 'in thoughts that arc without underftanding, and is reproved ' when unrighteoufnefs comcth in }-." In a following chap^c. he aflcrts " They that put their trull in him (i. e. the Lord) fliall imJerfL:id the truth ; ;.;,d lueh as be faithful, (h.ill abide wkh him in luve : for grace and mercy ^ to his f.:int>, ::n.! he hath care for his elect: *.." And in .; fublecnier'j ri8 THE TESTIMONY verfe of the fame chapter *, he fpeaks of fome to whom {hall be given u the fpecial gift [or CHOSEN G^ACE | ] of faith, and an inheritance in the temple of the Lord." The eulogy on Jf^lfdoniy chap. vii. fcerns to be compofed in imitation of that of Solomon in the book of Proverbs, and is very much in the ftyle of Philo'i undoubted corr.pofitions. Of tivcs wifdom, piety, and grace, he fays cc fhe inaketh all things new, and entering into holy fouls, {he makcth them friends of God and prophets ;j;." ECCLESIASTICUS, Or the wifdom of '/{A 7 * the fon of Siracb^ who is fuppofed to have lived about two centuries before Chriftianitv. This book feems much of the fame nature with the former, and is a collection of the fayiuLs of their wife rncn. The following pafiage is one of the moil pertinent to our defi^n. Of the good man he fays " Dk-fll-d is he that flull be cxercifcd in thefe thing^ ; and he ttiat layeih tl-.cm up in his heart, fball become wiu, Rr if he do them, he fnuli be ttrong to all things ; tor the LIGHT of the Lord leadeth him, wlio tiiveth vviiJcm to the godly ." JEWISH OF PHILO. IK) JEWISH LITURGY. Among the Jewifli forms of prayer, fuppofed to be elder than Chriltianity, is the following : " Thou of thy in-rcy o,ivcfl knowledge unto men, teachefl: them iriderftanding; give gr;u;oufly unto us knowledge, wifdoin, and undedht; ding. Blcfl'rJ art thou, O L ird, who gracioufly giveit knowl.-d^e unto men !" " Bring us back, O our Father, to the obfervance of thy l.iw, and m. ke us adhere to thy precepts ; ar.d do thou, () our King, dra-.v us near to thy \\orlhip, and convert us unto thoc by perfect repentance in thy prelence *.". PHILO. Philo yudccus, (alreu'y naiiied as tlv author of the Book of VV'iflo'ii) was a ph;Lf<-;: ! ':c Jew of Alexandria, at the time juus Cl'iiift \-. r a iij > . Fhilo, however eni 'inatical in many thin s, i u r i '-niy ^ j clear and expix-ks as to the doctrine of u;v n.; influ- ences, of which the following pafia^e, lilkad of * o^o-cd p r -J.:M X *<. C..n.-.ccl. Pare i, b.ok 6. f C*i-t'; liirt. L'ui-rir. many J2O THE TESTIMONY mnny others that might have been (elected, is fufri- ciont evidence. " As (faith he) when the fun riles, the darkncfs is diffipated, and all things are filled with light : fo when the fun, made by God, arifes and enlightens the foul, the darknels of vice an3 paffion is tlifpelled, and a moft pure and amiable form of moft fhining virtue appears." Agreeable to this idea, the fame Philo, in his ac- count of the contemplative part of the Efllnes, a fcH: who affe&cd extraordinary piety among the Jews, obfervcs that,. " Their conftant ufage is to pray twice every day ; that is, in the morning and in the evening. At the riling of the fun, they pray that God would give his bleffing upon the day, that true bleiling, whereby their minds may be filled with hea- venly lig/.'t : and at the fetting of the fun, that their mind, being wholly difburdened of all feniible things, may in its retirements into itl'elf find out truth *." RABBINS. The modern Jews perceiving the doctrine of di- vine influences, to be an eflential branch of Chrifti- ar.ry, call the Holy Spirit the CHRISTIAN'S SANC- TJFIER f, and as they have long been ftrangers to hi: influences, have therefore, very confidently, re- nounced his guidance. * /'/';'; dc vk.i con'cmp. QiiouJ Pr'id:a: the jew? of Bartai.y. There OF THE RABBINS. 12 L, There are many paflages, however, in their an- cient rabbins, which preferve the remembr;.;:e of. this truth ; and though, perhaps, none of them rruy be fo old as the times we arc upon, yet to avoid re- curring to them again, I fhail beg leave to fubjoin a few in this place. We fhall begin with original fin the ground of the neceffity of divine influences. An ancient rabbi- nical commentator on Genefis, alTerts, that the " e- vil imagination" is put into man's heart, " from the hour that he is formed *." So Manaffes Ben Ijrael^ from David's confeflion, (Pf. li.) infers that " all the human race are hnful, by original fin, before they are introduced into the world f." Again, rabbi Mcn.ubem acknowledges alfo the im- putation of Adam's fin to his pofterity a When lie [i. c. Adam] finn-d (frith he) the whole world fin- ned, whofe fin we bear and fufFer, which is not To 'of the fin of his pofterity |." Confidently with this ftate of human nature, they admitted the neccflity of regeneration ; whence the propriety of our Lord's queftion to Nicodcmus, u Art thou a mafter in Ifracl, and knoweft not thefe things?" -which he could not have been expected to underftand, had no luch idea obtained amono- the l!(<-^:':t/> Rabbih. (^cted Poll Syn. in Gen. viii. n. -j QuoUd IV: Syn. in Pf. li. J Quotc.i by 0:vo:on tiic Flebrtf\vs, Vol. I. From LiH. C'rdlu. Ste mure quotations ip. EJwjrdi on original fin, p. 416, M [ewilli 122 THE TESTIMONY Jewifli matters. The Cabalijlic Jews, according to Dr. J. Owen *, fay, " That the inftant a man is made a profelyte of righteoufnefs, there comes a new foul into him from heaven, his old pagan foul vanifh- ing, or being taken away." Which is confirmed by the aflertion of Maimonides (not more than about 500 years ago) that " A Gentile who is become a profelyte, and a fervant made free ; behold he is as a child which is new born }." We have already obfervcd, that a very ancient rabbin explains the pouring water at the feaft of ta- bernacles, as emblematical of the effufion of the Spi- rit in the times of the Mefliah J, though the modern Jews give a different account of it. On the Spirit, p. iSO- -J- In Ifura Biah per -r Quoted Skepp's Dir. Energy, p. 17& J Sec afore, p. 16. CHAP, >K THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS. CHAP V. THE EVIDENCE oF THE NEW TESTAMENT WRI- TERS, AND EXPERIENCE CF THE FIRST CHRIS- TIANS. THE doctrines of JESUS CHRIST have been alrea- dy enquired into, and I hope the reader is fatisfied with the evidence above produced, that he taught the principles I am endeavouring to fupport. In farther confirmation, however, I beg attention to a L-w fim- ple facts, relative to the firft propagation of the gof- pel, which are fupported with the authority of infpi- ration, and pertinent to our fubject. i. I obferve that the char afters of the firft con- verts, both of our Lord and his apoftles, were fuch as could not have been expected on any other princi- ples than thofc of fovereign and efficacious grace. Thole of Jefus Chrift were not, generally, Scribes and Pharikes, who were prepared to receive his gof- pel by a deep acquaintance with the facred (criptures, or a long practice of the moral virtues. On the con- trary, fume of his difciples " \vere ignorant and illi- terate men," common fifhermen, engaged in that low and laborious calling, to procure a livelihood ; and M 2 fome 124 THK TESTIMON V ibme of \vhop.i who do not appear to have had even the curiofuy to hear the Saviour before they W.TC called to f.-llow him. So truly might he fay, " Ye have not thoil-n me, but 1 have choien you." Others cf his converts were of loofe and aban- doned charaCi. Ty 3 as publlccm^ or rather cuitom- houf_- cfncers, prove: bia! fur opprefium and cove- to.:;:;;:^, and \vhofe \vhoie enjoyment ieems to have cor.nfted :;; cat-iri^ and drinkir."-, ii;;c j \v : i.ld:)ni hear : f thciii b:it at a f,:a!t : a.ui ainon^; the women, ionic of his fo'!u ; .vc:s v.x-re public hartAs, open and avow- ed proilitutcs, before converfion *. Yea, fuch were ibnie, the inoft eminent of his difciples ; diofe who " loved much," were thofe to whom " much had been forgiven." ?.. ITie ccufc of thoir converfion was not the e!o- quciice v/iih which our Lord fpake, nor 'the miracles lie wrought, (fmce tlven furely all muft have believed) Hit as himfelf aflurcs us, the fecrt t drawing and teach- ing of the Father f. To others he faid " Ye be- lie've not, becaufe ye aie not of my fhecp J." His eloquence, indeed, fometimes difarmed the rage of his ciumies, and the fame of his miracles diew the e;ap ; :;g multitude together ; but the effects in both cales were flight and tranfient : ai.d in the latter it is ]\iitic;:lai!y <:bfcrv:tble, as himfelf aflures us, that the priiKipc.l cirecmftai.cc \vhieh attracted them, was the ul csdvanta^e they received ; and that of the Matt. xx'.. 31. -\ lol.n vi. 44. 41;. 65. J John x. 26. lowed OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS. 125 loweft kind, they did eat of the loaves and fifties, and were filled *. 3. The fame remarks may be extended to the fel~ lowers of the apojlles. Their firft converts to Chrif- tianity, were as little prepared as the preceding. They were not moral philofophers and earneft enqui- rers after truth and virtue: but either, like Lydla^ who was immerfed in bufinefs when the Lord opened her heart : or like the Jailor^ hardened againft reli- gion by profeflion, till his heart was broken by the earthquake. The inftance of Saul will be confidered prefently. Of the generality of converts from hea- thenifm, it appears that they had been abandoned to the grofieft ignorance, and the moft execrable vices f. 4. If the eloquence and miracles of the Son of God himfelf, did not convince or convert his follow- ers, much lefs did thole of the apoftles. We have faid they were fimple and illiterate men. Paul was indeed an exception, as to literature - y but fo careful XVY.S he, left any part of his fucccfs fhould be attri- buted to his perfonal acquirements, that he refufed to employ the advantages he pofll-ffed from that fource, and refolved to know nothing among the moft polite audiences, but the defpifed truth of a " Chrift cruci- ikd * i" left their faith fhould reft rather on human authority than the power of God . Then as to elocution and perfonal addrefs, he glories in acknow- * John vi, 26. t E P h ef- ' J 1 Cor. ii, 2. 2 Cor. x. j?. M J-26 THE TESTIMONY hedging that he was " in bodily prefence weak, and in fpeech contemptible *." 1 know it has been (aid, that their extraordinary fucc;Ts is to be a (bribed to the miraculous powers \vith which they were endowed. That miracles fixed the attention of their hearers, and convinced them that they a6ted under a divine commiflion, is readily "o-ranrcd : but we have a (hiking inftance of the tran- 'fient effet of thefe, in the treatment of Paul and Bar- nabas at Lyfha: where they were alternately confi- dered as divinities and malefactors t : whereas, when the word was accompanied with a divine power to the heart, with few or no miracle?, the effects were permanent, and the fubiecls of them gathered into churches. ^. In fevcral inRances of numerous or extraordi- nary converfions, there were fome other ciicumflances pertinent to our argument. ' Thus at the day of Pentecoft, it is cbfervable, that though the people were all witnefles of the extraordi- nary manner in which the apuitl.s and their company were crdcwcd with the gift of language? , yet tins uppears'tohave produced no better effect than a mere aftonifcment: nay, fome mocked them as drunken with new wine. Hut when Peter had preached Jefus unto them from the fcriptures u then they were JTERCED ; to the heart, ar.d faid unto Peter, and the other aj-oitles, men, brethren, what lhall we du :" * . Cor. x. 10. t Atf- xiv. 13. i.j. 1 U:dd-}Jp. Ads ii. 37. So OF THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITER;. I2J So that not the miracle they f.'.w, but the Ample preaching of Chrift crucified, was the mean of their conversion. So again, when Peter and John cured the lame man in the Temple, in the name of Jefus, the people " greatly wondered *," but it is not laid they were converted till after Peter had preached a very faithful and fearching fermon ; then about 5000 believed. I do not mean, however, from thefe ir.itance<;, to infer that miracles were never u!ed 115 means of converfion, but that more commonly they were only uled to ex- cite the attention of the hearers to the word of Gcd, tiie more confhmt and fovereign mean. I might add jv.any other initances to prove this : but I rather re- mai k 6. That the facred hiftorian, St. Luke, attributes the converfion of iinners exclulively to divine grace. ^o we read ih it v vhcn P./.1 :md Barnabas preached unto .ho ( ieiitii'> .it Icon; 1 ,;;.;, " tVy were glad, aiul r!o;iii<_d the woid o; the Lord ; and as ;...i,-.y' us were oid.:i.itd u> etenu:! lite believed ; ." If thi-, tr.mfla- tion be admitted, there can be no d.!:rjte oi Jie c.uiic of th.ir converfion. I-Jut as there is much e> ntro- veilV as to the imp^>it of the original |, I am not \\.\- 128 THE TESTIMONY ling to reft my argument on a doubtful criticifm. Admitting therefore it fhouldbe rendered " As many as were DISPOSED for eternal life believed or " they believed, as many as were DISPOSED, unto eternal life" ftill let the reader remember that the " pre- parations or difpoiings *" of the heart in man are from the Lord he prepares the heart to pray, and then inclines his ear to hearken f. So that this text, in every reafonable interpretation, muft either refer the work of converfion to the predeftinating love of God; or, which is equally to our purpofe, to his preparing, difpofmg grace, which opens the Tinner's heart, as it did Lydia's, to receive the gofpel with fimplicity, affection, and reliance. Having premiled thefe remarks, we fhall now felect from the New Teftament, three illuftrious inftances, of the power of experimental religion, namely Peter, John^ and Paul. ST. PETER. Called A. D. 30. Crucified about 66. Peter fliall lead the van. u The character of Pe- ter is marked with admirable propriety and confift- * Piov. xvi. i. -s-ya. This alfo is a military term, exactly an- fwerablc to the preceding, and implies rhat the Lord arranges, and dif- j-ofes the imagination, p.ii5>.,ns, and afteftions of il.c human heart, and j articuhrly the ' s, of his people, as a ikiltul general arrays his army Jo: the baitlo. Comp. Parkbwjl in -y-.y. -f- Pialm x. i~. ence OK ST. PETER. 129 ence by the cvangeliits ; he every where appears like himfelf. Earnefily cL voted to his matter's perfon, and breathing an honcit warmth tor his lervice, he iv .is in a manner, the eye, the hand, the mouth of ihe apoitb?. He was the fir (I to a!k, to a::fwer, to propofe, and to execute. He made u noble contllTrjn, for uv.ich our Lord honoured him with a peculiar commendation. He waited but for a co:nmand to walk to him upon the v/ater. He was not a(r::ici to expole hiir.fcif in his L. rd's detei^ce, when he was furrounded and apprehended by his enemies. And though, in this laft inftanci, v .is .irFeCiiOii was ill-ex- prellbd, yet his motive was undoubtedly praife- worthy. His heart flamed with zeal and love, and therefore he was always forward to diftinguifh himklf. u But the warmth of Peter's temper often betrayed him into great difficulties, and (Viewed that the g^ice he had received, was confident with many imperfec- tion?. Though he iincerely loved Chiitr., and had forlaken all for him, he was, at one time, f > ignorant ot the true dehgn of his incarnation, th..t he was an- gry and impatient to hear him fpeak of his fufFering 5 , and brought uj.on hiinr/if a molt levere rebuke. N;;t. content wi;h live ordinary iVrvices allotted to him, he offered himl.lt co unneceiiury trials, .is in th, Lord \v I3O THE TESTIMONY his approaching fall, he thought, and boldly affirmed, that it was impoffible. He was fmcere in his protef- tation, but the actual experiment was neceflary to convince and humble him. Accordingly, when left to himfelf, he fell before the firft temptation. And here the impetuofity of his temper was ftill manifeft. He did not ftop at a fimple denial of Jefus, he con- firmed it by an oath, and at length proceeded to utter bitter imprecations againft himfelf, if he fo much as knew him, whom he had feen transfigured in glory upon the mount, and proftrate in an agony in the garden. Such was the weaknefs and inconfiftence of this prince of the apoftles *." Such a character, with all its blemifhes, is highly efteemed of God ; and we have often feen the warm- hearted and fincere, with great failings, honoured and approved above others of more circumfpection and purity of life, who, at the fame time, fhough fmcere in hear;, have been comparatively cold and languid in their religion. It was thus we account for the extra- ordinary commendation beftowcd on David and the fin^ular fucccfs of Peter in the firft promulgation of Chi iftianity, and many olhu?. We ftiall now adduce a fpccimen of Peter's doc- trir.e on the luljccT: of orr.t e ami divine influence?, which lu rely dckrvcs peculiar regard, independent of his chan.dtcr, when we confider how much he knew * AV7i7c>;'i PCV. of Icc'ef. liiii. p. 7C, 76. Of CtF ST. PETER. 13! of thofe fubjecls, not only by divine inftruion, but alfo by experience. The firft epiftle of Peter is dated from a city cal- led Babylon^ but literally or myrtically; audit the latter (as moft think) whether Rome or JerufaUm be intended, is of little importance to our prefent fub- jecl. It was probably written about thirty years af- ter his matter was crucified : when the gofpel had fuccefsfully fpread through manydiftant and extenfive countries, and made innumerable converts to thecrofs - to thefe, whether Jews or Gentile?, whether ori- ginally rcfiJing in thofe parts, or thither difperfed for their reception of ChrifHanity, the apoftle directs his letter, and thus characterizes them, as " 1: LECT according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through SANCTIFICATION of the SPIRIT, unto obedience and fprinkling of the blood of Jefus Chnit * :" which, if i am not greatly miftalcen, im- plies '.h;.t the fa notification of the Spirit, in fome de- gree, is nece/T'ry previous to any courfe of acceptable obedience, as well as to that peace Which is the effect of the blood of Chiift fprinkled ort the conft'iencc. By J:me degree of fantification, I mean at leail the beginning of it in regeneration, which is, i think, thus cxplainvd in the fyilowing veik- " BlelTed be the God a;.d Father of our l.(-rd Jefus ChriO, who, according to his abundant meicy, hath REGENERAT- ED | us unto a lively hope, by the refurn-Ction of f Ftt, i, . f Pr. y. laykr, WiA.<^., va/ 6K3-a .- Jefus J-.J2 THE TESTIMONY Jefus Chrid from the dead to an inheritance *," &c. That is, faith in a rilen Saviour, is the mean of our regeneration, and that new birth opens to us a prot- ocol of " an inheritance incorruptible, undefilcd, and unfading, referred in the heavens f >r you (faith he) \vlio are kc.it [guarded as in a garrifon ; ], by the power of God through faith unto falvati on." So that the power of God is not only the caufe of our fir ft converfion, but preferves us from npoiL-.cy, and leaves us not till we are beyond the reach of enemies and danger. The fccond cpiftle breathes the fame fpirit as the former. It was written ftill nearer the clofc of his life, and in the prcfpcct of his approaching dilu- tion. It opens thus " Simon Peter, a fcrvant and r.n apoftle of Tefus Cbrift,to them that have obtained like precious f.iith w'.th us in the rightcoufnefs of OUR CJOD and SAVIOUR Jefus Chrift ;| grace and peace be multiplied unto you ." On the face of this paf- f>e \ve obferve that true faith is precious alike pre- cious in ajl believers, Je\vs and Gentiles, ininiders and private. Chriftians : that this faith reils in the litbtr.ufn.