1
Srom f ^e feifirari? of
(profesBor ^cttnuef (gftiffer
in (UXemori? of
Sub^e ^amuef (QttfPer Q^tecftinribge
(pteeenfeb 6l?
^amuef (Btiffer (grecftinribge &on^
fo f^e &i6rare of
(Princeton C^eofogtcaf ^eminarj?
w
'»Wr-
t^
1
^
' "■"•'■-' 7-
HISTORY
REDEMPTION,
ON A PLAN ENTIRELY ORIGINAL:
EXHIBITING THE
GRADUAL DISCOVERY AND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE
DIVINE PURPOSES
IN THE
SALVATION OF MANj
INCLUDING A COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF
CHURCH HISTORY,
AND THE FULFILMENT OF
SCRIPTURE PROPHECIES.
BY THE LATE R^EREND
JONATHAN EDWARDS,
PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY.
TO WHICH ARE HOW ADDED
NOTES,
HISTORICAL, CRITICAL, and T H E O L O G I C A L,
WITH THE
LIFE AND EXPERIENCE
OF THE AUTHOR.
Whofo is wife, and ivill confider thefe things, even they Jhall underjland
the loving kindnefs of the Lord. Pfa. evil.
N E W- - Y O R K:
Printed by T. and J. Swords, for the Editor,
M,DCC,XCIII.
ADVERTISEMENT
To ihefirji American Edition of EDWARDS's
History of Redemption, wiih Notes,
X HE following edition of this in.'valuahle work
is humbly dedicated to the patronage of the Mini-
fters and Churches of every Chriltian denomination
throughout thefe United States, and throughout the
world : —
And the Editor cannot think of any thing better
calculated to give energy to the reputation which
this work has already acquired; or to quicken the
attention of the Chriflian world to the careful peru-
fal and ftudy of it; than to fay — In this volume the
reader will find a full and well authenticated Journal
of the Ark of God; of that Ark in which we now
fail, and on which we depend for a fafe and fpeedy
paflage to glory.
The Ark, by Noah, is confidered as a ftriking
emblem — a lively figure of our Lord Jefus Chrift,
whilft he bears, in fafety, from generation to gene-
ration, through the tempefts of time, his myftical
body, the Church.
Perufing this Hiftory of Redemption — this Jour-
nal of the Ark of God, v/ho can fail to admire the
wifdom of the Great Master-Builder in the
A 2 original
IV
ADVERTISEMENT.
original defign — the fteadinefs of his hand — the
ftabihty of the purpofes of Heaven in the regular
courfe of this Mighty Fabric ! — Who, but muft
be aflonifhed at the power of that arm, which, not-
withflanding the tempefluous weather with which
the Ark has been aflailed — the rocks and fhoals to
which file has been often expofed — the ignorance,
contradiction and mutiny of thofe to whom, under
God, its navigation has been committed;— and laft
of all, notwithftanding the unceafmg machinations
of the Prince of the Power of the Air, who, I fay,
but mufl be aftonifhed, and admire that the Ark
flill fails ; that flill fhe makes good her courfe ; — ftill,
flie receives paffengers for the Haven of Celeftial
Glory!
Though, to the eye of unbelief, the Ark may
feem, now, to be involved in tempefluous weather,
and foon to be foundered through the probable fai-
lure of borrowed llrength;* yet, to the joy of the
paffengers there are thofe, who, looking through the
mifts of human or infernal jars, do hail the approach
of Millennial Day!
On the Ocean of the Millennium — the foon ap-
proaching feventh-thoufand years, it is predicted,
that
* It is a remark, not unworthy of obfervation, that the Chrif-
tian reb'gion has never had opportunity to fliew what its efFefts
would he, uiifupported, or unoppofed by human power — that now,
bsoinning with the Civil and Religious liberty of thefe United
States, trial is to be had; whether, depending on its own bafis, it
will ftand or fall — whether it be of God, or whether it will come
to nought.
The idea, no doubt, may be of ufe to thofe who are ftiled —
workers together with God.
ADVERTISEMENT. v
that the Ark fliall fafely and uninterruptedly fail;
and, in her courfe around the globe, receive a thou-
fand-fold more paflengers, for the port of her def-
tiny, than have ever, before this period, lived upon
the earth: — that, after thefe profperous gales, tem-
pefts fhall arife, as the laft efforts of expiring Hell : —
but through the fkilful management of him who fits
at helm, no danger fliall be fuftained; but fafety
to the Ark, and vi6lory to the Zion of God, fhall
welcome the invaluable treafure into the Haven of
Eternal Reft !—
To fupport the faith of the called of God, and
to quicken the exertions of thofe, through whofe
management, under God, the Ark now fails, is the
defign of the publication of this firft American
edition of Edwards's Hiftory of Redemption, with
Notes.
That the defign may meet the good wiflies of all
friends to Zion, and, efpecially, that it may receive
the patronage of Heaven, is the ardent prayer of one,
whofe profeifed ambition it is, to approve himfelf as
an induftrious hewer of wood, and dravv^er of v/ater,
for the Church of God.
Elizabeth-Town, 1
Dec. I, 1793. j"
DAVID AUSTIN.
PREFACE
PREFACE
To the First Edition.
XT has long been defired by the friends of Mr.
Edwards, that a number of his manufcripts fhould
be publifhed ; but the difadvantages under which all
pofthumous publications muft neceffarily appear, and
the difficulty of getting any confiderable work printed
in this infant country hitherto, have proved fufficient
obftacles to the execution of fuch a propofal. The
firfl: of thefe obftacles made me doubt, for a confi-
derable time after thefe manufcripts came into my
hands, whether I could, confiftently with that regard
which I owe to the honour of fo worthy a parent,
fuffer any of them to appear in the world. However,
being diffident of my own fentiments, and doubtful
whether I were not over-jealous in this matter, I de-
termined to fubmit to the opinion of gentlemen who
are friends both to the character of Mr. Edwards and
to the caufe of truth. The confequence was, that
they gave their advice for publilhing them.
The other obftacle was removed by a gentleman
in the church of Scotland, who was formerly a cor-
refpondent of Mr. Edwards.* He engaged a book-
feller to undertake the work, and alfo fignified his
defire that thefe following difcourfes in particular
might be made public.
Mr.
*Dr. Erskinh, of Edinbui-o:!).
viii PREFACE
Mr. Edwards had planned a body of divinity, in a
new method, and in the form of a hiftory ; in which
he was firil to fhew, how the moft remarkable events
in all ages, from the fall to the prefent times, recorded
in facred and profane hiftory, were adapted to pro-
mote the work of redemption ; and then to trace, by
the light of fcripture-prophecy, how the fame work
fliould be yet farther carried on even to the end of
the world. His heart was fo much fet on executing
this plan, that he was confiderably averfe to accept
the prefidentlliip of Prince-town college, left the du-
ties of that office fhould put it out of his power.
The outlines of that work are now offered to the
public, as contained in a feries of fermons preached
at Northampton in 1739,* without any view to pub-
lication. On that account, the reader cannot rea-
fonably expert all that from them, v/hich he might
juftly have expefted, had they been written with fuch
a view, and prepared by the Author's own hand for
the prefs.
As to elegance of compofition, which is now
efteemed fo elTential to all publications, it is well
known that the Author did not make that his chief
ftudy. However, his other writings, though defti-
tute of the ornaments of fine language, have, it feems,
that iolid merit which has procured, both to them-
felves and to him, a confiderable reputation in the
world, and with many an high efteem. It is hoped
that
* This is necefTary to be remembered by the reader, in order
to underftand fome chronological obfervations in the following
work.
TO THE FIRST EDITION. Ix
that the reader will find in thefe difcourfes many traces
of plain good fenfe, found reafoning, and thorough
knowledge of the facred oracles, and real unfeigned
piety : and that as the plan is new, and many of the
fentiments uncommon, they may afford entertainment
and improvement to the ingenious, the inquintive,
and the pious reader ; may confirni their faitli in
God's government of the world, in our holy Chrilbr .;
religion in general, and in many of its peculiar doc-
trines ; may affift in fludying with greater pleafure
and advantage the hiftorical and prophetical books of
fcripture ; and excite to a converfation becoming the
gofpel.
That this volume may produce thefe happy effefts
in all who fhall perufe it, is the hearty defire and
prayer of
The reader's mofl humble fervant,
Jonathan Edwards.
New Haven, Feb, 2^, I yy^^.
B ADVER-
ADVERTISEMENT
TO THIS EDITION.
X HE preceding Preface, by Dr. Jonathan Ed-
wards of NewHaven, (fon of President Edwards,
and Member of the Connecllcut Society of Arts and
Sciences) has fufficiently apprized the reader of the
nature of the following Work ; we have only to add,
that the original papers, being remitted to Dr. Er-
SKINE, were by him reduced from the form of Ser-
mons to that of a Treatife, and publifhed at Edinburgh.
Two material defeats were, however, complained
of in that edition : Firft, that only mere hints were
fometimes dropt of an important idea, which the
Author would doubtlefs have enlarged on, had he pre-
pared the work for publication : and fecondly, that
many of the hiflorical and critical obfervations were
not fupported with proper authorities, v/hich in pulpit
difcourfes v/ould have been impertinent, but became
highly neceffary in a pubhcation.
For thefe defe(Sls there appeared no remedy, but
fupplying, in the form of notes, what, probably the
Author would for the moft part have inferted in the
body of the work.
The celebrity of the Author, from whom many of
the notes are felefted, will (lamp thcjn with fufficient
credit : for the others, the publiflier has to confefs his
obligations to Gentlemen, whofe names he would be
proud to mention if permitted.
The Life and Experience of the Author, the Syllabus,
General Index, Table of Texts explained, and other
improvements of this Edition, will, it is hoped, alfo
contribute to render it more generally acceptable and
ufeful.
LONDON,
DTC. 27, 1788.
Authors
( xi )
Authors cited in the following Work.
Addifon.
Ainfvvorth.
Allen, Dr.
Allix, Dr.
Bacon, Lord.
Barnabas, St.
Baxter, R.
Bede.
Bennett, B.
Bingham.
Blackwell.
Blair, Dr.
Burnett, Dr.
Calvin.
Cave, Dr.
Celfus.
Claude.
Clemens Roman.
Cofins, Bp.
Cruden.
De Laune.
De Lolme.
Diodorus.
Dryden.
Dupin.
Edwards, Prei".
Eliezer.
Eufebius.
Fergufon.
Findlay.
Flavel.
Fox.
Faulke, Dr.
Fuller, Dr.
Geddes, Dr
Oerundenfis.
Geffner.
Gibbon, E.
Gill, Dr.
Glynn, Dr.
Glruterus.
Guife, Dr.
Hammond, Dr.
Heidegger.
Harris, Dr.
Helvicus.
Henry, M.
Herodotus.
Hervey.
Homer.
Howe.
Hurd, Bp.
Hunter, Dr. H.
Hutchinfon, J.
Jamblicus,
Jarchi.
Jenyns, Soamc.
Ignatius, St.
Jofephus.
Juflia Martyr.
Kennett.
Kimchi.
La6lantius.
Lardner.
Le Pluche, Abbe.
Le Clerc.
Levi.
Lightfoot, Dr.
Lipfius.
Locke.
Xll
)
Lowman.
Lowth, Bp.
M'Ewen.
Maimonides.
JM'fher.
Mede.
Menrichem.
Michaelis.
Middleton, Dr.
Milton.
Moore, Dr.
Newcome, Bp.
Newton, Sir Kaac.
Bp.
Mr.
Owen, Dr.
Parklunft.
Patrick, Bp.
Pearfon, Bp.
Pike.
Platina.
Pliny.
Plutarch.
Pope, A.
Prideaux, Dr.
Poole.
Potter, Abp.
Rapin.
Reader.
Reinerus.
Robinlon, R.
RoUin.
Roufleau.
Rowe, Mrs.
Saurin.
Schindler.
Scott, Dr.
Serces.
Shakefpeare.
Sherlock, Bp.
Shuckford, Dr.
South, Dr.
Stackhoufe.
Tacitus.
Targums.
Taylor, J.
Tertullian.
Thuanus.
Tacitus.
Tennifon, Abp,
Toplady.
Turner, D.
Tertullian.
Virgil.
Un'tverfal Hiji.
Watts, Dr.
Warburton, Bp.-
Ward, Dr.
Whitby, Dr.
Whitfield.
Winter, R.
WolHus.
Young, A.
Dr. E.
THE
THE
LIFE AND EXPERIENCE
OF THE REVEREND
JONATHAN EDWARDS.
B
lOGRAPHY is confeflcdly a very agreeable ftudy,
and when eminent and good men are the fubjc6i:s of it,
no lefs inftru6live and improving. We contemplate
with pleafure thofe who have attained degrees of virtue or
knowledge which ourfelves are feeking; and there is a
voice in a£l:s of piety and benevolence, like that of the
Redeemer, ' Go thou and do likewife:' but Christian
Biography has another end in view; we are taught to
confider believers as ' The workmanfliip of Chrift fefus,
* created anew unto good works :' and certainly the freenefs
and power of divine grace are no lefs confpicuous in thefe,
than are the other attributes of Deity in the works of na-
ture and providence. Or, to borrow another metaphor
of infpiration, they are the living Epiftles of Jefus
Chrift, and have thefe particular advantages over thofe
infcribed with ink and pen, that they are both more
durable and more legible— they are living and as durable
as eternal life ; they are ' feen and read of all men :' for
the moft illiterate can read the language of a holy life,
though they may not be able to read a line or a letter of the
infpired volume.
President Edwards, the author of the enfuing Hif-
tory, was one of the wifeft, bcft, and moft ufeful preachers
this
4 THELIFEOFTHE
this age lias produced ; his writings exhibit a remarkable
ftrength of intellect ; the pcrfpicuity of thought and depth
of penetration difcovered in his vindication of the great
dodtrines of Chriftianity, prove him to be a good fcholar,
a bright genius, and a great divine.
This learned and moft excellent man was born at Wind-
for, in the province of Conne6licut, 0£l:ober ^th, 1703;
was entered at Yale College in 17 16, and made bachelor
of arts in 1720, before he was feventeen years of age. His
mental powers opened themfelves fo early and fo vigoroufly,
that he read Locke's Effay upon Human Underftanding
with uncommon delight at thirteen years of age : even at
that period difcovering a depth, folidity, and penetration
of mind, which found nothing fo pleafant to itfclf as the
exercife of its own powers.
He lived at college near two years after taking this firil
degree, preparing himfelf, principally, for the facred func-
tion. After paffing the ufual trials, he was licenfed, ac-
cording to the cuflom of the college and the form of religion
in the province, to preach the gofpel as a candidate.
In Auguft 1722, he received a calico preach to the
Englirti Prelbyterians at New York, where he continued
with approbation above eight months. This fociety was
then too fmall to maintain a minifter; and therefore, in
the fpring of the year 1723, he returned to his father's
houfe in Conne6licut, where, during the following fum-
mer, he followed his ftudies with the clofell application.
It appears, however, that he had a deep fenfe of the
chriftian and miniflerial profcffion upon his mind during
his abode at New York, that the people he watched over
became very dear to him, and that he left them at laft with
great regret.
In the fpring of the year 1724, having taken his
mafter's degree in the year before, he was chofen tutor
of Yale College, and he followed this duty above two
years. It muft be owned, that this was an engagement
of great confequence for a young man of twenty-one,
who, by his early introdu£tion into the minillry, and
other avocations, could not have fouod too many oppor-
tunities
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 5
tunltles for his own improvement; but the ftrength of
his mind overcame what are ufually infuperable difficul-
ties in the way of the generahty ; and perhaps his genius
a6led more forcibly from its not being confined with aca-
demical fetters, which elevated geniufes can feldom en-
dure.
In September, 1726, he refigned his tutorfliip, in con-
fequence of the invitation of the people at Northampton,
in Conne£licut, for afliflance to his mother's father, Mr.
Stoddard, who was the fettled minifter of the town.
He was ordained colleague on the x 5th of February,
1727, in the twenty-fourth year of his age, and conti-
nued in the minifterial fervice there till the 22d of June,
1750, when he was difmifled for attempting to reform
the church.
What feems at firft to have rendered Mr. Edwards
an obje6l of hatred, was a circumftance, which fliould
have made him, and certainly would, among perfons tru-
ly religious, an obje6t of love. Some young perfons of
his flock had procured fome obfcene publications, which
they commented upon among themfelves for their ow»
proficiency in lafcivioufnefs, and propagated, with the
ufual decency of fuch perfons, for the infe6tion of others.
This came in a fhort time to Mr. Edwards's ears ; and
therefore taking cccafion after a fermon upon Heb. xii.
15, 16. preached for the purpofe, to call the leading
members of his charge together, he informed them of
what he had heard, and procured a confent that the
matter ihould be examined. A committee was appoint-
ed for this purpofe, and to affill: the paftor. When this
was done, Mr. Edwards appointed a time of meeting;
and then read a lift of the names of young perfons, ac-
cufmg and accufed, without fpecifying under which pre-
dicament they ftood, who were defired to come together at
his houfe.
Upon the declaration of names, it appeared tliat al-
moft all the families in the town had fome relation or
other concerned in the matter : and therefore a great
number of the heads of families not only altered their
minds
6 THELIFEOFTHE
minds about examination, but declared, that their cliil-
dren, &c. fhould not be called to account for fuch things
as thefe. The town was immediately in a blaze: and this
fo ftrengthened the hands, or hardened the faces of the
guilty, that they fet their Paftor at defiance with the greateft
infolence and contempt.
Thus Mr. Edwards's hands were weakened ; and we
are told, that he afterwards had but little fuccefs in his
miniftry ; but, on the contrary, that fecurity and carnality
much increafed among his people, and the youth in parti-
cular became more wanton and dilTolute.
All this paved the way for fomething more. It had
been a ftanding opinion among this people for fome time,
countenanced alfo by their late paftor, " That uncon-
verted perfons," known to be fuch by the ungodlinefs of
their lives, or their ignorance of divine truth, " had not-
"withftanding a right in the fight of God to tlie facrament
of the Lord's fupper ; and that, therefore, it was their
duty to partake of it, even though they had no appear-
ance of the grace and holinefs, which the gofpel ftates
to be infeparable from true believers. It was fufE-
cient if they were outward and vifible members ; fo
that they, who really rejeiled Jefus Chrifl:, and difliked
the gofpel-way of falvation in their hearts, and knew
that this was true of themfelves, might (inconceivable
as it appears) make the profeffion without lying and
hypocrify."
To the common inconveniences always attending a
national church, where it is impoflible to examine every
man's profeffion, or to keep him from difgracing it, here
is an addition becoming the difciples of Ignatius of Loyola,
by which men may be hypocrites without the guilt of hy-
pocrify, and lyars without the imputation of fm. A
convenient fort of principle indeed to men of a certain
caft ; but by no means to thofe, who are never to forget,
that ' Fornication and all uncleannefs, filthinefs, orfoolidi
* talking, Ihould not be even named amongft them, as be-
' cometh faints.' [See Eph. v. 3— 7-']
Mr
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 7
Mr. Edwards had long been uneafy upon the preva-
lence of this principle, (one of the moft ftrange that ever
any church of Chrifl avowed) and upon his own yield-
in'^ to the example of his predeceffor and to a pra6lice
fettled before he came thither. His doubts and uneail-
nefs, as might be expelled from fo good a man, increafcd
upon him, and drove him at length to a thorough in-
veftio-ation of the fubje6l ; the rcfult of which was a clear
convi6tion of the error, and a firm determination to ex-
pofe it. He was convinced, that " To be a v'lfible Chrif-
tian was to put on the appearance of a real one ; tliat the
profeffion of chrilHanity was a profeffion of that, in w-hich
real chiSftianity confifts;" and that, therefore, as the
Lord's fupper was intended for real Chriftians, none ought
to come to it, who were not at Icafl profefibrs of real
chriflianity, and to whom no imputation of allowed ungod-
liuefs could juftly be made.
The declaration of his mind upon this head, among
fuch a kind of men, raifed an immediate clamour, and
put the town into as great a ferment as the preaching of
an holy apoftle had long before occafioned at Ephelus.
They were all in an uproar : and ' Difmifs him, difniiis
' him,' was the unlverfal cry of men, women, and eiders.
He had touched a favourite fin, and a favourite principle
which protedted it : and (what was a very great truth,
though not in their fenfe of it) he was no longer fit to be
their pallor. He attempted to reafon with them calmly ;
but it was oppofing his breath to the winds, the general cry
was to have him difmiffed.
Mr. Edwards, when they would not hear him, wiihed
to refer thg matter to fome neighbouring miniders ; but
this being rejedted, he attempted to difcufs the matter in
a courfe of ledfures, which he began for the purpofe ; but
although numbers came from the adjoining parts, very
few of his own congregation would attend. So intoxicat-
ing is the nature of human prejudice, when once indulged,
that men v/ill rather renounce their reafon than refume their
temper.
C He
8 THELIFEOFTHE
He ufed all means in his power to reduce them at
leaft to a calm, if not a charitable, temper; to hear and
weigh, with a little attention, what he had to fay for
himfelf; and not to condemn him, were it only for
their own fakes, without fome fliadow of a reafon ! But
his meeknefs and modefty were treated as conceffions
againft himfelf, and only raifed the infolence and fury
of his adverfaries, inftead of foftening them into peace.
Nothing would ferve their turn (how plainly foever
againft their fpiritual and real intereft) but an abfolute
feparation.
Mr. Edwards, finding all methods ineffedlual to re-
flrain the torrent of virulence, flander, and falihood
rolling upon him, at length yielded to the artifice of
thefe men in packing a council, compofed chiefly of their
own friends; thefe, after fome unavailing attempts for a
reconciliation, pafled a refolve, by the majority of one
voice onlv, to this effeil, That it was expedient that
the paftoral relation between Mr. Edwards and his church
fhould be diffolved, if they perfifted in requiring it. This
being reported to the people, they immediately voted his
difmiffion by a majority of two hundred againft twenty, and
he was accordingly difmiffed June 22, 1750.
Thus had thefe people the infamy of endeavouring
to ruin the moft able and celebrated divine, who hath
as yet been born in America. But they knew not their
own mercies ; fuch a man as Mr. Edwards would im-
part honour to any coimtry or profeffion, and be readily
embraced by the wife and good in all. The few abhor-
rers of this atrocious a6l entered an unavailing proteft
againft it. The good man, fliocked rather for his ene-
mies than for himfelf, preached a moft folemn and af-
fcdling farewell difcourfe, which was "afterwards publiih-
ed, on 2 Cor. i. 4. on which he raifed this dodlrinc,
" That minifters, and the people who have been under their
care, muft meet one another at ihe tribunal of Chrift."
The malice of his enemies did not ftop here ; for when
at times there was no preacher to fupply the pulpit, he
cheerfully gave them his fervice, rather than it fhould be
empty.
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 9
empty. This kindnefs, which would have conciliated
more ingenuous minds, only increafed the unhappy flame
kindled in theirs, inlomuch that they called the town to-
gether and voted that he iliould preach among them no
more. And fo they frequently went without preaching,
rather than have the free miniftrations of a man, of whom
the world Itfelf was not tvorthy.
Thus ended his fervice of near four-and-twenty years
to an undifcerning and ungrateful people, who had been
much upon his heart, and for whom he had always ex-
prefled a very tender concern. " For their good he was
always writing, contriving, and labouring ; for them he
had poured out ten thoufand fervent prayers ; and in their
welfare he had rejoiced as one that findeth great fpoil."
Yet all their deteftable conducL did not alter the frame
of his mind. " He was calm, fedate and humble under
the moft injurious treatment; his refolution and con-
du61: in the whole affair were wonderful, and cannot
be fet in fo beautiful and afFe6ling a light by any de-
fcription, as they appeared in to his friends who were eye-
witnefles."
This incomparable man was now in the decline of
life, with little or no income befidcs his Itipend : and
this throws the greateft light upon his faithfulnefs and
fincerity : nor had he any view of fupport from another
appointment ; for he knew not how far the malice of his
people might extend to prevent it, or the prejudice of his
difmiflion operate againft him elfewhere: neither was he
capable (alas, what pity he ihould be driven to think of
it!) to take up any other bufmcfs for a fupport. Thus
poverty and difgrace were before him. But he knew that
he had a good Mafter. He had divine comfort in his foul ;
and in a lliort time Providence provided for both him and
his family.
Aihamed of this unparalleled bafenefs to fo excel-
lent a man, his friends, or rather the friends of god-
linefs, adminiftered to his relief: and he was foon after
appointed to the miifion at Stockbridge ; but not before
C 2 fome
lo THE LIFE OFTHE
fome other infolent and bitter attempts had been made
to ruin his reputation, as well as to deprive him of
bread.
It may not be improper here to add, that one of the
ringleaders in this iniquitous bufmefs was fo flung with
his condu6l towards Mr. Edwards, that he afterwards
made a public confcffion of his guilt, in a letter to the
Rev. Mr. Hall, of Sutton, which letter, after having enu-
^r.erated the particulars of his oppofition to that good man,
concludes thus, " In thefe inflances. Sir, of my condutSl,
and others (to which you was not privv) in the courfe
of that moft melancholy contention with Mr. Edwards,
wherein I now fee that I was very much influenced by
vafl: pride, felf-fufficiency, ambition, and vanity, I ap-
pear to myfelf vile ; and doubtlefs much more fo to
others vi'ho are more impartial ; and do, in the re-
view thereof, abhor myfelf, and repent forely : and if
my own heart condemns me, it behoves me folemnly
to remember, that God is greater, and knoweth all
things ; and I hereby own, Sir, that fuch treatment of
Mr. Edwards, as is herein before mentioned, wherein
I was fo deeply concerned and a61:ive, was particularly
and very aggravatedly finfui and ungrateful in me, be-
caufe I was not only under the common obligations of
each individual of the fociety to him, as a moft able,
diligent, and faithful pafior ; but I had alfo received
many inftances of his tendernefs, goodnefs, and gene-
rofity to me, as a young kinfman, whom he was dif-
pofed to treat in a moft friendly manner. Indeed, Sir,
I muft own, that by my conduct in confulting and a6t-
ing againft Mr. Edwards, within the time of our moft
unhappy difputes with him, and efpccially in and about
that abominable rcmonitrance, I have fo far fymbolized
with Balaam, Ahithophel, and Judas, that I am con-
founded and filled with terror oftentimes when I attend
to the moft painful fimilitude. And I freely confefs,
that en account of my conduct above mentioned, I
have the grcateft reafon to tremble'at thofe moft folcmn
and awful words of our Saviour, Matt, xviii. 6. and
thofe
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. n
ihofe in Luke xth, at the i6th : And I am moft forely
fcnfible that nothing but that infinite grace and mercy,
which faved fome of the betrayers and murderers of our
blefled Lord and the pcrfecutors of his martyrs, can
pardon me : in which alone I hope for pardon, for the
fake of Chrif!:, whofe blood (blefTed be God) cleanfeth
from all fin. And I moft heartily wiih and pray, that
the town and church of Northampton would ferioufly
and carefully examine whether they have not abundant
caufe to judge, that they are now lying under great guilt
in the fight of God . and whether thofe of us, who
were concerned in that moft awful contention with Mr.
Edwards, can ever more reafonably expect God's favour
and bleffing, until our eyes are opened, and we become
thoroughly convinced that wc have greatly provoked the
moft High, and been injurious to one of the beft of
men ; and until we ihall be thoroughly convinced that
we have dreadfully perfecuted Chrift by perfecuting and
vexing that jufl man and fervant of ChrilT; ; until we
fliall be humble as in the dull therefore, and till we
openly in full terms, and without baulking the matter,
confefs the fame before the world, and mofl humbly and
carneftly feek forgivenefs of God, and do what we can
to honour tiie memory of Mr. Edwards, and clear it
of all the afperfions which are unjuflly cafl upon him ;
fince God has been pleafed to put it beyond our power
to afk his forgivenefs. Such terms I am perfuaded the
great and righteous God will hold us to, and that it will
be in vain for us to hope to efcape with impunity in any
other way. This I am convinced of with regard to ray-
felf, and this way I moft folemnly propofe to take to
myfelf (if God in his mercy ihall give me opportu-
nity) that fo by making free confcflion to God and man
of my fin and guilt, and publickly taking fhame to my-
felf therefore, I may give glory to the God> of Ifrael,
and do what in me lies, to clear the memory of that ve-
nerable man from the wrongs and injuries I was fo ac-
tive in bringing on his rcp\itation and character ; and I
thank
12 THELIFEOFTHE.
thank God that he has been pleafed to fpare my life and op-
portunity therefore to this time, and am forry that I have
delayed the affair fo long."
Mr. Edwards, who was able to fliine in the feats of
learning, and fome time hence was called to prefide over
one, was now delegated to the inftruftion of favage In-
dians at Stockbridge. This place is in the weflern part
of Maflachufctts Bay, and about fix miles from Mr.
Edwards's former refidence at Northampton. He was
fixed here on the 8th of Augufl, 1751 ; and here he con-
tinued his labours, in more peace and quietnefs than he
had ever known before, for fix years. In this interval,
though much in years, he made greater attainments in
knowledge, and wrote more for the church of God, than
he had ever been able to do, within the fame fpace of time,
during the former part of his life. In this retirement, he
compofed his deeped and mofi; valuable works ; fo that
when, in his own judgment, as well as that of others, his
ufefulnefs feemed to be cut off, he found greater opportu-
nities of fervice than ever. A pleafing calm, after fo grie-
vous a florm, to his troubled mind !
On the death of Mr. Aaron Burr, prefide nt of New
Jerfey College, which was on the 24th of September,
1757, the truftees of that feminary unfoHcIted cliofe
Mr. Edwards to fuccced him : but our excellent author
was witli difficulty prevailed upon to accept it ; modeflly
alledging his own infufficiency, ill health, and difufe to
that kind of life. At length, upon the arguments and,
perfualions of his brethren in the miniftry, he accepted
of this prefidency, and went from Stockbridge to Prince
Town in January, 1758. But the end of his labours
was ajiproaching ; he had only preached two or three fer-
mons, and had not entered fully upon the duties of his
new office, when he was called to glory. The fmall
pox, which has always been unufually fatal in America,
had infefted Prince Town, which, induced the phyfician
of the place to advifc him to be ^inoculated, with tlie
confent of the corporation. Accordingly he was inocu-
» lated
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 13
lated on the 13th of February, and his diforder at firft
feemed to be favourable; but a fever coming on, and the
puftules laying much in his throat, noproper medicines could
be adminiltered, and therefore the violence of it raged, till
it put an end to his ufeful life, on the 22d of March, 1 758,
in the iifty-fifth year of his age.
When he was fenfible that death was approacliing, he
called his daughter (who was the only part of his family
which had yet removed with him,) and addreffed her in
the following words: ' Dear Lucy, it feems to me to be
* the will of God, that I muft fliortly leave you : there-
* fore, give my kindeft love to my dear wife, and tell her,
* that the uncommon union, which has fo long fubfifted
* between us, has been of fuch a nature, as 1 truft is fpi-
* ritual, and therefore will continue for ever. I hope
* fhe will be fupported under fo great a trial, and fubmit
* cheerfully to the will of God. And as to my children,
* you are now like to be left fatherlefs, which I hope will
* be an inducement to you all to feek a father, who will
* never fail you.' He defired that his funeral might not be
attended with parade (as is ufual in America,) but ra-
ther fomething be given to the poor. He could fay but
little in his ficknefs, owing to the nature and feat of his
diforder ; but jufl: at the laft, when furrounded by friends
lamenting their own lofs and that of fhe church and col-
lege, he faid, to their great furprize, as they did not ima-
gine he heard them or was able to fpeak, ' Trull in God,
* and ye need not fear:' and then, almoft literally, fell
alleep in Jefus.
We are perfuaded our readers will be abundantly gra-
tified with the account of our author's experience as written
by himfelf ; and therefore fhall make no apology for fub-
joining almoft the whole of it.
In this narrative we find our great and celebrated me-
taphyfician relating the manner of God's dealings with
his foul, in a ftile that breathes all the humility and
fimplicity of a little child. " It is peculiarly fwect to
obferve," fays an evangelical writer, «« that in matters of
fpiritual
14 T H E L I F E O F T H E
fplritual concern, the philofopher and the ploughman, if
truly regenerated, have the fame feelings, and fpenk the
fame langiiage : they all ' eat of the fame fpiritual meat,
and drink of the fame fpiritiaal rock, which follows them,
and that rock is Chrift.' Hence that fimilitude of expe-
rience or (to fpeak figuratively) that llrong and flriking
family likenefs, which obtjiins among the converted people
of God, in every period of time, and in every nation un-
der heaven. They all without exception feel thcmfelves
totally ruined by original fm ; they all without exception
take refuge in the righteoufnefs and crcfs of Chrift ; and
unite in afcribing the whole praife of their falvation to
the alone free grace and fovereign mercy of Father, Son,
and Spirit."
" I had," fays Mr. Edwards, " a variety of concerns
and exercifcs about my foul from my childhood ; but
had two more remarkable feafons of awakening, before I
met with that change by which I was brought to thofe
new difpoiitions, and that new fenfe of things, that I
have fince had. The firft time was when I was a boy,
fome years before I went to college, at a time of remark-
able awakening in my father's congregation. I was then
very much affected for many months, and concerned
about the things of religion, and ray foul's falvation i
and was abundant in duties. I ufed to pray five times a
day in fecret, and to fpend much time in religious talk
with other boys ; and ufed to meet with them to pray to-
gether. I experienced I know not what kind of delight
in religion ; my mind was much engaged in it, and had
much felf-righteous plcafure ; and it was my delight to
abound in religious duties. I, with fome of my fchool-
mates, joined together and built a booth in a uvamp, in
a very fecret and retired place, for a place of prayer.
And, befides, I had particular fecret places of my own in
the woods, wliere I ufed to retire by myfelf, and ufed to
be, from time to time, much affected. My affeilions
feemed to be lively and enfily moved, and 1 feemed to be
in my clement, when I engaged in religious duties : and
I am ready to think, many are de'ccived with fuch affec-
tions,
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 15
lions, and fuch a kind of delight, as I then had in religion,
and iniftake it for grace.
" But in pvocefs of time, my convi6lions and affections
wore off, and I entirely lofl all thofe affe6lions and delights,
and left oiF fecret prayer, at lead: as to any conllant per-
formance of it: and returned like a dog to his vomit, and
went on in ways of iin.
" Indeed I was at fome times very uneafy, efpecialiy
towards the latter part of the time of my being at colleo-e.
Till it pleafed God, in my lafl: year at college, at a time
when I was in the midft of many uneafy thoughts about
the ftate of my foul, to feize me with a pleurifv ; in which
he brought me nigh to the grave, and fliook me over the
pit of hell.
" But yet, it was not long after my recovery, before I
fell again into my old ways of fm. But God would not
fufFer me to go on with any quietnefs ; for I had great and
violent inward ftrugglcs : till after many conflids with,
wicked inclinations, and repeated refolutions, and bonds
that I laid myfelf under by a kind of vows to God, I was
brought wholly to break off all former wicked ways, and
all ways of known outvs^ard fm, and to apply myfelf to
fcek my falvntion and pradife the duties of religion ; but
without that kind of affe6lion and delight that I had for-
merly experienced. My concern now wrought more by
inward ftruggles and confiids, and felf-refle6lions : I made
feeking my falvation the main bufmefs of my life ; but yet
it feems to me, I fought after a miferable manner ; which
has made me fometimes fmce to queftion, whether ever it
iffued in that which was faving ; being ready to doubt,
whether fuch miferable feeking was ever fucceeded. But
yet I was brought to feek falvation in a manner that I never
was before ; I felt a fpirit to part with all things in the world
for an intereft in Chrift. My concern continued and pre-
vailed, with many exercifing thoughts and inward ftruggles ;
but yet it never feemed to be proper to exprefs my concern
that I had, by the name of terror.
*' From my childhood up, my mind had been wont
to be full of objeaions againft the doarine of God's
D fove-
i6 THE LIFE OFTHE
fovereignty, in choofing whom he would to eternal
life, and rejeiting v/hom he pleafed; leaving them
eternally to periih It ufed to ap-
pear like a horrible do6lrine to me ; but I remember
the time very well, when I feemed to be convinced, and
fully fatisfied, as to this fovereignty of God, and his juf-
tice in thus eternally difpofing of men according to his
fovereign pleafure ; but never could give an account how,
or by what means, I was thus convinced ; not in the
leaft imagining, in the time ot it, nor a long time after,
that there was any extraordinary influence of God's Spi-
rit in it ; but only that now I faw farther, and my reafon
apprehended the jufticc and reafonablenefs of it. How-
ever, my mind relied in it ; and it put an end to all thofe
cavils and obje6lions that had till then abode with me all
the preceding part of my life. But I have oftentimes,
lince that firft conviftion, had quite another kind of fenfe
of God's fovereignty than I had tlien. I have often
fince, not only had a conviction, but a dellghtfiil con-
yiftion. The do6lrine cf God's fovereignty has very
often appeared an exceeding pleafant, bright, and fweet
do6lrine to me ; and abfolute fovereignty is what I love
to afcribe to God. But my firfl conviction was not
with this."
Tills part of our excellent Author's experience reminds
us of the feventeeth Article of the Church' of England,
which afferts, that " The godly confideration ot prcdef-
tination, and of our ele6llon in Chrill:, is full of fweet,
pleafant, and tmfpeakable comfort to godly perfons."
Such indeed liave many found it; but let it be remem-
bered, it is only the godly conjidcration of predeftination
that is thus comfortable; that this mufl: be conne6led
with the evidence of our ele5l'ion in Chrift, and that to
godly perfons only is this contemplation fweet and profit-
able; to others it may be dangerous, and it mull be pain-
ful. An amiable divine has obferved, " That none
fliould go to the unlverfity of Predeflinatlon, until they
have been at the grammar fchool" of Faith and Repent-
ance."
'« The
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 17
'' The firfl: that I remember that ever I found any thing
of that fort of inward fvveet dehght in God and divine
things, that I have lived much in fmce, was on reading
thofe words, [i Tim. i. 17.] ' Now unto the King etcr-
* nal, immortal, invifihle, the only wife God, be honour
* and glory for ever and ever. Amen.' As I read the
words, there came into my foul, and was as it were dif-
fufed through it, a fenfe of the glory of the Divine Being ;
quite different from any thing I ever expe-
rienced before. Never any words of fcripture feemcd to
me as thefe words did. I thought with myfelf, how ex-
cellent a Being that was, and how happy I fliould be, if I
might enjoy that God, and be wrapt up to God in heaven,
and be as it were fwallowed up in him, I kept faying,
and as it were fmging over thefe words of fcripture to
myfelf; and went to prayer, to pray to God that I might
enjoy him •, and prayed in a manner quite different from
what I ufed to do; with a new fort of affe6lion ; but it
never came into my thought that there was any thing fpi ri-
tual or of a faving nature in this.
*' From about that time, I began to have a new kind
of apprehenfions and ideas of Chrift, and the work of re-
demption, and the glorious way of falvation by him. I
had an inward fweet fenfe of thefe things, that at times
came into my heart, and my foul was led away in plea-
fant views and contemplations of them ; and my mind
was greatly engaged to fpend my time in reading and me-
ditating on Chrift, and the beauty and excellency of his
perfon, and the lovely way of falvation by free grace in
him. I found no books fo delightful to me, as thofe that
treated of thefe fubje6ls. Thofe words, [Cant, ii, i,]
* ufed to be abundantly with me, ' I am the rofe of Sharon,
' and the lily of the vallies.' The words feemed to me
fweetly to reprefent the lovelinefs and beauty of Jefus
Chrift. And the whole book of Canticles ufed to be plea-
iant to me, and I ufed to be much in reading it about
that time ; and found, from time to time, an inward
Iweetnefs that ufed, as if were, to carry me away in my
contemplations. The fenfe I had of divine things,
D 2 would
i8 THE LIFE OFTHE
would often of a fudden, as it were, kindle up a fwect
burning in my heart, an ardour of my foul, that I know
not how to exprefs.
" After this my fenfe of divine tilings gradually in-
creafed, and became more and more lively, and had more,
of that inward fweetnefs. The appearance of every thing
was altered; there feemed to be, as it were, a calm, fweet
cafl: or appearance of divine glory, in almoft every thing.
God's excellency, his wifdom, his purity and love, feemed
to appear in every thing ; in the fun, moon, and flats ;
in the clouds, and blue iky ; in the gtafs, flowers, trees ;
in the water, and all nature ; which ufed greatly to fix
my mind. I often ufed to fit and view the moon for a
long time : and fo in the day-time fpent much time in
viewing the clouds and iky, to behold the fweet glory of
God in thefe things ; in the mean time fmging forth,
with a low voice, my contemplations of the Creator and
Redeemer : and fcarce any thing, among all the works of
nature, was fo fweet to me as thunder and lightning;
formerly, nothing had been fo terrible to me. I ufed to
be a perfon uncommonly terrified with thunder, and it
ufed to ftrike me with terror when I faw a thunder-ftorm
rifing: but now, on the contrary, it rejoiced me. I felt
God at the firft appearance of a thunder-ftorm, and uled
to take the opportunity, at fuch tiiues, to fix myfelf to
view the clouds, and fee the lightnings play, and hear, the
majeftic and av^^ful voice of God's thunder, which often-
times was exceedingly entertaining, leading me to Iweet
contemplations of my great and glorious God ; and while
I viewed, ufed to fpend my time, as it always feemed
natural to me, to ling or chant forth my meditations;
to fpeak my thoughts in foliloquies, and fpeak with a
fmging voice.
" I felt tlicn a great fatisfaflion as to my good eftate ;
but that did not content me. I had vehement longings
of foul al"tcr God and Chrift, anxl after more holinefs,
wherewith my heart feemed to be full, and ready to
break ; which often brought to my mind the words of
the Pfalmift, [Pfa. cxix. 28.] * My foul brcaketh for the
' lonoing
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 19
♦ longing it hath.' I often felt a mourning and lament-
ing in my heart, that I had not turned to God fooner,
that I might have had more time to grow in grace. My
mind was greatly fixed on divine things ; I was almofi:
perpetually in the contemplation of them : fpent moft ot
my time in thinking of divine things, year after year;
and ufed to fpend abundance of my time in walking alone
in the woods and folitary places for meditation, folilo-
quy, and prayer, and converfe with God : and it was al-
ways my manner, at fuch times, to fing forth my con-
templations ; and was almoft conftantly in ejaculatory
prayer wherever I was. Prayer feemed to be natural to
me, as the breath by which the inward burnings of my
heart had vent.
" The delights which I now felt in things of religion
were of an exceeding different kind from thofe fore-men-
tioned, that I had when I was a boy; they were totally
of another kind ; and what I then had no more notion
or idea of, than one born blind has of pleafant and beau-
tiful colours: they were of a more inwaid, pure, foul-
animatino; and refreflrins: nature. Thofe former delights
never reached the heart ; and did not arife from any fight
of the divine excellency of the things of God; or any
tafte of the foul-fatisfying, and life-giving good, there is
in them."
Mr. Edwards mull certainly be the befl: judge of his
own feelings ; but we have fometimes queried whether
our author and fomc other excellent men have not erred
in imputing their hrft convi6tion and early experience in
religion to fome other caufe, which ought rather to be
attributed to the agency of the Divine S{)irit. It certainly
does not follow, that becaufe our firft views of divine
things are lefs clear, and our firft religious affecllons lefs
ipirltual, than afterwards, that they do not proceed from
the famecauie. The early beamings of the dawn, and the
noon-tide fun beams, though they differ immenfely in
their degree ot light and heat, are certainly of the fame
nature, and proceed from the fame caufe. When our Lord
ilrft anointed the eyes of the blind man, [Mark viii. 24.I
he
30 THELIFEOFTHE
he faw * Men as trees walking ;' but when he put his hands
on him again, ' he faw every man clearly ;' yet bv the fame
hands were both effe6ls prodviced, and to the fame Redeemer
was the glory of both due.
** My fenfe of divine things feemed gradually to in-
creafe, till I went to preach at New York, which was
about a year and a half after they began. While I was
there, I felt them, very fenfibly, in a much higher de-
gree than I had done before : my longings after God and
holinefs were much increafed ; pure and humble, holy
and heavenly chriftianity, appeared exceeding amiable to
me. I felt in me a burning defire to be in every thing a
complete Cliriflian ; and conformed to the bleffed image
of Chrift ; and that I might live in all things according
to the pure, fwcet, and bleffed rules of the gofpel. I had
an eager thirfting after progrefs in thefe things ; my long-
ings after it put me upon purfuing and preffing after tbem.
It was my continual ftrife day and night, and conflant
inquiry, how I fliould be more holy, and live more ho-
lily, and more becoming a child of God, and difciple of
Chrift. I fought an increafe of prace and holinefs, and
that I might live an holy life, with vaftly more earneft-
nefs than ever I fought grace, before I had it. I ufed
to be continually examining myfelf, and ftudying and
contriving for likely ways and means how' I Jhould live
holily, with far greater diligence and earneftnefs than
ever I purfued any thing in my life ; but with too great a
dependence on my own ftrength, which afterwards proved
a great damage to me. My experience had not then
taught me, as it has done fmce, my extreme fecblcnefs
and impotence, every manner of way ; and the innumer-
able and bottomlefs depths of fccret corruption and deceit
that there were in my heart. Hov>ever, I went on with
my eager purfuit after more holinefs, and fweet confor-
mity to Chrift.
" The heaven I deftred was a heaven of holinets ; to
be with God, and to fpend my eternity in divine love, and
holy communion with Chrift. My mind was very much
taken up with contemplations on heaven, and the enjoy-
ments
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 21
ments of thofc there ; and living there in perfe6l holinefs,
humiHty. and love. And it ufed at that time to appear a
great part of the happinefs of heaven, that there the faints
could exprefs their love to Chrift. It appeared to me a
great clog and hindrance, and burden to mc that what J
felt within, I could not exprefs to God, and give vent to,
as I defired: the inward ardour of my foul feemed to be
hindered and pent up, and could not freely flame out as
it would. I ufed often to think how in heaven this fweet
principle fhould freely and fully vent and exprefs itfelf.
Heaven appeared to me exceeding delightful as a world of
love. It appeared to me that all happinefs confified in living
in pvire, humble, heavenly, divine love.
*' I remember the thoughts I ufed then to have of ho-
linefs. I remember I then faid fometimes to myfelf, I do
certainly know that I love holinefs, fuch as the gofpel pre-
fcribcs ; it appeared to me, there was nothing in it but
what was ravifhingly lovely : it appeared to me to be the
highefl: beauty and amiablenefs, above all other beauties,
that it was a divine beauty, far purer than any thing here
upon earth ; and that every thing elfe was like mire, filth,
and defilement, in comparifon of it.
*' Holinefs, as I then wrote down fomc of my con-
templations on it, appeared to me to be of a fweet, pleafant,
charming, ferene, calm nature ; it feemed to me, it brouphr
an inexpreflible purity, brightnefs, peacefulnefs, and ra-
vifhment, to the foul ; and that it made the foul like a
field or garden of God, with all manner of pleafant flow-
ers, that is all pleafant, delightful, and undiflurbed ; en-
joying a fweet calm, and the gentle vivifying beams of the
fun. The foul of a true Chriflian, as I then wrote my
meditations, appeared like fuch a little white flower as
we fee in the fpring of the year, low and humble on the
ground, opening its bofora to receive the pleafant beams
of the fun's glory ; rejoicing, as it were, in a calm rap-
ture, difFufing around a fvv^eet fragrancy, flanding peace-
fully and lovingly in the midfi: of other flowers round
about ; all in like mamier opening their bofoms to drink in
the light of the fun.
" There
23 THE LIFE OFTHE
" There was no part of creature-holinefs that I then,'
and at other times, had fo great a fenfe of the lovelincfs
of, as humility, brokennefs of heart, and poverty of fpi-
rit ; and there was nothing that I had fuch a fpirit to
long for. My heart, as it were, panted after this, to lie
low before God, and in the dull:, tliat I might be no-
thing, and that God mig];t be all ; that I might become as
a little child.
" While I was there, at New York, I fometimes was"
much affected with refledlions on my paft life, confider-
ing how late it was before I began to be truly religious,
and how wickedly I had lived till then ; and once fo, as
to weep abundantly, and for a conluierable time toge-
ther.
" On January 12, 1722-3, I made a folemn dedica-
tion of myfelf to God ; and wrote it down ; giving up
myfelf and ail that I had to God; to be for the future in
no refpe6t my own ; to adl as one that had no right to
himfelf in any refpecl ; and folemnly vowed to take God
for my whole portion and felicity ; looking on nothing
elfe as any part of my happinefs, nor a6ling as if it were ;
and his law for the conflant rule of my obedience, en-
gaging to fight with all my might againft the world, the
fiefh, and the devil, to the end of my life. But have reafon
to be infinitely humbled, when I confider how much I have
failed of anfwcring my obligation.
" I had then abundance of fweet religious converfation
In the family where I lived, with Mr. John Smith, and his
pious mother. My heart was knit in affection ro thofe, in
whom were appearances of true piety ; and I could bear the
thoughts of no other companions, but fuch as were holy,
and the difciples of the bleifed Jefus.
*' I had great longings for the advancement of Chrift's
kingdom in the world; mv fecret prayer ufed to be in
great part taken up in praying for it. If I heard the
leaft hint of any thing that happened in any part of the
world, that appeared to me, in fome refpe6l or other, to
have a favourable afpeft on the iutereft of Chrifl's king-
dom, my foul eagerly catchcd at it. and it would much
animate
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 23
animate and refrefli me. I ufed to be carneft to read pub-
lic news letters, mainly for that end, to fee if I could not
find fome news favourable to the intereft of religion in the
world.
*' I very frequently ufed to retire into a folitary place
on the banks of Hudfon's River, at fome diflance from the
city, for contemplation on divine things, and fecret con-
verfe with God ; and had many fvveet hours there. Some-
times Mr. Smith and T walked there together, to converfe
of the things of God ; and our converfation ufed much to
turn on the advancement of Chrift's kingdom in the world,
and the glorious things that God would accomplish for his
church in the latter days.
*' I had then, and at other times, the greateft delight
in the holy fcriptures of any book whatfoever; often-
times in reading it, every word feemed to touch my
heart, I felt a harmony between fomething in my heart,
and thofe fweet and powerful words : I feemed often to
fee fo much light exhibited by every fentence, and fuch
a refrefliing ravifhing food communicated, that I could
not get along in reading: ufed oftentimes to dwell long
on one fentence, to fee the wonders contained in it ;
and yet almoft every fentence feemed to be full of won-
ders.
" I came away from New York in the month of
April 1723, and had a mofi: bitter parting with Madam
Smith and her fon : my heart feemed to fink within me^
at leaving the family and city, where I had enjoyed fo
many fweet and pleafant days. I went from New York
to Weathersfield by water. As I failed away, I kept
fight of the city as long as I could, and when I was out
of fight of it, it would affeS: me much to look that way,
with a kind of melancholly mixed with fweetnefs. How-
ever that night, after this forrowful parting, I was greatly
comforted in God at Welkhefter, where we went aihore
to lodge, and had a pleafant time of it all the voyage to
Saybrook. It was fweet to me to think of meeting dear
Chrillians in heaven, where we Ihould never part more.
At Saybrook went aOiore to lodge on Saturday, and there
E kept-
24 THELIFEOFTHE
kept Sabbath ; where I had a fweet and refreihing feafon,
walking alone in the fields.
*' After I came home to Windfor, remained much in
a like frame of mind as I had been in at New York, but
only fometimes felt my heart ready to fink, with the
thoughts of my friends at New York ; and my refuge
and fupport was in contemplations on the heavenly ftate,
as I find in my Diary, of May i, 1723. It was my
comfort to think of that ftate, where there is fulnefs of
joy ; where reigns heavenly, fweet, calm, and delightful
love, without alloy ; where there are continually the
deareft expreffions of this love ; where is the enjoyment
of the perfons loved, without ever parting; where thefe
perfons that appear fo lovely in this world, will really be
inexprcfllbly more lovely, and full of love to us. And
how fweetly will the mutual lovers join together to fing
the praifes of God and the Lamb ! How full will it fill
us with joy to think that this enjoyment, thefe fweet
exercifes, will never ceafe or come to an end, but will
lafl to all eternity !
" Continued much in the fame frame in the general,
that I had been in at New York, till I went to New
Haven, to live there as tutor of the college ; having one
fpecial feafon of uncommon fweetnefs, particularly once
at Bolton, in a journey from Bofl:on, walking out alone in
the fields. After J. went to New Haven I funk in religion,
my mind being diverted from my eager and violent pur-
fuits after holinefs, by fome affairs that greatly perplexed
and diftrailed my mind.
" In September 1725, was taken ill at New Haven,
and endeavouring to go home to Windfor, was fo ill at
the North Village, that I could go no further ; where I
lay fick for about a quarter of a year. And, in this fick-
nefs, God was pleafed to vifit me again with the fweet
influences of his Spirit. My mind was greatly engaged
there on divine, pleafant contemplations, and longings
of foul. I obferved, that thofe who watched with mc
would often be looking out for the morning, and feemed
to wiili for it J which brought to my mind thofe words
of
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 25
of the Pfalmift, which my foul with fweetnefs made its
own language, ' My foul waiteth for the Lord, more than
< they that watch for the morning, I fay, more than they
« that watch for the morning.' And when the light of
the morning came, and the beams of the fun came in at
the windows, it refrellied my foul from one morning to
another : it feemed to me to be fome image of the fweet
light of God's glory.
«« I remember, about that time, I nfed greatly to long
for the converfion of fome that I was concerned with. It
feemed to me I could gladly honour them, and with delight
be a fervant to them, 'and lie at their feet, if they were but
truly holy.
*' But fome time after this, I was again greatly diverted
in my mind with fome temporal concerns, that exceedingly
took up my thoughts, greatly to the wounding of my foul ;
and went on through various exercifes, that it would be
tedious to relate ; that gave mc much more experience of
my own heart than ever I had before.
<< Since I came to this town,* I have often had fweet
complacency in God, in views of his glorious perfeaions,
and the excellency of Jefus Chrift. God has appeared to
me, a glorious and lovely being, chiefly on the account
of his holinefs. The holinefs of God has always appeared
to me the moft lovely of all his attributes. The dodrines
of God's abfolute fovereignty- and free grace, in Ihewing
mercy to whom he would lliew mercy, and man's abfolute
dependence on the operations of God's Holy Spirit, have
very often appeared to me as fweet and glorious dodrines.
Thefc doftrines have been much my delight : God's fo-
vereignty has ever appeared to me as great part of his
glory i it has often been fweet to me to go to God, and
adore him as a fovereign God, and alk fovereign mercy
of him.
«' I have loved the dodrines of the gofpel; they have
been to my foul like green paftures : the gofpel has feemed
to me to be the richefl treafure ; the treafure that I have
E 2 moft
* Northampton.
26 THELIFEOFTHE
moildefired, and longed that it might dwell richly in me.
The wav of falvation by Chrill has appeared in a general
way, glorious and excellent, and moft pleafant and moft
beautiful. It has often feemed to me that it would, in a
great meafure, fpoil heaven, to receive it in any other way*
That text has often been afFe6ling and delightful to me,
[Ifa. xxxii. 2.] ' A man fhall be an hiding place from the
' wind, and a covert from the tempeft,' &c.
" It has often appeared fweet to me to be united to
Chrlft; to have him for my head, and to be a member
of his body; and alfo to have Chrift for my teacher and
prophet. I very often think, with fweetnefs and long-
ings, and pantings of foul, of being a little child, taking
hold of Chrift, to be led by him through the wildernefs
of this world. That text, [Matt, xviii.] at the beginning,
has often been fweet to me, ' Except ye be converted, and
< become as little children,' &c. I love to think of com-
ing to Chrift to receive falvation of him, poor in fpirit,
and quite empty of felf ; humbly exalting him alone ; cut
entirely off from my own root, and to grow into, and
out of Chrift : to have God in Chrift to be all in all ;
and to live by faith on the Son of God, a life of humble,
unfeigned confidence in him. That fcripture has often
been fweet to me, [Pfa. cxv. i.] ' Not unto us, O Lord,
' not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, -for thy mercy
' and for thy truth's fake.' And thofe words of Chrift,
[Luke x. 21.] ' In that hour Jefus rejoiced in fpirit, and
* faid, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
' that thou haft hid thefe things from the wife and pru-
' dent, and haft revealed them unto babes ; even fo, Fa-
' ther, for fo it feemed good in thy fight.' That fove-
leignty of God that Chrift rejoiced in, feemed to me to
be worthy to be rejoiced in ; and that rejoicing of Chrift
feemed to me to Ihew the excellency of Chrift, and the
fpirit that he was oi.
" The fweeteft joys and delights I have experienced,
have not been thofe that have arifen from a hope of my
own good eftate, but in a diredl* view of the glorious
things of the gofpel. When I enjoy this fweetnefs, it
fcems
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 27
fecms to carry mc above the thoughts of my own fafc
cftate : it feems at fuch times a lofs that I cannot bear to
take off my eye from the glorious, pleafant objedl I behold
without me, to turn my eye in upon mylelf, and my own
good eftate."
Such remarks abound in the writings of the New Eng-
land divines ; and we have no right to deny what they affert
upon their own experience. But when this attainment
is made the teft of Chriftianity, and the criterion of true
grace, we muft oppofe it. It is ' the love of God ilied
' abroad in our hearts' that muft enkindle our firft affec-
tions to him. And the moft dear and affe6lionate apoftle
afferts, that ' We love him becaufe he firft loved us.'
[i John iv. 19.]
" My heart has been much on the advancement of
Chrift's kingdom in the world ; the hiftories of the paft
advancement of Chrift's kingdom have been fweet to me.
When I have read hiftories of paft ages, the pleafanteft
thing in all my reading has been, to read of the kingdom
of Chrift being promoted : and when I have expe6led in
my reading to come to any fuch thing, I have lotted upon
it all the way as I read ; and my mind has been much en-
tertained and delighted with the fcripture promifes and
prophecies of the future glorious advancement of Chrift's
kingdom on earth.
*' I have fomctimcs had a fenfe of the excellent ful-
ncfs of Chrift, and his meetnefs and fuitablenefs as a
Saviour, whereby he has appeared to me, far above all,
the chiet of ten thoufands : and his blood and atonement
has appeared fweet, and his righteoufnefs fweet ; which is
always accompanied with an ardency of fpirit, and inward
ftrugglings, and breathings, and groanings, that cannot
be uttered, to be emptied of myfelf, and fwallowcd up in
Chrift.
" Once, as I rode out in the woods for my health,
Anno 1737, and having lighted from my horfe in a re-
tired place, as my manner commonly has been, to walk
for divine contemplation and prayer, J. had a view, that
for me was extraordinary, of the glory of the Son of
God,
28 THELIFEOFTHE
God, as mediator between God and man ; and his won-
derful, great, full, pure, and fvveet grace and love, and
meek and gentle condefcenfion. This grace, that ap-
peared to me fo calm and fweet, appeared great above the
heavens : the perfon of Chrift appeared ineffably excel-
lent, with an excellency great enough to fwallow up all
thought and conception, which continued, as near as I
can judge, about an hour, which kept me the bigger part
of the time in a flood of tears, and weeping aloud. I felt
withal an ardency of foul to be, what I know not other-
wife how to cxprefs, than to be emptied and annihilated,
to lie in the duft, and to be full of Chrift alone ; to love
him with a holy and pure love ; to truft in him ; to live
upon him ; to ferve and follow him ; and to be totally
wrapt up in the fulnefs of Chrift ; and to be perfe6lly
faudified and made pure, with a divine and heavenly pu-
rity. T have feveral other times had views very much of
the fame nature, and that have had the fame effeds.
" I have many times had a fenfe of the glory of the
third perfon in the Trinity, in his office of San6lifier, in
his holy operations communicating divine light and life
to the foul. God, in the communications of his Holy
Spirit, has appeared as an infinite fountain of divine glory
and fweetnefs ; being full and fufficient to fill and fatisfy
the foul; pouring forth itfelf in fweet communications,
like the fun in its glory, fweetly and pleafantly diffufing
light and life.
<« I have fometimes had an affe6tlng fenfe of the excel-
lency of the word of God, as a word of life ; as the light
of life ; a fweet, ericellent, life-giving word ; accompanied
with a thirfting after that word, that it might dwell richly
in my heart.
" I have often, fince 1 lived in this town, had very
affeding views of my own finfulnefs and vilenefs; very
frequently fo as to hold me in a kind of loud weeping,
fometimes for a confiderable time together : fo that I have
often been forced to fnut myfelf up. I have had a vaftly
greater fenfe of my own wickednefs, and the badnels of
my heart, fmce my converfion, than ever I had before.
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 29
It has often appeared to me, that if God fhoiild mark
iniquity againft me, I (hould appear the very worfl of all
mankind, of all that have been fmce the beginning of the
world to this time ; and that I Ihould have by far the loweft
place in hell.
" And yet I am not in the leafl: inclined to think, that
I have a greater convidlion of fm than ordinary : 1 know
certainly, that I have very little fenfe of my fmfulnefs ;
that my fms appear to me fo great, don't feem to me to be,
becaufe I have fo much more conviftion of fin than other
Chriftians, but becaufe I am fo much worfe, and have fo
much more wickednefs to be convinced of.
*' I have greatly longed of late for a broken heart, and
to lie low before God. And when I afk for humility of
God, I can't bear the thoughts of being no more humble
than other Chriftians. It feems to me, that though their
degrees of humility may be fuitable for them, yet it would
be a vile fclf-exaltation in me, not to be the loweft in hu-
mility of all mankind. Others fpeak of their longing to
be humbled to the duft : though that may be a proper
expreffion of them, I always think for myfelf, that I ought
to be humbled down below hell. It is an expreffion that
it has long been natural for me to ufe in prayer to God.
I ought to lie infinitely low before God."
On this fubjedl Mr. Edwards feems to delight in hyper-
boles: and may teach us this remark, that true grace is ex-
ceedingly humbling. It taught the great apoftle to efteem
himfelf the ' chief of fmners,' and ' lefs than the leaft of
« all faints.' It is poffible, however, to ufe extravagant
expreffions on any fubjeft, and " to be humbled below
hell," or " infinitely low," may be thought fuch. The
humble and amiable Dr. Watts defined humility to confill
in a man's having " a juft opinion of himfelf," not a
degrading one. Wc are all fo much indebted to divine
mercy, that there feems little danger of hyperboles on that
lubje£l ; there is no occafion however to fmk our language
below the poffibility of a meaning.
*« I have vaftly a greater fenfe of my univerfU exceed-
ing dependence on God's grace and ftrengtth, and mere
eood
30 THE LIFE OFTHE
good pleafure, of late, than I ufed formerly to h.ive ;
and have experienced more of an abhorrence of my own
righteoufnefs. The thought of any comfort or joy arif-
ing in me, on any confideration, or refledHon on my
own amiablenefs, or any of my performances or expe-
riences, or any goodnefs of heart or life, is naufeous and
deteftable to me ; and yet I am greatly affli6led with a
proud and felf-righteous fpirit, much more fenfibly than
I ufed to be formerly: I fee that ferpent rifing and put-
ting forth its head continually, everywhere, all around
me.
*' Though it feems to me, that in fome refpe6ls, I was
a far better Chriftian for two or three years after my lirft
converfion than I am now, and lived in a more conftant
delight and pleafure ; yet of late years I have had a more
full and conftant fenfe of the abfolute fovereignty of God,
and a delight in that fovereignty ; and have had more of
a fenfe of the glory of Chrift, as a mediator, as revealed
in the gofpel. On one Saturday night, in particular,
had a peculiar difcovery of the excellency of the gofpel ot
Chrift, above all other do6lrines, fo that I could not but
fay to myfelf, ' This is my chofen light, my chofen doc-
* trine :' and of Chrift, ' This is my chofen prophet.'
Another Saturday night .... had fuch a fenfe
how fweet and blefled a thing it was, to walk in the way
of duty, that it caufed me to cry out, < How happy are
' they which do that which is right in the fight of God !
' They are bleffed indeed, they are the happy ones !'
I had at the fame time a very affecting fenfe, how meet
and fuitable it was that God ihould govern the world,
and order all things according to his own pleafure ; and
1 rejoiced in it, that God reigned, and that his will was
done."
Thus clofes the extraordinary experience of 6ur Au-
thor, and by way of caution to fincere but inferior
Chriftians, we beg it be confidered that it was extraordi-
nary \ that few Chriftians have arrived to equal attain-
meiits in the divine life, particularly as to a fettled ac-
quiefcence in the divine will, and a devotednefs of heart
to
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 31
to the Redeemer. But let us not confider his, or any
man's experience, as an abfolute criterion to try the fafety
of our ftate, or the truth of our converfion. The word
of God is our rule, and the only one on which we can
rely with certainty. There are as many degrees of growth
in grace, as in nature ; the beloved apoftle wrote to chil-
dren, young men, and fathers in Chrift. And there is no
lefs variety in the manner of the Holy Spirit's operation.
* The wind bloweth where it lifteth,' faith our divine
teacher, [John iii. 8.] ' and thou heareft the found
* thereof, but canft not tell whence it cometh, and whi-
* ther it goeth ; fo is every one that is born of the Spirit.'
So free, fo fovereign, fo multiform and incomprehcnfiblc,
are the operations of divine grace ; but this remark is not
intended to induce any to relt fatisfied in their prefent at-
tainments. It is not only the duty but one of the befl
criteria, of a true Chrillian, ' to go on unto perfedlion.'
[Heb. vi. I.]
We (hall detain the reader with only one other remark
on the preceding narrative, viz. That the fubjeiSl of the
fubfequent work [the Hiftory of Redemption] was long
one of our author's moft favourite topic's of reflection,
*' When I have read," faith he, " hiftories of pail: ages,
the pleafanteft thing in all my reading has been, to read
of the kingdom of Chrifl being promoted, .... and
my mind has been much entertained and delighted with
the fcripture promifes and prophecies of the future glo-
rious advancement of Chrift's kingdom on earth." And,
what is very obfervable, he even objedVed at firfl: to ac-
cept the piefidentihip of New Jerfey College for this
among other reafons— " I have had on my mind and
heart, which I long ago began, not with any view to pub-
lication, a great work, which J call, aHiJiory of the Work
of Redemption," 6cc. [See his letter to the truftees of
the above college, dated 061. 19, 1757, in the life pre-
fixed to his fcrmons, p. 95.] which circumftance is alfo
remarked in a letter of his fon, the Rev. Jonathan Ed-
wards, of New Haven, Feb. 25, 1773-
F We
32 THELIFEOFTHE
We (hall clofe our account of Piefident Edwards with
the following particulars of his habit of life, and cha-
ra6ler :
Though he was of a tender and delicate conftitution,
yet few ftudents were capable of more clofe application
than he was. He commonly fpent thirteen hours every
day in his fludy. His moffc ufual diverfions in the fum-
mer were riding on horfeback and walking ; he would
commonly, unlefs diverted by company, ride two or three
miles after dinner to fome lonely grove, where he would
difmount and walk a while. At which times he generally
carried his pen and ink with him, to note any thought
that fliould be fuggefled, which he chofe to retain and
purfue. In the winter he was wont, almoll: daily, to take
an axe and chop wood moderately for the fpace of half
an hour or more. He had an uncommon thirft for know-
ledge, in the purfuit of which he fpared neither coft nor
pains. He read all the books, efpecially books of divi-
nity, that he could come at, from which he could hope
to get any help in his purfuit of knowledge. And, in
this, he confined not himfelf to authors of any particu-
lar feet or denomination ; but took much pains to come
at the books of the mofl; celebrated writers whofe fcheme
of divinity was moft contrary to his ovim principles : but
he fludled the Bible more than all other books, and more
than moft other divines do. His uncommon acquintancc
with it appears in his fermons, and in moft of his publi-
cations : and his great pains in lludying it are manifeft
in liis manufcript notes upon it. He was thought by
Ibmc, wlio had but a flight acquaintance with him, to be
ftiff and unfociable ; but this was owin^ to want of better
acquaintance. He was not a man of many words indeed,
and w-as fomewhat referved among ftrangers ; but among
fucli whofe candour and friendfliip he had experienced, he
threw off that referve, and was molt open and free ; and
remarkably patient of contradiction. He was not ufed
to fpend his time in fcandal, evil fpeaking, and backbiting,
or in foolifa jelling and idle cliat ; but his mouth was
that
REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 33
that of the juR, which bringeth forth wifdom, and his lips
difperfed knowledge ; fo that none of his friends could
enjoy his company without inftru6lion and profit, unlefs
it was by tlieir own fault : he kept himfclf quite tree trom
worldly cares; and left the dire6tion of the temporal con-
cerns of his family almofl: entirely to Mrs. Edwards ; who
was better able than moft of her fax, to take the whole
care of them on her hands.
Thus ornamental to the chriftian name and chara£ler
lived the excellent fubject of thefe memoirs ; and his death
perfe£Hy harmonized with the tenor of his life: «' Never
did any mortal man," fays his phyfician, in a letter to
Mrs. Edwards, " more fully and clearly evidence the fin-
cerity of his profeflion, by one continued, univerfal calm,
cheerful refignation, and patient fubmiffion, to the divine
will, through every ftage of his difeafe, than he : not (o
much as one difcontented expreffion, nor the leaft appear-
ance of murmuring through the whole."
Prefident Edwards left the following works, befides fun-
dry MSS. yetunpublifhed, which will doubtlcfs perpetuate
his memory to remote ages of the church.
I. A Narrative of the furprifing Work of God in the
Converfion of feveral hundred Souls in Northampton,
New England. 1737.
IT. Five Sermons— on Juftification by Faith alone :
— Preffing into the Kingdom of God— Ruth's Refolu-
tion— The Juftice of God in the Damnation of Sinners
—and the Excellency of Jefus Chrift. 1738.
III. Thoughts en the Revival of Religion in New ~i~
England. 1742.
IV. A Treatife on religious AiFe£lion. 1746. -^
V. An Attempt to promote the Union of God'
People in extraordinary Prayer for the Revival of Reli
-h
i-
+■
gion. 1747.
VI. The Life of Mr. David Brainerd, Miffionary. ~H
'7^'-'^' ... ^
Vi[. An Inquiry into the Qualification for full Com- \
munion, 2cc. 1749-
F 2 VIII. A
34 THE LIFE OF, &c.
-4- VIII. A Reply to the Rev. Mr. William's Anfwer to
this Inquiry. 1752.
~f^ IX. An Inquiry into the Freedom of the Will. 1754.
X. A Number of fingle Sermons, on various SubjevSls
and different Occafions.
--j-^ XL The Chriftian Doftrine of original Sin. 1758.
A^. B. This was in the prefs when he died ; the follow-
ing works were pollhumous.
-f- XII. A Hiftory of Redemption. [The fubfequeat
work] 1774.
XIII. His Life and eighteen Sermons. 1785-
SYLLABUS
C 35 ]
SYLLABUS
OF THE-
HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
GENERAL INTRODUCTION.
Text [Ifa. li. 8.] explained.
Obferve, i. How fliort the profperity of the church's
enemies.
2. The happy and eternal portion of God's
people.
Doctrine. The work of Redemption is a work which
God carries on from the fall of man to the end of the world.
Premife, i. An explanation of the terms.
/* 2. God's deligns in this work, were
/ To triumph over his enemies ;
\ To rcftore the ruins of the fall ;
\ To gather all the ele6l in Chrift ;
! To complete their happinefs ;
! To glorify the blefled Trinity.
Thefuhje^ divided into three Periods.
/ PERIOD I.
From the Fall to the Incarnation.
§ I. From the Fall to the Flood.
,^ I. Chrift began his office immediately on the fall.
,^2. The firft promife.-
.««3. The origin of facrifices.
4. Salvation of Abel.
5. Revival of Religion.
6. Holy life of Enoch.
7. His prophecy.
8. His tranflation.
o. Prefervation of religion in Noah's family.
§ II.
36 SYLLABUS.
§ II. From th« FLOOD to the Call of Abraham.
I- The Flood.
a. Noah's prefervation in tho ark.
3. New grant to Noah.
4. Renewal of the covenant with him.
5. Deflrinflion of Babel.
6. The confequent difperfion.
§ III, From the Call of Abraham to Moses.
I The Call of Abraliam.
2. Farther difcovery of the covenant of grace.
3. Prefervation of the ancient Patriarchs.
Deflru6lion of Sodom.
5. Covenant renewed with Ifaac and Jacob.
6. Fliftory of Jofeph.
7. Jacob's prophecy.
f IV. From Moses to David.
1. Ilrael's redemption from Egypt.
2. Other nations given up to heathenifm.
3. The law given at Sinai.
4. The Jewifli typical law.
'— ^'"'^ 5. The Pentateuch written by Mofes.
6. Tfrael's paffage through the wildernefs, typical.
7. Human life Ihortened.
8. Miracles in the wildernefs.
9. Prophecies of Balaam and Mofes.
10. God's Spirit poured out on the rifmg generation.
1 1. Ifrael brought into Canaan.
^f^\i. The tabernacle pitched at Shiloh.
13. The land preferved while Ifrael went up \o
Jerufalem.
14. Ifrael preferved during their frequent apoflafies.
15 Their repeated deliverances from captiviiy,
16. The appearances of Chrill: vmder the Old Teila-
ment.
-- — — 17. The fchool of the prophets iuflitutcd by Samuel.
§ V. From David to the Babylonilli Captivity.
1. David anointed.
2. His life wonderfully preferved.
3. Samuel's -writings.
4. David's infpiration.
5. David crowned.
6. Jerufalem chofen by God.
7. God's covenant renewed with David.
8. Ifrael 6rll pofl'els the whole promifed land.
9. Jewith
SYLLABUS. 37
9. Jewiili worlhip perfe6^ed.
10. "Writings of Nathan and Gad.
1 1. Kingdo;n of Judah preferved in David's family.
12. The building of Solomon's temple.
13. The Jewiili church at its higheft glory in his
time.
14. God's Work carried on during the fubfcquent
decline.
Obfcrve, this prepared the way for Chrift's coming.
15. The canon of Scripture enlarged.
16. The church kept in times of general apoftafy.
17. The book of the law wonderfully preferved.
18. The tribe of Judah preferved.
19. A fucceffion of Prophets from Samuel. "s^--'
§ VL From the Babyloniih Captivity to the Incarna-
tion.
Premife, (i.) This period more the fubjed of Prophecy
than Hiltory.
(2.) Full of remarkable revolutions. -■
(3.) The church preferved in the midfl: of theni
all. ' \
1 . The captivity in Babylon — its ufe to the Jews.
2. Additions to the canon of Scripture.
3. Babylon deflroyed by Cyrus.
4. The Jews return.
^. The prophecies of Haggai and Zachariah.
6. The Spirit of God remarkably with Esra.
7. The book of Ezra written.
8. The canon of Scripture compiled.
9. The public reading of the law.
10. The Jews preferved from Haman's cruelty.
11. The books of Nehemiah and Efther writteu.
12. IMalachi's prophecy.
13. The Spirit of Prophecy ceafed.
14. The Perfian Empire deftroyed,
«m!i. 15. The Sept^iagint tranflation. """
16. The church preferved during the Greek Em-
pire.
17. The erection of the Roman Empire. ■-
18. Learning and philofophy at their height.
19. Roman Empire in peace and glory.
Improvemfnt, r. Jefus the true Mefliah.
5 2. The Old Teftament infpired. .
^ 3. An objedlion anfwered.
4. God's
38 SYLLABUS.
4. God's wifdom difplayed in divine rC'
velation.
5. Chrift the grand fubjeft of the Bible.
6. The ufefuhiefs of the Old Teftament.
7. Folly of neglefting the Bible.
8. Grandeur of ChriiVs character and
miffion.
P E R I O D 11.
From Christ's Incarnation to his Resurrection.
§ L The Incarnation— why neceffary.
1. Included Chrift's conception and birth.
2. Accomplifhed in the fulnefs of time.
3. The greatnefs of this event.
4. Poverty of Chrift.
_^^ 5. Several concomitants of this event ; as
The return of God's Spirit ;
' ' Notice taken of the Incarnation both in heaven
and earth •,
Circumcifion of Chrift ;
Chrift's appearance in the fecond temple ;
The fceptre's departing from Judah.
§ II. The Purchase of Redemption.
1. The term explained.
2. General Obfervations ; viz.
(i.) Chrift's fatisfa6tion confifted inhis lutFerings.
(2.) Duiing the whole of his humiliation.
(3.) By the fame things Chrift fatislied for fin,
and purchafed eternal happinefs.
3. Confider Chrift's obedience, as to
(i.) The laws he obeyed— as a Man, a Jew, and
as a Mediator.
A^ B. Obferve the excellency of this obedience,
(2.) The different periods of his obcdieiK;c ;
In his private life ;
In his public miniftry ; concerning which,
Obferve, Chrift's forerunner ;
His baptifm ;
His public works ; preacliing, working mira-
cles, and calling his.difciples;
His miniliry hnilhed, by counfelling his dif-
ciples, inftituting his fupper, and offering
himfelf a facritice.
(3.) The
SYLLABUS. 39
(3.) The virtues heexercifed; with refpeft to
God, himfelf, and other men.
4. Confider Chrift's futFerings:
(i.) In his infancy ;
(2.) private h'fe;
(3.] public miniflry;
(4.) death.
Improvement, i. Reproof,
Of unbelief;
Self righteoufnefs ;
Negledl of falvation.
2. Encouragement;
Completenefs of Chrift's purchafe ;
Chrift reje6ts none who come to him.
PERIOD III.
Introduction, i. The times of this period called the
latter days.
2. end
of the world.
q. ■ defcribed as a
creation of a new heaven and eartli
called the
kingdom of God.
Ohfcrve, God's defign to exhibit his wifdom and victories
over Satan.
§ I. Thofe things WHEREBY Christ was capacitated
for this work.
1. His refurre6tion. .
2. His afcenfion.
^ IT. Dispensation of Providence, by which the
means of the fuccefs of it were eftablilhed, viz
1 . The end of the Jewifh difpenfation. ,^-— '
2. The Chriftian Sabbath. --»^
3. The inftitutiou of a gofpel miniftry. '"^
4. The gift of the Holy Ghoft. ....■*'—
5. The full revelation of gofpel truth. ^""^
6. The appointment of deacons.
7. The miffion of St. Paul.
8. The inftitution of ecclefiaftical councils.
q. Committing the New Teftamentto writing.
G § in-
40 SYLLABUS.
§in. This SUCCESS CARRIED ON ill a SUFFERING ftatC.
I. From Chriffs refurrcBion to the dcjiruttmi of
Jerufalcm.
(i.) Its fuccefs among the Jews, Samaritans, and
Gentiles.
(2.) Oppoiition made to it.
(3.) God's judgments on the oppofers.
2. From the deJiruSl'ion of Jerufalem to Conjlantine.
(i.) Oppofition made by writing and perfecution.
(2.) Succefs of the gofpel notwithftanding.
(3.) Particvilar circumftances of diftrefs jufl be-
fore Conftantine.
(4.) Revolution in Conftantine's time.
Chriftians delivered from perfecution.
Terrible judgments on their enemies.
Heathen ilm in a great meafure abolifhed.
Peace of the church.
Improvement.— 77/<? truth of Chrljllanity.
The gofpel the only means of bringing men to
the knowledge of God.
The hand of God vifible in this work.
No other caufe fufEcient to account for it.
The event agreeable to Chrift's predictions.
3. From Conftantine to the rife oi Antichrift.
(i.) Oppofition made by herefies and paganifm.
(2.) Succefs of the gofpel notwith'ftanding.
4. From the rife of Antichrift to the reformation.
( I .) The devil's oppofition by Popery and Maho-
metanifm.
(2.) The church wonderfully preferved.
Some nations late in fubmitting to popery.
Some in every age oppofed it,
Particularly the Waldenfes,
Alfo Wickliffe and his difciples.
c. From the reformation to x\\c prefent time.
(i.) The reformation itfelf con{idered.
(2.) The oppofition made to it,
— By the Council of Trent,
— By private confpiracies,
— By open wars,
^ By bloody perfecutions,
By erroneous opinions.
(30 TI^^
SYLLABUS. 41
(3.) The fucccfs of the gofpel lately,
In reformation of do6lnne ;
In the fpread of the gofpel ; particularly in
America, Mufcovy, and the Eaft Indies.
Revivals of religion of late, efpecially in
Saxony and New England.
(4.) The prefent ftate of religion ;
In fome refpe6ls better,
In others worfe.
Improvement. ---Evidences of Chriflianity,
From the oppofition of wicked men,
prcfervation of the church,
fulfilment of prophecies,
fpirit of Chrlftianity.
The credibility of remaining prophecies.
6. From the prcfcKt time to the fall of Antichrift.
(i.) A dark time will precede this event.
(2.) The fall of Antichrift will be gradual,
though fwift.
(3.) It willbe accomphfhed by the out-pouring
of God's Spirit.
(4.) Great oppolition will be made.
(5.) Chrift will obtain complete vidlory.
(6.) Satan's vifiblc kingdom be univerfally de-
ftroyed.
(7.) This event compared to the day of judgment.
§IV. This Success carried on in a prosperous ftate for
the moft part.
1. Its profperity through the greater part of this
period,
(i.) This moft properly the kingdom of heaven
on earth.
(2.) This the grand period for the fulfilment of
prophecy.
(3.) The duration of this period.
2. The grand apoftafy which will immediately pre-
cede Chrift's coming.
§ V. Completion of this vvork in Glory.
Prcmifc, (i.) How great the fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe.
(2.) All preceding deliverances preparatory and
typical of this.
To accompli/// this work^
I, Chrift will appear in the clouds ;
G % 2> The
^z SYLLABUS.
2. The dead fhall be raifed ;
3. The faints ihall meet the Lord in the air;
4. The righteoufnefs of the church and wickednefs
of her enemies fhall be manifeft ;
^. Final fentence pafs on all men ;
6. Chrift and his church afcend to glory ;
J. This world be burnt;
8. The church made completely and eternally
happy.
General Improvement.
1 . How great the work of redemption !
2. God the Alpha and Omega in it.
3. Chrift in all things hath the pre-eminence.
4. The harmony of divine Providence,
c. The truth of the Scriptures.
6. Difplay of the divine power and glory,
wifdom.
mercy and faithfulnefs.
7'
9. Happinefs of the church.
10. Mifery of wicked men.
HISTORY
HISTORY
O F
REDEMPTION.
Isaiah, li 8.
FOR THE MOTH SHALL EAT THEM UP LIKE A GAR-
MENT, AND THE WORM SHALL EAT THEM LIKE
WOOL : BUT MY RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL BE FOR
EVER, AND MY SALVATION FROM GENERATION TO
GENERATION.
T
H E defign of this chapter is to comfort the church
under her fufFerings, and the perfecutions of her enemies;
and the argument of confolation infifted on, is, the con-
ftancy and perpetuity of God's mercy and faithfulnefs,
which fhall be manifeft in continuing to work falvation ;
prote6ling her againft all affaults of her enemies, and car-
rying her through all the changes of the world, and finally
crowning her with vi(Story and deliverance.
In the text, this happinefs of the church of God is fet
forth by comparing it with the contrary fate of her enemies
that opprefs her. And therein we may obferve,
I. How fhort-lived the power and profperity of the
church's enemies is : ' The moth fliall eat them up like
' a garment, and the worm fhall. eat them like wool;' (a)
i. e.
(a) The MOTH — and the VJ ov.vi JJjall eat them.~\ There is a flight
inaccuracy in this rendering which is worth correcting, becaufc
it
44 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
i.e. however great their profperity, and however great their
prefent glory, they {hall by degrees confume and vanifh
away by a fecret curfe of God, till they come to nothing ;
and their power and glory, and confequently their perfe-
cutions, eteinally ceafe ; and thenifelves be finally and ir-
recoverably ruined : as the fined and moll glorious apparel
v/ill in time wear away, and be confumed by moth and
rottennefs. We learn who thofe are that iliall thus con-
fume away, by the foregoing verfc, viz. thofe that are the
enemies of God's people : ' Hearken unto me, ye that
' know righteoufnefs, the people in whofe heart is my law,
* fear ye not the reproach of men, (b) neither be ye afraid
* of THEIR revilings.
Obfcrve, i. The contrary happy lot and portion of God's
church, cxprelfcd in thefe words, ' My righteoufnefs fhall
<■ be
it will throw a fartlier beauty on the text. It fliould feem that
the word [l^'l^] gnajlj, rendered moth, ftrI6lly fignifies, not the
moth-Jly, but the moth-worm, or caterpillar, and receives its name
from its corroding and d-^roy'ing the texture of cloth. [Park hurst
Lex. Heb. in Verb, and Scott in Job.] " The young moth,"
[or moth-worm] fays the ingenious Abbe Le Pluche, " upon
leaving the ^'g'gi which a papiHo [or moth] has lodged upon a
piece of ftuff .... commodious for her purpofe, finds a habita-
tion and food .... it grows and lives upon the nap, and likewife
builds v/ith it its apartment. . . . The whole is well faftencd to the
ground of the ftuff with fcveral cords and a little glue. The moth
[worm] . . . devours and demoliflics all about her ; . . . and when
ihe has cleared the place . . . . flie draws out all the ftakes of this
tent, after which flie carries it to fome little diflance, and then
fixes it with flender cords in a new fituation. In this manner Oie
continues to live at our expence till fne is fatlated with her food,
at which period fiie is firit transformed into a nymph, and then
changed mio zpapU'io, or raoth. [Nature Difplayed, vol. i. p. 35.]
And this Is what is intended to be exprefied by the latter word
[do] fas, whicli is the proper name oi the moth itfelf, from its
agility. [vSo the LXX render it S/^tsj, and the Vulgate, Tinea.
And hence is derived 2-/^-, ufed in the Greek and Syriac of Matt,
vi. 20.] We would read the text thus, * The moth-worm fhall
eat them like a garment, and the moth fhall devour them like
■wool.' So fecret, rapid, and complete fliall be the deftruftion of
the church's enemies !
(b) * Reproach of men. ^'\ BIfliopLowTH [inloc,] renders tiic
latter word [iLMJ^j] fomewhat more elegantly and literally, " R.e-
proach of WRETCHED MAN,"
HISTORY OF P.EDEMPTION. 45
< be for ever, and my falvation from generation to gcne-
* ration.' Alfo who thofe are that fhall have the benefit
of this, by the preceding verfe, namely, ' They that know
* righteoufnefs, and the people in whofe heart is God's
' law ;' or, in one word, the church of God. And con-
cerning this tlieir happinefs wc may obferve two things,
wherein its conlills, and its continuance.
(i.) Wherein it conilfts, viz. In God's righteoufnefs
and falvation towards them. Ey God's righteoufnefs here,
is meant his faithfulnefs and fulfilling his covenant pro-
mifes to his church, or his faithfulnefs towards his church
and people, in bellowing the benefits of the covenant of
grace upon them ; (c) which benefits, though they are
bellowed of free and fovereign grace, and are altoprcther
undcferved ; yet as God has been pleafed, by the promifes
of the covenant of grace, to bind himfelf to bellow them,
fo they arc beflowed in the exercife of God's righteoufnefs
or juftice. And therefore the apoftle fays [Heb. vi. 10.]
* God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour
* of love.' And the Evangelift [i John i. g.] ' If we
* confefs our fins, he is faithful and juft to forgive us our
* fins, and to cleanfe xis from all unrighteoufnefs.' So the
word righteoufnefs is very often ufed in fcripture for God's
covenant faithfulnefs; as in Nehem. ix. 8. ' Thou haft
performed thy words, for thou art righteous.' So we are
often to undcrftand righteoufnefs and covenant mercy for
the fame, as [Pfa. xxiv. 5.] ' He fliall receive the bleffing
* from the Lord, and righteoufnefs from the God of his
* falvation.' [Pfa. xxxvi. 10.] ' Continue thy loving
' kindncfs to them that know thee, and thy righteoufnefs
* to the upright in heart.' [Pfa. li. 14.] ' Deliver me
* from blood guiltinefs, O God, thou God of my falva-
« tion, and my tongue fliall fing aloud of thy righteouf-
nefs.' [Dan. ix. 16.] ' O Lord, according to thy righ-
' teoufnefs,
(c) God's righteoufnefs. 2 " The word [pTy] righteoufnefs is
ufed in fuch a great l4tltude of fignification . . . that it is noteafy
fometimcs to give the precife meaning of it; .... it means here
the faithful completion of God's promifes to deliver his people."
^Bp. LowTH, in ver. 5. J
46 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
' teoufnefs, I befeech thee, let thine anger and thy fury
' be turned away.'— And fo in innumerable other places.
The other word here uJfed is falvation. Of thefe, God's
righteoufnefs and his falvation, the one is the caufe, of
which the other is the efFecl. God's righteoufnefs, or
covenant mercy, is the root, of which his falvation is the
fruit. Both of them relate to the covenant of grace. The
cue is God's covenant mercy and faitlifulnefs, the other
ititends that work by which this covenant mercy is accom-
plillied. For falvation is the fum of all"thofe works of
God, bv which the benefits of the covenant of grace are
procured and beiliowed.
(2.) We may obferve its continuance, fignified here
by two expreffions ; for ever, and from generation to
generation. The latter feems to be explanatory of the
former. The phrafe for ever, is varioufly nfed in fcrip-
ture. (d) Sometimes thereby is meant as long as a man
lives.
(d) The phrife for ever is imr'toujly ufed in fcrlpture.^ The
meaning of this and the like expreffions is fo intimately connected
with feveral controverfies, particularly the perpetuity of the law of
Mofes, the duration of future torments, and the divinity of Chrift,
that it is of confiderable confequencc to afcertain it. Schind-
LERUS fays of the original tenn in Hebrew, ^^ JEvum, feculum,
certum temporis fpacium : longum tempus pr^teritum aut futu-
rum : tempus, cujus duratio ell abfcondita : duratio finita juxta
fubjeftam materiam, de qui agitur." Parkkurst [Lex. in CD/J^]
whofe words perfeftly correfpo.nd, interprets it of " Time, hiddeti
or concealed ixom man, as well indefinite and eternal, as finite ; as
well paft as future. It feems to be much more frequently ufed for
an indefinite than for an infinite time." And even Mr. Levi
explains it by " Perpetual ; everlafting ; Jigurativelyt a certain
num.ber of years.' [Heb. Dift. in Cd'?]^.]
We think the moll accurate method of explaining the different
meanings of this phrafe would be, to reduce them to a general
term, and none feenns to promife fo fair, or has been fo generally
applied to it, as age (sevum, feculum) which we fhall therefore
tr)', and apply to the inftances quoted by our author.
I. Forever^ everlafting, and the like terms, are fometimes ap-
plied to the age of human life, as in i Sam. xxviii. 2. ' And Achifh
' faid to David, I will make thee keeper of mine head for ever ;'
i. e. as long as I live. So our author underftands Exod. xxi. 6. as
above cited; but many refer this to the next fenl'c.
2. For
HISTORY OF REDEMPTION. 47
lives. Thus it is faid, [Exod. xxl. 6.] The fervant that
had his ear bored through with aa awl to the door of
his mafter Hiould ferve him for ever.— Sometimes thereby
is meant during the continuance of the Jewifli ilate.
So of many of the ceremonial and Livitical laws it is faid,
that they fhould be ftatutesyir ever. — Sometimes it means
as Ions as the world fhall ftand, or to the end of the (je-
neraiionsof men. Thus [Ecclef. i. 4.] ' One generation
* paffeth away and another cometh ; but the earth abideth
H '>•
2. For ever means to the year of jubilee, as Levi [ut fupra]
and others. The fa£t is, if no jubilee intervened, the fervant
whofc ear was bored was to ferve as long as he lived, but the ju-
bilee roleafed him. And the term age might be applied to the pe-
riod of the jubilee, which was fifty years, with as much propriety,
as to that of a century. Seculuni has been differently explained of
periods of thirty, one hundred, and even a thoufand years.
3. We frequently reft ri£l the term /or ever to the ye-wifj age^
or difpcnfation, and thus account for the abolition of thofe ftatuteS
which, as above obferved, were commanded to be kept ybr ever.
The tim.e of the Jewilh difpenfation may be with as much pro-
priety called an age, as are the periods of other difpenfations : —
thus we fay, the Antideluvian age, the Patriarchal age, the Mil-
lennial age. So the heathens divided the different periods of the
world into the Golden age, the Silver age, the Iron age, &c.
4. The fame term may be extended to the period of the Gofpel
difpenfation, or the Gofpel age, the lall which the fcripture war-
rants us to expeft, the termination of which therefore will be
coeval with the end of the world ; and in this view, it will be the
fame thing whether we refer the term_/b/- ever to the end of the
gofpel difpenfation, or of the world, as our author does.
5. The expreflionybr ever muft certainly be fometimes taken in
its utmoft extent, as reaching to eternity, /. e. the age of God and
fpiritual beings ; and we may obferve, that wlien the term is re-
peated (for ever arid ever) it is generally fo to be underftood.
6. The \.tixm for ever is frequently taken in a figurative view, as
above hinted, for any long period, pafl or future. ' [See in the
Heb. Ecclef. i. 10. — xii. 5.] Thus we ufe the term age when
we fay, fuch a thing has been an age in doing — fuch a perfon is an
age in coming — or fucli an event happened an age ago.
But the moft important thing is to eaftblifh a criterion to deter-
mine its full import in any text required. The i-emark of Schind-
lerus above cited is certainly juit, namely, that the fuhjed vnijl de-
termine it % may we not venture then to fay, that the termsybr every
^verhiftiug, 3cc. are always to be taken in the utinofl latitude the fub~
jecl ivdl admit of, and therefore to be extended to a proper eternity,
when there is nothing dtecLfive to forbid it ? — [I. N.]
48 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
' for ever.'' Sometimes thereby is meant to all eternity.
Soitisfaid, ' God is bleffed/cr <?z;^r.' [Rom. i. 25.] And
[John vi. 51.] 'If any man eat of this bread he flaall
' live/or ever.'' K'ow which of thefe fenfes is here in-
tended the next word determines, ' and my falvation from
' 'reiteration to gencrat'ion ;' that is, to the end of the
world. Indeed the fruits of God's falvation fhall remain
afterwards, as appears by the 6th vcrfe ; ' Lift up your
' eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath :
* for the heavens lliall vanifli away like fmoak, and the
' earth Ihall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell
' therein ihall die in like manner, but my falvation fliall
' be for ever, and my righteoufnefs fliall not be abolifh-
' ed.' But the work of the falvation of the church fliall
continue to be wrought till then. Till the end of the
world God will go on to accomplifli deliverance and
falvation for the church, from all lier enemies ; for that is
what the prophet is here fpeaking of. Till the end of the
world ; till her enemies ceafe to be, or to have any power
to moleft the church. And this cx^rt^xoxi, fro7?i genera-
tion to generation, may determine us, as to the tim.e which
God continues to carry on the work of falvation for his
church, both witli refpe6l to the beginning and end. It
is from generation to generation, i. e. throughout all ge-
nerations; beginning with the iirfl: generation of men
upon the earth, and not ending till thefe generations end,
with the world itfelf. And therefore we deduce from thefe
words this
DOCTRINE.
THE WORK OF REDEMPTION IS A WORK WHICH GOD
CARRIES ON FROM THE FALL OF MAN TO THE END
, OF THE WORLD.
THE beginning of the pofterity of our firfl: parents was
after the fall ; for all their poflerity, by ordinary genera-
tion, are partakers of the fall, and of the corruption of
nature
INTRODUCTION. 49
nature that followed fiom it ; and thefe generations, by
which the human race is propagated, fhall continue to
the end of the world; fo thefe two are the limits of the
(Tcneration of men on the earth ; the fall of man, and
the end of the world. There are the fame limits to the
work of redemption, as to thofe progreffive works of
God, by which that redemption is accompllfiied ; though
not as to the fruits of it ; for they, as was laid before, ihall
be eternal.
The work of redemption and the work of falvation arc
the (-Ame thing. What is fometimes in fcripture called
God's faving his people, is in other places called his re-
deeming them. Chrift is called both the Saviour and Re-
deemer of his people.
Before entering on the propofed Hiftory of the Work
of Redemption, I would,
1. Explain the terms made ufe of in the do61:rine ; —
and,
2. Shew what are thofe things which are defigned to be
accompliflied by this great work.
I. I am to ihow in what fenfe the terms ot the doc-
trine are ufed. — And, (i.) I Ihall point out how I wouW';
be underriood when I ufe the word redotiptlon ; — and, (2.)
When I fay, the work is carried on from the fall of man to
the end of the world.
(i.) I mufb Ihow how I would be underftood when I
ufe the word redemption. — And here it may be obferved,
that the work of redemption is fometimes to be taken in a
limited fenfe, for the purchafe of falvation ; (for fo the
word ftridlly fignities, a purchafe of deliverance ;) and if
we take it in this fenfe, the work of redemption was not
fo long in doing: but it was begun and iinifhed with
Chrift's humiliation. It was begun with Chrift's incar-
nation, carried on through his. life, and iinifhed with
his death, or the time of his remaining under the power-
ot deatli, which ended in his refurreclion : and fo we
fay, that the day of Chrift's refurredlion is the day when
he finiflicd the work of redemption, i.e. then the purchafe
H 2 . was
so HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
was finifned : and the work itfelf, and all that appertained
to it, was virtually done, hut not aHually.
But fometimes the work of redemption is taken more
largely, as including all that God doth tending to this end ;
not only the purchafe itfelf, but alfo all God's works that
were properly preparatory to, orapplicatory of, the purchafe,
and accomplirtiing the fuccefs of it : fo then the whole dif-
penfation, as it includes the preparation, the purchafe, and
the application and fuccefs of Chrid's redemption, may
be called the work of redemption. All that Chrift does in
this great affair as mediator, in any of his offices, either
of prophet, prieft, or king ; either when he was in this
world in his human nature, or before, or fmce : and not
only what Chrift the mediator has done, but alfo what the
Father, or the Holy Ghofi:, have done, as covenanted in
this defiiT-n of redeeming fmful men : or, in one word,
all that is wrought in execution of the eternal covenant of
redemption ; this is what I call the work of redemption
in the do6lrine ; for it is all but one work, one defign.
The various difpenfations or works that belong to it, are
but the feveral parts of one fclicme. It is but one defign
that is formed, to which all the offices of Chrift directly
tend; in which all the Perfons of the Trinity confpire;
and all the various difpenfations that belong to it are united.
The feveral wheels are one machine, to anfwer one end,
and produce one effe6l.
(2.) When I fay, this work is carried on from the fall
of man to the end of the world ; in order to the full un-
derftanding of my meaning in it, I would defire two or
three things to be obferved.
[1.] That it is not meant, that nothing was done in
order to it before the fall of man. Some things were done
before the world was created, yea, from all eternity. The
perfons of the Trinity were, as it were, confederated in a
defign, and a covenant of redemption ; (e) in which co-
venant
(e) The Persons nf the TrinitV.] Some fericus perfons
have been offended at thefe terms as unfcrlptural and unwarrant-
able=
INTRODUCTION. 51
venant the Father had appointed the Son, and the Son had
undertaken tlie work : and all things to be accompliilied
in the work were ftipulated and agreed : and befides thefe,
there were things done at the creation of the world, in
order to that work, before man fell ; for the world itfelf
feems to have ^been created in order to it. The work of
creation was in order to God's works of providence ; fo
that if it be inquired, which of thefe are the greatefl, the
works of creation, or the works of providence ? I anfwer,
tlie works of providence ; becaufe God's works of provi-
dence are the end of his works of creation ; as the build-
ing
able. It is acknowledged well to keep as much as may be to the
phrafeology, as well as doftrines of revelation ; but it is not al-
ways poffible ; unlefs, at leaft, we will talk Greek and Hebrew.
As to the word Trinity, fince it implies no more than the union
of Three in 0/2j, without leaning to any particular fcheme of ex-
plication, thofe who believe the divine and myfterious union of Fa-
ther, Son, and Spirit, in one Godhead, need hardly fcruple it,
however averfe to human fyftems.
The term Person when applied to Deity is certainly ufed in a
fcnfe fomewhat different from that in which we apply it to one ano-
ther ; but when it is confidered that the Greek words ['YTroraiyir &
TLfVTui'nov'] to which it anfwcrs, are in the New Tcftament applied to
the Father and Son, [Hcb. i. 3. — 2 Cor. Iv. 6.] and that uo Jingle
term, at leaft, can be found more fuitable, it can hardly be con-
demned as unfcriptural or improper.
The Perfons of the Trinity are confederated in a covenant, &^c.
It would lead us far beyond the compafs of a note to enter here on
the doftrine of the covenants ; we fliall therefore only fubjoin a
few of the texts on which it is founded.
2 Sam. xsiii. 5. ' He hath made with me an everlafting cove-
* nant, ordered in all things and fure ; for this Is all my falvation
' and all my defire.'
Pf. xl. 6 — 8. * Sacrifice and offering thou didft not defire —
* then faid I, Lo, I come ; in the volume of the book it is written
* of me.' Compare Heb. :;. 5 — 9.
Pf. Ixxxix. throughout. ' I have made a covenant v,-Ith my cho-
* fen — then thou fpakefl In vifion to the holy one and faid, I have
' laid help on one that is mighty,' — &c. Compare Hof. ill. 5.
Pf. ex. throughout. * The Lord faid unto my Lord, fit thou
* at my right hand — the Lord hath fvvorn and will not repent, thou
' art a prieft for ever,' &c. Comp. Matt, xxli. 24.
Dan. ix. 27. ' He fliall confirm the covenant with many.'
Heb. viii. 6. ' He Is the mediator of a better covenant.'
r- xlii. 20. * The blood of the everlafting covenant/'
52 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
ing an houfc, or liic forming an engine or machine, is
for its future ufe. But God's main work of providence
is this great work of redemption, as will more fully appear
hereafter.
The creation of heaven was in order to the work of
redemption ; it was to be an habitation for the redeemed:
[Matt. XXV. 34.] ' Then fnall the King fay unto them 6n
' his right hand. Come, ye bleffed of my Father, inherit
' the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
* world.' Even the angels were created to be employed
in this work, (f) And therefore the apoftle calls them,
' miniftering fpirits, fent forth to minifter for them who
' ihall be heirs of falvation.' [Heb. i. 14.] As to this
lower world, it was doubtlefs created to be a flage upon
which this great and wonderful work of redemption
Jliould be tranfafted ; and therefore, as m.ight be fliewn,
in m.any refpefits this world is wifely fitted, in the forma-
tion, for fuch a flate of man as he is in fincc the fall,
imder a poffibility of redemption ; fo that when it is faid,
that the work of redemption is carried on from the fall
of man to the end of the world, it is not meant, that all
that ever was done in order to redemption has been done
fmce the fall.
Nor, [2.] Is it meant that there will be no remaining
fruits of this work after the end of the vvorld. That
glory and bleficdnefs, which will be the fum of them all,
will remain to the faints for evei". The work of redemp-
tion is not a work ahvays doing and never accompli fhed ;
the
(f) Heaven [and the Angels) creaiecl in order to the ivork of
Rcdewpiion. That is, this was one of the ends God had then in
view, but the fuprcme end was his own glory. See Prov. xvi. 4.
This World created io be ajlageforthc work of Redemption.
This thought is certainly juft and beautiful. Thofe who liave con-
fidered the world as defigned for only perfeft creatures, have had
many difficulties which this idea at once removes. Wh"&t would
have become of our firft parents, had they continued in a ftate of
innocency ? How the world would have contained all its fucccfTive
generations at once ? And the like inquiries are as impertinent as
perplexing. God foreknew the fall — fore-ordained the mediator — r
and previoully fitted the world to his own magnificent defigns.
INTRODUCTION. 53
the work has nu iffuc : but in the ilTue the end will be ob-
tained ; which end will never terminate. As thole things
that were in order to this work before the beginning of the
world, z>iz. God's elefting love, and the covenant of re-
demption, never had a beginning; fo the fruits of this
work, which lliall be after the end of the world, will never
have an end. And therefore,
(3.) When it is faid in the do6lrine, that this is a
work that God is carrying on from the fall of man to the
end of the world, what I mean, is, that thofe things
which belong to the work itielf, and are parts of this
fcheme, are all this while accomplilhing. There were
fome things done preparatory to its beginning, and the
fruits of it will remain after it is finiflied. But the work
itfelf was begun immediately upon the fall, and will con-
tinue to the end of the world, and then be finifhed : the
various difpenfations of God in this fpace belong to the
fame work, and to the fame defign, and have all one iiTue ;
and therefore are all to be reckoned but as feveral parts
of one work, as it were, feveral fucceiTive motions of one
machine, to bring about, in the conclufion, one great
event.
And here alfo we muft diftinguifli between the parts of
redemption itfelf, and the parts of that work by which
redemption is wrought out. There is a difFerence be-
tween the parts of the benefits procured and beftowed,
and the parts of that work of God by which thofe bene-
fits were procured and beftowed. As, for example, there
is a difFerence between the parts of the benefit that the
children of Ifrael received, in their redemption out of
Egypt, and the parts of that work of God by which this
was wrought. The redemption of the children of Ifrael
out of Egypt, confidered as tire benefit which they en-
joyed, conlifled of two parts, viz. their deliverance from
their forrtier Egyptian bondage and mifery, and their be-
ing brought into a more happy ftate, as the fervants of
God, and heirs of Canaan. But there are many more
things which are parts of that work of God which is
called his work of redeeming Ifrael out of Egvpt. • To
this
54 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
this belong his calling of Mofes, his fending him to Pha-
raoh, the figns and wonders he wrought in Egypt, and his
bringing fuch terrible judgments on the Egyptians, and
many other things.
Such is the work by which God effe6ls the redemption
we arefpeaking of: and it is carried on from the fall of man
to the end of the world, in two refpects.
(i.) With refpeft to the effect wrought on the fouls
of the redeemed, Vv^hich is common to all ages. This efteft
is the application of redemption with refpedl to the fouls
of particular perfons, in converting, juftifying, fanctify-
ing, and glorifying them. Thus linners are a6lually re-
deemed ; and receive the benefit of the work of redemption
in its efFe£l upon their fouls. And in this fcnfe the work
of redemption is carried on from the fall of man to the
end of the world. The work of God in converting fouls,
opening blind eyes, unftopping deaf ears, raifing the fpi-
ritually dead to life, and refcuing miferable captives out
of the hands of Satan, was begun foon after tire fall of
man, has been carried on ever fmce, and will be to the
end. God has always, ever fince the firll: eredlion of the
church of the redeeuicd after the fall, liad fuch a church
in the world. Though oftentimes it has been reduced to
a very narrow compafs, and to low circurailances ; yet it
lias never wholly failed.
And as God carries on the work of converting the fouls
of fallen men through all ages, fo he goes on to juftify
them, to blot out their fins, to accept them as righteous
in his fight, through the righteoufnefs of Chrifi, and
adopt and receive them from being the children of Satan,
to be his own children ; thus alfo he goes on to fan6lify,
and complete the work of his grace, begun in them, to
comfort thcnr with the confolations of his Spirit, and to
beftow upon them, wlien their bodies die, that eternal
glory wliich is the fruit of the purchafe of Chriff. What
is faid, [Rom. viii. 30.] ' Whom he did predeftinate,
* them he alfo called ; and who!>-i lie called, them he alfo
' jufiified ; and wliom he jufiined, them he alfo glorified ;'
is
INTRODUCTION. SS
k applicable to all ages, from the fall, to the end of the
world.
The way that the work of redemption, with refpeck to
thefc effects of it on the fouls of the redeemed, is thus car-
ried on, is by repeating and continually efFedliug the fame
work over again, though in ditferent perfons, from age to
age. But,
[2.] The work of redemption with refped to the
grand defign in general, as it refpeds the univerfal fub-
je6l and end, is carried on in a different manner, not
merely by repeating or renewing the fame efFeft in the
different fubjefts of it, but bv many fucceffive works and
difpenfations of God, all tending to one great end, all
united as the feveral parts of one fcheme, and all toge-
ther making up one great work. Like as when an houle
or temple is being built ; firft, the workmen are engaged,
then the materials are colle6led, the ground prepared, the
foundation laid, the fuperftruilure ere6led, one part after
another, till at length the top-flone is laid, and all is
£niflied. Now the work of redemption in that exten-
five fenfe which has been explained, may be compared to
fuch a building. God began it immediately after the fall,
as may be Ihown hereafter, and has proceeded, as it were,
colle6ling materials, and building, ever fince ; and fo will
continue to the end of the world; and then (liall the top-
ftone be brought forth, and the whole appear complete and
glorious.
This work is carried on in the former refpedl, as to the
cffe6\ on the fouls of particular perfons, by its bein^^ an
effedl that is common to all ages: the work is carried in
this latter refpc61:, as it concerns the church of God, and
tbe grand delign in general, not only by that which is
common to all ages, but by fucceffive works wrought in
ditTcrent ages, all parts of one great fcheme. It is this
carrying on of the work of redemption that I fliall chiefly
infill: upon, tliough not exclufively of the former ; for one
neceffarily fuppofes the other.
Having thus explained what I mean by the terms of
the dodlrine; that you may the more cleiruly fee how ilie
I great
r^6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
great defign and work of redemption is carried on from tbc5'
fall of man to the end of the world,
(2.) I now proceed, to (how what is the defign of this
p-reat work, or what things are intended to be accomplifh-
ed by it. In order to fee how a defign is carried on, we
muft firfl: know what It is r to know how a workman
proceeds, and to tinderfland the various fteps he tal^es in
order to accomplifh a piece of work, we mull: be inform-
ed what he is about, and wliat it is he intends to do ;
otherwife we may Hand by, and fee him do one thing
after another, and be quite puzzled and in the dark ; fee
nothing of his fcheme, and underfland nothing of what
he means by it. If an architect, with a great number
of hands, were building fome great palace, and one that
was a ftranger to fuch things ihould ftand by, and iee
fome men digging in the eartli, others bringing timber,
others hewing flones, and the like, he might fee that
there was a great deal done ; but if he knew not the de-
fign, it would all appear to him confufion. And there-
fore, that the great works and difpenfations of God which
belong to this great affair ot redemption may not appear
like confufion to you, I flrall fet before you briefly the
main things defigned to be accompliflied in this great work,
to accomplifh which God began to work fo early after the
fall, and will continue working until the whole fliall be
completely finillied. Now the main things defigned arc
thefe that follow.
(i.) To put all God's etiomies under his feet, and that
the goodnefs of God may finally triumph over all evil.
Soon after the world was created, evil entered into the
world in the fall of the angels and man. Prefently after
God had made rational creatures, there were enemies who
rofe up againft him from among them ; and in the fall
of man evil entered into this world, and God's enemies
rofe up againft him here. Satan rofe up againft God, en-
deavouring to fruftrate his defign in the creation of this
world, to dcllroy his workmanihip here, to wreft the
government out of his hands, to \ifurp the throne, and
fet up himfelf as god of this world, inftead of tlic God
that
INTRODUCTION. 57
that made it. For thefc ends he introduced Cm into it,
and having made man God's enemy, he brought guilt,
death, and the nioft extreme and dreadful mifery, into
the world.
Now one grand dellgn of God in the affair of redemp-
tion was, to reduce and fubdue thofe his enemies till they
ihould all be put under his feet; [i Cor. xv. 25.] ' He
* mufl reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet.'
Things were originally fo planned, that he might dlfap-
point, confound, and triumph over Satan, and that he
might be bruifed under Chrift's feet. [Gen. iii. 15.] The
promife was given, that the feed of the woman /hould
bruife the ferpent's head. It was a part of God's original
defjgn in this work, to deftroy the work of tlie devil, and
confound him in all his purpofes : [i John iii. 8.] ' For
' this purp fe was the Son of God manifeflcd, that he
' might dellroy the works of the devil,' It was a part of
his defign, to triumph over lin, and over the corruptions
of men, and to root them out of the hearts of his people,
by conforming them to himfelf. He deligned alio, that
his grace ihould triumph over m.an's guilt, and the infinite
demerit which is in fin. (c) Again, it was a part of his
defign to triumph over death ; and however this is the lafi;
enemy that fhall be overcome, yet that Ihall finally be
vanquiilied and deftroyed.
Tiius God will appear glorious above all evil, and tri-
umphant over all his enemies, whicii was one grand thin-^
intended by the work of redemption.
(2.) God's defign was perfectly to refiorc the ruins of
the tall, fo far as coilcerns the elect part of the world.
I 2 by
(g) God tldfgned that his grace JhouJd triumph overman's guilt.]
" Though the guilt of man was like the great mountains, whofe
heads are lifted up to the heavens ; yet his [Chrid's] dying love,
and hi^ merits in this, appeared as a mighty dehtge that ovei flowed
the highell mountains ; or, like a boundlefs ocean that fwallows
them up ; or, like an immenfe fountain of light, that with the
fulnefs and redundance of its brightnefs, fwallows up men's greateft
iins, as little rnotes are fwallowed up and hidden in the dilk of the
fuu." [Pref, Edwards's Poilhumous Serm. p. 138.]
58 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
by his Son; (h) and therefore we read of the reftitution
of all things, [Afks iii. 21.] ' Whom the heaven muft
* receive, until the times of the reftitution of all things;'
and of the times of refrefhing from the prefence of the
Lord Jefus. [A6ts iii. 19.] ' Repent ye therefore and be
^ converted, that your fins may be blotted out, when the
' time of refrefliing fhall come from the prefence of the
« Lord.'
Man'sy&tt/ was ruined by the fall ; the image of God was
defaced ; man's nature was corrupted, and he became dead
in fin. The defign of God was, to reflore the foul of
man ; to reflore life, and the image of God, in conver-
fion ; and to carry on this work in fandlification, until he
fhould perfedl it in glory. Man's body was ruined; by
the fall it became fubjedl to death. The defign of God
was to reftore it from this ruin, and not only to deliver it
from death, by the refurredlion, but to deliver it from
"mortality itlelf, in making it like unto Chrift's glorious
body. The it'5r/(^ was ruined, as to m::n, as effedlually as
if it had been reduced to chaos again ; all heaven and earth
were overthrown. But the delign of God was, to reftore
all, and as it were to create a new heaven and a new earth:
[Ifa. Ixv. ly.] ' Behold I create new heavens, and a new
* earth ; and the former fliall not be remembered, nor
* come into mind.' [2 Pet. iii. 13.] ' Neverthelefs we,
' according to his promife, look for new heavens, and a
' new earth, wherein dwelleth righteoufnefs.'
The work by which this was to be done, was begun
immediately after the fall, and fo is carried on till all is
iiniihed at the end, when the whole world, heaven and
earth, fliall be reftored ; and there fliall be, as it were,
new
(h) God's defign luas to rejlore the ruins of the fall as far as con-
eerns the z-L's.CT.'l Some have carried the propofition farther, and
extended it to not only all mankind, but even the fallen angds;
and have fiippofed that the very being of moral and penal evil will
ceafe. But it will appear in the fequcl of this work, that God's
plan does not extend fo far : ' the reftitution,' or rather ' regu-
lation of all things,' feems to refer to the general judgment.
[See Park HURST, Lex. in A7r&;K«Tar«7if, and Doddridge i.i
loc.] [N. N.l
INTRODUCTION. 59
new heavens, and a new earth, in a fpiritual and fublime
fenfe, at the end of the world. Thus it is reprefented,
[ Rev . xxi . I . ] ' And I faw anew heaven and a new earth ;
' for the firtt heaven and the firll: earth were paffed away.'
(3.) Another great defign of God in the work of redemp-
tion was to gather together in one, all things in Chrift,
both in heaven and in earth, i. e. all elecSl creatures, (i)
in heaven and in earth, to an union in one body, under
one head; and to unite all together in one body to God the
Father. This was begun foon after the fall, and is carried
on throughout all ages, and fnall be finiihed at the end of
the world.
(4.) God dcfigns by this work to perfe6l and complete
the glory of all the ele6t of Ciirifl:. To advance them to
an exceeding pitch of glory, ' fuch as eye hath not feen,
' nor ear heard, nor has ever entered into the heart of
' man.' He intends to bring them to pcrfe6l excellency
and beauty in his image, and in holinefs, which is the
proper beauty of fpiritual beings; and to advance them
to a glorious degree of honour, an ineffable height of
pleafare
( I ) Another defign of God was to gather together in Chrifl all eha
treatures ; i. e. Angels as well as men, ' That in the difpenfa-
* tion of the fuliiefs of times, he might gather together all things
* in Chrift, both which are in heaven and which are in earth, even
* in him, .... who is the head of all principality and power.'
[Eph. i. 10. — Col. ii. 10.] " That Chrift, God-man, fliould be
made the head of the angels, is greatly to their benefit. 1. Be-
caufe they thereby become more nearly related to fo glorious a
pcrfon. . . .. He is theirs : though not their faviour, yet he is
their head of government and head of influence. — 2. They, here-
by, are under advantages for a far more intimate converfe with
God. The divine nature is at an infinite diftance from the nature
of angels, as well as from the nature of man. It is thei-efore a
great advantage to the angels that God is come down to them in
a created nature, and in that nature is become their head. 3.
Men are brought in to join with angels ... in their work of praif-
ing God. The angels greatly rejoice at this. [Luke xv. 10.]
The vacancy by the fall of angels is filled up. 4. It tends to
make the angels the more to prize their happinefs, when they fee
how much it coll; to purchafe the fame happinefs for man." [Pref.
Edwards's Pofthumous Sermons, p. 320.]
6o HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
pleafure and joy, and thus to glorify the whole church of
ele6t men in foul and body; and with them to bring the
•o-lory of the eleft angels to its highefl elevation under on«
head.
(5.) In all this God defigned to accompliih the glory
of the blefled Trinity in an eminent degree. God had a
deiign from eternity to glorify each perfon in the God-
head. The end mufl: be confidered as iirfl in order of
nature, and then the means ; and therefore we muft con-
ceive, that God having profeffed this end, had then, as it
were, the means to chufe ; and the principal mean that he
pitched upon was this great work of redemption which we
are fpeaking of. It was his defign in this work to glorify
his only begotten fon, Jefus Chrift ; (k) and by the Son
to glorify the Father; [John xiii. 31, 32.] ' Now is the
< Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If
* God be gloritied in him, God alfo fliall glorify him
' in himfeif, and fliall ftraightway glorify him.' It was
his defign that the Son fhould thus be glorified, and
fliould glorify the Father by what fhould be accomplifhed
by the Spirit, to the glory of the Spirit; that the whole
Trinity conjunftly, and each perfon di6linclly, might be
exceedingly gloritied. The work which was the appoint-
ed mean of this was begun immediately after the fall,
and is carried on till, and finiihed at, the end of the
world, when ail this intended glory iliall be fully accom-
pllflied.
Having thus explained the terms made ufe of in the
dodlrine, and fliown what things are to be accomplilhed
by this- great work of God, I proceed now to the propo-
fed Hiftory ; that is, to Ihow how the defjgns of God by
the
(k) // luas God's defign to glorify his Son.] " Look round on
the fhifting fcenes of glory, which have been exhibited in the thea-
tre of this world; and fee the fuccefs of mighty conquerors, the
policy of ftates, the dcftiny of empires, depend on the fccret pur-
pofe of God in his Son Jefus ; before whom all the atchlevemcnts
and imaginations of men nuift bow down; and to vvhofe honour,
all the myllerious workings of his providence are now, liuve hi-
therto been, and will for ever be, direfted."- [Bp. Hurd's Serm,
Jsefore Society for the Propagation of the Gofpel.^
INTRODUCTION. 6i
the work of ledemption have been and rtiallbe accomplilh-
ed, in the various fteps of this work, from the fall of man
to the end of tlie world.
In order to this, I fhall divide this whole fpace of time
into three periods :— The
I. Reaching from the fall of Man to the incarnation of
Chrift ;— The
IT. From Chrift's incarnation till his refurredlion ; —
The
III. From thence to the end of the world.
Some may be ready to think this a very unequal divi-
fion ; and it is fo indeed in fome refpedls. It is fo, be-
caufe the fecond period is fo much the greatefl: : for al-
though it be much fhorter than either of the other, (being
but between thirty and forty years, whereas both the other
contain thoufands;) yet in the affair we are now upon, it
is more than both the others ; I would therefore proceed
to fhew diftindlly how the work of redemption is carried
on from the fall of man to the end of the world, through
each of thefe periods in their order; which I fl:iall do under
three propofitions ; one concerning each period :
I. From the fall of man to the incarnation
OF CHRIST, GOD WAS DOING THOSE THINGS WHICH
WERE PREPARATORY TO HIS COMING, AND EAR-
NESTS OF HIS REDEMPTION.
II. That the time from Christ's incarnation,
TO HIS RESUPvRECTION, WAS EMPLOYED IN PRO-
CURING AND PURCHASING REDEMPTION.
HI. That the space of time from the resur-
rection OF CHRIST to the END OF THE WORLD
IS ALL ENGAGED IN BRINGING ABOUT THE GREAT
EFFECT, OR SUCCESS, OF THAT PURCHASE.
In a particular confidcration of thefe three propofitions,
the great truth contained in the do6lrine may perhaps ap-
pear in a clear light, and we may fee how the work of
redemption is carried on from the fall of man to the end of
the world,
PERIOD
6z HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
PERIOD I.
FROM THE FALL TO THE INCARNATION.
M
,Y firfl tafl<. is, to (how how the work of redem])tioo
is carried on from the fall of man to the incarnation of Chr'ijl
under thtfirf propofitioHy viz.
That from the fall of man to the incarna-
tion OF CHRIST, GOD WAS DOING THOSE THINGS
which WERE PREPARATORY TO HIS COMING, AND
EARNESTS OF HIS REDEMPTION.
The great works of God in the world, during this
whole fpace of time, were all preparatory to this. There
were many great changes and revolutions in the world,
but they were only the turning of the wheels of provi-
dence in order to make way for the coming of Chrift,
and what he was to do in the world. They were all
pointed hither, and all iffued here. Hither tended, ef-
pecially, all God's great works towards his church. The
church w-as under various difpenfations and in various
circumilances, before Chrift came; but all thefe difpen-
fations were to prepare the way for his coming. God
wrought falvation for the fouls of men through all that
fpace of time, though the number was very fmall to
what it was afterwards ; (l) and all his falvation was, as
it
( L ) The number of fouls faved before Chrift' s coining, comparal'tvely^
very few.] There is no fiibjeft on which our fpeculatioiis have
lefs certainty than that of the comparative number of the faved.
Among angels forae have fuppofed thofe who fell to form at leaft
one third of the whole; and other confign over a great majo-
rity of mankind to the fame awful condemnation. But ' God's
thoughts are not our thoughts, neither his ways as our ways.'
As to the antient Jews, althougli their difpenfation was compa-
ratively dark, and their temper naturally rebellious, we have rca-
fon to believe an innumerable multitude was faved from among
them. If in times of o-encval idolatrv and liccntioufnefs, when a
holy
I rJ T R O D U C T I O N. 63
It were, by way of anticipation. All the fouls that were
faved before Chiiil; came, were only, as it were, the ear-
ned: of the future harvcft.
God wrought many leffer falv'ations and deliverances
for his church and people before Chrilt came. Thefe
falvations were all but fo many images and forerunners of
the great faJvation Chrift was to work out when he
fliould come. God revealed himfelf of old, from time
to time, from the fall of man to the coming of Chrifl:.
The church during that fpace of time enjoyed the light
of divine revelation, and, in a degree, the light of the
gofpel. But all thefe revelations were only earnefts of the
great light that he ihould bring who came to be ' the light
' of the world ;' that whole fpace of time was, as it were,
the time of night, wherein the church of God was not
indeed wholly in darknefs, but it was like the light of the
moon and ftars, and not to be compared with the light
of the fun. It ' had no glory, by reafon of the glory that
excelieth.' [2. Cor. iii. 10.] The church had indeed the
light of the fun, but it was only as refleiSled from the
moon and flars. The church all that while may be con-
fidcred as a minor; this the apoflle evidently teaches [in
Gal. iv. I, 2, 3.] * Now I fay, that the heir as long as
' he is a child, dIfFereth nothing from a fervant, tlioun-Ji
■^ he be lord of all ; bat is under tutors and c:overnors,
' until the time appointed of the Father. Even fo wc,
» when We were children, were in bondage under the ele-
' lYients of the world.'
K But
holy prophet bewailed himfelf as the only fervant of the true God
left : if, in fuch a time God had referved to himfelf fcven thoufand
faithful worfhippers, [i. Kings xix. 10.] doubtlcfs at other times,
when religion fiouriihed, their number mull be confidcrably
greater.
But the Heathen nations are by many totally given up, except
here and there a perfon faved by miracle, * God's ways, however,
♦ are not as our ways,' and it was as pofflble for God to fave them
without the ufual means of grace, as to fave infants without any
external means at all.
After all, had God fuffered our whole world to periih, what is
It to the innumerable globes that float in his prefence ? Probably
not more than tlie deftruftlon of an ant hill, or a bee hive, to the
whole fpccies of ants or bees [N. U.]
64 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
But here, for the greater clearnefs and diftindtnefs, I
fhall fubdivide this period from the fall of man to the com-
ing of Chrift, into fix leffer periods.
I. From the fall to the flood ; —
II. From the flood to the calling of Abraham ; —
III. From the calling of Abraham to Mofes ;—
IV. From Mofes to David ; —
V. From David to the Babylonifli captivity ;— and the
VL From thence to the Incarnation of Chrifl:.
§ I. From the FALL to the flood.
THIS was a period farthefl: of all dift:ant from Chrifl's
incarnation ; yet then was this great work begun, this
glorious building which will not be finiflied till the end
of the world ; and this is what I am now to fiievv you :
to this purpofe I would obferve,
I. As foon as man fell, Chrifl: entered on his media-
torial work. Then it was that he firfl: began to execute
the work and oflice of a mediator. He had undertaken
it before the world was made. He fl;ood_ engaged with
the Father from eternity to appear as man's mediator,
when there ihould be occafion : and now the time was
come. When man fell, Chrift immediately entered on
his work, and a6tually took upon him that office. Then
Chrift, the eternal Son of God, cloathed himfelf witli
the mediatorial characfVer, and therein prefented himfelf
before the Father. He immediately ftepped in between
an holy, infinite, oflcndcd majefty, and offending man-
kind ; and was accepted in his interpofition ; and thus
wrath was prevented from going forth in tlie full exe-
cution of that curie which man had brought upon him-
felf.
It is manifeft that Chrift began to exercife the office of
mediator between God and man as foon as man fell, be-
caufe mercy began to be exercifcd towards man immedi-
ately.
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 6s
ately. There was mercy In the forbearance of God, (m)
that he did not deftroy him, as he did the angels when
they fell:- but there is no mercy excrcifed toward fallen
man, but through a mediator. If God had not in mer-
cy reftrained Satan, he would have immediately feized on
his prey. Chrift began to dp the part of an interceflbr
for man, as foon as he tell. There is no mercy exercifed
towards man, but what is obtained through Chrifl's in-
tcrceffion ; fo that now Chrift entered on that work
which he was to continue throughout all ages of the world.
From that day. forward Chrift took upon him the care of
the church, in the exerclfe of all his offices ; from thence
he undertook to teacli mankind in the exercife of his pro-
phetical office; to intercede for them, in his prieftly of-
fice ; alfo he took upon him the government of the church,
and of the world. He from that time took upon him
the defence of his eleft from all their enemies. When
Satan, the grand enemy, had conquered and overthrown
man, the bufinefs of refifting and conquering him was
conimitted to Chrift ; and he undertook to manage that
fubtle powerful adverfary. He was then appointed the
captain of the Lord's hofts, and the captain of their fal-
vation, and ever after a6fed, and will continue to act, as
fuch to the end of the world. Thenceforward this world,
with all its concerns, was, as it were, devolved upon the
Son of God: for when man had fmned, God the Father
would have no more to do with man immediately , but
K .2 only
(m) There ivas mercy hithe forbearance of God.~\ Milton,
with whom our author frequently coincides, puts this fentimcnt
into the mouth of Adam, in his confolatory addrefs to Eve.
" Remember with what mild
And gracious temper he both heard and judg'd,
Without wrath or reviling : we expefted
Immediate difTolution, which we thought
Was meant by death that day ; when lo, to thee *>
Pains only in child bearing were foretold.
And bringing forth, foon recompens'd with joy,
Fruit of thy womb: on me the ciufe aflope
Glanc'd on the ground" . . . [Par. Loft, Book x.]
This fubjed, and Milton's beautiful iiliiftratlun of it, we ihali
have occafion lo refume In the fequel of this feftion.
66 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
only through a mediatoi'; either in teaching, in govern-
ing, or in beflowing any beneiits upon him.
And therefore, when we read in facred hiflory what
God did from time to time for his church and people, and
liow he revealed himfelf to them, we are to underftand
it efpecially of the fecond perfon of the Trinity. When
we read of God's appearing after the fall, frequently in
fome vifible form, or outward lymbol of his pretence, wc
are ordinarily, if not univerfally, to underftand it of the
Son of God. (n) This may be argued from John i. i8.
* No man hath feen God at any time; the only begotten
*^ Son, which is in tlie bofom of the Father, he hath de-
* clared him.' He is therefore called ' the image of the
* invifible God,' [Col. i. 15.] intimating, that though
God the Father be invifible, yet Chrift is his image, or re-
prefentation, by which he is feen.
Yea, not only this world devolved on Chrifl:, that he
might have the care and government of it, and order it
agreeably to his defign of redemption, but alfo in fome
refpecl, the whole univerfe. The angels from that time
were given unto liim, to be miniflering fpirits in this grand
buhnefs ; and accordingly were fo from this time, as is
manifeft by the fcripture hiftory, wherein we have accounts
of their acting as fuch in the affairs of the church of Chrift,
from time to timq.
And therefore we may fuppofe, that immediately on
the fall, it was made known in heaven (o) that God had
a defi'in
(n) IVhen nuc read of God's appearing after tJ>e fall, ive are
to underflatid it of the Son of God.'} The principal appearances here
alluded to, and the perfon thus appearing, will be coniidered under
§ VI. of this period.
(o) God's defign of mercy made knoivn in heaven immediately
on the fall. } Milton, with, at leaft, equal beauty and probability,
fuppofcs this diicovcry to have preceded the fall. He reprefents
the eternal Father as viewing Satan flying tovvards this world,
and foretelling his fucccfs, and his own purpofes of grace in the
ilTue. The pafTage, as it is extremely -beautiful and will illuftratc
not only this, but feveral other of our author's obfcivations under
ihis fetiion, we Ihall in part tranfciibc ;
« Him
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 6^
■A defign of redemption with refpcft to man ; that Chrift
had now taken upon him the office and work of a mediator
between
*' Him [Satan] God beholding from his profpeft high,
Wherein pad, prefent, future, he beholds,
Thus to his only Son forefeeing fpake :
" Only begotten Son, feed thou what rage
Tranfpovts our adverfary ?
■ And now
Through all reftraints broke loofe, he v/ings his way
Not far off heaven, in the precinfts of light,
Direftly towards the new-created world ;
And man there plac'd, with purpofe to effay,
If him by force he can deftroy, or worfe,
By fome falfe guile pervert : and fliall pervert,
For man will hearken to his glozing lies,
And cafily tranfgrefs the fole command,
Sole pledge of his obedience ; fo will fall
He and his faithlefs progeny
Man falls, deceiv'd
By th'othcr firfl : man therefore fhall find grace,
The other none : in mercy and juftice both,
Through heav'n and earth, fo fliall my glory excell ;
But mercy, firft and laft, fhall brighteft fliine.
" Thus while God fpake, ambrofial fragrance hll'd
All heav'n, and in the bleffed fpirits eleft
Senfe of new joy ineffable difFus'd :
Beyond compare the §on of God was fecn
Mod glorious ; in him all his Father fhone
Subftantially exprefs'd ; and in his face
Divine compafTion viiibly appear'd,
Love without end, and without meafure, grace ;
Which uttering, thus he to his Father fpake :
" O Father, gracious was that word which clos'd
Thy fov'reign fentcnce, that man fliould find grace ;
For which both heaven and earth fhall high extoll
Thy praifes. ... -
" To whom the great Creator thus reply'd ;
O Son, in whom my foul hath chief delight.
But all is not yet done ; man difobeying.
He, with his whole poUerity, mufl die ;
Die he or juflice mull ; unlefs for him
Some able, and as willing, pay
The rigid fatisfacliun, death for death,
'Sav,
6$ HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
between God and man ; and that the angels were hence-
forward to be fubfervient to him in that ofl&ce : and as Chrift
has been, fince that time, as God-man, exalted King of
heaven ; and is thenceforward a Mediator, the Light, and
the Sun of heaven, (agreeable to Rev. xxi. 23. ' And the
* city had no need of the fun, neither of the moon, to fhine
' in it ; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb
* is the light thereof ;') fo the revelation now made in hea-
ven among the angels, was, as it were, the firft dawning
of this light tliere. When Chrift afcended into glory after
his paffion, and was folemnly enthroned, then this fun arofc
in heaven ; but the light began to dawn immediately after
the fall.
2. Pre-
Say, heav'nly pow'rs, where fhaU we find fuch love ? <
He aflc'd ; but all the heav'nly choir flood mute.
And iileiice was in heav'n : on man's behalf
patron or interceffor none appear'd.
Had not the Son of God,
In whom the fulnefs dvv'ells of love divine,
His deareft mediation thus renew'd.
** Father, thy word is paft, man fhall find grace ;
And fliall not grace find means ?
Behold Me then ; Me for him, life for life
I offer ; on me let all thine anger fall.
Admiration feiz'd
All heav'n, what this might mean, and whither tend,
Wond'ring." [Par. Loit, b. ill.]
But the idea of Mr. Gessner exaftly coincides with our au-
thor's. He introduces an angel addrcfTing our firil parents in the
following elegant language :
" Know then, Adam ! on thy tranfgrefling the divine command,
God faid to the happy fplrits who worfhip before him, ' Man hath
* difobeyed me ; he fhall die.' A denfe cloud fuddenly encom-
pafTed the eternal throne, and a deep file nee reigned through the
whole expanfe of heaven. . . . The adoring angels were in eager
cxpeftafion of v/hat was to follow this nnufual pomp, when the
majeilic voice of God founded . . . thcfe words of benignity and
grace — ' I will not withdraw my favour from the finncr. To my
* infinite mercy the earth fiiall bear v/itncfs. Of the woman fliall
* he born an avenger, who fhall bruifc the head of the ferpent.
* Hell ihall not rejoice in this vidory ; denth Ihall lofe its prey ; ye
* heavens, (hew forth your gladntfs ! — Thus fpake the EtcrnaL"
[Death of Abel, b. il.l— -[N. U.}
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 69
2. Prefendy upon this the gofpel was firft revealed on
earth, in thefe words, [Gen. iii. 15.] < And I will put
* enmity between thee [the ferpent] and tlie woman, and
* between thy feed and her feed : it fliall brulfe thy head,
' and thou flialt bruife his heel.' We may fuppofe, that
God's intention of redeeming fallen man was hrft fignified
in heaven before it was fignified on earth, becaufe the bu-
fniefs of the angels as miniftering fpirits required it that
they might be ready immediately to ferve him in that office:
fo that the light firft dawned in heaven ; but very foon after
was feen on earth. In thofe words of God there was an
intimation of another furety to be appointed for man, after
the firll had failed. This was the firft revelation of the
covenant of grace, the firft dawn of light of the gofpel upon
earth.
This world before the fall enjoyed noon-day light ;
the light of the knowledge of God, of his glory, and of
his favour : but when man fell, all this light was at
once extinguiflied, and the world reduced again to total
darknefs ; a darknefs worfe than that which was in the
beginning of the world. [Gen. i. 2.] Neither men nor
angels could find out any way whereby this mip^ht be
fcattered. The blacknefs of this darknefs appeared when
Adam and his wife knew that they were naked, and fewed
fig leaves ; when they heard tlie voice of God walkincp
in the garden, and hid themfelves among the trees, when
God firft called them to an account, and fald to Adam,
* What is this that thou haft done ? Haft tliou eaten of the
' tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou fliouldeft not
* eatr' Then we may fuppofe that their hearts were
filled with ftiame and terror, (p) But thofe words of
God,
(p) ^ilam and Ins <wifc hiciu that they lucre naked, £ffr.] A
variety of queries have been Hated from the pafTage here alluded
to, [Gen. iii. 8 — 11.] and a number of folutions given ; feme of
thcfe we fliall review, as they conneft clofcly with our fubjeft.
We fliall begin with the ininicdiate conlequence of the fin of our
firft parents — * And the eyes of them both w^re opened, and tjiey
* knew that they were naked.' Tlic celebrated Le Clerc, and
ibinc other ingenioji coaimcntators, have uippofed the nakcdefs
here
70 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
God, [Gen. iii. 15.] were the firft dawning of the light
of the goi'pel after this darknefs. Now lirft appeared
fomc
he're alhided to was moral, viz. a lofs of innocence; and it mufl:
be confefled, in a few inftances the Scripture ufes the term in this
metaphorical fenfe, [See Stackhouse's Hift. of the Bible, voL u
p. 74.3 but two circumilances pofitively forbid our fo taking it in
this place — one is, that the lafh verfe of the preceding chapter af-
fures us that they were naked l^efore the fall, which mufl certainly
intend a literal nakednefs ; the other, that in confequence of this
nakednefs they made themfelves coveritigs, which certainly were
for their bodies, and not their minds. But why fhould they who
never had worn any cloathing, be afnamed of appearing in the ftate
in Avhich God created them ; elpecially when we confider, that
themfelves were the only pevfons in the world, and they v^'ere man
and wife ? The anfwer to this involves a very delicate, and as it
fliould feem, from the ill fuccefs of commentators, a very difh-
cult fubjeft. We muft return to the previous affertion of our
infpired writer, that * they were' in a Hate of innocence, ' both
* naked, and not afliamed ;' which certainly implies, not only
that their nakednefs was no juft caufc of fliame, but that they
woidd never have known it, had their innocency continued. But
when they finned, then, as the Tempter had predicted, their
eyes were opened. To open the eyes is, literally, to give fight to
the blind ; but figuratively, to communicate to any perfon a new
kind or degree of knowledge. [See Num. xxii. 31. 2. Kings
vi. 17. Afts xxvi. 18.]
And the following phrafe, which we render * they knew that
* they were naked,' implies fomething more than a bare fpecula-
tive knowledge, it means to feel as well as to inott-, [See Park-
hurst in ];t] and might be here perhaps more accurately and
exprefiively rendered, ' they were fen/ili/e that they were naked."
Before the fall they doubtlefs knew that they had no cloathing ;
but now their eyey were opened, and they had acquired a crimi-
nal knowledge, and become fenfible of a pafhon, to which they
had ever before been ibangers, namely, fhame. The origin of
this will be cafier to account for, if we fuppofe with fome [Uni-
\-erfal Hift. vol. i. p. 132.] that the juice of tliis tree was in a
degree inebriating ; fince we know from common obfervation, that
juices of fuch a quality will excite debauchery, produce ftrange
commotions in the animal frame, and give a ftrong predominancy
to the animal appetites. Under thefe circumilances we need not
wonder at the fubterfuges to which the-y ran, fince it is never ex-
pefted that the conduct of perfons under the power of intoxica-
tion, or the opprefiion of guilt, fliould be perfeflly confillent
witl\ the rules of cool reflection.
There is one circumftance which has not h3tn perhaps fuffici-
ently attended to, namely, that they were ufed to cxpeft the di-
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 71
fome glimmering of light ; but it was an obfcure revelation
of the gofpcl ; and was not made to Adam or Eve directly,
but
vine Prefence, and that probably in a glorious human form ; this
might be one reafon of their covering their nakednefs now, as it
was immediately after, of their feeking to hide their perfons
among the trees of the garden. However, it is remarkable, that
the cuftom of covering the private parts fhould fo generally ob-
tain, even among barbarous nations ; an entire difufe of cloath-
ing in both fexes, is, perhaps, no where praftifed, except where
promifcuous intercourfe is alfo allowed, and men and \vomen cou-
ple Hke the brutes.
The materials of which thefe coverings, which We call * aprons,*
and fome, ludicroiidy, breeches, but which ought to be, accord-
ing to the general ufage of the Hebrew word, and the tranf-
lations of the LXX and Vulgate, girdles ; — the materials of
thefe, and the manner of manufacture, have afforded plentiful
diverfion for infidels, but without the leaft (hadow of reafon,
hnce we know that luitable materials are produced in foreign
countries, and manufactured with a fimplicity analogous to that
or thefe primitive girdles. We allude to the fewed leaves, which
cover our tea as it comes in chefts from the Eaft Indies. But
to proceed,
' And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the
* garden in the cool [Heb. -zy/W] of the day.' We have little
doubt but that the voice they firft heard was that of thunder,
frequently called the voice of God, [See Pf. xxix.] firft murmur-
ing at a diftance, afterward approaching nearer, and growing
louder ; for it is remarkable, that the fame word [walkingj is ap-
phed [Ex. xix. & 19. in the Heb.] by a beautiful figure, to the
found of the celeftial trumpet at the delivery of the law. Hearing
this, which had never founded to them fo awfully before, it was
extremely natural for them, in their prefent ftate of guilty con-
fufion, to feek to hide themfelves among the trees ; a method
that many of their children praCtife to this day ; for nothing is
more common (though dangerous) than for perfons to run among
ihe trees in a thunder ftorm. This happened, as the original ex-
preffes it, in the * wind of the day,' /. e. the evening breeze ; and
now might that powerful element firft put on its terrors, and
double the folemnityof the divine appearance.
But the voice of the Lord, a voice from the Shechinah, [com-
pare John xii. 28, 29.] called to him, 'Adam, where art thou ?
* And he faid, I heard thy voice in the garden ; and I was
'afraid, becaufe I was naked, and I hid myfelf.' Here is are-
markable inftance of that confufion which commonly attends, and
often betrays a guilty confcience : this confeflion of his fear and
nakednefs was a virtual acknowledgment of his crime ; as we fee
by the following reply of God :
L 'And
72 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
but in what God faid to the ferpent. It was however very
comprehenfive, as might be eafily fliown, would it not
take up too much time, (q^)
Here
< And he faid, Who told thee that thou \vaft naked ? Haft thou
* eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou Ihouldft
* not eat?' or as the late Dr. Kennicott [Differt. on the Tree
of Life, p. 50.3 tranflates the words with more fpirit and exaft-
nefs, 'What! of the tree wliich I commanded thee not to eat, of
THAT haft thou eaten ?' This brings Adam to a farther, but not
a free, confeffiony and is followed by a fentence on them both. A
fentence, however, accompanied by the pi omifc of mercy, which
will form the fubjedl of the following note. [G. E.]
(q^) The firjl PROMISE luas very comprehenfive. To compre-
hend more fully the nature of this promife, we muft review the
whole of the fentence paffed upon the ferpent, in which, as oui:
author obferves, this promife is included.
The punifhment of the ferpent was exadlly fuited to the nature
of the cafe, and the matter of facft. Satan had made a tool of the
ferpent ; this therefore was degraded to the duft, and to be treat-
ed in a peculiar manner as the enemy of mankind. Many conjec-
tures have been indulged as to the original nature of the ferpent ;
fome of which are ridiculous as well as groundlefs : but the text
itfelf implies, that in confequence of the divine curfe it underwent
a change, if not in its form, at leaft in its manner of life ; pofBbly
it was originally an inhabitant of the trees, for which its ftrufturc
feems very convenient, and might have a privilege, which feems
to have been denied moft other animals, [Gen. i.-30.] of living
upon the fruits : but now, faith God, ' Thou art curfed above all
* cattle, and above every bcaft of the field ; upon thy belly fhalt
* thou go, and duft ihalt thou eat all the days of thy life. And I
* will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy
* feed and her feed ; it fliallbruife thy head, and thou (halt bruife
* his heel.' The whole of this has been literally fulfilled : ferpents
are confined to the ground — eating the duft — and being pecu-
iiarly the fubjei^ts of human averfion. [See Pliny's Nat. Hift.
vii. 2.]
If any fliould queftion (and fuch is the temerity of man) the
equity of God's thuspunifiiing a creature in itfelf incapable of fin-
ning, we. may fuppofc, with Mr. Stackhouse, [Hift. of the Bible,
B. I. ch. iii.] tiiat " God intended this debafement of it [the fer-
pent] not fo much to exprefs his indignation againft it, as to make
it a monument of man's apoftafy, a teftimony of his difplcafure
againft fin, and an inftruftive emblem to deter all future ages from
the commifiion of that which brought fuch vengeauce along with
it. In the Levitical law, [Lev. xx. 15.] we find, that if a man
eommitted any abomination with a bcaft, thcbeaft was to be flain
a&
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 73
Here was an intimation of a merciful defign hv ' the
ieed of the woman,' which was like the firil glimmer-
ings
as well a* the man ; and, by parity of reafon, the ferpent is here
punifhed ; if not to ... . allay the triumph of the devil, by feeing
the inftrument of his fuccefs fo fhamefuUy degraded, at lead to
remind the delinquents themfelves of the foulnefs of their crime. —
But God might have a farther defign in this degradation of the
ferpent : he forefaw, that in future ages Satan would have a pride
in abufing this very creature to ... . ellablifh the vilell idolatry."
This we Hiall confider prcfently.
But to confine this paffage to a literal fenfe would be, as Dean
Sherlock has fhewn, [Ufe and Intent of Prophecy, Differ. HL3
exceedingly ridiculous ; it would contain but cold comfort to our
firft parents in their diftrefs, and exhibit the paffage in a light not
only unworthy of God, but of Mofes, or, indeed, as Bifhop
Newton obferves, of " any fcnfible writer." [Differ. L on the
Prophefiesi] We ffiall therefore proceed to the figurative and
more fublime fenfe in which it is above explained.
And obferve, i. that under the ferpent's name the curfe is here
levelled at the grand enemy of mankind, * That old ferpent, called
' the Devil and Satan, which deceivcth the whole world.' [Rev.
xii. 9.] And very early was he worfliipped under that fimiiitude.
Dr. Gill [on Gen. iii. i.] fays, " Taautus, or the Egyptian
Thoth, [or Hermes, who, by the bye, is fuppofed to have lived
before the flood] was the firft that attributed deity to the nature
of the dragon and of ferpents, and after him the Egyptians and
Phoenicians ; the Egyptian god Cnepb was a ferpent with a hawk's
head ; and a ferpent with the Phoenicians was a good dsemon .-^.. ,
Herodotus makes mention of facred ferpents about Thcbi^s ; and
Alianus, of facred dragons ; and Juftin Martyr fays, the ferpent
with the heathens was a fymbol of all that were reckoned gods by
them, and they were painted as fuch ; and wherever ferpents were
painted, according to Perfuis, it was a plain indication that it was
a facred place. Serpents were facred to many of the heathen dei-
ties, who were worfhipped either in the form of one, or in a
real one ; all which feem to take their rife from the ufe the devil
made of the ferpent in feducing our firft parents." And to this
day the ferpent is a favourite divinity among many of the Indian
nations. In the clofe of the lafl: century, a hog which had by
fome means killed and fwallowed one of thefe favourite reptiles,
in the country of the Widahs, fo provoked them, tlia-t the mar-
buts (orpriefts) procured a general daughter of the fwine, and if
the King had not loved pork, a hog had not been left in Widah.
[See Hift. of Jamaica, VoL ii. p. 379.]
2. If the ferpent be underflood of the devil, hi: fe-cl or offspring
will very properly be underftood of that < generation of vipers,*
[Matt. iii. 7.] who our Lord himfelf declared to be of tlieir
L z ' father
74 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
ings of light in the eaft when the clay dawns. This
intimation of mercy was given before fentcnce was pro-
nounced
* father the devil,' [John viii. 44,] and who fhewed their enmity
in all the periods of his life, and wounded his heel in nailing him
to the crofs, ivho was, doubtlefs, in a moil remarkable manner,
3. The y^^^ of the ivoman. Here we may adopt the Apolllc
Paul's expofition of another pafTage, in which the fame expreffion
is ufed : ' He faith not feeds, as of many, but as of one — which
is Chr'ijl.^ [Gal. iii. \6r\ And it is obfervable, that not only the
generality of Chriftian writers, but even the ancient Jews, both
the Jerufalcm Targum and that of Jonathan, befides many other
famous rabbies, apply the pafTage to the times and perfon of the
Mefliah. [See Helvicus in Protevang. n. 64, and, from him,
Poole, Synop. crit. in loc] If it be neceffary to underftand the
* feed of the woman' in a more extenfive fenfe, to correfpond
with the former member of the fentence, it may be obferved,
that the difciplcs of Chrift owe the fame enmity to Satan as their
mafter, and would willingly, as they are able, aflill us to dellroy
his kingdom.
4. The meaning of the conflict, here expreffed by hrnifing the
ferpent's head and the Saviour's heel.
To underftand this metaphorical language it fhould be obferved
that the head is the vulnerable part of ferpents, and that a blow-
there is fatal to them ; whereas a wound in the heel is to a man of
comparatively fmall confequence. " Bruifmg the ferpent's head,
fays Dr. Burnett [Ser. at Boyle's Left. Vol. iii. p. 516.] implies
the defeating his contrivances againft mankind. For (i.) as he
thought by feducing the pair, to have brought on their death, and
fo have made an end of the whole fpecies at once, God promifes
that the woman fhould live to have feed. (2.) As he feduced the
woman under the fpecious pretence of friendfhip, while he in-
tended her ruin, a war is declared againft the devil and his party,
which fhould end in the ruin of them and their devices. And ( 3. )
as the devil thought by drawing them into iin and under the wrath
of God, to bring them under a certainty of death, and deprive
of the happinefs they were made for, God declares that the de-
vil's policy fhould be defeated by the feed of the woman, in which
is imphed a pofitive promife — that mankisd, though by the envy
of the devil become fmful and therefore mortal, fhould receive
through the feed of the woman, forg'ivencjs of fiii, the refurrcBkn
rif the bodjy and Vfe everlajlingy
" So fpake this oracle, then verified
When Jesus, fon of Mary, fecond Eve,
Saw Satan fall like lightning dovrh from heaven,
Prince of the air ; then rifing from his grave
Spoil'd principalities and powers, triumph'd
In open fhow, and with afcenfion bright,
iCaptivit;
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 75
nounced on either Adam or Eve, from tendernefs to
them, to whom God defigned mercy, left they ftiould be
overborne with a fentence of condemnation, without hav-
ing any thing held forth whence they could gather any
hope.
One of thofe great things that were intended to be
done by the work of redemption, is more plainly inti-
mated here than the reft, viz. God's fubduing his ene-
mies under the feet of his Son. This was threatened
now, and God's defign of it now hrft declared. This
was the work Chrift had now undertaken, which he foon
began, has carried on, and will accomplifh at the end
of the world, Satan probably triumphed greatly in the
fall of man, as though he had defeated God's defigns :
but in thefe words God gives him a plain intimation,
that he should not finally triumph, but that a complete
viiSlory fhould be obtained over him by the feed of the
woman.
This
Captivity led captive through the air,
The realm itfcif of Satan long ufurp'd,
Whom he fhall tread at laft under our feet."
[Par. Loft. Book x.]
It is not to be fuppofcd however that our parents underftood the
firft promife to the extent that we now do with the help of the gof-
pel revelation. Milton introduces them as reafoning upon it
in this manner : Eve, having hinted the defperate meafure of de-
ftroying thcmfelves, Adam replies,
" Let us feek
Some fafcr refolution, which methinks
I have in view, calling to mind with heed
Part of our fentence, that thy feed fhall bruife
The ferpent's head ; piteous amends, unlefs
Be meant, whom I conjefture, our grand foe,
Satan, who in the ferpent hath contriv'd
Againft us this deceit : to crufh his head
Will be revenge indeed ; which will be loft
By death brought on ourfclves, or childlefs days
Refolv'd, asthou propofeft ; fo our foe
Shall fcape his puniftiment ordain'd, and we
Inftead (hall double ours upon our heads.
Remember with what mild
And gracious temper he both heard and judg'd
Without wrath or reviUng." . . . Par. Loft. Book x. [G.E.]
76 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
This revelation of the gofpel was the hrft thing that
Chrifl did in his prophetical office. You may remem-
ber, that it was faid in the firft of our three proportions
that from the fall of man to the incarnation of Chrill:,
God was doing thofe things which were preparatory to
Chrift's coining and working out redemption, and fore-
runners and earnefts of it. And one of thofe things
which God did in this time to prepare the way for Chrift's
coming into the world, was to foretel and promife it, as
he did from time to time, from age to age, till Chrift came.
This was the iirft promife given, the tirft predidlion made
of it upon the earth.
3. Soon after this, the cuftom of facrificing was ap-
pointed, to be a ftanding type of the facrifice of Chrift
till he fhould come, and ofTer up himfelf to God. (r)
S:acrihcing was not a cuftom tirft eftabliflied by the Levi-
tical
(r) 'S)A.CK\Tic%5 origwally appointed by God. Our author's ar-
guments in fupport of this propofition, though concifc, arc cer-
tainly forcible ; but in an article of this importance, it may not
be improper to ftrengthen them with the following obfervations
from another author of confiderable refpcftability in the learned
world :
" That animal facrifices were not inftituted by man feems ex-
tremely evident — from the acknowledged un'roerfality of the prac-
tice — from the wonderful famenejs of the manner, in which the
whole world offered thefe facrifices ; and from that merit and ex-
piation, which were conilantly fuppofed in, and to be cffedled by
them.
" Now human reafon, even among the moil ftrcnuous oppo-
nents of the divine inftitutions, is allowed to be incapable of point-
ing out the lead natural fitncfs or congruity between Blood and
Atonement ; between killing of God's creatures, and the receiv-
ing a pardon for the violation of God's laws. This confequence
of facrifices when properly offered, was the invariable opinion of
the Heathens ; but not the whole of their opinion in this matter :
for they had alfo a traditionary belief among them, that thefe ani-
mal facrifices were not only expiations but vicarious commutationg
nnd fubftituted fatisfaflions, and they called the animals fo offered,
[^their ai'Ti-J/t';)^;* or] the ranfoms of their fouls.
" But if thefe notions are fo remote from, nay fo contrary to, any
leffon that nature teaches, as they confeffedly are ; how came the
whole world to pra6life the rites founded upon them ? It is certain
that the wifeff heathens^Pythagoras, Plato, Porphyry, and others,
flighted the religion of fuch facrifices ; and wondered) how an in-
ftitution
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 77
tical law ; for it had been a part of God's inftituted
worfliip long before, even from the beginning of God's
V
ifiblc
ftitution fo difmal (as it appeared to them) and fo big with abfur-
dity, could difFufe itfelf through the world.
" An advocate for the fufiiciency of reafon [Tindall] fuppofes^
the abfurdity prevailed by degrees ; and the priefts, who (harcd
with their gods, and referved the bell bit* for themfelves, had the
chief hand in this gainful fuperftition. But it may well be afl<cd;
who were the priefts in the days of Cain and Abel ? Or what gain
could this fuperftition be to them, when the one gave away his
fruits, and the other his animal facrifiee, without being at liberty
to tafte the leaft part of it? And .... it is worth remarking, that
what this author wittily calls the hejl hits, and appropriates to the
priefts, appear to have been the flvin of the burnt offering among
the Jews, and the flcin and feet among the Heathens.
" Dr. Spencer obfcrves [De Leg. Heb. Lib. iii. ^ 2.] that fa-
crificcs were looked upon as gifts, and that the general opinion
was — that gifts would have the fame effedl with God as with man ;
would appeafe wrath, conciliate favour with the Deity, and teftify
the gratitude and afl'eftion of the facrificer ; and that from this
principle proceeded expiatory, precatory, and euchariftical offer-
ings. This is all that is pretended from natural light to countenance
this praftice. But how well foever the comparifon may be thought
to hold between facrifices and gifts, yet the opinion that facrifices
would prevail with God, muft proceed from an obfervation that
gifts had prevailed with men ; an obfervation this which Cain and
Abel had little opportunity of making. And, if the coats of flcin,
which God direfted Adam to make, were the remains of facrifices,
fure Adam could not facrifiee from this obfervation, when there
were no fubjefts in the world upon which he could make thefc ob-
fcrvations." [Kennmcott's 2d Dlffert. on the Offerings of Cain
and Abel. p. 201, &c.]
But the grand objection to the divine origin of facrifices is
drawn from the fcriptures themfelves, particularly the following,
[Jer. vii. 22, 23.] ' Ifpake not to your fathers, nor commanded
' them, at the time that I brought them out of the land of
* Egypt, concerning the matters of burnt offering or facrifiee ;
* but only this very thing commanded 1 them, faying, Obey my
* vo'icc, an J I •wtU be your God, and ye /hall be my people.' The
ingenious writer above referred to accounts for this paffage
f pages 153 and 209] by referring to the tranfac^ion at Marah,
[Exod. XV. 23 — 26] at which time God fpakc nothing concern-
ing facrifices : it certainly cannot be intended to contradift the
whole book of Leviticus, which is full of fach appointments.
Aaothei learned author, to account for the above and other fimi-
lar pafTages, obferves, " Tlie Jews were diligent in perfoitning
the external fervicos of religion ; in offering prayero, iiicenfe, fa-
crifices,
78 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION;
vlfible church on earth. We read of the patriarchs',
Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, offering facrifice, and even
before them Noah and Abel : and this was by divine ap-
pointment ; for it was part of God's worfhip in his
church, and that which he accepted, when offered up in
faith ; which proves it was by his inftitution, for facri-
iicing is no part of natural worfliip. The light of na-
ture doth not teach men to offer beafts in facrifice to
God ; and feeing it was ftot enjoined by the law of na-
ture, if it was acceptable to God, it muft be by fome pofi-
tive command or inftitution : for God has declared his
abhorrence of fuch worihip as is taught by the precept
of men without his appointment ; [Ifa. xx-ix. 13.}
* Wherefore the Lord faith, Forafmuch as this people
* draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do
' honour me, but have removed their heart far from me,
' and their fear towards me is taught by the precepts
' of men, therefore behold I will proceed to do a mar-
' vellous work,' &c. And fuch worfliip as hath not a
warrant from divine inftitution, cannot be offered up in
faith ;
crifices, oblations : but thefe prayers were not offered with faith ;
and their oblations were made more frequently to their idols, than
to the God of their fathers. The Hebrew idiom excludes with a
general negative, in a comparative fenfe, one of- two objefts op-
pofed to one another: thus, ' L will have mercy and not facrifice.'
£Hof. vi. 6.] ' For I fpake not to your fathers, nor commanded
* them concerning burnt offerings or facrifices ; but this thing
* I commanded them, faying, Obey my voice." [Lowth in Ifa.
xliii. 22 — 24.3 The ingenious Dr. Doddridge remarks, that
according to the genius of the Hebrew language, one thing feems
to be forbidden, and another commanded, when the meaning only
is, that the latter is greatly to be preferred to the former. The
text before us is a remarkable inftance of this ; as likewife Joel il.
13. — Matt. vi. 19, 20. — John vi. 27. — Luke xii. 4, 5. — and Col.
iii. 2. And it is evident that Gen. xlv. 8. — Ex. xvi. 8. — John v.
30 — vii. 19, and many other paffages are to be expounded in the
fame comparative fcnfc. [Paraph, on New Teft. § xlix.] So that
the whole may be refolved into the apothegm of the wife man,
(]Prov. xxi. 3.] ' To do juftlce and Judgment is more accept-
* able to the Lord tlian facrifice.' Sacrificing appointed to he
a Jlanding type of Chr'ijl. This will partly appear in the two fol-
lowing notes on the iirll facrificcb. and more fully when we come
to confider the Mofaic inilitutioiii. [J. N.J
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 79
fairh; becaufe faith has no foundation where there is no
divine appointment. It cannot be offered up in faith of
God's acceptance ; for man hath no warrant to hope for
God's acceptance in tliat which is not of his appointment,
and to which he hath not promifcd his acceptance ; and
therefore it follows, that the cuflom of offering facrifices
to God was inftitutcd foon after the fall; for the fcripture
teaches us, that Abel offered ' the firfilings of his flock,
and of the fat thereof,' [Gen. iv. 4.] and that he was
accepted of God in this offering, [Heb. xi. 4.] And there
is nothing in the ftory that looks as though the inflitution
was firit given when Abel offered up that facritice to
God; but it appears as though he only therein complied
witii a cullom already eflablillied. (s)
It
(3) Abel OFFERED ihefrJlUngsofhisJlocks, life.'] As this
is the firfl inrtance of facrifice, and even of religious worfhip, re-
corded in fcripture, and was attended with confequences fo fingu-
lar and important, we cannot pal's it over without examination ;
and as a learned author above cited, [Dr. Kcnnicott] has be-
ftowed uncommon pains on this fubjeft, we flatter ourl'elves our
readers will be gratified by being prefcnted with the fubflance of
his excellent differtation.
