of Chriftianity; the more abundantly it was shed the more plentifully did the harveft grow.

So certain has this appeared, that the most violent infidels, both of early and of later ages, have endeavoured to account for it, and have obferved, that there is a fpirit of obftinacy in man, which inclines him to refift violence, and that severity doth but increase oppofition, be the cause what it will. They fuppofe that perfecution is equally proper to propagate truth and error. This, though in part true, will by no means generally hold. Such an apprehenfion, however, gave occafion to a glorious triumph of divine providence, of an oppofite kind, which I muft fhortly relate to you. One of the Roman emperors, Julian, furnamed the apoftate, perceiving how impoffible it was to fupprefs the gospel by violence, endeavoured to extinguifh it by neglect and fcorn. He left the Chriftians unmolefted for fome time, but gave all manner of encouragement to thofe of oppofite principles, and particularly to the Jews, out of hatred to the Chriftians; and that he might bring public difgrace upon the Galileans, as he affected to ftile them, he encouraged the Jews to rebuild the temple of Jerufalem, and visibly refute the prophecy of Chrift, that it fhould lye under perpetual defolation. But this profane attempt was fo fignally fruftrated, that it served as much as any one circumstance to spread the glory of our Redeemer, and establish the faith of his faints. It is affirmed by fome ancient

authors

authors, particularly by Ammianus Marcellinus, a heathen hiftorian, that fire came out of the earth and confumed the workmen when laying the foundation. But in whatever way it was prevented, it is beyond all controversy, from the concurring teftimony of Heathens and Chriftians, that little or no progress was ever made in it, and that in a fhort time, it was entirely defeated.

It is proper here to obferve, that at the time of the Reformation, when religion began to revive, nothing contributed more to facilitate its reception, and increase its progrefs, than the violence of its perfecutors. Their cruelty, and the patience of the sufferers, naturally difpofed men to examine and weigh the cause to which they adhered with fo much conftancy and refolution. At the fame time alfo, when they were perfecuted in one city they fled to another, and carried the difcoveries of Popish fraud to every part of the world. It was by fome of those who were perfecuted in Germany, that the light of the reformation was brought fo early into Bri

tain.

The power of divine providence appears with the moft diftinguished luftre, when fmall and inconfiderable circumftances, and fometimes, the weather and feafons have defeated the most formidable armaments, and fruftrated the best concerted expeditions. Near two hundred years ago, the monarchy of Spain was in the height of its power and glory, and determined to crush the

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intereft

intereft of the reformation. They fent out a powerful armament against Britain, giving it oftentatiously, and in my opinion profanely, the name of the Invincible Armada. But it pleafed God fo entirely to discomfit it by tempefts, that a fmall part of it returned home, though no British force had been opposed to it at all.

1

We have a remarkable inftance of the influence of small circumstances in providence in the English history. The two moft remarkable perfons in the civil wars, had earnestly defired to withdraw themselves from the contentions of the times, Mr Hampden and Oliver Cromwell. They had actually taken their paffage in a fhip for New-England, when, by an arbitary order of council they were compelled to remain at home. The confequence of this was, that one of them was the foul of the republican oppofition to monarchical ufurpation during the civil wars; and the other, in the course of that conteft, was the greatest instrument in bringing the tyrant to the block.

The only other historical remark I am to make is, that the violent perfecution which many eminent Christians met with in England from their brethren, who called themfelves Proteftants, drove them in great numbers to a distant part of the world, where the light of the gospel and true religion were unknown. Some of the American fettlements, particularly thofe in NewEngland, were chiefly made by them; and as

they

they carried the knowledge of Chrift to the dark places of the earth, fo they continue themselves in as great a degree of purity of faith, and ftrictnefs of practice, or rather a greater, than is to be found in any proteftant church now in the world. Does not the wrath of man in this inftance praise God? Was not the accufer of the brethren, who ftirred up their enemies, thus taken in his own craftinefs, and his kingdom fhaken by the very means which he employed to eftablish it t

II. I proceed now to the second general head, which was to apply the principles illuftrated above to our prefent fituation, by inferences of truth for your inftruction and comfort, and by fuitable exhortations to duty in this important crifis. And,

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In the first place, I would take the opportunity on this occafion, and from this fubject, to prefs every hearer to a fincere concern for his own foul's falvation. There are times when the mind may be expected to be more awake to di

+ Left this fhould be thought a temporifing compliment to the people of New-England, who have been the firft fufferers in the prefent conteft, and have fet fo noble an example of invincible fortitude in withstanding the violence of oppreffion, I think it proper to obferve, that the whole paragraph is copied from a fermon on Palm lxxiv. 22. prepared and preached in Scotland, in the month of Au gust, 1758.

vine truth, and the confcience more open to the arrows of conviction than at others. A feafon of public judgment is of this kind, as appears from what has been already faid. That curiofity and attention at least are raised, in fome degree, is plain from the unusual throng of this affembly. Can you have a clearer view of the finfulness of your nature, than when the rod of the oppreffor is lifted up, and when you fee men putting on the habit of the warrior, and collecting on every hand the weapons of hoftility and inftruments of death? I do not blame your ardour in preparing for the refolute defence of your temporal rights. But confider,.I befeech you, the truly infinite importance of the falvation of your fouls. Is it of much moment whether you and your children fhall be rich or poor, at liberty or in bonds? Is it of much moment whether this beautiful country hall increnfe in fruitfulnofs from year to year, being cultivated by active induftry, and poffeffed by independent freemen, or the fcanty produce of the neglected fields fhall be eaten up by hungry publicans, while the timid owner trembles at the tax-gatherer's approach? And is it of lefs moment my brethren, whether you fhall be the heirs of glory, or the heirs of hell? Is your ftate on earth for a few fleeting years of fo much moment? And is it of lefs moment, what fhall be your ftate through endless ages? Have you afsembled together willingly to hear what fhall be faid on public affairs, and to join in imploring

the