-fsof Jefus Chrift and that he is their God r.nd S.uiour; terms v/hich the facred writers, to fay th'. i ..;:!>, often fo ufc at. to flicw that they were not afraid of their bting applied to Jefus in the fublimeft f;nfe CK ST. JOHN*. ienfe. u According as his divine power bath given us all things which [appertain] unto lite and godimefs, through the knowledge of him who hath called us unto glory and virtue ; whereby are given to us ex- ceeding great and precious promife?, that by thefe you jnight be partakers of A * divine nature |." The conltruclion of this paflage is fomewhut intricate ; but to far is obvious, that the end of the promifes (the word of God) is regeneration (as above obferv- ed) and that regeneration is the participation of a di- vine nature. Sr. 70/7 A r . Called A.D. 31. Died in 100, aged about 94, This was the youngeft of the apoilles, but admit- ted to the moil confidential intimacy with his Mafter, v.'hom he conilantly attended, mid leaned commonly upon his bofom when they fat at table, from which and other circumftanccs, he was denominated the di- faple that 'J-'jn^ loved. No contemptible proof this, by the way, that Jelus was no impoftor, had no dan- gerous fee rets to be betiv.yed, or he would not have trufted them with an inexperienced youth, whofc difpoution aul) appears to have been the ixverfe of every tiling requifite for intrigue frank, generous, and 134 THE TESTIMONY and affectionate ; but at the fame time fudden, warm, impetuous ; qualities which often meet in the fame perfons, and form the beft characters. The facts from which this character is fketched are to be found in the gofpels, whither I judge it fuftici- cnt to refer. But there is an anecdote recorded of himby Eufebius *, which, though he may be exception- able authority, fo well agrees with his general cha- racter, that I (hall fubjoin it. While our apoftle was vifiting the churches in Ephefus and its neigh- bourhood, after his return from banifhmcnt in Pat- mos, he met with a promifing young man, whom he committed to the care of one of the chief ministers, by whom he was inftructed and baptized ; but fomc time after this youth was drawn away by evil com- pany, and became the captain of a banditti. John hearing this on his return, was much grieved, and though aged and infirm, determined even at the rifk of his life, to leek this loft fheep on the moun- tains. He found him indeed a bravado in wickcd- nefs, yet his confcience fmote him, and he fled at the fiwht of the venerable apoftle : v/ith many pailionatc intreaties, however, he was prevailed on to return, diflblved into penitence, and with great joy rcftored to the Chriitian fold. St. John's fir ft work was the gofpel which bears his riam.-, and which early tradition ftatcs to have been written in oppofition to the herefies of Cercn- * Hu\. Ecd'.f. lib, 3. cap. 23. OF ST. JOHN'. IJS thus, who taught many things difhonourable to the work, and pcrfon of Jefus Chrift. Thus much is evident, that the grand objec-t of this Evangelift is to advance his Matter's character ; and that, there- fore, he particularly il-lecls fuch of his actions and difcourf.-s as are beft adapted to that end. With the fame view, inftead of beginning with the humble birth of the man Jefus, he leads us back to the origin of the univcrfe, places the Lamb in " the midft cf the throne," and irradiates him with the honours of creative majefty, before he fhe\vs him difg'.iif-d in frail mortality. Hear his own emphatic a;;d fublime language : u In the beginning was the LooOi," that is, the Rt-afon, the Wifdom, the WORD " The Word was WITH GOD the Word WA-> Goc . r.d the Word was MADE FLESH.'' If there is any ob- fcunty in this pafiagc, it a:iLs from the dignity of the fuVjc'cl, and of the language. For, however the lit -rati may defpife the eloquence of a fitherman, and critics may join with thcfe who called our livangulift and Peier " ignorai^t ;.nd unlearned rne:i *," thus much, mull I think, be admitted, th.it a plain fimple m.Mi, ot g .) ;d natural parts, and wb.ole heart is fail of ins fubj ci, will fame times without fupernatural aid (and much more with) rife to a majcfty of idea and cxpreifion, that dehes the cold Viand of criticifm, and pours contempt en all the aiiewted eloquence cf the fchools. Acl;iv. 13. N 2 To 136 THE TESTIMONY To undcrftand St. John it has been thought nc- ceflary to recur to the writings of Pluto and his dif- J O ciple Philo ; but John was no philosopher. Before he followed Chrift, it is not likely he had ever heard of either of them ; and afterward he had abettor maf- fer. To fend " the dilViple whom Jefus loved," and \vho " leaned on his bofotn," to L-arn divinity of an heathen, or an hcafhenifed Jew, is :\n abfurdity that common fenfe blulhes at. After the day of Pcntecoft the abfurdity energies. When the full day of ple- nary ir.fpiration was poured into his mind, to feek for knowledge among thole who fat in " darknefs and the fhad.iw of death," vvouid have been to prefer the glimmering of a taper to the beams of noon day, or in the language of the prophet, forfaking " the fountain of living waters, to labour in hewing out Ciftmis, yea, broken cifterns which can hold no wa- ter *." Let the reader pardon this digreffion, which was occafioned by finding too many commentators difpofed to make the philofopher comment on the Evangelift ; and obfcure the grand truths of Chriftianity, by the dark dogmas of heathenifm. Plato, as a heathen, I admire; and there arc fome excellent things even in Philo ; but away with both of them while we attend to the apoflle. " That was the true light, [namely, the Word or Logos] which coming into the world, cnlighteneth * Jer. ii. 1-5. OF ST. JOHN, 137 every man," by the jevelation and diffufion of the gofpel ;__ He (blefled Redeemer!) came unto his own [country] but his own [people] received him not. But to as many as DID RECEIVE him, to them gave he power, [privilege and authority] to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flefh, nor of the will of man, but of God, And the word was made flefh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth and of his fullnefs have all we received, and grace FOR grr.ce*:" that is, either grace ANSWER- ING to grace grace FOR encreafe of grace or, ra- ther grace UPON grace, an abundance and fulnefs of grace r.nfvvering to all our exigencies f . Nothing can be more full to our purpof.-, than this evidence of the Evangeliit, especially as it is ex- perimental, and teaches us that not only the weakcfr, Kit the r.: >n.:;dt, not only ourfclvcs, but the iirft and infpired Chriftians were indebted for all their attainments to graci. to the rich and free grace of God in Jdus Chrilt our Lord. The tjx'iK-ral epiitle of John was written, accord- ing to L.^vrYiT, near twenty years after his goljvl ; but is in the fame Itiie, and breathes the fame fpirit, 1 frull quote it very fparingly. * ] >\::-i. i. 916. $:<: D:ut (fays he) when the law came" ho-nc to my confcience, when by the prace f>f God 1 faw its fpiri- tuality and^ dominion over me, then u fin,'' which I had OF ST. PAUL. 14! had long thought mortified and dead, revived, and I died * ;" i. c. as he elfewhere explains himfelr, he " became dead to the law, through faith j" had no more hopes or" life and falvation from that quarter, but was c ntent to trull alone in the quickning grace of the Redeemer. St. Paul s convcrfion is twice related in the Acts, and that with iiich a. ftrength and perfpicuity of lan- guage, that the beft paraphrafc can only enervate and ubfcure it. I will therefore requeft fuch readers as do not distinctly remember vhat hifrory, to turn to their New Teitament, and then examine the follow- ing observations on the fact. D I. I think, it cannot be denied that his converfion was by invincible grace. Here was no pre-difpofl- tion for it, but the contrary. His ru.trt burned with ra^e he breached out threatning and (laughter he even approached the city where lie me.'Mit to exhibit frefh icenes of cruelty perhaps his thoughts were now occupied on this very fubject, and he aiuieipated the honour he fhould acquire bv extending the names of pertecution to Antioch. 'uit the thoughts cf man .ire vain the appointed hour of deliverance was ar- rived : abeam of ceieltial yjory fhone around him; O . a ray oi" efficacious grace ihut (like lightning) to his heart, and inftantly fubducd it; but I need iut en- large I believe it is univerfally admitted that Paui'ii converfion w;*$ fui'.Jen, invincible, and even nnracu- Ron:, vil. n. 14-2 THE TESTIMONY lous ; and I wifli it to be confidered that, in this in- ftance particularly, " he was to be " a pattern to thofe who fhould hereafter believe to life evcrlaft- ing *." 2. Here was an inftance of difcriminatinz prace. J o o Not thofe who accompanied him, who perhaps were compelled officially to attend him but their malicious chief is the fubject of it They law the glory, but they did not fee the Saviour: they heard a voice, but it was not addreflcd to them. 3. It was unmerited grace. " To me (fays he) who am lefs than the lealt of all faints, is this grace given \ Who was before a blafphemcr, and a per- fecutor and injurious ; but 1 obtained mercy." it is obfervable, that whereas modern divines ule to palli- ate the depiavity and infirmity of human nature, and to extol the lirength of our i:atural viitucs, not (o our apofrlc. Such an one won Id have (aid I was fincere, Z.r;,lous, anjiulr, according to my b(_ft knowledge. He fivs " n bial' iicmer, ;erf eutor, and injurious :' and g, l >riescn!y in t u ?.'- t.i.thr'.:! layme, u J- tus (Jhriil came int:-> :!.. v/or'c! '.-.> lave fuuie.s, of whom 1 i'.m ch:ur Ldd w-is exceeding abun- dant V ul I'-s converiicn, :.nd is therefore the theme of all his d'.fcourl'vS and epities and as he " j_rew in grace," h<- crew more ieulible of his obligations to * i lirr.. i, 16. f \\r. i^. 16, 1 Vcr. 15 ^ V.; ^ OF ST. PAUL, 143 it. To tran.fcribc all the paflagcs pertinent to our fubjccl from St. Paul s writings, would be to tran- fcribe the whole. A few paliages, however, muft be (elected ; and thole (hall lie only froiii his epiitles to the Corinthians and the Romans, beginning with * O ij the firil epiftle to the fotmer. In chap. ii. our apoiUe ftates in the flrongcfl terms the ncceility of the Holy Spirit's influences. " The natural man" (faith he) .hat i>, not the profli- gate and abandoned only, but every man deititute of the Spirit of God, as he afterwards explains it " the natural man rcceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God : for they are foolifhnds unto him : neither can he know them bi'caufc they are fpiritually dilccrned. But he that is fpiritual [or influenced by the Spirit] DISCERNETH all things * i" that is the myfterics of the divine life, and of the gofpel, of which Sc. Paul had been (peaking. To the fame perfnm, he fays, " Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelicth in you f r" which is repeated afterward with additional force. u What ! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy GhoH ;|. ?" Alas! f.ip.ie Chriftian teachers are not only ignorant of this, but teach tiie contrary. J3iit \vhat would Paul have faid to ihem : Chapters xii. and xiii. re!;ite alnioft; iiuirely to our fiibjL'Cc, but I can only name them. * V-.;. i.;, ic. 'I Chr>, ii;. 16. t C'l'p. '-i 19. In 144- THE TESTIMONY In his fecond epiftle, St. Paul afTerts, " If our gofpcl be VEILED, it is VEILED to thofc that are PERISHING, among whom [arc they] whofc unbelieving minds the God of this world hath blind- ed, left the LUSTRE of the glorious gofpel of Chtifr, who is the ima^e of God, {hould EEAM FORTH upon them For God who commanded the light to Ihine out of darknefs, hath BEAMED into our hearts the LUSTRE of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jefus Chrifl *." Here I beg leave to obfervc, i. that God and Satan are placed in contraft : the latter darkens the underftanding by his influences, whence the Jews calls him SAMAEL, the god who blinds : but the true God, on the contrary, illuminates the understandings of men by the grace of his Holy Spirit. I add 2. that this work of illu- mination in the mind, is compared to the fir ft crea- tion of " light out of darknefs," as being; wrought in the fame fovcreign efficacious and inftantaneous manner. Farther, the apoftlc purfues the compari- fon between the firft and new creation " If any man be in Chrift Jefus, he is a new creature, old things a^e palled away ; behold all things are become new ' . : ' The twelfth chapter relates to the extraordinary revelations with which he was favoured, and which expoied him (fi:ch is the frailty of the belt men') to the danger of fpi ritual pride and vain g'ory. 'Fa * Ch.iv. 3,4. o. Sec Dn'.di,i!g: | Ch. v. 19. prevent OF ST. PAUL. 145 prevent this, lc a thorn in the ficfh" was given him probably a bodily infirmity, which (lone fa lie teacher, an agent of Satan, taking advantage oi it to reproach him therewith,) might be a mean* or 1mm- K.;'.g him, left he (hould be "exalted above nua- lure." In this trial he applies to the throne ^f gi.'.cc to be delivered therefrom; but the [.ore, \v!.~. oiteu aiifwe: 3 prayer in a manner very different from our requcffs, mftcad of removing the trial, gave a pro- rmfe of fupport under it "Aly'g-ace is lufKciei.t ior thce. .Molt rriadlv, therefore, (laith the apv-liie) \\-'.'.l I [>.' ;-, in my infirmity, that the pjwer of Chriit nr/.y i-eil up^n ire ' ; :" litcra'lv u T ARI:a^:ACLE no r.i !ive,'' a'iudir.r perhaps to the glory of the Lord refl- i;:g upcjn the tabernacle of .Moles. ^\ e come no.v to the hpiftlc to tlie ^;.',v.?. : /j, \vrit- te.i alter thole to the Ccni:'hi.::i c , v/hicli is of it- fe'.f a fyiVem of di\ inity. The three ilrll chapters '.pravity <-{ human nature, and prove I "both Jeyy? and li-,-iv.i;.s e all under hn." impo'uit/ility of f 1 y;.t :,--;i by ihe La\v, a:'.d t. explain -I'lod (,f jinii;:. ;.)n. In the ie\ e;u'l ;o ih; !".;!;. VL <.,/ XPJ! imriuJ leii- !--,' ;: '! 5 '.nd t!;e:'.!ore .'.i:: :,.;an^-; onr particular atien- li ::i. 1'h- iermer pa;t of this chapter 1 !.'..> been alr.'.;Jy liccd. He l - \vius alive wur.tjiit t'le lav/ once,'' 146 THE TESTI.VGN'Y but all his hopes and felf-confidence were totally de- fhoycd by a proper fenfe of its fpirituality. Under thefe circutnftances he utters that remarkable coa- feilion, " The law is fpiritual, but I am carnal, fold under fin *. For the good that I would I do not ; but the evil that I would not, that I do f ." It has been indeed disputed whether the apoftlehcrc fpcaks in his own perlon, or in the perfon of an un- believer ; both are partly rk'.'nt. Paul fpi:i!;s uf what he and all men were wholly in a ilate of nature, and remain partially in a (hue of grace. IncLvd th. re need^ no farther proof of their conililency with a iLte of grace, than that thoufands of the belt men have adopt- ed them as their own experience. Nor, are they, in fact, wholl}' fuitable to the cafl of othrrs. There may iiideed a rife faint dciires and fruitleis wifhes in t'nc hearts C)f b.u! men : but no unconverted perf^n de- lights in t'.ie law of G ;J :iu< r the. inn. 1 ;- mm nor cues tl^.-.t cxclamatioii, " () \vretcl-.ed ir. n that I am !" expels the feelings of ;-n unrene 1 It has been pleaded, that ru.uh-ns th cxprelled fentiirents I'.;:H .-.vl-.at lnv.il fiioul.1 be remembered, (L.t tl-..v wire f<-me ot ;!;e \vileil ana bt..ll of them, of \\hor.i \,\' may hope, th..L they were " not far from the kingdom <>! heaven." In the next chapter tlr: apolll- fpea'is of hem: 1 ; led, influenced, and taught by t've holy Spirit <-i Giod. 11 For if any man have not the Spirit oi Chriir, b.e io OF ST. I'-\UL. 147 1:0110 of hi^"' and ";i many as are led by the Spi- rit of God, they arc the fons of God. For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear ; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we crv, Ac n .\ (that i.-) Father. The Spirit itfelf bear- eth wifnef- \vitii our fpirit?, that we are the children or re {trilcin-j; cir- cumlhince it was a borrowed IMit; reflected in j;reat meafure, troin the inn 01 divine revelation. By divine revelation, however, I do not merely in- tend the Hebrv.v fenptures ; but refer back to thofe earlier rays ot truth, \vh;c'n \vere emitted to the patri- archs Noah, Abraham, Alelchiiedec, Joleph, Job, at;d * Ails xiv. j ". others. OF HEATHEN* WRITERS. 149 others, who refided or fojourned in various parts of ths world, where fome memorial of their character was preferved for many ages, and, with their charac- ters, fume of their maxims of piety maxims which would be revived at different times by fucceflive wit- nefTes of their truth ; for in every age, and in every nation, we are led to hope, fome few have " feared God, and worked righteoufnefs," and confequently, have been "accepted with him*." Thefe being taught by the fame Spirit from whence thofe truths originated, would naturally revive, enforce, and per- petuate them. It [> a'.fo, I think, highly probable, at lead, that fe- veral or the inure uv.inent philofophers, who were great travellers, and curious in their refearches, met with tragrients of the iacred writers, and borrowed thcix-from ionic of the fubUnieit of their idea?. V\'ith refpect to the filvauon of the heathen, I have already hinted my fentiments. " Suppofe a hea- then, delhtute or the means of grace, by which con version i ; nfua'ly wrought, to be brought to a f_-n(b or h:-, inilery, of the emptmc-fs a;uJ vanity of vvorkily thin ./,>, to a conviction that he ca:i:i : be h;i;xiy vvith- (nit tlvj favour of tlie great Lord ol the world, to a feelin.: of :;uilt, and a delire of mercy; and that th<;u^h he has no explicit: knowledge of a Savin. ir, he directs the cry of his heart to the unknown Su- O 3 Failic 150 THE TESTIMONY 4 Father and fourcc of beings, have mercy on me.' V/ho will prove, that fuch vie\vs and defires can a rife, in the heart of a iinr.er without the energy of that Spirit, which Jcfus is exalted to beftow ? Who will take upon him to fay, that his blood has not fuf- ficient efficacy to redeem to God a (inner who is thus difpoud, though he has never heard of his name? Or, who has a warrant to afhrm, that the fuppofiticn I have made is, in the nature c>t thing?, impoffible to be realifed*." That this fuppofition not only may, but has been realifed, will, I hope, appear irom the evidence I mall adduce. But fhould it be inquired, were thcfj favcd without Jefus Chriil : I reply, in the \void.-. cf another ami- able divine. " 1 a.n periuaded, that God never did, or will, for; ive t'ne ir.is t-r any man upon earth, whe- ther Jew, Heathen, or Chriitian, nor receive any of our imful race into his favour, but upon the account of what Jefu> Chriil his Si-n, tiu Alcdiator, has do::c ar.d fa ire;-, d, for the aio:u;v.ent or expiation of fin, and the recovery oi \v..\\\ t> the t.ivo'ir t;i Cic'd : i.) t;:at if he-.ilhen.'', arc f.ived, I think it is owin^ to t;~e m_.it ,f Ch'i:":, .-.,11-.;, d.-at'n ; .' ; Tiv.fe remaikr, ly vay <.f preface; I fii.^1 now lir.'L.. c to cJl .V:} ,'ide;iC'S, -.iiul the cl-.!i;c reaJer wiii, i hji" 1 , r 'e p!e..Ld ;> !ee tlve authors he h :;>', .>a uicd to ad. i, .re and .te, ^nnj; in t,:e;r ^ ; * N-. :::-'.'; Mf!" '>, ' : " ':'-.'. ".I OF PYTHAGORAS. I5T evidence, and fubfcribc to the truih of experiment: 1 .! piety *. And probably he will be ready to adopt the lan- guage cf the celebrated Janfcniiis^ who could not but " greatly wonder that many of the Gentile Phi- loibphers philofophifed far more pioufly andjuuMy than many Chriitian fchoolmen f." /' T T H A G R A S. I3orn 568 1-). C. Died 497. "1 his venerable i.-.^e wa> the fin! \vho took on him the moduli: name of a pbil.Jipkcr^ i. e. a lover of wifd'jm : his nredeccfiors bearing th.e more pompous titi.