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been infpir'd. It quickly came to be read publickly in the Synagogues by the Jews; great Numbers of whom were fettled in almost all civiliz'd Countries of the World. Thus the Treafuries of divine Knowledge were unlock'd, and fet open to the Gentiles; the Cities of Egypt began to speak the Language of Canaan, and they gave Glory to the Lord God of If. xxiv. Ifrael in the Ifles of the Sea.

The Tranflation of the Septuagint was afterwards in no lefs Efteem among the Christians. It was conftantly us'd by them, and did them great Service in their Controverfies with the Jews. For it having been made by Jews near three hundred Years before the Birth of Jefus Christ, it was a very unexceptionable Evidence for the Christians against the false Gloffes of the Jews, and the Corruptions which they were endeavouring to bring into the facred Text itself. The Errors which are found even in this celebrated Tranflation are a convincing Proof that the Tranflators were under no infallible Direction. Yet it must be acknowledg'd B 4

that

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that the publishing at this Time to the World the divine Oracles, in a Language the most universally understood, was ve ry Providential, and that great and excellent Purposes were ferv'd by it. There was rais'd in the World an Expectation of the promis'd Meffiah, and Men were in fome degree prepar'd for the Reception of Him; and effectual Provifion was made for tranfmitting to the Gentile Nations the Jewish Scriptures, entire and free from any material Alterations or Corruptions.

As the Times of the Meffiah drew nigh, the Prophecies concerning him were more generally and clearly understood, both by the Jews and pious Profelytes, who came over to them from the Gentiles. Then probably came abroad the Verfes which were known by the Name of the Sibylline Oracles, and which are still extant under that Name; together with large Additions of a later Date. · The Matter of them for the most part seems plainly to have been taken from the holy Scriptures. They contain'd, befides Predic

X

Predictions, many principal Doctrines of natural and reveal'd Religion; severe Reprehenfions of the Polytheism, Superstitions and Immoralities of the Heathen, and earnest Exhortations to Repentance and Amendment. What Virgil tranfcrib'd from them into his 4th Eclogue, written before the Time of our Lord's Nativity, fufficiently proves that they were earlier than Christianity, and confequently no Forgery of the Christians; and that they were well known, and in the Hands of those to whom they were addrefs'd. And indeed they made fo remarkable an Impreffion on the Minds of many People, that it was thought proper to prohibit the Reading them under the Pain of Death. And this, faith Juftin Martyr, was brought to pass by the Power of wicked Demons, that they might deter Men from acquiring the Knowledge of good Things, and keep the World in Bondage to themselves. But in this, he tells us, the Devils mifs'd of their Aim; for the Chriftians without Fear both read thefe Books themselves,

and

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X

I.'

and offered them to the Perufal of UnbeSERM. lievers. For there being in these prophetic Books many Predictions relating to the Perfon and Kingdom of the Meffiah, fome of which were rather more explicit and particular than thofe in the holy Scriptures, the Reading them did mightily difpofe Men to embrace Christianity. Wherefore the firft Chriftians fet a very high Value upon them, and on all Occafions appeal'd to their Teftimony. For which reafon fome gave them the Name of Sibyllifts.

THE low and fuffering Condition of the Meffiah while he was upon Earth, very much discourag'd Men from embracing his Doctrine, and making open Profeffion of it. Wherefore during the Time of his publick Miniftry, his Followers were very few. But when he was rifen from the Dead, and afcended up into Heaven, and the Truth of thefe Facts was publickly attefted by those who had been Eye-witneffes of them, and were enabled to confirm their Teftimony by many and unquestionable Miracles; Then

Mens

Mens Prejudices began to vanish; the
Correfpondency of the Events with the
Predictions was clearly feen and confefs'd,
and the Word of God grew mightily and
prevail'd. It could not be long contai-
ned within the narrow Bounds of Judæa.
The Voice of its Preachers quickly went
into all Lands, and their Words unto the
Ends of the World. The Gospel, like
Light, fhone from the Eaft even unto
the Weft, and immediately filled all Pla
ces with its Rays. The Kingdom of
Heaven was at the beginning like a Grain
of Mustard Seed, the leaft of all Seeds;
but it quickly grew and waxed a great
Tree, and fhot forth great Branches, fo
that People of all Nations and Languages
lodg'd themselves under the Shadow of
it. Within the space of one Age it over-
fpread the Face of the Earth.
Countries of the then known World it
was planted, as there is good Reafon to
believe, either by the Hand of an Apostle,
or by fome Companion of the Apostles.

In all

THE Founders of the feveral Sects of Philofophy, neither in their Lives time

nor.

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