ciplined.

the sixteenth century, they had obtained vent the Spaniards or Portuguese in the adthe chief direction of the education of youth jacent settlements, from acquiring any danin every Catholic country in Europe. They gerous influence over the people within the had become the confessors of almost all its limits of the province subject to the society, monarchs; a function of no small importance the Jesuits endeavoured to inspire the Inin any reign, but, under a weak prince, su- dians with hatred and contempt of these naperior to that of minister. They were the tions: they cut off all intercourse between spiritual guides of almost every person emi- || their subjects and the Spanish or Portuguese nent for rank or power; they possessed the settlements. When they were obliged to highest degree of confidence and interest admit any person in a public character from with the papal court, as the most zealous the neighbouring governments, they did not and able champions for its authority; they permit him to have any conversation with possessed, at different periods, the direction their subjects; and no Indian was allowed of the most considerable courts in Europe; even to enter the house where these stranthey mingled in all affairs, and took part in gers resided, unless in the presence of a Jeevery intrigue and revolution. But while suit. In order to render any communication they thus advanced in power, they increas-between them as difficult as possible, they ed also in wealth: various expedients were industriously avoided giving the Indians any devised for eluding the obligation of the vow knowledge of the Spanish or of any other of poverty. Besides the sources of wealth European language; but encouraged the difcommon to all the regular clergy, the Jesuits ferent tribes which they had civilized to possessed one which was peculiar to them-acquire a certain dialect of the Indian selves. Under the pretext of promoting the tongue, and laboured to make that the unisuccess of their missions, and of facilitating versal language throughout their dominions. the support of their missionaries, they ob- As all these precautions, without military tained a special licence from the court of force would have been insufficient to have Rome, to trade with the nations which they rendered their empire secure and permalaboured to convert: in consequence of this, nent, they instructed their subjects in the they engaged in an extensive and lucrative European art of war, and formed them commerce, both in the East and West In-into bodies completely armed, and well disdies; they opened warehouses in different parts of Europe, in which they vended their 5. Jesuits, pernicious effects of this order Commodities. Not satisfied with trade alone, in civil society.-Though it must be confesthey imitated the examples of other com- sed that the Jesuits cultivated the study of mercial societies, and aimed at obtaining ancient literature, and contributed much tosettlements. They acquired possession, ac- wards the progress of polite learning; though cordingly, of the large and fertile province they have produced eminent masters in every of Paraguay, which stretches across the branch of science, and can boast of a numSouthern Continent of America, from the ber of ingenious authors; yet, unhappily for bottom of the mountains of Potosi to the con- mankind, their vast influence has been offines of the Spanish and Portuguese settle- ten exerted with the most fatal effects. Such ments on the banks of the river De la Plata. was the tendency of that discipline observHere, indeed, it must be confessed, they ed by the society in forming its members, were of service; they found the inhabitants and such the fundamental maxims in its conin a state little different from that which stitution, that every Jesuit was taught to retakes place among men when they first be-gard the interest of the order as the capital gin to unite together; strangers to the arts; subsisting precariously by hunting or fishing; and hardly acquainted with the first principles of subordination and government. The Jesuits set themselves to instruct and civil- || ize these savages: they taught them to cultivate the ground, build houses, and brought them to live together in villages, &c. They made them taste the sweets of society, and trained them to arts and manufactures Such was their power over them, that a few Jesuits presided over some hundred thousand Indians. But even in this meritorious effort of the Jesuits for the good of mankind, the genius and spirit of their order are discernible; they plainly aimed at establishing in Paraguay an independent empire, subject to the society alone, and which, by the superior excellence of its constitution and police, could scarcely have failed to extend its dominion over all the southern continent of America. With this view, in order to pre