-s of /://' ///., or wile men, H's t'neology w.;s fi!:''.!me, and is thoinht LJ !-,ave beoii in part derived from a conhiL-d a:;d iiid.^cilcd r: .tion of tlie i'lcred iVrip'.ar'j?, oi v.'Ir.ch hj probablv h::ci (omc knowledge" in :.,e e\> srijot hi.-, ti^N'.-i.sj t!:o ;. 'i itiS a ni^-re iri- v,';.rrant .1 i;i ^;t -h:i' \\ oi i ;:r.e, tha'; lie CvWi'erijd v/k'j ;:;;v cf l'.',e i'r^plut:. i:: l'.:jir captivi'y at Babylon. vc.ii.' '. ! !.!'.' >.!} [.:.;.!; ! .111:! ..... tl-r. ..I to in li;j imvi,i,;. \! .\(.Y i'..j b'.o^i-.ij'lik- ,1 m.i r. I..!., .iri; uvia :rta::^y' ; Li-, c^ oi' uvj ' Au^. To;n. II. L1L>. ii. op. :, He 152 THE TESTIMONY He believed the divine omniprcfcncc, and conceiv- ed of the Deity us the fource of all things, particu- larly of the human ib'.:l, \vhich he confidercd as a par- ticle of the divinity, ;.nd pLced its happincfs in uni- on and fimilitude to him ; but, being a heathen, has cxprefled his ideas \vith an obfcurity, that occn- fioncd lain to be accufed oi ftrange opinions, though perhaps his chief errors were in cxprellion. Pythagoras himielf wrote n ^thin^ ; but his golden vcrle, \vliich v.e;e probably written wit'n his appro- bation, are allowed to contain a. j lift luminary of his moral principles. In thefe he exhorts men to pray to God for a fll fi- ance in ail their concern?. rfl let thy prayers uiVcna, li And to the gods thy labours a; it c m:neiul, tc i-"i\;in them implore luceel.-, and hc;pe a prolp'rous end. " So fliall thy abler mind be tail jht t> foar ; " 'l\) range thro' heaven alvwe, and ea;;h below, u Immortal gods, and m irtal men to kn,/,v *." to ja comi ii'j; . do 1 1 he C'jniiCei\d a ! - t..r I rum a i\al evil tli.it it was the net'eilury enl:..uc'e ir.'jj permanent felicity. His OF SOCRATES. 153 Mis commentator, Ilic'rccu's, who wrote after the introduction of Chriftianity, hath an exprefb difcjurib oa this pr.ffage, " concerning the ncceflity of our cn- deavo;;rs after virtue ori the one hand, and of the d;- vin- blefli:i;r on the oth.T." S C R A I L S. Rorn B. C. 473. Died about 400. Socrates was unqueftiorubly the ^reaicit character in heathen antiquity. Me !-> i-id t.) have been the fir ft lh.it brou-ght philofophv from heaven to earth j that is, employ it in the fervice of G(.>d and of mankind. Others taught their dilciples wh.it tl;ey denominated wildom ar.d fcience : I'.e endeavoured u> i;iitruct his in piety and g'.od moral , ;-.nd ("> to nvk n b::t- ter men. Me wa^., ace >rdin_; to 1'lai^, t;-,j IT.-. !el < f P. trulv rigi'iteous man, v.ho lj\ed , '.'.I'.J for iilelf alone. It is remarkable, however, tli.it th re \va> nothing ii\ tii e co'.ir.ten.ancj of Socrates v.'hich ind'cau'd this excellence ot characle!- ; as appears bv tlie {">: )-.v;:i r >- vii-cdote. S;>me ('fhis difcip'.s havir.,; intr;.-duc,d o him a eel :brat' d ailro!o;;er aixl phyilo^nomiiV, to whom tlv.ir mailer wa: an entire it ranker, li^pro- noi'.nceU Ij-}- THK TESTIMONY nounccd him to be a libidinous, ill-tempercJ nrui The difciples of the philofopher knowing the faife- hood of this character, began to ridicule both the phyfiognomiil and his art; but their maftcr replied, " Such as he d'.lVrlbes me I was born : but hnce that time (by ph'.luf iphy) I have been born a^iiln : and my JtLC'-td /-/:',.- has prevailed over my iirfh"' A rema.k. this by tne bye, which though in fome meafure itjul- tiiies the t;uth of tin's art, greatly vvtakens iis utility ; fince, ad;i.!ttiir2; the countenance to be an inlex to the natural difpolition, it can difcover nothing ot any change induced either by divine grace, or moral in- flrucflion ; and consequently is liable to mifrcprefcnt the bell characlcrs. The chief account \vc have of Socrates and his doctrines, is from his difciple Plato, in whole dia- logues, where Socrates is the fpeakcr, we have, no doubt, his genuine principles, if not his language. One of the molt remarkable paflagcs is the follow- ing. " It feems bcft to me, (faith Socrates to one of his difciplcs) that we c xpcct quit :!y ; nay, it is ablolutcly necdury, that v/e wait with p.aience, till luch tmieas \vecan learn certainly how v/e ou^htto behave ouifclve^ both towards Ciod and towards men. \\'h;,n will that time come ? (replica the ducijileO And wh.o is it tluit will teach us this: For, nui'inus I carncftly ddirc to fee and knmv \vho the perfcii is ih.iL will do it,. It is one (anfvvors Sccrates) \yhohai now a coa- cerr. OF SOCRATES. 155 ecrn for you. But, in like manner as Homer relates that Minerva took away the mi ft from before the eyes of Diomedes, that he might be able to diiiinguifh or.c perion from another : ib it is nccciTary that the mill, which is now before your mi; 1 .;!, be fir ft taken a\vav, that afterwards you may Lam to diftinguifh between croud and evil ; for as yet you arc not able to ( ] o p t Let the per fon you mentioned (replies the dil- ciple), take away this mi it, or what ever elie it be, ib foon as he pleaf-s; for I am willing to do any thing that lie ih.ill direct, v/hofo, ver he be, fo that I may become a good man. Nay, (anf.vers Socrates acniin) thar p^riun IMS a wonderful i\adinefs and willingnefs to do '.in this for you. It will be beft then concludes in: u.iciji'.i.) to lo-rbear any more Lcnhces till he ap- pear^ and, I hop;-, CJod willing, it may not bs far off""." To me it appears v^ry evident that the above paf- i";?e :efers to h;!.\ v. ho was "the defirc of all na- tion-, "' a;id of v, liofe appearing ail nations had a n-e- re:\ ! aiid ccMifufed expcehitio!!, origir.a'lv der'n'ed, I (!M :bt iv-.t, iViiin the early promifes of mercy made to tire p;!'.i'iai e!'-. i''l. :o iraias SocraU" to fa 1 / in another place- ^ Tr/.i-e is fomev.-hat wh.ich by divine jxiwcr has fol- lowed i'jc from my chiklhood : tr.is dan^i is a voice which iignifus to me what i iv.iill d); vet dcies not compel tne to i!o an\ thii-.g : butil any of my friends 156 THE TESTIMONY communicate fomewhat to me, and that voice dchort me from the fame, it alfo (utters me not to do it *." Socrates appears to me to have adopted the doclrinc of guardian angels ; but whether he miftook the dic- tates of his own conscience, or the fuggeftions of a higher power, for the admonition of his good angel or demon, it is not necefiary to determine. That this philolbpher believed, as far as could he expected in a heathen, the doctrine of divine influen- ces, is unqueftionable. Befides the hints to this ef- fect above, we find him poiitively afTertin^ th.at " virtue cometh not from nature, nor from [iuim.inj teaching ; but by a divine pu\ver, or laic j . .Nature gives not viitue. A\ e are bjrn indeed /ir tl.is, but without it ;." So converfing with Ariftodcmus, v/ho doubted of a Providence, and even of a Deitv, Socr:ite.-: addicfled l:im in theie emphatic \vords u C) Ariftodcmu), ;;p- ply you'.ielf fmcercly to worfliip God ; lie will i.x- Li(,i-i'J'i-:N you, and ,'.11 your doubts will be f,>;>n re- moved V" Nothin.a; could be more ur.jufl than the Large on which Socrates iufleixd de:.:li , nor any t!:i;:g n..)rc heroic.;! t'.ian the manner in which he bo;x it. ! I::; />:.:.. ; : -.Th: .';-: t ....-.".-;*. vcUtion OF SOCRATES. 157 vehtion, and therefore it is not to be wondered, if he fometimes ("pake with hefitation. But as his death approached, his doubts were diffipated, his hopes brijirerud, and he appears to have died in the full af- fu ranee of immortality. " A foul (fays he) which cannot die, merits all the moral and intellectual im- provements we can pofiibly give it. A fpirit formed to live for ever, fhould be making continual advances J O in virtue and vvifdom. To a well cultivated mind, the body is no more than a temporary prifon. Ac death, fuch a foul is conduced, by its invifible guar- dian, to the heights of empyrreiai felieity : where it becomes a (eilow-cominoner with the wife and good of all age?." Such fentiments as thefe led the- celebrated TV'* Martyr^ to fay tpat Socrates was infpired by the di- vine LOGOS, the Son (if God ; and precu/ed the en- comiums of St. Augiijline, It is clear, however, that he did not die a martyr to the doctrine of the divine Unity, as fome have pretxr.deu : but whether his error arofe from a confui^d notion of the Trinity and a mediator, or merely f;om heathen prejudices, is nor for me to determine, PL.ITO I jo THE TESTI.MON'Y PLATO. Born B. C. 429. Died 348. The divine Plato as he is commonly called, \vas the molt celebrated fcliolarof Socrates, and as a phi- lofopher, and a moral -ft, inferior only to his matter. Bilhup Stillingfleet) and fume others, have been of opinion, that the i'latonic doctiine of a pre-exiitent flate was derived from fume imperfect traditions of the fcripture doctrine ot the Fall, and by Plato hirn- felf myftically intended. " I have hea;d (fiys the phiU'fophcr) from the wife men, that we are now dead, and that the body is our iepulchre *.'' In o-n- formity to this idea, he derived the Greek wo;d for lody \ , from anulh.r which fignities j. grave or fepul- ch're \ . He alfo compares the foul to a winded cha- riot, which in it* golden perfecl Hate, foartd alofr, and pafT:d throu o h lieaven ai;d earth ; but when il was thruft into the bod\, it lc.lt its win.:s, and remained there a prif -ner to the p.h'li ." JU J B As we have already quoted Plato, in citing Socrates, I would only add, that notwithftanding wirat Plato taujht of the excellency of virtue, yet fuch \v.;s his fcnle c.f the corruption of mankind, that he rightly fuppofed, if a perfect character were to appear on earth, he wo'ild excite the envy and malevolence of in.ui.cind ; that he would hj u fcjurged, torrnentec!, bound,' and in the end l< die by crucifixion f." A fentiment fully juftified in the treatment of the Son of God incarnate. Indeed Plato himfelf (as well as Socrates) found this truth verified in a degree in his own expercacc, being a fevere fufferer for his vir- tue;. C L E A N T H E 5. Born B.C. 341. Died 240 B. C. Of ihis antient fto c philofophcr, the difciple of eno, Lul httlj has reached our time. The hymn * rhilfbu.. f 2-1 Republic. i 1 2 l6o THE TESTIMONY Com which the following extract is taken, is highly valued, and not without reafon. I cive j t f,- 0in L j, c O elegant poetic verfion of Air. ///?, at the end of his tranflation of Pindar, " But O, prcat Father, thunder-ruling God \ "Who in thick- darknefs mak'ft thy dread abode ; Thou, from whofe bounty all good o;ifts defccnd ! Do ihi'U from ignorance mankind defend ! Th'- clouds of vice and h'lly, O controul ; .And fi)cd the learns of ivijtLm on the foul ! Truifi.- radiant beams, by whofe all-piercing flame, Thy juitice rules this univerfal frame. That, honour'd vi ith a portion of t/>y I'tgbt^ "\Ve m.iy Lilay tl;y goodnefs to requite With honorary fong c , and grateful lays, And i;ymn thy glorious works with ceafclefs praife *." The fuccecding philofophers,, whofe evidence I fhall adduce, were ciihcr contemporary with, or fuh- fL'qucnt to, the publication of Chriftianity j of which, howevei', perhaps the Co kiievv little but frojii popular prejudice, and fonie made no other ufe of their know- ledge of the fyrtcm than that of enriching their compofitions with its fpoils. It fhould be remarked, that from this period many of the l^ft philofophers converted to Chriftianity, and fome of them wo * To th'r, Author, a? well ,.4 to ^;^.:<: } St. Paul perhaps refers ir Afts xvii. zS. ice Dtddildgc. (ball OF SEMECA. I6l ihall have occafion to cite in the next chapter, as Chriftian Fathers, SENECA Born A. D. 2. Died A, 0.65. Seneca is not one of the mod unexceptionable cha- racters in antiquity. G.itakcr accufes him of flattery r.nd incoiififtcncy, and with too much rea^m. There arc h Avvver many fine fcntiments fcattered in his works, and [here is a f.nartnefs in his ftile which often rec >;n:iie:.d.s them. I {hall therefore fuhjoin a fe\v quotations. Seneca has been cited to prove the natural corrup- tion of our nature. " All fins are in all men (fays he) ;hou_h ;.ll d) not appear in each : he that hath o;ie !i:i, hath all. V, c !ay that all men are intempe- rate, avariCiou?, luxun HIS, malicious ; not that thole; fin-; ftj'pt'iirin all ; hut h.caufethey may be, yea, i-,->v in a i, t'nouj;ii latent. A man may be milchievous, although Iv.j d-> no luirt ." All moral good, id"-, t'ncix'forc he att.ibutcs to tlic Deity. " No man i^ [trul}'] ^ood v.'ilhout Ciod. .... lit (llL\iUtb in cn>)' -5 :-l an.):. If tliou (Veil a man karkis in t!;e midll of d.u;-ers, unLiiiited amidii. O ' J&2 THE TESTIMONY riches, happy in adverfity, calm in the midft of tem- pelts, looking down as from an eminence on all things iublunary doft thou not admire him ? S.iys thou not virtue is of all things the moil great and noble it is a d;-'c:nc /<'/:UT descended from (ilo'je ? *" He goes farther, and fpcaks almoft like a Chriltian. " The;e is a HOLY SPIRIT refiding in us, who watches and obferves both good and evil men, and will treat us after the fame manner that we treat him t-" Many other pafisgcs might be produced to the fame' effeft ; but the preceding fumciently afcertain the fentimcnts of this ingenious heathen. E P I C T E T U S. Died A. D. 161. This poor, but celebrated, ftoic philosopher (like Socrates) wrote nothing hiiuillf, but hi (e:;::"nents are prefer v.d in tlie remains ol hi.- difciplc -Jn'ian. The ftoics, it is well known, afteded an indifference to pain or p'e:i!ure, ai/J in tact, u> all thi. ;. -. exter- nal ; and ibnv uf t'r.em actnl, it inuit be CiHiLii d, on very fublime principles. "\V!-utc::n be more nuble than ihc ibllowinu; addrcii. to tl.e Dcicv u lk j ncefor- OF EPICTETL'i, l6j ward, ufe me to whatever plcafeth thee. I acquiefce, and am of the fame mind with thcc. I rcfufc nothing that fhall fcem s;ood to thee. Lead me whirherfoever thou pleaieft. Let me act whatever part thou wilt, whether of a public or a private perfon, of a rich man, or a beje.v." The heathen (fays Dr. Cudworth) ufed to invoice the iuptvme God alone, particularly imploring his r.fliltancc againft the afiaults of temptation?, which they called pliancies. To this purpofe is that of Epic- ictus " This is a great conflict, a divine enterprise : now remember the fuprcme God, and call upon him as thy helper and ajji/lant^ as {he mariners do upon Cartor and Pollux/' Again " A man will never be able, any otherwife to expel 'jrLfj fear, defirc, envy, ;c. than by looking to God alone, and being devoted to him, and the ob- fcrvar.ce of his command.-." Once in-re " !!:' \ve ur.d:rfra;iding, wlutfhould we do e!fc, but both public! ; and privatt !y praife God, arid return him thankb r (Ju.'.ht nt>t they who di<:, pl')U_rli, and eat, continually to iin. 1 ; to C/od fuch a hyr.in r.s tliis: u Great is ih.it (f;id who J.VLVC u^ " th.i".' i.-iftruments to cuitivMc t'ie ear:h with: " L-T?UL is th.,t {~<".\ v/'vi ^ave u 1 - IUMU!-, cVc. v.hoer- ;, .:> pnii! !Ci ail lauv '.': 1 64 THE TESTIMONY P L O r I N U S. Died A. D. 270. The laft of our philofophers (hall be this celebrated Platonift, of Lycopolis in Egypt. He compares the foul of man, in his fallen ft a re, to a cinder, out of which the heavenly fire is cxuu- guifhed. The following fentiments are exceedingly beautiful, but the reader will recollect our having met with the fir ft idea before, in facrcd writ. " As the fun cannot be difcerncd but by its own beams, fo G(d cannot be known but by his own light: and, as the eye cannot fee the fun, but by receiving its image, fo man cannot know God but by receiv- ing his." It is reported that when this philofopher was in the article of death, he laid, " I am now endeavouring to rejoin the divine part of the univerfe'' alluding to the Pantheiftic do&riiK-, fince adopted by our cele- brated poet : " All arc but parts of one ftupcndous whole, " \Vhofc body nature is, and God the foul *." We (hall now turn from the Greeks and Romans, to enquire it any traces of the oocttinc of divine in- * I'or E , fiucnce? OF THE tGYPTIANS. 165 fluences can be found among the eaftern, and other nations of great antiquity. C l-I A L D E A N S. The Chaldeans claim, and with reafon, the higheft antiquity for their religious traditions-, and their ora- cles fay, " The human foul, which has nothing mor- tal within her, will affectionately embrace God :md be wholly INEBRIATED WITH GOD *:" which laft phrafe is explained very rationally by Pfcllus to mean " filled with a fuperior light and illumination, and (as it were) tranfported out of herfelf }-." EGYPTIANS. For this article we mult be indebted to yamblicus t who in the fourth century of th.e Chriftian re/a tra- velled in thofe parts, to collect what fragments he c;,>uld meet with of the ancient philolbphy and theolo- gy. The following paflages are from his writings \. " It is impofliblc to difcourfe [aright] of the gods without their aid ; much Icfs e.m we perform divine VC 1 , p. l66 THE TESTIMONY works without them. The human race is mean and \vcak ; fees but a final 1 way, and is, natuiY.llv pof!'. ! i: ;d of nothingncfs. There is but one remedy lor its in- herent error, confufion, and inconftancy, to admit as much of the divine light as poiTiblv." " G,d is idl ; can do all; hath filled all things with himkif ; and he alone is worthy of regard, di^- nitr, praik', and divine honour. Human nature is deformed, of no account, and a mere trifle compared \vith the divinity." u \Vc cannot fpeak rightly of the divine mind, unl-.-fs we are ILLU.MIN ATKD i;v HIS LIGHT. For the divine mind is the fountain oi light, as well as of goodnefs." PER S I A N 5. Dr. IJ)-ile gives the follv/. ir.g excellent prayer, from the n.uoducti >n to an ai.ti.'nt Puiiuin book, e.J- kd >AD OI'.K. '' Cv LJOC, hNMGin ,.\ !,iv \\c:\ t ; I am pr-or,c:i- ric'n iiv. 1 a'ii taii'.n inu> a o-riKr ot (-b!c..i lt^ r , ; 'id furk into n, inV'eiulV eviK b\ vie - ; j'r.'e my iK.ii't from in puiitv, ;md ii;nci me in thy \v; \ . Remove e\u (ai hum m , ;mu iRRAUJA'iE .ny l-,eau and Coun- tenance vviili r <\\ Ln.ii i. I .ft not vice gaintlieai- cendant over ii:} iuuiy ; biu lead me by the hand, O my OF THE PERSIAN'S. 167 my Creator. Wean my heart from avarice and ambi- tion ; aflilt me by thy favour and beneficence. I have dirt myfelf in the way of thy religion, rind broke off all my dependance on the creature. 1 will truft in thee, O thou molt ju ft !" 1'V.her HcrbJ.ot * a lib cites fome pafiages from their books, equally ftriking and pertinent to our fub- CADHA fays " When a man begins to learn and to taite the truths of God, and the internal life, h^ only labours to recollect and examine his heart; but when he is farther advanced and more inftructed in the fcience, ( vc:;) his own heart is a veil that hinders him f, om kerne:. The ear that is always attentive to God, never hears a voice that fpeaks not of him. The eye that is difpofed to receive his li'jjit, views not the kaft atom, but as a mirror to reprJent its A-///'. 7i tv.7. This friend is God, whom we cannot dilpoie of as we pleJe, when we have once loft him by the bad ufe of our liberty ; nor can we any more recover his favour by cur own !l length, when de- prived of it by our own f.;u!t." 1-Iii'i -.t add."efii:-g the Deity u The man never dies, C) God, v.ho lives but for tl.ee! A thoufand times lu-npy he, then, who is animated bv tiiy ; ; pi- 7 n j it A./ 168 THE TESTIMONY ARABIANS. LOCKMAN the Wife, an eminent eaflcrn philofo- phcr, an Ethiopian Have, celebrated in the Koran for his piety and wildom, is funpofed to have been cotcm- porary with Dav'id, and by i'bmc authors believed to have been the original Efop. It is faid a viiion of angels once appeared to tell him, God had appointed him a monarch, and his vicegerent on earth. LoJ;mnn replied, " If it is by an abfolute command of God, that I am to become fiich an one as you fay, his will be done in all things ; and I hope, if this fhould happen, that he will beftow on me all the CRACK neceflary for enabling me to execute his commands faithfully ; however, if he would give me the liberty to chufe my condition of lit".