252 'Tbe Harmony of the 'Divine Attributes I'..A/1c--:(--:-th-:-eir_T_o-ng-ue-s b,.--ei-ng-l:-w-m-on-iot-ts -w.-tth-th-e-Affi-eCl:,--io_n_s-of:-t.,--he-ir-H-ea-ns-:-) -in-t-he-Fl-am-es, Chap 21. they preached Him from the Crolfes, they rejoyced in him as their only Good, in the 1/V"'>J midf\ of devouring Beaf'rs. Briefly, they preferv'd •n inviolable Faith to Him, notwithfianding the mof\ furious Batteries again(\ them. The barbarous Enemy might tear their Hearts tram their Brealts, but never Chrifl from their Hearts, to whom they were infeparably united by Love, flronger than the mofi cruel Death. Now, what Jefs than the Divine Power could fupport them under thofe Torments, which ' tis almof\ incredible that Bodies made of Flefh could endure? I will not difpute whether it exceeds all natural Force to fuffer fuch, from a vicious Affection of Pride or Obllinacy: but the frequency of it exceeds all natural Poffibility. 'Twas not impoffible for M11tilu Scevola one of the Romans, being tranfported with Indignation for milling his Defign, to hold his right Hand unmoved in the Fire, (more grieved at the Error than the burning of it ) to extinguifh in the King their Enemy all hopes of drawing from him the fecret of his Country by the force of Torments: But though it were but the fuflering of one part, and for a fhort time, yet it was not poffible that many thoufands fuch lhould have been in Rome. For then that fingle Example had been fo wonderful in all Antiquity: Bm the noble Army of Martyrs who overcame in the moll bloody Battles was numerous beyond account: and compos'd of all fortS of Perfons, of the aged and infirm, of tender Youths, of delicate Women, of the honourabl e and obfcure; Yet in that difference of Ages, and Sexes, and States, there appeared [uch an equality of Venue, that it was vilibie, the fame Heavenly Spirit infpired them all with Courage, and by alfuring them of Eternal Life, made them defpife prefent Death. Such heroical and frequentconfiancy mufi be afcribed to the Breafl·plate of Faith and Love, of a C;eJefiial Temper, (t) LA''"" wherewith the Almighty had arm'd them (t). :~:~!j:Ji~ fift;~~~ b~fr~!:~r~r:~srn~o~~~~e~~~~ {~~~c~~~::e:~~io~hrfni~l~at?J~~ty!;~rat~~dln~~!e~f; ={~~:~~~ ~~~~~i~~:~e is a vaft difference between the number of the Sufferers, and manner of their tlttedunt, .qwia 'J:{/!,!1~:Ui::: 1: .some few moved by.Vanity and melancholy, ?r compell'd, have fuffered for a f~lfe ti•. Nofili ·~· Rehgwn, that was authonfed by the Cufiom of thm Country for many Ages : But mtem wtdev/w numerable Chrill:ians animated by the Example of their Crucified King, freely facrificed &~~ier~=;~' themfelves for the tefiimony of the Gofpel upon the firfl: Revelation of it, before any ~:C~;~e~;!':t humane Refpetts gave colour to it. . . . · . . & expimm' 2. In thofe who [offered for a fal[e R.ehg10n, were vtfible enher Fear or Vam·glory, illi~g~mitl(m Stubbornnefsor R.age ~ bm the Chrifl:ians in their greatdl: Sutferings exprefr Magnanimi· r;::~;~:.~f:~· mity without Pride, Confl:ancy without Fiercenefs, Patience without Stupidity, and S· c '3· fuch an admir>ble Compaffion to their Enemies, as perfwaded fome of their Tormentors to be Companions with them in Martyrdom. 2. The fuddennefs and Univerfality of the Change effected by the Gofpel, is a lingle Evidence of the Divine Power that attended it. The Apof\Ie declores (Col. I. 6.) the admirable Progrefs of it in all the World, during his Time. In a few years with incredible fwiftnefs it pall through Judea, Samaria, Syria, Greece, and all the Parts of the known habitable World. Tacitus acknowledges that in the eleventh year of Nero, great numbers of Chriflians were at Rome, at a great di(\ance from the Place where the Gofpel was fir" preach'd. It appears from the Writings of the Primitive Chrillians, that in the 2d. Century after the Death of Chri(\,the Roman Empire was filled with Chrillian Churches. The World was peopled with a new Generation. Now, what fecret Power produced that fudden and univerfal Change? How came it to pafs that the Gofpel, contrary to the order of new Things, lhould be fo readily receiv'd, and in thofe Places where the mofi infuperable Obf'racles oppofed it? In Corinth, the Seat o.f Luxury and Volupruoufnefs; in Ephejiu, where Idolatry had its Throne; in Rome it felf, where Honours, Riches, PleaCures were adored. Mofes with all his great Miracles never conquer'd one Nation to the truo God. The Phnrifees compaf1Sea and Land to mab,ea Profeiyte, Mat. 2J. But the Gofpel in a little time converted many Nations from their Opinions and Manners wherein they had been inllruCl:ed and educated, to thofe that were not only different, but contra· Z;s r~~~v~~~~~r~~r;{~aw~~~~~~e~u~~ ~~~~~~;a~~f~::r:t ~ff{c~c~0~~se ~~~·~ with the preaching of the Gofpel, that the Power of God was never more vifibly manifelled in any Work. T herefore the Apollle mentions it as one part of the great Myfiery of Godlinefs, that Cbrif1 was believed on in the World, I Tim. 3· 16. There is nothing but Supernatural, as in the Birth, fo in the Progrefs of Chrillianity. 3· The
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