Seri. XX. The general and .effeífual Publication, &c. 1.45 Teftameht, Gen. 49. to. That when Shiloh (that is the Meta-) fhould come, to him fhould the gathering of the People be : And Ifai. 2. 2. That in the la/i Days the Mountains of the Houle ofthe Lordfhouldbe eflabled in the top of the Mountain, and be exaltedabove the Hills, and that, all Nationsfhoaddflow unto it. lfaiah 6o. 8. the Prophetfpeaking of Mens ready Submi tion to the Gofpel, and the, great Number of thofe that fhould come in upon the Preaching of it, they are faid to flit' as a Cloud, and as the Doves to the Windows. So quick'and ftrange a Progrefs did this new Do&rine and Religion make in the World, that in the Space of about 3o Years, after our Saviour's Death, it was'not only diffufed through the greateft Part of the Roman Empire, but had reached as far as Parthia and India. In which we fee our Saviour's Prediction fully verified, that before the Deftrudion of ferufalem, the Gofpel, fhould be preached in all the World, Matth. 24. 54. This Gofpel of the KingdomPall be preached in'all the World, for a Witnefe unto all Nations, and thenfhall the End come. But this is not all : Men were not only brought into the Profeflion ofthe Gofpel ; but, 2. This Doctrine had likewife a wonderful Power and EJftcacÿ upon the Lives and Manners of Men. The Generality of thofe that entertained the Gofpel, were obedient to it in Wordand Deed, as the Apòftle tells us, concerning the Gentiles that were converted to Chriauity, Rom. t 5.,í 8. Upon the Change of their Re- ligion, followed alfo the Change oftheir Manners, and of their former Courfe of Life. They that took upon them the Profeflìon of Chriftianity, did thenceforth not walk as other Gentiles did, in the Lulls of the Flefh, and according to the vi-, citrus Courfe of the World ; but did put off, concerning their former ConverPtion,' the old Man, which was corrupt, according to deceitful Lulli ; and were renewed in the Spirit of their Mind, and didput on the new Man, which, after God, was created in Righteoufnefs and true Holinefs. So ftrange an Effe& had the Gofpel upon the Lives of the Generalityof the Profef'ors of it, that I remember Tertullian, in his Apology to the Roman Emperor and Senate, challengeth them to inftance in any one that bore the Title of Chr/ian, that was condemned as a Thief; or a Murderer, or a Sacrilegious Perfon, or that was guilty of any of thofe grofsEnormities, for which fo many Pagans were every Day made Exam. pies of publick Juftice, and punifhed and executed among them. And this certainly was a very admirable and happy Effect, which the Gofpel had upon Men, to work fo great and fudden a Change in the Lives of thofe whó entertained this Doctrine, to take them quite offfrom thofe vicious Practices which they had been brought up in, and accpftomed to ; to change their Spirits, and the Temper of their Minds; and of lewd and difhoneft, to make them lober and juft,, and holy in all manner of Converfation ; of proud and fierce, contentious and paffionate, malicious and revengeful, to make them humble and meek, kind and tender-hearted, peaceable and charitable. And that the Primitive Chriftians were generally good Men, and of VirtuouS Lives, is credible, becaufe their Religion did teach and Oblige them tci be fuch which, tho' it be not effectual now, to make all the Profeffors of it fuch, as it requires they fhould be ; yet it was a very forcible Argument then, in the Cir= cumftances.in which the Primitive Chriftians were : For Chriftianity was a hated and perfecuted Profeffion No Man could then have any Inducement to embrace it, unlefs he were refolved to pra&ife it, and live according to the Rules of it; for it offered Men no Rewards and Advantages in this World ; but, on the con- trary, threaten'd Men with the greateft Temporal Inconveniencies and Sufferings; and it promifed no Happinefs to Men in the other Wdrld upon any other Terms, than of denying Ungodlinefs andworldly Lúfls, and of living foberly, righteoufly, andgodly in this prefent World. And betides this Confideration, we have the belt Teffimony in the Wórld of their unblameable Lives, viz. the Teftimony of their profefs'd Enemies', who did not perfecute them for any perfonal Crimes, . which they charged particular Per fons withal, but only for their Religion, acknowledging them otherwife W be' very innocent and good People. Particularly Pliny, in his Letter to Trojan thé Emperor (who had given him inCharge, to make particular Enquiry concerning U the
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