-, I had rather continue in my prefent ft ate, and be kept from oftVndinj; him." This anfwcr, it is f:io, fo well pica fid the Deitv, that he beftowed on Lsckm:m an additional and ex- deree of wi:duin *. CHINES E. This nation pretL-r.ds to incredible aniiquity ; and prodigious relations have been given by the Jefuit * iWt's Korin, p. 716. mif Or THE LHI-.'Ii-L. I''-'' 1 ) n.iihe>;:anes of their progrefs in the fcicnc.s, and the umiiarity of their religion to Cnriftianlty. Aft.r makin'i all ncceflary abatements, however, f,r the channel through which our information comes, the fe-howinj; paiTagcs evince that amidft all their idjlatry and luperfimon, they ilill retain fume ideas of the neceility of cihir.e influences. In one of their origin*! book?, called CHU-KIVG, it is laid, " What is called reafon, is properly an at- tiibute of TIES, or the lupreme (Jod. The tal; :'..- and lights whicii he communicates to men, are .:. p;;ih cipation of that reafon. \\hat is called rc^jm \\\ T;-."n, is in man vi'-'tuc ; and when he reduces it ii;:.> practice, it is called j:jilce. Our ciun K.-.7.', and the; corruption of the heart, very often uarker.s this rea- fon ; when it is- once ob feu red, the virtue oi thee hc.'rf is p.iixtd and adulterated." 1 " Ti ::;; tierces into tl'.c bottom of the heart, as light into a d. irk. room. V\~e iruitl endea\'om to correipor.d to his lights, as a inu- lical in:r:ument perfect! v tuned. \Ve mull u:i:le :uMelve.s to him, as two pieces of marble that fee;n but or.e. ^^'e muil receive from his hu.ul, !o Ijjn ;.s he ^pi,;-. it. lie EM.K,!-: n- N,s us ttuitinu 1 .!!}' ; bu: bv v,ur dilorderly pailions v/e inut up the enj'aiice L.! ;_:r fouls.'' Pne ; o:>k T.v/.'-, \vrotc by CONFUCIUS, fpe.J.v '.'.liii:,.. v c f t-iat p;'nv.;t:vc ii '1 itv, v hieh the foul rece IJO THE TESTIMONY heaven alone can render to it by its internal irradla- thus and influences *." // / A r D O O S. Notwithflanding the introduction of Mahometanifm in the eleventh century, paganifm is flill the.- general religion of the Eait Indies divided however into a variety of feels, fome of which, in refpect of iuper- fHtion and will worfilip, exceed all other nations upon earth. It is an awful truth, that men will do any thing but what God enjoins: yui they \vi!l do a thoafand things mere than he commands, rather than yield a fimple obedience to his will. Thij we fev evidenced in the devotees of all f.ilie rcligioj-.s j wh > renounce nil the enjoyments of the prelent life, hov..'ver inno- cent, and fubject them ill ves to voluntary mortifica- tions much feverer than any of the precepts oi" C.'hrif- iianiry, ruiher than obey thofe precepts. I lie devo- tions, houxvcr, of Roman or ealh'rn i.iir.ts, mull ail yield to th^f.- C'.f the Hindoos, who will frequently throw then-.fci \\s under the chariot wheels of their idols, and firVer theiT.'.Vlves to be cnifhed to death ; and v/e are iiliarcd of an inilance of the fat'.ier of a r.erous fami'v, who d/\ oted l.im'lir" to the flames, OF THK H IN DOC". 1JI lv.it a few years fince, in hope* of reftoring the healtli of his atilictcd family, by appeah;;.:; the angry deity :v . The Hindoos (or Gentoos a> Coine call them) arc in ireiieral worfhippcrsof Brd'j^a, whom they coah- ekr as the fupremeGod; befuie whom they ::ckno\v- LJ^c a IccoivJi'.ry deity, or mediator, called /'',Y'''.V, (.'; ^'cc'jbnn] whom they iuppoHj to ii:tve been iru'rj tiiun onc-j incarnate. This is conjjctured by manv to be rhe remnant oi I.^ne very early traditions (f t;:e Mci'iiah. u Tlie votaries of /'.v/.'/;;;/ preter.d t'nac thtir (u,d ILLUMIN-A-I-C j :h : f;Lil> of liis favourite 1'iieir prici: 1 a.re cailf-l Brc-^f.:. 'I'hey have fu:ir SiiA r >'M-.;is, cr laws, v. hich they call / ..'.<;. Thefo fjrr.i tlieir Hible, and arc held in inconceivable rever- ence. 'i'hey arc written in Sanfcritj wliich is a Lin- giK.'j* peculiar to tiieir literati, and they are cited on ail occaiioiis by tlieni, as the Scriptures b/ the Ch.rit- ti:uiP. On thefe they have eighteen books of com- mentari'js, called P: r jran^ which allb are iludied by the lJrp.miri e . 1 he.e contain fonie good morals, but with t'r.ein r.otions d internal on: ri :^, nianv contra- dx : ; an..! ij'.confiirer.cies, and ixcjrnmend fonie v.rv pr'nlijat; ciiaraciers. lLi\v;\\::, " that tliere i, one great God -- that _ i i t., lie worfhipped a;-d Curved -, t';at the Coul is im- 172 THE TESTIMONY mortal ; that we all have finned ; and that fome atone- ment is ncccfiary ; arc truths commonly believed among them all *." La Croje cites from fome of their books the follow- ing -remarkable paffage. " The Supreme Being is iavihblc, incomprehenfible, immoveable, and without figure or outward form. No man hath feen him ; time hath not comprehended him ; his efience fills all things; and everything is derived from him. All power, all wii'Jom, all knowledge, all holinefs, and all tru:h, dwell in him. He is infinitely good, juft, and merciful. He hath created all, he preferves all, and delights to dwell among men, that he may conduct them to ctcr-nal happinefs, a happinefs which confifls in lo'.'ing and ferving him f." In the dialogues between K*'ijhna and Arjion in the MAHABBARAT ;};, (a Sanfcreet poem, fuppofed to be 4000 years old) we have a full explication of the nature of their devotion, the greater part of which confiding in u bodily worjfhip," truly " profitcth little-," but the following fhort extracts fufficiently {hew them to retain in the midit of their luperitition, fome idea of the devotion ot the heart. " The man who is happy in his heart, at reft in his mind, and ENLIGHTENED WITHIN, is a Yogcy^ Letter from the Rev. 7. Ti. Pij'.:ur, 1792. Part I. j 1 Hliluire :lc Chriftunifmc dts Ir.de',. (li.'.yc, l~i^.) \ S'vtuhcs of tb.c I.ii'tvr. f:c. ct" ihc Hindoos. 01 OF THE HINDOOS. or one devoted to God, of a godly fpirit, and obtain- eth the immaterial nature of Rrabm, the fupreme. " The Yo'^ey is as a lamp Handing in a place without wind, which waveth not He bcholdeth all tr.in.^ in the iupreme foul, and the fupi erne foul in all thing?." In the fame book, Arjoon thus addrefles the Deity : u Thou art the prime Creator ! Eternal God, thou art the iupreme ! By thee the univerfe was fpread abroad ! Thou art ^ayoo^ the God of th~ Wi;uis; ^^ JlCt -'i the God of Fire } /Orj;;/, the God of the Ocean," and fi> forth.. i-l,"/erence be unto thee; again and again rever- ence, O tr.:ju who art all in all ' Great is thy power, :.,.t tliv g'ory ! Thou art tb.e l-'ather ot all things , v, here fore I bow down, and with my body proflratJ en the ground, crave thy mercy. Lord Wf-r:hy t > be adored i bear with HIJ, as a i'acher w.t'.i ,! f.'i, a iri;::id \vi:h a friend, a lover widi the be-- '[ ':' J)Fi-.i-:: - a 1 '" a !e.:t of Ifinu'oo3 dillinguifhcd bo: l i from the .vorlliippcrs of Brahm, and ;.he follow- ers < f Mahommed. Ti:-.:r name in tlv.:r o\vn lan- i. r u..j : x-, ;i.s \v.]I as MI oir.-, i^npiies th.it i:iey are en- quires tor tr;r.h aiui wilil-im, aiid t:vy fle:n tu be ijrt of Gentil-j I'ui'itans or !)iile;;ters. Mr. //.'..'//., who has obliged the Kuropcan world ' SI-L- (.': !' i\ :). :: - : .i i-:-. \<;\i :r ., c :-. ::!. .._; -.'... El'. rdu-., \ul. 1. r;-f THE TESTIMONY with an account of thcfj extraordinary people, was prclent at their worfliip, which he defciihes as very ferious and folcmn. He heard a hymn chauntcd by a venerable old man, in praife of the unity, omnipre- fcncc, and omnipotence of the Deity. After this a younger minifter pronounced a kind of liturgy, in which the people, at certain periods, uttered their rc- fponfes. " They prayed (he fay?) againjl tempta- tion ; for GRACE To DO GOOD ; for the general good of mankind, f >r a particular blejjing to the Seeks, and for the f/f.-ty of thofe who, at that time, were on their travels." The fJrvice was concluded by ablef- f:ng from the a^ed prieft, and followed by a " friendly feaft," which clofcd the ceremonies of the day. AMERICAN INDIANS. We now turn to the new world. The pcoplino; of America is a very curious, and muth controvcited fub" cl. It appears to me, that this immenfe conii- n"r:t was peopled by very differLiit nations and at c'htant periods. ] r iom whatever commits they c'r.i- L-rated, h^wi'vcr, they fceni to h .ve carried with them, n->t Oi.l/ the f.rlf principles of natural religion, but f.;me tiaditio:,s i.if divinely iniiituted rites, parti- cularly ficrirkes ; and wherever the Icaft appearance OF THE AMERICAS INDIAN'S. 175 has been of piety and devotion, there have been fomc traces of the doclrinc of divine influences. " Lo ! the poor Indian, whole untutor'd mind " Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind ; " His foul proud fcience never taught to ft ray " Far as the iblar walk, or milky way ; u Yet fimple Nature to his hope has given, il Behind the cloud-tout hill an humbler heaven ; " Where flaves once more their native land behold, " No fiends torment, no Chriftians thirlt for gold *.'* The laft words bring to view the unhappy and much-injured natives of South- America, who have region to connect with the name of Chrijllan every thing deteftable and cruel. What can form a finer contrail to fuch depraved chrifHa.iicy than the follow- ing addrefs of a d) ing Mexican "j IMS ion ' " My fon, endeavour to hve exactly, pravin^ God continually to ASiiM'thee; thou art his property. He is thy Fa- tiic-r, and loves thee more than I do: rcpjfc in him thy thoughts, ana day and night direct thy h^hs to him -j /' The rcadv-r will t!;;nk for !i ; mfe!f, but I co-ifefs it feems to me more icriptuval and becominrj to atu invite fuch fentiments to God than nature; a:id to behave that J76 THE TESTIMONY that himfelf alone can infpirc fuch piety into the heart of an uninftruct-d heath' n. The account u.vcn of L':U- natives in North-Ame- rica is fuch as may fh..m? many chriiti.uis. Air. Bcatty^ a refpedlable miflionary to thefe Indians, in his account of a tour among ih >fe in th..- neighbour- hood of Penfvlvania = , relates, that beiivj; introduced to the king, or chief of the Delaware tribe, he aroic from his feat, and "took us (fays he) bv the hand, and gave thanks to the grea f Being above, the Crea- tor and Pixferver of all, th..t we had an opportunity of feeing each other in the wildernefs, and appeared very glad, and rejoiced on the occafion." '1 hefe are the nie.u we can favages ; the enlightened Europeans would have been afhamed of fuch an appearance of piety on a like occilion. After having introduced their million, and folicitcd leave to pveach the ::cl- pel among them, in their anfwer they declared, " thev believed there was a great God above, a:id dJircd to fei've h'm in the bell niani'.cr they couid ; t'r.cy thought of him :it their riling up, and their laving down, and hoped he would look upon them, and be kind to than, ai.d do them good." After this, they gave a lie-any welcome to the preaching of the gofpel , and in a fubfi. qucnt pait of this wo.k,l may have occafion to take fome n >tice of its furccfs. Whatever divines may think ot u.ch difpofitiont. of mind, .s above in- dicc.tv.d, 1 cannot umit h.eie obfervi;;g, that in a let- * iV..-;."_\'5 Journ..!, Lo:. ,;,:-. 1760. OF THL A-,:*flIC.\Ni INDIANS. 1JJ tcr fr.'.m the Chriftian I ! .J : ;:n3 u:idc.-r Mr. Braimrd's miniftry to the above Delaware chief and his bivihrcn, they fav, " v:c are very glad YOU have fuch good de- llre<;. Certainly tho Great Spirit above has given you thole d^lires *." ijat let me not be underftood to infmuate by any thii'.c; r.bovc advanced, that the gofp-1 is an unneccT- ia; y inltitution, or that men might have been Hived as well without it. We know by tacts, that it i? pof- fiblc for inhabitants toexirt in the colJcft and darlcefc countries of the north ; but (hall we therefore lay that, if it were pofnble, it would be ufelefs or infa- lutary to introduce among them the foLr influences of thefe milder regions? Surely not: neither is the gofpel lefs excellent becaufe, in fome few infcances, the Lord may pleafe to fhow his fovereignty, in fav- ing heathen Turners without an exprtfi difcovcry of it, * f-nt-f ! Journal, 0-95. THK TES'I [ MON V C H A P VII. TTsTI-VONlUS OK THE C [IRI.-^T I \N* F ATHEP. -, rL R ING THE FIVE 1-1K>T ChN IJEFGRE we cite thcie witndl" s, it inay IK r be im- pertinent to ll'.Uc \\hnt device of weight and autliority we ;ittach to their evidence, iir.ce this fubjcdt has oc- Cafioned violent dilpute.> ;imon^ the learned ; fonic having cx;;ltv.d them to alnioft cqiial authority with the infpired write; , while others have fa:;k them be- low the common ftandard offenfible and good men. In general, t":c old and orthodox divines Ipcak highly of their piety, Capacity, and learning, while many of the rue derns, particularly the Socinian?, c milder them, in all rcfpecls, contemptible. One oi thcie writer?, Dr. LnnnI:crnC) roundly afi'i ts that, " Thef^j lights of the chuich were, in g MKT..!, moll wretch.ed fana- tic?, as ignorant and childiih as th.ey were CIUL! '.'' \Vlien I (hall cite them diilinctly, I m:u- attempi briefly to appreciate their ixipec?n\^ character;, k<_,'.\i as to pi.tv a;i'.l learnirui; ; at prclent, I would 0:1!', obl.rve i n ,. >;,,/, that I couiider the::i as u'iie a:;d excellent men, \vho, aini.i the common fV.i;ll ; .es i't' human nature, ; r.d fomo peculiar ioibles to whin; 01- CLEMEN! f^f) they nii^ht. reipeclivcly be fubjcct, were well acq'jaint- cd with the efientials of Chriftianity, were very luffi- cient witnefics for its truth, and defjrvc the fulled credit as to their own experience of its excellency and power ; Ivcaufe here they could nut be miflakfn, and h..J no tcmptuti >n to deceive \ il;ch of them at lo.ift as b >re tiicir witncfs in the face of fuiYerin^s and death -> . C J.F.ME XT, Bifnop of Ro:r,c. ) i lurifhcd f.-c.Ri A. IX 65 to 83 f . '] :i:s C'ier.u-nt ;> !ap;x-f.J to have been the cempa- i:io:i i-: S:. i j a::'. ThiM nuic'i is certain, that: of ail t'.e ren;..ir.s cf l''e /.p -iV/i!r..l fuller?, no:ie weic fo hi -hly cili.xn'cd as this bifhop's firil epiiHj to the !.:.-, wh.c' p i \var ini.it. d ii; t!u f-.me volume with the NCW Tcfl.'.nK'ar, rv.d read jHibliciy in the chinch.-) u'.!.):'j: \vi::i .'. i :.i s exceli'.r.t itl'er, v:'it- ter. in th : r,:vr,e cf the church a: Ro.i.r. v.lureia he pr.-HJ d, ie^in, thu,: ISO THE TESTIMONY " The church of God, which fojourneth :;t Rome to the the church of God which fojourneth at Corinth, elect, fanclified by the will of God, through [elus Chrift our Lord, GRACE and peace from the almighty God, by Jefus Chrift, be multiplied unto you." After this apoftolical addrefs, he exhorts them to " Look ftedfaftly unto the blood of Chriil, and fee how precious his blood is in the fight of God ; which being filed for our falvation, hath obtained the GRACI; of REPENTANCE for all the world *." Speaking of the Ifraclitcs, he obf.'rve?, " They were all therefore greatly honoured, not tor their own fakes, nor for their own work-, nor tor the righteouf- ncfs which tivy themfelves wrought ; but through his will. And we allb being called by the fame will in Chrilr Jelus, are not juiliiieu by ourfelvc?, neither by our own wifdom, prudence, or piety, nor by the works which we have done in hounds of heart : but by that faith by v.hich the almighty God hath juftified all men f;o;n the beginning |- :" i. e. all \v'no have been juftified. " T'nis is the wiv, beloved in v.l::ch we m.iy fm-.i our Saviour, even J:lu> Ciiriir, tr.e high prietl of a!' our offerin::?, t'ne defend jr and helper c>f our weak- wets. l)y bim arc the eyes oi our hearts cjo his vvono 'ilul /.;;/- '.'' 'I he cpi'llc concludes ...::. : Cl 3T. 15ARNALAS. l3l li The en ACE of our Lord Jcfus Chrift be with vou, and with all that are any where called by GoJ through him : to whom be honour and glory, mi^.ht and m:;;cuv,', and eternal dominion, bv him [Jcilis. O.rifr] from everlafting to cverL'.lliing. Amen, ST. B A R N A P> A S. There ii alfo aa cpifil- afcribcd to the apofllc Bar- i;.,l\i-. It i>, indeed, diiUcult to receive an apoftoli- cal epiille, without rc-ceiving it as iufpircdj and there /ire fomc pafTages in this, which leem to forbid the idea ; i: ir was it ever received as a part of the New Tellanicnt. Its high antiquity \?, however, certain; .Kid, it not the work, ot the apufUe, it muft have been written near his time, t;om the quotations found of it in the ancient father^. From this (.--mile I fli.dl only c:te two fliort cx- traet?. u Befure that we believed in God, the habitation uf our hvart was - - a houle full of idolatry, 3. h.juie or d.vil?, iir.if.mich as v/hatevcr was contrary to God wa> done theieui : but havin-i- obtain-.-d rcnillion of our fin-, ur.d trading in the name of the l.o'd, we are become RF.NI-. WED, beinj, CRKATED A';MN, as it were from the be^iiinin.:. \\'heixrorc Gcd ;;u!y dwells in our houfe, tl...t i ; , in us. - - - - R '!>,;< I?2 THE TESTIMONY This is that fpi ritual temple which is built unto the Lord *." " Thou (halt not be bitter in thy command? unto thy fervants, left thou tear not that God, who is mafter both of you and them : tor he came not to call any with refpect of perfons ; but thofe whom the SPI- RIT HAD PREPARED -| ." ST. / G N A T 1 U S. Martyred A. D. 107. Ignatiu?, furnamcd THEOPHORUS, on? of thcnpo- ftolic fathers, was a difciple of the anofHe John, who is (aid to have ordained him bifliop of Antioch before the year 67, where he remained about lorry years, at the end of which he was acc'.ifed and co:iviemncd for his faith in Chriir, and boldneis in coni-, flin^ it. Being brought into the prdence of T/V//.AV, the Roman emperor, himie'f ir.Le;TOa;ated !,im u AV'liat a very devil art thou (laid he) thus to fit thyfelf to tranfgrcfs o'.ir command-, and to pciiu.Je others to do the fame to their own de'.iiuciion r' 1 Jgnat'.i-i anfwered u No (>nc ou^ht to call TUEC- I'HORUS Jevl', forafm,;ch as ; ; .il wicked fpirits are departed far from the iervaats ot God. liut if I * Soft 76 | .Scd 19. OF ST. IGNATIUS. loj caule 1 am hoftile to thofe evil fpirits, you call me wicked with refpcct to them, I confefs the charge ; for havin- Chriit the heavenly king within me, I dillolve all their fmre?. Tr.jj /,';. And who is THSOPHORUS - : /.;>/, ,.'///;. He who has Chriit in his bofom. Tr<7<. Do not we then appear to have the gods in our boi'j.iis who fight for us againft our enemies ? !>:. You mi (lake in calling the evil fpirits of the hea hen GODS. 1' or there is but one (Jed who made he iven and earth, and the fea, and all that is in them : and one Jefus Chriit, his only begotten Son, whole kingdom may I enjoy ! Tr: f>r it is written, " I \vlll dwell in ;: 1 walk in t'x"n. " ..;, iriitated by a fortitude and hcroifm, which in any O'.'K:' caule he would have admired, pronounced t 1 :'- fc-ntence " Forafmuch as Ignatius tias confeffed t'\'.t lie carries witr/in liinifelt him that \\-as crucified, v- e convriand '.!" '.'. he hj carried, bound bv 1 ld:eis, to P 2 the 184 THE TESTIMONY the great Rome, there to be thrown to the beads Kir the entertainment of the people." To reconcile this fentence, and the reft of Tra- jan's conduct towards the Chriftians, with his ac- knowledged character for julVicc and moderation, is not my department: but the fact furnifhes a ftriking proof that fomethinn; more than good difpofitions and moral fuafion is ncceflary to form the chriftian ; and trat they do not even prepare the mind for convcr- i;o;i, as many have pretended. Here is a pri;.cc oi" excellent difpofition and character there a preacher of" apriti.