Dr. Kennicott introduces his hypothefis with obferving the dif-
ferent charafters and employments of the two brothers : * Abel
' was a keeper of fheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground ;' the
one, as Lord Eacon cxpreffes it, devoted to the ^^kr, the other
to the ccniemplai'i've^ fccnes of life.
• And in procln'"s of time ;' Heb. at the end of days ; that is, as
our author endeavours at large to prove, at the end of the week,
on the fabbath day, pofTibly the firft after they had become the
heads of families, and entitled to offer facrifices, as was the patri-
archal manner, each as the pried of his own family — ' It came to
' pafs that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground, an otfering to
' the Lord.' It is of importance to be obferved, that the He-
brew v/ord rendered an offering, is mincha, which Dr. K. ex-
plains from divine authority to be an offering oi Jine Jlour mingled
ivilh oU and ft-anhincenfe, [Lev. ii. i, &c.J This our tranflators
commonly ciJl a meat, bat might more properly be called a breads
offering. Here our author obferven a very fingular mode of ex-
prellion, which he apprehends eliptical, and fupplying the necef-
fary v.ords, tranflates the paflage literally thus, ' Cain brought of
* the iVuit of the ground a mincha to Jehovah ; and Abel brought
' [a mincha'\ he alfo [brought] of the firftlines of his flocks, and
M ' . « of
8o HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
It is very probable that facrifice was inftituted imme-
diately after God had revealed the covenant of grace ;
[in Gen. iii. 15.] vs-hich covenant and promife was the
foun-
' of their fat,' or rather, ' of the fatted of them.' — Then it fol-
lows — ' And Jehovah had refpeft to Abel, and to his m'mcha ; but
* to Cain and his m'mcha he had no refpeft.' Now if this tranfla-
tion be juft, or the word minchaht rightly explained, it neceffarily
follows that Abel offered a vnncha^ or meat offering, as well as
Cain, together with a facrifice, which Cain did not offer.
The matter, infhort, feems to be this, Cain came, like a felf-
rlghteous Pharifee, with a ' God, I thank thee,' to the Author of
Nature, and the God of Providence ; Abel was no lefs fenfible of
thefe obligations, and therefore brought his m'lncha as well as
Cain ; but being humbled under a conviftion of his own frailty
and unworthinefs, he alfo brings an animal facrifice, fmites upon
his breaft, and cries, ' God be merciful to me a finner.' Not only
fo, but Abel looked by faith through the bleeding type to the
great atonement it prefigured : Cain rejefted this ; and being ig-
norant of God's rightcoufnefs, went about to eftablifh his own.
This repiefentation (which as we faid is Dr. Kennicott's)
appears to us not only ingenious and juft, but has the advantage
of being beautifully confiltent with the New Teftament. Here
we fee how it was that ' by faith' in the promifed feed, ' Abel of-
' fered to God,' not only 'a more excellent,' but as the Greek
imports, a fuller, a 7nore complete facrifice than Cain ; and it was
on this account that God had refpeft, firft to Abel, and fecondly,
to his offering. We alfo learn from this review of the fubjeft,
v.'hat was the error of Cain, which the apoftle Jude alludes to,
namely, an enmity againft God's method of falvation.
This leads us to remark the different condu6l of the two bro-
thers fubfequent to their offering. Mofes informs us, that ' Cain
' was very wrath, and his countenance fell,' the ufual fign of a
bafe and malicious heart. ' And the Lord faid unto Cain,' — con-
defcended to i-eafon with him, probably by means of the divine
Sljckinah — ' Why art thou wrath, and why is thy countenance
* fallen ? If thou doft well, fhalt thou not be accepted l' Or ra-
ther, if thou hadil done well, fhouldeft thou not have been accept-
ed in the fame manner (whatever that might be) as Abel thy bro-
ther ? ' And If thou doft not well,' or haft not done well — ' fin lieth
at the door,' the fault is thine.
But Kennicott, Parkhurst, and many other critics, render
the laft phrafe, ' a. Jin-offcring \icth. (couched) at the door.' In
this view they point out, not only the'reafon of his non-accept-
ance, but alfo the remedy — namely, to take a facrifice, and offer
it in faith, as his ht oilier had before done.
[I. N.]
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 8i
foundation on which the cuftom of facrificing was built.
That promife was the firft flone that was laid toward this
glorious building, the work of redemption, which will
be tinifhed at the end of the world. And the next flone
which was laid upon that, was the inftitution of facrifices,
to be a type of the great atonement.
The next thing that we have an account of, after God
had pronounced fentence ou the ferpent, on the woman,
and on the man, was, that God made them coats of fi^ins,
and cloathed them ; which, by the generality of divines,
are thought to be the Ikins of beafts flain in facrifice ;
for we have no account of any thing elfe that fliould
be the occafion of men flaying beafts, but onlv to offer
them in facrifices, till after the flood, Men were not
till then allowed to eat the flefh of beafts. The food of
man before the fall, was the fruit of the trees of paradife ;
and when he was turned out of paradife after the fall,
his food was the herb of the field : [Gen. iii. 18.] * And
* thou fhalt eat of the herb of the field.' The firft grant
that he had to eat flefh as his common food was after the
flood: [Gen. xi. 3.] ' Every moving thing that liveth
* fliall be meat for you ; even as the green herb have I
* given you all things.' So that it is likely that thefe
Ikins that Adam and Eve weje cloathed with, were the
Ikins of their facrifices. God's cloathing them with thefe
was a lively figure of their being cloathed with the righ-
teoufnefs of Chrift. This cloarhing was not of their
own obtaining ; but it was God that gave it them. It is
faid, ' God made them coats of fkins, and cloathed them,'
[Gen. xiii. 21.] as the righteoufnefs our naked fouls
are cloathed with, is not our righteoufnefs but the righ-
teoufnefs which is of God. It is he alone that cloaths the
naked foul, (t)
Our
(t) God made them coats of skins, mid cloathed them. "God
himfelf furnifhes them with apparel. Animals are flain, not for
food, but facrifice ; and the naked criminals are arrayed with the
Hiins of thofe flaughtered beafts. The viftims figured the expja-
M 2 tiou
82. HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Our firfl: parents, who were naked, were cloathed at
the expence of life. Beails were flain to afford them
cloathing. So Chriit died to afford cloathing to our na-
ked fouls. Thus our firfc parents were covered with
Ikins of facrifices, as the tabernacle in the wildernefs,
which fignitied the church, was, when it was covered
with rams fkins died i<5d, as though they were dipped in
blood, to fignify that Chrift's righteoufnefs was vyrought
out through the pains of death, under which he Ihed his
precious blood.
We obferved before, that the light which the churclj
enjoyed from the fall of man till Chrill: canie, was like
the light which we enjoy in the night ; not the light of
the fun directly, but as refle(9:ing from the moon and
planets ; which light did foreftiow Chrift, the Sun of
1 ighteoufnefs which was afterwards to arife. This light
they had chiefly two ways: one was by predi6Vions of
Chrift, wherein his coming was foretold and promiled ;
the other by types and fhadows, in which his coming
and redemption were prefigured. The hrft thing tliat was
done to prepare the way for Chrift in the former of thefe
ways, was in the promife above conlidered ; and the
firft thing of the latter kind, viz. of types, was the in-
ftitutlon of facrifices. As that promife [Gen. iii. i^.]
was the firft dawn of gofpel light after the' fall in pro-
phecy ; fo this inftitution was the firft hint of it in
types. The giving of that promife was the firft thino-
done after the fall in this work, in Chrift's prophetical
office ; the inftitution of facrifices was the firft thing that
we read of after the fall, by which Chrift exhibited him-
felf in his prieftly office.
The
tion of Clirift's death ; the cloathing typified the imputation of
his righteoufnefs, \\'\\\ch. is upon all them ivho lelieve." [Rom. iii.
32.] [Hervey's Theronand Afpafio, vol. ii. lett. 4.]
" Nor he their outward only, with the flcins
Of beafts, but inward nakednefs (much more
Opprobrious ! ) with his robe of righteoufnefs
Arraying, cover'dfrom his Father's fight."
[Milton's Par. Loll. Bookx.]
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 83
The inftitution of facrifices was a great thing done
towards preparing the way for Chriil's coming, and work-
ing out redemption. For the facrifices of the Old Tes-
tament were the principal of all the Old Teflament types
of Chrift and his redemption ; and it tended to eftablifli
in the minds of God's vifible church the neceflity
of a propitiatory facrifice, in order to the Deity's being
fatisfied for fin ; and fo prepared the way for the recepw
tion of the glorious gofpel that reveals the great facrifice,
not only in the vifible church, but, through the world
of mankind. For from this inftitution of facrifices after
the fall, all nations derived the fame cuftom. No nation,
however barbarous, has been found without it any where
This is a great evidence of the tmth of revealed reli-
gion ; for no nation, but only the Jews, could tell how
they came by this cuftom, or to what purpofe it was
to offer facrifices to their deities. The light of nature
did not teach them any fuch thing. That did not teach
them that the gods were hungry, and fed upon the flelh
which they burnt in facrifice; and yet they all had
this cuftom ; of which no other account can be given,
but that they derived it from Noah, who had it from
his anceftors, on whom God had enjoined it as a type
of the great facrifice of Chrift. However, by this means
all nations of the world had their minds poffefted with
this notion, that an atonement or facrifice for fin was
neceflary ; and a way was made for their more readily re-
ceiving that great dodlrine of the gofpei, wliich teaches us
the atonement and facrifice of Chrift.
4. God foon after the fall a6lually began to fave the
fouls of men through Chrift's redemption. In this, Chrift
who had lately taken upon him the work of Mediator be-
tween God and man, did firft begin to exercife his kingly
office. In the firft predidion the light of Chrift's rc-
|demption firft began to dawn in the prophecies of it ; in
the inftitution of facrifices it firft began to dawn in the
types of it ; in his beginning actually to /avc men, it firft
began to dawn in ihcfnat of it.
Ir
84 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
It is probable, therefore, that Adam and Eve were the
firfl: fruits of Chrift's redemption; (u) it is probable by
God's manner of treating them ; by his comforting them
as
(u) Adam and Eve the first fruits of Chr'iJVs redemption,
Milton has fo beautifidly and evangelically illuftrated this fup-
pofition, that we cannot refift the temptation of again introducing
our favourite commentator.
..." They forthwith to the place
Repairing where he judg'd them, proftrate fell
Before him reverent, and both confefs'd
Humbly their faults, and pardon begg'd, with tears-
Watering the ground, and with their fighs the air
Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, and fign
Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.
" Thus they in lowlieft plight repentant Rood
Praying ; for from the mercy-feat above
Prevenient grace defcending had remov'd
The ftony from their hearts, and made new flefh
Regenerate grow inftead, that fighs nov\r breath'd
Unutterable, which the Spirit of prayer
Infpir'd, and wing'd for heav'n with fpeedier flight
Than loudeft oratory :..........
To heav'n their pray'rs
Flew up, nor mifs'd the way, by envious winds
Blown vagabond or fruftrate ; in they pafs'd
Dimenfionlefs thro' heay'nly doors ; then clad
With incenfe, where the golden altar fum'd,
By their great IntercefTor, came in fight
Before the Father's throne : them the glad Son
Prefenting, thus to intei cede began :
" See, Father, what firft fruits on earth are fprung
From thy implanted grace in man, thcfe fighs
Andpray'rs, which in tliis golden cenfor, mix'd
"With incenfe, I thy prieft before thee bring ;
Fruits of more pleafing favour from thy feed
Sown with contrition in his heart, than thofe
Which his own hand manuring all the trees
Of Paradife could have produc'd, ere fliU'n
From innocence. Now therefore bend thine ear
To fupplication ; hear his fighs -though mute,
Unilcilful with what words to pri^y, let me
Interpret for him, me his advocate
And propitiation ; all his works on me,
Good or not good, ingraft ; my merit thofe
Shall perfcdlj and fur thcfe my death pay."
[Par. Loll. Book x. xi,]
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 8^
as he did, alter tlieir awakenings and tenors. They
were awakened, and afhamed with a fenie of their cuilt,
after their fall, when their eyes were opened, and they
law that they were naked and fewed fig-leaves to cover
their nakednefs ; like the finner who under his firft con-
vi6lion endeavours to hide the nakednefs of his foul by a
righteoufnefs of his own. Then they were farther awa-
kened and terrified by hearing the voice of God, as he
was coming to judge them. Their coverings of fig-leaves
would not anfwer their purpofe ; for notwithfianding
thefe, they ran to hide themfelves among the trees of the
garden, not daring to truft to their fig-leaves to hide
their nakednefs from God. Then they were farther
awakened by God's calling them to a flritft account.
But while their terrors were raifed to fuch a height,
and they flood, as we may fuppofe, trembling and afto-
nifhed before their judge, without any thing to catch
hold of, whence they could gather hope ; then God con-
defcended to hold forth fome encouragement to them, to
keep them from the drejdful effe6ts of defpair under their
awakenings, by giving a hint of a defign of mercy by a
Saviour, even before he pronounced fentence againfl:
them. And when, after this, he proceeded to pronounce
fentence, whereby we may fuppofe their terrors were far-
ther railed, God was pleaied to encourage them, and to
let them fee that he had not wholly cafi; them off, by tak-
ing a fatherly care of them, making them coats of £ls.ins
and cloathing them. This alfo manifefted an acceptance
of thofe facrifices offered to God, (of which thefe were
the Ikins) which were types of what God had promifed.
when he faid, ' the feed of tlie woman ihall bruife the
' ferpenf's head ;' which promifc, there is reafon to
think, they believed and embraced. Eve feems plain-
ly to exprefs her hopes in, and dependence on, that
promife, in what (he fays at the birth of Cain, [Gen.
iv. I.] 'I have gotten a man from the Lord ;' /. e. as
God has promifed, that my feed ifiould bruife the fer-
pent's head ; fo now has God given me this pledge and
token of it; that I have a feed born. She plainly owns,
that
$6' HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
that this her child was from God, and hoped that hci'
promiled feed was to be this her eldeft fon ; though fhe
was miftaken, as Abraham was with refpeit to Ifhmael,
as Jacob with refpecl to Efau, and as Samuel with refpedl
to the tirft-born of Je-Te. (w) Alfo what (he faid at
the birth of Seth, exprefTes her hope and dependence
on
(w) I ha-vc gotlen a vian TKOU the Lord,'] The uncertain im-
port of the Hebrew particle eth, here tranflated from, has occa-
lioned this text to receive a great variety of interpretationd, mod
of which may be fcen in Mr. Poole's elaborate v,'ork. [Syn. Crit.
in loc] But when we fee twenty or thirty meanings, many of
them inconfiftent with each other, applied to one particle, as the
lexicographers have done to this, [See TAYLOii's Heb. Concord.]
we cannot help fufpecting tliat they are unncceflariJy and impro-
perly mukiphed.
The root whence this particle is evidently derived, fignifies to
approach^ ccme unto; and if the fame idea fhould be preferved in
all the fenfes of the particle, as we apprehend in fonie degree it
fhould, the common tranflation mult be given up. And aftef
examining a great number of paffages'ii; tbe original fcriptures,
particularly thoie which were moit perLirier.t to our purpofe, we
are fatisfied, that, if it is not to be ta]:en as merely an article of
the accufative cafe (which we much doubt whether the lanj^uaire
will admit) that it may be refolved into fame or other of the fol-
lowing fenfes :
1 . According to the radical idea, to, unto, belonging to, towards^
near, 'with, upon, and the like.
Or, 2. It may be rendered as an emphatic article, the, the very
fubllance c ■■" a things (according to the Latin proverb, Proximus
film egomet mlhi ;j in which cafe it may often be tranflated eiKu, or
iis a pronoun, th-f-^ this, &c.
If theie remjviis are juit, the words may then be rendered ;
1. 'A (or The) man, ev^r, Jehovah.' — So Fagius, Helvlcus,
Forller, Schlndler, Luther, Pellican, Cocceius, Schmit, Marir.us,
Avenarius, Parkhurlh, Gill, &c. — fuppoiing Eve to have taken
her fnft-born to be the MefTiah, God incarnate : but as it may ad-
mit of dilpute, whether Eve at this very early period was fo clear-
ly acquainted vnO.x this divine myllery, efpeci;illy as fiie appears
not to have fufpedledany thing of the immaculate conception, it
might be better to render the words, as they will certainly bear,
with rather more latitude,
2. ' The man of, i. e. belonging to, Jehovah.' The Targum of
Jonathan favours thi^ reading, 'thearj^el of the Lord ;' and fo
Chriil was afterwards called, as well as — the fervant of tiie Lord —
fhe man of his right hand, and the word that was ivilb God.
•« Some
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 87
on the promHe of God; [fee ver. 25.] ' For God liath
' appointed me another feed inftead of Abel, whom Cain
< flew.'
Thus it is exceedingly probable, if not demonftra-
ble, that, as Chrift took on him the work of mediator
when man fell, fo he now adtually began his work of
redemption, encountered his great enemy the devil, whom
he had Undertaken to conquer, and refcued thofe two
firft captives out of his hands ; therein baffling hira
foon after his triumph in the victory he had obtained
over our firft parents. And though he might be fure of
them and all their pofterity, Chriil the Redeemer foon
convinced him of his miftake, and that he was able to
fubdue him, and deliver fallen man. He let him fee it,
in delivering thofe lirfl: captives of his; and fo ""nve him
an inftance of his fulfilment of that threatening, ' The
' feed of the woman fhall bruife the ferpent's head ;' and
a prefage of the fulfilment of one great tiling he had
undertaken, viz. his fubduing all his enemies under his
feet.
After this we have another inflance of redemption in
one of their children, viz. ' in righteous Abel,' as the
fcripture calls him, [Mark xiii. 35.] whofe foul perhaps
was the firfi that went to heaven through Chrift's redemp-
tion. In him we have ^at Icaft the firll inftance recorded
N in
" Some interpreters, and not without reafon, fuppofe that fhe
confidered the fon given her, as the promiftd feed And
how foothing to the maternal heart muft have been the }iope of
deliverance and relief forherfelf, and triumph over her bitter ene-
mies, by means of the fon of her own bowels ! How fondly does
file dream of repairing the ruin which her frailty had brought up-
on her hufband and family, by this firft-born of many brethren !
The name (he gives him fignities .... ^ pojefton. She flatters
herfelf flie has now got fomcthing (he can call her own : and even
the lofs of Paradife feems compenfatcd by a dearer inheritance
But, O blind to futurity! with how many forrows was \l\\i p)Jft[fiou ,
fo exultingly triumphed in, about to pierce the fond maternal
l)reall ! How imlike are the forebodings and wiHies af parental
tendernefs and partiality, to the deltinations of Providence, and
the difcoveries which time brings to light !"-: [Hunter's Sa-
iled Biog, Lect. iv.]
88 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
in I'cilpture of the de-£th of a redeemed perfon. (x) If he
■was the fiiTc, then, as the redemption of Chrifl: began to
dav. n before in the fouls of men in their ccnverfion and
luftitication, in him it tirfl began to dawn in glorification,
and at his death tlie angels beo;an firft to a6l as minifter-
5ng (pirits to Chrill:, in conducting the fouls of the re-
deemed to ijjory. (y) And in him others in heaven had
the
f x) In Alel ive have ihefrjl injlance of death.'} Many and ab-
fuvd are the traditions and conjectures refpecting this event ; but
the fcripture account of it is fimply this, ' And Cain talked with.
' Abel his brother,' or, as the Samaritan, LXX, and Vulgate
read it, ' Cain /aid unto Abel his brother, Let us go into thejield —
*■ and it came io pafs when they were in the field that Cain rofe up
' againft Abel his bn)thcr, and flew him.'
*' Cain, it would appear .... decoyed his brother into folitude
under the maJk of familiarity and friendfhip, ' he talked with him ;'
* they were in the field.' What a horrid aggravation of his guilt!
A deed of violence ! Murder J A good man's, a brother's murder !
Deliberately refolved on, craftily conduced, remorfelefsly execu-
ted Now was the death for the firft time feen ; and feen
in its,gha{llie[l form. Death before the time, the death of piety
and goodnefs ! Death inflifted by violence, and preceded by pain !
Death imbittercd to the fufFerer by refle6ting on the hand from
which it came ; the hand of a brother, the hand which fhould
have fupported and protefted him. At length the feeble eyei
clofe in peace ; and the pain of bleeding wounds, and the pangs
of fraternal cruelty, are felt no more. ' The duft returns to the
* earth as it was, and the fpirit returns unto God who gave it.'
The fpirit returns to God to fee his unclouded face, formerly feeis
through the medium of natural objefts and religious fervices —
Happy Abel! thus early delivered from the fins and forrowsof a
vain world ! The materials of which life is compofed,
arc not fo much, days, and months, and years, as works of piety,
and mercy, and juftice, or their oppofites ; he dies in full matu-
rity, who has lived to God at whatever period, and in
whatever manner he is cut off: that life isfhort, though extended
to a thoufand years, which is disfigured with vice, devotfd to the
purfuit of time merely, and at the clofe of which the unhappy
man is fuun^ un.ecunciled to God." [Dr. H. Hunter's Sacred
Biof^taj'hy, Led. vi.]
(y) At /Ihd's death the angels Jirjl began to acl as ir'intj1er:ng
Ipirits,'] " The an'^'el of death called forth the foul of Abel
from the cnfanguiued duft. It advant^d with a fmile of joy ....
I falute thee, faid the celeilial fpirit, while benignity and joy beam-
ed in his eyes: I faluts thee, O happy fo id ! new difengaged from
thy
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 89
ihe firfl: opportunity o^ feeing fo wonderful a thing, as a
human foul, that had been funk into an abyfs of fin and
mifery, brought to heaven and glory ; which was a
much greater thing, than if they had fecn man return to
the earthlv Paradifc. Thus they by this faw the glorious
effect of ChrilVs redemption, in the great honour and
happinefs that was procured for finful, miferable creatures
by it.
5. The next remarkable thing that God did in me
farther carrying on this great affair of redemption, that
I fhali take notice of, was the firft out-pouring of the
Spirit through Chrifl:, which was in the days of Enos.
We read, [Gen. iv. 26.] ' Then began men to call upon
' the name of the Lord.' The meaning of thefe words
has been confidcrably controverted among divines, (z)
We
thy encumbering duft It is to me an incrcafe of felicity,
that I am chofen by the Mod High to introduce thee into the
realms of light and blifs, where myriads of angels wait to hail
thee. Conceive, if thou canil, beloved foul! Conceive what it is
to bell old God face to face, to have communion with him far
ever.' [Death of Abel, Book iv.]
(z) Then BEGAN men to call upon the name of the LorrJ.']
" Not but that Adam and Abel and all good men had called
upon the name of the Lord, and prayed to him, or worfiiippcd
him before this time pcrjonally and in their families ; but now the
families of good men being lars^er, and more nunierou.^, they
joined tocjcther inyir/^/and public worfliip : or fincc it may be
thought thete were public afTemblies for religious worfliip before
this time, it may be they had been neglected, and now were re-
vived with more zeal and vigour ; feeing tlie Cainites incorporat-
ing themltlves, and joining families together and building cities,
and carrying on their civil and religious affairs among themfelves,
they alfo formed themfelves into dillinft bodies ; and not only fe-
parated from them, but called themfelves by a different name ;
for fo the words may be rendered, * Then began men to call
* themfelves,' or, * to be called by the name of the Lord ;' the
Sons of God as dliUnft from the fons of men ; which dilllnclion
may be obferved in Ch. vi. 2. and has been retained more or lefs
ever fince. Some chufe to tranflate tlie words, ' then began men
• to call IN the nair.e of the Lord ;' that is, to call upon God in
the name of the Mcfliah, the ?vIediator between God and Man ;
having now fince the birtli of Sedi, and efpecially of Enos, clearer
potions of the prcmifed feed and of the life of him and his name,
N 2 - in
90 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
We cannot fupp-^fe the meaning is, that then men lirfl:
performed the duty of prayer. Prayer is a duty of natu-
ral religion, and a duty to which a fpirit of piety does
mod: naturally lead men. Prayer is, as it were, the very
breath of a pious fpirit, and we cannot fuppofe therefore,
that holy men had lived for above two hundred years,
without prayer. Therefore fome divines think, that the
meaning is, that then men lirft began to perform public
worJhip, or to call upon the name of the Lord in public
affemblies. Whether it be fo to be underftood or not,
yet certainly there was now fomething new in tlie vifible
church of God with refpe6l to the duty of prayer, or
calling upon the name of the Lord, which was the confe-
quence of the out-pouring of the Spirit of God.
If it was now firft that men were ftined up to m.eet
together in affemblies, to alnft one another in feeking God
fo as they had never done before, it argues fomething
extra-
in their addreffes to God ; [See John xiv. 13, 14. — xvi. 23, 24.]
The Jews [many of them] give a very different fenfe of thefe
words ; the Targum of Oakelos is, *' Then in his days the chil-
dren of men ceafed from praying in the name of the Lord ;" and
the Targiim of Jonathan is, " This was the age, in the days of
which they began to err, and they made themfelves idols, and fur-
named their idols by the name of the word of the Lord ;" v/ith
which agrees the note of Jarchi, " Then they began to call the
names of men, and the names of herbs, by the name of the blef-
fe;! God, to make idols of them ;" and fome of them fay, parti-
cularly Maimonides, that Enos himftlf erred and fell into idolatry,
and was the iirll inventor of images, by the mediation of which
men praved unto God : but all this feems to be without founda-
tion and injurious to the charafter of this antidiluvian patriarch ;
nor d.^es it appear that idolatry obtciincd in the pofterity of Seth,
or among the people ol: God fo early ; nor is fuch an account
agreeable to the hiftory which Mofes is giving of the family of
Seth, in oppofitipn to that of Cain ; wherefore oiie or other of
the former fenfcs is heft." [Gill in loc.j
If our author's expofition is preferred, which nearly corref-
ponds with what is obferved in the former part of this note, it
may receive fome illuilration from comparing it with Mai. iii. 16.
* Then they that feared the Lord fpake often one to another, the
* Lord hearkened and heard, and a bnok of remembrance was
' written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that
^ thought upon his na-m'.".' [I. N.l
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 91
efxtraordinary as the caufe; an<l could be from nothing
but the uncommon influences of God's Spirit. We may
obferve, that a remarkable out-pouring of God's Spirit
always produces a great increafe of prayer. When the
Spirit of God begins a work on men's hearts, it immedi-
ately fets them to calling on tlie name of the Lord. As
it was with Paul after the Spirit of God had laid hold of
him, then it is faid, [A6ts ix. 11.] ' Behold he praveth!*
fo it was in all the inftances which we have any account
of in fcripture ; and fo it will be at the great effufion of
the Spirit in the latter days. It is foretold, that it will
be poured out as a fpirit of grace and fupplication, [Zech.
xii. 10. See alfo Zeph. iii. 9.] ' For then will I turn
* to the people a pure language, that they may all call
' upon the name of the Lord, to ferve him with one
* confent.'
And when it is faid, ' Then began men to call upon
' the name of the Lord,' no more can be intended by it,
than that this v/as the hrft lemarkable feafon of this na-
ture that ever was. It was the beginning, or the hrll,
of fuch a kind of work of God, fuch an out-pouring of
the Spirit of God. After this manner fuch an expreifion
is commonly ufed in fcripture: [i Sam. xiv. 35.] ' And
* Saul built an altar unto the Lord; the fame was the
' firji altar that he built unto the Lord.' In the Hebrew
it is, as you may fee in the margin, ' that altar he began
' to build unto the Lord.' [Heb. ii. 3.] ' How fliall we
* efcape if we negiedt fo great falvation, which tirll began
* to be fpoken by the Lord?'
It may here be obferved, that from the fall of man to
this day, the work of redemption in its cffe6t has been
carried on by the fame means. Though there be a more
conflant influence of God's Spirit always in fome degree
attending his ordinances; yet the way in which tlie
grcateil things have been done towards carrying on this
work, always has been by remarkable efl^ulions of the
Spirit at Ipecial feafons of mercy, as will fully appeaY
hereafter. And this, in the days of Enos, was the lirll
Remarkable efFudon of the Spirit of God recorded. There
■ had
92 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
had been a faving work of God on the hearts of fome
before ; but now God was pleafed to grant a larger por-
tion of his Spirit; fo that here we fee that great building
which God laid the foundation of immediately after the
fall, carried on farther, and built higher, than ever it had
been before.
6. The next thing I fhall take notice of, is the emi-
nently holy life of Enoch, who we have reafon to think
was a faint of greater eminency than any that had been
before him ; fo that in this refpecl the work of redemp-
tion was carried on to a ftill greater height. With re-
fpeiSt to its eff'efl: in the vifible church in general, we
obferved above that it was carried higher in the days of
Enos than ever before. Probably Enoch was one of
the faints of that harveii ; for he lived all the days that
he did live on earth, in the days of Enos. And with
refpe6t to the degree to which this work was carried in
the loul of a particular per/on, it was raifed to a greater
height in Enoch than ever before. His foul, as it was
built on Chrifl, was built up in holinefs to a greater
height than any of his predecelTors. He was a wonder-
ful inflance of Chrift's redemption, and ot the efficacy
of his grace, (a) ^_ j^^
(a) Enoch WALKED w.'/>6 Gor/.] Infinite pains ha^e been taken
to decorate the charadters of ancient philofophers and heroes, and
too frequently their own vanity, the adulation of their dependents,
or the partiality of their heirs, has purehafed eulogiums, where
eternal infamy was merited. But what is the praife of men to the
praife of God ! How mean are the Iplcndid epithets of great, wife,
and learned — puiffant, brave, and magnanimous — compared with
the charafterof our holy prophet, as drawn by the infpired hillo-
rian, ' He walked with God.'
The phrafe is metaphorical, after the eaftern manner, and is
explained by an infallible expohtor to mean — * He p'eafed God :'
but the metaphorical term is, perhaps, more expreffive than any
purely literal, even in the fublime language of the Greeks.
To ivalk 'with God implies, lirft, a Hate of reconciliation w^itli
him ; ' Can two walk together unlefs they are agreed :' Certainly
not, with any degree of pleafure. But Enoch (any more than
Abram) was not born the ' friend of God ;' but rather at enmity
with him, a * child of wrath, even as others ;' and it was donbt-
lefs the fame atoning blood, the fame divine grace, that reconciled
him
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 93
7. In Enoch's tiine God more exprefsly revealed the
coming of Chrifl: than he had beiore done. We have aif"
account of the prophecy of Enoch In the 14th and 15th
verfes of Jude: ' And Enoch alfo the feventh from Adam,
* propheficd of thefe, laying. Behold, tlie Lord cometh
* with ten thoufand of liis faints, to execute judgment
' upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among
' them, for their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly
' committed, and of all their hard fpeeches which ungod-
' ly fmners have fpoken againfl him.' (s) This prophecy
does
him to God, which has in all ages brought near * them that were
* afar off.' Then being reconciled, he enjoyed peace and com-
munion with God.
His name implies dedication, and perhaps, like Samuel, he might
be early devoted to the Lord, and initiated betimes into his fervice.
But he reftcd not in this ; unfatisfied with any prcfent attainments,
he lludied, as the term implies, to xm^e. d^ progrefs in religion, he
' walked with God.'
Tradition, very ancient and extenfive, has celebrated his attain-
ments in atironomy, the mathematics, and other fciences, [See
Univ. Hid. Vol. i. p. 162.] and it is not improbable that the fludy
of nature might be a favourite employment to one who could con-
template the divine glory in all its objeifls ; nor is it unlikely that
fuch exemplary piety was rewarded with confiderable difcoveries
in natural, as well as divine things : but this was the fmalleft part
of his character ; his mind, doubtlefs, foared above the (tars, and
fought an acquaintance with eternal objects — fought the felicity of
angels — the image of God. And he iought not in vain ; preffmg
towards the mark, he gained the prize, he received his crown, at
an age when many, in that period of longevity, had not pafFed
half their mortal pilgrimage.
" Him the mod High,
Wrapt in a balmy cloud with winged deeds,
Receiv'd to walk with God,
High in falvation and the climes of blifs.
Exempt from death." [Par. Lod. Book xi.]. [U. U.]
(b) lue PROPHECY of Enoch] — Is mere conedlly rendered
thus ; ' And Enoch alfo, the feventh from Adam, prophefied
' againd them, when he faid, Echo'd, the Lord comi's with my-
* riads of his holy ones, to eXv:L-utJ judgricnt up m all, and to
' conviv'^ all the ungodly among th^m 01' their impious works
* which they have impioufly committed ; and of all the hard ihings
* which impious fmne/s have fpoken againd him.'
♦' A prceio'js fragment of antidihivian hidory is here [in the
Epidle cf Jude j preferved to us, as it feem:- by the fpecial -provi-
dence
94 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
does not fecm to be confined to any particular coming
of Chrill: ; but it lias refpe6l in general to his coming in
his kingdom, and is fulfilled, in a degree, in every re-
markable manifeftation Chrift has inade of himfelf in the
world, for the falvation of his people, and the deftrudlion
of his enemies. It is very parallel in this refpe6t with
many other prophecies given under the Old Teftament;
and, in particular, with that in the yth chapter of Da-
niel, whence the Jews principally took their notion of the
kingdom of heaven, [ver. lo.] ' A fiery flream iflfued,
* and came forth from before him : thoufand thoufands
* miniftered unto him, and ten thoufand times ten thou-
* fand llood before him ; the judgment was fet, and the
' books were opened.' And [ver. 13, 14.] ' I faw in the
' night-vifion, and behold one like the fon of man came
* with the clouds of heaven, and came to the antient of
' days, and they brought him near before him. And
' there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kins;-
' dom, that all people, nations, and languages Ihould
' ferve him : his dominion is an everlafting dominion,
' which fiiall not pafs away, and his kingdom that which
* fhall not be deflroyed.' And though it is not unlikely
that Enoch might have a more immediate refpedl, in this
prophecy, to the approaching deltrudlicn of the old world
by the flood, wliich was a remarkable s'efemblance of
Chrifl's deil:ru6lion of all his enemies at" his fecond
coming, yet it doubtlefs looked beyond the type to the
antitype.
And as this prophecy of Chrift's coming is more ex-
preffed than any preceding it ; fo it is an inftance of
the increafe of that gofpel-Iight which began to dawn
prefently after the fall, or of tliat building which is the
fubjea
denceof God, who taught the apolllc Jude to didinguifli between
what was gsnuine and fpurious in the tradition. It can by no
means be proved that this h 3. quoiation_ (roin. that fooliHi book
called Enoch's Prophecy, ris Bp. Sherlock has very rightly urged ;
nor would it prove the infplration of the book from whence it was
takeq, but only that j&(^r//ni/a/' paffage." — -[Doddridge's Fam.
Exppf. ill loc.J
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 95
lubjeot of our prefent difcourfe, being farther carried on,
and built up higher than it had been before.
And here, by tlie way, I would obfervc, that the in-
creafe of gofpel light, and the progrefs of the work of
redemption, as it refpefts the church in general, from
its erection to the end of the world, is very limilar to
the progrefs of the fiune work, and the fame light, in a
particular foul, from the time of its converfion, till it is
perfe6ted and crowned in glory. Sometimes the lio-ht
ihines brighter, and at others more obfcurely ; fometimes
grace prevails, and at other times it feems to languilli for
a great while together. But in general, grace is grow-
ing: from its iirfi: eredlion till it is completed in glory,
the kingdom of Chrift is building up in the foul. So it
is with refpecfl; to the great affair in general, as it relates
to the univerfal fubjedl of it, and as it is carried on from its
hrll: beginning to the end of the world.
8. The next remarkable thing in carrying on t]\is
work, was the trnaflation of Enoch into heaven. [Gen.
V. 24.] ' And Enoch wall'cd with God, and he was not;
' for God took him.' Mofcs, in giving an account of
tlie genealogy of thofe that were of the line of Noah,
does not fay concerning Enoch, he lived fo long and he
died, as he does of the rcll:; but, ' lie was not, for God
' took him;' i. c. he tranflated him; in body and foul
carried him to heaven without dying, as it is explained,
[in Heb. ix 5.] ' By faith Enoch was tranflated, that he
' fhonld not fee death.' (c) By this wonderful work of
God, tlic work of redemption was carried to a greater
height in feveral rcfpecls, than it had been before.
You may remember, that when 1 {hewed you what
were the great things that God intended in the work of
redemp-
i3
(c) Enoch tuas translated.] For this we have divine au-
thority, as above (hewn, and need not much regard uncei tain tra-
ditions. They will, however, in this cafe furnifh us with an in-
ftrudivc obftrvatiun, viz. that human traditions generally either
oppofe divine truths, or deprave them. In this inllance, many of
the Jews, thole mailers of tradition, will not believe but that
Enoch died like other men j and others, who admit his tranfla-
O tioD,
96 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
redemption; among other things I mentioned (p. 57) the
perfe6t reftoration of the ruins of the fall, with refpeft to
the ele6l, both in foul and body. Now this tranflation
of Enoch, was the firfl inftance of this reftoration with
refpe6t to the body. There had been many inftances of
reftoring the foul of man by Chrift's redemption, but
none of the body, until now. At the end of the world,
all the bodies of the faints ihall a6lual]y be redeemed;
the dead in Chrift by a refurredlion ; and them that fhall
remain alive by a glorious change. A number of the bodies
of the faints were raifed at the refurre£lion of Chrift ;
and before then there was an inftance of a body glorified
in Elijah: but the firft inftance was this of Enoch, of
which we are now fpeaking.
Now the work of redemption in this inftance was car-
ried on ftill farther; as thereby was a great increafe of
gofpel light, and the church had a clearer manifeftation of
a future ftate, and of the glorious reward of the faints in
heaven. We are told, [2 Tim. i. 10.] ' That life and
' immortality are brought to light by the gofpel.' And
the more of this gofpel is revealed, the more clearly does
the light of life and immortality appear. What was faid
in the Old Teftament of a future ftate, is very obfcure,
in coniparifon with the more full, plain, and abundant
revelation given of it in the New. But yet even in thofc
early days, the church of God, in this inftance, was fa-
voured with an evidence of it fet before their eyes, in that
one of their brethren was a£lually taken up to heaven
without dying; which we have reafon to think the church
of God knew then, as they afterwards knew Elijah's tranf-
lalion. And as this was a clearer manifeftation of a fu-
ture ftate than the church had had before ; fo it was a
pledge or earneft of that future glorification of all the
faints, which God intended through the redemption of
[efus Chrift.
9. The
tion, add to it, that he was taken by a ■whirlwind to the terreftrlal
Paradife, where God (hewed him the tree of life in the midlt of it.
[See Univ. Hift. Vol. i. p. 163, and Ainfworth's Ann. in loc]
[N. U.]
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 97
9. The next thing that I fliall obferve, was the up-
holding the church of God in that family of which
Chrifl: was to come, in the time of the great and general
defedlion before the flood. The church, in all probability,
was fmall, in comparifon with the reft of the world,
from the time that mankind firft began to multiply on
the face of the earth, or from the time of Cain's defec-
tion, and departing from among the people of God ;
[Gen. iv. 16.] ' When Cain went out from the prefence
' of the Lord, (d) and dwelt in the land of Nod;' (e)
which being interpreted, is the land of bamfiment ; I fay,
from this time of Cain's departure and feparation from
the church of God, it is probable that the church of God
was fmall in comparifon with the reft of the world. The
O 2 church
(d) The VK'Et'E'HCi. of the Lord.'] " L'tghtfoot, Heidegger, zrA
Le Clerc [to whom many more might be added j feem to be of
opinion, that what we render * i\\t prefence oi the Lord,' was the
proper name of that particular place where Adam, after his expul-
fion from Paradife, dwelt ; and accordingly we find that part of
the country which lies contiguous to the fuppofed fituation of Pa-
radife, [/. e. near Tripoli, in Syria] called by Strabo, * tht pre-
fence of God.' However this be, it is agreed by all interpreters,
that there was a divine glory, called by the Jews Schechinah,
which appeared from the beginning, and from which Cain, being
now banifhed, never enjoyed the fight of it again." — [Patrick's
Comment, and Gill's Expof.]
(e) Cain dnvelt in the land of Nod.] " It Is the fame word
which is rendered in the twelfth and fourteenth verfe a vagabond.
Why our tranflators In the two former verfes give the meaning
of the word, and in the fixteenth verfe the letters of It merely. Is
not eafily comprehenfible. Let It be tranflated throughout, the
fenfe Is perfedlly clear, and all ground of Idle Inquiry taken away.
In the twelfth verfe, God denounces his punlfliment, ' thou fiialt
' not die, but be Nod, a vagabond In the earth.' In the fourteenth
verfe, Cain recognizes the juftlce of the fentence, and bewails It,
* I (hall be Nod, a vagabond In the earth :' and In the fixteenth,
Mofes gives us the hlftory of Its being put In execution ; * he went
* from the prefence of the Lord, and dwelt In the land,' Nod, a
vagabond, flying from place to place, fliulklng In corners, fiiun-
ning the haunts of men, purfued Inceflantly by the rcmorfclcfs
pangs and tormenting apprehenfions of an 111 confclence. Remove
all external danger, ' and the wicked Is as the troubled fea, which
* cannot reft, whofe waters caft up mire and dirt." — [Hunter's
Sac. Biog. Led. v.]
98 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
church feems to have been kept up chiefly in the pofte-
rity of Seth; for this was the feed that God appointed
inftead of Abel, whom Cain flew. But we cannot rea-
fonably fuppofe, that Seth's poflerity was one fiftieth part
of the world: " for Adam was one liundicd and thirty
years old when Seth was born." But Cain, who feems
to have been the leader of thofe that were not of the
church, was Adam's eldeft child, and probably was born
foon after the fall, which doubtlefs was foon after Adam's
creation ; fo that there was time for Cain to have many
fons before Seth was born : befules other children that
probably Adam and Eve had before this time, (agreeable
to God's blefiing. ' Be fruitful, and multiply, and reple-
* nifli the earth ;') and many of thefe children might alfo
have children. The hift:ory of Cain, before Seth's birth,
feems to imply that there were great numbers of men (f)
on
(f) Great numbers of men on the earth at this time.'] It is ge-
nerally conjeftured [from Gen. iv. 25.] that Abel was murdered a
year or two before Seth was born, which was in the year 130.
" Now though we fhould fuppofe that Adam and Eve had no
other fons in the year of the world one hundred and twenty -eight,
but Cain and Abel, it mull be allowed that they had daughters,
who might early marry with thofe two fons. I require no more
than the defcendants of thefe two, to make a veiy confiderable
number of men upon the esrth in the faid year one hundred and
twenty-eight; for, fuppofing them to have been married, in the
nineteenth year of the world, they might eafily have had each of
them eight children in the twenty-fifth year. In twenty-five years
more, the fiftieth of the world, their defcendants in a diredt line
would be fixty-four perfons. In the feventy-fifth year, at the
fame rate, they would amount to five hundred and twelve. In the
hundredth year, to four thoufand and ninety-fix ; and in the hun-
dred and twenty-fifth year, to thirty-two tlioufand feven hundred
and fixty-eight." — [Uiflert. Chronol. Gcog. Cvitiq. fur la Journal
de Paris, Tom. li. p. 6.]
" Now if to this calculation we add the high degree of proba-
bility that Adam had many more fons befides thofe mentioned in
the record ; that families were generally more numerous than the
fuppofitlon Hates ; that fimple manners, rural employments, tem-
perature of climate, and largenefs of room, arc circumftances in-
conceiveably more favourable to population, than modern fads,
and European cuftoms, give us any idea of, we fliall not think it
ilrange that Cain, under the prefiure of confcious guilt, and har-
rowed
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD. 99
on the earth: [Gen. iv. 14, 15.] ' Behold, thou hafl
' driven me out this day from the face of the eartli ; and
* from thy face ihall I be hid, and I Ihall be a fugitive and
* a vagabond in the earth ; and it fliall come to pafs, that
* every one that findeth me fhall flay me. And the Lord
' faid \into him, Therefore \vhofoe\er flayetli Cain, vcn-
' geance fliall he taken on him feven-fold. And the
' Lord fet a mark upon Cain, led: any finding him ihould
* kill him.' (g) And thofe that were in being when Seth
was born, muft be fuppofed to ftand in equal cnpacity of
multiplying their poilerity with him ; and therefore, as I
faid, Seth's pofterity were but a fmall part of the inhabit-
ants of the world.
But after the days of Enos and Enoch, (for Enoch was
tranflated before Enos died ; I fay, after their days) the
church of God greatly diminiHied, in proportion as mul-
titudes that were of the line of Scrh, and had been born
in the church of God, fell away, and joined with the
wicked world, principally by means of intermarriages
with
rovi'ed with fear, which always both multiplies and magnifies ob-
jects far beyond their real number and fize, fhould be alarmed
and intimidated at the numbers of mankind, who he fuppofed
were ready, and were concerned, to execute vengeance upon him."
— [Hunter's Sac. Biog. Vol. i* left. 5.]
(g) The Lord Jet a mark upon Cain.~\ " Almoft all the ver-
fions have committed a miflake in tranflating ver. 15, tliat God
had * put a mark Vi^ow Cain,' left any fuddenly fliould kill him.
The original fays no fuch thing ; and the LXX have very well
rendered it thus — * God fet a fign before Cain, to purfuade him
that whoever fliould find him fliould not kill him.' This is al-
moft the fame with what is faid in Exod. x. i. that ' God did fet
* fjgns before the Egyptians ;' and Ifa. Ixvi. 15. that ' he would fet
' a^^« before the heathen ;' where it is evident that God did not
mean any particular marh which (hould be fet on their bodies, but
only thofe figns and wonders which he wrought in Egypt, to oblige
Pharaoh to let his people go ; and the miraculous manner where-
in he delivered them from the Babylonifti captivity. This expo-
fition is natural and agreeable to the methods of Divine Provi-
dence, which is wont to convince the incredulous by figns and
wonders ; nor could any thing elfe convince Cain, in the fear he
was under, that the firft who met liim fliould not kill him, after
what God had faid to him in exprobration of his crim.e."
[Patrick's Comment, and Saurin's DifFert.]
loo HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
with them ; [as Gen. vi. 1,2, and 4.] ' And it came to
* pafs, when men began to multiply on the face of the
* earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the fons
* of God faw the daughters of men, that they were fair ;
* and they took them wives of all which they chofe. —
* There were giants in the earth in thofe days ; and alfo
* after that, when the fons of God came in unto the
* daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the
* fame became mighty men, which were of old, men of
* renown.' (h) By the fons of God here, are doubtlefs
meant the children of the church : it is a denomination
often given them in the fcripture. They intermarried
with
(h) There were giants oh the earth in thofe dnys.'] Here are
two inquiries which prefent thcmfelves ; i . What is meant by the
fons of GoJintermanylng with the daughters of men ? And what
were thefe giants here mentioned ?
As to the former, the expofition of our author is generally ac-
quiefced in, and there is but little doubt that is the true one.
There is another, however, efpoiifed by fome of the beft Jewlfli
writers, as Ben Uzziel, S. Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and the Tar-
gums, and which therefore may defervc mentioning, viz. that
the fons of God were princes, magiftrates, and great-men ; and
daughters of men, thofe of the inferior and poor people, which
they took by violence, as the word fometimes means, and de-
bauched. [See Univ. Hiil. Vol. i. p. 175.]
As to the other inquiry, there is no doubt, if we credit hif-
tory, either facred or prophane, but there were formerly men of
extraordinary ftature, as, indeed, to this day v;e meet with fome
accidental inftances ; not to mention the Patagonians, a nation of
fuch men, if we may credit the relations in Mr. Pennant's traft.
f See the Analytical Review, No. i.] — But however fome critics
have thought that the paffage before us does not refer to fuch.
Some tranflate the Hebrew word v.ephmm, npo/Iatcs, thofe who have
fell from the truth ; fo Jofephus : bat Symmachus and Aquila
underftand it more literally of ruffians, men of 'v'lclence, men ivho
attaclif who fall upon others. [See Cruden's Concord, in
Giant. 2
The abfurd notion that the fons of God were angels, either
fallen or guardian, is too abfurd to deferve refutation. It is fupr
pofed, however, that this notion originntedfrom an error in fome
old copies of the LXX, which read, the angels, inflead of the fons
of God ; and it was in great meafure propagated by the book of
the pretended prophecies of Enoch. [See Unir. Hid. Vol. i.
p. 172, and feq.J
FROM THE FALL TO THE FLOOD, ice
with the wicked world, and fo their hearts were led away
liom God ; and there was a great and continual defec-
tion : and the cliurch of God, which ufed to be a reftraint
on tlie wicked world, diniiniflied exceedingly, and fo
wickednefs went on uncontrolled. Satan, that old ferpent,
the devil, that tempted our tirft parents, and fet up him-
lelf as God of this world, raged exceedingly ; and every
Imagination of the thoughts of man's heart was only evil
continually, (i) and the earth was filled with violence.
It feems to be deluged with wickednefs now, as it was with
water afterwards : and mankind in general were fwallowed
up in this deluge. And now Satan made a mod violent
and potent attempt to deflroy the church of God ; and
had almoft done it : but God reftored it in the midft of
all this flood of wickednefs and violence. He kept it up
in the line of which Chrift was to proceed. He would
not fuffer it to be deftroyed, for a blefling was in it.
There was a particular family, a root whence ' the branch
' of righteoufnefs' was afterwards to flioot forth. And
therefore, however the branches were lopped off, and the
tree feemed to be deftroyed; yet God, in the midft of all,
kept alive this root, by his wonderful redeeming power
and grace.
Thus I have flievvn how God carried on the great
affair of redemption ; how the building went on during
the firft period of the Old Teftament, viz. from the fall
of man, till God brought the flood upon the earth.
And I would here remark, that though the hiftory which
Mofes gives us of the great works of God during that
fpace be very fliort ; (k) yet it is exceedingly comprehen-
11 ve
(i) Man* s heart only evil.]] " The original [text] is very ex-'
aft in its ftrufture, as well as very emphatical in its meaning. —
The /jeart, or the grand principle, the thoughts of the heart, or
the various aftings of that principle, the imaginations of the
thoughts, or the produce and refult of thofe aftings ; namely, de-
fires and affeftions, counfels and purpofea : of which, not one,
not a few pnly, or the greateft part, but a/I thefc are evil." .
[Hervev's Ther. and Afp. vol. ii. dial, ii.]
( K ) The hijiory of this period very short.] How few chapters
contain the hiitory of our world before the flood, although a pe-
riod
I02 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
five and inflru6tive. And It may alfo be profitable to
obferve, the efficacy of that purchafe of redemption that had
fuch great effefts, even many ages before Chrifl appeared
to purchafe redemption, by the lliedding of his blood.
§ II. From the flood to the calling of Abraham.
I PROCEED now to fhew how the fame work was
carried on through the fecond part of this period, from the
beginning of the flood till the calling of Abraham : for though
that vmiverfal deluge of waters overthrew the world ; yet
it did not overthrow tliis building of God, the work of
redemption. This went on yet, and continued to be built
up to a farther preparation for the great Saviour's coming
into the world, and working out redemption for his people.
And here obferve,
I. The flood itfelf was a work of God that belonged to
this great affair, and tended to promote it. All the great
works of God, from the tall to the end of the world, rightly
viewed, will appear as parts of this grand work ; and as fo
many fleps that God has taken in order to its being carried
on : and doubtlefs fo great a work, fo remarkable a cataf-
trophc, as the deluge was, cannot be excepted. It was
wrought in order to remove out of the way, enemies that
were ready to overthrow it.
Satan feems to have been in a dreadful rage juft before
the flood ; and his rage then doubtlefs was, as it always
has been, chiefly againfl: the church of God. He had
drawn alrnofl: all the world to be enlifted under his ban-
ner.
riod of near fcventeen hundred years ; and including no lefs events
than the creation of the world — the fall of man — and bringing us
to the eve of the world's deftruftiori. What are the memoirs
of the oldeft patriarchs, but that thi'y were born — propagated
their fpecies — and then died ? — Sic tranfit gloria mundi. ' Thus the
* fafliion of this world paffeth away.' [i Cor. vii. 31.] [I. N.J
FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM'* CALL. 103
ncr. ' We read that the earth was filled with violence ;'
and doubtlefs that violence was chiefly againft the church,
in fulfilment of what was foretold, ' I will put enmity
' between thy feed and her feed.' And their enmity and
violence was fo great, and the enemies of the church fo
numerous, the whole world being againft it, that it was
come to the lafl: extremity. Noah's reproofs and his
preaching of righteoufnefs were utterly difregarded. God's
fpirit had ftriven with them an hundred and twenty years,
but in vain ; (l) the church was reduced to fuch narrow-
limits, as to be confined to one family. Neither was there
a profpccl of any thing elfe but of their totally fwallowing
it up in a very little time ; and fo wholly deftroying that
fmall root that had the bleffing in it, from whence the
Redeemer was to proceed.
And therefore, God's deftroying thofe enemies of the
church by the flood, belongs to this affair of redemption ;
for it was one thing that was done in fulfilment of
the covenant of grace, as it was revealed to Adam : ' I
' will put enmity between thee and the woman, and be-
' tweea thy feed and her feed ; it fiiall bruife thy head.'
P Thus
(l) God's fpirit had striven nvilh them in vain.'] " The word
here traiiflated to llrive, fignilies to litigate a point or reafon in a
caufc, before it is ripe for judgment
" It is now eafy to difcern in what fenfe the Spirit of God may
be oppofcd and rcfiltcd, and ftrive to no purpofe, and in what
fenfe not. The things of the Spirit of God are difagreeable to a
natural man : it is no wonder that the external miniftry of the
word and ordinances are defpifed, oppofed, and refiiled. The ex-
ternal caufe may be rejefted ; yea, fome inward inotions and con-
viftions may be over-ruled, ftiflcd, and come to nothing ; nay, it
will be granted, that there may be, and is an oppofition and re-
fiftancc to the work of the Spirit of God in converfion ; but then
the Spirit cannot be fo refilled in the operations of his grace as to
be obliged to ceafe from his work, or to be overcome or hindered
In it ; for he ac^s with a defign which cannot be fruftrated, and
with a power which is uncontroulable ; were It otherwife, the re-
generation and converfion of every one muft be precarious ; and
where the grace of the Spirit is effeftual, according to the doc-
ti Ine of free-will, It would be more owing to the will of man than
to the Spirit of God." [Gill's Caufe of God and Truth, Part
T. No. 2.1
T04 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Thus w.-TS the feed of the ferpent, in the midft of tlieir
moft violent rage, difappointed, and the church delivered
when in the utmoft peril.
We read of fcarce any great deftrutlion of nations in
the Scripture, but one grand reafon given for it is, their
enmity and injuries againft God's people ; and doubtlels
this was one main reafon of the defl:ru6lion of all nations
by the flood. The giants that were in thofe days, in all
likelihood, got themfelves their renown by their great ex-
ploits againft Heaven, and the remaining fons of God that
had not corrupted themfelves.
We read that jtift befc^e the world Ihall be deftroyed
by nre, ' the nations that are in the four quarters of the
' earth, fhall gather together againft the church as the fand
' of tlie fea, and fliall go up on the breadth of the earth,
• and compafs the camp of the faints about, and the be-
• lovdd city ; and then fire ftiall come down from God out
' of heaven, and devour them.' [Rev. xx. 8, 9.] And it
feems there was that which was very parallel to it, juft
before the world was deftroyed by water. And therefore
their deftru6lion was a work of God that did as much
belong to the work of redemption, as the deftruction of
the Egyptians belonged to the redemption of the children
of lirael out of Egypt ; or as the deftru6lion of Senna-
cherib's mighty arm.y, that had compafled about Jerufalem
to deftroy it, belonged to God's redemption of that city
from them.
By means of this flood, all the enemies of God's church,
againft wliom that little handful had no ftrength, were
fwept off at once, (m) God took their part, and appeared
for them againft their enemies, drowned tliofe of whom
they had been atraid in this flood, as he.drowned the enemies
of Ifrael that purfucd them in the Red Sea.
Indeed
(m) Tl)e enemies of the church all Jivept off at once by the flood.]
Well, faith the apoftle, [Heb. x. 31.] ' It is a fearful thing to fall
< into the hands of the living God.' Dreadful judgments follow
abufed mercies. One hundred and twenty years had the divine
patience waited — one liundredand twenty years liad the holy pro-
phet
FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM'S CALL. lo^
Indeed God could have taken other methods to deliver
his church : he could have converted all the world, inftead
of drowning it ; and fo he could have taken another
method than drowning the Egyptians in the Red Sea.
But that is no argument, that the method that he did take,
was not a method to fliow his redeeming mercy to his
people.
By the deluge the enemies of God's people were d'if-
pofTcffed, and the whole earth given to Noah and his
family to enjov in quiet ; as God made room for the
Ifraelites in Canaan, hy cafting out their enemies from
before them. And God's thus taking the poflefhon of the
enemies of the church, and giving it all to his church,
was agreeable to that promife ot the covenant of grace :
[Pfal. xxxvii. 9, lO, ii.] ' For evil doers fliall be cut
' off; but thofe that wait upon the Lord, they fliall inherit
* the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked Ihal!
* not be: yea, thou Ihalt diligently confider his place.
' and it fliall not be. But the meek Ihall inherit tlic
' earth, and Ihall delight themfeives in the abundance of
* peace.'
2. Another thing belonging to the fame work, Vv'as
God's fo wonderfully prcferving that family of which
P 2 the
phct warned that perverfe generation ; but in vain. Imagination
is too weak to conceive, as well as language to paint, the av/ful
event winch follows — while
" With black wings
Wide hovering, all the clouds together drove
From under heaven
And now the thicken'd flvy
Like a dark ceiling flood ; down rufli'd the rain
Impetuous, and continued, till the earth
No more was feen ; the floating veffcl fwam
Uplifted, and fecure with beaked prow
Rode tilting o'er the waves ; all dwellings elfe
Flood overwhelm'd, and them, with all their pomp,
Deep under water roU'd ; fea covet 'd fea,
Sea without fliore ; and in their palaces,
Where luxury late rcign'd, fea monfters whelp'd
And ftabled ; of mankind, fo numerous late,
All left, in one fmall bottom fwam embark'd." —
[Par. Loft. Book :;i.] [U. U.J
io6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
the Redeemer was to proceed, when all tke reft of the
world was drowned. God's drowning the world, au4
faving Noah and his family, were both^ reducible to this
great work. The faving Noah and his family belonged
to it two ways ; as that was the family of which the Re-
deemer was to proceed, and as it was the church that he
had redeemed. It was the myftical body of Chrift that
Avas there faved. The manner of God's faving thofe
perfons, when all the world befides was fo overthrown,
was very wonderful and remarkable. It was a wonder-
ful and remarkable type of the redemption of Chrift,
of that redemption that is fealed by the baptifm of water,
and is fo fpoken of in the New Teftament, [as i Pet.
iii. 20,21.] ' Which fometimes were difobedieot, when
' once the long-fuftering of God waited in the days of
* Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few,
' that is, eight fouls, were faved by water. The like
' figure whereunto, even baptifm, doth alfo now fave us,
' (not the putting away the filth of the ^eih, but the
' anfwer of a good confcience towards God,) by the
° refurre6tion of Jefus Chrift.' (n) That water which
w a (lied
(n) Which fomethne tverc difobedlent, idc.~] At prefent we fliall
only fubjoin the tranfiatlon and paraphrafe of this text (including
part of the context) from Dr. Doddridge, which perfe-ftly coio'
cides with the fenfe of our author, and we think with the truth.
But as many have fuppofed it to refer to another period, viz. to
Chrift's preaching in the invifible world, v/c Hiall in the proper
place reconfider the text with that interpretation of it.
I. Peter iii. i8 — 22. " I have already obferved, that if it be
the will of God you fliould fuiTer, it is better it fhould be for do-
ing well than for doing evil ; and it is very evidently fo, becavfe
hereby we are made conformable to Chr'ijl our head and leader,
whom it cannot but be our glory and happinefs to refemble ; for
he alfo once fuffired for Jins ; he, who was fo eminently and pcr-
feftly the jtifl, fufFered for the twjuji, for our benefit, and in our
Head, that he might introduce us to God, and fix us in a ftate cf
acceptance a-nd favourable intereourfe with him, being indeed put
to death in thejlejlj, by thofe enemies whom God permitted for a
while to triumph over him ; but quickened by the Spirit of God,
which foon re-animated his body, and raifed it to an immortal life:
f ytn that Spirit by the infpiration of ivhich granted to his faithful
fervant
FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM'S CALL. 107
wafhed away the filth of the world, and ciearetl the
world of wicked men, was a type of the blood of Chrift
which takes away onr fins. That water which delivered
Noah and his fens from their enemies, is a type of the
blood that delivers God's church from their fpiritual
enemies. That water which was fo plentiful, that it
filled the woild, and reached above the tops of the higheft
mountains, was a type of that blood, tlie efficacy of which
is fo abundant, that it is'fufficient for the whole world ;
fufficient to bury the highefi: mountains of fin. The ark,
that was the refuge and hiding-place of the church in this
time of ftorm and flood, was a type of Chrill, the true
hiding-
fervant Noah, going forth as it Vv ere, in that progrefs in which he
employed him, he preached to thofe notorious finners, who for
their difobedience, have fince experienced the juft feverity of the
divine vengeance, and are now in the condition of feparate^/W/j,
referved as it were in prifoti, to the feverer judgment at the great
day. I fpeak of thofe, 'who ivere /ongjtttce difobedient, <zvheti once
the abufed and infulted long-fujfcring of a companionate God 'waited
upon them, in the days of the patriarch Noah, during the fuccef-
fion of one hundred and twenty years, 'while the ark 'was preparing :
in 'which few, that is, eight fouls, of Noah and his wife, his three
fons and their wives, 'were carried fafly through the tvater, in
which the refidue of mankind perifhed. The antitype to •which^
(or that whicli correfponds to, and was figured by it, that it, by
the prcfervation of Noah's family in the ark,) does tio'w fave uSf
or is the inftrument of our fafety and prefervation, as the ark
was of theirs ; [/ mean] baptifm, whereby we are received into
the Chriftian church, and numbered amongft the heirs of falva-
tion ; but then it is to be remembered, that it is not merely the
putting away the pollution of thejlejh by the ufe of material water,
for that would be very infignificant ; lut the anfwer of a good
confcience, the reply that it makes when interrogated in the pre-
fenct of God, and fpoken in fuch a language as he only is capa-
ble of hearing and underftanding ; and when this likewife is
found, when we attain falvation, by that great event in which at
baptifm we declare ourfelves believers ; I mean the refurredion of
our Lord Jefus Chrifl from the dead ; ivho is now fct down at
the right hand of God, being gone into heaven, there to take pof-
feffion of the glory prepared for him, v/liere he reigns fuprcmc
over all worlds, all the angels and authorities and po'wsrs, v.hicli
are there enthroned, Icing made fuljcB to him, and humbly l«o\v-
in^ before liis funcii-M- dignity and authoritv. [Faai. Expof.]
\l. N.l
io8 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
hiding-place of the church from the ftorms and floods of
God's wrath.
3, The next thing obfervable is, the new grant of the
earth made to Noah and his family immediately after the
flood, as founded on the covenant of grace. The facri-
hce of Chrift was reprefented by Noah's building an altar
to the Lord, and offering a facrifice of every clean beaft,
and every clean fowl. And we have an account of God's
accepting this facrifice, and thereupon bleffing Noah, and
eftablifhing his covenant with him, and with his feed,
promifnig to deftroy the earth in like manner no more;
this fignifying that, by the facrifice of Chrifl, God's people
are in fafety from his deftroying judgments, and obtain
the blefhng of the Lord. And God now, on occalion
of this facrificis that Noah offered, gives him and his
pofterity a new grant of the. earth ; a new power of do-
minion over the creatures, as founded on that facrifice,
and fo on the covenant of grace. And thus it is to be
looked upon as a diftin6l grant from that which was made
to Adam, [Gen. i. 28.] ' And God blefTed them, and
* God faid unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and re- |
' plenilh the earth, and fubdue it ; and 'lave dominion
* oyer the fiih of the fea, and over the fowl of the air,
^ and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.'
Which grant was not founded on the covenant of grace ;
for it was o-iven to Adam while he was under the covenant
of works, and therefore was rendered void when that co-
venant ceafed. The firli grant of the eartlt to Adam was
founded on the firft covenant ; and therefore, when that
flrfl covenant was broken, the rigiit conveyed to him by
it was forfeited and loft. Hence it came to pafs, tliat the
earth was taken away from mankind by the flood ; for the
firft grant was forfeited ; and God had never made another
after that, till after the flood. If the firft covenant had not
been broken, God never would have drowned the world,
and fo have taken it away from nir^nlvind: for then the firft
grant would have flood good. But that being broken, God,
after a while, deftroycd the eartli, when the wickednefs of
man was great upon it.
But
FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM'S CALL. 109
But after the tlootl, on Noah's offering a facrihce that
rcprefented the lacritice of Chrift, God, in fmelHng a
fweet favour, or accepting that facrihce (as it was a re-
prefentation of the true iacritice of Chriil:, which is a
fweet favour indeed to God) gives Noah a new grant of
the earth, founded thereon ; or on that covenant of grace
which is by the facrifice of Chriffc, with a promife an-
nexed, that now the earth ihould no more be dertroyed,
till the confummation of all things ; as you may fee in
Gen. viii. 20, 21, 22. and chap. ix. i, 2, 3, 7. The
reafon why luch a promife was added to this grant made
to Noah, and not to that made to Adam, was becaufe this
was founded on the covenant oi grace, of which Chrift
was the furety, and therefore could not be broken. And
therefore it comes to pafs now, that though the wicked-
nefs of man has dreadfully raged, and the earth has been
filled with violence and wickednefs a thoufand times,
one age after another, and more dreadful and aggravated
wickednefs than the world was full of before the flood,
being againfi: fo much greater light and mercy, efpecially
in thefe days of the gofpel ; yet God's patience holds out ;
he does not dellroy the earth , his mercy and forbearance
abides according to his promife ; and his grant eftablilhed
with Noah and his fons remains firm and good, being
founded on the covenant of grace.
4. On this God renews wirh Noah and his fons the
covenant of grace. Gen. ix. 9, 10. ' And I, behold,
* I eflablilli my covenant with you, and with your feed
' after you, and with every living creature that is with
' you,' &c. ; which even the brute creation have this
benefit of, that it fliall never be deitroyed again until the
i onfummation of all things. When we have this expref-
fion in Icripture, my covenant, it commonly is to be un-
derftood ot the covenant of grace, (o) The manner of
expreffion.
(o) My covr.K. \ST is ^e/!era//y to li vnderfiood of the covenant
nj grace.'] Thdcarfied are by no means agreed, either as to the
derivation, or radical meaning of the original term berlth.
It 16 well known that Mr. Hutchinson infifted on its meaning
the
iio HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
expreflTion, ' I will eltablifli my covenant with you, and
* with your feed after you,' (p) fliews plainly, that it was
a cove-
\h.<i pur'ifi'Tf or a punf.catlon-facnji'ce, and fo conftantly tranflated
it : and without entering into all the reveries of that ingenious
man on this fubjeft, we think it very probable that the word might
originally have fome fuch import ; and if it was not immediately
derived from the verb in the fenfe of purifying, it might at
leaft have a collateral relation to it. There is no doubt but facrifices
were obferved at the inftltution of human covenants, or compa6ls ;
as an appeal to heaven for \hz purity and fincerity of the parties?
who formed them. Nor can there be any doubt, but that in the
facrifices with which the covenant of grace was ratified with Abra-
ham and others (of which hereafter) the offerer looked forward
to that great facrifice which was to purify irora. fin. In this view
God^s cavenant m\^.\X. very properly fignify \.\it covenant of grace,
not only as fealed by typical purifications, but as the conditions of
it were fulfilled by that pure and fpotlefs atonement, which cleanfes
from all fin.
[But fee Dr. Sharp's, Mr. Bedford's, and Mr. Moody's
Differtations on this word ; alfo Mr. Catcott's Sermon on the
Elahim ; and Mr. Romaine's new edition of Calafio's Heb.
Concordance.] [G. E.J
( p ) / ivill efiahVifli my covenant.'] As our author has here omit-
ted a circumllance of fome importance, and clofely connefted with
the Hiftory of Redemption, namely, Noah^s Prophecy, we fliall
take the liberty to fupply it from Bp. Newton's excellent dif-
fertcition on this fubjetft.
" It is an excellent charaftcr that is given of Noah,, [Gen. vi.
9.] ' Noah was a jufl man, and perfeft in his generations, and
' Noah walked with God.' But the bell of men are not without
their infirmities ; and Noah [Gen. ix. 20, &c.j having ' planted
' a vineyaid, and drank of the wine,' became inebriated, not
knowing, perhaps, the nature and ftrength of the liquor, or being
through age incapable of bearing it ; and Mofes is fo faithful an
hiflorian, that he records the failings and imperfections of the
moft venerable patriarchs, as well as their merits and virtues.
Noaa in this condition lay ' uncovered within his tent : and Ham,
* tlie father of Canaan, faw the nakednefs of his father;' and in-
llead of concealing his weaknefs, as a good-natured man, or, at
leaft, a dutiful fon, would have done, he cruelly expofed it to his
two brethren without : but Shem and Japheth, more compafiion-
ate to the infirmities of their aged father, took a garment, and
went backward with fuch decency and rrfpeft, that they faw not
the mikednefs of their father at the fame time that they covered
it. When Noah invoke from his wine, he was informed of what
his yp'.inger fon bad done unto ln'm. The word in the original
fignifies hits liltle fon : and fome commentators, therefore, on ac-
count
FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM'S CALL. 1 1 1
a covenant already in being, that had been made, and that
Noah would by that denomination underftand what cove-
nant it was, viz. the covenant of grace.
5. God's
count of what follows, have imagined that Canaan joined with his
father Ham in this mockery and infult upon Noah ; and the Jewifh
rabbins have a tradition, that Canaan was the firfl who faw Noah
in this poftiirB, and then went and called his father Ham, and con-
curred with him in ridiculing and expofing the old man. But this
is a verj' arbitrary method of interpretation ; no mention was
made before of Canaan and of what he had done, but only of
Ham the father of Canaan ; and of him therefore mufl the phrafe
of little fon or yomigejl fon be naturally or neceffarily underflood.
" In confequence of this different behaviour of the three fons,
Noah, as a patriarch, was enlightened, and as the father of a fa-
mily, who is to reward or punifh his children, was Impoiuered to
foretel the different fortunes of their families ; for this prophecy
relates not fo much to themfelves, as to their pofterity, the people
and nations defcended from them. He was not prompted by wine
or refentment ; for neither the one nor the other could infufe the
knowledge of futurity, or infpire him with the prefcience of events,
which happened hundreds, nay thoufands of years afterwards :
but God, willing tomanifeil his fuperintendance and government
of the world, indued Noah with the fpirit of prophecy, and ena-
bled him in fome meafure to dildofe the purpofes of his provi-
dence towards the future race of mankind. At the fame time it
was fome comfort and reward to Shem and Japheth, for their re-
verence and tendernefs to their father, to hear of the blcfling and
enlargement of their pofleiity ; and it was fome mortification and
puiiilhment to Ham, for his mockery and cruelty to his father, to
hear of the malcdiAion and fervitude of fome of his children, and
that as he was a wicked fon himfelf, fo a wicked race fhould fpring
from him.
" This, then, was Noah's prophecy : and it was delivered, as
moR of the ancient prophecies were delivered, [^Lotufh's Prelec-
tion, xviii.] in metre, for the help of the memory. [Gen. ix. 25,
26, .27.]
* Curfed be Canaan.
' A fervant of fervants fliall he be unto his brethren.
* BlcfTcd be Jehovah, the God of Shem;
' And Canaan (hall be their fervant.
' God (liall enlarge Japheth,
* And fhall dwell in the tents of Shem ;
* And Canaan fliall be their fervant.'
Canaan was the fourth fon of Ham, according to the order where-
in they are mentioned in the enfuing chapter. And for what rea-
fon can you believe that Canaan was fo particularly marked out
q^ for
112 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
5. God's diiappointing the defign of building the city
and tower ot Babel belongs alio to the great work of
redemption.
for tlie curfe, for his father Ham's trangreffion ? But where
would be the juftice or equity to pafs by Ham himfelf, with the
reft of his childien, and to punifh only Canaan for what Ham had
committed ? Such arbitrary proceedings are contrary to all our
ideas of the divine perfections ; and we may fay in this cafe what
was faid in another, [Gen. xviii. 25.3 * Shall not the judge of all
' the earth do right ?' The curfe was fo far from being pro-
nounced upon Canaan for his father Ham's tranfgreflion, that we
do not read that it was pronounced for his own, nor was executed
till feveral hundred years after his death. The truth is, the curfe
is to be underftood not fo properly of Canaan, as of his defcen-
dents to the latell generations. It is thinking meanly of the an-
cient prophecies of fcripture, and having very imperfcft, very un-
worthy conceptions of them, to limit their intention to particular
perfons We muft affix a larger meaning to them, and
undcrftand them not of fmgle perfons, but of whole nations ; and
thereby a nobler fcene of things, and a more extenfive profpeft,
will be opened to us of the divine difpenfations. The curfe of
fcrvitude pronounced upon Canaan, and fo likewife thepromife of
bleffing and enlargement made to Shem and Japheth, are by no
means to be confined to their own perfons, but extend to their
whole race .... The curfe, therefore, upon Canaan was pro-
perly a curfe upon the Canaanites. God forefeeing the wickednefs
of this people, (which began in their father Ham, and greatly in-
creafed in this branch of his family) commiflioned Noah to pro-
nounce a curfe upon them, and to devote thjm to the fervitude
and mifcry which their more common vices and iniquities would
deferve. And this account was plainly written by Mofes, for the
encouragement of the Ifraelites, to fupport and animate them in
their expedition againll a people, who by their fins had forfeited
the divine protection, and were deftined to flavery from the days
of Noah.
" We fee the purport and meaning of the prophecy, and now
let us attend to the completion of it. ♦ Curfed .be Canaan ;' and
the Canaanites appear to have been an abominably wicked people.
The fin and punifliment of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomor-
rah, and the cities of the plain, are too well known to be particu-
larly fpecified ; and for the other inhabitants of the land, which
was promifed to Abraham and his feed, God bore with them ' till
* their iniquity was full.' [Gen. xv. 16.] They were not only
addicted to idolatry, which was then the cafe of the greater part
of the world, but were guilty of the worft fort of idolatry ; ' for
* every abomination to the Lord, which he hateth, have they
* done unto their gods ; for even their fons and their daughters
*. they have burnt in the fire to their Gods.' [Deut. xii. 31.] And
was
FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM'S CALL. 1 1 3
redemption. For that was undertaken in oppofition to
this great bxiilding of God which we are fpeaking of.
Men's
was it not a curfe in the nature of things, as well as in the juft
judgment of God, defervedly entailed upon fuch a people and
nation as this ? It was not * for their own righteoufncfs that the
' Lord brought the Ifraelites in to poffefs the land ; but for the
* wickednefs of thefe nations did the Lord drive them out:' [Deut.
ix. 4.] and he would have driven out the Ifraelites in like man-
ner for the very fame abominations. l^Sce Lev. xviii. 25, &c.]
" But the curfe particularly implies fervitude and fubjeftion,
* Curfed be Canaan ; a fervant of fervants fliall he be unto his
' brethren.' It is very well known that the word brethren in
Hebrew comprehends more dillant relations. The defcendents
therefore of Canaan were to be fubjedl to the defcendents of both
Shem and Japheth : and the natural confequence of vice, in com-
munities as well as in fingle perfons, is flavery. The fame thing
i% repeated again and again in the two following verfcs, * and
* Canaan fhall be fervant to them, or their fervant;' fo that this
is as it were the burden of the prophecy. Some critics take
the phrafc of ' fervant of fervants' ftrielly and literally, and fay
that the prediftion was exaftly fulfilled, when the Canaanites
became fervants to the Ifraelites, who had been fervants to tlie
Egyptians. But this is refining too much ; the phrafe of fervant
of fervants is of the fame turn and caft as holy of holies, king of
kings, fong of fongs, and the like expreflions in fcripture ; and
imports that they flrould be the loweft and bafeft of fervants.
*' It was feveral centuries after the delivery of this prophecy,
when the Ifraelites, who were defcendents of Shem, under the
command of Jolhua invaded the Canaanites, fmote above thirty of
their kings, took poffeffion of their land, flew feveral of the in-
habitants, made the Gibeonltes and others fervants and tributaries,
and Solomon afterwards fubducd the reft. [2. Chron.viii. 7, 8, 9.]
The Greeks and Romans too, who were defcendents of Japheth,
not only fubdued Syria and PalelHne, but alfo purfued and con-
quered fuch of the Canaanites as were any where remaining, as
for Inftance, the Tyrlans and Carthaginians, the former of whom
were ruined by Alexander and the Grecians, and the latter by
Scipio and the Romans. " This fate," fays Mr. Mede, " was
it that made Hanibal, a child of Canaan, cry out with amaze-
ment of his fold, ylgmfco forlitnam Carthaglnls, I acknowledge
the fortune of Carthage." And ever fince the miferable remain-
der of his people have been flaves to a foreign yoke, firft to the
Saracens, who defcended from Shem, and afterwards to the Tuiks,
who defcended from Japheth ; and they groan under their domi-
nion at this day.
" Hitherto wo have explained the prophecy according to the
prefent copies of our bible : but if v,'e were to correct the text, as.
0^2 we
114 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Men's going about to build fuch a city and tower was an
effedl of the corruption that mankind were now again
fallen
we fliould any ancient clafilc author in a like ca{e, the whole per-
haps might be made eader and plainer. Ham the father of Canaan
is mentioned in the preceding part of the Itory ; and how then
came the perfon of a fudden to be changed into Canaan ? The
Arabic verfion in thefe three verfes hath the father of Canaan in-
flead of Canaan. Some copies of the Septuagint likewife have
Ham inftead of Canaan, as if Canaan was a corruption of the
text. Vatablus and others by Canaan underftand the father of
Canaan, which was exprefied twice before. And if we regard
the metre, this line, Curfed be Canaan, is much Ihorter than the
reft, as if fomething was deficient. May we not luppofe there-
fore, (without taking fuch liberties as Father Houbigant hath
■with the Hebrew text) that the copyift by miftake wrote only
Canaan, inftead of Ham the father of Canaan, and that the whole
paffage was originally thus ? ' and Ham the father of Canaan faw
* the nakednefs of his father, and told his two brethren without.
" And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger
* fon had done unto him. And he faid, curfed be Ham the father,
* of Canaan, a fervant of fervant3 ftiall he be unto his brethren.
* And he faid, BlelTed be the Lord God of Shem ; and Ham the
* father of Canaan fliall be fervant to them. God ftiall enlarge
* Japheth ; and he ftiall dwell in the tents of Shem ; and Ham
f the father of Canaan ftiall be fervant to them.'
" By this reading all the three fons of Noah are included in
the prophecy, whereas otherwife Ham, who was the off'cnder, is
excluded, or is only puniftied in one of his children. Ham is
charafterlzed as the father of Canaan particularly, for-the greater
encouragement of the Ifraehtes, who were going to invade the
land of Canaan : and when it is faid, ' Curfed be Ham the father
' of Canaan ; a fervant of fervants fliall he be unto his brethren ;'
it is implied that his whole race was devoted to fervitude, but par-
ticularly the Canaanites. Not that this was to take effeft immedi-
ately, but was to be fulfilled in procefs of time, when they ftiould
forfeit their liberties by their wickednefs. Ham at firft fubdued
fome of the pofterity of Shem, as Canaan fometimes conquered
Japheth ; the Carthaginians, who were originally Canaanites, did
particularly in Spain and Italy : but in time they were to be fub-
dued, and to become fervants to Shein and Japheth ; and the
chanp-e of their fortune from good to bad would render the curfe
ftill more vifible. Egypt was the land of Ham, as it is often cal-
led in fcripture ; and for many years it was a great and flouriftiing
kingdom : but it was fubdued by the Perfians, who deicendcd
from Shem, and aftervv-ards by the Grecians, who dcfcendcd froni
Japheth ; and from that time to this it hath conftantly been in fub-
jedion to feme or other of the pofterity of Shem or Japheih. The
whole
FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM'S CALL. 115
fallen into. This city and tower was fet up in oppo-
lition to the city of God, as the god that they built it to
was
whole continent of Africa was peopled principally by the children
of Ham ; and for how many ages have the better parts of that
country laid under the dominion of the Romans, and then of the
Saracens, and now of the Turks ? In what wickednefs, ignorance,
barbarity, flavcry, mifery, live moft of the inhabitants ; and of
the poor negroes how many hundreds every year are fold and
bought like beads in the market, and are conveyed from one quar-
ter of the world to do the work of beafts in another ?"
" Nothing can be more complete than the execution of the fen-
tence upon Ham as well as upon Canaan : and now let us confider
the promifes made to Shem and Japheth. And he faid (ver. 26.)
* Blefl'edbe the Lord God of Shem : and Canaan {hall be his fer-
* vant :' or rather, ' and Canaan fliall be fervantto them, or their
* fervant,' that is, to his brethren ; for that, as we obferved before,
is the main part of the prophecy, and therefore is fo frequently
repeated. A learned critic in the Hebrew language, who hath
lately publiflicd fome remarks on the printed Hebrew text, [Ken.
p. 561.] faitli, that " if it fhould be thought preferable to refer the
word blejfcd direftly to Shem, as the word ciirfcd is to Canaan ;
the words may be {and perhaps more pertinently) rendered, ' Blef-
* fed of Jehovah, my God, be Shem!' [See Gen. xxiv. 31."]
[So Mr. Hervey (remarks on Lord Bolingbroke, p. 58.) *' I
would not trandate tlie words, * Bleffed be the Lord God of Shem ;'
but ' bleffcd of the Lord God is Shem.' (As before he reads,
not * curfcd Zi^ Canaan,' but ' curfcd w Canaan.') This will put
a ftriking contrail between the doom of the religious fcoflFer, and
the reward of filial piety This fenfe the original lan-
guage will very commodioufly bear, and the event feems to re-
quire." We would juft add to this digrefiion, that the interpi-e-
tation of this ingenious writer nearly coincides with that of his
Lordfhip, above cited, except in his correftion of the original
text.]
" Or if we choofe (as mofl: perhaps will choofe) to follow our
own as well as all the ancient verfions, we may obferve, that the
old patriarch doth not fay, V>\t{XcA.hQ Shem, as he faid, Curfed be
Canaan ; for mens' evil fpringcth of themfelves, but their good
from God : and therefore in a llrain of devotion breaking forth
into thankfgiving to God as the author of all good to Shem : nei-
ther doth he fay the fame to Japheth : for God certainly may dlf-
penfe his particular favours according to his good pleafure, and
falvation was to be derived to mankind through Shem and his pof-
terity. God prefers Shem to his elder brother Japheth, as Jacob
was afterwards preferred to Efau, and David to iiis elder brothers,
to (how that the order of grace is not always the fame as the order
of nature. The Lord being called the God of Shem particularly,
it
ii6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
was their pride. Being funk into a dil'pofition to forfake
the true God, the lirft idol they fet up in his room,
was
It IS plainly intimated that the Lord would be his God in a parti-
cular manner. And accordingly the church of God was among
the pofterity of Shem for feveral generations ; and of them [Rom.
ix. 5.] ' As concerning the flefli Chrift came.'
" But ftill Japheth was not difmiffed without a promife, (ver.
47.) ' God ihall enlarge Japheth, and he fhall dwell in the tents of
* Shem ; and Canaan fhall be fervant to them, or their fervant.'
God fliall enlarge Japheth. Some render the word, (it is fo ren-
dered in the margin of our bibles) God fhall pcrjuade or allure
Japheth, fo that he fhall come over to the true religion, and dwell
in the tents of Shem. Bat the belt critics in the language have
remarked, befides other reafons, that they who tranflate the word
by perfuade or allure, did not confider, that when it is fo taken, it*
is ufed in a bad fenfe, and governs an accufative cafe, and not a
dative, as in this place. God fhall enlarge Japheth, or unto Ja-'
pheth, is the beft rendering ; and in the original there is a mahifeft
allufion to Japheth's name, fuch as is familiar to the Hebrew wa-
ters. As it was faid of Noah, [Gen. v. 29.] this fame fhall com-
fort us, the name of Noah being thought to fgnify comfort: So
it is faid here God fhall enlarge Japheth, and the name of Japheth
fignifies enlargement. Was Japheth then more enlarged than
the reft ? Yes, he was, both in territory and children : the terri-
tories of Japheth's pofterity were indeed very large ; for, befides
all Europe, great and extenfive ^as it is, they poflefled the Lefler
Afia, Media, and part of Armenia, Iberia, Albania, and thofe
vaft rep-ions towards the north, which anciently the Scythians in-
habited, and now the Tartars inhabit ; and it is not improbable,
that the new world was peopled by fome of his northern defcen-
dents palling thither by the ftraits of Anian. The enlargement
of Japheth may alfo denote a numerous progeny as well as ample
territory : and if you confult the genealogies of the three brothers
comprifed in the following chapter, you will find that Japheth had
feven fons, whereas Ham had only four, arid Shem only five : and
the northern hive (as Sir William Temple denominates it) was
always remarkable for its fecundity, a.id hath been continually
pouring forth fwarms, and fending out colonies into the more
fouthern parts, both in Enrope and in Afia, both in former and
in later times.
" The following claufe, ' and he fliall du-el1 in the tents of
« Shem,' is capable of a double conftru6tion ; for thereby may be
meant either that God or that ^ Japheth ^^^■:^\ dwell in the tents
' of Shem :' in the tents of Shem, faith he, fpeaking according to
the fimplicity of thofe times, when men dwelt in tents and not in
houfes. They who prefer the former conllruftion, feem to have the
authority of the original test on their fide ; for there is no other
noun
FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM'S CALL. 117
was themfelves, their own glory and fame. And as this
city and tower had its foundation laid in the pride and va-
nity of men ; fo it was built on a foundation exceedingly
contrary to the nature of the foundation of the kingdom of
Chrift, and his redeemed city, which has its foundation
•laid in humility.
Therefore God faw that it tended to fruftrate the de-
fign of that great building which was founded, not in the
haughtinefs of men but in the purpofes of God: thus the
thing that they did difpleafed the Lord, and he confounded
the defign, net fuffering them fo bring it to perfeclion ; as
he will fruftrate all other defigns fet up in oppolition to the
great building of the work of redemption.
In
noun to govern the verbs in the period, but God ; there is no pro-
noun in the Hebrew, anfwcring to the he which is inferted in our
Englifh tranflation : and the whole fentence would run thus, ' God
will enlarge Japheth, and will dwell in the tents of Shem :' and
the Chaldee of Onkelos alfo thus paraphrafeth it, ' and v/ill make
* his glory to dwell in the tabernacles of Shem.' Thofe who pre-
fer the latter conftruftion, feem to have done it, that they might
refer this 27th verfe wholly to Japheth, as they refer the 26th
wholly to Shem ; but the other appears to me the more natural
and eafy conftrucftion. Taken in either fenfe, the prophecy hath
been moft punftually fulfilled. In the former fenfe it was fullilled
literally, when the Shechinah, or divine prefence, refted in the
ark, and dwelt in the tabernacle and temple of the Jews ; and
when * the Word who was with God and was God, [John 1. i.
* £o-x»iw«rev,] pitched his tent, and dwelt among us.' [ver. 14.] Li
the latter fenfe it was fulfilled firft, when the Greeks and Romans,
who fprung originally from Japheth, fubdued and poflefied Judea,
and other countries of Afia, belonging to Shem ; and again fpi-
ritually, when they were profelyted to the true religion, and they
who were not Ifraelites by birth, became Ifraelltes by faith, and
lived, as we and many other of Japheth's pofterity do at this day,
within the pale of the church of Chrift.
" What think you now ? Is not this a moft extraordinary pro-
phecy \ A prophecy that was delivered near four thoufand years
ago, and yet hath been fulfilling through the feveral periods of
time to this day ! It is both wonderful and inilruftive. It is the
hiftory of the world as it were in epitome." [Differt. on the
Prophecies, vol. i. Dif. 1.3
[The laft remark vvfill, we hope, fulBciently apologize for the
length of this quotation.] [G. E.]
iiS HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
In liie fecond chapter of Ifaiali, where the prophet is
ilcfcribing God's fttting up the kingdom of Chrift in the
world, he foretells that he will, in order to it, bring
down the haughtinefs of men, and how the day of the
Lord fliall be on every high tower, and upon every
fenced wall, 6cc. Chrift's kingdom is eftabliflied by
bringing down every high thing to make way for it,
[2 Cor. X. 4, 5.] ' For the weapons of our warfare are
* mighty through God to the pulling down of flrong
* holds, cafting down imaginations, and every high thing
* that exalreth itfelf againft the knowledge of God.'
What is done in a particiilar foul, to make way for the
fetting up of Chrift's kingdom, is to dcftroy Babel in that
foul.
They intended to have built Babel up to heaven. That
building which is the fubjedl we are now upon, is intend-
ed to be built fo high, that its top fliall reach to heaven
indeed, as it will to the higheft heavens at the end of the
world, when it fliall be finiihed : and therefore God would
not fuffer the building of his enemies, that they defigned
to build up to heaven in oppofition to it, to profper. (q^)
If they had gone on and profpered in building that city
and tower, it might have kept the world of wicked men,
the enemies of the church, together, as was their defign.
They might have remained united in one vaft, powerful
city, and fo have been too powerful for the city of God,
and quite fwallowed it up.
This city of Babel is the fame with the city of Baby-
lon ,- for Babylon in the original is Babel: but Babylon
was a city that is always fpoken of in fcripture as chiefly
oppofite to the city of God. Babylon and Jerufalem,
or Zion, are often oppofcd to each other, both in the
Old and New Teftament. This city was a powerful and
terrible
( Q^) God fritjlrated their defign m lu'illing Babe L.J Their dc'
Jign and tl)e inetliod in which God frujlrated it are two very im-
portant lubjcfts of inquiry, and for brevity fake we fliall coniider
them in connedlion ; firll flating the principal hypoihefts of the
learned, and then, comparing them with the fcripture account, at-
tempt to tlirow fome new light on this very compHcated fubjed.
FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM'S CALL. 1 19
terrible enemy to the city of God afterwards, notwith-
ftanding this great check put to the building of it in the
beo;in^
We have not only the authority of Mofes for the exiftence of
this tower, but (which unhappily is of more weight with fome)
the concurrent teftimonies of fevcral heathen writers, particularly
Herodotus, who dcfcribes the remains of it in his time; and even
fome modern travellers, as RauivoJf and Delia Valle, have feen im-
menfe heaps of ruins which they conceived to be thofe of Babel,
though they are not well agreed in its fituation. [See Univ. Hilt,
vol. i. p. 334—337.]
It is however not fo evident, what induced ' the children of men'
to ereft this edifice. Mofes has indeed mentioned their motive,
but then the learned are not well agreed as to the import of his, or
ratheir of /i'c'/r words ; [Gen. xi. 4.] * And they faid, Go to, let
* us build a city and a tower whofe top may reach unto heaven,
* \j. £. very high] and let us make us a name, left we be fcattered
* abroad upon the face of the whole earth.' But how fliould the
making them a name prevent their being fcattered? The anfwer to
this is not, perhaps, fo difficult as fome have thought. The ereftion
of a city and a tower, and forming themfelves into a compadi body,
a powerful corporation, as we fhould fay, was the moft natural
means to preferve themfelves together, as well as to perpetuate
their memory to pofterlty. Nor is this all; their making them-
felves a name, impUes the atchievement of fomething deferving one;
and certainly the more firm, powerful, and great they were, the
lefs danger remained of their being fcattered. Not to fa)--, that in
fuch a body, men might enjoy many conveniences and advantages,
which a ftate of folitary v.'andering would not admit.
Some learned men, however, not aware of this, or not feeing it
in the fame point of view, have, to avoid the difficulty, rendered the
words in a different manner. Dr. G. Sharp [Origin of Lang,
p. 29.] takes the word [iZDIi'] for a particle of place, and tranflateg
it — ' Let us prepare — iLwi-h, i^c. for ourfelves there;' and it can-
not be denied that the words (without regarding the vowel points)
may befo tranflated; but then, as the phrafe to make onefelf a name
is perfeftly fcriptural [fee 2 Sam. viii. 13. — If. Ixiii. 12, 14. — Jer.
xxxii. 20. — Dan. ix. 15.] and familiar, and we hope has been ex-
plained in a rational and intelligible fenfe, there feems to be no
iieceffity for departing from it.
Some critics, perticularly Dr. Tennison and Mr. Hutchin-
son, from the circumilance of the tower being in after times ufed
for idolatrous purpofes, have conceived that fuch was its original
deiign ; and therefore have fuppofcd this word to be the name
;)f the idol to which it was eredfted : but as this is mere conjecture,
little ftrefs can be laid on it. Nor does the erection of an iilol give
any reafon why tlicy H^ould not be fcattered. This, however, is a
R verv
120 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
beginmng. But it might, and probably would have been
vaftly more powerful, and able to vex and deftroy the
cliurch of God, if it had not been thus checked.
Thus
very ancient tradition, being found in the Targums both of Jona-
than and Jerufalem, befides a Samaritan one; and if it could be
proved to be well founded, would perfeftly agree with the expofi-
tion above given, and give the cleared reafon of the divine inter-
polition, which is the next circumftance to be confidered.
' And the Lord came down to fee the city and the tower which
* the children of men builded. And the Lord faid [or ' had faid']
* Behold, the people is one, [united in one defign] and they have
' all one language ; and tliis they begin to do ; and now nothing
* will be reftrained from them, which they have imagined to do,*
that is, without a divine interference. ' Go to, let us go down
* [Comp. Gen. i. 26.] and there confoumi their /anguage, that they
* may not underftand one another's fpeech. So the Lord fcattered
' them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth; and they
* left off to build the city, and [as the Samaritan adds] the tower.
* Therefore is the name of it called Bale/, [i. e. ConfufionJ becaufe
' the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth.'
The common hypothefis fuppofes that, on this occafion, God
caufed the builders to forget their former language, and each fa-
mily to fpeak a new tongue, whence originated the various lan-
guages at prefent in the world. [See Gill in loc]
To this, however, it has been objeAed, that to confound a lan-
guage, and to form new ones, are very diftinft and different ideas*
Nor is there any fimilar phrafeology to countenance this in other
parts of fcripture.
Mr. Hutchinson, who feems to have been fond of novel and
iingular ideas, will have the univerfality of language, or rather
Up, as the Hebrew is, to denote a univerfality of religion and re-
ligious rites, and that the variety afterward introduced was not of
tongues, but of religious principles and confejfions; but this, befide
that it wants fupport, has the misfortune to intimate, that God
was the author of the different religions extant, the falfe as well as
the true — which be far from the Molt High!
Dr. G. Sharp, unfatisfted with either of thefe explications,
conceives, that neither a divifion of tongues or religions is intended;
but only that in fome vifible and extraordinary manner the Deity
came down to earth, and confounded their purpofes, fcattering
thern over the face of the earth; and that the different languages
were rather the effcEl, than the caufe^ of this difperfion. [See
Origin of Lang. p. 24 — 30.]
A full inveftigation of this fubjedl would lead us back to the
origin of the firft langu;ige, and to a variety of inquiries, which
would
FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM'S CALL. 121
Thus it was in kindiiefs to his church in the world,
and in profecution of the great defign of redemption, that
God
would fwell this note to a vohime; but we wifli to be as concife as
poflible, and fhall therefore only drop hints to be puifued and im-
proved by the refleftions of our readers.
And, I. It appears that God not only created man with a capa-
city of fpeech, and acquainted him with his powers; but calle4
them into exercife by bringing the animals to him, that he might
name them.
2. Yet, that there is no neceflity for fuppofing that God fur-
niflied our firft parent miraculoufly with all the words he had oc-
cafion for, at once; a thoufand circumftances would daily occur
for giving him opportunity and occafion, to enlarge his llock of
words, as his ideas increafed.
3. We conceive, that while mankind continued to refide in one
climate, and to have communication together, there would be
little dlverfity in their language, and this was probably the cafe
before the flood, and for fome time afterwards, till the period we
are now confidering.
4. Though we fhould not be able exaftly to afcertain the mo-
tives on which this building was erefted ; yet, as we find it offen-
live to God, it was certainly finful; if not in the a8 itfelf, at
leafl in the moiive, which, doubtlefs, originated in vanity and
ambition.
5. From the expreflion ' the Lord came down,' it fliould feem
there was fome vifible appearance of the divine Majefty; the ear-
lieft heathen writers who mention this event, unanimoufly afcribe
the deftruftion of Babel to the winds, and as the Lord * rides
* upon the whirlwind,' there feems no abfurdity in fuppofing that
the tempeft which attended his prefence, might overthrow it, and
thus eonfound and terrify the builders.
6. But as the language was confounded, it does not fcem fuffi-
clent to confine the text to this: may v/e not therefore fuppofe,
that God afFetlied the organs of their fpeech in fome fuch extraor-
dinary manner, as to render certain founds extremely difficult (if
not impoffible) to certain perfons, and confequently to occafion
a material difference in pronunciation ? As we fee to this day, ho\v
feldora foreigners can attain the true found of TH — how vari^-
oufly, even in England, (as formerly in Judea) different countries
pronounce the fame letter. And this, taken in connexion with
the terror occafioned by the divine prefence, was, certainly, abun-
dantly fuflicient to create a raifunderltanding, and make thefe
builders defilt from their enterprize. [See Slackhcitfi'i Hlft. of
the Bible, vol. i. b. 2.]
7. That after the dlfperfion, this difference would naturally
incrcafe — that accident would invent many, neccITity perhaps more,
R z new"
122 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
God put a flop to the building of the city and tower of
Babel.
6. The difperfion of the nations, and dividing the
earth among its inhabitants, immediately after God had
caufcd the building of Babel to ceafe. This was done fo
^s moft to fuit that great defign of redemption; and parti-
cularly, God therein had an eye to the future propaga-
tion of the gofpel among the nations. [Deut. xxxii. 8-]
' When the Moit High divided to the nations their inhe-
* ritance, when he feparated the fons of Adam, he fet the
' bounds of the people according to the number of the
* children of Ifrael.' (r) ' And hath made of one blood
' all
new words; and the learned and ingenious modify them to their
own tafte: and we (hould not defpair being able to fiiew, did the
occafion fuit, the poffibility of all languages being in this manner
derived from one original.
8. The inquiry, whether among all thefe changes any one na-
tion preferved the primitive dialeft, is more curious than ufcful,
and chiefly depends on one circumftance, whether Shem and his
family had any concern in building of Babel, a circumllance that
is not eafily demonftrated either way. Tlie learned authors of
the Univerfal Hiftory think nothing can be plainer, than that he
was confederated with the reft of mankind. [Vol. i. p. 327,
&c.]
But Dr. Gill, [in loc] and the Jewifli expofitors in general,
will by no means admit this ; but fuppofe the phrafe- children of
men, muft be here taken, as a fimilar one in a preceding chapter,
[vi. 4]. for the reft of the world, exclufive of God's people. If
this notion be right, (as we think it might be juftified) in all pro-
bability the original language might be preferved in the family of
Shem, and be eflentially the fame which was afterward denomi-
nated Hebrew. But this controverfy we mull: wave. [G. E.]
(r.) He fet the bounds of the people according to the mimler of the
CHILDREN of IsRAEL.] " The fenfe is, that fuch a country was
meafured out and bounded, as would be fufiicient to hold the
twelve tribes of Ifrael, when numerous, and their time was come
to inhabit it ; and which, in the meanwhile, was put into the
hands of Canaan and his eleven fons to poffefs, not as their pro-
per inheritance, but as tenants at will, until the proper heirs ex-
ifted, and were at an age, and of fufficient number to inherit. In
which may be obferved the wife difpofiticjn of Divine Providence,
to put it into the hands of a people corfed of God, fo that to take
it from t])em at any time could have no appearance of any injuftice
in it; and their enjoying it fo long as they did was a mercy to
them.
FROM THE FLOOD TO ABRAHAM'S CALL. 123
' all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the
' earth, and hath determined the times before appointed,
* and the bounds of their habitations ; that they Ihould
* feek the Lord if haply they might feel after him, and
* find him.' [A6ts xvii. 26, 27.] The land of Canaan
was the moft conveniently fituated of any place in the
world for the purpofe of fpreading the light of the gofpel
thence
them, for fo long they had a reprieve. Now here was an early
inftance of the goodncfs of God to Ifrael, that he fhould make fuch
an early provifion of the land flowing with milk and honey for
them. — [Gill in loc]
*• For ' Children of Ifrael,' the Greek tranflation reads ' Angels
* of God ;' fo the LXX tranflated this place purpofely, left the
heathens fhould here take offence, that Ifrael fhould be matched
with the fevcnty nations, that is, with all the people of the world :
and the Jews fuppofed, there weie fevcnty angels, rulers of the fe-
venty nations ; and therefore they fay, according to the number
of the angels of God, whereby they mean feventy. Their opinion
is to be feen in Rab. Menachem [on Gen. xlvi.] where he faith,
* It is generally a rule that there is one [degree of] glory above
* another, and they that are beneath are a fecret fignification of
* thofe that are above ; and the feventy fouls [Gen. xlvi. 27.]
* fignify the feventy angels that are round about the throne of
* [God's] glory, which are fet over the nations.' But we are
warned to beware how we intrude ourfelves into the things which
we have not feen." [Col. ii. iS.] [Ainsvv'ORTh in loc]
God * hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell
* upon the face of the earth, and hath determined, or " hath
marhedout in his eternal and unerring counfel, the times fore-allotted
\_toeach'\ in their refpeftivc order ; ^« J appointed //>? feveral boun-
daries of their different habitations : all things in the difpofition of
his providence centering in this one great end, that they might
be excited to feei after tjfje Lord thdr maker. If poJfAly amidft all
the darknefs which their own degeneracy and prejudice have
brought upon their minds, they might feel after him and be fo happy
as to Jind him out, in the knowledge of whom their fupreme hap-
pinefs confifts ; who indeed, though he be fo little known, Is not
far from every one of us : for In him <zue perpetually live^ and are
moved and do exl/l." [Doddridge Fam. Exp. in loc]
Now if we fhould allow the conjefture of our author, that Satan
might induce fome individuals to emigrate to the dark corners of
the earth (though perhaps this were better referred folcly to the
divine Providence) yet muft we admit the fuperior wifdom, power
and goodncfs which over-ruled even this event for good ; and wdl
m thp end 'cover the earth as the waters do the fea.' [N. U.]
«24 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
thence among the nations In general. In the times im-
mediately after Chrift, the Roman empire included moft
of the known world, particularly the countries round
about Jerufaleni, which was therefore properly fituated
for the purpofe of ^iffufnig the light of the gofpel among
them from that place. The devil feeing the advantage of
this fitiiation of the nations for promoting the great work
of redemption, and the difadvantage of it with refpedl: to
the intereft oi his kingdom, might perhaps lead away many
into the remoteft parts of the world, to get them out of the
way of the gofpel. Thus fome were led into America ;
and others into cold northern regions, almoft inacceili-
ble.
7. Another thing I would mention in this period, was
God's preferving the true religion in the line of which
Chrift was to proceed, when the world in general apo-
ftatized to idolatry, and the church was in imminent dan-
ger of being fwallowed up in the general corruption. Al-
though God had lately wrought fo wonderfully for the
deliverance of his church, and had fliewed fo great mercy
towards it, as for its fake even to deftroy all the reft of the
world ; and although he had lately renewed and eftablifhed
his covenant of grace with Noah and his fons ; yet fo
prone is the corrupt heart of man to depart from God,
and to fink into the depths of wickednefs ; and fo prone
to darknefs, delufion, and error, that the world foon after
the flood fell into grofs idolatry ; fo that before Abraham,
the diftemper was become almoft univerfal. The earth
was become very corrupt at the time of the building of
Babel ; and even God's people themfelves, even that line
of which Chrift was to come, were corrupted in a mea-
fure with idolatry: [Jofh. xxiv. 2.] ' Your fathers dwelt
* on the other fide of the flood in old time, even Tcrah
* the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor ; and
* they ferved other gods.* The other fide of tlie flood
means beyond the river Euphrates, where the anceftors qf
Abraham lived.
We are not to underftand that they were wholly drawn
off to idolatry, to forfake the true God. For God is
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 12;
faid to be the God of Terah ; [Gen. xxxi. 53.] * The
' God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of
* their father, judge betwixt us.' (s) But they only par-
took in fonie meafure of the general and almoft univerfal
corruption of the times ; as Solpmon was in a meafure in-
fe6led with idolatrous corruption ; and as the children of
Ifrael in Egypt are faid to ferve other gods, though yet
there was the true church of God among them ; and as
there were images kept for a confiderable time in the fa-
mily of Jacob ; the corruption being brought from Padan-
Aram, whence he fetched his wives.
This was the fecond time that the church was almoft
brought to nothing by the corruption and general defec-
tion of the world from true religion. But ftill the true
religion was kept up in the family from which Chrift
was to proceed. Which is another inftance of God's
remarkably preferving the church in a time of a general
deluge of wickednefs ; and wherein, although the god
of this world raged, and had almoft fwallowed up God's
church, yet he did not fufFer the gates of hell to prevail
againft it.
§ III. From the caUirig of Abraham to Moses.
I PROCEED now to ftiow how the work of re-
demption was carried on through the third part of this
period, beginning with the calling of Abraham, and extend-
ing to Mofes. And,
I. It
(s) The God of THT.IR fa/her.] Terah was their father, and
he was certainly an idolater, as appears from the text above cited.
So it is commonly fuppofed that the true God was not here in-
tended ; *< but the god or gods of Terah, Nahor, and Abraham,
worfliipped whilft. idolaters, and Laban ftill continued to do,
though perhaps not in fo grofs a manner as fome did." [Gill
ill loc. See alfo Ainfw. and Poli. Syn.]
126 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
I . It pleafed God now to fepaiate that peifon of whom
Chrift was to come, from the reft of the world, that his
church might be upheld in his family and pofterity till
that time. This he did in calling Abraham out of his
own country, and from his kindred^ to go into a diftant
one, that God fhould fhow him, and bringing him firft
out of Ur of the Chaldees to Haran, and then to the land
of Canaan, (t)
It
(t) a learned Jew, now living, hath obliged the world with
the following curious fragment of Jewifh traditions from the
book Medrajh Berejhhh, which we infert as a fpecimen of the reft ;
and cannot but confider the grave manner in which he introduces
it, as an awful proof that the children of Ifrael have yet the ' i)ail
* upon their hearts ;' for Certainly Mr. Levi himfelf, who appears
to be uncommonly fhrewd, would have highly ridiculed fo abfurd
a legend, had it originated from the Chriftians. The ftory is
this :
" Terach, the father of Abraham, was an idolater, and like-
wife a dealer and maker of idols. It chanced one time that Te-
raeh went on a journey, and left Abraham to take care of, and
dtfpofe of the idols during his abfence.
" When any man came to purchafe an idol, Abraham aflced him
his age. When the man had anfwered him, Abraham replied,
Can it be poflible, that a perfon of your years can be fo ftupid as
worfhip that that was made but yeflerday ! The man being quite
overwhelmed with fharae, hung down his head, and departed. In
this manner he ferved feveral. At length there came an old wo-
man, with a meafure of fine flour in her hand, which {he told him
fhe had brought as an offering to all the idols. Abraham at this
was exceedingly wrath, and took a large ftick, and broke all the
idols except the largeft, which he left whole, and put the ftick in
his hand.
" When Tcrach returned, and perceived all the idols broken, he
aflced Abraham how that came to pafs ? Abraham informed him,
that there came an old woman and brought an offering of fine flour
to the idols ; upon which they immediately fell together by the
care for the prize, when the large one killed them all with the
ftick which he then held in his hand.
" Terach feeling the full force of the fatire, was greatly exaf-
perated, and immediately had Abraham before Nimrod, in order
to have him punifhed for the contempt fhcwn to his gods.
" Nimrod commanded him to worflrip the fire ; but Abraham
anfwered him, that it would be more proper to worfliip the water,
which cxtinguifhes the fire.' Why, then, fays Nimrod, worfhip
the water. No, fays Abraham, it were better to worfliip the
clouds
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 127
It was before obferved, tliat the corruption of the world
with idolatry was now become general ; mankind were
almoft over-run with it : God therefore faw it neceflary,
in order to uphold true religion, that there Jliould be
a family feparated from the reft of the world ; for even
Abraliam's own country and kindred had moft of them
fallen, and, without fome extraordinary interpofition of
Providence, in all likelihood, in a generation or two more,
the true religion would have been extindl. And therefore
God faw it to be time to call Abraham, the perfon in
whofe family he intended to xiphoid religion, out of his
own country, and from his kindred, to a far diftant coun-
try, that his pofterity might there remain a people feparate
from all the reft of the world ; fo that the true religion
might be upheld there, while all mankind befides were
fwallowed up in heathenifm.
S The
clouds which fuftain the water. Nimrod bid him worship them ;
but he told hitn it would be better to worfliip the wind which dif-
perfes the clouds. Nimrod then bid him worfiiip the wind. Abra-
ham anfvvered, it would be preferable to worfhip man, who was
able to endure the wind. Well, fays Nimrod, I fee it is your in-
tention to deride me ; I mud therefore tell you briefly, that I wor-
fhip nothing but the fire, and if thou doft not do the fame, my
intention is to throw you therein ; and then I fhall fee, whether
the God you worfhip will come to your relief;' and immediately
had him thrown into the fiery furnace.
In the interim, they queftioncd his brother Haran concerning
his faith, who anfwered, If Abraham fucceeds, I will be of his,
but if not, of Nimrod's. Upon which, Nimrod ordered him. to
be immediately thrown into the furnace likewife ; where he was
prcfently confumed, but Abraham came out of the furnace with-
out receiving the leaf! injury.
This agrees with the 28th verfe of the eleventh chapter of Ge-
nefis.
' And Haran died in the prefence of his father Terab, in the
* land of his nativity, in the fire of the Chaldeans ;' [we read
* Ur of the Chaldeans,' as a proper name] for it was by means of
the accufation which Terah exhibited againft Abraham, that Ha-
ran fuflfered death ; fo that he may juilly be faid to have died in
the prefence of his father. Here is an admirable lefTon for man-
kind : and which clearly points out the difrercnce between thofe
which ferve the Lord in truth and fincerity, and thofe which are
lukewarm, and eafily turn to that which feems moft profitable in
this world. Tin's tranfaclion, the author of Shal/Jjclctb Hakkabala
fays, happened in the feventieth year of Abraham. [Heb. Ditt.]
'i^8 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
The land of Clir.ldees, that Abraham was called to go
out of, was the country about Babel ; Babel or Baby-
ion, was the chief city of tiie land of Chaldea. Learned
men fuppufe that it was in this land that idolatry firft
be^an ; that Babel and Chaldea were the original and
chiet feat of the worihip of idols, whence it fpread into
other nations, (u) And therefore the land of Chaldeans,
or
(u) Idolatp.y began in Chalclca.~\ " The rife of idolatry
after the flood is generally attributed by learned men to the Ba-
bylonians or Chaldeans ; and what conlirms this opinion is, Ba-
bylon's being called ' the mother of harlots,' [Rev. xvii. 5. J /. e.
as Mr. Mede explains it, the firll parent of idols. There is no
doubt, but the firft introducers of it were bred up in the wor-
fhip of the true Gcd, agreeably to the revelation he had made of
his .will to mankind, in that religion which was profeffed by the
true church from Adam to Mofes, and which led thofe who lived
up to it to evevlafting h ppinefs. But the ' worfhipping God in
* fpirit and in truth,' was too refined a principle, a religion too
angelical, for fuch as feem to have been more delighted with the
ritual and ceremonial, than with the Ipiritual and more effential
part of it. The outward and vifible obfervances, in the then true
church, feem to have been but very few, and thofe orderly and
decent ; but, it may be, they were multiplied before idolatry was
brought in, as it is certain they afterwards were by the intro-
ducers of it, to an exceflive degree ; and from being too much
delighted with the externals of religion, they were infenfibly led
to join vifible and material objefts of worfliip with the infinity of
God's majclly, which tranfcended the capacity of their natures ;
and fo gratified their fcnfes and imaginations with a vifible objeft
of worfliip. And then being naturally invited by the ferenity of
their climate, (the weather being generally fair, and the air clear,
without either clouds or rain) to the contemplation of the hea-
venly bodies, which they were forced to make ufe of in their
geoponics, [agriculture] having no calender by which to know
the feafons, they were foon furprized with their admirable ftruc-
ture, beauty, and regular motion ; and obferving what influence
thofe celeltial bodies had, and what benefits were communicated
to mankind by them, from being ravifhed into an admiration of
their regularity and harmony of order, they concluded, that
God made ufe of them as his miti't/lers, and that, as fuch,
he was as defirous that regard fhould be paid them, as earthly
princes are, that their minifters fliould be reverenced and
efteemed. Ma'imonidcs, who ....'. fixes this to the time
of Enos, [See above, Note (z) p. 89.] tcils us, [In Halacoth~\
that ' in his days the fons of men grievouily erred, and the wife
* men became brutifh, even Enos himfelf being in their number.
* Their
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 120
or the country of Babylon, is in icripture called tlic land
of graven images: [Jer. 1. 35, 38.] 'A fword is upon
' the
* Their error %\^as this, that God having created the ftars and
* fpheres, placed them on high to govern the world, and beflow-
* ed this honour upon them, that they (hould be his minijlers and
* fubfervient inftruments, and that therefore men ought to praife,,
* honour and worfhip them : this being the pleafure of the blef-
* fed God, that men (Tiould magnify and honour thofe whom
* himfelf had magnified and honoured, as a king would have his
* minifters to be reverenced, this honour redounding to himfelf.'
From wordiipping them as God's minifters, they were foon led to
confider them as mediators between him and them; ' For being
' confcious of their own meannefs, vilenefs, and impurity, they
* could not conceive how it was pofiible for them of themfelves
* alone to have any accefs to the All-Holy, All-Glorlous, and Su-
* preme Governor of all Things — and therefore concluded, that
* there muft be a mediator, by whofe means alone they could
* make any addrefs unto him.' \_Pr'ideaux, vol. i. b. 3.] But
having no knowledge of the true Mediator ; it may be, having for-
got what had been revealed to Adam concerning him . . . they hid
recourfe to mediators of their own chufing, by means of wh(/m
they might addrefs themfelves to the Supreme God. ' They
* thought thefe the propereft beings to become the mediators be-
* tvveen God and them.' This, probably, might be their opi-
nion ; though I make no doubt but that idolatry came infenfi-
bly and by degrees, and that they v.'ho firll introduced it, did not
carry the impiety to the height it afterwards arrived at ; they had
no fyftem of theology that was either well put together or well un-
derftood, but fuch an one as was neither the work of a wife nor
intelligent people. And therefore we find, that as they worflilp-
ped the heavenly hoft as God's minifters, and as mediators be-
tween him and them, fo they did give them the name of gods ;
[Wifdom xiii. 2, 3.] ' Being delighted with their beauty, they took
* them to be the gods which govern the world:' foohThly con-
cluding the kind influence of the heavenly bodies to be the infmite
goodnefs of the divine nature. Thus Plato [ Apud Eufcb. Preep.
Ev. 1. i. c. 9. & 1. iii. c. 2.] alTures us of the firft inhabitants of
Greece, that they had no other gods than the fun, moon, &c. and
Diodorus, [Lib. i, c. i.] fpeaking of ' the firft generation of men,'
who were fuppofed to be Egyptians, fays, that ' contemplating
' the beauty of the fuperior world, and admiring with aftonifli-
' ment the frame and order of the univerfe, they judged that there
' were two chief goods that were eternal, that is to fay. the fun
* and the moon, the firft of which was called 0/?rij-, and the otlier
* Jfis:
" The worfliip of the heavenly bodies was, without doubt, the
firft idolatry. * There was neither good nor evil daemons wor-
S 2 ^ ftiipped
I30 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
' the Chaldeans, faith the Lord, and upon the inhabitants
* of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wife
' men.
fhipped by them,' fays Eufebius, fpeaking of the moft ancient
heathens. [Prcep. Ev. 1. i. c. 9. J . . . Thus we find Job, who is the
ancientcft author we have, [unlefs it m^y be the Ixxxviiith and
Ixxxixth Pfahiis] vindicating himfelf from it ; [Job xxxi. 26, 27.3
* If I beheld,' fays he, ' the fun when it fhined, or the moon
< walking in brightnefs, and my heart has been fecretly enticed,
^ or my mouth has kiffed my hand,' (which was, as St. Jerom and
Pliny tell us, the ancient way of paying worfhip and refpeft) . . .
* I fhould have denied the God that is above.' And hence it is
that the Egyptians when they came to corrupt their hiftory with
the falfe antiquity they affefhed, having defied the heavenly bo-
dies, reprefented them as having reigned in their country before
they were governed by heroes and kings There are a great
many places in fcripture where this idolatry is mentioned ; I fhall
take notice but of one of them, [z. Kings xxiii. 5.] where the
objeds of this worfhip are particularly diilinguiflied, ' They that
* burnt incenfe to the fun, and to the moon, and to the planets, [or
* conjlellat'ions, as in the margin] and to all the hojl of heamen. —
[A. Young, on Idolatrous Corruptions, vol. i. p. 22 — 30.]
It is highly probable, however, that in different countrieo, and
at various periods, idolatry originated from other caufes. So in
after <;mes, mankind " having a falfe notion of giatitude for fuch
as had founded commonwealths, led out colonies, rendered them-
felves famous by th'eir aftions, or by their ufeful inventions,
gained a general love and elleem ; they proceeded to rank them
likewife in the number of their gods. The refpeti which was
paid them while ahve, followed them to their graves ; and they
were no fooner interred, than an extravagant efteem of their high
qualities, conipiving with the people's gratitude, and a grofs
ignorance of the divine natuie, effefted their deification. The
Arabian writers [See Dr Pocock's notes on his fpecimen, Hift.
Arab. p. 94.] are generally agreed that this was the original of
their idolatry. And D'lodorus tells us of the Egyptians, [L. i.
c. I.] that bcfides the heavenly gods, they fay there ' are others
* that are terreftrial, who were begotten by them, and were
* originally mortal men, but by reafon of their wildom, and bene-
* ficence to all mankind, have obtained immortality : of which
* fome have been kings of Egypt.' Tiilly [De Nat. Deor.] and
Pl'iny [L. ii. c. 7.] both of them affure us, that this was the
ancient manner of rewarding fuch as had defcrved well. And it
.... fuited the am.bition and vanity t^f princes, as well as the
interell of fubjefls And when they loil their children, it
was fome comfort to them to fee them ranked in the number of
their gods .... Thus, [fays the book of Wifdom, ch. xiv. 15.]
\ A father afflifted with untimely mourning, when he has made
* an
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 131
* men.— A drought is upon her waters, and they fhall be
* dried up ; for it is the land of graven images, and they are
* mad upon their idols.' God calls Abiaham out of this
idolatrous country, to a great diflance from it. And when
he came there, he gave him no inheritance in it, no not
fo much as to fet his foot on ; but he remained a flranfrer
and a fojourner, that he and his family might be kept Icpa-
rate from all the world, (v)
This
* an image of his child foon taken away, now honoured him as
' a god, who was then a dead man, and delivered to thofe who
' were under liim, ceremonies and facrifices.' — [Idol. Cor. vol. i.
P- 73—75-]
" Thefe two different objefts of idolatrous worfhip, the hoft of
heaven, and their dead princes and heroes, were generally con-
founded together. This proceeded from their giving the fouls of
the great perfonages they had confecrated and made their fove-
reign and celeftial gods, the fun, moon, and ftarsfor their habita-
tion, in which they fuppofed them to dwell, as in fo many (lately
palaces or temples. The believing the heavenly bodies to have
intelligent and rational beings prefiding in them, diffipatcd, as
they thought, fome abfurdities attending their theology, and
njade it more reafonable than it would otherwife have been.
Thus jfamhlicus, [Seft. i. c. 17.] in anfvver to thofe who objedfted
to the divinity of the fun, moon, &c. becaufe they were corporeal,
jays from the old books of the Egyptians, that they worihipped
them indeed as vifible gods, but that they were compounded of
foul and body, and to be elleemed the feats of fuch ccleilial fpirits
as take care of human affairs. And the philofophers, Pythagoras,
Plato, &c. who travelled into the eaft in fearch of knowledge,
were not fo abfurd as to believe that the hoft of heaven were really
and abfolutcly gods." [Idol. Cor. p. 107, io8.]
We might here add the origin of images and image worfhip,
but left we fliould be tedious, will referve it for a future Note.
(v) Ahraham remained a stranger <7n^ « sojourner.] So
the apoftle, Heb. xi. 13, 14. And on this paffage our author has
elfewhere railed the following propofition ; " This life ougiyt to he
[0 fpcnt by us, as to be only a journey totuards heaven." Here our
author obferves among other things, " That we ought not to rejl hi
the 'world and its enjoyments, but JJjoidd defire heaven. This our
hearts (hould be chiefly upon and engaged about. We fiiould
* feek firft the kingdom of God.' He that is on a journey, feeks
the place that he is journeying to. We ought above all things to
defire a heavenly happinefs ; to go to heaven and there be with
pod; and dwell with Jefus Chriit. If we are furiounded- with
many
132 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
This was a new thing : God had never taken fuch a
method before. Kis church had not in this manner been
feparated
many outward enjoyments, and things that are very comfortable
to us ; if we are fettled in families, and have thofe good friends
and relations that are very defirable : if we have companions
whofe fociety is delightful to us : if we have children that are
pleafant and hopeful, and in whom we fee many promifmg quali-
fications : if we live by good neighbours ; have much of the re-
fped of others ; have a good name ; are generally beloved where
we are known : and have comfortable and pleafant accommoda--
tions ; yet we ought not to take our refl in thefe things. We
fhould not be wilHng to have thefe things for our portion, but
fhould feek a higher happinefs in another world. AVe fliould not
merely feek fomething elfe in addition to thefe things ; but fliould
be fo far from refting in them, that we fliould chufe and defire to
leave thefe things for heaven ; to go to God and Chrill there.
We fliould not be willing to live here always, if we could, in the
fame flirength and vigour of body and mind as when in youth, or
in the midftof our days ; and always enjoy the fame pleafure, and
dear friends, and other earthly comforts. We fliould chufe and
dcflre to leave them all in God's due tim.c, that we might go to
heaven, and there have the enjoyment of God. V/e ought to
poflfefsthem, enjoy and make ufe of them, with no other view cr
9im, but readily to quit them, whenever v.-e are called to it, and
to change them for heaven. And when we are called away from
them, we fliould go cheerfully and wilHngly.
" He that is going a journey, is not wont to refl: in what he meet?
with that is comfortable and pleafing on the road. -If he pafies
along through pleafant places, flowery meadows, or fliady groves,
he does not take up his content in thefe things. He is content
only to take a tranfient view of thefe pleafant objefts as he goes
along. He is not enticed by thefe fine appearances to put an end
to his journey, and leave off the thought of proceeding. No,
but his journey's end is in his mind ; that is the great thing tliat
he aims at. So if he meets with comfortable and pleafant accom-
rnodations on the road, at an inn ; yet he does not refl: there ; he
entertains no thoughts of fettling there. He confiders that thefe
things are not his own, and that he is but a fl:ranger ; that tluit is
not allotted for his home. And when he has refreflied himftlf, or
tarried but for a night, he is for leaving thefe accommodations,
and going forward, and getting onward towards his journey's end.
And the thoughts of coming to his fourney's end are not at
all grievous to him. He does not defire to be travelling always
and never come to his journey's end; the thoughts of that v>ould
be difcouraging to him. But it is pleafant to him to think that
fo mucii of the way is gone, that he is now nearer home ; and that
he
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 133
■fcparatcd trom the reft of the world till now ; but were
wont to dwell \ . them, without any bar or fence to
'keep them feparate ; the milchievous confequence of
which had been found repeatedly. The effc6l l^cfore the
^00// of God's people living intermingled with the wicked
world, without any remarkable wall of feparation, was,
that the Ions of God joined in marriage with others, and
thereby foon became infe6fed, and the church was alraoft
brought to nothing. The method that God then took was
to drown the wicked world, and fave the church in the
ark. And now the world, before Abraham was called, was
become corrupt again. But here God took another me-
thod. He did not deftroy the world, and fave Abraham,
and his wife, and Lot in an ark ; but he calls thefe perfons
to go and live feparate from the refl.
This was a new and a s^eat thins, that God did toward
the work of redemption. It was about the middle of the
fpace of time between the fall of man and the coming
of Chrifl ; about two thoufand ye.-^.rs before his incarna-
tion. But by this calling of Abraham, the anceftor of
Chrift,
he fhall prefently be there ; and the toil and fatigue of his journey
will be over.
" So riiould we thus defue heaven fo much more than the com-
forts and enjoyments of this life, that we fhould long to change
thefe things for heaven. We fliould wait with an earntil defire for
the time, when we fliall arrive at our journey's end. The apoftle
mentions it as an encouraging, comfortable confideratlon to Chrif-
tians, when they draw nigh their happinefs. ' Now is our falva-
* tion nearer than when we believed.' [Rom. xiii. 11.]
" Our hearts ought to be loofe to thefe things, as it is with a
man that is on a journey. However comfortable enjoyments arc,
yet we ought to keep our hearts fo loofe from them, as cheerfully
to part with them whenever God calls. ' But this I fay, brethren,
* the time is fliott, it remaineth, that both they that have wives,
' be as though they had none ; and they that weep, as though they
* wept not ; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not ;
* and they that buy, as though they pofieffed not ; and they that
* ufe thi'S world, as not abuhng it ; for the fafliion of this world
* paffeth away.' [i. Cor. vii. 29, 30.]
" We ought to look upon thefe things, as only lent to us for a
little while, to ferve a prefent turn ; but we fliould fet our hearts
on heaven as our inheritance for ever." [Pref. Edward's Pofth.
Sermon, p. 371.]
134 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Chrlll, a foundation was laid for the upholding the church
in the world, till Chrill: fliould come. For the world hav-
ing become idolatrous, there was a neceffity that the feed of
the woman Ihould be thus feparated from the idolatrous
world in order thereunto.
It was alfo needful chat there fhould be a particular na-
tion feparated from the reft of the world, to receive the
types and prophecies that were to be given of Chrift, to
prepare the way for his coming : that to them might be
committed the oracles of God ; that by them the hiftory
of God's great work of creation and providence miglit
be preferved ; that fo Chrift might be born of this na-
tion ; and from hence the light of the gofpel ftiine forth
to the reft of the world. Thefe ends could not well be
obtained, if God's people, through all thefe two thoufand
years, had lived intermixed with the heathen world. So
that this calling of Abraham may be looked upon as a kind
of a new foundation laid for the viftble church of God,
in a more diftind: and regular ftate, to be built on this
foundation from henceforward, till Chrift Ihould avflually
come, and then through him to be propagated to all na-
tions. So that Abraham being the perfon in whom this
foundation is laid, is reprefented in fcripture as though
he were tlie father of all the church, the father of all
them that believe ; as it were a root whence the vifiblc
church rcfe as a tree diftin6l from all others'; of which
tree Chrift was the branch of righteoufnefs ; and from
which, after Chrift came, the natural branches were bro-
ken off", and the Gentiles were grafted in. So that Abra-
ham ftill remains (through Chrift) the father of the
church. It is the fame tree which from that fmall be-
ginning in Abraham's time, has in thefe days of the gof-
pel fpread its branches over a great part 'of the earth, and
will till the whole in due time, and at the end of the
world be tranfplanted from an earthly foil into the Para-
dife of God.
2. There accompanied this a more particular and full
revelation and confirmation of the .covenant of grace than
ever before had been. There were before this two par-
ticular
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 13S
ticular and folemn editions or confirmations of this co-
venant ; one whereby it wac revealed to our firrt parents,
foon after the fall; the other whereby God folemnly re-
newed the fame covenant witli Noah and his family foon
after the flood ; and now a third, at the calling of Abra-^
ham, which being much nearer the time of the coming of
Chriil than either of the former, it was much more full
and particular. It was now revealed, not only that
Chrift {hould come, but that he fhould be Abraham s leed ;
and tliat all the families of the earth fliould be bleffed m
him God repeatedly promifed this to Abraham. Firfl,
when he HrR called him, [Gen. xii. 2.] ' And I will
<- make of thee a great nation, and I will blefs thee, and
' make thv name great: and thou ihak be a bleffing.'
The fame'promife was renewed after he came into the
Jand of Canaan, [chap. xiii. 14, &c.] Again alter Abra-
ham returned from the flaughter of the kings, [chap.^v.
5, 6.] And a fourth time, after his otFering up liaac, [ch.
xxii. 16, 17, 18] • , Au
In this renewal of the covenant of grace with Abra-
ham, feveral particulars concerning it were revealed more
fullv than before ; not only that Chrift was to be of Abra-
ham's feed; but alfo, the calling of the Gentiles, and the
brin-lng all nations into the church, that all the families of
the earth might be bleffed, was now made known. And
•:he great condition of the covenant of grace, which is
"-faitht was now more fully revealed. [Gen. xv. 5, 6.]
' /,nd he faid unto him, So Ihall thy feed be. And Abra-
^ ham believed God, and It was counted unto him for
< rbhteoufnefs.' Which is much taken notice of in the
\Tew Teftament, and from thence Abraham was called
^ the father of them tliat believe.' [Rom. iv. 2— 1 1-]
And as there was now a farther revelation ot the co-
venant of grace, fo there was a farther confirmation ot
it bv feals and pledges, than ever had been before; as,
particularly, God did now inftitute a certain facrament,
to be a ftanding feal of this covenant in the vihble churcn,
till Chrift fhould come, viz. circumclfion. Circumci-
fion was a foal of this covenant of grace, as appears by
T "^
136 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
its firft inftitution, in the xviith chapter of Genefis. (\v)
It there nppears to be a feal of that covenant by which
God
(w) God now wjl'tiuted circiimc'ifion.~\ " This was the firfl
inftitution of circumciiion, and it was an inllltution of God, and
not of man. Indeed Herodotus fays, that ' the Colchi, Egyptians
* and Ethiopians only of all men circumcifed from the beginning ;
* and the Phoenicians and Syrians, which are in Paleiline, learnt it
* of the Egyptians, as they themfelves confefs.' So D'lochrus Si-
culiis fpeaks of circumcifion as an Egyptian rite, and fays there are
fome who make the nation of the Colchi, and of the Jews, to
come from the Egyptians ; hence he obfcrves, that with thefc na-
tions there is an ancient tradition to circumcifc their new-born in-
fants, which rite was derived from the Egyptians: but as the ori-
ginal of the Jewifh nation is miftaken, fo likewife the original of
this rite. And they may as well be thought to be miftaken in the
one as in the other. Thofe in Paleftine that were circumcifed were
the Jews only, as Jofephus obferves ; but they did not learn this
rite from the Egyptians, nor do they ever confefs it, but on the
contrary fnggeft, that the Egyptians learnt it from them in the
times of Jolcph ; for their principal lexicographer fays, the Egyp-
tians were circumcifed in the times of Jofeph, and when Jofeph
died they drew over the foreflcin of the flefli. The Colchi indeed,
who were a colony of the Egyptians, might learn it from them;
And fo the Ethiopians, who were their neighbours likewife, and
agreed with them in many things. Artapamis, an heathen writer,
fays indeed, that the Ethiopians, though enemies, had fuch a re-
gard for Mofes, that they learned from him the rite of circumci-
iion ; and not only they, but all the priefts, that is, in Egypt ; and
indeed the Egyptian priefts only, and not the people, were cir-
cumcifed. It is not very difficult to account for it, how other na-
tions bcfides the Jews ftiould receive circumcifion, which was firft
enjoined Abraham and his feed ; the Iftimaelites had it from Ifti-
mael the Son of Abraham ; from them the old Arabs ; from the
Arabs, the Saracens; and fiom the Saracens, the Turks to this
d^y : other Arabian nations, as the Midianites, and others, had it
from the fons of Abraham by Keturah ; and perhaps the Egyp-
tians and Ethiopians from them, if the former had it not from the
Ifraelites ; and the Edomites had it from Edcm or Efau, the fon
of Ifaac, the fen of Abraham; fo that all originally had it from
Abraham, and he by a divine command. It is not fo much to be
wondered at, that Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus, men either
impofed upon by the Egyptian priefts, as the former, or wrote in
favour of that nation, as the latter, and \\'holly ignorant of divine
revelation, fliould affert what they have done; but that Chriftian
writers, who have the advantage of divine revelation, and have
read the hiftory of the Bible, fuch as Mar/Jjatn, Spencer, and Le
Clerc, Ihould incline to -the fame fentiment, is amazing ; and efpc-
cially
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 137
God proniifed to make Abraham a father of many na-
tions, compare the 5th with the 9th and loth verfes.
And we are exprcfsly taught, that it was a feal of the
righteoufuefs of faith, [Rom iv. u.] Speaking of Abra-
ham, the apoftle fays, ' He received the fign of circum-
* cifion, a feal of the righteoufnefs of faith.' And this
facrament chiefly diftinguiflied Abraham's feed from the
world, and kept up a feparation between them more than
any other particular obfervance whatever.
And befides this, there were other occafional feals, and
confirmations, that Abraham had of this covenant; as,
^particularly, (i.) God gave Abraham a remarkable pledge
of the ftilfilment of the promife he had made him, in his
vi61:ory over Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with
him. Chedorlaomer feems to have reigned over a great
part of the world at that day: and though he had his
feat at Elam, which was not much if any thing fnort of
a thoufand miles from the land of Canaan, yet he ex-
tended his empire fo as to reign over many parts of that
land, as appears by chap. xiv. 4 — y. It is fuppofed by
learned men, that he was a king of the AlTyrian empire,
which had been begun by Nimrod at Babel.* And as it:
was the honour of kings in thofe days to build new cites
to be made the feats of empire, [Gen. x. 10—12.] fo it
is conjeftured, that he had built him a city in Elam, and
made that his feat ; and that the other kings, who came
with him, were his deputies in the fevcral cities and coun-
tries where they reigned. But yet as mighty an empire as
T 2 he
-cially when our blciTed Lord has cxprefsly fald, that circumcifion
is of the fathers, [John vii. 22.] Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob; firfl;
given to them, and praciifed by them. Even Tbeodotus, an hea-
then writer, agrees with this facred teftimony of Mofes, when
fpcaking of the circumcifion of Shcchem, in the times of Jacob,
he traces this rite to its original, and obferves, that when Abraham
was brought out of his own country, he was ordered yro??z ksavcn
to circumcife every man in his houfe. It may indeed feeni ftrangc
how it fliould obtain in the iflands of the Weft Indies, as in Jucu-
tana, Sanfta Crux, and others, where the Spaniards fouad in the
beginning of the fixteenth century thofe illcs inhabited by idolaterSs
S?ho were circumcifed." [Gill on Gen. xvii. 10.]
* See Sbuchford' s Connex. vol. ii, b. 6.
138 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
he had, and as great an army as he now came with, Abra-
ham, only with his trained fervants that were born in his
own lioufe, conquered and fubdued them all. This vic-
toiy he received of God as a pledge cf the viclory that
Chrift, his feed, ihould obtain over the nations of the earth,
whereby he fhould poflefs the gates of his enemies. It is
plainly fpoken of as fuch in the xlift Ifaiah. In that
chapter is foretold the future glorious vi6iory the church
fhall obtain over the nations of the world ; as you inay
fee in verfes i, 10, 15, &c. But in verfes 2, and 3,
this victory of Abraham is fpoken of as a pledge and
earneft of the vi6lory of the church. ' Who raifed
* up the righteous man from the eafl, called him to his
* foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule
* over kings ? He gave them as the dufi: to tire fvvord, and
* as driven ftubble to his bow. He purfued them, and
* paffed fafely ; even by the way that he had not gone
* with his feet.' (x)
(2.) Another remarkable confirmation Abraham re-
ceived of the covenant of grace, was when he returned
from the flaughter of the kings ; when Mekhifedec the
king of Salem, the prieft ot the mofi: high God, that
great type of Chrifi:, met him, and bleffed Ijini, and
brought forth bread and wine, (y) The bread and wine
figni-
(x) The righteous man from the east. 3 Some explain this of
Abraham, others of Cytus ; " I rather think (fays an eminent pre-
late) that the former is meant, becaufe the charafttr of the righ-
teous man .... agrees better with Abraham than with Cyrus.
Befides, immediately after the defcription of the fuccefs given by
God to Abraham and his pofterity, (who, I prefume, arc to be
taken into the account) the idolaters are introduced, as greatly
alarmed at this event. Abraham was called out of the ealt ; and
his pofterity were introduced into the land of Canaan, in order to
deftroy the idolaters cf tliat country; and they were ellablifiied
there on purpofe to ftaad as a barrier againit idolatry then prevail-
ing, and threatening to over-run the whole face of the earth. Cy-
rus, though not properly an idolater, or worfhipper of images,
yet had nothing in hio chai after to cauic. fuch an alarm among the
idolaters," ver. 5 — 7. [Bp. Lowth on ver. 2.]
(y) Melchisedfc, /'W^'? of the mcjt high God.'] Many and
oppofite have been the opinions, both of Jewifh and Chrillian
writers,
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 139
fjgnifieth the fame bleflings of the covenant of grace, that
the bread aiid wine does in the lacrament of the Lord's
flipper.
writers, on this extraordinary character ; but we fhall only recite
the three principal :
1. Moft of the Jews, and many very learned Chrillians, under-
fland it of Shem, who it fliould fcem by the facred chronology,
was ftill living. — But to this it has been replied, that Melchifedec
was not of that family, ' His defcent is not counted from them ;'
[Heb. vii. 6.] — nor could Shem be faid to be ' without father and
' mother,' [Heb. vii. 3. J when we have his genealogy from Adani
— nor could Levi be faid with any more propriety to pay tithes in
Abraham, than to receive them in Shem, hnce he v^as as truly in
the loins of Shem, as in thofe of Abraham — not to fay, that Abra-
ham could hardly be faid to fojourn there, ' as in a llrange coun-
* try,' if his anceltor Shem were king of it.
2. Many expofitor^, to avoid thefe ditliculties, have fuppofed
that Melchifedec and Chrill were the fame perfon, and that this
appearance mull be accounted for in the fame manner as feveral
others under the Old Teilamcnt. But the apolHe feems evi-
dently to diflinguifh the perfons, in making the former a type of
the latter, [Heb. vii. throughout] and in affertiag [ver. 6. J that
Chrift was a prieft ' after the order of Melchifedec'
3. We therefore think it fafcll:, with our author, and many other
very refpeftable divines, to underltand the paffage literally, of a
great prince, perhaps a defcendar.t of Canaan, who reigned ia
Salem, [not Jerufalem, as fome think, but rather a tov.-n in the
neighbourhood of Sodom, perhaps the fame called Shalem, in
Gen. xxxili. 18. — See Gill on Gen. xiv. 18.] and who was both
a king and prieft, as was not unufual under the patriarchal difpen-
fation ; and yet more diftlngulflied by his piety than his rank.
* Now' faith the apoftle, [Heb. vii. i — 5.] ' conlider how great
* this man was,' — ' for this Melchifedec [was] king of Salem,
* [and] prieft of the moft high God . . . Without fatiier, without
'mother, without defcent, having neither beginning of days nor
* end of life, but made like unto tlic Son of God, [v/ho] abidctli
* a prieft for ever ;' /'. e. " Of whofe father, mother, or pedigree,
there is no mention .... (which notes him to be no prieft by de-
fcent, as the Levitical priefts were, and accordingly their geneaolo-
gies were preferved cxatily) as neither of his birth nor death . . .
and fo ftands In the ftory^ as a kind of immortal prieft without any
fucceftbr . . . (perhaps the laft prieft of the true God In Phrenlcla)
this Melchifedec, I fay, was in all this an emblem of Cinift . . . •
the King of Rightcoufnefs, and Prince of Pc;;ce." [Hammond
in loc. See alfo D'jddn(lge.'\
The fa6l feems to be, that Melehliedec is in the hiftory intro-
duced In fo abrupt and auguft a manner, that he might be tiie
more fuitable tvpe, and In manv refpe<5ts prefigure our Lord jefus
Chrift,
540 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
fupper. So that as Abraham had a fcal of the covenant in
circun^cifion that was equivalent to baptifm, fo now he
had a feal of it equivalent to the Lord's fupper. And Mel-
chifedec's coming to meet him with fuch a feal of the co-
venant of grace, on the occafion of this vi6lory, evinces
ihat it was a pledge of God's fulfilment of the fame cove-
nant ; for that is the mercy which Melchifedec takes notice
of. [Gen. xiv. 19, 20.]
(3.) Another was, the vifion that he had in the deep
ileep that fell upon Abraham, of the fmoaking furnace and
burning lamp, that pafTed between the parts of the facri-
fice, [Gen. xv.] (z) That facrifice, as all facrifices do,
figni-
Chrift, of whom tLefe things were true, in a fenfe far more grand
and important. — Infinite Redeemer ! How numberlefs are the rays
of glory that form thy mediatorial crown ! How are all the excel-
lencies of the moll illullrious charafters blended to fhadow thy
fuperior dignity! [U. S.J
(z) The VISION of the fmoaking funince.~\ "The order and
•form of Abram's facrifice dcfcribed in the ninth and tenth vei fes
3S a full illuflration of the meaning of the words ; ' And he faid
* unto him, Take me a heifer of three years old, and a fhe goat
* of three years old, and a ram of tliree years old, and a turtle
* dove and a young pigeon. And he took unto him all thefe, and
* divided them in the midft, and laid each piece one againft ano-
"* ther : but the birds divided he net.' And ' the Loid made a
* covenant,' /. e. he cut afunder or divided a purifying victim. [See
Note (o) p. 109.] Abram according to God's .comnland took an
heifer, a flie goat, and a ram, each of three years old, flew them ;
■divided each into equal parts ; placed the feparated limbs oppofite
to each other, leaving a paffage between ; paffed between the parts
himfelf, according to the cuftom of tlie facrifice ; and when the
fun was down, that the appearance might be more vifible and ftrik-
ing, the JJ^echinah, or vifible taken of God's prefencc, paiFcd alfo
between the divided limbs of the viftims, as a fmoaking furnace,
and a burning lamp ; tlie final ratification of. this new treaty be-
tween God and Abram ; whereby God gracioully became bound
to give Abram a fon of his own bowels, who ftiould become the
father of a great nation, and the progenitor, after the flefh, of the
great Saviour and deliverer of the human race; and Abram on his
part bound himfelf to a firm reliance upon all God's promifes, and
cheerful obedience to all his commands. Such were the awful
folemnitics of this important tranfactien They were evi-
dently of divine inllitution, for God honoured them with his pre-
feuce.
\
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 141'
fignified the facrifice of Chrift. The fmoaking furnace
that paffcd through the midlT: of that facrifice fignified
the
fence, approbation, and acceptance : they apparently had been
long in ufc before this period, for Abram, without any particular
inftrucllon, prepares and performs the facrifice ; and they certainly
continued long in the church of God after this : for we find the
practice as far down as the times of Jeremiah, that is, about the
period of the diffolution of the Jewifli monarchy. The paiTage
ftrikingly illuftrates and fupports the hiflory of Abram's cove-
nant and facrifice [J^r. xxxiv. 18 — 20.] ' And
* I will give the men that have tranfgrcfled my covenant, which
* have not performed the words of the covenant which they had
* made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and pafled be-
* tween the parts thereof, the princes of Judali, and the princes of
* Jerufalcm, the eunuchs, and the prieils, and all the people of
* the land, which pafleth between the parts of the calf ; I will even
' give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of
* them that feek their life ; and their dead bodies fiiall be for meat
' unto the fowls of the heaven, and the beafts of the earth.' Now
the expreflions here employed, of ' polluting ,God's name, tranf-
' grefiing his covenant, and not performing it,' [fee the preceding
context,] and the threatened puniihment of this violation, * their
* dead bodies fliall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and
' to the beafts of the earth,' explain to us in fome meafure, the
meaning of thofe folemn ceremonies with which covenants were
executed. And here furely it is not unlawful to employ the lights
which are thrown on this fubjeft, by the practice of the Gentile
nations, and the writings of profane authors. From them we
learn, that on fuch occafions the cuftom was, that the contrafting
party or parties, having pafled between the divided limbs of the
facrifice, and exprcffed their full afient to the ftipulated terms of
the agreement or covenant, in folemn words, pronounced with an
audible voice, imprecated upon themlelves a bitter curfe, if they
ever fliould break it. ' As I ftrike down this heifer, or ram, fo
' may God ftrike me with death, if I tranfgrefs my word and oath.'
' As the limbs of tliis animal are divided afunder, fo may my body
* be torn in pieces, if I prove perfidious.' To give one inftance
of many, from the two nations alluded to. The Greeks and the
Trojans, according to Homer, having agreed to determine the
great quarrel between them, by the iffuc of a fingle combat be-
tween the two rivals, Menelaus and Paris, the terms being folemnly
adjufted and confcntcd to on .both fides, the ratification of the
covenant is thus defcribed, [Ilialf^ lib. iii. 268.] ' The Grecian
* prince drew the facrcd knife, cut off a lock of wool from each of
•' the heads of the devoted lambs, which being diftrlbuted among
* the princes of the contending paities, he thus, with hands lifted
-* and in a loud voice praved,
* O firil
142 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
the fufferings of Chrift ; but the burning lamp tliat fal-
lowed, which Ihone with a clear bright light, fignities the
glory
' O firft and greatefl: Pow'r ! whom all obey,
* Who high on Ida's holy mountain fway,
* Eternal Jove ! and you bright orb that roll
* From eatl to weft, and view from pole to pole ;
* Thou mother earth ! and all ye living floods !
* Infernal furies, and Tartarean gods,
* Who rule the dead, and horrid woes prepare
* For perjur'd kings, and all who falfely fwear !
* Hear and be witnefs. If, [Pope.]
*' Then, having repeated the words of it [the covenant] in tht
audience of all, he cleft afunder the heads of the confecrated lambs,
placed their palpitating limbs oppofite to each other on the ground,
poured facred wine upon them, and again prayed, or rather im-
precated :
' Hear, mighty Jove ! and hear, ye gods on high ! '
* And niay their blood, who hrft the league confound,
* Shed like this wine, diftain the thirfty ground :
* May all their conforts ferve promifcuous luft,
' And all their race be fcattered as the duft !' [Pope.]
*' Thus when it was agreed to fettle the conteft for empire be-
tween Rome and Alba by the combat of three youths, biothers,
on either fide ; after the interpofition of ceremonies fimilar to thofe
which have been defcribed, the Roman prieil who prefided, ad-
dreffed a prayer to heaven to this effect ; ' Hear, Father Jupiter,
* hear. Prince of Alba, and ye whole Alban nation. Whatever
* has been read from that waxen tablet, from firft to laft, according
* to the plain meaning of the words, without any refervation what-
' ever, the Roman people engage to ftand to, and will not be the
' firft to violate. If with a fraudulent intention, and by an aft of
* the ftate, they fliall firft tranfgrefs, that very day, O Jupiter, ftrike
* the Roman people, as I to-day fliall ftrike this hog, and fo much
* the more heavily, as you are more mighty and more powerful
* than me.' And having thus fpoken, with a fliarp flint, hedaftied
out the brains of the animal.
" Thus in the three moil illuftrious nations that ever exifted, we
find the origin of their greatnefs, in fimilar ceremonies ; empire
founded in religion, and good faith fecured by the fanction of fo-
lemn facred rites. And is it not pleafing to find the living and
true God, as in refpetl of maiefty and dignity, fo in priority of
time, taking the lead in all tliat is great and venerable among men ?
We find Mofcs, the prince of facred writers, defcribing a religious
iacrifice, performed by Abram one thoufand nine hundred and
thirteen years before Chrift, which the prince ot heathen poets fo
exaclly defcribes as the praftice of liis own country upwards of
one
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 143
glory that followed ChrilVs fuffcrings, and was procured
by them.
(4.) Another pledge thai God gave Abraham of the ful-
filment of the covenant of grace, was his gift of that child
of whom Chrifl: was to come, in his old age. This is
fpoken of as fuch in fcripture ; Heb. xi. 11, 12. and al£b
Rom. iv 18, &c.
(5.) Again, in his delivering Ifiac, after he was laid
upon the wood of the facritice to be flain, (a) God gave
Abraham
one thoufand years later : and which the great Rdman hiftorian
relates as in ufe among his countrymen, in the time of Tulius
Hoftilius, the third king of Rome, before Chrift about fix hun-
dred and fixty-elght years." [Hunter's Sac. Biogr. vol. i. lee.
xiii.]
(a) Ifaac laid upon the wood . . . . fo be sLAiy}.^ "Abraham
(fays Mr. Hervey) was an eminent and diiringuifhed fervant of
the Moll High God. Favoured with peculiar manifeftations of
the divine will, and dignified with the honourable title of his
Maker's friend. Yet even this man is harralfed vvith a long fuc-
ceffion of troubles ; and, which was reckoned in thofc ages the mod
deplorable calamity, goes childlefs. Long he waits, worfhipping
God with the moli patient refignation. At length, an oracle from
the Lord gives him . . . affurance of a fon. Joyfully he receives
the promife, and rcfts in humble expeftation of its accomplifhment.
.... At lad the handmaid becomes pregnant. But . . . this
is the fon of the bondwoman, not of the free.
" How afflicting the cafe of this excellent perfon ! His kinsfolk
and acquaintance fee their olive branches flourifhlng round about
their tables. Even his ungodly neighbours have children at their
delire, and leave the refidue ofthelr fubilance for their babes. But
Abraham, the v/orfliipper of Jehovah, the favourite of heaven —
this Abraham is dcilitute of an heir, to fupport his name, to pro-
pagate his family, or to inherit the bl>;fling. . . God is pleafcd
to renew the grant, and alfure him more explicitly, that Sarah
fhall have a fon. But this notice comes at a very- late period in
life ; when Sarah is advanced in years, and too old, according to
the courfe of nature, to conceive. Flowever, the pious patriarch
* daggers not through unbelief ; but hopes even agaiad hope.*
£Rom. iv. 18 — 20.]
" At lad, the gift, fo earnedly dcfircd, is vouchfafed. Sarah
has a child — 2^ Jon — an Ij'aac. One who ihould be a fource of con-
folation and delight to his parents; 'Ihould fill their mouth with
* laughter, and ihelr tongue with joy.' With tender care, doubt-
lefs, this pleafant plant is reared. Many prayers are put up, for
his long life and great happinefs. The fond parents v.atch over
U ■ him.
14+ HISTORY OF RE D E MPT I O IST.
Abraham another confirmation of liis faith in the pro-
mi
fe
him, as over the apple of their own eye. Their life is bound up
in the life of the lad. He grows in grace, as lie grows in ftature.
Now, mcthinks, we are ready to congratulate the happy
Sire ; and flatter ourfelves, that his tribulations have an end ....
But ' let not him that girdcth on his liarnefs, boall himfelf, as he
* that putteth it off.' Our warfare on earth is never accomplifhed,
till we bow our head, and give up the ghoft. The fliarpeft, the
fevereft trial is Hill behind.
" Abraham ; fays God — Abraham knows the voice. It is the
voice of condefcending goodnefs. He had often heard it with a
rapture of delight. Inftantly he replies, ' Here I am. Speak,
' Lord ; for thy fervant is all attention.' Hoping, no doubt, to
receive fome frefn manifellatiou of the divine good-will to himfelf
and his family ; or fome new difcovery of the method, in which
the divine "Wifdom would accomplini the prcmlfes — ' I will mul-
* tiply thy feed — I uIU make thy feed as the duit of the earth. —
' In thy feed fliall all the families of the earth be bleffed.'
" Take thy fon ; adds God. And might net Abraham rea-
fonably expedf , that, iince his fon was arrived to years of maturity,
he fliould be direfced now to, fettle him in the world with honour
and advantage ? . . . He is commanded, not barely to take \\\^fon,
but his only fon ; his fon Ifaac, whavahs Icveil . . . Mull not fuch
an introdu6lion, fo remarkably endearing, heighten his expecta-
tion of lome fi-gnal mercy to be conferred on the beloved youth ?
And would it not render the blefiing . . . more than doubly wel-
come ?
" V\7^as he not then ftartled ? Was he not horribly am.azed ?
When, indead of feme renewed expreffion of the Divine favour, he
received the following orders : ' Take now thy fon, thy only ion,
'Ifaac, whom thou lovelt, and get thee into the land of Moriah,
* and offer hmi there for a burnt offering, upon one of the moun-
' tains which I will tell thee of.' Was ever defcriptioft fo affeft-
ing, or meffage fo alarming ! . . . . Every word in this injunftion
foftens and entenders the parent's heart, and at the fam.c time
fliarpens tlie arrow, that mxUc pierce it through and through.
" Abiaham, take thy fon,' — Who, but Abraham, could have
forborti remonllrating and pleading on fuch an occafion ? — Ana-
nias, being charged with a commifTion to Saul tlie perfecutor, takes
upon him to argue the cafe v^'itll his Almighty Sovereign. —
* Lord, I have heard by many concerning this man, how much
* evil he hath done to l.hy faints at Jerufalem ; and here he hath
' authoiity from the chi=ef priefts to bind all that call upon thy
'name.' [At'f s ix. 13, 14.] Thus Ananias. With how much
greater appearance of reafon might Abrajiam have replied?
' L,ord, have I not already left my country ; left my kindred,
' and, at thy command, left my father's houfe ? And wilt thou
' now
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 145
■mife that God had made of Chrlfl:, tliat lie fl\ould he oF
Ifaac's
now bereave me of my child ? Mud I part, not with fomc ad-
mired folly or darling vanity, but witli the moft worthy objeft
of a rational affeftion ; indeed with my only remaining confo-
lation ? — Shall I be deprived of my child, almoft as fmn as I
have received him ? Didfl: thou give him only to tantalize thy
fervant ? Remember, gracious God ! the name he bears. How
fhall he anfwer its cheering import i* How fhall he be a fourcc
of fatisfaftion to his parents, or the father of many nations, if
thou takefthim away in his unmarried ftate, and the very prime
of his years ?
* If fin lies at the door, let me expiate the guilt. Let th.ou-
fands of rams, let erery bullock in my ftalls bleed at thy altar.
My wealth, moft mightv Lord, and all my goods, are nothing-
in comparifon of my Ifaac. Command me to be fl ripped of
my poffcllions ; command me to roam as a fugitive and a vaga-
bond in the earth, and I will blefs thy holy name. Only !>.t my
child, my dear child, be fpared.
* Or, if nothing will appeafe thy indignation but human blood,
let my death be the facrifice ; upon me be the vengeance. I am
old and grey-headed. The beft of my days are pall:, and the bell:
of my ferviccs done. If this tottering wall tumbles, there will
belittle, or no can fe for regret. But, if the pillar of my houfe,
and the fupport of my family — if he be fnatched from me, what
good will my life do rae ? * my Son ! my Son ! ivouJd God I
might die for thee. ^ \_z Sam. xviii. 33.]
' If it mufc be a blooming youth, in the flower of his days, be
pleafed, moft merciful God, to fcleft the vicftim from fome fruit-
ful family. There are thofe, who abound in Children. Chil-
dren are multiplied unto them ; and though many were removed,
yet would their table be full. There art thofe, who have flocks
and herds ; whereas, I have «nly this one little lamb ; the very
folace of my foul, and the ftay of my declining years. And fliall
this be taken away, while all tly^fe are left ? [2 Sam. xii. 3.]
* Yet, if he mujl die, and there is no remedy ; may he not at
leaft expire by a natural difTolution ? May not fom.e common dif-
temper unloofe the cords of life, and lay him down gently in
the tomb ? May not his fond mother and mvfelf feal his clofing
eyes, and foften his dying pangs by our tender ofHces V
No, Abraham. Thy fon muft be flauglitertd on the altar. . . .
The facrihcing knife, and not any common difeafe, ftiall bring him
to his end It is the liOrd's will, tliat he be cut in pieces ;
cinfumed to aflies ; and made a burnt offering ' But rf
* all muft be executed ; God forbid, that I fnould behold the dif-
-* mal tragcdv ! .... O! let it be far, far from tlie f:ght of thcfe
' eyes!'
U 2 " Even
146 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION,
Ifaac's polterity ; and was a representation of the refur-
red:ion
*' Even this mitigation cannot be granted. Thou, Abraham,
rnuft fee him flain. — Nay ; thou muR be the executioner of thy
Ifaac= Is not the wretched father ftunned and thnnderftruck ? . . .
" Nature recoils at the very thought ! How then can the bell
of fathers perform the deed ? — How lliall he anfwer it to the wife
ofhisbofom, the mother of the lovely youth ? .... Will flie not
have leafon to reproach Abraham, and fay in the anguifla of lier
fpirit, * A bloody huiband haft thou been to me. — [Exod, iv. i<^-'\
How can he juftify it to the ivorla? They will never be perfuaded
that the God of goodnefs can delight in cruelty, or authorize fo
horrid an action. Might not thoufands of fuch confide-
rations crowd into his thoughts, and rack his very foul ?
" But God is unchangeable. Pofitive is his word, and muft
be obeyed. Obeyed immediately too. Take wow thy fon. The
Lord's command requireth fpeed. . . . This the patriarch knew.
Therefore he waits not for a fecond injunftion. He confults not
With flefli and blood But, without a murmuring word,
without a moment's delay, fets forward on his journey.
'■^ And canft thou, Abraham, canft thou perlill in thy purpofe ?
Is not this child the heir of the prom ifes, both tempo-
ral, and fpiritual, and eternal \ — Is not the great MefTiah, whofe
day thou haft fo paffionately defired to fee ; whofe perfon is the
hope of all the ends of the earth ; is not that great Mefliah to
fpring from his loins? From /w loins, whom thou art about to
kill; — The bk'fimg, thou knoweft, is appropriated to him. The
grand entail is fettled upon him — upon Ifaac by name — upon Ifaac
alone, if he perifii, all is loft. — Canft thou, then, alone blow,
deftroy the life of thy fon ; facrifice all thy earthly joys ; and cut
oft' the hopes of the whole world: — Will none of thefe confide -
rations difcourage, difliiade, deter thee ?
" Moft triumphant faith indeed ! defervcdly art thou ftyled,
The Father of the Faithful. Thy faith is ftroiiger tlian all the
ties ofaffeftion; ftronger than all the pleas of nature; ftronger
than all the terrors of death — of a death, in its circumftances and
in its confequenceg, incomparably more dreadful than thv own.
" Now muft he travel during three tedious, and, one would
think, moft melancholy d-nys. . . ' On the third day, Abraham
* lift up his eyes, and law the place afar off"!' — Doleful fight ! , . .
Does not the profpedl alarm all his tender paffions ? No, it only
awakens hiscircumfpedlion. The fervants are commanded to ad-
vance no farther . . . . He himfelf, with" the fire and the knife in
his hands ; and his fon, with the burden of wood on his Ihouldcrs,
went both of them together. — Who docs not pity the dear devoted
youth, toihng under that load which muft foon reek with his blood,
and foon reduce him to alhes ? — Mean while the intended vidxim,
wondering to fee ail theie preparations rnadc, ar.d no proper ani-
mal
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 147
reilion of Chrill; ; [fee Heb. xi. 17--19.] And becaufc
this was given as a confirmation of the covenant of grace,
therefore
nial near, afl<s this pertinent queftion; ' My father, behold the
* fire and the wood ! but where is the Iamb for a biirnt-ofFerine?'
Nothing could be more tender and moving than this fpeech ;
which difcovered fuch a knowledge of religion, and fuch a con-
cern for its duties. Will not this roufe the father's anguifli, and
fhake his determination? How can he be the death of fo much
innocence, and fo much piety?
" Faith overcomes all difficulties. Unmoved and inflexible the
Patriarch replies, • God will provide liimfelf a lamb for a burnt-
* offeiing, my fon.' He hides the awful tidings from the inquiii-
tive youth, left they ihould be too lieavy and aftlidlve for him lo
bear. . . .
