so very distinct, so very circumstantial, that it at once supplies Popery with an argument in favour of her concealment of the Scriptures from the people. Shall we give them weapons with which to destroy our boasted supremacy? say the cardinals, the bishops, and the priests of the man of sin. If we throw down our idol, if we expose his defects to the bright pages of Scripture, if we set him within the full blaze of Divine truth, what shall become of us? But to go on, this same Apostle predicts, in another place, that "in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron: forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth *." Can any one deny that this prediction has found its ach complishment in this same church, whose governor claims to himself every privilege of the Godhead? In the Revelation of St. John, which book is altogether prophetical, the Apostle predicts the fall of Rome, under the name of Babylon. Here it is very plain, that not to ancient heathen Rome, but against modern idolatrous Rome is the prophecy of the Apostle directed. 1 Tim. iv. 1-3. The leading predictions then, which are to be found in the New Testament, are, the ruin of the Jewish nation, the calling of the Gentiles, and the final restoration of Israel. The empire of Rome, under the man of sin, its power over the minds of men for a time, and the final and total destruction of that kingdom, are all three distinctly set forth under the typical name of Babylon. The end of the world, and the final judgment, are also expressly and particularly declared in the New Testament. Great and wonderful are the whole of these predictions: they are prophecies, which must indeed deeply interest every true member of the church of Christ. However this be, it is not their interesting nature which leads us to bring them forward here. It is not so much to consider them as regards the events themselves, as it is from their force to deduce another reason for the Divine truth of holy writ. We have admitted in the first part of this work, that one prediction fulfilled, carries with it a weight of evidence for the truth of the whole of Scripture, which effectually and successfully overbalances all opposition. No one will pretend to deny the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman arms. In this then, without proceeding one step further, we find a seal set on the Divine inspiration of the whole Gospel. We might go on with the same argument as re gards St. Paul's predictions respecting the Romish church; but we will leave our subject here. From what we have said, the reader cannot fail to draw strong conclusions in favour of holy writ. In our next chapter, we will proceed to establish the Gospel by its memorials or monuments. CHAPTER IX. THE MEMORIALS OR MONUMENTS WHICH THE GOSPEL AFFORDS US, A FURTHER CONFIRMA- THE Gospel, which was to be announced to all nations, had for its witnesses, Jews, Greeks, and Romans. As it was to destroy the idolatrous worship of the Pagans, so was it to render the ceremonies of the Jewish religion of no avail. We all see, that its salutary doctrines meet with much opposition, in these our days, from infidelity and irreligion; and it cannot be doubted but that in those ages of darkness and idolatry, of neglect of" the weightier matters of the law," Christianity had to contend with the most inveterate prejudices of the human heart, and the most violent hatred of all ranks of men, both Jew and Gentile; yet none of all this was capable of arresting its progress. It has, we see, from the first opening of the word at Jerusalem, spread itself as a clear and powerful stream, increasing in strength and magnitude as it rolled onwards, and refreshing every land through which it directed its course, occasionally interrupted, it is true, by the corruption of false doctrines, which would gather about it, and which for a space might narrow its boundaries, and obstruct its waves; but never having been materially impeded in its progress, never diverted from its original channel or deprived of its chrystaline brightness. Thus has the silver stream of the Gospel passed on from age to age; and when persecution, false professors, and doctrines of devils have decreased its followers, it has, like the swelling river, which, when held back by embankments, gains additional force, by the very opposition which is offered to its course, rushed forth with increased majesty and power. The blood of the martyrs has been seed, which has brought forth a hundred fold ; and every persecution has in like proportion given an increase of the true church to "the Lord of the vineyard." The everlasting Gospel has rolled majestically on through many centuries, extending the wide channel in which its boundless mercies flow to many a parched and thirsty land; carrying refreshment to the weary, giving the waters of life freely to all those who thirst for the kingdom of God, and fertilizing the sterile and unyielding soil of the human heart, producing, in all who partake of its refreshing influence, "fruits meet for repentance." And so shall it continue to extend its benign effects till the "earth shall be full |