-lic manners and fimplicity but is Trajan therefore converted r No ; that magnanimity which chriftianity fo eminently infpires, enrages him, inftead of attracting his admiration and applaufe. Ignatius iupportcdhis chriftian heroifm to the end, and perhaps thirfted too much for martyrdom. " \Vhen the holy martyr heard this fentcnce (fay the relatois of l;is fufFerings) he exclaimed with joy, " I thank thcr, () Loul, that tliou hail vouchfafed to ho- nour me with a pe-rfecl love toward thce ; and haft caufed me to be put into iron b.)nds with thvapoith i'aul." Upon this he was lent t ) Rom:', according to his fentciice : on the paflage, however, he found m opportunity to write and for\vard a Utter to th: ch'.trch there, to prepare them to acqu'r.fce in h:s fuf- terin^s, ar,d aiiiil him with their prayers. Thisepiltle is directed to them who arc " b:-loved and ILLUMINATED through the \vi!I .... r.iv.l hi- F ST. POLYCARP. I&5 led with the GRACE of God." To them he fays, " Pray for me, trut God would give me both ?n- ivard and outward ftrength ; that I may not only be called a chriitian, but be found one." Speaking of his approaching martyrdom, he fays, u Now I begin to be a difciple : nor {hall any thing viiible or mviiible move me, fo that I may but attain to Chrifr Jei'us. Let lire and the crois ; let the com- panies of wild beafts ; let breaking of bones, and tearing of limbs ; let the grinding to pieces of the whole frame, and all the cruel torments of the devil come upon me j only let me enjoy Jefus Chrift *." ST. POL T C A R P. Martyred A. D. 167 f, About the time of the death of Ignatius, POLV :ARI', bilhop of Smyrna, fuppofed to be the fam referred to by St. John , wrote a:i epiiilc to ih church of the Phllipiuns, which, as f >mc otl-.cr pri niitivecpiitulary wiitin^s, was cccaiiun.iliy read pub lic! v in thcchuiche-. f : , r B-(ho r ;-.,:, ,-: JC , S P lycirp's ',,' '; L-..1 1 IU.L t^I^wcJ tiic couunon x.cu.j l86 THE TESTIMONY He begins this epiftle in the true fpirit of a martyr, by calling the bonds of the faints " the diadems * (or ornamental brat elets, zs fomc chufe to render the word) of fuch as arc truly chofen by God and our Loid." The chief thing that merits our attention in thi-i epif- tle, is the truly chriftun manner in v.hich he fpeaks of th.: prcfbytcr I'atcns, who had feparatcd from the church, and erred from the faith. " I am (fays he) exceedingly forry both for him, and for his wife; to whom may God grant true repentance : Be ye alf<> moderate on this occafion ; and look, not upon them as enemies, but call them back as fufKring anil crrin r members, that ye may lave your whde body ;." How different tlvs from the co^uucl of the Church to heretics in th: fc'/::v,vin^ a^';- ' Near the clofe of this epiille he add- " Now th? God and Father of our Lord ] . f.is Chrii*, a;id he hirnfeif, our cverlailing High-pried, th .- Son c.f Ciod, even J efus Chrifl l:;i!d jOU up in faith and in truth, and in all rnceknefs and lenity, in patience arid long- i'ufferin^ in forbearance and chaftity : and grant un:,> you a lot and portion among his faints ;|." \Vhcn this good man was taken before the pro- confu!, he was pcr;uaded to reproach Lhriit, aiu! fave his life ; but he nobly rep.icd, kt Lighty and lix years have I ferved Chriir, and he has rrevjr Wi'ongcd Phil. Scut, .'.L I "-frt. xii. me- OF ST. POL V CARP. 187 in.', hnw then can I blafj-he.ino my King and Sa- viour W :,i th;s n-.rrvr \v\s brought to the Hake, they fix re.'., :v nfi:.:!, to n.ui hi;n to it ; but lie f.ud, " Let me done AS I . in : f bi he who has :M'VJ;I mo flrcr^th to come to the fnv, v:ili uiio ciuu-lc me to !t .;vJ un- imxo.l in t'i" pi'i-) v. ithc-Uw )o.ir i.curin^ me by nails. :> Part nf 'iU laft prayer, at his cljac'i, was as follows u O L.jfcl (roJ Almi^htv, the Fatlic ;.f thy wcll- b.-ljved and blcfTcd Son J<. ins Chrift, by whom we Ir.U'e recjivod the knovvl-Jgc ot t'n\icli, the Ood of an^J.s and principalities, and ot every crcacure, and i-lpc-ji.'.;!}' of all the ;u!t '.\ho live in thv preicnce ! I bku tiiL'e, ih.u t'v.jj haft coanr-.d me \vorir, y cf this d.. 1 / and tins hour, t ) ixceive my portion in C',<* number of thy iu.irtyrs : \\iieiefore, I prailc thje, I bid", thee, I glority tiv.,-, by the e:ern:tl and ccLitial 1 I:./'i-pr.'-fi j'Jus Lbr:!l, tl'.y beloved Son ; tlifouo-h - O \vaon, with him, in the Holy Spirit, be ^iory to ih.e., both mw and for ev.r. Amen*'' * Marty. PuS-c. c r V. x ; v- 7 '0 5 T I .V iSS THE TESTIMONY- JUSTIN M ART Y R. Martyred about A. IX 165. This J:tfiin was a native of Neapolis, in Palcftinc, the ion r,f Prifcu?, and grandfon ot Bacchius, a Gre- cian bv birth and leli-ion, At an early ace lie com- \D J C3 menced philofopher, and was fucccflivcly pupil to a Stoic, a Peripatetic, a Pythagorean, and a Platonift. At length, wearied with the vanity or" thefe itudies, and much affected with the iuirerings and conftancy of" the Chriftians, he began to think favourably of them ; and, in this uiuation of rr.ind, he retired into a foli tar y place near I!;L- il\i. li .re he providentially met with a venerable old man, w!v, filtering into con- vcrfatioa with hi.n, fpalce lightly of Pythagoras and Plato, arid allured hi:n ihat Uiere was no true fcience amon:: the -/i.-.ii^K-ii.er.-, \vb.o neither knew Cjocl, nor were A'Di-io by the ll.u.y SJ-IRIT. He allb rea- foned of the immortality oi the loul, the reward of the righteous, and puniihmcnt c f the wicked. fuf- tin, beiii^; convinced by his reafoaings, enquired by wh>:t m, ;i:is he mi^ht farther attain the true know- ledge of Cjud. The a:;ed ftther referred him to the prophets, \vho were both more anuer.t, and better men than the philoinphers ; am! wbn, being m.| ired by the IK/iv Spirit, h.:u furet ;!d thi::. s to come, bv the accoir.plhhmcnt ol vvhicii, particularly with reip.ct to JF JUgies f *r our religion, and in the end, fealed the truth c,t it \viih hi> blood. The ieariicJ (JAI.K cb.argcs him with leaning too mueh io t'-,e i)ite;n fi nee adopted by Pelagiu^, and it is generall v ud.nitted, he ftrjngly tinclured Chrifti- rmity with Platonilin f. There are, however, fevc- ral patraties in his writings which fllewhis fentiments to have b- e:i fufliciently orthodox in the great leading truths of chriftianity; and that he poiieiied (as Mr. Milncr obierves) " the clearelt views of tiv^fpccial illumination, without winch no man will undcritand and leiiih real godliiiel-." That he acknowledged the docli'ine of original fin, II.- lays that J.ius Chriit " iub.-nittcd to be boru and crucified on account of the hum, in race, wh->, through Adam, full under fubjeclion to death, and the deceit of the ferpeat, irf.J^ tlie e\ il chai'JC- I 10,0 THE TESTIMONY able to every one on hi* own account*." And, when he tells us that " Clmit had no need of cir- cumciilon, becaufe b/ the will of the Father I-IE wa-. horn without fin f," it is flrongly implied, that he believed the rcit of mankind born /;/ it. Agree- able to this depraved ft ate of human nature lie tells us that the holy fcriptures are only to be under flood " by a mighty grace derived from G .d ^." I:i another of his work.^ he con p.ires ;.i~d d;fti;i- guifhes beLw: en our tirft and ftcond (i.e. our n.ituivl a.'ul fpintual) biith in tins maiir.er: " Though v. c have no choice (fays he) in our creation, yet in our regeneration we have ; for God perfuadcs only, and draws us gently in our regeneration, by co-operating freely with thoi'e rational powers he has bellowed upon us ." / 7? E A r .-P. U S. Born A.l). i 7. /.].i;-tyrc;l ^.rj, or 1l3. This celebrated Father was a Grcxl; b\- birth, nr.d probably born of chriflian parents. Me \v::s early in- firuftcd i-i [:hilofop y and l.umaii leaniir.g. la re- ligion he \va.-> iii c.iiivv-ly the difcij'/le ci i j apias and OF IREN'JEUS. Polvcarp, and fcnt by the latter to preach the gofpel in Gv,il. After being fevcral years a prefbyter of the church of Lyor.~, he was at length ord lined its biihop ; and, in the end, there fieri Heed to the cruel demon of i ; agan fuperlliuon, in one of the above pe- riods, when every Species of Cracky was exercif.'d upon the- poor devoted chriftian?, arid the fheetsof L; (.;.: repeatedly flowed \: ith the innocent b:ood of chriftians. Ircnaei;?, a> well as J :(lin, was tinctured with Pe- lasrian noiioiis o;; the luti.^ls oi' prcdcrtnntion and O w' ITLJ--.V! I ,I ; on oihv-.- puini. : , ho-./cvL-r, lie \vas a great champion of orthocloxyv and his five booLs againft herelics (ftill prcf.-rvid 'hi a L-iua traniu.don) are confiduix-d as fome of the moil precious remains or" antic n itv, and from theil- I (hall fuhjoin a few fhort extracts. Speaking <-f our nrd progenitor, he i'.-.yz " In Adam we loll the i;iia..re of (J> h wcie overcome by difobeJieiice, and made lubicct to im*." A. 'id in another place '1 he hu.ir.n r..ce were hnitten in the fir ft Adam, i:i who n it ii.ui trai.fgreiie'.i (-." In another p::rt of his work, (:v j .:k.in^ cf the bar- barous naMiiMi v.ho -iiid rcccr. .a chrifti.mity ; but hr.d not la'^'-ieM knowledge to p-enifc ar.u under- iland the fciip'ure.'. He obil-rve';, that " tlu v be- lieve i:; C'hrl;: JefuS wiihout p.' per and i.-k Jiuviiij; the dodtri:> of i'.iivatioii ii^'lit-.n on tb>- knirts b the Ho 7 7 *9 2 TflE TESTIMONY Holy Spirit ; and faithfully keeping up to anticnt tra- dition concerning one God the Creator, and his Son JJ'iiS CliiilL 'I'hofj who have received this {v.ith Witiiout (Injure, are barbarians, as to their manner of 1'^cuK.inj, compared with us ; but as to their fen- timents and bJiaviour, they are very wife, a:id very ag.eeable to Ciod, perfevering in the practice of juf- tice r.nd chnfviii >n, beinj: bedewed and rtfrefhed bv th: IK a\ enlv fountain of the water of" JirV which flows frum the belly | (A ChrilK His bodv wlinefieJ indeed t'r.e ::';;. ftiy tr.rtures vvb.ich he had luftained, heisij; o;-.c continued vv ,'imdand bruile, alto^elh-r coiUraJl.d, a. id no K-n^er retaining the iV,rm of :\ humaii cre.i; in ; in whc.m Chrill fuh x er:;:g vv:' >u/r.t fr rea.c in -.rv-. .!"-, confound! :g the adverfary, OF CLEMENT. 193 *nd fhewmg for the encouragement of the reft, that nothing is to be feared where the love of the Father is nothing painful where the glory ot Chrifl is ex- hibited.'' Among the other maitvrs moll d.ftin guiihed by their zeal and conftancy were Blandina (who feems to have emulated the Mother of the Maccabees*) Maturus, and Attains. It muft be fuppoled that at firft many were perfuaded to deny Chriil, but moft of thdc were recoveted by the conftancy of the faithful. " A fmJl number (."ays the writer) ftiil remained in apoftacy, but they were thofe who poflcfled not the leaji fpark of divine faith, or had the leaft acquaintance with the riches of Chrifl in their fouls, and had no tear of God before their eyes." CLEMENT uv ALEXANDRIA. Died A. D. 215. 1 his Clement was educ.ited in the ftcic philofophy at Alexandria, where he imbibed many crro.s e/f that feet, which he afterward intermingled with the chriftian iyftem, and in great meafure laid the fuiii- dation of Pelagianifni. Notwithftanding this, iu had the h:i;>piiK-f- :'.' fume- tinies to {tumble on the truth, at the c.\; v Jiicj c,/ his S confift- 194- THE TESTIMON'Y confiftency, as many other good men J ). Though he contends, that "faith is in our own power*," he alfo maintain?, (inconfiftent as theie proportions are) the neceflity of " efficacious grace for the produ&ion of nil moral good : |" and talks of the " infujlon of faith by God , ' which he calls " a divine thing ." This father is celebrated for his learning and elo- quence, which he commendably employed in defence of Christianity. Le Clerc de Septchenis, " Of the religion of the antient Greeks," quotes the following remarkable paffa^e, wherein he recommends Chi iftianity in terms borrowed from the heathen oracles. " O MYSTE- RIES truly farred ! O pure light ! at the light of torches the Vt'i! that covers God and Heaven falls off. 1 am holy, now that I am initiated ! It is the LORD himfelf who is the Hierophant \\. He fcts his leal upon the achpt^ whom he ILLUMINATES with his beams ; and whom, a c . a rccompence for his faith, he will recommend to the eternal love of his Father. Thefe arc the orgies of my jn-i/lcrics ' come ye and be received." This paflage is much more curious and important than it may appear to fomc readers. Uifhop VVarbur- * Strom. II. -} Strom. III. } Strom. JI. ton OF CLJIMENT. H)5 to;i fays, " Antiquity [that is, pagan antiquity] confi- dertd initiaii n into the myjtcr'iei as a deliverance trom a living death or vice, brutality, ami rnilcry, and the begitnii;^ of a ncvj life of reafun, virtue, and happi- n'.G. *." To fo:n: readers it may be neccfiary to ob- ferve, tlu.t bv the fi-:iL'r'ics^ are here meant certain cercmo/.ie:> peculiar to paganifm, coniifting of rites j'.tu\ L-n:biOi.;i.u:c, parti v tuperftitic,us, and, in Come cafe-, partly obkxne. When ar.y perion deiircd to be i>:;'.LiUtl ir.to thefe, he was directed to the perK>r;n- a.-iCe of certain f.tcnfices and ablution? initru now animated by the Holy Spirit, be- gan to be of God. Oi God it i^, of GV7, I lay, even all that we can do ; thence we live, thence we have ftrength, thence conceiving and afluming vi- gour, though as yet placed below, we know before- hand the veftiges of our future felicity." Within little more than two years after his conver- fion, Cyprian was chofen fir It prefbyter, and then bifhop of the church of Carthage, the latter much againlt his own apparent inclination' Ibis fee he filled till his death, with great reputation and dignity. In the latter refpecr, indeed, he has been charged with going fo far as to border, at leaft, on ecclefiaitical tvrannv. Mr. Mihur, who ("peaks very highly of his piety, candour, and moderation, in general, yet coa- fefl'es in fnme inftances, and in the latter part of his life, he difcovered " fume degree of impatience" that " the L.n'' and tliat he lup- portcd " the di^i.ity of the en.icopul character in .1 ftile OF CYPRIAtf, 199 flile of great magnificence * :" in other words, he was much too arbitrary and afluming , and it muft alfo be confelled, he was not a little tinctured with the fuperftition and credulity of his age. Thefe, however, were the blemiihes oi a great character, and ferve but as foils to his abilities and virtues ; and the chief ufe of meiuioning them may IIL- to caution the reader, not to be too much onvr.ded with the fame weaknelTes in fome moie modern infmnccs. Let it always be remembied, " I he beft of men are but men at the beft:" and that the church exhibits but one perfect example. During the bloody perf-.'cution under Decius, Cy- prian retired into a Hate of voluntary baniftiment, where, however, he did not neglect to advife and en- c.Hiraje the fuffering Chriftians by his writing* ; and immediately on its cefiuticin, he returned to fcule the affairs of his church, and re-co!U6t his flock, who were now " fcattered as iheep wit'".out a fiiepherd." So'iietime after this, a terrible pdtilence broke out at Carthage, and the heathens were fo much te;T:!iid, that they dared neither attend ihe iick, or bury the dead. Cyprian and his church h.ul now an opportunity of exhibiting the benevolent and tonnv- ing (pint of Chriftianity, which th^-y d.d, greatly to their own honour, and the contulu.n of their cnemic?. Apoth.er die.uiiul calamity fucceeded this : a [i.irry of '.. barians n\u!e inroads into the empire, anU captive THE TESTIMONY captive a number of Ciiriftiau minifters and others; Cyprian again exerted himlelf, and from the pjor af- flicied church of Carthage, collected nearly Sjol. fterling for their redemption. In the reign of Valerian, perfecution was again revived, and the Chriftians were reward ! f ;, all their benevolence a.id charity, with baniihment or death. Cyprian luffered with Ju fpirii of a true coa- feilbr, obtained the crown of glory, and was enrolled among the martyrs. N O 7 A T I A N. Flourifhed about A.D. 250. Novatian was a presbyter of the church of Rome, tc a man (lav* Mofhcim) of uncommon learning and eloquence * :" He was originally a Pagan philofo- pher, but converted to Chriftianity, and chiefly me- morable for the fchifm he formed in the Chriftian church ; from which he is fuppolld to have been the firit orthodox difiemer, no imputation being caft tither on his life or principle?, by his antagonifts. His pretence for fcparation \vas the laxnefs of d : fci- pline in the Chriftian church ; which, if it \vas cul- pable, his oppofite fe verity was certainly not Ids fo : * MoJ.cnr., Vol. J. Ch. . OF NO VAT I AN", 201 m refufmg to receive into his communion returning apofr.ar.es, however penitent; and counting fccond marriages as ad niter}'. Though this man excluded himfclf from the pale of the Catholic church, (fo called) on earth, there (ccins the molt fatisfaciory reafon to conclude, that lie \vas a member of the true "chu:ch of the fint-born in heaven;" ar.d as he i'ealed his fmcerity in death, there is no doubt but he wears a martyr's crown hi glory. His treatiie on the Trinitv, according to the Atha- J O r.aiiu;i 'ehenie, ;> allowed to be one of the moil regu- lar and correct among the ancients : and " under the article of the Holy Ghoit, (fays Mr. Aliiner*) he fpeaks very distinctly of him as the Author of rege- neration, the Pledge of the prornii" d inheritance, and, as it were, the hand-writing of eternal falvarion; "who makes us the temple of G'\l and iiis houfe, who intercede s t< >r u- ivii'h ^ . r ,un:>igs I'cbiJj cunnot be nitc>'ed, aclmg as our ;.dv c.ite and defender, dwelling in our bodies, and j,t\.'if\- :';;^ them tl.r immortality, licit is who lights agamlt the flelh, hence the flelh fights ag;'.in!r the Spirit : and he- goes on in the Ivft man- ir_-r to Ipeak of his holy and blelled operations in the faithful/ 1 Air. Mllicr adds, (and I adopt the remark a; equally pertinent to my purpofc, as to hi-) " The redder Wil! pardon this digreilien, if it be a digreilion, 202 THE TESTIMONY to fhew that the Spirit of God was not limited to one denomination, and to pave the way for that libe- ral and candid conftruclion of characljrs, which it will behove us to cultivate in the future fceius of this hiftory, while we trace the kincrdom of God through j O O a multiplicity of names, and d^vi lions of men." BASIL THE GREAT. Born A. D. 329. Died 378 or 9. This Bafil is commonly called the Great, to dif- tiniruifh him from fome other Fathers of the fame O name ; nor was the epithet u'mentcd, it zeal, piety, and eloquence can d.ferve it. This Father was the offspring of noble and wealthy parents ; but if honour can come by birth, he cl. i ived mo-e from their virtues and piety, and the fufL/ings of his earlier anceftors, who had fuftjiined the 1 >{"-, of all things for ChnhVs l";ike, Uird were loinc of them crowned with martyrdom ; ,m !v>nor to whiL.ii. -jut Balil himfjlf was very near, as appears by the loll ow- ing narrative, taken fro.n the eulogium of hii friend and contemporary Gregory Na-zianzen. In 'lens, the Arian emp.jor, having attempted in vain by other means to nuke J;afil a convert to his party, MvdeJhiS) his pr;efect, ordered hi.n to be brought before him, a.'vl ;ifu;r lome previou c - con- OF BASIL. 203 verfation, threatened his non-compliance \vith the religion of the court, with confiscation, banifhmcnr, or death. "If you lave any thing clfe to threaten me \vuh (fays J].'