* And they came to the place whicli God had told him of.' — 'Tis
a mountain. Far from the refort of men. A doleful folitude in-
deed! .... 'Abraham builds an altar there' .... and . . . that
every thing may be tranfafted with the utmoft decorum, he lays
the wood in order. . . .
" Every thing is now ready for the moft aftonifliing and dread-
ful adt of obedience that men or angels ever beheld. And now
Abraham difclofcs the llartling fecret — * Didft thou inquire con-
* cerning the lamb ? Thou thyfcIF, my dear ciiild, art the Ir.mb
* provided for the burnt-offering. Be not amazed. Let not thy
* heart fail. Tlie God who bellowed thee on my longing defires,
' is pleafcd to icquire thee again at my hand — the Lord gave, and
* the Lord taketh away ; let us both adore the name of the Lord.
* Let us confide in hispromifedgoodnefs, and unanimoufly profefs,
" Thoi;,n;h he flay me, yet will I truft in him."
" It does not appear that the amiable youth rcfifted or gainfayed.
He had ftrength enough to oppofe, and fpeed enough to efcape,
the attempts of an aged father. [According to Jofephus, Ifaac
was, when he fnbmitted himfclf to the flaughter, about twenty-five
years old.] Either, or both of which, the law of felf-prefervation
might feem to diAate, and the light of reafon to juilify. But
Ifaac knew that his father was a prophet. In this prophetical
charaftcr, he fees and acknowledges the wairant of heaven ; a;;d
fince his Creator calls, he is content to go. . . .
" Nevcrthelefs, that the work of delHny may be Aire, and
no one particular relating to a facrifice omitted, Abraham binds
Ifaac his Ion .... Having bound him — furpilfing refolntion! —
bound liiin for the fword and for the flame, he lays him upon the
altar on the wood. — I'hcre, now, lies Ifaac; the dear, the duti-
ful, the religious Ifaac ! Abraham's joy ; Sarah's delight ; the
heir of the prcmifes! There he lies, all meek and i-efigned, ex-
pelling, every mom.ent, the ftroke of death to fall .... See! the
father
148 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
therefore God renewed that covenant with Abraham on this
occaficn. Gen. xxii. j^, 6i;c. (b)
Thus
father ... * ftretches forth his hand;' he hfts the fiiarpened fteel ;
and determined to finifn at a blow, is even now aiming — when —
lejoice, O ye worfliippers of a gracious God ! . . . . the Angel of
the covenant fpeaks from heaven, and withholds the Patriarch's
hand, in the very aft to rtrike. God, who only intended to mani-
feft his faith, and make it honourable, bids hiro do no harm to the
lad. Yea, God applauds his obedience, and fubftitutes another
facrifice in Ifaac's ftead; renews his covenant with the father, and
not only I'eprieves the life of the fon, but promifes him a nume-
rous and illuilrious ijfue — Promifes to make him the progenitor of
the Mcffiah, and thereby a blefiing to all the nations of the earth.
[Ther. and Afp. vol. iii. Ictt. 2.]
(b) I fane ivas a type of ChriJI, raifed from the clead.'\ " So
faith the apoftle, [Heb. xi. 19.] Abraham received his fon Ifaac
'from the dead ' in a figure,' \_xct.i a '^o.^aQoXn'] ' even in ?. parable,'
type, or n^yilical reprefcntation. [vSee Wolfius, Curre Philolog.
vol. iv. p. 762. & Com. Heb. ix. 5.3 A farther illullration of
tliis may be taken from the hillory of this event in Genefis [xxii.
14. J wh.cre AVjraham calls the name of the place where he at-
tempted to pffer his fon, fehoimh 'J'lreh. One thing muft be pre-
mifed, that the Hebrew word there uCed, if wc wave the ?uthority
of the points, may be taken cither aftiveiy or pafiiveiy. Abraham,
when his fon had inquired for the burnt-oiTering, replied, ' God
* will provide himfelf,' or rather will fe, looh out, for himfelf a
buint-offering — Now, in ver. 14, Abraham ufes the fame word,
fuid God having wonderfully provided a buiUt-ofFcring, inflead of
Ifaar, he names the place as it {i;iov!ld fcem v/ith a reference both
to this event, and a future one reprefented by it, * The Lord
* will fee,' as our tranflators render it in the margin ; /'. e. will
provide for his people, in wiiatever ftraight they may be, as he
had done for Abraham in this fore trial. So it is laid to this day,
is become a proverb, ' In the mount the Lord will fee ;' the fame
word as before. Hut tiic v\-ords may be taken pafiiveiy; ' The
* Lord will appear,' i. e. vifibly, he will be feen. Tiius Ifaac in-
quiring for the facrifice, Abraham replies, ' God will appear for
* it,' /. e. to point it out in fuch a manner as fiiall leave us in no
doul:)t or d:fhcir:y to feek it — Ths-'ii he calls the name of the place
* Tlie Lord will appear,' or be feeii ; and from this a tradition
arofe, that in that mount the Lord would appear, (or he feen)
which had the moft literal and exaft accomplirnment in Solomon's
temple being ercfted, and afterwards th'e S;jn of God crucified
thereon. Taken eltlier way, the words are beautifully fignificant;
and as they run uniformly ambiguous, we conceive ourielves v^•ar-
ranted to include both fcnTes, tlujugh wc may not be able to prove
that
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 149
Thus you fee how mnch more fully the covenant of pjacc
was revealed and confirmed in Abraham's time than it Ind
been before; by means of which Abraham feems to ha\e
had a clearer un.lerrcanding and fight of Chrilt, the great
Redeemer, and the future things that were to be accom-
plilhcd by him, than any of t!\c faints preceding him ; and
ihercfove Chrifc informs us, tliat ' Abraham rejoiced to fee
' his day, and he faw it, and was glad.' [John viii. 56.]
So great an advance did it pleafe God now to make in this
building, wiiich he had been carrying on from the begin-
ning of the war-Id.
3. The next tiling that I would take notice of here,
is God's preferring tlie patriarchs fo long in the midft of
the wicked inliabitants of Canaan, and from all other
enemies. The patriarchs Abiaham, Ifaac, and Jacob,
were thcfe of whom Chriit was to proceed ; and they
were now feparated from llie world, that in them the
clnnxh might be upheld : therefore, in preferving them,
the great defign cf redemption was carried on. He pre-
fcrved
that Abraham fo intended them ; fiace often things were fpoken
by a prophetic fpirit, which even the fpeaker did not at the time
fully undertbnd. [See John xi. 5 1.] Thus explained, the words
will afford the following remarks :
1. That the fame truths which are now taught us iu plain literal
terms, were formerly revealed to the Old Tcftarnent believers in
figures and tvpes. Thus were they enabled to look forward to a
promifed Redeemer by the fame faith with which we view him
already come and crucified.
2. There is a clofe conne-dlion between the v/orks of Pi'ovidence
and Redemption. The one often (as our author has in many in-
ftances fiiewn) prefiguring the other. Ifaac mufc have been in
Abraham's view as dead, and he probably entertained no hope of
his being faved by a refurre£lion; and this event was carried to the
lalt extrk-mity, net jucr^Iy for the trial of Abraham's faitii, but alfo
to be the fitter type of Chrift raifed from the dead. Let us learn
to view every providence in this conneclion, as fubordinate to th-
great ends of redemption : and rcil afTured, tliat fince God has
provided a faerifice in the perfon of ' his own fon,' he will ' with
' him air» freely give us all things.' [Rom. viii. 32.]
3. What liroug confolation may a believer derive from this hit-
tory to confirm and animate his faitlii' Though ilie Lord fhould
fuffer us to be tried to the utmoit, yet in the point of extremity
he will appear and fave." [G. E.]
i^o HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
lei ved tliem, and kept the inhabitants of the land where
they fojourned from deftvoying them ; which was a re-
markable difpenfation of Providence : for the inhabitants
of the land were at that day exceedingly wicked, though
they grew more wicked afterwards. This appears by
Gen. XV. i6. ' In the fourth generation they fliall come
' hither again ; for the iniquity of the Canaanites is not
* yet lull :' as much as to iay, Though it be very great,
it is not yet full. And their great wickednefs alfo appears'
bv Abraham and Ifaac's avcrfton to their children marrvinsr
any of the daughters of the land. Abraham, when he
was old, could not he content till he had made his fcrvant
fwear that he would not take a wife for his fon of the
daughters of the land. And Ifaac and Rebecca were con-
tent to fend away Jacob to fo great a diilance as Padan-
Aram, to take him a wife thence. And when Efau mar-
ried fome of the daughters of the land, we are told, that
they were a grief of mind to Ifaac and Rebecca. [Gen*
xxvi. 35.]
Anotlier argument of their great wickednefs, was the
inftances we have in Sodom and Gomorrah, Adniah and
Zeboim, which were fome of the cities of Canaan though
t/iey were probably more eminently wicked.
And they being thus wicked, were likely to have the
moft bitter enmity againfl thefe holy men ; agreeable to
what was declared at iirfl, ' I will put enmixy between
' thee and the woman, and between thy feed and her feed.'
Their holy lives were a continual condemnation of their
■wickednefs. And belides, it could not be otherwife, but
that they muft be much in reproving their wickednefs, as
we fmd Lot was in Sodom ; who, we are told, vexed his
righteous foul with their imlawful deeds, and was a preacher
of righteoufnefs to them.
And they were the more expofed to them, being Gran-
gers and fojourners in the land, and having no inheritance
there as yet. Men are more apt to find fault with ftran-
gers, and to be irritated by any thing in them, as they
were wiih Lot in Sodom. He very gently reproved their
wickednefs ; and they fay upon it, •' This fellow came in
« to
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 151
« to fojourn, and he will needs be a ruler and a judge ,'
and threatened what they would do to him.
But God wonderfully preferved Abraham and Lot, and
Ifaac and Jacob, and their families, amongll them, though
they were few in number, and they miglit quickly have
defiroyed them ; which is taken notice of as a wonderful
inflance of God's preferving mercy toward his church,
[Pf. cv, 12, &c.] ' When they were but a few men in
* number ; yea, very few-, and ftrangers in it. When
* they went from one nation to another, from one king-
* dom to another people ; he fufFered no man to do them
' wrong ; yea, he reproved kings for their fakes, faying,
* Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no
* harm.'
This prefervatlon was in fome inftances very remark-
able ; thofe inflances that we have an account of, where-
in the people of the land were greatly irritated and pro-
voked ; as they were by Simeon and Levi's treatmciif
of the Sechemitcs, [Gen. xxxiv. 30, &c.] God then
ftrangely preferved Jacob and his family, reftraining the
provoked people by an unufual terror on their minds,
[Gen. XXXV. 5.] ' And the terror of God was upon the
' cities that were round about them, and they did not
' purfue after the fons of Jacob.'
And God's preferving them, not only from the Ca-
naanites, is here to be taken notice of, but his preferving
them from all others that intended mifchief to them : thus
his preferving Jacob and his campany, when purfued by
Laban, full of rage, and a difpofition to overtake him as
an enemy ; God met him, and rebuked him, and faid to
him, ' Take heed that thou fpeak not to Jacob either good
' or bad.' [Gen. xxxi. 24.] How wonderfidly did he alio
j)referve him from Efau his brother, when he came forth
with an army, with a full defign to cut him off! How
did God, in anfwcr to his prayer, when he wrelllcd with
Cliriil: at Penuel, wonderfully tuin Efau's heart, and make
him, inftead of meeting him as an enemy, with {laughter
and dcflruction, to meet him as a friend and brother, doing
hiin no harm
X And
jyz HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
And thus vv-eie this handful, this little root that had the.
bicfling of the Redeemer in it, prelerved in the midft of
enemies and dangers ; which was not unlike to the preferv-
ing the ark in the midft of the tempeftuous deluge.
4. The next thing I would mention is, the awful de-
ll-ru6tion of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the neighbouring
cities. This tended to promote the great defign and work
that is the fubje6l of my prefent undertaking, two ways.
It did fo, as it tended powerfully to reftrain the inhabitants
of the land from injuring thofe holy ftrangers that God
had brought to fojourn amongfl them. Lot was one
of thofe ftrangers ; he came into the land with Abraham ;
and Sodom was deftroyed through their difregard of Lot,
the preacher of righteoufnefs that God had fent among
them. And their deftru6lion came juft upon their com-
mitting a moft injurious and abominable infult on Lot,
and the ftrangers that were come into his houfe, even
thofe angels, whom they probably took to be fome of Lot's
former acquaintance, come from his own country to vifit
liim. They in a moft outrageous manner befet Lot's
houfe, intending a monftrous abufe ot thole ftrangers that
were come thither, and threatening to ierve Lot worfc
than them.
But in the midft of this God fmote them with blind-
nefs, and the next morning the city and the country
about it was overthrown in a moft terrible ftorm of lire
and brimftone ; which dreadful deftrudtion, as it was in the
light of the reft of the inhabitants of the land, and there-
fore greatly tended to rcftrain tlienv from hurting thofe
holy ftrangers any more ; it doubtlefs ftruck a dread and
terror on their minds, and made them afraid to hurt them,
and probably was one principal means to reftrain them,
and preferve the jjatriarchs. And when that reaion is
given why tlie inhabitanis of the land did not purfue after
Jacob, when tliev were fo provoked by the deftrucStion
of the Shechemites, viz. ' that the terror of the Lord was
' upon them,' it is very probable that this was the terror
referred to. T'hcy remembered tbe amazing deftruclion
of Sodom, and the cities of the plain, that came upon
them ,
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 155
them, upon their abufive treatment of Lot, and fo durft
not hurt Jacob and his family, though they were fo muc h
provoked to it.
Another way that this awful deftrudlion tended to pro-
mote this great affair of redemption, was, tliat hereby God
did }emarkably exhibit the terrors of liis law, to make men
fenhble of their need of redeeming mercy. The work of
redemption never was carried on without this. The law,
from the beginning, is made ufe of as a fchoolmafler to
bring men to Chrift. [Gal. iii. 24.]
But under the Old Teflament there was much more
need of fome extraordinary, viilblc, and fcnfible mani-
feftation of God's wrath againft hn, tlian in the days of
the gofpel ; fince a future ftate, and the eternal mifery of
hell, is more clearly revealed, and finte the awful juftice
of God againft the fms of men has been fo wonderfully
difplayed in the fufFerings of Chrill. And therefore the
revelation that God gave of himfelf in thofe days, ufed
to be accompanied with much jnore terror than it is in
thefe of the gofpel. So when God appeared at Mount
Sinai to give the law, it was with thunders and lightnings,
and a tliick cloud, and the voice of the trumpet exceetling
loud. But fomc external, awful manifeftations of God's
wrath againfl; fin were on fome accounts efpecially necef-
iary before the giving of the law : and therefore, before
the flood, the terrors of the law handed down by tradition
from Adam fervcd. Adam lived nine hundred and thirtv
years himfelf,, to tell the church of God's awful thrcaten-
jngs denounced in the covenant made with him, and how
dreadful the confequences of the fall were, of which he
was an eye-witnefs and fubjecSl ; and others that converled
with Adam, lived till the flood. And the dcftruftion of
the world by the flood ferved to exhibit the terrors cf the
law, and manifefl the wrath of God againft fin ; and fa
to make men fenfible of the ablolute necelfity of redeeming
mercy. And fome that h\v the llood were alive in Abra-
ham's time.
But this was now in a great meafure forgotten ; now
tiicreforc God was pleafed again, in a \v.o{\ amazing
X 2 manner.
154 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
manner, to fnow his wrath agnlnfl: fin, in the deflruftion
of tliefc cities : which was after fuch a manner as to be
the livehefl: image of hell of any thing that ever had been ;
and therefore the apoftle Jude fays, ' They fufl'er the
' vengeance of eternal fire.' [Jude 7.] God rained (c)
ftorms
(c) Sodom dejlroyed by lightning.] " This perfectly agrees
with fcripture account, which commonly denominates lighlning^
' the fire of God.' [See Lev. ix. 24. 2 Kings i. 10 — 12.]] And
lightning is always attended with a fulphuroiis fmell ; and from
this clrcum-ftarace, its coming from God, the Greeks call brimilone
[0»of, 7. e.'\ divine. [See Le Clerc\ Diflert.] But there are two
circumftances cf more importance to be obferyed ; God's feverlty
to his enemies, and his mercy and kindnefs to his people: of each
of thefe v/e have two remarkable inftanccs.
*' To begin with God's judgment againfl Sodom, which, as our
author has obfeived, affords the moft ftriking figure of hell that
ever was exhibited. In vain Ihould we ftretch our imaginations to
conceive the horror of a deluge of fire poured dowufrom heaven.
Human nature flirlnks from it, as too tairlfic a fubjeft for con^
templation. — But let us turn to the caufe of this^«, which
' Brought death into the v/ovld and all our woe!'
This winged the dreadful lightning, and pointed the fatal thunder-
bolt — and we may obferve, that God often fends a punilliment
correlpondent to the nature of our fins ; as in the inftance before
us, they who burned with unnatural luil periflied in the flames of
divine difplesfure. * For our God is a confuming fire.' [Heb.
xii. 29.]
" But, if not more dreadful, there is fomething peculiarly ftrik-
ing, in the death of Lot's wife — flic had efcaped the pollution
and dcftruftion of the city; — fhe had obeyed the angel's voice, and
fled for fafety; — but, alas! her heart was wedded to the world.
She fled, indeed, but with lingering fl:cps, and a heavy heart. She
would gladly return, it ftiould feem, to live in eafe and hixury in
Sodom, notwithftanding flie couUl not be altefted with Its charac-
teriflic fm, rather than enjoy a (late of holy, but obfcure, retire-
ment. Alas! how many that have bidden fair (as we fay) for the
kingdom of heaven, have fallen fliort, from the fame principles of
covctoufncfs and pride! Let us ' remember Lot's wife.' [Luke
xvii. 32.]
*' But this Providence has two voices; a voice of mercy as well
as of terror; to impenitent finners it [peaks in rattling tliunder,
like that at Sinai; to believing penitents, with -^iJmaU, full, but
articulate accent.
* Shall I hide from Abraham, faith God, tliat thing which I do?'
[Gen.xviii. I7,&c.] Ble (Fed Abraham, the friend of God, the
advocate of men! — ' The feeret of the Lord is with thera that fear
* him,
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 155
fliorms of fire and brimftone upon them. The way thnt
they were deftroycd probably was by thick flalhes of liglit-
ning. The ftreanis of brimftone were fo tliick as to burn
up all thefe cities ; fo that they perifhed in the flames. By
this might be feen the dieadful wrath of God againll the
ungodlinefs and unrightcoufncfs of men ; which tended to
ihow men the neceffity of redemption, and fo to promote
that great work.
5. God again renewed and confirmed the covenant of
grace to Ifaac and to Jacob. He did fo to Ifaac, [Gen.
xxvi. 3, 4-] ' And I will perform the oath which T fware
' unto Abraham thy father ; and I will make thy feed to
* multiply as the ilars of heaven, and will give unto thy
* feed all thefe countries ; and in thy feed Ihall all the
' nations
* him, and he will fhew them his covenant.' [Pf. xxv. 14.] The
Lord comes to Abraham, and acquaints him with his defign of in-
flifting exemplary juftice ; but, fays Abraham, ' Will God deftroy
' the righteous with the wicked .-" No, ' that be far from the
* Lord !' The whole converfatlon between Abraham and God,
is left on record, and difplays the fineft fentimcnts of reverence,
piety and humanity in the patriarch ; and on the part of Deity an
harmonious combination of juftice, mercy, and otlier attributes
worthy the divine nature.
*' But before the judgment can be executed, Lot muft be deli-
vered ; * I can do nothing,' fays the commifTioned angel, [Gen.
xix. 22.] ' till thou art gone hence.' Thus, * In the midft of
* judgment, he remembers mercy;' and live righteous perfons
would have faved the deftrudlion of five cities. Little do the
world conceive the blefTings they enjoy through God's people be-
ing mingled with them ; but experience will (hew them. When
God has ' gathered his wheat into his garner, then rtiall the chafF
' be burnt with unquenchable fire.' [Matt. iii. 12.] When al!
his cle6l people are faved ; the reprobate fliall perifh with a difTolv-
ing world ;
O power fupremc !
O everlafting King ! To thee I kneel ;
To thee I lift my voice. With fervent heat
Melt, all ye elements! And thou, high hcav'n,
Shrink like a fliriveU'd fcroll. But think, O Lord !
Think on the heft and noblell of thy works ;
Think on thine own bright image ; think on Lim
Who dy'd to fave us from thy righteous wrath,
Apd, midll th^ wreck of worlds, remember man !" [Glynn.]
[U. U.]
iS6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
*■ nations of the earth be bleffed.' And afterwards it was
renewed and confirmed to Jacob ; firft, in Ifaac's blefling
of him, wherein he a£led and fpoke by extraordinary and
divine dire6lion. In that bieffing the bleflings of the co-
venant of grace were eftabliflied with Jacob and his feed ;
[as Gen. xxvii. 29.] ' Let people ferve thee ; and nations
* bow down to thee ; be lord over thy brethren, and let
* thy mother's fons bow down to thee : Curfed be every
* one that curfeth thee, and bleffed be he tliat bleffeth
* thee.' And therefore Efau, in miffing of this bleffing,
miffed of being bleffed as an heir of the benefits of the co-
venant of grace.
This covenant was again renewed and confirmed to Ja-
cob at Bethel, by his vifion of the ladder that reached to
heaven ; which ladder was a fymbol of the way of falva-
tion by Chrifi:. (d) For the ffone that Jacob refted on
was a type of Chrifi:, the ftone of Ifrael, which the fpiri-
tual Ifrael or Jacob refls upon ; as is evident, becaufe this
ftone was, on this occafion, anointed, and was made life of
as an altar. But we know that Chrift is the anointed of
God, and is the only true altar. Vv^hile Jacob was refting
on this ftone, and faw this ladder, God appears to him as
his covenant God, and renews the covenant of grace with
him ; [Gen. xxviii. 14.] ' And thy feed ftiall be as the
* duft of the earth ; and thou ilialt fpread abroad to the
* weft, and to the eaft, and to the north, and to the fouth ;
* and in thee and in thy feed iliall all the families of the
* earth be bleffed.'
And
(d) 'Jacoh's ladder typical.] This vifion, in wliatcvcr partl-
cuiar point of view we confidcr it, wa;> a muil beautiful diiplay of
the communication opened between heaven and earth, tlnough
the medium of a Redeemer. Its extending from eaitli to heaven,
points out a way of accefs to God for fallen man. The various
ileps mark the progrefs of the divine life, and the walk of a be-
liever, every ilcp of which approaches nearer heaven and gloiy-
The angel's afcending and delcending iliews the office of thole mi-
nillering fpirits, in performing embaifies of.kindnefs for us. And
the Lord fianding above, and renewing hir> covenant, may teach
us, that all its bleliingR r.re beilowed in that means of communica-
tion, namely, througl; the nxxliation of the Son of God. [U. S.]
FROM ABRAHAiMs CALL TO MOSES. 157
And Jacob liaJ anorher remavlcable confirmation of
this covenant at Pcnuel, where he wiefilcd with God,
and prevailed ; (e) where Chrift appeared to him in a
human form ; in the form of that nature which he was af-
terwards to receive into a perfonal union with his divine
nature.
And God renewed his covenant with him again, after
he was come out of Padan-aram, and was come up to Be-
thel, and the rtone that he had refted on ; and where he
had the vifion of the ladder. [Gen. xxxv. 10. &c.]
Thus the covenant of grace was now often renewed,
much oftener than it had been before. The light of tlie
gofpel now began to fiilne much brighter, as the time drew
nearer that Chrift ihould come.
6. The next thing I would obfcrve, is God's remark-
ably preferving the family of which Chrift was to proceed
from perilhing by famine, by the inftrumentality of Jo-
seph, (f) When there was a feven-years famine approach-
ing, God was pleafed by a wonderful providence, to fend
Jqfeph into Egypt, there to provide for, and feed Jacob
and his family, and to keep the holy feed alive, which
otherwife would have perifhed. Jofepli was fent into
Egypt
(e) Jacob WRESTLED iv'ith the nnge/.^ " Jacob was now paf-
fing with his whole family into the land of Canaan, to take feizure
of it, by virtue of the promife on the behalf of his poltcrity. At
the very entrance of it, he is met by his greatcfl: adverfary, with
whom he had a fevere conteft about the promife and the inheri-
tance itfelf. This was his brother Efau, who, coming againll
him with a power which he was no ways able to withftand, he fear-
ed that he would utterly deftroy both his perfon and pofterity.
.... Wherefore to fettle Jacob's right, to preferve him with \m
title and intcrcfl, /v who was principally concerned in t'le whole
matter, doth here appear unto him." [Dr. Owen's Exerclta-
tions on the Hebrews, vol. i. p. 118.] But this and the other
extraordinary appearances of a divine perfon under the OldTefta-
ment, will be colleftively confidered under a future fe(5lion.
(f) JofcJ)//s hijlory remarlal'Ic;.] Few lives in the Old Tefta-
ment hillory ate fo interclling as that of Jofeph ; in which the
mod obfervable feature is its frequent, fudden, and important vi-
ciflitudes. And v.e may truly fay, his life was of as many colours
,83 his coat. Li youth the darling or his parents ;— but the envy
158 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Egypt for that end, as he obferves, [Gen. 1. 20.] ' But
' as for you, ye thought evil againft me ; but God meant
' it unto good to f;ve much people alive.' How often had
this holy root, that had the future branch of r,ighteoufnefs,
the glorious Redeemer, in it, been in danger of being de-
flroved ! But God wonderfully prcferved it.
This falvation of the houfe of Ifrael by the hand of
Jofeph, was upon feme accounts very much a refem-
blance
of his brethren. Sold into Egypt for a flave ; made fteward of
hismafter's houfe ; thrown into prifon on a falfe but criminal ac-
ciifation ; raifed from a prifon to a throne ; honoured as the father
even of Pharaoh, the faviour of Egypt, and the favourite of hea-
ven ; he faves the lives and raifcs the fortunes of his father, and
of thofe very brethren who hated and fold him ; and clofes his life
with honour, happinefs, and tranquility.
But among the many incidents of his life, no one is more re-
markable or inftruftive than that of his temptation to inchaftity,
and the manner in which he refifted it. On this our author has
clfewhere the following obfervations :
" We may obferve, how great the temptation was, that lie was
under. It is to be confidered, Jofeph was now in his youth ; a
feafon of life, when perfons are moft liable to be overcome by temp-
tations of tin's nature. And he was in a ftate of unexpe6led prof-
perity in Potiphar's houfe ; which has a tendency to hft perfons
up, efpeciallv young ones, whereby commonly they more eafily
fall before temptations.
*' And then the fuperiority of the perfon that laid the tempta-
tion before him, rendered it much the greater. She was his inif-
trefs, and he a fervant under her. And the manner of her tempt-
ing him. She did not only carry herfelf fo to Jofeph, as to give
him caufe to fufpeft that he might be admitted to fuch criminal
converfe with her, that yet might be accompanied with fome ap-
prehenfion, that poflibly he might be miftaken, and fo deter him
from adventuring on inch a propofal ; but flie directly propofed
it to him ; plainly manifelling her difpofition to it. . . . Yea, fhe
appeared greatly engaged in the matter. And there was net only
her dcfne manifefted to entice him, but her authority over him to
enforce the temptation. She was his miftrefs, and he might well
imagine, that it he utterly refufed a compliance, he fliould incur
her difpleafure ; and flie, being his mailer's wife, had power to
do much to his difadvantage, and to render his circumftanccs
more uncomfortable in the family. And the temptation was the
greater, in that ftie did not only tempt him once, but frequently,
day by day, [Gen. xxxix. 10.] And at lad became more violent
with
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 159
blance of the falvation of Chrift. The children of Tf-
rael were faved by Jofeph their kinfman and brother,
from
with him. She caught him by his garment, faying, * Lie with
me :' as in the verfe of the text. []Gcn. xxxix. 1 2.]
" His behaviour was very remarkable under thefe terfiptationS.
He complied in no degree, either to the grofs act fhe propofed,
or any thing tending towards it, or that fhould in a lefTer degree
be gratifying to her wicked inclination. And he pcrfilled refolute
and unfhaken under her continual folicitations. ' And it came to
* pafs as Ihe fpake to Jofeph day by day, that he hearkened not
* unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.' He, to his utmoft^
avoided fo much as being where (lie was. And the motives and
principles from which he aifhed, manifclled by his reply to her fo-
licitations, are remarkable.
" He tirll fets before her, how injurioufly he fhould aft againfl
his mafter, if he fhould comply with her propofal : * Behold my
* mailer — hath committed all that he hath in my hand : there is
* none greater in this houfe than I ; neither hath he kept back
* any thing from me, but thee, becaufe thou art his wife.' But
he then proceeded to inform her of that, which above all things,
deterred him from a compliance, viz. that it would be great wick-
ednefs, and fm againft God. — ' How (hall I do this, and fin
* againft God!' He would not do any fuch thing, as he would not
injure his mafter; but that which influenced more than all on this
occafion, was the fear of finning againft God.
*' In the text we have an account of his behaviour under
the laft and greateft temptation that he had fiom her. This
temptation was great, as we are told it was at a time when there
was no body in the houfe, but he and his miftrefs, [ver. 1 1.] there
was an opportunity to commit the fa6f with the greateft fecrecy.
And at this time it feems that fhe was more violent than ever be-
fore. She ' caught him by the garment' — ftie laid hold on him,
as though (he were refolute to attain her purpofe of him.
" Under thefe circnmftances he not only refufed her, but fied
from her, as he would have done from one that was going to affaf-
finate or murder him ; he efcaped, as for his life. He not only
would not be guilty of fuch a faft, but neither would he by any
means be in the houfe with her, where he fhould be in the way
of her temptation.
" This behaviour of Jofeph is doubtlefs recorded for the in-
ftruftion of all. Therefore from the words I fliall obferve this
dodrine — ' It is our duty, not only to avoid thefe things that are
* themfelves finful, but alfo, as far as may be, thofe things that
* lead and expofe to fin.'
" Thus did Jofeph : he not only refufed aftually to commit
uncleannefs witli his miilrefs, who inticedhim; but refufed ....
to lie bv her, or be with her. And in the text we are told, * he
y « fled
i6o HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
from peiifliing by famine ; as he that faves the fouls of
the fpi ritual Ifrael from fpiritual famine is their near kinf-
man, and one that is not alhamed to call them brethren.
Jofeph was a brother, that they had hated, and fold,
and as it v.ere killed; for they had defigned to kill him;
So Chrift is one that we naturally hate, and by our
wicked lives, have fold for the vain things of the world,
and that we have flain by our fms. Jofeph was iirfl; in
a ftate of humiliation ; he was a fervant, as Chrift ap-
peared in the form of a fervant ; and then was caft into
a dungeon, as Chrift defcended into the grave ; and then,
when he rofe out of the dungeon, he was in a ftate
of great exaltation, at the kings riglu hand as his depu-
ty, to reign over all his kingdom, to provide food, to
preferve life ; as Chrift was exalted at God's right hand
to be a prince and faviour to his brethren, and received
gifts for men, even for the rebellious, and them that hated
and had fold him. f
n. After this there was a prophecy given forth of
Chrift, on fome accounts, more particular than ever
any had been before, even that which was in Jacob's
bleffing his fon Judah, this was more particular in Ihew-
\x\o- of whofe pofterity he was to be. When God called
Abraham, it was revealed that he was to be of Abraham's
pofteritv- Before we have no account of any revelation
concerning Chrift's pedigree confined to narrower limits
than the pofterity of Noah : atter this it was conlined to
limits
' fied and got him out ;' would by no means be in her company.
Though it was no fm in itfelf, for Jofeph to be in the houle where
his miltrefs was ; but under tliefe ciicumllances it would expofe
him to fin. Jofeph was fenfible he had naturally a corrupt heart,
that tended to betray him to fin ; and therefore he would by no
means be in the way of temptation ; but with hade he fled, he
ran from the dangerous place. Inafmuch as he was expofed to fin
in that houfe where he was, he fled out of it with as much haile
as if the houfe had been all a light of fire ; or full of enemies, wha
ftood ready witli drawn fwords to ftab him to the very heart. When
{lie took him by the garment, he left his garment in her hands : he
had rather lofe his garment than Hay a moment where he was in
fuch danger of lofing his chaftity." [P^ef. Edwakds's Poftli.
Serm. p. 150, kc.'\
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. i6i
llmifs ftill more narrow ; for though Abraham had many
fons, yet it was to be revealed that Chrill: was to be of
Ifaac's pofterity. And then it was Hmited more ftill : for
when Ifaac had two fons, it was revealed that Chrift was
to be of Ifracl's pofterity. And now, though Ifrael had
twelve fons, yet it is revealed that Chrift was to be of Ju-
dah's pofterity: Chrift is ' the lion of the tribe of Judah.'
Refpedt is chiefly had to his great a£ls, when it is faid,
[Gen. xlix. 8,9.] ' Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren
' fhall praife ; thine hand ftiall be in the neck of thine
* enemies ; thy father's cliildren Ihall bow down before
' thee. Judah is a lion's whelp ; from the prey, my fon,
* thou art gone up: he ftooped down, he couched as a lion,
' and as an old lion; who I'hall roufe him up ?' And then
this predi6lion is more particularly concerning the time of
Chrift's coming, [verfe 10.] * The fceptre fhall not de-
* part from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet,
* iintil Shiloh come ; and unto him ihall the gntherinpr of
' liie people be.' The prophecy here, of the calling of the
Gentiles confequent on Chrift's coming, feems to be more
plain than had yet been, in the exprefliion, ' to him fliall
* the gathering of the people be.' (g)
Thus
(g) "Jacob's prophecy 0/" Shiloh.] " This remarkable pafTage
(fays Mr. Toplady) is a link of that grand chain of prophecv,
which was delivered by the patriarch Jacob, on his dying bed.
Such are the faithfulnefs and the condefcending grace of God,
that he frequently brightens the laft hours of his people, with the
richcfl; difplays of his power and prefence : nor does any thing,
fhort of heaven itfelf, afford a nobler hght, than that of a believer
(landing on the verge of eternity, filled with the faith which cafls
out fear, happy in the aflured poffeffion of grace, and h)nging for
the completion of that grace in glory.
" For we find him [chap, xlviii. 21.] fpeaking of his own ap-
proaching death, with as much eafe and complacency, as if he
was only fetting out on a journey of pleafure : ' Ifrael faid unto
* Joleph, Behold, I die.' He perceived the fymptoms of advanc-
ing diffolution : and the profpccl conduced, not to alarm his
fears, not to rivet aim clofer to the world; but operated like the
fliining of the fun, or the breathings of zephyr, on a flower.
It expanded his hone ; enlarged his defire for heaven ; and dif-
Y 2- fufed
i62 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Thus you fee how that gofpel-Iight which dawned imr
mediately after the fall of man, gradually increafed.
8. The
fiifed the fragrance of his faith, on all within the fphere of his
donverfation.
" Ae, greatly as this ertiinent faint longed to be diffblved, and to
be with Chrift; he would not die, until he had taken a folemn leave
of his family, by bleffing them in the name of the Lord, and by
predicting the fate of their pofterities. At prefent, I fiiall only
confider his laft addrefs to Jydah, his fourth fon. ' Judah, thou art
' he, whom thy brethren fhall praife;' i. e. thy tribe fhall be the
moft confpicuous and diftinguifhed, on various accounts. In that
portion of Canaan, which fliall fall to thy defcendants and to thofe
of Benjamin, the city of Jerufalem fhall be built, and the temple of
God fhall ftand. But chiefly fhalt thou be celebrated, as the proge-
nitor of that fpotlefs mother, from whom the Son of God fhall derive
his inferior nature: and, within the near neighbourhood of thy ter-
ritory fhall he fuffer and expire, for the falvation of his people.
" But the moft valuable part of the prophecy is that which re-
lates to the incarnation of Jefus Chrift : ' The fceptre fhall not
* depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until
* Shiloh came; and to him fhall the gathering of the people be.'
" Of all regal ornaments, the fceptre is faid to be the moft an-
cient. And, probably, its OTigin was extremely fimple. It feems
to have taken its rife from the crook, wielded, in earlieit times,
by the harmlefs hand of a fhepherd. The Greek word \_'ZKr,Tp.^ov~\
(from whence the Latin fceptrum, and the Englifh fceptre,) pro-
perly denotes a ftafF, or wand, of fufficient length for a perfon to
lean upon : and the Hebrew [tD^IZ/] is in ftridtnefs a ftaff made of
a fhoot or ftrait bough of a tree. Such as were the ftaves of the
primitive fhepherds and herdfmen.
" By that fceptre, which, for a given time, was not to depart
from Judah, is undoubtedly meant, the adminiftration of tempo-
ral power. Hence the Septuagint render the pafTage, A fupreme
governor fhall not fail out of Judah; .... till the MefTiah's ad-
vent. The words, fceptre, and lawgiver, are here explicatory of
each other; and mutually denote, a ferles of native governors, who
fhould rule the Jewifh nation according to its own law. And the
fenfe of the whole is, that Judah fhould continue a diftinft tribe
by itfelf; and that its civil jurIfdi(R:ion fhould, under fome form or
other, and with a greater or lefs degree of authority, remain in
Jewifh hands, till the incarnation of God the Son
*' On this illuftrions prophecy, uttered almoft eighteen hun-
dred years before the birth of Chrift, prophrne hiftory may be
confidered as the beft commentary. We-thcre find, that the fcep-
tre did (not adlually depart, but) begin to depart from Judah, or
verge towards a departure, within little more than half a century
prior
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 163
8. The work of redemption was carried on in this
period, in God's wonderfully preferving the children of
Ifrael
prior to our Lord's nativity, when Jerufalem was beficged and
taken by Pompey ; and Ariftobulus II. then king of Judea, was
fent prifoner to Rome.
" As the manifeftation of God in human flefh drew nearer, the
fymptoms of the departing fceptrc grew ftill more vifible. The
fucceflive expeditions of Gabinius, of Craffus, and of CaiTius,
againft this devoted people, contributed to prepare the way for
the fulfilment of Jacob's prediftion ; and, in fad, proclaimed, that
Shiloh would fomi appear.
" The fceptre, however, was not, hitherto, departed from Ju-
dah : their civil power and independency, though checked, were
not extinguifhed. They were ftill governed by maglftrates of their
own ; and were even treated, on various occafions, not as depen-
dents, but as friends and allies of the Roman Itate.
" A few years lower, when Herod (flatteringly furnamed, the
great,) a native of Edom, was appointed Tetrarch, and (foon
after King) of Judea, chiefly by his intereft with Mark Antony ;
the prophecy drew nearer to its accomplifliment. But though the
throne was now, for the firfl; time, filled by a foreigner ; ftill, that
foreigner was a profefibr of Judaifm.. Herod revered, or at Icafl;
affefted to revere, the Mofaic inftitutions ; and even rebuilt [or
rather repaired] the temple, at a vaft expence. The fubordinate
magiftracy, alfo, confifted of Jews : as did the fanhedrim, which
was their higheft court of judicature. The fceptre, therefore,
though departing faft, was not entirely gone from Judah, ere
Shiloh came. Chrift was born towards the clofe of this Herod's
reign ; /. e. while the political and ecclefiaftical conftitution of
Judea were fubfifting. Herod, indeed, was in fome fenfe tribu-
tary to the Roman empire : but the Jews tliemfelves were, for the
moft part, in full pofleffion of their civil and religious rights.
" When our blefled Saviour was about twelve years of age, the
fceptre totally departed fram Judah. For, Herod (who died
while our Lord was yet an infant) was fucceeded by his fon Ar-
chelaiis ; which Archelaiis, after reigning about ten years, was
depofed and baniflied by the emperor Auguftus. From thence-
forward, the tribe of Judah, which hud fo long been diilinguiflied
by its dignity and pre-eminence, was reduced to a Roman pro-
vince, and became an appendage to the empire. Quirinius, pre-
feft of Syria, ys-as commiftioned to take poflTeffion of the country
in the emperor's name ; and Coponius, a Roman knight, was fent
to prefide over it, as lieutenant governor.
" Thus did the fceptre, at length, depart from Judah, and a
lawgiver from between h.is feet. Auguftus drove the nail to the
head ; and Titus clenched it, within forty years after our Lord's
urucifixion ; when the city and temple were utterly deftroyed, and
thofc
i64 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Ifrael in Egypt, when the power of Egypt was engaged
utterly to deftroy them. They feemed to be wliolly in
the
thofe of the Jews, who efcaped immediate death, were fold for
flavesinto every part of tiie known world.
" It is certain, therefore, that the promifed Shiloh is come :
and Jefus Chriti the righteous, in whofe childhood the fceptre de-
parted, is both the Son of the mod high God, and likewife the
true MelTiah, of whom Mofes in the law, and the prophets, did
write.
" Shiloh, may be rendered the Son ; alfo the Saviour ; like-
wife, the peaceable, and the profperous one. The Septuagint
tranflates, or rather paraphrafes it, by, ' He for whom [all] things
* are laid up, or kept in ilore.' In his adorable perfon, and moft
v/onderful ofiices and tranfaftions, Jcfus exhaiifts every one of thofe
fignifications. He is, the Son of God ; the only Saviour, the
peace-maker between God and men. He profpered and prevailed,
to the uttermoft, in the whole and in every branch of his media-
torial undertaking. And, for him, all things are referved.
" To him fl->all the gathering of the people be. It is plain,
from this claufe of t-he text before us, that redemption by Chrill
is not a random and precarious thing. . . . He was born, and fhed
his blood, ' for a peculiar people, whom his own fanftifying grace
* was to make zealous of good works ;' [Tit. ii. 14.] and that he
might ' gather together into one glorified company, all the chil-
* dren of God that were fcattered abroad.' [John xi. ^2."]
[Gofpel Mag. Dec. 1776.]
The latter might be rendered, with a flight variation, ' until
* Shiloh come, and the people be gathered unto him,' which flill
more exaSly correfponded with the event; for great multitudes, both
of Jews and Gentiles, were aftually gathered to Chrifl, befoie the
fceptre tofaily departed, by the dellruftion of the Jewiih flate ; and
this indeed our Lord liimfelf predifted. [Matt. xxiv. 14.]
But it fliould not be concealed, that a learned Jew of the prefent
age (Mr. Levi) has offered another tranflation of part of this
verfe, which, if admitted, would overturn the whole of this expo-
fition, anel turn the tables on us completely : ' The fceptre fhall
.' not depart from Judah, nor the lawgiver from between his feet
* for ever, hecaufe Shiloh \j.e. MefRah] fliall come,' l^c. And in
fupport of this tranflation he adds, " I fliall juft mention, that ac-
cording to the common tranflation, which all the Chriilian writers
feem lio have adopted, the adverb, bccavfe, flands for a cypher in
the text, as no word is given for it ; and wliich, I think, is a de-
monlbation of the truth of my expofition, and the fallity of the
common tranflation ; whether defignedly or not, is not now before
me." But fuppofe for a moment tliat his interpretation were the
.Chriflian one, and fav(>ia'ablc to our caufe, would he not have faid,
' VV^hat
FROM ABRAHAM'S CALL TO MOSES. 165
the hands of the Egyptians ; they were their fervants, and
were fubje6V to the power of Pharaoh, who fet himfelf to
weaken them by hard bondage. And when he faw that
did not do, he fet himfelf to extirpate the race of them,
by commanding that every male child ihould be drowned.
But after all that Pharaoh could do, God wonderfully pre-
ferved them ; and not only fo, but increafed them exceed-
ingly ; fo tf^^t inflead of being extirpated, they greatly
multiplied.
0. Here is to be obferved, not only the prcfervation of
the nation, but God's wonderfully preferving and uphold-
ing his iuvifiiile cb.urch in that nation, when in danger of
being overwhelmed in the idolatry of Egypt. The chil-
dren of Ifrael being long among the Egyptians, and beirg
lervants
* What a grofs combination is here of ignorance, prevarication,
' and falfhood ?' At leall he might have faid fo with more appear-
ance of reafon than the ccnfure he has above infinuated ; for in
printing the Hebrew text he has artfully divided the words, or
rather ivurd, in difpnte, not only by ovditting the makkaph [a kind
of hyphen] but by inferting feveral lines of Englifli between.
But to this evafion we reply,
1. Though the adverb [li/'3 fometimes ^ignx^ts for ever, yet
it doth not, when joined with the particle ['D] as in the text.
Compare Gen. xxvi. 13. — xli. 49 — 2 Sam. xxiii. 10. — 2 Cliron.
xxvi. 15. All which are omitted in /.fw's diftionary. [See T^jy-
/cr's Concordance in ly p. 6^.] Some, indeed, (as R. Bechari)
pretend that the accent jcthib feparates the words, and makes a
paufe upon tlic former ; " But this tliey can give no inilance of,
efpecially when it hath a/Ziwfli- immediately pieceding it as in thi,>
place." [Owen's Exercit. on the Heb. vol. i. p. 149. and Pali
Syn. in loc. To which may be added, that the adverb does not
fignlfy for ever, abfohitely put without fome antecedent noun or
particle. [Gill in loc]
2. We have on our lide thetlu'e,.' Taigumsand the moll ancient
and learned rabbies. So the Chaldce paiaphrafe faith, ' He that
' hath dominion fhall not be taken away until Meffiah
* come.' The Jerufaicm Targum, ' Kings Ihall not ceafe until
' Meffiah come.' The other Targum, D. Kimchi, AbentEzia,
and R. Sol. Jarchi to the fame effeft. [See the authorities referred
to in the authors above cited ; alio Ainf'Lv. in loc]
3. if we mult give two words inftead of one in the Engliflt
tranllation, (which is a childiih notion) the moft exa6t will be
UNTIL Vv-HEN [fo the LXX St'.; Sici] Shiloli ihail come.
i66 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
fervants under them, and (o not having the advantage of
keeping God's ordinances among themfelves, or maintain-
ing any public worfhip or inftruclion, whereby the true
religion might be upheld ; and there being now no written
word of God, they, by degrees, in a great meafure loft the
true religion, and borrowed the idolatry of Egypt ; and the
greater part of the people fell away to the worfhip of their
gods. [See Ezck. xx. 6, 8.— xxiii. 8.]
This now was the third time that God's church was
almoft fwallowed up and carried away with the wicked-
nefs of the world ; once before the flood ; a fecond time
before the calling of Abraham ; and now in Egypt. But
yet God did not fuffer his church to be quite overwhelmed ;
he ftill faved it, like the ark in the flood, and as he faved
Mofes in the midft of the waters, in an ark of bulrullies,
^vhere he was in the utmolT: danger of being fwallowed up.
The true religion was ftill kept up with fome ; and God
had ftill a people among them, even in this miierable, cor-
rupt, and dark time. The parents of Mofes were true fer-
vants of God, [Heb. xi. 23.] ' By faith Mofes, when he
* was born, was hid three months of his parents, becaufe
' they faw that he was a proper child, and they were not
' afraid of the king's commandment.'
I have now gone through the third part of the Old Tef-
tament period ; and have iliown how the work of redemp-
tion was carried on from the calling of Abraham to Mofes ;
in which we have feen many great things done towards this
work, and a great advancement of this building, beyond
what had been before.
§ IV. From MosEs to David.
I PROCEED to \h^ fourth period, which reaches from
Moles to David. — To ftiow how the work of redemption
was carried on through this alfo.
The firft thing that offers itfelf to be confidered is the
redemption of the church of God out of Egypt ; the moft
remark-
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 167
1-emarkable of all the Old Tcftament deliverances, and
that which was the greateft pledge and type of the fu-
ture redemption of Chrift ; and is much more infifted
on in fcripture than any other. This was by Jefus Chrift,
who appeared to Mofes in the bu(h ; fent him to redeem
that people ; as is evident, becaufe he is called the angel
of the Lord; [Exod. iii. 2, 3.] The bufh reprefented the
human nature of Chrifi:, who is called the branch. This
bu^li grew on mount Sinai or Horeb, (h) which laft name
fignifies a dry place, as the human nature of Chrift was
a * root out of dry ground.' The bufh burning with fire
reprefented the fulFerings of Chrift, in the tire of God's
wrath, (i) It burned, and was not confumed ; fo
Chrifi:, thoueh he fufFered extremely, yet periihed not »
but overcame at laft, and rofe from his fufferings. Be-
caufe this great myAery of the incarnation and furferings
qf Chrift was here reprefented, therefore Mofes fays, ' I
< will turn afide, and behold this great fight.* A great
fight he might well call it, when there was reprefented,
God manifeft in the iiefli, fufFering a dreadful death, and
rifing from the dead.
It was this glorious perfon that redeemed Ifrael out ot
Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh ; as afterward, by
his death and fufferings, he redeemed his ele6l from Satan,
Z the.
(h) Horeb or Si/mr.^ " Horeb is a mountain in Arabia Pe-
traea, at fo fmall a diltance from mount Sinai, that they feem to
be no more than two tops belonging to the fame mountain. Sinai
lies to the eaft, and Horeb to the well; but we find them fre-
quently in fcripture ufedpromifcuoufly." [Stackhouse's Hiit.
of the Bible, vol. I. b. iii. chap. 5. note.]
(i) T/je burning bu/h typified Ckrijl's sufferings.] That
fomething typical was intended by this vifion, we liave no doubt;
but rather apprehend that tlie then ftate of the Jewifh churcli was
the objeA intended ; fo the Heb. doflors, '* God dwelt" (fays
R. Eliezer) "in the bramble bufh, and the bramble buOi was
\j. e. fignificd] afflic'tion and anguifli, and all thorns and briars.
And why dwelt he in the midft of affliftion and anguifli ? bur
becaufe he faw Ifrael in great affliction, he alfo dwelt with them
in the midft of affiiftion, to confirm that which is faid in Ifa. Ixiii.
9. * In all their afflictions he was a/Bided." [See Amfuiorth ia
loc]
168 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
the fpiihual Pharaoh.-— Thcfe, he delivered them from
hard lervice and cruel drudgery; thefe, from the cruel
flavery of fin and Satan.— Thofe he redeemed from the
iron furnace ; thefe fi'om everlafting burnings. — Thofe he
redeemed with a ftrong hand and out-flretched arm, and
oreat and terrible judgments on their enemies ; thefe
with mighty grace triumphing over principalities, and
powers, and executing terrible judgments on their ene-
mies. — Thofe he faved when others were deftroyed, by
the fprinkling of the blood of the pafchal lamb ; thefe
from death and hell by the fprinkling of his own blood.
Thofe he brought torth forely againft the will of the
Egyptians, when they could not bear to let them go;
thei'e he refcues out of the hands of the devil, when his
proud Ireart cannot bear to be overcome.
Tn that redemption, Chrifl did not only deliver the
people from the Egyptians, but he redeemed them from
the devils, their gods ; for before, they had been in a
flate of fcrvitude to the gods of Egypt, as well as to the
Egyptians. And Chrifl, the feed of the woman, did
now, in a very remarkable manner, fulfil the curfe on
the ferpent, in bruil'ing his head: [Exod. xii. 12.] ' For
' I will pafs through the land of Egypt this night, and
' will fmitc all the lirfl-born in the land of Egypt,
' both man and beaii, and againft all the gods, of Egypt
' will I execute judgment.' Hell was as much, and
more, engaged in that affair, than Egypt was. The
pride and cruelty of Satan, that old ferpent, was more
concerned in it ' than Pharaoh's. He did his worll:
againfl: the people, and to his utmoll: oppofed their re-
demption. But it is faid that when God redeemed his peo-
ple out of Egypt, he broke the heads of the dragons in the
waters, and broke the head of leviathan in pieces, and
gave him to be meat for the people inhabiting the wiider-
nefs, [Pfal. Ixxiv. 12 ---14.] God forced their enemies
to let them go, that they might ferve him ; as alfo Zacha-
rias obferves with refpe6i to the church under the gofpel.
("Luke i. 74, 75.]
Tlie
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 169
The people of Ifiael went out with an high hand, and
Chiift went before them in a pillar of cloud and fire, (k)
There was a glorious triumph over earth and hell in that
deliverance. And when Pharaoh and his hoft, and Satan
by them, purfued the people, Chrift overthrew them in
the Red Sea ; ' the Lord triumphed glorioufly ; the horfe
' and his rider he cait into the lea,' and there they fiept their
laft fleep, and never followed the children of Ifrael any
more ; as all Chrift's enemies are overthrown in his blood,
Z 2 which
(k) The pillar of cloud and fire. ']^ There is no doubt but the
grand defign of this phcenomenon was to be a guide to the camp
of Ifrael in their journies both by night and day; it was alfo a
/hade from the burning fun-beams in the defert they were to pafs :
and the vehicle of the divine prefence the Shechhiah from which ora-
cles were delivered. A fancy, but moderately lively, will recollect
a multitude of objects of which, if this miglit be typical, Clirifl
himfelf, the holy fcriptures, but above all the mylleries of divine
Providence, are therein beautifully reprefented. Was it alternately
luminous and opaque? fo are the providences of God, at one time
bright and promifuig ; at another dark and infcrutable. Was it
dark to the purfuing Egyptians while it illumined the fleeing If-
raehtes? So often has the fame event that has brought falvatlon and
glory to God's people, been confufion and deftruftion to their ene-
mies. Was this cloud the guide of Ifrael through all their pIU
grimage In the defert? Thus doth God lead his people through all
the viclflitudes of this mortal life, and every providence, wbethci
light or dark, whether profperous or adverfe, will Inlalllbly for-
ward his people to the heavenly Canaan. But above all be it re-
membered that God was in the cloud ; yes, believer, and In thy
every trial, as well as comfort, may God be found. He inhabits
and direfts all the clouds that attend this way ; and though, like
Ifrael, ye may be baptlfed In the cloud or in the fea, ye fliall not
be overwhelmed.
" Ye fearful faints frefh courage take ;
The clouds ye fo much dread.
Are big with mercy, and fhall break
In bleflings on your heads." [Cooper.]
Some learned men have conje^liired that this appearance was
not altogether new; but that the fame Shechinah had guided Abra-
ham [and doubtlefs then, others,] \n his travels to the promlfed
land, and had direfted him to Mount Moriah ; that thi j appearance
fatisfied Ifaac, as well as Abraham, of the divine will; and that
therefrom, the angel of the covenant who Inhabited it, called to
Abraham. This Is certainly no more than a conjefture, but It is a
conjetlure that will account for many difficulties, and feems no wa^-
inconfillent with revelation. [See Biblioth. Biblica, voh i.]
17© HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
which by its abundant fufficiency, and the greatnefs of the
fufFerings with which it was flied, may well be reprefented
by a fea. The Red Sea might reprelent Chrift's blood, as
is evident, becaufe the apofllc compares the children of
Ifrael's pafiage through it, to baptifm, [i Cor. x. i, 2.]
and we know that the water of baptifm reprefents the
blood of Chrifl.
Thus Chrift, the angel of God's prefence, in his love and
in his pity, redeemed his people, and carried them in the
days of old as on eagle's wings, fo that none of their proud
and malicious enemies could touch them.
This was another new thing that God did towards this
great work of redemption. God never had done any
thing like it before. [Deut. iv. 32—34.] This was the
greateft advancement of the work of redemption, that had
been begun and carried on from the fall of man ; a great
ftep taken in divine providence towards a preparation
for Chrifl's coming; into the v^'orld, and working out his
great and eternal redemption : for this was the people of
whom Chrifl: was to come, And now we may fee how
that plant flouriflied that God had planted in Abraliam.
Though the family of which Chrift was to come, had
been in a degree feparated from the vefl of the world
before, in the calling of Abraham, yet that feparation
appeared not to be fufKcient. For though by that they
were kept as llrangers and fojourners, and from being-
united with other people in the fame political focieties ;
yet they remained mixed among them, by which means,
as it had proved, they were in danger of wholly loling
the true religion, and of being over-run with the idolatry
of their neighbours. God now, therefore, by his redemp-
tion, feparated tiicm as a nation from all other nations,
to fubfiil by tliemfeives in their own political and ecclefiaf-
tical ftate, without having any concern with the heathen
nations, that they might fo be kept fcparate till Chrifl;
fhould come ; and fo that the church of Chrill: might
be upheld, and might keep the oracles of God, till that
time ; that in them might be e>ihibited thofe types and
prophecies of Chrifl:, and thclb hiftories, and other divine
inftruC"
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 171
inflnnSlions, that were neceflary to prepare the way for
Chrift's coming.
2. As this people were feparated to be God's peculiar
people, fo all other people upon the face of the whole
earth were wholly reje^led and given over to heathenifm.
This, fo far as the providence of God was concerned in it,
belongs to the great affair we are now upon, and was one
thing that God ordered in his providence to prepare the
way for Chrift's coming, and the great falvation he
was to accomplifh : it was to prepare the way for the
more glorious and fignal viilory and triumph of Chrift's
power and grace over the wicked and miferable world,
and that Clirift's falvation of the world of mankind might
become the more fenfible. This is the account the fcrip-
ture itfelf gives us of the matter. [Rom. xi. 30-— 32.] The
apoftlc there fpeaking to the Gentiles that had formerly
been heathens, fays, ' As ye in times paft have not believed
' God, yet have now obtained mercy through their tin-
' belief ; even fo have thefe alfo now not believed, that
' through your mercy they may alfo obtain mercy. For
' God hath concluded them all in unbelief that he might
' have mercy upon all.' i. c. It was the will of God, that
the whole world, Jews and Gentiles, fhould be concluded
in vilible and profefled unbelief, that fo God's mercy and
Chrift's falvation towards them all might be vihble and
fenfible. For the apoftle is not fpeaking only of that un-
belief which is natural to all God's profeftlng people as
well as others, but of that which is apparent and vifible ;
fuch as the Jews fell into, wh&n they openly rejedted Chrift.
The apoftle obfcrvcs, how that firft the Gentile nations
were included in a profeffed unbelief and open oppoution
to the true religion, before Chrift came, to prepare the
way tor the calling of the Gentiles, which was fopn after,
that God's mercy might be the more confpicuous to them ;
and that the Jews were reje6ied from the viftble church,
to prepare the way for the calling of the Jews, which
fhall be in the latter days : fo that it may be feen of all
nations, Jews and Gentiles, that they are evidently re-
(leemed by Chrift, from their being vilibly aliens from
the
172 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
the commonwealth of Ifrael, without hope, and without
God in the world.
We cannot with certainty precifely determine at what
time the apoftafy of the Gentile nations became univerfal.
It was a gradual thing, as we have already obferved. It was
general in "Abraham's time, but not univerfal : for then we
find Melchizedec, one of the kings of Canaan, was prieft
of the moft high God. [See note (y) p. 138.] And after
this the true religion was kept up for a while among fome
of the reft of Abraham's poflerity, befides the family of
Jacob and alfo in fome of the pofterity of Nahor, of which
■we have inftances in Job, his three friends, and Elihu.
'The land of Uz, where Job lived, was a land poffeffed by
the pofterity of Uz, or Huz the fon of Nahor, Abraham's
brother, of whom we read, [Gen. xxii. 21.] Bildad the
Shuhite was of the offspring of Shuah, Abraham's fon by
Keturah, [Gen, xxv. 1,2.] and Elihu the Buzite, was
of Buz, the foH of Nahor, the brother of Abraham. So
the true religion lafted among fome other people, befides
the Ifraelites, fome time after Abraham, but not long: and
it is probable that the time of their rejeilion, and being
given up to idolatry, was about the time wlien God fepa-
rated the children of Ifrael from Egypt to ferve him ; for
they are often pat in mind on that occalion, that God had
now feparated them to be his peculiar people ; or to be
diflinguiflicd from all other people upon earth, to be his
people alone ; to be his portion, when others were rejec-
ted. This feem-s to imply that God now chofe them in
fuch a manner, that his vihble choice of them was accom-
panied with a vifiblc rejection of all other nations in the
world ; that God came, and took up his refidence with
them, as it were, forfaking all other nations.
And as the firft calling of the Gentiles after Chriftcame,
was accompanied with a rejection of the Jews ; fo the firft
railing of the Jews to be God's people, when they were
railed out of Egypt, was accompanied with a rcjeiftion of
the Gentiles.
Thus all the nations throughout* the wliole world, ex-
(Cept the Ifraelites, and thofc th.it embodied themlelvcs with
them.
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 173
them, were left to idolatry ; and fo continued a great many
ages, even from this time till Chi i ft came, which was
about fifteen hundred years. They were concluded fo long
a time in unhelief, that they might be a thorough proof of
the ncceflity of a faviour ; that it might evidently appear
by fo long a trial, that mankind were utterly infufficient
to deliver themfelves from that grofs darknefs and mifery,
and fubjcition to the devil, that they had fallen under ;
that it might appear that all the wifdom of the-philofophers,
and the fages that the heathen had among them, could not
deliver them from their darknefs, for the greater glory to
Jefus Chrift, who when he came, enlightened and deli-
vered them by his glorious gofpel. Herein the wonderful
wifdom of God appeared, in thus preparing the way for
Chrift's redemption. This the fcripture teaches us, [as
in I Cor. i. 21 ] * For after that, in the wifdom of God,
* the world by wifdom knew not God, it pleafed God
' by the fooliflmefs of preaching to fave them that be-
' lieve.'
3. The next thing done towards the work of redemp-
tion is God's giving the moral law in fo awful a manner
at mount Sinai. This was another new thing that God
did, a new ftep taken in this great affair. [Deut. iv. 33.]
' Did ever a people hear the voice of God fpcaking out
' of the midft of iire, as thou haft heard, and live ?' And
it was a great thing, whether we conllder it as a new ex-
hibition of the covenant of works, or given as a rule of
life.
The covenant of works was here exhibited to be as a
fchoolmafter to lead to Chrift, not only for the ufe of that
nation in the ages of the Old Teftamcnt, but for the ufe
of God's church tiiroughout all ages of the world, as an
inftrument that the great Redeemer makes ufe of to con-
vince men of their fin and mifery, and helplefs ftate, and
of God's awful and tremendous majefty and juftice as a
lawgiver, and to make men fcnllble of the neceffity of
Chrift as a faviour. The work of redemption, in its fav-
ing effecl on men's fouls, in all the progrefs of it, is not
carried on without the ufe of this law.
It
J74 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
It was given in an awful manner, with a terrible voicey
fo exceedingly loud, that all the people which were in the
camp trembled ; and Mofes himfelf, though fo intimate a
friend of God, yet faid, ' I exceedingly fear and quake ;'
[Heb. xii. 21.] the voice being accompanied with thun-
ders and lightnings, the mountain burning with fire and
the earth itfslf fhaking and trembling ; (l) to make all
fenfible how great that authority, power, and juflice was,
that flood engaged to exatSl the fulfilment of this law,
and how terrible his wrath will be againft every breaker
of it ; that men, being fenfible of thefe things, might have
a thorough trial of themfelves ; prove their own hearts ,
know how impoffible it is for them to have falvation by
the
( L ) The law accompanied 'wUh thunders.]
*' Thus while the labouring angel fwell'd the found.
And rent the llcies, and (hook the ground,
Up rofe th' Almighty ; round his fapphire feat
Adoring thrones in order fell ;
The leffer powers at diftance dwell,
And cad their glories down fiicceflive at his feet :
Gabriel the great prepares his way,
* Lift up your heads, eternal doors,' he cries ;
Th' eternal doors his word obey,
Open and flioot celeftial day
Upon the lower flcies.
Heav'n's mighty pillars bow'd their head, •
As their Creator bid.
And down Jehovah rode from the fuperior fphere,
A thoufand guards before, and myriads in the rear.
His chariot was a pitchy cloud.
The wheels befet with burning gems ;
The winds in harnefs with the flames
Flew o'er th' ethereal road :
Down thro' his magazines he pad
Of hail, and ice, and fleecy fnow.
Swift roll'd the triumph, and as fail
Did hail, and ice, in melted rivers flovi'.
The day was mingled with the niglit,
His feet on folid darknefs trod.
His radiant eyes proclaim'd the God,
And fcatter'd dreadful light ;
He breath'd, and fulphur ran, a fiery fl:ream :
He fpoke, and (tho' with unknown fpeed he came)
Chid the flow tempcft, and the lagging flame."
[Watts' Horse Lyr. p. 35.3
FROM M.OSES TO DAVID. ty^
the works of the law, and fee the abfolute ncceflity they
flood in of a mediator. ^
If we regard this law not as the covenant of works,
but as a rule of life ; fo it is made ufe of by the Redeem-
er, from that time to the end of the world, as a dire6tcry
to his people, to lliew rhem the way in which tliey muft
walk, if they would go to heaven: for a way of iincere
and univerfal obedience to this law is the narrow wav tliat
leads to life, (m)
4. The next thing obfervable in this period, was
God's giving the typical law, in which I fuppofe to he
included moll: of thofe precepts which were given by
Mofes, that did not pi'operly belong to the moral: not
only thofe laws that are commonly called ceremonial,
which are the laws prefcribing the ceremonies and cir-
cumftances of the Jewiili worlhip, and their ecclefiaftical
Hate; but alfo many, if not all thofe divine laws that
were political, and for regulating the Jewifli common-
wealth, commonly called judicial ; thefe were many of
them typical. The giving this typical law was another
great thing that God did in tliis period, tending to build
up this glorious llrufture of redemption that he had been
carrying on from the beginning of the world. There
A a had
(m) The laiu not a covenant of works.] " The decalogue
or ten commandments uttered by the voice of God himfclf, is an
abftraft of that original law under which man was created, but
publifhed in a prohibitory form, the Ifraelites, like the reft of
mankind, being depraved by fin, and ftrongly inclined to the com-
miffion of c\t\-y evil. This law could not be defigned as a cove-
nant, by obedience to which man (hould be juftified,- for long be-
fore this the gofpel had been preached to Abraham, [Gal. iii. 8.]
♦ bu.t the law entered that fin might abound,' [Rom. v. 20.] that
the extent, evil, and the defert of fin might be known ; for it
reaches to the moft hidden thoughts of the heart, requires abfo-
lute and perpetual obedience, and denounces a curfe upon all who
continue not therein .... Believers of old were relieved from the
moral law by the facrifices which pointed to Chrift ; believers un-
der the gofpel are relieved by a direft application of * the blood of
' the covenant.' Both renounce any dependance on the moral
law for juftification, and both accept it as a ride of life, in the
hands of a Mediator, and arc enabled to yield a fincere, though
not a perfeft obedience." [Vjgil.]
176 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
had been many typical events of providence before, that
reprefented Chrift and his redemption ; and fome typical
ordinances, as particularly thofe two of facrifices and cir-
cumcillon: but now, inrtead of reprefenting the great Re-
deemer in a few inftitutions, God gives fortli a law full of
nothing elfe buf various and innumerable typical repre-
fentations of good things to come, by which that nation
were diredled how, every year, month, and day, in their
religious a6lions, and in their condu6l of themfelves, in
all that appertained to their ecclefiaftical and civil ftate, to
ihow forth fomething of Chrilt ; one obfervance fliowing
one thing, exhibiting one do6lrine, or one benefit , ano-
ther, another : fo that the whole nation by this law was,
as it were, conftituted in a typical ftate. Thus tlie gofpcl
was abundantly held forth to that nation ; fo that there is
fcarce any do6lrine of it, but is particularly taught and
exhibited by fome obfervance of this law ; though it was in
lliadows, and under a vail, as Mofes put a vail on his face
when it ihone. (n)
To
(n) The go/pel revealed in the T-^v'e.s.'] We have already con-
fidered feveral of the types, and fhall conlider others as they occur.
This note is intended to prove that the ancient Jews themfelves
confidered them in the fame point of view.
1. It muft occur to every thinking perfon, ihafmere ceremonies
could not of themfelves ever form any very acceptable fervices to
that ' God who is a fpirit, and who loves to be worfliipped in fpirit
' and in truth;' and that, unlefs fomething farther was defigned,
many parts of the Jewilh ritual muft appear very childifli, others
very ridiculous, and fome very cruel. There feems nothing in the
wearing of fringes or ringing of bells ; in waters of purification
or perfumes of incenfe ; much lefs in the flaughtering of hundreds
or thoufands of harmlefs animals ; I fay, there feems nothing in
thefe, in themfelves confidered, that appears worthy the appoint-
ment of a wife and holy God, or the obfervation of great and good
men. Thefe refleftions would naturally lead them to fufpeft fome-
thing typical muft be intended.
2. This idea would be confirmed by confidering the particular
cxaftnefs required in thefe fervices ; with the penalties inflifted on
tranfgreflion. Upon any other hypGthefis it would be difficult, if
not impoffible to account for fo many being flain for looking into
the ark, afpiring to the priefthood, &c. or for Mofes being fo
ftriaiy
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 177
To this typical law belong all the precepts that relate to
building the tabernacle, which was fet up in the wildernefs,
and all the form, circumftances, and utenfils of It.
c. About this time was given to the church the firll
written word of God for the regulation of the faith, wor-
fhip, and pradi' e of his church in all ages, which was
incrcafcd f;oiri rnne to time till it was finiOied, and the
canon of fcripture completed, by the apoflle John. It is
A a 2 not
ftriftly charged to make * all things according to the pattern exhi-
' bited in the mount.' [Heb. viii. 5.]
3. We have already feen in fome inflances, as in Abraham's
offering up his fon Ifaac, and long before, in the facrifice of Abel,
that the Old Teftament faints really had fuch views ; and other
inflances will occur in the profecutien of our fubjeft.
4. Agreeable to this idea we find the piophets commonly fpoke
in figurative language, and accompanied it by typical and fymbo-
lical aftions ; as we fee in Ifaiah [xx.] Jeremiah [xiii. i — 11. J
Ezekiel [iii. i — 4.] and others. This mull encourage and con»
firm fuch a method of interpretation.
5. We Chriflians have the mofl unequivocal alTertions of this in
the New Tellament. The law is called a ' fhadow of good things
' to come.' [Heb. x. i.] And the whole Epiflle to the Hebrews,
and great part of that to the Galatians, is written to piove and il-
lullrate this very point.
6. We are particularly told that the law was ' a fchoolmafler to
* kad unto,' to point out the neceffity, excellency, and fuitable-
nefs of ' Chrift,' [Gal. iii. 24.] And that the Jewifh church under
this difpenfation, is to be confidered as a minor under tutors and
governors. [Gal. iv. 2.] We have a method of teaching our chil-
dren their letters by the ufe of certain pictures affixed to them, the
more flrongly to imprefs them on their minds : [as A, an Apple,
B, a Book, Sec. So probably the old Hebrews K an Ox, 3 a Houfc,
&c. See Sharp^s Origin of Languages.] A method fomewhat
fimilar to this the Lord feems to have taken with his ancient people.
Now, as he would not be thought a wife inftruclor who taught his
little pupils the pictures without the letters, how fiiall wejullify the
wifdom of God in teaching the Jews thefc ceremonies, without
their meaning and defign ?
7. Some even of the modern Jews have dropt hints of fuch a
defign, particularly Rab. Mniachem on the pafchal lamb, though
they acknowledore tlieir ignorance of the myilery, " until the fpirit
from above fluill Ixe poured out upon thc-m." [Ainfw. in Lev. i. 2.]
The typical import of the tabernacle and itu furniture, and how-
far believers might fee tht fufferings of ChriR in the ancient facri-
fices, will be confidered in a fubfcqnent note, [L N-l
lyg HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
not very material whether the firft written word was the
ten commandments written on the tables of ftone with the
finger of God, or the book of Job ; nor whether the book
of Job was written by Mofes, as fome fuppofe, or by Elihu,
as others, (o) If it was written by Elihu, it was written
before this period ; but yet could not be far from it, as ap-
pears by confidering whofe pofterity the perfons were that
are fpoken of in it, [fee above, p. 172.] together with Job's
great age, which was paft before this was written.
The written word of God is the main inftrument
Chrift has made ufe of to carry on this work of redemp-
tion in all ages fmce it was given. There was a necef-
fity now for the word of God being committed to writing
as a ftanding rule to his church. Before this, the church
had the word of God by tradition, either immediately
from eminent men that were infpired, who were then
living, or elfe by tradition from former generations,
which might be had with tolerable certainty in ages pre-
ceding this, by reafon of the long lives of men. Noah
might converie with Adam, and receive traditions from
him ; and Noah lived till about Abraham's time : and
the fons of Jacob lived a conliderable time to deliver the
revelations made to Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, to their
poflerity in Egypt, (p) But the diftance from the begin-
ning
(o) Whether the booh of Job tuas 'ujntien ^^ Moses.] The
learned feem now pretty well fatisficd that the book of Job is an
Hebrew poem, written in a dramatic or colloquial form, (as ir. So-
lomon's fong) and generally give it to Mofes, as the moft probable
author: but whether he wrote it from a facl within his obfervation
daring his exile from Egypt, whether from traditional records, or
had the fafts, as well as afTiftance to record them, immediately
from God, is not fo generally agreed, [See Bp. Lo'wthh PrKleft.
de Sacra Poefi Heb. praeleft. xix. PoU. Syr.. Crit. in ch. i. — Theo-
leg. Rcpof vol. i. page 70.] [U. S.]
(p) The LONGEVITY of the patriarchs. '\ Our author's general
remaik of the few hands that might convey traditions through a
great number of years is certainly juil : 'but here is a fmall mif-
take in the chronology, which in all probability would never have
been printed, had our author lived to have been his own editor.
He
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 179
nlng was now become fo great, and the lives of men fo
fliortencd, (being brought down to tlie prefent ftandard
about
He alTerts that * Noah might converfc with Adam ; but it appears
from the following table, and the authorities there referred to,
that Adam died above an hundred years before Noah was bom.
I'ears of the luorld.
I, Adam created.
130, Gen. V. 3. at 130 years old Adam begat Seth,
235, 6. at 105 Seth begat Enos.
325, 9. at 90 Enos begat Cainan.
39 J, 12. at 70 Cainan begat Mahalaleel.
460, 15. at 65 Mahalaleel begat Jared.
622, 18. at 162 Jared begat Enoch.
687, 21. at 65 Enoch begat Methufelah.
874, 25. at 187 Methufelah begat Lamech.
930, 5. Adam died.
1056, 28. at 182 years old Lamech begat Noah.
The above calculation is according to the Hebrew text : if, In-
deed, we admit the Samaritan readings, the fa6l may be granted,
[fee Univ. Hiit. vol. i. page 146.] but as our author has every
where elfe followed the Hebrew copies, it is very unlikely he
meant hereto deviate from them, without giving any intimation
of it.
Let us now indulge a reflexion or two on the faft thus ftated.
Though not with Noah, yet Adam might converfe with Lamech,
Noah's /ather, — Lamech, with Shem, his own grandfon, — and
Shem, (though not Noah) with his defcendant Abram, and even
Ifaac. Thus four perfons might by tradition convey the fubftance
of divine revelation through more than two thoufand years, which
would, at the prefent ftandard of human life, on a moderate com-
putation, require forty. Now as the lives of men decreafed, tra-
dition would naturally become more corrupted and uncertain, the
more hands it pafFed through ; therefore to prevent the confe-
quences of this, God was pleafed by Mofes to give a written reve-
lation. In this we may admire the wifdom and goodnefs of God,
who fuits his favours to our circumftanccs and neceflities.
There is fomething venerable in ago, and the grey hairs of four-
fcore or an hundred years command refpedl and attention. And
in the few inftances in which mr.nkind exceed that age, with the
prefervation of their memory and other faculties, how inflru£cive
is their converfation ! With what plcafurc, then, might Lamech
hear from Adam the ftory of his eai ly life, the hiftory of his firft
fons, and the various revolutions of almcft a thoufand years ; and
with no lefs fatisfaftion, poffibly, might Abraham receive from
81iem the wonderful hiitory of the flood and re-peopling of the
earth ;
i8o HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
about Mofes's time,) that God having now feparated a na-
tion to be a peculiar people, partly for that end to be the
keepers of his oracles, faw it to be a needful and conve-
nient time now to commit his word to writing, to remain
throughout all ages, (q^) And therefore, befides the book
of Job, God wrote the ten commandments on tables of
flone, with his own finger ; and after this the whole law,
as containing the fubflance of the five books of Mofes, was
by his fpecial command committed to writing, which was
called the book of the law, and was laid up in the taber-
nacle, to be kept there for the ufe of the church. [Deut.
xxxi. 24— -26.]
6. God was pleafed now wonderfully to reprefent the
progrefs of his redeemed church through the world to
their eternal inheritance, by the journey of the children
ot Ifrael through the wiidernefs, from Egypt to Canaan.
Here
earth : but the grand fubjeft of their inquiiy would doubtlefs be,
the gradual and increafing difcoveries of the divine will : the facrcd
vifions, prediftions, and types ; the inveftigation of which muft
afford, to fanftified minds, peculiar delight and comfort.
One of the moft barren parts of facred writ, (if we may fo fpeak)
feems to be the lift of lives and deaths in fome of the firft chap-
ters of Genefis ; hut this is owing to our own inattention and
fupinenefs ; as appears from the following anecdote, mentioned
by Mr. Hervey :
" A certain libertine, of a moft abandoned charafter, happened
accidentally to ftroU into a church, where he heard the 5th chap-
ter of Genefis, importing that fo long lived fuch and fuch perfons,
and yet the conclufion was they died — ' Enos lived 905 years, and
' he died — Seth, 912, and he died — Methufelah, 969, and he died.'
The frequent repetition of the words, he died, notwithftanding the
great length of years they had lived, ftruck- him fo deeply with
the thought of death and eternity, that (through divine grace)
he became of an infamous libertine, a moft exemplary Chriftian."
llfervey's Letters, No. 147.] [N. U.]
(q^) God's tvord comimHed to 'Loriiing.'] Our author alludes here
to the pentateuch, or five firft books of the Old Teftament, which
are nowuniverfally afcribed to Mofes on the moft fatisfaftory evi-
dence. The enemies of revelation have indeed objefted to fome
pafTages which fpeak of the death and charafter of Mofes, but thefe
may eaiily be fuppofed the fuppleijient of a later prophet (perhaps
Ezra) without afteding the general queftion. [U. S.J
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. iSi
Here all the various fteps of the redemption of the church
by Chrirt were reprefentcd, from the beginning to its
confummation in glory. — The ftate they arc redeemed
from, is reprefentcd by Egypt, and their bondage there,
which they left.— The purchafe of their redemption, was
reprefentcd by the facrifice of the pafchal lamb, which
was offered up the night that God flew all the firft-bonl
of Egypt.— The beginning of the application of the re-
demption of Chrift's church in their converfion, was re-
prefentcd by Ifrael's going out of Egypt, and paflTmg
through the Red Sea in fo extraordinary and miraculous a
manner.— The travel of the church through this evil
world, and the various changes through which the church
paffes, in the different ftages of it, was reprefentcd by
the journey of the Ifraelitcs through the wildernefs. —
The manner of their being condu£ted by ChrilT:, was re-
prefentcd by the Ifraelitcs being led by the pillar of cloud
by day, and the pillar of fire by night.— The manner of
the church's .being fupported in their progrcfs, and fup-
plied from the beginning to the end of it, with fpiritual
food, and continual daily communications from God, was
reprefentcd by God's fupplying tlie cliildren of Ifrael with
bread, or manna, from heaven, and water out of the
rock.— The dangers that the faints m.uft meet with in
their courlc through the world, were reprefentcd by the
fiery flying ferpents which the children of Ifrael met with
in the wildernefs. — The conflicts the cimrch has with
her enemies, were reprefentcd by their battle with the
Amalekites, and others they met with there.— And fo
innumerable other things might be mentioned, wherein
the things they met with were lively images of things
which the church and faints meet with in all ages of the
world. That thefe were typical of things that pertain
to the Chrifl;ian church, is manifefl: from i Cor. x. ii.
* Now all thefe things happened unto them for enfamplcs^
' and they were written for our admonition, upon whom
* the ends of the world are come.' Here the apoftle is
fpeaking of thofe very things which we have now con-
fidercd,
i82 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
fidered, and he fays expreffly, that they happened unto
them for types ; fo it is in the original.
y, Another thing muft not be omitted, which was a
great and remarkable difpenfation of Providence, viz, the
fhortening the days of man's life, whereby it was brought
down from being between nine hundred and a thoufand
years, to but about feventy or eighty. The life of man
began to be ihortened immediately after the flood : it was
brought down the firft generation to fix hundred years, and
the next to between four and five hundred years ; and fo
the life of hiain gradually grew fliorter and fliorter, till
about the time of the great mortality that was in the con-
gregation of Ifrael, after they hid murmured at the report
of the fpies, and their carcafes fell in the wildernefs,
whereby all the men of war died ; and then the life of
man was reduced to its prefent flandard, as Mofes obferves
in that pfalm that he wrote on occafion of that mortality :
[Pfalm. xc. 10.] ' The days of our years are threefcore
* years and ten ; and if by reafon of ftrength they be four-
* fcore years, yet is their ftrength labour and forrow : for
* it is foon cut off, and we fly away.'
This great difpenfation of God tended to promote the
grand defign of the redemption of Chrift. Man's life
being cut fo very Ihort in this world, prepared the way
for poor, mortal, Hiort-lived men, the more joyfully to
entertain the glad tidings of everlafting life in another
world, and more readily to embrace a Saviour, who pur-
chafes and offers fach a bleflSng. If men's lives were dill
commonly about nine hundred years, how much lefs
would they have to move them to regard the proffers of a
future life ; how much greater temptations would they
have to reft in the things of this world, they being of
fuch long continuance, and to negle6l any other life but
this ? This probably contributed greatly to the wicked-
nefs of the antediluvians. But now how much greater
motives have men to feek redemption, and a better life
than this, by the great Redeemer,- fmce the life of man
is not one twelfth part of what it. ufed to be, and men
now
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 183
now univerfally die at the age when men formerly ufed to
he but, as it were, fetting out in the world ?
8. The fame work was carried on in preferving that
people, of whom Chrift was to come, from totally pe-
rilliing in the wildernefs, by a conftant miracle of forty
years continuance. I obferved before many times, how
God prelerved thofe of whom the Redeemer was to pro-
ceed in a very wondertul manner; but this prefervation
of the children of Ifrael for fo long a time in the wilder-
nefs was, on fome accounts, more remarkable than any of
them. There was, as may be fairly computed, at hrft two
millions of fouls in that congregation, which muft have
perillicd in Icfs tlian one month's time, had they not
been miraculoully lupplied. But yet this vafl; multitude
fubfifted for forty years together, in a dry barren wilder-
nefs, without fo-vving or reaping, or tilling any land,
having their bread daily rained down to them out of hea-
ven, and being furnifhcd with water to fatisfy them all,
out of a rock ; and the fame cloaths with which they came
out of Egypt, lailing, without wearing out all that time.
[Deut. viii. iv.] Never was an inflance like this of a nation
being thus fupporied and fupplied. (rj
Bb 9. God
(r) Never ivas an tnjlance like this.'] Wonderful providence In-
deed ! But not lefs wonderful is the gracious provifion that the
Lord has made for all his people. Had they manna rained from
the ficies ? We have the true bread v/h.\c\\ came down from heaven.
Were they alfo miraculouOy fupplied •w'lihjlejh ? The Son of God
feeds us with his oivn, infinitely more precious, flefh and blood.
Did the rock fupply their drink ? So doth the rock of ages ours.
Did not their raiment wear old? Behold, the bell, the everlalling
robe of righteoufnefs with which the Lord cloaths his elect peo-
ple! Finally, did not their feet fwcll, fo as to impede their jour-
ney ? The Lord has provided us with fandals which the thorns of
the wildernefs cannot penetrate ; and prepared with the gofpel of
peace, we need not fear our journey being impeded. But, to de-
fcend to temporal concerns; doth not the Lord ilill feed and cloath
his people, and afford them every neceffary fupply? And is net
the promife Hill faithful and true, < They that feek the Lord Ihall
• not wantany good thing?' [Pf. xxxiv. 10.] Let the timorous
believer be then encouraged and joyfully fing on his way :
" Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
*' Pilgrim, through this barren land," Sec. [U.U.]
i84 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
g. God was pleafed during this time, to give a farther
revelation of Chrift the Redeemer in the predi6lions of
him, than had been before. Here arc three propliecies
given at this time that I wouJd take notice of. The firiT:
is that of Balaam. [Numb. xxiv. 17 — 19.] ' I ihall fee
* him, but not now; I ihall behold him, but not nigh ;
* there fhall come a ftar out of Jacob, and a fceptre fhall
' rife out of Ifrael, and fhall fmite the corners of Moab,
' and deftroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom ihall
* be a poiTeiTion, Seir alfo fliall be a pofTeiTion for his
' enemies, and Ifrael fliall do valiantly. Out of Jacob
' ihall come he that ihall have dominion, and fliall de-
' flroy him that remaineth of the city.' (s) This is a
plainer
(s) The prophecy of "Q Ah A k^i.'] "Wonderful as the gift of
prophecy is, it was not always (as Bp. Newton obferves) con-
fined to the chofen feed, nor yet always imparted to the heft of
men." Balaam is a proof of this, who was neither an Ifraelite nor
a good man; however, he acknowledged the God of Ifrael, and
profefTed to be his fervant; [Numb. xxii. 8 — 18.] his worihip was
debafed v/ith fiiperftition and enchantments; [Numb. xxiv. i. —
xxxii. 12.] and his heart loted * the wages of unrighteoufnefs.'
[2 Pet. ii. 15.] And when the Lord would not fuffer him to curfe
his people, he contrived to pervert them to idolatry and unclcan-
nefs. [Rev. ii. 14.]
It is obfervable, that it was a cuilom among the heathens to de-
vote their enemies to deftruftion at the commencement of their
wars ; and Balaam being a prophet of great note, Balak fuppofed
him to have peculiar intereil with heaven. — ' I wot that he whom
' thou bleCTeft is bleiTed, and he whom thou curfeft is curfed.*
[Numb. xxii. 6.]
But the ilrangeft part of the hiftory is that of Balaam's afs
fpeaking with a man's voice. Stories of this kind have been current
among the heathen, and might probably originate from a tradition
of this event. But however extraordinary tlie fafi:, the fcripture
attributes it to a fufficient caufe : ' The Loid opened the mouth
* of the afs.' [Numb. xxii. 28.] There is no neceiTity, however,
to give the animal a human underftanding, without that he might
utter the found of words (as parrots may be taught to do,) and
this is all the facred hiilorian afferts.
But we are to contemplate a greater miracle than this : the ani-
mal fpake unconfcioufly, but Balaam tvas over-ruled to blefs where
he gladly would have curfcd. And the preceding miracle was
probably defigned to teacli how much the mouth and tongue were
wnder God's direflion, and the folly of oppofing the divine will.
But
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 185
plainer prophecy of Chrift, efpecially with regard to his
kingly office, than any that had been before. But we
B b 2 have
But to advert to the prophecy itfelf ; of which we fhall only con-
fider the paflage quoted by our author : ' I fhall fee him, but not
* now ; I fliall behold him, bat not nigh.' This Bp. Newton
trandates in the prefent tenfe, and refers to Moab ; but with de-
ference to fo great an authority, we fhould rather adhere to the
prefent tranflation, which is more literal, and refer it, with the
following claufcs, to the Meffiah, [t^?, Ainjtvorth and Dr. GiU do)
whom at his fecond coming ' every eye fhall fee.' [Rev. i. 7.
Compare Job xix. 26.]
' There fhall come a (lar out of Jacob, and a fceptre fhall arife
* out of Ifrael.' The ftar and fceptre were probably hieroglyphics
of a prince and of a god, as we fliall fee prefently. ' And fliall
' fmite the corners (or princes) of Moab.' This was fulfilled by
David, who * fmote Moab and the Moabites became
* David's fervants.' [2 Sam. viii. 2.]
* And deflroy all the children of Sheth :' If by Sheth is here
intended the fon of Adam, it includes all mankind, this being the
only line preferved at the flood ; and thofe who fo underftand it,
tranflate tlie words * he fhall uniuall, fubdue, or rule over all the
' children of Sheth.' But the conflruftion of the paffage, and the
rules of Hebrew poetry, which abounds In parallel fentences, [fee
Bp. Lowth's Prelim. Dif. to his Tranf. of Ifaiah] flrongly incline
us to believe, that Sheth might be the name of fome town or prince
of Moab, whofe memory is now loft. This was the opinion of
Mr. Poole, and is defended by Bp. Ncivton.
* And Edom fliall be a poffcflion.' ' David put garrifons ....
* throughout all Edom,' [2 Sam. viii. 14.] * Seir [the mountains
■* of Edom] alfo fhall be a poffeflion for his enemies ;' that is, for
the Ifraelltes. ' And Ifrael fhall do valiantly,' as in the inftanccs
jufl hinted. * Out of Jacob fliall come he that fhall have dominion,
* and fhall deflroy him that rcmaineth of the city ;' not only defeat
them in the field, but purfue and deilroy them in their flrongefl
holds: * Joab fmote every male in Edom.' [i Kings xi. 15,16.3
Thus was the prophecy fulfilled in David : but mofl Jewifh as well
as Chriflian expofitors, ancient and modern, refer thefe predidtions,
in a more fublime and exalted fenfe, to the Meffiah, David's Son
and Lord. And Bp. Warburton [Divine Leg. book iv. § 4.J
obferves, that as t\\t fceptre was a popular emblem of a king, fo a
Jlar was a more myflerious hieroglypliic of tlve divinity, [fee Amos
V. 25,26.] and doubtlefs pointed to him who was both ' the mighty
* God and Prince of Peace;' [Ifa. ix. 6.] who bore the fceptre of
Judah, [fee page 161, note g] ' and is the bright and morning ftar.'
{Rev. xxii. 16.] [See Bp. Newton on the Prophecies, vol. i.
dif. 5. from whom the above is chiefly taken.] [G. E.]
jB6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
have another, that God gave by Mofes, which is plainer
flill, efpecially with regard to his prophetical office, [Deut.
xviii. 1 8, &c.] ' I will raife up a prophet from among
* ' their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words
' in his mouth, and he Ihall fpeak unto them all that I
' command him,' &c. This is a plainer prophecy of Chrift
than any that had been before, in this refpedV, that all the
former prophecies were in figurative, myflical language,
The firfl:, ' That the feed of the woman ihould break the
? ferpent's head.' — The promifes made to Abraham, Ifaac,
and Jacob, ' That in their feed all the families of the earth
' fhould be bleffed.' — The prophecy of Jacob in bleffing
Judah;— and that of Balaam, which fpeaks of Chrill: under
the figurative expreffion of ay?(7r,— were all myflical. But
this is a plain literal prophecy.
There are feveral things contained in this prophecy of
Chrift, and his mediatorial office, [ver. 16.]— Here it
is revealed that he ihould be a middle perfon between
tliem and God, a being of fuch awful majefty, holinefs,
and juftice, that they could not come to him, and en-
joy intercourfe with him immediately, without a medi-
ator to fland between them ; becaufe, if they came to
fuch a dreadful fin-revenging God immediately, they
fhould die; God would prove ' a confuming fire' to them.
And here is alfo a particular revelation of Chrift with
refpe6l to his prophetical office: ' I will raife them up a
' prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee,' &c.
And farther, it is revealed what kind of a prophet he
fhould be, a prophet like Mofes, who was the head and
leader of all the people, and who, under God, had been
their redeemer, to bring them out of the houfe of bond-
age, who was, as it were, their fhepherd by whom God
led them through the Red Sea and wildernefs, and was an
intercefTor for them with God, and both a prophet and a
king in the congregation : for Mofes had the power of
a king among them. [Deut. xxxiii. 5.] He was alfo the
prophet by whom God built up his church, and delivered
his inftru6lions of worfhip. Thus Chrift was to be a
prophet like unto Moles ; fo that this is both the plaineft
and
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 187
and fullefl: prophecy of Chrifl that ever had been from the
beginning of the world to this time, (t)
The next prophecy that I fliall take notice of, refpe6ts
only the calling of the Gentiles, which fliould be after
Chrift's coining, of which God gave a very plain prophecy
by Mofes in the wildernefs, [Deut. xxxii. 21.] They
moved God to jealoufy, by that which was not a god, by
carting him off, and taking other gods, that were no gods,
in his room. So God declares that he will move them to
jealoufy in the like manner, by cafting them off, and taking
other people, that had not been his people, in their room.
The apolUe Paul takes notice of this prophecy, as fore-
telling the calling of the Gentiles, [in Rom. x. 19, 20.]
« But I fay, did not Ifrael know ? Firft, Mofes faith, I
' will provoke you to jealoufy by them that are no peo-
' pie, and by a foolifh nation I will anger you. But
' Efaias is very bold, and faith, T was found of them that
' fought me not ; I was made manifeft to them that a{ked
' not after me.'
Thus you fee how the light of the gofpel, which firfl:
began to dawn immediately after the fall, gradually in-
creafes the nearer we come to Chrifi's time.
10. Another tiling by which God carried on his work
at this time, was a remarkable pouring out of his fpirit
on the young generation in the wildernefs. The genera-
tion which was grown up when they came out of Egypt,
from twenty years old and upward, was very fro ward and
perverfe. They were tainted with the idolatry and wick-
ednefs
(t) j4 prophet Me unto MosEs.] Some Jewifli writers have re-
ferred this to Jofluia, but though we are told Jofliua was full of
the fpirit of vfifdom, yet the fame text [Deut. xxxiv. 9.] informs
us, ' there arofe not a prophet fince in Ifrael like unto Mofes,
* whom the Lord knew face to face ;' confequcntly Jofhua was
not fo. And in another paffage [Numb. xii. 2.] The Lord puts
a ftriking difference between Mofes, and all other prophets : The
Jews themfelves veiy ftrongly confirm this idea ; and in the New
Teftament, this prophecy is exprefsly applied to the Son of God.
[A(Ss iii. 22, 23.] * For Mofes truly faid, a prophet will the
* Lord your God raife up,' &c. [See Nciuton on the Proph.
vol. i. dif. 6.1
i88 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
ednefs of Egypt, and were not weaned from it, as the
prophet takes notice, [Ezek. xx. 6—8.] Hence they made
the golden calf in imitation of the idolatry of Egvpt, that
was wont to worihip a bull or an ox ; and therefore cattle
are called ' the abomination of the Egyptians,' i. e. their
idol. [Exod. viii. 26.] This generation God was exceed-
ing angry with, and fwore in his wrath, that they fhould
not enter into his reft. But the younger generations were
not fo ; thofe who were under twenty years old when they
came out of Egypt, and thofe born in the wildernefs, the
generation fpoken of, [Numb. xiv. 31.] ' But your little
' ones, whom ye faid fliould be a prey, them will I bring
* in ; and they fhall know the land that ye have defpifed.'
This was the generation with whom the covenant was re-
newed, (of which we have an account in Deuteronomy,)
and that entered into the land of Canaan. Thefe God
was pleafed to m.ake a generation to his praife, and they
were eminent for piety ; as appears by many things faid in
fcripture about them; as, particularly, [Jer. ii. 2, 3.]
* I remember thee, the kindnefs of thy youth, the love
* of thine efpoufals, when thou wenteft after me in the
' wildernefs, in a land that was not fown. Ifrael was
' holinels to the Lord, and the firft fruits of his increafe.'
Here the generation that went after God in the wilder-
nefs is fpoken of with very high commendations, as emi-
nent for holinefs : ' Ifrael was holinefs to the Lord, and
' the tirft fruits of his increafe.' And their love to God
is fpoken of as diftinguiihed like the love of a bride at
her efpoufals. The going after God in the wildernefs
here fpoken of, is not the going of the children of Ifrael
out of Egypt inro the wildernefs of Sinai, but their fol-
lowing God through that dreadful wildernefs, that the
congregation long wandered in, atter they went back from
Kadelh-Barnea, [Dcut. viii. 15. j ' Who led thee through
> the great and terrible wildernefs, wherein were fiery fer-
* pcnts and fcorpions, and drought, where there was no
« water.' Though this generation had a much greater trial,
than their fathers had before they «came to Kadefh-Barnea,
yet they never mr.rmured againft God in any wife, as their
fathers
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 189
fathers had done : but their trials liad a contrary effecl
upon them, to awaken, convince, and humble them, and
fit them for great mercy. They were awakened by the
awful judgments of God infli6led on their fathers, where-
by their carcales fell in the wildernefs. And God pour-
ed out his fpirit with thofe awakening providences to-
wards their fathers, and their own travel in the wilder-
nefs, and the word preached to them by Mofes ; whereby
they were made to fee the badnefs of their own hearts,
and were humbled, and at length multitudes of them
favingly converted ; [as Dcut. viii. 2, 3.] ' And thou
' flialt remember the way which the Lord thy God led
' thee thefe forty years in the wildernefs, to humble thee
* and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart,
' whether thou wouldft keep his commandments or no.'
And [ver. 15.] ' Who led thee through tliat great and
* terrible wildernefs,— that he might humble thee, and
* that he might prove thee, to do thee good at the latter
* end.' (u) And therefore it is faid, Hof. xiii. 5. ' I
' did
(u) If rael led through the nv'ildernefs to do them good.~\ Here is
the great fecret of Divine Providence. Infinite wifdom and good-
nefs is the fource of all the vicifiitudes and trials believers are called
to experience. Ifrael was led through the wildernefs, and had
many bitter trials there, but it was ' to do them good.'
Obferve, i. That pride is natural to the human heart ; and no
degree of meannefs, wretchednefs, or dependence, can exclude it.
Like fome difgufting animals, who extraiil polfon from the moil
harmlefs vegetables ; pride inflates itfelf from circumllances the
moft humiliating. Would one fuppofe that a people, after forty
years flavery at the brick kilns — after being treated as the off-
fcouring of the earth, and degraded to the very lowed degree —
fhould need the thorns of the wildernefs to humble them ?
But fuch is man !
2. The beft things are not always the pleafanteft ; but the moft
efficacious medicines are often the moft unpalatable. Ifrael, as we
have obferved, met with many painful and mortifying circum-
ftances in the defcrt, but it was to do them good. Humbling
providences are often our greateft mercies.
3. Mercies are doubly fweet when intermingled with trials.
Contrafts produce great effefts in nature ; and it is by comparilon
with other objetts we form our mofl correifl ideas of the excellent
and beautiful. So pain and ficknefs teach the value of health and
eafe ;
190 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
' did know thee in the wildernefs, in the land of great
• drought.' God allured them, and hrought them into the
wildernefs, and fpake comfortably to them, as it was fore-
told that he would do afterwards. [Hof. ii. 14.]
Thofe terrible judgments that were executed in the
congregation after their turning back from Kadefh-Barnea,
in the matter of Korah, and Peor, were chiefly on the
old generation, whom God confumed in the wildernefs.
Thofe rebellions were chiefly among the elders of the con-
gregation, that God had given up to their hearts luft ; and
they walked in their own counfels, and God was grieved
with their manners forty years in the wildernefs.
' But that this younger congregation were eminent for
piety, appears by all their hiftory. The former generation
were wicked, and were followed with curfes ; but this was
holy, and wonderful bleffings followed them. God did
great things for them ; he fought for them, and gave them
the polTeffion of Canaan. And it is God's manner, when
he hath any fpecial mercy to beflow on a vifible people,
firll:, to fit them for, and then to bellow it on them. So
here, they believed in God, and by faith overcame Sihon
and Og, and the giants of Canaan ; and are commended
for cleaving to the Lord: [Jo(h. xxiii. 8.] Jolhua fays
unto them, ' Cleave unto the Lord, as ye have done unto
* this day.' And fo Ifrael did all the while that genera-
tion lived. But when Jolhua and all that generation were
dead, there arofe another that knew not the Lord. This
pious generation fliowed a laudable and fervent zeal for
God in feveral inflances ; as on occafion of Achan's hn ;
but efpecially when they fufpe6led the two tribes and a
half had fet up an altar in oppofition to the altar of
burnt-offering. There never was any generation of Ifrael
of which fo much good and fo little evil is mentioned
as
eafe ; and to hunger and thirft we principally owe our rclifli for
food. Therefore it is, that the Lord mingled the cup of his peo-
ple with a contrariety of ingredients. Let us then receive it thank-
fully, with this confolation, that the fweetnefs of our comforts will
remain when every tafte of bitternefs is loll and forgot for ever.
[U. U.]
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 191
as this. It is farther obfervablc, that in the time of this
generation was the fccond general circumcifion, whereby
the reproach of Ifrael was fully rolled away, and they be-
came pure ; and when afterwards they were polluted by
Achan, they purged themfelves again. [Jolh. vii. 19—
26.] (\v)
The men of the former generation being dead, and
God having fanftified this to himfelf, he folemnly renew-
ed his covenant with them, [Deut. xxix.] We find
that fuch renovations of the covenant commonly ac-
companied any remarkable pouring-out of the Spirit,
which caufed a general reformation ; fo we i^nd it was
in Hezekiah's and Jofiah's times. But it is queftionable
whether there ever was a time when religion fo flouriilied
in the Ifraelitifli church, as in that generation; and as, in
the Chriitian church, religion was in its moft flouriihing
circumilances in the day of its efpoufals, in the apolIJe's
time, fo it feems to have been with the Jewifli church
in the days of its hrft eftabliihment in Mofes and
Joihua's.
Thus God at this time did glorioufly advance the work
of redemption, both by his word and Spirit. By tins
out-pouring of the Spirit of God, the work of redemption
was promoted, not only as it was in itfclf a glorious in-
ftance of the application of it, but as this was what God
made ufe of as a means of eftablifliing the church of
Ifrael at its firil beginning, when it was fettled in the
regular obfervance of God's ordinances in Canaan : even
as the out-pouring of the fpirit, in the beginning of tin".
Chriftian ciiurch, was a great means God made ufe of
for the well eflabliihing it in the world in all fucceeding
ages.
C c II. The
(w) Theywere polluted by Ac H.\}i.'] Obfcrve here the dange-
rous nature of fin, \vhicli not only brings deftruftion on indivi-
duals, but on whole nations and communities ; and no fin has pro-
duced more awful confequcnccs than this of covetoufnefs, which,
indeed, is the parent of moll others. Whence flowed the blood
that has llained families — encrimfoned towns — and deluged na-
tions? From this curfed principle, which brings raifery on the
poffeffor, and ruin on all around him. [U.S.]
192 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
1 1 . The next thing I would obferve, was God's bring-
ing the people of Tfrael \inder the hand of Jofhua, and
fettling them in that land where Chrift was to be born,
and which was the great type of the heavenly Canaan,
which Chrift has purchafed. This was done by Jofliua,
who was of Jofeph's poftcrity, and was an eminent type
of Chrift, and is therefore called ' the lliepherd, the ftone
' of Ifrael,' in Jacob's bleffing of Jofeph. [Gen. xlix. 24.]
(x) Being fuch a type of Chrift, he bore the name of
Chrift. JoJJiua and jefus are the fame name, only the one
is Hebrew, the other Greek ; and therefore, in the New
Teftament, which was originally written in Greek, Joihua
is called Jefns. [A6l:s vii. 4^.] ' Which alfo our fathers
' brought in with Jefus,' i.e. JoJJiua; [Heb. iv. 8.] ' If
' Jefus, i. e. if JoJIiua had given them reft, he would not
' have fpoken of another day.'
God wonderfully poffefled his people of this land, con-
quering the former inhabitants of it, and the mighty
giants, as Chrift conquered the devil ; firft fubduing the
gieat kings of that part of the land that was on the eaftern
fide of Jordan, Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king
of Balhan ; and then dividing the river Jordan, as before
he had done the Red Sea ; caufmg the walls of Jericho to
fall down at the found of the trumpets of the priefts ; (that
typifying the found of the gofjtel by the preaching of gofpel
minifters, and the walls of the accurfed city Jericho, the
walls of Satan's kingdom ;) and after thus wonderfully de-
ftroying the mighty hoft of the Amorites under the five
kings, caufmg the fun and moon to ftand ftill, to help the
people againft their enemies, at the prayer of the typical
Jefus ;
(x) Shepherd, the Jione of Ifrael,] i.e. From Jacob defcended
Jofeph ; or, from the God of Jacob it was that Jofeph, through
Divine Providence, was fent into Eg-ypt, to be a ihepherd to feed
his father's family, and as a ftone to uphold and fupport it ; in
which he was a type of Chriit, the great and good (hepherd of
the flock, and the ftone that is laid in Zion, on which the whole
fpiritual Ifrael of God is built ; the foundation ftone on which
they aie laid and are fafe, and the corner ftone which knits them
together. [Pf. cxviii. 22.] — [Gill in loc]
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 193
Jefus ; [ Jof. X. 12.] plainly fignifying this, that God would
make the whole courfe of nature to be fubfervient to the
affair of redemption ; fo that every thing Ihould yield to
the purpofes of that work, and give place to the welfare of
God's redeemed people.
Thus did Chriffc ihow his great love to his eleft, that
he would make the courfe of nature to give place to their
happinefs and profperity ; and fliowed that the fun and
moon, and all things vifd')le and invilible, were theirs
by his purchafe. (y) At the fame time, Chrift fought as
the captain of their hoft, and call down great hailftones
upon their enemies, by which more were flain than by
the fvvord of the children of Ifrael. And after this he
gave
(y) All things are ovv.s.'] " Chriftians, God has created all
things in the world of nature with this defign, that you Hiould derive
fome benefit from them, as far as they can come within your reach,
or notice, your fervice or ufe. He appointed all things in the
couniels of his providence, to bear fome bleffing for you. He has
ordained all things in his kingdom of grace for your advantage ;
and there are unknown regions of light and glory which he has
provided for you. His elefL were ever nearell to his heart, next to
the man Chrift Jefus, next to * his only begotten Son ;' for they
were all ' chofen in him before the foundation of the world.' [Eph.
i. 4.] Whether creation or providence, whether nature, grace, or
glory, * all things are for youi fakes.' [2 Cor. iv. 15.]
*' I would caution you .... not to underftand it in fuch an
incredible fenfe, as though God made every particular creature in
the upper and the lower worlds, only to give the pofTeffion of them
to the faints ; or that he manages all his providential kingdom
merely for the fake of his own people, without any other view.
No, this is flretching the words into an extent too large and un-
reafonable ; for there arc millions of creatures, millions of plants
and animals in earth and fea, that are born, and grow, and live,
and die again, which the faints of God never favv, nor knew, nor
fliall know ; nor can they receive any immediate benefit from
them. But the meaning Is this, that all things whatfoever the
faints can or fliall have to do within this or other worlds, were
intended to yield fome profit to them ; and efpeclally while they
maintain their charafter as the children of God, and walk as be-
comes their dignity and tlieir profeflion. In all God's general
counfels of creation, and providence, and grace, he kept his eye
(as I may fay) ftlU upon his faints ; he defigned their good in ten
thoufand inllances, in his great and glorious works, and rcfolved
C c 2 that
194 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
gzve the people a mighty victory over a yet greater army
in the northern part ot the land, that were gathered to-
gether
that nothing in all his kingdoms fhould interfere with their laft and
beft intereft.
*' Though what he has written down in the book of his decrees,
is read only at large by his Son Jefus Chrift, yet he has written out
a fweet abftraci: of it in the book of his promifes, that the faints on
earth might read and know it. [Rom. viii. 28.] ' And v/e know
* that all things work together for good to them that love God ;
* to them, who are the called according to his purpofe.' It was for
their fakes the promifes were written, that they might not only
have a prefent relifh of divine bleflings, but a fweet foretaftc of
joys long to come.
" The bleflings of the children of God were numbered up, and
written down originally for them, in the book of God's everlafting
counfels : and in the book of his word has he copied out of them ;
* the bleflings of heaven from above, and of the deep from beneath ;
' the precious things brought forth by the fun,' and under the in-
fluence of the moon ; ' the chief things of the ancient mountains'
on earth, fo far as is needful for them here ; ' and the precious
' things of the everlafting hills' of paradife hereafter. [Deut.
xxxiii. 13, 14.]
" Does the great Creator and Lord of all keep the wheels of
nature in their fettled courfes? It is for the people's good ; ' The
* liars in their courfes fhall fight for Ifrael:' or does he countermand
nature in any of its motions, and bid the ' fun fl:and ftill in Gibeon,
' and the moon in the valley of Ajalon?' It is, that the armies of
his people may have long day-light to fiibduc their enemies. Hail-
ftones and thunder fliall break out of the clouds to deftroy the Ca-
naanites, when Ifrael is at war with them : but if Ifrael want bread
in the wildernefs, the clouds fliall drop down manna, and give them
bread from heaven." [Watts's Sermons, vol. iii. fer. 38.]
With refpeft to the miracle wrought by Jofliua, we beg leave
to add, there is no neceflity, from the text, to fuppofe any real
eff"e6l wrought on the bodies of the fun or moon, nor perhaps of
the eaith itfelf ; the moll natural interpretation feems to he, that
the light of the fun, and perhaps alfo of the moon blended with
it, was miraculoufly protrafted, not, it may be, on the whole he-
mifphere, but from Gibeon to Ajalon, and on the adjacent coun-
try. This is confirmed by the obfervation of fome learned men,
that the Hebrew words [ii'Di:' and m'] are never ufed flridly for
the orbs themfelves, (the language haying other words forthefe)
but for the light emitted from them. So that, in fa6^, the light
might be continued all night, and thus two days blended together,
or, as the fon of Sirach exprefles it, [Ecclef. xlvi. 4.] ' one day
* as long as two.' [Sec Pike's Phil. Sac. p. 47. and Gill on
jofli. X. 13.] • [i.N.:i
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 195
gcther at the waters of Merom, as the fand of the fea (hore,
[Jofh. xi. 4.]
12- Another thing that God did towards carrying on
this affair, was his adlually fetting up his ftated worftiip
among the people, as it liad been before inflituted in the
wilderncfs. This worfhip was appointed at Mount Sinai,
wholly in fubferviency to this great affair of redemp-
tion. It was to make way for tlie coming of Chrifl ;
and the innumerable ceremonial obfervances of it were
typical of him and his redemption. This worfliip was
chiefly inftituted at Mount Sinai ; but it was gradually
put in pradtice. It was partly fet up in the wildernefs,
where the tabernacle and its vefTels were made ; but there
were many parts of this inflituted worfhip that could not
be obferved in the wildernefs, by reafon of their unlet-
tled, itinerant ftate there : and then there were many pre-
cepts that refpe61:ed the land of Canaan, and their cities
and places of habitation there ; which therefore could
not be put in pradlice, till thev came into the land. But
pow, when this was brought to pafs, God fet up his
tabernacle in the midft of his people, as he had before
promifed them, [Lev. xxiv. 11.] ' I will fet my taber-
' nacle amongft you.* The tabernacle was fet up at Shi-
loh, [Jolh. xviii. j.J and the priefls and Levites had
their offices appointed them, and the cities of refuge were
alio appointed ; and now the people were in condition to
cbferve their feafts of the firft fruits, and their feaft of
ingathering, and to bring all the tithes and offerings to
the Lord ; and moft parts of God's worlhip were now
obferved, though f:here were fome things that were not
jill afterwards.
13. The next thing I would take notice of, is God's
wonderfully preferving the people, from this time for-
ward, when all the lualcs went up, three times in the
year, to the place where the ark was. The people of If-
rael were generally furrounded with enemies, that fought
all opportunities to deflroy, anj difpoffefs them of their
land ; and till David's time there were great numbers in
the land of the remains of the Canaanites, and the other
former
196 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
former inhabitants, that were bitter enemies to the people
of Ifrael : and thefe had from year to year, three times in
the year, a fair opportunity of over-running their coun-
try, and getting poflefTion of their cities, when all the
rnales were gone, and only the women and thofe who
were not able to go up, were left behind : yet they were
remarkably preferved throughout all generations at fuch
feafons, agreeable to the promife that God had made,
[Exod. xxxiv. 24.] ' Neither fliall any man defire thy
' land, when thou ihalt go up to appear before the Lord
* thy God thrice in the year.' So wonderfully did God
order affairs, and influence the hearts of their enemies,
that though they were fo full of enmity againft Ifrael, and
defired to difpofTefs them of their land, and had frequently
fo fair an opportunity ; yet we never read, in all their
hiflorv, of any of their enemies taking thefe opportunities
againft them. This was furely a wonderful difpenfation
of divine Providence ; to maintain and promote God's
great defign of redemption.
14. God's preferving his church and the true religion
from being wholly extindl in the frequent apoftafies of
the Ifraeliies in the time of tlie Judges. How prone was
that people to forfake the true God, who had done fuch
wonderful things for them, and to fall into idolatry i And
how did the land, from time to time, feem to be almoft
over-run with it ! But vet God never futFered. his true
worfhip to be totally rooted out : his tabernacle ftood, the
ark was preferved, the book of the law was kept from
being deftroyed, God's pricfthood was upheld, and God
flill had a church among the people ; and time after
time, when religion was come to the laft extremity, then
God granted a revival, and fent fome angel, or raifed
up fome eminent perfon, to be an inftrument of their
reformation.
i^. God's preferving that nation from being deftroyed?
and delivering them from time to time, although they were
fo often fubdued and broi'ght under the dominion of their
enemies. It is a wonder, not only that the true religion
was not wholly rooted out, and fo the church deftroyed
that
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 197
tliat way ; but alfo that the very nation in which that
church was, was not utterly deftroyed. One while they
were fubdued by Chuflian-riihataim king of Mefopotamia,
another while under the Moabites; they were fold into
the hand of Jabin king of Canaan ; they were brought
under the dominion of the Midianites ; were forely dif-
trefled by the children of Ammon; and afterward by the
Philillines. But yet God, in all thefe dangers, prefcrved
them from being wholly overthrown ; and from time to
time, when it was come to extremity, and they were upon
the very brink of ruin, God raifed up a deliverer, [Deut.
xxxii. 36.] ' For the Lord ihall judge his people, and
* repent himfelf for his fervants ; when he feeth their
* power is gone, and there is none fluU up or left.'
Thefe remarkable difpenfations of Providence are fet
forth in a lively and elegant manner in the cvith Pfalm.
Thefe deliverers that God raifed up from time to time
were all types of Chrift, the great Redeemer of his church ;
and fome of them very remarkably fo ; as, particularly,
Barak, Jephthah, Gideon, Samfon, in many particulars ;
efpecially in the a6ts of Samfon, as might be ihown, were
it not that this would take up too much time, (z)
16. It
( z ) Inftead of running through the various particulars in which
thefe worthies may be fuppofcd to have typified the Redeemer, it
may be more ufeful to fubjoin the following remarks on typical
charaftcrs in general :
** I. In order to conftitute a proper type it is by no means
necefTary, that the perfon who anfwers tliis important purpofc
fliould poflefs perfect moral qualities ; were this requifite, who
ever was worthy to rcprefent the Son of God ? .... It will
follow,
" 2. That the comparifon is not to be ftatcd and purfued
through every particular incident of the life, and every feature of
the perfon typifying. . . .
** 3. Scripture by direft application, or by fair unftrained ana-
logy, ought therefore to lead, to regulate, and to correft all our
inquiries of this fort. . . .
" 4. ... It is of importance to inquire, whether or not the
refemblance we mean to purfue, has a tendency to promote foms
moral, praftical, pious purpofe." [Hunter's Sac. 13Iog. vol. ii.
Iecl.5.J
198 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
16. It is obfervable, that when Chrift came to manage
the affairs of his church in this period, he often appeared
in the form of that nature that he took upon him in his
incarnation. So he feems to have appeared to Mofes from
time to time, and particularly at that time when God fpakc
to him face to face, as a man fpeaketh to his friend, and
he beheld the fimilitude of the Lord [Numb. xii. 8.] after
he had befought him to (how him his glory ; which was
the mofl remarkable vifion that ever he had of Chrift.
There was a twofold difcovery that Mofes had of Chrift : .
one was fpiritual, when he proclaimed his name, ' The
* Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-fuf-
* fering, and abundant in goodnefs and truth, keeping
* mercy for thoufands, forgiving iniquity and tranfgreflion
* and fni, and that will by no means clear the guilty ; vi-
< fiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and
' upon the childrens children, unto the third and to the
* fourth generation.' [Exod. xxxiv. 6, &c.] Another was
external ; which was that which Mofes faw, when Chrift
paffed by, and put him in a cleft of the rock, and covered
him with his hand, fo that Mofes faw his back-parts.
What he faw was doubtlefs the back-parts of a glorious
human form, in which Chrift appeared to him, and in all
likelihood the form of his glorified human nature, in which
he fliould afterwards appear. He faw not his face ; for
it is not to be fuppofed that any man could fubfift under
a fight of the glory of Chrift's human nature as it now
appears.
So it was an human form in which Chrift appeared to
the feventy elders. [Exod. xxiv. 9 — 11.] ' Then went
up Mofes and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and feventy
of the elders of Ifrael. And they faw the God of If-
rael : and there was under his feet, as it were a paved
work of a fapphire-ftone, and as it weie the body of
heaven in his clearnefs. And upon the nobles of the
children of Ifrael he laid not ' his hand : alfo they
faw God, and did eat and drink.*' So Chrift appeared
afterwards to Jofhua in the form of the human nature,
[Jolh. v, 13, 14.] ' And it came to pafs when Jolhua
' was
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 199
* was by Jericlio, he life up his eyes, and looked, and be-
* hold, there ftood a man over againft him, with a fword
' drawn in his hand: and Jolhua went unto him, and
' laid unto him, Art thou for us, or for our advcrfaries ?
' And he faid. Nay, but as captain of the hoft of the
* Lord am I now come.' And fo he appeared to Gideon,
[Judg. vi. II, &c.] and fo alio to Manoah, [chap, xiii,
17—21.] ilere Chrift appeared to !Manoah in a repre-
fentation botli of his incarnation and death ; of his in-
carnation, in that he appeared in a human form ; and of
his deatii and fullcrings, reprefented by his afcending up
in the flame of the facrifice ; intimating thereby, that lie
was to be tlie great facritice, that mull: be offered up to
God for a fweet favour, in the fire of his wrath, as that kid
was burned and alcended up in the flame. Chriic thus
appeared, time after time, in the torm of that nature lie
was afterwards to afiume, becaufehe now came on the fame
delign, and to carry on the fame work, that he was to
finilh in that nature, (a) Another thing I would men-
tion,
(a) Quvi^i^T appeared 'in the human f'jrm.~\ Having repeatedly
intimated an intention of coniidciing thefe appearances in a col-
lected view, we fhall now attempt it. But to lave repetition, we
muft beg the reader to review our author's obfervations on the Di-
vine appearance to Jacob, (p. 157) and to Mofes, (p. 167) as
well as thofe mentioned under thit head, and then he will be pre-
pared to accompany us in the following remarks :
I. The divine Perlon who appears, is frequently called by the
auguit names of 'Jehovah and Elohlni, Lord and God. This is parti-
cularly obfervable in the appearances to Jacob and Mofes; we flidll
only inftance in the former. We are told, [Gen. xxxii. 24, &:c.3
* Jacob was left alone, and there wreilled a man with him until
* the breaking of the day:' whatever is the meaning of this ex-
traordinary circumilance, it is certain that Jacob was aware of
his viiltor, by his fo earnellly entreating his blefling, but more
cfpecially by his calling the name of that place Penuel, (/. e. the
face of God) becaufe he had ' feen God facj to face.' Jacob
feems to advert to this circumftance in the lall (lage of his life,
for, blefiing the fons of Jofcph, he fays, ' The angel that re-
* deemed me blcfs the lads.' But mod remarkable is a paflagc
in the Proph'-t Hofca, [ch. xii. 4.] relating to ihis circumilance;
* He had power over the angel, and prevailed:' tliis refers to his
wrelUing, which was doubtlcls a fymbolical action: 'He wept,
D d * and
200 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
tiim, clone in tliis period towards the work of redemp-
tion, is the beginning of tlie fuccefiion of prophets, and
eredling
* and made fiipplication unto him;' when he would not let him go
without a blcflir/g ; ' He found him in Bethel ; there he fpake
* with us. Even the Lord God \ Jehovah Elohiml of hofts; the
* Lord \_j'eJxjvah] is his memorial;' /. e. the name by which he
will be known. [See Otven on the Hebrews, vol. i. p. 1 18.] And
it is obfervable, that the perfon appearing in moft of thefe vifions
feems to be called promifcuoufly both the Lord and the angel of
the Lord.
2. The manner in which this angel fpeaks is very obfervable,
and fuch as no created being ought to afliime. The angel that
appeared to Hagar faid, ' I will multiply thy feed exceedingly ;'
[Gen. xvi. ic] To Abraham, ' Thou haft not withheld thy fon
' from. me\^ [Gen. xxii. 12.] And to Mofes, [Exod. iii. 4.] * I
* am the God of Abraham, Haac, and Jacob,' 5:c.
3. The perfon thus appearing receives divine honours — ' Put
* the flioes from off thy feet,' faid he to Mofes and Joftiua, ' for
' the place whereon thou ftandeft is holy ground.' The latter,
we are exprefsly told, did ivorJl.i'ip the captain of the Lord's hoft.
[See Dr. AU'ix, Judgment of the Jewifli Church, p. 234. and Bp.
Patrkh on Jofh. v. 14, 15.] Though we do not conceive, (as fome
have done) that Gideon's prcfcnt was a facrifice, yet the reafon of
the angel refufmg a facrifice from Manoah is very fingular, and
pertinent to our point, viz. that Manoah knew him not. [Judges
xiii. 16.3
4. It is very remarkable that God has fo repeatedly revealed
himfelf as a jealous God, and declared that he will not give his glory
to another. [Exod. xx. 5. Ifa. xlii. 8.] It therefore follows,
5. That this could not be a created angel. — In the angelic ap-
pearances in the Neiv Teftament we find no fuch language ; none
of the names of God are applied to them, nor do they aflume any
of his prerogatives ; and when the apoflle John offered to worfliip
one of thefe, though, it is probable, he did not intend fupreme
adoration, yet the angel refufed and forbad him. [Rev. xix. lo.j
Or if we fuppofe the apoftle meant to adore him, it muft be on a
fuppofition, that he was the Son of God, which, if it could be
proved, would very much ftrengthen our hypothefis.
Nor, 6. By the angel of the Lord mult we underftand any mere
external form in which the Deity refided, and fpake as a cloud or
flame, &c. becaufe he is called * the c'aptain of falvation,' and
generally appeared in a human form.
Neither, 7. Muft we underftand God the Father himfelf, for
our Lord exprefsly tells the Jews, that they had not at any time
either ' heard his voice, or feen hisfhape,' [John v. 37.] And
hecaufc
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 201
erefting a fchool of the prophets, in Samuel's time. There
was fomething ot this fpirit of prophecy in Uracl after
Mofes,
becaufe the fcilptiires never rcprefent the Father in any delegated
or inferior charafter.
But, 8. Thefe reprefentations perfectly agree with the account
given in fcripture of the Son of God, who is called the ' angel
' of the covenant,' [Mai. iii. i. in the Hebrew,] and perhaps the
* angel of God's prefence.' [Ifa. Ixiii. 9.]
9. It appears, that of the patriarchs and others to whom this
angel appeared, fome knew him immediately to be God himfelf,
and in general all were convinced of it after he was departed; hence
many of them faid, * We fliall die, for we have feen God.'
10. This was the univerfal opinion of the Chriilian fathers, as
has been fhewn at large by Bp. Bull, Dr. JVaterlaucI, and others ; a
fmgle palfage therefore, full to our purpofe, fhall fuffice. *' It was
Chrill who defcended into communion v.ith men, from Adam unto
the patriarchs and prophets in vifions, dreams and appearances or
reprefentations of himfelf, inilrucling them in his future condition
from the beginning: and God who converfed with men on earth,
was no other than the Word who was to be made flefli." [Tkr-
TULLiAN. See Owen on the Heb. vol. i. p. 121.3
11. Even fome of the moft eminent Jewifli writers have made
confeflions to this purpofe. So Rab. M. N. Gerundensis, of the
13th century; " This angel, if we fpcak cxaftly, is the angel the
redeemer, concerning whom it is written, * My name is in him,'
that angel who faid to Jacob, * I am the God of Bethel,' &c.
\_0'wen on the Heb. vol. i. p. 122.]
12. Moft of thefe remarks, as they go to prove that thefe ap-
pearances were of the Son of God, they no lefs prove tlie divinity
of his perfon and chara<^ler; which is the principal i"eafon of our
infifting fo largely on this fubjeft.
13. We are not however from any of thefe propofitions to Infer,
that in all the inftances of God's fpeaking under the Old Teftament,
the Son only, as diftinguiflied from the Father, was intended: this
notion would involve almoft as great difficulties as the oppoiite one
of there being a created angel, as will appear from the following
remarkable text, [Exod. xxiii. 20, 21.] ' Behold, I fend an angel
* before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the
* place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice ;
* provoke him not; for he will not pardon your tranfgrcffions: for
* my name is in him.' Thefe are evidently the wordr, of the Father
promifmg that the angel of the covenant (hould go bciore to be the
guide of Ifrael; in which we cannot but obferve, that this angel has
the peculiar attributes and prerogatives of Deity afcribcd to him.
14. To this it may be objecled, [from Exod. xxxiii. 2 — 4.]
That when God promifed to fend an angel before them, the Lord
D d 2 thveatened
20Z HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
]Mofes, before Samuel. Jofhua and many of the judges had
a degree of it. Deborah was a prophetefs : and fome of
tlie high priefls were infpired with this fpirit ; particularly
Eli : and tliat fpace of time was not wholly without in-
flances of thofe that were fet apart of God efpecially to this
office, and fo were called prophets. Such an one we read
of, [Judg. vi.8.] ' The Lord fent a prophet unto the chil-
' dren of Ifrael, which faid unto them,' &c. Such an one
he feems to have been that ^^'e read of, [i Sam. ii. 27.]
' And there came a man of God to Eli,' &c.
But there was no fuch order of men upheld in Ifrael
for any conftancy, before Samuel ; the want of it is ta-
ken notice of, [i Sam. iii. i.] ' And the word of the
' Lord was precious in thofe days ; there was no open
J vilion.' (b) But in Samaiel there was begun a fuccef-
fion
threatened that he would not go up himfelf, on which occafion the
people mourned : but the Jevvifli dotlors will furnifli us with an
caiy folutlon of this difficuhy ; for Aben Ezra obferves, [fee
GUI in loc] that this was not the angel promifed before, [chap,
xxiii.j but an in'erior one, which the Lord threatened to fend
with them Inllead of the former ; though afterwards he relented
and promifed his own prefence, which feems to be the fame as in-
tended in Ifaiah by the ' angtl of his prefence.' So Rab. Mena-
CHEM faith, " This angel is not the angel of the covenant, of whom
he fpake in the time of favourable acceptance, ' My prefence fliall
' gc; :' for now the holy bleifed God had taken away his divine
prefence from among them, and would have led them by the hand
of another angel." [-^i'-f- in Ex. xxxii. 34.]
15. Upon the whole, whenever we re.id of a divine appearance
under the Old Teftament, in which a human or angelic form was
exhibited, or fome delegated and inferior charadtcr iuilained, and
yet combined with fom.e circumftances that forbid our underftand-
ing it of a mere angel, we may fafely interpret it of the Son of God,
who thus anticipated his future humiliation, and ' whofe delights
f from the beginning were with the fons of men.' [G. E.J
( B ) The ivord of the Lord was precious /// ihof days.] " That
is, a word from the Lord in a dream or vifion directing, informing,
inllrufting, or reproving, this was very rarely had ; of late there
had been but very fcv,' inftances, and which accounts for it, why
not only the child Sanuiel knew not it was the voice of the Lord that
called to him, but £/: himfelf thought nothing of it until he l.ad
calbd a third time, fo rare and fcarce was any iullance of this kind;
and
FkOM MOSES TO DAVID. 203
fion of prophets, that was maintained continnallv from
tliat time, at leaft with very little interruption, till the
fpirit of prophecy ceafed, abo\it IMalachi's time ; and
therefore Samuel is fpoken of in the New Teflamcnt as
the beginning of the fucceflion of prophets, [A6ls iii. 24.]
• And all the prophets from Samuel, and thofe that follow
* after, as many have fpoken, have foretold of thefc days/
After Samuel was Nathan, and Gad, and Iddo, and He-
man, and Afaph, and others. And in the latter end of
Solomon's reign, we read of Ahijah ; and in Jeroboam
and Rehoboam's time we read of prophets ; and fo con-
tinually one prophet fucceetling another till the captivity.
We read of prophets as being a conllant order of men
upheld in the land in thofe days: and in the time of the
captivity there were Ezekiel and Daniel ; and after the
captivity there weie Zechariah, Haggai, and Malachi.
And becaufe God intended a conftant fucceffion of
prophets from Samuel's time, therefore now was begun a
fchool of the prophets ; that is, a fchool of young men,
that were trained up under fome great prophet, who
was their mailer and teacher in the fludy of divine things,
and the pradUce of liolinefs, to fit them for this office, as
God fliould call them to it. Thofe yo\mg men that be-
longed to thele fchools, were called the fons of the pro-
phets ; and oftentimes they are called prophets. Thefe
at firft were under the tuition of Samuel. [Sam. xix. 20.]
' And
, . . and as every thing that is fcarce and rare, is generally precious,
fo the word of God in this way alfo v.as ; and fo it is confidcred in
every view of it, as the written word of God : when there was
but little of it penned, as at this time, and few or none to teach
and inftrufl in it, Eli being old and liis fons fo vile ; or when it is
forbidden to be read, or the copies of it dcRroyed and become
fcarce, as it was in the times of Dioclefian : or when there are but
very few faithful evangelical miniitcrs of the word ; which though
it is always precious to them that have precious faith in it, the
promifcs of it being exceeding great and precious, and the truths
of it more precious than fine gold, and the grand fubjeft of it, a
precious Saviour, who is fo in his perfon, offices, blood, righteouf-
ncfs and facrifice : yet it is generally more precious when there is
a fcarcity of it, when God makes a man, a gofpel minillcr, m.cnre
precious than fine gold. [See Ifa. xiii. 12.] [Gill in loc.]
304 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* And when they faw the company of prophets prophe-
' fying, and Sajnuel {landing as appointed over them.'
The company of the prophets that we read of i Sam. x. 5.
were the fame. Afterwards we read of their being under
Elijah. Elifha was one of his fons ; but he dehred to
have a double portion of his fpirit, as his fucceflbr, as
his firfl born : as the cldell; fon was wont to have a double
portion of the eftate of his fluher ; and therefore the other
ions of the prophets, when they perceived that the fpirit
of Elijah refled on Eliflia, fubmitted themfelves to him,
and owned him for their mafter, as they had done Elijah
before; [2 Kings ii. 15.] ' And when the fons of the
* prophets which were to view at Jericho, faw him, they
' faid, the fpirit of Elijah doth reft on Elilha. And they
* bowed themfelves to the ground before him.' [See alfo
2 Kings iv. 38.]
In Elijah's and Eliflia's time, there were feveral places
where there refuled companies of thefe fons of the pro-
phets ; as there was one at Bethel, another at Jericho, and
another at Gilgal, unlefs tliat at Gilgal and Jericho were
the fame ; and poiTibly that wliicli is called the college,
where the prophetels Huldah refided, was another at jeru-
falem ; [fee 2 Kings xxii. 14.] It is there faid of Huldah
the prophetefs, that ' fhe dwelt in Jerufalem, in the col-
* lep'c.' (c) They had houfes built, where thev ufed to
dwell together ; and therefore thofe at Jericho being mul-
tiplied, and finding their houfe too little for them, defired
leave of their mafter Eli (ha, that they might go and hew
timber to build a larger. [2 King vi. i, 2.]
At fome times there were numbers of thefe fons of the
prophets in Ifrael ; for when Jezebel cut oft' the prophets
of the Lord, it is faid that Obadiaii took an hundred of
them, and hid them by fifty in a cave, [i Kings xviii. 4.]
Thefe fchoois of the proplicts being fet up by Samuel,
and afterwards kept up by fuch propliets as Elijah and
Eliftia,
(c) Huldah dnvelt in the college.] " In the college of the
prophets ; in the houfc of inftnidlon, as 'the Targum ; the fchool
where the yoiuig prophets were inllrucfed and trained up." —
fGiLL in loc.]
FROM MOSES TO DAVID. 205
EHlha, mud be of divine appointment : and accordingly
we find, tliat thofe fons o( the prophets were often fa-
voured with a degree of infpiration, while they continued
under tuition in the fchools of the prophets ; and God
commonly, when he called any prophet to the conftant
exercife of the prophetical office, and to fome extraordi-
nary fervice, took them outof thefe Ichools ;— though not
univerfally. Hence the prophet Amos, fpeaking of his
being called to the prophetical office, fays, that he was
one that had }?ot been educated in the fchools of the pro-
phets, and was not one of the fons of the prophets. [Amos
vii. 15.] But Amos's taking notice of it as remark-
able, that he Ihould be called to be a prophet that had
not been educated at the fchools of the prophets, flaows
that it was God's ordinary manner to take his prophets
out of thefe fchools ; for therein he did but blefs his own
inftitution.
Now this remarkable difpenfation of Providence, viz.
God's beginning a conftant fucceffion of prophets in Sa-
muel's time, that was to laft for many ages ; and to thai
end, eftabliHiing a fchool of the prophets under Samuel,
thenceforward to be continued in Ifrael, was in order to
promote that great affair of redemption which we are
upon. For the main bufmefs of this fucceffion of pro-
phets was to forefhow Chrift, and the glorious redemption
that he was to acconjplifh, and fo prepare the way for hii
coming. [A6ts iii. 18, 24.-— x. 43.]
As I obfcrved before, [fee p. 82.] the Old Teftament
time was like a time of night, wherein the church was
not wholly without light, but had not the light of the
fun directly, but as refle61:ed from the ftars. Now thefe
prophets were the ftars that reflected the light of the fun ;
and accordingly they fpoke abundantly of Jefus Chrift, as
appears by what we have of their prophecies in writing.
And they made it very much their bufmefs, when they
ftudied in their fchools or colleges, and elfc where, to
fearch out the work of redemption ; agreeable to what
the apoftle Peter fays of them, [i Pet. i. 10, ii-] ' Of
' which falvation the prophets have inquired, and fearch-
' ed
2o6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
' ed diligently, who prophefied of the grace that fliould
* come iinto you ; fearching what, or what manner of
* time the Spirit of Chrift that was in them did hgnify,
' when it teftitied beforehand the fufFerings of Chrift, and
* the glory that fliould follow.' (d) We are told that
the church of the Redeemer is ' built on the foundation
* of the prophets and apoftles, himfelf being the chief cor-
* ncr-ftone.' [Eph. ii. 20.]
This was the firft thing of the nature tiiat ever was done
in the world ; and it was a great thing that God did to-
Avards farther advancing this great building of redemption.
There liad been before occafional prophecies of Chrift, as
was fhovvn ; but now the time drawing nearer when the
Redeemer Ihould come, it pieafed God to appoint a certain
order of men, in conftant fuccefllon, whofe main buhnefs
it ftiould be, to foreflicw Chrift and his redemption, and
as his forerunners to prepare the way for his coming ; and
God eftablilhed fchools, wherein multitudes were inftru6l-
ed and trained up to that end. [Rev. xix. 10.] ' I am thy
* fellow fervant, and of thy brethren that have the tefti-
' mony of Jefus ; for the teftimony of Jefus is the fpirit
* of prophecy.' § V.
(d) Of ivh'ich fal'uation the prophets have inquired, y^.] This
paflage prefents us with the following important truths :
1. That the fpirit which infplred the antient prophets was the
fpirit of Chrill ; an irrefragable argument of his pre-exiilence and
divinity.
2. That as Chrift was the author, fo was he the grand fubjeft
of their prediftions ; the alpha and omega of the Bible, * The tef-
* timony of Jefus is the fpirit of prophecy', or, as fome invert the
words, ' The fpirit of prophecy is the teftimony of Jefus ;' [fo
Doddridge and Bp. Hurd.~\ ' To him give all the prophets witnefs,*
[Ads X. 43.] ' both as to his fufFerings and the glory that fliould
* follow.'
3. That the prophets had only t partial acquaintance with the
meaning of their own prediftions. It Avas not neceftary, nor in
many cafes expedient, that they fliould ftdly comprehend them,
efpecially as to the time of their accomplifhment.
4. That they eftcemed the fubjeft worthy their inquir)' and ar-
dent ftudy : * Prophets and Kings defired' to fee and hear the
thin'-'s revealed to us, [Luke x. 24.] How highly then fliould
we efteem — how deeply venerate — how ineftlniably prize thefe
difcoveries ! ' Blefled are our eyes, if they fee — and our ears, if
* they fuitably attend to them.' [J. N.]
[ 207 ]
§ V. From David to the BahyloniJJi captivity.
I COME now to the fifth period of the times of the
Old Teftament, beginning with David, and extending to
the Babylonifli captivity ; and would now proceed to fliow
how the work of redemption was therein carried en.—
And here,
The firft thing to be taken notice of, is God's anoint-
int^ that perfon who was to be the anceftor of Chrift, to
be king over his people. The difpenfations of Providence
which have been taken notice of through the lafi: period,
from Mofes to this time, refpeft the notion, but now the
fcripture-hiftory leads u:- to confider God's providence
towards that particular perfon whence Chrill: was to pro-
ceed, viz. David. It pleated God at this time remarkably
to feleft out this perfon from all the thoufands of Ifrael,
and to put a mofl honourable mark of diftinilion upon
him, by anointing him to be king over his people. It
was only God that could find him out. His father's
houfc is Ipoken of as being little in Ifrael, and he was the
voungefi: of all the fons of his father, and was leaft ex-
pedled to be the man that God had chofen, by Samuel, (e)
God had before, in the former ages of the world, remark-
ably diftinguifhed the perfons from whom Chrift was to
come ; as Seth, Noah, Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob. The
laft inftance of this was in Jacob's blcffing his fon Judah ;
unlefs we reckon Nahflion's advancement in the wilder-
nefs to be the head of the tribe of Judah. [Numb. i. 7.]
But this dilfindion in the perfon of David was very ho-
E e nourablc :
( E ) David /Z>f kajl likely to be Gael's chofen.'} " God feeih not * as
' tnanfeeth.' — Samuel was fent to choofe a king among tbe fons of
Jefle. [i Sam. xvi. 6.] When he faw Eliab, he faid, ' Surely the
' Lord's anointed is before him ;' but the Lord faid to Samuel,
[ver. 7.] ' Look not on his countenance, nor on the height ot his
* itature, becaufc I have refufed him.* Old Jefle, it may be, was
ready to look on his eldell fon too, being pleal'ed with hi* tall and
comely figure, and to fay within himfelf, ' It is a pity that Eliab
* was not made a king !' But David was God's beloved." —
[Watts's Sermons, vol. i. for. 7.]
2o8 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
nourable : for it was God's anointing liini to be king over
his people. And thereby -was fomething farther denoted
than in the anointing of Saul. God anointed Saul to be
king perfonally ; but God intended fomething farther bv
fending Samuel to anoint David, viz. to ertablifli the crown
of Ifrael in him and in his family, as long as Ifrael con-
tinued to be a kingdom ; and not only fo, but what was
infinitely more, eftablifliing the crown of his univerfal
church, his fpiritual Ifrael, in his feed, to the end of the
v/orld, and throughout eternity.
This was a great difpenfation of God, and a great ftep
taken towards a farther advancing of the work of redemp-
tion, according as the time grew near wherein Chrift was
lb come. David, as he was the anceftor of Chrift, fo he
was the greateft perfonal type of Chrift under the Old Tef-
tament. The types of Chrift were of three forts ; inftituted,
providential, and perfonal. (f) The ordinance of facri-
iicing was the greateft of the injlituted types ; the redemp-
tion out of Egypt was the greateft of the providential ; and
David the greateft of the perfonal ones. Hence Chrilt is
often called David in the prophecies of fcripture ; [Ezek.
xxxiv. 23, 24.] ' And I will fet up one fliepherd over them,
* and he fliall feed them, even my fervant David ; my
' fervant David a prince among them ;' and fo in many
other places : and he is very often fpokcn of as the feed or
fon of David.
David being the anceftor and great type of Chrift, his
being folcmnly anointed by God to be king over his peo-
ple, that the kingdom of his church might be continued
in
(f) The Tyve.% of Chrift of three forts. ~\ So, Dr. Owen diflin-
guillies types into, i. Such as were directly appointed for that
end, (which our author calls inftituted) as the facrifices ; 2. Such
as had only a providential ordination to that end, as the ftory of
Jacob and Efau ; and, 3. Things that fell out of old, fo as to il-
luftrate prefent things from a fimilitude between them, as the alle-
gory of Hagar and Sarah. Others diltinguifli them into nW and
perfonal ; by the former, intending the tobernacle, temples, and
religious inftitutlons ; and under the latter, including what our
author calls providential and perfonal types. \_Mather on the Types,
p. 6i.~\ — Thefe latter we have noticed as they occurred, and the
former will be confidered in a proper place. [N. V.]
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 209
in his family for ever, may in fotne refpe6ls be looked on
as an anointing of Chrift himfelf. Chrift was as it were
anointed in him ; and therefore Chrift's anointing and
David's anointing are fpoken of under one in fcripture,
[Pfal. Ixxxix. 20.] * I have fomid David my fcrvant ;
* with my holy oil have I anointed him.' And David's
throne and Chrift's are fpoken of as one : [Luke i. 32.]
' And the Lord Ihall give him the throne of his father
' David.' [Acls ii. 30.] ' David— knowing that God
' had fworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his
' loins, according to the flelh, he would raife up Chrift to
' lit on his throne.'
Thus God's beginning of the kingdom of his church
in the houfe of David, was a new eftablifliing of the
kinf^dom of Chrift ; the beginning of it in a ftate of fuch
vilibility as it thenceforward continued in. It was God's
planting the root, whence that branch of rightcoufnefs
was afterwards to fpring up, which was to be the everlaft-
ing king of his church ; and therefore this everlafting
king is called the branch from tlie ftem of Jeffe. [Tla. xi.
I.] ' And there Ihall come forth a rod out of the ftem of
« Jefie, and a branch ftiall grow out of his roots.' (g)
[Jer. xxiii. 5.] ' Behold, the days come, faith the Lord,
* that I will raife up unto David a righteous brancli, and
E e 2 'a king
(g) yl rod from theficm of Jesse.] In the preceding chapter
"•' the prophet had defcribed the Affyrian army under the image
of a mio^hty foreft . . . cut down to the ground, by the ax weilded
by the hand of fome powerful and iliullrious agent : in oppofition
to this image he reprefents the great peifon, who makes the fubjedl
of this chapter, as a flender twig, fliooting out from the trunk of
an old tree, cut down, lopped to the very root, and decayed; which
tender plant, fo weak in appearance, fhould neverthelefs become
fruitful and profper We have here a remarkable inllance
of that method fo common with the prophets, and particularly with
Ilaiah, of taking occaiion from the meution of fome great temporal
deliverance, to launch out into the difplay of the fpiritual deliver-
ance of God's people by the Meffiah ; for that this prophecy relates
to the Meffiah, we have the exprefs authority of St. Paul, Rom.
XV. 12." [Bp. LowTH in Ifa. xi. \. — His Lordfliip adds a paflage
from KiMCHi, who alfo applies this text to the Meffiah, as other
eminent Rabbins have done, as may be feen in Poll Syn. Crit. 'v\
loci
ZIP HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* a king fliall reign and profper.' [Chap, xxxiii. 15.] * In
* thofe days, and at that time, I will caufe the branch of
- ' righteoufnefs to grow up unto David, and he (hall exe-
* cute judgment and righteoufnefs in the land.' So Chrift,
in the New Teftament, is called the root and offspring of
David. [Rev. xxii. 16.]
it is obfervable, that God anointed David after Saul to
reign in his room. He took away the crown from him,
who was higher in flature than any of his people, and was
in their eyes fittefl: to bear rule, to give it to David, who
was low of flature, and in comparifon, of defpicable ap-
pearance : fo God was pleafed to fhow how Chrift, who
appeared without form or comelinefs, and was defpifed and
reje(fled of men, fliould take the kingdom from the great
ones of the earth. And alfo it is obfervable, that David
was the youngeft of JefTe's fons, as Jacob the younger bro-
ther fupplanted Efau, and got birthright and blcffing from
him : and as Pharez, brother of Chrift's anceftor, fup-
planted Zarah in his birth ; and as Ifaac, another of the
anceflors of Chrifl, call out his elder brother lihmael :
thus was that frequent faying of Chrift fulfilled, ' The laft
' fhall be firft, and the firft laft.'
2. The next thing I would obferve, is God's pre-
ferving David's life, by a feries of wonderful providences
till Saul's death. I have above taken notice of the won-
derful prefervation of other anceftors of Chrift ; as Noah,
Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob ; and have obfcrved how, in
that Chrift the great Redeemer was to proceed from them,
that in their prefervation, the work of redemption itfelf
may be looked upon as preferved from being defeated,
and the whole church, which is redeemed through him,
from being overthrown. But the prefervation of David
'^was not lefs remarkable than that of any others already
taken notice of. Plow often was there but a ftep between
him and death ? The firft inftance of it we have in his
encountering a lion and a bear, (ii) wliich, without mi-
raculous
(h) His encountering a lion and a bear.] Or — " a lion OR
i a bear j' the meaning can only be, that at different times they
would
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. tii
raculous afliftance, could at o-.ice have rent this young
ftripling in pieces, as eafily as they could the Iamb which
he delivered from them : fo afterwards the root and ofF-
fpring of David was preferved from the roaring lion that
foes about feeking whom he may devour ; who was con-
quered, and the fouls of men refcued as lambs out of the
mouth of this lion. Another remarkable deliverance was
from that mighty giant Goliath, who was ftrong enough
to have given his flelh to the bealls of the field, and to
the fowls of the air, as he threatened : but God preferved
David and gave him the victory, fo that he cut ofF his
head with his own fword. Chiifi: flew the fpiritual Go-
liath with his own weapon, the crofs, and io delivered
his people. And h6w remarkably did God preferve him
from being flain by Saul, when he flrft fought his life, by
giving his daughter to be a fnare to him, that the hand
of the Philiftines might be upon him : and afterwards,
when Saul fpake to Jonathan, and to all his fervants, to
kill him ; alfo in inclining Jonathan, inftead of murder-
ing, to love him as his own foul, and to be a great inftru-
nient of his prefcrvation, even at the hazard of his own
life, though one would have thought that none would have
been more wiUing to have David killed than Jonathan,
feeing that he was competitor with him for the crown.
Again the Lord wonderfully preferved him, when Saul
threw a javelin to fmite him to the wall ; and when he
fent mefTcngers to his houfe, to watch for and to kill him,
when Michal, Saul's daughter, let him down through a
window ; likcwife when he afterwards fent meiTengers once
and again, to Naioth in Ramah, to take him, and they
were remarkably prevented by being fcized with miracu-
lous impreffions of the fpirit of God ; and even when Saui^ik
being refolute in the affair, went himfelf, he aUo wcR^^
among the prophets. Again after this, how wonJcrfalh
was David's life preferved at Gath among the Pliililliue-.
when he went to Achilh, the king of Gath, and was
there
would come and take a lamb, a lion at one time, and a boar at
another." [Gill in f Sam. xvii. 34,]
m
ziz HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
there in the hands of the Phlliftlnes, who one would have
thought, would have difpatched him at once, he having
fo much provoked them by his exploits againll: them.
How wonderfully did God deliver them at Keilah, when
he had entered into a fenced town, where Saul thought
he was fure of him I When he purfued and hunted
him in the mountains ; when the army encompafied him
in the wilderneis of Maon ! How was he delivered
in the cave of Engedi, when inftead of Saul's killing
David, God delivered Saul into his hands in the cave, and
cut off his fkirt, and might aseafily have cut off his head ,
and afterwards alfo in the wildcrnefs of Ziph ; and again
,a fccond time in the land of the Philiftines, though David
had conquered them at Keilah, fuice he was laft among
them ! which, one would think, would have been fuf-
iicient warning to them not to truft him, or let him ef-
cape a fecond time ; but yet now, God wonderfully turned
their hearts to him to befriend and protedt, jnftead of de-
flroyinghim.
Thus was the precious feed that virtually contained the
Redeemer, and all the bleffings of his redemption, won-
derfully preferved, when hell and earth were confpired
againft it to deftroy it. How often does David himielf
take notice of this, with praife and admiraiion, in the book
of Pfalms r
3 About this time, the written word of God was
enlarged by Samuel. I have before obfervcd that the
canon of fcripture w'as begun, and the tirfl: written word
of God was given to the church about Mofes's time :
and many, and I know not but mod: divines, think it was
added to by Jofliua, and that he wrote the laft cliapter
Deuteronomy, and moll of the book oi Jolliua. (i)
Others
(i) J OSH V. \ ivrok' moj} of the booh of ]Qi>HV A."^ " This book
bears the name of JoHuia, either bccaufe it is concerning hira, his
aftions and exploits in the land of Canaan, or bccaufe it was writ-
ten by him, or both ; though fome afcribe it to Ezra, and others
to Ifaiah : but it mull: have been written before the times of Ahab,
as appears from i Kings xvi. 34. and even before the times of
David, as is clear from chap. xv. 69. compared with 2 Sam. v. 6.
for
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 213
Others think that Jofhua, Judges, Ruth, and part of the
fir/1: book of Samuel, were written by Samuel. However
that was, this we have good evidence of, that Samuel
made an addition to the canon of fcripture ; for he is
manifeftly mentioned in the New Teftament, as one of
the prophets whofe writings we have in the fcriptures,
[A6ts iii. 24.] ' Yea and all the prophets from Samuel,
* and tliofe that follow after, as many as have fpoken, have
' likewife foretold of thefe days.' By that expreffion,
' as many as have fpoken,' cannot be meant, as many as
have fpoken by word of mouth ; for every prophet did
that : but the meaning muft be, as many as have fpoken
by writing, fo that what they have fpoken has come down
to us.
And the way that Samuel fpoke of thefe times of Chrift
and the gofpel, was by giving the hiftcry of the things
that typified and pointed to them, particularly thofe con-
cerning David. The Spirit of God moved him to commit
thofe things to writing, chiefly for that reafon, and, as was
faid before, this was the main bufniefs of all that fucceflloi>
of prophets, that began in Samuel.
That
for though mention is made in it of the mountains of Judah and of
Ifrael, from whence fome have concluded, that the writer nuifl
have lived after the times of Rehoboam, in whofc days the king-
dom was divided ; yet we find the dHUnAion of Ifrael and Judah
took place before, even in the times of David and Afaph, [Pfalm
Ixxvi. i.j It is moll likely that this book was written by Jolhua
himfelf, as the Jews in their Talmud afiert ; and, indeed, who
more fit for it than himfelf? And if written or put together by
another, it is moll probable that it was taken out of his "diary, an-
nals, or memoirs : and though there are fome things recorded in -
it which were done after his deatli, thefe might be inferted un-
der a divine direftion and influence by Eleazar, or Phinehas, oir
Samutl .... jull as JoOuia is fuppofed to add fome verfes con-
cerning Moles at the end of the Pentateuch ; however, be it wrote
by whom it may, there is no doubt to be made of the divine Infpi-
ration and authenticity of it by us Cliriftians, fince fome hillories
recorded in it are taken from it, or referred to in Hcb. xi. 30, 31.
and the promifc made to Jofliua is quoted, and applied to every
believer, chap. xiii. 5. and the apolile James refers to thecaufe of
Rahah, her charafter and conduft in it." [Jam. ii. 25.] — [Gill's
Comment.]
214 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
That Samuel added to the csnon of the fcriptures feems
farther to appear from i Chron. xxix. 29. ' Now the afts
' of David the king, firft and lafl, behold, they are writ-
' ten in the book of Samuel the feer.'
Whether the book of Jofhua was written by Samuel
or not, yet it is the general opinion of divines, that the
books of Judges, and Ruth, and part of the hrft book of
Samuel, were penned by him. (k) The book of Ruth
was penned for that reafon, becaufe though it feemed to
treat
(k) Samuel tvrote the bools of Jvtjges, Ruth, and part of
I Samuel.] The book of Judges — " This book is called Judges,
becaufe it treats principally of the great things done by thofe il-
lultrious perfons Vi^ho were raifed up by God, upon fpecial occa-
fions, after the death of Jofliua till the time of making a King, to
judge, that is, to rule the people of Ifrael, and to deliver them
from their oppreffions.
" It is but conjedlured who was the writer of It ; fome think
Ezra ; but it is more probable the prophet Samuel, who was the
lail of the judges, and by the direction of God brought down their
hiftory unto his own days ; when they defired a king to be fet
over them. The Talmudifts (in Bava Bathra, cap. i.) are X>£
this opinion ; which Kimchi, Abarbinel, and other great authors
follow. And indeed there is reafon to think, that he who wrote
the concluiion of the book of Jofhua, waj the writer of this book
alfo ; in the fecond chapter of which he inferts part of that which
is written there. Certain it is, it was written before David's
reign ; for the Jebufites were poffefled of Jerufalem, when this
author lived, [ver. 21. of this firit chapter] who were driven out
of it by David, [2 Sam. v. 6.] and therefore this book was written
before." [Bp. Patrick's Comment.]
The book of Ruth — " This book is a kind of appendix to the
book of Judges, and a manuduftion to the book of Samuel ; and
there fitly placed between them. It has its title from the perfon
> whofe itory is here piincipaliy related, which indeed is wonderful.
" It is very probable, the, fame perfon who wrote the book of
Judges, was the author of this alfo, viz. Samuel ; who, by add-
ing this to the end of that book, brought down the hillory unto
his own times ; and gave us withal the genealogy of David from
Pharcz, the Ion of Judah, that it might evidently appear, Chriil
fprang out of that tribe, according to Jacob's prophecy, [Gen.
xlix. 10.] but by a Gentile woman (tliat all nations might hope
in his mercy) full of faith, and of earneit defire to enter into that
family; which made her defpife the pride of her own nation, and
chufe to live defpicabiv among the people of Gt'd." [Ibid.]
Tbc
FROM DAVID to THE CAPTIVITY. 215
treat of private affairs, yet the perfons chiefly fpokcn of
In it were of the family whence Davitl and Chrift pro-
ceeded, and fo pointed to what the apoftle Peter obferved
of Samftel and the other prophets, in the iiid chapter of
A£ts. Thefe additions to the canon of fcripture, the
great and main inftrument of the application of redemp-
tion, are to be confidered as a farther continuation of that
work, and an addition made to that great building.
4. Another thing God did towards this work, at that
time, was his infpiring David to fhovv fofth Chrifl: and his
redemption, in divine fongs ; which ihould be for the ufe
of the church, in public worlhip, throughout all ages. Da-
vid was himfelf endued with the fpirit of prophecy. [Acfls
ii. 26, 30.] ' Let me freely fpeak to you of the patriarcli
* David, that he is both dead and buried, and his fepulchre
* is with us unto this day: therefore being 2. prophet, and
* knowing that God had fworn with an oath,' &c. So
that herein he was a type of Chrift, that he was both a pro-
phet and a king. The oil tliat was ufed in anointing Da-
vid was a type of the Spirit of God; and the type and the
antitype were given together; [i Sam. xvi. 13.] ' Then
' Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the
' midft of his brethren ; and the Spirit of the Lord came
' upon David from that day forward,'
One way that this Spirit influenced him was, by infpir-
ihg him to fhow forth Chrift, and the glorious things ot
his redemption in divine fongs, fweetly exprelFing the
breathings of a piou? foul, full of admiration of the glori-
ous things of the Redeemer, inflamed with divine love,
and elevated with praife ; and therefore he is called the
fvveet pfalmiji o{ Ifrael. [2 Sam. xxiii. i.] ' Now thefe
* be the laft words of David ; David the ion of JeiTe laid,
Ff ' and
The FiasT book of Samuel — " This book . . . has the name
of Samuel, becaufe it contains the hiflory of his life and times ;
and therefore the Jews fay it was written by him ; and as it maj
well enough be thought to be to the end of the xxivth chapter ;
and the rell might be written by Nathan and Gad, [i Chron. xxix.
29.] as alfo the following book that bears his name." [Gill'j
Comment.]
2i6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* and the man who was raifcd up on high, the anointed oi
' the God of Jacob, and the fweet pfalmift of Ifrael.' The
main fubje6ls of thefe fweet fongs were the glorious things
of the gofpel ; as is evident by the interpretation given and
the ufe made of them in the New Teftament : for there is
no one book of the Old Teftament that is fo often quoted
in the New, as the book of Pfalms. (l) Joyfully did this
holy m.an fmg of thofc great things of Chrift's redemption,
that had been the hope and expeftation of God's church
and people from the beginning, and as joyfully did others
follow him in it, viz. Afaph, Heman, Ethan, and others ;
for the book of Pfalms was not all penned by David,
though the greater part of it was. Hereby the canon of
fcripture was farther increafed, and an excellent portion of
divine writ added to it
This was a great advancement that God made in this
building ; and the light of the gofpel, which had been
gradually brightening ever fmce the tall, was now exceed-
ingly increafed by it ; for whereas before there was but
here and there a propliecy given of Chrift in feveral ages,
now David, in a variety of fongs, fpeaks of his incar-
nation, life, death, relurre61ion, afcenfion into heaven,
fatisfadlion, and intercefiion : his prophetical, kingly,
and prieftly office ; his glorious benefits in this life and
that which is to come ; his union with the church, and
the bleffedncfs of the church in him ; the calling of the
Gentiles, tlie future glory of the church near the end of
the world, and Chrift coming to the final judgment.
All thefe things, and many more, concerning Chrift and
his redemption, are abundantly fpoken of in the book of
Pfahns.
This was alfo a glorious advancement of the affair of
redemption, as God hereby gave his church a book of
divine fongs for their ufe in that part of their public wor-
(hip, viz. llnging his praifes, throughout all ages to the
end
(l) The Psalms often quoted hi the New Tfjlament.'] About
eighty times in the whole, and the greater part of thofe quota-
tions is applied to Chrifl and the thinp-s of the gofpel. [J-N.]
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 217
end of the world. It is manifeft the book of Pfalms
was given of God for this end. It was \ifed in the church.
of Ifrael by God's appointment ; as appears by the title ol
many of them, in which they are infcribed ' to the chief
* mufician,* i. e, to the man that was appointed to be the
leader of divine fongs in the temple, in the public worfhip
of Ifrael. So David is called the fvveet pfalmift of Ifrael,
becaufe he penned pfalms for the ufe of the church of
Ifrael ; and accordingly we have an account that they
were fung in the church for that end ages after David was
dead; [2 Chron. xxix. 30.] ' Moreover Hezekiah the
* king, and the princes, commanded the Levites to fing
< praifes unto the Lord, with the words of David, and of
* Afaph the feer.' And v/e find that the fame were ap-
pointed in the New Teftament to be made ufe of in the
Chriflian church, in their worHiip : [Ephef. v. 19.]
* Speaking to yourfelves in pfalms^ hymns, and fpiritual
* fongs.' [Col. iii. 16.] ' Admoniihing one another in
< pfalms^ hymns, and fpiritual fongs.' And lo they have
been, and will, to the end of the world, be ufed in the
churcli to celebrate the praifes of God. The people of
God before this were wont to worfliip him by hnging
fongs to his praife, as they did at the Red Sea ; and
they had Mofes's fong [Deuteronomy xxxii.] committed
to them for that end ; and Deborah, and Barak, and
Hannah fung praifes to God : but now firi't did God com-
mit to his church a hook of divine fongs for their con-
ftant ufe.
5. The next thing I would take notice of, is God's
a6lually exalting David to the throne of Ifrael, notwith-
Aanding all the oppofition made to it. God was de-
termined to do it, and he made every thing give place
that flood in the way of it. He removed Saul and his
fons out of the way ; and firfl: fet David over the tribe
of Judah ; and then, having removed lihbodieth, fet
him over all Ifrael. Thus did God fulfil his word to
David. He took him from the Iheep-cote, and made him
king over his people Ifrael. [Pfalm Ixxviii. 70, 71.]
And now the throne of Ifrael was eflabliflrcd in that fa-
F f 2 milv
2i8 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
jnily in which he was to continue for ever, even for ewer
and ever.
6. Now God firft chofe a particular city of all the
tribes of Ifrael to place his name in it.. There is feveral
times mention made in the law of Mofes, of the children
of Jfrael's bringing their oblations to the place which God
ilionld chvfe ; [as in Deut. xii. 5—7. and other places ;]
but God had never proceeded to do it till now. The ta-
bernacle and ark were never fixed, but removed fometimes
to one place and fometimes to another. The city of Je-
rufalem was never thoroughly conquered, or taken out of
the hands of the Jebufites, till David's time. It is faid
in Jofhua, [xv. 63.] ' As for the Jebufites, the inhabitants
f of Jerufalem, the children of Judah could not drive
f them out : but tlie Jebufites dwell with the children of
' Judah at Jerufalem unto this day.' But now David
wholly fubdued it, [2 Sam. v.] and God chofe that city to
place his name there, as appears by David's bringing up
the ark thither foon after; and therefore this is mentioned
afterwards, as the firft time God chofe a city to place his
name therein. [2 Chron. vi, ^, 6. and chap. xii. 13. 1
Afterwards God Hiowed David the verv place where he
would have his temple built, viz. in the threfliing-flqor of
Araunah the Jebufite.