object to which every consideration was to be sacrificed. As the prosperity of the order was intimately connected with the preservation of the papal authority, the Jesuits, influenced by the same principle of attachment to the interest of their society, have been the most zealous patrons of those doctrines which tend to exalt ecclesiastical power on the ruins of civil government. They have attributed to the court of Rome a jurisdiction as extensive and absolute as was claimed by the most presumptuous pontiffs in the dark ages. They have contended for the entire independence of ecclesiastics on the civil magistrates. They have published such tenets concerning the duty of opposing princes who were enemies of the Catholic faith, as countenanced the most atrocious crimes, and tended to dissolve all the ties which connect subjects with their rulers. As the order derived both reputation and authority from the zeal with which

it stood forth in defence of the Romish | Brown, so long ago as the year 1551, and church against the attacks of the reformers, which may be considered almost as proits members, proud of this distinction, have phetic. It is as follows: "but there are a considered it as their peculiar function to new fraternity of late sprung up, who call combat the opinions, and to check the pro- themselves Jesuits, which will deceive many. gress of the Protestants. They have made much after the Scribes and Pharisees' manuse of every art, and have employed every ner. Amongst the Jews they shall strive weapon against them. They have set them to abolish the truth, and shall come very selves in opposition to every gentle or toler- near to do it. For these sorts will turn ating measure in their favour. They have themselves into several forms; with the incessantly stirred up against them all the heathen, a heathenist; with the atheists, an rage of ecclesiastical and civil persecution. atheist; with the Jews, a Jew; with the Whoever recollects the events which have reformers, a reformade, purposely to know happened in Europe during two centuries, your intentions, your minds, your hearts, and will find that the Jesuits may justly be con- your inclinations, and thereby bring you at sidered as responsible for most of the per- last, to be like the fool that said in his heart, nicious effects arising from that corrupt and || there was no God. These shall be spread dangerous casuistry, from those extravagant over the whole world, shall be admitted into tenets concerning ecclesiastical power, and the councils of princes, and they never the from that intolerant spirit which have been wiser; charming of them, yea, making your the disgrace of the church of Rome through-princes reveal their hearts, and the secrets out that period, and which have brought so many calamities upon society.

therein, and yet they not perceive it; which will happen from falling from the law of God, by neglect of fulfilling the law of God, and by winking at their sins; yet, in the end, God, to justify his law, shall suddenly

those who have most succoured them, and made use of them; so that at the end they shall become odious to all nations. They shall be worse than Jews, having no restingplace upon earth; and then shall a Jew have more favour than a Jesuit." This sin

The emperor Charles V. saw it expedient to check their progress in his dominions: they were expelled England by proclamation, 2 James I., in 1604; Venice in 1606; Portugal in 1759; France in 1764; Spain and Sicily in 1767; and totally suppressed and abolished by pope Clement XIV, in 1773. Encyclop. Brit.; Mosheim's Eccles. History. Harleian Mis. vol. v. p. 566; Broughton's Dict.

6. Jesuits, downful in Europe.-Such were the laws, the policy, and the genius of this formidable order; of which, however, a perfect knowledge has only been attaina-cut off this society, even by the hands of ble of late. Europe had observed, for two centuries, the ambition and power of the order: but while it felt many fatal effects of these, it could not fully discern the causes to which they were to be imputed. It was unacquainted with many of the singular regulations in the political constitution or go-gular passage seems to be accomplished. vernment of the Jesuits, which formed the enterprising spirit of intrigue that distinguished its members, and elevated the body itself to such a height of power. It was a fundamental maxim with the Jesuits, from their first institution, not to publish the rules of their order: these they kept concealed as an impenetrable mystery. They never communicated them to strangers, nor even to the greater part of their own members: JESUS CHRIST, the Lord and Saviour they refused to produce them when required by courts of Justice; and by a strange of mankind. He is called Christ (anointed,) solecism in policy, the civil power in differ- because he is anointed, furnished, and sent ent countries authorised, or connived at, by God to execute his mediatorial office; the establishment of an order of men, whose and Jesus (Saviour,) because he came to constitution and laws were concealed with a save his people from their sins. For an acsolicitude which alone was a good reason count of his nativity, offices, death, resurfor having excluded them. During the pro-rection, &c. the reader is referred to those secutions which have been carried on against || them in Portugal and France, the Jesuits have been so inconsiderate as to produce the mysterious volumes of their institute. By the aid of these authentic records, the principles of their government may be delineated, and the sources of their power investigated with a degree of certainty and precision, which, previous to that event, it was impossible to attain.