.!.i) d- it ; for all that you have yet Lid, not at all aivccts me." " How lor" f.iJ the jT () vernor. " Ik-catifc (replied the bifhop) that man is not ex pofe d to profcnj-tiun^, nor to the iofs or goods, who has noi.iing to lofe , unlefs you want this tatter- ed, wot n -out garment which I wear; or thefe few books which are ail my riches. As for banifhment, I don't kn >w what it is, who am not confined to any place, and have all the earth beiore me ; or rather, know that all the eai -;h belongs to God, and that I am a lliv.p.jor and traveller upon it. What can tor- ments do to me, who have hardly any body, and that nlmoft without any fiefh ? As to the left, death wili bo a favor to me ; I fhJl by that be the more with Clod, for whom I live and fulfil my mini dry. \\ hat do I lay ? the greateft part of me is already dead, and n.y foul has lonj; iince taken her flight to- waiels God, a> if (he IT ad broken her chains." In the iffue of this converfation, the governor was t.iirlv conquered, and afterwards confelled to the em- peror, that neither threats nor flatteries had any effect upon him. The emperor, bein^ enraged, fen:.e:\ced him to banifhment ; which punifhment, however, ho \\~as afrerwards induced by lome providential circum- flanct;-, to rcrr.ir, ai.d our hifhop died in peace with Stej-.hen > lall vvrd- in his mouth, " into thine hands, O Lord, i commend my (pint.'' In 204 THE TESTIMONY In his 1 3th Homily, he fays " Re^nei- t iilcn t as the word imports, is the beginning of a new life ; therefore, he that begins a new life muft put an end to the former The Lord, the civcr of life, hath inftituted bapttfm^ a repreiematimi of both life and death : the water overflowing, as an image of death j the Spirit animating, as an earneft of life. Thus we fee how the water and the Spirit are united The water exhibits an image of death, receiving the body as into a fepul- chre : the Spirit renews the foul, and we rife from a death of fin into a ncwncfs of life. This is to be bom from al'cve, of water and tic Spirit *." This paflage feems to determine the fenfe in which the antients fometimcs ufed the term regeneration for baptifm, I mean figuratively. Not that they believed the new birth to confift merely in the outward rite; but, viewing the water as reprefentative of the puri- fying effects of the Holy Spirit, they confidered bap- tifm as a figurative regeneration^ and regeneration as z fpiritual baptifm. So in the other facramcnt, we call the bread Chuffs body; and, by a flill ftronger figure, we call the cup his blood. To which may be added, that in the primitive times the baptifm of adults was fomctimes attended with an extraordinary eftu- fion of the Holy Spirit, as \v.: find in the Acts of the Apoftles, and among the Fathers (St. Cyprian for inftance) which g.wc occafion to the confounding * Sc.Jolmiii. 3. Eng.Mar,'. things OF CHR.VS03TOME, 2O5 things perfectly ditlinct in themfelve?, th :ii >; h often united Lhe baptitin of water and ot the ilo;y Spirir. C H R TS S TO ME, Born about 354.. Died A. D. 407. St. John C'Mryf v \oiiic ( >r C ;/, as that liam,- li'.-nin'-') ^.'.is a Syria:!, honi ot pare ts who had been previously c inv. tjd to the C'iriflian fa.ti;. Hi* latlier he.-J ci)n!;der..b!i; rank. i;i thu army; but dying whilft he was in his cradle, let: the care ot' ''an to his mother, a bloom; n:;- v. :do\v of t \ven :/. She devoted ail her attention n. his education, provided him with the abivit: tulurs, and in a fliort ti.ne he became one or ihc moft learned, eloq lent, and ,ic- co-npiiihed younj men of his :\ze. V\ hilc he fix- quented the bar tor Inuinels, ar.d the thcatic tor amufemcnt, he bocaine acquainted \\r.h on-. /'/.,". fa;i cxcJlent m.in, but not the St. !;.;f;l above ci^J) who pic;i'..\i !-i)mi- o;ih:s comcience L!U ii'ulh and pu- rity ot .lie C 11 .! '.il'an jelu .,i;i, wit'i l"i:ch t fleet, tiia: he iu^n for().)k bn'Ji tlie bar a:;d t 1 e theatre; and, iunniiig ,t tani.er aci;uaintancj \vnh Aleiiiiii^, h;:ii.ii> i'^ A ,:.;., ch, -''. ;r v-:\v yc ir- j-,:ol)..:' -n, h.ev,-.;- ;).,,- 206 THE TESTIMONY took orders, and fignalized himfelf as the firft orator among all the Chriitian Fatheis. A writer, who always dipped his pen in gall when he wrote of bifliops, gives him the following charac- ter, " Chryfoftome was an eloquent dcclaimer, a four moralij}, a patron of fupcrjtition^ and a zealous patron of ecclefiajlical piwer. His fine talents, his iblitary life, his generous distribution of the reve- nues ot his fee, his fevcrc diicipline among his clergy, and above all, his vehement and pointed fermons againit vices of all kinds, efpecially thofe of the fair fex, raifed him many cnemie>, at the head of whom was the emprefs Eitdoxui *." The favourable fide of this character may fairly be taken without any abatement, when we confider from \vhofe pen it comes ; and as to the other, if Chyiof- tome was tinctured with fuperftition and clerical arr.- bition, they are blemifhes from which very few eccle- fiaftics were wholly exempt in tliat age, whatever may be the cafe at prclcnt. The fentiments of this father are unqueftionably in favour of the doctrine ot divine influences ; though in fome instances, he has been charged with leaning too much to the fide of tree-will, Explaining the difference between the natural and fpiritual man, as ftated by St. Paul, he lays u A NATURAL man is he who lives in (or by) the flcfh, and hath not his mind as yet enlightitiedby the Spirit ; 'r s'i Hiilory of but OF AUGU:.T1NL. 207 t'-jt only hath that innate* human underftanding, \vith which the Creator hath endued the minds of all men." On the cr.her hand, " the SPIRITUAL man is he who livcth bv the Spirit, having his mind cn- 1'^htcnfd by him ; luvinj; not only an innate human und-vflandinj; ; but farther a ipintiuil underftandin^ grao )ufly licit') wed on him, with .vhich the holy Spi- fit endues the minds of believers } ." AUG US TINE. Barn A.D, 355. Died 43-. This Saint was an.uive of 'i\'._ r ;.u-. in Af;.c.\, !.-!* father, a f Idier, n.im \1 Pat- i /v:, l.is moth.-r t'.ie pious AI')-:ic i. It is necvlliirv to obferve, that his e.irly li!e wa-; ft'-on^'y taintid with hercfy a;id \ ice. 'I h pvrnici' u< fn^rs of the Manachees, and the gr ilk-It vices to which youth are fubjeJl. This we learn tmrn Kis cwn ci>:f\JJto>i^ \\-hich may be confi- derrd as <\ diary of his expi'rience, and from which the loil jwing account is extracted. H s cnnv s lv_r.in in childhood with lyins, and a,t. n' p?tty thievery friim his parent?. Thefe were ded I)}- ii i ili par ion and lewdncfs, in which he i:oniefles very cummal cxcelks : at the fume time he T 2 adores .iC'S THK TESTIMONY .-.dorcs the red mini iii; hand of God, which frequent- ly checked his impetuolity in lin, and kept him from the htnl extremes, to whicii his own depravity wouid have ur^ed him. He particularly acknowledges that he had at that J D tiine, even f-.-pTi his infancy, very forcible com icti.->ns oi the uar.gcr of his iLue, which fometimes compel- led him to ihe pei ;orm;mce ot religious duties, a;id ;};.,]* l/.n cry cut earneftly for mercy, and make many refoluiions o; n.fo;m. 1 his was particuhirly i he c:.:e Linder a fit or lie-ends ; but alas ' (as is tuo often the aS,J his convictions wore offwiih his dii- cale, and he gradually returned to his former courfe. Another thin^ which Auguftine particularly no- tices, is the providence of God, in !uidm<.> him from pl.ice to place, and bringing him under the means of coi^-erhon, when nothing was farther from his O ihouglits. A variety of circumllances led to this happy event. His mind had been long agitated wiih the moft piin- ful anxiety. lie had pravcd for chaitiiy, but fe;ircd to life hi., beloved fins. He prayed Lurain ft ii's lulls, but he r.ither \vifhed them fatiati:d tli.in extinguifhed. In this ftnte of mind he took up a book which con- tained St. Paul's Kpinles, and accidentally opened upon the following p;.ll.i r r e u Let us \\-\\k h'>ne(lly as in the d;;y, not in rioting and drunkeiinefs, not in chambering and wanionnefs, not in ft rife and envy- ing j but put ye on the Lord Jelus Chnfl, and make no OF AUGUSTINE. 209 no provifion for the flefh, to fulfil the lufts there- of*." Having read thus far he Hopped, and imme- diatelv, as if a light from heaven had darted into his foul, his diftrcfles fled, his doubts vanifhed, and peace took poiTeflion of his breaft. Having clofed the book, he ran to his friend ///)/> /MJ, and related to him the circumftance. Upon this, it appeared that the lame grace which had wrought thus powerfully on the one, had been fec.etly working en the other. Aly- piu<-, induced by this difcovery, opened to him his own experience, and defining to fee the pailage, read the following words with an application to himfelf cc Him that is weak in the faiih receive." Nothing, I believe, has Inch a powerful tendency to unite our heart , .1- an unexpected difcovery of fimilar feelings and experience. I he two friends doubled from this time their attachment. I hey went immediately to Monica^ the pious mother of Aii.;ullme, uho greatly recced at the ne v\ <, and joined ,\uh them in pr.uling that (joJ, u v, hj is ub.e to do for us, more than we can .n'k or t'unk." At his c >:;verf;on, he was about thir\v years of t vjc, foon ait' r hv audicted hilii li to 'he mh'iltry, and was ordained bifoop <1 Hi'-^o. lie w.;s an accep- table pre c'ler, but a in m. ;,f t i! v\'i it ;', jia.'tx'.'i ,r!y a^aintr the ''el;-..i,.; -; ..,.' !;i-'\-.i.'> ..re c ;.: iJ_ r. d as -i tre.ituie < I ort-.^cloxy, p irttcul i !v e*a in. con- iruvei'ii.s relucting rrvc.: 2IO THE TESTIMONY It is perfectly unneceflary to enlarge this article, with paffages in favour of the doctrine of experimen- tal religion : yet I fubjoin the following, becaule it confirms the evidence already adduced, andjuftifies me in claiming the fuffrages of all the preceding Fa- thers. " We have fhewed you" (fays Auguftine to the Pelagians) u by invincible authorities, that the holy bifhops who lived before us, taught the fame faith which we maintain, and overthrow the arguments which you make ufe of, not only in their dilcourfcs, but in their writings alfo. We have fhewed you their opinion':, which are very particular and clear. ,... St. IRKMEUS, St. CYPRIAN, RHETICUS, OLYM- piu<;, St. HILARY, St. GREGORY, St. AMKRO-E, St. BASIL, St. JOHN CHRYSOSTOME, <5cc. with all thole who communicated with them, that is to fay, the WHOLE CHURCH *." Farther to prove the juftice of this afilrtion, and that it was not a mere flourifh of Augurtine'?, St. ILROME, his contemporary, addrcfles him not as the founder, as fome have imce pretended he w.ts Ivit as a principal rcjhrcr of the d iclruv.'S of grace ct Thou art fa iiiius t ; iro;'e,h tiic worl i (I \ ferom) the ortho- dox revere t'nee as the REi5riL;j;:it of the A v TIE NT FAI i M ;." Her. this article would properly conclude, but that O - ': "' '-'.. ,'- Ht. IVcJ \\.. I p. 174. 1 OF AUOUSTIN'E. Ill a late writer has attacked the- character of this wit- mfs in inch a manner, that, it his charges were jufl, his fuffrai;e could aJd liule weight to any t\u;fr. " Augulline (lays he) was a crafty irritated ir.-in, hemnud in, difappointcd and fulled by able oppo- nent?. Pa'llon for power was his ruling diipolition, after hi s fenfual appetites had fpent their ijrce in de- baucl-iery '." Li addition to this, we arc told fro;n Al. Pitit (a French phyftcian, whole c.;iu;n:iy had been pretty well lorgotten) that he was a " hard dtlt.ker-" and, it thi>, were not enoughj our author, in another work, ftiles him a u bitter and blosjy fa- ti at i : f." Tiu:: 1 , as to l--arninu;, he is not only ic- prelent. d a> a great du -c- at Ichool, which many a ^"cd Ic-'.olar h e,-n, hut ahenvards as a deal'-r in u ic/aps ol" l-.i: in;;'' and that u he uaderftood nei- ther (/reek nor Hi; TI-V/ .;." To he.Mii \/ith his ^t inking: this is tlie only arti- tide n wliich p;-:oi is oil" r.-d, and that prj^f is de- riv. d irn.'M ; rum h:s o.-/,i \vord ^, in th.- f. iilowin.r pall.. .:f. l - I)rur,. laid, aii-1 L ha\ .-^ no de- lire to dnpute or ev;t.ie it, is the i;c^d~iuh akci drnik- 212 TF-fE TESTIMONY ing ; but what docs this prove r That he was a con- firmed drunkard ? Juft the contrary ; for fuch per- fons foon conquer this weakneis. I appeal to com- mon obfcrvation, if perfons unuled to liquor, arc not the molt lubjeet to this inconvenience. Give the words their utmofl force then, and the evidence (hinds thus Auflin abhorred drunkennefs he could bear but little liquor, and it at any ti'iie the company of a friend, or bodily infirmity, induced him to take a glafs of wine beyond his ulual flint, he felt it the fol- lowing day ; it difordered his head, and unfitted his mind for itudy or devotion. He therefore prays for prudence, that he may not only avoid inebriety itfelf, but the mot! diltant approach the fmalkft refem- blance to it. I his is the evidence on which he is affirmed to be a hard drinker, which is juft as con- clufive as if, bccauie a man was anxious to avoid every temptation and encitement to IcwdnelV, we ibould inter him to be a confirmed debauchee. As to the other charges, imce no Ijccific pioof is offered, I fujjpole it \\ill be judged quite lufficient to contraft the above character with that ft two other writers of the hilt mtuhgence and lelpi (Stability, and who can be under no luipicion of partiality I mean Air. G/7>/>c?z and Dr. Ltn\ t )^>\ The torn tr lavs u 'l IK- y-.uih of Augufline ln;d been Ih.iiud I y n ...n\ V:ces and mors, \\Lch, he (o inuem.' ully ci nl- 1 es , i i.r, I run the i, :/v.<;./ tj I is i'.n\'Lij.'*n I'j tint of /. /.. /,';(, /A, the n,:a:iiLii- i.t the- bi- ihop OF AUGl'STIVE. fhop of Hippo were ITRK and AUSTF.RI-: ; and the moil conlp cuou.i ot his virtue^, was ardent zeal agamft heietics of every denomination "." He adds, " Aecoidm.r to the judgment of the mod impartial c:i:ic-, the fuperticial learning of Auguftine was confined to the Latin language ; and his it vie, though f.KTk -tin :s a:;:;nat;:d by the cliMpence of p.iiuon, is uia.;:!y cn.'udjd b} 1 fa He and ;. riveted rhetoric, ljut he p )ii'j|'lvd a //j>:^, . a' t > <./;//}, and ur^Hmentatl'L'e niiiid ; };e boldly fou .'led i!u; dark alv. ( s ot gracv, prcdelti- n.uio: 1 , t 'X-. \vi.i, and original lin ; and the njid Ivf- te;n of Chrii'ii.uitLy winch he f)rni(d, or r t '/Li'iJ, lias been ci'ite;\ained vvii'n p'lV.lic upplaule, and fecret re- ludance, by the Latin cnarch t." But Dr. I.ardncr, who was a ftill better jnd^e, calk !ii;n " A wit of the firlt o'Jer, and a principal glory ot the cmnrry ot Ai^ea |.," and u e([ lal to Jerome, it not in lea-.niii^, a- tew of the I'.iihers were, " yet ir. L r o>,d icnic.'' -:-I^ :'.ili) |o tar differs from AL. Gibbon, and the cr'uie-. he retei's to, ;;> to afl'-rr, he wa- u better acquainted v.'iih Greelv than is comnionl}- fu^polcd ^." MACARIUS, >U THE TESTIMONY M A C y/ R I V S. Flourifhed in the fourth Century. This " Egyptian monk," according to Mofheim, ic undoubtedly dek'rves the in 11 rank among the practi- cal writers oi this time, as his works liMplaycJ (Conic few things exccpted) the b:i_htelt and m >tl Lively portraiture of Amctity anJ v.;i it. *. ' '1'hc u few things" here accept, d, acc.>rdi,,g to J//L-A/. ; '>in the c'c^l'.: >it w.'.iclj II >m;iy I luve borrowed me iol- lo;\-';'^ I'Xtra t. L .niparni.; the foul of a belL'vcr to a br :.!'. prc:v,r- C'.l f i h 1 r lunl).': d, M.iean;^ l.!\-, c- > . ,,e . i\eth ini' - J t:ic- t-ari-., fi -i the Snirit in the divine <_;ihs ; i^t itbe either thr i>;frt oi lu.ihn^, or of kno.vU'd^c*, or of illu Tiination . [the extraordinary 'j.ift^ c.f the primi- tive a o e-:J jcttloth flie never icit in : : 11 thi^, but Lccl.-f. Hiil Cent. IV. P-.. 2. -f Rc! ; .;. Lu.]/.l;.t:.a- OF MACARIU3. 215 goes on till flic attain at laft to the enjoyment at" a perfect communion with God himfelf : that is, to luch a love as is unchangeable and never-failing, and con- fequently, frees thole from anxiety and trouble that obtain it." He compares the Chriftian alib to " A child drelled up in the tuieft cloaths, and decked with the richdl pearls and jewels of a wealthy father. Let this child (lays he) be but hungry, and you'll fee him not to make any account at all of all his fineries and ornaments ; nay, nothing will iatisfy him but the bread of the m.itncr, fupplying him with milk for his fuf- tentation : juil fo it is with the fpiiitual gifts uf God." CHAP. THE TESTIMONY CHAP VIII. TESTIMONIES OF THE LATTER FATHER?, AND WRITERS OF THE MIDDLE AGEi *. IT is now well known, that the luminous portion of the (tarry heavens, denominated by aftronomcrs the Milky Jf^ay-) receives its peculiar luftrc from the ex- traordinary number of ftars by which it is illuminat- ed : fuch are the fir ft ages of Chriftianity. The church was then every where enlightened by the molt brilliant characters, and appears eminently glorious : afterward the ecdefinftical horizon prefents us with only here and there a twinkling luminary ; but then, it mult be confefled, they were more confpicuous, and fomc, which in the middle centuries fhone as ftars of the firft magnitude, in the fir ft or fecond would, per- haps, hardly have been noticed. /' U L G E A r Til S. Born about A. D. 468. Died about 533. Fulgentius was an African by birth, the c.'iild o! noble parents, rendered more noble by their furFerinas * Thcch: : .?! '' :. m nf. i-f in ih:; LI'. : - '-;; ;:,.] r .j. fait.! '- .::::.,:..:, ...;C..,/ Hiitur. Lita. .;.: / ; :'..L ,.:ci- h,:l. for OF nor: TIUS. '-'.17 lor confciencc Tike, under Genfericu?, kin; of the Ye.iulaN. Through his father's d:;uh lie was early left to the care of his mother, who brought ',i;n tip to learning and ho entered upon a rt-ligious lite. Heap- pears to have iu tiered both from the Ivrharians and Anan> was an ornament to the clergy of his age, and left fevcral tracts in which, Du[nn lays he ue- tcnd-jd the princ pies of St. Auguftine about original fin, the fall ofma;i, predomination, and gr..ce, ngunft Faufhis and the Semi-pelagians. He tolloxved exrclly the docti'inc of St. Augulhiie and imitated his ilyle. D Q I- T I U S *. Jjorn A. D. 476. Died 525. V. \. .'.!. T. S. 15o -llns \\v^ defceiul>"J of on? of the nobielt families in i\.';uie, to which, however, he rendered nmc'i more hmKiur hv hi> \nfae an;, a'tih- tie-i t'l.in he received ii'om it. II: it ,uli >i e^eJKeeii ye.irs at Athens, ;MU! was deemed one of lae ti it len tli'.rs i>! ;'ve ;..;. I. p,.n his return to In.-, in.ivc c:t v }'". u\:s advanced to th : [>; niei \r.\\ di-fiHUes of th^ ll^te, :,il he e.en 1 .- to be i ole c^ni'iii. Neitlier !.i> integr.'iv, n.i Abilities could pi\l.rve l~i;ni in iuch U tim. s; 2l8 THE TESTIMONY times; but after a life chequered with various misfor- tunes, he fell a facrifice to the unreasonable jealouftes of the tyrant Theodoric, and died by the hands of the executioner in the prifon at Pavia, whither he had long been banifhed for his virtues. During his exile he compofed his celebrated work " Of the Confolation of Philofophy," which has been fmgularly honoured in having been tranflaied at diftant periods, by our king Alfred the Great, and queen Elizabeth ; not to n.ention the lord vifcount Prcftun, and others lincc. The above work, which is compofed in Latin, partly in poetry and partly in profe, is a dialogue be- tween the author and Philofophy perfonined, in five books. The firft contains the complaints of ISo.-tius under his misfortunes. In book II. and III. Philofophy reminds him of his former profperity ; and teaches him that the true happinels, the lovcrei^n <;ood, confills not in thofe temporal benefits which he had ; >lt, but " in the enjoyment of God alone. ' Book IV. proves that none but good men are, or ca/i be, truly h.;ppy ; and difcourfes farther of Providence and fate ; a.ifwcr- ing that perplexing query, Why the wicked feem to profpcr ? The laft book treats of chance, prefcicnce, liberty, and how they are to be reconciled; in which the author adopts and defends the doctrine of L'hrif- tian and philofophical ncceility. The third book cl'ft-s in the fol lowing manner: " PHILOSOPHY. Seeing thou haft alrc.uly 1 .;irn. d to diftuiguilh the true happinefs from th.it which is falfely uF KGETIUb. 