The city of Jerufalem h therefore called tlie /loly city ;
and it was the grenteft type of the^ church of Chrift in all
the Old Teftament. It was redeem.ed by David, the cap-
tain of the hofis oi' Ifiael, out of the hands of the Jebu-
fites, to be God's city, the holy place of his reft for ever,
where he would dwell ; as Chrift, the captain of his peo-
ple's falvation, redeems his church out of tlie hands of
devils, to be his holy and beloved city. And therefore
how often does the fcripture, when fpeaking of Chrift's
redemption of his church, call it by the names of Zion
and Jerufalem ? This was the city that God had ap-
pointed to be the place of the firft gathering of converts
after Chrift's refurre6lion, of that- remarkable eiTiifion of
the Spirit of God on the apoftles and primitive Chriftians,
and the place whence the gofpel was to found forth into
all the world; the place of the firft Chriftian church,
that
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 219
that was to be, as it were, the mother of all other churches
through the world; agreeable to that prophecy, [If. ii.
3,4.] ' Out of Zion /liall go forth the law, and the word
* of the Lord from Jerufalem ; and he Ihall judge among
' the nations, and fliall rebuke many people,' &c.
Thus God chofe Mount Sion, whence the gofpel >vas
to be publifhed, as the law had been from Mount Sinai.
y. The next thing to be obferved here, is God's folemnly
renewing the covenant of grace with David, and proniif-
ing that the Mcffialj fhould be of his feed. We have an
account of it in the viith chapter of the fecond book of
Samuel. It was on occafion of the thoughts David enter-
tained of building God an houfe, that God fent Nathan the
prophet to him, with the glorious promifes of the covenant
of grace. It is efpecially contained in thefe words, [ver.
16.] ' And thy houfe and thy kingdom (liall be eftabliHied
' for ever before thee ; thy throne /hall be eflabliilied foi
' ever.' Which promife has refpeiSl to Chrifl^, the feed
of David, and is fulfilled in him only ; for the kingdom of
David has long fmce cenfed, any otherwife than as it is
upheld in Chrift. The temporal kingdom of the houfe of
David has now ccafed for a great many ages ; even more
than ever it flood.
That this covenant that God now eflabliflied with David
by Nathan the prophet, was the covenant of grace, is evi-
dent by the plain teftimony of fcripture, in Ifa. Iv. i — 3.
There we have Chrift inviting fmners to come to the wa-
ters, &c. And in tlie third verfe, he fays, ' Incline your
* ear, come unto me ; hear, and yonr fouls ihall live ; and
* I will make with you an everlafting covenant, even the
* fure mercies of David.' Here Chrift offers to convinced
fmners, an interefl: in the fame everlafting covenant that
he made with David, conveying to them the fame furc
mercies. But what is that covenant that fmners obtain an
intereft in, when they come to ChriH;, but the covenant
of grace ?
This was the fifth folemn ratification of the covenant
of grace with the church after the fall. The firll: was
with Adam ; the fecond with Noah ; the third v/ith the
patriarchs, Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob ; the fourth -was in
the
220 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
the wildernefs by Mofes, and now the fifth is this made to
David.
This eftabliihment of the covenant of grace with Da-
vid, he always efteemed the greateft favour of God to
him, the greatefl: honour that God had conferred upon
him ; he prized and rejoiced in it above all the other
bleffings of his reign. You may fee how joyfully and
thankfully he received it, when Nathan came to him with
the glorious mefTage, in 2 Sam. vii. 18, &c. And fo
David, in his laft words, declares this to be all his falva-
tion, and all his defire ; [2 Sam. xxiii. 5.] ' He hath
* made with me an everlafting covenant, ordered in all
* things and fure : for this is all my ialvation, and all my
* defirc.' (m)
8. It was by David that God firft gave his people Ifrael
the poireflion of the whole promifed land. I have before
fhown, how God's giving the poffeflion of the promifed
land belonged to the covenant of grace. This was done in
a great meafure by Jofliua, but not fully. Jofhua did
not wholly fubdue that part of the promifed land that
was ftri61:ly called the land of Canaan, and that was di-
vided by lot to the leveral tribes ; but there were great
numbers of the old inhabitants left unfubdued, as we read
in the books of Jofliua and Judges ; and there were many
left to prove Ilrael, and to be ' thorns in their' fides, and
* pricks in their eyes.' There were the Jebufites in Jeru-
falem, and many of the Canaanites, and the whole nation
of
(m) David pn-zed the cavT.tixm.'] The leading trait in Da-
vid's character feems to have been pietyy which we apprehend to
be the exaft import of that exprciTion, [1 Sam. xiii. 14.] * A
' man after God's own heart,' /. e. a man eminently devoted to
God, and full of zeal for his glory. And it is obfervable, that
notwithftandinr his many and great fins (and far be it from us, to
diflfemble that many and great thcv were) lie never appears to have
countenanced idolatry, the befetting fin of Ifrael, The book of
Pfalms, which were written at many different times, and in a great
variety of circumftanccs, evinces a mind coliverfant with the divine
attributes, and much engaged in contemplation on the blcflings of
the covenant of redemption, and the glories of the MtHiah, of
whom he was both a type and anceftor. [N. U.]
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 231
of the Philiftiues, who all dwelt In that part of the land
that was divided hy lot, and chiefly in that which belonged
to the tribes of Judah and Ephraim.
And thus thefe remains of the old inhabitants of Canaan
continued till David's time ; but he wholly fubducd them.
This is agreeable to what St. Stephen obferves, [Adls vii.
4^-] ' Which alfo our fathers brought in with Jefus (/. e.
' Jofliua) into the poffeflion of the Gentiles, whom God
* drove out before the face of our fathers, unto the days
* of David.' Tliey were till the days of David in driving
them out ; but David entirely brought them under. He
fubdued the Jcbuiitcs, the whole nation of the Philiflines,
and all the remains of the feven nations of Canaan ;
[i Chron. xviii. i.] ' Now after this it came to pafs,
* that David fmote the Philiftincs, and fubdued them,
* and took Gath and her tov/ns out of the hands of the
' Philiftines.'
After this, ail the remains of the former inhabitants of
Canaan were made bond-fervants to the Ifraelites. Before
this the pofterity of the Gibeonites were hewers of vi'ood,
and drawers of water, for the houfe of God. But Solo-
mon, David's fon and fucceffor, put all the remains of the
other feven nations of Canaan to bond-fervice, or at leaft
made them pay a tribute of bond-fervice. [i Kings ix.
20—22.] And hence we read of the children cf Solomon's
fervants, after the return from the Babylonifh captivity,
[Ezra ii. 55. and Neh. xi. 3.] They were the children
or porterity of the feven nations of Canaan, that Solomon
had fubjeiSed to bond-fervice.
Thus David fubdued the whole land of Canaan, (Iridl-
ly fo called. But then that was not one half, nor quar-
ter, of what God had promifed to their fathers. The
land promifed to their fathers included all the countries*
from the river of Egypt to the river Euphrates. Thefe
were the bounds of the land promifed to Abraham, [Gen.
XV. i8.] * In that fame day the Lord made a covenant
* with Abram, faying, Unto thy feed have I given this
* land, from the river of Egypt, unto the great river, the
* river Euphrates.' So again God promifed at Mount Si-
nai,
22i History of redemption.
nai, [Exod. xxiii. 31.] ' And I will fet thy bounds from
* the Red Sea even unto the fea of the Philiftines, and
* from the defert unto the river: for I will deliver the in-
* habitants of the land into your hand ; and thou fhalt
* drive them out before thee.' So again, [Deut. xi. 24.]
* Every place whereon the foles of your feet {hall tread,
* fhall be yours : from the wildernefs and Lebanon, from
* the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermoft
' fea, fhall your coaft be.' Again, the fame promife is
made to Jofhua : [Jofh. i. 3,4-] ' Every place that the
' fole of your feet ihall tread upon, have I given unto
* vou, as I faid unto Mofes ; from the wildernefs and this
* Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphra-
* tes, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great fea,
' towards the going down of the fun, fliall be your coaft.'
But what Jofhua gave the people the pofleflion of, was
but a fmall part of this land. And the people never
had had the poffeffion of it, till God gave it them by
David.
This lar^c country not only included that Canaan which
was divided by lot to thofe who came in with Jofhua, but
the land of the Moabites and Ammonites, tlie land of the
Amalekites, and the reft of the Edomites, and the country
of Zobah. All thefe nations were fubdued and brought
under the children of Ifrael by David. And he put gar-
rifons into the feveral countries, and they became David's
fervants, as we have a particular account in the viiith chap-
ter of the fecond book of Samuel ; and David extended
their border to the river Euphrates, as was promifed ; [fee
the 3d verfe;] ' and David fmote alfo Hadadezer the fon
* of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his
* border at the river Euphrates.' And accordingly we
read, that Solomon his fon [i Kings iv. 24.] * had domi-
* nion over all the region on this fide the river, from
' Tiphfah even unto Azzah, over all the kings on this
' fule the river.' This Artaxerxes, king of Perfia, takes
notice of long after: [Ezra iv. 20'.] ' There have been
' mighty kings alfo over Jerufalem, which have niled over
* all
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 249
Jiiid. chap, of his prophecy, (u) There is icarce a chapter
in the New Teftament itfelf more full of it. And how
much, and in what a flrain, does the fame prophet fpeak
from
(u) Ifdiah prediBed Chrl/Fs sufferings.] The glorious pro-
phecy here referred to commences with the 1 3th verfe of chap. lii.
and includes the whole of chap. liii. It is fo important and ex-
cellent a prophecy, that we are perfuaded our readers will admit
the propriety of reviewing at leaft the principal verfes in it.
We begin, for brevity fake, with chap. liii. 4. ' Surely he hath
' borne our griefs, and carried our forrows,' not only by fympa-
thy in, fupport under, and a miraculous deliverance from them;
[Matt. viii. 16, 17.] but as Handing in our place, he bare our fins
in his own body, [i Pet. ii. 24.] * Yet we efteemed him [judi-
* cially] flricken, fmitten of God and afflifted.' He was treated
by his own people, the Jews, as an impoftor, a blafphemer, and
accurfed of God.
Ver. V. * But he was wounded for our tranfgreflions ; he was
* bruifed for our iniquities: the chaftifement of our peace (by
* which our peace is effe6led) was laid upon him ; and with his
* ftripes (or by hisbruifes) are we healed.' Wonderful Redeemer!
by what extraordinary methods of love and grace doll thou effeft
the falvation of thy people !
Ver. 6. ' All we, like fheep have gone aftray ; we have turned
* every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid (hath made
* to light) upon him the iniquity of us all.' As the fins of Ifrael
were laid on the fcape-goat, and fent into the land of oblivion ; fo
were our fins, in all their aggravated and complicated heinoufnefs,
made to meet by imputation upon him ; and he fuffered ' the juil
* for the unjuft,' to bring us unto God ! [i Peter iii. 18.]
Ver. 7. ' He was oppreffed, and he was afflifted' — Bp. Lotuth^s
tranflation is more elegant and pointed ; ' It [/. e. the punlfhment
of finj was exacted, and he was made anfwerable,' juft as a
furety when a debtor becomes infolvent: but whether this verfioii
be more exaft and dcfenfible, we mull not now ftop to inquire.
— The prophet goes on, ' Yet he opened not his mouth; he is
* brought as a lamb to the flaughter, and as a fheep before her
* fhearers is dumb, fo he opened not his mouth.' How literally
was this fulfilled in the behaviour of the lamb of God!
Ver. 8. ' He was taken from prifon and from judgment :' but
the word [llfy] does not appear to fignify a prifon, nor was our
Lord ever confined in one; we therefore here again prefer the
rendering of Bp. Loivth, " By an opprefTive judgment was he
taken off, and who fhail declare his generation ?" ;. e. as his
Loidfhip has largely and fatisfa£lorily proved, ' Who would de-
* claie hjs manner of life ?' v.-:io fhall witnefs the purity uf iiis
K k conducl
iSO HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
from time to rime of the glorious benefits of Chrlft, the
unfpeakable bleffings which fliall redound to his church
through his redemption ! Jcfus Chrift, the perfon that
this
conduft and chara'9:er ? — Peter, where art thou P — Alas! he has
denied his Mailer, and the reft of his difciples have all forfaken
him and fled. Nor would his enemies have admitted evidence,
had it appeared, * For he was cut off from the land of the living ;
* for the tranfgrefTion of my people was he ftricken.'
Ver. 9. ' And he made his grave,' — or rather, ' His grave was
* appointed with the wicked, and with the rich,' — not ' in his
* death,' but ' with the rich man was his tomb;' — So Schindler,
Drnfius, Drs. Hunt, Gr. Sharp, yuhh, Bp. Lotuth, &c. which ex-
actly correfponds with the event recorded by the evangelift.
[Matt, xxvii. 57 — 60. j — * Bccaufe (or although) he had done no
* violence, neither was guile found in his mouth ; [ver. 10.] yet
* it pleafed the Lord to bruife him, he hath put [him] to grief.'
' — ' When thou fhalt make his foul an offering for fin,' i. e, as
Bp. Loivih, ' a propitiatory facrifice,' — ' He fliall fee (his) feed,
* he fliall prolong (his) days,' — or, ' which fliall prolong their
* days, — and the pleafure of the Lord fliall profper in his hand.'
This and the following verfes plainly predicted not only the fuf-
fcrings of Chriil, and the caufe and nature of them, as an atone-
ment for our fins, but alfo the glory that was to follow, when
he fliould fee of the travail of his foul and be fatisfied, which was
accompliflied when Jcfus arofe from the dead, afcended up on
high, and befliowcd that copious efFufion of the Spirit, by which
thoufands were converted at a fermon.
But what fay the Jews to this prophecy ? Some refer it to Je-
remiah, others to tlie people of Ifrael ; it is hard to fay which
of thefe is moll abfurd, but fome have honefl;ly confefled, " The
Rabbins of blefled memory with one lip, according to received
tradition, declare that thefe words arc fpoken of Melliah the
King." — Arfd when the Spirit fliall be poured out again from on
high, then fliall they l)ehold him whom they have pierced, and
mourn, and believe in him.
We fliall only add, that by this remarkable prophecy the eu-
nuch was converted to Chriftianity in the apoilolic age, [Adts viii.
27 — 40.] and near our own times, a noble, but profligate earl,
[Lord Rochefter] owed his converfion to the fame means. His
lordfliip confefled, that as he heard this chapter read, " He felt
an inward force upon him, which did fi) enlighten his mind, and
convince him, that he could refifl; it no longer ; for the words
had an authority, which did flioot like rays into his mind, ....
which did fo cflTeftually confl:rain him, that he did ever after as
firmly believe in liis Saviour, as if he had feen him in the clouds."
[See Bp. Loiuth's, Ifaiah, and Dr. Gr. Sharps Arg. from the Pro-
phecies, p. 222, iScc. from whom the fubftance of the above is chiefly
taken.] [1. N.]
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 251
this prophet fpoke fo much of, once appeared to Ifaiah in the
form of the human nature, the nature that he Ihould after-
wards take upon him. [Ch.vi. i.] ' I faw alfo the Lord
* fitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled
* the temple,' &c. It was Chrifk that Ifaiah now faw, as
we are cxprefsly told in the New Teftament. [John xii.
39—41.]
And if we confider the abundant prophecies of this and
the other prophets, what a great increafe was there of the
light of the gofpel ? How plentiful are the revelations and
prophecies of Chrift now, to what they were in the firfl:
period of the Old Tcftament, from Adam to Noah? or in
the fecond, from Noah to Abraham ? or to what they were
before Mofes, or in tiie time of Mofes, Jolhua and the
Judges ? Great part of the Old Teftament was written now
from the days of Uzziah to the captivity into Babylon. And
how excellent are thofe portions of it ! V/hat a precious
treafure have thofe prophets committed to the church of
God, tending greatly to confirm the gofpel of Chrift ! and
which has been of great comfort and benefit to God's church
in all ages fmce, and doubtlefs will be to the end of the world.
§ VI. From the Babylonish captivity to the coming
of Christ.
I COME now to the laft period of the Old Teftament,
viz. that which begins witJi the Babylonifli captivity, and
extends to the coming of Chrifr, being the greateft part of
fix hundred years, to Ihow how the work of redemption
was carried on through this time.— But before I enter upon
particulars, I would obferve three things wherein this is
diftinguilhed from the preceding.
(i.) Though we have no account of a great part of
this period in the fcripture hiftory, yet the events of it are
more the fubjeft of fcripture prophecy, than any of the
preceding. There are two ways wherein the fcripturcs
give account of the events by which the work of redemp-
K k 2 tlon
252 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
tion is carried on, viz. hiftory, and prophecy : and in one
or the other of thefe ways, we have, in the fcriptures, an
account how the work of redemption is carried on from the
beginning. Although they are not a proper hiftory of the
whole, yet therein is contained the chain of all the great
events bv which this affair hath been carried on from the
fall to the end of the world, either in hiftory or prophecy.
And it is to be obferved, that where the fcripture is want-
ing in one of thefe ways, it is made up in the other. Where
fcripture hiflory fails, there prophecy takes place ; fo that
the account is flill carried on, and the chain is not broken,
till we come to the very lafl: link of it in the confummatiori
of all things.
And accordingly it is obfervable of tlie period or fpace
of time thatwc are upon, that though it is fo much lefs the
fubjeft of fcripture hiftory, than moft of the preceding, fo
that tliere is above four hundred years of which the fcrip-
ture gives us no hiftory, yet the events of this period are
more the fubje6l of prophecy tlian all the preceding toge-
ther. Moft of thofe remarkable prophecies of the book of
Daniel ; alfo moft of thofe in Ifaiali, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel,
againft Babylon, Tyrus, Egypt, and many other nations,
were fuHilled jn this period.
Thus the reafon why the fcriptures give us no hiftory
of fo great a part of this period, is not becaufe the events
of this period were not fo important, or lefs worthy to be
taken notice of, than the events of the foregoing; but
there are feveral other reafons which may be given of it.
One is, that it was the will of God that the fpirit of pro-
phecy fhould ceafe in this period, (for reafons that may
be given hereafter) ; fo that there were no prophets to
write the hiftory of thefe times ; and therefore God de-
figning this, took care that the great events of this period
fhould not be without, mention in his word. It is ob-
fervable, that that fet of writing prophets that God raifed
lip in Ifrael, were raifed up at the latter end of the fore-
going period, and at the beginning of this ; which it is
iikcly was partly for that reafon, ^that the time was now
approaching, of which, the fpirit of prophecy having
ceafed.
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 253
ceafed, there was to be no fcripture hiftory, and therefore
no other fcripture account than what was given in pro-
phecy.
Another reafon that may be given why there was fo
great a part of this period left without an hiftorical ac-
count in fcripture, is, that God in his providence took
care, that there Ihould be authentic and full accounts of
the events of this period prefervcd in profane hiftory. It
is remarkable, that with refpeil to the events of the five
preceding periods, of which the fcriptures give the hif-
tory, profane hiftory gives us no account, or at leaft of
but very few of them. There are many fabulous and
uncertain accounts of things that happened before ; but
the beginning of the times of authentic profane hiftory
is judged to be but little more than an hundred years
before Nebuchadnezzar's time. The learned men among
the Greeks and Romans ufed to call the ages before that the
fabulous age ; but the times after that they called the hijio-
rlcal age. And from about that time to the coming of
Chrift, we have undoubted accounts in profane hiftory
of the principal events ; accounts that wonderfully agree
with the many prophecies that we have in fcripture of
thofe times.
Thus did the great God, that difpofes all things, take
care to give an hiftorical account of things from the be-
ginning of the world, through all thofe former ages which
profane hiftory docs not reach, and ceafed not till he came
to tliofe later ages in which profane hiftory related things
with fome certainty : and concerning thofe times, he gives
us abundant account in prophecy, that by comparing
profane hiftory with thofe prophecies, we might fee their
agreement.
(2.) This being the laft period of the Old Teftament,
and the next to the coming of Chrift, feems to have been
remarkably diftinguiftied from all others in the great re-
volutions that were among the nations of the earth, to
make way for his kingdom. The time now drawing nigh,
wherein Chrift, the great King and Saviour of the world,
was to come, great arid mighty were the changes that were
brought
254 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
brought to pafs in order to it. The way had been prepar-
ing for his coming, from the fall of man, through all the
foregoing periods ; but now the time drawing nigh, things
began to ripen apace, and Divine Providence wrought
wonderfully now. The greateft revolutions that any hif-
tory whatfoever gives an account of, fell out in this pe-
riod. Almoft all the then known world, i. e. all the
nations tliat were round about the land of Canaan, far and
near, that were within the reach of their knowledge, were
overturned again and again. All lands were in their turns
fubdued, captivated, and as it were, emptied, and turned
upfide down, and tliat moft of them repeatedly, in this
period; agreeable to that prophecy, [Ifa. xxiv. i.] ' Be-
* hold, the Lord maketh the earth empty ; he maketh it
' warte, and turneth it upfide down, and fcattcreth abroad
'' the inhabitants thereof.'
This ernptying, and turning upfide down, began with
God's vifible church, in their captivity by the king of
Babylon. And tlien the cup from them went round to
all other nations^ agreeable to what God revealed to the
prophet Jeremiah, [xxv. i^ — 27.] Here fpecial refpe£l
feems to be had to the great revolutions that there were
on the face of the earth in the times of the Babylonilh
empire. But, after that, there were three general over-
turnings of the world before Chriil: came, in the fuccefllon
of the three great monarchies of the world that arofe after
the Babylonilh empire. The king of Babylon is repre-
fented in fcripture as overturning the world ; but after that
the Babylonilh empire was overthrown by Cyrus, who
founded the Perfian empire in the room of it ; which
was of much greater extent than the Babylonifh empire
in its greateft glory. Thus the world was overturned the
fccond time. And then, after that, the Perfian empire
was overthrown by Alexander, and the Grecian fet up
upon the ruins of it ; which was ftill of much greater
extent than the Perfian : and thus there was a general
overturning of the world a third time. And then, after
that, the Grecian empire was overthrown by the Romans,
and the Roman on it eftablilhed ; 'which vaftly exceeded
all
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 255
all the foregoing empires in power and extent of domi-
nion. And fo the world was overturned the fourth
time.
Thefe feveral monarchies, and the great revolutions of
the world under them, are abundantly fpoken of in the
proplrecies of Daniel. They are reprefentcd in Nebu-
chadnezzar's image of gold, filver, brafs, and iron, and
Daniel's interpretation of it in the fecond chapter, and the
vifion of the four beads, and the angel's interpretation of
it in chap. vii. And the fucceffion of the Perfian and
Grecian monarchies is more particularly reprefented in the
viith chap, in the viiion of the ram and the he-goat, and
again in chap. xi.
And befide thefe four general overturnings of the world,
the world was kept in a conftant tumult between whiles ;
and indeed was as it were in a continual convulfion through
this whole period till Chrift came. But before this period,
the face of the earth was comparatively in quietnefs :
though there were many great wars, yet we read of no
fuch mighty and univerfal convulfions as there were in
this period. The nations of the world, mofl of them,
had long remained on their lees, as it were, without be-
ing emptied from veflTel to vefTel, as is faid of Moab, [ Jer.
xlviii. II.] Now thefe great overturnings were becaufc
the time of the great Meffiah drew nigh. [Ezek. xxi.
27.] ' J will overturn, overturn, overturn it, audit fliall
' be no more, until he come whofe riglit it is, and I will
* give it him.' The prophet, by repeating the word over-
turn three times, has refpe6l to three overturnings, as in
the Revelation, [viii. 13.] The repetition of the word
woe three times, fignifies three diftin6l woes ; aS appears
by what follows, [ix. 12.] ' One woe is pafl: ;' and again
[xi. 14.] ' The fecond woe is pail:, and behold the third
' woe com.eth quickly.'
It muft be noted, that Ezekiel prophefied in the time
of the Babylonifh captivity ; and therefore there were
three great and general overturnings of the world to come
after this prophecy, before Chrift came ; the firft by the
Perfians, the fecond by the Grecians, the third by the
Romans ;
256 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Romnns ; and then after that, Chrift, whofe right it was
to take the diadem and reign, fhould come. Here thefe
great revolutions are evidently ipoken of as preparatory to
the coming and kingdom of Chrifi:. But to underftand the
words right, we mull: note the particular expreffion, ' I
* will overturn, overturn, overturn /'/,' /. e. the diadem
and crown of lirael, or the fuprerae temporal dominion
over God's vifible people. This God faid fhould be no
more, i. c. the crown iliould be taken off, and the diadem
removed, as it is faid in the foregoing verfe. The fupreme
power over Ifrael fliould be no more in the royal line of
David, to which it properly belonged, but fhould be re-
moved away, and given to others, and overturned from
one to another : firft the fupreme power over Ifrael iliould
be in the hands of the Perlians ; and then it fliould be over-
turned again, and come into the hands of the Grecians ;
and then it ihould be overturned again, and come into the
hands of the Romans, and fhould be no more in the line of
David, till that very perfon Ihould come, that was the fon
of David, whofe proper right it was, and to whom God
would give it. (w)
That thofe great revolutions were all to prepare the
way for Chrift's coming, and eredting his kingdom in the
world, is farther manifeft by Haggai, [ii. 6, 7.] ' For
'■ thus faid the Lord of hofts, Yet once it is a little while,
' and I will fhake the heavens, and the earth, arid the
' fea,
(\v) TTiif CROWN of If7-ael overturned.'] In a preceding Note,
(g, p. 161.) we have fhewn, that the fceptre was not to depart
until Shiloh came ; here we fee the crown was to be taken away,
and not rejlored till the Meffiah's coming. Thefe aflertions may
appear at firft fight inconfillent ; but are to be reconciled by a
very obvious dittinftion between the. fceptre of the tribe, and the
diadem of the kingdom. It is certain, as our author has fiiewn,
that long before Chrift's incarnation the Jews became fubjeft to
the heathen empires, and yet were not wholly Ih-ipt of temporal
power till afterward. They preferved a form of civil, as well as
ecclefiaftical government of their own ; yet were in a ttate of vaf-
falage and lubjeftion to other crowns. In a word, they had a
power, but not the fupreme power, among themfelves. This
makes the accomplilliment of thefe prophecies much more re-
markable. [I- N.J
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 225
* all countries beyond the river ; and toll, tribute and cuf-
* torn was paid unto them.'
So that Jofliua, that type of Chrifl:, did but begin the
work of giving Ifrael the poffeffion of the promifed land ;
and left it' to be finlflied by that much greater type and an-
ceftor of Chrift, even David, who fubdued far more of
that land than ever Jofhua had done. And in this ex-
tent of his and Solomon's dominion was fome refem-
blance of the great extent of Chrift's kingdom, and thcre-
tfbre the extent of Chrift's kingdom is thus exprefied,
[Pfal. Ixxii. 8.] ' He fhall have dominion alfo from fea
* to fea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.'
[See alfo i Kings viii. 56.]
9. God by David perfefted the Jewirti worfliip, and
added to it feveral new inftitutions. The law was given
by Mofes, but yet all the inllitutions of the Jewifh wor-
fliip were not; fome were afterwards added by divine di-
retiion. So this great type of Chrift did not only per-
fe6l Jodiua's work, in giving Tfrael the poffeffion of the
promifed land, but he alfo finiihed Mofes's work, in per-
fe«Sl:ing the inflituted worfhip of Ifrael. Thus there mufl;
be a number of typical prophets, priefts, and princes, to
complete one figure or fliadow of Chrift the antitype, he
being the fubftance of all the types and fliadows. Of fo
much more glory was Chrift accounted worthy, than Mo-
fes, Jofliua, David, Solomon, and all the propliets, priefts,
and princes, judges, and faviours of tlie Old Teftament.
The ordinances of David are mentioned as of equal
validity with thofe of Mofes, [2 Chron. xxiii. 18.]
* Alfo Jehoiada appointed the offices of the houfe of the
' Lotd by the hand of the priefts the Levites, whom Da-
* vid had diftributed in the houfe of the Lord, to offer
' the burnt-offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the
* law of Mofes, with rejoicing and with ftnging, as it was
' ordained by David.' The worlhip of Ifrael was per-
fe6ted by David, by the addition that he made to the ce-
remonial law, which we have an account of from the
xxiiid to the xxvith chapters of the hrft book of Chro-
nicles, confifting in the feveral orders and courfes into
G g which
226 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
which David divided the Levites, and the work and bufi-
nefs to which he appointed them, different from what Mofes
had done ; and alfo In the divUlons of the priefts the fons
of Ap.ron into four and twenty courfes, affigning to every
courfe their hufinefs in the houfe of the Lord, and their
particular flated times of attendance there ; and appointing
fome of the Levites to a new office, which was that of
fingers ; and particularly ordering and regulating them in
that office, as you may fee in the xxvth chapter of the ift
of Chronicles ; and appointing others of the Levites by
law to the feveral fervices of porters, treafurers, officers,
and judges: and thefe ordinances of David were kept up
henceforth in the church of Ifrael, as long as it remained.
Thus we find the feveral orders of priefts, and the Levites,
the porters, and fingers, after the captivity. So we find
the courfes of the priefts appointed by David ftill continu-
ing in the Tew Tefiament ; Zacharias the father of Joha
the Baptift was a prieit of the courfe of Abia ; whicli is the
fame with the courfe of Abijah appointed by David, [i
Chron. xxiv. lo.]
Thus David as well as Mofes was like Chrifl in this
refpeil, that by him God gave in fome degree a new ec-
clefiaftical eilablifhment, and new inftitution of worfliip.
Not only i'o, but by thofe additions David abolilhcd
fome of the old inftitutions of Mofes that had been in
force till that time ; particularly thofe laws that appointed
the hufinefs of the Levites, which we have in the iiid and
ivth chapters of Numbers, which very much confifted in
their charges of the feveral parts and utenfils of the taber-
nacle there affigned to them, and in carrying thofe feveral
parts of the tabernacle. But thofe laws were now aboliflied
by David;' and they were no more to carry thofe things, as
they had been ufed to do. But David appointed them to
other work inftead of it; [i Chron. xxiii. 26.] ' And
' alfo unto the Levites, they Ihall no more carry the taber-
' nacle, nor any vefTels of it for the fervice thereof:' a furc
evidence that the ceremonial law given by Mofes is not
perpetual, as the jews fuppofe ; but might be wholly abo-
liihed by Chrift : for if David, a type of the Meffiah, might
abolifli
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 227
abolifh the law of Mofes in part, much more might the
Mefliah himfelf aholifh the whole.
David, by God's appointment, abollfhed all ufe of the
tabernacle tiiat was built by Mofes, and of which he
had the pattern from God: for God now revealed it
to David to be his will, that a temple fhould be built,
that fliould be inftead of the tabernacle, A prefage
of what Chrift, the fon of David, would do, when
he fhould come, viz. abolifh the whole Jewifh eccle-
ilaftical conftitution, which was but as a moveable ta-
bernacle, to fet up the fpiritual gofpel-tcmple, which
was to be far more glorious, and of greater extent, and
was to laft for ever. David had the pattern of all things
pertaining to the temple fliown him, even in like manner
as Mofes had the pattern of the tabernacle : and Solomon
built the temple according to that pattern which he had
from his father David, which he received from God.
[i Chron. xxviii. 11, 12, 19.] ' Then David gave to So-
* lomon his fon the pattern of the porch, and of the
* houfes thereof, and of the treafuries thereof, and of the
* upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours there-
* of, and of the place of the mercy-feat, and the pattern
* of all that he had by tlie Spirit, of the courts of all the
* houfe of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about,
* of the treafuries of the houfe of God, and of the trea-
* furies of the dedicated things All this,
* (faid David,) the Lord made me undcrfland in writing
* by his hand upon me, even all the works of this
* pattern.'
10. The canon' of fcripture fcems about the clofe of
David's reign to have been farther enlarged by the pro-
phets Nathan and Gad. It appears probable by the fcrip-
tures, that they carried on the hillory of the two books
of Samuel from the place where Samuel tirft left it, and
finilhcd them. Thefe feem to be the book that in fciip-
ture is called the book of Samuel the feer, and Nathan the
prophet, and Gad the feer. [i Chron. xxix. 29.] ' Now
* the ads of David the king, hrfl and laft, behold they
G g 2 ' are
zzn- HiStOI^Y 6t REDEMPTION.
* are written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in
*■ the book of Gad the fe^r.'*
1 1 . The next thing I would take notice of, is God's
wonderfully continuing the kingdom of his vifible people
m the line of Chrift's legal anreftors, as long as they re-
mained an independent kingdom. Thus it was without any
interruption worth notice. Indeed, the kingdom of all the
tribes was not kept in that line ; but the dominion of that
part of Ifrael in which the true worflvip of God was upheld,
and which were God's vifible people, was always kept in
the family of David, as long as there was any fuch thing as
an independent king of Ifrael, according to his promife to
David : and not only iji the family of David, but always
in that part of David's pollerity that was the line whence
Chrift legally defcended ; fo that the very perfon that was
Chrift's legal anceftor, was always in the throne, excepting
Jehoahaz, who reigned three months, and Zedekiah ; as
you may fee in Matthew's genealogy of Chrift.
Chrift Was legally defcended from the kings of Judah,
though not naturally. He was both legally and naturally
defcended from David. He was naturally defcended from
Nathan the fon of David ; for Mary his mother was one
of the pofterity of David by Nathan, as you may fee in
Luke's genealogy : (n) but Jofeph, the reputed and legaf
father of Chrilt, was naturally defcended of Solomon ancf
his
* See Note (k) p. 215.
(n) Mary defcended from Nathan.'] *' I am av\^are that Mr.
L.e Cleic, and many other learned men, have thought that Jofeph
was begotten by Hell, and adopted by Jacob : but I much rathcF
conclude, that he was adopted by Hell, or rather taken by hinl
for his fon upon the marriage of his daughter, and that Heli wai
the father of Mary ; becaufe an ancient Jewifh rabbi exprefsly calls
her * the daughter of Heli,' and chiefly becaufe elfe we have indeed
no true genealogy of Chrift at all, but only two different views of
the line of Jofeph, his reputed father, which would by no means
prove that Chrift, who was only by adoption his fon, was of the
feed of Abraham, and of the hou{~e of David. Yet the apoftle
fpeaks of it as evident, that Chrift was defcended from Judah,
^Heb. vii. 14.J in which, if this gofpel were (as antiquity affures
us) written by the direction of Paul, perhaps he may refer to this
very table before us." — [Doddridge's Fam. Expof. § 9.]
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 229
his fuccefTois, as we have an account in Matthew's gene-
alogy. Jefus Chrift, though he was not the natural fon of
Jofeph, yet, by the law and conftitution of the Jews, he
was Jofeph's heir, becaufe he was the lawful fon of Jo-
feph's lawful wife, conceived while fhe was his legally
efpoufed wife. The Holy Ghoft raifed up feed to him. A
perfon, by the law of Mofes, might be the legal fon and
heir of another, whofe natural fon he was not ; as fome-
times a man raifed up feed to his brother : a brother, in
fonic cafes, was to build up a brother's houfe ; fo the Holy
Ghoft built up Jofeph's houfe,
And Jofeph being in the dire(£l line of the kings of Judah,
of the houfe of David, he was the legal heir of the crown
of David; and Chrift being legally his iirft-born fon, he
■was his heir ; and fo Chrift, by the law, was the proper
heir of the crown of David, and is therefore faid to fit
upon the throne of his father David.
The crown of God's people was wonderfully kept in
the line of Chrift's legal anceftors. When David was old,
and not able any longer to manage the affairs of the king-
dom, Adonijah, one of his fons, fct up to be king, and
feemed to have obtained his purpcfe : but Adonijah was not
that fon of David which was the anceftor of Jofeph, the
legal father of Chrift ; and therefore how wonderfully did
Providence work here ! what a ftrange and fudden revo-
lution ! All Adonijah's kingdom and glory vanifticd away
as foon as it was begun, and Solomon, the legal anceftor
of Chrift, was eftabliftied in the throne.
And after Solomon's death, when Jeroboam had con-
fpired againft the family, and Rehoboam carried himfelf
fo that it was a wonder all Ifrael was not provoked to for-
fake him, and ten tribes did ailuallv forfake him, and fet
up Jeroboam iri oppofttion to him ; and though Rehoboam
was a wicked man, and deferved to have been rejected
?ltoget]ier from being king, yet he being the legal anceftor
of Chrift, God kept the kingdom of the two tribes, in
which the true religion was upheld, in his pofleflion ; and
notwithftanding liis fon Abijam was another wicked prince,
yet they being Ic^ial anceftors of Chpft, God ftill continued
the
230 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
the crown in the family, and gave it to Abijam's fon
Afa. And afterwards, though many of the kings of Judah
were very wicked, and horridly provoked God, as parti-
cularly Jehoram, Ahaziah, Ahaz, Manaffeh, and Amon ;
yet God did not take away the crown from their family,
but gave it to their fons for the fame reafon. So fpeak-
ing of Abijam, it is faid, [i Kings xv. 4.] ' Ne^erthe-
* lefs, for David's fake did the Lord his God give him
* a lamp in Jerufalem, to fet up his fon after him, and
* to eftablifh Jerufalem :' alfo, [2 Chron. xxi. 7.] fpeak-
ing of Jehoram's great wickcdnefs, it is faid, ' Howbeit
* the Lord would not deftroy the houfe of David, becaufc
* of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he
*■ had promifed to give a light unto him, and to his fons
* for ever.'
The crown of the ten tribes was changed from one fa-
mily to another continually. Firft, Jeroboam took it ; but
the crown remained in his family only one generation after
his deatli, it only defcended to his fon Nadab ; and then
Baaflia, who was of another family, took it, and it re-
mained in his pofleritv but one generation alfo after his
death; and then Zimri, who was his fervant, took it;
and then, without defcending at all to his pollerity, Omri
took it, and the crown continued in his family for three
fuccefTions ; next Jehu, that was of another family, took
it, and the crown continued in his family for three or
four fucccflions ; and then Shallum, who was of another
family, took it ; and the crown did not defcend at all to
his pofterity, but Menahem took it, and it remained in
his family but one generation after him ; and then Pekah,
of another family, took it, and after him Hofhea, who
was of flill another family ;—-ro great, a ditterence was
there between the crown of Ifiael, and the crown of Ju-
dah ; the one was continued evermore in the fame family,
and with very little interruption, in one right line ; the
other was continually tolled about from one family to
another, as if it were the fport of fortune. The reafon
was not, becaufe the kings of Judak, many of them, were
better than the kings of Ifracl, but the one h;'d the bleffing
in
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 231
in tliem ; they were the anceftors of Chrift, whofe right
it was to fit on the throne of Ifrael : hut with the kings
oflfrael it was not fo ; and therefore Divine Providence
cxercifed a continual care, through all the changes that
happened in fo many generations, and fuch a long fpace of
time, to keep the crown of Judah in one diredl line, in
fulfilment of the everlafting covenant he had made with
David, the mercies of which covenant were fure mercies :
but in the other cafe, there was no fuch covenant, and fo
no fuch care of Providence.
And here it muft not be omitted, that there was once a
very ftrong confpiracy of the kings of Syria and Ifrael, in
the time of that wicked king of Judah, Ahaz, to difpof-
fefs him and his family of the throne of Judah, and to fct
one of another family, even the fon of Tabeal on it ,
[Ifa. vii. 6.] ' Let us go up againfl: Judah, and vex it,
* and let us make a breach therein for us, and fet a king
* in the midft of it, even the fon of Tabeal.' And they
feemed very likely to accomplifli their purpofe ; infomuch
that it is faid, [ver. 2.] ' The heart of Ahaz and his
* people was moved as the trees of the wood are moved
' with the wind.' On this occafion God fent the prophet
Ifaiah to encourage the people, and tell them that it fhould
not come to pafs. And becaiife the cafe feemed fo def-
pcrate that Ahaz and the people would very hardly be-
lieve, therefore God direils the prophet to give them this
fign, viz. that Chrill: ihould be born of the legal feed of
Ahaz ; [as Ifa. vii. 14.] ' Therefore the Lord himfelif
' (hall give you a fign : Behold, a virgin fliall conceive,
' and bear a fon, and fliall call his name Immanuel.* (o)
This
(0) A VIRGIN ^rt// conceive, Iffc.'] That this text referred to
Jefus Chrift might be fhown from a variety of arguments ; as, that
this cliild was to be born of a virgin — that he was to be Imrna-
nucl, Lord oi yudea, [Ifa. viii. 8.] — that this ciicumllance is
introduced as a wonderful event, Bthold I — that it was confillent
with previous intimations in earlier prophecies, [as Gen. iii. 15. J —
that it was fo underftood by a cotemporary prophet, [Micah v. 3.]
and is exprefsly applied to this event in the New Teilaraent, where
the fad is afcertained. [Matt. i. 18 — 22.]
But
232 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
This was a good fign, and a great confirmation of the truth
■of what God promifed by Ifaiah, viz. that the kings of
Syria and Ifrael fhould never accompliili their purpofe of
difpofleffing the family of Ahaz of the crown of Judah, for
Chrift the Immanuel was to be of them.
I have mentioned this difpenfation of Providence in this
place, becaufe though it was continued for fo long a time,
yet it began in Solomon's fucceffion to the throne of his
father David.
12. The next thing I would take notice of is, the
building of the temple : a great type of three things, viz.
of the human nature of Chrill, of the church, and of
heaven, (p) The tabernacle feemed rather to reprefenc
the church in its moveable, changeable flate, here in
this world. But that beautiful, glorious, coftly firudlure
of the temple that fucceeded the tabernacle, and was im-
moveably fixed, feems efpecially to reprefent the church
in its glorified ftate in heaven. This temple was built
according to the pattern fliewn by the Holy Ghcft to
David, and by divine diredtion given to David, in the
place
But the confideration of thefe would lead us beyond the limits
of a note, we fliall therefore only obferve that the principal ob-
jeftion to this interpretation (which is formed from the context)
might be obviated by a flight variation in rendering the following
words, * Butter and honey will he eat that hnoiveth to refufe the
* evil and to chufe the good ; but before this child' — not Imma-
nuel, but Sheer-Jafhub, whom the prophet had in his hand, [ver. 3.]
before this child — ' fliall know,' &:c. This however we fubmit to
the confideration of the learned.
Our author has very happily fliewn how the birth of the Mefliah
was a fign of Ifrael's deliverance In Ahaz's time ; to confirm this
and obviate any objeftlon drawn therefrom jt might be added, I.
That this fign was not given to Ahaz pcrfonally, but to the houfe bf
David, [ver. 13.] and, 2. That wc have feveral other Inftanccs
in fcrlpture of diftant events being mentioned as the fign of prefent
deliverance, one of whicli occurs In this very prophet. [Ch. xxxvil.
30.] And, 3. That it Is cuftomary for the prophets, and in
particular Ifaiah, to conneft with the' predltllon of temporal de-
liverance the promlfes of the fplrltual iredcmption to be effefted by
the Mefliah. [See Note G. p. 209.]
(p) The TEMPLE rt /j;^^ (t/" the human nature of Christ.] This
our author has fliown. [See alfo John I. 14.—- Col. ii. 7.] But this
temple
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 233
place where was the thre(hing-floor of Oman the Jebufite,
in Mount Moriah, [2 Chron. iii. i.] in the fame moun-
tain, and tloubtlefs in the very fame place, whete Abra-
ham offered up his fon Ifaac ; for that is faid to be a
moun-
temple, (as formerly the tabernacle) was divided into two parts,
the Holy and Moft Holy place ; the former pointing at what Chrift
ivas and did in his ftate of incarnation below, the latter at what he
is and does in his prefent ftate of exalted glory; as will appear by
an induction of particulars :
(i.) The candleftick reprefents him as " the true light which",
coming into the world, enlightencth every man;" [John i. 9. —
See Doddridge] and the feven lamps of it reprefent " the feven
fpirito, or the fulnefs of the fpirit with which he was endued."
[Ifa. xi. 2, 3. Rev. i. 4.]
(2.) The fiiewbread alfo prefigured Chrift as 'the true bread
* which came down from heaven,' [John vi. 5.] and its divifion
might point out his having a fnfficiency of bleffing for all the tribes
of Ifrael, to whom in a particular manner he was fent. [Matt.
XV. 24.]
(3.) The vail itfelf was a type of his mortal flefli, [Heb. x. 20.]
which was rent, to admit us to a ftate of communion with him in
his ftate of exalted glory.
We now come to the fecond part of the tabernacle, prefiguring
the human nature alfo, or at Icaft the complex perfon, of Chrift,
in his prefent exalted ftate.
( I.) Herein was contained the golden cenler, which by an eafy
figure may reprefent the incenfe therein offered; and that his power-
ful and acceptable interceffion at God's right hand, wherein he pleads
the atonement once offered, the memorial of which is to God his
Father as a fweet fmclling favour. [Eph, v. 2. Rev. viii. 3.]
(2.) The ark of the covenant, which has been confidered as a
type of the Redeemer, from the incorruptibility of its materials,
and the glory of its ornaments; thofe circumftanccs(to omit others)
pointing to his prefent ftate of immortality and glory.
(3.) The cover of this ark was the mercy-feat or propitiatory,
v/hich term is cxprefsly applied to Jefus Chrift, [Rom. iii. 2^. —
I John ii. 2.] becaufe Jehovah beheld the blood hereon fprinkled
with fatisfaition and favour to the Ifraelitcs. Thus the lamb, as
if it had been flain, (in the language of St. John) with the bloody
memorial of his facrifice, appears continually in the Divi;;e Pre-
fence on our behalf. [Rev. v. 6.]
(4.) To omit Aaron's rod, the pot of manna, &c. as not the
proper furniture of the ark, though therein depofited : the tables of
the law being placed within the ark, has been confidered by divines
3s reprcfenting the moral law written in the heart of the Redeemer;
H h and
234 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
mountain in the land of Moriah, [Gen. xxii. 2.] which
mountain was called the mountain of the Lord, as this
mountain of the temple was, [Gen. xxii. 14.] ' And
< Abraham called the name of that place jehovah-jireh ;
' as it is faid to tliis day, In the mount of the Lord it Ihall
* be feen.'
That the human nature of Chrift was the antitype of
this temple, appears, becaufe ChriiT: being fliown the
temple of Jerufalem, fays, ' Deftroy this temple, and in
* three days I will raife it up,' fpeaking of the temple of
his body. [John ii. 19, 20.] This houfe, or an houfe built
in this place, continued to be the houfe of God, where
his church worlhipped till Chrift came. Here was the
place that God chofe, where all their facrifices were offer-
ed up till the great facritice came, and all others ceafed.
(q^) Into this temple, or rather the texaiple afterwards
built
and the mercy-feat upon them, as indicating that our tranfgreflions
of that law are covered by the true propitiatory.
(5. ) The cherubims, whether they reprefented the complacency
and fatisfaftion with which the Deity beheld the blood of fprink-
ling, or rather the pleafure and earneftnefs with which angels con-
template the work of redemption, as St. Peter feems to intimate,
[i Pet. i. 12, gr.] were certainly a glorious part of the furniture of
the mod holy place; but thefe inquiries would lead us too far: all,
however, within the vail reprefented what pafled in heaven, when
our great High Prieft entered there with his own mofl precious
blood. [Heb. ix. 24.] [I. N.]
(q^) Sacrifices offered till the great sacrifice came.~\ We have
already fhewn that the facrifices and other ceremonial inftltutions
were typical, and mufl have been fo underltood by the Old Tefta-
ment believers themfelves ; [p. 176, note n] but fome who have
acknowledged this, have doubted whether they had any knowledge
that the Meffiah was to offer himfelf a lacrifice for fin. That they
hacl^ we infer from the following arguments :
1. That it appears to have been the current dodlrine of the Old
Teftament, that without fiiedding of blood was no reraiffion of fin.
The apoftle reprefents it as a very abfurd notion, that the blood
of bulls and goats could take away fin; then what other facrlficc
could avail but human? And what man but the Meffiah himfelf?
j^SeeHeb.ix. throughout.]
2. The prophetic writings frequently introduce the Divine Be-
ing as cenfuring the legal facrifices, and thofc who offered them;
— ml-, as fome have miltakeniy fuppofed, as not of his own ap-
pointment,
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 235
built in this place, the Lord came, ' even the meflenger of
' the covenant.' Here he often delivered his heavenly
do6lrine, and wrought miracles ; here his church was pa-
rhered by the pouring out of the Spirit, after his afccnfion.
[Luke xxiv. 53.] Speaking of the difciples, after Chrift's
afcenfion, it is faid, ' And they were continually in the
* temple, praifuig and bleffing God.' And, [ A61s ii. 46.]
fpeaking of the multitude that were converted by tliat great
out-pouring of the Spirit that was on the day of Pentecoft,
it is faid, ' And they continued daily with one accord in
* the temple.' Alfo, [Ads v. 42.] fpeaking of the apoftles,
' And daily in the temple, and in every houfe, they ceafed
* not to teach and preach Jefus ChrilL' And hence the
found of the do(?lrine went forth, and the church fpread,
into all the world.
13. It is here worthy to be obferved, that at this time,
in Solomon's reign, after the temple was linifhed, the Jew-
ifli church was raifed to its highefl: external glory. The
Jewirii church (or the ordinances and conftitution of it)
is compared to the moon, [Rev. xii. i.] ' And there ap-
' peared a great wonder in heaven, a woman cloathed with
H h 2 ' the
pointment, but becaiife the carnal Jews relied and confided in them
without looking forward to their great antitype.
It is particularly foretold, that in the days of the Mefliah fome
more efficacious facrifice fliould be offered. [Pf. li. 19."! It is in
other paffages cxprefsly declared that he fliould fuffer many things.
[See Luke xxiv. 26,27,45,46.] Even in the firft promife this
was hinted, the ferpent fliould bruife his heel. The 2 2d Pfahn
is a clear and exprefs prophecy of thefe fufferings, which however
is exceeded by the 53d of Ifaiah, and Daniel ix. 24 — 27. where
it is exprefsly added, that under thefe circumftances he fliould bear
the fin of many — our iniquities fliould meet on him (as on the
fcape goat;) nay, that he fliould make his foul, (or himfelf) an
offering for fin, [Ifa. liii. 10.] yet that after this he fliould fee his
feed, prolong his days, and the pleafure of the Lord fliould prof-
per in his hand.
3. So exprefs arc thefe paffages, that our Lord calls fome of
his difciples ' fools, and flow of heart to believe' the law and the
prophets, becaufe they did not underlland them; and many of the
rnodern Jews can find no way to account for them, but by inven-
tion of /wo Mcffiahs ; the fon of Jofepli to faffcr and die, and the
foa of David to yeUrn, [G. E.]
236 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
' the fun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head
' a crown of twelve ftars/ As this church was like the
moon in many other refpe6is, fo it was in this, that it
wexed and wanned like it. From the firft foundation of
it, in the covenant made w^ith Abraham, when this moon
was now beginning to appear, it had to this time been
gradually increafmg in its glory. This time, wherein the
temple was finilhed and dedicated, was about the middle
between the calling of Abraham and the coming of
Chrift, and now it was full moon. After this the glory
of the JewiOi church gradually decreafed, till Chrill
came ; as I ihail have occafion more particularly to obferve
prefently.
Now the church of Ifrael was in its higheft external
glory : Now Ifrael was multiplied exceedingly, fo that
they feemed to have become like the fand on the fea fliore,
[i Kings iv. 20.] Now tlie kingd )m of Ifrael was firmly
eftabliihed in the family of which Chrift was to come :
Now God had chofen the city where he would place his
name : Now God had fully given his people the poflfef-
lion of the promifed land, in quietnefs and peace, even
from the river of Egypt, to the great river Euphrates ;
and all thofe nations that had formerly been their enemies,
quietly fubmitted to them ; none pretended to rebel againft
them:— -Now ^he Jewifh worfhip in all its ordinances
■was fully fettled:— Now, inftead of a moveable tent and
tabernacle, they had a glorious temple ; the moft magni-
ficent, beautiful, and coftly ftruclure, that then was,
ever had been, or has been fince.— -Now the people
enjoyed peace and plenty, and fat every man under
his vine and fig-tree, eating and drinking, and making
merry, [i Kings iv. 20.]— Now they were in the
higheft pitch of earthly profperity, filver being as plenty
as ftones, and the land full of gold and precious ftones,
and other precious foreign commodities, which were
brought by Solomon's Ihips from Ophir, and which came
from other parts of the world: Now they had a king
reigning Over them who was the Vifeft of men, and pro-
bably the greatell earthly prince tliat ever was: — -Now
their
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 237
their fame went abroad into all the earth, fo that many-
came from the utmoft parts of the earth to fee their glory
and their happinefs.
Thus God was pleafed, in one of the anceftors of
Chrift, remarkably to fliadow forth the kingdom of
Chrift reigning in his glory. David, who was the man of
war, a man who had flied much blood, and whofe life
was full of troubles and confli6ls, was more of a rcpre-
fcntation of Chrift in his ftate of humiliation, his mi-
litant ftate, wherein he was conflidling with his enemies.
But Solomon, who was a man of peace, was a repre-
fentation more efpecially of Chrift exalted, triumphing,
and reigning in his kingdom of peace. And the happy
glorious ftate of the Jewilh church at that time did re-
markably reprefent two things ; i. That glorious ftate of
the church on earth, that fhall be in the latter ages of
the world ; thofe days of peace, when nation fhall not
lift fword againft nation, nor learn war any more. 2.
The future glorified ftate of the church in heaven : the
earthly Canaan was never fo lively a type of the heavenly
Canaan as it was then, when the happy people of Ifrael
did indeed enjoy it as a land flowing with milk and
honey.
14. After this the glory of the Jewifti church gradually
declined more and more till Chrift came ; yet not fo but
that the work of redemption ftill went on. Wliatfoever
failed or declined, God ftill carried on this work from
age to age ; this building was ftill advancing higher and
higher. It ftill went on during the decline of the Jewiili
church, towards a further preparation for the coming of
Chrift, as well as during its increafe ; for fo wonderfully
were things ordered by the infinitely wife governor of the
world, that whatever happened was ordered for good to
this general defign, and made a means of promoting it.
When the people of the Jews flourilhed, and were in prof-
perity, he made that to contribute to the promoting this
defign ; and when they were in adverfity, God made this
alfo to contribute to the carrying on of the fame. While
the Jewiili church was in its increaling ftate, the work
of
238 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
of redemption was carried on by their increafe ; and when
they came to their declining ftate, {which they were in
from Solomon's time till Chrift:,) God carried on the
work of redemption by that. Which decline itfelf was
one thing that God made ufe of as a farther preparation
for Chrifl's coming.
As the moon, trom the time of its full, is approach-
ing nearer and nearer to her conjunction with the fun ;
fo her light is ftill more and more decreafing, till at length,
when the conjunction comes, it is wholly fwallowed up
in the light thereof. So it was with the Jewiih church
from the time of its highefl glory in Solcmon's time.
In the latter end of Solomon's reign, the ftate of things
began to darken, by Solomon's corrupting himfelf with
idolatry, which much obfcured the glory of this mighty
and wife prince ; now it was, troubles began to arife in
his kingdom ; and after his death it was divided, and the
ten tribes withdrew from the true worlhip of God, and
fet up the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. Prefently
after this the number of the ten tribes was greatly dimi-
niflied in the battle of Jeroboam with Abijah, wherein
there fell down {lain of Ifrael fiye hundred thoufand cho-
fen men ; which lofs the kingdom of Ifrael never entirely
recovered.
Now alfo the kingdom of Judah was greatly, corrupted.
In Ahab's time the kingdom of Ifrael did not only wor-
fliip the calves of Bethel and Dan, but the worlhip of
Baal was introduced. Before, they pretended to worihip
the true God by thefe images, the calves of Jeroboam ;
but now Ahab introduced grofs idolatry, and the diiect
woriliip of falfe gcds in the room of the true God ; (r)
and
(r) Many learned men have conjcftured (as perhaps our au-
thor) that the goldeu calves originated from the cherubic figures,
one animal in which was a calf or young bull ; fome liave even
fuppofed, that this part of the Egyptian idolatry fprang from the
fame fource ; and that at firft they were- only ufed as the medium
of worfhip and emblems of the Deity : [Stackhoufe, Book vi. ch.
I.] But as the nature of fin is progrellivc, fo one degree of ido-
latry leads to another ; and when men once conceived the Deity
tx) refemble calves, it was but one ftcp farther to worfhip thefc
calves themfelvcs.
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 239
and foon after the worfliip of Baal was introduced into the
kingdom of Judah, viz. in Jehoram's reign, by his mar-
rying Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab. After this God
began to cut Ifrael ihort, by finally deftroying and fending;
into captivity that part of the people that dwelt beyond
Jordan. [2 Kings x. 32, &c.] And then Tiglath-Pilezer
fubdued and captivated all tliofe of the northern parts of
the land; [2 Kings xv, 29.] at laft all the ten tribes were
fubdued by Salmanefer, and finally carried captive out of
their own land. After this alfo the kingdom of Judah was
carried captive into Babylon, and a great part of the nation
never returned. Thofe that returned were but a fmall
nuunber, compared with what had been carried captive ;
and for the mofi: part after this they were dependent on
the power of other ftates, being fubje6l one while to the
kings of Perfia, then to the monarchy of the Grecians,
afterwards to the Romans. And before Chrift's tim.e,
the church of the Jews was become exceeding corrupt,
over-run with fuperftition and felf-righteoufnefs. How
Imall a flock was the church of Chrill: in the days of his
incarnation !
God, by his gradual decline of the Jewifn ftate and
church from Solomon's time, prepared the way for the
coming of Chrifl fevcral ways.
(i.) The decline of the glory of this legal difpenfa-
tion made way for the introdudion of the more glorious
difpenfation of the gofpel. The ancient difpenfarion,
fuch as it was in Solomon's time, had no glorv, when
compared with the fpiritual difpenfation introduced by
Chrifl. The church, under the Old Teftament, was a
child under tutors and governors, and God dealt with it
as a child. Thofe pompous externals are called by the
aportle, weak and beggarly elements. It was fit that thofe
things fhould be diminiflied as Chrifl approached ; as
John the Baptid, his forerunner, fpeaking of him fays,
' He mufl: increafe, but I muft decreafe.' [John iii. 30.]
It is fit that the twinkling fiars fliould gradually with-
<lraw their glory, when the fun is approaching tov/ardj;
hjs I'^fing.
{2.) This
240 HISTORY OF REDEMPTIOl^.
(2.) This gradual decline alfo tended to prepare for
Chrift's coming, as it difplayed the glory of God's power,
in the great effed:s of his redemption. God's people being
fo diminifhed and weakened by one ftep after another, till
Chrift came, was very much like the diminilhing Gideon's
army. • God told Gideon, that the people that was with
him, was too many for him to deliver the Midianites into
their hands, left Ifrael Ihould vaunt themfelves againft him,
faying, ' My own hand hath faved me.' And therefore
all that were fearful were commanded to return ; and there
returned twenty and two thoufand, and there remained ten
thoufand. But ftill they were too many ; and then, by
trying the people at the water, tliey were reduced to three
hundred men. So the people in Solomon's time were
too many, and mighty, and glorious for Chrift ; there-
fore he diminilhed them ; firft, by fending off the ten
tribes, and then by the captivity into Babylon ; afterward
they were farther diminifhed by the great and general
corruption that there was when Chrift came ; fo that
Chrift found very few godly perfons among them : and
with a fmall handful of difciples, he conquered the world.
Thus high things were brought down, that Chrift might
be exalted.
(3.) This prepared the way for Chrift's coming, as it
made the falvation of thofe jews that were faved by him
more confpicuous : though the greater part of the nation
of the Jews was rejedied, and the Gentiles called in dicir
room, yet there were a great many thoufands of the Jews
that were faved by Chrift after his refurre6lion. [A6ts
xxi. 20.] They being taken from fo low a ftate under
temporal calamity in their bondage to the Romans, and
from a ftate of great fuperfiition and wickednefs, it made
their redemption the more viHbly glorious.
I have taken notice of this difpenfation of Providence
in the gradual decline of the Jewifh church in this place,
becaufe it beG:an in the reirn of Solomon.
15. I would here take notice of the additions that were
made to the canon of Scripture in or foon after the reign
of Solomon ; fome of them by Solomon himfelf, who
wrote
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY, 241
Wrote the books of Proverbs and Ecclefiaftes, probably
near the clofe of his reign. But his writing the Song of
Songs, as it is called, is what is efpccially here to be ta-
ken notice of, which is wholly on the fubje6l that we
are upon, viz. Chrifl: and liis redemption, rcprefenting
the high and glorious relation, union, and love, which is
between Chrift and his redeemed church, (s) And the
hiftory
(s) TZi^ SONG o/'soNGS lurttten by Solomon.'] As many ferious
minds have doubted the divine authority of this book, and fome
critics and divines have too haftily given it up, we prefume it may-
be an acceptable fervice to our readers, in as concife a manner a«
poflible, to colleft the evidences In its favour :
1. That Solomon compofed many fongs or poems is certain,
[i Kings iv. 32.] and fince the title of this book (which is con-
feffedly very ancient) afcribes it to him, it feems very eafy to be-
lieve, that as the book of Proverbs was compiled from his wife
faylngs, this book might be preferved as the raoft excellent of his
fongs. To Solomon, therefore. It has conftantly been referred,
and fo far have Its enemies generally been from denying it, that
this circumflance has been made a principal argument againfl: Its
authority. This opinion is very much ftrengthencd from feveral
pafTages in the Song Itfelf; [Chap. HI. ii.] ' Go forth, and be-
* hold King Solomon ;' — [vHI. i2.~\ ' My vineyard is before thee,
* O Solomon !' Alfo feveral of the comparifons ufed, as th« tent
curtains of Solomon, and Pharaoh's chariot horfcs, would hardlv
have been ufed by a later author.
2. Should it be aflced, at what period of his life Solomon wrote
it ? If we may form any judgment from tlie ftile and Images made
ufe of, it was moft probably In the early part of It, before his
heart was drawn afide from virtue and religion ; fo mod Chrllllan
and many Jewlfh v/rlters ; for that it was not written during the
time of his apoftafy, Is clear
From, 3. Its early admlfTion Into the Jewlfh canon, and the con-
ftant veneration It has received in the Chrilllan church. Among
the Hebrews it was ranked In the fame clafs with Daniel and Eze-
kiel, and forbid to be read by their young men till they arrived
at matuie age, on account of Its myllerlous contents. [Preface
to Patricks Paraph.] 'Jofephus, though he does not diitinctlv
name the facred books, enumerates them in fuch a manner as may
be fairly fuppofed to Include this. And in the Chrlftlan church.
Melito, Bp. of Sardis, exprcfsly mentions It as early as A. D. 160.
[Bp. Cojms' Sclioolaftic Hlft. p. 15 and 32.]
4. Another argument In favour of this book may be derjvcu
from comparing it with other paflages of fcripturc. pa'^ticularjy
I I Pfalm
242 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
hiftorv of rhe fcriptures feems, in Solomon's reign, and
fome of the next fucceeding ones, to have been increafed
by
Pfalm slv. and Ifa. V. i, Sec. where many of the fame images are
applied to divine objeifts ; and if David was the author of the for-
mer, as is extremely likely, it is not to be fuppofed that his fon
would have taken the fame figures, and bmlefqued the piety of his
father by applying them to the object of a carnal love.
5. It has indeed been alledged, that the name of God does
not occur in this book — that the name of David is differently
fpelt in the Hebrew from what it Is in other books written prior
to the captivity — that it contains no precepts of pietv or religion
— that its ilile is loofe and immodeft, and that it is neither quoted
nor referred to by any other of the facred writers. — The two firft
have been ftiewn to be founded on miftake. [Find/i:y's Vind. of
the Sac. Books, p. 452, and the Hebrew of cap. viii. 6.] If the
book be aJlegoncal, as we fhtdl endeavour to Ihew, it muft con-
fequently be fidl of piety and religion. The ftile of the original
has been proved to be perfeclly modeft and delicate, [Jirickaelis's
Notes on Lowth's Proeledl. p. 160.] as well as elegant and beau-
tiful, [fee New Tranflation, 8vo. 1764.] and if fo much cannot
be faid for our verfion, fome apology mav at leaft be made for
the time in which it was made. — As to the laft objeftion, our
difficulty arifcs from the number of parallel phrafes ufed in both
the Old and New Teft am.ent, which makes it not eafy to afcertain,
whether the texts in queftion be or be not quotations of this book ;
. this very objection, however, forms a powerful argument in its
favour.
6. A modem Jew, of confiderable learning and ingenuity, has
given hib opinion of the book as follows : " This peem is an entire
allegory, as Aben Ezra obferves It commence's, according
to his opinion, at the time of Abraham, and extends to the times
of the Mcffiah j and which defcribes (if I may be allowed the ex-
preffion) the conjugal union of God with the Jewi/h church
This is the folemn compact fo frequently celebrated by almoft all
the Jewiih writers under the fame image." [Z^-i's Diet, in CDTw'.]
The fenlim.ents of the other Jewifli Rabbins correfpondent here-
with may be feen in the Preface to FatricPs Paraphiafe. {^Gill's
Comment, and Poli Syn. Crit.]
It would be leading us too far to review the fentlments of Chrif-
tian espoiltors — in the general they are agreed, that this Song
expreflcs the fubllrr.e and fpiritual love, which fubfifts between the
Redeemer and his church, and though we have not been tho-
roughly pleafed with any of the allegorical commentaries we have
feen, it is hoped, the hints given by *Bp. Lo'wth, ProfcfTor Mi-
chaelis, Mr. Harmer, and the author of the New Tranflation, on
the one Land ; and Ep. Patrick, Dr. GiU^ and Mr. Henry, on the
ether, may feme day produce this defideratum. [G. E.j
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 2x5
bv the propheti Nsdian, Ahijsh, Sbemaiah, and Iddo. Ic
is probable rhat part of the hiftonr which wc have in the
firil of Kings was wrirren br them, bj what is laid 2 Chron.
ix. 29. — xii. 15. — xiii. 22.
16. God*s upholding his church and religion through
this period was tmlv wonderfbl, confidering the pronenefe
of that people to idolatry. When the ten tribes hid jeae-
rally and finally forfaken the worlhip of God, he kept up
the true religion in the kingdom of Jodah ; and when tkrt
corrupted themfelves, as they very often did exceedinglv,
and idolarrv was ready totally to extinguith ir^ yet God
kept the lamp alirc, and was often pleafed when things
feeoied to be come to an extremiry, and religion ar irs
lall gafp, to grant bleSed revirals hs remarkable oat -pour-
ings of his Spirit, particularly in Kezekiah and Joilah's
time-
ly. God kept the book of the la^ from being loft in
times of ^neral and lon^ c^ncianednesiect cf, and en.— ::-
againft it. The moit remarkable inflance of this kind ■• ;i:
the preferration of the book of the law in die time ot the
long apolrafv of ManaGah, and then afrerwards in me
reign of Ames his {zx\.. Thus while the book of the larv
was fb much neglected, and fuch a carelefs 2nd prc^aae
mznagement ' of the aSairs of the temple prevailed, that
the cppv of the bw, which ufed to be laid up by the fide
of the ark *in the Hoi v of Holies, was loft for a long time ;
no bodv knew where it was. But vet God prelerved it
from being finallv fo. In Jollah's time, when diey came
to repair the temple, it was found buried in rubbidi, afeer
ir had been loit fo long tiiar Joiiah himielf feems to have
been much a ftran^er to it till now. \i Kings xxii. S,
&C.] (T) ■ ' ^ .
iS- Go£->
(t) Tci ioei cf tin ^-3 i:j^'j The cnesdes of rCTdatioa
would be gUd to prove, and icwne of then hsxe attempted it,
that the book - " ' -s^s die coly remaiaing copy of the law,
and have evea 1 -. that this tnijht be in great zicifare
fabricated by the rrieis. But the ihcrec hlftonan gives no gnKmd
for fuch fufpicic" " : " '. fippcaag that niaay ccpies might have
34+ HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
1 8. God's preferving the tribe of which Chrift was to
proceed, from being ruined through the many and great
dangers of this period. The vifible church of Chrift from
Solomon's reign was chiefly in the ten tribes of Judah,
The tribe of Benjamin, which was annexed to tliem, was
but very fmall, and that of Judah exceeding large ; as
Judah took Benjamin under his covert when be went into
Egypt to bring corn, fo the tribe of Benjamin feemed
to be under the covert of Judah ever after : and though,
on occaficn of Jeroboam's fetting up the calves at Bethel
and Dan, the Levites reforted to Judah out of all the tribes
of Ifrael, [2 Chron. xi, 13.] ; yet they were alfo fmall,
and not reckoned among the tribes ; and though many
of the ten tribes did alfo on that occafion, for the fake
of the worfhip of God in the temple, leave their inhe-
ritances in their feveral tribes, and removed and fettled
in Judah, and fo were incorporated with them, as [2
Chron. xi. 16.] yet the tribe of Judah was fo much the
prevailing part, that they were all called by one name,
they were called Judah ; therefore God faid to Solomon,
[ 1 Kings xi. 13.] ' I will not rend away all the kingdom ;
* but will give one tribe to thy fon, for David my fer-
' vant's fake and for Jerufalem's fake, which I have cho-
' fen ;' [alfo ver. 32, 36.] So when the ten tribes were
carried captive, it is faid, there was none left but the tribe
of Judah only : [2 Kings xvii. 18.] Whence they were
called Jev/s.
This was the tribe of whicli Chrill: was to come : and
of this chiefly did God's vifible churcii confifl:, from So-
lomon's
been deftroyed or loft in the preceding apoftafy, yet the Lord al-
ways referved himfelf a people to whom his word was precious,
and who would never part from it, but with their lives. The fail
here feems to be, that the ftudy of the Bible had been miferably
neglefted ; and that the king who was commanded to write out a
copy himfelf, [Deut. xvii. 18.] had been brought up in ignorance
of it — that the copy now found was a very ancient and valuable
manufcript — perhaps, (as the Hebrew phrafe Is, in or by the hand
of Mo/ls) the very original iX.{tAi — the difcovery of which might
well be fuppofed to occafion great jov among them. [2 Chron,
xxxiv. 14.] [See G/7/'s Comment.] [U. S.J
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY, 24.5
lomon's time : this was the people over whom the Kings
which were legal anceftors of Chrift, and of the houfe
of David, reigned. The people were wonderfully prc-
ferved from defl:ru6tion during this period, when they
often feemed to be upon the brink of it, and jufl ready to
be fwallowed up. So it was in Rehoboam's time, when
Shilhak, king of Egypt, came againft Judah with fuch ^
vaft force ; yet then God manifeftly preferved them from
being deftroyed. [2 Chron. xii. 2, &c.] So again in
Abijali's time, when Jeroboam fet the battle in array
againft him with eight hundred thoufand chofen men ;
a mighty army indeed I [2 Chron. xiii. 3.] Then God
wrought deliverances to Judah, out of regard to the co-
venant of grace cflablilhed witli David, as is evident by
ver. 4, 5 ; and the vi6tory they obtained was becaufe
the Lord was on their fide, [ver. 12.] Again in Afa's
time, when Zerah the Ethiopian came againft him with
a yet larger army of a thoufand thoufand and three hun-
dred cliariots. [2 Chron. xiv. 9.] On this occalion Afa
cried to the Lord and trufted in him ; being fenfible that
it was nothing with him to help thofe that had no povi'er:
[ver. II.] ' And Afa cried unto the Lord his God, and
^ faid, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether
' witii many, or with thofe that have no power.' And
accordingly God gave them a glorious vi6lory over this
mighty hoft.
So again it was in Jehofhaphat's time, Avhen the chiL
dren of Moab, of Ammon, and the inhabitants of Mount
Seir, combined together againft Judah, with a mighty
army, a force vaftly fuperior to any that Jehofliaphat
could raife ; who, with his people, was greatly afraid;
yet they fet themfelves to feek God on this occahon ;
trufted in him, and were told by one of his prophets, that
they need not fear, nor Ihould they have any occafton to
fight in this battle, but only to ftand ftill and fee the fal-
vation of the Lord. Accordingly they only ftood ftill,
and fang praifes to God, who made their enemies do the
work themfelves, by killing one another ; while the
children of Judah had nothing to do, bat to gather the
Ipoil,
246 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
fpoll, which was more than they could carry away. [2
Chron. XX.]
So it was in Ahaz's time, of which we have fpoken al-
ready. Again in Hezekiah's, when Sennacherib, king of
Aflyria, the greateft monarchy that was then in the world,
came up againfl: all the fenced cities of Judah, after he
had conquered moft of the neighbouring countries, and
fent Rabfhakeh, the captain of his hoft, againiT: Jerufa-
lem, who in a very proud and fcornful manner infulted
Hezekiah and his people, as being fure of vi6lory; and
the people were trembling for fear, like lambs before a
lion. Then God fent Ifaiah the prophet to comfort them,
and affure them that they Ihould not prevail ; as a token
of which he gave them this fign, viz. that the earth, for
two years fucceffively, fhould bring forth food of itfelf,
from the roots of the old ftalks, without their plowing or
fowing ; and then the third year they fhould fow and reap,
and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them, and live
on the fruits of their labours, as they were wont to do
before. [See 2 Kings xix. 29.] This is mentioned as
a type of what is promifed in verfes 30, 31. ' And the
* remnant that is elcaped of the houle of Judah, fliall
' yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
* For out of Jerufalem (hall go forth a remnant, and they
' that efcape out of Mount Zion : the zeal of the Lord
* of horts fliall do this.' The corn's fpringing again pfter
it had been cut olf with the fickle, and bringing forth
another crop from roots that feemed to be dead, reprefents
the church's reviving again, as it were out of its own
afhes, and flourifliing like a plant after it had been cut
down feemingly paft recovery. When the enemies of the
church have done their utmoft, and feemed to have gained ^
their point, and to have overthrown the church, fo that
the being of it is fcarcely viiiblc, yet there is a fecret lite
in it that will caufe it to flouriih again, and to take root
downward, and bear fruit upward. . This was now fultil-
led ; for the king of Aflyria had .already taken and car-
ried captive the ten tribes ; and Sennacherib had alfo ta-
Icen all the fenced cities of Judah, and ranged the country
round
FROM DAVID TO THE CAPTIVITY. 247
round about ; Jerufalem only remained, and Rabfliakeh
had in his own imagination already fwallowed that up ; as
he had alfo in the fearful apprehenfions of the Jews them-
felves. But God wrought a wonderful deliverance. He
fent an angel, that in one night fmote an hundred fourfcore
and five thoufand in the enemy's camp,
19. In the reign of Uzziah, and the following reigns,
God was pleafed to raife up a fet of eminent prophets,
who fhould commit their prophecies to writing, and leave
them for the ufe of his church in all ages. We before
obferved, that God began a fucceffion of prophets in If-
rael in Samuel's time ; but none of them are fuppofed to
have written books of prophecies till now. Several of
them indeed wrote hiftories of the wonderful difpenfa-
tions of God towards his church, as we have oblerved
already of Samuel, Nathan, and Gad, Ahijah, and Iddo.
The hillory of Ifrael feems to have been farther carried
on by Iddo and Shcmaiah : [2 Chronicles xii. 15.]
' Now the a6ts of Rehoboam, firft and laft, are they not
' written in the book of Sliemaiali the prophet, and Iddo
' the leer, concerning genealogies r' And after that [2
Chron. XX. 34.] ' Jehu the fon of Hanani, who is men-
' tioned in the book of the kings of Ifrael.' [See i Kings
xvi. 1—7.] And then it was continued by the prophet
Ifaiah: [2 Chronicles xxvi. 22.] ' Now the refl of tlie
' a6ls of Uzziah, lirlt and laft, did Ifaiah the prophet, the
' ion of Amos, write.' He probably did it as well in
the fecond book of Kings, as in the book of his pro-
phecy. And the hiltory was carried on and finiihed by
other prophets after him. But now did God tirft raife
up a fet of great prophets, not only to write hillories, but
prophecies. The tirfl: of thefe is thought to be Hofea
the fon of Beeri, and therefore his prophecy, the word of
the Lord by him, is called [Hofea i. 2.] * The beginning
' of the word of the Lord by H.fca ;' that is, the flrfl
part of the written word of that kind. He prophefied
in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezckiah,
kings of Judah, and in tlie davs of Jeroboam, the fon of
Joaih,
248 HISTORY o:f redemption.
Joafh, king of Ifrael. There were many other wltnefTes^
for God raifed up about this time, to commit their pro-
phecies to writing, viz. Ifaiah, Amos, Jonah, Micah,
Nahum, and probably fome others ; and fo from that
time forward God continued a fucceffion of zvrhing pro-
phets.
This was a great advance in the affair of redemption,
as will appear, if we confider that the main bufmefs of
the prophets was to point out Chrifl: and his redemption.
The great end of the fpirit of prophecy being given them
■was, that they might give teftimony to Jefus Chrift,
[Rev. xix. 10.] ' For the teftimony of Jefus is the Spirit
* of prophecy.' And therefore we find, that the main
thing that moft of the prophets in their writings infift
upon, is, Chrift and his redemption, and the glorious
times of the gofpel, which ihould be in the latter days ;
and though many other things were fpokcn of by them,
yet they feem to be only introdu6lory to their prophecy of
thefe things. Whatever they predidl, here their prophecies
commonly terminate.
Thefe prophets wrote chiefly to prepare the way for
the coming of Chrift, and the glory that fhould follow.
And in what an exalted ftrain do they all fpeak of thofe
things ! Other things they fpeak of as other men. But
when they come upon this fubje6l, what a heavenly fub-
limity is there in their language ! Some of them are very
particular and full in their predidlions of thefe things,
and above all, the prophet Ifniah, (who is therefore dc-
fervediy called the evangelical prophet) feems to teach the
glorious dotSlrine of the gofpel almoft as plainly as the
apoftles, who preached after Chrift was adtually come.
The apoftle Paul therefore takes notice, that the prophet
Efaias is very bold, [Rom. x. 20.] i. e. as the word is ufed
in the New Teftament, very plain, fo [2 Cor. iii. 12.]
' we ufe great plainnefs of fpeech,' l. e. ' boldnefs,' ns
in the margin. How plainly and fully does the prophet
Ifaiah defcribe the manner and circumftances, the natuie
and end, of the fufFerings and faci'iiicc of Chrift, in the
liiid.
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 257
•,fea, and the dry land ; and I will fhake all nations, and
* the defire of all nations ifhall come, and I will fill this
* houfe with glory, faith the Lord of hofts.' [See alfo ver.
21 — 23.] It is evident by this, that thefe commotions,
whereby the thrones of kingdoms and armies were over-
thrown, and every one came down by the fword of his
brother, were to prepare the way for the coming of him
who is ' the defire of all nations.' (x)
The great changes and troubles that have fometimes
been in the vifible church of Chrift, are [in Rev. xii. 2.]
compared to the church's being in travail to bring forth
Chrill: : fo thefe great troubles and mighty revolutions
before Chrift: was born, were, as it were, the world's
being in travail to brmg forth the Son of God. The
L I apoftle,
(x) 77'^ DESIRE of aUnaUons.~\ That this prophecy refpefled
the Meffiah, we have the clearelt proof by comparing this text
with Mai. iii. 1,2. where ' the deiire of all nations' is explained
of ' the Lord whom ye (Jews) feek, even the meflenger (or an-
* gel) of the covenant.' And the houfe to be filled with glory
is called the temple ; nor can the Jews in their prefent ftate of
apollafy any way account (as will be hereafter fhewn) for the
glory of the latter temple being faid to exceed that of the former,
namely, Solomon's. But why is Chrill called ' \\\t deftn of all
' nations :' Were tbey indeed fcnfible of their guilt and mifery^
and ready to embrace the Saviour? Alas! no. But they all
groaned beneath the weight of temporal calamity — they were op-
prefTed with tyranny and fupeiftition ; they had alfo ioxat gencrtt^
expe(Station of a great dehverer, which they had gathered from
tradition, and fome partial knowledge of revelation.— Thus far
they were prepared for his coming ; and as Chrill came to deliver
them eventually from thefe evils, as well as others of which they
had little conception, he might well be called ' the defire of all
' nations.' Farther, he might well be fo called, as uniting in
his perfon every attribute and excellence worthy the eilecm and
veneration of mankind. Riches, honour, peace, and whatever
we call good and great, if they have any lullre, derive it frum
him ; and in him, as the grand focus of eveiy ray of blefiednefs
which the Deity has emitted, they all unite and complete their
glory : ' It pleafed the Father, that in him fliould all fuUnefs
' dwell.'
This prophecy has been ably defended againft the objections,
and fupported by the conceffions of Jewifh writers, as well as
other arguments, by the late Dr. Onvin on the Hebrews, vol. i.
Exercit. 13. [N. U.]
258 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
apoflle, in the viiith. of Romans, reprefents the whole
creation as groaning and travailing In pain together until
now, to bring forth the liberty and manifeftation of the
children of God. Thereto the world being fo long a time
kept in a (late of war and bloodfhed, prepared the way for
the coming of the Prince of peace, as it ihowed the great
need the world flood in of fuch a prince.
It pleafed God to order it in his providence, that
earthly power and dominion fliould be raifed to its great-
ell: height, and appear in its utmofb glory, In thofe four
great monarchies that fucceeded one another, and that
every one fhould be greater and more glorious than the
preceding, before he fet up the kingdom of his Son.
By this it appeared how much his fpirltual kingdom
exceeded the moft glorious temporal ones. The flrength
and glory of Satan's kingdom in thefe four mighty mo-
narchies, appeared in Its greateft height : for thofe were
the monarchies of the heathen world, and fo the ftrength
of them was the ftrength of Satan's kingdom. God fuf-
fered the latter to rife to fo great a height of power and
magnificence before his Son came to overthrow it, to
prepare the way for his more glorious triumph. Goliath
muft have on all his armour when the ftripling David
comes agalnft him with a fling and a ftone, for the
greater glory of David's viclorv. God fufFered one of
thofe great monarchies to fubdue another, and ere6t itfelf
on the other's ruins, appearing flill in greater ftrength,
and the lalT: to be the ftrongeft and mightleft of all ; that
fo Chrlft, in overthrowing that, might, as it were, over-
throw them all at once ; as the ftone cut out of the moun-
tain without hands, is reprefented as deftroying the whole
image, the gold, the lilver, the brafs, the iron, and the
clay ; fo that all' became as the chaff of the fummer
threfning-fioor.
Thefe mighty empires were fuffered tlius to convulfe
the world, and deftroy one another : and though then-
power was fo great, yet they could hot uphold themfelves,
but fell one after another, and came* to nothing, even the
laft of them, which was the ftrongeft, and had fwallowed
up
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 359
up the earth. It pleafed God thus to (how in them the
inftability and .vanity of all earthly power and greatnefs ;
which ferved as a foil to fet forth the glory of the king-
dom of his Son, which never fhall be deftroyed, [Dan.
ii. 44.] ' In the days of thefe kings fhall the God of
• heaven fet up a kingdom, which fhall never be de-
• ftroyed: and the kingdom fhall not be left to other
• people, but it fhall break in pieces, and confume all
• thefe kingdoms, and it fhall fland for ever.' So greatly
does this differ from all thofe kingdoms : they vanifh away,
and are left to other people ; but this fhall fland for ever.
God fufFered the devil to do his utmoft, and to eflablifh
his interefl, by fetting up the greateft, flrongeft, and moft
Sjlorious kingdoms in the world, before the defpifed Jefus
overthrew him in his empire. Chrift came into the world
to bring down the high things of Satan's kingdom, that
the hand of the Lord might be on every one that is proud
and lofty, and every high tower, and every lofty moun-
tain ; [Ifaiah ii. 12, &:c.] And therefore thefe things
were fufFered to rife very high, that Chrilt might appear
fo much the more glorious in being above them.- -Thus
■wonderfully did the great and wife governor of the world
prepare the way for the erection of the glorious kingdom
of his beloved fon Jefus.
(3.) Another thing for which this lafl period or fpace
of time before Chrift vi'as particularly remarkable, was the
wonderful prefervation of the clmrch through all thofe
overturnings. This was, on fome accounts, more re-
markable through this period, than through any of the
foregoing. It was very wonderful that the church, which
now was fo weak, and in fo low a ftate, and moftly
fubje6t to the dominion of heathen monarchies, fliould
be preferved for five or fix hundred years together, while
the world was fo often overturned, and the earth was rent
in pieces, and made fo often empty and wafte, and the
inhabitants of it came down fo often every one by the
fword of his brother. I fay it was wonderful that the
church in its weak and low f!:atc, being but a little
handful of men, lliould be preferved in all thefe great
L 1 2 ^on-
26o HISTORY OF REDEMPTIOK
convulfions; efpeclally confidering that the land of Judca,
the chief place of the church's relidence, lay in the midfl
of them, as it were in the middle between the contend-
ing parties, and was very much the feat of war amongft
them, and was often over-run and fubdued, and fome-
times in the hands of one people, and fometimes another,
and very much the objeil of the envy and hatred of all
heathen nations, and often almoft ruined by them, great
multitudes of its inhabitants being flain, and the land in
a great meafure depopulated ; and thofe who had them
in their power, often intended the utter deftruflion of
the whole nation. Yet they were upheld ; they were
preferved in their captivity in Babylon, and they were
upheld again under all the dangers they paffed through,
under the kings of Perfia, and the much greater dangers
they were liable to under the empire of the Greeks, and
afterwards when the world was trodden down by the
Romans.
Their prefervation through this period was alfo pecu-
liarly remarkable, in that we never read of the church's
fufFering perfecution in any former period in any meafure
to fuch a degree as they did in this, under Antiochus Epi-
phanes, of which more afterwards. This wonderful pre-
fervation of the church ihrougli all thefe overtuinings of
the world, gives light and confirmation to what we read
in the xlvith. Pfalm, ' God is our refuge and ftrength, a
* very prefent help in trouble. Therefore will not w'c
^ fear, though the earth be removed, and though the moun-
' tains be carried into the midll of the lea ; though the
* waters thereof roar, and be troubled ; though tlie moun.-
' tains fliake with the fwelling thereof.'
THUS I have taken notice of fome general things
wherein this laft period of the Old Tei^ament times was
diftinguilhed. I come now to confider how the work of
redemption was carried on in particulars.— And,
I. The firft thing that here offers is the captivity of
the Jews into Babylon. This wa's a great difpenfation
pi providence, and fuch as never was before. The chil-
dren
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 261
<lren of Ifrael in tlie time of the judges, had often been
brought under their enemies ; and many particular perfons
were carried captive at other times. But never had there
been any fuch thing as deftroying the whole land, the
fanfluary, and the city of Jerufalem, and all the cities and
villages of the land, and carrying the whole body of the
people o\ir of their own land into a country many hundred
miles diflant, and leaving the land of Canaan empty of
God's vifible people. The ark had once forfaken the ta-
bernacle of Shilo, and was carried captive into the land of
the Philiftines : but never liad there been any luch thing
as the burning the fan6luary, and utterly dellroying the
ark, and carrying away all the facred veffels and utenfils,
and breaking up all their ftated worfliip in the land, and
the land's lying walle and empty for fo many years toge-
tlier. How lively arc thofe things fct forth in the Lamen-
tations of Jeremiah ! (y)— The work of redemption was
promoted by this remarkable difpenfation in thefe following
ways.
(i.) It finally cured that nation of their idolatry. The
prophet Ifaiah, fpeaking of the fetting up of the kingdom
of Chrift, [ii. 18.] fays, ' The idols he (hall utterly abo-
' lidi.' When the time was drawing near, that God
would aboliih heathen idolatry, through the greater part
ot the known world, it pleafed him tirft to aboliiii hea-
ihenifm among his own people, by their captivity in Ba-
bylon.
This
(y) The LAMnm at lotis of yarmitih.^ "There is nothing
in all the tragedians, not in Euripedcs liimreif, (fo mafterly in his
mourning llrokes) that is equally moving and tender with tlie
Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah — ' O that my head were
f waters, and mine eyes fountains of tears! — O, all ye that pafs
* by, behold and fee if there be any forrow like unto my forrowl"
.... It is a piece of fupcrlativc beauty, and .... comprifes all
the eloquence of mourning. ' Did we "ever find (fays the eloquent
' Dr. South) forrow flowing in fuch a natural prevailing pathos?
* . . . . One would think that every letter was wrote with a tear:
* every word was the noifc of a breaking heart ; that the author
* was a man compared of forrows, difciplined to grief from his
* infancy ; one who never breathed but in fighs, nor fpokc b:;t in
* a groan." [Bi-ackwall's ^ac. ClafRcs, vol. i,]
26z HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
This nation, which was addi6ted to idolatry for (o
many ages, and not reformed by all the reproofs, warn-
ings, corre(5lions, and judgments infli6led on them for it,
were now finally cured ; fo that however fome might fall
into this fin afterwards, as they did about the time of
Antiochus's perfccutlon, yet the nation, as a nation, ne-
ver (hewed any hankering after this fin any more. This
was a remarkable and wonderful change in that people,
and what dire6lly promoted the work of redemption, as
it was a great advancement of the interell of religion.
(2.) It was one thing that prepared the way for Chrift's
coming, and letting vip the glorious difpenfation of the
gofpel, as it took away many of thofe things, wherein con-
fined the glory of the Jewilh difpenfation. Firil;, it re-
moved the temporal diadem of the houfe of David away
from them, i. c. the fupreme and indeoendent government
of themfelves. The time now approaching, when ChrilT:,
the great and everlafting king of his church, was to reign,
it was time for the typical kings to withdraw. The Jews
henceforward were always dependent on other nations,
until Chrift came, for near fix hundred years, except about
ninety under the Maccabees and their pofterity, during
which fpace they maintained a fort of independence by
continuel wars.
Again, by the captivity, the glory and magnificence of
the temple was taken away, and the temple that was built
afterwards was nothing in comparifon with it. Thus it was
meet, when the time drew nigh that the glorious antitype
of the temple Ihould appear.
Another thing that they loft by the captivity, was the
two tables of the teftimony delivered to Moles, on which
God with his own finger wrote the ten commandments on
Mount Sinai. Thefe fcem to liavc been preferved in the
ark till the captivity, and were there when Solomon placed
the ark in the temple, [i Kings viii. 9.] ' There was no-
* thing in the ark, fave the two • tables of ftone, which
* Mofes put there at Horeb.'
Another thing that the Jews now lofl, was the Urim
and Thummim. [Ezra ii. 63.] ' And the Tirfliatha faid
* unto
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 263
' unto them, that they fhould not eat of the moft holy
' things, till there ihould ftand up a prieft with Urtm and
' Thummhn.'' And we have no account that this was ever
reftored ; but the ancient writings of the Jews fay the
contrary. What this Urim and Thummim was, I fliall
not now inquire ; but only obferve, that it was foniething
by which the higli prieft inqiiired of God, and received
immediate anfvvers from him, or by which God gave fortii
immediate oracles on particular occafions. This was now
withdrawn, the time approaching when Chrift, the antitype
of the Urim and Thummim, the great word and oracle of
God, was to come, (z)
Another thing that the ancient Jews fay was wanting
in the fecond temple, was the Shechinali, or cloud of
glory over the mercy-feat. This was promifed to be in
the tabernacle. [Levit. xvi. 2.] ' For I will appear in the
' cloud
(z) T/jic- Urim a«6^ Thummim.] To enumerate all the different
opinions of the learned on this fubjeft would be tedious rather than
edifying. The following are the moft generally received:
1. MoftChriftian writers take the Urim and Thummhn to mean
the precious ftones in the brcaft-plate of the high prieft ; but the
rabbins will have it that the ineffable name (Jehovah) was infcrted
between the folds, not by the workmen, as the ftones were, but by
Mofes himfelf under Divine direftion. [Exod. xxviii. xxix.]
2. The anfwer of this oracle muft either have been collecled by
the peculiar radiancy of certain letters of the names of the tribes
engraved on thefe ftones; or rather be delivered by a voice from
the Shechinah, as at other times, Numb. vii. 8, 9. See i Sam.
xxiii. II, 12. — xxx. 8. — 2 Sam. ii. i. — Judges i. I, 2. — xx. 18.
All are agreed that this method was only lawful for the mofl eminent
perfons, and on the moft important occafions. The Jews aad,
that it was never ufed after the building of Solomon's temple ;
and give this reafon, that the tribes were foon after divided, and
it could only be lawfully confulted in cafes in which they were all
concerned.
If the anfwer was given by a voice from the moft holy, then the
only ufe oi the brcaft-plate ieems to have been as a memorial of the
twelve tribes before God, herein typifying him who bears all the
names of his chofen people on his heart, and thus conftantly ap-
pears in the prefence of God for us.
[For farther fatisfaftion on this very difficult fubjcft, fee Pri-
deaux\ Connexion, Part II. Book 3. Levi's Dictionary, and
Parhhurjl'% Lexicon in "(IK.] " [G. E.J
264 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* cloud upon the mercy-feat.' And we read of the cloud
of glory defcending into the tabernacle; [Exod. xl. 35.]
and fo likewife with refpedl to Solomon's temple. But
we have no account that this cloud of glory was in the
fecond temple ; and »^he ancient accounts of the Jews fny,
that there was no fuch thing there. This, indeed, was
needlefs in the fecond temple, confidering that God had
promifed to fill it with glory another way, viz. by Chrift's
coming into it; which was afterwards fuHilled, [Haggai ii.
7.] 'I will ihake all nations, and the defire of all nations
' fhall come, and I will till this houfe with glory, faith the
' Lord of hofts.'
Another thing that the Jews in their ancient writings
mention as being now withdrawn, was the fire from
heaven on the altar. When Mofes built the tabernacle
and altar in the wildernefs, and the firfi: facrifices were
offered on it, fire came down from heaven, and confumed
the burnt-offering, [Leviticus ix. 24.] and again, when
Solomon built the temple, and offered the firft facriHces,
[2 Chronicles vii. i.] This fire was never to go out. but
with the greatefi: care to be kept alive. [Leviticus vi. 13.]
' The fire fliall ever be burning upon the altar; it fiiall
' never go out.' And there is no reafon to fuppofe the fire
in Solomon's time ever went out till the temple was de-
ffroyed by the Babylonians ; but then it was extinguiilied,
and never reflored. And the Jews, after their return, were
forced to make ufe of their common fire inftead of it, ac-
cording to the ancient tradition of the Jews. Thus the
lights of the Old Teftament go out on the approach of the
glorious Sun of righteoufnefs.
(3.) Tl;e captivity in Babylon was the occafion of
another thing, which afterwards promoted the fetting up
of Chrift's kingdom in the world, viz. the difperfijn :;f
the Jews through the greater part of the known world,
for the wliole nation being carried away far out of their
own land, and continuing in a flate ot captivity for fo
long a time, they got them poffcffions, built houfes, arid
fettled thcmfelvcs in the land of their captivity, agreeable
to
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 265
to the cIire6lion that Jeremiah gave in the letter he wrote
to them. [Chap, xxix.] And therefoie, v/hen Cvrus gave
them liberty to return to the land where they had formerly
dwelt, many of them never returned ; tliey were not
willing to leave their feitlements and pofleflions tliere to
go into a defolate country, many hundred miles diflant,
which none but the old men among them had ever feen ;
and therefore they were but few, but a fmall number that
returned. Great numbers tarried behind, though they ftill
retained the fame religion with thofe that returned, fo far
as it could be pradlifed in a foreign land. Thofe meffen-
gers [Zechariah vii.] that came to inquire of the priefts
and propliets in Jerufalem, Sherezer and Regem-melech,
are fuppofed to have been fent trom the Jews that remained
ftill in Babylon.
Thofe Jews that remained ftill in that country were
foon, by the great changes that happened in the world,
difperfed thence into all the adjacent countries. And
hence we find, that in Efther's time, which was after the
return fromtlie captivity, the Jews were difperfed through-
out all the vaft Perfian empire, which extended from
India to Ethiopia. [Efther iii. 8.] ' And Haman faid
' unto King Ahafuerus, There is a certain people fcat-
* tered abroad, and difperfed among the people in all
' the provinces of thy kingdom,' Sec. And fo they con-
tinued difperfed till Chrill came, and till the apoftles went
forth to preach the gofpel. But yet thefe difperfed Jews
retained their religion in this difperfion. Their captivity,
as I faid before, thoroughly cured them of their idolatry,
and it was their manner, for as many of them as could
from time to time, to go up to the land of Judca to Jeru-
falem at their great feaft. Hence we read, [Adls ii.] that
at the time of the great feaft of Pentecotl, there were Jews
then at Jerufalem out of every nation under heaven.
Thefe were come up from all countries whither they had
been difperfed, to worlhip at that feaft. And hence we
find, in the hiftory of the Acts, that wherever the apollies
went preaching through the world, they found Jews.
* ^I ra Antiochus
266 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Antiochus the Great, about two hundred years before
Chrift, on a certain occafion, tranfplanted two thoufand
families of Jews from the country about Babylon into Afia
the Lefs: and fo they and their pofterity, many of them,
fettled in Pontns, Galatia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, and in
Ephefus ; and from thence fettled in Athens, and Corinth,
and Rome, (a) Hence the fyuagogues in thofe places
where the Apoftle Paul preached. — This difperfion of the
Jews through the world before Chrift came, did many
ways prepare the way for his coming, and fetting up his
kingdom in the world.
One was, that this was a means of raifmg a general ex-
peftation of the Meffiah through the world about the time
that he adtually came. For the Jews, wherever they were
difperfed, carried the holy fcriptures with them, and fo the
prophecies of the Meiliah ; and being converfant with the
nations among whom they lived, tliey, by that means, be-
came acquainted with thefe prophecies, and with the ex-
pectations of the Jews, of their glorious MefTiah ; and by
this means, the birth of fuch a glorious perfon in Judea
about that time began to be the general expe6lation of the
nations of the world, as appears by the writings of the
learned men of the heathen that lived about that time,
which are ftill extant; particularly Virgil, the famous poet
that lived in Italy a little before Chrifl: was born, has a
poem about the expectation of a great prince that was to be
born, and the happy times of righteoufnefs and peace that
he was to introduce ; fome of it very like the language of
the prophet Ifaiah. (b)
Another
(a) Antiochus tranfplanted tnvo thoufand yenv'ijh famil'iesS^ "An-
tiochus had received fo many fervices from the Jews .... and
depended lo much on their fidelity, that when a fedition broke out
in Phrygia and Lydia, he fent two thoufand Jewifli families to
quell it, and keep the country in peace, and was exceedingly libe-
ral to them. It was from thefe Jews.. . . . that defcended many
of thofe who were difperfed or fcattered abroad — whom we fhall
afterwards find fo numerous. James i.'i. — i Peter i.i." [Rol-
lin's Ancient Hiilory, Book xviii. Art. i. ij 2.]
(b) Virgil refembks Ifaiah.'] This alludes to PlrgiPs Pollio,
written about forty years before the birth of Chrift. Mr. Pope's
cele-
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 267
Another way that this difperfed ftate of the Jews pre-
pared the way for Chrift was, that it fhowed the neceflity
of abolifhing the Jewifl\ difpenfation, and of introducing
the new one of the covenant of grace. It fliowcd the
neceflity of abolifliing the ceremonial law, and the old
Jewilh worihip: for, by this means, the obfervance ot
M m 2 that
celebrated Mefilah is written on the correfpondent paflages between
the claflic and infpired poets; and their remarkable coincidence is
pointed out in the notes; alfo the fuperior beauty of the latter.
The following is Mr. Dryden's tranflation of the moft celebrated
lines in the paftoral of Virgil alluded to, except that the words in
Italics are inferted to render it more literal.
*' The virgin noiu returns, Saturnian times
Roll round again
The bafe, degenerate iron offspring ends,
A golden progeny from heaven defcends.
Thou ev'ry baniOi'd virtue (halt reftore.
And crimes fhall terrify the world no more.
The jarring nations he in peace fhall bind.
And with paternal virtues rule mankind.
Unbidden earth fliall wreathing ivy bring,
And fragrant herbs (the promifes of fpring)
As her firft off'rings to her infant king.
The goats with ftrutting dugs fliall homeward fpeed,
And lowing herds fecuve luith lions feed.
His cradle fhall with rifing flowers be crown'd ;
The ferpent's brood fliall die ; the facred ground
Shall weeds and pois'nous plants rcfufe to bear.
}
Unlabour'd harvefts fhall the fields adorn.
And clufler'd grapes fhall blufh on ev'ry thorn ;
The knotted oaks fhall fhow'rs of honey weep."
0, Son of mighty Jove ! from heaii'n appear ;
Come to thine honours — lo, the time draivs near !
The barren hills proclaim the Deity ;
A God ! a God ! the vocal rocks reply.
Not only Virgil, but Tacitus and Suetonius both fay, an opinion
univerfally prevailed all over the eafl, that about this time one out
of Judea fhould obtain the empire of the world. This opinion is
fuppofed to have originated from the Sybilline books; but whether
it came from them, from Balaam's famous predictions, or from the
facred prophets of the Jews, is of no immediate confequence, as
the hdi itfelf is indifputable. [G. E.]
268 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
that ceremonial law became impracticable even by the
Jews themfelves, for the ceremonial law was adapted to
the ftate of a people dwelling together in the fame land,
where was the city that God had chofen ; where was the
temple, the only place where they might offer facrifices ;
where it was lawful for their priefts and Levites to offi-
ciate ; where they were to bring their firfl: fruits, and
"where their cities of refuge were, and the like. But the
Jews, by this difperlion, lived, many of them, in other
lands, more than a thoufand miles diftant, when Chrift
came ; which made the obfervation of their laws of fa-
crifices, and the like, impradlicable. And though their
forefathers might be to blame in not going up to the land
of Judea when they were permitted by Cyrus, yet the
cafe was now, as to many of them at leaft, become im-
pra£licable ; which ifiowed the neceffity of introducing a
new difpenfation, that fhould be fitted, not only to one
particular land, but to the general circumflances and ufe
of all nations.
Again, another way that this difperfion of the Jews
prepared the way for the fetiing up of the kingdom of
Chrift in the world, was, that it contributed to the mak-
ing the fa£ts concerning Jefus Chrift- publicly known
through the world. For, as I obferved before, the Jews
that lived in other countries ufed frequently to go up to
Jerufalem at their three great fealts, which were from
year to year ; and fo, by this m.eans, they could not but
become acquainted with the news of the wonderful things
that Chrift did in that land. We find that they were
prefent at, and took great notice of, that great miracle
of raifing Lazarus, which excited the curiofity of thofe
foreign Jews that came up to the feaft of the palTover to
fee Jefus: [John xii. 20, 2 1 .] Titefe Greeks were fo-
reign Jews and prolelytes, as is evident by their coming
to worihip at the feaft of the paflbver. The Jews that
lived abroad among the Greeks, and fpoke their language,
were called Greeks, or Heilenifts : fo. they are called Gre-
cians. [Afts vi. I.] Thefe Grecians here Ipoken of
were
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 269
v\'crc not Gentile Chriftians ; for this was before the cal-
ling of the Genciles. (c)
By the faine means, the Jews that came up from other
countries became acquainted with Chrift's crucifixion.
Thus the difciples, going to Emmaus, fay to Chrift, when
they did not know him, [Luke xxiv. 18.] ' Art thou only
' a fl-ranger in Jerufalcm, and haft not known the things
' which have come to pafs there in thefe davs V Plainly
intimating, that the things concerning Jefus were fo pub-
licly known to all men, that it was wonderful to find any
man unacquainted with them. And fo afterwards they be-
came acquainted with the news ot his refurre6^ion ; and
when they went home again into their own countries, they
carried the news with them, and fo made thefe fa£^s public
through the world, as they had made the prophecies of
ihem public before.
After this, thofe foreicrn Jews that came to Jerufalem,
look great notice of the pouring cue of the Spirit of Pente-
coft, and the wonderful effedls of it ; and many of them
were converted by it, viz. Parthians, Medes, Elamites,
and the dwellers in Mefapctamia, and in Egypt, and the
parts of Libya about Cyrene, and the ftrangcrs of Rome,
Jews and profelytes, Cretes and Arabians. And fo they
did not only carry back the news of the fails of Chrif-
rianity, but Chriftianity itlelf, into their own countries
with them ; which contributed much to the fpreading of it
Through the world.
Again, another way that the difperfion of the Jev/s
contributed to the fetting up of the gofpel kingdom in
the world was, that it opened a door for the introduction
of the apoftles in all places where they came to preach
the gofpel. For almoft in all places where they came to
preach the goipel, they found fynagogues of the Jews,
where the holy fcriptures were wont to be read, and the
true
(c) Grecians — foreign Jews.] " This, for reafons which
may be feen at large in Dr. Benfonz Hiftory, appears to me far
the moll probable opinion .... as well as that which is generally
allowed by all the bell commentators." [Doddridge, Fam.
Expof. in Ads vi. i.]
370 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
true God worfliipped ; which was a great advantage to
the apoftles in fpreading the gofpel. For their wav was,
into whatever city they came, firft to go into the fyna-
gogue of the Jews, (they being people of the fame na-
tion,) and there to preach the gofpel unto them. And
hereby their coming, and their new do6lrine, was taken
notice of by their Gentile neighbours, whofe curiofity
excited them to hear what they had to fay ; which be-
came a fair occafion to the apoflles to preach the gofpel
to them. It appears that it was thus, by the account we
have in the Ads of the Apoftles. And thefe Gentiles hav-
ing been before, many of them, prepared in fome mea-
fnre, by the knowledge they had of the Jews religion,
and of their worfhip of one God, and of their prophe-
cies, and expedlation of a MefTiah ; which knowledge they
derived from the Jews, who had long been their neigh-
bours ; tills opened the door for the gofpel to have accefs
to them. And the work of the apoflles with them was
doubtlefs much eafier than if they never had any expec-
tation of fuch a perfon as the apoftles preached, or heard
about the worfhip of one only true God. So many ways
did the Babylonifh captivity greatly prepare the way for
Chrifl's coming.
2. The next particular that I would take notice of is,
the addition made to the canon of fcrlpture in the time of
the captivity, in thofe two remarkable portions of fcrjp-
ture, the prophecies of Ezekiei and Daniel. Chr ill: ap-
peared to each of theie prophets in the form of that na-
ture which he was afterwards to take upon him. The
prophet Ezekiei gives an account of his thus appearing to
him repeatedly, [chap. i. 26] ' And above the firmament
* that was over their heads, was the llkencfs of a throne,
■■ ns the appearance of a fapphire flone, and upon the
* likcnefs of the throne was the likenefs as the appear-
* ance of a man above upon it;' [alfo chap. vill. i, 2.]
So Chrifl; appeared to the prophet Daniel : [chap. viii.
15, 16.] ' There ftood before me as the appearance of a
* man. And I heard a man's voice* between the banks of
* ^Ulai, which called, and laid, Gabriel, make this man
' to
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 271
' to underftand the vifion.' There are feveral things that
make it evident, that this was Chrift, which I cannot
now mention particularly.* So Chrift appeared again as
a man to this prophet, [chap. x. 5, 6.] ' Then I lift up
' mine eyes and looked, and behold a certain man clothed
' in linen, whole loins were girded with tine gold of
' Uphaz: his body alfo was like the beryl, and his face
* as the appearance ot lightning, and his eyes as lamps of
< fire ; and his arms and his feet like in colour to po-
< liflied brafs, and the voice of his words like the voice
' of a multitude.' Comparing this vifion with that of
the apoftle John, [Rev, i. 13.] makes it manifeft that it
was Chrifl. And the prophet Daniel, in the hiftorical part
of his book, gives an account of a very remarkable appear-
ance of Chrift in Nebuchadnezzar's furnace, with Sha-
drach, Melhach, and Abednego, [chap. iii. 25.] ' Lo I
* fee four men loofe,— and the form of the fourth is like
* the Son of God.'
Chrift did not only here appear in the form of the human
nature, but he appeared in a furnace, faving thofe perfons
who believed on him from that furnace ; by which is re-
prefented to us, how Chrift, by coming himlclf into the
furnace of God's wrath, faves thofe that believe in him
therefrom, and the wrath of God never reaches or touches
them, fo mvich as to ftnge the hair of their head.
Thefe two prophets, in many refpedls, were more par-
ticular concerning the coming of Chrift, and his glorious
gofpel kingdom, tlian any of the prophets had been be-
fore. They both of them mention thofe three great re-
volutions of the world that fhould be before he came.
Ezekicl is particular in leveral places concerning the com-
ing of Chrift. The prophet Daniel is more fo in fore-
telling the time of the coining of Chrift than any pro-
phet had been before, in the ixth chapter of his pro-
phecy ; who foretold, that it ftiould be feventy weeks, /. e\
feventy weeks of years, or feventy times feven, that is, four
hundred and ninety years, from the decree to rebuild and
reftcre
* See Note (a) p. 199.
272 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
reftore the ftate of the Jews, till the MefTiah fhould be
crucified ; which muft be reckoned from the commiffion
given to Ezra by Artaxerxes, [Ezravii.] whereby the very
- time of Chrifl's crucifixion was pointed out, which never
had been before, (d)
The prophet Ezekiel is very particular in the myftical
defcriprion of the gofpel church, in his account of his vi-
fion of the temple and city, in the latter part of his pro-
phecy. The prophet Daniel points out the order of par-
ticular events that ihould come to pafs relating to the
Chriftian church after Chrifl was c :;me, as the rife of an-
tichrift, and the continuance of his reign, and his fall,
and
(d) DaniePs seventy wz'EKS reel- otiedfrovi ihe commlffton given
to Ezra by Artaxerxes.] So Dean Prideaux, Dr. J. Owen,
and others, in this manner :
The decree given in the year 457 before the Chriftian sera, from
thence to the year Anno Dom. 33, when Chrifl was crucified,
was 490 years. Now the text fays, ' ftvcnty weeks (/'. e. of
* years) are determined upon thy people, and upon thy holy city,
* to finifh the tranfgrefiion, and to make an end, of fins, and to
* make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlafting
* righteoufncfs, and to feal up, (/. e. complete and confirm) the
' vifion and prophecy :' — all which were accompliflied in the
death of Chrift — * and to anoint the moft holy.' We have ob-
ferved in a preceding note, that the mojl Holy (Holy , of Holies in
the Heb.) was typical of Chrift in his ftate of exaltation ; the
term here ufed may perhaps be in allufion to this event, in con-
nexion with his death ; by anointing the moft Holy, may be In-
tended his execution of his prieftly office, in offering himfelfupon
the crofs, and afterwards entering into the immediate prefence of
God, as the high prieft into the moft holy place on the great day
of atonement.
* Know therefore and underftand, that from the going forth of
' the commandment to reftore and build JcrnfaL-m, unto Meffiah,
* the Prince, fhall be feven weeks and threefcore and two weeks,*
i. e. fixty-nine weeks, or 483 years (for fo the words fhould
be pointed and diftributed) and thefe bring us to the time
of Jefus Chr'ft, and %-ery near his baptifm. ' And the ftreet
* fhall be br.ilt again, and the wall ;' /. e. the Jewifh ftate, ci-
vil and ecckfiaftic, cftabliflied, as well^ as Jerufalem itfelf re-
built, ' in troublefome timer..' This fills the firft week, or forty-
nine years. ' And (then) after (/". e. in the week after) three-
fcore and two weeks,' from the firft feven, ' fhall Meffiah be cut
* off,' by death, * but not for himfelf. And the people of that
* prince
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 273
nnd the glory that ihould follow. ---Thus does gofpel light
rtill increafe, the nearer we come to the time of Chrift's
birth.
3. The next particular I would mention is, the deftruc-
tion of Babylon, and the overthrow of the Chaldean em-
pire by Cyrus. The deftrudlion of Babylon was in that
night in which Belihazzar the king, and the city in general,
was drowned in a drunken feftival which they kept to their
gods, when Daniel was called to read the hand writing on
the wall, [Dan. v. 30.] and it was brought about in fuch
a manner, as wonderfully to fhow the hand of God, and
remarkably to fulfil his word by his prophets, which I can-
not now ftand particularly to relate, (e) Now that great
city,
* prince {hall come,* namely, Titus, * and fliall deftroy the city and
* the fanftuary, and the end thereof fhall be with a flood ; and
* unto the end of the war, defolations are determined.' This refers
to the deltruftion of Jerufalem, of which in its proper place.
* And he (Mefliah) fliall confirm the covenant with many for
* (or in) one week, and in the midft (or in the courfe) of the
* week,' namely, the feventicth and lail, ' he fhall caufe the fa-
* crifice to ceafe,' by the greater facrifice and richer oblation of
himfelf. [See Prideaux's Conneft. Part I. Book 5. Dr. Oiven on
the Hebrews, vol. i. Excr. 14, 15. and Mr. R. Wirtter's Sermons
on Daniel'8 feventy weeks.]
(e) The deJlruBion of Babylon FORETOLD.] Mr. RoLLiN has
collefled and arranged the feveral prophecies whicli referred to this
period, and fiicwn how exaftly they were accompliflied. We fhall
abridge his obfervatlons, and refer to the texts with which they are
fupported.
1. God predicted the Jewifli captivity at Babylon, and the time
of its continuance to be feventy years. Jer. xxv. 1 1.
2. The caufes of God's wrath againft Babylon were, her pride —
cruelty to the Jews — and facrilegious impiety. Ifa. xlvii. 6 — 1 1 .
3. The decree pronounced. The calamities that were to fail
upon her, utter and irreparable deftruftion. Pf. cxxxvii. 8, 9.
Ifa. xiii. xiv. Jer. li.
4. Cyrus called to deflroy Babylon, and to deliver the Jews.
Ifa. xlv. I — 4.
5. God gives fignal to the commanders and to the troops to
march againlt Babylon. Ifa. xiii. 2 — 5. xxi. 2.
6. Particular circumftances relative to the fiege and taking of
Babylon. The army to confift of Medes and Pei fians. Ifa. xxi.
2, Jer. li. II. — The city to be attacked fuddenly. Ifa. xlvii. 1 1.
Jer. 1. 24. — Euphrates to be dried up. Jer. 1. 38, 39. li. 36. —
N n B'^bylun
274 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
city, which had long been an enemy to the city of God,
viz. Jerufalem, was defkroyed, after it had ftood from the
firft building of Babel, which was about feventeen hun-
dred years. If the check that was put to the building this
city at its beginning, whereby they were prevented from
carrying it to that extent and magnificence that they in-
tended ; I fay, if this promoted the work of redemption,
as I have before /liown it did, much more did this deftruc-
tion of it.
It was a remarkable inftance of God's vengeance on the
enemies of his redeemed church ; for he brought this dc-
flru6lion on Babylon for the injuries they did to his chil-
dren, as is often fet forth in the prophets. It alfo promoted
the work of redemption, as thereby God's people, that
were held captive by them, were fet at liberty to return to
their own land to rebuild Jerufalem ; and therefore Cyrus,
who did it, is called God's fhepherd. [Ifa. xliv. latter end ;
and xlv. i.] And thefe are over and above thofe ways
wherein the fetting up and overthrowing the four monar-
chies of the world did promote the work of redemption,
which have been before obferved.
4. What next followed this was, the return of the
Jews into their own land, and rebuilding Jerufalem and
the temple. Cyrus, as foon as he had deftroyed the
Babyloniih empire, and ere6led the Perfian on its ruins,
made a decree in favour of the Jews, that they might
return to their own land, and rebuild their city and
temple,
Babylon to be taken in the midft of rioting and debauchery. Jer.
li. 39, 57. — The king feized with inllant terror. Ifa. xxi. 3, 4.
Comp. Dan. v. 6. — That he fhould return to his debauchery. Ifa.
xxi. 5. Comp. Dan, v. 10. — That the Babylonifh troops, which
fhould be chiefly foreigners, fliould be fcattered and flee home,
Ifa. xii. 4. — That the king (hould not be buried with his ancef-
tors. Ifa. xiv. 19, 20. — Theflaughter of his children. Ifa. xiv.
21, 22.
Every one of thefe circumflances was literally and minutely ful-
filled ; one of the moll remarkable of wRich was, that Cyrus con-
trived to render the Euphrates fordable, and introduced his troops
by the channel of it, in a night of debauchery and riot, wlicn
through the providence of God the guards had negleftcd to fhut
tlie gates. [See Rollin's Ancient Hilt. Book iv. art. 2.]
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 275
temple. This return of the Jews out of the Babylon! Hi
captivity is, next to the redemption out of Egypt, the
mofl remarkable of all the Old Tcftament redemptions,
and mod: infifted on in fcripture, as a type of the great
redemption of Jefus Chrift. (f) It was under the hand
of one of the legal anceftors of Chrift, viz. Zerubbabel,
the fon of Shealticl, whofe Babylonifli name was Shefli-
bazzar. He was the governor of the Jews, and their
leader in their lirft return out of captivity ; and, together
with Jolhua the fon of Jofedek the high prieft, had the
chief hand in rebuilding the temple. This redemption
was brought about by the hand of Zerubbabel and Jofliua
the prieft, as the redemption out of Egypt was brought
about by the hand of Mofes and Aaron.
The return out of tlic captivity was a remarkable dif-
penfation of Providence. It was remarkable, that the
heart of an heathen prince, as Cyrus was, ftiould be fo
inclined fo favour fuch a defign as he did, not only in
giving the people liberty to return, and rebuild the city
and temple, but in giving charge that they fhould be
helped with filver and gold, and with goods, and with
beafts. [Ezra i. 4.] And afterwards God wonderfully
inclined the heart of Darius to further the building of the
houfe of God with his own tribute-money, and by com-
manding their bitter enemies, the Samaritans, \vho had
been llriving to hinder them, to furnilli them with all
tliat they needed in order to it, and to fupply them day by
day ; making a decree, that whofoever failed of it, timber
ftiould be pulled down out of his houfe, and he hanged
thereon, and his houfe made a. dunghill. [Ezra vith.]
And after this God inclined the heart of ArCaxcrxes,
another king of Perfia, to promote the work of preferving
tlie ftatc of the Jews, by his ample commiffion to Ezra,
N n 2 [Ezra
(f) T/j£ r:turn from Babylon typical.] " The return of the
Jews from their captivity in liabylon was only a Oiadow of that
deliverance, which the Meffiah was to bring into the world : and
the mighty afts which God wiouglit in the rirll period, were only
faint images of what he would operate in the fecond," [Saurin's
SerraonS; vol. i. fer. 4. Robinfon'sTranflat.]
276 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
[Ezra viitli.] helping them abundantly with filver and
gold of his own bounty, and offering more, as (liould
be needful, out of the King's treafure-houfe, and c ;m-
manding his treafurers beyond the river Euphrates to
give more, as fhould be needed, unto an hundred talents
of filver, and an hundred meafures of wheat, and an
hundred baths of wine, and an hundred baths of oil, and
fait, without prefcribing how much ; and giving leave to
ell:ablilh magiftrates in the land ; and freeing the priefls of
toll, tribute, and cuftom, and other things, which rendered
the decree and commiffjon by Artaxerxes the moft full and
ample in the Jews favour of any that, at any time, had
been given for the reftoring of Jerufalem : and therefore
in Daniel's prophecy, this is called the decree for the re-
floring and building Jerufalem ; and hence the feventy
weeks are dated,
And after this, another favourable commifTion was granted
by the king of Perfia to Nehemiah. [Nehem. ii.] It was
remarkable, that the hearts of heathen princes fhould be fo
inclined. It was the effe6l of his power, who hath the
hearts of Kings in his hands, and turneth them whither-
foever he will ; and it was a remarkable inftance of his
favour to his people.
Another remarkable circumffance of this reftirution of
the ilate of the Jews to their own land was, that it was
accompliflied againfl fo much oppofition of their bitter
indefatigable enemies the Samaritans, who, for a long time
together, with all the malice and craft thev could e.ercife,
oppofed the Jews in this affair, and fought their deftruc-
tion ; one while by Bifhlam, Mithridath, Tabeel, Rahum,
and Shimlkiai, [Ezra iv.] and then by Tatnai, Shethar-
boznai, and their companions, [chap, v.] and afterwards
by Sanballat and Tobiah, as wc read in the bock of Ne-
hemiah.
We have fhewed before how the fettlement of tb.e
people in the, land in Joihua's time promoted the work
of redemption. On the fame account does their relii-
tution belong to the fame work. The re-fettlcment of
the Jews in the land of Canaan belongs to this work, as
it
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 277
it was a neceflary means of preferving the Jewifli church
and difpenfation in being, till Chrift Ihould come. If
it had not been for this reftoration of the Jewifli church,
temple, ;ind worlliip, the people had remained without
any temple, and land of their own, that fliculd be as it
were their head-quarters, a place of worfliip, habitation,
and refort ; the whole conllitution, which God had done
fo much to eftabliili, would have been in danger of utterly
tailing, long before that fix hundred years had been out,
which was from aboxit the time of the captivity till Chrift.
And fo all that preparation which God had been making
for the coming of Clirift, from the time of Abraham,
would have been in vain. Now that very temple was
built that God would fill with glory by Chrifl's coming
into it, as the prophets Haggai and Zechariah told the
Jews, to encourage them in building it.
5. The next particular I would obferve, is the addition
made'/.o the canon ot the fcriptures foon after the captivity
by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, who were fent to
encourage the people in their work, of rebuilding the city
and temple ; and the main argument they make ufe of to
that end, is the approach of the time of the coming of
Chrifl. Haggai foretold, that Chrifl; Jhould be of Zerub-
babel's legal pofterity, [chap. ii. 23.] This feems to be
one of the lall: and moft particular revelations of the de-
fcent of Chrift, till the angel Gabriel was fent to reveal it
to his mother Mary, (g)
6. The next thing I would take notice of, was the
pouring out of the Spirit of God that accompanied the
ininiftry of Ezra the prieft after the captivity. Prefently
after Ezra came up from Babylon, with the ample com-
mifiion which Artaxerxes gave him, whence Daniel's fe-
venty weeks began, he fet himfelf to reform the vices
and corruptions he found among the Jews ; and his grent
fuccefs
(g)_ Uagg m propkfied of Chryt] « Non dubium eft Chrif-
tum hie deiignari, quia hoc nunquam impletum fuit in perfona
Zorobabel." /, e. There is no doubt but Chrifl: is here intended,
becaufe the promife never was fulHlIed in Zorobabel perfpnally,
[C.iLviNus. Poli Syn. Crit. in loc]
£78 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
fuccefs in it we have an account of in the xth chapter of
Ezra ; fo that there appeared a very general and great
mourning of the congregation of Ifrael for their fins,
which was accompanied with a folemn covenant thnt the
people entered into with God, and followed with a great
and general reformation. And the people about the fame
time, with great z,eal, earneftnefs, and reverence, gather-
ed themfelves together to hear the word of God read by-
Ezra, and gave diligent attention, while Ezra and the
other priefts preached to tliem, by reading and expound-
ing the law, and wsre greatly alfedted in the Iv;aring of
it. (h) 'I'hey wept when they heard the words of the
law,
(h) Ezra expounded the laiu.'] " We have a fhort, but beau-
tiful defcription of the manner of Ezra's firft preaching. Upwards
of fifty thoufand people afTembled in a llreet, or large fquare,
near the Water-gate. It was early in the morning of a fabbath
day. A pulpit of wood, in the faihion of a fmall tower, was placed
there on purpofe for the preacher, and this turret was fupported
by a fcaffold, or temporary gallery, where, in a wing on the right
hand of the pulpit, lat fix of the principal preachers, and in ano-
ther on the left feven. Thirteen other principal teachers, and
many Levites were prefent alfo, on fcafiblds crefted for the pur-
pofe, alternately to officiate. When Ezra afccnded the pulpit, he
produced and opened the book of the law, and the vvliole congre-
gation inllantly rofe up from their feats, and flood. Then he of-
fered up prayer and pralfe to God, the people bowing their heads,
and worfliipping the Lord with their faces to the ground ; and at
the clofe of the prayer, with uplifted hands, they folemnly pro-
nounced Amen, Amen. Then., all Handing, Ezra, aflifted at
times by the Levites, read the law diftinttly, gave the fenfe, and
caufed them to uaJerftand the reading. The fermons delivered
lo affeiSed the hearers, that >.hey wept exceflively, and about noon
the forrovv became fo exuberant and immealuiable, that it was
thought neceffary by the governor, the preacher, and the Levites
to rcftrain it. They, therefore, reminded the congregation — that
a jufl; grief might run into excefs — that there was an incongruity
between a fciUval and a lamentation — and that on this feilival,
there were fingnlar caufes of extraordinary joy, they were deli-
vered from captivity, the law was rellored, and they, the very
pooreft of them, had been made by the preachers to underftand
it. Go your way, faid they, eat the fat" — drink the fwect — fend
portions unto them, for whom nothing is prepared. Be not dif-
couraged — religi ..is joy is a people's ftrength. The wife and
benevolent fentiments of thefe noble fouls were imbibed by the
whole
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 279
law, and fet themfelvcs to obferve the law, and kept the
i'ead of tabernacles, as the fcripture obfervcs, after fuch
a manner as it had not been kept fince the days of Jortiua
the fon of Nun. [Nchcm. vili.] And after this, having
leparated themielves from all ftrangers, they folemnly ob-
ferved a fall, by hearing the word of God, confefTing their
lins, and renewing their covenant with God ; and mani-
fefted their fincerity in that tranfadion, by adually re-
forming many abufes in religion and morals. [See Nehem.
ixth and following chapters.]
It is obfervable, that it has been God's manner, in
every new eftabliihment of the ftate of his vifible church,
to give a remarkable out-pouring of his Spirit. So it
was on the firft efliablifhment of the church of the Jews
at their coming into Canaan under Jofluia, as has been
obferved ; and fo it was now in this fccond fettlement
of the church in the fame land in the time of Ezra ;
and fo it was on the lirfl: eftablifhment of the Chriilian
church after Chrift's refurreaion ; God wifely and gra-
cioufly laying the foundation of thofe cftabliihments in
a work of his Holy Spirit, for the lafting beneHt of the
flate of his church, thenceforward continued in thofe
eftablifhments. And this pouring out of the Spirit of
God was a final cure to that nation of that particular
iin, which juft before they efpecially run into, viz. in-
termarrying with the Gentiles ; for however inclined to
it they were before, they ever after fliewed an averiion
to it,
7. Ezra added to the canon of fcriptures. He wrote
the book of Ezra ; and he is fuppofed to have written
the two books of Chronicles, at leaft to have compiled
them,
whole congregation, and fifty thoufand troubled hearts were calm-
ed in an inllant. Home they returned to eat, to drink, to fend
portions, and to make mirth, becaule they had underftood the
words that were declared unto them. Plato was alive at this time,
teaching dull philofophy to cold academicks : but what was he,
and what was Xenophon, or Demollhenes, or any of tlie pagan
orators, in comparifon with thefe men?" [Robinson's Eflay^'on
Preaching, prefixed to his tranflation of Claude's EiTay, vol. i
page xxii — xxiv, j
28o HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
them, if he was not the author of the materials. That
thefe books were written, or compiled or completed, after
the captivity, the things therein contained manifeft ; for
the genealogies are brought down below the captivity ;
[i Chron. iii. 17, &c.] We have there an account of the
pofterity of Jehoiachin for feveral fucccfiive generations.
And there is mention in thefe books of this captivity into
Babylon, as of a thing pafl:, and of things that were done
on the return of the Jews after the captivity ; as you may
fee in the ixth chapter. The chapter is moftly filled up
with an account of things that came to pafs after the cap-
tivity into Babylon, as you may fee by comparing it with
what is faid in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. And
that Ezra was the perfon that compiled thefe books, is
probable by this, bccaufe they conclude with words that
we know are the words of Ezra's hiftory. The two laft
verfes of 2 Chron. are tJic two tirll: verfes of the book of
Ezra.
8. Ezra is fuppofed to have collefted all the books of
which the holy fcriptures did then confift, and difpofed
them in their proper order. Ezra is often fpoken of as a
noted and eminent fcribe of the law of God, and the ca-
non of fcripture in his time was manifeftly under his fpe-
cial care ; and the Jews, from the firft accounts we have
from them, have always held, that the canon of fcripture,
fo much of it as was then extant, was colle6led, and or-
derly difpofed and fettled by Ezra ;" and that from hira
they have delivered it down in the order in which he dif-
pofed it, till Ciirift's time ; when the Chriflian church
received it from them, and have delivered it down to our
times. And the truth of this is allowed as undoubted by
divines in general, (i)
9. The
(i) The CANON offcripturz compiled ly E%ra.'\ ** It is gene-
rally received, that after the return of the Jews from their capti-
vity in Babylon, all the books of fcripture having been revifed by
Ezra (then their prieft and leader) who digefted them .... were
by him and the prophets of God that lived with him, configned
and delivered over to all pofterity. '■" [Bp. Cosin's ScholalUc.
Hift. of the Canon of Scripture,]
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 281
o. The work of redemption was carried on and pro-
moted in this period, by greatly multiplying the copies of
the law, and appointing the conftant public reading of
them in all the cities of Ifracl in their fynagogues. It
is evident, that before the captivity there were but few
of them. There was, indeed, the original, laid up be-
fide the ark ; and the kings were required to write out a
copy of it for their own ufe, and it was commanded to
be read to the whole congregation of Ifrael once every
fevcnth year. And we have no account of any other
flated public reading of the law before the captivity but
this. It is manifeft, by feveral things that might be men-
tioned, that copies of the law were then exceedingly
rare; but after the captivity, the conftant reading of it
was fet up in every fynagogue throughout thel and. Firfi:,
they begali \vith reading the law, and then they proceed-
ed to eftabliflr the conftant reading of the other books
of the Old Teftament. Leflbns were read out of the
Old Teftament, both from the law and the other parts
of the fcriptilre then extant, in all the fynagogues which
were fet up in every city and place where the Jews in.
any confiderable number dwelt. Thus wc find it was in
Chrift and the apoftles' time. [A6fs xv. 21.] ' Mofes of
* old time hath in every city them that preach him, be-
* ing read in the fynagogues every fabbath day.' This
cuftom is univerfally fuppofed, both by Jews and Chrif-
tians, to be begun by Ezra. There were, doubtlefs, pub-
lic aflcmblies before the captivity. They ufed to aflemble
at the temple at their great feafts, and were dire6led,
when they were at a lofs about any thing in the law, to
go to the prieft of inftru6tion ; and they ufed alfo to refort
to the prophets houfes ; and we read of fynagogues in
the land before, [Pfalm Ixxiv. 8.] but it is not fuppofed
that they then had copies of the law for conftant public
reading and expounding through the land as afterwards.
This was one great means of their being preferved from
idolatry, (k)
10. The
(k) The or'ig'm 0/^ synagogues.] " We read of fynagogues,
indeed, in the Pfalms ; but Dean Prideaux was of opinion that
O o the
282 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
10. The next thing I would mention, is God's remark-
ably preferving the church and nation of the Jews, when
they were in imminent danger of being univerfally dc-
flroyed by Haman. We have the ftory in the book of
Efther, with which you are acquainted. This ferics of
providences was very wonderful in preventing this deftruc-
tion. Efther was doubtlefs born for this end to be the
inftrument of this remarkable prefervation. (l)
11. After this the canon of fcripture was farther en-
larged in the books of Nehemiah and Efther ; the one
by Nehemiah himfclf ; and whether the other was written
by Nehemiah, or Mordccai, or Malachi, is not of im-
portance for us to know, fo long as it is one of thofe
books that were always admitted and received as a part
of their canon by the Jews, and was among thofe that
the Jews called their fcriptures in Chrifl's time, and fuch
as was approved by him. For Chrift does often, in his
fpeeches to the Jews, manifeftly approve and confirm
thofe books, which amongft them went by the name of
the fcriptures^ as might eafily be lliown, if there were time
for it. (m)
12. After
the word [nyiD] which fignifies any aflemblles, there intends ra-
ther the profeucha, open courts where the people met to pray, each
for himfelf, than proper fynagogues.
" The fervice of the fynagogues confifted of prayers, reading,
and expoundirfg or preaching, and it is thought that their whole
fervice was conduced in a manner fimilar to that of our parifh
churches. — And this inftitution feems to be preferved among
them, with little variation, to the prefcnt day." [See Prideaux's
Connect, part i. book 6.]
(l) Tie 'Jenvs delivered from Haman'j cruelty.'] " There is
hardly any hiftory of the Old Teftament, (except the life^of Jo-
feph) that more difplays the myfteries of divine Providence, than
the book of Efther ; particularly, we may obferve the extremity
to which God fuffered his people to be driven ; and the wonder-
ful manner in which he delivered them by bringing all the cruel-
ties of wicked Haman on his own head. The Jews efteemed this
book in value next to the Pentateuch, and in memory of the fal-
yatlon herein recorded, keep the feall of Purim to this day." [See
Stackhoufe\}ri{\k. of the Bible, book vil. chap. 2.]
(m) Chkist cotifirmed the Old Tejlament.'] * Search the fcrlp-
' tares,' — /. e. of the Old Teftament, for no part of the New
was
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 283
12. After this the canon of the Old Teftament was
compleated and fealcd by Mnlachi. The manner of con-
cluding this prophecy feems to imply, that they were
to expedl no more prophecies, nor any more written re-
velations from God, till Chrifl fliould come. For in the
laft chapter he prophefies of Chrift's coming ; [ver. 2, 3.]
* But unto you that fear my name, fhall the Sun of
* righteoufnefs arife with healing in his wings ; and ye
* fhall go forth and grow up as calves of the flail. And
< he fliall tread down the wicked ; for they fhall be as
< aflies under the foles of your feet, in the day that I
< {hall do this, faith the Lord of hofls.' Then we read
in ver. 4. * Remember ye the law of Mofes my fervant
* which I commanded unto. him in Horeb for all Ifrael,
* with the ftatutes and judgments,' /. e. Remember and
improve what ye have ; keep clofe to that written rule
you have, as expecting no more additions to it, till the
Old Teftament is over, and the Sun of righteoufnefs fliall
at length arife.
13. Soon after this, the fpirit of prophecy ceafed
among that people till the time of the New Teftament.
Thus the Old Teftament lights, the ftars of the long
night, began a pace to hide their heads, the time of the
Sun of righteoufnefs now drawing nigh. We before
obferved, how the Kings of the houfe of David ceafed
before the true king and head of the church came ; and
how the cloud of glory withdrew, before Chrift, the
brightnefs of the Father's glory, appeared ; and fo as to
fevcral other things. And now at laft the fpirit of pro-
phecy ceafed. The time of the great Prophet of God
was now fo nigh, it was time for their typical prophets
to be filent.
WE have now gone through with the time that we
have any hiftorical account of in the writings of the Old
O o 2 Tefta-
was written till fome time after our Lord's death,-^* for in them
* ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they that teltify of
• me.' [John v. 39. fee alfo ver. 46, and Luke xvi. 29. j
284 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Teftament, and the laft thing that was mentioned, by
which the work of redemption was promoted, was the
ceafing of the fpirit of prophecy.
I now proceed to Hiow how the work of redemption
was carried on through the remaining times that were
before Chrift : in which we have not that thread of fcrip-
ture hiftory to guide ns which we have had hitherto ;
but we have thefe three things to dire£t us, viz. the pro-
phecies of the Old Teftament, human hiftories of thofe
times, and fome occafional mention made of things which
then happened, in the books ot the New Teftament.
Therefore,
14. The next particular that I fhall mention under this
period, is the deftrudlion of the Perfian empire, and fetting
up of the Grecian empire by Alexander. This came to
pafs about fixty or feventy years after the times wherein
the prophet Malachi is fuppofed to have prophefied, and
about three hundred and thirty years before Chrifl:. This
■was the third overturning of the world that came to pafs
in this period, and was greater and more remarkable than
either of the foregoing. It was very remarkable on ac-
count of the fuddenneis of that conqueft of the world
which Alexander made, and the greatnefs of the empire
which he fet up, which much exceeded all the foregoing
in its extent.
This event is much fpoken of in the propliecies of
Daniel. This empire is reprefented by the third king-
dom of brafs in Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchad-
nezzar's dream, [Dan. ii.] and in Daniel's vifion of the
four bcafts is intended by the third beaft that was like
a leopard, tl\at had on his back four wings of a fowl,
to reprefent the fwiftnefs of its conqueft, [chap, vii.] and
is more particularly reprefented by the he-goat, [chap,
viii.] ' that came from the weft on the face of the whole
* earth, and touched not the grounc],' to reprefent ho\y
fwiftly Alexander over-ran the world. The an<Tel himfelf
docs exprefsly interpret this hc-goat to fignify the king of
Grecia, [ver. 21.] ' The rough goat is the king of Grccia ;
an4
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 285
* and the great horn that is between his eyes is the firft
< king,' i.e. Alexander himfelf. (n)
After
(n) The v'lfwn of the Gokr and of the h'£.ov.\KU.~\ " K goat li
very properly made the type of the Grecian or Macedonian empire,
becaufe . . . Caranus, their firft king, going with a great multitude
of Greeks to feek new habitations in Macedonia, was commanded
by the oracle to take the goats for his guides to empire: and after-
wards feeing a herd of goats flying from a violent ftorm, he fol-
lowed them to EdefTa, and there fixed his feat of empire, made the
goats his enfigns or ftandards, and called the city Egeas or the goat's
town, and tlie people Egeadas or the goat's people. And to this
may be added that the city Egeae or Egse was the ufual burylng-
place of the Macedonian kings* It is alfo very remarkable, that
Alexander's fon by Roxana was named Alexander jEgus, or the fon
of the goat; and fome of Alexander's fucceffors are reprefented in
their coins with goat's horns. This ' he-goat came from the weft ;*
and who is ignorant that Europe lieth weftward of Afia? He came
on the face of the whole earth, carrying every thing before him in
all the three parts of the world then known; ' and he touched not
* the ground,' his marches were fo fwlft and his conquefts fo rapid,
that he might be faid in a manner to fly over the ground without
touching it. For the fame reafon the fame empire in the former vi-
fion was likened to z leopard^ which is a fwift, nimble animal, and to
denote the greater quickncfs and Impetuofity, to a leopard with four
•wings. ' And the goat had a notable horn between his eyes:' this
horn, faith the angel, is the firft king, or kingdom of the Greeks in
Afia, which was erefted by Alexander the Great, and continued for
fome years in his brother PhlHp Arldsus, and his two young fons.
** In the two next verfes (6, 7.) we have an account of the
Grecians overthrowing the Pcrfian empire. * And he came to
* the ram that had two horns, which I had fecn ftanding before the
* river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.' One can
hardly read thefe words without having fome image of Darius's
army ftanding and guarding the river Granicus, and of Alexander
on the other fide with his forces plunging in, fwlmming acrofs the
ftream, and ruft\ing on the enemy with all the fire and fury that
can be imagined. . . . ' And I faw him come clofe unto the ram:*
he had feveral clofe engagements with the king of Perfia. * And
* he was moved with choler agalnft him,' for the cruelties which
the Perfians had excrcifed towards the Grecians: and for Darius's
attempting to corrupt fometimes his foldiers to betray him, and
fometimes his friends to deftroy him ; fo that he would not liften
to the raoft advantageous offers of peace. * And he fmote the
* ram, and brake his two horns:' he fubdued Perfia and Media,
with the other provinces and kingdoms of the Perfian empire: . . .
and in Media, Darius was feized and made a prifoner by fome of his
o\yn
286 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
After Alexander had conquered the world, he foon
died, and his dominion did not defcend to his pofterity,
but four of his principal captains divided his empire
between them, as it there follows. Now that being
broken, whereas four flood up for it, ' four kingdoms
* lliall ftand up out of the nation, but not in his power;'
fo you may fee in the xith chapter of Daniel. The
angel, after foretelling of the Perfian empire, then pro-
ceeds to foretell of Alexander, [ver. 3.] ' And a mighty
* king fliall ftand up, that fhall rule with great domi-
* nion, and do according to his will.' And then he
foretells, [ver. 4th.] of the dividing of his kingdom,
between his four captains; ' And when he fhall ftand
* up, his kingdom (hall be broken, and Ihall be divided
* toward the four winds of heaven ; and not to his pof-
* terity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for
* his kingdom ftiall be plucked up, even for others befides
* thofe.' Two of thefe four captains, whofe kingdoms
w^ere next to Judea, the one had Egypt and the neigh-
bouring countries on the fouth of Judea, and the other
had Syria and the neighbouring countries north of Ju-
dea ; and thefe two are thofe that are called the kings
of the north and of the louth in the xith chapter of Da-
niel, (o)
Now,
own traitor fubjedls, who not long after bafely murdered him. * And
* there was no power in the ram to Hand before him, but he caft
* him down to the ground, and ftamped upon him ;' he conquered
wherever he came, routed all the forces, took all the cities and caf-
tles, and entirely fubverted and ruined the Perfian empire. * And
* there was none that could dc4iverthe ram out of his hand;' not
even his numerous armies conid defend the king of Perfia, though
his forces in the battle of IlTus amounted to 600,000 men, and in
that of Arbela to ten or eleven hundred thoufand, whereas the
whole number of Alexander's was not more than 47,000 Jn either
engagement. So true is the obfervation of the Pfalmift, (xxxiii.
16.) ' There is no king faved by tlie multitude of an hoft:' and
efpecially when God hath decreed the fall of empires, then even
the greatefl muft fall. The fortune of Alexander, of which fo
much hath been faid, .... was nothing but the providence of
God." [Bp. Newton on the prophecies, vol. ii. difTert 15.]
(o) Alexander'' s empire divided.] *' The empire of the goat
was in its full ftrength when Alexander died of a fever at Babylon.
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 287
Now, this fetting up of the Grecian empire did greatly
prepare the way for Chrift's coming, and creeling his
kingdom in the world. Bcfides thefe ways common to
the other overturnings of the world in this period, that
have been already mentioned, there is one peculiar to
this revolution which I would take notice of, which did
remarkably promote the work of redemption ; and thit
was, that it made the Greek language common in the world.
To have one common language underftood and ufed
through the greater part of die world, was a thing that
did greatly prepare the way for the fetting up of Ciirift's
kingdom. This gave advantage for fpreading the gofpel
from one nation to another, and fo through all nations,
with vaftly greater eafe, than if every nation had a diflinft
language, and did not underftand any other. For
though fome of the hrll: preachers of the gofpel had the
gift of languages, fo that they could preach in any lan-
guage ; yet all had not this particular gift ; and they that
had, could not exercife it when they would, but only at
fpecial
He was fuccecded In the throne by his natural brother Philip Ari-
daeus, and by his own two fons, Alexander iEgus and Hercules :
but in the fpace of about fifteen years they were all murdered, and
then the firll horn or kingdom was entirely broken.. The royal
family being thus extinft, the governors of provinces, who had
ufurped the power, aflumed the title of kings ; and by the defeat
and death of Antigonus in the battle of Ipfus, they were reduced
to four, CafTander, Lyfimachus, Ptolemy, and Seleucus, who parted
Alexander's dominions between them, and divided and fettled them
into four kingdoms. Thefe four kingdoms are xhefour notable horns
which came up in the room of the firft great horn ; and are the fame
2k^\.\\Q four heads of the leopard in the former vifion. * Four king-
* doms fhall ftand up out of the nation, but not in his power;' they
were to be kingdoms of Greeks, not of Alexander's own family,
but only of his nation ; and neither were they to be equal to him in
power and dominion, as an empire united is certainly more power-
ful than the fame empire divided, and the whole is greater than
any of the parts. They were likewife to extend ' toward the
* four winds of heaven :' and in the partition of the empire, Caf-
fandcr held Macedon, and Greece, and the weftern parts ; Lyfi-
machus had Thrace, Bithynia, and the northern regions; Ptolemy
pofiefTed Egypt, and the fouthern countries; and Seleucus obtained
Syria, and the eaftern provinces." [Kp- Ni- wton on the Prophe-
cies, vol. ii. dlfTert. 15.J
288 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
fpecial feafons, \vhen the Spirit of God was pleated to in-
fpire them in this way. And the church in different
parts of the world, as the churches of Jerufalcm, An-
tioch, Galatia, Corinth, and others, which were in coun-
tries diftant one from another, could not have had that
communication one with another, which we have an
account of in the book of A£ls, if they had had no com-
mon language. So it was before the Grecian empire
was fet up. But after this, many in all thefe countries
well tinderftood the fame language, viz. the Greek ;
which wonderfully opened the door for mutual communi-
cation between thofe churches, fo far feparated one from
another. And again, the making the Greek language
common through fo great a part of the world, did won-
derfully make way for the fctting up of the kingdom
of Chrifl, becaufe it was the language in which the New
Teftament was to be originally written. The apoftles
propagated the gofpel through many fcores of nations ;
and if they could not have underftood the Bible any
otherwife than as it was tranflated into fo many lan-
guages, it would have rendered the fpreading of the gofpel
vaftly more difficult. But by the Greek language being
made common to all, they all underftood the New Tefta-
ment of Jefus Chrift in the language in which the apoftles
and evangelifts originally wrote it : fo that as foon as ever
it was written by its original penmen, it immediately lay
open to the world in a language that was commonly un-
derftood.
15. The next thing I flnall take notice of, is the
tranflation of the fcriptures of the Old Teftament into
the Greek language, which is commonly called the Sep-
tuagint, or the tranflation of the Seventy, This is fup-
pofed to have been made about fifty or fixty years after
Alexander's conquering the world. This is the firft
tranflation that ever was made of the fcriptures that we
have any credible account of. The canon of the Old
Teflament had been completed by tlie prophet Malachi
but about an hundred and twenty -years before in its
original ; and hitherto the fcriptures had remained locked
up
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 289
up from all other nations but the Jews, in the Hebrew
tongue, which was nnderftood by no other nation. But
now it was tranflated into the Greek language, which, as
we obferved before, was a language commonly underflood
by the nations of the world.
This tranflation of the Old Teftament is ftill extant,
and is commonly in the hands of learned men in thefe
daysj and is made great ufe of by them. The Jews bave
many fables about. the occafion and manner of this tranf-
lation ; but the truth of the cafe is fuppofed to be this, that
multitudes of the Jews living in other parts of the world
befides Judea, and being born and bred among the Greeks,
the Greek became their common language, and they did
not unckrrtand the original Hebrew ; and therefore they
procured the fcriptures to be tranflated for their ufe into
the Greek language : and fo henceforward the Jews, in
all countries, except Judea, were wont in their fyna-
aogues to make ufe of this tranflation inftead of the He-
brew, (p)
This tranflation of the fcriptures into a language com-
monly underftiood through the world, prepared the way
for Chrifli's coming, and fetting up his kingdom in the
world, and afterwards did greatly promote it. For as the
apoflles went preaching through the world, they made
P p great
(p) T/j^Septuagint /ra/2/7i7//o«.] It is " almoft unanimoufly
admitted, that about 300 years before the advent of Jefus Chriit,
a Greek tranflation of the Old TeRaincnt was made at Alcxan-
dria, for the ufe of the . . . Jews . . . fettled there .... the far
greater part of whoai had loft their native language — That at firft.
the five books of Mofes only were tranflated, becaufe they were
tlie only books which were then read in the fynagogues — That
after tlie tyrannies of Antiocluis Epiphanes, the reading of the
prophecies being then introduced, the prophecies were alio tranf-
lated — That this verfion was fpread through all thofe parts of the
world where the Greek language was ufed, or where Jews dwelt
— And that the apolllcs, preaching the gofpelin the kaown parts
of the world, m.adc ufe of [this] verfion — and that this verfion
was one of the preparations which Providence had employed tor
the call of the Gentiles." Saurin's Sermons, tranflated by Ro-
blnfon, vol. iii. p. 147, 8. For a fuller account of this verfion fee
Prukaiix'% Conncft. part 2. book i.]
igo HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
great ufe of the fcriptures of the Old Teftament, and efpe-»
cially of the prophecies concerning Chrift contained in
tliem. And by means of this tranflation, and by the Jews
being fcattered every where, they had the fcriptures at
hand in a language that was underflood by the Gentiles :
and they principally made ufe of this tranflation in their
preaching and writings wherever they Wefit ; as is evident
by this, that in all the quotations that are made out of
the Old Teftament in their writings, they are almoft every
where in the very words of the Septuagint ; they being
both written in the fame language. This makes it evident,
that the apoftles, in their preaching and writings, com-
monly made ufe of this tranflation. So this very tranf-
lation was that which was principally ufed in Chriflian
churches through moft nations of the world for feveral
hundred years after Chrift.
i6i The next thing is the wonderful prcfervation of the
church when it was imminently threatened and perfecuted
under the Grecian empire.
The firfl: time they were threatened was by Alexander
himfelf. When he was befieging the city of Tyre, fend-
ing to the Jew^s for aflifl:ance and fupplies for his army,
and they refufing, out of a confcientious regard to their
oath to the king of Perfia, he being a man of very furi-
ous fpirit, agreeable to the fcripture reprefentation of the
rough he-goat, marched againfl: them, with a defign to cut
them oil". But the priefts going out to meet him in prieftly
garments, when he met them, God wonderfully turned his
heart to fpare and favour them, much as he did the heart
of Efau when he inet Jacob. ( q^)
After
(q^) Alexander /pared the Jeivs.'] " The high priefl in tliii
imminent danger had recourfe to God by facrifices and fupplica-
tions ; and as he was diredted in a vifion in the night, lie went
forth the next day in his pontifical robes, with all the priefl s in
their habits, and tlie jx^ople in white apparel, to meet the con-
queror, and to make their fubmlfllons to him. As foon as the
king favv the high prieit coming to him in this folemn proceflion,
he advanced eagerly to meet him, and bowing down himfelf he-
lore him, received him with religious awe and veneration. All
prefent
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 291
After this, one of the kings of Egypt, a fucceflbr of one
of Alexander's four captains, entertained a defign of de-
ftrnying the nations of the Jews ; but was remarkably and
xvonderfully prevented by a ftrong intcrpofitlon of Heaven
for their prefervation.
But the moft wonderful prefervation of them all in
this period, was under the cruel perfecution of Antio-
chus Epiphanes, king of Syria, and fucceflbr of another
of Alexander's four captains. The Jews were at that
time fubje6l to the power of Antiochus ; and he being
enraged againfl: them, long ftrove to his utmoft utterly to
deftroy them, and root them out ; at leaft all of them
that would not forfake their religion, and worlhip his
idols : and he did indeed in a great meafure wafte the
country, and depopulate the city of Jerufalcm ; and pro-
faned the temple, by fetting up his idols in fomc parts
of it ; and perfecuted the people with infatiable cruelty ;
fo that wc have no account of any perfecution like this
before. Many of the particular circumftances of this per-
fecution would be very affe6ting, if I had time to iniift
on them. This cruel perfecution began about an hundred
and ieventy years before Chrill. It is much fpoken of
P p 2 in
prefent were aftoniflied at this behaviour of the king, fo contrary
to their expeftation ; and Parmenio in particular demanded the
reafon of it, why he, whom all others adored, fliould pay fuch
adoration to the Jewifh high prieft. Alexander replied, That he
paid not this adoration to him, but to that God whofe prieft he
was ; for while he was at Dio in Macedonia, and was meditating
upon his expedition againfl: the king of Perfia, there appeared
unto him in a dream this very man, and in this very habit, invit-
ing him to come over into Alia, and promifing him fuccefs in the
conqueft of it : and now he was affured that he had fet out upon
this expedition under the conduft of God, to whom therefore he
paid this adoration in the perfon of his high prieft. Hereupon he
entered Jerufalem in peace, and went up and offered facrifices to
God in the temple, where the high prieft produced and laid be-
fore him the prophecies of Daniel, wherein it was written, that
a king of Grccia ftiould overthrow the Perfian empire, which he
interpreted of himfelf. After this he granted peculiar privileges
to the Jews, and proceeded in his expedition with full confideuce
and afiurance of fuccefs. [Bp. Newton (from ^Jofcphus) onx\ic
Prophecies, vol. ii. difc. 15.]
292 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
in the prophecy cf Daniel, [Dan. viii. 9—25 ; xl.31 —
38.] and referred to in the New Terca-ment, [Heb. xi.
36-38.] (R)
Antiochus intended not only to extirpate the Jewifli
religion, but as far as in him lay, the very nation ; and
particularly laboured to the utmoft to deilroy all copies
of the law. And confjdering how weak they were, in
comparifon with a king of fuch vafi: dominion, the pro-
vidence of God appears very wonderful in defeating his
de:^ign. Many times the Jews feemed to be on the very
brink of ruin, and juft ready to be wholly fwallowed
up : their enemies often thought themfelves fure of ob-
taining their purpofe. Thev once cam.e againft the
people with a mighty army, and with a defign of kil-
ling all, except the women and children, and of felling
thefe for flaves ; and they were fo confident of obtain-
ing their purpofe, and others of purchafing, that above
a thoufand merchants came with the army, with money
in their hands, to buy the flaves that fliould be fold. But
God wonderfully flirred up an'd aflifted one Judas, and
others his fuccefTors, that were called the Maccabees,
who, with a fmall handful in comparifon, vanquifhed tlieir
enemies time after time, and delivered their nation ; which
was foretold by Daniel, [xi. 32.] Speaking of Anti-
ochus's perfecxuion, he fays, ' And fuch as do wickedly
* againft the covenant, fliall he corrupt by flatteries : but
' the people that do know their God, Ihall be Ihong, and
* do exploits.' (s)
God
(r) Persecution under Antiochus. ~\ The particulars of this
perfecution are recited at length in the vth, vith, and viith chap-
ters of the 2d book of Maccabees, and the nio(l material parts of
it are confirmed by Polyhius and Jofepbus ; and copied into Rollings
Ancient Hiftory, book xviii. art. 2. and the Utiiverfal Hijl. vol.
X. book il. chap. 1 1.
(s) Bravery 0/" Judas Maccabeus,] " We have here a fen-
fible image of the feeble oppofition which the human arm is able
to make againll that of the Almiglity, 'on \vhom alone the fate of
battle depends. It is evident that Judas himfelf was fully fenfible
of his own wcaknefs : ' How can we,' fays he to the Almighty
before tlie battle, ' Hand before them, unlcfs thou thyfelf alTift
f us V And it is as evident, that he was no lefs fumlv perfuaded
of
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 293
God afterwards brought this Antiochus to a fearful,
miferable end, by a loathfome difenfe, under dreadful tor-
jnents of body, and horrors of mind; which was foretold
[Dan xi. 45.] in thefe words; ' Yet he ftiall come to this
* end and none lliall help him.' (t) After his death, there
were attempts Hill to deftroy the church of God ; but God
baffled them all.
17. The next thing to be taken notice of is the de-
ftruftion of the Grecian empire, and fetting up of the
Roman. This was the fourth overturning of the world
in this period. And though it was brought to pals more
gradually than the fetting up of the Grecian empire, yet
it far exceeded that, and was much the greateft and
largeft temporal monarchy that ever was in the world ;
fo that tlie Roman empire was commonly called all the
world ; [Luke ii. i.] ' And there went out a decree frooi
' before Caefar Auguflus, that all the world Ihould be
' taxed ;' /'. c. all the Roman empire. This empire is
fpoken
of the fiiccefs of his arms: ' The viftory (he had faid before)
* does not depend on the number of foldiers, but it is from heaven
* that all our Urength comes.' But although Judas had fo entire
a confidence iu God, he employs all thofe expedients, which the
mod experienced and bravell general could ufe, in order to obtain
the vielory. How excellent a pattern have we here for generals!
To pray with humility, becaufe all thirigs depend on God; and to
aft with vigour, as if all things depended on niai)!" [See i Mace.
lii. and Iv.] — [Rollin's Ancient Hiilory, book xviil. art. 2.]
(t) Antiochus DIED niiferably.'] " News was brought him of the
defeat of Nicanor and Timotheus in Judea, .... frcfli exprefl'es
came of Lyfias's defeat, a«d alfo that the Jews had retaken the
temple, thrown down the altars and idols he had fet up, and re-i
eftablifhcd their ancient worfliip; this news increafed his fury: Im-
mediately he commanded his coachman to drive with the utmoil
fpced, in order that he might have an opportunity fully to fatiatc
his vengeance ; threatening to make Jerufalem the burying-plact,
of the whole Jewifh nation, and not to leave one fingle inhabitant
in it. He had fcarce utteied that blafphemous expreifion, but he
was llruck by the hand of God. He was feized with incredible
pains in his bowels, and the mofl exceffive pangs of the colic.
* Thus the murderer and blafphemer, (fays the author of the
* Maccabees, zd book, chap. ix. 12.) having fufPered mofl grle-
* voufly, as he treated other men, fo he died a miferable desth in a
? itrange country in the mountain." [Rollin's Ancient Hlftory,
hook xviii. art, 2.]
294 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
fpokcn of as much the ftrongefl: and greateft of any of the
four; [Dan. ii. 40.] * And the fourth kingdom fhall be
* ftrong as iron: forafmuch as iron breaketh in pieces, and
* fubdueth all things ; and as iron that breaketh all thefe,
* fhall it break in pieces, and bruife.' [So alfo Dan. vil.
7, 19, 23.] The time that the Romans firil: conquered and
brought under the land of Judea, was between fixty and
feventy years before Chrift was born : and foon after this,
the Roman empire was eftablilhcd in its greateft extent ;
and the world continued fubjeft to it till Chrift came, and
many hundred years afterwards.
The nations being thus united under one monarchy
when Chrift came, and when the apoftles went forth to
preach the gofpel, did greatly prepare the way for the
fpreading the gofpel, and the fctting up of Chrift's king-
dom in the world : for the world being thus fubjeft to
one government, it opened a communication from nation
to nation, and fo opportunity was given for the more
fvviftly propagating the gofpel through it. Thus we find
it is in the Britidi nation, the communication from one
part of its dominions to another, is much eafier and
quicker than to foreign nations. There are innumerable
difficulties in travelling through nations under different
independent governments, which are not in travelling
through different parts of the fame realm, or different do-
minions of the fame prince. So the world being under
one government, that of the Romans, in Chrift's and the
apoftles times, facilitated the apoftles travelling, and th§
gofpel's fpreading through tiie world.
18. About tlie fame time learning and philofophy
were rifen to their greateft height in the heathen world.
Almoft all the famous philofophers that we have an ac-
count of among the heathen, went after the captivity into
Babylon. Almoft all the wife men of Greece and Rome
flourifticd in this time. Many of them were, indeed, men
of great temporal wifdom : and that which they in gene-
ral chiefly profeffed to make their bufinefs, was to inquire
wherein man's chief happinefs lay, and the way in which
pien might obtain it. They feemed earneftly to bufy
them-
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. igs
themfelves in this inquiry, and wrote multitudes of books
about it, many of which are ftill extant. There have
been reckoned up feveral hundreds of their different
opinions concerning it. Thus they wearied themfelves
in vain, wandering in the dark, not having the glorious
gofpel to guide them. God was pleafed to fuffer men to
do the utmoft tliey could with human wifdom, and to try
the extent of their own \mderfl:andings to find out the
way to happinefs, before the true light came to enlighten
the world: before he fent the great Prophet to lead men
in the right way to happinefs. God fulFercd thefe great
philofophers to try what they could do for lix* hundred
years together; and tlien it proved, by the events of fo
long a time, that all they could do was in vain ; the world
not becoming wiler, better, or happier under their inftruc-
tions, but growing more and more fooliJh, wicked, and
miferable. (u) He fuffered their wifdom and philofophy
to
(u) The Jlatc of Pagan Philosophy,] The corrupt ftate of
the heathen morals, during the mofh flourifiiing times of their
philofophy, is defcribed by a learned prelate of the prefent age in
the following pointed language — " The fports of the gladiators,
unnatural luft, the licentioufnefs of divorce, the expofing of in-
fants and flaves, the procuring abortions, the public cllablini-
ment of ftevvs ; all fuhfilled at Rome, and not one of them [was]
condemned, or hinted at, in Tully's Offices. — The mofl indecent
revelling, drunkennefs, and lewdnefs, [were] praflifed at the fcafls
of Bacchus, Ceres, and Cybcle ; and their greatcft philofophers
never remonftrated again (I it.
