Conftantine embracing Christianity.

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lofophers, men of great genius, love our religion, defpifing thofe things wherein before they trufted? that fervants will fuffer torments from their mafters, wives part with their husbands, and children be difinherited by their parents, rather than abandon the Chriftian faith*.

It is well known, that in the reign of Conftantine, who came to the throne about three hundred and twenty years after Chrift, Christianity became the religion of the Roman empire; and fome Hiftorians think it is probable that he declared himself on the fide of the Chriftians, because they were the powerful party. However that might be, according to the declaration of Eufebius, his converfion to Chriftianity was very remarkable; which, though fome writers of Ecclefiaftical History have treated as fable, I fhall nevertheless relate. His father Conftantius, had been very indulgent to the Chriftian religion, which might have a good effect on his fon Conftantine. But that which determined Conftantine to embrace this religion was as follows: The people of Rome being weary of the government of thofe tyrants to whom they had lately been fubject, fent to Conftantine, who was then in the city of York, in England, to come and take the throne. Having left this island, and marching from France into Italy, against Maxentius, on this expedition, which was likely to exalt or ruin him, he was oppreffed with anxiety. Some god he thought needful to protect him: and was principally concerned to what divine power he should recommend himself and his caufe. The God of the Chriftians he was most inclined to respect; but wanted fome fatisfactory proof of his real exiftence and power; and neither understood the means of acquiring this, nor could be content with the atheistic indifference, in which fo many generals and heroes, fince his time, have acquiefced. He had recourse to prayer; and, in that duty, implored, with much vehemence and importunity, direction; and God left him not unanswered. While he was marching with his forces, in the afternoon, the trophy of the crofs apAgainst the Gentiles, L. 1. p. 53.

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peared very luminous in the heavens, higher than the fun, with this infcription, Conquer by this. That this was no delufion or fancy, he was convinced from those that attended him, who beheld the glorious object as well as himself; and he and his foldiers were astonished at the fight. He continued pondering on the event: and on that, or the night following, Chrift appeared to him when afleep, with the fame fign of the cross, and directed him to make use of the fymbol as his military enfign. Conftantine accordingly obeyed, and the crofs was henceforward difplayed in his armies; and, now was attended with victory over Maxentius, who perished before the very gates of Rome, in the river near Milvian bridge; this was in the feventh year of his reign. And he was no fooner mafter of Rome, by this event, than he honoured the cross, by putting a fpear of that form into the hand of the ftatue erected for him there.

At the time when Conftantine faw the crofs, he was totally unacquainted with the nature and defign of Chriftianity; but asked the Chriftian paftors who this God was, and what was the meaning of the fign? who rightly informed him of the proofs and principles of this religion, and of the fignification of the cross which he had beheld. From this time Conftantine believed the truth of Chriftianity; and perfevered in the profeffion of it to his death. In confequence of this change having taken place in the Emperor, it is easy to predict what would immediately follow in the Roman empire, now no longer pagan but Chriftian.

Thus have we feen that the power of the Chriftian religion was fo great, that it confounded the cavils of the Jews, conquered the bigotry of the priests, filenced the oracles of the devil, baffled the philofophy of the Heathen, fubdued a great part of the world, and enlarged its conquests beyond those of the Roman empire. From the age of Conftantine, divine Providence fo ordered it, fays Dr. Jortin, that Chriftianity was the reigning religion in the Roman empire, under Christian Emperors, a fmall interval excepted in the reign of Julian; and this feems to have been neceffary

for its fupport. In procefs of time it was fo much altered and defaced, that, without the protection of the Civil Magiftrate, it might have been in danger, and Paganifm, new-modelled and refined by philofophers, have gained too many advantages over it. Thus things went on from bad to worfe, till the Reformation refcued the Gospel, in fome degree, from the hands into which it had fallen. Such was the ftate of religion for many ages; but Chriftianity, at the very worst, and under the greateft difadvantages, could not lofe her excellence; and undoubtedly produced good effects on thousands and ten thoufands, whofe lives are not recorded in Ecclefiaftical Hiftory; which, like other Hiftory, is for the moft part a regifter of the vices, the follies, and the quarrels of thofe who made a figure and a noife in this world.

Of the Caufes which operated to produce the Speedy and general Spread of the Chriftian Religion.

The things unknown to feeble sense,
Unfeen by Reafon's glimmering ray,
With ftrong, commanding Evidence,
Their Heavenly origin display.

Whence but from Heaven could men unfkill'd in arts,

In different nations born, in different parts,

Weave fuch agreeing truths? Or how, or why
Should all confpire to cheat us with a lie?
Unafk'd their pains, ungrateful their advice,
Starving their gains, and martyrdom their price?

HAVING traced the aftonishing progress, and

wide extenfion of the religion of Chrift, on its first promulgation, we shall proceed to point out fome of the caufes which operated to produce these effects, Investigating caufes, and marking their operations, are attended both with pleasure and profit. In the phyfical world, these afford ample fcope to intellect and literature, and are great luxuries to the mind; but much more in the moral and religious, in which every thing is of far fuperior importance. In religion, as well as in philofophy, it holds good, that the force of any moving body may be known, from the oppofition it overcomes. We have already feen with what hinderance Chriftianity met, from ignorance, prejudice, intereft, learning, authority, power, malice, and ftrong combinations among men; and, notwithstanding thefe, how it prevailed, and finally became general and established.

1. A concatenation of providential circumstances, prepared the way for the propagation thereof.

The Jews, being in fubjection to the Romans, were thereby prevented making that effectual oppofition, which they otherwife would have done. They erro neously expected, that the Meffiah would come in the pompous character of a temporal prince and diftinguifhed conqueror; raise them to a state of indepen:

dence and univerfal dominion; alfo that under him they would amafs immense wealth, and indulge in unbounded pleasure, At his coming, they had an unconquerable love of liberty, but were unable to obtain it. Their factions proved ineffectual ftruggles, and ferved only to make their chains the stronger. The miracles that Chrift wrought, to convince them of his divine miffion, exciting curiofity and furprise, drew multitudes after him, and produced only a political alarm in the breafts of the chief priefts and Pharifees, who, thereupon, called a council, in which they said, What do we? for this man doth many miracles, and if we let him alone, all men will believe on him, and the Romans fhall come, and take away both our place and nation. They meditated his death; but could not execute their wicked intentions, without the interference and penal fanction of the Roman governor. Had the

fovereign power continued in their hands, the matter would have been brought to a speedy iffue; they would have dispatched him and his Apoftles, before they had fulfilled their miniftry.

Though the Jews were in fubjection to the Romans, and prevented from deftroying Chriftianity in its infancy; yet they were not banifhed out of Judea, nor difperfed into other countries; which was fubfervient for the better introducing of the Gofpel into the world. The Gentiles, being aliens to the commonwealth of Ifrael, and ftrangers to the covenant of promife, were not prepared to receive the Meffiah; but the Jews were, to whom the prophecies, rites, ceremonies, and fignificant fymbols had been delivered. And therefore the devout and unprejudiced among them, when they faw his credentials, found upon inquiry that he had appeared at the end of Daniel's feventy prophetical weeks, or 490 years, fprung from the tribe of Judah, and that Bethlehem claimed the honour of his nativity, as Micah had foretold, owned and received him. This opened a way for the establifhing of his Doctrine in Judea, whence it was gradually diffused and propagated in Gentile or Heathen countries.