world and where it has prevailed, it prevailed more entirely than any other religion could; which makes a great abatement in the difproportion that heathenism in general may feem to have, in its numbers, above Chriftianity. And though fome nations, at first view, feem to have quite loft it again, or greatly abused and corrupted it; yet, upon a more strict survey, we discover a great deal of it mixed in their several systems, and hid under different names; which we have reason, to think, will, at length, be found of them more fully; and like feed fown, revive in its own feafon. Nor is it now in fo narrow a compafs as is generally imagined. Though there be many large countries where it is not established, or formally professed; yet there are fome traces, both of this and former revelations, in most parts of the world; as appears from several modern writers and though we often find it blended with impure rites, and grofs fuperftitions, among a barbarous people; yet at the same time we find, that it has had a very confiderable effect, even upon fuch; and will, we truft, in time lead them to a more pure and perfect profefsion of it, when they become ripe for such a manifestation: and as fome corruptions, both in the natural and civil body, generally make way for a more perfect found Rom. x. 18. See the authors below. Vid. Fabricii Lux Evang. toti orbi exoriens, c. 36, &c. or Millar's Hift. Prop. c. 7, 8, &c. + See many of them cited, and more referred to, by Jenkin, Fabricius and Millar. Add Young's Hift. Diff. Vol. II. p. 218, &c. with that remarkable teftimony of Cofmos Indicèpleuftes"in Sharpe's Serm. on the want of Univerfality, p. 55, &c. M foundness, and then are themselves cured: fo may it be in the body spiritual. Thus that thick cloud of Popery, which has been fo long hanging over the western church, and was in part diffipated at the Reformation (which during the fire of perfecution raised up some shining examples of true primitive piety, refining many parts of the Chriftian world from all the dross they had contracted*, and which helped greatly to amend, at least the discipline of that very church, who refused to admit any material alteration in her doctrines ;) may ftill, by its resemblance to the worship of heathens, lead them more easily and infenfibly out of their groffer errors; and be no improper introduction to a more pure religion among them; and when it has ferved that end, its own idolatries be abolished §; and by its judgments alarm, and convince the Jews, (whose blind nefs See Worthington's Effay, p. 152, &c. Turrettin de Christ. Doctr. Fatis, p. 29. Mofhem. Inft. Hift. Eccl. Sæc. xvi. fe&t. 11. See Hake-will's Apology, p. 547. Collier, Eccl. H. Vol. II. p. 138, 139. How much the reformation contributed to improve the church, both in fcience and morals, may be feen in Robertson, Hift. Ch. V. B. xii. p. 449, &c. S Dr. Worthington has fixed the term of antichrift, foretold by Daniel, xii. 7. at 1260 years, according to the ufual computation; viz. a time, 360; times, or twice a time, 720; and half a time, 180: dating its commencement A. D. 618. and confequently its expiration A. D. 1878. p. 208. He adds, St. Paul affures us that that day fhall not come, except there come a falling away firft. The falling away, we see, is come. This impediment is removed in these our days. There is no want of a defection from the faith, to retard his coming. Were our Lord now at the door, as he cannot be far off, there is but too much ground for that queftion, When the Son of man cometh [i. e. according to Dr. W's interpretation, for the deftruction of antichrift] ball he find faith on earth? B. Leat. v. 2. Difc. xvii. p. 214. Comp. Dr. Parry's ingenious Tract on the fame fubject. P. 140, &c. hefs it has hitherto confirmed +;) and fo be productive of a brighter light than ever; make way for a ftill purer, as well as more enlarged state of Christianity, among both Jews and Gentiles (s). But not to dwell on conjectures; this we know affuredly, that every people, nation, and language shall at laft embrace the true religion; and all kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of Chrift (T). Se + See Brett's Narrative of the Jewish Council; Phenix, Vol. I. p. 543. compared with Menaffeb Ben Jfrael's Defence, ib. Vol. II. p. 401. (s) See Edward's Survey, p. 715. or Scott's Chriftian Life, Part ii. Vol. II. c. 7. p. 489. Some great end will moft undoubtedly be ferved by the permiffion of Popery fo long, even after the mystery of its iniquity is feen through by the generality of its own profeffors; and it can therefore be upheld merely on political views; as feems to be in a great measure the cafe at prefent. When its dominion throughout Europe is no lefs vifibly declining as the time draws near to which the fure word of prophecy has fixed its downfal. See the note above. Even during its darkest ages, which afford the very ftrongeft objection to that progress in religion we fuppofe, Christianity was fill spreading wider and wider, in the more