219 talfelv fo called, it remains only to inform thce from \\hat f >u:ce the former is to be deri'. ed. " JjOKTii's. It is that for wh;ch I wait \viih fo ir.ueh anxL'ty. " I'll IL. ]>ur, a-; Puity fay?, in his Tittuc: a Uhnili.'.n p'li- 1 )!O|)!KT, and there r- no reafon to queilion but his piety \\-ai as g.:nu:n: as his ph'.lofopiiy. I' 2. IF 'DO RE. ri-::n i : >.\y I S 1 D O R E OF SPAIN*. D;cd A.D. 630. i . -. . / L'.;ul decihve in d:ir favour, yet I !, :>. ;!:<:;; iMccs 1; v whidi he :'.,;i. ,i h;s o\va it'.'.pt'i'L.'f.c-. ::;:ii Lhr.t of the Roman ilv ; anJ even cxc- <'.".' : h::!i ; li;s bl.i^i'', jmoas oi'i'.uoii in honour of -> . t >. o I v. ^ < \ , e cr.:r.c next then to lildorus, biiliop of Seville, in v/hich fee he fuccceded his brotiicr about A. I). 5Q5> :i fcliclar of the above (itvirory ; bat a much beitcr nian, ; 1? I hope, tlvm hi? maiter. He i^ commcndvjd . >r his Icarnin - (> .:; -derin^ tlv: <.L:rkiK-f- of the n ^ '... eloquence, :ina above ail, hi.> charily ; which <..r.-.-. however to have been inJifci'iniinavo and oiten- tati ;:-, il i'- be true, .. r. por; .!, that in his lait iix nion : ^s it drew ;i crc3:;d i ! ; ITS daily to hi^ gate. I"U:\vevcr tiu io'lo'.viii circumitancc; itad> p.'.e to con- i.,:^' L 1 ^ .: hi- ;iit ntiuiii werv. ./" !, and his actions unconia .1 na:eJ with |)haniaical pnncinLs. i' or it is ,!, that a l:tt'e before his dece.ilt he cauied inni- ftli to be carried :o tlie c'.iutch c t St. Vincent, \\here hj made tl-.e foiiowin^ exc.ilent coniJliou iu the lace ci all the ccr.u r ;'CL r aliun. 4t U God, OF ISIDORE. 221 (C O God, who know-eft the hearts of men, and didlt forgive the poor publican that flood afar off and imotc his breaft ; . . . . receive at this time my con- feilion, ap.d remove from thy fight the innumerable has I have committed. Remember not, O Lord, the fins of my youth : and becaufe thou haft faid, that ct ii'hat t:>..c a finncr titrneth from his evil ways^ all /'.j ini'iu ::.'V; fna'.l be forgotten ; I am mindful of thy grac ; oi:s prom iff ; 1 call unto thee with hope and con- fidence, although in refpecl of my fins, unworthy to look up t-j heaven : but O Lord, I befeech thee hear my prayer, and pardon me a inmer. 1" or if the htiiZ't-rh are nit pure in toy A 7 ^/;/, much more am I im- pure, who h.iV- d>-atif; in 'Wyv/Vy like wat:r." After tin-, he bvgjvu forgivenefb both of the clergy and people, if i:i any tiling he had injured or offended them ; c-iureatiag the a.Htlance of their prayers that he n:i'j. l !t ob':i ; .n :n.-rcy of G jd, w'.io cjniefled himfelf mofi un'A'orihv c! it. ijp me.iiis nvw, comprifes the w!:ole of ex- periineatal religion in a lev/ word-. " Tlu hie uf the body is th.- foul ; the l.fe of the foul is (i ;d : ;;iui as tlie b idy without live foul is dead , fo li ti:L I'.u! v\uheut God*." * c::tcr.ces, c.ip. 31 U 3 BEDE. 222 THE TESTLMON'V B E D E*. Born A. D. 672. Died 735. The venerable Bedc, as he is commonly called, \vas a native of this country, and born in the county of Durham ; being early deprived of both his parents, his other friends procured him education in the mo- ir.iflry of St, Peter and St. Paul, and he became a Be- nedictine monk. He was not, however, one of thofc drones who feaft upon the labours of the induftrious bees. On the contrary, he laboured full to furnifh hmiielf for ufefulnefs by Jhidv, and afterwards em- ployed his tak-nts in writing works that might be of utility to others. 1' idler calls him "the profoundeft iar in that age, for Latin., Greek, Philofophy, Hiitory, Divinity, and the Mathematics ;" and adds, ti::.i. u homilies of his own makinp- were read during O *> his life-time in the Britifll churches,'' an honour at- torded to h ; :,i alone. ik'de took a very active part in oppufition to th.c free-\-.iil fy!i< in. of Ptlagius, \ i . ::;c:i he crocs i\> far as to itiie I!;L Pilii" t ian plague, 1; - well kno\\ p n that 'his celebrated, 1 leicdarch maint.iir.ed a OF ETDE. influence of motive?. Venerable Bede after dating this objection, replies that herein Pelagius " contra- dicts the prophet [Jeremiah] who humbly addrefling himielf to GoJ, faith, " 1 know, O Lord, that .1 man's way is not his own : it is nut in man that walk- eth to dirt-el his ftens." Nay Pehuius rnakcth hi:n- felf greater than the apoftlc [Paul], who faid, ' ; with " my mind I myfelf ferve the law of God ; but, with " my flelh, the law of fin *." Bcde was equally eminent in piety as in learning, ai.d his works, which ftrongly favor of both, make eight conhdcrable volumes, it is obfervable, that this good man kept to his beloved employment to the lull, though aged and belet with infirmities, and r.i- ther than relaxed, doubled ins dili'r-'nce in death. 1 cr being engaged in a tranllation of St. John's gof >cl, when he was juft ready to expire, one of his diii.;- ple-, who acted as his amanuenh*, informed hi'ti, " Aly beloved r.iaiL'i, there rcni.iins vet one fent;-;;cc iiuwriiten." " \\ riu it then t;-.:i^kly," rc j ii^d 1'^de, and " I'mnmoKiMg a.l his t/ru> t-geUi -.. .-, like t':;e b!.r/,e of a candle g jing out (favs i''u ler) he O o \ ,, / endited if, and expired." An eccelcfiafticvd iri'nri.ui ^bil-rve?, that u we have " r : '- G.-..U ;-. -. fcrvct!, 224- THE TESTIMONY fervid. Even Bede himfelf, (too partial to his own countrymen) reprefents Aldan, Finan, and Colanan, wh') were chief leaders of the Scots, and famous pre.ichei's, in .Northumberland, to have been eminent for their love of God, and their regular life, and great obuTvers of the works of piety and chaftity, which they learned om of the holy Scriptures. In a word-, they ftood up for the purity of chriftianity, as found- ed on the word of God, againfl the canons gf the councils *." A G O EA R D\. Born about A. D. 780. Died 840. This celjbrated -run was archbifhop of Lyons, and diftinguiiiied hinneif by writing a^ainft the growing c irruptions of ihe Roman charch, particularly her id- -1.; try. Hinoii.'ns fpealc refpecttfully both of his piety and learning, cor.hdering the times, ;md from the lift of his works 'n .)i\le's Conrinuators, it appears he dif- tinguiflicd hip.ifJif a the advocate of the mofr. impor- tant truths ot c!irifti;ini*'v In t!u:t Y.il X-j. IV. c\)i,tai'is his anfvvcr to tlie cb- V ' ! : : . ,.; CLi:ti.i.:t } Ct.:. Li.t. OF FLcRUS. 225 je^tions oi Frcdegife, . \\ d iLte, pub- lifhed a det^iue of predeitmatiun, and ir.e o.ii.r doC- tniKN connected with u, in anfwer to ihe celebrated Scotus. 1- or the fv;l!owi:rr extract we :'-.- indebted to arch- buhop Liiier j-. " Our I.oid hirnfelf f';\s I'lorus) plainly Ilievvs that trie very li.it commencement of what good we have is from himielf: 21' .w:v nit Lord chuteth his faints not they hi;r. C] d !MU- ielf both begins and accomplice- wlur. i- .od in 226 THE TESTIMONY believers. He fir ft loves his faints, in order that they may love him Alan ha> n-jt of him- felf a will to that which is good ; neither has he of himfelf a power to perform a good work. Both one ami the other arc received from him, of whom the apoftle faith, It is Gid that workith in us both to will and to do of bis own gjo/l pleufurc. Through his mercy, he himfelf is beforehand with the will of man, as faith the Pfalmift, My God will prevent me with bis goodnefs. He himfelf infpires man with the grace of thinking rightly ; according to that of the apoftle : Not that we are of ourfelvts fiifficient to think any thing as D f ourfe foes j but our fufficicncy is of God*" G orr E s CHALU s*. Died A. D, 870. This good man was a Benedictine monk. About the middle of the ninth ceiuury, Hinckinar, being made archbifhop of Rhciins, commenced againft him a cruel profecution, tor believing predjftmutioii, election, and particular redemption ; and afierting in oppofitioa to the doctrine of free-will, that " pre- venting and aflifting grace is req nred to every good act ; which grace is not afforded according to human * 3/> ; ouc "no to'iTJiits could in- ducv h;m ta d.:uy \vnh Ins nion }\ Liiegiace winch he lo eii 'v.nh rn> heait." His nr'' 1 \va.. ho-.vever worn OUL by .1 C'.'u.. i - - in'jr iffinirepf '.. f moic t'nan 20 year?, ai, i i; 8;o ri- fpmt etc.ip d .o * wlieie the v.iciccd C'.\ue hoai troubling, and ihe vvx'aiy are atreit." / L F R 1- D T::F G R E A T*. liorn A.I). 849. Ciow:.v.d 'cj:>. -Jicd goo. A* a warrior, a ftatefman, a ic^i{l..ror, and a king, tlii prince has 110 equal in the h.ifto; y of his o\\n, or pcrh.r,s any country. As a k'v hr, he vdipfed all }i; c - con, . mporario' ; aiul was the patroti ! learning and geiii.is w!vrj-t.-\.:r he couid h'rd it. He coaled many uL-lul books to bo wnitLii cr tranil.ucd, and ti;-oi'a t 'cd ainonj; his illitxr^te lubi'-cKs ; tew (;t \v u ! ( ^ in t'ut aLi.,', even among the clergy, could either w rite or iv. :d. Hiink-lf tninfl.itc-d Brde's Krclcfiafliial Hiflnry, II'--' ti 1 .;-, David's 1' la her, and other woi .s ; l^hdc .\liivh, ho \vrote a nuinuel and foine other tracts. Buf 22S THE TESTIMONY I Jut it is as a man and a ChrifriatT, we arc chiefly to confider him. And here his benevolence, charity, and devotion, rivalled hU other excellencies, even in the camp and on the throne. " When he was in the heat of his youth (favs Sir /'. Spclman] and the ftrcngth of his puflions, he uLd to rife in the night, walk privaulv into the church, an:l pray to God that he would fortify him with his GRACE, ngainft the irregular felicitations of his paf- fions. And, rather than run the rifk of a libertine practice, he begged that f Mr,e check might be put on hi> health., to fecurc his condufl." The I'.mc author add-. " As his devotion nril fli.'.vcd itfelf in his yo'itli, fo it conftantly accompa- nied ail the act; ins ot his whole lite." ^ ct u his practice ot" devotion was n >t at:rr nrnaftic renuncia- tion, !o: f.:l::n_ r labour, and the ConverfaJon of men, in. 're. ii of the enticement-, of th.e w^rld ; but u r .i> in i. c ii.veri'ible regularity, not nly go-jd in itfelr, but \r: ,."\.'v.- to "'. '." Th. 1] .,L . - Ci-,ntL 4 Wife were the Uivinzs of ki .g AitV.d. " 1 mildly admonuh thee, im d>.ai iiienJ :uiJ be- loved, '. felt;" which L-eins t-j have been in the tenth cen- rv'^r'.- F:cl, Hift. Bk. II. Fiom O.I-.-rr, i:id .'.'ov^in. tury, OF ELPHEGU;. 231 tury, characterized by Card. Buroniu; as the Isiitkn age. There were indeed a few very few men ot learning and piety, which (hone as " lights in a dark place ;" but fuch was the gloom which fuperftition and ignorance had fpread around, that they were hardly able to render themfclves vifible, much lefs to illumi- nate the circumambient darknefs, Of the few names of this age pcrferved in hiflorv, I confds I moft admire Elphegus^ the martyr; or if not a martyr, at leaft a Chriftian of no mean rank. Though I expect no additional weight to mv argu- ment from this name, yet to prevent the chafm of a century I fhall take the liberty to abridge his {lory. This good man was, it is faid, of noble extraction, snd educated to learning ; agreeable to the humour o/ the times he turned monk, and afterward formed a fociety of his own, of which he was of courfe made abbot; and gave an example of aufrerity, which his monks could not be pctfuaded to follow. He was however advanc d to the fee of Winchefter, which he filled more than 23 year?, and on the death of I Ifiic in icc6, fucceeckd him as archbifliop of Can- tcibiiry. iJut in ion, wh.cn the Danes laid fiee;e to fl;.:t ciiy, where he refidul, t'-.e principal inhabitants P'rf.iac;(! him to fecurc his retreat, as there was op- portunity before the place was inverted cloiely; but our bifhop heroically rctuf.d. Ciod forbid (laid he) tli.it I HvuiU tarnifh my character by fo ini'loruv.i.s a conduct, and be afraid to L, r o to heave:: bec:n:!e a vio- -^2 lent 2J2 THK TESTIMONY lent eLvth any Liv ;-.;:rof> the paflagc. God be thanked, i am net con cious ot any fuch behaviour, as to give the enemy any jult occafum to ufe me ill. ' I'is true, 1 have converted feveral of the molt con- iuleraHe of th.m to Christianity : but if this be a Jaulc in their opinion, 1 fhall be happy in luftcring for it. What then' Have 1 difoblLicd thjirv by ranfoniing icc'.ie ci nr. co^:;trymeii, and by fupporting thofc in their captivity \\honi i was in no condition to re- vk'un ? It tliey count this a crime, I fliall be proud to li'c pi!;i:.lu-il fur it, though it were by a wound ia every part of my body. But if you think the Danes are particularly enraged agatnft me for reproving them for their immorality and injufticc, I cannot help that; I am bound to thefc remonilranccs by my commifllon, a:,ci unlcf< I give a wicked man warning, his blood will be required at my hands. If this is all the provocation I have given them, I muft needs think it very unbe- coming my ftation, to deiert my wot thy countrymen in rime or danger, and make an ignoble provifion for ir.vfe'f. What can I be lefs than an hireling, if when I fee the wolf ready to devour my fruep, I prefently run away, and leave them to fhm lor themfclves ; It is therein: c- my refulution to Ih'iid the (bock, and fub- mit to the order of Providence." He kept his word the town was fooa after taken by ftorm, and the inhabitants plundered and butchered with the ufual bai'harity of iueh enemies ; infomucll tl:at the good biihop, as yet unattacked, could not bear OF 3T. BERNARD. bear to be a vvitnefs of fuch cruelties ; but ran into the midft of the barbarians, and, upbraiding their cowardice in flaughtcring the defencelefs, particular- ly women and children, offered his own life to fatiate their fury. They immediately feizcd him, and, after (even months cruel imprifonment, offered him life and liberty on condition of his aflifting them to plunder the church and country. But he rejected this offer \vith indignation ; and when fome of his friends ad- vifed him to comply for felf-prefervation, he replied, " Would you have me betray my truft, impoverish the church, and rob the indigent ? No : by the GRACE of God, I will never preferve myfelf by fuch prevari- c.uion." He was therefore inhumanly tortured, and afterwards murdered. ST. B E R N A R D. Born A. D. 1091. Died A. D. 1170. It fecms to have been one of the prejudices of this a^e, that piety c.tuid hardly cxiil out of a cloyflcr ; here therefore mult we feck, t >r ir, and here we fi:;d a Iji-ni(t)'ti, w!i.->, wit'iout recoidin^ ;hc miracles toK! of his cli.illitv and ian>llity, vv.i^ cortiiinly a very pious man, .!llv)winj for the liiperiliiion and ignorance of the U;nes. X 3 But 234- THE TESTIMONY But what fhall we fay to his encouraging the holy \var - : We muit fay, that, like many other s r ood men he had mo:e zeal than knowledge, more devotion than prudence ; and was perhaps an innocent tool to further the deigns of the Roman pontiff; or, if \ve mult ad- mit th.it himfe.lt' was tinctured with ambition, and the lu it of pow.r, we mufl obferve alfo that it was not uncommon among the clergy of that aire. Ljcrn.fci was a confiderable writer in his time, and though he was an advocate for many of the corruptions of popery, yet he oppofed others, particularly in moral--, with a zeal that does him honour. .About the year 1128 Bernard wrote his Treatifc of (irricc and Frecvjill, which was occafioned by the fo!iovvii;g ciicumflance. A Certain perf,.-n objtcKd 1 > h: ;n in coiw^'l.n -a that he allowed /;; ;/.'.'<"/> is '\.\Y, beoauf.:, in ipeuking of th : graces which (.> d ):Mt ce.p.f'ir-d upon him, he had i^'.d that Ciod had IM\ v > : :; doiiiL r ,"or,d, for that he owed to his J O *^ ' divine g i :'. .11 the progixfs which he had made therc- ln. r l-y ft::.ider replied, u \\"hat then have you v.!';iu of y.m'lelf, i.nd \v''..t rewaid can yc^i expeCi v.'ht!i you cor.tefs that (/od h..s dor.e all :" In reply to this 1: . ;vn te the .ibove i-v, ;.tu).ud treatife, v.'h^re- ^in !'.' to'.!' ' t're opinions ol Aus>':!tine, afferriitg tliat Ci '"' '; f/ved bv ; rr.cc 1 , \vit h . whii'h it co-ope- OF HP. GR '5THF.AD. C Wherever there is confent {'ays he) there is a will ; :ind where there is a will, there is frecoom and liber- ty." He caution- lib alfo to be Ciiref.il " when we feel U'ood motions in u, not to atrilnfe rhem 'o our will which is weak, but to the folc grace uf God *." BISHOP G R. O Died A. D. 1253. Robert G rotted, Grofthcad, or Groflefle, as his na:ne is Jifterently exi/ ,-iled, is k.lpecleo t> have coir.e int > t!i_- In- nO'..;U Lv'. lor when our bnr.op \\- s c nlcictis c;f bc;..^ ri.Ju he i;uie \ .ilued ^vn > mi:2,u * /');. , ( :. -' St: General Diai'.-uiy, ....... 7 ; .' .y.- I.'^oii. P:v,f". His THE TESTIMONY His works arc anfwcrable to the great nefs of his character. Bayle afcribes 200 different trails to him on various fubje&s, Speaking of freewill, he fays, u EFFICACIOUS GRACE fo works with the freedom of the will, that at at fir 11 it p: j rvents [i. c. goes before] the act of the will, a:id afterwards concurs ; yet not fo as if part were wrought by grace and part by freewill ; but each in its kind works the whole. - - - - Augnftine iiluf- trates this by a rider and his horfe ; by wh-j;u one and the fame acl: is totally produced : fa the action of God and the will concur totally *. : ' In another work he fays " GRACE is that good pleafure of God, whereby he willeth to give us that which we have nol: defjrved, in order to our benefit, not to hi:-. It is nv.r.iLn, then fore, that all ihc gord which is within u 1 -, whether it be natural or freely conferred afterwards, prrcculs fioni the c, RACE of God: for there is i;r gocd tiling of which his will is rot the author ; and wliat he wills is done. He him- klf avei'ts our v\ i ill iiom evil, converts it to good, arid caufes it to perkvcre in that good |." Or ASP. BRADWARDIN'E. 231 ARCHBISHOP B R AD WARD IN E*. Born about A. D. 129?. Died A. D. 1352. This celebrated writer was bo:n in SufTcx and educated at Oxford. He made himfeir" m..iTxr of the philufjpby and learning of thuie times, but chiefly applied himtelf to the mathematics and theology, in both which lie diitanc'.d ail his contemporaries. The Ci.'le method oi reafoning he acquired in t'ne former of theie fcier.C'.s, he applied to the latter ; and reafoned with an accuracy very uncommon i,j that age, ;.nd not much lei> i\> i.i the prefent. This, I 'uppoie, pro- cured him the character of the profound doctor. Bradwardine was pcrloiul chaplain, or in the ilile of that day, isnffjjjr to <;ur king Eu-.vard III. and at times admoniltied r '.im wuh m-.at freedom a:;d hd-jlity ; and yet with i> much m.udelty, thc.t lie of.en ',va.t iac- Cebful in liis rep r oots. Mi great woric, and which h.is effect u :.'.!. i m mor- tal i'/,:d hi-> name, was eir.itied " DC a;-;jj D^i^ or 'I lie C;,ufe ot C}od. This v\a- a principal r.ican, next to the icriptures, to enlighten our j.reat pn.io- rcionner, Wtckllff'c^ and the reader wi;l not b: dif- plej.ied with the following fliort .iccour.r of it fro:n .\io;i!. D up-ill. In this work he maintains very flremioufly th: Sec />:/..-.; Gci. Dk>. an.! T-f'j.^< Fliil.