*• The heathen philofophers, though they have advanced fine
fayings and fubllme precepts, in fome points of morality, have
grofsly failed in others : fueh as the toleration or encouragement
of revenge, flavery, unnatural luft, fornication, fulcide, &c. For
example: Plato exprcfsly allowed of exceflive drinking at the fefti-
vals ot Bacchus. — Muxhnus Tyr'ius forbad to pray. — Socrates directs
his hearers to confider the Greeks as brethren ; but barbarians
\t. e. all who weie of any other country] as natural enemies. —
Arl/lotld maintained, that nature intended baibarians [/. c. all who
were not Grecians] to be flaves. — The Stoics held, that all crimes
were equal. — P'ato, Cicero, Epiclctiis, all allow and advlfe men to
continue the idolatry of their ancellors. — Arijlotk, and Cicero,
both fpeak of the forglvcncfs of injuries, as meannefs and pufdla-
Dimltv. — Thefe wee trifles, to what follows. —
" Ariftotle
296 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
to come to the greatefl: height before Chrifl: came, that It
might be feen how far reafon and philofophy could go in
their higheft afcent, that the neccflity of a divine teacher
might appear before Chrifl came. And God was pleafed to
make
" Ar'tjlotle and Plato both direct, that means fhould be ufed
to prevent weak children being brought up. — Cato commends a
young man for frequenting the ftews. — Cicero exprefsly fpeaks of
fornication as a thing never found fault with. — Plato recommends
a community of women ; and advifes, that foldiers fhould not be
reftrained from fenfual indulgence, even the moll unnatural fpe-
cies of it. — Xenophon relates, without any marks of reprobation,
that unnatural lull was encouraged by the lavv's of feveral Grecian
ftates. — Solon^ their great lawgiver, forbad it only to flaves. — Dio-
genes inculcated, and openly praftifed the mod brutal luft. — Zeno
and Cato both killed themfelves." [Bp. of Carlisle's Relied,
on the Life and Character of Chrift, Appendix.]
Another elegant writer of the prefent day thus paints the fitua-
tion of the heathen world at Chrift's coming :
""They all worfliipped a multiplicity of gods and daemons,
whofe favour they com ted by impious, obfcene, and ridiculous
ceremonies ; and whofe anger they endeavoured to appeafe, by
the mod abominable cruelties. In thepolitell ages of the politeft
nations in the world, at a time when Greece and Rome had carried
the arts of oratory, poetry, hlftory, architefture, and fculpture,
to the higheft perfeftion, and made no inconfiderable advances in
thofe of mathematics, natural, and even moral philofophy, in re-
ligious knowledge they had made none at all : a ftiong prefump-
tion, that the noblcft efforts of the mind of man, unaiTiltcd by re-
velation, were unequal to the tafl<. Some few, indeed, of their
philofopheis, were wife enough to rejeft thcfe general abfurdities,
and dared to attempt a loftier flight. Plato introduced many fnb-
lime ideas of nature, and its firll caufe, and of the immortality of
the foul; which, being above his own and all human difcovery,
he probably acquired from the books of Mofcs, or the converfa-
tion of fome Jewifli rabbles, whom be might have met with In
Egypt ; where he refided, and ftudied, for feveral years. From
him ylrijlotle, and from both Ciceroy and fome few others, drew
moil amazing ftores of philofophical fcience ; and carried their re-
fearches into divine trutlis, as far as human genius alone could pe-
netrate. But thefe, with all this knowledge, were very deficient
in true theology.
" At this time, ChiiRIauIty broke forth from the eaft, like a ri-
fing fun, and difpclled this unlveifal darkncfs, which obfcured
every part of the globe ; and which, even at this day, prevails in
all thofe remoter regions, to which its falutary Influence has not as
yet extended." [Soame Jenyns, Efq. Internal Evidence of the
Chrilllan Religion.]
FROM THE CAPTIVITY TO CHRIST. 297
inake foolifli the wifdom of this world, to fhew men the
folly of their beft wifdom, by the do^Vrincs of his glori-
ous gofpel which were above the reach of all their philo-
fophy. [Sec i Cor. i. 19—21.]
And after God had ihewn the vanity ot human learn-
ing, he was pleafed to make it fubfervient to the purpofes
of Chrift's kingdom, as an handmaid to divine revela-
tion: and fo the prevalence of learning in the world be-
fore Chriil: came, made way for his coming both thefe
ways, viz. as thereby the vanity of human wifdom was
fliown, and the necefTity of the gofpel appeared ; and alfo
as hereby an handmaid was prepared to the gofpel : for fo
it was made ufe of by the apoftle Paul, who was famed
for his much learning, [A61:sxxvi. 24.] and was (killed
not only in that of the Jews, but alfo of the philofophers ;
and improved it to the purpofes of tiie gofpel ; as you
may fee he did in difputing with the philofophers at
Athens. [A6ts xvii, 22, &c.] He by hrs learning knew
well how to improve what he had read in their writings ;
and even cites their own poets, (w) And now Dionyfius,
who was a philofopher, was converted by him, and, as
ccclefiaftical hiftory gives us an account, made a great
inftrument of promoting the gofpel. (x) And there
were many otl^ers in that and the following ages, who
were eminently ufcful by their human learning in promot-
ing the interefts of Chrifl's kingdom.
19. Juft
(w) Paul quotes the Greek poets.] *' Thofe words, ' For in
* him we live,' &c. have been fuppofed by fome an alliilion to an
old Greek poet ; but be this as it may, the following words, ' For
' we are alfo his offspring ;' or as Doddridge more properly renders
them, picferving their poetic air,
* For we his offspring are' —
Thefe words are unqucftionably thofe of Aratus^ a poet of Cici-
lia, Paul's own country, who wrote three hundred years before his
time." So I Cor. xv. 33, is fuppofed to be a quotation from Mi-
nandery another Greek Poet. [See Fam. E.xpof. in loc.J
(x) D; ON y SI us the Areopagite.'] " This Dionyfius was bred at
Athens in all the learned arts, and was one of the fenators and
judges of the great court of Areopagus ; at twenty-tive years old
he is faid to have travelled to Egypt, to perfetl himfelf in the
ftudy of aftrology, for which that nation was famous : here be-
C^q holding
298 HISTORY OFREDEMPTION.
19. Juft before Clirift was born, the Roman empire
was not only raifed to its greateft height, but alfo fettled
in peace. About four and twenty years before this, Au-
gullus Caefar, the firfl: Roman Emperor, afccnded the
throne : till then the Roman empire had of a long time
been a commonwealth under the government of the fe-
nate ; but now it became an abfolute monarchy. This
Auguftus Caefar, as he was the firfl, fo he was the greateft of
all the Roman Emperors. Thus the power of the heathen
world, which was Satan's vifible kingdom, was raifed to
Its greateft height, after it had been rifmg gradually and
ftrengthening itfelf more and more from the days of So-
lomon to this day, which was about a thoufand years.
Now the heathen world was in its greateft glory for ftrength,
wealth, and learning.
God did two things to prepare the way for Chrift's
coming, wherein he took a contrary method from that
which human wifdom would have taken. He brought
his own vifible people very low, and made them weak ;
but the heathen, who were his enemies, he exalted to the
greateft height, for the more glorious triumph of the crofs
of Chrift. With a fmall number in their greateft weak-
nefs, he conquered his enemies in their greateft glory.
Thus Chrift triumphed over principalities and powers in
his crofs.
Auguftus Csefar had been for many years eftabliftiin'^-
the ftatc of the Roman Empire, fubduing his enemies
in one part and another, till the very year that Chrift
was born; when all his enemies being fubdued, his do-
minion over the world feemed to be iettled in its great-
eft glory. All was eftablifhed in peace : in token where-
of the Romans ftiut the temple of Janus, which was an
eftabliflied iymbol among them of there being univerfal
peace
holding the miraculous eclipfe that was at the time of our Lord's
crucifixion, he concluded that fome great affair was happening to
the world. Returning to Athens, he became one of the judges of
the Areopagus, difputed with St. Paul, and was by him converted
from his errors and idolatry, and being thoroughly inftrucled, made
the firft bifliop of Athens." [Dr. Cave.]
IMPROVEMENT OF PERIOD I. 299
peace throughout the Roman empire, (y) And this uni-
vcrfal peace, which was begun the year tliat Chrlft was
born, lafted twelve years, till the year that Chrifl difputed
with the do(5lors in the temple.
Thus the world, after it had been, as it were, in a con-
tinual convulfion for fo many hundred years together,
like the four winds flriving together on the tumultuous
raging ocean, whence arofe thofe four great monarchies ;
being now eftablilhed in the greateft height of the fourth
and laft monarchy, and fettled in quietnefs all things
are ready for the birth of Chrift. This remarkable uni-
verfal peace, after fo many ages of tumult and war,
was a fit prelude for the ufhering of the glorious Prince of
Peace into the world.
Thus I have gone through our firfk grand period,
that from the fall to the time of the incarnation of Chrifl: :
and have fhown the truth of the fiill; propolition, viz.
That ' from the fall of man to the incarnation of Chrifl:,'
God was doing^ thofe things that were preparatory to Chrift's
coming, o.nd for£run?iers ot it.
IMPROVEMENT of PERIOD. I.
BEFORE I proceed to the next propofition, I would
make fome few remarks, by way of improvement, upon
what has been fald under this.
I. Wc may ftrongly argue, that Jefus of Nazareth is in-
deed the Son of God, and tlie Saviour of the w orld ; and
that the Chriftian is the true religion, feeing Chrift is the
very perfon fo evidently pointed at, in all the great dif-
Qjl 2 penfations
(y) 77;^" Temple o/" Janus.] Thi^ v/as a fquare building,
(fome faj* of entire brafs) which contained a llatue of Janus five
feet high ; with brazen gates ahvays kept open in time of war, but
jhut in time of peace ; which however fcldbm happened. Hifto-
rians mention eight times of its being (hut up, three of which
were in the reign of Augullus, and one of them in the time of our
Lord's birth. [See Kennet'% Antiq. part 2. book i.]
300 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
pcnfations of Divine Providence from the fall of man»
and was fo undoubtedly in many inftances foretold frorr^
age to age, and fhadowed forth in a vaft variety of types
and figures. If we ferioufly confider the courfe of things
from the beginning, and obferve the motions of all the
great wheels of Providence from one age to another, we
fhall difcern that they all tend hither. They are all as
fo many lines, whofe courfe, if accurately followed, will
he found to centre here. This perfon came into the
world with a commiffion and authority from God to do
his work, and to declare his mind. It cannot be any vain
imagination, but a plain and evident truth, that t/iat per-
fon who was born at Bethlehem, and dwelt at Nazareth
and at Capernaum, and was crucified without the gates of
Jerufalem, mufl; be the great Meffiah, or anointed of God.
And blefied are all they that believe in and confefs him,
and miferable are all that deny him. This Ihows the
lUiireafonablencfs of the Deifts, who deny revealed reli-
gion ; and of the Jews, who deny that t/iis Jefus is the
Mcfiiah foretold and promiled to their fathers.
Here fomc perfons may be ready to objedl, that it
may be, fome fubtle, cunning men contrived to forge this
hifiory, and thefe prophecies, fo that they fliould all
point to Jefus Chrift on purpofe to prove him to be the
Meffiah. To fuch it may be replied, how could their
.craft and fubtilty help them to forefee and point at an
event that was to come to pafs many ages afterwards ; for
no faft can be more evident, than that the Jews had thofc
writings long before Chritl was born ; as they have them
flill in great veneration, wherever they are throughout
the world ; and they would never have received fuch a
.contrivance from Chrillians, to point to and confirm Jefus
jto be the Meffiaii, vVho they always denied to be fo; and
much lefs would Vhey have been made to believe that they
always had thefe books in their hands, if they had been
an impofition.
2. What has been faid, affords a frrong argument for the
divine authority of the books of the* Old Teibment, from
that admirable harmony there is in them, whereby they
aij
IMPROVEMENT OF PERIOD I. 301
all point to the fame objedl. For we may fee from what
has been faid, how all the parts of the Old Teftament*
though written by fo many different penmen, and in ages
diftant one from another, do all beautifully harmonize :
all agree in one teftimony, and all center in the fame
event ; an event which it was impofllble any one of them
fliould foreknow, but by a divine revelation, even the fu-
ture coming of Chrift. This is evident from what lias
been faid above.
Now, if tiie Old Teftamcnt was not infpired by God,
what account can be given of fuch an agreement ? For if
thefe books were only human writings, written without
any divine dire6lion, then none of thcfe penmen knew
that there would come fuch a perfon as Jefus Chrift into
the world ; his coming was only a mere figiTjent of their
own brain : and if fo, how happened it, that this imagi-
nation of theirs, which thev foretold without any manner
of ground for their predi6tion, was fo exactly fulhlled ?
and efpecially how did they come all to agree in it,
all pointing exadtly to the fame thing, though they lived
fo many hundred years diftant one from another ? This
admirable agreement in a future event, is therefore a
clear and certain evidence of the divine authority of thofe
writings.
c. Hence we mav learn what a weak and ignorant ob-
jection it is wliich fome make againft fome paits of the
Old Teftament, that they confifl; lb much of the hiftories
of their kings and rulers, of their wars with the nelorh-
bouring nations, and of the changes that happened from
time to time in their ftnte and government. Other na-»
tions fay they ufed to keep hiftories of their public affairs
as well as the Jews, why then fliould we think that thefe
hiftories are the word of God, more than thofe of other
people ? But what has been faid, ihows the folly and va-
nity of fuch an obje6lion. For hereby it appears, that
the cafe of thefe hiftories is very ditTerent from that of all
others. This alone gives us an account of the original
of all things; and deduces them down in a regular feries
from that original, giving a view of the whole fcheme
of
302 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION. '
of Divine Providence, from the beginning to the confum-
mation of all things: with an account of the wife and
holy defigns of the governor of the world in all.— By
thefe hiftorics it appears how God has been carrying on the
glorious work of redemption from age to ao;e. And though
hijioricsy yet are they full of divine inftrudlion, and fhow
forth Chrift, and his glorious gofpel, no lefs than other
parts of the holy fcriptures which are not fo.
The obje£lion, that it is a common thing for nations
and kingdoms to write hiftories and keep records of their
wars, and the revolutions that come to pafs in their terri-
tories, is fo far from being a weighty obje6lion againfl: the
hirtorical part of fcripture, as though it were not the word
of God, that it is a ftrong argument in favour of it. For
if reafon and the light of nature teaches all civilized nations
to keep fuch records, and to publifh them for the informa-
tion of others ; how much more may we expe6l that God
would give the vvorld a record of the difpenlations of his
divine government, which doubtlels is infinitely more
worthy of an hiftory for our information? If wife kings
have taken care that there Ihould be good hillories written
of the nations over which they have reigned, fliall we
think it incredible that Jefus Chrift ihould take care that
his church, which is his kingdom, his peculiar people,
ihould have in their hands a hiftory of their nation, and of
his government over them ?
If it had not been for the hiftorv of the Old Teftament,
how ignorant ihould we have been of God's dealings
towards mankind, and efpecially his church, from the be-
ginning ? Wc ihould have been wholly In the dark about
!^he creation of the world, the fall of man, the firft rife and
continued progrefs of the difpenfation of grace towards
fallen mankind ; how the light of the gofpel firtl began to
dawn in the world ; how it Increafed ; and how things were
preparing for the coming of Oirill:.
If wr. arc Chrlfilans, we belong, to that-divine build-
ing of God that has been the fubjedl of our difcourfe .
but if it had not been for the hiftbry of the Old Tefta-
inent, we ihould never have knov/n what was the firfV
cccafiou
IMPROVEMENT OF PERIOD I. 303
occafion of God's going about this building, and how the
foundation of it was laid, or how it has gone on with from
the beginning. The times of the hiftory of the Old Tef-
tament are moftly fuch as no other hifbory reaches up to ;
and therefore if God had not prefcrved an account of thefe
things in his word, we fhould have been wholly without
them.
Thofe that obje61: againft the authority of the Old
Teftament hiftory of the nation of the Jews, may as
well make it an objection againft Mofes's account of the
creation that it is hiftorical ; for, in the former, we have
an hiftory of a work no lefs important, viz. the work
of redemption. Nay, this is a far greater and more
glorious work, as we obfervcd before ; and if it were in-
quired which of the two works, the work of creation,
or the work of providence, is greateft ? it muft be an-
fwered, the work of providence ; but the work of rr-
dempt'ion is the greateft of the works of providence. And
let thofe who make this obje6lion confider what part of
the Old Teftanient hiftory can be fpared, without mak-
ing a great breach in that thread or ferics of events by
which this glorious work has been carried on. — This leads
me to obferve,
4, That from what has been faid we may fee much
of the wifdom of God In the compofition of the fcrip-
tures of the Old Teftament. Let us briefly take a view
of the feveral parts of it, and of the need there was of
them .
Firft it was neceffary that we iliould have fome ac-
count of the creation of the world, of our tirft parents
and their primitive ftate ; of the fall, of the old world
and the degeneracy of it, and of the univerfal deluge ;
alio of the origin of nations after this deftrucflion of
mankind.
It feems proper that there ftiould be fome account of
the fucceffion of the church of God from the beginning ;
and feeing God fuffered all the world to degenerate, and
only took one nation to be his people, to prcferve the
true woriliip and religion till the Saviour fhould come,
that
304 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
that in them the world might gradually be prepared for
that great light, and thofe wonderful things that he was
to be the author of; and that they might be a typical na-
tion, in whom God might fhadow forth the future glo-
rious things of the gofpel-— it was therefore ncceiTary that
we fhould have feme account of this, how it was firft
done by the calling of Abraham, by rheir being bond-
llaves in Egypt, and by their beiug brought thence to
Canaan. It was necelTary that we fliould have fome ac-
count of the revelation which God made of himfelf to that
people, in giving their law, in the appointment of their
typical worlhip, and of the formation of their civil and
ecclefiaftical ftate.
It feems neceffary that we fhould have fome account of
their being a6tually brought to Canaan, tlieir promifed
land— That we fhonld have an hiflory of the fucceffions
of the church of Ifrael, and of thofe providences of God
towards them, which were moft confiderable and fulleft
of gofpel myftcry ; that we Ihould have fome account of
the higheft external glcry of that nation under David and
Solomon, and more particularly of the former, whofc
hiftory is fo full of the gofpel, and in whom began the
race of their kings ; and that we fliould have fome account
of the building of the temple, which was moreover fo full
of myfterv.
It was alfo a matter of confequence, that we ihould
have fome account of Ifrael's dividing from Judah, and
of the ten tribes' captivity and utter rtje6lion ; of the
fucceflion of the kings of Judah and of the church, till
their captivity into Babylon ; of their return from their
captivity, and re-fettlement in their own land ; and of
the origin of the lad Hate that the church was in before
Chrift came.
A little confideration will convince every one, that
all thefe things were neceffary, and that none of them
could well be fpared ; and in the- general, that it was
neceffary that we fliould have an hiftory of God's church
till fuch times as are witiiin the reach ot human hifto-
ries ; and it was of importance tiiat we ftiould have an
infpired
IMPROVEMENT OF PERIOD 1. $0^
infpircci hlftory of thofe time$ of the Jewiili church,
wherein there vvae kept up a more extraordinary inter-
courfe between Gq^ and them, and syhile he ufed to
dwell among them, as it were vilibly, revealing himfelf
by the Shechinah, by Urim and Thummim, and by pro-
phscYt a»<l fo "^o^^ immediately to order their affairs:
that we /hould have fomc account of the great difpeiifa-
tions of God in prophecy, which were to be after the
fini/hing of infpired hiftory. So it was exceeding needfui
that there fliould be a number of prophets raifcd, who
Ihould foretell the coming of the Son of God, and the
nature and glory of his kingdom, to be as fo many harbin-
gers to make way for him, and that their prophecies fliould
reiTiam In th^ church.
jjt was alfoi defirable that the church fliould have a
hook of divine fongs given by infpiration from God,
wherein there ihould be a lively repreientation of the
trvie fpitit of devotion, of faith, hope, and divine love,
joy, rehgnalion, humility, obedience, repentance, &c.
Again, that wc fhould have fuch books of moral inftruc-
tions as thofe of Proverbs and Ecclefiaftes, relating to
the aifairs and ftate of mankind, and the concerns' of
hnraaxi life, containing rules of true wifdom and pru-
dence for our conduct in all circumftances : likewife that
we ihould have fuch a reprefentaticn of the great love
between Chrift and his fpoufe, the church, particularly
adapted to the difpoixtion and holy afFeftions of a true
believer, as wc have in Solomon's Song: alfo that we
fljould have a book to teach us how to condu;^ ourlelves
under afflidion, feeing the church of God is here in a
militant Aate, and his people through much tribulation
enter into the kingdom of heaven ; therefore God has
given us a book moil: proper in thefe circumftances, even
that of Job, written upon occallon of the afflidlions of
a particular faint, and which was, probably, given to the
church in Egypt under her afflidions there ; and is made
ufe of by the apoftle to comfort Chriflians under perfe-
cutions. [James v. 11.] * Ye have heard of the patience
• of Job, and have fpeo the end of the Lord ; that the
R r ' Lord
3o6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
' Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy.* God was
alfo pleafed, in this book of Job, to give fome view of the
ancient divinity before the giving of the law.
- Thus, from this brief review, 1 think it appears, that
every part of the fcriptures of the Old Teftament is very
nfeful and necefiary, and no part of it can be fpared_,
without lofs to the church ; and therefore the wifdom of
God is confpicuous in ordering that the fcriptures of the
Old Teftament fhould confift of thofe very books of which
they do confift.
Before I difmifs this particular, I would add, that it is
very obfervable, that the hiftory of the Old Teftament
IS large and particular where the great affair of redemp-
tion required it; as where there was moft done towards
this work, and moft to typify Chrift, and to prepare the
way for him. Thus it is very large and particular in the
hiftory of Abraham and the other patriarchs ; but very
ihort in the account of the time which the children of
Ifrael fpent in Egypt. So it is large in the account of
the redemption out of Egypt, and the firft fettling of
the affairs of the Jewifti church and nation in Mofes and
Jofliua's time ; but much fhorter in the account of the
times of the judges. So again, it is large and particu-
lar in the account of David and Solomon's times, and
very ftiort in the hiftory of the enfuing reigns. Thus
the accounts are long or fhort, juft as there is more or lefs
of the affair of redemption to be feen in them.
5. From what has been faid, we may fee that Chrift
and his redemption are the great fubje6l of the whole
Bible. Concerning the New Teftament the matter is
plain; and by what has been faid on this fuhjeft hi-
therto, it appears to be fo alfo with refpe6l to the Old
Teftament. Chrift and his redemption is the great fub-
jeft of the prophecies, as well as the fongs of the Old
Teftament ; and the moral rules and precepts are all
given in fubordination to him ; and Chrift and his re-
demption are alfo the great fubjedl of the hiftory of the
Old Teftament, from the beginning* all along ; and even
the hiftory of the creation is brought in as an introduc-
tion
IMPROVEMENT OF PERIOD T. 307
tion to the hiftory of redemption which immediately fol-
lows it. The whole book, both the Old Teftament and
New, is filled with the gofpel ; only with this difFerence,
that the Old Teftament contains the gofpel under a vail,
but the New contains it unvailed, fo that wc may fay the
glory of the Lord with open face.
6. By what has been fafd, we may fee the ufefulnefs
and excellency of the Old Teftament. Some are ready
to look on it as being out of date,N and as if we, in thefe
days of the gofpel, had but little to do with it ; which
is a very great miftake, arifing from want of obferving
its nature and defign, which, if it were obfervcd, would
appear full of the gofpel of Chrift, and would in an ex-
cellent manner illuftrate and confirm the glorious doc-
trines and promifes of the New Teftament, Thofe parts
of the Old Teftament which are commonly looked upon
as containing the leaft divine inftrudtion, arc, as it were,
mines and trcafures of gofpel knowledge ; and the reafon
why they are thought to contain fo little, is, becaufe
perfons do but fuperficiaily read them. The treafurcs
which are hidden underneath are not obferved. They
only look on the top of the ground, and fo fuddenly pafs
a judgment that there is nothing there ; but they never
dig into the mine ; if they did, they w^ould find it richly
ftored with ftlver and gold, and would be abundantly re-
quited for their pains.
jWhat has been faid, may fhow us what a precious
tr'cafure God has committed into our hands, in that he
has given us the Bible. How little do moft perfons con-
fider how much they enjoy, in that they liave the pofTef-
llon of that' holy book, and may converfe with it as
they pleafe? What an excellent book is this, and how
far exceeding all human writings, wherein God reveals to
us, and gives us a view of the grand defign and glorious
icheme of Providence from the beginning of the world,
either in hiftory or prophecy ! that reveals the great.
Redeemer and his glorious redemption, and the various
fteps by which God accomplifhes it from the firil: foun-
dation to the top ftone ! Shall we prize an hiftory which
R r 2 ?ives
sqS history of redemption,
givts us a clear account of fome greit earthly prince, of
mighty warrior, 34 of Alexander the Great, ot Jvilius Caefftr,
or the Duke of Marlborough ? and (hall we not prize the
hifto] y that God gives us of the glorious kingdom of his
Son Jefus Chrift, the Prince and Saviour • and of the war*
and other great tranfaclions of that King of kings and Lord
of armies, the Lord mighty in battle I the hiftory of the
things which he has wrought for the redemption of his
chofen people ? .
7 . What has been faid, may make us fenfible how much
ittoll: perfons are to blame for their inattenrtire way of read-
ing the fcripture?. How much do the fcriptures contain,
if it were but obferved ? The Bible is the moft Compre-
henfive book in the world. But what will all this fignify
to us, if we read it without obferving what is the drift of
the Holy Ghoft in it ? The pfalmifl [Pfal. cxix. i8.] begs
of God, ' That he would enlighten his eyes, that he might
' behold wondrous things our of his law.' The fcriptures
are full of wondrous things. Thofe hiftories which are
commonly read as if they were only hiflories of the private
concerns of fuch and fuch particular perfons, fuch as the
hiftories of Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, and Jofeph ; alfo
the hiftory of Ruth ; and the hiftorif-s of particular law-
givers and princes, as the hillory of Jolhua and the Judges,
and David and the Ifraelitiili pTittces, are accounts of much
greater things, things of far more importance and ejften-
five concernment, than thofe that read them arc commonly
aware of.
The hiftories of fcripture are commonly read as if thev
xverc flories written only to entertain men's fancies and
to amufe their leifurc hours, when the infinitely great
things contained or pointed at in therh are pafled over,
and never taken notice of. Whatever treafures the fcrip-
tures contain, we fliali be never the better foT them, if
we do not obferve them. He that has a Bible, and does
not obferve what is containfd in . it, is like a man who
has a box foil of filver and gold^ and does not know-
it, docs not obferve fhat it is any thing more than a vef-
fd
IMPROVEMENT OF PERIOD I. 309
fel filled with common ftones. As long as it Is thus with
him, he will be never the better for his treafure ; for
he that knows not that he has a treafure, will never nrtake
ufe of what he has, and fo might as well be without
it. He who has a plenty of the choiceft food ftored up
in his houfe, and does not know It, will never tafte what
he has, and will be as likely to ftarve as if his houfe wer^
empty.
8. What has been faid, may fhow us how great a per-
fon Jefus Chrifl: Is, and how great an errand he came Into
the world upon, feeing there was fo much done to prepare
the way for his coming. God had been doing nothing
elfe but preparing the way for his coming, through all
ages, from the beginning. If we had notice of a certain
ftranger's being about to come Into a country, and fliould
obferve that a great preparation was made for his coming,
that many months were taken up In it, and great things
done ; and that many great alterations were made in the
ftate of the whole country, and that many hands were
employed, and perfons of great note were engaged In
making preparation for the coming of this perfon, and
the whole country was overturned, and all the affairs
and concerns of the country were ordered fo as to be
fubfervient to the defign of entertaining that perfon when
he fhould come ; it would be natural for us to think
with ourfelves, why, furcly, this Is fome extraordinary
perfon Indeed, and it Is fome very great bufinefs that he is
coming upon !
How great a perfon then mufl: he be, for whofe coming
into the world the great God of heaven and earth, and
governor of all things, fpent four thoufand years in pre-
paring the way,— bringing mighty events to pafs, accom-
plifhing wonders without number, often overturning the
world In order to it, and caufmg all the revolutions and
changes In the habitable world from generation to gene-
ration to be fubfervient to this great defign ? Surely this
mufl be fome very great and extraordinary perfon, and
3 great work indeed It mull needs be that he is coming
about !
We
3io HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
, We read, [Matth. xxi. 8— lO-] that when Chri ft was
coming into Jerufalem, and the multitudes ran hefore
him, and cut down branches of palm-trees, and ftrevved
them in the way, and others fpread their garments in the
way, and cried, ' Hofanna to the fon of David,' that the
whole city was moved, faying. Who is this ? They won-
dered who that extraordinary perfon ihould be, that there
fhould be fuch an ado made on occafion of his coming
into the city, and to prepare the way before him. But
if we confider what has been fiid on this lubjeft, what
great things were done in all ages to prepare the way for
Chrifl's advent, and how the world was often overturned
to make way for it, much more may we cry out, Who is
this? What great perfon is this? And fay, [as in Pfahn
xxiv. 8 — 10.] ' Who is the King of glory,' that God
Jhould fliow fuch refpe6l, and put fuch vaft honour upon
him ? Surely this perfon is honourable indeed in God's
eyes, and greatly beloved of him ; and furely it is a great
errand upon which he is fent into the world !
PERIOD
[ 311 ]
PERI O D 11.
FROM Christ's incarnation to his resup.rection.
H
AVING fliown how the work of redemption was
carried on through the firft period, from tlie fall of man
to the incarnation of Chriit, I come now to the fecond,
viz. the time of Chrift's humiliation, or the fpace fiom
his incarnation to his refurreclion. And this is the moft
remarkable period that ever was or ever will be. Though
it was but between thirty and forty years, yet rnore was
done in it than had been from the beginning of the world
to that time. We have oblerved, that all events from the
fall to the incarnation were only preparatory for what
was now done. And it may alfo be obferved, that what
was done before the commencement of time, in the eter-
nal counfels of God, and bqtween the perfons of the Trini-
ty, chiefly refpccled this period. We therefore now pro-
ceed to confider the fecond propofition, viz.
That the time from Christ's incarnation to
his resurrection vvas employed in procuring
and purchasing redemption.
Though there were many tilings done preparatory to
our redemption from the fall of man to this time, and
millions of facrifices had been offered up ; yet none of
them could purchafe our redemption. But as focn as
Chrift was incarnate, the purchafe immediately began ;
and the whole time of Chrift's humiliation, from his bi^-
coming incarnate, fill the morning that he arofe from the
dead, was taken up in this purchafe, and then it was com-
pletely tiniihed. As nothing was done before Chrill's in-
carnation, fo nothing was done after his refurre6lion, to
purchafe redemption for men. Nor will there ever be
anv
312 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
any thing more done to all eternity : but that very moment
that the human nature of Chrift ceafed to remain under
the power of death, the utmoft farthing of the price of
the falvation was paid for every one of the cleft.
But for the more orderly and regular confideration of
the great things done by our Redeemer to purchafe re-
demption for us,
I. I would fpeak of Chrift becoming incarnate to capa-
citate himfelf for his purchafe ;— and,
^,2. Of the purchafe itfelf.
§ I. Of Christ's Incaujjatiok.
FIRST, I would confider Chrift's taking upon him
our nature to put himfelf in a capacity to purchafe re-
demption for us. — This was abfolutely ncceflary, for
though Chrift, as God, was infinitely fufficient for the
work, yet to his being in an immediate capacity for it,
it was needful that he ihould not only be God but man.
If Chrift had remained only in the divine nature, he could
not have purchafed our falvation ; not from any imperfec-
tion of the divine nature, but fey reafon of its abfolute
and infinite perfeftion : for Chrift, merely as God, was
not capable either of obedience or fufFcring. And it was
neceflary not only that Chrift should take upon him a
created-nature, but that he fhould take upon him our na-
ture. It would not have fuffited for him to have become
an angel, and to have obeyed and luiFered in the angelic
nature. JBut it was neceflary that he ihould become a man.,
and that upon three accounts.
(j.) It was needful to anfwer the law, that that nature
fhould obey, to which the law was given. Man's law
could not be anfwered, but by being obeyed by man-
God's juftice inlifted upon it, that, the law which he had
given to man fliould be honoured^ and fubmitted to, and
fulfilled by the human nature, otherwife the law could
not be anlwered for men. The words, T\v;>\x Jhalt, or
Thou
OF CHRIST'3 INCARNATION. 313
Thou llialt not do thus or thus, were fpoken to mankind,
and therefore tlie human nature mufl: fulfil them.
(2.) It was needful to anfwer the law that the nature
that finned fliouid die. Thefe words, * Thou (lialt furely
* die,' rcfpedl the human nature : the fame nature to which
the command was given, was the nature to which the
threatening was dire6ted.
(3.) God faw meet, that the fame world which was the
ftage of man's fall and ruin, fhould alfo be the ftage of
his redemption. We read often of his coming into the
world to fave finners, and of God's fending him into the
world for this purpofe. It was needful that he fhould come
into this fmful, miferable world to relliore and fave it, and
that he fhould tabernacle with us: [John i. 14.] ' The
Word was made flelh, and dwelt among us.'
Concerning the Incarnation of Chrift, I would
obferve the following things :
The Incarnation itfelf ; in which efpecially two things
are tobe confidered, viz.
(i.) His conception, which was in the womb of Mary,
whereby he became truly the fon of man, as he was often
called. He was one of the pofterity of Adam, a child of
Abraham, and a Ion of David according to God's promife.
But his conception was not in the way of ordinary gene-
ration, but by the power of the Holy Ghofl. Chrif!: was
formed in the womb of the Virgin, of the fubftance of
her body, by the power of the Spirit of God. So that he
was the immediate fon of the woman, but not the imme-
diate fon of any male whatfoever ; and fo was the feed ot
the woman, and the fon of a virgin, (z)
S s (2.) His
(2) Chrift horn of a virgin.] Some learned men have cited
a tradition from the Talmudy that feems very remarkably to al-
lude to this, viz, ' That vi'hen MefTiah fhould come, no man
' fhould know whence he was, and that his birth fliculd be like
* the dew of the Lord, as drops upon the grafs, expecting not
' the labour of man.^ [Stackhouse's Hift. of the Bible, book
viii. chap. i. and compare John vii. 27. • When Chriilcometh no
* manknoweth whence he is;' alfo Note o, page 231, above.]
314 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
(2.) His birth. — Though the conception of Chilft wars
fupernatural, yet after he was conceived, his human nature
was gradually perfedted in the womb as others are, and his
iairth was in the natural way of nature. But his concep-
tion being fupernatural, by the power of the Holy Ghoft,
he was both conceived and born without fm.
2. The fecond thing I would obferve concerning the
incarnation of Chrift, is the fulnefs of the time in which
it was accomplifhed. It was after things had been prepar-
ing for it from the fall, and when all things v/erc ready.
it came to pafs at a time, which in infinite wifdom was
the moft fit and proper: [Gal. iv. 4.] ' When the fulnefs
' of time was come, God fent forth his Son, made of a
* woman, made under the law.'
It was now the moft proper time on every account.
Any time before the flood would not have been fo fit a
time. For then the mifchief and ruin that the fall
brought on mankind, was not fo fully feen. The curfe
did not fo fully come on the earth before the flood, as
it did afterwards : for though the ground was curfed in a
great meafure before, yet it pleafed God that the curfe
fhould once, before the reft:oration of Chrill, be executed
in an univerfal deflrudlion, as it were, of the very form
of the earth ; that the dire effects of the fall might otice in
fuch a way be feen before the recovery by Chrift. Though
mankind were mortal before the flood, yet their lives were
continued the greater part of a thoufand years ; a kind of
immortality in comparifon with what the life of man is
now. It pleafed God, that the curfe, ' Dufl: thou art and
* to duft thou fhalt return,' fhould have its full accomplifli-
ment, before the Redeemer came to purchafe a never-end-
ing life for man.
It would not have been fo fit a time for Chrift to come,
after the flood, 'before Mofes's time ; for till then man-
kind were not fo univerfally apofliatized from the true
God ; they were not fallen univerfally into heatheniila
darknefs ; and fo the need of Chrifl:, the light of the
world was not fo evident : and the woful confequence
of the fall with refpe6l to man's mortality, was not fo
fuilv
OF CHRIST'S INCARNATION. 315
fully manifeft till then ; for man's life was not fo fhorten-
ed as to be reduced to the prefcnt ihndard till about Mo-
. fes's time.
It was moft fit that the time of the Meffiah's coming
iliould not be till many ages after Mofes's time ; till all
nations but the children of Ifrael, had lain long in
heathenifli darknefs ; that the remedilefTnefs of their
difeafe might by long experience be feen, and fo the
abfolute neceffity of the heavenly Phyfician, before he
came.
Another reafon why Chrifl: did not come foon after
the flood probably was, that the earth might be full of
people, that Chrifl might have the more extenfive king-
dom, and -that the eflcds of his light, and power, and
grace, might be glorified, and that liis viaory over Sa-
tan might be attended with the greater multitude of con-
quefts. It was alfo needful that the coming of Chrifl:
fhould be many ages after Mofes, that the church might
be prepared, by the MefTiah's being many ways prefigured
and foretold, and by his being long expeded. It was not
proper that Chrifl fliould come before the Babylonifh
captivity, becaufe Satan's kingdom was not then come to
the height. The heathen world before that confifled of
lelTer kingdoms. But God faw meet that the McfTiah
fhould come in the time of one of the four great mo-
narchies of the world. Nor was it proper that he fhould
come in the time of the Babylonifli monarchy ; for it
was God's will, that feveral general monarchies fhould
follow one another, and that the coming of the Mef-
fiali fhould be in the time of the lall, which appeared
above them all. The Perfian monarchy, by overcom-
ing the Babylonian, appeared above it ; and fo the
Grecian, by overcoming the Perfian, appeared above that ;
and for the fame reafon, the Roman above the Grecian
Now It was the will of God, that his Son fliould make
his appearance in the world in the time of this greateft
and flrongefl monarchy, which was Satan's vifible king-
dom m the world ; that by overcoming this, he might
vifibly overcome Satan's kingdom in its greatefl flrength
^ s ? and
3i6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
and glory, and fo obtain the more complete triumph ovet
Satan himfelf.
It was not proper that Chrift fliould come before the
Babylonifh captivity. For, betWe that, we have no hif-
tories of the ftate of the heathen world, to give us fo full
proof of the need of a Saviour. And befides, before that
learning did not much flourifh, and fo there had not
been opportunity to fhow the infufficiency of human
learning and wifdom to reform and f^ve mankind. Again,
before that, the Jews were not difperfed over the world,
as they were afterwards ; and fo things were not prepared
in this refpe6l for the coming of ChrilL The neceflity of
abolifhing the Jewiflr dilpenfaticn, was not then fo ap-
parent as it was afterwards made, by the difperfion of the
Jews ; neither was the way prepared for the propagation
of the gofpel, as it was afterwards, by the fame difper-
fion. Many other things might be mentioned, by which
it would appear, that no other time before that very time
in which Chrift did come, would have been proper lor
his appearing in the world to purchafe the redemption of
men. (a)
3. The next thing that I would obferve, is the great-
nefs of this event. Chrift's incarnation was more won-
derful than any thing that had ever come to pafs ; and
there has been but one greater event that has ever come
to pafs iince, and that was his death. The creation of
the v/orld was a very great thing, but not fo great as the
incarnation of Chrift. It was a great thing for God to
make the creature, but not fo much as for the Creator
himfelf to become one. We have fpoken of many great
things that were accompliil'ied from one age to another,
in
(a) Other reafons for Chrijl^s appearance at this ■xi->\t.'\ One
of thefe v.'e (hall add from a late ingenious author — " Had Chrift
appeared while the Jews were a free, independent nation, with
the power of life and death inverted in them, they would, doubt^
lefs, have taken him off at the firll difeovery of his public cha-
ratler, and by that means have prevented the propagation of his
dodrine, without fome miraculous interpoiltion." [Dr. Ward's
Differtations, No. XV.]
OF CHRIST'S INCARNATION. 317
in the ages between the fall of man and the incarnation
of Chrift : but this was a much greater event than any of
them. Then was the greatefl: perfon born that ever was or
ever will be.
4. Next obferve the remarkable circumflances of it;
fuch as his being born of a virgin, pious and holy indeed,
but poor, as appeared by her offering at her purification :
[Luke ii. 24.] ' And to offer a facrifice according to that
' which is faid in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle
' doves, or two young pigeons.' Which refers to Lev.
y. 7. ' And if flie be not able to bring a lamb, then flie
' fliall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons.' And
this poor virgin was efpoufed to an hulband who was a
poor man. Though they were both of the royal family of
David, the moll: honourable family, and Jofeph was the
rightful heir to the crown ; yet the family was reduced to
a very low flate ; which is rcprefeuted by the tabernacle
of David being fallen or broken down. [Amos ix. 11.]
* In that day will I raife up the tabernacle of David that
' is fallen, and clofe up the breaches thereof, and I will
* raife up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of
' old.'
He was born in the town of Bethlehem as was fore-
told ; (b) and there was a very remarkable providence of
God
(b) Chrjjl to he bom in Bethlehem.] This was predifted by
the Prophet Micah, [chap. v. 2.] and his words are quoted with
feme variation by the Evangelill Matthew, [chap. ii. 3 — 6.] " In
St. Matthew it is faid, ' Thou, Bethlehem in the land of Judah,
* art not the leaft :' whereas in the Hebrew Jt is, ' though thou
* art the leaft :' the fenfe in both is clear and confiftent, for this
city, though far from being the moft confiderable in extent of all
thofc belonging to the princes of Judah, is neverthelefs, on account
of the governor or ruler that was to come out of it, not the leaft
among the thoufands of Judah. The learned Pococke on this
paflage has fhewn, that the original word may fignify either
great QY Utile. If it is read as in the tranllation from the Syriac,
in the Englifh Polyglot, with an interrogation, it will have the
force of a negative, and then may well be rendered, as in the
Arabic and Perfic veriions, and in the gofpel by St. Matthew;
but if without any intci rogation, it will be as it is in the other
yerfions,
« Wh«
3i8 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
God to bring about the fulfilment of this prophecy, the
tdKing of all the world by Auguftus Caefar, [Luke ii. i.]
He was born in a very low condition, even in a ftahle, and
laid in a manger, (c)
5. I would obferve the concomitants of this great
event,— And,
(i.) Firft the return of the Spirit; which indeed
began a little before the incarnation of Chrill: ; but yet
was
** Who this ruler, or prince, or king is, that fliould come from
Bethlehem, is determined by the defcription that immediately
follows, ' whofe goings forth have been from of old, from evcr-
* Ming.'
" It is he who fo often went forth in the name of the Lord,
who converfed with Abraham and Mofes, who was before the
foundation of the earth was laid, and who at lad was made mani-
feit in the flefh, and came forth from Bethlehem, the King of the
Jews." [Dr. Sharp's Argument from the Prophecies in Defence
of Chriilianity, p. 153 — 155.]
(c) This Prophecy wotiDEKTULLY fu//i//eel.2 " The Emperor
of Rome iffues a royal edift, that all his large dominion (haU be
taxed. He meant to fill his coffers with money ; but a greater
Sovereign than he intended the fulfilling of his promifes. While
every man repairs to his city to be taxed, in obedience to the im-
perial mandate, Jofeph his father, as was fuppofed, repairs among
the rell to Bethlehem, the city of his family, being of the houfe
and lineage of David. And now he is arrived with Mary, his
efpoufed wife ; who being near the time of her delivery, had been
directed by Providence, or fpecial inftinft, to accompany her huf-
band on this occafion. No coftly palace receives our weary tra-
vellers. A common inn is the place of his nativity : perhaps a
filent intimation, that he himfelf fliouId be a common faviour.
Nor even in the inn could a commodious apartment be fpared to
the Lord of heaven and earth. Ye men of Bethlehem, what a
gueft did ye exclude ! The coarfe accommodation of a manger
was all his mother could obtain for her tender infant. Lo ! there
he lies wrapt in fwaddling cloaths, whom the heaven of heavens
cannot contain . . . for this is he — believe it, ye children cf men — r
whofe name is Immanuel, which by intcrpretati ;ii is, God with
us ! This is he-, who from all evei hilling was ;he brightnefs of the
Father's glory, the exprefs image of f * ' "ifon, who rejoiced al-
ways before him, and was daily his ' .ariiL .. .... O ye beautiful
fcenes of the creation, tiio-;. ;donou3 Tun, thou filver moon, and
all ye glittering liars, in you the invifible things of God are clear-
ly feeu ; but now you are eclipfed by the more excellent glory,
God manifefted in the flefli !" [M'Ewen's Eflays, vol. ii. page
7—10.;]
OF CHRIST'S INCARNATION. 319
was given on occafion of tliat, as it was to reveal either his
birth, or that of his forerunner John the Baptift. I have
before obfcrved how the fpirit of prophecy ceafed not long
after the book of Malachi was written. From about the
fame time vifions and immediate revelations ceafed alfo :
But now, on this occahon, they are granted anew, and
the Spirit in thefe operations returns again. The firfl
inflance of its refloration that we have an account of is
in the vihon of Zacharias, the father of John the Baptift.
[Luke i.] The next is in the vifion which the virgin
Mary had. The third in the vifion of Jofeph. [Matt, i.]
In the next place, the Spirit was given to Elizabeth.
[Luke i. 41.] Next, to Mary, as appears by her fong.
[Luke i. 46, &c.] Then to Zacharias again, [ver. 64.]
alfo to Simeon, [Luke ii. 25.] to Anna, [ver. 36.] Af-
terwards to the wife men in the eaft. Then to Jofeph
again, direfling him to flee into Egypt, and after that di-
recting his return.
(2.) I would next obferve the great notice that was
taken of the incarnation both in heaven, and on earth.
How it was noticed by the glorious inhabitants of the
heavenly world, appears by their joyful fongs on this oc-
cafion, heard by the fliepherds in the night. This was
tlie greateft event of Providence that ever the angels had
beheld. We read of their hnging praifes when they faw
the formation of the lower world: [Job xxxviii. 7.I
* When the morning-ilars fang togetlier, and all the fons
' of God ihouted for joy.' So now they fang praifes on
this much greater occafion of the birth of the Son of God,
who is the creator of the world.
The glorious angels had all along expe6led this event :
they had taken great notice of the prophecies and promi-
fes of thefe things all along : for we are told, that the
angels dehre to look into the affairs of redemption. [ r
Pet. i. 12.] They had all along been the minifters of
Chrift in this affair of redemption, in all the feveial fteps
of it down from the very fall of man. So we read, that
they were employed in God's dealings with his ancient
people from time to time. And doubtlefs tjiey had long
joyfully
320 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
joyfully expefted the coming of Chrift ; but now they
fee it accompiiihed, and therefore greatly rejoice on this
occafion.
Notice was taken of it by fome among the Jews :
as particularly by Elizabeth and the Virgin Mary before
the birth of Chrift ; not to fay by John the Baptift be-
fore he was born, when he leaped in his mother's womb
as it -were for joy, at the voice of the falutation of Mary.
But Elizabeth and Mary do mod joyfully praife God to-
gether, when they meet, with Chrift and his forerunner
in their wombs, and the Holy Spirit in their fouls. And
afterwards what joyful notice is taken of this event by
the fhepherds and by thofe holy perfons Zacharias, Sime-
on, and Anna ! How do they praife God on this occa-
fion ! — Thus the church in heaven, and on earth, unite in
their joy and praife.
Great part of the univerfe takes joyful notice of the
incarnation of Chrift : heaven takes notice of it, and the
inhabitants fmg for joy. This lower world, the world of
mankind, does always take notice of it, even Gentiles as
well as Jews ; for it pleafed God to put honour on his
Son, by wonderfully ftirring up fome of the wifeft of the
Gentiles to come a long journey to fee and worfhip the
Son of God at his birth, being led by a miraculous ftar,
fignifying the birth of that glorious perfon, who is the
bright and morning ftar, going before, and leading them
to the very place where the young child was. Some think
they were inftrudled by the prophecy ot Balaam, who
dwelt in the eaftern parts, and foretold Chrift's coming as
a ftar that ftiould rife out of Jacob: or they might be
excited by that general expe6lation there was of the Mef-
fiah's coming about that time, before fpoken of, from
the notice they had of it by the prophecies the Jews had
with them in their difperfions in all parts of the world.*
(3.) The next concomitant of the birth of Chrift was
his circumcifion.— But this mav more properly be fpoken
of under another head.
(4.) Ano-
* See Note b, page 266.
I
OF CHRIST'S INCARNATION. 321
(4.) Another concomitant clrcumftance was his coming
into the fecond temple, being fir ft brought thither when an
infant, on occafion of the purification of the blefled Vir-
gin. We read, [Hagg. ii. 7.] ' The defire of all nations
* fhall come, and I will fill this houfe (or temple) with
* glory.' And in [Mai. iii. i.] 'The Lord, whom ye
* leek, fhall fuddenly come to his temple, even the mefTen-
' ger of the covenant.' And now was the firft inftance of
the fulfilment of thefe prophecies.,
(5.) The laft thing I fhall here mention is the fceptre's
departing from Judah, in the death of Herod the Great.
The fceptre had never totally departed from Judah till
now. Judah's fceptre was greatly diminifhed in the
revolt of the ten tribes in Jeroboam's time ; and the fcep-
tre departed from Ifrael or Ephraim, at the time of the
captivity of the ten tribes by Shalmanefer. But yet the
fceptre remained in the tribe of Judah, under the kings
of the houfe of David. And when the tribes of Judah
and Benjamin were carried captive by Nebuchadnezzar,
the fceptre of Judah ceafed for a little while, till the re-
turn from the captivity under Cyrus, and then, though
they were not an independent government, as they had
been before, but owed fealty to the kings of Perfia ;
yet their governor was of themfelves, who had the power
of lite and death, and they v/ere governed by their own
laws ; and lo Judah had ' a lawgiver from between his feet'
during the Perfian and Grecian monarchies. Towards
the latter parts of the Grecian monarchy, the people were
governed by kings of their own, of the race of the Mac-
cabees, for the greater part of an hundred years. After
that they were fubdued by the Romans. But the Ro-
mans fuffered them to be governed by their own laws,
and to have a king of their own, Herod the Great, who
reigned about forty years, and governed with kingly au-
thority, only paying homage to the Romans. But pre-
fcntly after Chrift was born he died, [as we have an ac-
count. Matt. ii. 19.] and Archelaus fucceeded him ; but
was foon put down by the Roman empire ; and then the
fceptre fully departed from Judah. There were no more
T t tcm-
322 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
temporal kings of Judah after that, neither had that peo-
ple their governors henceforth from among themfelves
but were ruled by a Roman governor fent among them ;
and they ceafed to have any more the power of life and
death. Hence the Jews fay to Pilate, ' It is not lawful
< for us to put any man to death.' [John xviii. 31.]
Thus the fceptre departed from Judah when Shiloh
came.*
§ II. The PURCHASE of REDEMPTION.
HAVING thus confidcred Chrift's coming into the
world, and his taking on him our nature, to put himfelf
in a capacity for the purchafe of redemption, I come now
to fpeak of the purchafe itfelf. — And in fpeaking of this,
I would, I . Show what is intended by the purchafe of
redemption. — 2. Make fome general obfervations con-
cerning thofe things by which this purchafe was made. —
3. Confider what Chrift did; and, 4. What he fuffered,
to make that purchafe.
I. Chrift purchafed our redemption both by \\\% Jat'isf ac-
tion, and his merit. The price that Chrift lays down, pays
our debt, and fo it fatisfies : by its intrinfic value, and by
the agreement between the Father and the Son,' it procures
our title for happinefs, and fo it merits. The fatisfa^'ion
of Chrift is to free us from mifery, and the merit of Chrift
is to purchafe happinefs for us. (d)
The word purchafe, as it is ufed with refpc61: to the
purchafe of Chrift, is taken either ftri6lly, or more largely.
It is ufed ftri6tly, to fignify only the merit of Chrift ; and
more largely, to include both his fatisfadlion and merit.
Indeed
* See Note G, p. 161.
(d) Chrijl^s fatlsfaSion and merit to be dijlingiiijloedr^ In like
manner fome divines diflinguifh between Chrift's aftive and paf-
five obedience, referring our pardon ta the latter, and to the for-
mer our title to glory. The fubjeft is ably and at large dlfcuffed
by Mr. Hervey, Theron and Afpafio, vol. i. Dial. 2. and vol. ii.
Dial. 10. ; alfo Afpafio vind. Let. i.
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 323
Indeed many of the words ufed in this affair have various
acceptations. Thus divines fometimes ufe the term merit
for the whole price that Chrift offered. So the v/ordfatif-
fad'ion is alfo fometimes wfed, to include not only propitia-
tion, but alfo for his meritorious obedience. For, in fome
fcnfe, not only fuffering the penalty, but obedience, is
needful to fatisfy the law The reafon of the various ufe
of thefe terms feems to be, that they do not differ fo much
really as relatively. They both confift in paying a price of
infinite value ; but that price, as it refpe6Vs a debt to be
paid, is z-3\\td fat'nfadion ; and as it refpedls a benefit to be
obtained, is called merit, (e) He who lays down a price
to pay a debt, does in fome fenfe make a purchafe ; he pur-
chafes liberty from the obligation. And he who lays down
a price to purchafe a good, does as it were imke fatisfa^ion :
he fatisfies the conditional demands of him to whom he
pays it. This may fuffice concerning what is meant by
the purchafe of Chrifl.
2. I proceed to fome general obfervations concerning
thofe things by which this purchafe was made — And,
(i.) I obferve, that whatever in Chrift's work had
the nature of fathfan'ion, was by virtue of his fuffering
or humiliation. But whatever had the nature of ma-'it,
T t 2 it
(e) The PRICE of our redemption.'] " Now, what is a price ?
A price is a valuable compenfation of one thing for another. A
flave is redeemed from captivity, a debtor from prifon, when
fome gracious redeemer procures their liberty, by giving fome
equivalent to the perfon by whom they are detained. We are
debtors ; we cannot pay unto God what we are owing. We are
captives, and we cannot haften to be loofed. Jefus Chrift is the
merciful Redeemer, who pays the fum we were owing, and fays
to the prifoncr, ' Go forth.' Will we not believe an apoftle,
when he tells us, * Ye are not your own ; ye are bought with a
* price ;' [l Cor. vi. 20.] Would you know what this price Is ?
Another apollle will tell, 'Ye are not redeemed with corruptible
* things, as filver and gold, but with the precious blood of
•Chrift. [i Pet. i. 18.] [M<Ewen's Effays, vol. i. p. 35.]
♦' The ranfom was paid down. The fund of heav'n
pour'd forth the price.
All price beyond. Though curious to compute,
Archangels fail'd to caft the mighty fum."
[Young's Night Thoughts, IV.]
3H HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
it was by virtue of the excellency of his obedience.—-
The fatisfa^'ion of Chrifl: confifts in his anfwering the de-
jnands of the law on man, which were confequent on the
breach of it. Thefe were anfwered by fufFering its pe-
nalty. The merit of Chrift: confifts in what he did to ful-
fil what the law demanded before man finned, which was
obedience.
The fatisfa6lion or propitiation of Chrift confifts either
in his fufFering pain, or being fubjedl to abfement. For
he not only made fatisfa£tion by proper fuffering, but by
whatever had the nature of humili tion and abafement ;
as his continuance under the power of death, while he
lay in the grave, though neither his body nor his foul
flridtly endured fufFering after he was dead. So all the
obedience of Chrift in his ftate of humiliation, in one
refpedl or another, had the nature of merit in it, and was
part of the price with which he purchafed happinefs for
the eledl.
(2.) Both Chrift's fatisfa6i:ion for fin, and alfo his me-
riting happinefs by his righteoufnefs, were carried on
through the whole time of his humiliation. Chrift's fatif-
fadlion for fin was not only by his laft fufFerings, though it
was principally by them ; but all his fufterings, and all the
humiliation that he was fubje6l to from the firft moment of
his incarnation to his refurredtion, were propitiatory or fa-
tisfa^tory.— So alfo the purchafe of happinefs by his righ-
teoufnefs was alfo carried on through the whole time of his
humiliation ; not only in the courfe of his life, but in lay-
ing down his life at the end.
(3.) It was by the fame things that Chrift both 'fatif-
fied God's juftice, and alfo purchafed eternal happinefs.
He did not make fatisfadlion by fome things that he did,
and then work out a righteoufnefs by others, but in the
fame a6ls by which he wrought out righteoufnefs, he
alfo made fatisfadlion, only taken in a different relation.
Thofe fame a6ls of obedience wherein the righteoufnefs
of Chrift confil^ed, and which purchafed heaven for us,
confidercd with refpe6l to the felf-denial, pain, and hu-
miliation which was in them, had the nature of laiisfac-
tjon,
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 325
tion and procured our pardon. Thus his going about
doing good, preaching the gofpel, and teaching his difci-
ples, was a part of his righteoufnefs, as it was done in
obedience to the Father : and a part of his fatisfa6lion,
as he did it with great labour, trouble, and wearinefs,
and under great tennptations, expofing himfelf hereby to
reproach and contempt. So his laying down his life had
the nature of fathfa^ion, confidered as his bearing our
punifhment in our ftead ; but conlidered as an adl of obe-
dience to God, who had given him this command, that
he fliould lay down his life for finners, it was a part of
h\s righteoufnefs, (f) as truly as of his fatisfadlion.— Thefe
things may fuffice to be obferved in general concerning the
purchafe of redemption.
3. I now proceed to fpeak more particularly of thofe
things which Chrill: did, and was the fubje6t of, during
his humiliation, whereby this purchafe was made.
And the nature of the purchafe of Chrift, as it has been
explained, leads us to confider thefe things under a two-
fold view, viz, (i.) With refpedl to his righteoufnefs ,
which appeared in them ;— and, (2.) With refpe6l to
the fufferlngs and humUlatipn, which -he was fubjedl to in
our flead.
(i.) I will confider the things that pafTed during the
time of Chrift's humiliation, with refpedt to the obedi-
ence tliat he exercifed in them. And this is fubjedl to a
direefokl diftribution. With refpe6t to the laws which
he obeyed.— With refpe6l to the various _/?^^« of life \n
which
(f) Chrifl's DEATH a?i a3 of obedience.'] " This part of our
Lord's meritorious humiliation [viz. his death] is [fometimcs] by
a very ufual figure, put for the whole. The death of Chrill in-
cludes not only his fufFerings, but his obedience. The fhedding of
his precious blood was at once the grand inftance of his fuffering,
and the finifhing aft of his obedience. In this view it is confi-
dered, and thus it is interpreted by his own ambafiador ; who,
fpeaking of his divine Mafter, fays, ' He was obedient unto death,
' even the death of the crofs,' [Phil. ii. 8.] In like manner,
when the fcr.ipture afcribcs our jultification to the death of Chriil,
we are not to think that it would fet afide, but imply his ob\.'di-
fnce. [Hep.vey, Theron and Afp. voL ii. Dial. lo.J
326 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
which he performed it, — and with refpe6l to the feveral
virtues he exercifed.
The tirft diftribution of the a£ts of Chrift's righteouf-
nefs is with refped: to the laws which he obeyed. But
all the precepts which Chrift obeyed may be reduced to
one law which the apoftle calls ' the law of works.' [Rom.
iii. 27.] And this indeed includes all the laws which
God ever gave to mankind ; for it is a general rule of the
law of works, and indeed of the law of nature, that God
is to be obeyed, and that he muft be fubmitted to in what-
ever pofitive precept he is pleafed to give. But, more
particularly, the commands which Chrift obeyed, were of
three kinds; they were either fuch as he was fubjevSl to
merely as man, as a Jew, or purely as Mediator . As man he
obeyed the moral law, which was the fame with that which
was given at Mount Sinai, which is obligatory on all
mankind in all ages of the world.— As a Jew, he was
fubjcvSl to the ceremonial law, and was conformed to it in
being circumcifed the eighth day ; and he ftriftly obeyed it
in going up to Jerufalem to the temple three times a year ;
at leaft after he was come to the age of twelve years, which
feems to have been the age when the males began to go up
to the temple : Chrift alfo conftantly attended the fervice
of the temple, and of the fynagogues. To this head may
be reduced, his fubmiflion to John's baptifm ; for it was a
fpecial command to the Jews, to go forth to John the Bap-
tift, and be baptized of him, and therefore when Chrift
came to be baptized of John, and John objeifled, that he
had more need to be baptized of him, he gives this rea-
fon in reply, that it was needful that he fhould do it, that
he might ♦ fulfil all righteoufnefs.' [Matt iii. 13— 15-]
—Again, Chrift was fubjedt to the mediatorial law, which
contained thofe commands of God to which he was fub-
je6l, not merely as man, nor yet as a Jew, but which re-
lated purely to his mediatorial office. Such were the com-
mands which the Father gave him, to teach fuch dodlrines,
to preach the gofpel, to work fuc"h miracles, to call fuch
difciples, to appoint fuch ordinances, and finally to lay
down his life: for he did all thefe things in obedience to
com-
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 327
commands he had received of the Father, as he often tells
us. [John X. 18.— xiv. 31.]
And It is to be obferved, that Chrift's righteoufnefs, by
which he merited heaven for himfelf, and all who believe
in him, confifts principally in his obedience to this media-
torial law ; for in fullilling this law confifted his chief
work and bufmefs in the world. What Chrift had to do
in the world as Mediator, was infinitely more difficult than
what he had to do merely as a man, or as a Jew. To
his obedience to this mediatorial law belongs his going
through his laft fufferings, beginning with his agony in
the garden, and ending with his refurreilion. As the
obedience of the firft Adam, wherein his righteoufnefs
would have confifted, if he had ftood, would have princi-
pally confifted, not in his obedience to the moral law,
to which he was fubjedl merely as man, but in his obe-
dience to that fpecial law that he was fubje6l to as moral
head and furety of mankind, even the command of ab-
ftaining from the tree of knowledge of good and evil ; fo
the obedience of the fecond Adam, wherein his righte-
oufnefs confifts, lies principally, not in his obedience to
the law that he was fubje6l to merely as man, but that
fpecial law to which he was fubjedt in his office as Mediator
and furety for man.
Before I proceed to the next diftribution of Chrift's
righteoufnefs, I would obferve three things concerning his
obedience to thefe laws.
[i.] He performed that obedience to them, whicli
was in every refpe6l perfeil ; it was univerfal as to the
laves that he was fubjedl to, and every individual precept
contained in them. It was perfedl with refpedl to the
principle from which he obeyed : this was wholly right :
there was no corruption in his heart. It was perfedl with
refpedl to the ends he a<£led for; for he never had any
by-ends, but aimed perfedly at fuch as the law of God
required. And it was perfeil with refpctSl to the conftan-
cy of his obedience: he held out to the end, through all
tlie changes he pafled through, and all the trials that he
underwent.— The meritorioufnefs of Chrift's obedience
depends
328 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
depends on the perfe6tion of it. If it had failed in any
inftance, it could not have been meritorious : for that is
not accepted as an obedience to a law, that does not fully
anfwer it.
[2.] The next thing I would obferve of Chrift's obe-
dience is, that it was performed through the greateft trials
and temptations that ever any obedience was : which was
another thing that rendered it more meritorious and
thank-worthy. To obey another when his commands
are eafy, is not fo worthy, as it is to obey when it cannot be
done without great difficulty.
[3.] He performed this odedience with infinite refpe£l
to God, and the honour of his law. The obedience he
performed was with infinitely greater love to God, and
regard to his authority, than the angels poflefs. The
angels perform their obedience with that love which is
perfeft, with finlefs perfedtion : but Chrift performed
his obedience with much greater love than the angels do
y theirs, even infijiite love; for though the human nature
of Chrift was not capable of love abfolutely infinite, yet
Chrift's obedience, which was performed* in that human
nature, is not to be looked upon as merely the obedience
of the human nature, but the obedience of his perfon,
as God- man ; and there was infinite love of the perfon
of Chrift manifeft in that obedience. And this, together
with the infinite dignity of the perfon that obeyed, ren-
dered his obedience infinitely meritorious.
The fecond diftribution of the a6ls of Chrift's obedi-
ence, is with refpeft to the different parts of his life,
wherein they were performed. And in this refpedt they
may be divided into thofc which were performed in pri-
vate life, and thofe which were performed in his public
miniftry.
Thofe a6ts he performed during his private life: he was
perfeftly obedient in his childhood, (g) He infinitely
difi'ered
(g) The CHILDHOOD of jfefus.'] " Wc cannot rcafonably
doubt, but the young Redeemer gave early proofs of his divine
orlgi-
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 329
differed from other children, who, as loon as they begin
to a6l, begin to fin and rebel. He was fuhjcft to his
earthly parents, though he was Lord of ali. [Luke ii. 51.]
He was found about his Father's bufinefs at twelve years
of age in the temple. [Luke ii. 42.] He tlien began that
work that he had to do in fulfilment of the mediatorial
law, which the Father had given him. He continued his
private life for about thirty years, dwelling at Nazareth
in the houfe of his reputed father Jofeph, where he ferved
God in a private capacity, and in following a mechanical
trade, the bufmefs of a carpenter.
Thofe a6^s which he performed during his public mhujiry ■>
which began when he was about thirty years of age, and
continued for the three laft years and an half of his life.
Mod of the hiftory of the evangelifts is taken up in giving
an account of what paffed during thefe three years -a-Rd an
half. Chrift's firft appearing in his public miniftry, is
what is often called his coming in fcripture. Tiius John
fpeaks of Chrifl's coming as what is yet to be, though he
had been born long before. — Concerning the public mini-
dry of Chrift, obferve the following things.
[i.] The forerunner of Chrift's coming in his public
minillry was John the Baptift : he came preaching
repentance for the remilTion of fins, to make way for
Chrift's coming, agreeable to the piophecies of him. [If.
xl. 3—5. and Matt. iv. 5, 6.] It is fuppofed that John
the Baptift began his miniftry about three years and an
half before Chrift ; fo that John's miniftry and Chrift's
put together, made feven years, which was the laft of Da-
niel's weeks ; [Dan ix. 27.] 'He will contirm the cc-
U u ' venrmt
original. It was, no doubt, a very pleafing employment to the
highly-favoured parents, to rear up this tender plant by a thou-
fand endearing offices ; to mark the firH: buddings of his genius
more than mortal ; and to oblerve the bloffoms of every heavenly-
grace that adorned his holy foul. But as it hath feemed good to
the wifdom of the Holy Ghoft, to be very fparing in the hillory
of his private life, after he called his Son out of Egypt, we muft,
he contented to remain in ignorance of what is not revealed."
[M'Ewen's EfTays, vol. ii. p. 13, 14.]
330 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* venant with many for one week.' Chrift came in the
midft of the week, viz. in the beginning of the laft hah"
of it, or the laft three years and an half, as Daniel fore-
told, as in the verfe juft now quoted : ' And in the midtl
' of the week he fliall caufe the facrihce and the oblation
' to ceafe.'*
John Baptift's miniftry confided principally in preach-
ing the law, to awaken men and convince them of fm ; to
prepare men for the coming of Chrift, to comfort them ;
as the law is to prepare the heart for the entertainment of
the gofpel.— A very remarkable out-pouring of the Spirit
of God attended John's miniftry ; and the efFeft of it was,
that Jerufalem, and all Judea, and all the region round
about Jordan, were awakened, convinced, and fubmitted
to his baptifm, confeffing their fms. John is fpoken of
as the greateft of all the prophets v/no came before Chrift :
[Matt. xi. II.] ' Among thofe that are born of women,
* there hath not rifcn a greater than John the Baptift ;'
i. e. he had the moft honourable office, (h) He was as
the morning ftar, which is the harbinger of the approach-
ing day, and forerunner of the rifing fun. The other
prophets were ftars that were to give light in the night ;
but wc have heard how thofe ftars went out on the approach
of the gofpel day. But now the coming of Chrift being
very nigh, the morning ftar comes before him, the brighteft
of all the ftars, as John the Baptift was the greateft of all
the prophets.
And when Chrift came in his public miniftry, the liglit
of the morning ftar decreafed too ; as ye fee, when the fun
rifes,
* Compare Note d, p. 272.
(h) John's office honourable. J " It was great preferment
to John above all the prophets, that he was Chrift's harbinger.
.... His bufinefs was to prepare Chriil's way, to difpofe people
to receive the Saviour, by difcovenng to them their fm and mi-
fery, and their need of a Saviour Note, Much of the
beauty of God's difpenfations lies in their mutual connexion and
coherence, and the reference tlicy Ixave one to another. That
which advanced John above the Old Teilament prophets was,
that he went immediately before Chrift. Note, The nearer any
are to Chrift, the more truly honourable they are." [Henry
in loc]
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 331
rifes, itdlminiflies the light of the morning flar. So John
the Baptift fays of himfelf, [John iii. 30.] ' He muft in-
* creafe, but I muft decreafe.' And foon after Chrift be-
gan his public miniftry, John the Baptift was put to death ;
as the morning ftar is vifible a little while after the fun is
rifen, yet foon goes out.
[2.] The next thing to be taken notice of is Chrift's
entrance on his public miniftry, which was by baptifm,
followed with the temptation in the wilderncfs. His bap-
tifm was, as it were, his folemn inauguration, by which
he entered on his miniftry, and was attended with his
being anointed with the Holy Ghoft, in a folemn and
vifible manner, the Holy Ghoft defcending upon him in a
vifible Ihape like a dove, attended with a voice from hea-
ven, faying, * This is my beloved Son in whom I am well
* pleafed.' [Matt. iii. 16, 17.]
After this he was led by the devil into the wildernefs.
Satan made a violent onfet upon him at his firft entrance
on his work ; and now he had a remarkable trial of his
obedience ; but he got the vidlory. He who had fuch fuc-
cefs with the firft Adam, had none with the fecond.
[3.] The work in which Chrift was employed during
his miniftry. And here are three things chiefly to be taken
notice of, viz.. his preaching, his working of miracles, and
his calling and appointing difciples and minifters of his
kingdom.
His preaching the gofpel. Great part of the work of
his public miniftry confifted in this ; and much of that
obedience by which he purchafed falvation for us, was in
his fpeaking thofe things which the Father commanded
him. He more clearly and abundantly revealed the mind
and v/ill of God, than ever it had been before. He came
from the bofom of the Father, and perfectly knew his
mind, and was in the beft capacity to reveal it. As the
fun, as foon as it is rifen, begins to fliine ; fo Chrift, as
foon as he came into his public miniftry, began to en-
lighten the world with his dodrinc. As the law was
given at Mount Sinai, fo Chrift delivered his evangelical
dodrine, full of blefliiigs, and not curfes, to a multitude
V u 2 on
332 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
on a mountain. [Matt. v. vi. and vii.] When he preached
he did not teach as the fcribes, but he taught as one hav-
ing authority ; fo that his hearers were aftonifhed at his
do6trine. (i) He did not reveal the mind and will of
God in the ftyle of the prophets, ' Thus faith the Lord ;'
but,
(i) Chrijl taught not as the scribes.] " Our Lord Jefus
Chriit had been long expefted to appear in the Jewi(h church, as
a prophet like unto Mofe: The people therefore formed the
higheft expeftations of his ceconomy, and he framed it fo as to
exceed all dcfcription. He taught , . . not as the fcribes.
" Inltead of deriving his doftrine from popular notions, human
paffions, the interefts of princes, or the traditions of priefts, he
took it immediately from the holy fcriptures, to which he con-
llantly appealed. The truths of natural religion he explained
and ellabliflied ; the doctrines of revelation he expounded, eluci-
dated, and enforced, and thus brought life and immortality to
light by the gofpel. — The motives which he employed to give his
doftrine energy, were not taken from fmful fecular things ; but
it was urged home in its truth and importance. The faCt Is true,
and THEREFORE you ought to believe it, whether the world ad-
mit it or not. That duty is important, . . . and therefore you
ought to perform it, whether the world perform it or not. — The
tempers in which he executed his mlniftry were the nobleft that can
be conceived. He v/as humble, compafiionate, firm, dlfuitereft-
ed, and generous. — Add to thefe the fimpllcity and majeily of
his ityle, the beauty of his images, the alternate foftnefs and fe-
vcrity of his addrefs, the choice of his fubjefts, the gracefulnefs
of his deport 'iient, the indefatigablenefs of his zeal, . . . where
lliall I put the period ? His perfections are inexhauftible, and our
admiration is everlafting. The charafter of Chrift is the beft book
a preacher can ftudy.
" The fuccefs that accompanied the miniftry of our Emanuel,
was truly allonifning. My foul overflows with joy, my eyes with
tears of pleafure, while I tranfcribe it. When this Sun of righ-
teoufnels arofe with healing under his wings, the difmterefted
populace, who lay all neglefted and forlorn, benighted with
ignorance, and benumbed with vice, faw the light, and hailed the
brightnels of its rifing. Up they fprang, and after him in mul-
titudes, men, women, and children went. Was he to pafs a road,
they climbed the trees to fee him, yea the blind fat by the way
fide to hear him go by. Was he in" a houfe, they unroofed the
building to come at him. As Ifthey.could never get near enough
CO hear the foft accents of his voice, they preffed, they crowded,
they trod upon one another to furround him. When he retired
into tlie wildernefo, they thought him another Moles, and would
,have made him a king. It was the fineft thing they could think
of.
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 333
but, ' Verily, verily, I fav unto you.' He delivered his
do6trines, not only as the do£lrines of the Father, but as
his own. He gave forth his commands, not as the pro-
phets were wont to do, merely as God's commands, but
as his own, ' This is my commandment,'—' Ye are my
friends if ye do whatfoever I command you.' [John xv.
12, 14.]
Another thing that Chrift was employed in during the
courfe of his miniftry, was working nr.racles. Concerning
which we may obferve feveral things.
Their multitude. Behdes particular inftances, we of-
ten have an account of multitudes coming at once with
difeafes, and his healing them. — They were works of
mercy. He went about doing good, healing the fick, re-
rtoring fight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and the
proper ufe of their limbs to the lame and halt ; feeding
the hungry, cleanfing the leprous, and railing the dead.
— They were almoft all of them fuch as had been fpokeii
of as the peculiar works of God, in the Old Teftament.
Such were ftilling the waves of the fea. [Pfal. cvii. 29.]
Walking on the fea in a ftorm : [Job ix. 8.] Cafting out
devils: [Pfal. Ixxiv. 14.] Feeding a multitude in a
wildernefs : [Deut. viii. 16.] Difcerning men's thoughts:
[Amos iv. 13.] Raifmg the dead: [Pfal. Ixviii. 20.]
Opening the eyes of the blind : [Pfal. cxlvi. 8.] Heal-
ing the fick :. [Pfal. ciii. 3.] And lifting up thofe who
are bowed together : [Pfal. cxlvi. 8.]— They were in ge-
neral fuch works as were images of the great work which
he came to work on men's hearts ; reprefenting that in-
ward, fpiritual cleaniing, healing, renovation, and refur-
jection, which all his redeemed arc the fubjc6ts of.—
He wrought them in fuch a manner to Ihow that he did
them
of. He, greater than the grcateft monarch, defpifcd worldly gran-
deur ; but to fiilfil prophecy, ikting upon a borrowed als's colt,
rode into Jerufalcm the Son of the High^fJ, and allowed the tranf-
ported multitude to llrew ttie way with garments and branches,
;'ind to aroulc the infenfible metropolis with acclamations, the very
children ihouting, ' Hofannah! Hofannah in the Highcil; ! Hofan-
* nah to the fon of David ! Bleffed be he that conieth in the name
' of tjie Lord !" [Robjn son's Diff. prefixed to Claude, p. xxvii.]
334 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
them by his own power, and not by the power of another,
as the other prophets did. They were w^ont to work
all their miracles in the name of the Lord ; but Chrifl
wrought in his own name. Mofes was forbidden to enter
into Canaan, becaufe he feemed by his fpeech to aflbme
the honour of working only one miracle to himfclf. [See
Numbers xx. 8— -13.] Nor did Chrift work miracles as
the apoftles did, who wrought them all in the name of
Chrifl: ; but he wrought them in his own name, and by
his own authority and will : Thus, faith he, ' I will, be
' thou clean.' [Matt. viii. 3.] And in the fame fl;rain he
put the queftion, ' Believe ye that I am able to do this?'
[Matt. ix. 28.] '
Another thing that Chrifl: did in the courfe of his mi-
niflry, was to call his difciples. He called many difciples,
whom he employed as miniflers ; he fent feventy at one
time into his work : but there were twelve that he fet
apart as apoflles, who were the grand miniflers of his
kingdom, and, as it were, the twelve foundations of his
church. [See Rev. xxi. 14.] Thefe were the main in-
fi:ruments of fctting up his kingdom in the world, and
therefore fliall fit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve
tribes of Ifrael. [Matt. xix. 28.]
[4.] I would obfcrve how he finiflied his miijiftry. And
this was- —In giving his dying counfcl to his difciples,
which we have recorded in the xivth, xvth, and xvith chap-
ters of John's gofpel.— bi inftituting a folemn memorial
of his death, namely, tlic facranient of the Lord's fupper,
wherein we have a reprefentation of his body broken, and
oi' his blood flied. (k)— In oitcring up himfelf, without
blemifh,
(k) How Clr/ijl finlp,oecl hU mWiJhy.-^ " T!ic feaft of the
paflbvcr drew nigh, at which he knew that lie was to fuffer. The
night was arrived, wherein he was to be delivered into the hands
of his enemies. He had fpcnt the evening in conference with his ,
difciples ; like a dying father in the midll of his family, mingling
coi.folations with his lall inilruftions. ' When he had ended his
difcourfe to them, he * lifted up his eyes to heaven,' and • • • •
began that folemn prayer of interceffion for the church, which
clofcd his minillry. Immediately after he went forth with his
disciples
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 335
blemifli, a facrifice to God, which he did in his laft fuf-
fcrings, as God's anointed prieft : and it was the greateft
a6l of his public miniftiy, and indeed of his obedience.
The priefts of old ufed to do many otiier things as God's
minifters : but were then in the higheft execution of their
office, when they were offering facrifices on the altar. So
the greateft thing that Chrill: did in the execution of his
prieftly office, and indeed the greateft thing that ever was
done, was the offering up hinifelf a facrifice to God.
Herein he was the antitype of all that had been done by
all the priefts, in all their facrifices and offerings, from
the beginning of the world.
(3,) The third diflribution of the afts by which Chrlft
purchafed redemption, regards the virtues that he exer-
cifed and manifefted in them, which were every poffible
virtue and grace. Indeed there are fome particular vir-
tues that fmful man may have, that were not in Chrift ;
not from any want or defe6l of virtue, but becaufe his
virtue was perfe6i: and without defect. Such are repen-
tance, brokennefs of heart for fm, and mortification of
lull:. Thofe virtues were not in Chrift, becaufe he had
no fin of his own to repent of, nor any luft to deny.
But all virtues which do not pre-fuppofe ftn, were in
him, ..nd that in a higher degree than ever they were
in
difciples into the garden of Getlifemane, and furrendered himfelf
to thofe who came to apprehend him.
" Such was the fituation of our Lord He faw his mlf-
fion on the point of being accompliflied. He had the profpedl
full before him of all that he was about to fuiFer. ' Father ! the
* hour is come.' What hour ? An hour the mofl critical, the
moil pregnant with great events, fince hours had begun to be
numbered, fince time had begun to run. It was the hour in
which the Son of God was to terminate the labours of his im-
portant life, by a death ftill more important and illulbious ; the
hour of atoning, by his fufFerlngs, for the guilt of mankind ; the
hour of accomplifliing prophecies, types, and fymbo's, whicli
had been carried on through a feries of ages ; the hour of con-
cluding the old, and of introducing to tlic world the new dif-
penfation of religion ; the hour of his triumphing over the world,
and death, and hell ; the hour of his erefting that fpiritual king-
dom which is to Jail for ever. Such is the hour, fuch are the
events, which you are to commemorate in the facrament of oui-
Lord's fupper." [Dr. Blair's Sermons, vol, i. Ser. 5.]
336 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
in any other man, or any mere creature ; every virtue in
him was perfeiS^, virtue itfelf was greater in him than in
any other ; and it was under greater advantages to fhine in
him than in any other. Stridl virtue (liines moft when
moll tried ; but never any virtue had fuch trials as ChriiVs
had. — The virtues that Chrifl exerciled may be divided
into three forts, thofe which more immediately relpevft
God, himfclf, and other men.
Thofe virtues which more immediately refpedl God,
appeared in the work which Chrifl: did for our redemp-
tion. There appeared in him an holy fear and reverence
towards God the Father. Chrift had a greater trial of his
virtue in this refpecSl than any other had, from the ho-
nourablenefs of his perfon. This was the temptation oi
the angels that fell, to cafl: off their worlhip of God, and
reverence of his majefty, that they were beings of fuch
exalted dignity and worthinefs themfelves. [See i Tim.
iii. 6.] But Chrifl; was inhnitely more worthy and ho-
nourable than they ; for he was the eternal Son of God,
and his perfon was equal to the perfon of God the Father :
and yet, as he had taken on him the office of mediator,
and the nature of man, he was full of reverence towards
God. He adored him in the mofl reverential manner time
after time. So he manifefted a wonderful love towards
God. The angels give great teftimony of their love to-
wards God, in their conftancy and agility in doing the
will of God ; and many faints have given great tefliimo-
nies of their love to God, by having endured great labour?
and fufFerings : but none ever gave fuch teflimonies of
love to God as Chrift has ; none ever performed fuch a
labour of love as he did, or fufFered fo much from love to
God. So alfo he manifefted the moft wonderful fubmif-
lion to the will of God. Never was any one's fubmiffion
fo tried as he was.
In this work he moft wonderfully manifefted thofe
virtues which more immediately refpedled himfclf; as
particularly humility, patience, contempt of the world.
Chrift, though he was the moft excellent and honourable
of all men, yet was the moft humble ; yea, he was the
moft
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 337
moft humble of all creatures. No angel or man ever
equalled him in humility, though he was the higheft
of all creatures in dignity and honour. Chriit would
have been under the greateft temptation to pride, if it
had been pofTible for any thing to have tempted him.
The temptation of the angels that fell was the dignity of
their nature, and the honourablenefs of their circum-
flances ; but Chrifl was infinitely more honourable than
they. The human nature of Chrift was fo honoured as
to be in the fame perfon with the eternal Son of God,
who was equal with God ; and yet that human nature
was not at all lifted up with pride. Nor was the man
Chrift Jefus at all lifted ' up with pride, with all thofe
wonderful works which he wrought, of healing the fick,
curing the blind, lame, and maimed, and railmg the
dead. And though he knew that God had appointed
him to be the king over heaven and earth, angels and
men, as he fays, [Matt. ix. 27.] ' All things are deliver-
* ed unto me of my Father;' though he knew he was
fuch an infinitely honourable perfon, and ' thought it not
* robbery to be equal with God ;' and though he knew lie
was the heir of God the Father's kingdom ; yet fuch was
his humility that he did not difdain to be abafed and
deprcffed down into lower and viler circumftances and
fufferings than ever any other cledl creature was; fo thai
he became leaft and lowell: of all. The proper trial and
evidence of humility is ftooping or complying with thofe
adVs or circumftances, when called to it, which are very
low, and contain great abafement. But none ever ftoop-
ed fo low as Chrift, if we confider either the infinite
height that he ftooped from, or great depth to which he
ftooped. Such was his humility, that though he knew
himfelf to be infinitely worthy of being honoured ten
thoufand times more than the higheft prince on earth, or
angel in heaven ; yet he did not think it too much when
called to it, to be bound as a curfed malefadiior, to become
the laughing-ftock of the vileft of men, to be crowned
with thorns, to have a mock robe put on him, aj\d to be
crucified like a flave or malcfadtor, as one of the meanell
X X .md
538 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION,
and worfl: of vagabonds and mifcreants, and an accurfed
enemy of God and men, who was not fit to live on the
eartli ; and this not for himfelf, but for fome of the
mcaneft and vileft of creatures, fome of thofe accurfed
wretches that crucified him. Was not this a wonderful
nianifeftation of humility, when he cheerfully and moft
treely fubmitted to this abafement ? — And how did his
patience {liine forth under all the terrible fufferings which
he endured, when he was dumb, and opened not his
mouth, but went as a lamb to the flaughter, and was
patient under all the fufferings he endured from firfl: to
laft. — And what contempt of the glory of the world
was there, when he rather chofe this meann^, and fuf-
fcring, than to wear a temporal crown, and be invefted
with the external glories of an earthly prince, as the mul-
titude often foliciicd him ? Chrift, in the work which
he wrought out, in a wonderful manner exercifed thofe
virtues which more immediately refpedl other men. And
tiiefe may be fumnvoned up under two heads, viz.meeknefs,
and love. Chrift's mecknefs was his humble calmnefs of
fpirit under the provocations he met with. None ever met
with fo great provocations as he did. The greatncfs of pro-
vocation lies in two things, the degree of oppofition by which
the provocation is given ; and, in the degree of the w«-
reafonablenefs of that oppofition, or in its being not only
without reafon, againft the greateft degree of obligation to
the contrary. Now, if we confider both thefe things,
no man ever met with a thoufandth part of the provoca-
tion that Chrift met with from men; and yet how meek
was he under all ! how compofed and quiet his fpirit !
how far from being in a rufRe and tumult ! When he
was reviled, he reviled not again; and ^ as a Iheep before
* her fliearers is dumb, fo he opened not his mouth.* No
appearance was there of a revengeful fpirit: on the con-
trary, what a fpirit of forgivenefs did he exhibit ! fo that
he fervently and effe6tually prayed for the forgivenefs of his
enemies when they were in the highefl act of provocation
that ever they perpetrated, viz. nailing him to the crofs:
[Luke xxiii. 34.] ' Father, forgive them, for they know
' not
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMFflON. 339
* not what they do.'— And never did there appear fiich
an inftance of love to men, as he iliowed when on earth,
cfpecially in going through his laft fuffcrings, and offer-
ing up his life and foul for them. There had been very
remarkable manifeftations of love in fome of the faints,
as in the Apoftles Paul, John, and others; but the love
that Chrift fhowed them on earth, as much exceeded the
1 jve of all other men, as the ocean exceeds a imall ftream-
(L)
And
(l) The excellency of Chri/l's character.] " He fets an
example of the moft pcrfeft piety to God, and of the moft ex-
tenfive benevolence and tlie moil tender compaffion to men. He
does not merely exhibit a life of ftrift jullice, but of overflowing
benignity. His temperance has not the dark fliadesof aiifterity;
his meeknefs does not degenerate into apathy. His humilitv is
fignal, amidft a fplendour of qualities more than human. His
fortitude is eminent and exemplary, in enduring the moft formi-
dable external evils and the fharpeft aftual fufferings : his pa-
tience is invincible ; his refignation entire and abfolute. Truth
and fmcerity fhine throughout his whole conduft. Though of
heavenly decent, he (hews obedience and affedtlon to his eartlily
parents. He approves, loves, and attaches himfelf to amiable
qualities in the human race. He refpefts authority, religious and
civil; and h« evidences regard for his country by promoting its
moft eflential good in a painful miniftry dedicated to its fervlce,
by deploring its calamities, and by laying down his life for its be-
nefit. Every one of his eminent virtues is regulated by confum-
mate prudence; and he both wins the love of his friends, and ex-
torts the approbation and wonder of his enemies.
" Never was a chara6ler at the fame time fo commanding and
natural, fo refplendent and pleafing, fo amiable and venerable.
There is a peculiar contraft in it between an awful greatnefs, dig-
nity and majefty, and the moft conciliating lovelinefs, tender-
nefs, and foftnefs. He nov/ converfes with prophets, lawgivers,
and angels ; and the next inftant he meekly endures the dulnefa
of his difciples and the blafphemies and rage of the multitude.
He now calls himfelf greater than Solomon, one who can com-
mand legions of angels, the giver of life to whomfoever he pleaf-
eth, the Son of God, who fhall i'lt on his glorious throne to
judge the world. At other times we find him em.bracing young
children, not lifting up his voice in the ftreets, not breaking
the bruifed reed, nor quenching the fmoaking flax; calling his
difciples, not Icrvants, but friends and brethren, and comforting
them with an exulrerant and parental affeftlon. Let us paufe an
hiftant, and fill our minds with the idea of one who knew all
X X 2 things
340 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
And it is to be obferved, that all the virtues which ap-
peared in Chrift fhone brighteft in the clofe of his life,
under the trials he then met with. Eminent virtue al-
^yays fho-.vs brighteft in the fire. Pure gold fhows its
purity chiefly in the furnace. It was chiefly under thofe
trials which Chrift underwent in the clofe of his life, that
his love to God, and his regard to the honour of his law;
his fpirit of obedience, humility, and contempt of the
world ; his patience, meeknefs, forgivenefs towards men,
appeared. Indeed every thing that Chrift did to work
Qut redemption for us appears chiefly in the clofe of his
life. Here chiefly appears the merit of his fatisfadlion, and
the brightnefs of his example.
Thus we have taken a brief view of the things v>'here-
by the purchafe of redemption was made with refpeft to
his r'lghteoufnefs that appeared in them. — I proceed now,
4. To take a view of them with refpe6l to \h.Q fatisfac-
t'lon that he thereby made for fin, or the fuffaings and humi-
liation that he was the fubjedl of in them, on our account.
And here,
(i.) He was fubjedl to uncommot] humiliation and
fuffering in his infancy. He was born to that end that
he might die ; and therefore he did, as it were, begin to die
as foon as he was born. His mother fufi^ered in an un-
common manner in bearing him. When her travail
came upon her, it is faid, ' there was no room in the inn.'
[Luke ii. 7.] She was forced to betake herfelf to a ftable;
and
things heavenly and earthly, fearched and laid open the inmoft
recelfes of the heart, redlified every prejudice, and removed every
miftake of a moral and religious kind ; by a \yord cxercifed a fove-
reignty over all nature, penetrated the hidden events of futurity,
gave promifes of admiflion into a happy immortahty, had the
keys of life and death, claimed an union with the Father ; and
yet was pious, mild, gentle, humble, affable, focial, benevolent,
friendly, affeftionate. Such a character is fairer than the morn-
ing ftar. Each feparate virtue is made ftronger by oppofition and
contrail ; and the union of fo many .virtues forms a brightnefs,
v/hich fitly reprefents the glory of that God, ' who inhabiteth
* light inacceflible." [Bp. Newcome's Obfcrvat. on our Lord's
Conduft, Sic]
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 341
and therefore Chrift was born in the place of the bringing
forth of beads. Thus he fuffered in his birth, as though
he had been meaner and viler than a man, and notpofTeffed
of the dignity of the human nature, but had been of the
rank of the biute creatures. And we may conclude, that
his mother's circumftances in other refpecSls were propor-
tJonably ftrait and difficult, and that (he was deftitute of
the conveniences neceflary for fo young an infant which
others were wont to have ; for want of which the new-born
babe without doubt fuffered much.—
And befides, he was pcrfecuted in his infancy : they
began to feek his life as foon as he was born. Herod
was fo defirous to kill him, that in order to it, he killed
all the children in Betlileiiem, and in all the coafls there-
of, from two years old and under. [Matt. ii. 16.] And
Chrift fuffered baniihment in his infancy, was driven out
ot his native country into Egypt, and without doubt fuf-
fered much by being carried fo long a journey, when he
was fo young, into a ftrange country .
(2.) Chrift was fubjecl to great humiliation in his pri-
vate life at Nazareth : he there led a fervile obfcure life,
in a mean laborious occupation ; for he is called not only
the carpenter's y^//, but the carpenter: [Mark vi. 3.] ' Is
' not this the carpenter, the brother of James and Jofes,
' and Juda, and Simeon?' (m) He, by hard labour, earned
his bread before he ate it, and fo fuffered that curfe which
God pronounced on Adam, [Gen. iii. 13.] ' In the
' fvveat of thy face flialt thou cat bread.' Let us confi-
der how great a degree of humiliation the glorious Son of
God
(m) " It is no uncommon thing, in the difpenfations of the
only wife God, to keep thofe perfons long hidden under the vail
of obfcurity, whom he intends fhall make the moft illuftrious ap-
pearances on earth ; and that thofe whom infinite Wifdom hath
appointed for the emancipation or redemption of others, as pre-
paratory to that, (liall themfelves experience the hardfhips of bon-
dage, toil, and labour ; fo that, like the rifing fun, they may
more vifibly ihed their light upon, and fcnfibly communicate
their ufefulnefs to, a benighted world. Thus Mofes, Jofeph,
Gideon, and ... he who was laughed to fcorn, and contemptu-
pufiy ftiled, * The carpenter, the fon of Mary."
342 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
God, the creator of heaven and earth, was fubje6l to in
this, that for about thirty years he Should live a private
obfcure life, and ail this while be overlooked, and not
more regarded than other labouring men. Chrift's hu-
miliation in this refpeil was greater in his private life,
than in the time of his public miniftry. There were
many manifeflations of his glory in the word he preach-
ed, and the great miracles he wrought : but the firft thirty
years of his life he fpent among mean, ordinary men, as
it were in filence, without thofe manifeftations of his
glory, or any thing to diflinguilh him except the fpotlefs
purity and eminent holinefs of his life ; and that was in a
great nieafure hid in obfcurity; fo that he was little takea
notice of till after his baptifm.
(3.) Chrift was the fubje6l ot great humiliation and fuf-
fering during his public life, from hisbaptifm till the night
wherein he was betrayed, (n) As particularly.
He fuffered great poverty, fo that he had not ' where to
' lay his head,' [Matt. viii. 20.] and commonly ufed to
lodge abroad in the open air, for want of a flicker to be-
take himielf to ; [compare the following places together,
Matt. viii. 20.: John xviii. i, 2-; Luke xxi. 37. — xxii.
39.] So that what was fpoken of Chrift in Canticles, [v.
2.] ' My head is filled with dew, and my locks with the
* drops of the night,' was literally fulfilled. And through
this poverty he was doubtlefs often pinched with hunger,
and third, and cold. [Sec Matt. iv. 2.— xxi. 18.] His
jTiother and natural relations were poor, and not able to
help
(n) Jesus suffered.] " The Gentiles acknowledged it,
the Jews triumphed at it. ... If hunger and thirft, if revihngs
and contempt, if forrows and agonic, if ftripcs and buffettings,
if condemnation and crucifixion, be fuffering, Jefus fuffercd. If
the jnlirmities of our nature, if the weight of our fins, if the ma-
lice of man, if the machinations of Satan, if the hand of God,
could make him fuffer, our Saviour fujfered. If the annals of
times, if the writings of his apollles, if the death of his martyrs,
if the confcilion of Gentiles, if the feoffs of the Jews be tellinio-
uies, ]c[\\s fiijfered. Nor was there ever'any which thought he did
not really and trv.lyfii^l:', but fuch as withal irrationally pretend-
t:d that he was not really and truly man." [Bp. Pearson, on the
Creed, Art. 4.3
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 343
help him ; and he was maintained by the charity of fome
of his difciples while he lived. So we read [Luke viii.
2, 3.] of ' certain women that followed him, and minif-
* tered to him of their fubftance.' He was fo poor, that
he was not able to pay the tribute that was demanded of
him, without miracle. [Matt. xvii. 27.] And when he
ate his iaft palTover, it was not at his own charge, but at
the charge of another. [Luke xxii. 7, &c.] Alfo from
his poverty he had no grave of his own to be buried in.
It was the manner of the Jews, unlefs they were very
poor, to prepare themfelves a fepulchre while they lived ;
but Chrift had no land of his own, though he was pof-
feflbr of heaven and earth ; and therefore was buried by
Jofeph of Arimathea's charity, and in his tomb, which he
had prepared for himfelf.
He fufFered great hatred and reproach. ' He was def-
* pifed and reje6led of men.' He was by moft ellecmed
a poor infignihcant perfon ; one of little account, flighted
for his low parentage, and his mean city, Nazareth. He
was reproached as a glutton and drunkard, a friend of pub-
licans and fmners ; was called a deceiver of the people ;
fometimes a madman, a Samaritan, and one poflefTed with
a devil. [John vii. 20.— viii. 48.— x. 20.] He was called
a blafphemer, and accounted by many a wizzard, cr one
that wrought miracles by the black art, and by communi-
cation with Beelzebub. They excommunicated him, and
agreed to excommunicate any man that fliould own him.
[John ix. 22.] They wifhed him dead, and were continu-
ally feeking to murder him ; fometimes by force, and
fometimes by crafc. They often took up ftones to ftone
him, and once led him to the brow of a hill, intending to
throw him down the precipice, to dafli him to pieces
againft the rocks. [Luke iv. 29.] — He was thus hated and
reproached by his own vifible people : [John i. i i.J ' He
* came to his own, and his own received him not.' And
he was principally defpifed and hated by thofe who were
in chief repute, and were the greateft men. But into
whatever part of the land he went, he^ met with hatred
and contempt. He met with thefc in Capernaum, and
when
344 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
when he went to Jericho : at Jerufaleni, which was thC
holy city, when he went to the temple to worfliip ; alfo
in Nazareth, his own city, and among his own relations-,
and neighbours.
He fufFered the biiffetings of Satan in an uncommon
manner. We read [Matt, i v. i — ii.] of one time in
particular, when he had a long confii6l with the devil,
wlien he was in the wildernefs forty days, with nothing
but wild beafts and devils ; and was fo expofed to the
devil's power, that he was bodily carried about by him
from place to place, while he was otherwife in a very fuf-
fering ftate. (o)
(4.) I come now to the evening of the night wherein he
was betrayed. And from this time was his greateft humilia-
tion and fufFering, by which principally lie made fatisfac-
tion to the juftice of God for the hns of men. Firft, his life
v/as fold by one of his own difciples for thirty pieces ot
fiiver, which was the price of the life of a fervant. [Excd.
xxii. 32.] Then he was in luch a dreadful agony in the
garden,
(o) Chr't/l TEMPTED of the Devil.'] This extraordinary event
has been much the fubjeft of infidel ridicule ; and fome inge-
nious writers, to avoid the difficulties of a literal interpretation,
have reduced the whole to vifion and allegory ; and thus involved
It, as we apprehend, in far more and greater. We humbly con-
ceive, that the bed way to avoid difficulties on this, and many
other parts of facred writ, is to adhere as clofe as poffible to the
language of infpiraticn, fince the additions of puzzled comm.en-
tators often add abfurdity to remove doubts. That when our
Lord retired to the interior part of the wildernefs, the enemy of
mankind fliould affume a difguife, (whether human or angehc, is
not important) and prefent the moll plaufible temptation to our
Redeemer under thefe trying circumllances, is perfectly confiilent
with the malevolence of his charafter ; but how far he was per-
mitted to exert his power in forming them, is not neceffary to be
inquired. The grand objeftion is, why was Satan fufFered thus
to infuk the Son of God ? Wherefore did the Redeemer fuffer his
ftate of retirement to be thus dillurbed, with the malicious fug-
geftjons of the fiend ? The great apoflle furniflies an anfwer,
equally pertinent and confolatory — ' He was tempted m ^7// points
* like as we are — that he might be touched with the feeling of our
' infirmities — and himfelf having fuftered being tempted, he is able
' to fixcour them that are tempted.' [See Heb. ii. 18 — iv. i 5.]
[I. N.]
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 345
garden, that there came fuch a horror upon his foul,
that he began to be forrowful and very heavy, and faid,
[Mark xiv. 33, 34.] his ' foul was exceeding forrowful,
' even unto death, and was fore amazed.' (p) So violent
was the agony of his foul, as to force the blood through
the pores of his fl<Lin ; fo that he was overwhelmed with
amazing forrow, his body was covered with blood. The
difciples, who ufed to be his friends and family, now
appear cold, and unconcerned for him at the time his
Father's face is hid from him. Judas, whom he had
treated as one of his family, or familiar friends, comes and
betrays him in the moft deceitful, treacherous manner.
The officers and foldiers apprehend and bind him. His
difciples forfake him and flee, inflead of comforting him
in his dill:refs. He is led as a malefa6lor before the priefls
and fcribes, his mortal enemies, that they might fet as
his judges ; and they fet up all night, to enjoy the plea-
fure of infulting hjjn, now they had g'ot him into their
hands. But becaufe they aimed at nothing fliort of his
life, they fet themfelvcs to find fome colour to put him to
death, and feek for witnefTes againft him. (q^) When none
Y y appeared,
(p) Chr'ijl EXCEEDING forroivful.'] ** To heighten our idea
of this diftrefs, the evangeliils make ufe of the moft forcible words,
* He was fe'i%ed with the moft alarming ajion'ijhment. He was
* overivhelmed with infupportablc dejedion. He was bejteged on all
* fides, as it were with an army of invadingyibrrowj. He ivnjiledy
* amldft ftrong cries and tears, not only with the malice of men
* and rage of devils, but with the infinitely more dreadful indig-
* nation of God : He wreftled even unto an agony of fpirit.' All
thefc circumftances of horror and angui(h conftitute what a cele-
brated poet veryjuftly ftiles,
♦ A weight of woe, more than ten worlds can bear."
[Hervey, Theron and Afp. vol. i. Dial. 4.]
(q^) The yews fought a pretence ybr tlie death of Chrijl.~\
It is laid in the M'ljhna.) that before any one was punifhed for a
capital crime, proclamation was made by the public crier, " That
if any perfon could teftify the innocence of the prifoner, they
might come forward and declare it." On which the Gemara of
Babylon adds, that " at the death of Jcfus this proclamation was
made for 40 days, but no defence could be found." But we
know this latter affertion to be falfe, and perhaps the injuftice of
this
34<^ HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
appeared, they employed fome to bear falfe witnefs ; and
when their witnefs did not agree together, then they ex-
amined him, to catch fomething out of his own mouth.
They hoped he would fay, that he was the Son of God,
and then they thought they fliould have enough. And
when he was fdent thev adjured him in the name of God,
to fay whether he was or not. When he confeffed thi«,
they fuppofed they had enough ; then it was a time of
rejoicing with theni^ which they ihow, by infulting him,
fpitting in his face, blindfolding and buffetting him, and
then bidding him prophefy who it was that ftruck him ;
thus ridiculing him for pretending to be a prophet. And
the very fervants have a hand in the cruel fport : [Mark
xiv. 65.] ' And the fervants did ftrike him with the palms
of their hands.'
During the fufFerings of that night, Peter, one of the
chief of his own difciples, appears aftiamed to own him,
and denies and renounces him with oaths and curfes. And
after the chief priefts and elders had finifhed the night in
fo fhamcfully abufmg him, when the morning was come,
which was the morning of the moft wonderful day that
ever was, they led him away to Pilate, to be condemned
to death by him, becaufe they had not the power of life
and death in their own hands. He is brought before Pi-
late's judgment feat, and there the priefts and elders accufe
him as a traitor. And when Pilate, upon examining into
the matter, declared he found no fault in him, the Jews
were but the more fierce and violent to have him con-
demned. Upon which Pilate, after clearing him, very
unjui^ly brings him to a fecond trial ; and then not finding
any thing againft him, acqaits him again. Pilate treats
him as a poor worthlefs fellow ; but is afliamed on fo little
pretence to condemn him as a traitor.
And
this ufual privilege being denied hlra,' is alluded to by our Lord
himfelf. [John xviii. 20. 21.] * I fpake openly to the world ....
* Why aflcefl thou me ? aflc them which heard me, what I faid
* unto them; behold, they know what I faid.'] Lowth's Ifaiah,
p. 241. Compare Note u, p. 249.]
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 34.7
And then he was fent to Herod to be tried by him, and
was brought before his judgment feat ; his enemies fol-
lowing, and virulently accufmg him as a traitor, or one
that would fet up for a king ; but he confiders him as Pi-
late did, as a poor creature, not worthy to be taken notice
of, and does but make a mere jcft of the Jews, accufmg
him as a dangerous perfon to Casfar, as one that was in
danger of fetting up to be a king agalnft him ; and there-
fore, in derifion, drelTes him in a mock robe, makes fport
of him, and fends him back through the ftreets of Jeru-
falem, to Pilate, with it on.
Then the Jews prefer Barabbas before him, and are in-
flant and violent with loud voices to Pilate, to crucify
him. So Pilate after he had cleared him twice, and Herod
once, very vinrighteoufly brings him on trial the third time.
Chrifl: was ftripped and fcourged : thus he gave his ' back
* to the fmiters.' [Ifa. 1. 6.] After that, though Pilate
flill declared that he found no fault in him ; yet fo tinjuft
was he, that for fear of the Jews he delivered him to be
crucitied. But before they execute the fentence, his fpite-
ful and cruel enemies again infult and torture him. They
ftripped him, and put on him a fcarlet robe, place a reed
in his hand, and a crown of thorns on his head. Both
Jews and Roman foldiers were united in the tranfacStion ;
they bow their knees before him, and in derifion cry, ' Hail
' King of the Jews.' They fpit upon him alfo, and took
the reed out of his hand, and fmote him on the head.
After this they led him away to crucify him, and made
him carry his own crofs, till he funk under it, his flrength
being fpent ; and then they laid it on one Simon a Cyrc-
nian. [Mat. xxvii. 32.]
At length, being come to Mount Calvary, they exe-
cute the fentence which Pilate had fo unrighteoufly pro-
nounced. They nailed him to the crofs by his hands and
feet, then raife it ere61-, and fix one end in the ground,
he being flill fufpended on it by the nails which pierced
his hands and feet. And now Chrift's fufFerings are come
to the extremity ; now the cup which he fo earneftly
Y y 2 prayed,
348 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
prayed that it might pafs from him, (r) is come, and he
muft, he does drink it. [Ifa. xxvi. 39.] In thofe days cru-
cifixion was the moft tormenting death by which any were
executed. There was no death wherein the perfon ex-
pired fo much of mere torment : and hence the Roman
word,* which fignifies torment, is taken from this kind
of death.-— And befidcs what our Lord endured in this
excruciating death in his body, he endured vafllv m.ore in
his foul. Now was that travail of his foul, of which we
read in the prophet; now it pleafed God to bruife him,
and to put him to grief ; now < he poured out his foul unto
* death.' [Ifa. liii. iq.] And if the m.ere forethought of
this cup made him fweat blood, how much more dreadful
and excruciating muft the drinking of it have been ! Many
martyrs have endured much in their bodies, while their
fouls have been joyful, and have fung for joy, whereby
they have been fupported under the fufFerings of their out-
ward man, and have triumphed over them. But this was
not the cafe with Chrift ; he had no fuch fupport : but
his fufFerings were chiefly thofe of the mind, though the
others were extremely great.
Now under all thelc fufFerings tlie Jews ftill mock him ;
and wagging their heads fay, [Matt, xxvii. 40.] ' Thou
' that deftroyeft the temple and buildeft it in three days,
'■ fave thyfelf : if thou be the Son of God, come down
' from the crofs.' Even the chief priefts, fcribes, and
elders, joined in the cry, faying, ' He faved others, him-
« felf
(r) Let this cup pafs from me.'\ " This was the voice not
only of refignation, but of acquiefcence and cotyplacency. Such
a deprecatory requeft, put up with fo much earneftnefs, yet with
fo much fubmilTion, betrayed not any wcaknefs of mind ; it only
Ibcwed the reality of our Lord's manhood; that his fcnfations
were exadlly like ours ; that he afFefted no floical apathy, but
willingly endured, not proudly difpifed, tribulation and anguifli.
It demonftrated likewife, beyond the power of defcriptlon, the
extreme feverity and almoft infupportabJe weight of our Re-
deemer's affiiftions." [Hervey, Theron and Afpaiio, vol. i.
Dial. 4.;)
* Cruciotus.
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION, 349
* felfhe cannot fave.' (s) And probably the devil at the
fame time tormented him to the utmoll of his power ; and
hence it is faid, [Luke xxii. 33.] ' This is your hour, and
' the power of darknefs.'
Under thefe fuftcrings, Chrift having cried out once
and again with a loud voice, at lafl he faid, ' It is linirticd,
' [John xix. 20.] and bowed the head, and gave up the
' ghofr.' (t) And tlius was finifhed the greatcll work
that
(s) tljMS^LF I'je cannoifave.l SoCelsus, that bitter enemy
of Chriftianity, tauntingly cries, ** Why, in the name of wonder,
does he not on this occafion, at lead, aft the God ? Why does
he not deliver himfelf from this fhocking ignominy, or execute
fome fignal vengeance on the author of fuch impious and abu-
five infults, both of himfelf and his Father ?"— Why, Ce/fus ?
Becaufe on his death depends the falvation of mankind, and
thereby is purchafed that pardon which the gofpel proclaims to
finncrs, fuch as Celfus.
*' There hangs all human hope, that nail fupports
The falling univerfe" Young.
" You indeed, (continues the heathen) take upon you to de-
ride the images of our deities ; but if Bacchus himfelf, or Hsr-
fules had been prcfent, you would not have dared to offer fuch
an affront; or, if you had been fo prefumptuoiis, would have
feverely fmarted for your infolence." Yes, Ce/fus ; fuch is the
revengeful fpirit of your gods; but ^cfus exhibits an inftance of
patience, meeknefs, and compaOion equally oppofite to your tem-
per and that of your fanguinary idols. [Vide Orig. contra. Celf.
81.404.] _ _ [P.]
(t) He gave up the ghoJl.~\ The late ingenious Mr. Fergu-
son has fhown, from accurate aftronomical obfervations, that the
day on which our Lord was crucified, was " the 14th of the
month N'tfan, anfwering (in that year) to the 3d of April, ....
in the 33d year of his age," fince that was the only year in which
the paffoverfell on a Friday, " between the 20th and 40th year
of the vulgar aera of Chrift's birth."
The fame philofophcr has obferved, that the darknefs which
covered the land at this time, could not be a natural one, becaufe
the fun can never be eclipfed in a natural way but at the time of
nevy- moon, and our Saviour was crucified at the time of the paff-
ovcr, when the moon wasy«//; we have another proof of this
from the continuance of that darknefs for three hours ; for the
lun can never be eclipfed totally in a natural way for more than
five minutes of time to any one place of the eaith. — How dread-
Ailly folemn was this fcene !
" The fim belield it — No, the fhock-ng fcenc-
Drove
350 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
that ever was done ; now the angels beheld the moft won-
derful fight that ever was feen : now was accompliflied the
main thing that had been pointed at by the various infti-
tutions of the ceremonial law, and by all the typical dif-
penfarions and by all the facrifices from the beginning of
die world, (u)
Chrift being thus brought under the power of death,
continued under it till the morning of the next day but
one : (w) and then was finiflied that great work, the pur-
chafe
Drove back hie chariot ; midnight veil'd his face :
.... Not fuch as nature makes ;
A midnight, nature lliudder'd to behold ;
A midnight new, a dread eclipfe (without
Oppofmg fpheres) from her Creator's frown !
Sun, didll thou fly thy Maker's pain ? or dart
Al. that enormous load of human guilt,
Which bovv'd his blefTed head ; o'erwhelm'd his crofs ;
Made groan the creature ; burft earth's marble womb
With pangs, ftrange pangs ! deliver'd of her dead ?
Hell howl'd ; and heav'n that hour let fall a tear ;
Heav'n wept that man might fmile ! heav'n bled that man
Might never die i" — —
[Young's Night Thoughts, IV.]
(u) The TYPES no-w all accompTiJhed.~\ " In this hour, the
long feries of prophecies, vifions, types, and figures was accom-
plifhed ; this v.^as the center in which they all met ; .this the point
towards which they had tended and verged throughout the courfe
of fo many generations. You behold the law and the propiiets
Aanding, if we may fpeak fo, at the foot of the crofs, and doing
homage. You behold Mofes and Aaron bearing the ark of the
covenant ; David and Elijah prefenting the oracle of teltimony.
You behold all the priefts and facrifices, all the rites and ordi-
nances, all the types and fymbols, afl'embled together to receive
their confummation. Without the death of Chrift, the worfhip
and ceremonies of the law would have remained a pompous, but
unmeaning inftitution. In the hour when he was crucified, ' the
* book with the feven feals' was opened. Every rite affunied its
fignificancy, every prediction met its event, every fymbbl difplay-
ed its correfpondence." [Blair's Sermons, vol. i. Ser. 5.3
(w) Chrijl cO'AiiriVf.'O unckr the po'-Mcr of ikaihr^ During this
period, fome have fuppofed our Lord defcended below the grave,
and ' preached to \k\ti fp'irits,^ — either m llnihus patrum, purgatory,
or even hell itfelf. The two former of thefe opinions have been
maintained by Popifn writers, and fulHciently anfwered by Pro-
teflants : but the latter notion fuppofes that Chrift: after his death
wcut.
THE PURCHASE OF REDEMPTION. 351
chafe of our iedemi>tion ; for which fuch great preparation
had been made from the beginning of the world. Then
waj
went down among the damned, preached falvation there, and ac-
tually converted and delivered many of the unhappy fpirits therein
confined. The text here alluded to [i Pet. iii. 19, 20.] has been
already cited, with Dr. Doddridge's ingenious paraphiale, Note n,
page 106, where we promifed to confider this extraordinary opi-
nion, againft which the following objedtions appear to U3 impor-
tant and decifive.
1. The fpirk ' by which he went and preached,' was not
Chrift's human foul, but a divine nature, or rather the Holy Spi-
rit, * by which' he was quickened, and raifcd from the dead.
2. Chrift when on the crofs promifed the penitent thief his pre-
fence that day in Paradife, and accordingly when he died com-
mitted his foul into his heavenly Father's hand ; in heaven, there-
fore, and not in hell, we are to feck the feparate fpirit of cur
Redeemer in this period. [Lukexxiii. 43, 46.]
3. Had our Lord defcended to preach falvation to the damned,
there is no fuppofeable reafon why the unbelievers in Noah's time
only fhould be mentioned, rather than thofe of Sodom, and the
unhappy multitude who died in fin.
4. Granting the faft, that our Saviour defcended into hell, (of
which in a fubfequent note) we have no intimation of his preach-
ing being attended with any more fucccfs than that of his fervant
Noah. Some, indeed, were raifed from the dead at this time, and
no doubt thefe would have been taken for fome of the unhappy
fpirits releafcd, and permitted to return to earth, had net the
fcripture exprefsly told us that they were the bodies oi faints.
[Matt, xxvii. 52.]
5. So far from any intimation of fuch deliverance, St. Jude,
fuhfequent to this, mentions the finners of Sodom fullering the
vengeance of eternal fire : and both the apoftles Jude and Peter
mention the Sodomites, the Ifraelites that periOied for their rebel-
lion in the wildernefs, the fallen angels, and impenitent finners in
general, as involved in one common ruin, and referved to the * day
* of judgment to be fun'ifiid-^ and the latter includes the inhabi-
tants of the old world among the reft. [See Jude 5 — 8. 2 Pet.
ii. 4—9.]
6. Oar Lord is exprefs, that, * he that believeth fhall mver
* come into condemnation — fliall never pcrifh ;' and ' he that be-
* lieveth not, fi-.all not fee life.' — not come '■jjherc h.e is. [John iii.
36. — v. 24. — viii. 21.] This wc fliall have occafion to notice
farther near the clofe of this work.
Is it faid that the propofcd fentiment exceedingly glorifies tlie
Redeemer, and greatly adds to the triumph of his vcfurreition ?
Far be it from us to Icffen the Redeemer's honour : but let us not
drcfs up the oageanls of our imagination to grcice his v;(ftory.
The
352 HISTORY OF ilEDEMPTION.
was finidied all that was required in order to fulfill the
threatenings of the law, and all that was neceffary in order
to fatisfy divine juftice ; then the utmoft that vindidlive
juflice demanded, even the whole debt, was paid. Then
was finiflied the whole of the purchafe of eternal life.
IMx^ROVEMENT of PERIOD II.
IN furv eying the hiftory of redemption, we have now
fhown how this work was carried on through the two firfl
periods into which we divided it, from the fall to the incar-
nation of Chrift, and from thence to the end of the time
of Chrift's humiliation ; and have particularly explained
how in the firft of thefe periods God prepared the way for
Chrift's appearing and purchafmg redemption ; and how,
in the fecond period, that purchafe was made and finiJJied.
I would now add fome improvement of what has been faid
on both thefe fubjedls in conjunflion.
I. I begin with an uie of reproof; a reproof of three
things ; of unbelief, felf-righteoufnefs, and a carelefs ne-
gledl of the falvation of Chrift.
(i.) If the things above particularly recited be true, iiow
greatly do they reprove thofe who do not believe in, and
heartily receive the Lord Jefus Chrift ! Perfons may. re-
ceive him in profeffion, and may wifli that they had fome
of thofe benefits that Chrift has purchafcd, and yet their
hearts not receive him ; they may be lincere in nothing that
they do towards him \ they may have no high efteem of
him, nor any. real refpedl to him. Though their hearts
have been opened wide to others, yet Chrift has alwavs
been fhutout, and they have been deaf to all his imitations.
They never found an inclination of heart to receive him,
nor v/ould they ever truft in him.
Let
Tlie apoltle defcribing the magnificence of this event, fays, [Col.
ii. 15.J that * he fpoiied principalities and powers — made a ihew
' of them openly:' but adds nothing of the fouls delivered from
liell, though he would hardly have omitted fuch afaft. [G. E.]
IMPROVEMENT OF PERIOD II. 353
Let me now call upon you, to confider how great your
fin, in thus rejecting Jelus Chrift, appears to be from
thofe things that have been faid. You flight the glorious
perlbn, for whofe coming God made fuch great prepara-
tions in fuch a ferics of wonderful providences from the
beginning of the world, and who, after all things were
made ready, God fent into the world, bringing to pafs a
thing before unknown, viz. the union of the divine na-
ture with the human in one perfon. You have been
guilty of flighting that great Saviour, who, after fuch
preparation, adVually accompliihed the purchafe of re-
demption ; and who, after he had fpent three or four
and thirty years in poverty, labour, and contempt, in
purchafing redemption, at laft hniflied the purchafe by
clofjng his life under fuch extreme fufFerings as you have
lieard ; (y) and fo by his death, and continuing for a
time under the power of death, completed the whole.
This is the Saviour you reject and defpife. You make light
of all the glory of his perfon, and all the love of a Fa-
ther, in fending him into the world, and the Son's com-
paffion in the whole of this affair. That precious ftone
that God hath laid in Zion for a foundation in fuch a
manner, and by fuch wonderful works as you have heard,
is a ftonc fet at nought by you.
Sinners fometimes are ready to wonder why unbelief
fliould be looked upon as fuch a great fm : but if you
confider what you have heard, how can you wonder ? If
it be fo, that this is fo great a Saviour, and his work (o
Z z gieat,
(y) Cbrijl DIED vn(/er extreme fiifenngs.~\ Some have ventured
to compare the death of Socrates with that of Jesus : but " What
an infinite difproportion is there between them ! The death of
Socrates, peaceably philofophiiing with his friends, appears the
mod agreeable that could be wiflied for; that of Jesus, infulted
and accufed by a whole nation, is the moil horrible that could be
feared. Socrates, in receiving the cup of poifon, bleffcd, Indeed,
the weeping executioner that admlnlliered It; but Jesus, In the
mldft of excruciating tortures, prayed for his mercllefs tormen-
tors. — Yes, if the life and death of Socrates vicxt thofe of ^fage,
the life and death of Jesus were thofe of a God. [Rosseau's
Letter to iheAbp. of Paris.]
354 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
great, and that fuch great things have been done in order
to it, truly there is no caufe of wonder that the reje6lioii
of this Chrift is fpoken of in fcripture as a fin, fo pro-
voking to God, and attended with greater aggravations
than the worft fins of the heathen, who never heard of
thofe things,, nor have had this Saviour offered to them.
(2.) What has been faid, affords matter of reproof to
thofe who, inflead of believing in Chrift, truft in them-
felves for falvation. It is a common thing with men to
truft in their prayers, their good converiations, the pains
they take in religion, the reformations of their lives, and
in their felf-denial, to make fome atonement for their fins,
and to recommend themfelvcs to Go<l.
Confider three things :
[i.] How great a thing tliat is whicli you take upon
you: though you are poor, worthlefs, polluted worms of
the duft ; yet fo arrogant are you, that you take upon,
you that work which the only begotten Son of God be-
came man to capacitate himfelf for ; and in order to
which God made fo great preparation. Confider how
vain is the thought which you entertain of ycurfelf ; how
muft fuch arrogance appear in the fight of Chrift, whom
it coft fo much to make a purchafe of falvation, when
it vv^as not to be obtained even by him, fo great and glo-
rious a perfon, at a cheaper rate than his wading through
a fea of blood, and pafflng through the midft of the fur-
nace of God's wrath.
[2.1 If there be ground for you to truft, as you do,
in your own righteoufnefs, then all that Chrift did to
purchafe falvation when on earth, and all that God did
from the fall of man to that time to prepare the way for
it, is in vain. Your feif-righteoufnefs charges God with
the greateft folly, in that he has done all this to bring
about an accompliflrment of what you alone, a little worm,
with your poor polluted fervices, are fufficient to accom-
plilh. For if you. can appeafe God's anger, and. can
commend yourfelf to him by thef6- means, then you have
no need of Chrift ; but he is dead in vain : [Gal. ii. 21.]
' If righteoufnefs come by the law, then Chrift is dead in
' vain.'
IMPROVEMENT OF PERIOD II. 355-
* vain.'— Alas ! how blind are natural men ! How vain
are the thoughts they have of themfelvcs ! How ignorant
of their own littlenefs and pollution ! How do they exalt
rhcmfelves up to heaven ! What great things do they
alTuine to themfelves !
£3.] You that truft to your own righteoufnefs, arro-
gate to yourfelves the honour of the greateft thing that
ever God hinifelf did ; not only as if you were fufficient
to perform divine works, and to accompli {li forae of the
great works of God ; but fuch is your pride and vanity,
that you are not content without taking upon you to do
the grcatcj] work tWat ever God himfelf wrought, even
the work of redemption. To work out redemption is
a greater thing than to create a world. Confider what a
figure you would make, if you fhould attempt to deck
yourfelf with majefty, pretend to fpeak the word of power,
and call an univerfe out of nothing ; yet in pretending- to
work out redemption, you attempt a greater thing.— You
take upon you to do the moft difficult part of this work,
viz. to purchafe redemption. Chriil; could accomplilh
other parts of this work without cofl:, or difficulty : but
this part cofl him his life, as well as innumerable pains
and labours, very great ignominy and contempt. If all
the angels in heaven had been iufficient for this work,
would God have fent his own Son, the Creator of angels,
into the world, to have done and fulfered fuch things ?
What felf-righteous perfons take to themfelves, is the
fame work that Chiift was engaged in when he was in his
agony and bloody fweat, and when he died on the crofs.
Their felf-righteoufnefs does, in efFea, charge ChrilPs
offering up himfelf in thefe fufferings, as the greateft in-
ftance of foljy that ever men or angels faw, inftead of
bemg the molt glorious difplay of the divine wi/iom and
grace. Yea, felf-righteoufnefs makes all that Chiift did
and fuftercd through the whole courfe of his life, with
all that God did in the difpcnfations of his providence
irom the beginning, nothing, but a fcene of the moft
wild, extreme, and tranfcendent folly. —Is it any wonder,
^hen, thr.t a felf-righteous fpivit is fo reprefcntcd in fcrip-
7. z 2 ture,
35(5 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
ture, and fpoken of, as that which is moft fatal to the
fouls of men ? Or that Chrifl: was fo provoked with the
Pharifees and others, who trufted in themfelves that they
were righteous, and were proud of their goodnefs, and
thought that their own performances v/ere a valuable price
of God's favour and love ?
Let perfons hence be warned againft a felf-righteous
fpirit. You that are feeking falvation, and taking pains
in religion, take heed that you do not truft in what yon
do ; that you do not harbour any thoughts, that God
ought to accept of what you do, fo as to be inclined by it
in fome meafure to forgive you, and have mercy on you ;
or that he does not a£l juftly, if he refufe to regard your
prayers and pains.' Such complaining of God, and quar-
relling with him, for hot taking rnore notice of your
righteoufnefs, plainly fliows that you are guilty of all
that arrogance that has been fpoken of, thinking yourfelf
fufficient to offer the price of your ov/n falvation.
(3.) What has been faid on this fubje6l affords matter
of reproof to thofe who carelefsly negledl the falvation of
Chrift: fuch as live a fenfual life, neglecting the buhnefs,
of religion, and the falvation of their own fouls, having
their minds taken up about the gains, the vanities, and plea-
fures of the world. Let me here apply myfelf to you in
fome expoftulatory interrogations.
[1.] Shall fo many prophets, kings, and righteous
men, have their minds taken up with the profpe6t, that
the purchafe of Salvation was to be wrought out in ages
long after their death ; and will you neglect it when ac-
tually accomplilhed ? You have heard what great account
the church in all ages made of the future redemption of
Chrift ; howjoyfully they expe6led and fpoke of it. How
mucli did Ifaiah, Daniel, and other prophets, fpeak con-
cerning this redemption ! How did David employ his
voice and harp in celebrating it, and the glorious difplay
of divine grace therein exhibited ! How did Abraham
and the other patriarchs rejoice in the profpe6l of ChriiVs
day, and the redemption which' he was to purchafe !
And even the faints before the flood were elated in the
expcc-
IMPROVEMENT OF PERIOD II. 357
cxpedlation of this glorious event, though it was then fo
long future, fo faintly and obfcurely revealed to them.
Now thefe things are declared to you as actually fulfilled.
The church has feen accoinplidied all thofe great things
which they fo joyfully prophelied of. And yet, when
thefe things are fet before you as already acconiplilhed,
how light do you make of them ! How unconcerned are
you about them, following other things, not fo much
as feeling any int^reft in them ! Indeed your fm is ex-
tremely aggravated in the fight of God. God has put you
under a more glorious difpenfation ; has given you a more
clear revelation of Chrift and his falvation ; and yet you
negledl all thefe advantages, and go on in a carelefs courfe
of life, as though nothing had been done, no fuch difco-
vcry had been made you.
[2.] Have the angels been fo engaged about this fal-
vation ever fince the fall of man, though they are not
immediately concerned in it, and will you who need it,
and have it ottered to you, be fo carelefs about it ? You
liave heard how the angels at firlt were fubjecSled to Chrill
as mediator, and how they have all along been miniftering
fpirits to him in this affair. And when Chrift came, how
engaged were their minds ! They came to Zacharias, to
inform him of the coming of Chrift's forerunner ; to the
Virgin Mary, to inform her of the approaching birth of
Chrift; to Jofeph, to warn him of the danger which
threa:encd the new-born Saviour, and to point out the
means of fafety : and at the birth of Chrift, tlie whole
multitude of the heavenly hofts fang praifes upon the oc-
cafjon, faying, ' Glory to God in the higheil, and on
' earth, peace and good will towards men.' Afterwards,
horn time to time, they miniftered to Chrift when on
earth ; they did fo at the time of his temptation, at the
time of his agony in the garden, at his refurre6lion, and
at his afcenfion. All thefe things fhow, that they were
greatly engaged in this affair ; and the fcripture in^'orms
us, that they pry into thefe things: [i Pet. i. 12.] ' Which
* things the angels deftre to look into.' And how are they
jcprefcnted in the Revelation, ns being employed in hea-
358 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
vcn in finging praifes to him that fitteth on the throne,
and to the Lamb!— -Now, fhall thefe take fo much no-
tice of his redemption, and of the purchafer, who need
ft not for themfelves, and have no immediate intereft in
it ; and will you, who are in fuch extreme necefiity, negledl
and take no notice of it ?
[3.] Did Chrifl labour fo hard and fuffer fo much, to
procure this falvation, and is it not worth the while for
you to be at fome labour in fceking it ? Did our falvation
lie with fuch weight on the mind of Chrift, as to induce
him to become man, and to fufFer even death itfelf, in
order to procure it for us, and is it not worth the while for
you, who need this falvation, and muft perifli eternally
without it, to take earneft pains to obtain an intereft in it
after it is procured, and all things are ready ?
[4.] Shall the great God be fo concerned about this
falvation, as fo often to overturn the world to make way
for it : and Vv'hen all was done, is it not worth your feek-
ing after ? What greatj what wonderful things has the Lord
of heaven and earth done from one age to another, caft-
ing down and fetting up kings, raiiing up a great number
of prophets, fepciating a diftincl nation from the reft of
the world, overturning one kingdom and another, and
often the ftate of the world ; and fo has continued bringing
about one change and revolution after another, for forty
centuries in fuccefTion, to make way for the procuring of
this falvation ! And when he has done all, is it not
worthy of your being concerned about it, but that ft
{liould be thrown by, and made nothing of, in comparl-
Ibn of worldly gain, youthful diverfions, and other fuch
trifling things?— O ! that you who live negligent of this
falvation, would confider what you do ! ' What you have
heard from this fubje6^, may fhow you what reafon there
is in that exclamation of the Apoftle, [Heb. ii. 3.] ' How
-< fli'^1 we efcape if we negle6l fo great falvation ?' and in
(that, [A6ls xiii. 41.] 'Behold, ye defpifers, and wonder
* and perifti : for I work a work-in your days, a work
' which you fiiall in no wife believe, though a man de-
'' clare it unto you/ God looks on fuch as you as great
enemies
IMPROVEMENT OF PERIOD II. 359
enemies of the crofs of Chrift, and adverfaries and def-
pifers of all the glory of this great work. And if God
has made fuch account of the glory of falvation as to de-
ftroy many nations, and fo often overturn all nations, ro
prepare the way for the glory of his Son in this affair ;
how little account will he make of the lives ami fouls of
ten thoufand fuch oppofers and defpifers as you that con-
tinue impenitent, in competition with his glory ! Why
furely you (hall be dafhed in pieces as a potter's veffel,
and trodden down as the mire of the ftreets. God may,
through wonderful patience, bear with heardened carelefs
finners for a while ; but he will not always bear with fuch-
defpifers of his dear Son, and his great falvaric^fl, the gJory
of which he has had fo much at heart, but will utterly con-
fume them without remedy or mercy.
2. I conclude, fecondly, with a ufe of encouragement
to burdened fouls, to put their truft in Chrift for falva-
tion. To all fuch as are not carelefs and negligent, but
fenfible in fome meafure of their neceffity of an intereft iiv
Chrift, and afraid of the wrath to come ; to fuch, what has
been faid on this fubjed holds forth great matter of encou-
ragement, to venture their fouls on the Lord Jefus Chrift* ;
and as motives proper to excite youfo to do, let me lead yo\t
to confider two things in particular.
(i.) The completenefs of the purchafe which has been
made ; as you have heard, this work of purchafing fal-
vation was wholly finilhed during the time of Chrift's
humiliation. When Chrift rofe from the dead, and was
exalted from that abafement to which he fubmitted for
our falvation, the purchafe of eternal life was completely
made, fo that there was no need of any thing more to
be done in order to it. But now the fervants were fent
forth with this meflage, [Matt. xxii. iv.] ' Behold I have
* prepared my dinner : my oxen and my fattlings are kil-
* led, and all things are ready, come unto the marriage.'
Therefore all things being ready, are your fms many and
great? Here is enough done by Chrift to procure their
pardon ; there is no need of any righteoufnefs of yours
to obtain your juftification : no, you may come freely,
without
S6o HISTORY *0F REDEMPTION,
without money and without price : fince therefore ther^
is fuch a free and gracious invitation given you, come ;
come naked as you are ; come as a poor condemned cri-
minal ; come and cafl: yourfelf down at Chrift's feet, as
one juftly condemned, and utterly helplefs in yourfelf.
Here is a complete falvation wrought out by Chrift, and
through him otFered to you ; come, therefore, accept of
it, and be faved.
(2.) For Ch'rift to reje£l one that thus com.es to him,
would be to fruftrate all thofe great things which you
have heard that God brought to pafs from the fall of
man to the incarnation of Chrift. It would alfo fruftrate
all that Chrift did and fufFered while on earth ; yea,
it would fruftrate the incarnation of Chrift itfelf, for all
thefe things were for that end, that thofe might be faved
who Ihould come to Chrift. Therefore you may be fure
Chrift will not be backward in faving thofe who come to
him, and truft in him; for he has no defire to fruftrate
himfelf in his own work ; neither will God the Father
refufe you ; for he has no defire to fruftrate himfelf in
all that he did for fo many hundred years, to prepare
the way for the falvation of fmners by Chrift. Come,
therefore, hearken to the fweet and earneft call of Chrift.
[Matt. xi. 28—30.] ' Come unto me, all ye that labour,
' and are heavy laden, and I will give you reft; take my
* yoke upon you, and learn of me; and ye fhall find
' reft unto your fouls : for my yoke is eafy, and my bur-
* den is light.'
PERIOD.
[ 36i H
PERIOD III.
I
N difcourfing on this fubjecl:, we have alreatly fliovvn
how the work of redemption was carried on through the
two firfl of the three periods into which we divided the
whole fpace of time from the fall to the end of the world ;
and we are now come to the third and lafl: period, be-
ginning with Chrift's refurreition, and reaching to the
end of the world ; and are now to fhow how this work was
alfo carried on through this period, from the following
propolition— -
That the space of time from the resurrec-
tion OF Christ to the end of the world is all
ENGAGED IN BRINGING ABOUT THE GREAT EFFECT,
OR SUCCESS, OF ChRIST's PURCHASE.
Not but that there were great efFe<51s and glorious fuccefs
of Chrifl: s purchafe of redemption before, even from the
beginning. But all that fuccefs was only preparatory, and
by way of anticipation ; as fome few fruits arc gathered
before the harvcft. There was no more fuccefs before
Chrifl: came than God faw needful to prepare the way for
his coming. The proper time of the fuccefs or effe6l of
Chrift's purchafe of redemption is after the purchafe has
been made ; as the proper time for the world to enjoy
the light of the fun is the day time, after the fun is rifcn,
though we may have fome fmall matter of it refleiled from
the moon and planets before. And even the fuccefs of
Chrift's redemption, while he himfelf was on earth, was
very fmall, in comparifon of what it was after the con-
clufion of his humiliation.
But Chrift having tiniftied that greateft and moft diffi-
cult of all works, tlie work of the purchafe of redemption,
now is the time for him to obtain the joy that was fet before
him. Having made his foul an oftering for fin, now is
the time for him to fee his feed, and to have ' a portion
q A ' divided
-^Gi HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* divided to him with the great, and to divide the fpoil
* with the ftrong.' [Ifa. liii.]
One defign of Chrift's humiliation was, to lay a foun-
dation for the overthrow of Satan's kingdom ; and now is
come the time to effe6l it ; as Chrift a little hefore his cru-
cifixion faid, [John xii. 31.] ' Now is the judgment of
* this world ; now fhall the prince of this world be caft
* out.' Another defign was, to gather together in one all
things in Chrifl. [John xii. 32.] 'And I, if I be lifted
* up, will draw all men unto me ;' which is agreeable to
Jacob's prophecy of Chrift, that ' when Sh'tloh fhould
' come, to him Ihould the gathering of the people be.'
[Gen.xlix. 10.]— A third defign is the falvation of the
eledt. Now when his fuiFerings are finiflied, and his hu-
miliation is perfedled, the time is come for that alfo. [Heb,
V. 8, 9.] ' Though he were a Son, yet learned he obe-
' dience by the things which he fufFered ; and being made
* perfe(9:, he became the author of eternal falvation unto
' all them that obey him.'-— Another defign was, to ac-
complifh by thefe things great glory to the perfons of the
Trinity. Now alfo is come the time for that ; [John
xvii. I.] ' Father, the hour is come ; glorify thy Son, that
' thy Son alfo may glorify thee.' — Laftly, another defign
w^as the glory of the faints. [John xvii. 2 ] 'As thou
' haft given him power over all flefli, that he fhould give
* eternal life to as many as thou haft given him.' —
And all the difpenfations of God's providence hencefor-
ward, even to the final confummation of all things, are to
give Chrift his reward, and to fulfil the joy that was fee
before him.
INTRODUCTION.
BEFORE I enter on the confideration of the parti-
cular things accompliftied in this period, I would briefly
obferve, how the times of this period are reprefented in
fcripture,
I. The
INTRODUCTION TO PERIOD III. 363
1. The times of this period, for the moft part, are
thofe which in the Old Teftamenc are called the latter
days. We often, in the prophets of the Old Teftament,
read of luch and fuch things that fhould come to pafs
in the latter days, and fometimes in the laji days. Now
thcfe expreflions of the prophets arc moft commonly to
be uudcrftood of the times of this period. They are called
the latter days, and the laJl days ; becaufe this is the laft
period of the feries of God's providences on earth, the
laft period of that great work of Providence, the work
of redemption, which is, as it were, the fum of God's
works of providence, the time wherein the church is
under tlic laft difpenfation that ever will be given on
earth, (a)
2. The whole time of this period is fometimes in fcrip-
ture called ' the f«^ of the world.' [i Cor. x. 11.] ' Now
' all thefe things happened unto them for enfamples ; and
' they are written for our admonition, upon whom tlie
' ends of the world are come.' And the apoftle, [Heb,
ix. 26.] in this expreflion of the end of the world, means
the whole of the gofpel day, from the birth of Chrift
10 tlie Hniftiing of the day of judgment: ' But now once
*' in the end of the world hath he appeared, to put away
' fm by the facritice of himfelf.' This fpace of time
may well be called ' the end of the world ;' for this
whole time is taken up in bringing things to that great
ifluc that God had been preparing the way for, in all
the great difpenfations of providence, from the firft fall
of man to this time. Before, things were in a kind of
preparatory ftate, but now they arc in a hnifhing ftate :
it is the winding up of things which is all this while
accompliftiing. Heaven and earth began to Jhake in order
3 A 2 ' t(j
(a) The- LATTER DAYS.] Rabbi Z). /wW/j/ [ill Ifa. 31.] y^if^M
Ezra [in Hofca iii.] and ManaJJc, [lib. iii. Dc Refur.] all under-
ftand by this phrafc, ' the days of the Mefliah ;' and Dr. Owen
fuppoics them fo called, not fo much in reference to the gofpel,
as the lall difpenfation, or the end of the world, as fome have
fuppofcd, but " the lall days of the Judaical church and llatc."
[Owen in Heb. i. 2,]
564 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
to a dlfTolution, according to the propliecy of Haggai, be-
fore Chrifl: came, that fo only ' thofe things that cannot
* be ihaken may remain ;' [Heb. xii. 2.] /. e. that thofe
things that are to come to an end, may come to an end,
and that only thofe tilings may remain, which are to re-
main eternally.
So, in the firfl:,„piace, the carnal ordinances of the Jewifli
worfliip came to an end, to make way for the ertablifh-
ment of that fpiritual worfliip, the wordiip of the heart,
which is to endure to eternity. [John iv. 21, 23.] ' Jefus
* faith unto the woman. Believe me, the hour cometh,
' when ye fhall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Je-
' rufalera, worfliip the Father. — But the hour cometli,
* and now is, when the true w^orfliippers fhall worlhip the
* Father in fpirit and truth ; for the Father feeketh fuch
' to worlhip him.' This is one inftance of the temporary
world's coming to an end, and the eternal world's begin-
ning. Another inftance that the outward temple, and the
city of Jerufalem, came to an end, to give place to the
fetting up of the fpiritual temple and the city, which arc
to endure for ever, which is ^Ifo another inftance of re-
moving thofe things which are ready to vanifli away, that
thofe things which cannot be Ihaken may remain. Againj,
the old heathen empire comes to an end, to make way for
the e'verlariing empire of Chriil. Upon the fall of anti-
chrift, an end will be put to Satan's vifible kingdom on
earth, to eftabliih Chrift's eternal kingdom ; [Dan. vii.
27.] ' And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatnefs
* of the kingdom under the whole heaven, fliall be given
* to the faints of the Moll Higli, whofe kingdom is an
* everlafting kingdom, and all dominions fhall ferve and
* obey him :' which is another inftance of the ending ot
the temporary world, and tlic beginning of the eternal one.
And then, laflly, the very frame of this corruptible world
fhall come to an end, to make way for the church to dwell
in another dwelling place, which -fhall laft to eternity;
which is the concluding inftance.
Becaufe the world is thus coming to an end by various
fleps and degrees, the apolile perhaps ufes this expreffion,
that
INTRODUCTION TO PERIOD III. 365
that not the end, but the ends of the world are come on us ;
as though the world has feveral endings one after another.
— The gofpel difpenfation is the laft flate of things in the
world ; and this ftate is a tiniihing ftate : it is all fpetit
in finifliing things^ff" which before had been preparing,
or abolifliing ~tTiings which before had flood. It is all
fpent as it were in fumming things up, and bringing them
to their ilTues, and their proper fulfilment. Now all the
old rypes are fulfilled, and the predictions of all the pro-
phets from the beginning of the world Ihall be accom-
plithed in this period.
3. That flate of things which is attained in the events
of this period Is called ' a rievj heaven and a neu) earth ;'
[Ifa. Ixv. 17, 18.] ' For behold, I create a new heaven and
' a 7ieio earth : and the former fliall not be remembered,
♦ nor come into mind. But be you glad and rejoice for
* ever In that which I create ; for behold, I create Jerufa-
♦ 1cm a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And [ch. Ixvi.
j>2.] ' For as the new heavens and new earth which I
^ make, fhall remain before me ; fo Ihall your feed and
* your nam.e remain.' [See alfo ch. li. 16.] As the for-
mer ftate of things, or the old world, by one ftep after
another, is through this period coming to an end ; fo the
pew ftate of things, or the new world, which is a fplri-
tual world7 is beginning and fetting up. In conlec^uencc
of each of thefe finifhings of the old ftate of things, there
is the beginning of a ijew and eternal one. So that
which accompanied the deftru6lIon of the literal Jeru-
falem, was an eftablHhing of the fphitual. So with re-
fpe<fl to the deftru6tion of the old heathen empire, and
all the other endings of the old ftate of things, till at
length the very outward frame of the old world itfclf ftiall
come to an end \ and the church ftiall dwell in a world
new to it, or to a great part of it, even heaven, which
will be a new habitation : and then ftiall the utmoft be
accompliftied that is meant of the new heavens and new
earth. [See Rev. xxi. i.]
The end of God's creating the world was to prepare a
k:ngdo;"a for his Son, (for he is appointed heir of the
world)
366 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
world,) and that he might have the poffeflion of it, and a
kingdom in it, which fhould remain to all eternity. So
far as the kingdom of Chrift is fet up in the world, fo far
is the world hrought to _its_end, and the eternal ftate of
things fet up. So far are all the great changes and revolu-
tions of the world brought to their ultimate iffue. So far
are the waters of the long channel of divine Providence,
which has fo many branches, and fo many windings and
turnings, emptied out into their proper ocean, wliich they
have been feeking from the beginning and head of their
courfe, and fo are come to their reft. So far as Chrift's
kingdom is eftablifhed in the woild, fo far are things wound
up and fettled in their everlafting ftate, and a period put
to the courfe of things in this changeable world ; fo far arc
the fix ft heavens and the firft earth come to an end, and
the new lieavens and the new earth eftablilhed in their
room. Ihis leads me to oblcrve,
4. That the ftate of things which is attained by the
events of this period, is what is fo often called the kingdom
of heaven, or the kingdom oi God. We very often read in
the New Tcftp.ment oF the kingdom of heaven, John the
Baptift preached that the kingdom of heaven was at hand,
and fo did Chrift, and his difciples after him ; referring
to fomething that the Jews in thofc days expecSted, by that
name. They feem to have taken their expectation and
the name chiefly from that prophecy of Daniel in Nebu-
chadnezzar's dream. [Dan. ii. 44.] ' And in the days of
« thefe kings fhall the God of heaven fet up a kingdom.'
[See alfo chap. vii. 13, 14.] Now this kingdom of licavai
is that evangelical ftate of things in his church, and in'the
world, wherein confifts the fuccefs of Chrift's redemption
in this period. There had been often great kingdoms fet
up before.— But Chrift came to fet up the laft kingdom,
which is not an earthly kingdom, but an heavenly, and
fo is properly called the kingdom of heaven, [John xviii.
36.] ' My kingdom is not of the world.' [Luke xxii. 20.]
" My Father hath appointed mc a kingdom.'— Under this
head I would obferve fevcral things particularly, for the
clearer
INTRODUCTION TO PERIOD III. 367
clearer underftanding of what the fcriptures fay concern-
ing this period.
(i.) The fetting up of the kingdom of Chrift is chief-
ly accoinplilhed by four fucceffivc great events, each of
which is in fcripture" called Chrifl's coming in his kingdom.
The tirll: is Chrift's appearing in thofe wonderful difpen-
fations of providence in "the apoflles days, in ere6ling his
kingdom, and deftroying his enemies, which ended in the
deftruiSlion of Jerufaleni. This is called Chrift's coming
in his kingdom. [Matt. xvi. 28.] ' Verily I fay unto you,
* there be fome flanding here, which Ihall not tafle of
* deatli till they fee the Sori of man coming in his king-
* dom.' The Jecond^ was accomplilhed in Conftantinc's
time, in the deftru6lion of the heathen Roman empire.
This alfo is reprefented as Chrift's coming, and is com-
pared to the laft judgment. [Rev. vi. 13—17.] The third
is to be accompliflied at the deftrudlion of antichrift :
which is reprefented as Chrift's coming in his kingdom
in the prophecy of Daniel, and in other places, as I mav
poffibly fliow hereafter. The fourth and laft is his com-
ing to judgment in the end of time, which is the event
principally fignitied in fcripture by Chrift's coming in his
kingdom.
(2.) I would obfcrve, that each of the three former
of thefe is a lively image of the laft, viz. Chrift's coming
to the final judgment ; as the principal difprnfations of
providence before Chrift's firft coming were types of that
event. — As Chrift's laft coming to judgment is accom-
panied with a rcfurre6Vion of the dead, fo is each of the
three foregoing with a fpiritual refarre(£lion. The com-
ing of Chrift to the deftrudtioa of Jerufalem was pre-
ceded by a glorious fpiritual refurredlion of fouls in the
calling ot the Gentiles, and bringing multitudes to hin\
by the preaching of the gofpel. Chrift's coming in Con-
ftantinc's time was accompanied with a fpiritual refurrec-
tion of the greater part of the known world, in a refto-
ration of it to a vifible church ftatc, from a ftate of hea-
thenifm. So Chrift's coming at the deftru<5lion of anti-
chrift will be attended with a fpiritual refurrectlon of the
church
368 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
ch\ircli after it had been long as it were dead, in the times
of antichrift. This is called the firft refurredlion in the
Revelation, [chap. xx. 5.]
Again, as Chrift in the laft judgment will manifeft him-
felf in the glory of his Father, fo in each of the three
foregoing events Chrift glorioufly manifcfts himfelf in
judgments upon his enemies, and in grace and favour to
his church. As the laft coming of Chrift will be attended
with a literal gathering together of the eleiSl from the four
winds of heaven, fo were each of the preceding attended
with a fpiritual in-gathering. As this gathering together
of the ele6l will be eft'evSted by the angels with a great
found of a trumpet, [Matt. xxiv. 31.] fo are each of the
preceding by the trumpet of the gofpel, founded by the
minifters of Chrift : as there ftiall precede the laft appear-
ance of Chrift, a time of great degeneracy and wickednefs,
fo this has been, or will be, the cafe with each of the
other appearances. Before each of them is a time of great
oppofition to the church : before the firft, by the Jews ;
before the fecond, by the heathen ; before the third, by
antichrift ; and before the laft, by Gog and Magog, as
defcribed in the Revelation.
By each of thefe comings of Chrift, God works a
glorious deliverance for his church ; each of them is ac-
companied with, a glorious advancement of the ftate of
it.— The firft, which ended in the deftru6fion of Jeru-
falem, was attended with bringing the church into the
glorious ftatc of the gofpel ; the fecond, in Conftantine's
time, with an advancement of the church into a ftate of
liberty from perfecution, and the countenance of civil
authority, and triumph over their heathen perfecutors.
The third, which ftiall be at the downfall of antichrift,
will be accompanied with an advancement of the church
into that ftate of the glorious prevalence of truth, liberty,
peace, and joy, that we fo oiten read ot in the propheti-
cal parts of fcripture ; tlie laft will be attended with the
advancement of the church to confummate glory in hea-
ven.— Each of thefe is accompanied with a teniblc de-
ftrudtion of the wicked, and the enemies of the church •
the
INTRODUCTION TO PERIOD III. 369
the firft, with die terrible deftrudlion of the perfecuting
Jews; the fccond, with dreadful judgments on the hea-
then; the third, with the awful dcftrudlion of antichrilt,
the moft cruel and bitter enemy that ever the church had ;
the fourth, with divine wrath and vengeance on all the
ungodly.— Fartlier, there is in each of thefe appearances
of Chrift an ending of the old heavens and the old earth,
and a beginning of new heavens and a new earth ; or
an end of a temporal flate of things, and a beginning of
an eternal one.
(3.) I would obferve, that each of thofe four great
difpenfations which are reprefented as Chrift's coming in
his kingdom, are but fo many fteps and degrees of the
accomplilhment of one event. They are not the fetting
up of fo many diftin(5l kingdoms of Chrift ; they are all
of them only feveral degrees of the accomplifhment of
one event. [Dan. vii, 13, 14.] ' And I faw in the night
* vifions, and behold, one like the Son of man, came
* with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of
' days, and they brought him near before him. And
* there was given him dominion, and glory, and a king-
* dom, that all people, nations, and languages, Ihould
* ferve him: his dominion is an everlafting dominion,
* and his kingdom that which fhall not be deftroyed.'
This is what the Jews expe6ted, and called * the coming
* of the kingdom of heaven ;' and what John the Bap-
tift and Chrift had refpedl to, when they faid, ' The king-
' dom of lieaven is at hand.'
(4.) I would obferve, that as there are feveral fteps ol
the accomplilhment of the kingdom of Chrift, fo in each
one of them the event is accompliihed in a farther de-
gree than in the foregoing. That in the time of Con-
ftantine was a greater and farther acoompli/hment of the
kingdom of Chrift, than that which ended in the deftruc-
tion of Jerufalem ; that which ftiall be at the fall of an-
tichrift, will be a ftill farther accomplifliment of the fame
thing, and fo on with regard to each ; fo that the king-
dom of Chrift is gradually prevailing and growing by
q B thefe
370 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
thefe feveral great fteps of its fulfilment, from the time of
Chrift's refurre61:ion to the end of the world.
And becaufe thefe four great events are but images one
of another, and the three former but types of the laft,
and fince they are all only feveral fteps of the accomplilh-
ment of the fame thing ; hence we find them all from
time to time prophefied of under one, as they are in the
prophecies of Daniel, and likewife in the xxivth. chapter
of Matthew, where fome things feem more applicable to
one of them, and others to another.
(5.) And laftly. It m.ay be obferved, that the provi-
dences of God between thefe four great events are to
make way for the kingdom and glory of Chrift in the
great event following. Thofe difpenfations of providence
which were towards the church of God and the world,
before the del"i:ru6lion of the heathen empire in the time
of Conftantine, feem all to have been to make way for
the glory of Chrift, and the happinefs of the church in
that event. And fo the gracious providences of God
fmce that, till the deftruclion of antichrift, and the
beginning of the gloriovis times of the church which
follow, feem all to be to prepare the way for the greater
glory of Chrift and his church in that event ; and the
providences of God which fhall be after that to the end
of the world, feem to be for the greater rhanifeftation
of Chrift's glory at the end of the world, and in the con-
iummation of all things.
I thought it needful to obferve thofe things in general
concerning this laft period of the feries of God's provi-
dence, before I take notice of the particular provi-
dences by which the work of redemption is carried on
through this period ; and before I proceed, I will alio
briefly anfwer to an inquiry, viz. Why the fetting up of
I Chrift's kingdom after his humiliation ihould be fo gra-
I dual, by fo many fteps, and fo long in accomplilhing,
\ fmce God could eafily have hniflted it at once ? Though
' it would be prelumption in us tq pretend to declare all
the ends of God in this, yet doubtlefs much of the wif-
doin
INTRODUCTION TO PERIOD III. 371
dom of God may be feen in it by us; and particularly in
thcfc two things :
[i.] In this refpecl God's wifdom is more villble: if
it had been done at once, or in a very ihort time, there
would not have been fuch oppo rtunit ies to perceive and
obferve it, as when the work is gradually accomplilhed,
and one effe6l of his wifdom is held forth to obfervation
after another. It is wifely determined of God, to ac-
compli fh this great defign by a wonderful and long feries
of events, that the glory of his wifdom may be difplayed
in the whole feries ; and that the glory of his perfe6lions
may be feen, appearing, as it were, by parts, and in par-
ticular fucceffive manifeftations ; for if all that glory which
appears in all thefe events had been manifefled at once, it
would have been too much for us, and more than we at
once could take notice of; it would have dazzled our eyes
and overpowered our fight.
[2.] Satan is more glorioufly triumphed over. God
could eafily, by an a£t of almighty power, at once have
cruflied Satan. But by giving him time to ufe his ut-
moft fublilty to hinder the fuccefs of what Chrift had
done and fullered, he is not defeated merely by furprife,
but has large opportunity to ufe his utnioft power and
fubtilty again and again, to ftrengthen his own interefl: all
that he can by the work of many ages. Thus God de-
llroys and confounds him, and fets up Chrift's kingdom
time after time, in fpite of all his fubtle machinations and
great works, and by every flap advances it ftill higher
and higher, till at length it is fully fet up, and Satan per-
fe(*Hy and eternally vanquished.
I now proceed to take notice of the particular events,
whereby, from the end of Chrifl's humiliation to the end
of the world, the fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe has been or
ihall be accompliflied.
3 B 2 § I. Those
372 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
'■{ a
§ I. Those things whereby Christ was capaci-
tated FOR THIS WORK.
I WOULD take notice, firft, of thofe things by
which Chrift was put into a capacity for accomplifhing
the end of his purchafe. And they are two things, viz.
his refurreftion and his ajcenjion. As we obferved before,
the incarnation of Chrift was neceffary in order to Chrift's
being in a capacity for the purchafe of redemption, fo the
refurredtion and afcenfion of Chrift were requifite in order
to his accompli (hing the fuccefs of his purchafe.
I. His refurre^ion. It was neceflary in order to Chrift's
obtaining the end and efFe6l of his purchafe of redemp-
tion, that he lliould rife from the dead. For God the
Father had committed the whole affair of redemption, not
only the purchafmg of it, but the beftowment of the blef-
fings purchafed, to his Son, that he Ihould not only pur-
chafe it as pricft, but a6lually accomplifti it as king of
Zion; and in his complex perfon as God-man. For the
Father would have nothing to do with fallen man in a
way of mercy but by a mediator. But in order that Chrift
might carry on the work of redemption, and accomplilh
thus the fuccefs of his own purchafe, it was necef-
fary that he fhould be alive, and fo that he {liould rife
from the dead. Therefore Chrift, after he had finiihed
this purchafe by death, (b) and by continuing for a time
under
(b) Chrifl Jin'i/hed his purchafe by his death. ~\ Our author pro-
perly omits the defcent of Chrift to hell, and his fappofed work
there. But it maybe faid, Do not both the Old and New Tefta-
ment, [Pfalm xvi. lo. — Afts ii. 31.J (as well as the apoftle's
creed) intimate that Chrift defcended into hell, in thofe well-
known v/ords, * Thou wilt not leave my foul in hell?' — We an-
fwer, that this is explained (as is the manner of the Hcb. poetr}')
in the following words, ' Neither wilt thou fuff"er thine Holy one
' to fee corruption ;' fo the fame words are ufed, [Pfalm Ixxxix.
48.] * What man is he that liveth, and (hall not fee death ? Shall
' he deliver his foul from, the hand of the grave?' — In the Heb.
[^INty] the word commonly rendered Hell, but which, indeed,
properly fignifies * the invifible Hate,* (as our word ^f// originally
did)
CHRIST CAPACITATED FOR HIS WORK. 373
under the power of death, rifcs from the dead, to fulfill
the end of his purchafc, and himfelf to bring about that
for which he died : for this matter God the Father had
committed unto him, that he might, as Lord of all, ma-
nage all to his own purpofes : [Rom. xiv. 9.] * For to
• this end Chrift both died, and role, and revived, that he
' might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.*
Lidced, both Chrift's refurreftion and his afcenfion,
were part of the fuccefs of what he did and fuffered in his
Immiliation. For though Chrift did not properly pur-
chafe redemption for himfclf, yet he purchafed eternal
life and glory for himfelf, (as man and Mediator) and
ihefe were given him as a reward of what he did and
fuffered. [Phil. ii. 8, 9.] ' He humbled himfelf, and be--
' came obedient unto death, even the death of the crofs :
' wherefore hath God highly exalted him.' And it may
be looked upon as part of the fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe,
if it be confidered, that he did not rife as a private perfon,
but as the head of his eledl church ; fo that they did, as it
were, all rife with him. Chrift was juftified in his refurr
redlion, i. e. God acquitted and difcharged him hereby,
as having done and fuffered enough for the fnis of all the
eleft. [Rom. iv. 2c.] ' Who was delivered for our of-
fences, and railed again for our juftification.' And
God put him in poffeffiori of eternal life, as the head of
the chuich, as a fure earnefi that they Ihould follow. Fcr
when Chrift rofe from the dead, it was the beginning of
eternal life in him. His life before his death was a mor-
tal life, a temporal life ; but his life after his refurreftion
was an eternal life. [Rom. vi. 9.] ' Knowing that Chrift
' being raifed from the dead, dietii no more ; death hatri
' no more dominion over him.' [Rev. i. 18.] ' I am he that
* liveth and was dead ; and behold I am alive for ever-
more,
did) and the other word [il'Dj] fignifies not always the immortal
foul, but the animal frame in general, either living or dead. As
to the creed, Bp. Pearfon has (hewn, that this article was lirft in-
fertcd to cxprefs the burial of Chrift, although afterwards, when
that claufe was added, this was explained of his foul. [See Bp.
Pearfon on the Creed, and Faiilke on ihc Rhemifli Teftament,
chap, vii.] [G. E.J
374 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION. "
* more, Amen.'— But he was put in poffeffion of this eter-
nal life, as the head of the body ; and took pofleflion of
it, not only to enjoy it himfelf, but beftow the fame on
nil who believe in him ; fo that the whole church, as it
were, rifcs in him.
The refurredion of Chrift is the moft joyful event that
ever came to pafs ; becaufe hereby Chrift refted from
the great and difficult work of purchafmg redemption,
and received God's tcftimony, that it was finiflied. (c)
The death of Chrift was full of pain and forrow ; by
liis refurreilion that forrow is turned into joy. The head
of the church, in that great event, enters on the poffef-
fion of eternal life ; and the whole church is, as it were,
* begotten again to a lively hope.' [i Pet. i. 3.] Weep-
ing had continued for a night, but now joy cometh in
the morning, the moft joyful morning that ever was.
This is the day of the reigning of the head of the
church, and all the church reigns with him. This is
fpoken of as a day which was wortliy to be commemo-
rated with the greateft joy of all days. [Pfal. cxviii. 24.]
' This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will re-
' joicc
(c) Chrtjl^s Refurredlon joyful.] " Was ever joy more ra-
tional? Was ever triumph more glorious? The triumphant en-
tries of conquerors, tiie fongs that rend the air in praife of their
vlftories, the pyramids on which their exploits are tranfmitted to
pollerity, when they have fubdued an enemy, routed an army,
humbled the pride, and reprefled the rage of a foe ; ought not
all thefe to yield to the joys that are occalioned by the event
which we cclebiate to-day? Ought not all thefe to yield to the
viftoi-Ies of our incomparable Lord, and to his people's exprefTion
of praife ? One part of the gratitude which is due to beneficial
events, is to know their value, and to be affefted with the bene-
fits they procure. Let us celebrate the praife of the author of
our redemption, my brethren ; let us call heaven and earth to
witnefs our gratitude. Let an increafe of zeal accompany this
part of our engagements. Let a double portion of fire from
heaven kindle our facrifices, and, with a heart penetrated with
the liveliell gratitude and with the moft ardent love, let each
Chriftian exclaim, * Blefled be the God and Father of my Lord
* Jefus Chrift, wlio, according to his abundant mercy, hath be-
* gotten* me again to a lively hope by the reftirreBlon of Jefus
* Chrift from the dead." [Saurin's Sermons, vol. ii. Ser. 8.j
CHRIST CAPACITATED FOR HIS WORK. 37^
' joice and be glad in it.' And, therefore, this is ap-
pointed for the day of the church's fpiritual rejoicing to
the end of the world, to be weekly fan6tiiied, as their day
of holy reft and joy, that the church therein may reft and
rejoice with her head. And as the iiid. chap, of Genefis is
the moft forrowful chapter in the Bible, fo thofe chapters
in the evangelifts that give an account of the refurre6lion
of Chrift, may be looked upon as the moft joyful ; for
they give an account of the tinifhing of the purchafe of
redemption, and the beginning of the glory of the head
of the church, as a feal and earneft of the eternal glory of
all the members.