The pernicious effects of the spirit and constitution of this order, rendered it early obnoxious to some of the principal powers in Europe, and gradually brought on its downfal There is a remarkable passage in a sermon preached at Dublin, by Archbishop

articles in this work. We shall here more particularly consider his divinity, humanity, and character. The divinity of Jesus Christ seems evident, if we consider, 1. The language of the New Testament, and compare it with the state of the Pagan world at the time of its publication. If Jesus Christ were not God, the writers of the New Testament discovered great injudiciousness in the choice of their words, and adopted a very incautious and dangerous style. The whole world, except the small kingdom of Judea, worshipped idols at the time of Jesus Christ's appearance. Jesus Christ; the evangelists, who wrote his history and the apostles, who wrote epistles to various classes of men, proposed to destroy idolatry, and to estab

lish the worship of one only living and true, the Jews by these sacred names and titles God. To effect this purpose, it was abso- intended to convey an idea of his deity, the lutely necessary for these founders of Chris- description is just and the application safe; tianity, to avoid confusion and obscurity of but if they intended to describe a mere man, language, and to express their ideas in a|| they were surely of all men the most precool and cautious style. The least expres-posterous. They chose a method of recomsion that would tend to deify a creature, or mending Jesus to the Jews the most likely countenance idolatry, would have been a to alarm and enrage them. Whatever they source of the greatest error. Hence Paul meant, the Jews understood them in our and Barnabas rent their clothes at the very sense, and took Jesus for a blasphemer, John idea of the multitude's confounding the crea- x. 33.-3. Compare the perfections which ture with the Creator, Acts xiv. The writers are ascribed to Jesus Christ in the Scripof the New Testament knew, that in speak-tures, with those which are ascribed to God. ing of Jesus Christ, extraordinary caution|| Jesus Christ declares, “All things that the was necessary; yet, when we take up the Father hath are mine," John xvi. 15: a very New Testament, we find such expressions dangerous proposition, if he were not God. as these: "The word was God, John i. 1. The writers of Revelation ascribe to him the God was manifest in the flesh, 1 Tim. iii. same perfections which they ascribe to God. 16 God with us, Matt. i. 23. The Jews-Compare Jer. x 10. witli Isa. ix. 6. Exod. crucified the Lord of glory, 1 Cor. ii. 8. xv. 13. with Heb. i. 8. Jer. xxxii. 19. with Jesus Christ is Lord of all, Acts x. 36. Christ Isa. ix. 6. Psa. cii. 24. 27. with Heb. xiii. 8. is over all; God blessed for ever, Rom ix. Jer. xxiii. 24. with Eph. i. 20. 23. 1 Sam. ii. 5."-These are a few of many propositions, 5. with John xiv. 30. If Jesus Christ be which the New Testament writers lay down God, the ascription of the perfections of God relative to Jesus Christ. If the writers into him is proper; if he be not, the apostles tended to affirm the divinity of Jesus Christ, are chargeable with weakness or wickedness, these are words of truth and soberness; if and either would destroy their claim to not, the language is incautious and unwar-inspiration.