"to turn them from the power of Satan unto "God." This is a truth which the wisdom of this world will not receive;" and it is assaulted by a false philosophy continually. But, like a rock assailed by the restless waves, it will remain for ever IMMOVEABLE. For what we call a revelation from heaven, is properly a revelation of this, That all men are by nature "in darkness, and under the power of Satan ;" and that Christ hath come "to turn them from "darkness to light, and from the power of "Satan unto God,"

The second part of our Saviour's Charge declares the EFFECTS of preaching the Gospel, namely, That the Gentiles should receive "forgiveness of sins by faith in Christ," and that "their eyes should be OPENED." These are the effects in this world.

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The third part declares the consequence in the world to come; that they should receive a glorious INHERITANCE among them which are sanctified;" that is, among them which "are made MEET by the Holy Ghost" to become partakers "of the inheritance of the "saints in light." Col. i. 12.

These were the doctrines of Light" which "were now made manifest, and, by the com"mandment of the everlasting God, were to "be made known to all nations."-And our

Saviour said unto his Disciples, "Go ye

into

"all the world, and preach the Gospel unto "every creature." They accordingly went forth. Though unlearned men, they went forth with confidence, to CHANGE THE RELIGION OF THE WORLD. The darkness of paganism receded before them; and in process of time there was a general illumination.

THE

In the course of three hundred years, c "EVERLASTING GOSPEL" was published generally throughout the habitable world: and a great company were gathered out of many nations, who became partakers of “ the INHERI"TANCE among them which are sanctified." But, during that period " the children of light" had to maintain a fiery conflict with the powers of darkness. For a new thing appeared upon the earth. The pagan religions, though they differed from each other in form, yet agreeing in principle, had existed in amity together; because they were of the same kind, and members of the same family. "The strong man,

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and his goods were

But they no sooner

armed, kept his palace, "in peace." Luke xi. 21. beheld the religion FROM HEAVEN, than they all united against it, and persecuted it. They hated its purity, its humility, its spiritual worship, its renunciation of self-glory, and its contemplation of eternal life. "The light shined "in darkness, and the darkness comprehended "it not." John i. 5. The heathen govern

ments devoted multitudes of their fellow-subjects to death, not for crimes which they had done, but "for righteousness sake;" wondering themselves at their own new and strange work, of which there had been no example in the records of nations. And these multitudes met death with cheerful hope; because they knew that there would be "a resurrection "from the dead." At length the great conflict was ended, and the Christian faith obtained the dominion,

But, as Adam, the parent of the human race, fell from his high estate by withdrawing from communion with God; so his descendants follow his sin, in perverting the truth, and renouncing the gift of heaven. As the chosen race who had communion with God upon earth at Sinai, turned away afterwards and sought salvation by other gods: so that peculiar people, yet more highly favoured, who had "com"munion with the Father, Son, and Holy "Ghost," turned away" from him who spake "unto them from heaven." Heb. xii. 25. No sooner had the religion of Christ become the religion of the world, and been invested with dignity and power, than it began to be corrupted. Men began "to hold the truth "in unrighteousness;" and "Satan him"self was transformed into an Angel of Light," so as to deceive the nations. They

sunk gradually into the abyss of ignorance and superstition; and "darkness covered the "earth, and gross darkness the people." What added to the horror of this darkness, the Bible itself, the fountain of Light, was taken away; and, for some ages, the Revelation of God, which had been given by the hand of a Mediator, and by the ministry of Patriarchs, Prophets, and Apostles, was hid from the world. Christianity hath two principal enemies to contend with, SUPERSTITION and INFIDELITY. It was Superstition which first shut the Bible. The age of Infidelity had not yet come.

In that dark period of which we speak, even the chief Seats of learning became fountains of error to the world. From those very Seats it was maintained, That Christianity was little more than a moral code, and that the Faith by which we should be saved, consisted princi pally in "a mere historic belief." The doctrine asserted, amounted in substance to this, that a man might almost, if not entirely, qualify and entitle himself by certain good actions to receive the grace of God; and that thus he might purchase heaven by his own merit. So thick a mantle of darkness had covered the minds of men!

At length there appeared a dawn of light. BRADWARDINE of Oxford combated these errors of doctrine with great energy and eloquence. He was Archbishop of Canterbury, and the

most profound scholar of his age. And as he was first in the Church in learning and in station, so he was almost sole in his opinions. But he was "full of faith ;" and singly attempted, as he expressed it, "to defend so 66 GREAT A CAUSE."

#66 Behold," said Archbishop BRADWARDINE," I speak "it with grief; as formerly four hundred and fifty prophets were united against one prophet of the Lord; so at this "day how many, O God, contend for Free-Will (human "sufficiency and merit) against thy gratuitous Grace! How

many indeed in our times DESPISE thy saving Grace; or "if they use the term Grace, how do they boast that they "DESERVE it by the strength of their Free-Will. Almost "the whole world is gone after PELAGIUS into error. Arise, "O Lord, judge thine own cause; sustain him who under"takes to defend thy truth. Protect, strengthen, and com"fort me for thou knowest that, no where relying on my own strength, I attempt to maintain so GREAT A CAUSE." Bradwardini Opera, Prefat.

The Theologians, whom Bradwardine opposed, correspond nearly with the great PELAGIAN body of the present day This body assumes not the ancient name, but exists under different names, and is composed of different denominations. But they all agree in one distinguishing character, "That "they despise the saving grace of God." They generally profess, what they call, RATIONAL Christianity; by which they mean that their religion is merely rational, and that it hath nothing spiritual in it. They acknowledge no influence from above, nor any operation of divine grace. In this sense, it is true that they profess a rational religion but on the same principle, it might be easy to prove that the religions of the heathen world are ALL RATIONAL religions. It is surely high time for Christians to take leave of the Pelagian philosophy.