It is farther to be obferved, that the day of the gofpel
jnoft properly begins with the refurrecSlion of Chrift. —
Till Chrift arofe from the dead, the Old Teftament difpen-
fation remained : but now it ceafes, all being fulfilled that
was fhadowed forth in the typical ordinances of that dif-
penfation: fo that here moft properly is the end of the
Old Teftament night, and Chrift riling from the grave
with joy and glory, as the joyful bridegroom of the church,
as a glorious conqueror to fubduc their enemies under
their feet, was like the fun rifing as it were from under
the earth, after a long night of darknefs, and cominp- forth
as a bridegroom, prepared as a ftrong man to run his race,
appearing in joyful light to enlighten the world. [Pfal.
xix.] Now that glorious difpenfation begins, which the
prophets fo long foretold, now the gofpel fun is rifen in
glory, ' and with healing in his wings, that thofe who fear
' God's name may go forth, and grow up as calves of
' the ftalL' [Mai. iv. 2.]
2. Chrift's afccnjion into heaven. In tliis I would
include his fitting at the right hand of God. For Chrift's
afccnlion, and fitting at the right hand of God, can fcarce-
ly be looked upon as two diftin6l things: for his afcenfiou
was nothing clfe but afcending to God's right hand ; it was
his coming to fit down at his Father's right hand in glory.
This was another thing whereby Chrift was put into a
capacity for ilic accompliihing the efted of his purchafe ;
■ as ^ne 'that comes to, deliver a people as their king,
376 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
in order to it, and that he might be under the beft capa-
city for it, is tirft enthroned. We are told, that Chrift
was exalted for this end, that he might accomplifh the
fuccefs of his redemption. [Acls v. 31,] ' Him hath God
' exalted with his right hand, for to give repentance unto
* Ifrael, and the remifTion of fins.*
Chrifl's afcenfion into heaven was, as it were, his folemn
coronation, whereby the Father did fet him upon die
throne, and inveft him with the glory of his kingdom
which he had purchafed for himfelf, that he might there-
by obtain the fuccefs of his redemption in conquering all
his enemies: [Pfal. ex. i.] 'Sit thou at my right hand,
' until I make thine enemies thy footftooL' Chrift enter-
ed into heaven, in order to obtain the fuccefs of his pur-
chafe, as the high prieft of old, after he had offered facri-
fice, entered into the holy of holies with the blood of the
facrifice, in order to obtain the fuccefs of the facrifice
which he had offered, [See Heb. ix 12.] He entered into
heaven, there to make interceffion for his people, to
plead the facrifice which he had made in order to the fuc-
cefs of it. [Heb. vii. ■25.]— And as he afcended into
heaven, God the Father did in a vifible manner fet him
on the throne as king of the univerfe. He then put the
angels all under him, and fubjedled heaven and earth un-
der him, that he might govern them for the good of the
people for whom he had died. [Eph i. 20— 22.]— And
as Chrift: rofe from the dead, fo he afcended into heaven
as the head oi^ the body and forerunner of all the church ;
and fo they, as It were, afcend with him, as well as rife
with him ; fo that we are both raifed up together, and
made to fit together in heavenly places in Chrift. [Eph.
ii. 6 ]
The day of Chrift's afcenfion into heaven was doubtlcfs
a joytul glorious day in heaven ; and as heaven received
Chrift, God-man, as its king, fo doubtlefs it received a
great acceftlon of glory and happinefs, far beyond what it
had before: fo that the times in both parts of the church,
both that part wliich is in heaven, and alfo that which
is on earth, are become more glorious fince Chrift's humi-
liation
IN THE APOSTOLIC AGE. 377
liation than before.— So much for thofe things whereby
Chrift was put into the beft capacity for obtaining the fuc-
cefs of redemption.
§ II. Dispensations of Providence by which
THIS SUCCESS WAS ESTABLISHED.
:I WOULD confider thofe difpenfations of Providence,
by which the means of this fuccefs were eftabliflied after
Chrifl's refurreclion. And thefe were,
^^h. The abolifhing of the Jewifli difpenfation. This in-
deed was gradually done, but it began from the time of
Chrift's refurrecVion, in which the abolition of it is found-
ed. This was the tirft thing done towards bringing the
former ftate of the world to an end. This is to be looked
upon as the great means of the fuccefs of Chrift's redemp--
tion. For the Jew'ijli difpenfation was not fitted for more
than that one nation ; nor would it have been in any wife
pradticable by them in all parts of the world to go to je-
rufalem three times a year, as was prefcribed in that con-
ftitution. When therefore God had a defign of enlareinc
his church, as he did after Chrift's refurredlion, it was
neceflary that this difpenfation ihould be aboliftied. If it
had been continued, it would have been a great hindrance
to the enlargement of the church. And beftdes, their ce-
remonial law, by reafon of its burdenfomenefs, and the
great peculiarity of fome of its rites, was as it were a wall
of partition, and was the ground of enmity between the
Jews and Gentiles, and would have kept the Gentiles from
complying with the true religion. This wall therefore
was broken down to make way for the more extenfive fuc-
cefs of the gofpel. [Eph. ii. 14, 15.]
'2. The next thing in order of time feems to be the ap-
pointment of the Chriftian fabbath. For though this was
gradually eftabliihed in the Chriftian church, yet thofe
things by which the revelation of God's mind and will was
made, began on the day of Chrift's refurredlion, by his
appearing then to his difciplcs, [John xx. 19.] and was
iitterwards confirmed by his appearing from time to time
3 C on
378 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
on that day rather than any other, [John xx. 26.] and by
his fending down the Holy Spirit fo remarkably on that
day, [A6^s ii. i.] and afterwards in directing that public
afiemblies and the public worlhip of Chriflians fliould be
on that day, which may be concluded from A6ts xx. 7.
I Cor. xvi. 1,2. and Rev. i. 10. And fo the day of the
week on which Chrift rofe from the dead, that joyful day,
is appointed to be the day of the church's holy rejoicing to
the end of the world, and the day of their fbatcd public
worfliip. (d) And this is a very great and principal means
of the faccefs which the gofpel has had in the world.
3. The next tiling was Chrift's appointment of the gof-
pel miniflry, and commiffioning and fending forth his
apoftles to teach and baptize all nations, [Matt, xxviii.
19, 20.] ' Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptiz-
' ing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
' of the Floly Ghoft ; teaching them to obferve all things
* whatfoever I have commanded you : and lo, I am with
' you alway, even unto the end of the world.' — There
were three things done by this one inftruclion and com-
miffion of Chrift to his apcfiles, viz.
(i.) The appointment of the ofhce of the gofpel mi-
niftry. For this commiffion which Chrift gives to his
apoftles, in the moft effential parts of it, belongs to all
minifters ; and the apoftles, by virtue of it, were minif-
ters or elders of the univerfal church.
(2.) Here is fomething peculiar in this commiffion of
the apoftles, viz. to go torth from one nation to another,
preaching
(d) Chri/l chafiged the sa'BB at H.I " If the day on vi^hich he
rofe from the dead, be the day which is called the Lord's ; if on
the fird day of the week the primitive Chrillians, even in the
apoftolic times, did afiemble for religious purpofes ; did hear the
word; did celebiatc the fupper ; did lay by them in ftore, a.^
God had profpered them ; fhall we not conclude, that it is the
will of God that nov,- the feventh day -{hall give place unto the
firft ? Hcieby is intimated to you, Chrilijaiis, that ye are not firft
to work, and then to rell, as under the ancient covenant of works,
but that, in the order of the new covenant, your privilege precedes
your duty, and your labour follows after your reft." [M'Ev/en's
Eflays, vol. i. p. 295.]
IN THE APOSTOLIC AGE. 379
preaching the gofpel in all the world. The apoftles had
fomething above what belonged to their ordinary chara6lcr
as miniftcrs ; they had an extraordinary power in teaching
and ruling, which extended to all the churches in the end
of the world. And (o the apoftles were, in fubordination
to Chrift, made foundations of the Chriftian church. [Sec
l^ph. ii. 20. and Rev. xxi. 14.]
(3.) Here is an appointment of Chriftian baptifm. Tiiis
ordinance indeed had a beginning before : John the BaptiO:
and Chrift both baptized. But now efpecially by this in-
flitution it is eftabliilicd as an ordinance to be upheld in the
Chriftian church to the end of the world. — The ordinance
of the Lord's fupper was eftabliflied juft before Chrift's
A:rucifixion.
4. The next thing to be obferved, is the enduing tlie
apoftles, and others, with the extraordinary and miiacu
lous gifts of the Holy Ghoft ; fuch as the gift of tongues,
the gift of healing, of prophecy, &:c. The Spirit of God
was poured out in great abundance in this refpedl : fo that
not only minifters, but a great number of Chriftians through
the world, were endued with them, both old and young ;
not only officers, and more honourable perfons, but the
meaner fort of people, fervants and handmaids, agreeable
to, Joel's prophecy, [ch. ii. 28, 29.] of which the apoftle
Peter takes notice, that it is accompliflicd in this difpen-
fation. [A6ts ii. 1 1.] ^
How wonderful a difpenfation was this ! Under the Old
Teftament, but lew had fuch honours put upon them by
God. Mofes wiihed that all the Lord's people were pro-
})hets, [Numb. xi. 27—29.] whereas Joftiua thought ii
much that Eldad and Medad prophefied : but now we find
the wiih of Mofcs fulfilled. And this continued in a very
confiderable degree to the end of the apoftolic age, or the
firft hundred years after the birth of Chrift, which is there-
fore called the age of miracles.
This was a great means of the fuccefs of the gofpel in
that age, and of eftabliftiing the Chriftian cliurch in all
parts of the world ; and not only in that age, but in all
3 C 2 age:
3«o HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
ages to the end of the world: (e) for Chrlflianity being
by this means eflablUhed through fo great a part of the
known world by miracles, it was after that more eafily
continued by tradition ; and then, by means of thefe extra-
ordinary gifts of the Holy Ghoft, the apoftles, and others,
were enabled to write the New Teftament, to be an in- -
fallible rule of faith and manners to the church to the end
of the world. Furthermore, thefe miracles ftand recorded
in thofe writings as a {landing proof and evidence of the
truth of the Chriftian religion to all ages.
c. The next thing T would obferve is the revealing thofe
crlorious do^lrines of the gofpel more fully and plainly,
which had under the Old Teflament been obfcurely re-
vealed. The do6lrine of Chrift's fatisfaftion and righte-
oufnefs, his afcenfion and glory, and the way of falvation,
under the Old Teftanient, were in a great meafure hid
under the vail of types and ihadows, and more obfcure
revelations, as Mofes put a vail on his face to hide the
Ihining of it : but now the vail of the temple is rent from
llie top to the bottom ; and Chrift, the antitype of Mofes,
ihines ; the fliining of his face is without a v?.il ; [2 Cor.
iii. 12, 13, and 18.] Now thefe glorious myfteries are
plainly revealed, which were in a great meafure kept fecret
from
(e) Chr'ijl'innity eJIaUiJIoedhy MIRACLES.] " Imagine thefe ve-
nerable men addrcfiing their adverfaries on the day of the Chriftian
pentccoft in this langnage, ' Ye refufe to believe us on ovn- depo-
* litions ; five hundred of us ye think are enthufialls ; . . . . orper-
' haps ye think us impoftors, or take us for madmen But
* bring out your fick ; prefent your demoniacs ; fetch hither your
* dead Let all nations fend us fome of their inhabitants ;
* we v,ill reftore hearing to the deaf, and fight to the blind ; we „
* will make the lame walk ; we will caft out devils, and raife the J
' dead. We, we publicans, we illiterate men, we tent-makers.
* we fifhermen, we vrill difcourfe with all the people of the world
* in their own languages. We will explain prophecies,
* develop the mod fublime myfteries, teach you notions of God,
' precepts for the conduft of life, plans ^of morality and religion,
* more cxtenfive, more fublime, and more advantageous, than
* thofe of your prlefts and philofophers, yea, than thofe of Mofes
* himftlf. We will do more ftill ; we will communicate thofe gifts
* to you." [Saurin's Sermons, vol. ii. Sei. S.]
IN THE APOSTOLIC AGE. 381
from the foundation of the world. [Eph. iii. 3—5. Rom.
xvi.25.] ' According to the revelations of the myftery
* which was kept fecrct fmce the world began, but is now
' made manifell:.' [Col. i. 26.] ' Even the myftery which
' hath been hid from ages, and generations, but now is
' made manifefl: to his faints.'
Thus the Sun of righteoufnefs, after it is rifcn from
under the earth, begins to fhine forth clearly, and not
only by a dim reflc6lion as it did before. Chrill: before
his death revealed many things more clearly than ever
they had been difcovered in the Old Teftament ; but the
great myfteries of Chrift's redemption, reconciliation by
his death, and juftitication by his righteoufnefs, were not
fo plainly revealed before Chrifl's refurre6lion. Chrift
gave this reafon for it, that he would not put new wine
into old bottles : and it was gradually done after his rc-
furre6tion. In all likelihood, Chrift much more clearly
inftrudVed them jierfonally after his refurre6lion, and be-
fore his afcenfion ; as we read that he continued with them
forty days, fpeaking of the things pertaining to the king-
dom, [A(Sls i. 3.] and that ' he opened their undcrftand-
' ing, that they might underftand the fcripturcs.' [Luke
xxiv. 45.] But the clear revelation of thefe things was
principally after the pouring out of the Spirit on the day
of Pentecoft, agreeable to Chrift's promife. [John xvi.
12, 13.] ' I have yet many things to lay unto you, but ye
* cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when the Spirit of
* truth is come, he fhall guide you into all truth.' This
clear revelation of the myfteries of the gofpcl, as they are
delivered, we have chiefly through the hands of the apof-
tle Paul, by whofe writings a child may come to know
more of the do6lrines of the gofpel, in many refpe6ls, than
the grcateft prophets knew under the darknefs of the Old
Teftament. — Thus you fee how the ligiu of the gofpel,
which began to dawn immediately after the fall, and gra-
dually grew and increafed through all the ages of the Old
Teftament, is now come to the light of perfe6l day, and
the hrightncfs of the fun Ihining forth in his unvailed
glory.
6. The
382 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
6. The next thing that I would obferve, is the appoint-
ment of the office of deacons in the Chrifdan church, which
we have an account of in the vith chap, of the A6ls, to
take care for the outward fupply of the members of Chrill's
church ; and the exercife of that great chriftian virtue,
charity, (f)
7. The calling, qualifying, and fending the apoflle Taul.
This was begun in his converfion as he was going to Da-
mafcus, and was one of the greatelT: means of the fuccefs
of Chrift's redemption that followed ; for this fuccefs was
more by the labours, preaching, and writings of this apof-
tle, than all the others put together. For, as he fays, [ i
Cor. XV. 10.] he ' laboured more abundantly than they
* all ;' fo alfo his fuccefs was more abundant. As he was
the apoftle of the Gentiles, fo it was principally by his
miniftry that the Gentiles were called, and the gofpel
fpread throughout the world ; and the nations of Europe
have the gofpel among them chiefly through his means ;
and he was more employed by the Holy Ghoft in revealing
its
(f) Deacons appointed.'] " It is generally allowed by inqui-
rers into thefe fubjedts, that in the primitive church there were
deaconejfes, i. e. pious women, whofe particular bufinefs it uas
to aflill in the entertainment and care of the itinerant preachers ;
vifit the fick and imprifoned, inilruft female catechumens, and
affill at their baptifm ; then more particularly neceflary from the
peculiar cuftoms of thofe countries, the perfecuted Itate of the
church, and the fpcedier fpreading of the gofpel.— Such a one
it is reafonable to think Phehe was, [mentioned Rom. xvi. i.]
who is exprefsly called a deaconefs, or ftated fervant, as Dr.
Doddridge renders it.— They were ufually 'w'ldoivs, and to pre-
vent fcandal, generally in years, [i Tim. v. 9. See alfo Span-
hem. Hift. Chrift Secul. i. p. 554.] The apoftolic conftitutions
(as they are called) mention the ordination of a deaconefs, and
the form of prayer ufed on that occafion ; [lib. viii. ch. 19, 20. J
Pliny alfo, in his celebrated epiflle [xcvii.] to Trajan, is thought
to refer to them, when fpcaking of two female Chrillians, wlioni
he put to the torture, he fays, qua m'in\jJra dlcehnntur, i. e. who
were called deaconefTes. — But as the primitive Clirilh'ans feem to
be led to this practice from the pecuharity of their circumttanccs,
and the fcripture is entirely fdent as to any appointment to this
fuppofed office, or any rules about it, it is, I think, very jnftly
laid afide, at Icall as an office." [D. Turner's Social Religion,
p. 8>-, 86.]
IN THE APOSTOLIC AGE. 3S3
Its glorious dodlrines in liis writings, for the ufe of the
church in all ages, than all the other apoftlcs.
8. The next thing I would obferve, is the inftltution of
ecclcfiaftical councils, for deciding controvcrfies, and ordcr-
incr the affairs of the church of Chrift, of which we have
an account in the xvth chap, of the A61:s. (g)
9. The laft thing I fliall mention under this head, is
the committing the New Tellament to writing. This
was all written after the refurre6lion of Chrift ; and all
written, either by the apoftles, or by the evangelifts Maik
and Luke, who were companions of the apoftles. The
gofpel of Mark is fuppofed to be written by that Mark
whofe mother was Mary, in whofe houfe they were pray-
ing for Peter, when he, (brought out of prifon by the
angel,) came and knocked at the door; [A61:s xii, 12.}
* And when he had confidercd the thing, he came to the
' houfe
(g) The origin of COUNCILS.] Wlio can help admiring the
primitive inftitution of councils, and at the fame time deploring
the abufc of them in after ages ? While they were affemblies of
excellent and apoftolical men, who met to confult and advife with
one another on the common interells of Chriftianity, we venerate
and efteem them ; but when they degenerated to be tools of ftatc,
and were compofed of men heated by a fpirit of party, and v.-arped
by fecular interefts, who fliowed their piety only in afpiring to
feats of temporal power, and their zeal in excommunicating and
perfccuting each other ; — then they became objects only of pity
and contempt. Yet (fuch is the courfe of human affairs) as they
funk in value, they rofc in authority, and when they grew carnal
and vicious, were judged infallible and divine ! It would be tedi-
ous to enumerate the multitude of councils which affembled as
fuoH as the hand of perfecution permitted ; and to point out their
contradiiSlions and abfurdities would feem a fatire on the Chriftian
faith. " But the four firll general councils are received by all^
Proteftants, &c. Received, how ? Not by any in their wits, as
the rule of faith, or part of it. They have in them fomc things
true, fome things probable only, and no quellion, fome things
falfe ; and whether they be true or fairc,(in points of faith, I mean)
fciipture mull determine. Well, this Is the Chriftian'?, the Pro-
tellant's rule of faith ! . . . . It was departing from this rule, and
fetting up an exorbitant power in the church, and the pallors of
it, .... that led on the great apoitafy, and helped up antlchrift:
to his throne." [Bennet's Mem. of the Reform, p. 8.]
S84 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* houfe of the mother of John, whofe firname was Mark,
* where many were gathered together praying.' He was
the companion of tlie apoftles Barnabas and Saul. [A6ls
XV. 3'7.] ' And Barnabas determined to take with them
' John, wliofe firname was Mark.'' He was Barnabas's
fifter's fon, and feems fometime to have been a com-
panion cf the apoflle Paul. [Col. iv. lo.] ' Ariftarchus,
' my fellow prifoner, faluteth you, and Alnrcus, fifter's fon
* to Barnabas ; touching whom ye received commandment:
* if he come unto you leceive him.' The apoftles feem
to have "made great account of him, as appears by thofc
places, and alfo by A6ls xii. 25. ' And Barnabas and Saul
' returned from Jerufalem, and took with them John,
' whofe firname was Mark;'' and [A6ls xii. 5.] ' When
' they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in
* the fynagogues of the Jews ; and they had alfo John to
* their minifter ;' again [Tim. iv. 11.] ' Only Luke is
* with me : i^k& Mark and bring him with thee; for he is
< profitable to me for the miniftry.
Luke, who wrote the gofpel of Luke and the book of
A£ts, was a companion of the apoftle Paul. He is fpo-
ken of as being with him in the laft-mentioned place, and
fpeaks of himfclf as accompanying him in his travels in
the hiftory of the Acls \ and therefore he fpeaks in the firft
perfcn plural, PFe went to fuch and fuch a place. He
was greatly beloved by the apoftle Paul : he is that be-
loved phyfician fpoken of. Col. iv. 14. The apoftle ranks
Mark and Luke among his fellow labourers. [Philemon,
24.] ' Marcus, Ariftarchus, Demas, Lucas, my ' fellow
' labourers.'
The reft of the books were all written by the apoftles
thcmfelves. The books of the New Teftament are either
hiftorical, do6Vrinal, or prophetical. The h'ljior'ical books
are the writings of the four evangelifts, giving us the hif-
tory of Chrift, and his purchafe of redemption, with his
refurrcfVion and afccnfion : and the Ads of the Apoftles,
giving an account of the great things by which the Chrif-
tian church was ftrft eftabliflicd and propagated. The
dotlnnal books are the epiftles. Thefe, moft of them,
we
IN THE APOSTOLIC AGE. " 385
we have from the great apoftle Paul. And we have one
prophetical book, which takes place after the end of the
hiftory of the whole Bible, and gives an account of the
great events by which the work of redemption was to be
carried on to the end of the world
All thefe books are fuppofed to have been written before
the deftrudlion of Jerufalem, excepting thofe of John, who
lived the longeft of all the apoftles, and wrote, as is fup-
pofed after the deftru6tion of Jerufalem. And to this be-
loved difciple it was that Chrift revealed thofe wonderful
things which were to come to pafs in his church to the end
of time ; and he put the tinirtiing hand to the canon of the
fcriptures, and fealed the whole of it. So that now that
great and (landing written rule, which was begun about
Mofes's time, was completed and fettled, and a curfe de-
nounced againft him that adds any tiling to it, or diminiflies
any thing from it. All the flated means of grace were
hniflied in the apoftolical age, and are to remain unaltered
to the day of judgment, (h) — Thus far we have confidered ,
thofe things by which the means of grace were given and
eflabliflied in the Chriftian church.
§ III. The
(h) The New Testament wnV/t^^.] It may not be unac-
ceptable to our readers toprefent them with the following fcheme,
from the bcil authorities, of the order in which the New Telta-
ment was written, with the authors and dates of each book.
The Gospels — according to Dr. Owen.
St. Matthew's, — at Jerufalem, about A. D. 38.
St. Luke's, — at Corinth, 53.
St. Mark's, — at Rome, 67^.
St. John's, — at Ephefus, 69.
The Acts.
By St. Luke, — at Rome or Alexandria, 6^.
St. Paul's Epistles — according to Dr. Lardner.
I. Theflalonians, at Corinth, 52.
II. Theflalonians, Ditto, 52.
Galatians, — at Corinth, 52.
I. Corinthians, — at Ephefus, ^6.
I. Timothy, — at Macedonia, c6.
Titus, — Ditto, ^6.
II. Corinthians, — Ditto, 57.
Romans, — at Corinth, ^2.
3 D Ephe-
5^6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
§ III. The success of Christ's redemption dur-
ing THE SUFFERING STATE OF THE CHURCH.
W E now come to confider the fuccefs of ChriiVs re-
demption during the church's fuffering perfecuted ftate,
from the refurreftion of Chrift to the fall of antichrift.
This fpace of time, for the moft part, is a ftate of the
church's fufferings, and is fo reprefented in fcripture. In-
deed God is pleafed, out of love and pity to his elecl, to
grant many intermiffions during this time, whereby the
days of tribulation are as it were fhortened. But from
Chrift's refurre6tion till the fall of antichrift, is the ap-
pointed day of Zion's troubles. For the lirft three hun-
tlred years after Chrift, the church was for the moft part
in a ftate of great affliflion, the obje6l of reproach and
perfecution ; firft by the Jews, and then by the heathen.
After this, from the beginning of Conftantine's time, the
church had reft and profpcrity for a little while ; which is
feprefented [Rev. vii. I.] by the angel's holding the four
winds for a little while. But prefently after, the church
again fufFered perfecution from the Arians ; then antichrift
rofc, and the church was driven away into the wilderncfs,
and was kept down in obfcuriiy, and contempt, and fuffer-
ing, for a long time, before the reformation by Luther
and
Ephefians, — at Rome, about A. D. 6i.
IL Timothy, — Ditto, 6i.
Philippians, — Ditto, 62.
Coloffians, — Ditto, 62.
Philemon, — Ditto, 62.
Hebrews, — at Rome or in Italy, 63.
General Epistles — according to, Lardner.
St. James, — at Judea, 61 or 62.
I. Peter, — at Rome, 64.
II. Peter, — Ditto, 64.
Jude, — Unknown, 64 or 65.
I. II. and III. John, at Ephefus, between 80 8c 90,
Revelation.
By St. John, — at Patmos or'Ephefus, 95 or 96.
[See Dr. Otvenh Obferv. on the Gofpel'sj and Lardner^s Credi-
bility, vol. i. & fup.J
TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 387
and others. And fince the reformation, the church's per-
fccutions have been, in fome refpe6ls, beyond all that ever
were before. And though fome parts of God's church
have had rell:, yet to this day, for the n^ofl: part, the true
church is very much kept under by its enemies, and fo \vc
may expe6l it will continue till the fall of antichrift ; and
then will come the appointed day of the church's profpe-
rity on earth, the fet time in which God will favour Zion,
the time when the faints lliall not be kept under by wicked
men, as hitherto ; but wherein they {hall be uppermoft,
and fliall reign on earth, as it is faid, [Dan. vii. 27.] ' And
' the kingdom fhall be given to the people of the faints of
* the mod High.'
This fuffering ftate is in fcripture [Rev. xii. i, 2.]
rcprefented as a time of the church's travail, to bring
forth that glory and profperity of the church which fliall
be after the fall of antichrift. This is a long time though
it be fpoken of as being but for a little feafon, in com-
parifon of the eternal profperity of the church. Hence
the church, under the long continuance of this affli6lion,
cries out, [Rev. vi. 10.] ' How long, O Lord, holy and
' true, dofi: thou not judge and avenge our blood on them
' that dwell on the eartii ?' And we are told, that ' white
< robes were given unto every one of them ; and it was
' faid unto them, that they ihould reft yet for a little fea-
* fon, until their fellow fervants alfo, and their brethren,
* that fhould be killed as they were, fliould be fulfilled.'
So, Daniel [xii. 6.] ' How long fhall it be to the end of
* thefe. wonders ?'
It is to be obferved, that during tliis time the main In-
ftrument of the church's fufFerings has been the Roman
government : Rome is therefore, in the New Teftament,
[Rev. xvii. 5.] called Babylon ; bccaufc, as of old the trou-
bles of Jerufalem were chiefly from that adverfe city ; fo
the troubles of the Chriftian church, the fpiritual Jeru-
falem, are principally from Rome. Before the time of
Conftantine, the troubles of the Chriftian church were
from, heathen Rome ; fince that time, from antichriftian
Kome. And as of old, the captivity of the Jews ceafed
3 D 2 on
388 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
on the deftrudion of Babylon, fo the time of the trouble
of the Chriftian church will ceafe with the deftrudion of
the church of Rome, that fpiritual Babylon.
In confidering the fuccefs of Chrift's redemption dur-
ing this time of the church's tribulation, I would Ihow,
I. How it was carried on till the defl:ru6lion of Jerufa-
lem, — 2. From thence to the deftrudion of the heathen
empire in the time of Conftantine,— and, 3. From that
time to the deftrudtion of antichrift, with which the days
of the church's tribulation and travail end.
I. I would fliow how the fuccefs of Chrift's redemption
was carried on from his refurrcction to the deftrudtion of
Jerufalem. In fpeaking of this, I fhall, (i.) take notice
of the fuccefs itfelf; (2.) the oppofition made againft its
enemies ; and, (3.) the terrible judgments of God on thofc
enemies.
(i.) I would obferve the fuccefs itfelf. Soon after
Chrift had hnilhed the purchafe of redemption, and had
entered into the holy of holies above with liis own blood,
there began a glorious fuccefs of what he had done and
fuftered. Having undermined the foundation of Satan's
kingdom, it began to fall apace. Swiftly did it haften to
ruin ; and Satan might now well be faid to fall, like light-
ning from heaven. Satan before had exalted his throne
very high, even to the ftars of heaven, reigning with
great glory in his lieathen Roman empire : but never be-
fore had he fuch a downfal as he had foon after Chrift's
afceniion. We may fuppofe him to have been very lately
triumpb.ing in having brought about the death of Chrift,
as the greateft vidory that ever lie had; and poffibly ima-
gined he had gained God's dcfign by him. But he was
quickly made fenuble, that he had only been ruining his
own kingdom, when he faw it falling fo faft foon after.
For Chrift, having afcended, and received the Holy Spirit,
poured it forth abundantly for the converfion of tlioufands
?nd millions of fouls.
Never had Chrift's kingdom been fo advanced in the
world. There probably were more fouls converted in
the
TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 389
the a^e of the apoftles than had been before from the be-
trinning of the world. Thus God fo foon began glorioufly
to accomplilh his promife to his Son, viz. that he fliould
* fee his feed, and that the pleafure of the Lord fliould
* profper in his hand, if he would make his foul an offer-
* ing for fin.' [Ifa. liii. 10.] And,
[i.] Here is to be obferved the fuccefs which the
gofpel had among the Jeivs ; for God lirft began with
them. He being about to rejeft the main body of that
people, firfl: calls in his ele6l from among them. It was
fo in former great and dreadful judgments of God on
that nation ; the bulk of them were deftroyed, and only
a remnant faved, or reformed. In the rejedlion of the
ten tribes, the bulk of them were caft off, when they left
the true worfhip of God in Jeroboam's time, and after-
wards more fully in Ahab's ; but yet God had referred a
remnant. Many left their poffeffions in thefe tribes, and
went and fettled in thofe of Judah and Benjamin. And
afterwards there were feven thoufand in Ahab's time,
who had not bowed the knee to Baal. In the captivity
into Babylon, only a remnant of them ever returned to
their own land. So now far the greater part of the people
were rejcdlcd entirely, but fome few were faved. And
therefore the Holy Ghoft compares this refervation of a
number that were converted by the preaching of the apof-
tles, to thofe former remnants : [Rom. xi. 27.] ' Efaias
* alfo crieth concerning Ifrael, though the number of the
* children be as the fand of the fea, a remnant fliall be
* faved.' [See Ifa x, 22.]
The glorious fuccefs of the gofpel among the Jews
after Chrift's afccnfion, began by the pouring out of the
Spirit on the day of Pcntecoft. So wonderful was this
pouring out of the Spirit, and fo remarkable and fwift
the effe6l of it, that we read of three thoufand who were
converted to the Chriftian faith in one day, [A6ts ii. 41.]
and probably the greater part of them were favingly
converted. We read [ver. 47.] of God's adding to the
church daily fuch as Ihould be faved. And foon after,
we are told, that the number of them was about five
thoufand.
390 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
thoufand. Not only was there a multitude converted,
but the church was then eminent in piety, as appears by
A6ls ii. 46, 47. -, iv. 32.
Thus the Chriftian church was firft formed of the na-
tion of Ifrael, and therefore, when the Gentiles were
called, they were but, as it were, added to Ifrael, to the
feed of Abraham. They were added to the Chriftian
church of Ifrael, as the profelytes of old were to the Mo-
faic church ; and fo were grafted on the ftock of Abra-
ham, and not a diftindl tree ; for they are all ftill the feed
of Abraham and Ifrael ; as Ruth the Moabitefs, and Uiiah
the Hittite, and other profelytes of old, were the iamc
people, and ranked as the feed of Ifrael.
The Chriftian church at firft begun at Jerufalem, and
from thence was propagated to all nations ; fo that this
church of Jerufalem was as it were the mother of all
other churches in the world ; agreeable to the prophe-
cy, [Ifa. ii. 3, 4.] ' Out of Zion Ihall go forth the law,
* and the word of the Lord from Jerufalem : and he
' fhalj judge among the nations, and rebuke many people.'
So that the whole church is ftill fpiritually God's Jerufa-
lem.
After this, we read of many thoufand of Jews that
believed in Jerufalem, [A6ls xxi. 20.] in other cities of
Judea, and different parts of the world. For wherever the
apoftles went, if they found any Jews, their manner was,
firft to go into the fynagogues and preach the gofpel to
them, and many in one place and another believed ; as in
Damafcus, Antioch, tec.
In this out-pouring of the Spirit begun the firft great
difpenfation which is called Chrift's coming in his king-
dom. Chrift's coming thus in a fpiritual manner for the
glorious ereftion of his kingdom in the world, is repre-
fented ns his coming down from heaven, whithei^ he K'dd
afcendcd. [John xiv. 18.] 'I will not leave yo" corii-
fortlefs ; I will come unto you,' fpeaking of his coming
by the Comforter, the Spirit of truth. And, [ver. 28.]'
* Ye have heard how I fay unto you, I go away, and
* come again unto you.' And thus the apoftles began to
/ fee
TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 395
fee the kingdom of heaven come with power, as he had
piomifed. [Mark ix. i.]
[2.] After the fuccefs of the gofpel had been fo glo-
rioufly begun among the Jews, the fpirit of God was next
wonderfully poured out on the Samaritans, who were not
Jews by nation, but the pofterity of thofe whom the king
of Affyria removed from different parts of his dominions,
and fettled in the land that was inhabited by the ten tribes,
whom he carried captive. But yet they had received the
live books of Mofes and pradlifed moft of the rites of the
law, and lo were a iort of mongrel Jews. We do not
find them reckoned as Gentiles in the New Tefbament :
for the calling of the Gentiles is fpoken of as a new
thing after this, beginning with the converfion of Corne-
lius. But yet it was an intiance of making that a peo-
ple which were no people : for they had corrupted the
religion which Mofes commanded, and did not go up to
Jerufalem to worlhip, but had another temple of their own
in Mount Gerizzim ; which is the mountain of whicl>
the woman of Samaria fpeaks, when ihe fays, [John iv.
20.] ' Our fathers worfhipped in this mountain.' Chrilt
there does not approve of their feparation from the Jews,
but tells the woman of Samaria, that they worlhipped they
knew not what, and that falvation is of the Jews. But
now falvation is brought from the Jews to them by the
^preaching of Philip, (excepting that before Chrift had
fome fuccefs among them), with whofe preaching there
was a glorious efTuiion of the Spirit of God in tlie city of
Samaria ; where , we are told, that ' the people believed
' Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of
' Chriil, and were baptized, both men and women ; and
' that there was great joy in that city.' [Adsviii. 8—12.].
Thus Chrift had a glorious harveft in Samaria ; which
is what he feems to have rcfped to, in what he faid to
his difciples at Jacob's well three or four years before, on
occalion of the people of Samaria's appearing at a diftance
in the iieldij coming to the place where he was, at the
inftigation of the woman of Samaria. On that occafioa
he bids his difciples lift up their eyes to the fields, for tlm
thev
392 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
they were white to the harveft. [John iv. 35, 36.] The
difpofition which the people of Samaria fhowed towards
Chrift and his gofpel, evidenced that they were ripe for the
harveft. And now harveft is come by Philip's preaching.
There ufed to be a moft bitter enmity between the Jews
and Samaritans ; but now, by their convcrfion, the
Chriftian Jews and Samaritans are all happily united ; for
in Chrift Jefus is neither Jew nor Samaritan, but Chrift
is all in all. This was a glorious inftance of the wolf's
dwelling with the lamb, and the leopard's lying down with
the kid. [Ifa, xi. 6.]
[3.] The next thing to be obferved, is the calling of
the Gentiles. This was a great and glorious difpenfation
much fpoken of in the Old Tcftament, and by the apoftles
time after time, as a moft glorious event of Chrift's re-
demption. This was begun in the converfion of Corne-
lius and his family, greatly to the admiration of Peter,
and of thofe who were with him or were informed of it ;
[A6ls X. &xi.] And the next inftance of it that we have
any account of, was in the converfion of great numbers af
Gentiles in Cyprus, and Syrene, and Antioch, by the dif-
ciples that were fcattered abroad through the perfccution
which arofe about Stephen. [A£ts xi. i^ — 21.] And pre-
fently upon this the difciples began to be called Chriftians
firft at Antioch. [ver. 26.]
After this, vaft multitudes of Gentiles were converted
in many different parts of the world, chiefly by the mi-
niftry of the apoftle Paul, the Spirit wonderfully accom-
panying his preaching in one place and another. Mul-
titudes flocked into the church of Chrift in a great num-
der of cities where the apoftle came. So the number of
the members of the Chriftian churclj that were Gentiles,
foon far exceeded the number of its Jewifti members ;
infomuch that in lefs than ten years time after Paul was
fent forth from Antioch to preach to the Gentiles, it was
faid of him and his companions, that they had turned the
world upfide down. [A6ts xvii. 16.] * Thefe that have
* turned the world upfide down .are come hither alfo.'
But the moft remarkable oul-pouring of the Spirit in a
particular
TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 393
particular city that we have an account of in the New
T€ftamcnt, feems to be that in the great city of Ephefus.
[Ads xix.] There was alfo a very extraordinary in-
gathering of fouls at Corinth, one of the greateft cities of
Greece. And after this many were converted in Rome,
then the chief city of the known world ; and the gof-
pel v/as propagated into all parts of the Roman empire.
Thus the golpel fun, which had lately rifen on the Jews,
now rofe upon, and began to enlighten, the heathen world
after they had continued in grofs darknefs for fo many
ages.
This was a great thing, and fuch as never had been
before. All nations but the Jews, and a few who had at
one time and another joined with them, had been rejec-
ted from about Mofes's time. The Gentile world had
been covered over with the thick darknefs of idolatry ;
but now, at the joyful found of the gofpel, they began in
all parts to forfake their old idols, to abhor and caft them
to the moles and to the bats, and to learn to worflrip the
true God, and truft in his Son Jefus Chrift : and God
owned them for his people ; thofe who had fo long been
afar off, were made nigh by the blood of Chrill. Men
were changed from being heathenifh and brutifli, to be
the children of God ; were called out of Satan's kingdom
of darknefs, and brought into God's marvellous light ;
and in almofl all countries throughout the known world
were aflemblies of the people of God ; joyful praifes were
lung to the true God, and Jefus Chrift the Redeemer.
Now that great building which God began foon after the
fall of man, rifes glorioufly, not as it had done in former
ages, but in quite a new manner ; now Daniel's prophe-
cies concerning the laft kingdom, which fhould iucceed
the four heathenilh monarchies, begin to be fulfilled ;
now the ftone cut out of the mountains without hands,
began to Imite the image on its feet, to break it in pieces,
to grow great, and to make great advances towards filling
the earth ; and now God gathers together the ele6l from
rhe four winds of heaven, by the preaching of the apollles
and other miniilers, the angels of the Chriftian church
q E fent
594 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
fent forth with the great found of the gofpel trumpet,
before the deftru6tioii of Jerufalem, agreeable to what
Chrill: had foretold. [Matt. xxiv. 31.]— This was the
fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe during the lirfi: period of die
Chriftian church, which terminated in the deftruiStion of
Jerufalem.
(2.) I would proceed now to take notice of the oppo-
fition which was made to tliis fuccefs by the enemies of
it. Satan, who lately was fo ready to triumph and exult,
as though he had gained the vi6i:ory in putting Chrift to
death, now finding himfelf falling into the pit which he
had digged, and feeing Chrift's kingdom make fuch amaz-
ing progrefs, as never had been before, wc may conclude
he was filled with the greateft confulion and aftonifhment,
and hell feemed to be efFedlually alarmed by it to make the
moft violent oppofition. And, firft, the devil ftirred up
the Jews, who had before crucified Chrift, to perfecute the
church : for it is obferveable, that the perfecution which
the church fufFered during this period, was moftly from
the Jews. Thus we read in the Adls, when, at Jerufa-
lem, the Holy Ghoft was poured out at Pentecoft, how
the Jews mocked, and faid, ' Thet'e men are full of new
' wine ;' and the Scribes and Pharifces, w^th the captain
of the temple, were alarmed, and beftirred themfelves to
oppofe and perfecute the apoftles ; they firft apprehended
and threatened them, and afterwards imprifoned and beat
them ; breathing out threatenings and llaughter againft
the difciples of the Lord, they ftoned Stephen in a tumul-
tuous rage ; and were not content to perfecute thofe that
they could find in Judea, but fent abroad to Damafcus
and other places, to perfecute all that they could find every
where. Herod, who was chief among' them, ftretched
forth his hand to vex the church, killed James with the
fword, and proceeded to take Peter alfo, and caft him into
prifon. [Adsxii. 1—3.]
So in other countries, alm.oft wherever the apoftles
came, the Jews oppofed the gofpe^ in a moft malignant
manner, contradicting and blafpheming. How many
things did the blefled apoftle Paul fuftisr at their hands
in
TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 395
in one place or another ! How violent and blood-thirrcy
did they fliew themfeives towards him, when he came to
bring mercy to his nation ! In this perlccution and cruelty
was fultilled that of Chrift, [Matt, xxiii. 34.] ' Behold,
' I fend you prophets, and wife men, and fcribes ; and
' Ibme of them ye Ihall kill and crucify, and fome of them
* fhali ye fcourge in your fynagogues, and perfecute them
* from city to city.'
(3.) I proceed to take notice of the judgments wiiich
were executed on thofc enemies of Chrift, the perfecuting
Jews.
[i.] The bulk of the people were given up to judicial
blindnefs of mind and hardnefs of heart. Chrilt de-
nounced fuch a woe upon tiiem in the days of his fiefli ;
[Matt. xiii. 14, 15.] and the apoftle Paul repeated it,
[A6Vs xxviii. 25— 27.] and under this curfe, this judicial
blindnefs and hardnefs, tliey remain to this very day, hav-
ing been fubjc6l to it for about 1700 years, being the moft
awful inftance of fuch a judgment, and monuments of
God's terrible vengeance, of any people that ever were.
That they Ihould continue from generation to generation
fo obftinately to rejedl Chrift, fo that it is a very rare
thing that any one of them is converted to the Chriftian
faith, though their own fcriptures of the Old Teftament,
which they acknowledge, are fo full of plain tcftimonies
againft them, is a remarkable evidence of their beini^
dreadfully left of God.
[2.] They were rcje6led and caft off" from being any
longer God's vifiblc people. They were broken off from
th« ftock of Abraham, and fmce that have no "more been
reputed his feed, tlian t!ie Ilhmaelites or Edomites, who
are as much his natural feed as they are. The greater pait
of the two tribes were now caft otf, as the ten tribes had
been before, and another people were taken in their room,
agreeable to the predictions of their own prophets : as of
Alojes, [Deut. xxxii. 21.] ' They have moved me to jea-
' loufy with that which is not God ; they have provoked
* me to anger with their vanities ; and I will move them
* tojealoufy with thofe which are not a people, I will
3 E 2 ' provoke
396 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* provoke them to anger with a foolifli nation;' and of
Ifa'iah, [Ixv. i.] ' I am fought of them that afked not
* for me ; I am found of them that fought me not.' —
They were vifibly rejedled and caft off, by God's direfting
his apoftles to turn away from them, and let them alone ;
[A6l's xiii. 46, 47.] ' Then Paul and Barnabas waxed
* bold, and faid, It was neceffary that the word of God
* fliould firil: have been fpoken to you : but feeing ye put
^ it from you, and judge yourfelves unworthy of everlaft-
* ing life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles ; for fo hath the
* Lord commanded us.' [See alfo A6ls xviii. 6. and
xxviii. 28.]
Thus far we have had the fcripture hiflory to guide us ;
henceforward we fhall have the guidance only of two
things, fcripture prophecy, and human hiilory.
(3.) The third and lafl judgment of God on thofe ene-
mies of the fuccefs of the gofpel which I fhall mention
is the terrible deftruftion of their city and country by
the Romans. They had great warning, and many means
were ufed with them before this defl:ru6lion. Firft, John
the Baptift warned them, and told them, that the axe
was laid at the root of the tree ; and that every tree which
iliould not bring forth good fruit, fhould be hewn down
and caft into the fire. [Matt. iii. 10.] Then Chrifl
warned them very particularly, and told them of their
approaching deflrudlion, and at the thoughts of it wept
over them. After Chrifl's afcenfion the apoftles abun-
dantly warned them. But they obftinately went on in
their oppofition to Chrift and his church, and in their
bitter perfecuting practices. Their malignant perfecution
of the apoftle Paul, of which we have an account to-
wards the end of the A6ts of the apoflle's, is fuppofed to
have been not more than feven or eight years before their
deflrudlion.
After this God was pleafed to give them another re-
markable warning by the apoftle Paul, in his epiftle to
the Hebrews, which was written,, as is fuppofed, about
four years before their deftru6tion : wherein the plaineft
and cleareft arguments are fet before them from their own
law.
TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 397
law, and from their prophets, for whom they profefled fiich
a regard, to prove that Chrift Jefus mull: be the Son of
God, and that all their law pointed to him and typified
him, and that their Jewilh difpenfation muft needs have
now ccafed. For though the epiftlc was more immediately
diredted to the Chriflian Hebrews, yet the matter of the
epiftle plainly fliows that the apoftle intended it for the
ufe and convi6tion of the unbelieving Jews. And in this
epiftle he mentions particularly the approaching dcftruc-
tion and fiery indignation which fhould devour the adver-
faries. [Chap. x. 25—27.]
But the generality of them refufing to receive convidtion,
God foon deftroyed them with fuch terrible circumftanccs,
as the dcftrudlion of no country or city fince the founda-
tion of the world can parallel ; agreeable to what Chrift
foretold. [Matt. xxiv. 21.] ' For then fhall be tribulation,
* fuch as was not from the beginning of the world to this
' time, no, nor ever fliall be,' The deftru6lion of Jerufa-
lem by the Babylonians was very terrible, as it is in a moft
affecting manner dcfcribed by the prophet Jeremiah, in
his Lamentations ; but this was notliing to the dreadful
mifery and wrath which they fufFered in this deftru6lion :
God, according as Chrift foretold, bringing on them all
the righteous blood that had been Ihed from the foundation
ofthcwoild. Thus the enemies of Chrift are made his
footftool after his afcenfion, agreeable to God's promife,
[Pfal. ex. I.] and Chrift rules them with a rod of iron.
They had been kicking againft Chrift, but they did but
kick againft tlie pricks. The briars and thorns fet them-
felves againft him in battle ; but he went through them ;
he burnt them up together. [Tfa. xxvii. 4.]
The deftru6lion of Jerufalem was in all rcfpetSVs agree-
able to what Chrift had foretold, [Alatt. xxiv.] by the ac-
count which Jofephus gives of it, who was then prefent,
and was one of the Jews who had a fhare in the calamity,
and wrote the hiftory of their deftrudlion. (i) Many cir-
cumftanccs
( ^ ) jferufalem dejlroyedy as Chrift had foretold.] A compa-
ilfon of our Lord's predictions, with the narrative of the Jewifh
hilloriau, jfofephusy forms the moft ftrlking correfpondence of
prophecy
398 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
cuniftances of this deftru£Hon refembled the deftrudtion
of the wicked at the day of judgment, by his account,
being accompanied with many fearful fights in the heavens,
and
prophecy and hiftory that was perhaps ever exhibited, as is fhewn
at large by Bp. Ne^ivton [on the Prophecies, vol. it. dif. i8.] from
whom we fhall feleft the few following circumftances :
1. Many falfe Chrifls were to precede this event. — Such were
Simon Magus, [Ads viii. 9, 10.] Theudas, Judas of Gahlec.
[A£ls V. 36, 37.] The Egyptian impollor. [Afts xxi. 38.] And
many others mentioned by Jofephus.
2. Wars, famines, peftilence, and earthquakes ! — Jofephus, [dc
Bello Jud. lib. ii.] is full of the nvars and rumours of wafs in the
reigns of Caligula, Claudius, and Nero, during which numbers
were deflroyed. Fam'incs, particularly one in the days of Clau-
dius, mentioned by St. Luke, [Aftsxi. 28.] Jofephus, and Sue-
tonius. ' Earthquakes in divers places,' as in Crete, Smyrna,
Miletus, Chios, Samos, Laodicea, Hierapolis, Colofle, Campania,
and Rome, mentioned by Philollratus, Tacitus, Suetonius, and
Jofephus.
3. * Fearfulfights and great figns,' — Jofephus mentions a liar
in fhape like a fword, hanging over Jerufalem for a long time to-
gether — armies fighting in the clouds, a miraculous light in the
night for half an hour ; a cow which brought forth a lamb ; the
maffy brazen gate of the temple opening of itfelf ; a voice in the
temple, * Arife, let us go hence ;' and what he reckons worfe than
all, the extraordinary conduft of one Jcfus, (an apparent lunatic)
who for more than feven years went about the city proclaiming
* woe to Jerufalem — woe to the city, and to the people, and to
* the temple,' and could by no means be reftrained.
4. * When ye fee the abomination of defolation,' (i. e. Jehifa-
* lem compaffed with armies, Luke xxi. 20.) — flee into the moun-
* tains.' So when Ceftius Gallus came with his army, after his
retreat, and efpecially when Vefpafian brought his forces againft
Jerufalem,— numbers of Jews fled into the mountainous country,
and the Chriftians in particular to Pella, on the other fide Jordan ;
fo that it does not appear that one Chriftian pcriflicd in the dellruc-
tion of Jerufalem.
5. * Not one ttone to be left upon another.' — This was fulfilled
by the foldiers of Titus burning the temple, and tlien digging, and
atterwards Terentius Kuhis p/oughing up its foundation.
6. Then fliall be great tribulation, fuch as had not been * from
* the beginning of the world ; they fliall be flain, and led captive
' into ail nations.' — So Jofephus, " If the misfortunes of all from
the beginning of the woild were compared v^-ith thofe of the Jev^s,
they v;ould appear much inferior upon the comparifon." [Proem.
^ 4.] To evince the truth of this remark, we fhall fubjoin a lift
of
OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM. 399
and with a feparation of the righteous from the wicked.
Their city and temple were burnt, and rafed to the ground,
and the ground on which the city flood, was ploughed ; and
fo one ftone was not left upon another. [Matt. xxiv. 2.]
The people had ceafed for the moft part to be an inde-
pendent government after the Babylonifh captivity : but
tlie fceptre entirely departed from Judea, on the deatli of
Archelaus ; and then Judca was made a Roman province :
after
of the unhappy Jews that pcrifhed in this dcllrudion,
and the neighbouring countries, as collefted by L'l^ius an
from various parts of Jofephus's hiftory.
At Jerufalem, by Florus's orders,
By the inhabitants of Csfarea,
At Scythopolis in Syria,
At Afcalon,
At Ptolemais,
At Alexandria,
At Damafcus,
At the taking of Joppa by Ceftius Gallus,
In the mountain of Afamon,
In a fight at Afcalon,
In an ambufh, ■
At Japha,
Upon mount Gerizzim,
At Joppa, when taken by Vefpafian,
Slain at Tarichae,
Slain, or killed themfelves, at Gamala,
Killed in their flight from Gifchala,
At the fiege of Jotapa,
Of the Gadarenes (befides numbers drowned)
In the villages of Idumea,
At Gerafa, ,
At Machcerus,
Slew themfelves at Mafada,
In the defert of Jardes,
In Cyrene, by the Governor Catulus,
At Jerufalem, during the fiege, i
in Judea
d others,
3,600
20,000
13,000
2,500
2,000
50,000
10,000
8,400
2,000
10,000
8,000
15,000
1 1,600
4,200
7»7oo
9,000
6,000
40,000
15,000
10,000
1,000
1,700
960
3,000
3,000
,100,000
Total, 1,357,660
Add tothefe 97,000 prifoners doomed to flavery, befides i i,coo
ftarved to death through negleft or otherwife, and an innumerable
multitude which perifhed in woods, caves, deferts, &c. of whom
no computation could be made. [G. E.J
400 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
after this they were rejeded from being the people of God ;
but now their very city and land are utterly deftroyed, and
themfelves carried away ; and fo have continued in their
difperfions through the world for now 1700 years.
Thus there was a final end to the Old Teftament world :
all was finiihed with a kind of day of judgment, in which
the people of God were faved, and his enemies terribly
deftroyed. — Thus does he who was fo lately mocked, def-
pifed, and fpit upon by thefe Jews, and whofe followers
they fo malignantly perfecuted, appear glorioufly exalted
over his enemies.
HAVING thus fliown how the fucccfs of Chrift's pur-
chafe was carried on till the deftrud^ion of Jerufalem, I
come now,
2. To lliow how it was carried on from that time till
the deftru6lion of the heathen empire in the time of Con-
ftantine the Great, which is the fecond great event com-
pared to Chrift's coming to judgment.
Jerufalem was deftroyed about the year of our Lord 68,
(k) and fo before that generation paffed away which was
contemporary with Chrift ; and it was about thirty-five
years after Chrift's death. The deftrudi-ion of the heathen
empire under Conftantine, was about 260 years after this.
In Ihowing how the fuccefs of the gofpel was carried on
through this time, I would, (i.) Take notice of the op-
pofition made againft it by the Roman empire. (2.) How
the work of the gofpel went on notwithftanding that op-
pofition. (3.) The peculiar circumftances of tribulation
and diftrefs the church was in juft before their deliverance
by Conftantine. The great revolution of Conftantine's
time.
(I.) I
(k) Jervfahm chjlroyed k'&ow A. D. 68.] We would take
this opportunity to obferve, that, probably, our author's dates,
were often taken from memory, with an intent to revife them be-
fore publication, had his life been fpared. They differ, however,
but very little from the belt authorities, and this difference wc
fliall carefully obferve. The detlruction of Jerufalem is commonly
placed in A, D. 70. [G. E.J
TO THE REIGN OF CONST ANTINE. 40:
(i.) I would briefly fliovv what oppofition was made
againft the gofpel, and the kingdom of Cliiift, by the Ro-
man empire. The oppofition that was made to the gofpel
by the heathen Roman empire, was chiefly after the de-
fl:ru6lion of Jerufalem though the oppofition began be-
fore; but the oppofition that was before the deftrudion
of Jerufalem, was principally by the Jews. But when
Jerufalem was deftroyed, the Jews were put out of a capa-
city of troubling the church. Now therefore the devil
turns his head elfewhere, andufes other inftruments. The
oppofition which was made in the Roman empire againfl
the kingdom of Ghrift, was of two kinds.
[i.] They employed all their learning, philofophy, and
wit, in oppofing it. Ghrirt, as we have obferved, came
into the world when learning and philofophy were at their
height. This Was employed to the utmofl: againft the
kingdom of Chrift. The gofpel, which held forth a cruci-
tied Saviour, was not at all agreeable to the notions of the
philofophcrs. The Chriftian fcheme of trufting in fuch
a cruciticd Redeemer appeared foolifh and ridiculous to
them* Greece was a country the moft famous for learn-
ing of any in the Roman empire : but the apoftle obferves,
tliat the do(5lrine of Chrift crucified appeared fooliihncls
to the Greeks, [i Gor. i. 23.] and therefore the wife men
and philofophers oppofed the gofpel with all their wit:
We have a fpecimen of their oppofition in their treatment
of the apoftle Paul at Athens, which had been for many
ages the chief feat of philofophy. We read, [A<fts xvii.
18.] that the philofophers of the Epicureans and Stoicks
encountered him, faying, ' What will this babbler fay ?
' He feemcih to be a fetter forth of ft range gods.' So
they were wont to deride and ridicule Ghriftianity. And
after the deftrndlion of Jerufalem, feveral philofophers
publilhed books againft it; the chief of whom were Celjus
and Porphyry, (l) who wrote againft the Ghriftian re-
ligion
(l) Celsus and Porphyry.] Celfus, not the phyfician, bat
the Epicurean philofophcr, flouriflied about A. D. 150; and
3 F Pox-
4oi HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
ligion with a great deal of virulence and contempt, mucli
after the manner of the Deifls of the prefent age. Some
of their writings yet remain. As great enemies and def-
pifers as they were of the Chriftian religion, yet they
never denied the facls recorded of Chrift and his apoftles
in the New Teftament, particularly the miracles which
they wrought, but allowed them. They lived too near
the times wherein thefe miiacles were wrought to deny
them ; for they ivere fo publicly done, and fo lately, that
neither Jews nor heathens in thofe days could deny them ;
but they afcribed them to the power of magic.
[2.] The Roman emperors employed all their ftrength
and policy, time after time, to perfecute, and if poiTible
to root out Chriftianity. This they did in ten general
fucceffive pedecutions. We have before obferved, that
Chrift came into the world when the heathen dominion
and authority was at its greateft height, during the Ro-
man empire, the moft powerful human monarchy that
ever was on earth. All the ftrength of this monarchy
was employed for a long time to oppofe and perfecute
the Chriftian church, and if poffible to deftroy it, in
ten fucceffive attempts, which are called the ten heathen per-
fecutlons, which are before Conftantine.
The firft of thefe, which was the pcrfecution under
Nero, was a little before the deftru6tion of Jerufalem, in
which the apoftle Peter was crucified, and the apoftlc
Paul beheaded, foon after he wrote the Second Epiftle to
Timothy. When he wrote that epiftle he was a prifoner
at Rome under Nero, and expe6led foon to die, [2 Tim.
iv. 6. 7. J 'I aa:i now ready to be offered, and the time
* or my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight,
' I have
Porphyry, a Platonic philofopher, in the third Century. They
were both violent oppofers of Chriilianity; but their works are
periihed, except the fragments of them prclcrvcd in the Chriitian
Fathers. The latter was one of the mod rcfpedlable adverfaries
Chriilianity ever had; and, from his intimate acquaintance with
the fcriptures, fome have fuppofed he was once a Chriilian.
[G.E.]
TO THE REIGN OF CONSTANTINE. 403
* I have finiflied my courfe, I have kept the faith.'
And there were many thoufands of other Chriftians
flain in that perfecution. (m) The other nine perfecu-
tions were all after the dellrudlion of Jcrufalem. Some
of thefe were very terrible indeed, and far exceeded the
firfl: perfecution under Nero. One emperor after another
fet himfelf with the utmoft rage to root out the Chiiftian
church from the earth, that there fhould not be fo much
as the name of Chriftian left in the world. And thou-
fands and millions were put to cruel deaths in thefc pcrfc-
cutions: for they fpared neither fex nor age, but killed
them as faft as they could.
Under the fecond general perfecution, that which was
next after the deftrudllon of Jerufalem. the apollle John
was banillaed to the iflc of Patmos, where he had thofc
vifions of which he has given an account in the Revelation.
Under that perfecution it has been fuppofcd that above
40,000 fuffered martyrdom; which yet was nothing to
what were put to death under fome fuccceding perfecu-
3 F 2 tions
(m) The FIRST perfecution under Nero.] Of this Tacitus,
an heathen hiflorlan, and therefore the more unexceptionable au-
thority, gives the following account: " Nero, to fupprefs the
prevailing rumour, that he was tlie author of the ccnllagration
[of Rome] transferred the guilt upon fuppofcd criminals, fub-
jecling to moft exquifite tortures thofe people known to
the vulgar by the name of Chriftians Flrft, therefore,
were apprehended thofe who openly owned themielves to be of
that fetfl, then by them was difcovered an immenfe multitude,
and all were conviflcd. Their death and torture were aggravated
with cruel derifion and fport ; for they were either covered with
the f]<ins of wild beafts, and torn in pieces by devouring dogs, or
fadened to crofl'cs, or wrapped up in combuftible garments, that
when the day-light failed, they might, like torches, ferve to difpel
the darknefs of the night. For this tragical fpedacle Neio lent
his own gardens, and exhibited at the fame time the public dlver-
fions of the circus, fometimes driving a chariot in perfon, ar)d
fomctimes ftanding as a fpeCtator Hence, towards the fuf-
fercrs, however guilty and deferving the moll exemplary piini'li-
ment, [fo fpeaks the heathen] compafllon arofc, feeing they were
doomed to pcrifh to gratify the cruelty of one man."
[Ann. lib. xv. cap. 44.]
404 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
tions. (n) Many thoufands fufFered cruel deaths in the
third perfecution under the Emperor Adrian, (o) The
fourth perfecution began about the year of Chrift, 162,
as
(n) The SECOND ^fKjT^/ PERSECUTION.] Tlu's was ralfed by
Domit'ian, and though fliort (not lading above a year) was fe-
vere for the time, the tyrant not fparing his own relations, fome
of whom he flew, and banifhed others. This wretch was as
blafphemous as he was cruel ; and when he had transformed him-
felf completely into the image of the devil, alTumed the honours
of Deity, and would be called nothing lefs than Lord and God.
Mod hillorians, ancient and modern, agree with our author as to
St. John's banifhment to Patmos in this reign ; but the ftory of
his being put into boiling oil is juftly rejefled. [See Eufeb. Hift.
Ecclef lib. iii. cap. 18.]
(o) The THIRD perfecution.'] Before the reign of Trajan,
though he is not commonly reckoned among the perfecutors, as
making no new edifts againft the Chriftians, yet was highly pre-
judiced againll them, and even himfelf condemned fome ; a re-
markable inftance of which occurs in the martyrdom of Ignatius,
(luppofed to have been a difciple of St. John) of which wc have
the following interefting account, prefei-ved in the eplftle faid to
have been written by eyc-witneffes, and publifhed by Abp. UJIjer,
Dr. Grabe, and other learned men.
The holy man being brought before the emperor was interro-
gated in the following manner :
Trajan. What a wicked wretch art thou, thus to tranfgrefs our
commands, and to teach others to do the fame, to their deftruftion ?
Ignat. No one ought thus to call Theophorus, [i. e. the hearer
of God, for fo Ignatius was called] forafmuch as all wicked fpi-
rits are far from the fervants of God. But if, becaufe I am a
trouble to thofe evil fpirits, you call me wicked, with reference
to them I confefsthe charge; for polfefTing Chrifl, the heavenly
King, I diflblve all the fnares of the devil.
Trajan. And who is Theophorus?
Ignat. He who has Chrill in his bofom.
Trajan. And do mc not then appear to have the gods within
lis, who fight for us againft our enemies ?
Ignat. You err, in that you call the evil fpirits of the heathen,
gods; for there is but one God, who made heaven and earth, and
the fea, and all that are in them, and one Jefus Chrift, his ouly-
bcgottcn Son, whofe kingdom may I enjoy!
Tra]nn. His kingdom, you mean, who was crucified under Pon-
tius Pilate.
Ignat. His, who crucified my fin, . , . . and has p\it all the de-
ceit and malice of the devil under their feet, who carry him in
their heart.
Trajan, Doft tliou carrv him tlint was crucified within thee ?
hnat.
TO THE REIGN OF CONSTANTINE. 405
as fome reckon, and was felt even in England, the land
of our forefathers, where Chriftianity had been planted
very early, and, as Is fuppofed, in the days of the apof-
tles. (p) And in the later perfections, the Roman em-
perors being vexed at the fruftration of their predecef-
fors, who were not able to extirpate Chriftianity, or hin-
der its progrefs, were enraged to be the more violent in
their attempts.
Thus a great part of the firft 300 years after Chrift
was fpcnt in violent and cruel perfecutions of the church
by the Roman powers. Satan was very unwilling to quit
his
Ignat. I do ; for it is written, * I will dwell in them, and walk
in them.'
Then Trajan pronounced this fentence — Forafmuch as Igna-
tius hath confefTed that he carries about within himfelf Him that
vas crucified, we command, that he be carried bound to the
great Ro7ne by foldiers, there to be thrown to the beafts for the
diverfion of the people. — This fentence was foon after executed ;
and we may judge of the temper in which he fuffered, from the
following paffage in one of his epillles written on his journey:
" Now I begin to be a difciple ; nor (hall any thing move me,
whether vifible or invifible, that I may attain to Chrift Jefus. Let
fire and the crofs — let the rage of wild beafts — let breaking of
bones and tearing of members — let the ftiattering in pieces of the
whole body — yea, all the wicked torment.^ of the devil come upon
me — only may I enjoy JtTus Chrift!" [Epift. ad Rom. § 5.]
(p) The FOURTH perfi'ctiiion.'] Under this perfecution or a
little before, as fome think, fuffered another difciple of St. John,
Pulycarp, who was called dodor of Afia and father of the Chrif-
tians. When urged by the proconful to reproach and deny
Chrift to procure his liberty, he only replied, " Eighty and fix
years have I novif ferved Chrift, and he has never done me the
leaft wrong; how then can I blafphcme my King and Saviour?"
When the proconful continued, " I have wild beafts ready, to
thofe I will give thee;" — " Call for them," replied Polycarp,
" for we Chriftisns are fixed in our minds, not to change from
good to evil." The magiftrate added, " If thou defpifeft the
beafts, thou ftialt be devoured by fire." The martyr rejoined,
" Thuu threatencft me with fire which burns but for a time, and
is extinguilhed ; but knoweft not the fire of the future judge-
ment, th-it eternal puniflimcnt which is refcrved for the ungodly.
— Eut v/hy tarrieft thou ? bring forth what thou wilt."
Accordingly this venerable man being, as is fuppofed, above
an hundred years old, was burnt at a ftake^ praifing and blelling
Gcd tor thf honour of martyrdom. [Martyrdom of Polycarpy
publifhed by Ufher, Cottelcrus, and others.]
4o6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
his hold of fo great a part of the world, as the Roman
empire was, of which he had had the quiet pofleffion for
fo many ages : and tlierefore when he faw it going fo faft
out of his hands, he beftirred himfelf to his utmoft : all
hell was, as it were, raifed to oppofe it with its utmoft
power.
Satan thus exerting himfelf by the power of the heathen
Roman empire, is called the great red dragon in fcripture,
having feven heads and ten horns, fighting againft the wo-
man cloathed with the fun. [Rev. xii. 3.] And the terrible
conflidl there was between the church of Chiiil:, and the
powers of the heathen empire before Conftantine's time,
is there reprefented [ver. 7.] by the war between Michael
and his angels, and the dragon and liis angels : ' And
' there was war in heaven ; Michael and his angels fought,
* and the dragon fought and his angels.
(2) I would take notice what fuccefs the gofpel had
in the world before the time of Conftantine, notwith-
flanding all this oppofition.— Though the learning and
power of the Roman empire were fo great, and both were
employed to the utmofl: againft Chriftianity to root it
out, for fo long a time, and in fo many repeated at-
tempts ; yet all was in vain : ftill, in fpite ot all they
could do, the kingdom of Chrift wonderfully prevail-
ed, and Satan's kingdom mouldered and confumed away
before it, agreeable to the words of our tekt : ' The
* moth flaall eat them up like a garment, and the w;orm
* fliall eat them like wool.' And it was very obfervable,
that for the moft part, the more they perfecuted the church,
the more it encreafcd : infomuch that it became a common
faying, ' The blood of the martyrs is the feed of the
* church.' Herein the church of Chrift proved to belike
a palm tree ; of which it is remarked, • that the greater
weight is laid uj)on it, or hung to its branches, the more
it grows and fiourifhes : on which account probably the
church is compared to a palm tree. [Cant. vii. 7.] ' This
' thy ftature is like to a palm tree.' J^'fi^^ Afartyr, an
eminent father in tiie Chriftian church, who lived in the
age next after the apoftles, in fome writings of his, which
TO THE REIGN OF CONSTANTINE. 407
are yet extant, fays, that in his days there was no part of
mankind, whether Greeks or barbarians, or by what name
foever they were called, even the mofl rude and unpolifh-
ed nations, where prayers and thankfgivings were not
made to the great Creator of the world, through the name
of the crucified Jefus.* "TertuUian, another eminent fa-
ther in the Chriftian church, who lived in the beginning
of the following age, in fome of his writings which arc
yet extant, t fets forth, that in his day the Chriftian reli-
gion had extended itfelf to the utmofl: bounds of the then
known world, in which he reckons Britain, the country
of our forefathers ; and thence demonftrates, that the
kingdom of Chrill: was then more extenfive than any
of the four great monarchies ; and moreover fays, that
though the Chriflians were as ftrangers of no long {land-
ing, yet they had filled all places of the Roman dominions,
their cities, iflands, caftles, corporations, councils, armies,
tribes, the palace, fenate, and courts of judicature ; only
they had left to the heathen their temples ; and that if
they fliould all agree to retire out of the Roman empire,
the world would be amazed at the folitude and defolation
that would cnfue upon it, there would be fo few left ; and
that the Chriftians were enough to be able eafily to de-
fend themfelves, if they were difpofed to rife up in arms
againft: the heathen magifirates. Alfo Pliny, % a heathen
who lived in thofe days, fays, multitudes of each fex,
every age and quality, were become Chriftians. This fu-
perftition, fays he, having infe6led and over run not the
city only, but towns and countries, the temples and fa-
crifices are generally defolate and forfaken. ( q^)
And
* Dial, cum Tyrph.
f Adverfus Judseos, cap. 7.
:j: Lib. X. Ep. 97.
(q^) The JLXTZjiT of t.be go/pel.] Even "before the deitruc-
tion of Jerufalem, the gofpel was not only preached in the Leffer
Afia, and Greece and Italy, the great theatres of adlion then in
the world ; but was likewife propagated as far northward as Scy-
thia, as far fouthward as Ethiopia, as far eallward as Parthia and
India, as far wellward as Spain and Britain. Our anceftors of
this ifland feem to have lain as remote from the fgene of our Sa-
4o8 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
And it was remarked by both heathen and Chriftiart'
writers in thofe days, that the famous heathen oracles in
their temples, where princes and others for many paft ages
had been wont to inquire and receive anfwers with an
audible voice from their gods, which were indeed anfwers
from the devil; I fay, thofe oracles were now filenced
and (truck dumb, and gave no more anfwers: and parti-
cularly the oracle at Delphos, which was the moil famous
heathen oracle in the whole world, which both Greeks
and Romans ufed to confult, began to ceafe to give any
anfwers, even from the birth of Chrift: and the falfe deity.
who was worfhipped, and uled to give anfwers from his
oracle in that temple, being once inquired of, why he
did not now give anfwers as he was wont to do? made
this reply, as feveral heathen hiftorians who lived about
thofe times relate, " There is an Hebrew boy, who is
king of the gods, who has commanded me to leave this
houfe, and be gone to hell, and therefore you are to ex-
pe£l no more anfwers." And many of tlie heathen writers
who lived about that time, fpake much of the oracles
being filenced, as a thing at which they wondered, not
knowing what the caufe Ihould be. (r) Plutarch, a
heathen
viour's aftions as almoll any nation, and were a rou'gh, inhofpl-
table people, as unlikely to receive fo civilized an inftitution as
any people whatever. But yet there is fome probability, that the
gofpel was preached here by St. Simon the apoftle ; there is much
greater probability that it was preached here by St. Paul ; and
there is abfolute certainty that Chriftlanity was planted in this
country in the days of the apoftles, before the deftrudtion of Je-
rufalem i" [Bp. Newton on the Prophecies, vol. ii. p. 237.!
(r) The heathen oracles.] Learned men are much divided
as to the fource of thefe oracles. The famous Van Dale wrote
a treatife to prove that they were only the invention of pricfts,
but our Abp. Potter, [Greek Antiq. vol. i. book ii. ch. 7.] and
many others, conceive that there was a diabolical agency employed
in the bufinefs. There arc indeed feveral circumftances leading to
the former hypothefis; fuch as the gloomy folemnity with which
many of them were delivered, in caves and fubterraneous ca-
verns; the numerous and difagreeable ceremonies enjoined, as
fometimes fleeping in the flcins of bealls, bathing, and expenfivc
facrifices; the ambiguous and unfatisfactory anfwers frequently
returned ;
TO THE REIGN OF CONSTANTINE. 409
heathen writer of thofe times, wrote a particular trcatife
about it, which is ft ill extant.* And Porphyry, one of
the heathen writers before mentioned, has thefe words :
" It is no wonder if the city for thefe fo many years has
been over ran with ficknefs ; Efculapius, and the reft of
the gods, having withdrawn their converfe with men : for
fince Jefus began to be worftiipped, no man hath received
any public help or benefit by the gods."
Thus did the kingdom of Chrift prevail againft the
kingdom of Satan.
(3.) I now proceed to take notice of the peculiar cir-
cumftances of tribulation and diftrcfs juft before Con-
ftantine the Great came to the throne. This diftrefs they
fufFered under the tenth perfecufion, which as it was the
laft, fo it was by far the heavieft and moft fcvere. The
church before this, after the ceafing of the nintii perfecu-
tion, had enjoyed a time of quietnefs for about forty
years together ; but, abufing their liberty, began to grow
cold and lifelefs in religion, and contentions prevailed
among them J by which they offended God to fufFcr this
dreadful trial to come upon them. And Satan having
loll: ground fo much, notwithftanding all his attempts,
now feemcd to beftir himfclf with more than ordinary
rage. Thofe who were then in authority let themfelvcs
with the utmoft violence to root out Chriftianity, by burn-
ing all Bibles, and deftroying all Chrillians ; and there-
tore they did not ftand to try or convi<5l them in a for-
mal procefs, but fell upon them wherever they could;
2 G fometimes
returned : thefe look very much like the contrivances of artful
pricfts to difguife their villany ; the medium of priefts, fpeaking
images, vocal groves, &c. fccm much to confirm it. On the other
hand, if we may credit the relation of ancient writers, either
among the heathens or Chriftians, this hypothefis will hardly ac--
count for many of the inifanccs they mention. And fince it can-
not be proved either impoiTible or unfcriptural, is it not probable
that God miglit fometimes permit an intercourfe with infernal
fpirits, with a defign in the end to turn this and every other cir-
cumllance to his own glory, as our author has above obfer\'ed ?
We are however fatistied, from the reafons above hinted, that the
whole was often but a gainful cheat. [G. E.]
* Pint, de defed. Orac.
410 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
fometimes fetting lire to lioufes where multitudes of them
were affembled, and burning them therein, and at other
times flaughtering multitudes together : fo that fometimes
their perfecutors were quite fpent with the labour of kill-
ing and tormenting them ; and in fome populous places
fo many wore flain together, that the blood ran like tor-
rents. It is related, that feventeen thoufand martyrs were
flain in one month's time ; and that during the continuance
of thi? perfecution, in the province of Egypt alone, no
lefs than 144,000 Chriftians died by the violence of their
perfecutors, befides, 700,000 that died through the fatigues
of banilhment, or the public works to which they were
condemned.*
This perfecution lafted for ten years together ; and as it
exceeded all foregoing perfecutions in the number of mar-
tvrs, fo it exceeded them in the variety and multitude of
inventions of torture and cruelty. Some authors who lived
at that time, fay, they were innumerable, and exceeded all
account and expreflion.f
This perfecution in particular was very fevere in Eng-
land ; (s) and this is that perfecution which was foretold
[Rev. vi. 9, 10.] ' And when he had opened the fifth feal,
' 1 faw under the altar the fouls of them that were flain
' for the word of God, and for the teftimony which they
' held. And they cried with a loud voice, faying. How
* long,
* Bujfieres in flofculis Hiflor.
f Vid. Eiifeh. Eccl. Hifl. lib. viil. cum fupp. & Laftant. dc
Mort. Perf.
(s) The TENTH perfecution fevere in England.] " In the
perfecution under Dioclefian, the Br'itj/h Chriftians fuffered fo
much, that the very name of Chriftianity was loll in this ifland,
except among the Cornifli and Welfh Our proto -martyr
St. Allan, Amphibolus, Julian, and Aaron were martyred at St.
Alban\, then called F'erulam, The priefts who wrote of St. Al-
ban's martyrdom, could not be content with the courage, patience
and piety of the martyr, but have corrupted his hiftory with lies :
even venerable Bedc cannot help telling us, that he dried up a
river as he went to the place of execution, .... that his head
fpoke after it was cut off, &c." [Critical Hiftory of England,
Tol. i, p. 64.3
TO THE REIGN OF CONSTANTINE. 411
* long, O Lord, holy and true, doft thou not judge and
< avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth ?'*
At the end of the ten years during which this perfecu-
tion continued, the heathen perfecutors thought they had
finilhed their work, and boafted that they had utterly de-
ftroyed the name and fuperftition of the Chriftians, and
propagated the worfhip of the gods, (t)
Thus it was the darkeft time with the Chriftian church
jufl: before the break of day. They were brought to the
greatell: extremity juft before God appeared for their glo-
rious deliverance ; as the bondage of the Ifraelites in Egypt
was the mofl: fevere and cruel juft before their deliverance
by the hand of Mofcs. Their enemies thought they had
fwallowed them up juft before their dcftrucTtion, as it was
with Pharaoh and his holt when they had hemmed in the
children of Ifrael at the Red Sea.
(4.) I come now, in the fourth place, to the great re-
volution which was in the world in the days of Con-
ftantine, which was in many refpedVs like Chrift's ap-
pearing in the clouds of heaven to fave his people, and
judge the world. The people of Rome being weary ot
the government of thofe tyrants to whom they had lately
been fubjed:, fent to Conftantine, who was then in the
city of York in England, to come and take the throne.
And he being encouraged, as is faid, by a vilion of a pil-
lar of light in the heavens, in the form of a crofs, in the
iight of his whole army, with this infcription, By this
conquer \ and the night following, by Chrift's appearino-
to liim in a dream with the fame crofs in his hand, who
direded him to make a crofs like that to be his royal
ftandard, thac liis army might fight under that banner,
3 G 2 and
* See Bp. Neivion on the Prophecies, vol. iii. p. 6^.
(t) The heathens boajled having destroyed Chrf/Iianiiy.'] A
column is faid to be ftill remaining at C/uny in Spain with this in-
fcription — '^To Dioehfuin, Jovius, and Afaximinus, Cjefars, for
having enlarged the bounds of the empire, and for having exter-
minated the name of Christians, thofc dillurbers of the public
repofe.'" [Griiteri corpus Infcript. torn. i. p. 280.I — And yet,
(infolent blafphemers ! ) the name of Clirijl is ilill adored by mil-
lions ; but for Jupiter, Mars, Apollo, &c. where are they ?
[I. N.]
412 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
and affured hi:n that he fliould ovevcome. (u) Accord-
ingly he did, and overcame his enemies, took poffeffion
of the imperial throne, embraced the Chriftian religion,
and was the firft Chriftian emperor that ever reigned : he
came to the throne about 320 years after Chrift. There
are feveral things which I would take notice of which
attended or immediately followed Conftantine's coming to
the throne.
[i.] The Chriftian church was thereby wholly deli-
vered from perlecution. Now the day of her deliverance
came after fuch a dark night of affliilion ; weeping had
continued for a night, but now deliverance and joy came
in the morning. Now God appeared to judge his people
and repented himfelf for his fervants, when he faw their
power was gone, and that there was none ftmt up or left.
Chriftians had no pcrfecutions now to fear. Their pev-r
fecurors now were all put down, and their rulers were fome
of them Chriftians like themfelves.
[2.] God now appeared to execute terrible judgments
on their enemies. Remarkable are the accounts which
hiftory gives us of the fearful ends to which the heathen
emperors, princes, generals, captains, and other great men
came, v/ho had exerted themfelves in perfecuting the Chrif-
tians ; dying miferably, one after another, under exquifite
torments of the body, and horrors of confcience ; with a
moft vifible hand of God upon them.* So that what now
came to pafs might very fitly be compared to their hiding
themfelves in the dens and rocks of the mountains. [Rev.
vi. 15, 17.]
[3.] Heathenifm now was in a great meafure aboliftied
throughout the Roman empire. Images were now de-
ftroyed, and heatlien temples pulled down. Images of
gold and filver were melted down, and coined into money.
Some
(u) Corjlaniinr^s vision.] Whatever fabulous eircumflances
may have been added to this ftory, or abfurd inferences drawn
from it, it (hould feem there was fome ♦truth in it, fince Euftbm
[de Vita Conltant. lib. i. cap. 27 — 31.] affures us, that he had it
from the emperor's own mouth. [See Univerfal Hijlory, vol. xv.
P- ^^^'-^ > r , TVT n r
* Latta.'.i. de Mort. Perf
TO THE REIGN OF CONSTANTINE. 413
Some of the chief of their idols, which were curioufly
wrought, were brought toConflantinoplc, and there drawn
with ropes up and down the ftreets for the people to behold
and laugh at. The heathen priefts were difpcrfed and
baniihed.
[4.] The Chriflian church was brought into a ftate of
great peace and profperity. Now all heathen magirtratcs
were put down, and only Chriflians were advanced to
places of authority all over the empire. They had now
Chriftian prefidents, Chriftian governors, Chriftian judges
and officers, inftcad of their old heathenifh ones. Con-
rtantine fet himfelf to honour the Chriftian bifhops or aii-
nifters, and to build and adorn churches ; and now large
and beautiful Chriftian churches were eredted in all parts
of the world, inftead of the old heathen temples.
This was the greateft revolution in the face of things
that ever came to pafs fince the flood. Satan, the prince
of darknefs, that king and god of the heathen world, was
caft out. The roaring lion was conquered by the lamb of
God, in the ftrongeft dominion that ever he had, even the
Roman empire. This was a remarkable accompliflimeni
of that prophecy, [Jcr. x. 11.] * The gods that have nol
* made the heavens and the earth, even they fhall perilh
' from the earth, and from under thefe heavens.' The
chief part of the world was now brought utterly to caft
off their old gods and their old religion, to which they
had been accuftomed much longer than any of their hif-
torics gives an account of; fo long that they could not
trace the beginning ot it. It was formerly fpoken of as
a thing xmknown for a nation to change their gods, [ Jer.
ii. 10, II.] but now the greater parts of the nations of
the known world were brought to caft off all their former
gods. Thoufands of them were caft away for the wor-
fhip of the true God, and Chrift the only Saviour : and
chere was a moft remarkable fulhlment of that promife,
[Ifa. ii. 17, 18.] ' And the loftincfs of man fhall be bowed
• down, and the haughtinefs of men ftiail be made low :
' and the Lord alone ftiall be exalted in that day. And
' the idols he ihall utterly abolilh.' And fmcc that, it
ha<j
414- HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
has Gome to pafs, that thofe gods that were once fo famous
in the world, as Jupiter, and Saturn, and Minerva, and
Juno, &:c. are only heard of as things which were of old :
they have no temples, no altars, no worlhippers, and have
not had for many hundred years.
Now is come the end of the old heathen world in the
principal part of it, the Roman empire. And this great
revolution and change of the ftate of the world, with
that terrible deftruction of the great men who had been
perfecutors, is compared, [Rev. vi.] to the end of the
world, and Chrift coming to judgment ; and is what is
moft immediately fignified under the fixth feal, which
followed upon the fouls under the altar crying, ' How
' long, O Lord, holy and true, dofi: thou not avenge our
* blood on them that dwell on the earth ?' This vifion of
the fixth feal, by the general confent of divines and expo-
fitors, has refpeft to this downfal of the heathen Roman
empire ; though it may have a more remote refpe6l to the
day of judgment, but that cannot be what is immediately
intended ; becaufe we have an account of many events
which were to come to pafs afterwards, yet before the end
of the world.
This revolution is alfo reprcfented by the devil's being
cad out of heaven to the earth. In his great flrength and
glory, in that mighty Roman empire, he had as it were
exalted his throne up to heaven. But now he fell like
lightning from heaven, and was confined to the earth.
His kingdom was confined to the meaner and more bar.^
barous nations, or to the lower parrs of the world of
mankind. [Rev. xii. 9, ^cc] ' And the great dragon
' was caft out, that old ferpent, called the devil and Satan,
' which deceiveth the whole world : he was caft out into
' the earth, and his angels were caft out with him,' &c.
Satan tempted Chrift, and promifed to give him the glory
of the kingdoms of the world ; but now he is obliged to
give it to him even againft his wilL This was a glorious
fulfilment of that prornife which Qod made to his Son.
[Ifa. liii. 12.] * Tiierefore will I divide him a portion
* with the great, and he fhail divide the fpoil with the
' ftrong ;
TO THE REIGN OF CONSTANTINE. 415
' flrong ; becaufe he hath poured out his foul unto death ;
< and he was numbered with the tranfgreffois, and he
* bare the fin of many, and made interceflion for the
* tranfgrefibrs.' This was a great fulfihrient of the pro-
phecies of the Old Teftament concerning the glorious
time of the gofpel, and particularly of the prophecies of
Daniel. Now the kingdom of heaven is come in a glo-
rious degree. It pleafed the Lord God of heaven to fet
up a kingdom on the ruins of that of Satan. And fuch
fuccefs is there of the purchafc of Chrift's redemption,
and fuch honour does the Father put upon Chrift for the
difgrace he fuffered when on earth. And now fee to what
a height that glorious building is raifed, which had been
ere6liug ever fince the fall.
INFERENCE.
From what has been faid of the fuccefs of the gofpel
from Chrift's afcenfion to the time of Conftantine, we
may deduce a ftrong argument of the truth of the Chrif-
tian religion, and that the gofpel of Jefus Chrift is really
from God. This wonderful fuccefs which has been fpo-
ken of, and the circurnftances of it which have been men-
tioned, are a ftrong argument of it feveral ways.
(i.) We may obferve that it is the gofpel, and that
only, which has actually been the means of bringing the
world to the knowledge of the true God. That thofe
are no gods whom the heathen worftiipped, and that there
is but one only God, is what, now fmce the gofpel has
fo taught us, we can fee »o be truth by our own reafon .
it is plainly agreeable to the light of nature ; it can be
eaftly ftiown by reafon to be denionftrably true. The
very Deifts themfelves acknowledge that it can be demon-
ftrated, that there is one God, and but one, who has
made and governs the world. But now it is evident that
it is the golpel, and that only, which has a6lually been
the means of bringing men to the knowledge of this truth;
it
4i6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
it was not the inftru£trons of philofophers. They tried irt
vain: ' The world by wifdom knew not God.' [i Cor;
i. 21.] Till the gofpel and the holy fcriptures came
abroad in the world, all the world lay in ignorance of the
true God, and in the greateft darknefs with refpeft to
the things of religion, embracing the abfurdeft opinions
and pradtices, by all civilized nations now acknowledged
to be childifh fooleries. And fo they lay one age after
another, and nothing proved etfeclual to enlighten them.
The light of nature, and their own reafon, and all the
wifdom of learned men, availed nothing; but the fcrip-
tures brought the world to an acknowledgement of the one
only true God, and to worihip and ferve him.
And hence it was, that all who now own the one
true God, Chriflians, Jews, Mahometans, and even De-
ifts, originally came by the knowledge of liim. It is
owing to this that they are not in general at this day left
in heathenifli darknefs. They have it either immediately
from the fcriptures, or by tradition from their fathers,
who had it at firfl therefrom. Doubtlefs thofe who now
defpife the fcriptures, and boaft of the ftrength of their
own reafon, as being fufficient to lead them to the know-
iedo-e of the one true God, if the gofpel had never come
abroad in the world to enlighten their forefathers, would
have been as brutifli idolaters as the world in general
was before the gofpel came abroad. The Mahometans,
who own but one true God, at firfl; borrowed the notion
froni the Bible ; for the firfl: Mahometans had been edu-
cated in the Chriftian religion, and apoftatized from it.
---And this fhevvs, that the fcriptures were defigned of
God to be the means to bring the world to the know-
Irdo-e of himfelf, rather than human reafon, or any
thing elfc. For it is tmrcafonable to fuppofe, that the
gofpel, and that only, which God never defigned to this
end, fhould a6:ually efFed it, and that after human rea-
fon, which he defigned as the proper mean, had been
tried for a great many ages in vain'.— If the fcriptures be
not the word of God, then they are the greatefl delufion
fhat <°vcr was. Now, is it reafonable to fuppofe, that
God
TO THE REIGN OF CONSTANTINE. 417
God in his providence would make ufe of falfehood and
delufion, and thit only, to bring the world to the know-
ledge of hiinfelf ?
(2.) The fuccefs of the gofpel againft fuch powerful
oppofition plainly fliowsthe hand of God. The Roman
government, which fo violently fet itfelf to hinder the
fuccefs of the gofpel, and to fubdue the church of Chrift,
was the molt powerful human government that evei- ex-
ited ; and they feemed to have the church in their hands.
The Chriflians were moftly their fubjeds, and never took
up arms to ftand in their own defence; they armed them--
felves with nothing but patience, and fuch like fpiritual
weapons: and yet this mighty power could not conquer
them ; but on the contrary, Chriftianity conquered that.
1 he Romans had fubdued many mighty and potent kino-.
doms; they fubdued the Grecian monarchy, when th^y
were not their fubjeds, and made the utmoft refiftance';
and yet they could not conquer the church which was in
their hands ; but on the contrary, were hnaily triumphed
over by it.
(3O No other fufficient caufe can pofflbly be affigneJ
of this propagation of the gofpel, but God's own power
Here was a great and wonderful efFed, the moft remarka-
ble change that ever was in the face of the world of man-
kmd hnce the flood ; and this eiiea was not without
lome caufe. Now, what other caufe can be devifed but
only the divine power r It was not the outward flrength
of the inftruments which were employed in it. At hrft
the gofpel was preached only by a few fiHicrmen, who
were without power and worldly intereft to fupport them.
It was not their craft and policV that produced this won-
derful effect: for they were but poor illiterate men. It
was not the agreeablenefs of tlie ftoi y they had to tell to
the notions and principles of mankind. This was no
pleafant table : A crucified God and Saviour was to the
Jews a Humbling block, and to the Greeks foolilhnefs.
It was not the agreeablenefs of their dodrines to men's
difpofitions ; for nothing is more contrary to the corrup-
tions of men than the pure dodrines of the gofpel. This
3 H ^ cffea
4i8 HIS.TORY OF REDEMPTION.
effecSi: therefore can have proceeded from no other caufe
than the power and agency of God : and if the power of
God was what was exerciled to caufe the G^ofpel to prevail,
then the gofpel is his word : for furely God does not ufc
liis ahnighty power to promote animpoflure and delufion.
(4.) This fuccefs is agreeable to what Chrift and his
apoftles foretold.— -[Matt. xvi. 18 ] ' Upon this rock
' will I build ray church; and the gates of hell fliall not
* prevail againll it.' [John xii. 24.] ' Verily, verily I
' fay unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the
' ground, and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bring-
* eth forth much fruit.' [ver. 31, 32.] ' Now^ is thejudg-
' ment of this world: now fhall the prince of this world
' be caft out. And T, if I be lifted up from the earth,
* will draw all men unto me.' [John xvi. 8.] ' When
' he (the comforter) is come, he will reprove the world
* of fm, of righteoufnefs, and of judgment,— becaufe the
' prince of this world is judged.'
So the apoftle Paul [i Cor. i. 21—28.] declares, that
after the world by wifdom knew not God, ' It pleafed
' God by the fo:lifhnefs of preaching, to fave them that
* believe ;' and that God chofe the foolifli things of the
world to confound the wife ; and weak things of the
world to confound the things which are mighty ; and bafe
things, yea and things that are not, to bring to nought
things that are. — If any man foretells a thing, very like-
ly in itfelf to come to pafs, from caufes which can be
forefeen, it is no argument of a revelation from God:
but when a thing is foretold which is very unlikely ever
to come to pafs, which is entirely contrary to the common
courfe of things, yet it comes to pafs juft as foretold, this
is a ftrong argument that the predi6lion was from God.
Thus the confideration of the manner of the propaga-
tion and fuccefs of the gofpel during the time which has
been Ipokcn of, affords great evidence that the fcriptures
are the word of God.
3. 1 am now to iliow how the fuccefs of Chrift's re-
demption is carried on from the time of the overthrow of
the
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 419
ihc Ixeathen Roman empire by Conflantine the Greaf, tiU
the /all of antichrift, and the deftru'flion of Satan's vili-.
ble kingdom on earth, which is the third great difpenfa-
tion that is in fcripture compared to Chrilt's coming to
judgment. This is a period wherein is contained ma-
ny wonderful providences towards the Chriftian church.
The greater part of the book of the Revelation is taken
up in predicting the events of this period.
The fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe of redemption in this
period appears chiefly at the clofe of it, when Antichrift
comes to fall, when there will be a far more glorious
fuccefs of the gofpel than ever yet has been : and the feries
of events preceding, feems to be only to prepare the wav
for it. And in order to a more clear view of this period.
I fliall fubdivide it into thefc four parts: from the de-
ftrudtion of the heathen empire to the rife of antichrift ;
from the rife of antichrift to the reformation in Luther's
time ; from thence to the prefent time ; from the prefent
time, till the fall of antichrift. But under this head T
ihall confiuer only the former, reaching from the deftruc-
tion of the heathen empire to the rife of antichrift. And
here, (i.) T would take notice of the oppofition Satan
made in this fpace of time to tlie church : and, (2.) The
fuccefs that the gofpel had in it.
(i.) The oppojitton. Satan being caft out of his old
heathen empire, the great red dragon after fo fore a cou-
fli6l with Michael and his angels for the greater part of
three hundred years, being at laft entirely routed and
vanquiflied, fo that no place was found any more in
heaven for him, but he was caft down, as it were, from
heaven to earth ; yet does not give over his oppofition to
the woman, the church of Chrift, concerning which all
this conflift had been. But he is ftill in a great rage,
renews his attempts, and has recourfe to frelh devices
againft the church. The ferpent, after he is caft out of
heaven to the earth, cafts out of his mouth water as a
flood, to caufe the woman to be carried away of the flood.
[Rev. xii. 15.] The oppofition that he made to the
church of Chrift before the rife of antichrift, was prin-
3 H 2 cipally
420 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
clpally of two forts. It was either by corrupting the
church of Chrift with herefies, or by new endeavours to
reftorePaganifm.oi^} odi :;
[i.] I would obferve, that after the deftrudtion of the
heathen Roman -empire, Satan infefted the church with
herefies: Though there had been fo glorious a work of
God in delivering the church from her heathen perfe-
cutors, and overthrowing the heathen empire ; yet the
days of the church's travail were not ended ; and tlie fet
time of her profperity which the church enjoyed in Con-
llantine's time, was but very fliort : it was a refpite, which
gave the church a time of peace and filence, as it were,
for half an hour, wherein the four angels held the foui-
winds from blowing, till the fervants of God (liould be
lealcd in their foreheads. [Rev. viii. r.] Butthe church
loon began to be greatly infe (led with herefies; the two
principal, and thofe that did moft infcfi: the church, were
the Arian and Pelagian herefies. : .-^rmj
The Ariaiis began foon after Conftantine came to the'
throne. They denied the doctrine of the Trinity, and
the divinity of Chrift and the Ho^y Ghort, and maintain-
ed, that tliey were but mere creatures, (x) This herefy
increafed more and more in the church, and prevailed
like a flood, which threatened to overthrow all, and
entirely to carry away the church, infomucb tliat before
that
(x) T/je Arian s.] Thefe were fo called from Jlrlns, a pried
of the church of Alexandria, and a native of Lybia : afterwards
they were fplit into a great number of fefts, partly from the de-
gree of refinement in which the notions of Arlus were received ;
fome approaching very near the language of the orthodox, as they
were called, and others degrading the Son of God far more than
Arius had done: and partly from other ftrange and erroneous opi-
nions added to his ; commonly however, they bore the name of
fome favourite leader, as the Photiniaus, Ntjlorlansy Eutychians ,
T'lmotheanSf Sec. The grand champion of the orthodox was
yithannfius, who would have better defended their caufe, had he
adhered to the fimplicity of fcrlpture and not fi'ttercd Chriflianity
with his own additions and refinements.' To him we are indebted
for the Alhanafion Creed, though few liberal minds think highly of
the obligation, and fewer can endure the curfes he has introduced
into the religious worfliip of the greater part of Chriftendom.
[G. E.]
ro THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 421
thnt age Was out, (hat is, before the end of the fourth
ccnturv, the greater part of the Chriftian church were
become Arians. There were fo!iie emperors, the fuc-
ceflbrs of Conftantine, who were Arians ;* fo that the
Arians being the prevailing party, and having the civil au-
thority on their fide, raifed a great perfecution againfl: the
true church of Chrifl: ; fo that this herefy might well be
compared to a flood out of the mouth of the fcrpent, which
threatened to carry away the woman.
The Pelagirai herefy arofe in the beginning of the next
century. It began by one Pelagius, who was born in
Britain : his Bririlll name was Morgan. He denied ori-
ginal lln, and the influence of tiie Spirit of God in con-
verfion, and held the power of free will, and many other
things of like tendency: and this herefy for a while great-
ly infefled the church. Pelagius's principal antagonift,
who wrote in defence of tlic orthodox faich, was St. Au-
guftin. (v)
[2.] The other kind of oppofuion which Satan made
againfl: the church, was in his endeavours to refl:orc Pa-
ganifm. And; his firft attempt to refl:orc it in the Roman
empire, was by Julian the apofl:ate. Julian was nephew
to Conftantinc the Great. When Conftantine died he
loft his empire to his three ions : and when thev were
dead, Julian reigned in their flead. He had been a pro
feflTed Chriflian;. but he fell from ChriAianity, and turn-
ed Pagan ; and therefore is called the apoAate. When
he came to the throne, he ufed his utrnofl endeavours to
over-
* Conflantius Valeus, &c. See Dupin's Ecclef. Hift. Cent. iv.
(y) Pelagianism.] Pdagius was very raucli aflifted by Cekf-
tins, a much more fiibtil and ingeniiis man. In Britain this fyi-
tcm was fupported not by the authors of it, but by y^pricola, a dil-
ciple of Pelagius ; this produced, as ufual, an excommunication;
for the ccclefiailical furgeons of thofe days feem to have under-
itood no part of their bufinefs fo well as amputation. Our au-
thor has obferved, that the principal antagoniil of" Pelagius was St.
jiugiiftin. This eminent father was brought up a Manichean,
but converted by the preaching of St. ylmbrofe, and the reading of
St. Paul's EpilUes. His works which are in Latin, make ten folio
volumes, the lad of which contains his numerous writing's againlb
the Pelagians. "[G. E.]
43a HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
overthrow the Chriftian church, and fet up Paganifm
again in the empire. He put down the Chriftian Magif-
tratcs, and placed heathens in their room; he rebuilt the
heathen temples, and became a moft notorious perfecutor
of the Chriftians, and, as is thought, againft his own
light : he ufed to call Chrifl, by way of reproach, the
Galilean. He was killed with a lance in his wars with
the Perfians. When he faw that he was mortally wound-
ed, he took a handful of his blood, and threw it up to-
wards heaven, crying out, " O Galilean, thou haft con-
<j[uered." (z) And he is commonly thought by divines to
have committed the unpardonable fin. (a)
Another way that Satan attempted to reflrore Paganifm
in the Roman empire, was by the invafions and conqueft
of heathen nations. For in this period the Goths and
Vandals, and other heathen barbarous nations that dwelt
in the north of the Roman empire, invaded it, and ob-
tained great conquefts, and even over-ran the empire ; in
the fifth century they took the city of Rome, and finally
fubdued and took poflellion of the M^eftern empire, as it
was called, and divided it into ten kingdoms, which were
the ten horns of the beaft ; for we are told, that the ten
horns are ten kings, who fhould rife in the latter part of
the
(z) '^VL\kVi the ^pojlnie.'] Among the inftances ©f Julian's op-
pofition to Chriftianity, hiftorians mention his attempt to rebuild
Jcrufalem and reftore Judaifm, which was miraculoufly defeated,
fubterraneous fire repeatedly confuming both the work and work-
men. This is acknowledged by his biographer ylnnnianus Mar-
ceUlnns, [Lib. xxiii. cap. 4.] who however fays nothing, though
prefent at the time, of his blafphemous exclamation when mortally
wounded, as above related; but greatly applauds the compofure,
fortitude, and refignation with which he died. This therefore refts
on Chriftian authority ; as that of TheoJoret, [Lib. iii. cap. 20.]
and Sotomen, [Lib. vi. cap. 2. J whether therefore it was dcfignedly
omitted by the heathen, or invented by Chriftian hiftorians, has
been doubted. [See Univ. Hift. vol. xvi. p. 267.] [G. E.]
( A ) The UNPARDONABLE Sin.'] That is, the^/7 againft the Holy
Ghojl ; [Matt. xii. 21, 22.] This is fuppofed to be a compli(?atIon
of knowledge and inveterate malice ; h^d Peter denied his mafter
with the malicious heart of Saul the perfecutor — or Saul perfecut-
ed Jefus with the light that Peter poffelfed — either would have
committed this fin. [N. U.]
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 423
the Roman empire: (b) thefe are alfp reprefcnted by
the ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image. The inva-
fion and conqueft of the heathen nations are fuppofcd to
be foretold in the viiith chapter of Revelation, in what
came to pafs under the founding of the four firft trumpets.
(c) Now thefe nations were chiefly heathens; and by
their means heathenifm was again for a while in part re-
ftored after it had been overthrown.
(2.) I proceed to fhow what fuccefs there was of the
gofpel in this fpace, notwithflanding thisoppofition.
[i.] I obferve, that the oppofition of Satan was baf-
fled. Though the dragon caft out of his mouth fuch a
ftood after the woman to carry her away, yet he could
not obtain his defign ; but the earth helped the woman,
and opened her mouth and fwallowed up tlic flood which
the
(b) Ten hems of the heaji.^ Sir If. Newton reckons them thus :
I. The Vandals and Alans in Spain and Africa ; 2. The Suevians
in Spain ; 3. The Vifigoths ; 4. The Allans in Gallia ; 5. The Bur-
gundians; 6. The Franks; 7. The Britons; 8. The Hunns; 9. The
Lombards; 10. The kindom of Ravenna. Mr. Mede and other wri-
ters differ a little in the names of thefe kingdoms, according to the
date at which they reckon them; but all, even Machlavel, [See Bp.
C/'fl«^/rr's Vindication, book i. ch, ii. § 3.] who little thought of
fulfiling prophecy, adheres to the fame number ; " for though
they might be afterwards fometimes more and at others fewer, yet
(fays Sir If. Ncivton) they are Hill called the ten kings." [Obferv.
on Dan. ch. vi. p. 47, 73.] [G. E.]
(c) The FOUR jfry? TRUMPETS.^ Thc^r^ trumpet produces a
ftorm of fire, of hail mingled with fire, and very fitly reprefents the
Goths under Jlhiric, who arc compared to a ftorm of hail by Clau-
dian. And Philofiorgius reprefents this period as remarkable for
Hghtning and hail. — At the fecond trumpet a burning mountain
is caft into the fca, which was ^tti/a and his Hunns, a few years af-
ter the former. He called himfelf the * fcourge of God and the
terror of men.' — At the founding of the third trumpet the ftar
ivormzuood talis from heaven, fuppofed to predial Genfer'ic, a per-
fecuting Arian, king of the Vandals. — By the/c:^r?A trumpet, the
political luminaries of the empire were terribly eclipfed, which
was effected by Gdoacer king of the Heruli, who put an end to the
very name of the weftern errvp-ire, and was proclaimed king of Ita-
ly ; but was foon removed bv Thcodoric king of the Oftrogoths,
who refumed his place. The bloodfhed and other calamities,
which attended thefe revolutions, are beyond conception. [See Bp.
JVeii'ton on the Prophecies, vol. iii. djf. 24.] [G. E.j
424 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
the dragon caft out of his iviouth. [Rev. xii. 16.] Thefe
Jurefics which fo much prevailed, yet after a while dwin-
dle away and truth was again reflored. (d) As foi 'Julian i
attempt, it was difappointed by his death,
[2.] The
(d) H^Kisi^s pnvaUcd.'] "We cannot difmifs the fubjeft of the
ancient herefies without two or three remarks, which naturally
arife from the perufal of their hiftory.
1. We obferve, that every nev/ opinion that was ftarted, which
could not be found in the eftablif[;ed creeds, was deemed a he-
refy, though fometlmes perfeAly harmlcTs, and even true. Such
were the opinions that unbaptifed children might be favcd-^that
the Virgin Marj'- had children after our Lord — and the doftrine of
the Millenium. This method foon increafed the number of he-
refies almoil beyond belief. -
2. That moil of the herefies of thofe days which dcfervcd that
opprobriou;^ name, arofe from mixing the principles of the philo-
fophers with the pure truths of revelation. This idea would fill
a volume ; we ihall therefore only illuftrate it by two or three
inftances.
The Gnojlics^ or knotuing ones, as the term implies,, whether
they fprang from Simon Magus or not, formed their fyitem of a
mixture of Chridianity and the oriental philofophy, pLrfonifying
I know not what attributes, and forming a gcneiation of JEonsy
one of whom they fuppofed to he Jefus and another Gbrift.
Valentinus, a great admirer of the Platonic philofophy, is faid to
have much refined this fyftem, and founded the Valentinians.
Origen, and many of the orthodox, in feveral particulars alfo
Platonized ; and herein was laid the foundation of fcho'laftic theo-
logy, fo much cultivated in the fiiccecding ages. — Manes was a
Perfian, and upon the fame principle endeavoured to unite the
Magian fyftem (which he had formerly profefied) with that of
Chriftianity, and in this fcheme allotted to Jefus Chrift the place
of Mithras, the Perfian Deity. Somewhat like that Roman em-
peror, who propofed to place Jefus Chrift among the heathen
idols in the pantheon. Manes adopted the PerfiaU' notion of two
firft principles, and founded the feihl of Manicheans, who, among
other impieties, took the God of the Jews for the evil principle,
the devil. — But the plan of ylmmonius Saccas is faid to have been
more liberal and extenfive, he propofed to harmonize ail the dif-
cordant fyftcms cf religion and philofophy in the world, which
he attempted by allegorizing the Pagan fyftem, and refined upon
others, thus malting them down, as it we're, into one mafs of he-
terogeneous abfurdity.^ — It fhould be added, that others, who
jukI been oiiginally jfe-Tvs, were no lefs zealous i« uniting the laws
of Mofes with the dottrines of Chrift, of v.-hich wc have inftances
even in the Nev.- Teftameut.
^ vre
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 425
[2.] The gofpel, durlngthis fpace of time, was farther
propagated amongfl: many barbarous heathen nations In
the confines of the heathen Roman empire. In tlie time
of Conftantine there was a confiderable propagation of
the gofpel in the Eaft Indies, chiefly by the miniftry
of one Frumentius, Great numbers of the Iberians, an
heathen people, were converted to Chriftianity by a Chrif-
tian woman of eminent piety, whom they had taken cap-
tive. And among feveral other barbarous nations who
were not within the Roman empire, great numbers were
brought to receive the gofpel by the teaching and example
of captives whom they had taken in war. After this,
about the year of Chrift 372, the gofpel was propagated
in Arabia ; as it was alfo among Ibmc of the northern
nations ; particularly a prince of the country of the Goths
about this time became Chriflian, and a great number of
his people with him. Towards the latter end of this cen-
tury, the gofpel was preached among the Perfians; alfo
among the Scythians, a barbarous people, whom the apof-
tle mentions [Col. iii. 11.] 'Barbarian, Scvthian, bond
* or free.' About the year 430, there was a remarkable
converfion of the Burgundians to the Chriftian faith. In
this age Ireland, which till now had been heathen, re-
ceived Chriftianity. About the fame time it was farther
propagated in Scotland and other places. In the next
century, one Zathus, king of the Colchians, renounced
3 I heathenifm,
3. We may obfervc, that whatever party prevailed conftantly
fuppofed themfelves to poflefs a right of vilifying and perfecuting
all others. Calumny, excommunication, imprifonment, and ba-
nifhmcQt, were the potent arguments with which they attacked
their adverfaries. And when fome coclefiaftical revolution turned
the fcales and raifed the fufFcrers to power, they were fure to re-
taliate upon their oppreffors. It is faid the great Conftantine faw
and bewailed this antichriftlan fpirit, conjuring the oppofite par-
ties to peace and unity, but all in vain. Thefe domeftic perfe-
cutions very much increafed the number of herefies and fcliifm ;
for oppofition is the parent of divifion, and the more men are fet-
tered in matters of rehgious opinion, the more pcrverfe and ob-
llinate will they be. It has been well obferved, that the groat
iecret of fubduing fectaries is to tolerate them ; a fecvct which
unhappily was not difcovcred in thofe times. \J.. N.J
426 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
h^thenjTiTi, and embraced the Chriflinn religion, as did
feX'eral other barbarous nations which I cannot parcicu-
jarize. (e)
Thus T have briefly confidered the principal events of
Providence which concerns the fuccefs of the gofpel from
ConRaritine to the rife of antichrift.
4- I
(e) The gofpel fctrther propagated.^ On this narrative we
obierve, that the principal faftg are unqueftionable, being related
by Sozomerif Socrates, and other hiftorians of that period, and in-
I'erted into moft later ecclefiailical hiftories ; it is not neceffary,
therefore, to cite diftinft authorities for each, we fhall only remark,
1. The rfiearis hy Avhich the gofpel was thus propagated, which
were various; (r.) Preach'mg. Frvwentiiis, a native of Egypt,
mentioned above, preached the gofpel alfo in Abyflinia, and hav-
ing converted fome of the princes, and many of the iiihabitants,
was made bifliop of Axuma by Athanafius. — Origen, at the in-
vitation of an Arabian prince, is faid to have converted a numer-
ous tribe of Arabs. — Patrick, a Scotfman, whofe original name is
thought to have been Succbth, is faid to have converted the Irifh ;
and though Anatoliis and Palladius preached there before him,
yet is he honoured as their tutelar faint, as having had moft fuc-
cefs. fi?rt^/«'s Hill, of England, vol. i. book 2.] (2.) Several
nations were converted by means of Chriftian capjives. Thus many
of the Goths firfl: liitened to Chriftianity in the third century
by means of EutycheS, and were excited to fend for Cliriftian
preachers, thougli fome give a later date and the following means.
(3.) The jJ/'o^m/y of the Chriltian empire, and the manner in
which Providence appeared for Conftantlne, induced others to
embrace Chrillianity ; this is related particularly of the Burgun-
dians and fome of the Goths, as juft obferved. And others
changed their religion to flatter the Roman efnpcror, as one Phri-
tergenes, a king of the Goths, to pleafe Valens. [Univer. Hift.
vol. xvi.131. ; xviii. 325. ;xix. 279,434 — ^- y^^- ^°'^> 390> &e.l
2. This however does not appear to be the JirJI converfion of
many of them. Mod of the then known world received the gof-
pel In the days of the apoftles. [See above. Note q^, page 407.]
And when Paiitienas preached among the Indians, he found a
copy of St. Matthew's gofpel, which, they faid, had been left
among them by one of the apoftks. Some alfo dcferted the truth
foon after they had received it : the Burgundians, for inftancc,
vvho within fifty years turned pevfecuting Arians.
3. As to the gofpel thus preached, it is to be feared it wa?.
feldom veiy pure. Phritergones and iiis people received their
Chriftianity by means of Arian preachers. And the orthodox, as
tiiey called themfelves, were, by the third and fourth renturies,
c(jn-
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRLST. 427
4. I come now to the fecond part of the time from
Couftantine to the dellrutSiion of ajitichriix, viz- that which
reaches from the rife of aijtichrift to the reformation by
Luther and others. And this is the darkcft and mod dif-
mal day that ever the Chriilian church faw, and probably
the darkcft that ever it will fee. The time of the church's
afflidtion, as was obferved befoie, is from Chrift's refur-
re»5tion till the deftruclion of antichrift, excepting what
the day is, as it were, fliortencd by fome inteimiflions and
times of refpite, which God gives for the elc6l's fake. [See
Matt. xxiv. 22.] But during this time, from the rife of
antichrift till the reformation, was a fpace wherein the
Chriftian church was in its dcpreflion, and dar^nefs. The
church in this fpace was for many hundred years in a ftatc
of great obfcuritv, like the woman in the wildernefs ;
[Rev. xii. 6.] indeed Ihc was almoft hid from light and
obfervation.— In fpcaking of the events of this fpare of
time, I would, (i.) Take notice of tlie machinations of
the devil againft the kingdom of Chrift in this time; (2.)
How the church of Chrift was upheld during it.
(i.) 1 would take notice of the machinations of the devil
againft the kingdom of Chrift during this time. Satan
had
coufiderably corrupted both in do£lrine and manners. Many alfo
received the gofpel but in part, mixing fome particulars of it with
their native fuperftitions, whence fprang thofe numerous fefts of
Semi-Chviftians, as we may call them, ilill found in many parts
of the eall.
4. We may add, that early in the following century (the fifth)
France became nominally Chriftian, on the following occallon :
Colvis L a pagan prince, f*;!! in love with Clotilda, a Chriftian
princefs, and in order to obtain her, promifed to receive her reli-
gion ; tliis, however, he had like to have forgotten, had he not
a few years after been in danger of lofing an important battle ;
then he renewed his vow of turning Chriftian, if he might gain
the vidlory, which accordingly liappening, he was baptized, with
his fifter, and 3000 of his fubjefts. {Robinfan's Mem. of Refonn.
in France, prefixed to Saurin's Sermons, vol. i.] A few yeais
after Pope Gregory, in wonderful charity, fent Aullin, and a
tribe of other monks, to convert our Saxon anceftois, (tlie na-
J^ives havirg fled to Wales) and had fuch fuccefs a; to fonUid the
3 I 2 fce
428 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
had done great things againft the Chriftian church before,
but had been bafBed again and again. Michael and his
angels had obtained a glorious viftory. How terrible
was his oppofition during the continuance of the heathen
empire ; and how glorious was Chrifl's victory and tri-
umph over him in the time of Conftantine ! It pleafed
God now to prepare the way for a yet greater vi6^ory
over him, to fufFcr him to renew his ftrength, and to do
the utmoft that his power and fubtilty could do ; and
therefore he fufFers him to have a long time to form his
fchemes, and to eftablifh his interelT: ; and permits him to
carry his defigns a great length, almoft to the fwallowing
up of his church ; and to exercife a proud, and almoft
uncontrouled dominion, a long time before Chrift finally
conquers, and utterly ruins his vifible kingdom on earth,
as he will do in the time of the deftruilion of antichrift ;
and fhovv' himfelf fuperior to all his power and fubtilty.
The two grand works of the devil which he wrought in
this fpace againft the kingdom of Chrift, are his Anti-
chriftian and Mahometan kingdoms, which have been,
and ftill are, of great extent and ftrength, both together
fwallowing up the ancient Roman empire ; tljat of Anti-
chrift the Weftern, and Mahomet's the Eaftcrn empire.
It is in the deftru6tion of thefe that the vi6lory of Chrift,
at the introdu6lion of the glorious times of the church,
will chiefly confift. And here let us briefly obferve how
Satan has eredled and maintains thefe two great kingdoms
in oppofition to that of Chrift.
[i.] With refpe(Sl to the kingdom of antich)[ft. This
fecms to be the mafter piece of all the devil's contrivances,
and therefore antichrift is called emphatically the or that
* man of fin,' [2 ThefT. ii. 3.] as though he were fo
eminently.
fee of Canterbury, of which he was the firft archblHiop. But it
is to be feared, that the grand aim of the Roman pontiff was to
enlarge his power, and the zeal of Auftjn and his fellow labourers
to propagate the trumpery of popery, rather than the doftrines
of the gofpel. \Rapin, vol. i. book 3. J There is no doubt but
Providence over-ruled all thefe events for good, and among the
fiiperftition of the times, there were always fome who would not
bow the knee to Baal. [G. E.]
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 429
eminently. He is alfo called antlchrijl, which fignifies the
adverfary of Chrift. Not that he is the only opponent of
Chrift ; for the apofllc John obferves, that in his days
there were many antichiills. [i John ii. 18, 22.] But
yet this is called the antichrift, as though there were none
other, becaufe he was fo eminently, and above all others.
So this contrivance of the devil is called the myftery of
iniquity. [2 TheiT. ii. -7.] And we tind no enemy of Chrifl;
half fo much fpoken of in the prophecies of Revelation as
this ; or his deflruflion fpoken of as fo happy for the
church, (f)
This is a contrivance of the devil to turn tlie miniftry
of the Chriftian church into his fervice, and change thefe
angels of the churches into fallen angels. And in the
tyranny, fupcrftition, idolatry, and perfecution, which he
fets up, he contrives to make an image of ancient pagan-
ifm, and more than to reftore what was loft in the em-
pire by the overthrow of heathenifm in the time of Con-
flantine : fo that by thefe means the head of the beaft,
which was wounded unto death in Conftantine, has his
deadly wound healed in antichrift ; [Rev. xiii. 3.] and
the dragon, that formerly reigned in the heathen Roman
empire, being caft out thence, after the beaft with levcn
heads and ten horns rifcs up out of the fea, gives him his
power, and feat, and great authority : and all the world
wonders after tlie beaft. (c)
I. am
(f) Antichrist.] Thatantichrift intends the Pape or rather
the papal poiuer^ is now generally agreed by protettant writers, and
is largely (hewn by Bp. Nenvlon from the text above referred to
and fome others [as Dan. vii. 20, 21. — i Tim. iv. i. &c. — i John
iv. 3. — 2 John vii. 8.] His Lordfhip has likewife effectually
demoliflied every other hypothefis on this fubjeft. [On the Proph.
vol. ii. Dif. 22.]
(g) 77ii' Image of the Beast.]
The Pagan- Dragon. | His Popish Image.
Its Head.
The Roman Emperor, called
alfo Pontifcx max'tmus, (or high
ptieft) attended with his princes
in loyal purple.
The Pope, alfo Pontifcx max-
'tmus, with his college of cardi-
nals cloathedin purple.
Its
430 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
I am far from pretending to determine the time %vJien
the reign of antichrill: began, which is a point that has
been fo m\ich controverted among divines and expohtors-
It is certain that the 1260 days, or years, which is fo of-
ten in fcripture mentioned as the time of the continuance
of antichrifl's reign, did not commence before the year of
Chriil 4^79 ; becaufe if tliey did, they would have ended,
and
Its Members.
The Roman provinces. j The catholic^a/^j.
Its Gods.
Befide the blefTed Tritiify,
Befides yupiter the fupreme,
DivaVefta, (Juno or Luna) and
a .Tnuhitude of deities of differ-
ent ranks, mediators and inter-
cefTors ; prefiding over difierent
countries, profefTions, difeafcs,
days, &.C.
San6ta Maria, (the Virgin Ma-
ry) mother of God and queen
of heaven, with innumerable
faints worfhipped as mediators
and interceiTors ; prefiding over
various countries, profeflions,
difeafes, days, 6cc.
Places of Worfiilp.
Tenr.ples built cad and well
dedicated to their feveral gods ;
?.nd one in particular to them
all, and therefore called the Paii-
theon.
The fame temples, confecra-
tcd anew, with others built up-
on the fame plan, and dedicated
to their different faints ; and the
fame Pantheon dedicated to all
faints.
Manner of Worflxip.
Through the medium of rich
images, with great fplendour and
innumerable ceremonies, mag-
nificent garments, many mufical
jnftruments, torches at noon
day, &c.
By the fame, or fimllar ima-
ges with equal fplendour, many
of the fame ceremonies, the like
garments, many mufical inflru-
ments, torches at noon day, &c.
See De La-Line's plea [book 3.] where the parallel is purfued
through feveral other heads and properly lUuftiatLd with particu-
lar inilances : alfo the late Dr. Aliddletonh Letter from Heme,
who has carried the fubjeft fllll farther, and obferves, when we
fee " the prefcnt people of Rome worfhipping at this day in the
fame temples — at \.\ig futiie altars — fometimes the fame images — and
'alwavs with the fah:e cerer/ionies, as the'old Romans ; tliey muil
have more charity as well as ikUl in diftinguifliing, than I pretend
to, who can abfolve them from the fame crime of fuperftition and
idolatry witl; their pagan anceftors." [U. S.]
TO THE FALL Or ANTICHRIST. 431
and antichrift would have fallen before now. (h) But the
rife of antichrift was gradual. The Chriflian church
corrupted itfelf in many things prcfcntly after Conftan-
tine's time, growing more and more lupcrftitious m its
worlhip, by degrees bringing in many ceremonies mto
the worQup of God, till at length they brought m the
worfhip of faints, and fet up images in their churches
and the clergy in general, and efpecially the biH^op of
Rome, affumed more and more authority to himfelf. (i)
In the' primitive times he was only a miniilcr of a congre-
gation ; then a ftanding moderator of a preil^ytery-— a
° diocelan
(h) r/.. beginning ofthere'tsn of Antichrift.-} The beft Inter-
preters (as Mr. Fleming, Sir I. Newton, Mr. Lowman, Dr. Dod-
dridee, Bp. Newton, and Mr. Reader) are pretty wefl agreed that
this reign IS to be dated from about A. D. 756, when the Pope
be£ran to be a temporal power, (that is, in prophetic language, a
W) by affuming temporal dominion ; 1260 years from this pe-
riod will bring us to about A. D. 2000, and about the 6000th
year of the world, which agrees with a tradition at leall as ancient
as the epittle afcrlbed to the apoftle Barnabas [$ 15.] which favG,
that "In fix thoufand years fliall all things be accomplif.ied.
[See Dodclr. inloc. and Bp. Newton on the Prop. vol. 1. Diff. 14.]
(0 Popift^ fuperfitlon GKA-DV M^i^^ introducecL'] The foilo\ving
chronological lift of Poplfh peculiarities is taken from the late Mr.
Toplaily.
C^ t? T^ T TJ R Y •
II. Marriage and eating flefh forbid ; Lent enjoined ; the keep-
ing of Eaftcr, and excommunication began to be abuled.
III. Keeping of Chridmas and Whitfunday enjoined ; comme-
moration of' martyrs ; facred veftments ; oblations for the dead;
facraments corrupted ; new orders of clergymen inflituted ; and a
monalllc life applauded. ■, , tt -j a
IV. Relics venerated ; pilgrimages recommended ; r nday maae
a fail day ; and the clergy forbad to marry.
V. Piaure«, Images, and altars erefted in churches; tapers
burnt at noon day ; penances and prayers for the dead pradifed ;
monafterles erefted for nuns. , • -i
VI. Sacrifice of the mafs ; the clergy exempted from the civil
jurifdiaion ; indulgencies eltabliflsed ; herefy made death.
VII. Pope made unlvcrfal bifhop ; pantheon dedicated to aU
the faints ; payers to faints, and the Latin language enjoined.
VIII. Pope made a temporal prince, and began to depofe kings ;
image worfhip enjoined.
** L\. Saints
432 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
diocefan bifliop— a metropolitan, which is equivalent to au
archbirtiop-— a p;itriarch ; then he claimed the power of
univerfal bifliop over the whole Chriftian church, where-
in he was oppofed for a while, but contirmed in it by the
civil power of the emperor in the year 606. After that
he claimed the power of a temporal prince ; and fo was
wont to carry two fvvords, to fjgnify both his temporal
and fpiritual power, and affumed more and more authority,
till at length he, as Chrift's vicegerant on earth, claimed
the very fame power that Ciirift would have, if he was
prefent on earth, and reigned on his throne, or the fame
power that belongs to God ; he even ufed to be called God
on earth, and fubmitted to by all the princes of Chriften-
dom. (k) He claimed power to crown princes, and to de-
grade them at his pleafurc ; and brought kings and empe-
rors to kifs his feet. Emperors were wont to receive their
crowns at his hands, and princes dreaded the difpleafurc
of the Pope, as they would have done a thunderbolt from
heaven ; for if the Pope was pleafed to excommunicate a
prince, all his fubjc61:s were at once freed from their alle-
giance, yea, and obliged to renounce it on pain of excom-
munication ; and not only fo, but any man might kill
him wherever he found him. Further, the Pope was be-
lieved to have power to damn men at plcafure ; for who-
foever died under his excomm-unication, was looked upon
as certainly loft. Several emperors were a£l:uallv depoled,
and died miferably by his means ; and if the people of any
ftate
IX. Saints canonized ; and tranfubftantiation maintained ; col-
lege of cardinals inftituted.
X. Agnus Dci's invented and bells baptized.
XI. Purgatory and beads invented.
XII. The fcholaftic writers arofe.
XIII. Cup refufed to the laity ; auricular confcfllon enjoined ;
jubilee appointed ; friars inftituted.
XIV. IndulgencesybZr/.
XV. Seven facraments eftabliflicd.
[Gof. Mag. Dec. 1775, and Sup.]
(k) The Pop! a GOD.] So he was ftiled, " Our Lord God the
Pope — a God on earth — the power of the.Pope (fay they) exceed.^
all created power, and extends to things celeitlal, tcrreftial and in-
fernal." [Newton on the Proph. vol. ii. p. 36^.]
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 433
ftate or kingdom did not pleafe him, he could lay that
ft.re or kincrdom under an interdidl, whcrchy all Incved
adminiftratio'ns among them could have no validity.
There could be no valid facraments, prayers, preaching,
or pardons, till that interdia was taken oft; fo that
people remained, in their apprehenhon, m a damnable
ftate, and therefore dreaded it as they would a llorm ol
tire and brimftone from heaven. And in order to execute
his wrath on a prince or people with whom the Pope was
difpleafed, other princes muft alfo be put to a -reat deal of
trouble and expence. (i.)
As the Pope with his clergy robbed the people of their
ecclefiaftical and civil liberties and privileges, fo he alio
robbed them of their eftates, and drained all Chnftendoin
of their money, ingroffing their riches into his own cof-
fers, by revenues of the clergy, pardons, indulgencies, bap-
tifms and extreme unaions, deliverance out ot purgatory,
and an hundred other things, (m)— See how well this
agrees
(l) Princes deposed or deprived hy Popes.]
1. Pope Zachary I. depofod Childerick, King of Fiance.
2. Gregory VII. Henry IV. Emperor.
Urban II. P'ndip» ^'"g ^^ France.
3. u roan 11. • i wini^, ^— "t, — -- —
i Adrian IV. William, King of Sicdy.
5. Innocent III. Philip* Emperor.
Gregory, Frederick II.
Innocent IV. John, King of England.
Ui-ban IV. Mamphred, King of Sicily.
Nicholas III. Charles, King of Sicily.
Martin IV. Peter, King of Arragon.
Boniface VIII. deprived Philip the Fair.
Clement V. depofed Henry V. Emperor.
6.
9-
10.
1 1.
12.
I / John XXII. deprived Lodovick, Emperor.
14. Gregory IX. depofed Wenceflaus, Emperor.
,t Paul in. deprived Henry VIII. King of England.
^* [Bennet's Memorial, p. 30.]
For the fentiments of the poplfh decrees and dodors on this fub-
jea, fee ' Spirit of Popery,' ch. vlii. and Sir R. Steele, Rom. Lcclel.
Hilt. No. III. and IV. where may be feen a famous oration ot Fo,.e
Sixtus V. 1589, applauding the murder of Henry III. of France,
by a Tacoblne friar, as both admirable and meritorious.
(m) rbeVo?LryKM^^XiChri/iendom:] This he did by the iol-
lowing ingenious methods :
43+ HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
agrees with the prophecies above referred to, viz. [Thef. ii.
3, 4. Dan. vii. 20, 21. Rev. xiii. 6, 7. and xvii. 3, 4.]
During
-Some Account of the Fees of the Pope's Chancery for jibfolutionst Li-
cences, InJu/gencies, isfc.
Absolutions. GrofTos.f
For lying with a woman in the chilrch - - - 6
For wilful perjury - - - - - - - 6
A pried for fimony - - - - - . . j
A layman for murdering a layman - - - - 5
For killing father, mother, wife, fifter, or other relative - 7
For a prieil that keeps a concubine - - - - 7
For defiling a virgin - - - - - --6
For lying with mother, or fifter, &c. - - - ■ 5
For robbery, or bursing a neighbour's houfe - - - 8
For forging letters apoftolical - - - - i7oriS
For a king going to the holy fepulchre without licence 100
Licences.
To change a vow of going to Rome - - - -12
That a king, on Chriftmas-day morning, may have a naked
fword borne before him, as the Pope has - - 150
To have a portable altar - - - - - 10
To eat flefli in Lent, &c. - - - - 12 or 16
That one who preaches before a king, may give indulgence
to all his hearers - - - - - -12
For a town that hath ufed green wax in its feal, to ufe red 50
Fora layman to chufe his confeffor - - . 10
Indulgencies.
For an hofpital or chapel for feven years - - , 50
That a layman may remove the relics of faints to his own
chapel --. - . . - . 16
For a remilfion of the third part of one's fins - - 100
■\- A GrofTo is fomewhat more than our groat.
The above account is correftly taken from Taxa S. Cancellaria
ApoJlolu\-c ed'ul. L. Blanch. Fran. 1 651. where p. 79, (fpeaking
of matrimonial difpenfations) are thtfe remarkable words —
" N. B. Thefe benefits cannot be given to the poor; becaufe
they have not, therefore they cannot be comforted.
Of this famous book there were no lefs than fifteen editions at
diifcrent places abroad between A. D. 15 14 and 1700.
*^* Indulgencies were often granted to whole fraternities, and
fomctimes for a 1000 years or more.
" 'Tis almoft incredible what fums of mftney are drawn into the
Pope's coffer, by thcfe and other little devices that depend upon
thera; as maffes, requiems, trentals, obits; as alfo by Peter-pence,
tenths.
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 455
D\Jring this time aifo fuperftition and ignorance more
and more prevailed. The holy fcriptures by degrees were
taken out of the hands of the laity, the better to promote
the r.nfcriptural and wicke d dcfigns of the Pope and his
3 K 2 clergy ;
tenths, firft fruits, appeals, inveftitures; by the fale of Agnus
Dei's, confecrated beads, and fuch like ware fent from Rome every
year; by difpenfations, mortuaries, pilgrimages to the spoftolic
fee, efpecially at the jubilee. Some have computed that the
tenths and fird fruits in this nation amounted to above £. 20,000
per annum, which was no fmall fum in thofe times, nay, one
archbifhop's pall (Walter Grey's of York) coft £. 10,000 fterHng,
fays Matthew Paris. In our Henry the Third's time it was rec-
koned that the Pope's revenue out of this nation exceeded the
king's; and fome that have endeavoured to make the eflimate
tell us, that there went 60,000 marks yearly out of this land to
Rome; in collecfling which fums, the frauds and cruelties of their
agents were fuch, that a great bigot of the Pope's, and a hot
llickler in Bccket's caufe, Johan. Sanjh. aflTures us, " That the
legates of the apoftollcal feat did tyrannize over the provinces, as
if the devil was gone out from the prefcnce of the Lord to fcourge
the church."
" Nor had our neighbours much better treatment ; the fame
trade was carried on in other countries, witnefs the complaint of
the Germans in their hundred grievances ; and that of the coun-
cil of Spain, mentioned by Sandys In his Europas Speculum, viz.
that Pope Pius V. had got 14 millions out of that kingdom in a
fliort fpace. And Ciracella affirms, that Pope Sixtus V. in five
years time collecfted five millions of crowns ; four millions of which
Gregory XIV. his fucceffor, wafted in pomp and riot In lefs than
ten months.
" Nov,' need we wonder at this, confidering how many hands
wore employed ? The grand fiHierman at Rome had a multitude
in every country to angle partly for him, and partly for them-
Iclves. Alltcad reckons above a hundred years ago, that there
were then at Icaft 225,044 monafterles In ChrHlendom; and if you
allow forty perfons to ?. houfe, the number will be more than nine
million. Now all thefe, and the reft of the ecclefiaftics, which,
like locufts had overfpread the face of the earth, lived upon the
plunder of the people ; and bcfides, they had a thoufand little
tricks and dcvlfes in getting money ; they could fell a dead man's
bones at a vaft fum ; Auftin's particularly (that were tranflated
from Hippo to Sardina) were purchafed at an hundred talents of
filvcr, and a talent of gold : and having almoft an Infinite variety
of ware, which they put off at no fmall rate, taking advantage of
the fuperftition and credulity of their filly chapmen." [Ben net's
Mem. of the Reform, p. 27 — 39. See alfo /V/:t's Church Hift.
book V.J
436 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
clergy ; and inftead of promoting knowledge among tlie peo-
ple, they induftiioufly promoted ignorance, (n) It was a
received maxim among them, that ignorance is the mother
of devotion : and fo great was the darknefs of thofe times,
that learning was almoft extin6l in the world. Mod of
the prieils thcmlelvcs were barbaroufly ignorant as to any
ether knovv^ledge than their infernal craft in oppreffing
and tyrannizing over the fouls of the people. The fuper-
flition and wickednefs of the church of Rome kept grow-
ing worfe and worfe till the very time of the Reforma-
tion ; and the whole Chriftian world were led away into
this grand defedlion; except the Greek church and fome
others which were funk into equal darknefs and fuper-
flition ; with a few that were the people of God, who
are reprefented by the woman in the wildernefs, and God's
two witnefles, of which more hereafter.
This-is the chief of thofe two great kingdoms wliicli the
devil in this period eredled in oppofition to the kingdom
of Chriit. I come now,
[2.] To fpeak of the other, which is in many rcfpeils
like unto it, viz. his Mahometan kingdom, which is alfo
of mighty power and vail extant, fet up by Satan againfl:
the kingdom of Chrifl: this was fet up in the eaflern em-
pire, as that of antichrift in the weftern.
Alahomet was born in tlie year of Chrifl 571', in Arabia.
When he was about forty years of age, he began to give
out tliat he was the great prophet of God, and to teach
his
(n) Papists inimical to scripture.] The proofs of this are
endlefs ; we can only refer to a tra£l called " Popery an Enemy to
fcripture," by theRev.y. Serces, ( 1 736)'who has ihevvn that papilts
prohibit the laity to read the fcriptures — that the principles of po-
pery annul its authority — that their divines fptak of them witli
great contempt — that theymadedecrccs inoppolition tothcm — that
they falfify them in their tranflations.— Memorable is the llory of
Fulgeniitts, the friend of Father Paul, who preaching on Pilate's
queilion, ' What is truth ?' told the audience, that after many re-
fearches he had found it out, and holding out a New Teflament
laid, it was there in his hand, but added, putting it again into his
pocket — " The book is prohibited." [Letter toBp. of Cavlifle—
quoted Mon. Rev. Jan. 1778.]
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 437
his new religion, of which he was to be confidercd as the
head next under God. He publifhed his Koran, which he
pretended to have received Irom the. angel Gabriel ; (o)
and being a crafty man, pofleffed of confiderable wealth,
and living among a people who were very ignorant,* and
greatly divided in their opinions of religions matters,.
by
(o) 77j<? Koran.] This celebrated book (called in Arabic, A1-
koran) is the bible of the Turks, and very different charafters arc
given of it by Mahometans and Chriflians : the following hints are
clefigned to give an impartial, though concife, view of it, and ba-
lance the oppofite accounts.
1. It muil: be confefl'cd to contain many fuWime ideas ; and for
the elegance and correftncfs of its itylc, is confidered as the ftandard
of the Arabian language. It alfo contains a number of fine moral
obfervations and excellent precepts, particularly on the articles of
julUce and alms-deeds.
2. On the other hand It Is equally true, the Koran contains a
great number of abfurdltles and falfehoods ; tales too abfurd for
fuperannuatlon to relate, or Infancy to believe : nay, a variety of
injunctions the mod tyrannical and fangulnary that ever were deli-
vered; witnefs his laws concerning women, Infidels, revenge. Sec.
3. In reply to our firll remark, Chrllllan writers have obfervcd
that the fubllmcil of his Ideas and the beft of his precepts were pro-
bably borrowed from his converfatlon with Jews and Clirlfllans ;
not to mention the current ftory of his being afiilted by a Jew aod
a Monk, v.hlch Mr. Gibbon will not admit.
4. In anfwer to our fecond obfervatlon, many of the Mahometan
doftors pretend that the reveries v/e defplfe are mere allegories, and
capable of a myllical explication, neither carnal nor ridiculous.
The precepts which we condemn, they alfo juilify as perfeftly
confiftent with the ideas of eaflern nations, though they appear
llrange and arbitrary to the wellern world.
5. Praftlfing the grand ChrilHan precept of doing as we would
be done by, and making all reafonable allowances ; ftlU nothing
can reafon away the Impoilurc of feigned revelations ; nothing juf-
tlfics the tyranny of many of his laws ; nothing palliate the cru-
elty and bloodftied that frequently marked his conquefts.
6. Laftiy, In one view, hov/ever, we may contemplate Mahome-
tanlfm with plcafure and Inftruftlon, as It affords a jjowerful argu-
ment In defence of Chrlftlanlty, and contains, even in the Koran,
its own refutation, Mahomet allows the miffion both of Mofes and
of Chrlfc, and thus confirms both the Old Teftamcnt and the New ;
and yet (wonderful Inconfillency! ) with neither of thefe can his
doftrincs In any manner be reconciled. He admits that both the
Jewifli leglllator and the Mcfiiah of the gofpels were commiffioned
from above, and yet If either be admitted, Maliomct muli certainly
be rcjefted as an cnthufiaft; or an impofior. [G. E,]
438 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
by fubtilty, and fair promifes of a fenfual paradife, he
gained a number to be his followers, fet up for their
prince, propagated his religion by the fword, and made
it meritorious of paradife to fight for him. By which
means his party grew, and went on fighting till they con-
quered and brought over the neighbouring countries: and
io his party gradually increafed till they over-ran a great
part of the world, (p) Firft, the Saracens, who were
fome
(p) The Character of Mahomet.] Many will, we hope, be
gratified by the following extraft from Mahomei'i, charaAer, drawn
by the mafterly hand of Mr. Gibbon ; in which, however, it is
but judice to hint to the juvenile part of our readers, that this
elegant hiilorian appears too much inclined to admire any fyftem
inimical to Chriltianity.
" According to the tradition of his companions, Mahomet was
dillinguifhed by the beauty of his perfon They applauded
his commianding prefence, his majeflic afpecl, his piercing eye,
his gracious fmiie, his flowing beard, his countenance that paint-
ed every fenfation of the foul, and his geilures that enforced each
cxpreiTion of the tongue. In the familiar offices of life he fcru-
puloufly adhered to the grave and ceremonious politenefs of his
country ; his refpedlful attention to the rich and powerful was
dignified by his condcfcenfion and affability to the pooreft citizens
of Mecca ; the franknefs of his manner concealed the artifice of
his views ; and the habits of courtefy were imputed to perfonal
friendfhip or univerfal benevolence. His memory was capacious
and retentive, his wit eafy and fecial, his imagination fublime, his
judgment clear, rapid, and decifive. He poffeffed the courage
both of thought and aftion ; and, although his defigns might gra-
dually expand with his fuccefs, the firft idea which he entertained
ot his divine miffion bears the ftamp of an original and fuperior
genius. The fon of Abdallah was educated in the bofom of the
nobleft race, in the ufe of the purell dialeft of Arabia; and the flu-
ency of his fpeech was correfted and enhanced by the practice of
difcreet and feafonable filence. With thafe powers of elocjuence, Ma-
homet was an illitciate barbarian : his youth had never been in-
ftrufted in the arts of reading and writing ; the common igno-
rance exempted him from fhame and reproach ; but he was re-
duced to a narrow circle of cxillence, and deprived of thofe faith-
iul mirrors, which rofleft to our mind, the minds of fages and
heroes. Yet the book of nature and of man was open to his view.
.... From liis carlieih youth, Mahomet w^s addicled to religioua
contemplation : each year, during the month of Ramadan, he
withdrew from the world, and from the arms of Cadijah ; in the
cave of Hera, three miles from Mecca, he confulted the fpirit of
fraud
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 439
fome of his followers, and were a people of the country
of Arabia, where Mahomet lived, about the year 700,
began dreadfully to wafte the Roman empire. They con-
quered a great many countries belonging to the empire,
and continued their vi6\ories for a long time. Thefe are
fuppofed to be meant by the locufts that we read of in the
ixth chap, of Revelation. ( q^) After
fraud or entluifiafm, whofe abode is not In the heavens, but in the
mind of the prophet. The faith which, under the name of JJIam,
he preached to his family and nation, Is compounded of an eter-
nal truth and a necefTary fiction, That there is only one God, and that
Mahomet is the apojlle of God.
Charity may believe that the original motives of Mahomet were
thofe of pure and genuine benevolence; but a human mUTionary
Is Incapable of cherlfliing the oblllnate unbelievers who rejeft his
claims, defpife his arguments, and perfecute his life ; he might
forgive his perfonal advcrfarles, he may lawfully hate the enemies
of God ; the ftern paffions of pride and revenge were kindled In
the bofom of Mahomet, and he fighed, like the prophet of Ni-
neveh, for the deftruftion of the rebels whom he had condem-
ned. The Injuftlce of Mecca and the choice of Medina tranf-
formed the citizen Into a prince ; the humble preacher Into the
leader of armies ; but his fword was confecrated by the example
of the faints ; and the fame God who affllfts a finful world with
peftilence and earthquakes, might infpire, for their converfion or
chaftlfemcnt, the valour of his fervants. In the exerclfe of poli-
tical government, he was compelled to abate the flern rigour of
fanatlcifm, to comply in fome meafure with the prejudices and
paffions of his followers, and to employ even the vices of man-
kind as the Inftruments of their falvation. The ufe of fraud and
perfidy, of cruelty and Injuftlce, were often fubfervient to the
propagation of the faith ; and Mahomet commanded or appro-
ved the afiafiination of the Jews and Idolaters who had efcaped
from the field of battle. By the repetition of fuch afts, the cha-
rafter of Mahomet mud have been gradually ftained ; and the
Influence of fuch pernicious habits would be poorly compenfatcd
by the praftlce of the perfonal and focial virtues which are necef-
fary to maintain the reputation of a prophet among his feftaries
and friends. Of his laft years, ambition was the ruling paffion ; and
a politician will fufpecl, that he fecrctly fmilcd (the victorious
Impoftor ! ) at the enthufiafm of his youth and the credulity of
his profelytes." [Gibbon's Decline of the Roman Emp. vol. v.
ch. 50. N. B. Compare Prideaux's Life of Mahomet, ch. I. with
Sale's preliminary Difcourfe, or Mo/heim'$ Eccl. Hill. vol. I, p.
( f»_) Saracens compared to locxjsts.I This they may be,
I. From their fvvarms, as the Saracens were almoft innumerable;
2. Arabia.
440 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
After tlris the Turks, who were originally another
people, different from the Saracens, but were followers
of Mahomet, conquered all the eaftern empire. Their
empire commenced about the year of Chrift 1296, and
about 1300 they began to invade Europe, took Conftan-
tinople, and fo became mafter of all the eaftern empire in
the year 1453, "^^^i^h is near three hundred v^^-rsago. And
tlius all thofe cities, where the famous churches of Jerufa-
lem, Antioch, Ephcfus, Corinth, &c. were, now became
fubject to the Turks. And they took pcffeiTion of Con-
ftantinople, which was named after Conftantine the Great,
and made by him the city of the Roman empire. Thefe
Turks are fuppoled to be prophefied of by the horfemcn in
the ixth chap, of Revelation, [ver. 15, &c.] (r) And the
remains of the Chriftians in thofe parts of the world, who
are mofHy of the Greek church, are in miferable flavery
under thefe Turks, and treated with a great deal of barba-
rity and cruelty, and are become generally very ignorant
and fuperftitious.
Thus I liave Ihown what great works of Satan were
wrought during this ipace of time in oppofition to the
kingdom of Chrift.
(2.) I come now to ihow how the church of Chrift was
upheld through this dark time.— And here,
[i.] It is to be obferved, that towards the former part
of this fpace, fome of the nations of Chriftendom held
out a long time beiore they complied with the corrup-
tions and ufurpations of the church of Rome. Though
all
2. Arabia, their country, frequently abounds with lociifts ; 3.
Loculls are bred in pits, they in the infernal one ; 4. In the year
A. D. 620, when Mahomet was training his dii'clples, an Arabian
hiilorian mentions half the fun being eclipfed from Oftober to
June ; 5. They fpared the trees, corn fields, and cattle ; 6. They
hurt only thofe Chriftians v/hich were coirupted by idolatry and
fuperftition. [See Bp. Newton on the Prophecies, who has ad-
duced fcveral other ftriking particulars, and fhown Mahomet to be
the Itar, ver. i. — vol. iii. Dili. 24 ] ■
(r) Turks defcr'thed as horjemcu.'^ For this they were re-
markable — confilttd of four fultanies or kingdoms — their ftan-
dards red, yellow, and blue, and about this time invented great
guns and gunpowder, {JSlcnvton on the Proph. vol. iii. Difl". 24.]
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 441
all the world wondered after the beaft, yet all nations did
not fall in at once. Many of the principal corruptions of
the church of Rome were brought in with a great deal of
ftruggle and oppofition ; and particularly, when the Pope
gave out, that he was univerfal bifliop, many churches
greatly oppofed him in it ; and it was a long time before
they would yield to his exorbitant claims.*- And fo, when
the worfhip of images was firft brought into the churches,
there were many who greatly oppofed it.f And the fame
•with refpeft to other corruptions of the church of Rome.
Thofe people that dwelt near to the city of Rome complied
fooner, but fome that were more remote, were a long time
before they could be induced to put their necks under the
yoke : and particularly ecclefiaftical hiftory gives an ac-
count, that it w^as fo with great part of the churches in
England, and Scotland, and France, who retained the
ancient purity of dovSlrine and worfliip much longer than
many others, who were nearer the chief feat of anti-
chrift.t
[2.] In every age of this dark time, there appeared
particular perfons in ail parts of Chriftendom, who bore
a teftimony againil the corruptions and tyranny of the
church of Rome. There is no one age of antichrift, even
in the darkeft; times, but ecclefiaftical hiftorians mention
many who manifefted an abhorrence of the Pope, and his
idolatrous worlhip, and pleaded for the ancient purity of
do6lrine and worfhip. God was pleafcd to maintain an
uninterrupted fucceflion of witnefles, through the whole
time, in Germany, France, Britain, and other countries.
Many of them were private perfons, many minifters, and
fome magiftrates, and perfons of dift:in6lion. (s) And
there
* Binghani'!, Antiq. book ix. chap. l. § 11. and Barrotu on the
Supremacy.
f Dupins Eccl. Hift. Cent. viii. chap. i.
X See the following Note.
(s) God bad witnesses w every age.'] This is largely proved
by a learned prelate, to whom thcfe notes have often been indebted,
the late Bp. oi Brljlol [on the Prophecies, Dif. xxiv. Part i.] and
the late ingenious Mr. Toplady, [Hiftoric Proof of tl.e Calv. of
3 L ■ the
442 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
there were numbers in every age who were perfecuted and
put to death for this teftimony.
[3.] Befides particular perfons difperfed here and there,
there was a certain people, called the Waldenfes, who
lived
the Ch. of Eng. vol. i. p. 149 — 212.] from whom the following
iiamcB are fekfted under the different centuries :
Cent. VII. In this age the doftrine of the Roman church began
to be effentially and generally corrupt ; yet, however, the Pope
had not commenced a temporal prince, and the illuftrious names
that hiftory preferves, are too many to be particularized.
Cent. VIII. Several councils in this century were held in op-
pofition to the growing errors of popery, particularly tranfubftan-
tiaticn, and the worfliip of faints and images. The beginning of
this century the famous ^/cuin, an Englifliman, wrote in the name
of the Britifh bifliops, and others, to Charles the Great, protefting
againll thefe errors. At this time alfo flourifhed the venerable
Berle, who with his dying breath finiflied his Tranflation of St.
John's Gofpel.
Cent. IX. Not to mention the exertions of feveral princes, both
in the eaft and weR, againft the increafing tyranny of the Popes,
and the vices and herelies of his clergy : among the divines who
boldly oppofed popery, were jlgobard, Abp. of Lyons, who wrote
againit pidlures and images, and maintained the doctrine of one
mediator. Maurus, Abp. of Mentz, and the celebrated Bertram^
(or Ratramnus, as feme call him) and even Scutus, wrote againft.
tranfubftantiation. Angilbertm, Ah^^. of Milan, refiftedthe Pope's
fupremacy ; Claude, bifhop of Turin, afferted the principal articles
of the proteftant faith ; and Gottefchalus, a pious monk, not only
preached, but fuffered in their defence.
Cent. X. Which even Baron'ivs calls an Won and even a leaden
age, produced fome councils and writers in oppofitlon to various
branches of popery ; among the latter, Alfric, Abp. of Canter-
bury, was one of the moft eminent ; and Gerbert, Abp. of Rheims,
went fo far as to call the Vo-^t antic hrifl, although afterwards (fo
frail is human nature !) himfclfafcended the papal chair.
Cent. XI. Some pretended heretics at Orleans in France de-
nied many of the popifli errors; and, asDupin fays, found fault
with moft of the ceremonies of the church. Bcrengar'ius wrote
profeffedly againft tranfubftantiation and the church of Rome.
Cent. XII. Many now began to efteem the Pope, antichrlft.
Pdter and Hairy de Bruis, and Arnold, of Brefcia, fuffered mar-
tyrdom for the like opinions. The Waldenfes now arofe to gene-
ral notice, and from thence may be dated the dawn of the refor-
mation.
Cent. XIIL To leave the Waldenfes for a following note, and
ihofc leffcr ftar? which now began to be pretty numerous in moft
..j^arts
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 443
lived feparate from all the reft of the world, who kept
themfelves pure, and conftantly bore a teftimony againft
the church of Rome through all this dark time. The
place where they dwelt was the Vaudois, or the five val-
leys of Piedmont, a very mountainous country, between
Italy and France. The place where they lived was com-
pafTcd about with thofe exceeding high mountains called
the Alps, which were almoft impaffable. The paflasje
over thefe mountainous defert countries was fo difficult,
that the valleys where this people dwelt were almoft inac-
ceflible. There this people lived for many ages, as it were,
alone, in a ftate of feparation from all the world, having
very little to do with any other people ; and there they
ferved God in the ancient purity of his worfliip, and never
fubmitted to the church of Rome. This place, in this
defert mountainous country, probably was the place efpe-
cially alluded to in tlie xiith chapter of Revelation, [verfe
6.] as the place prepared of God for the woman, that they
ihould feed her there during the reign of antichrift.
' Some of the popifli writers themfelves own, that this
people never fubmitted to the church of Rome. One of
the popilh writers, fpcaking of the Waldenfes, fays, The
herefy of the Waldenfes is the oldeft herefy in the world.*
It is fuppofed that this people firft betook themfelves to
this dciertlccret place among the mountains, to hide them-
felves from the fcverity of the heathen pcrfecutions which
were before Conftantine the Great : and thus the woman
fled into the wildcrnefs from the face of the ferpcnt. [Rev.
xii. 6.] And fo, [verfe 14.] ' And to the woman were
' given two wings of a great eagle, tliat Ihe might fly into
' the wildernefs, into her place ; where flic is nouriflied
3 L 2 . ' for
parts of Europe, our own country in this age produced two very
illuftrious charafters, Grojlhcad, bifhop of Lincoln, and Bradwar-
dine, Abp. of Canterbury.
Cent. XIV. Produced Tl^icllif and the Lollards ; and from that
time God has raifcd up a numerous and illuftrious company of
wltnefTes in every fucceeding age, which, though they have been
perfecuted and opprelTed in every poffible {hape, have never been
Jilenced or fubducd. [L N.J
* Rclturlus cont. Haeret. cap. 4.
444 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* for a time, and timec, and half a time, from the face of
' the ferpent.' And the people being there fettled, their
poftcrity continued there from age to age afterwards : and
being, as it were, by natural walls, as well as by God's
grace, feparated from the reft of the world, never partook
of the overflowing corruption.
Thefe, efpecially, v/ere thofe virgins wlio were not
defiled with women ; nor when other women proflituted
themfelves and were defiled ; but they kept themfelves pure
for Chrift alone ; tl^ey followed the Lamb, their fpiritual
hufband, whetherfoever he went ; they followed him into
this hideous v/ildernefs. [Rev, xiv. 4, 5.] Their do6lrine
and their worfhip, by the accounts which remain of them,
appear to be the fame with the proteftant dodlrine and
worfliip ; and by the confeffion of popiHi writers, they
were a people remarkable for the ftriclnefs of their lives,
for charity, and other chriftian virtues, (t) They lived
in external poverty in this hideous country ; but they chofe
this rather than to comply with the great corruptions of tlie
reft of the world.
They living in fo fecret a place, it was a long time be-
fove they feem to have been much taken notice of by the
Romanifts ; but at laft falling under obfervation, they went
out
(t) The DOCTRINE of ibe Ancient Waldenses.] "Accord-
ing to PiUchdorJJliis the IVaUeufa themfelves carried up the date of
their commencement, as a body, to about the year 637. For my
own part, (fays Mr. Top lady) I agree with fomc of our oldeft
and bed proteftant divines .... that the uninterrupted fucceffion
of the apoftolic doftrine continued with them from the primitive
times, quite down to the reformation ; foon after which period,
they feem to have been melted down in the common mafs of pro-
teftants." [Hiftoric Proof, vol. i. p. 149, &c.J
From an ancient confeffion of their faith, and other authentic
teRimonieSi it appears that they acknowledged the apoflles creed,
believed the doftrincs of the trinity, original fin, falvation by
Chrill alone, the fufnciency of the fcriptures, of which they re-
ceived the fame books that we do ; and that they rejedted the
Pope's fupremacy, purgatory, five faj:raments, prayers for the
dead, malFcs, vows of celibacy, monkery, pilgrimages, the wor-
jhipping of faints, and other popifli tenets.
[Sec liift. Ecclef. Magdeburg, vol. iii. Cent. XII. cap. 8. and
Perrin's Hiilory, vol. i. cap. 8.j
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 445
e-ut in mighty annics againfl: them, and fell upon them with
infatiable cruelty, barbaroufly maffacring and putting to
death, men, women, and children, with all imaginable
tortures ; and lo continued perfecuting them with but little
intermiflion for feveral hundred years ; by which means
many of them weie driven out of their old habitations in
the vallies of Piedmont, and fled into all parts of Europe,
carrying with them their doftrinc, to which many were
converted, (u) But their perfccutors could not by all
their cruelties extirpate the church of God ; fo fulfilling his
word, ' that the gates of hell fhovild not prevail againft it.'
[4.] Towards the latter part of this dark time, feve-
ral eminent divines openly appeared to defend the truth,
and bear teftimony againft the corruptions of the church
of Rome, and had many followers. The firft and prin-
cipal of thefe was a certain Englilh divine, whofe name
was 'John IVickllff', who appeared about 140 years before
the Reformation, and ftrenuoully oppofing the popiih re-
ligion, taught the fame do6trine that the Reformers af-
terwards did, and had many followers in England. He
was hotly pcrfecuted in his lifetime, yet died in peace ;
and
( u ) IVaUenfes greatly persecuted.] " Againft the Waldenjesy
(faith a candid popifh hiftorian) when exquifite punlfliments availed
little, and the evil was exafperated by the remedy which had been
unfcafonably applied, and their number increafed daily, at length
complete armies were raifed, and a war of no Icfs weight than what
our people had before waged againft the Saracens, was decreed
ngainft them : the event of which was, that they were rather flain,
put to flight, fpolled every where of their goods and dignities,
than that convinced of their error they repented. So that ....
they fled into Provence and the neighbouring Alps of the French
territory ..... Part withdrew into Calabria, and continued there
a long while .... part pafied into Germany, and fixed their abode
among the Bohemians, and in Poland and Livonia ; others turn-
ing to the weft, obtained refuge in Britain."
[Thuan'us in Prvrf. ad Hen. IV.]
It is related, that in tliefc wars w iicn the paplfts took the city
of Beziers, they put to the Avord above 6o,coo perfons, among
whom were many of their own profefTion ; the Pope's legate cry-
ing, ♦' Kill them all, for the Lord knowcth rhem that arc his."
{Pet. HIP;. Alb. c. 1 :•, l8,'& feq.]
446 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
and after he was buried, his bones were dug up by his per-
fecutors and burnt. His followers remained in confider-
able numbers in England till the Reformation, and were
cruelly perfecuted, and multitudes put to death for their
religion.
WickUff had many difciples and followers, not only in
England, but in other parts of Europe, whither his books
were carried ; and particularly in Bohemia, among whom
were two eminent divines, John Hufs, and yerom a divine
of Prague, the chief city of Bohemia. Thefe ftrenuoufly
oppofed the church of Rome, and had many who adhered
to them. They were both burnt by the papifts, for their
do6trine ; (w) and their followers in Bohemia were cru-
elly perfecuted, but never extirpated till the Reformation,
—Thus having gone through this dark time of the church,
which is the fccond part of the fpacc from Conftantine the
Great to the dcfl:ru£lion of antichrift, I come now,
5. To the third part, viz. that which begins with the
Reformation, and reaches to the prefent time. And here
I would, (i.) Speak of the Reformation itfelf ; (2.) The
oppoiition that the devil has made to the Reformed church ;
(3') What fuccefs the gofpel has lately had in one place
and anotlier; (4) The prefent flate of things in the church
ofChrift.
(i.) Here the firft thing to be taken notice of is the
Reformation. This was begun about 220 years ago : firlt
in Saxony in Germany, by the preaching oi Afart'in Luther,
who, being ftirred in his fpirit to fee the horrid pra6lices
of
(w) Yiv 5% burned.'] A very remarkable exprelTion is attributed
to this martyr in the article of death. Addreffing himfelf to the
popirti clergy then prefent, he faid, Ye fliall anfwer for this an
hundred years hence both to God and me. And fome tell us that
he added, " You roaft the Goofe now, but a Sivan fliall arife whom
you fliall not be able to burn as you do the poor weak Goofe."
Now Hufs in the Boliemia language fjgnifies a Goofe, as Luther
does a Sii'an ; and jufl an hundred ye^vs after Luther rifes up, and
gives them a deeper wound than ever they had yet received, as it
were, requiring the bhjod of Hufs and Jerom of them ; and we
know that the Swan could never be taken, but dies in her iieil."
[Bennet's Mem. p. 38.]
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 447
of the popifh clergy, and having fet himfelf diligently to
inquire after truth, by the ftudy of the holy fcriptures, and
the writings of the ancient fathers of the church, openly
and boldly decried the corruptions and ufurpations of the
Romilh church in his preaching and writings, and had
foon a great number that fell in with his do£lrines ; among
whom was the EleiSlor of Saxony, his fovereign prince.
This greatly alarmed the church of Rome ; which did as
it were rally all its forces to oppofe him and his doctrine,
and fierce wars and perfecutions were raifed againfl: it : but
yet it went on by the labours of Luther, and Melan6thoa
in Germany, Zuinglius in Switzerland, and other eminent
divines, who were contemporary with Luther, and fell in
with him; and partic\alarly Calvin, who appeared fome-
what after the beginning of the Reformation, but was one
of the moft eminent Reformers.
Many of the princes of Germany foon fell in with the
reformed religion, as did feveral other flates and kingdoms
in Europe, as England, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, Nor-
way, great part of France, Poland, Lithuania, Switzer-
land, and the Low Countries. So that it is thought, that
heretofore about half Chriftendom were of the ProteOant
religion ; though, fmce that time the Papifls perhaps have
gained ground ; fo that the Proteftants now have not fo
great a proportion.
Thus God began glorioufly to revive his church and
advance the kingdom of his Son, after fuch a difmal night
as had been from the rife of anticlirift to that time. There
had been many endeavours ufed before by the witneflcs
of the truth for a reformation before. But now, when
God's appointed time was come, his work was begun,
and went on with a fvvift and wonderful progrefs ; and
antichrift, who had been rifing higher and higher from
Jiis very firfl; beginning till that time, was fwiftly and
fuddenly brought down, and fell half way towards utter
ruin, and never has been able to rile again to his former
height. A late expofitor, IVIr. Loivman (who explains the
five firfl; vials in the xvith chapter of the Revelation, with
greater probability perhaps tlian any wlio went before
him.1
448 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
him,) underftands die fifth vial, which was poured out or;
the feat of the beafi:, of what came to pafs in the refor-
mation ; as he had done the four preceding vials of certain
great judgments God brought on the popifh dominions
before the reformation. It is faid, [ver. lo.] tliat ' the
' fifth angel poured out his vial on the feat of the bead ;'
in the original, it is the throne of tlie beaft ;* ' and his
' kingdom was full of darknefs, and they gnawed their
' tongues for pain, and blafphemed the God of heaven
* becaufe of their pains and their fores, and repented not
' of their deeds.' He poured out liis vial upon the throne
of the beaft, i. c. on the authority and dominion of the
Pope : thus the word throne is often ufed in fcripture ; fo
(i Kings, i. 37.) 'As the Lord hath been with my lord
' the king, even fo be he with Solomon, and make his
' throne greater than the throne of my Lord King David :'
i. c. make his dominion and authority greater, and his
kingdom more glorious.
