fact whatever, by those who were eye-witnesses of them, and sealed the truth of their teftimony with their blood; if to these external confirma→ tions you add likewife the internal excellence of Christianity, the goodness of the doctrin itself, fo moral, fo perfect, so divine, and the purity and perfection of its motives and fanctions, above any other system of morality or religion in the world; if you feriously confider and compare all these things together, it is almost impoffible not to feel conviction and to cry out, as Thomas did after handling our Saviour, (John XX. 28.) My Lord and my God! This is only one argument that there must be a divine revemany, lation, if there is any truth in prophecy; and there must be truth in prophecy, as we have shown in several inftances and might show in feveral more, if there is any dependence upon the teftimony of others or upon our own fenfes, upon what we read in books or upon what we fee in the world. out of Men are sometimes apt to think, that if they could but see a miracle wrought in favor of religion, they would readily refign all their scruples, believe without doubt, and obey without referve, The very thing that you defire, have. You have the greatest and most striking of miracles in the series of fcripture-prophecies accomplished ; you plished; accomplished, as we fee, in the present ftate of almost all nations, the Africans, the Egyptians, the Arabians, the Turks, the Jews, the Papifts, the Proteftants, Niniveh, Babylon, Tyre, the seven churches of Afia, Jerufalem, and Rome. And this is not a tranfient miracle, ceafing almost as foon as performed; but is permanent, and protracted thro' the course of many generations. It is not a miracle delivered only upon the report of others, but is fubject to your own infpection and examination. It is not a miracle exhibited only before a certain number of witneffes, but is open to the observation and contemplation of all mankind; and after so many ages is ftill growing, ftill improving to future ages. What ftronger miracle therefore can you require for your conviction? or what will avail, if this be found ineffectual? Alas, if you reject the evidence of prophecy, neither would you be perfuaded though one fhould rife from the dead. What can be plainer? You see or may fee with your own eyes the fcripture-prophecies accomplished: and if the fcripture-prophecies are accomplished, the fcripture must be the word of God; and if the fcripture is the word of God, the Chriftian religion must be true. It is hoped therefore that the fame address may be applied to you, which St. Paul made to king Agrippa, (Acts XXVI. 27, 28.) Believeft thou the prophets? I know that thou believeft: and God difpofe your heart to answer again, Not only almoft,but altogether thou perfuadeft me to be a Chriftian! For your encouragement remember, that (Matt. X. 41.) He who receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet's reward. Wherefore ( 1 Thef. V. 19, &c.) quench not the Spirit; defpife not prophesyings; prove all things, hold fast that which is good. The of our Lord Jefus Christ be with you. grace Amen. A GENERAL INDEX. The Letters denote the Volume, and the Figures the Page. A A BOMINATION of defolation ftanding in the holy Abftinence from meats, a note and character of the apoftafy, Acilius, the Roman conful, routs Antiochus, and expels Aelius Adrian, the Roman emperor, builds Elia instead Agag, his king fhall be higher than Agag, that part of Balaam's Agathocles, diffolute and proud in the exercife of his power, J Alaric and the Goths invade Italy and befiege Rome, III. to to Jerufalem, 37. enters the temple, and the prophecies 59. Alfric in England in the tenth century writes against tran- Amalekites, Balaam's prophecy against them, how ful- Ambrofe, his affirmation about Antichrift, II. 415. Angel, flying in the midst of heaven and preaching the Angels, feven, having the feven laft plagues, III. 268. Antichrift, what mistaken notions the fathers had in this Antiochus Epiphanes, fucceeds his brother Seleucus Philo extravagant |