diftant parts of the world; and where popish converts now become the feed of Chriftians, who may not improperly be compared to the profelytes of the gate among the Jews; being probably the firft fruits of the Harvet God intends to have among the heathens of thofe parts; and after they are fully converted, may be moft ferviceable to promote the converfion of others. [See Jurieu, Pref. to Accompl. Proph. or Millar, Vol. II. p. 230, 364.] We may affirm that popery there, is ftill better than paganifm; and by its fo great refemblance of the fuperftitions, (particularly in the point of images) it more eafily infinuates itself among fuch people; and may be confidered therefore, in fome refpects, as no very unfit introduction to a more perfect state of religion in future ages; whenever they fhall become capable of it. See Colliber's Impartial Inquiry, p. 138. 2d Edit. with Gage's Survey of the Weft Indies. pagan (T) Pf. ii. 8. xxii. 27. lxxii. 11. lxxxvi. 9. Ifa. ii. 2. ix. 7. xi. 9-11. xl. 5. xlix. 6. lii. 10. lv. 5. lvi. 7. lx. 9-11. lxvi. 18, 22. Ezek xxxvii. 21, &c. xxxix. 23, 29. Dan. ii. 44. vii. 14, 27. Hof. i. 10. iii. 5. Joel iii. 1, &c. Am. ix. 14. Mich. v. 4. Zeph. iii. 9. Zech. ix. 10. xii. 10. xiv. 9. Mal. i. 11. Matt. xxiv. 14. Mark xiii. 10. Luke iii. 6. xxi. 24. Ás xiii. 47. Rom. viii. 19, &c. xi. 25. xiv. 11, &c, 1 Cor. xv. 25. 2 Cor. iii. 16, &c. Rev. xi. 15. xiv. 6. M 2 From Secondly. As to what may be called more particularly the internal propagation of Christianity, or the comprehenfion of the whole gospel scheme; the fame method is carried on, though not in fo visible a manner, or capable of being diftinguished by fuch remarkable periods. That perfect analogy between religion and the common course of nature, which has been so well displayed by a late writer *, holds no less true, I believe, in this refpect; and that as all arts and fciences, every improvement in natural and civil life, are still drawing nearer to perfection; as we become daily better acquainted with the system of the world, as well as that of the universe; with the nature of the heavens, and earth; with that of our own body, and mind; in fhort, as every branch of knowledge has been all along enlarging, and improving itself; and every fucceffive age, not only enjoys the discoveries of the foregoing, but adds ftill greater, and more valuable ones of its own; fo it is probable, that the knowledge of religion alone is not at a stand; but on the contrary, that as we continually advance in the ftudy of God's works, so we shall come to a proportionably better understanding of his word: as by all these means human reason is ftill growing more perfect; fo by the fame means, divine From fuch texts as thefe Dr. Worthington infers, that the kingdom of Chrift will be an univerfal theocracy, whereof that under the Jews was in fome refpects typical; E. 292, &c. where there fhall be univerfal bolines, 392. and obedience to the gospel precepts in their ftricteft fenfe; 309. and either an univerfal language, or a perfect union in faith and worship, 308. + See Part iii. Bp. Butler. divine revelation will gradually clear up; and Christianity itself draw nearer to its fulness. What is here fuppofed, has been remarkably confirmed in fact fince the Reformation; about which time those two extraordinary discoveries of printing *, and the use of the compass, in Europe, jointly contributed to the difperfion of learning, and enlargment of commerce over the world; and at the fame time, gave a new publication of Chriftianity; and in much greater purity, than it had been in before, for many centuries. Ever fince which time, all three have been continually gaining ground. New light has been given to the prophetic, and other more abftruse parts of scripture, in every fucceffive age, and almost by every writer; as a very able judge affures us +. The grounds of our religion are in general much better understood, more clearly and rationally explained, and vindicated; and from what appears at prefent, we have reason to think, they will be still more and more fot. We may venture to say, that The great effect this had in carrying on the Reformation may be feen in Gerdes Hift. Evang. Sec. xvi. p. 5, &c. The want of it is strongly set forth by the ingenious Dr. Robertson, Hift. Ch. V. n. x. The invention of the art of making paper and of printing are two confiderable events in literary history. It is remarkable that the former preceded the firft dawning of letters, and improvement in knowledge towards the clofe of the 11th century, the latter ushered in the light which spread over Europe at the æra of the Reformation.' ib. p. 236. Comp. id. V. III. p. 449, &c. + Newton on Dan. c.`1. At tandem. fuperiore præfertim feculo et hoc noftro, cum difciplinæ omnes et quæ pertinent ad antiquitatis linguarumque demortuarum intelligentiam, et quæ rerum ipfarum cognitionem tradunt, et quæ veri in quavis arte inveniendi ac exponendi rationem docent, ad multo majorem perfectionem adductæ effent; antiquiffima M 3 illa |