But now, in the reformation, the vials of God's wrath
were poured out on the throne of the beaft. His throne
was terribly fliaken and diminiflied. The Pope's autho-
rity and dominion were greatly diminiflied, both as to the
extent and degree. He loft, as was faid before, about
half his dominions. And ftnce the Reformation, tlie
Pope has loft great part of that authority, even in the
popifti dominions, which he had before. He' is not re-
garded, and his power is dreaded in no meafure as it was
wont to be. The powers of Europe have learned not to
put their necks under the Pope's feet, as formerly they
were wont to do. So that he is as a lion that has loft
his teeth, in comparifon of what he was once. And
when the Pope and his clergy, enraged to fee their autho-
rity fo diminiflied at the Reformation,' laid their heads
together, and joined tlieir forces to deftroy the Reforma-
tion ; tlicir policy, whicli was wont to ferve them fo well,
failed, and they found their kingdom full of darknefs, io
that they could do nothing, any more than the Egyptians,
who
* E?rt roil S^oK>> Sijftii.
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 449
who rofe not from their feats for three days. The Re-
formed church was defended as Lot and the angels were
in vSodom, by fmiting their enemies with blindnefs, that
they could not find the door. God then fulfilled that word
[Job. V. II, &c.] * To fct up on high thofe that be low ;
* that thofe which mourn may be exalted to fafety. He
* difappointeth the devices of the crafty, fo that their
' hands cannot perform their enterprife. He taketh the
' wife in their own craftincfs : and the council of the fro-
' ward is carried headlong. They meet with darknefs in
* the day time, and grope in the noon day as in the night.
' But he faveth the poor from the fword, from their mouth,
' and from the hand of the mighty.' — Thefe proud
enemies of God's people being fo difappointed, and finding
themfelves fo unable to uphold their own dominion and
authority, this made them as it were to gnaw their tongues
for pain and rage.
(2.) I proceed, therefore, to fhow what oppojitlon has
been made to the fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe in the Re-
formation by Satan and his adherents ; obferving, as we
go along, how far they have been baffled, and how far they
have been fuccefsful.
[i.] The firft oppofition that I rtiall take notice of, is
that which was made by the clergy of the church of Rome
uniting together in a general council. This was the fa-
mous council of Trent, which the Pope called alittle while
after the Reformation. In that council, there met together
fix cardinals, thirty-two archbifliops, two hundred and
twenty-eight bifhops, befides innumerable others of the
Romifii clergy. This council, in all their fittings, in-
cluding the times of intcrmiiTion between, was held for
eighteen years together. Their main bufinefs all this
while was to concert meafures for cftablifhing the church
of Rome againft the Reformers, and for deftroying the
Reformation.* But it proved that they were not able to
perform their enterprife. The Reformed church, notwith-
ftanding that council, ftill remains. So that the council
3 M of
* See Father Paul's Hlft. of this Council,
4^0 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
of the frovvard is carried headlong, their kingdom is full
of darknefs, and they weary themfelves ia vain.
Thus the church of Rome, inftead of repenting of
their deeds when fuch clear light was held forth to them
by Luther and other Reformers, does, by general agree-
ment in council, perlift in their vile corruptions and
wickednefs, and obftinate oppotition to the kingdom of
Chrift. The doctrines and pra6tices of the church of
Rome, which were chiefly condemned by the Reformed,
were confirmed by the decrees of this council : and the
corruptions, in many refpedts, were carried higher than
ever before ; and they uttered blafphemous reproaches and
curfes again ft the reformed religion, and all the Re-
formed church was excommunicated and anathematized
by them ; and fo according to the prophecy, ' they blaf-
' phemed God.' Thus God heardened their hearts, intend-
ing todeflroy them.
[2.] The Papifts have often endeavoured to over-
throw the Reformation by kcret. plots and confplracies. So
there were many plots againfl: the life of Luther. The
Papifts were engaged in contriving to difpatch him, and
to put him out of the way; and he, as he was a very
bold man, often very much expofed himfelf in the caufc
of Chrift ; but yet they were wonderfully prevented from
hurting him, and he at laft died in his bed in peace.
And fo there have been from time to time innumerable
fchemes fecretly laid for the overthrow of the Protcftant
religion ; among which, that which feems to be moft con-
fiderable, and which feemed to be the moft likely to
have taken effedt, was that in the time of King James IL
ot England, which is within the memory of many of us.
There was at that time a ftrong confpiracy between the
King of England and Louis XIV. of France, who were
both Papifts, to extirpate the Northern herefy, as they
called the Proteftant religion, not only out of England,
but out of all Europe ; and had laid their fchemes fo, that
they feemed to be almoft fure of their purpofe.* They
looked
* See Rapin's Hift^of Eng. v. xv, p. 162, &c.
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 451
looked upon it, that if the Reformed religion were fup-
preffed in the Britilh reahns, and in the Netherlands,
which were the arongefl part, and the chief defence of the
Proteftant intereft, they fliould have eafy work with the
reft. And juft as their matters feemed to be come to a
head, and their enterprife ripe for execution, God, in hii
providence, fuddenly dailied all thefe fchenies in pieces
by the Revolution, at the coming in of King William and
Queen Mary : by which all thefe defigns were at an end ;
and the Proteftant intereft was more ftrongly eftablifhed,
by the crown of England's being eftablillied in the Protef-
tant Houfe of Hanover, and a Papift, by the conftitution
of the nation, for ever rendered incapable of wearing the
crown of England. Thus they groped in darknefs at noon
day as in the night, and their hands could not perform their
enterprife ; their kingdom was full of darknefs, and they
gnawed their tongues for pain.
After this, there was a deep defignlaid to bring the fame
thing to pafs in the latter end of Queen Anne's reign, by
the bringing in of the PopiOi pretender ; which was no
lefs fuddenly and totally baffled by divine Providence ; as
the plots againft the Reformation, by bringing in the pre-
tender, have been from time to time.*
[3.] The Reformation has often been oppofed by open
wars and invafions. So in the beginning of the Refor-
rnation, the emperor of Germany, to fupprefs tiie Re-
formation declared war with tlie duke of Saxony, and
the principal men who favt)ured and received Luther's
doafine. But they could not obtain their end; they
could not fupprefs the Reformation. For the fame end,
the King of Spain maintained a long war with Hol-
land and" the Low Countries in the century before laft.
But thofc cruel wars iffued greatly to the difadvantage of
the RomiOi church, as they occafioned the fetting up of
one cf the moft powerful Proteftant ftates in Europe,
which, next to Great Britain, are the chief barrier of the
Proteftant religion. t And the defign of the SpaniUi in-
3 M 2 vafion
* Bennet's Memorial 370, &c. f Viz. Holland.
452 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
vafion of England In Queen Elizabeth's time, was to fup-
prefs and root out the Reformed relif^ion : and therefore
they brought in their fleet all manner of inftruments of
cruelty wherewith to torture the Proteftants who would
not renounce their religion. But their defign was to-
tally baffled, and their mighty fleet in a great meafure
ruined, (x)
[4.] Satan has oppofed the Reformation with cruel
perfecution. The perfecutions with which the Proteftants
in one kingdom and another have been tormented by the
church of Rome, have been in many refpecls beyond anv
that were before. So that antichrift: has proved the greateft
and moft cruel enemy the church of Chrifl: ever had,
agreeable to the defcription given of the church of Rome,
[Rev. xvii. 6.] ' And I faw the woman drunken with the
' blood of the faints, and with the blood of the martyrs
' of Jefus.' And [chap, xviii. 24.] ' And in her was
' found the blood of prophets, and of faints, and of all them
' that were flain upon the earth.'
The
(x) The Spani/Jj Armada.] *' There was fo much of Provi-
dence (our enemies themfelves being judges) in it [the defeat of
this fleet] that the Spaniih admiral, the Duke of Medina Sidonia,
blafphemoufly fwore that he feared Jefus Chrift was turned Lu-
theran ; nay, the king of Spain himfelf hearing of this ftrange de-
feat of his fleet, faw fo evidently the finger of God 'in this difap-
pointment, that he is reported to have faid. He did not fend his
fleet to fi<jht againft God, butagainfl men." [Bennei's Mem. 122.]
Don Pedro, one of the Spaniih captains taken by Sir F. Drake,
being examined before the Lords of the privy council what was
their defign of invading us, replied, " To fubdue the nation and
root it out." And what meant you, faid the Lords, to do with the
Catholics ? " To fend them, good men, faid he, direflly to heaven,
as all you heretics to hell." For what end. were your whips of
cord and wire ? ^' To whip you heretics to death." What would
you have done with the young children ? " They above feven
years old fhould have gone the way their fathers went ; the reft
fliould have lived in perpetual bondage, branded in the forehead
with the letter L for Lutherans." [Account of the Span. Inva-
fion, piiWifhed 1739.]
N. B. The inftruments of torture above alluded to, as thumb-
fcrews, whips, &c. are ftill fliewn among other curiofities in the
Tower of London.
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 453
The heathen perfecutions had been very dreadful ; but
now perfecuti.^n by the cliurch of Rome was improved,
and ftudied, and cultivared as an art or fcience. Such
methods of tormenting were found out that were beyond
the invention of former ages. And, that perfecution
might be managed more efFc6tually, there were certain
focieties eflablifhcd in various parts of the Popifli domi-
nions, whofe bufinefs if Ihouhl be to fludy, improve, and
pradlife perfecution in its higheft perfe6fion, (y) which
are
(y) Courts of IsQtTisiTiON.] Thefe infernal tribunals were
firft erefted in the twelfth century by the infamous Father Domi-
nic, under the patronage of Pope Innocent HI. in order more com-
pletely to extirpate the Waldenfes, and other pretended heretics.
It is difficult to conceive, that if God had delivered the world en-
tirely into the devil's hands (as Satan once pretended) that his in-
genuity and malice could have invented any thing more deteftable
and fliocking. In fa6t, theie is fcarcely a method that could delay
or pervert juftice, but they have adopted it in their forms ; nor
does there feem a poffible method of torture but they have in-
vented and repeatedly exercifed. The reader whofe nerves can
bear fuch reiterated fcenes of cruelty, may read Bal'er^s Hift. of
the Inqulfition — the Hiftory of the Inquif. at Goa, written by a
Papifl; — and fimilar works : but to fhew how far it is poffible for
human nature to go, let him read the following extraft from a
fermon preached at Evora, on occafion of one of the moft horrid
fcenes the fun ever beheld, an aufo de fe, when they burn or rather
roaft heretics (as they call them) alive, from a principle of reli-
gion. " Beloved Portuguefe," faid the inhuman wretch, " let us
return thanks to heaven, for his great goodnefs in giving us this
holy tribunal, [the Inquifition.] Had it not been for this tribu-
nal, our kingdom would have become a tree without flowers or
fruits, fit only to be committed to the flames. What progrefs has
herefy made for want of an inquifition In England, France, Ger-
many, and the Netherlands! It Is evident, had It not been for/o
great a blcffing our country would have been like to thofe above
mentioned." [Sermans de Padro Frcy, yliitonio Conthiho, impreffo
em Lefhoa, anno 1638.] If It be poffible to add any thing more
fhocking to this impious haran<:fue, It Is, that one of our own
judges. Sir J. HovcJ, recorder of London, v.Ifhed for the like In-
ftltutlon here in England: " Till now," faid he, on the trial of
Pcnn and Mead, two Quakers, " I never underflood the prudence
and policy of the Spaniards In fufPeringthe inquifition among them.
And certainly It will never be well with us til! fometliing like the
SpnniJ}] inquifition be in Er^land.^' [^Gen. DiH. vol. viil. Art.
Pcnn, W.]
454 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
ar^ called the courts of inquijition. A perufal of the hif-
tories of the Pvomilh perfecution, and their courts of in-
quifition, will give that idea which a few words cannot
exprefs.
When the Reformation began, the bead with fevcn
heads and ten horns began to rage in a dreadful manner.
After the Reformation, the church of Rome renewed its
perfecution of the poor Waldenles, and great multitudes
of them were cruelly tortured and put to death. Soon
after the Reformation, there were nifo terrible perfecu-
tions in various parts of Germany: and efpecially in Bo-
hemia, which laded for thirty years together; in which
fo much blood was fhed for the fake of religion, that a
certain writer compares it to the plenty of waters of the
great rivers of Germany. The countries of Poland, Li-
thuania, and Hungary, were in like manner deluged with
Proteftant blood, (z)
By means of thefe and other cruel perfecutions, the
Proteftant religion was in a great meafure fupprefled in
Bohemia, and the Palatinate and Hungary, which before
were Proteftant countries. Thus was fulfilled what was
foretold of the little horn, [Dan. vii. 20, 21.] ' —and of
.' the ten horns that vi'ere in his head, and of the other
' which came up, and before whom three fell, even of
' that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that fpake very
* great things, whofe look was more ftout than his fellows,
* I beheld, and the fame horn made war with the faints,
* and prevailed againft them.' And what was foretold of
the beaft having feven heads and ten horns, [Rev. xiii. 7.]
' And it was given unto him to make war with the iaints,
' and
(2) Popery more cruel than Paganlfm.'] ** 1£ 'R.omt pagan
hath (lain her thoufands of innocent Chriftians, Rome Chi-yUan
hath flain her ten thoufands. For, not to mention other out-
rageous (laughters and barbarities, the croifades againft the Wal-
denfes and Albigenfcs, the murders committed by the Duke of
Alva in the Netherlands, the mafTacies in France and Ireland, will
probably amount to above ten times the number of all the Chrif-
tians flain in all the ten perfecutions of *the Roman emperors put
^.ogether." [Bp. Newton on the Proph, vol. iii. p. 282.]
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 455
* and to overcome them : and power was given him over
* all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.'
Alfo Holland and the other Low Countries were for
many years a fcene of nothing but the moft afFe6ling and
amazing cruelties, being deluged with the blood of Pro-
teftants, under the mercilefs hands of the Spaniards, to
whom they were then in fubje6tion. But in this pcrfe-
cution, the devil in a great meafure failed of his purpofe ;
as it iffued in a great part of the Netherlands carting off
the Spanifli yoke, and fettini, up a wealthy and powerful
Proteftant ftate, to the great defence of the Proteftant
caufe ever fmce.
France alfo is another country, which, fince the Re-
formation, in fome refpedls, perhaps more than any other,
has been a fcene of dreadful cruelties fuffered by the Pro-
teftants there. After many cruelties had been exercifed
towards the Proteflants in that kingdom, there was begun
a perfecuiion of them in the year 157 1, in the reign of
Charles IX. king of France. It began with a cruel maf-
facre, wherein 70.000 Proteftants vvere flain in a few days
time, as the king boafted : and in all this perfecution, he
flew, as is fuppofed, 300,000 martyrs. And it is reckoned,
that about this time, within thirty years there were mar-
tyred in this kingdom for the Proteftant religion, 39 princes,
148 counts, 234 barons, 147,518 gentlemen, and 760,000
of the common people, (a)
But all thefe perfecutions were, for exquifite cruelty,
far exceeded by thofe which followed in the reign of
Louis XIV. which indeed arc fuppofed to exceed all
others
(a) The Parisian majfacre."] This maflacrc was aggravated
with feveral circumftances of wantonnefs and treachery ; but w?
hope that the above numbers are exaggerated. Thuanus, their
own hiltorian, reckons 30,000 lives deltroyed in this flaughter ;
but proteftant authors feem to have reafon for fuppofing them
not lefs than 100,000 in the whole. But the moft horrid circum-
ftance in the hiftory is, that when the news of this event reached
Rome, Pope Gregory XIII. inftituted the moft folemn rejoicings,
giving thanks to almighty God for this glorious vi<^ory ! ! ! An
inftance that has no parallel, even in hell. [!• N.]
456 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
others that ever have been ; and being long continued,
by reafon of the long reign of that king, almoft wholly
extirpated the Protellant religion out of that kingdom,
where had been before a multitude of famous Proteftant
churches all over the country, (b) Thus it was given
to the beaft to make war with the faints, and to over-
come them.
There
(b) The Persecution under Louis X/F.] This followed the
revocation of the edidl of Nantes, A, D, 1685. The following
cxtraft is taken from a French work of reputarion :
" The toopers, foldiers, and dragoons went into the Proteftants
houfes, where they marred and df faced their lioufliold-ftiifF, broke
their looking-glaffes, and other utenfds and ornaments ; let their
wine run about their cellars, and threw about their corn, and
fpoiled it. And as to thofe things which they could not deftroy in
this manner, fuch as furniture of beds, linen, wearing-apparel,
plate, &c. they carried them to the market-place, and fold them
to the Jefuits, and other Roman catholics. By thefe means the
Proteftants in Montaubon alone were, in four or five days, ttn'pped
of above a million of money. But this was not the worft.
" They turned the dining-rooms of gentlemen into ftables for
their horfes. And treated the owners of the houfes where they
quartered with the higheft indignity and cruelty, laffiing them
about from one to another, day and night, without intermiflion,
not fuffering them to eat or drink ; and when they began to fmk
under the fatigue and pains they had undergone, they laid them
on a bed, and when they thought them fornewhat recovered, made
them rife, and repeated the fame tortures. When they faw the
blood and fvveat run down their faces and other parts of their bo-
dies, they fluiccd them with water, and putting over their heads
kettle-drums, turned upfide down, they made a continual din upon
them till thefe unhappy creatures loft their fenfes. When one party
of thefe tormenters were weary, they were relieved by another,
who praftifed the fame cruelties with freih vigodr.
" At Negreplifle, a town near Montaubon, they hung up Ifaae
Favin, a Protcftant citizen of that place, by his arm-pits, and
tormented him a whole night b}^ pinching and tearing off his flefti
with pincers. They made a great lire round a boy of about twelve
years old, who, with hands and eyes lifted up to heaven, cried out,
** My God, help me !" And when they found the youth refolved
to die rather than to renounce his religion, they fnatched him from
the firejuft as he was on the point ut being burnt.
" In feveral places the foldiers ap*plied red hot irons to the
hands and feet of men, and the brcafts of women. At Nantes they
hung up feveral women and maids by their feet, and others by
their arm-pits, and thus expofedthem to public view ftark naked.
They
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 457
There was alfo a terrible perlccution in EugUnd, \\\
Queen Mary's time, wherein great numbers in all parts
of the kingdom were burnt alive* And after this, though
the Proteftant religion has been for the moft part eftab-
lidied by law in England, yet there have been very fevere
perlecutions by the high-churchmen, who fymbolize in
many things with the papifls. Such a perfecution was
that which occafioned our forefathers to flee from their
native country, and to come and fettle in this land, which
3 N was
They bound mothers that gave fuck to pofts, and let their fucking
infants lie languifhing in their fight for fevcral days and nights,
crying, mourning, and gafping for life. Some they bound before
a great fire, and being half roaftcd, let them go ; a punifliment
worfe than death. Amidlt a thoufand hideous cries, and a thou-
fand blafphemies, they hung up men and women by the hair ; and
fome by their feet, on hooks in chimnics, and fmoaked them with
whifpsof wet hay till they were fuffocated. They tied fome un-
der the arms with ropes and plunged them again and again into
wells; they bound others like criminals, put them to the torture,
and with a funnel filled them with wine, till the fumes of it took
away their reafon, when they made them fay they confented to be
catholics. They ftripped them naked, and after a thoufand indig-
nities, ftuck them witii pins and needles from head to foot. They
cut and flalhcd them with knives ; and fometimcs with led hot pin-
cers took hold of them by the nofe, and other parts of the body,
and dragged them about the rooms till they made them promilc
to be catholics, or till the cries of thefe miferable wretches, calling
upon God for help, forced them to let them go. They beat them
with ftaves, and thus bruifcd, and with broken bones, dragged
them to church, where their forced prefcnce was taken for an
abjuration. In fome places they tied fathers and hufbands to their
bed-pofts, and before their eyes raviflied their wives and daugh-
ters with impunity. They blew up men and women with bellows
till they burll them. If any to efcape thefe barbarities endea-
voured to fave themfclves by flight, they purfued them into the
fields and woods, where they fliot at them like wild bealts, and
prohibited them from departing the kingdom (a cruelty never
pracflifed by Nero or Dioclcfian) upon pain of confifcation of ef-
fcdls, the gitllies, the laflv, and perpetual imprifonment; infomuch
that the prifons of the fea-port towns were crammed with men,
women, and children, who endeavoured to fave themfclves by
flight from this dreadful perfecution. With thefe fcenes of defo-
lation and horror, the popifli clergy feafted their eyes, and made
only a matter of laughter and fport of thcra. [Seckenb Hill.
Luth. II. p. 116.]
* See Fvx% Martyrs, vol. iii.
458 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
was then an hideous howling wildernefs. And thefe per-
fetutions were continued with little iutermiffion till King
William came to the throne, (c)
Scotland
(c) Perfecut'iom of the high-churchmen.] Luther ufed a
vulgar faying, ' that every man is born with a Pope in his belly ;*
meaning that a fpirit of tyranny is natural to the prefent depraved
ftate of man. Nor v/ill the mere profefTion of any religion, how-
ever excellent and benign, remedy this propenfitv, unlefs men
enter into the fpirit of it. We need not wonder therefore at ani-
mofities and even perfecutions among nominal profeiTors, who
often affumc Chriftianity only as a cloak for their vicious tempers
and condudl:. The perfecutions and oppreffions in the times of
the Stuarts feem to have arlfen folely from a lull of power and
impatience of contradiftion. Even that miitaken zeal for God
and reh'gion which fometimes kindled the flames of perfecution,
feems to have had but little fhare in caufing thefe, fince the bit-
tereft enemies of the Puritans did not charge them with effential
errors of either faith or manners. Abfolute monarchy and arbi-
trary power were the grand objefts of Laud and his furious affo-
ciatcs. And it is to be feared, that they would not have thought
the deftruftion of half their mailer's fubjefts too dear a purchafe
for the power of completely tyrannizing over the reft. It would be
foreign to the defign of thefe notes to enter into the particulars
ef thefe enormities ; thofe who can bear fuch relations, may find
abundance of them in Baxter''?, Hiftory of his Life and Times ;
NeaPs Hiftoi7 of the Puritans, and Pahnerh edition of the Non-
conformifts Memorial, or Memoirs of the Nonconformift Minif-
ters ; 2000 of whom were expelled, on the fame fatal day (St.
Bartholomew's) on which the Parifian maffacre began. But, un-
happily, perfecution has not been confined to fuch men : every
fed, and fome of the beft men in each have engaged in the diabo-
lical bufinefs. We have already obferved inftances of this in the
primitive churgh, [page 424, Ncte d] and the fame may be ob-
ferved early in the reformation ; with what bitternefs did the
Lutherans, Zuinglians, and Calvinifts, and other parties of the re-
formers, abufe, imprifon, and banifli each other, is too well atteftcd
by ecclefiaftical hiilorians of the i6th century. Not to mention
the blood of fcflaries unjuilly fhed both at home and abroad.
Not only did the epifcopalians in England perfecute the difTenters;
but in Scotland, and during the commonwealth in England, thefe
perfecutcd the epifcopalians. And what is perhaps more extra-
ordinary, even in New England, where.the firft colonifts fled from
the iron hand of opprelTion at 'home, they perfecuted the quakcrs
and others who diiTented from their eftablifliment. How then
fhall wc account for thefe encrmltles, but upon the principle we
firft m.enticned, that it proceeds from the g-cneral depravity of
human
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 459
Scotland has alfo been the fcene, for many years together,
of cruelties and blood by the hand of high-churchmen,
fuch as came very little fhort of the popifh perfecution in
Queen Mary's days, and in many things much exceeded it,
which continued till they were delivered by King William.
Ireland alfo has been as it were overwhelmed with
proteftant blood. In the days of King Charles I. of Eng-
land, above 100,000 Proteftants were cruelly murdered
in that kingdom in a few days ; the papifts, by a fecret
agreement, rifing all over the kingdom at an appointed
time, intending to kill every Proteftant in the kingdom
at once, (d)
Befides thefc, there have been very cruel perfecutions
in Italy, and Spain, and other places, which I ihall not
(land to relate, (e)
Thus
human nature, which, though in a degree reftlficd and fubdued
in good men, is not eradicated, but often difcovers itfclf in the
tempers and aftions of the bell. [G. E.]
(d) The ATq/pjcre in Irelakd.'] It appears that the Irifh pro-
teftants had been marked out for deitruftion in Qjaeen Mary's
reign, but Providence delivered them in the following i-emarkabls
manner : Dr. Cole being fcnt with a commiffion for that purpofe,
boafted of it by the way, and a Proteftant at Chefter, where he
ftopt, found means to fteal it. When the Doftor came to Ireland,
and was about to produce his commiffion to the proper perfons,
on opening the box which had contained it, to his great morti-
fication he only found a pack of cards, with the knave of clubs
uppermoft ! He returned to obtain a new commifiion, but the
queen died before it could be procured. [N. U.]
(e) Other cniekles.j Befide the proteftant blood (bed in
thefc perfecutions, popery has to anfwer for the lives of millions
of Jews, Mahometans, and Barbarians. When the Moors con-
quered Spain in the eighth century, they allowed the Chriftians
the free exerclfe of their religion. But in the 15th century, when
the tables were turned, and Ferdinand fubdued the Morifcoes
(the dcfcendants of the above Moors) many hundred thoufands of
them were forced to be baptized, or burnt, maiTacred, or banifhed,
and their children fold for flaves ; befides an innumerable multi-
tude of Jews who fhared the fame cruelties ; chiefly by means of
the infernal inquifition. [G^^y^/cj-'s Mifc. Tracts, vol. i. p. r, and
fequel.] A worfe flaughter, if pofTible, was made among the na-
tives of Spanifh America, where 15 millions are faid to have been
facrificed to the genius of popery in the courfe of about 40 years.
3 N 2 L-^^'"-
46o HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Thus did the devil, and his great minifter antichrift, rage
with violence and cruelty againfl the church of Chrifl: !
And thus did the whore of Babylon make herfelf drunk
with the blood of the faints and martyrs of Jefus ! and
thus, by thefe perfccutions, the Protcftant church has been
much diminiihed ! Yet with all have they not been able
to prevail ; but ftill the church is upheld, and Chrift ful-
fills his promife that ' the gates of hell fhall not prevail
' again ft it.'
[^.] The lafl: kind of oppofition that Satan has made to
the Reformation is by corrupt opinions. Satan has oppofed
the light of the gofpel which ihone forth in the Reforma-
tion with many corrupt opinions, which he has propagated
in the world.
And here, in the firfl: place, the firft oppofition of this
kind was by the fe6l of the Anabaptifts, which began about
four or five years after the Reformation itfelf began. This
fe6t, as it firfl appeared in Germany, were vaflly more
extravagant than the prefent anabaptifis are in England, (f)
They held a great many corrupt opinions: one was, that
there ought to be no civil authority, and fo that it was
lawful to rebel againll: civil authority. And on this prin-
ciple, they refufed to fubmit to magiflrates, or any human
laws; and gathered together in vaft armies to defend them-
felves, and having put ail Germany into an uproar, fo kept
it for fome time.
The next oppofition of tliis kind to the Reformation was
that which was made by enthujiajis. (g) Thofe are rightly
called
\_Bar. de las Cafas\ Narrative.] Well therefore might the infplred
apoftle fay, that at Myftic Babylon's deftrudlion, ' In her was
* found the blood of prophets and of faints, and of all that were
* flain upon the earth.' [Rev. xvili. 24.] [I. N.]
(f j The Anabaptists in England."] It is but juftice to obfervc
that the prefent anabaptifts, anti-pasdobaptifts or baptilts (as they
are now called) differ in nothing from other diffenters, but in the
article of baptifm, which they admini.fl;er by immerfion and to
adults only. But the anabaptifts of the fixteenth century were
what our author reprefents them. ' [U. S.]
(g) 'E.^r hvs\ AST s oppofed the Reformation.'] Of thefe fome re-
jefted all outward religion, and acknowledged none but internal ;
2. fom«
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 461
called enthufiafts who falfely pretend to be infpired by the
Holy Ghoft as the prophets were. Thcfe appeared in
Germany about ten years after Luther began the Refor-
mation ; and many of them were exceeding wild and
extravagant. The followers of thefc are the Quakers in
England, and other parts of the Britilh dominions.
The next were the Socinians, who had their beginning
chiefly in Poland, by the teaching of Lslius and Fauftus
Socinus. They held, that Chrifi: was a mere man, and
denied his fatlsfa6lion, and many of the fundamental doc-
trines of the Chriftian religion. Their herefy has hnce
been greatly propagated among Proteftants in Poland, Ger-
many, Holland, England, and other places.
After thefe arofe the Arminians. They firft appeared
in Holland about 130 years ago. They are fo called from
a Dutchman, whofe name was Jacob Van Hafmin, in
Latin, Jacobus Arminius. This Arminius was firft a mi-
nifter at Amfterdam, and then a profeiTor of divinity in
the unlverfity of Leyden. He had many followers in
Holland. There was upon this a fynod of all the Re-
formed churches called together, who met at Dort in
Holland. The fynod of Dort condemned them ; but yet
they fprcad and prevailed, (h) They began to prevail
in
2. fome pretended to extraordinary vifions and revelations ; and,
3. others expected the corporeal prefence of Chiifl to fubdue all
other governments. The fefts were too numerous to be too parti-
cularized ; and too contemptible to deferve it : but mofl of them
have dwindled into oblivion. [G. E.]
(h) The Synod of Dort.] This famous aflembly met 1618.
Befides a number of Dutch divines, and feveral from other pro-
tcftant countries, England fent 4, viz. Bps. Carlton, Hall, and
Davenant, and Dr. Ward; and Scotland i. Dr. Balconquel.
And for the Arminians, the three principal were Epifcopius,
Coi vinus, and Dwinglon. After much altercation, (as is gene-
ral the cafe) without any approach to agreement, the afTembly
confirmed the famous 5 points, viz. Eleftion, limited Redemp-
tion, Original Sin, invincibility of Grace, and final Perfeverance.
And the Arrninian rcmonftrants being the weaker party were
dcpofed from their minillry.
We take tlie liberty of adding, that our author's excellent trea-
tifes on Free-will, Original Sin, &c. have perhaps done more than
twenty Synods could have done to refute thefe errors. [G. E.]
462 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
in England in the reign of Charles I. efpecially in the
church of England. The church of England divines
bs^re that time were almoft univcrfally Calvinills ; but
fince then Arminianifm has gradually more and more
prevailed, both in the eftablifliment and among the Dif-
fenters, and has fprcad greatly in New England, as well
as Old.
Since this, Ariamfm has been revived. I have already
obferved Arianiim, a little after Conftantine's time almoft
fwallowed up the Chriftian world, like a flood out of the
moutli of the dragon, which threatened to fwallow up the
woman. And of late years, this herefy alfo has been re-
vived in England, and greatly prevails there, both in the
church and among DifTenters.
Another thing which has of late exceedingly prevailed
among Proteftants, and efpecially in England, is De'ifm.
The Deifls wholly cail; off the Chriftian religion, and are
profefled infidels. They are not like the heretics, Arians,
Socinians, and others, who own the fcriptures to be the
word of God, and the Chriftian religion to be true, but
only deny certain do6lrincs of it, for they deny the whole
Chriftian religion. Indeed they own the being of God ;
but deny that Chrift was the Son of God ; and fay he was
an irapoftor, as they do of all the prophets and apoftles.
They deny the Bible, all revealed religion, -and believe
that God has given mankind no ether light to walk by but
their own reaion. — Thus much concerning the oppoMtion
that Satan has made againft the Reformation.
(3.) I proceed now to fliow what fuccefs the gofpel has
had in thefe later times of the Reformed church. This
fuccefs may be reduced to three heads ; [i.] Reformation
in do6l:rine and wcrfhip in countries .called Chriftian ;
[2.] Propagation of the gofpel among the heathens ; [3.]
Revival of religion in the power and pradllce of it.
[i.] As to the ftrft, viz. Reformation in doftrine, the
moft confidcrable fuccefs of the gofpel of this kind lately,
has been In the empire of Alufcoi'y, vvhlch is a country
of vaft extent. The Mufcovitcs,* as many of them as
cail themfelves Chriftians, profefled to be of the Greek
church ;
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 463
church ; but were barbaroufly ignorant, and very Tuper-
iHtious, till of late years. Their late Emperor Peter the
Great, who reigned till within thefe twenty years, let
hiinfelf to reform the people of his dominions, and took
great pains to bring them out of their darknefs, and to
have them inftru6led in religion. To that end, he fet
up fchools of learning, ordered the Bible to be printed in
their own language, and made a law that every family
fliould keep the holy fcriptures in their houfes, and that
no perfon fliould be allowed to marry till they were able
to read them. He alfo reformed his churches of many
of their fuperftitions, whereby the religion profefled and
pra6lifcd in Mufcovy became much nearer to that of the
Proteftants than formerly it ufed to be. This emperor
gave great encouragement to the exercife of the Proteflant
religion in his dominions. And fmce that Mufcovy is
become a land of light, in comparifon of what it was be-
fore (i).
[2.] As to the fecond kind of fuccefs which the gofpel
has lately had, viz. its propagation among the heatheriy I
would take notice of three inftances.
The propagation of the gofpel among tlie heathen herd
in America. This continent on which we live, which is
a very great part of the world, and together with its
neighbouring fcas adjoining, takes up one fide of the globe,
was wholly unknown to all Chriflian nations till thefe
latter times, though it was very full of people , and there-
fore here the devil had the inhabitants, as it were, fe-
cure to himfelf, out of the reach of the light of the gof-
pel, and fo out of the v.ay of moleftation in his dominion
over them. And heie the many nations of Indians wor-
fhipped
( I ) Protestants in Russia.] We are forry to be informed
by a gentleman who very lately vifited Rufiia, that the Proteftant
interell there is exceedingly low. Even at Peterfburgh, the ca-
pital of the empire, the congregation of Britifh Proteftants is very
fmall and poor, the merchants, to their fhame be it fpoken, think-
ing it beneath them to profefs religion ; the communicants at this
place, (ftrangeto tell !) were only three befide the minifter. — The
Greeks are, alfo very fuperftitious, though perhaps lefs fo than
formeily. [N. U.]
464 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
{hipped him as God from age to age, while the gofpcl
was confined to the oppofite fide of the globe. It is a
fuppofition which, if I remember right, I have fome
where met with, that the occafion of the firfl: peopling
of America was this, that the devil being alarmed and fur-
prifcd by the wonderful fuccefs of the gofpel during the
firft three hundred years after Chrift, and by the down-
fall of the heathen empire in the time of Conftantine ;
and fearing that his kingdom would be utterly overthrown
through the world, led away a people from the other con-
tinent into America, that they might be quite out of the
reach of the gofpel, that here he might quietly poffefs
them, and reign over them as their god. And it is faid,
that fome of the Indians, when the Europeans firft came
into America, had a tradition among them, that their god
firft led them into this continent, and went before them
in an ark. (k)
Whether this was fo or not, it is certain that the de-
vil did quietly enjoy his dominion over the poor Indians
for many ages. But in later times God has fent the gof-
pel into thefe parts of the world, and now the Chriftian
church is fct up among us in New England, and in other
parts of America, where before had been nothing but the
groffeft
(k) TTiff peopling o/" America.] The above notion, to which
our author fecms pretty much inclined, we cannot perfuade our-
felves to admit for the following reafons :
1. Bccaufe it appears to us extremely probable, from a fimila-
rity of manners and even language, not to mention other circum-
ftances, that a part of America was peopled long before this by
fome Phenicians ; and not totally unknown to the ancient Greeks.
[See Univ. Hift. vol. xx. p. 158, 159.] This v/Ill agree perfedly
with the tradition mentioned by our author, fince it appears that
other nations had an imitation of the facred aik of the Hebrews.
[Tacitus De Mor. Germ. cap. 40.] And fuch have been aiftually
difcovercd in South America and fome of the South Sea iflands.
Picari's rehgious Ceremonies, Sec. vol. iii. p. 146. and Haivktf-
ivorth's Voy. vol. ii. p. 252, 257.]
2. We think it more confident and to the divine glory to refer
this event to the providence of God than to the agency of the de-
viL It was unqueftionably the work or heaven to fcatter the in-
habitants of the earth after the confufion of Babel, in order to the
peopling
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 465
grofled heathenilh darknefs. Great part of America is
now full of Bibles, and has at leafl: the form of the vvor-
fhip of the true God and Jefus Chrifl, where the name of
Chrift: before had not been heard of for many ages, if at
all. And though there has been but a fmnll propagation
of the gofpel among the heathen here, in comparifon of
what is to be wifhed for ; yet there has been fomething
worthy to be taken notice of. There was fomething re-
markable in the tirfl times of New England ; and even
of late in this and feveral other parts of America, many
Indians have Ihown an inclination to be inflrudted in the
Chriftian religion, (l)
And
peopling of our hcmifpherc, and it is inconceivable why the peo-
pling of the other fliould be referred to fo oppofite a caufe. It is
granted however that America might owe a great part of its inha-
bitants to thefe countries of Afia, as Tartary, Siberia, and Kam-
fchatka, which approach it neareft, and as fome fuppofe, may pof-
fibly have once joined the oppofite continent. And perhaps fome
might emigrate from China, and even Wales. [Sec Univ. Hi(h
vol. XX. p. 163, 174, 190.] Whether, however, the firil inhabi-
tants of America fled thither from the hand of tyranny — emigrated
from a principle of commerce — or were driven there by unruly ele-
ments, there feems no reafon for afcribing an event of fuch impor-
tance to diabolical agency or contrivance. [G. E.]
(l) Gofpd propagated among the IsDiAss in America.^ One
of the mort eminent and fuccefsful miflionaries among thefe was
Mr. David Brarnerd, whofe life Pref. Edivards published. In
reading the account of Mr. B. and other miffionaries, two ideas
ftrike us with peculiar force.
1. The difficulty of their work : the variety of the Indian lan-
guages, and the length of time it takes to acquire a tolerable ac-
quaintance with any of them, is very difcouraging. It is alfo fre-
quently difficult to procure an audience, and then every thing in
ChrHlianity appears fo perfectly ftrange to them, and the evidences
of it lay fo much out of their way, that few give any credit to it.
Their grand quellion, what has become of their forefathers ? is not
cafily anfwered to their fatisfaftion. ' They were good men, fay
' they, and we will follow them ; we doubt not but they were happy
* without tliis new religion, why then fhould we embrace it V But
their moil important objection is drawn from the vicious lives of
nominal Chriftians. ** Chrillian religion! Devil religion! (fay they)
Chriftian much drunk; Chriftian much do wrong, much beat, much
abufe others." — " Truly it is a fad fight, fays one, to behuld a
3 O drunken
466 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
And however fmall tlic propagation of the gofpel a-
mong the heathen in America has hitherto been, yet I
think we may well lock: upon the difcovery of fo great
a part of the world, and bringing the gofpel into it, as
one
drunken Chriflian, and a fober Indian — an Indian jull in his deal-
ings, and a Chriftian not fo ; a luborious Indian, and an idle Chrif-
tian, Sec. O what a fad thing it is for Chriftians to come (hort of
heathens even in moralities !" [Voyage to Eaft India, added to the
Travels of Pietro della Valle, printed in Eng. 1665.]
2. We are led to admire the beauty and fimpliclty with which
thefe barbarians when converted exprefs themfelves, and to adore
the power of divine grace in their converfion.
*' After public worfhip was done, numbers came to my
houfe, fays Mr. Brainerd, and while we were fniging, the woman
mentioned Feb. 9. I may venture to fay, if I may be allowed to fay
fo of any peifon I ever faw, was filled with joy unfpeakable and
full of glory, and could not but burft forth in prayer and praife
to God, crying, fometimes in Englifh and fometimes in Indian —
* O bleffed Lord! do come, do come! O do take me away! do
* let me die and go to Jefus Chrift. O dear Jefus do come ! I
* can't (lay, I can't ftay ! O how can I live in this world! do take
* my foul away from this finful place !' with much more to the
fame purpofe. In this ecdacy fhe continued fometime, and when
fhe had a little recovered herfclf, I aflced her, if Chrift was not now
fweet to her foul ? Whereupon, turning to me with tears in her
eyes, and with all the tokens of deep humility, fhe faid, ' I have
' many times heard you fpeak of the goodnefs and fwcetnefs of
* Chrift, but I knew nothing what you meant ; I never believed
* vou ; but now I know he is better than all the world.' I aflied,
and do you fee enough in Chrift for the greateft of finners? . She
replied, ' O enough, enough for all the finners in the world if
* they would but come.' And turning, at my defire, to fomepoor
Chriftlefs fouls who ftood by much affefted, ftie faid, ' O there's
' enough in Chrift for you all, if you would but come. O ftrive,
* ftrive to give up your hearts to him.' Then hearing fomewhat
of the glory of heaven mentioned, ftie again fell into an ecftacy of
joy, and cried out as before, ' O dear Lord,' do let n-.e go ! O
* what Hiall I do ? I want to go to Chrift,' &c. In this fweet frame
flie continued more than two liours.
" When I have fometimes alked her why.lhe appeared fo forrow-
ful ? Was file afraid of hell ? She would anfvvcr, * No, I ben't fo
* much diftreffed about that, but my heart is fo wicked I can't love
* Chrift,' and thereupon burft out into tears. She feemed to view
divine truths as living realities, and could fay, * I know thefe things
* are fo ; I feel them to be true.' Now her foul was rcfigned to
the divine will. Being aflced, what If God ftiould take your huf-
band
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 467
one thing by which divine Providence is preparing the way
for the future glorious times of the church ; when Satan's
kingdom fhall be overthrown, not only throughout the
Roman empire, but throughout the whole habitable globe,
on every fide, and on all its continents. WHien thofe
times come, then doubtlefs the gofpel, which is already
brought over into America, fliall have glorious ■ fuccefs,
and all the inhabitants of this new difcovered world flrall
become fubjedls of the kingdom of Chrift, as well as the
3 O 2 other
band from you (who was then very fick) how could you bear that ?
She replied, ' He belongs to God, and not me, he may do with
him jull what he pleafes.' Now (he could freely trud her all with
God for time and eternity. Being a{l<ed, how flie could be will-
ing to die, and leave her little infant, what did (he think would
become of it ? She anfwered, ' God will take care of it; it belongs
to him ; he will take care of it.'
[5rrt///^/Y/'s Journal, Mar. 1746.]
Mr. Brainerd's labours in America were crowned with much
fuccefs, and to (how that God ftill carries on his work, and at
the fame time give a fpecimen of the beautiful fimplicity of the In-
dian rtile, we fubjoin the following letter from certain Indians to
the Rev. Mr. J. Caldwell, fecrctary to the board of commiflioners
at New-Jerfcy.
Oneiduy Dec. 10, 1 770.
Father,
We have not much to fay, but are very thankful that our belt
has arrived after fo long a time, and its language founds agreeably
in our ears, which at the fame time reaches the heart with peculiar
joy as wc are poor. We return thanks to our fathers beyond the
Great Waters, for the confideration they made us of ^. 10 fterling.
We thank them from our very hearts, and alfo blefs God who put
it into their hearts to fhew us this kindnefs. The holy word of
Jefus has got place among us, and advances ; many have lately
forfaken their former fins to appeal ance, and turned to God;
there are fome among us who are very llubborn and ftrong ; but
Jefus is Almighty, and his word is very ftrong too; therefore we
hope he will conquer and fucceed more and more.
We fay no more, only aflc our fathers to pray for us. Although
they are at a great diftance, perhaps by and by, through the
ftrength and mercy of Jefus, we {hall meet in his kingdom above.
Farewell.
Tageivareu, chief of the bear tribe.
Suchnageat, weft tribe.
Ojfcketa, turkle tribe.
[G. E.]
468 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
other parts of the earth : and in all probability Providenco
has fo ordered it, that the mariner's compafs, which is
an invention of latter times,* (whereby men are enabled
to fail over the wideft ocean, when before they durft not
venture far from land) flionld prove a preparation for
what God intends to bring to pafs in the glorious times of
tlie church, viz. the fending forth the gofpel wherever any
of the children of men dwell, how far off foever, and
however feparated by wide oceans from tltofe parts of the
world which are already Chriftianized.
There has of late years been alfo a very confiderable
propagation of the gofpel in the dominions of Mufcovy.
I have already obferved the reformation which there has
lately been among thofe who are called Chriftians there;
but I now fpeak of the heathen. Great part of the vaft
dominions of the Emperor of Mufcovy are grofsly heathen.
The greater part of Great Tartary, a heathen country, has
in later times been brought into the Mufcovitc government ;
and of late great nvimbers of thofe heathen have embraced
the Chriftian religion.
There has lately been llkewife a very confiderable pro-
pagation of the ChrilHan religion among the heathen in
the Eaft Indies, particularly at Malabar, many have been
brought over to the Chriftian and Proteftant religion;
chiefly by the labours of miffionaries fent thither by the
king of Denmark ; who have fet up fchools among them,
and a printing prefs to print Bibles and other books for
their inllrudlion, in their own language, with great fuc-
cefs. (m)
[3.] The
* About A. D. 1302. Gen. Did.
(m) Succefs of the gofpel In the lE.A%r Indies.] The principal
inftruments in this work appear to have been MefTrs. Z'legenbalgh
and Phitfcho, both German proteflants and Danifh miiTionaries,
to whom others were afterwards added. The fuccefs of their mi-
niftry appears to be not merely civilization, nor a profcfiion of the
external ceremonies of religion, as is to be feared is generally the
cafe with the boafted converfions of the Jefuits and other Popifh
miffionaries; but many poor Indians* were favinjiy brought to
Jefus Chrift, in fpite of difficulties which an European can hardly
conceive.
One
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 469
[3.] The laft kind of fuccefs which there has lately-
been of the gofpel, which I fliall take notice of, is the
revivals of the power and pra6lice of religion which have
lately been. And here I Ihall take notice of but two in-
ftances.
Firfl, there has been not long fince a remarkable re-
vival of the power and pradiice of religion in Saxony in
German, through the endeavouis of Auguftus Hermannus
Frank, profeffbr of divinity at Hall in Saxony, who being
a perfon of eminent charity, the great work that God
wrought by him, began by his fetting on foot a charita-
ble delign. It began only with his placing an alms box at
his ftudy door, into whicli fome poor mites were thrown,
whereby books were bought for the inflru6lion of the
poor. And God was pleafed fo wonderfully to fmile on
his defign, and fo to pour out a fpirit of charity on people
there on that ocqafion, that with their charity he was
enabled in a little time to ereft public fchools for the
inft:ru6lion of poor children, and an orphan houfe for the
fupply and inflruction of the poor ; fo tliat at lafl: near
live hundred children were maintained and infi:ru6tcd in
learning and piety by the charitv of others ; and the num-
ber increafed more and more for many years, and till the
laft account I have feen. This was accompanied with a
wonderful reformation and revival of religion, and a fpirit
of piety in the city and univerfity of Hall; and thus it
continued.
One of the miffionaries letters, dated December 11, 1 7 1 3, men-
tions, that they had then baptifcd and joined in Chriftian commu-
nion 246 perfons (of both fexcs). And another letter mentions
the whole number of children in their charity fchool to be 78, of
which 56 were lodged in the houfe. — In tranflating the firft princi-
ples of Chriftianity into the language of the natives, the Malabrian
fchool-mafter who aflifted was particularly ftartled at the boldnefs
of an expreffion, intimating our becoming the children and friends
of God, and propofcd faying indead of it, that God might allow
lis to li'tfs his feet.
[See Propagation of the Gofpcl in the Eall by the Danifli
Miffionaries, &c. printed at London 17 18.]
[I. N.]
470 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
continued. Which alfo had great influence in many other
places in Germany, (n)
Another thing which it would be ungrateful in us not
to take notice of, is that remarkable out-pouring of the
Spirit of God which has been of late in this part of New
England, of which we, in this town, have had fuch a fliare.
But it is needlefs for me particularly to defcribe what
you have fo lately been eye witnefTes to, and I hope mul-
titudes
(n) Orphan Houfe, iifc. at Glauca.~\ In the year 1706, the Hate
of this wonderful undertaking was as follows :
1. An hofpital (the building of which coft 20,000 rix dollars) for
the maintenance of poor orphans of both fexes ; with an apothe-
cary's fhop, printing office, bookfeller's fliop, and other offices,
with proper perfons to fuperlntend them.
2. Ten fchools for boys and girls in different claffes.
3. A provifion for widows, poor ftudents, ftrangers, and other
neceffitous perfons.
4. A college of divinity.
5. A collegiate fchool for the education of young gentlemen at
the expence of their parents.
This work was begun and carried on by a fucceflion of provi-
dences, the moft fingular that modern times have feen ; all the fup-
plies for a long time being communicated in a manner little fhort
of miraculous. One may give an idea of the reft:
" Another time, fays Profefibr Frank, I ftood in need of a great
fum of money, infomuch that an hundred crowns would not have
ferved my turn, and yet I faw not the leall appearance how I might
be fupplied with an hundred groats. The fteward came and fet
forth the want we were in. I bid him to come again after dinner,
and I refolved to put up my prayers to the Lord for his afliftance.
When he came again after dinner, I was ttill in the fame want, and
fo appointed him again to come in the evening. In the mean time
a friend of mine came to iee me, and with him I joined in prayers,
and found myfelf much moved to praife and magnify the Lord for
all his admirable dealings towards mankind, even from the begin-
ning of the world, and the moft remarkable inftances came readily
to my remembiancc whiHl I was praying. I was fo elevated in
praifing and magnifying God, that I infifted only on that exercife
of my prefent devotion, and found no inclination to put up many
anxious petitions to be delivered out of the prefent necefllty. At
length my friend taking his leave, I accompanied him to the door,
where I found the fteward waiting on ope fide for the money he
wanted, and on the other a perfon who brought an hundred and
fifty crowns for the fupport of the hofpital."
[Pietas HallenfiSf or an Abftraft of Divine Prov. 8cc. p. 15 — 1 7. J
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 471
tltudes of you fenfiblc of the benefit of. (o)— Thus I have
mentioned the more remarkable inftanccs of the fucccfs
which the gofpel has lately had in the world.
(4-) I
(o) Remarkable conversions in New England.] We have
already mentioned in the liil of our author's works, Cp. 33.) a
narrative of this extraordinary event, from which we fliall give a
fhort extratl, for the gratification of fuch of our readers as have
never feen that traft.
" In the latter end of the year 1733, the young people of Nor-
thampton in New England fhewed a peculiar readinefs of receiving
inftruftion ; foon after this, a number of perfons appeared to be
converted at a fmall village about three miles from the town : in
the following year fome remarkable deaths awakened the attention
of many to religious concerns. About the clofe of this year feveral
perfons were fuddenly, and it appears, truly converted, particu-
larly a young woman who had been remarkably gay; the news of
which flew like lightning, and produced a general and almoft in-
ftantaneous alarm. There was fcarcely, fays Mr. Edwards, a
fingle perfon in the town, either old or young, that was left un-
concerned about the great things of the eternal world From
day to day, for many months together, might be feen evident in-
ftances of finners brought out of darknefs into marvellous light.
This foon made a glorious alteration in the town ; fo that in the
fpring and fummer following, 1735, '^^ town feemed to be full ot
the prefence of God. It was a time of joy in families on account
of falvation's being brought unto them ; parents rejoicing over
their children as new-born, and hufbands over their wives, and
wives over their hufbands. The goings of God were then feen m
his fanfluary, God's day was a delight, and his tabernacles were
amiable. Our public aflemblies were then beautiful ; the con-
gregation was alive in God's fervice, every one earneftly intent on
the public worfliip, every hearer eager to drink in the words of
the miniiler as they came from his mouth ; the affembly in general
were, from time to time, in tears while the word was preached ;
fome weeping with forrow and dillrefs, others with joy and love,
others with pity and concern for the fouls of their neighbours. In
all companies, on whatever occafion perfons met together, Chrill
was to be heard of, and feen in the midll of them ; even at wed-
dings, which formerly were merely occafions of mirth and jollity,
there was now no difcourfe of any thing but the things of religion,
and no appearance of any, but fpiritual mirth.
"Thofe amongll us that had been formerly converted, were great-
ly enlivened and renewed with fredi and extraordinarv incomco of
the Spirit of God .... Many that before had laboured under diffi-
culties about their own ftate, had now their doubts removed by
more fatisfying experience, and more clear difcoveries of God's
love. And there were many inilances of perfons that caiiiefrom
abroad.
472 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
(4.) I proceed now to the laft thing piopofed relating
to the fuccefs of Chrift's redemption during this fpace,
viz. what the ftate of things is now in the world with re-
gard
abroad, on vifits, or on bufniefs, that had not been long here be-
fore, to all appearance they were favingly wrought upon, and
partook of that fhower of divine bleffing that God rained down
here, and went home rejoicing ; till at length the fame work be-
gan evidently to appear and prevail iu feveial other towns In the
county."
Mr. Edwards particularly inftanccs South Hadley, Sufiield,
Deerfield, flatfield. Weft Springfield, Long Meadow, Enfield,
Weftfield, Hadley Old Town, North field, Windfor, Coventry,
Lebanon, Durham, Stratford, Ripton, Guildford, Mansfield,
Hebron, Bolton, Prefton, and even in fome parts of the Jerfeys:
fome of the minlfters who were peculiarly blefied in the above
places were, befides our author, Meffrs. Bull, Marfli, Meachum,
Wheelock, Chancey, Gould, Noyes, Williams, Lord, Owen,
W. and G. Tennant, Crofs, Freelinghaufa, &c.
" I am far from pretending (continues our author) to be able
to determine how many have lately been the fubjefts of fuch
mercy ; but if I may be allowed to declare any thing that appears
to me probable in a thing of this nature, I hope that more than
300 fouls were favingly brought home to Chrift in this town, in
the fpace of half a year, {how many more I don't guefs) and about
the fame number of males as females .... And I hope that by far
the greater part of perfons in this town, above 16 years of age, are
fuch as have the faving knowledge of Jcfus Chrill ; and fo by what
I have heard, I fuppofe it is in fome other places, particularly at
Sunderland and South Hadley. ... I fuppofe there were upwards
of fifty perfons in this town above 40 years of age ; and more
than twenty of them above 50, and about 10 of them above 60,
and two of them above 70 years of age. ... I fuppofe, near thirty
were to appearance fo wrought upon between 10 and 14 years of
age, and two between 9 and i o, and one of about 4 years of age.
" The work of God's fpirit fcemed to be at its grcateft height in
this town, in the former part of thefpring; at which time God's
work in the converfion of fouls was carried on amongft us in fo
wonderful a manner, that fo far as I, by looking back, can judge
from the particular acquaintance I have had with fouls in this work,
it appears to me probable, to have been at the rate, at leafl, of
four perfons in a day, or near thirty in- a week, take one with ano-
ther, for five or fix weeks together : when God in fo remarkable a
manner took the work into his own hands, there was as much done
in a day or two, as at ordinary times, with all endeavoms that men
can ufe, and with fach a bleffing as we commonly have, is done in
a year. [Narrative, p. 14 — 29.]
V/hile
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 47.}
garcl to the church of Chrilt, and the fuccefs of Chrift's
purchafe. And this I would do, by fhowing how things
now are, ccmpared with the firfl: times of the Reformation.
And, I. Wlierein the ftatc of things is changed for the
worfe ; and, 2. How it is altered for the better.
[i.] I would Ihow wherein the ftate of things is al-
tered from what it was in the beginning of the Refor-
mation, for the worfe, and it is fo efpecially in thefe three
rcfpecfts.
Firft, The Reformed church is much diminifhed. The
Reformation formerly, as was obferved before, was fup-
pofed to take place through one half of Chriftendom, ex-
cepting the Greek church ; but now the Proteftant church
is much diminiHied. Heretofore there have been many
fai-nous Proteftant churches in different parts of France
who ufed to meet together in fynods, and maintain a regu-
lar difcipline ; and great part of that kingdom were Pro-
teflants ; the Proteftant ciiurch of France was a great part
of the glory of the Reformation. But now it is far other-
wife : this church is all broken to pieces and fcattcred.
The ProteRant Religion is almoft wholly rooted out of
that kingdom by the cruel perfecutions which have been
there, and there are now but very few Proteflant affem-
blies in all that kingdom.-— The Proteflant interefr is aifo
greatly diminiflied in Germany. There were fevcral love-
3 1* reign
While we are confiderlng the wonderful works of God in Ame-
rica, we cannot perfuade ourfelves to omit the remarkable fuccefs
which attended the miniftry of the excellent Mr. Whitefield in
different parts of America, in the years 1738, 1740, and 177c,
where incredible numbers attended his miniftry, and much good
was done ; it may be needlefs to mention, that in Georgia he
founded an orphan hoiife on a plan fimilar to that of FrotefTor
Franck, above mentioned.
Prolix as this note may appear, we cannot deny ourfelves the
pleafure of adding, that in the year i 764, the gofpel wa3 remark-
ably fuccecded in Long Illand. At Eail Hampton only, where a
Mr. Bull was niinifter, nearly 200 appeared to be truly converted,
with circumflances neaily fimilar to the great work mentioned by
Mr. Edwards. At Huntingdon, Smith Town, Bridge Hampton,
and Sonthold alfo, the like work was carried on, to the glory ot
divine grace, and falvalion of multitudes. i_^I. N.J
474 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
reign princes formerly who were Proteftants, whofe fuc-
ceflbrs are now Papiils ; as, particularly the Ele6lor Pala-
tine, and the Elector of Saxony. The kingdom of Bo-
hemia was formerly a Proteftant kingdom, but is now in
the hands of the Papifls : Hungary was alfo formerly a
Proteftant country ; but the Proteftants there have been
greatly reduced, in a great meafure fubdued, by the perfe-
cuticns there. And the Proteftant intereft has no way re-
markably gained ground of late of the church of Rome.
Another thing wherein the ftate of things is altered for
the worfe from what was in the former times of the Re-
formation, is the prevailing of I'lcentioiifnefs in principles
and opinions. There is not now that fpirit of ortho-
doxy which there was then : there is very little appearance
of zeal for the myftcrious and fpiritual doftrines of Chril-
tianity ; and they never were fo ridiculed, and had in con-
tempt, as tliey are in the prefent age ; and efpecially in
England, the principal kingdom of tlie Reformation. In
this kingdom, thofe principles, on which the power of
godlinefs depends, are in a great meaiure exploded, and
Arianifm, Socinianifm, Arminianifm and Deifm, prevail,
and carry almoft all before them, (p) And particularly
hiftory gives no account of any age wherein there was fo
great
(p) "Diisu prevails. ~\ This note will prefent the reader with
the dying words of two of the mod celebrated Infidels the age has
produced. Rotijfeati, in the article of death, faid to his wife,
' Ah ! my dear, how happy a thing is it to die, when one has no
realon for remorfe or felf-reproach. — Eternal Being ! the foul that
I am now going to give thee back, is as pure, at this moment, as
it was when it proceeded from thee :— render it partaker of thy
felicity !' After a few more fentences he dropt gently on the floor,
fighed and expired.
[See PdUifofs Eulogium. Mon. Rev. Feb. 1779.]
The other inftance is the celebrated Voltaire, who when he
drew near his end, in order to die in piece, and have Chrillian
burial, pretended to turn catholic ; the curate of St. Sulpice hav-
ing, with fomc difllculty, gained admittance to his chamber, afl<s
him in a Hammering voice, — ' Sir, do you acknowledge the divi-
nity of JefusChri ft i" — Voltaire exclainTed, extending his arms —
' In the name of God, Sir, do not mention that man's name to
me V — Thefe were his laft words.
[See Voltaire'^ Life, Men. Rev. Feb. 1788.]
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 475
great an apoftafy of thofe who had been brought up under
the h"ght of the gofpel, to infidelity ; never was there fucli
a reje6tion of all revealed religion : never was any age
wherein was fo much fcoffing at and ridiculing the gofpel
of Chrift, by thofe who have been brought up under gof-
pel light, as at this day.
Another thing wherein things are altered for the worfe,
is, that there is much lefs of the prevalency of the power
of godlinefs, than there was at the beginning of the Re-
formation. A glorious out-pouring of the Spirit of God
accompanied the firfi: reformation, not only to convert
multitudes in fo fhort a time from popery to the true re-
ligion, but to turn many to God and true godlinefs. Re-
ligion glorioufly flouriflied in one country and another, as
moft remarkably appeared in thofe times of terrible per-
fecution, which have already been fpoken of. But now
there is an exceeding great decay of vital piety ; yea, it
feems to be defpifed, called enthufiafm, whimfy, and fan-
aticifm. Thofe who are truly religious, are commonly
looked upon to be crack-brained, and befide their right
mind ; and vice and profanenefs dreadfully prevail, like a
flood which threatens to bear down all before it.
But I proceed to (how, [2.] in what refpe6t things
are altered for the better ; tirft, the power and influence
of the Pope is much diminiflied. Although, fmce the
former times of the Reformation, he has gained ground
in extent of dominion ; yet he has loll; in degree of in-
fluence. The vial which in the beginning of the Refor-
mation was poured out on the throne of the beaft, to the
great diminifhing cf his power and authority in the world
has continued running ever fince. The Pope, foon after
the Reformation, became lefs regarded by the princes of
Europe than he had been before. Many of the popifh
princes themfclves feem to regard him very little more
than they think will ferve their own defigns ; of which
there have been feveral remarkable proofs and inftances of
late. ( Q^) There
( Q^) The VKES2NTj?a/e ofpoptry.'\ On this fubjeft we take tlie
liberty to add — i. That the temponji power of the Pope feems
3 P 3 nearly
476 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
There is far lefs perfecuhon now than there was in the
firfl times of the Reformation. You have heard aheady
how dreadfully perfecution raged in the former times of
the Reformation ; and there is fomething of it flill. Some
parts of the proteftant church are at this day under i)er-
fecution,
nearly atari end : the Emperor of Germany, King of France, and
other catholic piinces, while ihey pay a ceremonial refpeft to the
perfon of his Holinefs, take every opportunity to weaken his au-
thority. " The infallibility of the Pope, fays Voltaire, is a chi-
mera not believed even at Rome, and yet maintained; and the Pope
a facred perfon whofe feet are to be kiffed, and his hands bound."
2. Yet the y^'V/VW authority of the Pope is ftill regarded, at
lead by the vulj^ar. A popifli tract, publifhed within thefe few
years, ftates the principles of popery thus, " All and every catho-
lic, throughout tlie Avhole world, does believe as the council of
Trent has decreed, whether they know the words of the decree or
not ; becaufe all catholics have an implicit faith in the church, that
is, they all believe as the church believes, whether they examine
into the matter itfelfor not, and that purely on her imerring au-
thority ; an explicit faith being not required ; for if an explicit
faith was required, there is few would be catholics, becaufe there
is not perhaps one priell in twenty that can give a plain and pofi-
tive account of all the articles of faith which the church has ordain-
ed." [Old Fafhicned Farmer's Reafons for turning Catholic. S:c.]
In France indeed, and feme other countries, the principles of
popery are fomewhat relined ; many of its fuperftitions dropped,
and monafteries grow into general difrepute : hut in Portugal the
fame religious farces are afted in Pallion Week as formerly, and
the blood of St. Januarius Is ftill pretended to be liquified annually
with the fame ridiculous circumftances as aforetime.
3. We fhall conclude this note with the character of the prefent
Pope, from a celebrated Modern Traveller — " Pius VI. (formerly
Cardinal Bcofchi) performs all the religious functions of his office
in the moft folemn manner. — I lately happened to be at St. Peter's
church when there was fcarccly any body there; . . . the Pope en-
, tered with a very few attendants; when he came to the ftatue of
St. Peter .... he bowed, he kneeled, he kiffed the foot, and then
rubbed his brow and his whole head with every mark of humility,
fervour, and adoration, upon the facred ftump. ... It Is no more,
one half of the foot having been long fince worn by the lips of the
pious This uncommon appearance of zeal In the Pope, is not
imputed to hypocrify, or to policy ; but is fuppofed to proceed
entirely from a conviction of the efficacy of thefe holy fritllons ;
an opinion which has given people a much higher Idea of the
ftrength of his faith than his underftandlng."
[Dr. Moore's Viewof Soc. and Mann, in Italy. Let. 64.]
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 477
fecution, and fome probably will be fo until the church's
iuffering and travail is at an end, which will not be till
the fall of antichrifl:. But it is now in no meafure as it
was heretofore. Theie does not feem to be the fame fpirit
of perfecution prevailing ; it is become more out of falhion
even among the popilh princes. The wickednefs of the
enemies of Chrifl:, and the oppofition againft his caufe,
feem to run in another channel. The humour now is, to
defpife and laugh at all religion ; and there feems to be a
fpirit of indifferency about it. However, fo far the ftatc
of things is better than it has been, that there is fo much
lefs of perfecution.
There is a great increafe of learning : in the dark times
of popery before the Reformation, learning was fo far de-
cayed, that the world feem to be over-run with barbarous
ignorance. Their very priefls were many of them grofsly
isrnoranl. Learnins bejjan to revive with the Reforma-
tion, which was owing very much to the art of printing,
which was invented a little before the Reformation ; and
fince that, learning has increafed more and more, and at
this day is undoubtedly raifed to a greater height than
ever it was before : and thouHi little srood ufe is made of
it by the greater part of learned men, yet the increafe of
learning in itfelf is a thing to be rejoiced in, becaufe it is,
if duly ufed, an excellent handmaid to divinity, and is a
talent which, if God gives men an heart, affords them an
opporcunity to do great things for the advancement of
the kingdom of Chrill, and the good of fouls. That
learning and knowledge lliould greatly increafe before the
glorious times, feems to be foretold. [Dan. xii. 4.] ' But
' thou, O Daniel, (hut up the words, and feal the book,
' even to the time of the end : many ihall run to and fro,
' and knowledge fhall be increafed.' And however little
now learning is applied to the advancement of religion ;
yet we may hope that the days are approaching wliereiii
God will make great ufe of it for the advancement of the
kingdom of Chrill:.
God in his providence now feems to be a5\ing over
again the fame part which he did a litib before Chrifl
tame.
478 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
came. In the age wherein Chrift came into the world,
learning greatly prevailed and was at a greater height than
ever it had been before ; and yet wickedncfs never pre-
vailed more than then. God was pleafed to fufFer human
learning to come to fuch a height before he fent the gof-
pel into the world, that they might fee the infufficiency
of their own wifdom for obtaining the knowledge of God :
when the golpel had prevailed tirft without the help of
man's wifdom, then God was pleafed to make ufe of
learning as an handmaid. So now learning is at a height
beyond what it was in the age when Chrift appeared ;
and yet men trufting to their learning, they grope in the
day time as in the night. Learned men are exceedingly
divided in their opinions concerning matters of religion,
and run into all manner of pernicious errors. They fcorn
to fubmit their reafon to divine revelation, to believe
any thing that is above their comprehenfion ; and fo being
wife in their own eyes, they become fools, and even
vain in their imaginations, and turn the truth of God
into a lie, and rheir foolifh hearts are darkened. [Sec
Rom. i. 21, &c.]
But yet, when God has fufficiently fliown men the in-
fufficiency of human wifdom and learning for the purpofes
of religion, and when the appointed time comes for that
glorious out-pouring of the Spirit of God, when he will
himfelf by his own inmiediate influence enlighten mens'
minds ; then may we hope that God will make ufe of the
great increafe of learning, as a means of a glorious ad-
vancement of the kingdom of his Son. Then fliall hu-
man learning be fubfervient to the underftanding of the
fcriptures, and to a clear explanation and a gloiious de-
fence of the do6lrines of Chriftianity. And there is no
doubt to be made of it, that God in his providence has
of late given the world the art of printing, and fuch a
great increafe of learning, to prepare for what he defigns
to accomplilh for his church in the approaching days of
its profperity.
Having
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 479
Having now fhown how the work of redemption has
been carried on from the fall of man to the prefent time,
before I proceed any further, I would make fome Ap-
plication.
From what has been faid, we may fee great evidence of
the truth of the Chriftian religion, and that the fcriptures
are the word of God. There are three arguments of this,
which I {hall take notice of, which may be drawn from
what has been faid.
(i.) It may be argued from that violent and inveterate
oppofition there has always appeared of the wickednefs
of the world again ft this religion. The religion that tlie
church of God has profefled from the hrft, has always
been the fame as to its eflentials. The church of God
from the beginning, one fociety. The Chriftian church
which has been fince Chrift's afcenfion, is manifeftly the
fame fociety with the church before Chrift came : they are
built on the fame foundation. The revelation on which
both have depended, is effcntially the fame ; only the fub-
je6ls of it are now more clearly revealed in the New Tef-
tament than they were in the Old. The church before
the flood was built on the foundation of thofc revelations
of Chrift which were given to Adam, Abel, and Enoch,
and others of that period. The church after the flood was
built on the revelations made to Noah, Abraham, Melchi-
fedek, Ifaac, Jacob, Jofeph, Job, and other holy men.
After this the church depended on the fcriptures them-
felvcs as they gradually increafed ; fo that the church of
God has always been built on the foundation of divine le-
velations which were cfTentially the fame, and are fum-
marily comprehended in the holy fcriptures.
So that the oppofition which has been made to the
church of God in all ages, has aKvays been againft the
fame religion, and the fame revelation. Now therefore
the violent and perpetual oppofition that has ever been
made by the corruption and v^^ickednefs of mankind againft
the church, is a ftrong argument of the truth of this reli-
gion, and the revelation upon which the church has always
been
48o HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
been built. Contraries are well argued one from anothei".
We may well and fafely argue, that a thing is good, ac-
cording to the degree in which evil oppoles it. Now it is
evident, that the wicked world has had a perpetual hatred
to the church and her religion, and has made nioft violent
oppoiition againfl: it.
That the church of God has always met with great
oppofition in the world, none can deny. This is plain
by profane hiftory fo high as that reaches ; and before
that, divine hiftory gives us the fame account. The
church of God, and its religion and worfhip, began to be
oppofed in Cain's and Abel's time, and was fo when the
earth was filled with violence in Noah's days. And af-
ter this the church was oppofed in Egypt ; and Ifrael
always hated by the nations round about, agreeable to that
text [Jer. xii. 9.] ' Mine heritage is unto me a fpeck-
' led bird, the birds round about are againfl her.' After
the Babylonilh captivity, the church was perfecuted by
Antiochus Epiphanes, and others. And how was Chrifl
perfecuted when on earth ! and the apoftles and other
Chriftians by the Jews, before the deflruftlon of Jerufa-
lem ! and dreadful v^^as the oppofition of the heathen world
againfl the Chriflian church before Conflantine ! And
lince that, yet more violent, and fpitetul, and cruel has
been the oppofition of antichrill:.— There is no fuch in-
flance of^oppofition to any other religion. Other profef-
hons have enjoyed their religions in peace and quietnefs,
however they have differed from their neighbours. One
nation has worfhipped one let of gods, and others another,
without molefting or dillurbing one another about it.
All the fpite and oppofition has been again ft tlie religion
of the church of Chrifl as though they could never fatisfy
their cruelty, (r) They put their inventions upon the
rack
( R ) No religion pcrfecuied like the Christian.] Should this faft
be controverted, we beg leave to obferve,
I. That though the profefTors of otber religions have pleaded
the fuffering of perfccution ; yet it has feldom been vi^ith the fame
truth. The jefuits were fome years fince expelled Japan and cal-
led
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 481>
rack to find out torments that fliould be cruel enough ; and
yet their thirfl; has never been fatisfied with blood.
So that it is out of doubt, that this religion, and the
fcriptures, have always been malignantly oppolcd in the
world. The only queftion is, whether it be the wicked-
nefs and corruption of the world, or not, that has done
this ? But of this there can be no more doubt than of the
other, if we confidcr how caufelefs this cruelty has always
been, who were the oppofers, and the manner in which
they a6led. The oppofition has chiefly been from hea-
thenifm and popery ; which are both of them very evil, and
the fruits of the blindnefs, corruption, and wickednefs
of men, as the very Deifls tliemfelves confefs. The
light of nature iliows, that the religion of Heathens, con-
fifting in the worlhip of idols, and facrificing their chil-
dren to them, and in obfcene and abominable rites and
ceremonies, is wickednefs. And the fuperftitious idola-
tries and ufurpations, of the church of Rome, are now
lefs contrary to the light of reafon. By which it appears,
that the oppofition againft the church of God has been
made by wikced men. And with regard to the oppofition
of the Jews in Chrift's and the apoftles times, it was
when the people were generally become exceedingly wick-
ed, as Jofcphus and other Jewifii writers who lived about
that time acknowledge. And that it has been mere wick-
ednefs thai has made this oppofition is manifeft: from the
2 Q^ manner
led it perfeciition for the gofpel ; but it is well known that, not their
religion, but their treafonable praftices, procured their ruin.
2. That though the papifts have gone fo much beyond their
pagan predeceflbrs as to perfecute all religions but their own. Pa-
gan, Jewlfh and Mahometan, as well as Proteftant ; yet thefe have
never yet been fo general, nor fo long continued. Hiftory, as our
author rightly obferves, can produce no other inftance of perfecu-
tion being continued with fo little intermiflion for fo many cen-
turies.
3. That though religion has in moft cafes been the pretence
for popifli feverities, it has often not been the true caufe. The
Morifcoes and Jews were expelled Spain, and diabolical cruelties
exercifcd in South America, rather that their perfecutors might
have a pretence for fcizing their poffeflions, than from any zeal
for religion. [G. E.]
|^.^2 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
maimer of the oppofition, the extreme violence, injuftlce,
and cruelty, with which the church of God has been treat-
ed. It feems to ihow tlie hand of malignant infernal
fpirits in it.
Now what reafon can be affigned, why the corruption
and wickednefs of the world Ihould fo implacably fet it-
felf againft the religion of Jefus Chrift, and againil: the
fcriptures, but only that they are contrary to wickednefs.
and conlequently good and holy ? Why iTiould the enemies
of Chrift, for fo many thoufand years together, manifeft
fuch a mortal hatred of this religion, but only that it is
the caufe of God ? If the fcriptures be not the word of
God, and the religion of tlie church of Chrift be not the
true religion, then it muft follow, that it is nothing but
a pack of lies and delufions, invented by tlie enemies of
God themfelves. And if this were fo, it is not likclv
that the enemies of God, and the wickednefs of tlie world,
would have maintained fuch a perpetual and implacable
enmity againft it.
(2.) It is a great argument that the Chrlftlan church
and its religion is from God ; that it has been upheld hi-
therto through all the oppol'ition and dangers it has met
with. That the church of God and the true religion,
which has been fo continually and violently oppoied, with
fo many endeavours to overthrow it, and which has fo
often been brought to the brink of ruin, and almoft fwal-
lowed up, through the greateft part of fix thoufand years,
has yet been upheld, does moft remarkably fhow the hand
of God In favour of it. This, If properly confidered, will
appear one of the greateft wonders and miracles that ever
came to pafs. There is nothing like it upon the face of
the earth. As to the old world, which was before the
flood, that was overthrown by a deluge of waters; but
yet the church of God was preferved. Satan's vifible
kingdom on earth was tlien entirely overthrown ; but
the vliible kingdom of Chrift never has been. All the an-
cient monarchies of -which we read in former ages, they
are long fince come to an end ; they have all grown old,
and have vanifticd away; ' The liiodi has eaten them
' up
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 483
' up like a garment, and the worm has eaten them like
' wool;' but yet God's church remains.
Never were there fuch potent endeavours to deftroy
any thing elfe, as there has been to deftroy the church.
Other kingdoms and focieties of men, which have ap-
peared to be ten ti ,r,es as ftrong as the church of God,
have been deftroyed with an hundredth part of the oppofi-
tion which the church of God has met with ; which
{hows, that it is God who has been the proteitor of the
church. For it is moft plain, that it has not upheld it-
felf by its own ftrength ; for the moil: part, it has been
.1 very weak fociety. The children of Hiacl were but a
finall handful of people in comparifon of thofe who often
fought their overthrow. And in Chrift's time, and in
the beginning of the Chriftian church after his refurrec-
tion, they were but a remnant; whereas the whole mul-
titude of the Jewifh nation were againft them. And fo
in the beginning of the Gentile church : they were but a
fmall number in comparifon with their heathen perfecu-
tors. Alfo in the dark time of antichrift, before the re-
formation, thev were but a handful ; and yet their ene-
mies could not overthrow them. And it has commonly
happened that the enemies of the church have not only
had the greateft number, but alfo the civil authority on
their iide. So in Egypt, Ifrael were only flaves to the
Egyptians, and yet they could not deftroy them. Like-
wile in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, under the hea-
then Roman government, and for the moft part fince the
rife of antichrift, the civil power was all on the fide of
the perfecutors, and the church feemed to be in their
hands. And not only has the ftrength of the enemies of
the church been greateft, but ordinarily the church has
not ufed what ftrength they have had in their own defence,
but have committed themfelves wholly to God. So it
was in the Jewifti perfecutions before the deftru6lion of
Jerufalem by the Romans ; and in the heathen perfecu-
tions before Conftantine, the Chriftians did not attempt
to make any forcible refiftance to their heathen perfecu-
tors. So it Jias for the moft part been under the Popiih
3 Q_2 perfceutors.
484 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
perfecutors. So it has for the mofl part been under the
Popifh perfecutions ; and yet they have never been able
to overthrow^ the church of God : but it ftands to this
very day.
This is ftill the more wonderful, if we confider how
often the church has been brought to the brink of ruin,
and the cafe feemed to be defperate. In the time of the
old world, wickednefs fo prevailed, that but one religious
family was left. At the Red Sea, when Pharaoh and his
hoft thought they were quite fure of their prey ; and
from time to time in the church of Ifrael, God deli-
vered them, as has been fliovvn. Thus under the tenth
and lafl: heathen pcrfecution, their perfecutors boafted
that they had deftroyed the Chriftians, and overthrown the
church ; yet in the midft of their triumph, the Chriflian
church rifes out of the duft and prevails, and the heathen
empire totally falls before it. So when the Chriftian
church feemed ready to be fwallowed up by Arianilm, —
when antichrift rofe and prevailed, and all the world
wondered after the beaft, and the church for many hun-
dred years was reduced to a very fmall number, and the
power of the world was engaged to deftroy them ; yet
they could never fully accomplifli their defign, and at
laft God wonderfully revived his church in the time of
the Reformation, and made it to ftand as it were on its
feet in the fight of its enemies, and raifed it out of their
reach. And fo fince, when the Popifh powers have plot-
ted the overthrow of the Reformed church, and have
feemed juft about to bring their matters to a conclufion,
and to finiflx their defign, then God has wonderfully ap-
peared for the deliverance of his church, as it was in the
revolution by King William. And fo it has been from
time to time : prefently after the darkeit times, God has
made his church mofl glorioufly to fiouriHi.
If the prefervation of the church of God, from the
beginning of the world hitherto, attended with fuch cir-
cumflances, is not fufficient to fliow a divine hand in fa-
vour of it, what can be devifed that would be fo ? But if
this be from the divine hand, then God owns the church
and
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 485
and her religion, and thofe fcriptures on which (he is built:
and fo it will follow, that this is the true religion, and that
the fcriptures are God's word.
Ij-) ^^ "^''y ^^'^"w a further argument for the divine
authority of the fcriptures from the fulfilment of thofe
things which are foretold in the fcriptures.— T have already
obferved, as I went along, how the prophecies in fcripture
were fulfilled : I (liall now therefore fingle out but two in-
ftances of the fulfilment of fcripture prophecy.
[i.] One is in preferving his church from being ruined.
I have jufl: now fliown Vv'hat an evidence this is of the
divine authority of the fcriptures, in itfelf confidered ; I
now fpeak of it as a fulfilment of fcripture prophecy. This
is abundantly foretold and promifed in the fcriptures, as
particularly in the text : there it is foretold, that other
things fhall fail, other kingdoms and monarchies, which
fet themfelves in oppofition, fliould come to nothing :
* The moth fliall eat them up like a garment, and the
' worm fliall eat them like wool :' and fo it has in fa6l
come to pafs. But it is alfo foretold, that God's cove-
nant mercy to his church fliall continue for ever : and fo
it has hitlierto proved, though now ii be fo many ages
fmce, and though the church has pafTed through fo many
dangers. The fame is promifed in Ifaiah, [liv. 17.] * No
' weapon that is formed againft thee fhall profper ; and
' every tongue that fhall rife againft thee in judgment
* thou ihalt condemn.' And again, [chap. xlix. 14—
16.] ' But Sion faid, the Lord hath forfaken me, and my
' Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her
* fucking child, that fhe fhould not have compafTion on the
* fon of her womb ? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not
' forget thee. Behold I have graven thee upon the palms
' of my hands, thy walls are continually before me.' [See
alfo chap. lix. 21. and xllii. i, 2. and Zech. xli. 2, 3.]
So Chrift proniifes the fame, [Matt. xvi. 18.] ' On this
' rock will I build my church, and the gates of hell
* fhall not prevail againft it.' Now if the fcriptures (be
not the word of God, and the churcli built on them lie
pot of God, how could the perfons who foretold this,
know
486 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
know it ? For If the church were not of God, it was a very
ttnlikely thing ever to come to pafs. For they foretold
that other kingdoms fliould come to nothing ; alfo the
great oppofition the churcli fhould meet with, and the
many dangers with which flie fhould be almoft fwallowed
up, (as it were eafy to iliow,) and yet foretold that the
church fhould remain. Now how could they forefee fo
unlikely a thing but by divine infpiration ?
[2.] The other remarkable inftance which I Ihall men-
tion of the fulfilment of fcripture prophecy, is in what is
foretold concerning antichr'iji, a certain great oppofer of
Chrift and his kingdom.— And (i.) It is foretold that
this antichrifi: fliould arife not among the heathen ; but
that he fliould arife by the apoftafy and falling away of
the Chriflian church. [2 Thef. ii. 3.] ' For that day
' fliall not come, except there come a falling away firft,
' and that man of fin be revealed, the fon of perdition.' —
(2.) That he fhould fet himfelf up in the temple or vifible
church of God, pretending to be vefted with the power ot
God himfelf, as head of the church, [ver. 4.] (3.) It is
intimated, that the rife of antichrift fhould be gradual,
[ver 7.] ' For the myflery of iniquity doth already work :
' only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out
' of the way, — (4.) It is prophefied that he fhould be a
great prince or monarch of the Roman empire: fo he is
reprefented as an horn of the fourth beaft in Daniel, or
fourth kingdom or monarchy upon earth, as the angel
himfelf explains it, of the little horn. [Daniel vii. 24.]—
(5.) It was prcdi6led that his feat fliouid be in the city of
Rome itfelf ; fo it is faid exprefsly, that the fpiritual whore,
or falfe church, fliould have her feat on fcven mountains
or hills: [Rev. xvii..6.] ' The feven heads are fevcn
' mountains on which the woman fitteth:' and [ver.
18.] ' The woman which thou faweil, is that great city
• which reigneth over the kings of the earth ;' which it
is certain was at that time the city of Rome.— (6.) It
was prophefied, that this antichrilt fhould reign over peo-
ples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues, [Rev.
xvii. 15.] and that all the world fhonkl wonder after the
beaft.
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 487
beaft. [Rev. xiii. 3.]-— (?•) That he fliould be remarkable
for his pride, pretending to great things, and affuming very-
much to himfelf; [2 Thef. ii. 4.] ' 'J'hat he iliould
' exalt himfelf above all that is called God, or that is wor-
' ihipped.' [Rev. xiii. 5.] ' And there was given unto
' him a mouth Ipeaking great things, and blafphemies.'
[Dan vii. 20.] The little horn is faid to have a moutli
fpeaking very great things, and his look to be more ftout
than his fellows.— (8.) That he fliould be a cruel perfe-
cutor, [Dan. vii. 21.] The fame horn made war with
the faints, and prevailed againft them: [Rev. xiii. 7.]
' And it was given to him to make war with the faints,
' and to overcome them.' [Rev. xvii. 6.] ' And I faw
* the woman drunken with the blood of the faints, and
* with the blood of the martyrs of Jefus.'~-(9.) That
he fhould excel in craft and policy, [Dan. vii. 8.] 'In
* this horn were eyes like the eyes of a mart.' [ver. 20.]
* Even of that horn that had eyes.' This alfo came to
pafs in the church of Rome.— (10.) It was foretold,
that the kings of Chriftcndom Hiould be fubje£l to anti-
chrift: [Rev. xvii. 12, 13.] ' And the ten horns which
* thou faweft, are ten kings, which have received no king-
' dom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with
' the beafl:. Thefe have one mind, and Ihall give their
' power and flrength unto the beaft.'— (n.) That he
fhould perform pretended miracles and lying wonders:
[2 Thef. ii. 9.] ' Whofc coming is after the working of
' Satan, with all power, and figns, and lying wonders.'
[Rev. xiii. 13, 14.] ' And he doth great wonders, fo
* that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the
' earth, in tlie fight of men, and deceiveth them that
' dwell on the earth, by the means of thofe miracles which
' he had power to do in the fight of the beaft.' (s) Fire's
comino-
o
(s) Popi/Jj MIRACLES.] Thcfc may be divided into two clafTes,
neither of which defcrve the name of miracles^ the foimei being
mere fiftions, and the latter, tricks of priefts.
I. Of the former little need be faid, as to mention is to expofc
and refute thera. That St. Dcnys, or St. Juftinian, walked with
their
488 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
coining down from heaven feems to have reference to the
popiih excommunications, which were dreaded like fire
from heaven.— ( 12.) It was foretold, that he Ihould for-
bid
their heads under their arms — that the Virgin Mary held Bec-
ket's fhirt while he mended it — or that a band of angels moved
her cottage from Judea to Loretto by night — Thefe may pro-
voke our rifibility, but will hardly now command belief even
from Papifts.
But, z. We admit many of the fafts they pretend, though we
deny there was any miracle in them, except indeed the credulity
of the multitude. To pafs by the trick of fpeaking and moving
images, which are now no fccret ; we fliall prefent our readers
with tv/o inftances of the miraculous powers of the Roman church,
one for its ingenuity, the other for its recentnefs.
" St. Anthony is commonly thought to have a great command
over fire, and a power of deftroying by flafhes of that element
thofe who incur his difpleafure. .... A certain monk of St. An-
thony . . . one day affembled his congregation under a tree where
a magpie had built her ncft, into which he had found means to
convey a fmall box filled with gunpowder, and out of the box
hung a long thin match that was to burn llovvly, and was hidden
among the leaves of the trees. As foon as the monk or his aflif-
tant had touched the match with a lighted coal, he began his fer-
mon. In the mean while the magpie returned to her nefl; and
finding in it a flrange body which fhe could not remove, fhe fell
into a pafTion, and began to fcratch with her feet, and chatter
mofl unmercifully. The friar affected to hear her without emo-
tion, and continued his fermon with great compofure ; only he
would now and then lift up his eyes towards the top of the tree,
as if he wanted to fee what was the matter. At laft, when he
judged the match was near reaching the gunpowder, he pretended
to be quite out of patience ; he curfed the magpie, and wiflied
St. Anthony's 'lixt might confume her, and went on again with his
fermon ; but he had fcarcely pronounced two or three periods,
when the match on a fudden produced its efte6t, and blew up the
magpie with its neft ; which miracle wonderfully raifed the cha-
rafter of the friar, and proved afterwards, very beneficial to him
and to his convent."
[De Lome's Hiil. of the Flagellants.]
Query, Was not this fulfilling the prophecy of making fire come
down from heaven in the figiit ot men !
The following miracle, viz. the liquefatlion of the blood of St.
Januarius, is annually wrought, and is related by a refpeftable
eye-witnefs. " The grand procelfion on this occafion was com-
pcfed of a numerous body of clergy and an immenfe number of
people of ail ranks, hradcd by the Archbilhop of Naples himfclf,
who
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 489
bid to marry and to abftain from meats; [i Tim. iv.
2-] * Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abflain
3 R ' from
who carried the phial containing the blood of the faint. A mag-
nificent robe of velvet richly embroidered was thrown over the
(boulders of the buft ; a mitre refulgent with jewels was placed
on its head. The archbifhop with a folemn pace and a look full
of awe and veneration, approached, holding forth the facred phial
which contained the precious lump of blood ; he addreffed the
faint in the humbled manner, fervently praying that he would
gracioufly condefcend to manifeft his regard to his faithful vota-
ries, the people of Naples, by the ufual token of ordering that
lump of his facred blood to affume its natural and original furni ;
in thefe prayers he was joined by the multitude around, particu-
larly by the women. My curiofity prompted me to mingle with
the multitude; I got by degrees very near the buft. Twenty mi-
nutes had already elapfed, fmce the archbifhop had been praying
with all pollible earneftnefs, and turning the phial around and
around without any effeft. An old monk ftood near the archbi-
fhop, and was at the utmoft pains to inftruft him how to handle,
chafe, and rub the phial ; he frequently took it into his own
hands, but his manoeuvres were as ineffedlual as thofe of the arch-
bifhop. By this time the people had become exceeding noify ; the
women were quite hoarfe with praying ; the monk continued his
operations with increafed zeal, and the archbifhop was all over in
a profufe fwcat with vexation An acquaintance whifpered
it might be prudent to retire I direftly took his hint, and
joined the company I had left. An univerfal gloom overfpread all
their countenances One very beautiful young lady cried and
fobbed as if her heart had been ready to break. The paflions of
fome of the rabble without doors took a different turn ; inltcad
of forrow they were filled with rage and indignation at the faint's
obduracy, .... and fome went fo far as to call him an o!J, un-
grateful, yelloiv-faced rajcal. .... It was now almoft dark, ....
and when leaft expefted, the fignal was giv<^'i, that the miracle
was performed The populace filled the air with repeated
fhouts of joy ; a band of mufic began to play ; Te Deum was
fung ; couriers were difpatched to the royal family, then at Por-
tici, with the glad tidings ; the young lady dried up her tears ;
the countenances of our company brightened in an inftant, and
they fat down to cards without farther dread of eruptions, earth-
quakes, or peftilence." [Dr. Moore's View of Society and Man-
ners in Italy, Lett. 64.]
Thefe miracles need no comment ; but fome Proteftants add a
third clafs of popifh miracles, wrought, as they fuppole, by the
agency of the devil ; but thefe we oniit, knowing of none for
which the cunning of the priefts was not quite fulficicnt.
[N. U.]
490 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
' from meats, which God hath created to be received with
' thankfgiving.'— (i2.) That he fliould be very rich, and
arrive at a great degree of earthly fplendour and glory :
[Rev. xvii. 4.] ' And the woman was arrayed in purple,
* and fcarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious
' ftones, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand.'
[See alfo chap, xviii. 7, 12, 13, 16.] (t) It was fore-
told,
(t) Riches rt«c^SpLENDOUR of the churc/j of Kome.^ Thefe
are principally obvious in their veilments, images, and magnificent
ceremonies. We Hiall give a fliort fpecimen of each.
(i.) For veftments, we fhall mention only thofe of Pope Paul
II. who " in his pontifical -veftments outwent all his predeceffors,
efpecially in his regno, or mitre, upon which he had laid out a great
deal of money in purchafing at vaft rates, diamonds, fapphires,
emeralds, chryfollths, jafpers, unions, and all manner of precious
ftones, wherewith, adorned like another Aaron, he would appear
abroad fomewhat more auguft than a man He made a de-
cree that »one but cardinals ftiould wear red caps ; to whom he
had in the firft year of his popedom given cloth of that colour to
make horfe cloths or mule cloths of, when they rode." \_Plat'md's
Lives of the Popes, tranfiated by Rycant, p. 414.]
N. B. Th.^ fcarlet coloured beaft !
(2.) For images, and other ornaments, the popifti treafure is
immenfe. In the catalogue of the treafury of St. Denis, the tute-
lar faint of France, are the following, among innumerable other
articles :
" A great, very beautiful, and precious crofs of mafty gold,
all covered before with rubies, fapphires, emeraldsj and oriental
peail. There Is ftiown, under the rich little crofs which is in the
midft of it, the length of a foot and a half of the wood of the
true crofs. — A little crucifix enchafed in gold, very delicately
made of the wood of the true crofs by Pope Clement the Third's
own hands. — There is fliown under the cryftal a httle phial, in
which there is of the blood and water which ran from the fide
of our Saviour, when it'was pierced with a lance ; there is more-
over fome of the milk, and of the gown of our Lady; a finger
of the apoftle St. Thomas, another finger of St. Medard, and the
myrrh which the kings offered to our Saviour ; and twenty-eight
other different forts ofreliques. — One of the nails wherewith our
Saviour was faftened to the crofs ; it is enchafed in a great filver
tabernacle gilt and garniftied with precious ftones, made by the
monks. — An image of tlie holy Virgin" of filver gilt, which holds
with one hand a Httle reliquary, in which is feen a piece of the
fwaddling cloaths wherewith flie wrapt our Saviour in the manger
of Bethlehem.— » A great image of our Lady, of filver gilt, holding
ia
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 491
told, that he fliould forbid any to buy or fell, but thofe
that had his mark. [Rev. xiii. 17.] ' And that no man
' might
in the right hand a fleiir de lis of gold, in which there are of her
hairs and cloaths. — Another great image of St. John the Evangc-
lift, of fdver gilt, holding with one hand a cryllal tube fet in
gold, in which is feen a tooth of the faid apoIUe. — A great crofs,
all of gold and precious ftoncs, called the crofs of St. Lauience,
becaufe in it there is a bar of the iron grate on which this holy
martyr was roafted. — A great image of St. Nicolas, of filvcr gilt,
whofe mitre is enriched with precious ftones, and at the foot of it
there are reliques of the faint. — A golden head of the great St.
Denis the Areopagite, apoftle of France, and patron of the place,
whofe mitre, alfo of gold, is all covered with precious ftones and
oriental pearls ; the whole borne up by two great angels of filver
gilt. — The chalice and the little veffels for holding wine and wa-
ter, which the fame St. Denis made ufe of at the facrifice of the
mafs about 1550 years fince ; the whole of rock cryftal enchafed
in fdver, and the chalice enriched with precious ftones. — A great
crofs of maffy gold, made by St. Effay ; it is enriched with a num-
ber of oriental pearls, and other very precious ftones, and among
others with a very great and very fine oriental amethlft. — A beau-
tiful, great, very ancient, and curious veffel of rich cryftal, which
was ufed in the temple of Solomon. — A great cup of gold and pre-
cious ftones, which belonged to the fame Solomon. — A little idol
of Apollo, engraved on an amethlft, fet in gold, enriched with pre-
cious ftones. — With innumerable other precious images, curiofities
and reliques. Add to thefe the riches of the miraculous houfe of
Loretto, where Mr. Addison, who faw them, afliires us, " Silver
can fcarce find a place, and gold itfelf looks but poorly amongft
fuch a number of precious ftones." [^Addifon^s Travels, p. 93.]
For the pomp of the RomlOi fervices, take the following ac-
count from the late celebrated Mr. Whitefi eld, of what he calls
" the crucifixion^ reprefented partly by dumb ftiow and partly by
living perions," in the church belonging to the convent of St. De
Beato : " We had not,'"' fays Mr. W. " waited long before the cur-
tain was drawn up ; immediately, upon a high fcaffold hung in the
front with black bays, and behind with filk purple damafli laced
with gold, was exhibited to our view an image of the Lord Jefus at
full length, crowned with thorns and nailed on a crofs, between two
figures of like dlmenfions, reprefenting the two thieves. At a httle
diftance, on the right hand, was placed an Image of the Virgin
Mary in plain long ruffles, and a kind of widow weeds. Her veil
was purple filk, and flic had a wire gloiy round her head. At the
foot of the crofs lay, in a moiuMiful penfive pofture, a living man,
drefled in woman's cloaths, who perfonated Mary Magdalen ; and
not far off" ftood a young man, in imitation of the beloved difciple.
He was drefled in a loofe green filk vefture and bob-wig. His eyes
3 R 2 were
492 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* might buy or fell, fave he that had the mark, or the
* name
■were fixed on the crofs, and his two hands a little extended. On
each fide, near the front of the ftage,fi;ood two ccntinels in buff, with
formidable caps, and long beards ; and direftly in the front flood
another yet more formidable, with a large target in his hand. We
mayfuppofe him to be the Roman centurion. To complete the
fcene, from behind the purple hangings came out about twenty lit-
tle purple-vefted winged boys, two by two, each bearing a lighted
■wax taper in his hand, and a crimfon and gold cap on his head.
At their entrance upon the ilage they gently bowed their
heads to the fpeftators, then kneeled and made obeifance, firft
to the image on the crofs, and then to that of the Virgin Mary,
When rifen, they bowed to each other, and then took their refpec-
tlve places over againft one another, on fteps afligned for them on
the front of the ftage. Oppofite to this, at a few yards diftance,
flood a black friar, in a pulpit hung in mourning. For a while
he paufed, and then, breaking filence, gradually lifted up his voice
till it was extended to a pretty high pitch, though I think fcarce
high enough for fo large an auditory. ' After he had proceeded in
his difcourfe about a quarter of an hour, a confufed noife was heard
near the front great door ; and upon turning my head, I faw four
long bearded men ; two of which carried a ladder on their fhoul-
ders, and after them followed two more with large gilt diflies in
their hands, full of linen, fpices, &c. Thefe, as I imagined, were
the reprefentatives of Nicodemus and Jofeph of Arimathea. On
3 fignal given from the pulpit, they advanced towards the fteps of
the fcaflfold. But upon their firft attempting to mount it, at the
watchful centurion's nod, the obfervant foldicrs made a pafs at
them, and prefented the points of tb.eir javelins directly to their
breads. They are repulfed. Upon this a letter from Pilate is
produced ; the centurion reads it, fiiakes his head, and, with
looks that befpoke a forced compliance, beckons to the centinels
to withdraw their arms. Leave being thus obtained, they afcend ;
and having paid their homage, by kneeling firft to the image on
the crofs, and then to the Virgin Mary, they retire to the back
of the ftage. Still the preacher continued declaiming, or rather,
aswasfaid, explaining the mournful fcene. . Magdalen perfifts in
wringing her hands and varioufiy exprelfing her pcrfonnted for-
row ; whilft John (feemingly regardlefs of all befides) ftood gaz-
ing on the crucified figure. By this time it was near three o'clock,
and therefore proper for the fcene to begin to clofe. The lad-
ders are afcended, the fuperfcription and crown of thorns taken
off, long white rollers p-^t round the arms of the image, and then
the nails knocked out which faftened-the hands and feet. Kere
Mary Magdalen looks moft languifning, and John, if poflible,
ftands more thnnderftruck than before. The orator lifts up his
voice, and alraoft all the hearers expreffcd concern by weeping,
beating
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 493
' name of the beaft, or the number of his name, (u) —
(13.) That he fnouid fell the fouls of men, [Rev. xviil.
13.] in enumeratino the articles of his merchandile, the
fouls of men are mentioned as one.— -(14.) It was fore-
told,
beating their breafts, and fmiting their cheeks. At length the
body is gently let down ; Magdalen eyes it, and gradually riling
receives the feet into her wide-fpread handkerchief ; whilll John,
(who hitherto ftood motionlefs like a ftatiie) as the body came
nearer the ground, with an eagernefs that befpoke the intenfe af-
feftion of a fympathizing friend, runs towards the crofs, feizcs
the upper part of it into his clafping arms, and with his difguifed
fellow mourner helps to bear it away. Great preparations were
made for its interment. It was wrapped in linen and fpices, &c.
and being laid upon a bier richly hung, was afterwards carried
round the church yard in grand proceffion. The image of the
Virgin Mary was chief mourner, and John and Magdalen, with a
whole troop of friars with wax tapers in their hands, followed
after. Determined to fee the whole, I waited its return, and in
about a quarter of an hour the corpfc was brought in, and depo-
fited in an open fepulchre prepared for the purpofe ; but not
before a prieft, accompanied by feveral of the fame order in
fplended veftments, had perfumed it with incenfe, fung to, and
kneeled before it. John and Magdalen attended the obfequies ;
but the image of the Virgin Mary was carried away, and placed
upon the front of the ftage in order to be kiffed, adored, and
W'Orfhipped by the people. This I faw them do with the utmofl:
eagernefs and reverence. And thus ended this Good Friday's
tragi-comical, fuperllitious, idolatrous droll. Surely, thought I,
whilfl attending on fuch a fcene of mock devotion, if ever, now
is the Lord Jefus crucified afrcrti ; and I could then, and even now,
think of no other plea for the poor beguiled devotees, than that
which fuffering Innocence put up himfelf for his enemies, when
actually hanging upon the crofs, viz. " Father, forgive them, for
they know not what they do." [Account of fome Lent Proccfs.
&c. at Lifbon, p. 31 — 37.]
(u) The MARK of the heajl. Sec] By the mark of the beafl is
meant a profeflion of the popifli religion, commonly fignificd by
the fign of the crofs in the forehead. Without this none might
buy ox fell. So the council of Lateran and fynod of Tours, under
Pope Alexander III. and the bull of Pope Martin V. forbid any
traffic to be carried on with heretics, as the pcrfecuting Roman
emperors had done before. The number of his name is to be
found in the Greek word Lateixos, Th: Latin; the letters of
which as numerals make jufl 666, (as do tliofc of the Hebrew
RoMiiTH, the Roman bcail) and about that date the Latin fervicc
was enjoined in all the Roman or I^atin churches. [Bp. Neiuion
on the Proph. vol. viii. Dif. 1^. and Reader on the Rev. inloc]
494 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
told, that antichrift would not fufFer the bodies of God's
people to be put into the graves. [Rev. xi. 8, 9.] ' And
* their dead bodies (hall lie in the flreet of the great city,—
* and they— fhall not fufter their dead bodies to be put in
' graves.' All thefc particulars have literally come to pafs
with refpeft to the church of Rome, and I might mention
many others.
(4.) From what has been faid, we may learn that the
fpirit of true Chriftians is Txfphit oi fuffcring. Seeing God
has fo ordered it, that his church fhould for fo long a time
be in a fufFering flate, we may conclude, that the fpirit
of the true ciiurch is a fufFering fpirit, for doubtlefs God
accommodates the flate and circumftances of the church
to the fpirit that he has given them. We have feen how
many and great fufferings the Chriftian church for the
moft part has been under for thefe 1700 years ; no wonder
therefore that Chrift fo much inculcated upon his hearers,
that it was necelTary, if any would be his difciples, ' they
' muft deny themfelves, and take up their crofs and follow
« him.' [Matt. xvi. 24.]
And we may prove that the fpirit of the true church of
Chrill: is a fufFering one, by the fpirit the church has fhown
and exercifed under her fufferings. She has a6lually, under
thofe terrible perfecutions through which {h& has pafTed,
rather chofen to fufFer the moft dreadful torments, to fell
all for the pearl of great price, and to endure all that her
bitterefl enemies could inflift, than to renounce Chrift and
his religion. Hiftory furnifties us with a great number of
remarkable inftances ; fets in view a great cloud of wit-
nefFes. This abundantly confirms the neceftity of being
willing to part with all for Chrift, to renounce our own
cafe, our worldly profit, and honour, and all, for him, and
for the gofpel.
Let us now inquire, whether we are of fuch a fpirit.
How does it prove upon trial ? does it prove in fact that
we are willing to deny ourfelves, and renounce our world-
ly intereft, and to pafs through the trials to which we
are called in providence ? how fmajl are our trials, com-
pared with thofe of many of our fellow Chriftians in for-
mer
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 495
mcr ages ! And I would on this occafion apply that paflage
[Jer. xii. 5.] 'If thou haft run with the footmen, and
' they have wearied thee, then how canft thou contend
* with horfes r' If you have not heen able to endure the
light trials to which you have been called in this age, and
in this land, how would you be able to endure the far
greater trials to which the church has been called in for-
mer ages ? Every true Chriftian has the fpirit of a martyr,
and would fufFer as a martyr if he were called to it in
providence.
(5.) Hence we learn what great reafon we have, af-
furedly to expe6l the fulfilment of thofe fcriptures which
yet remain to be fulfilled. The fcriptures have fore-
told many great things yet to be fulfilled before the end
of the world. But there feems to be great difficulties
in the way. We feem at prefent to be very far from
fuch a ftate as is foretold ; but we have abimdant reafon
to expedl that thefe things, however feemingly difficult,
will yet be accomplifhed in their fe^tfon. We fee the
faithfulnefs of God to his promifes hitherto. How true
has God been to his church, and remembered his mercy
from generation to generation : we may fay concerning
what God has done hitherto for his church, as Jofliua
faid to the children of Ifrael. [Jofh. xxiii. 14.] ' That
* not one thing hath failed of all that the Lord our God
* hath fpoken concerning his church ;' but all things are
hitherto come to pafs agreeable to the divine predidion.
This fhould flrengthen our faith in thofe promifes, and
encourage us to earneft prayer to God for the accomplilh-
ment of the great and glorious things which yet remain to
be fulfilled.
It has already been fhown how the fuccefs of Chrift's
redemption was carried on through various periods down
to the prefent time.
4. I come now to (how how the fuccefs of Chrift's
redemption will be carried on from the prefent time, till
antichrift is fallen, and Satan's vifible kingdom on earth
deftroyed.-— And with refpect to this fpacc of time, we
have
496 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
have nothing to guide us but the prophecies of fcripturc.
Hitherto we have had fcripture hiftory or prophecy, to-
gether with human hiftory. But henceforward we have
only prophecy to dire6l us. And here I would pafs by
thofe things that are merely conjedlural, or are only fur-
mifed by fome from thofe prophecies which are doubtful
in their interpretation ; and fliall infill: only on thofe things
which are more clear and evident.
We know not what particular events are to come to
pafs before that glorious work of God's Spirit begins, by
which Satan's kingdom is to be overthrown. By the
cimfent of moft divines, there are but few things, if any
at all, that are foretold to be accomplilhcd before the
beginning of that glorious work of God. Some think the
flaying of the witncfles, [Rev. xi. 7.8.] is not yet ac-
complillied.* So divines differ with refpedl to the pour-
ing out of the feven phials, [Rev. xvi.] how many are
already poured out, or how many remain ; though a late
expofitor,t whom I have before mentioned to you, feems
to make it very plain and evident, that all are already
poured out but two, viz. the fixth on the river Euphrates,
and the feventh into the air. But 1 will not now ftand
to inquire what is intended by the poul"ing out of the lixth
phial on the river Euphrates, that the way of the kings
of the eaft may be prepared ; but only would fay, that it
feems to be fomething immediately preparing the way for
the deftruction of the Spiritual Babylon, as the drying up
of the river Euphrates, which ran through the midft of
old Babylon, was what prepared the way for the kings of
the Medes and Perfians, the kings of the eaft, to come in
under the walls, and deftroy that city.— But whatever this
be, it does not appear that it is any thing which (hall be
accomplifhed before the work of God's Spirit is begun, by
which, as it goes on, Satan's vihble kingdom on earth fhall
be utterly overthrown. And therefore I would proceed
directly to confidcr what the fcripture reveals concerning
this work of God.
And
* Neivton, Lowman, Glllj Doddridge^ Reader., i!fc,
f Mr. Lowman.
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 497
And I v/ould promifc two things in general concern-
ing it.
I. We have all reafon to conclude from the fcriptures,
that juft before this work of God begins, it will be a very
dark time with refpcd^ to the interefts of religion in the
world. It has been fo before thofe glorious revivals of
teligion that have been hitherto. It was fo when Chrift
came in the flelh, and alfo before the Reformation from
Popery. And it feems to be foretold in fcripture, that it
ihall be a time of but little religion, when Chrift Ihall
come to fet up his kingdom in the world. Thus when
Chrift fpake of his coming, to encourage his eled:, who
cry to him day and night, [Luke xviii. 8.] he adds this,
* Ncverthelefs, when the Son of man cometh, fhall he
* find faith on the earth ?' Which. feems to denote a great
prcvalency of infidelity juft before Chrift's coming to
avenge his fufFering church. Though Chrift's coming
at the laft judgment is not here to be excluded, yet there
feems to be a fpecial refpecl to his coming to deliver his
church from their long continued fuffering, perfecuted
ftate, which is accompliftied only at his coming at the
deftruction of antlchrift. That time when the ele6l cry
to God, [Rev. vi. 10.] ' How long, O Lord, holy and
' true, doft thou not judge and avenge our blood on
* them that dwell on the earth r' and the time fpoken of
in Revelation, [chap, xvili. 20.] ' Rejoice over her, thou
* heaven, and ye holy apoftles, and prophets, for God
' hath avenged you on her,' will then be accomplifhed.
It is now a dark time with refpedl to the interefts of reli-
gion, and there is a remarkable fulfilment of that predic-
tion j [2 Pet. iii. 3.] ' Knowing this, that there ftiall
' come in the laft days fcoffers, walking after their own
* lufts.' And fo Jude, [17, 18.] ' But beloved, remcm-
' ber ye the words v,-hich were fpoken before of the apof-
* ties of our Lord Jefus Chrift ; how that there Ihould
* be mockers in the laft time, who ftiould walk after their
* own ungodly lufts.' Whether the times ihall be any
darker ftill, or how much fo before the beginning of this
glorious work of God, we cannot tell.
3 S 2. There
498 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
2. There is no reafon to think but that this great work
of God will be wrought, though very fwiftly, yet gradu-
ally. As the children of Ifrael were gradually brought
out of the Eabylonifh captivity, firfl one company and
then another, and gradually rebuilt their city and tem-
ple ; and as the heathen Roman empire was deftroyed
by a gradual, though a very fwifc prevalency of the gof-
pel ; fo, though there are many things which feem as
though the work of God would be exceeding fvvift, and
many wonderful events fuddenly be brought to pafs, and
fome great parts of Satan's vifible kingdom have a very
fuddcn fall, yet all will not be accomplilhed at once, as
by fome great miracle, (as the refurreclion of the dead at
the end of the world will be all at once ;) but this is a.
work which will be accomplilhed by means, by the preach-
ing of the gofpel, and the ufe of the ordinary means
of grace, and fo will be gradual. Some ihall be con-
verted, and be the means of converting others. God's
Spirit fhall be poured out firft to raife up inftruments, and
thofe inftruments ihall be ufcd and fucceed. And doubt-
lefs one nation lliall be enlightened and converted after
another ; one falfe religion exploded after another. By
the rcprefentation in Daniel [chap. ii. 3, 4.] the ftone cut
out of the mountain without hands gradually grows. So
Chrift teaches us, that the kingdom of heaven is like a
grain of muftard feed, [Matt. xiii. 31, 32.] and like lea-
ven hid in three meafures of meal, [ver. 33.] The fame
rcprefentation we have in the vifion of the waters pf the
fantStuary. [Ezek. xlviii.]— The fcriptures mention feve-
ral fuccelTive events by which this glorious work Ihould
be accomplilhed. The angel fpeaking to the prophet
Daniel of thofe times, mentions two periods, at the end
of which glorious things Ihould be accompliihed ; [Dan.
xii. II.] ' And from the time that the daily facrificc Ihall
* be taken away, and the abomination that maketh defo-
' late fet up, there fliall be a thoufand two hundred and
' ninety days.' But then he adds [ver. 12.] ' BlefTed is
' he that waiteth, and cometh to die thoufand three hun-
* dred and five and thirty days;' intimating that fome-
thmg;
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 499
thing very glorious fliould be accompli flied at the end of the
former period, but fomething much more glorious at the end
of the latter.-— But I now proceed to fliow,
(3.) That this great work fliall be accompliflied, not
by the authority of princes, nor by the wifdom of learned
men, but by the Holy Spirit ; [Zech. iv. 6, 7.] ' Not by
' mif^ht, nor by power, but by my fpirit, faith the Lord
< of hofts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before
< Zerubbabel thou (halt become a plain, and he (hall bring
' forth the head flonc thereof with fliouting, crying, Grace,
' grace unto it.' So the prophet Ezekiel, fpeaking of this
great work of God, fays, [chap, xxxix. 29.] 'Neither
* will I hide my face any more from them ; for I have
< poured out my fpirit on the houfe of Ifrael, faith the
' Lord God.' We know not where this pouring out of
the Spirit fliall begin, or whether in many places at once,
or whether what has already been, be not fome forerunner
and beginning of it. (w)
This
(w) Whether the LATE conversions be the beguimng of this
glorious event ?] We have already been pretty large in our account
of feveral remarkable out-pourings of God's Spirit in the conver-
fion of finners in the prefent century; [See above, note l, p. 465
— M, 468 — N, 470 — and o, 471.] To which might be added a
work of the like nature in Scotland, about the year i 740, when
great multitudes were awakened in a hidden and fingulai manner ;
but we fhall only fubjoin on authentic account of fome very recent
inftances of the power of divine grace in propagating the gofpel
among the Indians in America ; where Dr. IVhec'och, in the year
1754, eftabliflied a fchool at Lebanon, in Connedicut, (fince re-
moved to Hanover, in New Hampfliire, where it is (lill continued
by his fon) for the education of Indian and EngliOi youths, as
mifiionaries, interpreters, and fchool-mafters to the different Indian
tribes. The utility of thisinflitution may in fome meafure be ef-
timated from the following extraft from a letter of the Rev. Mr.
Kirkland, an eminent miflionary therein educated, dated Boflon,
March 10, 17^4.
" The Oneidas expeft in tlie courfe of two years to have more
than a thoufand Indians in their vicinity, who will be difpofed to
attend to the word of God, and among thofe, fvine hearty lovers of
the religion of Jcfus, as thcmfelves exprefs it. About eighty of
the Delaware tribe .... have lately petitioned the Oneidas for a
fettlement in tlieir neighbourhood, where they might have the
privilege of religious inflruftion. Their rcqucft was immediately
3 S 2 granted."
500 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
This pouring out of the fpirit of God, when it is be-
gun, fhali foon bring great multitudes to forfakc that
vice and vvickednefs which now fo genera]!}"" prevails, and
Ihall
granted." In their addrefs to Mr. K. on this fubje(?l, t^ieyhave
the following wordo : " We intreat our father to make one trial
more for chriftianizing Indians, at lead for one, if not for two
years, and if there be no encouragement after this, that we Ihall
be built up as a people, and embrace the religion of Jefus ; he
may leave us, and we ihall expeft nothing but ruin." In a letter
to the Scots commiffioners at Bofton for propagating the Chrifiian
faith, the December preceding, Is the following paffage, referring
to the unhappy American v/ar : " Fathers, .... v/e haveb een dif-
treffed by the black cloud that fo long overfpread our country :
the cloud is now blown over ; let us thank the Great Spirit and
praife Jefus. By means of the fcrvants of Jefus, the good news
of God's word hath been publifned to us. We have received it.
Some of us love it, and Jefus hath preferved us through the late
llorrn. Fathers, our fire begins to burn again ; our hearts rejoice
to fee it : we hope it will burn brighter than ever, and that it will
enlighten the nations around. Our brothers of the Stockbridgc and
Mohegan tribes, and many others from the eaftward, have already
agreed to come and fit with us around it, who all hope to fee alfo
the light of God's holy word." [ Abftract of the Proceedings of
the Scots Society for propagating Chriilian Knowledge.]
" vSince the above, Mr. Kirkland was fent to the Society in
Scotland for propagating Chriilian Knowledge, a copy of his jour-
nal from May 1786, to May 1787. A concern about religion be-
gan among the Oneida Indians, Augufl and September 1786, and
in November greatly increafed, and continued to do fo through the
Vv'inter and fpring. About fevcnteen, in three villages of that tribe,
appen?- favingly converted. In one of thefe villages, the convic-
tions have been remarkably rational and pungent ; and a fenfe of
the cvd of fin has exceeded tl'.e fear of punifliment. In another,
i'.'.d views of their ftate have been more mixed with enthufiafm.
Outward reformation is fuch, that in one village there hath not
been an inltance of an Indian drunk thefe fix months. On Lord's
days, Mr. Kirkland is often employed, without anv confidcrablc
intermifiion, from morning to evtning, and can hardly command
leifure for necelFary refreOiment ; and often, on other days, fpendj
ten hours In preaching, catechizing, and private religious conver-
fation with the many who come to him, to unfold the dillreiTes of
their fouls, and to aflc inftrudtion in Chrillianity. Their hunger
for the bread of life permits not his /ending them empty av/ay.
Frequently they have enjoyed much of God's prefence in public
worfnip. It was remarkably fo, January i, 1787, when tht-y
were diflurbcd with pagan Indians nifcovering their joy for the new
year, by firing of guns, and inviting the Clirlflians to an idola-
trou;
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 501
/liall caufe that vital religion, which is now fo dcfpifed
and laughed at in the world, to revive. The work of
converfion {hall break forth, and go on in fuch a manner
as never has been liitlierto ; agreeable to that promile.
[Tfa. xliv. 3—5-] * I v.'ill pour water upon him that is
' thirfty ... my fpirit upon thy feed .... one ihall fay,
' I am tlie Loi=d,' &c. God, by pouring out his holy
Spirit, will furniih inftruments for carrying on this work ;
will
trons dance, for which there was not a fufficlent number, through
their rcfufal. Irritated at Mr. Kirkland, to whom they afcribed
the difappointment, four Indian youths confpired to murder him
that night, which was happily difcovcred, and by the care of lome
of his converts difappointcd. Even the heathen Sachems difap-
proved this, and at an Indian council that week, three of the
youths expreffed their penitence, and the fourth fent his apology.
Thcfc appearances have ftruck fome of the Tufcararo and Onon-
dago tribes. Mr. Kirkland writes, that his work, though fo un-
.commonly laborious, was neTcr fo delightful. Indeed, fmce tlie
days of Mr. David Brainerd, there has been nothing fo promifing
among the Indians. Mr. Kirkland is tranflating the gofpel of
Mark, and fome felcft Pfalms, into the Oneida language, which
he hopes to get printed. His labours arc much helped by good
Peter the catechift, one of the moft eloquent men among the fix
nations, and by the fchoolmader, whofe name I do not recollcA."
[Sermop by the Rev. Mr. Oacrum, Indian Miffionary on
the death of another Indian, juft pubhlhed by the
Rev. Mr. Rippon.]
To the above-mentioned inftances may be applied a remark of
fome eminent divines on the work of God in New England, not
impertinent to the occafion of introducing this note :
" We arc tauglit alfo by this happy event how eafy it will be
for our bleffed Lord .... to fpread his dominion, from fea to fea,
ihrough all the nations of the earth. We fee how eafy it is for him
with one turn of his hand, with one word of his mouth, to awaken
whole countries of ftupid and fleeping finners, and kindle divine
life in their fouls. . . . The name of Chrlll fhall diffufe itfelf like
a rich and vital perfume to multitudes that were ready to fink, and
to periih under the painful fenfe of their own guilt and danger.
Salvation fliall fpread through all the tribes and ranks of mankind,
as the lightning from heaven in a few moments would communi-
cate a living flame through 10,000 lamps or torches placed in a
proper fituation and neighbourhood. Thus a nation fhall be born
in a day when our Redeemer pleafes, and his faithful and obedient
fubjefts fnall become as numerous as the fpires ot grafs in a mea-
dow newly mown and refre'hcd with the flowers of heaven."
[Dr. Watts and Dr. CuiJ'c'^ Preface to tir.Ed'-Mitrd'i Nar. p. vii.l
502 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
will fill them with knowledge and wifdom, and fervent
zeal for promoting the kingdom of Chiift, and the falva-
tion of fouls, and propagating the gofpel in the world.
So that the gofpel fliall begin to be preached with abun-
dantly greater clearnefs and power than it has hitherto
been : for this great work of God ihall be brought to
pafs by the preaching ot the gofpel, as is reprefcnted
[Rev. xiv. 6—8.] that before Babylbn falls, the gofpel
iliall be powerfully preached and propagated in the
world.
This was typified of old by the founding of the filver
trumpets in Ifrael in the beginning of their jubilee :
[Lev. XXV. 9.] ' Then fhalt thou caufe the trumpet of
' the jubilee to found on the tenth day of the feventh
' month ; on the day of atonement fliall ye make the
' trumpet found throughout all your land.' The glorious
times which are approaching, are, as it were, the church's
jubilee, which Cljall be introduced by the founding of the
filver trumpet of the gofpel, as is foretold [Ifa. xxvii. 13.]
' And it fhall come to pafs in that day, that ,the great
' trumpet fliall be blown, and they ihall come which were
' ready to perifli in the land of Aflyria, and the outcafts
* of the land of Egypt, and iball worlhip the Lord in the
holy mount at Jerufalem.' And there fliall be a glorious
cfFufion of the Spirit with this clear and powerful preach-
ing of the gofpel, to make it fuccefsful for reviving tliofe
holy dodlrines of religion which are now chiefly ridiculed
in the world, and turning many from herefy, and from
popery, and from other falfe religions ; and alfo for turn-
ing many from their vice and profanenefs, and for bringing
vaft multitudes favingly to Chrill:.
That work of converfion fliall go on in a wonderful
manner, and fpread more and more. Many fliall flow
together to the goodnefs of the Lord, and fliall come, as
it were, in flocks, one flock and multitude after another.
[Ifa. Ix. 4, 5.] ' Lift up thine eyes round about, and
' fee ; all they gather themfelves together, they come to
' thee ; thy fons fliall come from far, and thy daughters
' fliall be nurfcd at thy fide. Then thou flialt fee and
' flow
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 503
flow together.' [ver. 8.] ' Who are thefe that fly as a
' cloud, and as the doves to their windows ?' And it
being reprefented in the forementioned place in the Revela-
tion, [chap. xiv. 6— -8.] that the gofpel fhall be preached
to every tongue, and kindred, and nation, and people,
before the fall of antichrilt ; fo we mry fuppofe, that it
will foon be glorioufly fuccefsful to bring in multitudes
from every nation ; and it fliall fpread with wonderful
fwiftnefs, and vafl: numbers fliall fuddenly be brought in
at once, and as it is faid, ' a nation Ihall be born in a day.'
[Ifa. Ixvi. 7—9-]
(4.) This pouring out of the Spirit of God will not
afi^ecl the overthrow of Satan's vifible kingdom, till there
has firfl: been a violent and mighty oppojition made. In
this the fcripture is plain, that when Chrift is thus glori-
oufly coming forth, and the deftrudlion of antichrift is
ready at hand, and Satan's kingdom begins to totter, the
powers of the kingdom of darknefs will rife up, and
mightily exert themfelves to prevent their kingdom beini;
overthrown. Thus after the pouring out the fixth phial,
which was to dry up the river Euphrates, to prepare the
way for the defl:ru6tion of fpiritual Babylon, it is repre-
fented [Rev. xvi.] as though the powers of hell will be
mightily alarmed, and fhould flir up themfelves to oppofe
the kingdom of Chrift, before the feventh and laft phial
fliall be poured out, which fliall give them a, final and
complete overthrow. After an account of the pouring out
of the fixth phial, [ver. 12.] the beloved difciple informs
us in the following verfes, that ' three unclean fpirits,
* like frogs, fhall go forth unto the kings of the earth, to
* gather them together to the battle of the great day of God
* Almighty.' This feems to be the laft and greateft effbit
of Satan to fave his kingdom from being overthrown ;
though perhaps he may make as great an efl^brt towards the
end of the world to regain it.
When the Spirit begins to be glorioufly poured fortli,
and the devil fees fuch multitudes flocking to Chrift in
one nation and another, and the foundations of his king-
dom daily undermining, its pillars breaking, and t]\e
whole
504 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
whole ready to fall, it will greatly alarm him. Satan ha?
ever had a dread of his kingdom being overthrown, and
he has long been endeavouring to fortify his kingdom,
and to prevent its ruin. To this end he fet up the two
mighty kingdoms of Antichrift and ?.lahomet, and has
nurfed all the herefies and fuperftitions in the world :
but when he fees all begin to fail, it will roufe him ex-
ceedingly. If Satan dreaded being caft out of the Roman
empire, how much more does he dread being caft out of
the whole world.
It feems as though in this laft great oppofition which
fhall be made againft the church to defend the kingdom
of Satan, that all the forces of antichrilt, mahometanifm
and heathenifm, will be united ; all the power of Satan's
vifible kingdom through the whole world : and therefore
it is faid [Rev. xvi. 14.] that ' fpirits of devils fhall go
* forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole
* world, to gather them together to the battle of the great
* day of God Almighty.' And thefe fpirits are faid to
come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the
mouth of the beaft, and out of the mouth of the falfc
prophet : z. e. there lliall be the fpirit of popery, and the
fpirit of mahometanifm, and the fpirit of heathenifm, all
united. By the beaft is meant antichrift ; by the dragon,
in this book, is commonly meant the devil, as he reigns
over his heathen kingdom ; by the falie prophet, in this
book, is fometimes meant the pope and his clergy : but here
an eye feems to be had to Mahomet, whom his followers
call the great prophet of God. This will be, as it were,
the dying ftruggle of the old ferpent ; a battle wherein he
will fight as one that is defperate.
We know not particularly in what manner this oppo-
fition will be made. It is reprefentcd. as a battle ; it is
called ' the bartle of the great day of God Almighty.'
There will be fome way or other a mighty ftruggle be-
tween Satan's kingdom and the church, and probably in
all manner of ways ; and doubtlefs great oppofition will be
made by external force; wherein the princes of the world
who are on the devil's fide ftiall'join hand in hand ; for
it
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 505
k is faid, ' The kings of the earth are gathered together
* to battle.' [Rev. xix. 19.] And probably alfo there will
be great oppofition of fubtle difputers and carnal reafoning ;
great perfecution in many places, and virulent reproaches.
The devil now doubtlefs will ply his fkill, as well as
Ilrength, to the utmofl:. The allies and fubje6ls who be-
long to his kingdom, will every where be ftirred up, and
engaged to make an united and violent oppofition againfl
this holy religion, which they fee prevailing lb mightily
in the world.— But,
(5.) Chrift and his church fliall in this battle obtain a
complete vl£lory over their enemies. They fliall be to-
tally routed and overthrown in this their laft effort. —-
When the powers of hell and earth arc thus gathered to-
gether againft Chrift, and his armies fhall come forih
againft them by his word and fpirit to fight with them,
in how auguft and glorious a manner is this defcribed.
[Rev. xix. II — 16.] ' And I faw heaven opened, and
* behold a white horfe, and he that fat upon him is called
* faithful and true,' &c. And to reprefent to us how great
the vidlory fhould be which they fhould obtain, and how
mighty the overthrow of their enemies, it is faid, [ver. 17,
18.] that ' all the fowls of heaven are called together, to
* eat the great lupper given them, of the flefh of kings,
' and captains, and mighty men.' &c. and in the follow-
ing verfes we have an account of the vi6lory and over-
throw.
In this vi6lory, the feventh phial fhall be poured out.
It is faid, [Rev. xvi. 16.] of tlie great army that fhould
be gathered together againll: Chrill:: ' And he gathered
' them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue,
' Armageddon \ and then it is faid, ' And the feventh an-
' g^^ poured out his phial into the air ; and there came a
* great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the
' throne, faying, It is done.'' Now the bufmefs is done
for Satan and his adherents. When this viiflory is ob-
tained, all is in efFecl done. Satan's laft and greatefl: op-
pofition is conquered ; all his meafures are defeated ; the
pillars of his kingdom broken, and will fall of courfe.
-i T The
5o6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
The devil is utterly baffled and confounded, and knows
not what elfc to do. He now fees his antichriftian, Ma-
hometan, and henthenifh kingdoms through the world, all
tumbling about his cars. He and his moft powerful inftru-
ments are taken captive. Now that is in etFe6l done which
the church of God had been fo long waiting and hoping
for, and fo earneftly crying to God for, faying, ' How
• long, O Lord, holy and true ?' Now the time is come.
The angel that fet his right foot on the fea, and his left
foot on the earth, [Rev. x. 5— -7.] lift up his hand to hea-
ven, and fvvare by him that liveth for ever and ever, who
created heaven, and all things that tlierern are, and the
earth, and the things that therein are, and the fea, and the
things which are therein, that when the feventh angel
fliould come to found, the time fhould be no longer. And
now the time is come; now the feventh trumpet ^founds,
and the feventh phial is poured out, both together; inti-
mating, that now all is finiihed as to the overthrow of
Satan's vifible kingdom on earth. This victory fhall be
by far the greateft that ever was obtained over Satan and
his adherents. By this blow, with which the ftone cut
out of the mountain without hands fliall flrike the image of
gold, and filver, and brafs, and iron, and clay, it fhall all
be broken to pieces. This will be a finilhing blow to the
image, fo that it fhall become as the chaftof the fummer
threlhing floor. [See Dan. ii. 35.]
In this victory will be a mofl glorious difplay of divine
power. Chrift fhall therein appear in the charafter of
King ofkingSy and Lord of lords, [Rev. xix. 16.] and fliall
dafli his enemies, even the ftrongeft and proudeft of them,
in pieces ; as a potter's velTel fhall they be broken to flii-
vers. Then fliall ftrength be fliown out of weakncfs, and
Chrilt (hall caufe his church as it were to threfh the moun-
tains. [Ifa. xli. 15.] ' Behold, I will make thee a new
' fliarp threfliing inftrument having teeth ; thou fhalt threih
* the mountains, and beat them fmall, and Ihalt make the
' hills as chafF.' [See alfo Ifa. xliii.13 — ^5*]
(6.) Confcquent on this vidory, Satan's vifible kingdom
on earth fliall be deftroyed. When Satan is conquered in
this
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 507
this laft battle, the church of Chrift will have eafy work
of it ; as when Jolhua and the children of Ifrael had ob-
tained, that great vi6lory over the five kings ot the Amo-
rites, [Jofh. x. 5—14-] ^'^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^'^ flood flill, and God
fent great hailftones upon their enemies, they after that
went from one city to another, and burnt them with fire :
they had eafy work of fubduing the cities and country to
which they belonged. So it was alfa after that other great
batde that Jofliua had with that great multitude at the wa-
ters of Merom. [Jolh. xi. 5— -9-] So after this glorious
vi6lory of Chrift and his church over their enemies, the
chief powers of Satan's kingdom, they fhall deftroy that
kingdom in all thofe cities and countries to which they
belong. Then the word of God ihall have a fvvift progrefs
through the earth ; as is faid, that on the pouring out of
the feventh phial, ' the cities of the nations fell, and every
' ifland fled away, and the mountains were not found.'
[Rev. xvi. 19, 20-] When once the ftone cut out of the
mountain without hands had broken the image in pieces,
it was eafy to abolifh all remains of it. The very wind
will carry it av^'ay as the chaff of the fummer threfhing-
floor. Becaufe Satan's vifible kingdom on earth fhall now
be deilroyed, therefore it is faid, that the feventh phial, by
which this fhall be done, ihall be poured out into the air ;
which is reprefented in fcripture as the fpccial feat of his
kingdom ; for he is called ' the prince of the power of the
' air,' [Eph. ii. 2.] Now is come the time for punifhing
Leviathan, that piercing ferpent, of which we read, [Ifa.
xxvii. I.] 'In that day the Lord with his fore and great
* and ftrong fword, iliall punilh Leviathan the piercing
' ferpent, even Leviathan, that crooked ferpent, and he
' ihall flay the dragon that is in the fea.'
Concerning this overthrow of Satan's vihble kingdom
on earth, I would, [i.] Show wherein this overthrow of
Satan's vihble kingdom will chiefly confift ; [2.] The
extent and univerfality of this overthrow.
[i.] I would ihow wherein this overthrow of Satan's
kingdom will chiefly confift. I ihall mention the princi-
pal things in which it will confift, witliout pretending to
3 T 2 deter-
5o8 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
determine in what order they fhall come to pafs, or which
fhali be accomplifhed firft, or whether they fhall be ac-
conipli/hed together.
Hcrejies, infidelity^ ^lxv^ fuperjiition, among thofe who have
been brought tip under the light of the gofpel, will then
be aboliflied. Then there will be an end to Socinianifm,
Arianifm, Quakerifm, and Arminianifm ; and Deifm,
which is now fo bold and confident in infidelity, fhall
then be crufhed to nothing ; and all fhall agree in the
fame great and important dodlrlnes of the gofpel ; agree-
able to that promife, [Zech. xiv. 9.] ' And the Lord
fliall be king over all the earth : in that day Ihall there
* be one Lord, and his name one.' Then Ihall all fu-
perflition be abolilhed, and all fliall agree in worfliipping
God in his own ways. [Jer. xxxii. 39.] ' And I will
* give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear
* me for ever, for the good of them, and of their chil-
* dren after them.'
The kingdom of antichrlfi fhall be utterly overthrown.
His kingdom and dominion has been much brought down
already by the phial poured out on his throne in tlie Re-
formation ; but then it fhall be utterly deftroyed. Then
jliall be proclaimed, ' Babylon is fallen, is fallen.' When
the feventh angel founds, ' the time, times and half, fhall
< be out, and the time fliall be no longer.' .Then fliall
be accompliihed concerning antichrifl: the things which
are written, [Rev. xviii.] concerning the fpiritual Baby-
lon, that has for fo many ages been the great enemy of
the Chriflian church, firft under heathenifm, then under
popery : that proud city which lifted herfelf up to heaven,
and above God himfelf in her pride and haughtinefs ;
that cruel, bloody city, ihall come down to the ground.
Then fhall that be fulfilled, [Tfa. xxvi. 5.] < For he
' bringcth down them that dwell on high, the lofty city
* he layeth it low, he layeth it low, even to the ground,
* he bringeth it even to the duft,' She fliall be thrown
* down with violence, like a great millftone caft into the
* fea, and fliall be found no more a-t all, and fliall become
' an {labitation of devils, and the hold of every foul fpirit,
' and
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 509
' and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.' Now
rtiall flie be dripped of all her glory, and riches, and or-
naments, and iliall be cafl: out as an abominable branch,
and fhall be trodden down as the mire of the ftreets. All
her policy and craft, in which fhe fo abounded, fhall not
fave her. And God fliall make his people, who have been •
fo perfecuted by her, to come and put their foot on the
neck of antichiiR:, and he fliall be their footflool. All
the ftrength and wifdom of this great harlot (hall fail her,
and there fhall be none to help her. The kings of the
earth, who before gave their power and flrength to the
beaft, fliall now hate her, and Ihall make her defolatc and
naked, and Ihall eat her fielh, and burn her with fire.
[Rev. xviii 16.]
The Afahomctan kingdom fliall be utterly overthrown :
the locufls and horfemen [Rev. ix. 10.] have their ap-
pointed and limited time let them, and the falfe prophet
fhall be taken and deflroyed. And then, though Maho-
metanifm has been fo vaftly propagated in the world, and
is upheld by fuch a great empire, this fmoke, which has
afcended out of the bottomlefs pit, fhall be utterly fcat-
tered before the light of that glorious day, and the Maho-
metan empire fliall fall at the found of the great trumpet
which fhall then be blown.
yewlJJi infideUty fhall then be overthrown. However
obftinatc they have been now for above lyoo years in rc-
je6ling Chrifl, and though inftances of their converfion
have been fo rare everfince the defVru6tion of Jerufalem.
and they have, againffc the plain words of their own pro-
phets, continued to approve of the cruelty of their fore-
fathers in crucifying Chrifl: ; yet when this day comes, the
thick vail that blinds their eyes fhall be removed, [2 Cor.
iii. 16.] divine grace fhall melt and renew their hard
hearts, ' and they fhall look on him whom they have
' pierced, and they fliall mourn for him, as one mourncth
' for his only fon, and fhall be in bitternefs as one that is
* in bitternefs for his firfl-born.' [Zech. xii. 10, ^c]
And then fliall the houfe of Ifrael be faved : the Jews in
i\\ their difperfions fhall cafl away their old infidelity ;
fliall
510 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
lliali have their hearts wonderfully changed, and abhor
themfelves for their paft unbelief and obftinacy ; and fhall
flow together to the bleffed Jefus, penitently, humbly, and
joyfully owing him as their glorious King and only Saviour,
and fhall, with one heart and voice, declare his praifes unto
other nations.
Nothing is more certainly foretold, than this national
converfion of the Jews is in the xith chapter of Romans.
And there are alfo many paffages of the Old Teftament
■which cannot well be interpreted in any other fenfe, which
I fhall not now particularly mention. Befides the pro-
phecies of the calling of the Jews, we have a remarkable
feal of the fulfilment of this great event in providence, by
their being preferved a diflin^l nation in fuch a difperfed
condition for above 1600 years, which is a kind of conti-
nual miracle, (x) When they fliall be called, then fliall
that
(x) Preservation of the Jews.] " I have often amufed my-
felf (fays Mr. Addison) with fpeculations on the race of people
called Jews, many of whom I have met with in moil of the confi-
derable towns which I have paffed through in the courfe of my
travels. They are, indeed, fo difTemiiiated through all the trad-
ing parts of the world, that they are become the inftruments by
which the mofl diftant nations converfc with one another, and by
which mankind are knit together in a general correfpondence :
they are like the pegs and nails in a great building, .which though
they are but little valued in themfelve?, are abfolutely neceflary to
keep the whole frame together.
" The Jews are looked upon by many to be as numerous at
prcfent, as they were formerly in the land of Canaan. This is
wonderful, confidering the dreadful daughter made of them under
fomc of the Roman emperors, which hiftorians defcribe by the
death of many hundred thoufands in a war; and the innumerable
maflacrcs and perfecutions they have undergone in Turkey, as
Tvell as in all Chriftian nations of the world. The Rabbins, to ex-
prefs the great havock which has been fometimcs made of them,
tell us, after their ufual manner of hyperbole, that there were
fuch torrents of holy blood filed as carried rocks of an hundred
yards in circumference above three miles into the fea.
" Their difperiion is the fecond remarkable particular in this
people. They fwarm over all the Eafl ; and are fettled in the re-
moteil parts of China : they are fpread through mofi of the na-
tions of Europe and Africa, and many families of them are eflab-
Jiflied in the Weft-Indiesj net to mention whole nations bordering
on
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 511
that ancient people, that were alone God's people for fo
long a time, be received again, never to be rejected more :
they fhall then be gathered into one fold together with the
Gentiles ;
on Prefter- John's country, and fome difcovered in the inner parts
of America, if we may give any credit to their own writers.
*' Their firm adherence to their religion is no lefs remarkable
than their numbers and difperfion, efpecially confidering it as p..M--
fecuted or contemned over the face of the whole earth. This is
Hkewife the more remarkable, if we confider the frequent apoftafies
of this people, when they lived under their kings in the Land of
Promife, and within fight of their temple.
" If in the next place we examine, what may be the natural
reafons for thefe three particulars which we find in the Jews, and
which arc not to be found in any other religion or people, I can,
in the firfl: place, attribute their numbers to nothing but their con-
ftant employment, their abftinence, their exemption from wars,
and, above all, their frequent marriages, for they look on celibacy
as an accurfed ftate, and generally are married before twenty, as
hoping the Meffiah may defcend from them.
" The difperfion of the Jews into all the nations of the earth is
the fecond remarkable paiticular of that people, though not fo
hard to be accounted for. They were always in rebellions and
tumults while they had the temple and holy city in view, for which
reafon they have been often driven out of their old habitations in
the Land of Promife. They have as often been banifhed out of moft
other places where they have fettled, which muft very much difperfe
and fcatter a people, and oblige tshem to feek a livelihood where
they can find it. Befides, the whole people is now a race of fuch
merchants as are wanderers by profcflion, and at the fame time are
in moft, if not aU, places incapable of either lands or offices, that
might engage them to make any part of the world their home.
" This difperfion would probably have loft their religion, had it
not been fccured by the ftrength of its conftitution ; for they are
to live all in a body, and generally within the fame cnclofurc ; to
marry among themfelves, and to cat no meats that are not killed
or prepared their own way. This fiiuts them out from all tablr
convcrfation, and the moft agreeable intercourfes of life ; and, by
confequence, excludes them from the moft probable means of con-
verfion.
" If, in the laft place, we confider what providential reafon
may be afiigned for thefe three particulars, we ftiall find that their
numbers, difperfion, and adherence to their religion, have fur-
niftied every age, and every nation of the world, with the ftrongeft
arguments for the Chriftian faith ; not only as thefe very particu-
lars are foretold of them, but as they themfelves are the depofi-
taries of thefe and all the other prophecies, which tend to their
own
512" HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Gentiles ; and (o alfo fliall the remains of the ten tribes,
wherever they be, and though they have been reje6led
much longer than the Jews, be brought in with their
brethren. The prophecies of Hofea efpecially feem to
hold this forth, that in the future glorious times of the
church, both Judah and Ephraim, or Judali and the ten
tribes, fhall be brought in together, and {hall be united as
one people, as they formerly were under David and Solo-
mon ; ' Then fhall the children of Judah and the chil-
* dren of Ifrael be gathered together, and appoint theni-
' felves one head,' [Hofea i. ii,] and fo in the lafl chap-
ter, and other parts of his prophecy. Though we do not
know the time in which this converfion of the nation of
Ifrael will come to pafs ; yet thus much we may determine
by fcripturc, that it will be before the glory of the Gentile
part of the church Ihall be fully accomplifhed ; becaufe it
is faid, that their coming in fliall ' be life from the dead to
* the Gentiles.' [Rom. xi. 12-— 15-]— (y)
Then
own confiifion. Thelrnumber furnifhes us with a fufficient cloud
of witnefTes that attell the truth of the Old Bible. Their difper-
Con fpreads thefe witnefTes through all parts of the world. The
adherence to their religion makes their teftimony unqueftionable."
[Spectator, No. 495.]
To ftrengthen thefe remarks, wc fiiall add the following anec-
dote : — A perfon, the former part of whofe life was fpent in vice,
when he became thoughtful of death and eternity, was fhaken in
mind from day to day with many doubts about the truth of the
Chriftian faith ; and being upon the point of a refohition to re-
nounce it, as he was paffing through a ftreet in the city, he call
his eyes upon a J^ew ; prefcntly his doubts vanilhed, and by the
bleffing of God attending that providential occurrence he became
a confirmed believer.
[Winter's Sermons on Dan. p. 153.]
(y) !r/:>f restoration of t/^e Jews. "} Mr. Locke [in Ioc.J
gives us the fubflance of the xith chapter of the Romans above re-
ferred to in a few words : " St. Paul in this chapter goes on to
fliew the future ftate of the Jews and Gentiles, as to Chrlillanity,
viz. that though the Jews were for their unbelief rcjefted, and the
Gentiles taken in their room to be tlje people of God ; yet there
was a few of the Jews that believed In Chrlli, and fo a fmall rem-
nant of them continued to be God's people, being incorporated
with the converted Gciitllcs into the Chriliiaa church. But when
tlie
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 513
Then fliall alio Satan's heathemjli kingdom be over-
thrown. Grofs heathenifm now polTefles a great part of
the earth, and there arc fuppofed to be more heathens
now in the world, than of all other profelllons taken to-
gether, Jews, Mahometans, and Chriftians. But then the
heathen nations ihall be enlightened with the glorious gof-
pel. There will be a wonderful fpirit of pity towards
them, and zeal for their inftrud^ion and converdon put
into multitudes, and many ihall go forth and carry the
gofpel unto them ; and then Ihall the joyful found be
heard among them, and the Sun of righteoufncfs fliall
arife with his glorious light Ihining on thofe many vaH:
regions of the earth that have been covered with heathen-
ifli darknefs for feme thoufand years, many of them
doubclefs ever fmce the time of Mofes and Abrahain, and
have lain thus long in a milerable condiiion, under the
cruel tyranny of the devil, who has all this while blinded
3 U and
the fulnefs of the Gentiles is come in, [fee ver. i^, 26.] the whole
nation of them (hall be converted to the gofpel, and again be re-
ftored to be the people of God."
Dr. W. Harris juflly obferves, that " as this epiflle was writ-
ten .... long after the moft remarkable converfion of the Jews,
by the firft preaching of the gofpel, and after Paul had been about
thirty years engaged in the work, it appears that the Prophecies
relating to the caUing of the Jews were not accomplilhcd then, and
confequcntly are not yet accomphfhed." [Dlf. on the Mefiiah,
p. 91.]
Dr. Whitby, [in loc.] very juftly obferves, that " there is a
double harvell of the Gentiles fpoken of in this chapter ; the full
called their riches, [ver. 1 2. J as confiding in preaching the gofpel to
all nations, whereby indeed they were happily enriched with divine
knowledge and grace ; the fecond, the bringing in xhc'w fuHnrfj,
which expreffcs a more glorious converfion of many to the true
faith of Chriftlans in the latter age of the world, which is to be
.occafioned by the converfion of the Jews."
It is indeed now pretty generally agreed among the learned,
that we are warranted by the fcriptures to expect a national con-
verfion of the Jews, and their return to their own land ; and th;;
chief thing which has prejudiced fo many perfons againil this hy-
pothefis is, that fome (Hvincs have carried it too far, almoll to
the relUtution of Judaifm itfelf, and added a number of pattici:-
lars from their own conjefture, which are by no means plainly
revealed. [G. Z^
5H HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
and made a prey of them from generation to generation.
Now the glad tidings of the gofpel rtiall found tliere, and
they flrali be brought out of darknefs into marvellous
light, (z)
It is promifed in many places that heathenifm (hall
thus be deflroyed : thus it is faid, that ' the gods which have
* not made thefe heavens and this earth, ihall perifli from
* the earth, and fro. n under thefe heavens, [ Jer. x. ii.]
' and that he will utterly abolifh idols.' [Ifa. ii. i8.] Then
fliall
(z) State of the heathen world.] Divines have much difpu-
ted about the falvation of the heathen; fome have precipitately
given them up entirely to the devil, and configned them over to
everlaillug darknefs and defpair ; while others, fhudderlng at fo
horrid an idea, have ran into the oppofite extreme, and fuppofe,
that they might be faved merely by the light of nature.
" lam perfuaded, (fays the amiable Dr. Watts) that God ne-
ver did, nor will forgive the lin of any man, .... but upon the
account of what Jefus has done and fuffered, . . . fo that if hea-
thens are faved, I think it is owing to the merit of Chrift and his
death. ' There is falvation In no other, nor is there any other
* name whereby men may be faved.' [A£ls iv. 12.] .... But,
thouo-h I fuppofe no man ihall be faved but by virtue of the me-
diation and death of Chrift, .... yet there is good reafon to be-
lieve, that there have been many finners actually faved, who never
believed In Jefus Chrift, . . . nor ever heard of his name." [Strength
and Weakncfs of human Reafon, p. 106.]
To confirm the latter obfervatlon our Chriftian Phllofopher,
among other inftances, mentions Cornelius^ who * feared God, and
* was accepted of him,' previous to his having any knowledge of
Jefus Chrift and the gofpel. [Aftsx. 31, 33.]
Pcrfeftly confiftent with the above are the fentlments of the
elcgunt Monf Saurin ; " We will not fay with fome divines,
that the heatliens were faved by an implicit faith, .... we will
not affirm with Clement of Alexandria, that phllofophy was to the
Greeks, what the law was to the Jews ; • . . . nor with St. Chry-
foftom, that they who, defpifing Idolatry, adored the Creator . . .
were faved without faith ; . . . . [nor] like one of our reformers,
(Zuingllus) place Thefus, Hercules, Numa, Sic. with the pa-
triarchs . . . and apoftles; .... lefs ftill do we fay with St. Au-
guftin that the Eiytjirean Sybil is in heaven But after all,
who dare Imit the Holy One of ffrael? Who dare afiirm that
God could not reveal himfelf to ct heathen on his death bed?
Who will venture to fay he hath never done fo ? [Sermons, vol.
li.p. 314.]
TO THE PALL OF ANTICHRIST. 515
/hall the nations of Africa, the negroes, (a) and other
heathens who chiefly fill that quarter of the world, wlio
now feem to be in a rtate but little above the beafts, and
in fome refpedts below them, be enlightened with glori-
ous light, and delivered from all their darknefs, and (liall
become a civilized, intelligent, and holy people. Then
fliall the vaft continent ot America, fo great a part of
which is covered with barbarous ignorance and cruelty,
be every where covered with glorious gofpel light and
Chrifiian love ; and inftead of worlliipping the devil, as
now they do, tliey Hiall ferve God, and praifes fliall be
fung every where to the Lord Jefus Chrifl:» the Saviour of
the world. So may we expc6l it will be in that great
and populous part of the world, the Eall Indies, which
are now moRly inhabited by the worfliippers of the devil ,
and fo throughout that vail country Great Tartary : (b)
then the kingdom of Chrilt will be eflabliihed in thofe
continents which have been more lately difcovered towards
the north and fouth poles, where now men differ very
little from the wild beafts, excepting that they vvorlhip
3 U 2 the
(a) The Jlate of the negroes.] May we not hope from the
prefent appearance of things, that it is rcfcrved for our age and
nation to liberate, at leaft in a happy degree, thefc miferable out-
calls of mankind, and thus prepare the way for the introduftion
of the gofpel among them ? which in their prefent ftate feems next
to impoffible. [U. S.]
(b) The IDOLATRY of the Tartars.] " The Dela'i Lama is
the grand objcCl of adoration for the various tribes of heathen
Tartars, who roam that vaft traft of continent which ftrctches
from the banks of the Volga to Correa on the fca of Japan ; the
moft extenfive religious dominion, perhaps, on the face of the
globe. He is not only the fovereign pontiff, the vicegerent of
the Deity upon earth ; but . . . the more remote Tartars abfo-
lutely regard him as the Deity hlmfelf. They believe him immor-
tal, and endowed with all knowledge and virtue. Every year
they come up from different parts to worfliip and make rich of-
ferings at his (lirine. . . . The orthodox opinion is, that when tlic
Grand Lama feems to die, .... his foul .... only quits a . . . .
crazy habitation to look for another, .... and is difcovered again
in the body of fome child, by certain tokens known only to the
lamas^ or priefts." [5'/,?7wr/'s Account of Thibet, Philof. Tranf.
▼ol. Ixvii.]
5i6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
the devil, and beafls do not. Tiie fame will be the cafe
with thofe countries which have never yet been difcovered.
Thus will be glorioufly fulfilled that promife, [Ifa. xxxv.
I.] ' The wildernefs and the folitary place fliall be glad
* for them : and the dcfert fhali rejoice and bloiTom as the
* rofe.' [See alfo ver. 6, 7.]
[2.] Having thus fliown wherein this overthrow of
Satan's kingdom will confift, I come now to obferve its
tmivcrfal extent. The vifible kingdom of Satan lliall be
overthrown, and the kingdom of Chrift fet tip on the
ruins of it, every where throughout the habitable globe.
ISIow fliall the promife made to Abraham be fulfilled, that
* in him and in his feed all the families of the earth be
* blelTed ;' and Chrift now fliall become the defire of all
nations. [Haggai ii. 7.] Now the kingdom of Chrift (hall,
in the moft ftri6t and literal fenfe, be extended to all na-
tions, and the whole earth. There are many paflages
of fcripture that can be underftood in no other fenfe.
What can be more univerfal than this, [Ifa. xi. 9. ] ' For
' the earch fliall h^ full of the knowledge of the Lord, as
* the waters cover the fea.' As tliere is no channel or cavi-
ty of the fea any where, but what is covered with water ; fo
there lliall be no part of the habitable world, but what fliall
be covered with the knowledge of God. So it is foretold
[Ifa. xlv. 22.] that all the ends of the earth fliall look to
Chrift and be faved. And to fhow that the words are
to be underftood in the moft nniverfal fenfe, it is faid in
t'lie next verfe, ' I have fworn by myfelf, the word is
* gone out of my mouth in righteoufnefs, and fliall not
* return, that unto me every knee ftiall bow, every tongue
* fliall fwear.' So the prophet Daniel, [chap. vii. 27-]
* And the kingdom and dominion, and tliQ greatnefs of the
' kingdom under the whole heaven fhall be given to the
* people of the faints of the moft High God.' When
the devil was caft out of the Roman empire, that being
the principal part of the world, and the other nations
being mean in coinparifon of thofe of that empire, it was
reprefented as Satan's being caft out of heaven to the
earth, [Rev. xii. 9] but it is reprefented that he fiiall
be
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 517
be caft out of the earth too. and fhut up in hell. [Rev. xx.
I— 3.]— This is the greateft revolution by far that ever
came to pafs : therefore it is faid, [Rev. xvi. ly, 18.] that
On pouring out the feventh phial there was a great earth-
quake, fuchas was not fince men were upon earth, fo mighty
an earthquake and fo great.
(y.) And this is the third great difpenfation of Provi-
dence, which is in Icripture compared to Chrift's com-
ing to judgment. So it is faid, after the fixth phial, and
after the devil's armies were gathered together to their
•Treat battle, and jufi: before Chrifl's glorious victory over
them, [Rev. xvi. 15.] < Behold, I come quickly ; bleffed
' is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments.' So
[2 Thcf. ii. 8.] fpeaking of antichriil:, it is faid, ' And
* then fliall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord (hall
' confume with the fpirit of his mouth, and fhall deftroy
* witii the brightncfs of his coming.' So Chrift's coming
to fet up his kingdom on earth, and to deftroy antichriil:,
\s cciWed coming zvit/i clouds of /leave?!. [Dan. vii. 13, 14.]
And this is more like Chrifl's laft coming to judgment,
than any of the preceding difpenfations which are fo called,
on thefe accounts :
[i.] That the difpenfation is greater and more uni-
verfal, and fo more like the day of judgment, wiiich re-
fpe61:s the whole world.
[2.] On account of the fpiritual refurre6lion which will
accompany it, refembling the general rcfurrc6lion at the
end of the world. [Rev. xx. 4.]
[3.] Becaufe of the terrible judgments and fearful de-
flrucftion which iliall now be executed on God's enemies.
There will doubtlefs be at the introduction of this difpen-
fation a vifible and awful hand of God againft blafphe-
mers, and obftinate enemies of Chrift ; and efpccially
antichrift himfelf, which is compared to the cafting of
antichrift into the burning flame, [Dan. vii. 11.] and to
cafling jiim alive into the lake that burns with fire and
brimflone. [Rev. xix. 20.] — Then fliall the cruel church
of Rome fufFer thofe judgments from God, which fliall
be far more dreadful than her crueleft perfccutions of. the
faints.
5i8 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
faints. [Rev. xviii. 6, 7.]— The judgments which God
fnall execute on the enemies of the church, are fo great,
that they are compared to God's fending great hailftones
from heaven upon them. [Pvcv. xvi. 21.] ' And there fell
* upon men a great hail out of heaven, every ftone about
* the weight of a talent: and men blafphemed God, be-
' caufe of the plague of the hail ; for the plague thereof
' was exceeding great.' And now ihall be the treading of
the Vv'ine-prefs of the wrath of God. [Rev. xiv. 19, 20.]
[4.] This fhall put an end to the church's fufFering
flate, and fliall be attended with their glorious and joyful
praifes. Indeed, after this, near the end of the world,
the church (liall be greatly threatened ; but it is faid, it
iliall be for a little feafon, [Rev. xx. 3.] for as the times
of the church's reft are but fliort, before the long day of
her afRidions are at an end, fo whatever afilidtion llie
may fuffer after this, it will be very fliort : but otherwilc
the day of the church's affli6lion and perfecution fliall
now come to a final end. The fcriptures, in many
places, fpeak of this time as the end of the fuffering ftate
of the church. [Ifa. li. 22.] God fays to his church, with
refpe6l to this time, ' Behold, I have taken out of thine
' hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of
' my fury ; thou flialt no more drink it again.' [Ch. xl.
1,2.] ' Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, faith your
* God. Speak ye comfortably unto Jerufalem, and cry
* unto her that her warfare is accompliihed, that her ini-
* quity is pardoned ; for fhe hath received of the Lord's
* hand double for all her fins.' [Ch. xl. 20.] ' The
' Lord fliall be thine everlafting light, and the days of
' thy mourning fliall be ended.' [Zeph. iii. 15.] ' The
' Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath caft out
* thine enemy : the King of Ifrael, even the Lord is in
* the niidft of thee: thou flialt not fee evil anymore.'
[See alfo Ifa. liv. 8, 9.]
The time which hath been before this, hath been the
church's fowing time, wherein flie fowed in tears and in
blood: but now is her harveft, 'wherein flie will come
again rejoicing, bi'inging her flieaves witii her. Now the
time
TO THE FALL OF ANTICHRIST. 519
time of the travail of the woman cloathed with the fun is
at an end : now ilie hath brought forth her fon ; for this
glorious fetting up of the kingdom of Chrill through the
world, is what the church had been in travail for, with
fuch terrible pangs, for fo many ages; [Ifa. xxvi. ly.]
* Like as a woman with child that draweth near the time
* of her delivery is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs ;
* fo have we been in thy fight, O Lord.' [Seech. Ix. 20.
and Ixi. 10, ii.] And now the church ihall forget her
forrow, fince a man-child is born into the world : now
fucceed her joyful praife and triumph. Her praifes fliall
then go up to God from all parts of the earth ; [Ifa. xlii.
10—12.] And praife Ihall not only fill the earth, but alfo
heaven. The church on earth, and the church in hea-
ven, fhall both glorioufly rejoice and praife God, as with
one heart, on that occafion. Without doubt it will be a
time of very diftinguiflied joy and praife among the holy
prophets and apoftles, and other faints in heaven: [Rev.
xxiii. 20.] ' Rejoice over her thou heaven, and ye holv
* apoflles and prophets, for God hath avenged you on
' her.' [Ifa. xliv. 23.] ' Sing, O ye heavens, for the Lord
* hath done it ; fnout, ye lower parts of the earth : break
* forth into finging, ye mountains, O forell:, and every
* tree therein : for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glo-
* rified himfelf in Ifrael.' See what joyful praifes are lung
to God on this occafion by the univerfal church in heaven
and earth. [Rev. xix. 1—7.] ' Allelujah, falvation and
' honor and power unto the Lord our God,' &c.
[5.] This difpenfation is above all preceding ones, like
Chrift's coming to judgment, in that it puts an end to the
former ftate of the world, and introduces his cverlafting;
kingdom. Now Satan's vifihle kingdoni Ihall be over-
thrown, after it has flood ever fince the building of Babel;
and the old heavens and the old earth fhall pafs away, and
the new heavens and new earth be fct up in a far more glo-
rious manner than ever before.
Thus I have fhown how the fuccefs of Chrift's pur-
chafe has been carried on through the times of the afflidcd
ftate of the Chriftian church, from Chrift's refurredion,
until
520 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
until antichrift is fallen, and Satan's vifible kingdom on
earth is overthrown.
§ IV. The success of Christ's Redemption car-
ried ON IN A PROSPEROUS STATE.
I COME now to /how how the fuccefs of redemption
will be carried on through that fpace wherein the Chrif-
tian church ihall for the moft part be in a ftatc of peace
and profperity. And in order to this, I would, i. Speak
of the profperous ftate of the church through the greater
part of this period. 2. Of the great apoflafy there iliall be
towards the clofe of it.
I. I would fpeak of the profperous ftate of the church
through the greater part of this period. And here obferve,
(l.) That this is moft properly the time of the king-
dom of heaven upon earth. Though the kingdom of hea-
ven was in a degree fet up foon after Chrift's rcfurre^lion,
and in a farther degree in the time of Conftantine ; and
though the Chriftian church in all ages of it is called the
kingdom of heaven ; yet this is moft eminently the king-
dom of heaven upon earth, the time principally intended
by the prophecies of Daniel, which fpeak of the kingdom
of heaven, whence the Jews took the expreffion. [See
Dan. ii. 44.]
(2.) That this is the grand period for the fulfilment
of all the prophecies of the Old Teftament which fpeak of
the glorious times of the gofpel in the latter days. Though
there has been a bleflcd fulfilment of thofe prophecies
already, in the times of the apoftles, and of Conftantine ;
yet the expreffions are too high to fuit any other time en-
tirely, but that which is to fucceed the fall of antichrift.
This is moft properly the glorious day of the golpel.
Other times are only forerunners and preparatories to this ;
other times were the feed-time, but this is the harveft.—
But more particularly,
[i.] It will be a time of great light and knowledge.
The prefent days are days of darknefs, in comparifon of
thofe
TO THE END OF THE WORLD. 521
thofe days. The light of that glorious time fliall be lb
great, that it is repre(ented as tliough there lliould then
be uo night, but only day; no evening nor darkncfs.
[Zcch. xiv. 6, 7-] ' And it (hall come 10 pafs in that
* day, that the light fliali not be clear, nor dark. But it
< fhall be one day, which ihall be known to the Lord,
* not day, nor night : but it iliall come to pafs, that at
' evening- time it fhall be light.' It is further reprefented,
as though God would then give fuch light to his church,
that it lliould fo much exceed the glory of the light of the
fun and moon, that they fliould be alhamed: [Ifa. xxiv.
