8 cil Declarationofthe Glorious My s TE RY and inhumane cruelties they were exercifed and executed, we have fome obfcure remembrance in the ftories that remain from the martyrdom of Stephen unto the days of Confiantine. But although there be enough re- maining on record, to give us a view of the infatiable malice of the old murderer, and an aftonifhing reprefentation of humane nature, degenera- ting into his image, in the perpetration of all horrid, inhumane cruelties, yet is it all as nothing in comparifon of that profpea which the fait day will give of them, when the earth fhall difclofe all the-blood that it hash received, and the righteous judge float' lay open all the contrivances for its effufion, with the rage and malice wherewith they were attended. The fame rage continueth yet unallayed in its principles ; and although God in many places retrain and flout it up in his providence, by thecir- cumtances of humane affairs, yet as it hath the ieat advantage, as it finds any door open unto it, it endeavours to aft it felf in leffer or higher de- grees. But whatever difmal appearance of things there may be in the world, we need not fear the ruin of the church by the mot bloody op- pofitions. Former experiences will give fecurity againt future events. It is built on the rock, and thofe gates ofhell íhall not prevail againft it. The fecund way whereby fatan attempted the faine end, and yet conti. nueth fo to do, was by perniciouserrors and herefids : For all the herefes wherewith the church was affaulted and petered for fome centuries of years, were oppofitions unto their faith in the perfon of Chrift. I ¡hall briefly reflefl on the heads of this oppofition, becaufe they are now after a revolution of fo many ages lifting up themfelves again, though under new vizards and pretences. Theywere of three forts. a. That which introduced other doftrines and notions of divine things, abfolutely exclufive of theperfon andmediation of Chrift. Such was that of the Gnofiicks, begun as it is fuppofed by Simon the magician. A fort of people they were with whom the firft churches, after the deceafe of theapotles, were exceedinglypetered, and the faith of many was over- thrown. For inflead of Chrift, and God in him reconciling the world unto himfelf, and the obedience of faith thereon according unto the gofpel, they introduced endlefs fables, genealogies, and conjugations of deities, or divine powers, which practically iflued in this, that Chrift was fach an emanation of light and knowledge in them, as made them per- feel ; that is, it took away all differences of good and evil, andgave them liberty to do what they pleafed without fenfe of fin, or danger of punith- ment. Thiswas the firft waythat fatan attempted the faith of the church, namely, by fubtituting a perfelling light and knowledge in the room of the perfon of Chrift ; and, for ought I know, it may be one of the laft ways whereby he will endeavour the accomplifhment of the fame defign. Nor had I made mention of thefe pernicious imaginations, which have lain rot- ting in oblivion for fo many generations, but that tome again endeavour to . revive them, at leat fo far as they were advanced and direfted againt the faithand knowledgeof the perfon of Chrift. 2. Satan attempted the fame work by them who denied bis divine na- ture, that is, in effeff denied him to be the Son of the living God, on the faith whereof the church.is built. And theft were of two forts. n. Such as plainly and openly denied him to have any pre-exfence unto his conception and birth of the holy virgin. Such were the Elio- soiree, Samofetanians, and Photinians: For they all affirmed him to be a mere man, and no snore, though miraculoully conceived and born of the virgin, as fome ofthem granted ; though denied, as it is fail, by the Elio- nites, on which account he was called the Son of God. This attempt lay
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