death and refurrection. These were known to the Jews, and rendered them inexcufeable in neglecting fo great falvation; but they preceded sending the gospel to the gentiles, and the means used to spread it among them. The apoftle had no reference to Christ, or any thing done or fuffered by him, when he fpake of the foolish and weak, and bafe things,ufed of God, to confound thofe which are wife and mighty. He spake only with reference to the inftruments which were chosen to carry the gospel abroad and perfuade the nations of the earth to receive it.

GOD hath all creatures at his command; he hath power to prefs the moft reluctant into his fervice, and to compel them to bear his messages, and execute his orders; as we fee in the cafe of Balaam and Jonah. God can make use of men to this end, either by reconciling them to himself, and attaching them to his intereft, or by overruling their corrupt and vicious defigns to effect his holy purposes, without their confent or knowledge. Most of the prophets were brought into his views, and made defirous to honor him. Many Pagan princes, and others, who knew him not, were yet made inftrumental in doing his pleasure and exe. cuting his defigns. The divine fovereign never wants for agents to accomplish his purposes. He fitteth on the circle of the heavens, and orders the affairs of the univerfe in fuch a manner as to do his pleasure. "None can ftay his hand." Whether the agents which he employs are willing or unwilling, mean fo, or not, is of no importance relative to the event. "His purposes ftand, and

the thoughts of his heart to all generations." The attempts of creatures to reverse his orders, and defeat his decrees, only help to their accomplishment. This was particularly the cafe respecting the measures adopted by the enemies of Chriftianity to prevent its spreading in the world.

THE perfons chofen of God and fent forth to propagate the religion of Christ, were fuch as human wisdom would have judged very unfuitable. Twelve poor, defpifed, illiterate men, were called to be apostles ;-most of them were fishermen. One was a publican; a collector of the Roman tribute, which had been impofed on the Jews as a conquered people. An employment fo odious, that vile persons, regardless of character, would only accept it. Such men we fhould judge exceedingly unfit for minifters of religion, and not likely to fucceed in making converts to it. Yet fuch were those who were appointed of God, to be prime minifters in the Chriftian church! Such the men who were fent forth to change the form and administration of Judaism, and overthrow the fyftems of Paganism, rendered venerable by a general establishment, and the religious reverence of ages. The Jews' religion was from God; who had given abundant evidence of its divine origin. This Chrift came not to deftroy. But its external administration was to be changed; prehenfion of moft of those who

was no less oppofed to the gofpel

and in the approfeffed it, it fcheme, than

Paganism. No others had greater enmity to Christianity than the Jews, or entered into the op

pofition with warmer zeal.

They commonly ftood foremost, and stirred up the Gentiles against it, and often with fuccefs.

IN treating of the means used to propagate the gofpel, we may obferve the powers imparted to those who were employed in the work. These were not fuch as human wifdom would have Their weapons were not carnal, though mighty through God." They had none at their command, prepared to punish those who would not receive them, or the doctrines which they inculcated

chofen. "6

-none to retaliate injuries done them. To abuse they had nothing to oppofe, except a patient ex. hibition of his temper, who " when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered threatened not, committing himself to him who judgeth righteously," and praying for his murderers on the cross.

FALSE religions have often been propagated with the fword-particularly that of Mahomet, and the Romish corruptions of Chriftianity. Thefe, especially the latter, were urged with every species of cruelty-a mode of attempting to profelyte, evincive of human folly. Arguments totally diverfe are requifite to enlighten the mind and praduce conviction of a divine miffion. With these came the apostles of the Lamb. They were "endowed with power from on high ;" and forbidden of their Lord to enter on their miniftry until it was conferred upon them. This was accomplished on the day of Pentecoft.

THEY had been previously convinced of Chrift's truth. They feemed indeed to waver when he fuffered, but his refurrection, the opportunities which they had with him after that event, and his afcenfion, which they had witnessed, must have removed every doubt. But this did not qualify them for their work. It did not furnish them with means to convince others, who had not witneffed those things. But when the Holy Ghost came upon them, on that memorable occafion, they were furnished. The gift of miracles was then, more abundantly than before, imparted to them. In fome refpects, new, and very neceffary communications were then made to them-particularly that of speaking with tongues, which at once carried evidence of their divine miffion, and enabled them to " go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." This was the order of their Lord, but devoid of this gift they could not have obeyed it.

THIS gift, as imparted to them, feems to have carried greater evidence of their truth, than their barely fpeaking all languages. Men out of every

nation heard them speak on the

day of Pentecoft, Therefore were

they amazed, and convinced that the apoftles were fent of God and that the gofpel was of heavenly derivation.

THOSE heralds of gospel grace were also inspired with courage to speak boldly in the name and cause of Christ, nothing terrified by their enemies; and "when brought before kings and rulers for

his fake, a mouth and wifdom were given them, which all their adverfaries were unable to gainsay or refift."

SUCH were the means ufed of God to propagate the gospel-fuch the agents whom he employed and fuch their qualifications.

We are next to confider the oppofition which was made to its propagation.

VARIOUS circumftances combined the world against it. So far as Chriftianity prevailed, every other religion muft fall. No other could ftand in connexion with it. The Jewish was not to be overthrown; but fuch changes were to take place in its outward form, that those who did not know it to be typical of a better difpenfation, confidered it as included in the general proscription; aš doomed to deftruction if Chriftianity prevailed. Against Stephen that was a principal charge—" We have heard him fay, that this Jefus, fhall change the customs which Mofes hath delivered us."

THE different fyftems of Paganifm were not op posed to one another, as they were to that of the gofpel. They admitted a plurality of Godsfome fuperior-others fubordinate. They confided them not only as holding different ranks, but as reigning over different countries and nations. If one of their fyftems was true another might be fo. But Chriftianity admitted only "one God, and one Mediator between God and man, Chrift Jefus." It declared that all others who had been called Gods and worshiped as fuch, were not Gods-that thofe who facrificed to them, facrificed

the man