23.] ' Then the moon fliall be confounded, and the fun
* afliamed, when the Lord of hofls Ihall rei^n in Mount
* Zion, and in Jerufalem, and before his ancients glo-
* rioufly.' There is a kind' of veil now call over the
greater part of the world, which keeps them in darkncfs ;
but then this veil Ihall be deflroyed : [Ifa. xxv. y.] ' And
* he will deilroy in this mountain the face of the covering
* caft over all people, and the veil that is fpread over all
' nations.' And then all countries and nations, even
thofe which are now moft ignorant, fliall be full of light
and knowledge; and not only divines, but ordinary Chrif-
tians fliall then be very Intelligent In religion ;— -[Ifa.
xxxii. 3, 4-] ' The eyes of them that fee, fliall not be
< dim ; and the ears of them that hear, fliall hearkeii.
' The heart alfo of the rafli Ihall underlland knowledge.'
[Jer. xxxi. 34.] ' And they fliall teach no more every
* man his neighbour, and every man his brother, faying,
« Know the Lord; for they ihall all know me, from the
' leafl: of them unto the greatefl: of them.' There fliali
then be a wonderful unravelling of the difficulties in the
dodlrlnes of religion, and a clearing up of icemiug incon-
fiftencies : [Ifa. xl. 4, 5.] ' Crooked things , ihall be
* made ftraight, and rough jjlaces plain, and darkncfs
* lliall become light before God's people.' Difficulties in
fcripture iliall then be cleared up, and myfl:eries difcovered
in the word of God, which were never revealed before.
This feems to be compared to removing the veil, and dif-
Govering the ark t.f the teflimony to the peojjlc, which
3 X befoic
522 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
before ufed to be kept in the fecret part of the temple,
and was never feen by them. Thus, at the founding of
the feventh angel, when it is proclaimed, [Rev. xi. 15.]
' That the kingdoms of this world are become the king-
' doms of our Lord and of Chrift;' it is added, [ver.
IQ.] that * the temple of God was opened in heaven, and
' there was feen in his temple the ark of his teftament.'
So great fhall be the increafe of knowledge in this time,
that heaven fhall be as it were opened to the church of
God on earth.
[2.] It fliall be a time of great holinefs. Now vital
religion fliall every where prevail and reign. Religion
fliall not be an empty profeflion, as it now moftly is, but
holinefs of heart and life fliall abundantly prevail. Thofe
times fliall be an exception from what Chrift fays of the
ordinary ftate of the church, viz. that there fliall be but
fewfaved; for now holinefs fliall become general : [Ifa.
Ix. 21.] ' Thy people alfo fliall be all righteous.' Not
that there will be none remaining in a Chriftlefs condi-
tion ; but that vifible wickednefs Ihall be fupprefled every
where, and true holinefs fliall become general, though
not univerfal. And it fliall be a wonderful time, not
only for the multitude of godly men, but for eminency of
grace: [Ifa. Ixv. 20.] ' There fliall be no more thence
' an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled
' his days : for the child fliall die an hundred years old,
* but the fmner being an hundred years old, fliall be ac-
* curfed.' [Zech. xii. 8.] ' He that is feeble among them
' at that day fliall be as David ; and the houfe of David
' Ihall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.'
And holinefs fliall then be as it were infcribed on every
thing, on all men's common b\ifmcfs and employments,
and the common utenfils of life : all fliall be as it were
dedicated to God, and applied to holy purpofes : every
thing Ihall then be done to the glory of God; [Ifa. xxiii.
18.] ' And her nierchandife and her hire fliall be holi-
* nefs to the Lord.' [Zcch. xiv. 20, 21.]— And as God's
people then fliall be eminent in holinefs of heart, fo they
fliall be alfo in holinefs of life andpra6lice.
[3-] T^
TO THE END OF THE WORLD. 523
[3,] It fhall be a time \yherein religion fliall in every
refpeft be uppermofl: in the world. It fliall be had in
great eftcem and honour. The faints have hitherto for
the moft part been kept under, and wicked men have
governed ; but now they will be uppermoft. The king-
dom fhall be given into ' the hands of the faints of the
' Moft high God, [Dan. vii. 27.] ' And they fliall reign
* on earth.' [Rev. v. 10.] ' They ihall live and reign with
* Chrift a thoufand years.' [Rev. xx. 4.] In that day,
fuch perfons as are eminent for true piety and religion,
ihall be chiefly promoted to places of truft and authority.
Vital religion fhall then take poflefiion of palaces and
thrones; and thofe who are in the higheft advancement
Ihall be holy men; [Ifa. xlix. 23.] ' And kings fliall
' be thy nurfing fathers, and queens thy nurfing mothers.*
Kings fliall employ all their power, and glory, and riches,
for the advancement of the honour and glory of Chrift
and the good of his church; [Ifa. Ix. 16.] ' Thou flialt
* alfo fuck the milk of the Gentiles, and fhalt fuck the
* breaft of kings.' And the great men of the world, and
the rich mcrcliants, and others who have wealth and in-
fluence, fhall devote all to Chrift and his church ; [Pfal,
xlv. 12.3 ' The daughter of Tyre fliall be there with a
* gift, even the rich among the people fhall intreat thy
* favour.'
[4.] Thofe will be times of great peace and love.
There fliall then be univerfal peace and a good underftand-
ing among the nations of the world, inftead of fuch con-
fufion, wars, and bloodihed, as has hitherto been from
one age to another: [Ifa. ii. 4.] ' And he ftiall judge
* among the nations, and fiiall rebuke many people : and
* they fhall beat their fvvords into plow fhares, and their
* fpears into pruning hooks : nation fhall not lift fword
* againft nation, neither fhall they learn war any more.'
So it is reprcfented as if all inftruments of war iliould be
deftroyed, as being become ufelefs ; [Pfal. xlvi. 9.] « He
* makcth wars to ceafe unto the end of the earth ; he
' breakcth the bow, and cutteth the fpcar in funder ; he
* burnetii the chariot in the fire.' [See alfoZech. ix. 10 j
3X2 Then
524 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Then fliall all nations dwell quietly and fafely, without
fear of any enemy: [Ifa. xxxii. i8.] ' And my people
* fhall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in fure dwel-
< lings, and in quiet refting places.' [Alfo Zech. viii. lo,
II.]
Then fliall malice, envy, and wrath, and revenge, be
fuppreffed every where, and peace and love prevail be-
tween man and man; [which is moft elegantly fet forth
in Ifa. xi. 6—10.] Then fhall there be peace and love
between rulers and ruled. Rulers fhall love their people,
and with all their might feek their beft good; and the
people fhall love their rulers, and fliall joyfully fubmit
to them, and give them that honour which is their due.
And fo fliall there be an happy love between minlfters
and their people : [Mai. iv. 6.] ' And he fhall turn the
* heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the
* children to their fathers.' Then fliall flourifh in an
eminent manner thofe Chriitian virtues of meeknefs, for-
givenefs, long fuffering, gentlenefs, goodnefs, brotherly
kindnefs, thofe excellent fruits of the Spirit. Men in
their temper and difpofition fhall be like the Lamb of
God, the lovely Jefus. The members fhall be conformed
to the head.
Then fhall all the world be united in one amiable fo-
ciety. All nations, on every fide of the globe, fhall then
be knit together in fweet harmony. All parts of God's
church fliall afhft and promote the fpiritual good of one
another. A commimication fhall then be upheld between
all parts of the world to that end; and the art of naviga-
tion, which is now applied fo much to favour men's co-
vetoufnefs and pride, and is ufed fo much by wicked
debauched men, fliall then be confecrated to God, and
rendered fubfervient to the intereft of religion. [Ifa. Ix.
r— 9.] And men fliall then exprefs their love one to ano-
ther, not only in words, but in deeds of charity, as wc
learn, [Ifa. xxxii. 5.] ' The vile perfon fliall be no more
* called liberal, nor the churl faid to be bountiful ;' [ver.
8.] ' But the liberal devifeth liberal things, and by libera!
* things fliall he ftand.'
[5-] If
TO THE END OF THE WORLD. 525
[5 ] It will be a time of excellent order in the church
of Chrift. Tlie true government and difcipline ot the
church will then be fettled and pra6tifed. All the world
iliall then be as one churcli, one orderly, regular, beau-
tiful fociety. And as the body fliall be one, fo the mem-
bers fliall be in beautiful proportion to each other. Then
fliall that faying be verified, [Pfal. cxxii. 3.] ' Jerufalcm
' is builded as a city tliat is compa6l together.'
[6] The church of God fhall then be beautiful and
glorious on thefc accounts ; yea it will appear in perfedlion
of beauty: [Ifa. Ix. i.] ' Arife, fliine, for thy light is
' come, and the glory of the Lord is rifen upon thee.'
[Ifa. Ixi. 10.] ' He hath covered me with the robe of
' righteoufncfs, as a bridegroom decketh himfelf with or-
' naments, and as a bride adorneth herfelf with her jewels.'
On thefe accounts, the church will then be the grcateft
image of heaven itfelf.
[7.] That will be a time of the greateft temporal prof-
perity. Such a fpiritual Itate as we have juft defcribed,
has a natural tendency to temporal profperity : it has a
tendency to health and long life ; and that this will ac-
tually be the cafe is evident. [Zech. viii. 4.] ' Thus
* faith the Lord of hofts, There ihall yet old men and
' old women dwell in the ftreets of Jerufalem, and every
* man with a ftafFin his hand for very age.' It has alfo
a natural tendency to procure eafe, quietnefs, pleafant-
nefs, and checrfulnefs of mind, and alfo wealth, and great
increafe of children; as is alfo intimated, [Zech. viii. 5.]
' And the ftreets of the city fhall be full of boys and
* girls playing in the ftreets thereof.' — But further, the
temporal profperity of the people of God will alfo be
promoted by a remarkable bleihng from heaven: [Ifa.
Ixv. 21.] 'They fliall build houfes, and inhabit them;
' and they fhall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.'
And [Micah iv. 4.] ' They fliall fit every man under
< his vine, and under his fig-tree, and none fhall make
' them afraid.' [Zech. viii. 12.] ' For the feed fhall be
' profpcrous, the vine fhall give her fruit, and the ground
' fhall give her increafe, and the heavens fhall give their
dew,
526 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* dew, and I will caufe the remnant of this people to
* poflefs all thefe things.' [See alfo Jer. xxxi. 12, 13.
and Amos ix. 13.] ' Yea, then they fliall receive all
' manner of tokens of God's prefence, and acceptance
* and favom-.' [Jer. xxxiii. 9.] ' And it fliall be to me
* a name of joy, a praife and an honour before all the
* nations of the earth, which fhall hear all the good that
* I do unto thsm; and they fhall fear and tremble for
' all the goodnefs and for all the profperity that I procure
' unto it.' Even the days of Solomon were but an image
of thofe days, as to the temporal profperity which fliall
obtain in them.
[8.] It will alfo be a time of great rejoicing. [Ifa. xxxv.
10.] * And the ranfomed of the Lord fhall return and
* come to Zion with fongs, and everlafling joy upon their
' heads : they fhall obtain joy and gladncfs, and forrow
' and fighing fliall flee away.' [Chap. Iv. 12.] ' For ye
' fhall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace : the
* mountains and the hills fliall break forth before you.'
[Chap. Ixvi. II.] ' That ye may fuck, and be fatistied
' with the breafts of her confolations ; that ye may milk
' out and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.'
[Chap. xii. 3.] ' With joy fhall ye draw water out of the
* wells of falvation.' — Then will be a time of feafting.
That will be the church's glcrious wedding-day, fo far as
her wedding with Chrift fhall ever be upon earth : [Rev.
xix. y.] ' Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to
' him ; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his
' wife hath made herfelf ready.' [Ver. 9.] ' BlefTed are
' they which are called to the marriage-fuppcr of the
' Lamb.'— But I come now,
(3.) To fay fomething of the duration of this ftate of
the church's profperity. On this I fhall be very brief.
The fcriptures every where reprefent it to be of long con-
tinuance. The former intervals of refl and profperity, as
we before obferved, arc rcprefented to be but fhort; but
the reprcfcntations of this ftate nr.e quite different : [Rev.
XX. 4.] ' And I faw the fouls of ^hem that were beheaded
^ for the witnefs of Jcfus, and thcv lived and reigned with
Chrift
TO THE END OF THE WORLD. 527
' Chv'iii a t/i on/and years.' (c) ' Whereas thou hafl been
' forfaken and hated, lo that no man went through thee,
< I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many
' generations.' [Ifa. Ix. 15.]
This
(c) T/:>e MiLLEMU M.] * The fouls of them that were beheaded
for the wjtncfs of Jefus,' may be confidered as meant, not of the
individual perfons that fuffered martyrdom for his fake, but of their
fucceffors in the fame fpirit, who being of the fame temper for
faith, patience, zeal, and fortitude, and profefling the fame doc-
trines with the martyrs, were one body with them, and fo, in the
llile of prophecy, might be fpoken of, as though they were the
fame perfons, in like manner as John the Baptifl is called Elias,
becaufe he came in the fpirit and power of Elias, [Matt. xi. 14,
and xvii. 12. compared with Luke i. 17.] and as Rome-antichrif-
tian is in feveral places of this prophecy called Sodom, Egypt, and
Babylon, on account of its being like them in idolatry, pride,
luxury, and cruelty; and the two witnefTes that were to prophefy
in fackcloth one thoufand two hundred and fixty days of years,
[Rev. xi. 3.] could not mean the fame individual perfons, but a
fucccffion of them that perfifted in the fame faith and profeffion.
When therefore it is faid, * The fouls of them that v/ere beheaded
* for the witnefs of Jefus, lived and reigned v/itli Chrift a thoufand
' years;' this may be taken, according to prophetic ftile, in a me-
taphorical fenfe, and may fignify a fuccelTion of fuch; in like man-
ner as the two witnefTes being killed, and their ' dead bodies rifing
' and Handing on their feet,' is to be underftood, [Rev. xi. 7. 1 i.J
and as the reiteration of Ifrael from their captivity is called their
' living and Handing on their feet, and God's opening their graves,
* and caufing them to come out of their graves,' [Ezek. xxxvii.
9, 10, 12.] and as the converfion of the Jews, in the laft days, is
fpoken of, as * life from the dead. [Rom. xi. 15.] Accordingly
the faints ' living and reigning with Chrift,' may relate to their
abundance of fpirituality, purity and glory, light, love, and joy,
tranquillity and fafety ; and to the power of the civil maglftracy,
as being in their hands, and exercifed with great authority and
fuccefs, for fupprcfling all iniquity and prophanenefs, and promot-
ing true religion and holincfs in thofe happy days. — I am not in-
fcnfible, that many learned and pious men have put a literal con-
ftruftion on this prophecy, to denote a proper refuireftion of the
dead bodies of former martyrs, and (asfome of them think) of all
other departed faints; and they accordingly fuppofe, that their
dead bodies fliall be raifed to life, and reign, in a glorious manner,
with Chrilt, as perfonally and vifibly fitting on his throne, for a
thoufand years, upon earth. But as I can fcarce think that tiie cor-
poral prefcnce of Chrift will be removed, for a thoufand years, from
heaven to earth, fo a literal refurrettion of all the bodies of the
faints
528 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
This may fuffice as to the profperous llate of the church
through the greater part of the period, from the deflruftion
of Satan's vifible kingdom in the world, to Chrift's appear-
ing in the clouds of heaven to judgment.
I now come to fpeak of the great apoftafy there rtiould
be towards the clofe of this period, and how eminently the
church ilrould be for a fliort time threatened by her ene-
mies. And this I fnall do under three particulars :
(i.) A little before the end of the world there fliall be
■i very great apofcafy, wherein great part of the world fliall
fall away from Chrifl: and his church. It is faid, [Rev.
XX. 3.] that Satan lliouid be cafl into the bottomlefs pit.
and
faints is fpoken of, as, ' in a moment. In the twinkling of an eye
* at the laft trump,' in order to their meeting the Lord in the air,
and being with him, not on earth, but for ever in heaven, [i Cor.
XV. 52. and i Theffl iv. 16, 17.] And after the expiration of
this thoufand years, and after Satan fliall be loofed again for a
little while at the end of them, we have an account of the general
refurreftlon of all perfons, without any exception, or the leaft hint
that the martyrs, or any other faints, had rofe fo long a time
before. [Rev. xl. 12, 13.] And as a proper refurreftlon Is never
exprefled, in fcrlpture, by the reviving or living again of the foul,
but only of the body; fo It feems extremely forced to underlland
the ' living again of the Immortal fyuls' of them that were be-
headed, as defcriptlve of a literal refurrecSIon, and, a refurreftlon
of the bodies of glorified faints, to live on earth for a thoufand
years, feems Inconfiftent with the fubllmer felicity and honour of
their fouls wei-e poffefled of before In heaven, and with their being
liable to be deceived, in cafe Satan had not been reflralned, as alfo
with the trouble that mull neceffarlly arlfe to them from the vigor-
ous oppofitlon which he and his army would make againft them at
the expiration of the thoufand years In which he was bound. It
muft llkewlfe be an exceeding dcbafcment of their refined dignity
and delight In the immediate prcfence of Chrlft on his heavenly
throne, to exchange them for any pleafures or honours upon the
earth, efpecially If (as fomc Millenaries imagine) they arc to be
entertained with any fenfitive enjoyments. 1 therefore rather In-
cline to think, that, according to the fllle of prophecy, and par-
ticularly in this book, which Is figurative, all this relates not lite-
rally to the refurreftlon of the martyrs or other faints, and the
perlbnal reign of Chrlft for a thoufand years on earth; but figu-
ratively, and in a fpiritual fenfe, for glorious days of long conti-
nuance to the church on earth; whether for the precife number of
a thoi'jandy&dixs, or more. [Dr. Guise's Paraph, in loc]
TO THE END OF THE WORLD. 529
and fliut up, and have a feal fet upon him, that he fliould
deceive the nations no more till the thoufand years ihall
be fulfilled; and that, after that, he muft be loofed out
of his prifon for a little feafon. And accordingly we are
told [vcr. 7 and 8.] that when the thoufand years are
expired, Satan fliall be loofed out of his prifon, and fhall
go forth to deceive the nations which are in the four
quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog. Which feems as
though the apoftafy would be very general. The nations
of the four quarters of the earth fliall be deceived ; and
the number of thofe who fliall now turn enemies to Chrlft
fliall be vaflly great, as the army of Gog and Magog is
reprefented in Ezekiel, and as it is faid [Rev. xx. 8.] that
the number of them is as the fand of the fea, and that
they went upon the breadth of the earth, as though they
were an army big enough to reach from one fide of the
earth to the other.
Thus after fuch an happy and glorious feafon, fuch a
long day of light and hollnefs, of love, and peace, and
joy, now it fliall begin again to be a dark time. Satan
fliall begin to fct up his dominion again in the world.
This world fliall again become a fcene of darknefs and
wickednefs. The bottomlefs pit fliall be opened, de-
vils fliall come up again out of it, and a dreadful fmoke
fliall afcend to darken the world. And the church of
Chrifl:, inftead of extending to the utmofl: bounds of the
world, as it did before, fliall be reduced to narrow limits
again. Mankind being continued fo long in a flate of
fuch great profpeiity, will now begin to abufe their prof-
perity, to ferve their lufi: and corruptions. [Luke xvii.
26, &c.]
(2.) Thofe apoftates fliall make great oppofition to the
church of God. The church fliall feem to be eminently
threatened with a fudden and entire overthrow by them.
It is faid [Rev. XX. 8, 9.] Satan fliall gather them together
to battle, as the fand on the fea fliore ; ' and they went up
* on the breadth of the earth, and compafled the camp of
* the faints about, and the beloved city.' So that this be-
loved city fliall feem juft ready to be fwallowed up by
3 Y' theni':
530 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
them ; for her enemies lliall not only threaten her, but
iliall a6lually have gathered together againft her ; and not
only lo, but fliall have befieged her, and (liali have com-
pafTed her about on every fide.
There is nothing in the prophecy which feems to inti-
mate the church's actually falling into their hands, as it has
fallen into the hands of antichrift, to whom it was given to
make war with the faints and to overcome them. [Rev.
xiii. 7.] God will never fuffer this to be again after the
fall of antichrift ; for then the day of her mourning (hall
be ended. But the church fhall feem moft eminently threat-
e:icd v\'ith utter and fudden deftru6lion.
(3.) Now the ftate of things will fcem moft remarka-
bly to call for Chrift's iOTOTf<:/i«?^ appearance to judgment.
For then the world ihall be filled with the moft aggravated
wickednefs, much the greater part of the world fliall be-
come open enemies to Chrift, and their wickednefs will
be dreadfully aggravated by their npoftafy. Before the
fall of antichrift, moft parts of the world are full of
wicked men. But the greater part of thefe arc poor
heathens, who never enjoyed the light of the gofpel ; and
others that have been bred up in the Mahometan or Popilli
darknefs. But thefe are apoftates from the Chriilian
church, and the vifible kingdom of Chrift, in which they
enjoyed the great light and privileges of the glorious times
of the church, which lliali be incomparably greater than
the light and privileges which the church of God enjoys
now^. This apoftafy will be more like that of the fallen
angels than any that ever has been ; for they apoftatiied,
and turned enemies to Chrift, though tliey enjoyed the
light of heaven ; and thefe will apoftatife, and turn ene-
mies to him, though they have enjoyed the light and pri-
vileges of the glorious times of the church. And that
fuch fhould turn open and avowed enemies to Chrift, and
fhould fcek the ruin of his church, will cry aloud for im-
mediate vengeance.
The wickednefs of the world will remarkably call for
Chrift's immediate appearance in flaming fire to take ven-
geance on ihem, becaufe of the ivay in which they fhall
manifeft
TO THE END OF THE WORLD. 531
manlfon; their wickednefs, which will be by fcoffiug ;uk1
blafphcming Chrift and his holy religion: and paiticu-
larlv, thcv will feoff at the notion of Chrift's coming; to
judgment, of which the church fnall be in expcclaticn,
and of which they will warn thern. For now doubtlefs
will be another, and the principal fulfilment of that text.
[2 Pet. iii. 3, 4.] ' Knowing this firft, that there Ihall
' come in the lafl: days fcoffers, walking after their own
' lufts, and faying, Where is the promife of his comin"- ?
' For fince the fathers fell afleep, all things continue as
' they were from tlie beginning of the creation.' They
rtiall be in no expe<5lation of the coming of Chrift to
judgment, but ihali give up themfelves to their lufls, to
eat and drink, and wallow in fenfual delights, as though
they were to be forever. They fliall defpiie the warnings
the church lliall give them of the coming of Chrift to
judgment, as the people of the old world defpifed what
Noali told them of the approaching flood, and as the peo-
ple of Sodom did when Lot faid to them, [Gen. xix. 14.]
' The Lord will deftroy this city.' The wickednefs will
alfo cry aloud to heaven for Chrift's appearing to take
vengeance of his enemies ; for their attempts ao-ainft the
holy city of God.
And the number of the wicked is another thing
which fiiall efpccially call for Chrift's coming : for the
world will doubtlefs then be exceeding full of people,
having continued fo long in fo great a ftate of profperity,
without fuch defolating calamities, as wars, peftilences,
and the like, to dimini!h them, and the moil of this po-
pulous world will be fuch wicked contemptuous apoftate<
from God. And if the wickednefs of the old world,
when men began to multiply on the earth, called for the
deftrudion of the world by a deluge of waters, this wick-
ednefs will as much call for its deftrudlion by a deluge of
fire.
Again, the clrcumfiances of the church at that day
will alfo eminently call for the immediate appearance of
Chrift, as they will be compafied about by their blafphe-
flious enemies and juft readv to he fwallowed up bv them.
c;'Y2 ' It
532 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
It will be a moft diftrefling time with the church, except-
ing tlic comfort they will have in the hope of deliverance
from God : for all other help will feem to fail. The
cafe will be come to the lafi: extremity, and there will
be an immediate neceffity for Chrift's coming to their de-
liverance. But though the church fhall be fo eminently
threatened, yet lliall it be preferved till Chrlfl fliall appear
in the glory of his Father with all his holy angels. And
then ihall all the eledt be gathered in, whofe names were
written in the book of life before the foundation of the
world, fliall be brought in : not one foul fhall be loft.
And the myftical body of Chrilt will be complete as to
its number of parts, having every one of its members.
In this refpeft, the work of redemption will now be
finilhed. And the end for which the means of grace have
been inftitutcd fhall be obtained. All that effe6l which
was intended to be accomplifhed by them fhall now be ac-
complilhed.
§ V. Completion of the work of redemption in
A FUTURE State.
THUS I have fhown how the fuccefs of Chrift's re-
demption has been accomplifhed during the -continuance
of the Chrlftian church under the means of grace. We
have feen what great revolutions there have been, and
are to be during this fpace of time ; how the wheels of
Providence have gone round for the accomplifliment of the
fuccefs of ChrilFs purchafe, in the beftowment of grace
on the ele6l : and we are now come to the time, when the
courfe of things in this ftate of it is finiflied, and all things
are ripe for Chrift's coming to judgment.
You may remember, that we are dlfcourfing on this
propofition, viz. That from the refurrcdtlon of Chrlft to
the end of the world, the whole time is taken up in pro-
curing the fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe of redemption, and
1 obferve that the fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe is of two
kinds, conftfting either in grace or glory ; and that the
f\iccef5
COMPLETED IN A FUTURE STATE. 533
fuccefs confifting in the former of thcfe, is to be feen in
thofc works of God which are wrought during thofe ages
that the church is continued under the means of grace ; and
that the fuccefs, confirting in the latter, will chiefly beac-
compliibed at the day of judgment.
Having already fliown how the former kind of fuccefs
has been accomplillied, I come now to that kind of fuc-
cefs wiiich is accompliihed in the beftowmcnt of glory on
the church, which fhall chiefly be at the day of judg-
ment.— And here I would mention two or three things
in general concerning this kind of fuccefs of Chrift's pur-
chafe.
(i.) How great this is, chiefly appears in that the fuccefs
of Chrifli's purchafe does fummarily confift in the fahation
of the ele£t. But this beftowment of glory is eminently
called iht'n falvatioti : [Heb. ix. 28.] ' To them tliat look
' for him, ihall he appear the fecond time, without fin
' unto falvation.'— So it is called redemption. [Eph.iv.30.]
' Sealed unto the day of redemption;' [Eph. i. 14.]
' Redemption of the purchafed poffeflion.'
(2.) All thofe glorious things which were brought to
pafs for the church while under the means of grace, are
but preparatory to, and images and fliadows of this. The-
means of grace and grace itfelf are to fit for glory and all
the glorious things which were accompli flied for the church
in the days of Conftantine, and which arc to fucceed the
fall of antichrift, are but a Ihadow of what will be beftowed
at the day of judgment ; and therefore, are fpoken of in
fcripture as images of Chrift's lall; coming to judgment.
—-But I haftcn more particularly to fhow how this kind of
fuccefs of Chrift's purchafe is accomplifhed.
I. Chr'iji will appear in the glory of his Father, with all
his holy angels coming in the clouds of heaven. When
the world is revelling in their wickcdnefs, and compaflTing
the holy city about, juft ready to deftroy it, then fhall tlie
glorious Redeemer appear in the fight of the world ; the
light of his glory Ihall break forth; the whole world ihall
immediately have notice of it, and they fhall lift up their
eyes and behold this wonderful fight. It is faid [Rev. i. 7.]
' Everv
534 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* Every eye Ihall fee him.'---Chnfl: ihall appear in his hu-
man nature, in that fame body which was brought forth in
a ftable, laid in a manger, and which afterwards was fo
cruelly ufed, and nailed to the crofs.
Men fliall now lift up their eyes and behold him com-
ing in fuch majefly and glory as is to us utterly inconceiv-
able. The glory of the fun in a clear firmament will be
but darknefs in comparifon of it ; and all the glorious an-
gels f[iair attend on him, a thoufand thoufand miniflering
to him, and ten thoufand times ten thoufand round about
him. How different a perfon W'ill he then appear from
what he did at his iirll: coming, when he was as a root out
of dry ground, a poor, dcfpifed, affli6ted man ! How
different now is his appearance, in the midft of thofe glo-
rious angels, principalities, and powers, from what it was
when in tlie midfl: of a ring of foldiers, with his mock
robe and his crown of thorns, to be buffetted and fpit
upon, or hanging on the crofs between two thieves, with a
multitude of his enemies round about triumphing over
him ! (d)
This
(d) Chrljl APPEARING in the Clouds.']
" Thence iffuing I behold (but mortal fight
Suftains not fuch a rufliing fea of light)
I fee on an empyreal flying throne,
Awfully rais'd, heav'n's everlafting Son ;
Crown'd with that majefty which form'd the world,
And the grand rebel flaming downward hurl'd.
Virtue, dominion, praife, omnipotence.
Support the train of their triumphant prince.
A zone, beyond the thought of angels bright,
Around him, like the zodiac, winds its light.
Night fliades the folemn arches of his brows,
And in his cheek the purple morning glows.
Where'er ferene he turns propitious eyes,
Or we expeft, or find a paiadife ;
But if refentment reddens their mild beams,
The Eden kindles, and the world's in flames,
On one hand knowledge fliincs in .pureft light,
' On one the fword of juftice fiercely bright.
Now bend the knee in fport, prefeat the reed,
Now tell the fcourg'd impoftor he fnall bleed i"
»? •
" Triumphant
COMPLETED IN A FUTURE STATE. ss>
This will be a moft unexpe^led fight to the wicked
world: it will come as a cry at midnight : they fhall be
taken in the midfl: of their wickednefs, and it will give
them a dreadful alarm. It will at once break up their re-
vels and caroufing. It will put an end to the defign of
the great army, that will then be compafTmg the camp of
the laints : it will make them let drop their weapons out
of their hands. The world, which will then be very
full of people, molt of whom will be wicked men,
will then be filled with dolorous flirieking and crying;
for all the kindreds of the earth fiiall wail becaufe of him.
[Rev. i. 7.] And where fliallthey hide themfelves? How
will the fight of that awful majefiy terrify them ? Then
they fhall fee whom they have mocked and fcofFed at, and
whole church they have been endeavouring to overthrow.
This
" Triumphant King of glory ! foul of blifs !
What a ftupendous turn of fate is this !
O ! whither art thou rais'd above the fcorn
And indigence of him in Bethlem born,
A needy, helplefs, unaccounted gueft.
And but a fecond to the fodder'd beall !
How chang'd from him, who meekly proftratc laid,
VouchfaPd to wafh the feet himfelf had made !
From him who was betray'd, forfook, deny'd,
Wept, languifli'd, pray'd, bled, thiriled, groan'd and dy'd ;
Hung pierc'd and bare, infulted by the foe,
All heav'n in tears above, earth unconcera'd below !
" Now the dcfcending triumph flops its flight,
From earth full twice a planetary heio-ht.
There all the clouds, condcns'd, two columns raifc
Diftindl with orient veins and golden blaze.
Onefix'don earth, and one on fea, and round
Its ample foot the fwellliig billows found.
Thefe an Immeafurable arch fupport.
The grand tribunal of this awful court.
Sheets of bright azure, from the pured flcy.
Stream from the chryllal arch, and round the columns fly.
Death wrapt In chains low at the bafislles,
And on the point of his own arrow dies.
" Here high cnthron'd th' eternal judge Is plac'd,
With all the grandeur of his Godhead grac'd;
Stars on his robes in beauteous order meet.
And the fun burns beneath his dreadful feet."
[Young's Laft Day, book ii. ]
S$6 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
This fight will change the voice of their laughter and fmrr-
ing into dreadful wailing. Their countenance fliall her
changed from a Hiow of carnal mirth, pride and contempt,
to ghaftly teiro]-, trembling, and amazement.
But with refpe^l to the faints, the church of Chrift, it
fliall be a joyful and moft glorious fight to them ; for it
will at once deliver them from all fear of their enemies,
who were before compalTing them about, jufl: ready to
fwallow them up. Then ihall they lift up their heads,
and their redemption Ihall be drawing nigh. [Luke xxi.
28.]— And thus Chrift will appear with infinite majefty,
and at the fame time with infinite love in his counte-
nance. Their countenances alfo fliall be changed, not
as the countenances of the wicked, but from forrow
to exceeding joy and triumph. And now the work of
redemption will be finiflied in another fenfe, viz. that
the whole church Ihall be completely and eternally freed
from all perfecution and moleftation from wicked men and
devils.
2. The Iq/i trumpet fliall fmnd and the dead fliall be
raifed, and the living changed. God fent forth his angels
with a great found of a trumpet, to gather together his
ele6l from the four corners of the earth in a myftical fenfc,
before the deftru6lion of Jerufalem ; i. e. he fent forth
the apoftles, and others, to preach the gofpel all over the
world. And fo, in a myftical fenfe, the great trumpet
was blown at the beginning of the glorious times of the
church. But now the great trumpet is blown in a more
literal fenfe, with a mighty found, which fliakes the
earth. There will be a great fignal given by a mighty
found made, which is called t/ie voice of the archangel^
[i Thef iv. 16.] ^ For the Lord himfclf fliall dcfcend
' from heaven with a fliout, with the voice of the arch-
' angel, and with the trump of God.' On the found of
this trumpet, the dead fliall be raifed every where. Now
the number of the dead is very great. How many has
death cut down fince the world lias flood. But then the
number will be much greater after the world fliall have
flood fo much longer, and through moft of the remaining
time
COMPLETED IN A FUTURE STATE. 537
time will doubtlefs be much fuller of inhabitants than ever
it has been. All thefe iliall now rife from the dead. The
graves lliall be opened in all parts of the world, and the
fea fhall give up the innumerable dead that arc in it. [Rev.
XX. 13.] (E)
And now all the inhabitants that ever fliail have been
upon the face of the earth, from the beginning of the
3 Z world
(e) The TKVfAfZT JJjall found !'\ " How alarming, how ftupen-
dous the fummons ! Nothing equal to it, nothing like it, was ever
heard through all the regions of the univerfe, or all the revolutions
of time. When confli6ting armies have difcharged the bellowing
artillery of war, or when viftorious armies have fhouted for joy of
the conqueft, the feas and fhorcs have rung, the mountains and
plains have echoed. Bat the voice of the archangel, and the
trump of God, will refound from pole to pole. It will fhake the
pillars of earth, and ftartle the dungeon of hell. — Stronger, ftron-
ger ftill ! it will penetrate even the deepelt recefies of the tomb.
It will pour its amazing thunder into all thofe abodes of filence.
The dead, the very dead fiiall hear.
*' When the trumpet has founded, *the dead fliall arife.' — In
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the graves open; the mo-
numental piles are cleft afunder ; the families, the nations under
ground, ftart into day. What an immenfe harveft of men and wo-
men, fpringing up from the caverns of the earth, and the depths
of the fea ! Stand awhile, my foul, and contemplate the wonderful
fpeclacle. — Adam formed in Paradife, and the babe born but yef-
terday, the carliell ages, and lateft generations, meet upon the
fame level. — Jews and Gentiles, Greeks and Barbarians, people of
all climes and languages, unite in the promifcuous throng. Here,
thofe vaft armies, which, like fwarms of locufts, covered coun-
tries; which, with an irrefiltible fweep, over-run empires ; here
they all appear, and here they all are loft. Loft, like tlie fmall
drop of a bucket, when plunged amidft the unfathomable and
boundlefs ocean. — O ! the imultitudes ! the multitudes ! which
thefe eyes fliall furvey, when God ' calleth the heavens frora above,
' and the earth that he may judge his people.' What ftiame muft
flufti the guilty cheek ! W^hat anguiOi wound the polluted breaft ;
to have all their filthy prattlces, and infamous tempers, expofed
before this innumerable croud of witneffes ! — '. — Flv, my foul;
iaftantly let us fly, earneftly let us flvj to the purifying blood of
Jefus. That all our fins may be blotted out ; that we may be
found unblameable and unreproveablc, in the prcfence of the
aflembled world; and, what is infinitely more to be itvered, in
the fight of the omnipotent God. [Hervey, Ther. and Afp.
Tol. ii. Let. 5.]
538 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
world to the end fhall aj3pear upon the earth at once. The
church of God in all ages, Adam and Eve the firft pa-
rents of mankind, and Abel, Seth, Methufelah, and all
the faints who were their contemporaries ; Noah, and
Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, the prophets, and all the Old
Teftament faints, the holy apoftlcs of Jefus Chrift, and all
the faints of their times ; the martyrs under the ten hea-
then perfecutions ; all who belonged to the church during
the dark days of antichrifl, all the holy martyrs who have
fufFered under the cruelty of the Popifli perfecutions ; all
the faints of the prefent time ; and all that fhall be from
hence to the end of the world. Now alfo the enemies
of the church in all ages of the world Ihall appear upon
the face of the earth again ; the wicked drowned by the
flood, and the multitudes of impenitent finners that died
all over the world among God's profefling people, or others
before Chrift, and all wicked Heathens, Jews, Mahome-
tans, and Papifts, that have died fince; all fliall come
together. Sinners of all forts; demure hypocrites; thofe
who have tlie faireft and befl outfide, and open profane
drunkards, whoremongers, profane Deifts, cruel perfecu-
tors, and all that have died, or fliall die, iii fni, to the end
of the world.
And at the fan:ie time that the dead are raifed, the living
ihall be changed. The bodies of the wicked who fliall
then be living, fliall be fo changed as to fit them for eter-
nal exiftencc without corruption; and the bodies of all the
living faints fliall be changed to be like Chrift's glorious
body; [i Cor. XV. 51, 52, 53.] fo changed as to render
them for ever incapable of pain, afflitlion, or uneafinefs;
and all that duUnefsj heavinefs, and deformity, which their
bodies had before, fliall be put off; and tliey fliall put on
Arength, and beauty, and aclivity, and incorruptible un-
fading glory. And now the work of redemption fliall be
finifhed in this refpeft, viz. that all the elett fliall be ac-
tually redeemed in both foul and body. Before this, the
work of redemption, as to its a6lual fuccefs, was but in-
complete ; for only the fouls of the redeemed were a6lualiy
faved and glorified, excepting in a very few inftances : but
now
COMPLETED IN A FUTURE STATE. 539
now all the bodies of the faints rtiall be faved and glorified
together, both in foul and body, (f)
3. Now fhall faints be caught up in tlic clouds to meet
the Lord in the air, and all wicked men and devils fliall
be arraigned before the judgment-feat. When the dead
faints are raifed, tlien the whole church, confifting of all
the
(f) The general Resurrection.] The xvth chap, of St. Paul's
firft cpiftle to the Corinthians is a kind of treatife on this fubjcft,
which ought in the firfl: place to be confulted, as being the lan-
guage of divine infpiration. Next to the fcriptures is commonly
ranked an excellent epilllc to the fame Corinthian church by St.
Clement of Rome [mentioned as is fuppofed Phil. iv. 3.] writ-
ten is feems before the dcllruAion of Jerufalem. [Seech, xli.] In
that epiftle is the following paflage, remarkably coincident with
the language of St. Paul, on this jubjeft :
" Let that be far from us which is written, ' Miferable are the
* double-minded, and thofe who are doubtful in tlieir hearts. Who
* fay, thefe things have we heard, and our fathers have told us
* thefe things. But behold we are grown old, and none of them
* has happened unto us.' O ye fools! Confider the trees; take
the vine for an example: firft it flieds its leaves; then it buds; after
that it fpreads its leaves; then it flowers; then come the four
grapes; and after them follows the ripe fruit. You fee how in a
little time the fruit of the trees come to maturity. Of a truth,
yet a little while, and his will fiiall fudJenly be accompliflied.
The holy fcripture itfelf bearing witnefs, ' that he (liall quickly
* come and not tarry, and that the Lord fhall fuddenly come to
* his temple, even the holy one whom ye look for.' Let us con-
fider, beloved, how the Lord does continually (hew us, that there
fhall be a future refurreftion ; of which he has made our Lord
Jefus Chrifl the firft-fruits, raifing him from the dead. Let us
contemplate, beloved, the refurredion that is continually before
our eyes.. Day and night manifeft a refurrei^lion to us. The
night lies down, and the day arifes : again the day departs and the
night comes on. Let us behold the fruits of the earth. Every
one fees how the feed is fown. The fower goes forth, and cafts it
upon the earth; and the feed which when it was fown fell upon
the earth dry and uakcd, in time diffolvcs : and from the diffolu-
tion, the great power of the providence of the Lord raifes it again ;
and of one feed many arife, and bring forth fruit." \_Clemcnt's ifl
«pift. Abp. Wake's Tranf feft. 23, 24.]
From this paffage, but efpecially St. Paul's epiftle, in the chap-
ter above referred to, we may venture to determine that contro-
verted point, how far the bodies of the faints will be xXxcfav-.e when
raifed from the dead, namely, juft as the com which fprings up in
3 Z 2 the
540 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
the elect through all ages, fliall appear together on the face
of the earth, (excepting thofe few whofe bodies were glo-
rified before;) and fhall afcend to meet Chrift, who fhall
fix his tlironc in the air, whence he may be feen by all
that vafl multitude that fhall be gathered before him. The
church of faints therefore fhall be taken up from the earth
to afcend to their Saviour. Thus the apoftle tells us, that
when the dead ' in Chrifl: are raifed, and the living chang-
* ed, then thofe who are alive and remain, fhall be caught
* up together with them to meet the Lord in the air, and fo
* lliall we be ever with the Lord.' [i Thef. iv, i6, 17.]
Then fhall the work of redemption be finifhed in another
Tefpe6l : then fhall the whole church be perfectly and for
ever delivered from this evil world : they fliall take their
everlafting leave of this earth, where they have been llran-
gers, and which has been to them a fcene of trouble and
forrow ; where the devil for the moll part has reigned a§
god, and has greatly molefted them ; where Chrift their
Lord has been crucified ; and where they haye been fo
hated, reproached, and perfecuted, from age to age. And
there ihallbe an everlafting feparation made between them
and wicked men. Before they were mixed together, and
it was impoflible in many inftances to determine which
were which ; but now both faints and finners fliall appear
in their true chara6lers.
What an immenfe cloud of them will there be when
all the church fliall be gathered together from the eaft
and weft, north and fouth, to the right hand of Chrift.
---Then
the harvcft, is the fame which the hufbandman previoufly fovvs;
not indeed the bare grain which was call into the ground, but
wonderfully increafed and improved. [See i Cor. xv.] So doubt-
lefii the bodies raifed v/ill be ejfenlially (not to quibble on the word
individually) the fame as die ; but no lefs wonderfully improves
than the blade and ear of corn from a fingle grain. The manner
of this we may not be able to comprehend at prefent; but we may
furcly believe the faft on the credit of immutable omnipotence. —
From an expreflion of St. Paul, [i Thef. iv. 16.] that ' the dead
* in Chriit ihall rifejifr/?,' fome divines have inferred a twofold re-
funedtion, firil of the righteous and afterwards of the wicked, but
this text only alferts, that the dead fhall be raifed before the living
are changed, as appears from the following verfe. [G. E.]
COMPLETED IN A FUTURE STATE. 541
---Then the work of redemption will be finiihed in this
refpe6t alfo. Tliey all belonged to one fociety before, but
yet were widely fepar:Ued from each other; fome being in
heaven, and fome on earth ; and thofe on earth were fepa-
rated one from another, many of them by wide oceans and
vaft continents. But now they fliall all be gathered to-
gether, never to be feparated any more. And not only
gathered together, but gatliered unto their Head, into his
immediate glorious prefence, never to be feparated from
him any more.
At the fame time, all wicked -men and devils Ihall be
brought before the judgment-fent of Chrifl. Thefe fliall
be gathered to his left hand, and, as it feems, will flill re-
main upon the earth, and not be caught up into the air, as
the faints fliall. Satan, that old ferpent, who firft procured
the fall and mifcry of mankind, and has all along iliown
himfclf fucli an inveterate enemy to the Redeemer, fhall
never more have any thing to do with the church of God,
or be fuffered in the leaft to afFii6l any member of it any
more for ever; but Ihall now be judged, and receive the
due reward of his deeds. Now is come the time which
he long has dreaded, and trembled at the thought of; the
time wherein he mud be judged, and receive his full pu-
niflimcnt. He who by his temptation malicioufly pro-
cured Chrift's crucifixion, and triumphed upon it, as
though he had obtained the victory, even he fhall fee tlie
confequences of the death of Chrift which he procured :
for Chrifl's coming to judge him in his human nature is
the confequence of it; becaufe he obtained and purcliafed
this glory to himfelf by that deatli. Now he mull: fiand
before that fame Jefus whofe death he procured, to be
judged, condemned, and eternally deflroved by him. If
Satan, the prince of hc!l, trembles at the thought of it
tiioufands of years beforehand, how much more v/ill he
tremble, as proud and as flubborn as he is, when he comes
to Hand at Chrifl's bar ! Then fliall he alfo ftand at ilie
bar of the faints, whom he lias fo hated, afflidled, and mo-
lefted : for the faints fliall judge him together with Chrill:
[i Cor. vi, 3.] ' Know ve not that we fliall judge angels!'
Now
542 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
Now fliall he be as it were fubdued under the chuich's
feet. [Rom. xvi. 20.] Satan, when he tempted our firft
parents to fall, deceitfully and falfely told them, that they
fliould be as gods : but little did he think that the confe-
quence fhould be, that they fhould indeed be fo much like
gods, as to be afleffors with God to judge him. (g) Much
lefs did he think, that in confequence of this one of the
pofterity of thofe perfons whom he tempted, fhould actu-
ally be united to God, fliould judge the world, and that
he himfelf muft ftand trembling and aftonifhed before his
judgment-feat. And all the infernal fpirits -who have fo
oppofed Chrift: and his kingdom, fliall now at laft {land in
the utmoft amazement and horror before Chrift and his
church, who fhall appear to condemn them.
Now alfo fliall Chrift's other enemies be brought to
appear before him. Now fhall the proud fcribes and Pha-
rifees, who had fuch a malignant hatred againft him while
in his ftate of humiliation, and who perfecuted Chrift
to death ; thofe before whofe judgment-feat Chrift was
once called, and ftood as a malefactor at their bar, and
thofe who mocked him, and buftetted him, and fpit in
his face ; now fhall they fee Chrift in his glory, as he
forewarned them, [Matt. xxvi. 64, 65.] when he was
before their judgment-feat; but now they fhall ftand
before his judgment-feat with inconceivable horror and
amazement.
Now alfo all the cruel enemies and perfccutors of the
church that have been in all ages, fliall come in fight
together, Pharaoh and the Egyptians, Antiochus Epi-
phanes, the perfecuting fcribes and Pharifees, the per-
fecuting
(g) The faints Jhall judge the fallen y^/Tf.-'/f.] "There feems
a peculiar dignity and propriety in this determination of the great
God, that when the Devils who are exprefsly faid to be ' referved
' in chains of darknefs to the judgment of the great day,' [Jude
6.] fliall be condemned, \\\t faints being raifed to the feats of glory
which thefe wicked fpirits have forfeited and lofl, fliould aftill in
that fentence which fnall difplay the vijTtory of Chrift over them
in his fervants, once their captives, and will no doubt render the
fentence itfelfyet more intolerable to creatures of fuch malignity
and pride." [Doddridge, on i Cor. vi. 3.]
COMPLETED IN A FUTURE STATE. 543
feCuting heathen emperors, Juh'an the apoitate, the cruel
perfecuting Popes and Papifts, Gog and Magog, fliall all
appear at once before the judgment-feat of Chrift. They
and the faints who have in every age been perfccuted by
them, muft confront one another before the great Judge.
And now fl^all the faints on their glorious thrones be made
the judges of thofe unjuft kings and rulers, who have be-
fore judged and condemned them to deatli. Now lliall
thofe perfecutors behold the glory to which they are ar-
rived, whom they before fo defpifed and cruelly treated,
and Chrift will make thofe holy martyrs as it were to come
and fet their feet on the necks of their perfecutors; they
lliall be made their footftool, [See Jolh. x. 24.] Thus
wonderfully will the face of things be altered from what it
ufed to be in the former times of the world; now will all
thino;s be coming to rights.
4. The rlghteoufnefs of the church fliall be manifefted,
and all the wickedncfs of their enemies fliall be brought to
liglit. Thofe faints who had been the objeils of hatred,
reproach and contempt in the world, and were reviled and
condemned by their perfecutors without a caufe, lliall now
be fully vindicated. They fliall now appear cloathed with
the glorious robe of Chrift's righteoufnefs. And their in-
herent holinefs fhall alfo be made manifeft, and all their
good works brought to light. The good things which they
did in fecret ihall now be manifefted openly. Thofe holy
ones of God, who had been treated as though they were
the tilth and ofFscouring of the earth, as though thev were
not fit to live upon earth, fliall now appear to have been
the excellent of the earth. Now God will bring forth
their righteoufnefs as the light, and their judgment as the
noon-day. And now fliall it be feen who were thofe that
were not fit to live, when all the wickednefs of the ene-
mies of Chrift and his church, their pride, their malice,
their cruelty, their hatred of true religion, fhall be fet
forth in its true light. And now all the wickednefs of the
whole world ftiall be fully difcovered, their very hearts
opened to view; and things that have been fpoken in the
ear, in the clofet, and done in the dark, fliall be manifefted
544 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
in the light, and proclaimed before angels and men. [Luke
xii. 3.]
5. Sentence lliall be pronounced both on the righteous
and the wicked. C^irift, the judge, fhall pafs that fen-
tence on the church at his right hand, ' Come, ye blefled
* of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
* from tlie foundation of the world.' [Matt. xxv. 34.]
This lliall be pronounced with infinite love, and the
voice will make every heart to overflow with joy. Thus
Chrill; fliall pronounce a fentence of juftification on thou-
fands and millions, who have before had a fentence of
condemnation pafTed upon them by their perfecutors. He
will thus put honour upon thofc who have been before
defpifcd : he will own them for his, and will as it were
put a crown of glory upon their heads before the world ;
and then fhall they Ihine forth as the fun with Jefus Chrifl:
in glory and joy, in the fight of all their enemies, (h)
And then Ihall the fentence of condemnation be pafied
on the wicked, ' Depart, ye curfed, into everlafting fire,
' prepared for the devil and his angels.' [Matt.] Thus
ihall the church's enemies be condemned ; in which fen-
tence of condemnation, the holy martyrs, who have fuf-
fered from them, ihall concur, (i) When the words of
this
(h) Chr'i/l ^jj'iU put HONOUR upon Ins faints.'} How beautiful
and pointed is that pafiage in the apoeryphal book of Wifdom,
which reprefents the wicked at the laft day, thus bewailing their
folly and contempt of the faints: ' Then fliallthc righteous man
* ftand in great boldnefs before the face of fuch as have afflidted
* him, and made no account of his labours. When they fee it,
* they fliall be troubled with terrible fear, and fhall be amazed at
* the ftrangenefs of his falvation, fo far beyond all that they looked
' for. And they, repenting and groaning for anguilli of fpirit,
* fhall fay within themfelvcs/ " This was he whom we had fome-
" times in derifion, and a proverb of reproach. We fools ac-
" counted his life madnefs, and his end to be without honour. —
" How is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is
« among the faints!" [Wild. v. i — 5.]
(i) Depart, je airfecl.~\ " Oh ! let me never hear thy voice
pronounce thofe dreadful words. With what terrors would that
fentence pierce my heart, while ir thunders in my ears ! To be
feparatcd
COMPLETED IN A FUTURE STATE. 545
this fentence are pronounced, every fyllable of it will be
hiore terrible than a ftream of lightniing through their
hearts. We can conceive but very little of the horror
which it fliall produce.
6. Upon this Chrift and all his faints, and tlie holy
ano-els miniftering unto them, fliall leave this lower world,
and afcend up to the highcft heavens. Chrill: fliall afccnd
in as "-leat glory as he defcended, and in feme refpefts
greater ; for now he Ihall afcend with his eledV church with
him, glorified in both body and foul. Chrifl's firll: afcen-
fion to heaven foon after his own refurre6lion was verv glo-
rious ; but this fecond afcenfion, the afcenfion of his niylli-
cal body, his whole church, fliall be far more fo. The
redeemed church fliall all afcend with him in a mofc joyful
and triumphant manner ; and all their enemies and perfe-
cutors, who fliall be left behind on this accurfed ground,
ihallfee their glory and hear their fongs.
7. When Chrifl: and his church have afcended to hea-
ven, this world fliall be fet on fire, and turned into a great
furnace, wherein all the enemies of Chrifl: and his church
fliall be tormented for ever and ever. [2 Pet. iii. 7.]
* But the heavens and the earth which arc now, by the
* fame word are kept in fl:ore, referved unto fire againft:
4 A ' the
fcparated from thee, and curft with immortality, — who can fuftain
the intolerable doom ?
O dreadful ftate of black defpaifj
To fee my God remove,
And fix my doleful ftatlon where
I muft not tafte his love,
nor view the light of thy countenance for ever. Unutterable
woe ! there is no hell beyond it. Separation from God is the
depth of mifery. Blacknefs of darknefs, and eternal night muit
necefTarily involve a foul excluded from thy prefcnce,
*' Depart from thee! Oh ! whither fhaU I go from thee ? Into
Htter darknefs? After that fearful doom, I fliould without con-
llraint feek out fhades as dark as hell, and in the horrors of eternal
pight bewail the infinite lofs.
*' The remembrance of that loft happinefs would render celeftial
day infuffcrable. The hght of paradife could not cheer me with-
out thy favour : the fongs of angels would but heighten my an-
guifli and torment me with a fcene of blifs which I muft never
tafte." [Mrs. Rowe's Meditations, p. 67.]
546 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
' the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly men.'
Ah ! how will it ftrike the wicked with horror, when the
world Ihall be fet on fire, either by lightning from heaven,
or fire ifTuing out of the bowels of the earth : efpecially
when the fire begins to lay hold upon them, and they find
no way to cfcape it. [2 Pet. iii. 10. 12.] ' The heavens
* fhall pafs away with a great noife, and the elements
' fliall melt with fervent heat, the earth alfo, and the
' works that are therein fliall be burnt up ; and that the
* heavens being on fire fliall be difTolved, and the elements
' fliall melt with fervent heat.' And fo fierce fliall be its
heat, that it iliall burn the earth into its very centre.
[Deut. xxxii. 22.] ' For a fire is kindled in my anger, and
* fliall burn unto the loweft hell, and fhall confume the
' earth with increafe, and fet on fire the foundations of
* the mountains.'
And here fhall all the perfecutors of the church of
God burn in everlafling fire, who have before burnt the
faints at the flake, and fhall fufFer torments beyond
all that their utnioft wit and malice could inflidt on
them. Here their bodies fliall be tormented eternally,
and never be confunied : while the wrath of God fliall be
poured out upon their fouls. Though the fouls of the
wicked in hell do now fufFer punifliment, yet that will
be fo increafed at the day of judgment, that what they
fufFered before, is in comparifon of it, as an imprifonment
to the execution which follows, (k) And now the devil,
that
(k) The ETERNITY of hell torments. '\ This is a fubjeft fo awful
and alarming, that a benevolent mind would never wi(h to con-
templ'de, much kfs to difcourfe of it, but a faithful minifter mull
not always confult his feelings, but be content fometimes to offer
violence to himfelf for the good of others. " Where is the mini-
fter of the gofpel (fays Mr. Sauiin) who has notathouland and a
thoufand times difplayed the charms of religion, and difplayed
them in vaini"' Some fouls muft be terrified; fome finners muff
be faved with fear and pulled out of the fire. [Jude 23.] Some
hearts are fenfible only to one objeA, that is hell; and if there be
any one way of preventing their being really precipitated into that
frightful abyfs hereafter, it is by precipitating them there in ima-
gination
COMPLETED IN A FUTURE STATE. 547
that old ferpcnt, fliall receive his full punlfhment ; and
that which he long trembled for fear of, fliall now fully
come
gination now ! ' Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we per-
fuadc men.' [2 Cor. v. 11.] [Sermons, v. vol. i. Ser. 7.]
Such preachers have been called minifters of damnation, with as
much propriety as a man who alarmed a family in danger of fur-
rounding flames, fliould be called a meflenger of deftruction.
Monf. Claude points out a very judicious method of treating the
fubjeft — By fliewing that man is a creature fubjecl to a law — a
law fuppofes a judge-=— and a judge punifliment upon tranfgrefibrs.
This is fo evident to the common fcnfe of mankind, that all na-
tions have admitted the doftrine of future punifliment into their
religions. But the evidences of this mufl: net reit here ; fcrlp-
ture mufl: be applied to as the ultimate authority ; and from this
mull be fliewn, not only that God will punifli finncrs, but par-
ticularly, that he will punKh them in a.ftiture ft:ate — that this pu-
nifliment win invole both foul and body, as both have been
connefted in fin that it mufl; be a real punifliment, including
real, permanent, and everlafling fenfatlon of pain — and that its
degree will be proportional to the greatnefs of the Judge, the
ftriftnefs of the tribunal, and the power of the Almighty hand that
executes It. [See Claude's Eflay, tranfl. by Robinfon, vol. i.
402 — 408.] But we fliall rather abft.raft the fubftance of a feinion
of our author (Pref. Edwards) who has treated the fubjeft with
much argument and good fenfe, Inteifperfing (between crotchets)
fomeobfervations from other authors.
After fome preliminary remarks our author eflabllflies this
DOCTRINE, viz. That the m'ljery of the iv'ichcd tn hell tviU he abfo-
lulely ETERNAL. Li dlfcoivding on this doftrlne he advances four
propofitlons :
L That it is not contrary to the divine perfections to Inflidl on
wicked men a punifliment that is eternal. ( i . ) That It is not Incon-
fiftent with divine jufliice appears from the infinite evil of fin.
[Confider that among men all ofl^ences increafe their malignity In
proportion to the dignity of the perfon offended. The murder of
a flave is highly criminal, but that of a mafter, a father, a prince,
proportionally more fo. God is a being of Infinite Majefty, and
his authority over all the creatures abfolute and unlimited :] God
is alfo Infinitely worthy of love, honour, and obedience ; our'ob-
llgations to honour and obey him are therefore Infinite, and confe-
quently fin, which violates all thofe obligations, [infults that Ma-
jefty, and renounces his authority] muft be in its objeH, at leatt,
infinite, and therefore deferves infinite, or which Is the fame thing,
f/frWpunlftiment. — (2.) Neither is the dotlrlne Inconfiftent with
the divine mercy. It Is an unieafonable and an unfcriptural notion
of God's mercy, to fuppofc that his nature is fo liable to be moved
and overcome, by feeing a creature in mifery, that he cannot bear
4 A 2 tH
54? HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
come upon him. This worhl, which formerly ufed to be
the
to fee impartial juftice executed. The fcriptures reprefent the
mercy of God as free and fovereign, and not of fuch a nature that
God cannot help but deliver finners from mifery. This is a mean
and mod unworty idea of the divine mercy ; it is alfo contrary
to plain fa£l. For if there be any meaning in the objeclion, it fu-
pofes that all the mifery of a creature, whether jull or unjuft, is
in itfelf contrary to the nature of God. For if a very great de-
gree of mifery, though juft, is contrary to his nature, then it is
only, in our conceptions, to add to the mercy, and then a lefs de-
gree of mifery will be fo. And fo, the mercy of God being infi-
nite, all mifery mujl be contrary to his nature ; which is manifellly
contrary to fadl. For wc fee that God, in his providence, inllifts
very great calamities on mankind, even in this life. However
itrong fuch kind of objeftions may feem, they arife from want of
a fenfe of the inlinite evil and provocation that there are in fin. — If
fin appeared as hateful to us, as eternal mifery appears dreadful ;
if it ilirred up our indignation and deteflation, as eternal mifery
does our terror, all objeftions againft this doctrine would vanifli at
once. [So obferves the inimitable Saurin.] " Allow the obliga-
tions under which the incarnation lays mankind, and everlafting
punifnment feems to me to have nothing contrary to divine juftice.
— No, the burning lake with its fmoke, eternity with its abyiTes,
devils with their rage, all hell with all its horrors, feem to me not
too rigorous for the punifhment of men, who have * trodden un-
* der foot the Son of God, counted the blood of the Covenant an
* unholy thing, crucified the Son of God afrefh, and done defplte
' unto the Spirit of Grace." [Heb. vi. 6. x. 26.'] [Saurin, vol. iii.
Sen 13.]
But eternal mifery is not only confiftent with the divine perfec-
tions, but they appear evidently to require it. They require that
God riiould infinitely hate fin — that he ihould exprefs tliat hatred ;
(for no poiTible reafon can be given why it is not fuitable for God
to aS, as it is fuitable for him to be;) and the proper cxprefTion
of an infinite hatred to fin, in the inflicaon of eternal punifliment
on incorrigible finners.
\1. That eternal death or puniihment, which God threatens to
the wicked, is not anv.'ih'ilai'ion, but an i}o'i6\n^ fetifcle pun'i/hmiiit,
or miferv. (i.) The fcripture reprefents it as implying extreme
pains and fuffcrings — ' The fmoke of t\\Q\r tornwrit. [Rev, :;iv. 1 1.
See alfo Matt. xxvi. 24.] (2.) It defcribes them a&fenjlklr of their
punifliment — ' I am tormented.' [Luke xvi. 24.] (3.) It men-
tions different degrees of punifhment — ' Few ftripes and many.'
[Luke xii. 47. See alfo Matt. v. 22.] (4. ) The wicked are called
* Spirits in prifon.' [i Pet. iii. 19.]
III. The punifliment of the wicked fliall be abfohitely 'without
aid. Of thofe who have held that the torments of Iiell are not
abfo-
i
COMPLETED IN A FUTURE STATE. 549
the place of liis kingdom, where he fet himfelf up as God,
fluU
abfolutely eternal, i. Some fuppofe, that in the threatenings of
everlafting punifhment, the terms ufed do not neceflarily import
a proper eternity, but only a very long duration. 2. Others fup-
pofe, that if they do import a proper eternity, yet we cannot
neceffarlly conclude thence, that God will fulfil his threatenings.
But ( I.) that thefe terms imply a proper eternity, obferve that al-
though the words for-evcr, &c. are fometlmes ufed in a limited fig-
nification, as referring to a long time, on this fubjeft they cannot
well be fo taken as relating to a period which commences not until
time is no more — th.at they arc doubled ' for ever and ever,' [Rev.
xiv. 1 1.] — the fame expreffions defcribe the happlnefs of the blef-
fed, [Matt. XXV. 46.] and even the divine exillcnce, [Rev. iv. 9.]
where there is no doubt of tlieir importing an endlcfs period. —
Our Lord fays that finners fliall not be delivered till they have paid
the utmoft farthing, [Matt. v. 26.] that 'their worm dicthnof, and
their fire is 7/0^ quenched.' [Markix, 44.] [See Note d, p. 46.]
(2.) There are others who allow, that thefe threatenings de-
note a proper eternity ; yet fuppofe that pofTibly God may not
fulfil tlicm ; there not being the fame reafon to oblige God to ful-
fil his threatenings as his promlfes.
But, though this Is granted as to conditional threatenings, it
muil not be admitted of thofe v.hich are pofitive and peremptory,
as are thofe of eternal punifliment ; many of which are cxpreffed
in the form of predidlon;;. — Such perfons alfo fuppofe, that God
was obliged to make ufe of ^fal'cicy to govern the world by ; and
a fallacy fo weak that they have been able to detect it.
[" But if it were allowed, that God had no other defign in de-
nouncing eternal punilhnients than that of alarming finners, would
it become us to oppofe his wife purpofe, and with our unhallowed
hands throw down the barrier which he had erefted againft fin ? . .
Let us preach the gofpel as God hath revealed it. God did not
think the doclrine of everlafting punifhment injurious to the holi-
nefs of his attributes. Let not us pretend to think it will injure
them." Saurin, Ser. 3. vol. ill.]
IV. Several good and Important ends will be obtained by this
eternal punifliment of the wicked. As the vindication of God's
injured majefty — the honour of divine juftice — and even indired-
ly, the glory of divine mercy — and the greater happlnefs of the
faints. [Not that they can tnke any pleafure in the fight of mi-
fery, but] it will make them more fcnfible of their own happlnefs,
and more to prize difcrimlnating grace. [Vrz{. Edwards' Serm.
Etern.ofHelh]
Thus far our author; prolix as this note may be, it is hoped
the importance of the fubjeft (efpcclally at this time) will apolo-
gize for briefly confidering an objedion or two not mentioned
above, but which to fome have appeared of great force.
I. It
550 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
fhall be the place of his full and everlafting punifhment.
(l.) And in this another defign of the work of redemption,
viz. putting Chrift's enemies under his feet, fliall be per-
fe6tly accomplilhed. His enemies fhall now be made his
footftool, in the fulleft degree. Now Ihall be the com-
plete
1. It has been often urged, that the whole period in which men
fin being but a few years, bears no proportion to an eternity of fuf- .
fering. But (as Mr. Saurin hath well obferved) " it is not the
length of time employed in committing a crime that determines the
degree and the duration of its punifhment, it is the turpitude and
atrocioufnefs of it." A man fliall rob us in the flreet, another
fhall receive the article ftolen, our law fhalL tranfport the former
for 7 and the latter for 14 years, though both were inftantaneous
adls. But a third fliall by a long continued feries of cruelty ftarvc
a domeftic to death, and yet he fliall receive an inftantaneous pu-
nifliment, he fliall die.
2. It is poffitively faid God will not keep his anger for ever,
will not be always wrath, [Pf. ciii. 9. Ifa. Ivii. 16.] and yet it is
alfo as pofitivcly faid that he will have no mercy on the creatures
of his own hand, but punifli them with everlafting dettruclion,
[Ifa. xxvii. 2. 2 Thef. i. 9.] how then fliall we reconcile thefe af-
iertions ? By fixing a different fenfe on the fame words to favour a
flattering hypothefis ? No, but by diftinguifliing the perfons to
whom the promifes and thrcatenings are addrefled, the former to
Ifrael, to the contrite and humble penitent ; the latter to obitinate
and impenitent fuiners, as may be feen in the context.
After all we do not deny, but that fome perfons by treating this
doftrine injudicioufly have given too much handle to objeftors —
we do not pretend that it has no difficulties ; but we think moft of
them maybe refolved (Saurin fays «// of them) by confidering
that though all the wicked will be involved in punifliment of the
fame duration, yet God can apportion the degree of punifliment,
to the degree of the finners turpitude. And that this punifliment
will not be merely an arbitrary infliftion of Deity, but the natural
confequcnce of fin. Sin eftranges the foul from God — baniflies
it from his prefence — torments the confcience — hardens the heart,
and, without almighty grace, a finner left to himfelf will for ever
fin, and confequcntly forever fuffer. [T- N.]
(l) T/ms W0R1.V Jha/l/'e hell.] So conjeftured our author; on
the contrary Dr. Bunieit and many others have imagined that the
earth would be purified and become the heaven of the faints,
perhaps both were wrong. At leafl neither of thefe pofitions feem
to be plainly revealed; and our notions of fpiritual bodies are fo
uncertain and imperfcft that we can hardly reafon on the fubjeft.
Doubtlefs the Divine Majefty will not want means of punifiiing ob-
ftinatt^ rebels againil his government, and wherever may be the
fcene
COMPLETED IN A FUTURE STATE. 551
plcte fulfilment of that tliieatening, [Gen. iii. 15.] * It fliall
' bruife thy head.'
8. At the fame time, all the cliurch fliall enter with
Chrid:, their head, into the highefl heavens, and fhall
there enter on the Hate of their higheft and eternal bleffed-
nefs and glory. While the lower world, which they
have left under their feet, is fcized with the fire of God's
vengeance, the whole church lliall enter, with their glo-
rious head, and all the holy angels attending, in a joy-
ful manner, into the eternal paradife of God, the palace
of the great Jehovah, their heavenly Father. The gates
fhall open wide for them to enter, and there ChrifV will
bring them into his chambers in the highcil fenfe. He
will bring them into his Father's houfe, into a world
not like that which they have left. Here Chrift will
bring them, and prefent them in glory to his Father, fay-
ing, ' Here am I and the children which thou haft given
* me;' [Heb. ii. 15.] as much as to fay, ' Here am I,
* with every one of thofe whom thou gavefi; me from etcr-
' nity to take the care of, that they might be redeemed and
' glorified, and to redeem whom I have done and fufFered
' fo much, and to make way for the redemption of whom
* I have for fo many ages been accomplilhing fuch great re-
' volutions. Here they are now perfeilly redeemed in body
* and foul ; I have pcrfedlly delivered them from all the
' ill
fcene of his juftice, it muft exceed the power of our prefent con-
ceptions. Milton has perhaps in the following pafTage given the
fineft fpeclmen of the terrific fublime, which ever came from an
uninfpired pen.
" A dungeon horrible on all fides round
As one great furnace flam'd, yet from thofe flames
No light, but rather darknefs vlfible
Serv'd only to difcover fights of woe,
Regions of forrow, doleful fhades, where peace
And reft can never dwell, hope never comes
That comes to all; but torture without end
Still urges, and a fiery deluge fed
With ever burning fulphur unconfum'd :
Such place eternal juftice has prepared
For thofe rebellious."
[Par. Loft. b. i. j •
552 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
' ill efFedls of the fall, and freed them from all their cne-
* mies ; I have brought them all together into one glorious
' fociety, and united them all in myfelf : I have openly
' juftified them all before angels and men, and I have
' brought them hither from that accuifed world where
' they have fufFered fo much, and prefented them Ipotlefs
' before thy throne : I have done all that for them which
' thou haft appointed me: I have perfe6lly cleanfed
' them from ail lilthinefs in my blood, and here they
' are refplendent with thy perfe6l image.' And then the
Father will accept and own them for his children, and
will welcome them to the eternal and perfedt inheritance
and glory of his houfe, giving them more glorious mani-
feftations of his love than ever, and admitting them to a
more full and perfe6l enjoyment of himfelf.
And now Ihall be the marriage of the Lamb in the
moft perfect fenfe. The commencement of the glorious
times of the church on earth, after the fall of antichrift,
is reprefcnted as the marriage of the Lamb : but after
this we read of another marriage of the Lamb, at the clofe
of the day of judgment. After the beloved difciplc had
given an account of the day of judgment, in the clofc of
the xxth chapter of Revelation, then he proceeds to give
an account of what follows in the xxifl: and xxiid chapters ;
and particularly he gives an account, that he faw the
holy city, the new Jerufalem, (m) preijared as a bride
adorned for her hulband. And when Chrift fhall bring
his church into his Father's houfe in heaven, after the
judgment, he (hall bring her thither as his bride, having
there prefented her, whom he loved, and gave himfelf
for, to himfelf without fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch
thin'^-. [Eph. V. 27.] The bridegroom and the bride fhall
then enter into heaven, both having on their wedding
robes.
(m) The Nfav Jerusalem.] Among other circumftanccs
(which are undoubtedly allegorical) in the magnificent defcription
of this city, it isfaid [Rev. xxi. 21.'] * The ilreetof the city was
« pure gold as it were tranfparent glafs.' — From this pafTage an in-
genious
COMPLETED IN A FUTURU STATE. ^^^
robes, attended with all the glorious angels, and com-
mencing an eternal feaft: of bleflednefs This fnall
be the day of the gladnefs of Chrifl's heart, wherein he
win greatly rejoice, and all the faints with him. Chrlil:
ihall rejoice over his bride, and the bride fhall rejoice in
her hufband, in this ftatc of her confummate and evcrlaft-
ing bleflednefs.
And now the whole work of redemption is iinlflicd'
We have fccn how It has been carrying on from the fall
of man to this time. But now it is complete, the top
ftoneofthe building is laid. In the progrefs of the dif-
courfe on this fubje6l, we have followed the church of
God in all the florms and tcmpePiS through which Ihe has
pafled, till at length we have feen her enter the harbour,
and land in the higheft heavens, in complete and eternal
glory. We have gone through time, and the feveral ages
of it, as the providence of God, and the word of God
have led us ; and now wc have iflucd in eternity when
time fliall be no more. We have feen all the church's
enemies fixed in endlefs mifery, and the church prefented
before the Father in heaven, there to enjoy the moft un-
4 B fpeal'iablo
genious writer (Mr. Ketvion,) has fuggefted the follov/ing beauti-
ful ideas :...." If our reading is right, we muil underftand it
either of gold, pure, bright, and perfpicuous as the fineft tranf-
parent glafs, or elfe, as two diflin6l comparifons ; fplendid and
durable as the pureft gold, clear and tranfparent as the fineft
glafs. — Our glafs is clear but brittle, our gold is fliinlng and folid,
but it is opaque and difcovers only a fiirface ; and thus it is with
our minds. The powers of imagination are lively and extenfive,
but tranfient and uncertain. The powers of the underftanding are
more folid and regular ; but at the fame time more flow and limit-
ed, and confined to the outfide properties of the few objeds around
us. But when we arrive within the vail, the perfections of the
glafs and gold will be combined, and the imperfeftions of each
entirely ceafe. Then we fnall know more than we can now ima-
gine ; the glafs Jlmll he all gold. And then we fliall apprehend truth
in all its relations and confequences .... by a Angle glance of
thought, as the fight pierces in an inftant through the largeft
tranfparent body : the gold tvUl he all glafs (I do not oifer
this as the fenfe of the palfagc.") [Cardiphonia, vol, i. p.
554 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
fpeakable and inconceivable glory and blefTcdnefs through-
out the never ending ages of eternity, (n)
Now all Chrift's enemies will be perfe6tly put under
his feet, and he fhall have his moft perfect triumph over
fin and Satan, and all his inftruments, and death and hell.
Now fhall all the promifcs made to Chrift by the Father
before the foundation of the world, the promifes of the
covenant of redemption, be fully accompliflied. Chrift
fl^iall now perfe6lly have obtained the joy that was fet be-
fore him, for which he undertook thofe fufFerings which
he underwent in the ftate of humiliation. Now fhall all
the hopes and expedtations of the faints be fulfilled. The
ftatc of things that the church was in before was a pro-
greflive and preparatory ftate ; but now flie is arrived to
her moft perfect ftate of glory. All the glory of the beft
times of the church on earth is but a faint ftiadow of this
her confummate felicity in heaven.
And now Chrift the great Redeemer ftiall be moft per-
fectly glorifted, and God the Father Ihall be glorified in
him, and the Holy Ghofl: fliall be moft fully glorified in
the perfe6lion of his work on the hearts of all the church.
—And now fliall that new heaven and new earth, or that
renewed iiate of tilings, which had been building up ever
fince Chrift's refurre£lion, be completely finiflied, after
the very material frame of the old heavens and old earth
are deftroyed : [Rev. xxi. i.] * And I faw a new heaven
' and
. (n) Eternity.]
" Eternity, the various fentence paft,
AfTignsthe fcvcr'd throng diitinft abodes,
Sulphureous or ambrolial : what enfues ?
The deed predominant ! the deed of deeds !
Which makes a hell of hell, a heaii'n of heav'n.
The goddefs, with dctcrmin'd afpe<3;, turns
Pier adamantine kevs, enormous fize,
Thro' dtfliny's inextricable v.-ards.
Deep driviuL^ every bolt, on both their fates.
Then from the ehrydal battlements of heav'n,
Down, down, Hie hurls it thro' the dark profound,
Ten thoufand, thoufand fathoms, there to ruft,
And ne'er unlock her rcfolution more."
[Young's Night Thoughts, N. 9.]
COMPLETED IN A FUTURE STATE. 555
* and a new earth : for the firfl: heaven and the tirlT: eartii
* were pafTcd away.'— And who can conceive of the tii-
umph of thofe praifes which fliall be fung in heaven on
this great occafion. The beloved difciple John feems to
want expreflion to defcribe the joy on the fall of antichrift,
and fays, ' It was as the voice of many waters, and as the
' voice of mighty thunderings, faying Alleluia : for the
* Lord God omnipotent reigneth.' But much more inex-
preffible will thofe praifes be which will be fung in heaven
after the final confummation of all things : they will be
mighty thunderings indeed !
And now how are all the former things pafTed away, and
•what a glorious ftate arc things fixed in to remain to all
eternity ! and as Chrift, when he firfl: entered upon the
work of redemption after the fall of man, had the king-
dom committed to him of the Father, and took on him-
felf the adminiftration of tlie affairs of the univerfe, to
manage all fo as to fubferve the purpofes of this affair ; lb
now, the work being iinilhed, he will deliver up the king-
dom to God, even tlie Father, [i Cor. xv. 24.] ' Tlien
' Cometh the end, when he iliall have delivered up the
' kingdom to God, even the Father; when he fliall have
' put down all rule, and all authority and power.' Not
that Chrift fhould ceafe to reign or have a kingdom after
this; for it is faid, [Luke i. 33.] ' He fliall reign over
' the houfe of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there
' fliall be no end.' [Dan. vii. 14.] ' His dominion is an
' everlafting dominion, which fhall not pafs away, and
' his kingdom that which fliall not be deftroyed.' But
the meaning is, that Chrift fliall deliver up that kingdom
or dominion which he has over the world, as the Father's
delegate or vicegerent, to be managed in fubierviency to
this great defign of redemption. The end of this commif-
fion, or delegation, which he had from the Father, feems
to be to fubferve this particular defign of redemption ; and
theretore, when that defign is fully accompliflied, tlie coni-
miflion will ceafe, and Chrift will deliver it up to the
Father, from v.hom he received it.
jlB z GF.NE-
556 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT.
I PROCEED now to enter upon feme iinprovemcnc
of the whole that has been faid from this dodlrine.
I. Hence we may learn how great a work this of re-
demption is. We have now, in an imperfe£l manner con-
fidered its whole progrefs from its foundation at the fall
through a long fucceffion of wonderful works, advancing
higher and higher from one age to another, till the top-
flone is laid at the end of the world. And now let us con-
sider how great this work is. Do men, when they behold
the palaces of princes admire their magnificence, and gran-
deur? How then (hould we admire this building of God,
which he has been erecting for himfelf through a long fuc-
ceffion of ages. There are three things which have been
mentioned, that efpecially fhow the greatncfs of this work
of redemption.
(i.) The nature of thofe particular events and difpenfa-
tions of Providence, by wliich it is accomplilLed. What
great things were done in the world to prepare the way for
Chrift's coming, and fubfeciuent purchafe of redemption !
How wonderful was the incarnation of ChriH:, that God
liiould become man, Ihould refide upon earth for four and
thirty years in a mean, defpifed condition ; that he fhould
Ipcnd his life in fucli labours and fuiferings, and at laft die
"upon the crofs ! And what great things have been done to
accomplilh the fuccefs of Chrift's redemption ! For this
purpofe he arofe from the dead, and afcendcd up into hea-
ven, and all things were made fubjedl: to him. How many
miracles have been wrought, what mighty revolutions have
been brought to pafs in the world already, and how much
greater do \vc yet cxpe6l !
(2.) The number of thofe great events by which God
carries on this work, fhows the greatnefs of the work.—
Thofe mighty revolutions fill up many ages. The work
oi creation was completed in fix days ; but the great dif-
pcnlaticns by which the woik of redemption is carried
on, are fo many, that they fill up fix or {e\'en thoufand
years.
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT. 557
years. The flood, the building of Babel, the difperfion of
the nations, the (hortcning of the days of man's life, the
calling of Abraham, the dcilruftion of Sodom and Go-
morrah s a long ferics of wonderful providences relating to
Abraham, Ifaac, and Jacob, andjofeph; the wonders in
Egypt, in the Red Sea, in the wildernefs ; and a long fuc-
ceffion of wonderful providences from age to age towards
the nation of the Jews, all contributed in fome view to this
great end. What great things were done alfo in Chrift's
time, and fmce then, in overturning Satan's kingdom in
the heathen empire, in preferving his church in the dark
times of popery, and in bringing about the Reformation !
How many great and wonderful tilings mull be effe(5led in
accompliilaing the glorious times of* the church ; and at
Chrift's laft coming on the day of judgment, in the de-
llru<5lion ot the world, and in carrying the whole church
into heaven !
(3.) The glorious iiTuc of this whole a (Fair, in thejufl
and eternal deflrudtion of the wicked, and in the confuni-
mate glory of the righteous. And now let us once more
take a view of this building, now it is finiilied and the top-
ftone laid. It appeared in a glorious height in the apollle's
time; higher in the time of Confl:antine, and will appear
much more glorious flill after the fall of antichrill ; but at
the confummation of all things, it appears in its grcatell
magniticence, as a complete lofty ftru£lure, whofe top
reaches to the heaven of heavens; a building worthy of the
great God, the King of kings.
From what has been faid, we may infer, that the work
of redemption is the grcateft of all God's works of which
we have any knowledge. This work is the principal of
all God's works of providence, and to this they are all re-
ducible. All the revolutions in the world arc to fubferve
this grand defign. The work of redemption is alfo greater
than that ot creation, as the ufe of an houfe is the end
of building it. The work of the new creation is more
excellent than the old ! So it ever is, that when one
thing is removed by God to make way for another, the
new one excels the old. Thus the temple excelled the
tabernacle
55B HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
tabernacle ; the new covenant, the old ; the new difpenfa-
tion of the gofpel, the difpenfation of Mofes; the throne
of David, tlie throne of Saul ; the prieflhood of Chrifl,
the priefthood of Aaron; the new Jerufalem, the old;
and fo the new creation far excels the old. This work of
redemption is fo much the greatefl of God's works, that
all the other arc to be looked upon either as parts or ap-
pendages of it, or as fome way reducible to it ; and fo all
the decrees of God do fome way or other belong to that
eternal covenant of redemption which was between the
Father and the Son before the foundation of the world.—
Every decree of God is fome way or other reducible to
that covenant. And feeing this is fo great a work, we
need not wonder that the angels defire to look into it :
that it is fo much infifted on in the Bible ; being the great
fubjeft of its do6lrines, promifes, types, fongs, hiftories,
and prophecies.
2. Hence we may learn that God is the Alpha and
Omega, the beginning and end of all things. Such are
the charafters and titles we find often afcribed to God in
thofe places where the fcripture fpeaks of the courfe of
providential events; [Ifa. xli. 4.] ' Who hath wrought
' and done it, calling the generations from the beginning ?
* I, the Lord, the firll and the laft, I am he.' [See alfo
Ifa. xlv. 6, 7. and xlviii. 9, 12.] And therefore, when
Chrift reveals the future events of Providence relating to
his church and people, and this affair of redemption, to
the end of the world, to his difciple John, he often reveals
himfelf under this chara6ler ; [Rev. i. 8.] 'I am Alpha
' and Omega, the beginning and the ending, faith the
' Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come,
' the Almighty.' [ver. 10, 1 1.] 'I heard behind me a great
' voice as of a trumpet, faying, I am Alpha and Omega,
* the firft and the lafr.' Alpha and Omega are the names
of the firft and lafl letters of the Greek alphabet, as ^and
Z are of ours; and therefore it fignifies the fame as his
being the firft and the la!l, and the beginning and the end-
ing, ^rhus God is called in the beginning of this book,
before the courfe oi the prophecy begins : and fo again at
the
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT. 559
the end of it, after the final iffue of events. [Rev. xxi. 6.]
' And he faid unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Ome-
* ga, the beginning and the end.' [Chap. xxii. 12, 13.]
' And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with
' me, to give every man according as his work fliall be,
' I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the
* firft and the laft.'
We have now feen how all things were froyn God in
the beginning; on what defign God began the courfe of
his providence, and how it has been carried on agreeable
to his defign, without ever failing : and that at laft the
conclufion and final iffue of things are to God ; we may
therefore exclaim with the apoftle, [Rom. xi. 33, 36.]
' O the depth of the riches both of the wifdom and know-
* ledge of God ! how unfearchable are his judgments,
< and his ways paft finding out ! . . . . For of him, and
* through him, and to him, are all things : to whom
' be glory for ever. Amen.' We have feen other ftates
and empires, one after another, fall and come to nothing,
even the greateft and ftrongeft of them ; how the world
has been often overturned, and will be more remark-
ably fo yet than ever it has been : we have feen how
the world was firft deftroyed by water, and that at laft it
ftiall be utterly confumed by fire; but yet God remains
the fame through all ages. He was before the beginning
of this courfe of things, and he will be after the end of
them. [Pfal. cii. 25, 26.] We have feen all other gods
perilh ; the ancient gods of the heathen in the nations
about Canaan, and throughout the Roman empire, are
all deftroyed, and their worihip long fince overthrown ;
we have feen Antichrift, who has called himfelf a god on
earth, and Mahomet, who claims religious honours, and
all the gods of the Gentiles, perifti : and even Satan, the
great dragon, that old ferpent, who has fet up himfelf as
god of this world, will he caft into the lake of fire, there
to fuffer his complete punifliment: but Jehovah remains,
and his kingdom is an everlafting kingdom, and of his
dominion there is no end. Wc have feen mighty and
numberlefs
56o HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
numberlefs changes in the world ; but God is unchange-
able, * the fame yefterday, to-day, and for ever. [Hcb.
Jciii. 8.]
We began at the head of the ftrcam of divine provi-
dence, and have traced it through its various windings and
turnings, till we are come to the end of it, and we fee
where it iffues. As it began in God, fo it ends in God.
God is the infinite ocean into which it empties itfelt
Providence is like a mighty wheel, whofe circumferance
is fo high that it is dreadful ; with the glory of the God of
Ifracl above upon it, as it is reprefented in Ezekiel's vifion.
[Ezek. i. 15. &c.] We have feen the revolution of this
wheel, and how, as it was from God, fo its return has
been to God again. All tiie events of divine providence
are like the Jinks of a chain ; tlie iirft link is from God,
and the laft is to him.
3. We may fee by wliat has been faid, how Chrifl: in
all things has the pre-eminence. For this great work of
redemption is all his work ; and therefore being, as it
were, the fum of God's works of providence, this fhows
the glory of our Lord Jefus Chrifc, as being above all, and
through all, and in all. That God intended tlic world
for his Son's ufe in the affair of redemption, is one reafon
given why he created it by him, as feems to be intimated
bv the apoflle in Eph. iii. 9—12. What has been faid
fliows how all the purpofes of God are in Chrift; that he
is before all, and above all, and that all things confift and
are governed by him, and for him. [Colof. i. t5— 18.]
That God has made him his firft-born, higher than the
kings of the earth, and fet his throne above tlieir thrones;
and upheld his kingdom, when theirs have all come to an
end. We fee, that whatever changes there are, and how-
ever Chrift's enemies may exalt thcmfelves, that vet finally
all his enemies fhall become his footflool, .and that he fhall
reign in uncontrouled power and immenfe glory ; alfo that
in the end his people fliall be all perfeflly favcd and made
eternally happy. Thus God gives the world to his Son
for his inheritance.
(4.) Hence
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT. 561
(4.) Hence we may fee the confiftency, order, and
beauty, of God's works of providence. If we behold
thefe events in any other view than that in which they have
been fet before us, they will all look like confufion, like
a number of jumbled events coming to pafs without any
order or method ; like the tofling of the waves of the fea ;
things will look as though one confufed revolution came to
pafs after another, merely by blind chance, without any
regular or certain end.
But if we confider the events of Providence in the light
in which the fcriptures fet them before us, they appear an or-
derly feries of events, all wifely directed in excellent harmo-
ny and confluence, tending all to one end. The wheels
of Providence are not turned round by blind chance, but
they are full of eyes round about, as Ezekiel reprefents,
and they are guided by the fplrit of God, [ch. i. 18—20.]
where the fpirit goes, they go : and all God's works of pro-
vidence, tlirough all ages, meet in one at laft, as fo many
lines in one centre, (o)
It
(o) The myjler'ies of Providence.'] It is a remark of fome of the
Puritan divines, that he that duly obferves the divine providences,
will never want providences to obferve. And this hath always
been the pradice of believers. " If thou be a Chriftian indeed,
(fays pious Mr. Bait eh.) I know thou haft, if not in thy book,
yet certainly in thy heart, a great many precious favours of Provi-
dence upon record." [Sants' Reft ,p. 168.] And not only on earth,
but particularly in heaven, the contemplation of divine Providence
will be a fource of inconceivable delight to the believer. " When the
records of eternity (fays Mr. Howe) fhall be expofcd to view, all
the counfels and refults of that profound wifdom looked into, how
will it tranfport ! when it fhall be difcerned, lo ! thus were xhc
defigns laid; here were the apt junctures and dependencies of
thingSj which when afted upon the ftage of time, feemed fo per-
plexed and intricate!" rBlcftednefs of the Righteous, p. 76.] —
The fubjecl is exhauftlefs ; we ftiall only add a ftiort paffage from
another admirable writer of the laft centui7. '
" O how ravlftilng a fight is that ! to behold at one view the
whole defign of Providence, and the proper place and ufe of every
finglc act, which we could not underftand in this world ; for what
Chrift faid to Peter, [John xlii. 7.] is as applicable to fome provi-
dences in which we are now concerned, as it was to that particular
action ; * What I do thou knoweft not now, but hereafter thou
4 C ' fhalt
S6± HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
It is witli God's works of providence, as it is with his
work of creation ; it is but one work. The events of Pro-
vidence ate not fo many diftin6l, independent works, but
they are rather fo many different parts of one work, one
regular fcheme. The works of Piovidence are not dif-
united and jumbled without conne6lion or dependence, but
are all united, juft: as the feveral parts of one building.
There are many ftones, many pieces of timber, but all
are fo joined, and fitly framed together, that they make but
one building : they have all but one foundation, and are
united at laft in one top-ftone.
God's providence may not unfitly be compared to i
large and long river, having innumerable branches, be-
ginning in different regions, and at a great difiance one
from another, and all confpiring to one common iffue. —
After their very diverfe and contrary courfes which they
held for a while, yet they all gather more and more to-
gether,
• fhalt know it.' All the dark, Intricate, puzzling providences at
which we were fometimes fo Humbled, and fometimes amazed,
which we could, neither reconcile with the promife, nor with each
other; nay, which we fo unjuftly ccnfared and bitterly bewailed,
as if they had fallen out quite crofs to their happinefs ; we Ihall
then fee to be unto us, as the difficult palfage through the wllder-
nefs was unto Ifrael, ' the right way to a city of habitation.' [Pfal.
Gvii. 7.]
" And yet, though our prefent views and reflexions upon Pro-
vidence be fo fhort and imperfect in comparifon of that in hea-
ven, yet fuch as it is, under all its prefent difadvantages, it hath
fo much excellency and fweetnefs in it, that I may call it a little
heaven, or as Jacob called his Bethel, the Gate of Heaven. It is
certainly an highway of walking with God in this world, and as
fweet communion may a foul enjoy with him in his providence, as
in any of his ordinances. How often have the hearts of its obfer-
vers been melted into tears of joy, at the beholding of its wife and
unexpedled produtlions ! how often hath it convinced them, upon
a fober recolleftion of the events of their lives, that if the Lord had
left them to their own counfels, they had as often been their own
tormentors, if not executioners ! Into what, and how many fatal mif-
chiefs had they precipitated themfelves, if Providence had been as
fhort-fighted as they ! they have given it their hearty thanks, for
confidering their intereft more than their importunity, and not fuf-
fering them to perifli by their own d^fires." [Flavel on Provi-
dence, page 1 1, 12.3
GENERAL IMPROVEMENTr ^6^
gether, the nearer they come to their common end, and all
at length difcharge thenifclves at one mouth into the fame
ocean. The different ftreams of this river are apt to ap-
pear confufed to us, becaufe of the limited nature of our
fight, whereby we cannot fee the whole at once, nor dif-
cover how they unite in one. Their courfe feems very
crooked, and diiFerent ftreams feem to run for a while dif-
ferent and contrary ways : and if we view things at a dif-
tance, there feem to be innumerable obflacles and impedi-
ments in the way cf their ever uniting, and coming to the
ocean, as rocks, mountains, and the like ; but yet if we trace
them, they all unite at laft, difgorging themfelves in one
into the fame great ocean.
5. From what has been faid, we infer, that the fcrip-
tures are the word of God, becaufe they alone inform us
what is Gcd's defign in all thcfe works. It is mofl reafon-
able to fuppofe, that theie is fome certain fcheme to which
Providence fubordinates all the great fucceffive changes in
the affairs of mankind ; that all revolutions, from the be-
ginning of the world to the end of it, are confpiring to
bring to pafs that great event which the great Creator and
Governor of the world has ultimately in view ; and that
the plan will not be finiilied, nor the ultimate event fully
accoraplillied, till the end of the world.
Now there is nothing eife that informs us what this
fcheme and defign of God in his works is, but only the
holy fcripture. Nothing elfe pretends to fet in view the
whole Icries of God's works of providence from beginning
to end, and to inform us how all things were from God
at firfl, and to what end they fhall be brought at laft,—
Nothing but the fcripture fets forth how God governed
the world from the beginning, in an orderly hiftory ; or
how he will govern it to the end, by an orderly prophecy
of future events: agreeable to the challenge which the
•God of Ifrael makes to the gods, and prophets, and teach-
ers of the heathen. [Ifa. xli. 22, 23] ' Let them, bring
' them forth, and fliew us what Ihall happen : let them
' iliew the former things what they be, that we may con-
' lldcr theni, and know the latter end of them: or declare
4 C 2 * us
564 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
* us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come
* hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods.'
It feems very fit and requifite, that the rational part of
the creation fhould know fomething of God's fcheme and
defign in his works: for they doubtlefs are the beings
principally concerned in them ; efpecially feeing God has
given them reafon, and a capacity of feeing him in his
works : for this end, that they may give him the glory of
them. But how can they glorify God in his works, if they
know nothins of his defifins ? And this feems farther rea-
fonable, becaufe they are made capable of a6lively falling
in with and pronouncing that defign, ailing herein as his
friends and fubje6ls ; it is therefore reafonable to fuppofe,
that God has given mankind fonie revelation to inform
them of this : but there is nothing elfe that does it, but the
Bible. In that we may learn the firft original of things,
and an orderly account of the fcheme of God's works from
the beginning, through ages beyond the reach of all other
hiftories. Here we are told what is the grand end that God
purpofes, and the great things he defires to exhibit. Here
we have an account of thefe worthy of God, and the glory
of his perfevStions.
Here we learn the conne6lions of the various parts of
the work of Providence, in a regular, "beautiful, and glo-
rious frame, and have an account of the whole fcheme of
Providence, from the beginning of the world to the end of
it, either in hiftory or prophecy, and how they iflue in
the fubduing of God's enemies, and in the falvation and
glory of his church, and erecting the everlafting kingdom
of his Son.
How rational, ufeful, and excellent a book is the Bible,
and what charadters it bears of being a divine revelation !
a book, without which, we fhould be left in miferable
dafknefs and confufjon.
6. From what has been faid, we may fee the glorious
majefty and power of God in this affair of redemption.— -
His power appears in upholding his church for fo long a
time, and carrying on this work ; preferving it oftentimes
when it was but as a little fpark of fire, or as fmoaking
fkx,
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT. 565
flax, in which the fire was ahnoft: extindl. Yet God has
never fufFercd it to be quenched, but will bring forth judg-
ment unto vidlorv. God glorifies his ftrength in his
cliurcli's weaknefs ; in caufjng his people, who are but like
little infants, finally to triumph over all earth and hell ;
fb that they fhall tread on the lion and adder ; the young
lion and dragon fhall they trample under foot. [Pf. xci. 13.]
The power of God appears alio in conquering his many
and mighty enemies by that Jefus who was once an infant
in a manger, and afterwards a poor, weak, defpifed man;
yet he conquered, and triumphed over them in their own
weapon, the crofs.
God's power glorioufly appears in conquering Satan
when exalted in his flrongefl: and moll: potent heathen
kingdom, the Roman empire. Chrift, our Michael, has
overcome him, and the devil was call out, and there was
found no more place for him in heaven ; but he was caft
out unto the earth, and his angels with him. Again, his
power glorioufly appears in conquering him in his proud,
fubtle, and above all cruel, antichriftian kingdom ; par-
ticularly in Satan's moft violent exertions juft before its
final fall.
The mighty kingdoms of Antichrift and Mahomet,
which have made fuch a figure tor many ages together,
and have trampled the world under foot, when Chrift ap-
pears, will vanilh away like a lliadow, or as the darknefs
in a room does, when the light is brought in. What
arc God's enemies in his hands? How is their greatefl
ftrength weaknefs when he raifes up ! and how weak will
they all appear together at the day of judgment ! Thus
we may apply thofe words in the long of Mofes. [Exod.
XV. 6.] ' Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in
' power : thy right hand, O Lord, hath dallied in pieces the
* enemy.' And how great doth the majerty of God ap-
pear in overturning the world from time to time, to ac-
complifh his defigns, and at laft in caufing the earth and
heavens to fiee away, for the advancement of vhc glory of
his kingdom !
7. From
566 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
"J. From what has been faid, we may fee the glorious
wifdom of God. This wifdom appears in creating the
world for fo great and important ends; in bringing fo
great good out of fuch evil, in making the fall and ruin
of mankind, which in itfelf is fo lamentable, an occafion of
efPedting fuch a glorious work as this of redemption, and of
bringing his elecl to a ftate of fuch unfpeakable happinefs.
How doth the wifdom of God appear alfo in the long fe-
ries of revolutions which take place in the world, in bring-
ing fuch order of confufion, in fo fruftrating the devil,
and turning all his fubtle machinations to God's glory,
and the honour of his Son Jefus Chriil: ; and in cauiing the
greateft works of Satan to be wholly turned into occa-
fions of glorious triumph of the great Redeemer ! How
wonderful is the wifdom of God, in bringing all things
to fuch a glorious period at laft, and in fo dire6ling all
the wheels of providence by his fkilful hand, ihat every
one of them confpires as the manifold wheels of a moft
curious machine, at laft to flrike out fuch an excellent if-
fue, fuch a manifeftacion of the divine glory, fuch happi-
nefs to his people, and fuch a glorious and everlafting king-
dom to his Son !
8. From what has been faid, we may fee the liability
of God's mercy and faithfulnefs to his people; that he
never forfakes his inheritance, and remembers his cove-
nant to them through all generations. Now we may fee the
truth of our text, ' The moth Hiall eat them up like a
* garment, and the worm ftiall cat them like wool ; but
* my righteoufnefs fliall endure for ever and ever, and my
* falvation from generation to generation.' And now we
may difcover the propriety of that name by which God re-
veals himfelf unto Mofes. [Exod. iii. 14.] ' And God
* faid unto Mofes, / am that I am:'' i. e. I am the fame
that I was when I entered into covenant with Abraham,
Ifaac, and Jacob, and ever rtiall be the fame ; I keep co-
venant for ever ; I am felf-fufficient, all-fufficient, and
immutable.
And now we may fee the truth of that word, [Pfa.
xxxvi. 5, 6.] * Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens;
* and
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT. 567
« and thy faithfulnefs reaclicth unto the clouds.— Thy
« ri^iteoufnefs is like the great mountahis; thy judgments
« arc a -reat deep.' And if we conhder what has been
faid, welieed not wonder that the Pfalmift, in the cxxxvith
Pfalm, fo often repeats this, For his mercy endureth for
ever- as if he were in an ecftacy at the confideration of the
perpetuity of God's mercy to his church, and delighted
to repeat it. Let us with like pleafure and joy celebrate
the everlafting duration of God's mercy and faithfulneis^to
his church and people, and let us be comforted by it unuer
the prefent dark circumftances of the church of God,
and all the uproar and confufions that are m the world.
And let us take encouragement earneftly to pray for thofe
glorious things which God has promifed to accompli^ tor
his church.
9. Hence we may learn how happy a fociety the church
of Chrift is. For all this great work was for their lakes
both undertaken and carried on ; even becaufe he has
loved them with an everlafting love. For their fakes he
overturns ftates and kingdoms. For their fakes he fliakes
heaven and earth. He gives men for them, and people
for their life. [See lia. xliii. 4-1 Since they have been pre-
cious in God's fight, they have been honourable ; and
therefore he firft gives the blood of his own Son to them,
and then, for their fakes, gives the blood of all their ene-
mies. For their fakes he made the world, and for their
fakes he will deftroy it: (p) for their fakes he built heaven,
and
(p) The DESTRUCTION of the World.-] " If one fhould now go
about to reprefei.t the world on fire, with all the confufions that
ncceffarily muft be in nature and in mankind upon that occafion,
it would feem to moft men a romantic fcene ; yet we are fure there
muft be fuch a fcene : the heavens will pafs away with a noile,
and the elements will melt with fervent heat, and all the works ot
the earth will be burnt up. We think it a great matter to fee a
fino-le perfon burnt alive ; here are millions Hirieking in the hames
at once. It is frightful to us to look upon a great city in flames,
and to fee the diftraaions and mlfery of the people ; here is an uni-
verfal fire through all the cities of the earth, and an univerial mal-
facre of their inhabitants. Whatfoever the prophets foretold ot the
delolations
568 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
and for their fakes he makes his angels miniftering fpirits,
Therefore the apoftle fays, [i Cor. iii. 21, &c.] ' Ail
* things are yours : whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas,
* or the world, or life, or death, or things prefent or
' things to come; all are yours.' How blefled is this
people who are redeemed from among men, and are the
tirfi; fruits unto God, and to the Lamb ; who have God in
all ages for their proteiflion and help ! [Deut. xxxiii. 29.]
' Happy art thou, O Ifrael : who is like unto thee, O
* people faved by the Lord, the fhield of thy help, and
' who is the fvvord, thy excellency ! and thine enemies
* fliall be found liars unto thee, and thou flialt tread upon
* their high places.'
Let
defolations of Judea, Jerufalem, or Babylon, [Ifa. xxiv. Jer. li.'
Lament.] in the liigheft ftrains, is more than literally accomplifiied
in this laft and general calamity ; and thofe only that are fpec-
tators of it, can make its hillory. But it is not poffible from any
ttation, to have a full profpeft of this laft fcene of the earth ; for
it is a mixture of fire and darknefs. This new temple is filled w ith
fmoke, while it is confecrating, and none can enter into it. But
I am apt to think, if we could look down upon this burning world
from above the clouds, and have a full view of it, in all its parts,
we fiiould think it a lively reprefentation of Hell itfelf. For fire
and darknefs are the two chief things by which that ftate, or that
place, ufcs to be defcribed ; and they are both here mingled to-
gether, with all other ingredients that make that Tophet that is
prepared of old. [Ifa. xxx.] Here are lakes of fire and brimftone ;
rivers of melted glowing matter ; ten thoufand volcano's vomit-
ing flames all at once ; thick darknefs, and pillars of fmoke twift-
cd about with wreaths of flame, like fiery fnakes ; mountains, of
earth thrown up into the air, and the heavens dropping down ia
lumps of fire. Thefe things will be all literally true, concerning
that day, and that ftate of the earth. And if wc fuppofe Beelze-
bub, and his apoftcite crew, in the midft of this fiery furnace (and
I know not where they can be elfe ;) it will be hard to find any
part of the univerfe, or any ftate of things, that cinfwers to fo
many of the properties and charafters of Helh as this which is
now before us. But if we fuppofe the ftorm over, and that the
fire hath got an entire viftory over all other bodies, and fubdued
every thing to itfelf; the conflagration will end in a deluge of fire,
or in a fea of fiie, covering the whole globe of the earth. But let
us only, to take leave of this fubjeft, refledl upon this occafion, on
the vanity and tranfient glory of all this habitable world ; how, by
the force of one clement breaking loofe iij5on the reft, all the va-
rieties
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT. 569
Let the enemies of the church exalt themfelves as much
as they will, thefe are the people that fhall finally prevail.
The laft kingdom fhall be theirs; and Ihall not be left
to other people. [See Dan. ii. 44.] We have feen what
a bleflbd ifTue things fhall finally be brought to as to tlicm,
and what glory they fliall arrive at, and remain in pofTef-
fion of, for ever and ever, after all the kingdoms of the
world are come to an end, and the earth is removed, and
4 D mountain^
rieties of nature, all the wonders of art, all the labours of men
are reduced to nothing ; all that we admired and adored before,
as great and magnificent, is obliterated, or vaniiTied ; and another
form and face of things, plain, fimple, and every where the fame,
ovcrfpreads the whole earth. Where are now the great empires
of the world, and their great imperial cities ? their pillars, tro-
phies, and monuments of glory ? Shew me where they flood, read
the infcription, tell me the victor's name. What remains, what
impreffions, what difference or diflinftion do you fee in this mafs
of fire ? Rome itfelf, eternal Rome, the great city, the emprefs
of the world, whofe domination and fuperftition, ancient and mo-
dern, make a great part of the hiftory of this earth ; what is be-
come of her now ? She laid her foundations deep, and her palaces
were ftrong and fumptuous : She glorified hcrfelf, and lived dcli-
cioully, and faid in her heart, I fit a queen, and fnall fee no for-
row. But her hour is come, fhe is wiped away from the face of
the earth, and buried in perpetual oblivion. But it is not cities
only, and works of men's hands, but the everlafting hills, the
mountains and rocks of the earth, are melted as wax before the
fun ; and their place is no where found.
[*' The cloud-capt towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The folcmn temples, the great globe itfelf,
Yea all which it inherits fhall diffolve.
And like the bafelefs fabric of a vifion
Leave not a wreck behind."
Shakespeare.]
" Here flood the Alps, a prodigious range of ftone, the load of
the earth, that covered many countries, and reached their arms
from the ocean to the Black Sea ; this huge mafs of ftcnc is fof-
tened and difFolved, as a tender cloud, into rain. Kere flood the
African mountains, and Atlas with his top above the clouds. There
was frozen Cancafus, and Taurus, and Imaus, and the mountains
of Afia. And yonder towards the north, flood the Ripha;an hills,
cloathcd in ice and fnow. All thefe are vanifhed, dropped away
as the fnow upon their heads, and fwallowed up in a red fea of
fire. [Rev. xv. 3.] Great and marvellous are thy works. Lord
God Almighty ; jiill and true are thy ways, thou King- of Saints.
Hallelujah."
570 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
mountains are carried into the depth of the fea, or where
the fea was, and this lower eartli iliall all be diffolved. O
Jiappy people, nnd blefled fociety ! Well may they fpend
an eternity in praifes and hallelujahs to him who hath
loved them from eternity, and will love them to eter-
nity. ((>^)
lO. And, laflly, hence all wicked men, all that are in
Chriftlcfs condition, may fee their exceeding mifery. —
You that are fuch, have no part or lot in this matter :
you are never the better for any of thole things of which
you have heard ; but your guilt is fo much the greater,
and the mifery you are expofed to the more dreadful. You
are fome of thofe againft whom God, in the progrefs of
the work, exercifes fo much manifeft wrath ; fome of
thofe enemies who are liable to be made Chrifl's footftool,
to be ruled vvith a rod of iron, and to be dalhed in pieces.
You are fome of the feed of the ferpent, to bruife the head
of which is one great defign of all this work. What-
ever glorious things God accomplilhes for his church, if
you continue in the ftate you are now in, they will not
be glorious to you. The mod glorious times of the
church are always the mofc difmal times to the wicked
and impenitent. And v.'herever glorious things are foretold
concerning the church, there terrible things are predidled
of the wicked. Its enemies. [See Ifa. Ixvi. 14.] And fo
it ever has been In facl ; in all remarkable deliverances
wrou^^ht for the church, there has been as reiViarkablc an
execution
( Q^) The felicity o/Keaven.] One of the moft beautiful ideas
that the fcripture gives us of the glory of heaven is, that it fhall
confill in the fig-ht and enjoyment of the deity in the perfon of Jefus
Chrift. " Grand idea of heavenly felicity, my brethren! Glorified
believers fhall fee with their eyes the glorious body of Jefus ChrilU
What joy to contemplate this objeft! What delight, if I may fpeak
fo, when the rays of the deity, always too bright and confounding
for mortal eyes to behold, fiiall be foftcned to our fight in the per-
fon of Jefus Chrift! What tranfporting joy to fee the grcateft mi-
racle that was ever included in the plans of the wifdom of Godf
What felicity to behold in the body of Jefus Chrift a right of ap-
proaching with confidence to a familiarity with God! ' Wc know
that, when he fliall appear, we Ihall be like him, for we Jhall fee
him as he is." i John iii. 2. [Saurin's Scr. XII. vol. iii.]
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT. 571
execution of wrath on its enemies. Thus, when God
delivered the children of Ifracl out of Egypt, he poured
out his wrath on Pharaoh and the Egyptians. So when
he brought them into Canaan by Jofhua, and gave them
that good land, he remarkably executed wrath upon the
Canaanites. When they were delivered out of their Baby-
lonifli captivity, fignal vengeance was infiifted on the Ba-
bylonians. So when the Gentiles were called, and the
ele6t of God were faved by the preaching of the apoftles,
Jerufalem and the perfecuting Jews were deftroyed in a
mofl: awful manner. I might obferve the fame concerning
the glory accomplillied to the church in the days of Con-
flantine, at the overthrow of Satan's viiible kingdom in the
downfall of antichriA:, and at the day of judgment. In all
thefe inftances, and efpecially in the lail, there have been,
or will be, exhibited moft awful tokens of the divine wrath
againfc the wicked.
You are indeed fomc of thofe that God will make ufe
of in tliis affair; but it will be for the glory of his
juftice (r) and not of his mercy. The enemies of God
iliall
(r) God imU make life of fome Jintiers to dfplay his Justice.]
This alludes to the dotlrine of reprobation, which is neither more
nor lefs than the neceffary confequence of eleftion ; for if, out of
a world of finners God clefts a part to everlafting life, the remain-
der mr.ft be left to the confequences of their own fin. Tlifs note
is not intended to difcufs the truth of that doftrine, but only to
offer a few hints with a view of obviating, in fome meafure the
force of a popular o'ojeflion.
It is commonly faid that this fuppofition involves the damnation
of a great inajoriiy of the human fpccics; but this we apprehend a
vulgar miftake. In the fird place we admit the falvation of all
infants, dying before tliey attain the proper exercife of their rea-
fon, vidiich are of tliemfclves fuppofed the greater half of mankind;
to which we add ideots, who are as to their mental powers exadlly
in the fame fituation. We hope, moreover, that God has in all
ages and nations been pleafed to form to himfelf a people (though
known only to himfelf) who are enabled to ' ftar God and work
* rightcoufncfs ;' for we think that the heathens who never liad the
advantage of a written revelation, claim our charity far beyond the
Chriftian world (fo called) who neglod or defpifc it. [Sec note z,
p. 514.] We believe that in the woriHlate ol" religion among its
profeflbrs, God rcicrved to himfelf thoufands offincere worfhippers,
-)- D 3 [See
572 HISTORY OF REDEMPTION.
fhall be referved for the triumph of Chrift's glorious power
in overcoming and puniihing them, and fliall be confumed
with this accurfed world after the day of judgment, when
Ctirift arid his church ihall triumphantly and glorioufly
afcend to heaven. Therefore let all that are in a Chriftlefs
condition a;r!ongfl: us feriouily confider thefe things, and
not be like the foolifli people of the old world, who would
not take warning, when Noah told them that the Lord
was about to bring a flood of waters upon the earth ; or
like the people of Sodom, who would not flee from the
wrath to coime, and fo were confumed in that terrible de-
ftruciion. (s)
And
[See note l, p. 62.] Add thefe to the millions of faithful martyrs,
and the more innumerable multitudes that have, or will form the
church of God in all ages; and the objection in great meafure, at
lead, vanifhes. But if we extend our thoughts to higher worlds ;
if we include the thoufands of thoufands of angelic fpirits that
wait on God's immediate prefence, or execute the orders of his
throne; if we allow ourfelves to venture fo far into the modern
philofophy, as to fuppofe that other planets may be inhabited as
well as ours — and that the fixed ftars may be funs to other fyftems
of habitable globes — who can tell but there may be as many worlds,
m^y Jv/Iems of worlds, of innocent and happy intelligent creatures,
as mifcrable and guilty individuals? [G. E.]
(s) JLeiJinners take v/arning.] We Hiall conclude thefe notes
With the following animated paffage, from a fermon preached on
cccafion of the earthquakes in London, 1749. " So impreft do I
find my mind with the weight and moment of eternal things, that
I could, methinks, wifli I had a voice that would reach as far as
this noife and convulfion did : and if I had, I would repre-
fent, that if the convulfion of an earthquake is fo dreadful, how
dreadful that fcene mud be, when all things fhall be diffolved;
the heavens pafs away with a great noife, and the elements melt
with fervent heat, the earth and the things that are thereon, not
only fiiaken, but burnt up. — I would reprefent the horror and af-
frightment which will feize the fouls of fmners, when the arch-
angel with the trump of God fliall (hake the whole creation; when
they fhall call for the rocks and mountains to fall upon them, and
the earth opening and fwallowing them up would be a blefTing, if
it would hide them from the wrath of God, and the Lamb. — 1
would difplay the vanity of building on any thing in this uncertain
convulfivc world, and the wretchednefs of the men who have cho-
fen their portion in this life. — And, finally, I would hail every
faint and child of God (every one who b^' faith in Chrifl, ferious
religion,
GENERAL IMPROVEMENT. 573
And now I would conclude my difcourfe in thefe words
from the laft of the Revelation : " Thefe fayings are faith-
ful and true, and blcfTcd is he that keepeth thefe fayings.
Behold, Chrlil: cometh quickly, and his reward is with
him, to render to every man according as his work fhall
be. And he that is unjuft, (hall be unjuft Aill ; and he
that is filthy, Ihall be filthy ftill ; and he that is holy,
fhall be holy ftill, Bleffed are they that do his com-
mandments, that they may have right to the tree of life,
and may enter in through the gates into the city : for
without are dogs, and forcerers, and whoremongers, and
murderers, and idolaters, and whofoever loveth and ma-
keth a lie. He that teftifieth thefe things, faith, Surely
1 come quickly. Amen ; even fo come Lord Jefus."
[Rev. xxii. 6, &c.]
religion, and a good confcience towards God, can lay his humble
claim to the promifes and hopes of the gofpel) as the happiefl
among men. Such convulfions as thefe we have now felt, make on
his mind reverential impreffions of the power and majefly of God ;
but cannot hurt, nor need they give him any ilavifh terror. His
God is his refuge and llrength, a very prefent help in trouble ;
therefore he need not fear, though the earth be removed, and the
mountains be carried into the midft of the fea :" [Pfa. xlvi.J
Nay more,
*' Should the whole frame of nature break.
In ruin and confufion hurl'd ;
He unconcern'd might hear the mighty crack,
And Hand fecure amidft a falling world."
[Dr. Allen's Ser. on defpifing reproofs.]
FINIS.
INDEX.
•■^t* The Articles referring to the Text only, are diJlinguiJJied hy
the Page; thfe to the Notes only, by a Letter prefixed to the
page; [as s 79. i. e. Note s page 79,] thoje that refer to both Text
and Note have the Letter added after the Page: \_as 88 and x,
Page 88 and Note x.]
Page.
.BEL's facrifice, s 79
■ — his chara6ler, — ib.
— his death, — 88 &: x
Abraham, Jewifti tradition of
him. T 126
— his calling, — 126, &c.
— his divine vidon, 140 & z
— pleads for Sodom, c 155
Achan's fin andpunifliment,
191 & w
Adam and Eve, their nakednefs,
p 69
— their eyes opened, p 70
— their aprons, what, f / 1
— their penitence andfalvation,
84& u
Age^ how that term is ufed, d 46
See Cctitury.
Agony, Chrilt's, 344, 34c, &
p & 0^
Ahaz, the fign given hiiii, 231
& o
— his danger and deliverance246
Alaric and his Goths c 423
Alban, St. martyred, s 410
Alcuin oppofed Pcjiery, s 442
Alexander's conqut lis, 285 &, n
— he f})ares tlie Jeu's, 290 & q^
America, peopling of, 464 & k
ti'nht _ B 44
Anabaptift^, German, 460
— Modern Englifn, 460 & f
Angel, Chi-ift lb called, a 199&C.
See Ap/earances.
Angels, Chrift their head, 59
— miniftring fpiritsio Chrift 66
— Redemption made known to
them, 66 & o &c.
— condii6led Abel's foul to
glory 83 & Y
Angels, how employed about
Redemption, • 357
Antediluvian hiflory concife I o r
& K
Anthony St. his power over fire,
s 488
Antichrifi:, who, f 429
— his kingdom, 428, 429
— its commencement, 430, 43 r
& H
— its rife gradual, 431 & i
— its h\\, 508
— propliecies concerning, 486
to 494
Antiochus Epiphanes perfe-
cutes the Jews, 291, 292 & r
— his death, — 293 & t
AvTTi-J vy^a., — ' R 76
Apoftai'y, the lafi: grand, 528, 529
Apoftles, their commillion, 278
— preached in Britain, 0^407
Appearances of Chrift before
the Incarnation 66 &c n — p 7 1
— 198, 199 & A •
— to Adam, 66 & n
— • to Abraham, 140, c 154
— to Jacob, 1 1; 7 & E
— to Moles, 167 & I, 198
— to the feventy elders, ib.
— to Jcfluia, ib.
— to Daniel, 271
Arabians, coiiverted by Origen,
425, E 426
Arius and Arianifm, 420 & x
Arianifm, its revival, 462
Armada, the Spanifh, 452 & x
Arminius and Arminianifm, 461
Afcenfion, Chrift's, 375
Afs, Balaam's, fpake, s 184
Athanafius, St. and his creed,
X 420
Attila
INDEX.
Attila and his Huns, c 423
Aiigultin, St. his converfionand
writings, 421 & y
Auftin converts ti:e Britons, e
. 427
B
Babel, its building and deftruc-
tion, 112 to 118 & CL
Babylon's deftruclion, 273 & e
foretold by the Prophets,
ib.
Babvlon, whv Rome was fo
called, ' 387
grand enemy of the
church, 3S7
BabylonifU captivity, 260
cured the Jews of idolatry,
261
prepared the way for
Chrift, 262
Balaam's prophecy, 184 & s
his afs fpake, s 184
Baptifm, Chrift's, 331
Chriftian, inftituted, 379
Baptift, John, Chrift's fore-
runner, 329
His office very honour-
able, 330 &H
Baptifts. See Anahaptifls.
Barbarians, go fpel preached to
them, 425, 426, &E
Beail, myftical, his mark,u 493
his image, f 429
Beauty of the church in the
Milennium, 525
Biography, its utility, 3
Birth of Chrift, _ 314
in the fulnefs of time,
314, A 316
at Bethlehem, 317 & e
Bleffing, Noah's, on Shem,
p 1 15
Brainerd, Mr. J. his million
among the Indians, l 465
Brethren, who fo called by the
Hebrews, p 113
Britain, gofpel preached here b\
the apoftles, Q^407
Popery brought in by
Auftin, F 427
Bull, Rev. Mr. of New Eng-
land, o 473
Burgundians, how converted,
425 E 426
Bufli, burning,
167
Cain, his facrificeand charafter,
s 80
Murders Abel, 88 ^ x
mark fet on him, o 99
Calling on the name of the
Lord, 89 & z
Calling of Abraham, 1 26, &c.
Calves, golden, 238
Canaan, his crime, phi
Canaanites deftroyed, p 1 1 3
Candleftick, golden, typical,
p 233
Canon compiled by Ezra,
280 & I
— completed by Rlalachi, 285
Canticles, book of, its excel-
lency, 1 7
— its divine authority, s 241
Captivity, Eabylonifli, 260
Captives, feveral nations con-
verted by means of,42 5, e 426
Celfus, enemy of Chriftianity,
s 349, L 401
Century, witnefTes of the trutii
in every century, s 442
Century,' the tenth, its charac-
ter, Jb.
Children, feveral converted very
young, o 47^
Chrift, his fulnefs and glory,
28
— the head of all things, 59 & i
— begins to execute his media-
torial office, 64, &c.
— the defire of all nations, x 257
— generally expefted, 266 & b
— the grand fubjeft of the
Bible, 50^
Chrift
INDEX.
Chrift appeared in the fecond
temple, 321
Chrift, his death an aft of obe-
dience, 325 & F
— obeyed and honoured the
law, 326, 328
— his fecond coming to judg-
ment, 530, 533, 534 &D
— takes his church with him
from this world, ' 545
— afcends with her to the
higheft heavens, 55^5 55-
— refigns his mediatorial king-
dom, _ 555
— has in all things the pre-
eminence, 560
See Appearances and Jefus.
Chriftianity perfecuted more
than other religions, 480 & r
Church of Chrift, its happinefs,
44
wonderfully preferved, 97,
482, 484
her fufferings ended, p8
Church, Jewifli, its glory in
Solomon's time, 235
declined foon after 237
this made way for Chrift"s
coming, 239, 240
preferved when the ftate
declined, 243
Church's pro fperity inConftan-
tine's time, 412, 413
Cneph, an idol, 0^7 3
Colchians converted to Chrifti-
anity, 423
Cole, Dr. anecdote of, p 459
College of prophets, 204 & c
Comfort, fpiritual fource of,
26,27
Communion, ftrange terms of, 6
Compafs, invention of, 468
Conception of Chrifr, 313
Conflagration of the world, 544
p 567
Confufion oftongues, qj20,&;c.
Conftantine's vifionand viftory,
41 1, 412, & u
Contemplation on God's glory,
17
Contemplation on the works of
Nature, i S
Converfions, remarks in New
England, ^ Al^
See Go/pel.
Conviftion of fin, 28, 29
Covenant, rites of, among the
Hebrews, z 140
among the Greeks, z 141
- — — am.ongthe Romans, z 142
of redemption, 50, 5i,&e
of grace,
renewed with Noah, 109
& o
with Abraham, 134
with Jacob, 156
with David, 219
Councils, eccleftaftical, inftitu-
tion of, 383 &■ G
Crown of Judah preferved in
David's family, 228
, that of Ifrael often
changed, 230
Crucifixion of Ciirift, 347 to 350
afted at Lifbon, t 491
Cruelty of popery, 454 & z
See Perfecution.
Curfe, Canaan's, p 1 1 1
Cyrus permits the Jews to re-
turn and re-build the temple,
274
D
Daniel's prophecies, 255, 285
& N
feventy weeks, 272 & d
vifion of goat and leopard,
285 & N
Danifh miiiionaries in the Eaft
Indies, 468 & m
Darknefs, miraculous at the
crucifixion, t 349
David anointed, 207 & e
, his life wonderfully pre-
ferved, 210 &: H
, Ills Pfalms, 2 1 5
made king, 2 1 7
, Goil's covenant renewed.
with, 219
David
INDEX.
David conquered the whole
land of Canaan, 2ig, 220
, his character, m 220
improved the Jewifli fer-
vice, 225
a type of Chrifl, 226
anc'eftor of Chrift,228 & n
Domitian, a cruel perfecutor,
o 404
Dort, fynod of, 461 & n
Dragooning of the Proteftants,
B 456
Drunk, Noah, p 110
Death and dying words of Pref.
Edwards, 12, 13
ofChrifl:, 347 to 350
of Chrift and Socrates
compared, y 353
of Julian the apoftate, 422
& z
of Rofleau and Voltaire,
P 474
Deacons firfl appointed, 382
Deaconnefles in the primitive
church, F 382
Deifm, its fpread in England,
462, 474 & p
Delaware Indians defire the gof-
pel, _ _ w 499
Delight in religion, 19
Denis, St. his treafury, t 490
Defcent, Chrifl's into hell,
w 350, B 372
Defign, God's in redemption,
60 & K
— of Chrifl's Inimillation, 362
Deftruftion of the church's ene-
mies, 104 & M
of Sodom, ^'c. 15210154
&c
Diar\', extract from Mr. Ed-
wards's, 24
Dilficulties of an Indian miffio-
nary, ' l 465
Dionyfius, the Areopagite, 297
& X
Difpenfations of Providence
dark before Chrift came, 63,
82
Difperfion of the nations, 122
Divinity of Chrift, a 199
Do6trines of the gofpel fully
revealed in the New Tefta-
ment, 380, 381
— — of the Waldenfes, t 444
4E
Eaftern idolatry, u 131
Edwards, Pref. his birth, 4
education, ib.
- entrance on the miniftry, ib.
appointed tutor of Yale
college, ib.
fixed at Northampton, 5
difference with his church,
ib.
his difmiftion from them,
.. 7, S
attempts a reconciliation,
8, 9
appointed mifuonary at
Stockbridge, 12
appointed prefident of Jer-
fey College, ib.
his death, ib.
his dying words to his
daughter, 1 3
experience, 14 to 30
remarks on, 30, 31
— his delight in meditation, 1 7
thirft for holinefs, 20, 25
delight in the fcripture, 23
ficknefs, 24
fenfe of union to Chrift,
20 to 26
conviftion of fin, 28, 29
writes the hiftory of Re-
demption, 3 1
his ftudy and excrcife, 32
his charafter, 8, 9, 32, 33
his works, 33\34
his account of the revival
of rehgion in New England,
470, 471 &o
Egyptian idolatry, u 130
Empire, Perfian, deftroyed, 284
Empire
INDEX.
Empire, Grecian, erected, 284,
285 & N
divided, 286 & o
deftroyed, 293, 294
Roman, erefted, ib.
at its height, 298
Encouragement for finners, 359,
360
End of the world, meaning of
that phrafe, 363, 364
Enemies, the church's fliall pe-
rifli, 43, 44, 56, 57, 104 & M
England, perfecution here,
410 & s, 457
See Britain.
Enoch's charaifler, 92 & a
■ prophecy, 93 & b
tranilation, 95 & c
Enoch, pretended book of, b 94
H 100
Enthnfiafts hurt rehgion,
460 & G
Eternity, contemplation of,
N 554
of hell torments, 546 & k
Events, typical, of Chrift's 2d
ccrming, 367, 369
Eve's hope of Cain, vv 86
See Adam.
Eunuch, his converfion, u 250
Eyes opened, what, p 70
Ezra's commiffion from Baby-
lon, 277
— expounds the law, 278 & h
book of, 279
Expence of popery, m 434, 435
Ezekiel's prophecy, 270
Faith, modern popifli, 0^476
Fall of Man, 64
ruins of, God's defign to
reftore, 57, 58 & h
Fall of Antichrifi: gradual, 498
the work of God, 499
Falfe Chrifts before Jerufalem's
deftruftion, i 398
Favin, Is. martyr, b 456
Fees of the Pope's chancery,
M 434
Flood, Noah's, 102 to 104 A: m
Forbearance, God's, 65 & m
For-tver^ its import, 46 & d
Folly of inattentive reading the
fcriptures, 308
France, converfion of, F 427
Frank, ProfefTor, 469, 470 &n
Frogs, unclean fpirits, 503
Fi-umentius preaches in India,
425, F 426
Fulfilment of prophecies, 485,
&c.
as to the prefervation of
the church, 485
as to Antichrift, 486 to
494
Fulgentius, his timidity, n 436
Future ftate revealed under the
Old Teftament, 96
fuccefs of the gofpel how
it may probably be accom-
pliflied, 500, 501 & \T
Gemara and Mifhna, quoted, r
348
Genealogy, the Virgin Mary's
228 & N
Genferic and the Vandalls,
c 423
Georgia, orphan houfe at, o 473
Giants, what, h 100
Glauca hall, 469, 470 & n
Glory, Redemption completed
in,' 532
See Heaven.
Gnoftics, their herefy, d 424
God the A and n in Redemption
558, 559
Gog and Magog, army of, 529
Gofpel revealed to the angels,
o 67 to 70
to Adam, 69 to 75 & p
its fuccefs in the apoftolic
times, — 388, &c.
among the Jews, 389, 390
arnong the Samaritans,39 1
among the Gentiles, 392,
394
means of falvation, 413
Gofpel,
INDEX.
Gofpel, its fiiccefs, owing to a
divine power, — 417
foretold, 418
among the Barbarians, 425,
426 & E
means of, e 426
in the Indies, 425
in Ireland, 426
in Britain, Qs.407
in Scotland, w 499
among the American In-
dians, 463, 464, L 466, w
497, &c.
oppofitlon to it, proves its
divinity, 479, &:c.
fuccefs of, fince the Re-
formation, 462, &:c.
in Miifcovy, - ib.
in America, 0471,473
Goths converted to Chriltianity,
425, E 426
Grace triumphant over guilt,
57 2c G
Grant of the earth to Noah, 108
Grecians, foreign Jews, 269,&c.
Greek language general, 287
prepared the way for pro-
pagating the gofpel, 288
^tranllation of Old Tefta-
ment, 288, 289, & p
Gregory XIII. his impiety a 455
H
Haggai's prophecy, 277 &: g
Hall, Rev. Mr. letter to, 10
Haman, Jews delivered from,
282, & L
Ham's crime and curfe, p 1 10
— pofterity, PI14
Hannibal's exclamation, P113
Haran's pretended death, p 1 2 7
Head of all things, Chriit:,!;9&L
Heart, man's, evil, loi & i
Heaven created for the eleft, 52
& F
hofi: of, worfliipped, u 1 30
journey to, v 131
and earth, new, 58,365,
554
Heaven, happinefs of, 570 & q^
Heavenly believer's journey
hither, v 1 3 1
Heathen, falvation of, l62,i7i,
z 514
oracles, 408 & r
Heathens boaft, having dcftroy-
ed Chriftianity, 41 1
Heathenifni deftroyed, 41210
414
Hebrew idiom, r 78
Hell, this world whether, 546 to
550 & L
— its torments eternal, 546 & k
— Milton's defcriptionof, l 55 1
Herefies, rife of, 420, d 424
their final end, 508
Heretics not allowed to trade,
u 493
Hermes, 0^73
Herod, King in Judea, g 163
High Church perfecutors, 458,
& c
Hogs, maflacre of, Q^ 7 3
Holinefs, its nature, 21
Holv of Holies, tvpical of what,
253 &p
Honour of the Saints at the laft
day, — . 544
Horeb and Sinai, how diftin-
guiflied, I 167
Horns, ten,beafls with, 422, 4123,
& B
Hofea, the firft who wrote his
prophecies, 247
Humility, its excellence, 22
its time nature, 29
Hufs, John, martyred, 446 &c w
Hyperbolies in religion, 29
Hypocrites admitted to the
Lord's Supper, 6
Januarius, St. his blood, s 488
Janus, the temple of, 299 & v
Japhet's territory, i' 116
4 E s Jacob'6
INDEX.
Jacob's ladder, typical, 156 & d
wicftling, 1 5 7 Sc E
■ prophecy, 161 & g
death, — G 161
Iberians converted to Chriilia-
nity, 425
Jefuits expelled Japan, r 4S0
Idolatry, origin of, 128 &u
Chaldean, ib.
kinds of, v 128
Egyptian, u 129, 130
• Eailern, u 1 3 1
of the Tartars, 515 Sz b
Jehovah Jireh, b 148
Jeriifalem, God's chofen citv,
2^8
■ its defrruftion, 397 & i,
400 & K
foretold by Chrift, 397
& I
New, 552 & M
Jefus Clii-ift, his incarnation,
312, &c.
his conception, 3 1 3
his birth of a virgin,B 267,
,3135 3H
in the fulnefs of time, 3 1 4,
316 & A
proclaimed from heaven,
319, 320
his fatisfaftion, 323,324
his righteoufnefs and obe-
dience, 321;, kc.
■ his childhood, 328 & o
trials, 328
private life, 328, 329
public miniftry, 329, &c.
forerunner, 329
• baptifm, 331
temptation, ib. 344 & o
preaching, 332 & i
miracles, 333
clofe of his miniftrv, 334
& K
character, 335, 339 & l
his fuiferings and infancy,
340
in his private life, 341
was a carpenter, 341 & m
• truly fuffered, 342 & >j
Jefus fuffered povetry, 34^
hatred and reproach,
343
tried as a malefaftor, 345,
346
denied, ib.
■ crucified, 347 to 350
mocked, 348
Jews fought a pretence for
his death, r 348
death, — 349
exaft time of, t 349
preached to fpirits in pri-
fon, w 350
See Appearances and Chrift.
Jews difperfed to all parts of the
world, 265, X 510
return by permiffion of
Cyrus, 247
typical, 275
— wonderfully preferved,
291, 510 & X
— given up to judicial blind-
nefs, 395
— rejefted of God, ib.
deftroyed by the Romans,
396, 397 & I
warned of this, 396
perfecuted by the papifts,
E_459
converfionandreftoration,
509, 510&X, 5i2&y
Je>viili difpenfation abolifhed,
Ignatius martyred.
Incarnation,
its neceffity.
377
o 404
3I2,&C.
313
Indians at Stockbridge,Pref.Ed.
miffionary there, 12
Indian fimplicity, l 466, 467
letters, l 467, w 500
fchools, M 469
academy for miffionaries,
&c. — w 499
Indulgencies, prices of, m 434
Inquifition, 453 & y
praife of, y 453
Infpiration of theO.Teftament,
300, 301
confirmed bvChrift,2S2&M
Job
INDEX.
Job, book of, 178 & o, 305
John the Evangelift baniflied to
Patmos, 433, N 404
the Baptift, his office, 329,
330 & H
Jofeph's hiftory, 157 & f
temptation and vii5lory,
F 157
a type of C hrift, 1 5 8
Jofliua, book of, 212 & i
Ireland converted, 426
malFacre there, 459 & d
providential deliverance of
D 459
Ifaac, a pledge of the covenant,
143
his life fpared, 143 & a
type of Chrift riling from
the dead, — b 1 48
Ifaiah, prophefied of Chrift,
249 & u
Ifrael preferved in Egypt, 164
redeemed from Egypt, 166
that event tvpical, 166,
&c.
led through thewildernefs,
180
that alfo typical, ib.
wonderfully preferved,
183 & K
refcued by the judges, 196
poflefs all the land of Ca-
naan, 192, 220
Jubilee, of what typical, 502
Judah, tribe of, preferved, 244
Judas Maccabeus, his bravery,
292 & s
judgments dreadful, caufed by
fin, — 104
Judgment laft and general, 541
Judges, book of, k 2 1 4
Julian the apoftate, 421, 422
his death, 422 & z
attempted to rebuild Je-
rufalem, z 422
K
Kirkland, Rev. Mr. letter from,
w 499
Knowledge of good and evil,
p 70
Koran, account of, 437 & o
Kingdom of God and Heaven,
366, &c.
See Chrift and Evipire.
Laban an idolator, s 125
Ladder, Jacob's, 156 &d
Lamai, Delai, living idol, b 515
Lamentations, book of, 261 &y
Languages, origin and confu-
fion of, CL.120, &c.
See Tongues.
Lateinos, — ^493
Latter days, what, 363 & a
Laud, Abp. his temper, c 458
Law, given from Sinai, 173,
174 & L
not a covenant of works,
171; & M
typical, 175, 176 & N
book of, wonderfully pre-
ferved, 243 & T
ceremonial abblifhed, 267
Learning, human, its vanity,
297
its proper ufe, 478
Letter to Mr. Hall, 10
See Indian.
Lewis XIV. his cruelty, 456 & b
Libertine, convei-fion of, p 180
Licentioufnefs, its prevalence,
474
Light of the Old Teftament,
63,82
Living at the laft day fliall be
changed, 538
his wife's death, c 1 54
Longevity of the patriarchs,
178 &p
Long Ifland, revival of religion
there, — o 473
Lorretto, houfe of, moved by
miracle, s 488
its riches, t 491
Lot preferved in Sodom, 1 52 to
154 & c
Luke
INDEX.
Luke, the companion of St.
Paul, 384
M
BlahomcL's rife and charafter,
436 to 438 2c p
Majefty and power of God fcen
in Redemption, 564, 565
Maimonides on idolatry, u 128
Makkaph, point, g 165
Malachi, prophecy of, 283
Manes and the Manichees, d
424
Mark of the beaft, u 493
MafTacre of the Jews, i 399
■ Irifli, 459 Sc D
Parifian, 455 & a
Mediatorial office, Chrift, com-
menced at the fall, 64, &c.
Mediators, heathens, origin of,
u 129
Melchifedec blefTeth Abraham,
138
■ who .'' Y 1 3 8
IMercy, divine, its true nature,
i^ 547
Mercy feat typical, 233 ik p
Merit of Chrift's obedience, 32 2
jMeiilah expelled as a facrifice,
0^234
JMillennium, ftate of, (;20, Sec.
the time for fulfilling the
remiining prophecies, ib.
a time of great knowledge,
ib.
of great holincfs, 522
of vital religion, 523
• peace and love, 524
order in the churches,
5.25
the church's glory, ib.
temporal profperitv,
ib.
great joy, 526
• its duration, ib.
doctrine of explained, c
527
Minirtry of Chrift, how fininied,
334 &K
Miniftry, gofpel, inftituted,378
Miracles in the wildernefs, 183
& R
miracles of Chrift, 333
of the apoftles, &c. 380 & e
popifh, 487 & s
Mifery of the wicked, 570
See Hell.
Miflma quoted, e 348
Monaftries, expence of, m 434
IMorals of the heathen philofo-
phers, how corrupted, u 295
Mofes prophefied of Chrift, 1 84,
187 & T
call of the Gentiles, 187
wrote the Pentateuch, Qj 80
Moth worm defcribed, a 45, 44
Mufcovy, fuccefs of the gofpel
there, — 462, 463
My fteries of Providence, 561 &o
N
Nakednefs, our firft parents,? 69
Nathan and Gad, book of, 227
Neceffitv of aboliftiing the ce-
remonial lavv', 267
Negleft of Chrift, danger of,
356, &c.
Negroes, prcfent ftate of, 515
& A
Nehcmiah's commiffion, 276
book, 280
Nero's perfecuticn, 403 & m
New Teftament, when, and by
whom written, 385 & h
Ktw. See Heaven.
Noah faved in the ark 106, 107
typical, 10& & N
his prophecy, p 1 10 to 1 1 7
poetic. Pill
his intoxication, p no
his family preferved the
true religion, 124
Nod, land of, 9 7 &: e
Number of the beaft, u 493
Obfcenc
I N D E X.
O
Obfcene publications, theevilof,
5
Odoacer, king of the Henili,
c 423
Old. See Teftament.
Oneida Indians, w 497
Oracle, heathen, 408 Sc r
Sybilline, n 267
Origen platonized, p 424
Origin of langiiage, 0^122
of preaching, k 278
of fynagogiies, 281 &k
Orphan hoiife at Glauca, 470
& N
at Georgia, o 473
Oiiris and Ifis, u 129
Patriarchs, the Old Teftament,
wonderfully prefei-ved, 149,
&c.
Patrick, St. preaches in Ireland,
426
Paul, St. his converfion and
million, 382
quotes the heathen poets,
297 & w
Paul n. Pope, his veftments, t
490
Pelagius and Pelagianifm, 421
& Y
Pentecoft, day of, 379,380, &
E
Pentateuch, written by Mofes,
Q^ 180
Perfecution of the Jews by An-
tiochus, 291, 292 & R
of Chriftianity, by the
Jews, ' 394
the firft general, 403 & m
• the 2d, — N 404
the third, — ib.
Perfecution the 4thj p 40;
the loth, ^09, 410 Sc s
of the Orthodo.x, by the
Arians, 42 1
chargeable on all parties,
D425
Icfs than formerly, 476
Perfecutions, Popifli, 452, 8cc.
m Gerniany,
France, 455 & a,
England,
Scotland,
Irelan'j,
Spain.
— ib.
454
456
& B
457
459
S: D
— _ E459
Spanilli America, ib,
Perfons of the Trinity, e 50
Perfonal Types, 2197
Peter the Great, — 463
Philofophers, the heathen, 295
8c u
oppofed the gofpel, 401
& L
Chriitian, depraved it,
D 424
Phials, (in the Revelation) the
firft five explained, 447, 448
the 6'ch and 7th, 503,
Piety of the Ifraelites, who en-
tered Canaan, 190
Pius VI. prefent Pope, his cha-
racter, 0^476
Pilgrims, believers fo called, v
131
Pillar of a clo\id and fire, k 169
Plots, popifh, dtfeated; 450,452
PlutfchOjMr. Danifti miilionary
M 468
Points, Hebrew, g 165
Polycarp, martyred, p 405
Pope's power decreafed, 475,
Popes idolized, 432 & k
depofcd princes, 433,
& L
robbed the people, ib. m
antichrift, 429 & ¥
early oppofed, 441 & s
Popery
INDEX.
Popery, its rife, gradual, p 43 1
See AnticJiriJi.
Population, ftate of, at the flood,
98
— at the end of the world.
Porphyry wrote againfl: Chrifti-
anity, l 402
Poverty of Chrift, 342
Preaching, origin of, h 278
of Ezra, — ib
of Chrift, 332 & I
to fpirits in prifon, w
350
Predeftination, a comfortable
doftrine, — 16
Prefence of the Lord, r> 97
Price of Redemption, 323 & e
Promife, the very firft compre-
henfive, 0^75
Promifes, abftrafts of God's de-
crees, Y 194
Prophecies fcarce in the time of
the judges, b 204
abundant after the capti-
vity, ■ 251
of Ezekiel and Daniel,
270
when ceafed, 283
fulfilment of, proves the
truth of revelation, 485
as to the prefervation of
the church, 48 f;
concerning antichrift, 486
to 494
future reafon to credit,
495
grand period of fulfilling,
520
Prophets, order of, inftituted,
200, &c.
fchool of, ib.
college of, 204, &c.
conneft temporal events
with fpiritual, g 209, o 232
• feveral eminent, 247
Prolperity of the Church in the
time of Conilantine, 412,
413
Proteftantiim, prefent ftatc of in
Ruflia, 463 & I
Providence, divine, 189, 560,
561 & o
Providences extraordinary, 470
& N
Providential deliverance for Ire-
land, D 459
feveral in England,
450, &c.
Pfalms, Book of, 215, 216 & l
Purchafe of Redemption, 322,
&c.
R
Redemption what, 49, 50
covenant of, 50 e 51
how carried on, 53, &c.
defign of, 56, &c.
completed in glory, 532
Reformation, 446, &c.
Reformed church, decreaie of,
473
Relics, popifh, t 490
Reprobation, an objection to it
obviated, R 57^
Refurreftion of Chrift, 372,374
fpiritual, 367, c 527
general, 536, 537 & e,
539 & F
58
512
& Y
Reftitution, univerfal,
Reftoration of the Jews,
Revolutions, remarkable in
Providence, 253
Righteoufnefs of God, 45
of Chrift, 325, &c.
of the Saints, 543
Rochefter Ld. his converfion,
u 250
Romiith, 495
Rome, why called Babylon, 387
Rome, church of, its riches and
fplendour, 490 & r
Rolfeau's dying words, p 474
Ruth,- book of, K 214
S. Sab-
INDEX.
Sabbath, Chriftian, 377, 378
& D
Saccas, Amm. his notions, d 424
Sacred fire loft, 264
Sacrifices, origin of, 76 & r
^3
of Cain and Abel, s 79
types, 234 & Q^, N 176
Saints, fliull judge devils, 542
Samaritans oj)pofe the Jews, 276
converfion of, 391
Samuel, the prophet, his writ-
ings, 212, 214 & K
Saracens compared to locufts,
439 ^^'Q^
Satan, his kingdom on earth de-
ftroyed, 506, &c.
his final judgment, 541
Satisfaction, Chrifl's, 322, &c.
Saved, few, before Chrift's com-
ing, — 62 & L
• number of, l 62
Scotland, revival of religion
there, w 499
Scripture hiftory, when filent,
2:1
Signs before Jenifalem's de-
ftruftion, i 398
Sin, the unpardonable, a 422
Skins, coats of, typical, 81 & t
Smith, Mr. and ^Irs. our au-
thor's friends, 22
Sodom and Gomorrah, their fin
and deftrudlion, p 112
Solomon, a tyi)e of Chrift, 237
his writings, 241 & s
Sons of God, who, 100 & h
Sovereignty of God, 15, 16,25,
Spirit, Holy, his glory, 28
effufion of in the wilder-
nefs, 190
return at Chrift's coming,
in the latter days.
499
494
Spirit of Chriftianity,
Star, an emblem of Deity, s 1S5
Stone of Ifrael, x 192
Sufferings of Chrift, 340, Sec.
Sun and moon ll:and ftill, y 194
worfhip of, u 1 30
ufe of, 301, 302
its infpiration proved, 563
hated by the papifts, 436
8c N
Scriptures, wifdom of God in,
303
Seed of the woman, 0^74
of the ferpent, 0^73
Self righteoufnefs reproved,354,
n . 355
Septuagmt tranflation, 288, 289
& p
Serpent, the old, his curfe,
Q.72, 73
worfliipped, ib.
his head bruifed, 0^74
Shechinah, p 71, k 169
See Appearances.
Sheth,the name of a place, s 185
Shewbread, typical, 233 & p
.S'///M, prophecy of, g 164, &c.
4F
Tabernacle, Jewifli,ere<9:ed, 19-
a type. See Temple.
Talmud quoted, 3 1 3
Temple, Solomon's, a type of
Chrift, 232 &c p
Temptation, ChrilVs, 331, 344
& o
Terah, an idol maker, t 127
Teftament, Old, its inlpiration,
300
its utility, 307
confirmed by Chrift,
282 &: M
Tongues, confufion of, 0^120,
&c.
gift of, 379, 380 & K
Tradition often injurious to
truth, c 9^
early, hovv* conveyed,
178 & p
INDEX.
Tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, p 70
Trent, council of, 449, 450
Trinity, perfons of, e 50
Tninipets (in the Revelation)
four firll explained, 423 & c
Turkifh conquefts, 440
Types, Old Teftament, b 148,
149, 175, 176 & N, 208
& F, 234 &Q^, U350
U
Vail of the temple, 233 & p
Valentinus and his followers,
D 424
Veftments, popifli, t 490
Vials. See Phials.
Virgin, prophecy of, 0231
Voltaire's faying of the Pope,
0^476
dying words, p 474
Unbelief reproved, 353
Urr of Chaldea, t 127
Urim and Thummim, 263 & z
W
Walking with God, a 92
Waldenfes, 442, &c.
Waldenfes, their do6trine,T 444
perfecuted by the Papifls,
445 & u
Wars, popifh, 451, 452
Whitefield, his labours in Ame-
rica, o 473
WicklifFe and his followers,445,
446
Wifdom of God in Redemption,
566
in the fcriptures, 303
Witnefles for the truth in every
age, 441 & s
World burnt, 545
Young people in our author's
congregation, their improper
behaviour, 5
Young generation in the wil-
dernefs, their piety, igo
See Children.
Zechariah, the prophet, 277
Ziengenbalgh, Danifh milTion-
ary, m 468
TABLE OF TEXTS
More or lefs explained In tlils Work.
/
8:|p The Articles referring to the Text only, are SJlinguiJIied by
the Page ; thofe to the Notes only, by a Letter prefixed to the
page; [as s 79. i. e. liote s page 79,] thofe that refer to both Text
and Note have the Letter added after the Page; [as 88 and x
Page 88 and JVo/e x.]
Cen. i. 28.
108
xxxi. 24.
. 151
. 125 and s
iii. 8 — II,
p 69
53-
15. .
57, 69, 70, 72
xxxii. 24, &.-C.
157 and E,
and Q^, 80, 82
A 199
iv. I.
. 85, 86 and w
XXXV. 5.
157 and K
4, &c.
79 and s
xxxix. 7 — 12,
8.
X 88
xlviii. 21.
G 161, &c.
14, 15.
. 99 and G
xlix. 8 — 10. i(
61 and G, 262
x6.
97 and E
1. 20.
158
25.
87, 98
Exod. iii. 2, 3.
. 167 and I
26.
89 and z, 90, 91
viii. 26.
18S
v. 24.
92 and A, 95 & c
xii. 12.
168
29.
p 116
xxi. 6.
. 47 and D
vi. I — 4. ,
100 &: H, 103
xxiii. 20, 21.
A 201
viii. 15.
. 551 ,
xxiv. 9 — II.
198
20 — 22.
loi and I, 109
xxxiii. 2 — 4.
A 201
ix. 1—3, 7.
• . ',°9
xxxiv. 6, &c.
198
4, &c.
1 18 and Q_
xxxiv. 24.
196
9, 10.
109 and
Levit. vi. 13.
264
20, &c.
p 1 10
Numb, xiv. 31.
187
25—27.
P III, &c.
XX. 8 — 13.
334
xi. 28.
T 127
xxii. 28.
s 184
xiii. 21.
81 and T
xxiv. 17, 19.
184 and s
xiv. 4, &:c.
• • 137
Deut. iv. 32 — 34.
170, 173
1% — 20.
V 139, 140
viii. 4.
183 and R
XV. 9 — 18.
1 40 and z
2, 3» iv
188, 189
16.
I qo
and u
xvii. 10.
136 and w
xviii. 16 — 19, I
86, 1 87 and T
xvii. 17, &c.
c 154
xxxii. 8.
122 and R
xix I — 25.
152, 154, &c.
21.
1S7, 39^
xxli. I — 16.
143 to 148 and
22.
546
A and E, 234
xxxiii. 13, 14.
V 194
xxiv. 31.
p 115
Jofli. V. 13, 14
198
xxvi. 35.
• , ',50
vii. 19 — 26.
191 and w
xxviii. 12 — I
4 156 and D
X. 5— i4-
507
4
F2
Jofli.
TAB-^E OF TEXTS.
Jofll. X. 12, 13,
193, Y 194
Ifaiah xxvi. 17.
• • 5^9
xviii. I.
195
xxxvii. 30,
31. . 247
xxiii. 8.
190
xl. 4, 5.
S2I
xxiv. 2.
124
15-
506
Judges vi. 1 1, &c.
199 and A
xli. 2, 3.
138 and X
xiii. 17, 21.
ib.
22, 23.
563
I. Sam. iii. i.
202 and B
xliii. 4.
• . 567
xiii. 14.
M 220
xlv. 22.
. . 516
xvi. 6, 7.
207 and E
Ii. q. .
45
13.
215
8.
. 43, &c.
xvii. 14.
210 and H
liii. 3.
343
II. Sam. vii. 16.
219
4, 10.
249 and u
viii. 3.
222
P235
xxiii. I.
215
Ix. 4, 5.
502
I. Kings viii. 9.
262
21.
52a
xviii. 4.
204
Ixv. I.
396
11. Kings ii. 15.
204
Ixvi. 7 — 9.
w 501, 503
xxii. 8, &c.
243 and T
Jerem. ii. 2, 3.
188
^^^- ...
204 and G
X. II.
413
I. Chro. xxiii. 26.
226
XXV. 15 — 2
7. . 254
xxix. 29.
K 215, &C.
xxxii. 39.
508
II. Chro. xxiii. 18.
225
xxxiv. 18 —
-20. z 141
Ezra i. 4.
. 278
1. 35-38.
129
ii. 63.
262
Ezek. i. 18 — 20.
561
ii. 55. _
221
xxi. 7.
255
Nehem. viii. i — 12
278 and H
Dan. ii. 7.
366
X. 3.
221
35-
506
Efllier iii. 8.
265
40.
294
Job xxxi. 26, 27,
V 130
41.
422
Pfalms xvi. 10.
B 372
44.
259, 520
xlv. 12.
• 523
v. 30.
273
Ixxiv. 8.
281 and K
iii. 25.
271
XC. 10.
182
vii. 6.
. 288,289
cv. 12, &c.
151
13, 14.
369,517
ex. I.
376, 397
20,21.
454.487
cxviii. 24.
374
24.
486
cxxii. 3.
525
27.
387,516, 523
Cant. ii. i.
17
vui. 5, 7, 2
I. 288, 289
vii. 7.
406
and N
Ifaiahii. 3, 4. 21
9» 39O' 523
ix. 24, 27.
,272 and D,
12, &c.
259
276, 329
17,18.
413
xi. 3, 4.'
286
vii. 2 — 14.
231 and
.. 45-
293
xi. I.
209 and G
xii. 4.
477
6, Sec.
392, 524
II.
. . 498
9.
516
Hofea i.ii.
. 512
xxiv. 23.
• 521
vi. 6.
R 78
XXV. 7.
lb.
xii." 4.
A 19
• ■
Amos
TABLE
T E X T S.
15-
Amos vii. 14,
ix. II.
Haggaiii. 6, 7.
23.
Micah V. 2. .
Zechar. iv. 6, 7.
viii. 4, 5, 12
xii. 10, &:c.
xiv. 6, 7.
20, 2 1.
Mai. iii. i, 2.
iv. 2 — 4.
6.
Matt. ii. 3—6
111.
317
256, 321
277
317
499
509
521
522
A 201, 2 57,3 2'l
283
524
B 317
73
396
326
331
344 and o
342
A 42
B 85
10.
13—15.
16, 17.
iv. I — II.
viii. 20.
xii. 21, 22.
xvi. 28.
xxiv.throughoiit,397to4oo
and K
22.
xxvi. 39, ^
xxvii. 40,
xxviii. 19, 20
Mark vi. 3.
xiy. 33, 34.
Luke 11. I.
/•
24.
xviii. 8.
xxii. 53.
xxiv. 18
John i. II.
14.
iii. 8.
30.
iv. 20.
23.
36.
V.
22,
35>
37-
. 39-
vii. 27.
viii. 56.
xii. 20, 21
xiii. 7.
xm.
ohy-
427
0.345
349 and s
378, 379
341 and M
345 and p
293, 318 & c
340
317
497
349
269
343
117
31
239, 331
391
364
392
A 200
282 and M
Z313
249
268
o 561
60
Rom.
John XV. 12, 14.
xvi. 12, 13.
xvii. I.
xviii. 20, 21.
3'-
xix. 20, &c.
Afts ii. 26 — 30.
iii. 24.
V. 31.
vi. I,
3, &c.
vii. 45.
^'- 3 1) 33-
43-
X"; 1—3-
xiii. 46, 47.
XV. 6, &c.
xvii. 16.
18. .
22, &c.
26, 27.
21.
iv. II.
X. 19, 20.
Xi. 12 — 15.
27.
30—32.
xiv. 9.
xvi. I.
L Cor. i. 21.
iii. 22.
vi. 3.
20.
X. I I.
XV. 10.
25.
33-
TT ^ .51—53-
n. Cor. i. 4.
iii. 10.
iv. 15. . ■
Gal. i:i. 24.
Eph. i. 10.
20 — 22.
Phil. ii. 8, 9.
Colof. i. 15.
26.
ii. 10.
333
. 381
K 334
R348
322
349 and p
215
• 372
203, 213
376
268, & c 269
282
221
514
D 206
394
396
383 & G
392
401
297
125 & R
478
137
187, 248
513 &Y
389
171
373
F 28a
173
Y 193
54i» 542
E323
181, 363
382
57
297
• 538
8
. 163
Y 193
• 153
59
376
• 373
66
381
•] 59
I.lThei;
TABLE OF TEXTS.
I. Thef. iv. 1 6.
F 540 R
ev. xii. I .
235, 387
26.
536
2.
257, 387
II. Thef. ii. 3.
428, 486
3-
406, 423
4-
432 andK, 486
6.
427, 443
7-
429, 486
7-
406
8.
517
9. .
414, 516
9;
487 ands
14.
443
I. Tim. i. 17.
, 17
16.
424
V. 9.
F 382
xiii. I.
423
II. Tim, vi. 6,
7. 402
3-
• 429
Hebrews vii. i-
— 6. Y 139
7-
• 454
ix. 26.
363
9.
73
X. I.
N 177
13, 14. 429
and F, 487
25, 27.
397
and s
31.
M 104
17-
493 and u
xi. 4.
79 and s
XIV. 4, 5.
444
5-
92 and A
16,8.
502, 503
91; and c
XV. 10, &c.
448
13, 14-
V 131
xvi. 12.
496, 503
17—19.
148 and B
H-
504
xii. 21.
174
15.
517
I. Peter i. 3.
374 and c
16.
505
10, II.
205, 206, and D
19,20.
507
12.
319' 357
21.
^'^
iii. iS — 22.
106 and N,
xvii. 4.
49 and T
351
5-
. 387
n. Peter iii. ic
S 12. . 546
6.
452, 486
I. John iii. 2.
0.570
16.
509
iv. 19.
27
18.
486
Jnde 7.
154
12, 13.
487
14, 15.
93 and B, 94
xviii. 24.
452
Revel, i. 10.
378 and D
xix. 7,9.
526
vi, 9, 10.
410
10. 2o6-and d, 248
n— 17.
• 367: 412
II — 18, 19.
505
vii. I.
386
XX. 3.
518, 529
viii. I,
420
4- S^'
> 523» 526
7—13-
. 42 3 and c
5-
368
ix. 3, &c.
439 ^"d Q^
529
15, &c.
440 and R
8.
104, 529
X. 5—7.
506
9.
104
xi. 3, &c.
441 and s
.^3-
537 and E
7, 8.
496
xxi. I.
365, 554
12, 13.
52S
14.
379
x5> 19-
C22
23,
68
AMERICAN PREACHER.
THE Fourth Volume of the American Preacher, lately
publiflied at New-Haven, may be had at the Book-ftore of
Thomas and Andrews, at Bofton — of John Sterry, at Norwich —
of Abel Morfe, at New-Haven — of Samuel Loudon and Robert
Magill, at New -York — of William Young, at Philadelphia, and of
W. P. Young, of Charlefton, South-Carolina, and probably of
other Bookfellers in the United States.
This Volume is fupported by Rev. Dr. Smith, of Pequea,
Pennfylvania — by Rev. Theodore Hinfdale, Windfor, Connec-
ticut — by Samuel Langdon, D. D.* Hampton Falls, Ncw-Hamp-
Ihire — by Rev. Charles Baccus, Lomers ; by Jonathan Edwards,
D. D. New-Haven; by Rev. Achilles Mansfield, Killingworth,
Connecticut — by Rev. Samuel Spring, Newbury-port, Maflachu-
fetts — by Mofes Mather, D. D. Stanford ; by Rev. Nathan Per-
kins, Hartford, Connefticut — and by Rev. Nathan Ker, Gollien,
New -York.
The growing reputation of this work induces the Editors to an-
nounce a fifth Volume. Contributions of Mamifcripts for this
Volume, are ftill received and gratefully acknowledged.
Shortlyimll be fublijiied. No. I. of a JVorh^ entitled^
The millennium,
Or the Thoufnnd Years of Profperity promifed to the Church of
God, in the Old Teftament and in the New; fliortly to commence,
and to be carried on to perfeftion, under the aufpices of him who,
in the vilion, was prefented to St. Jghn. '■'■ And I faiv. andbJiold
a luhite horfe ; and he that fat on him had a boio^ and a croivn ivas given
unto him^ and he "xent forth conquering and to conquer.^''
The defign of this work is to prefent to the Chrifdan world, an-
tient and modern interpretations of the figures, numbers, dates,
and hieroglyphicks, which the infpiration of Hea-cen hath thought
proper to ufe, in order to maintain a prophetic chronology during the
progrefs of the Ark of God, on the Ocean of Time ; — or, in other
words, to point out, by a judicious obfervation, the latitude in
which the Ark now fails; with an ultimate reference to an accu-
rate calculation as to her probable fafety, in pafling thofe dreary re-
gions into which flie may be about to enter, and of tlie prof[)erity
that fliall enfue.
* Author of the lati celebrated Trcatife en the Rtvciation.
( ^ )
As the objeft is of general ufe, and may be entitled to general
fupport, the Editor will gratefully acknowledge any judicious con-
tributions of dilcourfes, or diflertations on the prophecies, efpe-
cially fuch as relate to the events of the latter day ; and the
Aut!iors may expeft to fee them inferted in the courfe of this work.
This firfi number will be an oftavo of 400 pages, printed on an
elegant paper and type, to contain Doftor Bellamy's Difcourfe on
R.EV. XX. I, 2, 3.
" And If aw an angel come dozvnfrom Hsaven having the key of the
hottomlefs pit, and a great chain in his hand. Add he laid hold on the
dragon, that oldferpent ivhich is the Devil and Satan, ajid bound him a
Thousand Years. And cap. him into the botioinlefs pit, andfiut him
up, and fct afeal upon him, that heJJteuld deceive the nations ?io more, till
the thoufand years Jliould be fulfilled.'"
Next to this difcourfe, may be expefted a part, or the whole of
Prefident Edwards's " Humble Attempts to promote explicit agree-
ment and vifible Union of God's people in extraordinary prayer for
the revival of Religion, and the advancemefit oi Christ's King-
dom on Earth, purfuant to fcripture-promifes and prophecies con-
cerning the last time," — founded on Zechariah viii. 20, 21, 22.
" Thus faith the Lord of Hafts, it Jliall yet come to pafs, that there
fiall come people, and the i?Jiabitants of matiy cities ; and the inhabitants
of one city Jliall go unto another, faying. Let us go fpeedily to pray before the
Lord, j-zW/oyi?*?/^ //^e Lord of Hosts. Iivill go alfo. Yea, -many
people and frong nations Jliall come to feek the Lord of Hosts in Je-
rufalem, and to pray before the Lord."
After this, if there be place in the Volume, and no better ma-
terials offer, a Difcourfe preached by the Editor, at New-York, on
the evening of the Lord's Day, April 7, 1793, maybe added,
entitled, " The Downfal of iVfy/'/tv?/ Babylon ; or, A Key to the
political Operations of 1793," — founded on Rev. xviii. 20.
" Rejoice over her, thou heaven, andye holy apojiles and prophets ; for
God hath avenged you on her.^'