-4. Consider the works that are rantable; and to address it to men prone to ascribed to Jesus Christ, and compare them idolatry, for the purpose of destroying idola- with the claims of Jehovah. Is creation a try, is a strong presumption against their in-work of God?" By Jesus Christ were all spiration. It is remarkable, also, that the rich- || things created." Col. i. 16. Is preservation est words in the Greek language are made a work of God?" Jesus Christ, upholds all use of to describe Jesus Christ. This lan- things by the word of his power," Hebrews guage, which is very copious, would have i. 3. Is the mission of the prophets a work afforded lower terms to express an inferior of God? Jesus Christ is the Lord God of the nature; but it could have afforded none holy prophets; and it was the Spirit of Christ higher to express the nature of the Supreme which testified to them beforehand, the sufGod. It is worthy of observation, too, that|| ferings of Christ, and the glory that should these writers addressed their writings, not follow, Nehemiah ix. 30. Rev. xxii. 6. 16. to philosophers and scholars, but to the com- 1 Pet. i. 11. Is the salvation of sinners a mon people, and consequently, used words work of God? Christ is the Saviour of all in their plain, popular signífication. The that believe, John iv. 42. Hebrews v. 9. Is common people, it seems, understood the the forgiveness of sin a work of God? The words in our sense of them; for in the Dio- Son of Man hath power to forgive sins, clesian persecution, when the Roman soldiers Matthew ix. 6. The same might be said of burnt a Phrygian city inhabited by Chris- the illumination of the mind; the sanctificatians; men, women, and children, submit- tion of the heart; the resurrection of the ted to their fate, calling upon Christ, THE dead; the judging of the world; the glori GOD OVER ALL-2. Compare the style of fication of the righteous; the eternal punthe New Testament with the state of the ishment of the wicked; all which works, in Jes at the time of its publication. In the one part of Scripture, are ascribed to God; time of Jesus Christ, the Jews were zealous and all which, in another part of Scripture. defenders of the unity of God, and of that are ascribed to Jesus Christ. Now, if idea of his perfections, which the Scriptures Jesus Christ be not God, into what conexcited. Jesus Christ and his apostles pro-tradictions these writers must fall! They essed the highest regard for the Jewish contradict one another; they contradict Scriptures; yet the writers of the New themselves. Either Jesus Christ is God, Testament described Jesus Christ by the or their conduct is unaccountable -5. Convery names and titles by which the writers sider that divine worship which the Scripof the Old Testament had described the tures claim for Jesus Christ. It is a comSupreme God. Compare Exodus iii. 14. with mand of God, "Thou shalt worship the John viii. 58. Isiah xliv. 6. with, Revela- Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou tions i. 11. 17. Deuteronomy x. 17. with Re-serve," Matt. iv. 20 Yet the Scriptures velations xvii. 14. Psalm xxiv. 10. with 1 command "all the angels of God to worCorinthians ii. 8 Hosea i. 7. with Luke ii.ship Christ," Heb. i. 6. Twenty times, in 11. Daniel v 23. with 1 Corinthians xv. 47 the New Testament, grace, mercy, and 1 Chronicles xxix. 11. with Colossians ii. peace are implored of Christ, together with 10. If they who described Jesus Christ to" the Father. Baptism is an act of worship