-.i, I'r.v.r'. IjS THE TESTIMONY principles of St. Auguftin? and Thomas Aquinas, with regard to the operation and power of God over the actions of his creatures ; and he treats not only of human freedom and predomination ; but likewife of the exittencc of God, his perfections, and attributes. He fhews that God preferves all the beings he has created; that his will is abfblutcly efficacious, infur- mountable, and immutable; and that every thing which he wills infallibly comes to pafs. That the things which he knows are not the caufe of his know- ledge ; but that it is his will alone. He explains in what fenfe God ditb^ and doth nof, will fin. He proves the NECESSITY of GRACE in oppofition to Pelagius, and (hews that it is gratuitous, and that we do not merit the full grace ; that it is the imme- diate caufc of all good actions, and efpecially of re- pentance, lie maintains abfolute predomination. Thefe arc the principal points of his fir ft book. The fecond is upon freewill, which ho affirms not to con- fift in the power of wiping, or not willing, the fame thing ; but in the power of willing freely every tiling it ought to will. He (news th.it n:> kcond c.iiifc c.m ncccfutate the v-ill; but that freewill caiv.ict by its own p,A\vr furnijunt any temptation without the Jpcdal ajjljlancf of Gotl ; which afliftanc:: is no other but hi? ir,\ incite will. 'I iiat without this afliilance we cannot avoid ;;;i ; arid that pcrfeverance is an cft'ccl rf grace. He expl.ii:i c ., in the 1.. ft place, t!.e co-opc- -it.ivn of the will of man with that of God," CHAP, OF THE ALniGENSES AN'D VVALDENSE3. C II A P IX. TESTIMONY OF THE P I EDMONTESE, ALBIGEN'SES, WALDCSSE^, AND OTHERS, IN THE DAWN OF THE REFORMATION, BEFORE LUTHER. FROM the teftimony of individuals, we come now to that of a whole people, who refided during fevenl centuries in the fouth of France and borders of Italy, where, like Ifrael in the land of Gofhen, they enjoy- ed the pare li^ht of the r^ofpel, while Egyptian dark- nets reigned or every fide. I have called them cue people, but it is proper to add fome explanation : I call them one body in the Time feme as our Di Tenters of the three denominations are one boJy, namely, as DiTenters from the ch'ireh of England : fo they were one people 'j Dl/Jiiitsrs from the church of R un ing this has ccc.ifio;v. ioinc writers having found th.it they had u:ifoa.-.;l and heretical opinions amonq; them, have charged them up m the whole : ]\\"i as a ecrr.iin ri:rht reverend prelate in the prefent a^c. h:'. r , Pcculed the whole ho.ly of Diilenter; of Ariiiiin.'.n a;u! other error?, \v!ien it i- a (act, his lorch'hip ou ;'it to h :ve known, that t!;c Cah inills Hill fo:m a vtry jrre.it mrioritv. So have THE TESTIMONY I no doubt but the bulk of theie people were orthodox ; or as one of their advcrfiries honcnMy confeflcs, " That they lived juftly before men, believed all tilings Well of God, and held all the articles of the creed, only they BLASPHEMED the church and clergy cf Rome ." The various names by which this people have been diftinguiftied, were given them either from the parts where they chiefly flourifhed, from their piincipal leader, or from their profefllon of peculiar ftrietnefs raid devotion. " Their firit and proper name (fays bifhop Newton} feems to have been that of /'re, iv.r kill, nor deceive hir> neighbour, nor avenje hin^eii cf his enc- mie-;, th -y pre : entiy l.;y lie i-. a /'..'.v/;; ; h; deferves to be puniihed ; and, by lies and K>;_;in.., ways are ol" '- Y 2.J.2 THE TESTIMONY found to take away from him what he has got by his lawful induftry *.'' Another antient record gives the following beauti- ful picture of the Ample manners of the V/ald.-nies. " There manner is They, kneeling on their knees, or leaning againft feme bank or ft ay, do con- tinue in their prayers with filence io long ;;s a man may fay thirty or forty Pater-nofters This they do every day with great reverence, being among thcni- fclves Before meat they lay Bcnedicitf, AjnvV f/eyfen, Chrijh eleyfon^ Pater-no/hr ; . . . Then the elder of them fays, in their own tongue . . . " God which blefled the five bailey loaves and two fifties, blefs this table, and what is fet upon it. ... In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoil, Amen." Alfo after meat ..." Blelling and worfhip and wif- dom, and thankgiving, honour, virtue, and ftrcngth, to God alone for ever and ever. Amen. . . . The God which hath given us corporal feeding, grant us his fpiritual life ; and God be with us, and we always with him. Amen. Thus faying grace, they hold their hands upward;-, looking up to heaven . . . and afterwards they teach and exhort among themklves f ." In 15:8 the VValdenies prcfentcd an account of their faith to U..:J',jl r n(<, king of Hungary ; in which they fay, u \Vc believe and coi.L'ls that Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoil, t'mve in perlon, but Qu_r,tfd /.-riJ--;, I!'., p. jf-. t Quo* !; ever prefent with her " in a way of CRACK, cl]ic.icv and help, which are his tree gilt*." J i ' O In anoihcr c->;iL;lion of the fame people, prefented A. D. 1544 to Francis i. of France, they fay, " We believe that we polTefs the Holy GhoiK the Comforter, proceeding from the Father a:;d the OJH, by \vli f fe infpiration we are enabled to pray ; and by whole c;7i- cacy \vj are born a^ain. lie it is \v!io vvorkeih a'l good works in us i and by him \vc r.r-j leu into ail truth h" JOHN W1CKLIFFE\. Born A. D. 1324. Died about A. D. 1384 or 5. This great man has, with propriety, been called the Father of the Knglifli Reformation. He \vas, born in Vorkfhire and educated at Oxford, where h: taught divinity with g-eat reputation and fucceh, til! he v.a? excluded for venturing to teach fome opi- nions contrary to thofc of tire oracle at Rome. He was hov/ever io ably fupported and defended by John, duke * Qj,.t. -by 7' ;/.;./,, I;: : '.P ; - ,f, vo i. i, p. I55> J b^ CLvr. En:. ;,uJ Bk. fa r. Did. 244 THE TESTIMONY duke of Lancafter, and other great men, that his ene- mies, after many attempts were uiv.iblc to in'mre him, any otherwise than by vexatious citations and ex- aminations ; at Lit the papal thunder rolled, and Richard II. joining with the pope, they ventured to condemn his opinions as erroneous and heretical, and bitterly penlcu'eJ his followers ; but in the midll of this confui: >n \Vickliire wa> I'Jelv tranflated to the fkies, and lei't his inr.ituated enemies t > wreak their ven;;eancc on his Ixveks and bone?. Wickliffe was a man of good fcnie r.p.d good learning for that age ; very laborious in his {Indie 1 ?, and wrote a great deal. Hislife was ilricr., even to and ,?ri ty, and he ufually wore the garb of a piljr: n. His principles were much the fame as have fiacj h-en ca'.kd dihlnijlic^ as will appear from t!;!.: ; .llov; n ' cit.itions. lv A!! that follow ChrilT, being juftified by his il^hteoufnefr, fhall be faved as his offspring." u Except a Chriilijn be united to Chrilt by GRACE, he hath not Chritt the Saviour." " If (rod will GIVE me a teachable heart, a pcr- kv: rir/: conftancv, and charity towards Chrift, to- \vards his church, ;md towards the members of the devil, who tear the church of Chriir, fo that I may rebuke them out of pure charity, how glorious a ca.uk fhall I have to die for * !' Melldes \\~icklit;" \ other works he mad tiou of the Sciip'.ures, the moll ufeiul w Lme OF sin. JOHN OLDCASTLE. 245 f ;> for him to undertake ; and it may ui! v tne cu :"itv of fome readers to fee a fhort fpe- ciii;-.i -f c l v> work, and of the fUte of the Englifh ian_'.e in the i < r tH century. Math. v. 25, 26. u la thilke tyme Jhefus anfweried and i-:J, i Knovvieche to thee, Fadir, Lord of Hevene and of ertiu-, for thou halt hid thefe thingis fro wife men and :xJr, and halt fhewid hem to littil children. So F. 4 d:r, i for ib it was plefynge to fore thee." It ihould be added, that about 40 years after his death, in confequjnce of a decree of the council of Con- ftance, WicklitFc's bones were dug up and burnt, and his afhes fcattered into a brook which conveyed them into the Avon ; the Avon conveyed them to the Se- vern, and the Severn into the ocean: thus becoming (fay his biographers) a ftriking emblem of his doc- trine, which fpread through many diitant countries. SIR 7 II N OLD CASTLE *. Martyred A. D. 1418. The cr.'ifc of Wie',.lit~r'e, as we have j'lll remarked, did not du with h:ni ; but, on the contrary, grew and fpread, not\\ it Vil. Hiding all its enemies. His difciples were eaileu L.- '/.//-./>-, ar ; d t^.ey foon became lo numer- # r..v'j M..rtyr-, Vol. I. V>'... Did. Sj-. V 3 246 THE TESTIMONY ous, that Spdman fays two men could hardly be found together, and one not a Lollard. Such was the rage of the priefthood, and the infatuation of our parliament?, that, about the clofe of the thirteenth century, obftinate herefy, as it was termed, was made capital, and ff/iU'iam Santre, parifh pried of St. Ofith, in London, was the firft who had the ho- nour to be burnt for his religion in this kingdom. Animals that have once tafted blood, generally be- come more ferocious : fo it is with perfecutor?. The cruel pricfthood thirlted for more and nobler prey. Sir John Oldcaftle, baron Cobham, was at this time the ureat patron of the Lollards, and a nobleman of coniidvMT.blc we..Uh and influence, as well as of emi- nent virtues and piety. He, therefore, was marked rut as the butt of their enmity ; and to make their aim the farer, a treafonable plot was invented, and charged upon him, and he was condemned both as a heretic and a traitor. Before the day of his execu- tion, he found means to efcapc from the Tower, and f\:crcted himidfin Wales for about four years ; fuch is ccclcfiaftical vigilar.tv, however, in thek: cafes, \\2 t'v.is crue'dv burnt alive, amuhl I'H i;.i'..-rnal tor The . : -./i ltd, mi a i:i> lri.:i i and. . wicked OF JOHN' HUSS. 247 \\ickcd nrchbifhop, his judge, in thcfe words: " Though you judge my body, which is but a wretch-d thing, yet i am fare you can do me no harm as to ir.v f >ul .... II-' who created it will, of his infinite mercy and promife, finally f.ive it, I have no manner of doubt. As to the articles before rchcarf- cd, I will itand to them to my very death; by the GRACE of my eternal God*." DR. 7O//.V IIUSS i-. Martyred A. D. 1-5.15. Dr. Hufs was a member, and in 14^9 chofen rec- tor, of the univerfity of Prague. His hr'.t light leems to have been derived from fome of \Vici;!;i7e's books, which were earned into Bohemia bv the attendants of Anne, queen of our Richard II. after the death of that prince's. It does iv.l appear, hov/ever, in point of E;i'.'Jifn divine. The chief things the i j lu , Ciu'i.l ; thi.s v/as thj m >ft V.,1 I. 248 THE TESTIMONY A council was fummoncd at Conftance, in the year 1414, who have immortalized then.ll-lvo in the an- nals of infamy, by decreeing, that a i .ith is not to be kept with heretics" accord : n_',ly, though Hufs attended the council, under the fate-conduct of the emperor Sigijinrind, he was condemned to the flake, \vich as little regard to honour, truth, and jufhce, as to the precepts of Chriftianity. An extract, from one of his letters preferved by Fox, will {hew the fpirit in which he acted and fuf- fercd. Addrefiing his divine Mafter, he fays u O moft merciful Chrift, draw us weak creatures after tr.ee, for except thou ^houidft draw us, we are not able to follow thce. Give us a ilrong fpirit, that it may be ready, and that it may be willing ; and al- though the flclh be feeble, yet let thy GRACE go be- fore us, go with us, and follow us ; for we can do nothing, and much lefs enter into the death for thy lake-." Hufs died in the genuine temper of martyrdom, fmirin^ in the flames ; and happily experienced a literal fulfilment of that promife, " The redeemed of the Lord (hall go to /'ion with fongs," &c. JEROM GE JF.RO.M. J EROM OF PR AGUE *. Martyred A. D. 1416. " [ero:n (f.ivs Mr. Robinfon] was a far more c. inf.de! ab'ij ir..in than Hub .... His talents were more fhiniinr, he was a better ichnlar, and hud much clearer notions of religion f." lie was educated at Prague, but vinted and received degrees at leveral univcrfitu b. At Oxiord, he found the works of" Wicklirlc, and drank pre-Lty deep into his f^int and principles. On his return to Prague, he beca.r.c the aflbciate and co-adjutor of Hu(- - , and, though neither monk nor eccleliaihc, became a preacher of reforma- tion, and was cfteemed the greateft orator of his time. When Hufs went to Conftance, Jerom promifed to follow hi:n, in c.ife of d..;ij,er. He acco"dingly followed him priv friends, fmdiiv ae c >uid l>e of no lervice, was jvrfuad d to retu r n, but prevented by the malicious vi-iiai.ee of hi i ^ iv.'iiV'-'S. When brought before thj coii'xll, indead of giving l:im a fur heating and opportunity of K-'.f-defeace, THE TESTIMONY Alas ! the weaknefs of human nature ! After bcin^ O twelve months immured in a louthfome prifoii, he v/as perfuaded to recant; but his {".ill was not perma- nent, nor l.mg. When ho was brought a^ain before the council, he revoked his recantation, defended the characters of" Wickliffe and Ilufs, and reprobated the corrupt manners of the clcr^v, with a force, that at once aftonithed and enraged his advcrfaries. He was accordingly condemned as a relapfed heretic, and to demonftrate their own Ipirit and temper, they drefkd him in a paper cap, ornamented with flaming devils. " Our Lord Jefus Chrifl (laid the martyr) when he differed death for me, a miferablc fmner, wore upon his head a crown of thorns, and I, for his fake, will chearfully wear this cap." When bound to the flake, the executioner went behind him to kindle the fire, " Come here, faid Je- rom, and kindle it before my eyes, for I had not came hither if I had been afraid of it." He died with great courage and magnanimity. Hi* l:t!t words were, " In thefe fh:nc, O Chrift, I offer up my foul to thcc.' r As to the fentiments of Jerom, th.cre can be no doubt of their harmony in the great truths of experi- mental piety; I dull, therefore, not detain the reader Vvith i:niucci:arv quotations. 70//A' OF JOHN" P1CU3. 251 JO //-V P ICUS, PRINCE 01- MIRA^DULA *. Uorn A. D. 1463. Died 1494. The fanr.lv of tills nobleman derived their pedigree from ConiVai-.Unc the Great. Pofleffcd of worldly hjn ,ur-, riches and pciional charms, he was caiily enticed ia his earlv years into the gaieties of fafhio.-ia- b!c l.tV. The Lord, hovv^v.T, having defined him for greater things than thefe, by a variety of trials wean- ed liini funi the preknt world; and excited him " to dedicate and devote himleif to the glory of God and the good of his church;" and he rcfolved " for the time to come fo to carry himfeir, THROUGH GOD'S A^isTAN'CE, that his aaverlaries iliould have nothing to object a^amfl 1'iim." About three years before his death he retired from public lite, to ftudy the fcripturcs and diviniiv. His ufual C'-i;i\ erlation v. T .;s of tlie vanity and inltabiiitv of mortal tiding?, and the iuperior excellency of thole things wh : ch are heavenly and divine ; frequently ex- horting his friends and acquaintances to love thcLoid h:mf--it abr-ve all t'mn.rs. It is f..id th.it fueh was his "-onius for learnirj I.-;i- 252 THE TESTIMONY culations ; which may very poflibly be true. But his writings had the honour to be condemned as heretical by pope Innocent VIII. which is no bad cluracter in this r.ije. JEROM SATO NERO LA*. Born A. D. 14.52. Martyred 1498. This good man was alfo nobly defcended, and early diftinguifhcd himfelf for piety, eloquence, and learn- ing. He wrote many books in favour of" morals, piety, and the SPIRITUAL LIFE:'' in particular he wrote a treatife called " The lamentation of the Spoufe of Chriir, againft falfe Apoftles ; or an Exhortation to the taithtul, that they would Pray unto the Lord for the Renovation of his Church." Diin fay-, that his hooks " are full of GRACE, and maxims of piety ; he fpcaks freely a^ainll the vices, and teaches the mofl pure and exalted morality." Mojbc'nn places him among " the wife ft andworthicft men" of his age. He committed, however, the unpardonable fin, of cenfu;ini the con-up: ons of the church, the depravity of the clergy, and the ufurpations of the pope, and OF THO. A KEMPIS. 253 thefe coft him his life ; but he conquered in death, and triumphed in the flames. Chiift w.is his life, and death, therefore, infinite gain to him. Though I have ne\er fecn any of this writer's works, L have acciJcntally met with a quotation in Ludolf^ \vhir-h, as it is both fhort and pertinent, I ihall here infjrt " In this our molt unhappy age, (fays he) faith fo faileth, and fupernatural illumination feerneth fo nearly to be extinct, that nobody can tell whether that wh>ch he mod confidently profefies to believe, be not rather a notion into which he has been led by education, than that faith, which is the produc- tion of fupernatural light, which is the proper faith of a Chnftian." ri!OM-'lS A KEMPIS*. Born A. D. 1380. Died 1471. W-; fhouM clo:e thi-> chapter, which has confined hitherto of lilullrious dillenteis tai.n the chu.ch of Rome, \\ith cme ot it^nvft pious nvmlv: ^ it may be thought it range, tlv.t men of pietv ihoi^d conriiiuc in luch a cr.'.irch, c< du^t as it vv.;S in tie httc-.uh centurv; but the lact ^i'.e> u> le.J >n to hop 1 ', tiierc arc many excellent men conce.ikd among t./j moic depraveJ 254 THE TESTIMONY depraved communities. Thus, when the prophet thought himfelf the only worfliippcr of Jehovah, in the land of Ifracl, the all-feeing Governor of the World had I'egifrcred " Seven thoufand names that had not bowed the knee to Baal." This c lhomas received his firname from a final I viil.'gc in the diocefe ot Cologne, where he was bo: M. His parentage was mean, and circumftances narrcAV. At thirteen he began his lhidi.,', and at ir.nete'Ti retired to a monaftry of Auguiline monks, whole h;.bit and order he aflumcd about twenty-five, :;:id continued with them to his death, in a very ad- vanced a: re. The f;.mi>i:s book of " The Imitation of Jefus Chnil," is commonly afcnbed to him, and I am not acquainted \vi;h any fufiicicnt reafons for depriving- him of the henour ; however, could it be proved to have been wrote by Gtrjon, or any other, it would be or.lv changing the name prefixed to this Section. !r,:-',.merab!e commendations liavc been bellowed on this Kv,k, not only by Hcllarmine and the Popifh writer-, but by the mofi evaivrelical Protcilants. jjiHio;^ I i'jrnc calls it " (;iic of the bell books rxtant or. tl:e [piritual iite j" and (ays, " It liath idminiflercd inttruci.ion :ihd confolation to t'louiands of devout (_!vliti (.'I... ,: .t tl.C CllltV <' f NVv.lJ:. 1- ,7. me OF THO. A K.EMPI5. me compunction for my fins ; neither do I affect that contemplation which leads to haughtinefs of mind. For all that is hi^h is not holy; nor all that is fweet good ; nor every pleafing deiire pure ; nor every thi.:-' dear to us acceptable to God. I therefore wil- lingly r.ceiv that grace whereby I may ever become more hu'nbl.-, more diitideut and more ready to re- nounce mvlUf". He '.ha: is taught, by the beftowment ot" divine -jj.icc a;.d corrected b\ r its withdrawment, will not dare attribute any thm^ good to himfelf, but rather acknowledge h.nvi'rlr" poor and naked. Give unto God that which is God's, and unto thyfelf af- cribe that which is thins own : th.it is, give thanks to God for his grace, and acknowledge that nothing is to be attributed to thyfelf but fin, and the puniill- ment due unto it *." We have now brought our evidence down to the be ginning of the Reformation, at which memorable .cia til-- lecond vokurc will commence. The prefent iliall concKuie with the following refleelion. Experiment. ;1 religion is no noveltv. It is the a m>oJ old \vv\," in winch trod both the [ewi'a ,;nd Chiii^ian iatlvji^. Herein we \va!!-c with patnarc!',s prdpr^ts ;-.oili i s martyrs confeflors and refor- nv.-rs ; ;ea inor-, li.-rrin we u walk with GOD." - 1'. i., then, thj p>.ih i-l honour. 256 THE TESTIMONY It is alfo the path of peace, happinefs, and fafcty. Communion with God and with Lints, conftitutcs the happinefs of the biefkd. To enjoy a portion of this on earth, is to receive the antepalt of heaven; and is the fruit of that HOLY SPIRIT whereby we are fealed, and " which is the earned of our inheri- tance, until the redemption cf the purchased poflef- fion." END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.