If the word of God be received in any country, the happy effects are wonderful. Idol temples are gradually deserted; gross vices become less common; wars are conducted with more humanity. In those countries where prisoners had been offered in sacrifice to their bloody gods, or eaten as a banquet of victory, or tortured and murdered from mere revenge, if the word of God be received among them, the ferocity of their passions is softened and suppressed, captivity becomes a less bitter cup; prisoners are only sold, or made slaves, or they are exchanged. In a country where the word of God is generally respected, prisoners of war are often released without a ransom, as our own miserable soldiers learn by daily experience. Without making the request, they are sent home to their country and friends. Acts of retaliation against the barbarism of infidel armies, seldom proceed further than the destruction of public property.

The Goths, who formerly carried war and desolation over Europe, were only partially acquainted with the word of God; yet a learned writer declares, that they exhibited more instances of genuine mercy, continence, and generosity, than can be furnished by the whole history of pagan Rome.*

The Romans, instead of sending their prisoners home, subjected their necks to be trampled on by their soldiers; and afterwards sold them at public auction. Frequently they burned them on the funeral piles of their aged warriours, sacrifices to the infernal gods. Well, therefore, might a late celebrated bishop of Londont say of Christianity, "It has insensibly

* Dr. Ireland.

+ Dr. Porteus.

worked itself into the inmost frame and constitution of civil states. It has given a tinge to the complexion of their governments, to the temper and administration of their laws. It has restrained the spirit of the prince, and the madness of the people. It has softened the rigour of despotism, and tamed the insolence of conquest. It has, in some degree, taken away the edge of the sword, and thrown, even over the horrours of war, a veil of mercy. As one proof of this, among many others, consider only the shocking carnage made in the human species by the exposure of infants, and the gladiatorial shows, which sometimes costs Europe twenty or thirty thousand lives in a month." "Here," continues the same author, "here the hard and impenitent heart has been softened, the impetuous passions restrained, the ferocious temper subdued, powerful prejudices conquered, ignorance dispelled, and the obstacles to real happiness removed. Here the Christian, looking round on the glories and blandishments of this world, has been enabled with a noble contempt to despise all. Here death itself, the king of terrours, has lost its sting, and the soul, with a holy magnanimity, has borne up in the agonies of a dying hour, and sweetly sung itself away to everlasting bliss." Another learned writer says, "Kings and peasants, conquerors and philosophers, the wise and the ignorant, the rich and the poor, have been brought to the foot of the cross; yea, millions have been enlightened, improved, reformed, and made happy by its influences."

Thus, my hearers, the word of God, when it comes with power, has an irresistible energy. It tears up

the roots of human depravity; it breaks up the fallow ground of the heart, and produces the flowers and fruits of paradise. Old things have passed away, and all things have become new. The man is no longer "a rebel," "a viper," "a serpent." He is an heir of glory. "The law of the Lord is pure, converting the

soul."

Behold Saul of Tarsus. Like a tyger of the forest, he breathes slaughter and death. He has prepared the prisons; the chains are forged; he is on the road to Damascus, to drag men, women and children to Jerusalem. At mid-day a light blazes around him ; he falls; he hears a voice, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? What injury have I done thee ?" "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" he cries. He is willing to do any thing, to be scourged or imprisoned, or to go about doing good, visiting the sick, and preaching the gospel to the poor.

Like the star, which directed the wise men to Bethlehem, the word of God directs men to heavenly glory. It is "the power of God and the wisdom of God to the salvation of those who believe." It is "a savour of life unto life." With anguish of spirit, the soul exclaims, "What shall I do to be saved?" Like the wounded hart, with the spear of the hunter in its side, the man flies to every means of hope. Sinking into despair, he hears a voice from the word, "Come Look unto me and be ye saved." "Thou shalt be with me in paradise." He knows that his Redeemer lives. He shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. So Abel, and Enoch, and a great multitude, which no man cau

unto me.

number, have been saved by the word of God. It is the word of life, eternal life.

III. The word of God is wonderful, on account of the complete evidence of its divine authority. Whatever may be the excellencies of Mahometanism, or of Paganism, and if we believe some infidels, they are great; still they are essentially wanting in efficacy, to guide or comfort their votaries; because they are not supported by any satisfactory evidence; they are not patronized by any adequate authority; they want the sanction of God. God is not pledged to fulfil their promises, to execute their threatenings, to support their laws. Though in many instances they make high claims to inspiration; yet before the eye of investigation, they vanish like meteors of the night. By what evidence, except his brooding melancholy, which led him to fly to the desert and dwell in a cavern, did Numa satisfy the Romans, that their laws and religion were revealed to him by the goddess Egeria. By what evidence did Capac and Ocollo convince the Peruvians, that they were the children of the Sun, descended from heaven, to be their teachers and guardians? By what evidence did Mahomet prove his converse with Gabriel, his ascent to heaven, and his numerous pretended revelations?

Were the word of God ever so pure in its precepts, ever so noble in its promises, ever so alluring in its virtues, it could have little glory, were it deficient in evidence of its divine authority. Its transcendent doctrines, its celestial prospects, its immortal rewards, might only tantalize men with delusive hopes. Here it may be proper to acknowledge, that some of the

heathen uttered some excellent things, excited some consoling hopes; but they spoke without authority; they could not ensure the hopes which they excited. Like a palace of ice on the bank of the Neva, which at a distance, sparkles like a hill of diamonds; but within is a cold and dismal dwelling; such were the splendid theories of pagan philosophy. Such would be the word of God were not its high authority clear and certain.

But here I must stop. An entire discourse would not be sufficient to exhibit the evidence in support of divine revelation. Had I time, I might illustrate the harmony of the various parts, written in different ages and countries, by persons educated in different habits. and opinions; and subject to different prejudices. Not only the princes and nobles, the poets and the prophets of scripture; but the fishermen and herdsmen, though they have a different style in writing, all give the same just and sublime views of God, of the soul, and the eternal world; they all present the same views of fallen man, of salvation by a Redeemer, and of divine providence. A living coal from the altar of God has touched all their lips, and they all speak in the same strains of heavenly love. Who taught these obscure sons of Abraham to wing their flight, far beyond the confines of time? Who led them on, through the gate of heaven, to draw the curtain, that we might see the throne of God, and hear the harps of angels? Was this the fruit of their superiour application and genius? This would be a greater miracle than any which is supposed. Did they learn these sublime strains in the celebrated seminaries of Egypt, of