performed in his name, Matt. xxviii. 19. error, was, that they met on a certain stated Swearing is an act of worship; a solemn day, before it was light, and addressed themappeal in important cases to the omniscient selves in a form of prayer to Christ as to God; and this appeal is made to Christ, some god." Thus Pliny meant to inform the Romans ix. 1. The committing of the soul emperor that Christians worshipped Christ. to God at death is a sacred act of worship: Justin Martyr, who lived about 150 years in the performance of this act, Stephen died, after Christ, asserts, that the Christians wor saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, Acts shipped the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. vii. 59. The whole host of heaven worship Besides his testimony, there are numberless him that sitteth upon the throne, and the passages in the fathers that attest the truth Lamb, for ever and ever, Rev. v. 13, 14 in question; especially in Tertullian, Hyp6. Observe the application of Old Testament politus, Felix, &c. Mahomet who lived in passages which belong to Jehovah, to Jesus the sixth century, considers Christians in in the New Testament, and try whether you the light of infidels and idolaters throughout can acquit the writers of the New Testa- the Koran; and, indeed, had not Christians ment of misrepresentation, on supposition worshipped Christ, he could have had no that Jesus is not God. Saint Paul says, shadow of a pretence to reform their reli"We shall all stand before the judgment gion, and to bring them back to the worseat of Christ." That we shall all be judg- ship of one God. That the far greater part ed, we allow; but how do you prove that of Christians have continued to worship Jesus, Christ shall be our Judge? Because, adds will not be doubted. Now, if Christ be not the apostle, it is written," As I live, saith God, then the Christians have been guilty of the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and idolatry; and if they have been guilty of every tongue shall confess to God," Romans idolatry, then it must appear remarkable xiv. 10, 11. with Isaiah xlv. 20, &c. What that the apostles, who foretold the corrupsort of reasoning is this? How does this ap- tions of Christianity, 2 Tim. iii. should neply to Christ, if Christ be not God! And ver have foreseen nor warned us against how dare a man quote one of the most worshipping Christ. In no part of the guarded passages in the Old Testament for Scripture is there the least intimation of such a purpose? John the Baptist is he who || Christians falling into idolatry in this rewas spoken of by the Prophet Esaias, say- spect. Surely if this had been an error ing, Prepare ye the way, Matthew iii. 1. 3. which was so universally to prevail, those Isaiah saith, Prepare ye the way of THE Scriptures which are able to make us wise LORD; make straight a highway for OUR unto salvation, would have left us warning on GOD, Is. xl. 3, &c. But what has John the so important a topic. Lastly, consider what Baptist to do with all this description, if numberless passages of Scripture have no Jesus Christ be only a messenger of Jehovah, sense or a very absurd one, if Jesus Christ and not Jehovah himself? for Isaiah saith, || be a mere man. See Rom. i. 3. 1 Tim iii. Prepare ye the way of Jehovah. Compare 16. John xiv. 9. xvii. 5. Phil. ii. 6. Ps. also Zech. xii. 10. with John xix. 34, 37. Is. cx. 1, 4. 1 Tim. i. 2. Acts xxii. 12. and vi. with John xii. 39. Is. viii. 13, 14. with 1 ix. 17. Pet. ii. 8. Allow Jesus Christ to be God, But though Jesus Christ be God, yet for and all these applications are proper. If we our sakes, and for our salvation, he took deny it, the New Testament, we must own, upon him human nature: this is therefore is one of the most unaccountable composi- called his humanity. Marcion, Appelles, tions in the world, calculated to make easy Valentinus, and many other heretics, denied things hard to be understood.-7. Examine Christ's humanity, as some have done since. whether events have justified that notion of But that Christ had a true human body, Christianity which the prophets gave their and not a mere human shape, or a body countrymen of it, if Jesus Christ be not that was not real flesh, is very evident God. The calling of the Gentiles from the from the sacred scriptures, Is. vii. 12. Lube worship of idols to the worship of the one xxiv. 39. Heb. ii. 14. Luke i. 42. Phil. ii. living and true God, is one event, which, 7, 8. John i. 14. Besides, he ate, drank, the prophets said, the coming of the Mes- slept, walked, worked, and was weary. stah should bring to pass. If Jesus Crist be He groaned, bled, and died upon the cross. God, the event answers the propcy; if It was necessary that he should thus be not, the event is not come to pass, for Chris-human, in order to fulfil the Divine designs tians in general worship Jesus, which is idol- and prophecies respecting the shedding of atry, if he be not God, Isaiah ii, iii, and iv. his blood for our salvation, which could not Zeph. ii. 11. Zech. xiv. 9. The primitive have been done, had he not possessed a Christians certainly worshipped Him as real body. It is also as evident, that he God. Pliny, who was appointed governor assumed our whole nature, soul as well as of the province of Bythynia by the emperor body. If he had not, he could not have Trajan, in the year 103, examined and pun- || been capable of that sore amazement and ished several Christians for their non-con- sorrow unto death, and all those other acts formity to the established religion of the of grieving, feeling, rejoicing, &c. ascribed empire. In a letter to the emperor, giving to him. It was not, however, our sinful an account of his conduct, he declares, "they nature he assumed, but the likeness of it. affirmed the whole of their guilt, or their Rom. viii. 2. for he was without sin,, and

