V. 66

And

PART" and round about unto || Illyricum, I have fully preached the gofpel of Chrift.” the fame apoftle, in the fame epistle, is not afraid to affirm, * that the figurative prophecy in the nineteenth Pfalm, of the furprizing fuccess of the apostles, and of the light with which they should illuminate the whole world, was already accomplished in his time. "Their

"found, fays he, was gone out into all lands, and their words into the ends of the "world." But it was not a feeble and impotent found, nor were they words without virtue or power; for the fame apoftle fays, in his epiftle to the Coloffians, "The word of "the truth of the gofpel is come unto all the "world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth "alfo in you, fince the day ye heard of it, " and knew the grace of God in truth."

Thus, according to the prediction and promife of Chrift, the gospel diffused its influence from Jerufalem through all Judea, afterwards to Samaria, then thro' the remoteft corners of the earth, where it was attended with a fudden and prodigious fuccefs, of which even the writings of the apostles affure us, without there being any occafion to fearch for proofs in the authors of the first and second centuries of the church, who inform us, that in their time, not only the people under the Roman yoke, but even barbarous nations, embraced the faith of Christ, and that their cities and villages were full of chriftians.

ARTICLE

This contained Palestine, Afia Minor, Syria, Thrace, Macedonia, Greece, &c.

*Rom. x. $8. + Pfalm xix. 4.

Coloff. i. 6.

ARTICLE II.

The accomplishment of what was foretold of the blindness of the Jews, as alfo of their punishment and impenitence, tho' the whole feemed improbable.

B

UT let us examine with fome attention,

how exactly the words of Chrift were fulfilled. The progrefs of the gospel was fo great at Jerufalem, that they might well expect the converfion of all the Jews. By the firft fermon of Saint Peter, three thousand fouls were converted. By the fecond he gained five thousand; *" and even a great company of *«and "priefts were obedient to the faith." And the apostle Saint James + reprefented to Saint Paul, how many thoufands of Jews believed, tho' they ftill were zealously attached to the law. It was therefore very likely that the reft would follow their example, and be constrained by the miracles of the apoftles, and by the evidence of the prophecies, to acknowledge Chrift to be the Meffiah and promised deliverer. But Chrift had foretold the contrary, and confequently that which feemed probable never came to pass. He chofe a certain number, and abandoned the reft; those which he reserved to himself were spared and saved by grace; the reft were facrificed to his justice. The falutary fign of the crofs was impreffed

* A&ts vi. 7. + Chap. xx. 21. + Chap. ix. 4,

on

CHAP.

III.

PART on the foreheads of many, according to the V. prophecies of Ezekiel, and the reft were put to the edge of the fword.

As foon as he acquired a new kingdom in á diftant country, he revenged himself on those rebels who were unwilling that he should reign over them: the armies commanded by his lieutenants, came and befieged Jerufalem, deftroyed it by fire, together with the temple, which was its chief glory; and all the privileges of the Jews were transferred to ftrangers; the facred writings, promifes, covenant, the Meffiah, and falvation, with the vine figuratively reprefent-ing the church, were taken away from the vine-dreffers and homicides, and entrusted to grateful minifters.

It was very likely that fuch chastisements would at laft open their eyes, and that they would make a proper ufe of their misfortunes, the cause of which they could be no ftrangers to. But Chrift foretold their impenitence and hardness of heart, by ordering them to be put to death in his prefence, which fignified their obftinacy and his justice.

ARTICLE

ARTICLE III.

The prediction of the faith of the Gentiles fulfilled, tho' very difficult and improbable after the incredulity of the Jews.

I

N fact the Jews openly declared themselves his enemies in all places where the gospel was promulged, and tried their utmost * efforts to oppose the predication of the apostles and the converfion of the Gentiles, for which reafon it became more difficult and less probable. For it was not likely that a people who knew nothing of the fcriptures, nor of the ancient prophecies, who never heard the Meffiah mentioned, fhould believe in him of whom they had no idea; and whom the very nation he was fent to, crucified; or that they fhould think they could underftand the prophecies relating to him, better than the ancient people in whose hands they were depofited. It was not likely they would submit to a king, whom his own fubjects renounced, treating him as an impious ufurper. Nor was it likely that the fcandal of the cross, which one might think would darken the predictions of a glorious and immortal king, and which had rendered him despicable to fo many of the Jews, would not be an obftacle to

the

"Forbidding us to fpeak to the Gentiles, that they might "be faved." I Theff. ii. 16.

CHAP.

III.

PART the belief of fuch, who only judge of things V. by their fenfes, and of royalty by magnificence and grandeur.

But Chrift foretold that the Gentiles would come in crouds to unite themselves to the faith of Abraham. He told the difciples that he was answerable for their docility: and what feemed improbable on both fides; the Jews having rejected, the Gentiles embraced the faith, and gloried in the feeming ignominy of the crofs. They clearly faw the prediction of the ancient prophecies, and inftead of being difcouraged by the incredulity of the Jews, they became more firm in the faith, because they faw that their blindness was foretold.

The accomplishment of the promise made to the apostles of invincible patience and courage, tho' every circumstance feemed to oppofe it.

W

HEN Chrift exhorted his apostles neither to be afraid of torments nor even of death, but boldly to publish what he communicated in fecret, and to place an entire confidence in his power, and in the manner in which he triumphed over the world. All this favoured of improbability; yet on the day of Pentecoft how was all this cleared up by the event? what menaces could fhut the mouths of the apoftles? what torments could

intimi