tire Obedience to all the Divine Precepts. So that the Chriftians, even by the Gentile Hiftorians of that Time, are reprefented as moft innocent, devout, and charitable, and lovers of one another.

THO' the Gofpel was at firft preached to the Poor, and they received it (when it was defpifed and perfecuted by the proud Pharifees and Philofophers) yet in a fhort time thefe Men of most acute and inquifitive Minds, and endued with great Learning, upon feeing the Virtue, Piety, and Divine Fortitude, which the Chriftians fhewed in defence of their Religion, were thereby fo convinced of the DIVINITY of it, that they became the zealous Defenders of that Religion which they once defpifed; and at the Peril of their Lives, prefented Apologies to the Roman Emperors, wherein they expofe the Impieties and Abfurdness of all the Pagan Worship, and with great Elegancy defend the Truth and Excellency of the Chriftian Religion, which was fo feverely perfecuted and traduced.

THIS new Doctrine (as it was then called,) prevailed in all the great Cities of the then known World; the Pagan Temples and Sacrifices were deferted; thofe who had practised Magick Arts, openly burnt their Books, and could never be induced, by the feverest Torments, to fhew the leaft Regard to the Pagan Rites.

THO' our Saviour had often foretold his Difciples, that They were to be hated, perfecuted and killed; and they fully knew this was to be their fate; yet they perfifted to preach the Gospel, not only in all the Provinces of the Roman Empire, but to the most barbarous part

of

of Mankind; and were so far from being deterred by the cruel Torments inflicted upon them, that they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to fuffer for the fake of their Lord and Redeemer. This heroick Spirit was not confined to the Apostles, but Millions of both Sexes, both in their tender Youth, and Old Age, crowded to the Tribunals, to profess themselves Christians, and thereby to obtain the glorious Crown of Martyrdom; enduring the most acute Torments that Men or Devils could invent, with an invincible Patience.

BUT I forbear to enlarge upon this, referring the Reader to the elegant Description thereof by the noble Hiftorian, which is inferted at the End of this ESSAY: To which, I will only add what is writ by that elegant Father St. Chryfoftom, who tells the Gentile with whom he was difputing, "That he would "not prove Chrift's DEITY by a Demonstration "from Heaven, by his Creation of the World, "his great and ftupendous Miracles, his raifing "the Dead, Curing the Blind, Expelling De"vils; nor from the mighty Promises of a "Future State, and the Refurrection of the "Dead (which an Infidel might not only quef"tion, but deny) but from what was fuffici

ently evident and obvious to the meanest "Ideot, his planting and propagating Chriftianity in the World, in fpite of all the cruel "Torments inflicted upon the Profeffors of this Religion.

THE next great Event, is the Siege of Jerufalem, the Deftruction of the Temple, the Diffolution of the Jewish Common-wealth, and their Difperfion over all the World; which came to pafs about forty Years after our Saviour's Afcenfion. All the Predictions of our Saviour relating to the Deftruction of Jerufalem and the Temple, with all the Wars, Earthquakes, and terrible Signs from Heaven that were to precede it, were fully accomplished; as appears by the Jewish and Roman Hifto

rians.

TO which may be added, that the Emperor Julian, out of his Hatred to the Chriftians, attempts the Rebuilding the Temple, and in order thereto, all the old Foundations were dug up.

AS they were profecuting this Work, Balls of Fire often broke out near the Foundations, which burnt many of the Workmen, and render'd the Place inacceffible: This is related by Ammianus, an Heathen Hiftorian, and is acknowledged by the Jewish Writers.

THUS our Saviour's Predictions were literally accomplished,

THAT not one Stone should be left upon another.

THIS unhappy and unbelieving People, are scattered thro' all the Regions of the known World; and tho' the most implacable Enemies of the Christians, yet are they living Evidences of the Truth of the Chriftian Religion, and of the full Completion of the PROPHECIES in the Old Teftament relating to the MESSIAH. These

facred

facred Records they have conferved with the greatest Care and Fidelity, not allowing any Book either of the Law or the Prophets, to be brought into any of the Synagogues, if the leaft Omiffion or Error is made in the Tranfcript.

THEY have now fubfifted above 1600 Years, without King, without Priest, without Temple or Sacrifice, without Image, and without any fettled Property, as was foretold by the Prophet Hofea.

HATERS and Defpifers of all befides their own Nations, and perfecuted and hated inall Nations wherever they came.

THE Prefervation of this People thus difperfed, is not only an Evidence of the Divinity of thofe SACRED ORACLES Commited to their Care, but are alfo themselves an illuftrious Instance of that SUPREAM PROVIDENCE, which prefides and rules over all.

THE Egyptians, Syrians, Greeks, Romans, and all other Nations, are come to an End, by the many Wars and Revolutions that have happened in the World; but the Jews now subfift, diftinct from all other Nations. Wherein what was foretold by Jeremiah is literally come to pafs; I will make an End of all Nations whither I have driven thee, but I will not make a full End of thee. See Jeremiah xlvi.

28.

THE next Thing to be confidered under the Head of future EVENTS, are the Prophecies that relate to the State of the Chriftian Church.

THE

THE Rife of falfe Chrifts and falfe Prophets, and the great Apoftacy that was to be in the Church; with the Defcription of the Antichrift.

ny

THERE is nothing which has proved a greater Scandal, and given the Enemies of Christianity greater Advantage, than the maSects and Parties into which the Chriftians have been, and now are divided; but this Objection is fo far from being any Prejudice to the Certainty of the Chriftian Religion, that it is a great Confirmation of the Truth of it. Our Saviour having exprefly told his Disciples, that Offences must come; and cautions them to beware of false Prophets and Teachers, who fhould outwardly affume the GARB of HARMLESS SHEEP, but inwardly were RAVENING WOLVES. That falfe Chrifts and falfe Prophets fhould arife, by whom many should be feduced; and reprefents the future State of the Church, by the Parable of a Field fowed with pure Wheat, but over-run with Tares fowed by the Devil.

THESE Predictions are explained by the Apoftles in their Epiftles.

ST. PAUL affirms, that HERESIES must arife; that they which are approved may be made MANIFEST. And in his farewel Speech to the Elders of Ephefus, he commands them to take HEED unto themfelves, and to all the FLOCK, over which the HOLY GHOST has made them Overfeers, to FEED the Church of God, which he hath PURCHASED with his own BLOOD: for that after his departing should grievous WOLVES enter in among them, not Sparing