did no iniquity. His human nature must | With all the gentleness of a meek and not be confounded with his divine; for lowly mind, we behold an heroic firmness, though there be an union of natures in which no terrors could restrain. In the Christ, yet there is not a mixture or con- || private scenes of life, and in the public occufusion of them or their properties. His pations of his ministry; whether the object humanity is not changed into his deity, of admiration or ridicule, of love, or of pernor his deity into humanity; but the two secution; whether welcomed with hosannas, natures are distinct in one person. How or insulted with anathemas, we still see him this union exists is above our comprehen- pursuing, with unwearied constancy, the sion; and, indeed, if we cannot explain same end, and preserving the same integhow our own bodies and souls are united, rity of life and manners." White's Sermons, it is not to be supposed we can explain ser. 5. this astonishing mystery of God manifest in the flesh. See MEDIATOR.

We now proceed to the character of Jesus Christ, which, while it affords us the most pleasing subject for meditation, exhibits to us an example of the most perfect and delightful kind.

Considering him as a Moral Teacher, we must be struck with the greatest admirătion. As Dr. Paley observes, "he preferred solid to popular virtues, a character which is commonly despised, to a character universally extolled he placed in our licentious vices, the check in the right place, "Here," as an elegant writer observes, viz. upon the thoughts: he collected human "every grace that can recommend religion, duty into two well devised rules; he repeatand every virtue that can adorn humanity, ed these rules, and laid great stress upon are so blended, as to excite our admiration, them, and thereby fixed the sentiments of and engage our love. In abstaining from his followers: he excluded all regard to licentious pleasures, he was equally free reputation in our devotion and alms, and from ostentatious singularity and churlish by parity of reason, in our other virtues; sullenness. When he complied with the his instructions were delivered in a form established ceremonies of his countrymen, calculated for impression; they were illusthat compliance was not accompanied by trated by parables, the choice and structure any marks of bigotry or superstition: when of which would have been admired in any he opposed their rooted prepossessions, his composition whatever; he was free from opposition was perfectly exempt from the the usual symptoms of enthusiasm, heat, captious petulance of a controversalist, and and vehemence in devotion, austerity in the undistinguished zeal of an innovator. institutions, and a wild particularity in the His courage was active in encountering the description of a future state; he was free dangers to which he was exposed, and pas- also from the depravities of his age and sive under the aggravated calamities which country; without superstition among the the malice of his foes heaped upon him: most superstitious of men, yet not decry ing his fortitude was remote from every appear- positive distinctions or external observances, ance of rashness, and his patience was but soberly recalling them to the principle equally exempt from abject pusillanimity: of their establishment, and to their place in he was firm without obstinacy, and humble the scale of human duties: there was nowithout meanness.-Though possessed of thing of sophistry or trifling, though amidst the most unbounded power, we behold him teachers remarkable for nothing so much living continually in a state of voluntary as frivolous subtilties and quibbling exhumiliation and poverty; we see him daily positions; he was candid and liberal in his exposed to almost every species of want judgment of the rest of mankind, although and distress; afflicted without a comforter, belonging to a people who affected a sepapersecuted without a protector; and wan-rate claim to Divine favour, and, in consedering about, according to his own pathetic Complaint, because he had not where to lay his head. Though regardless of the pleasures, and sometimes destitute of the comforts of life, he never provokes our disgust by the sourness of the misanthrope, or our Contempt by the inactivity of the recluse. His attention to the welfare of mankind was evidenced not only by his salutary injunctions, but by his readiness to embrace every opportunity of relieving their distress, and administering to their wants. In every period and circumstance of his life, we behold dignity and elevation blended with love and pity; something, which, though it awakens our admiration yet attracts our confidence. We see power but it is power which is rather our security than our dread; a power softened with tenderness, and soothing while it awes"

quence of that opinion, prone to uncharitableness, partiality, and restriction; in his religion there was no scheme of building up a hierarchy, or of ministering to the views of human governments; in a word, there was every thing so grand in doctrine, and so delightful in manner, that the people might well exclaim-Surely, never man spake like this man!"

As to his example, bishop Newcome observes," it was of the most perfect piety to God, and of the most extensive benevolence, and the most tender compassion to men. He does not merely exhibit a life of strict justice, but of overflowing benignity. His temperance has not the dark shades of austerity; his meekness does not degenerate into apathy; his humility is signal, amidst a splendour of qualities more than human; his fortitude is eminent and ex