people, that multitudes of them, from time to time, were constrained to emigrate from their native country; and at the æra of Christ's birth, the descendants of Abraham were to be met with in every part of the known world. In all the provinces of the Roman Empire, in particular, they were to be found in great numbers, either serving in the army, or engaged in the pursuits of commerce, or practising some lucrative art. Of the truth of this we have evidence in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, where we learn that on the day of Pentecost, there were assembled at Jerusalem, Jews, "out of every nation under heaven," who had come up to attend the festival. Their dispersion over all the west, was the consequence of the subjugation of Judea to Rome, and it was an important link in the chain of divine providence; for it placed them, as they express it, "witnesses of the unity of God in all the nations of the world," and this at a time when idolatry and vice overwhelmed all the rest of mankind. Those of them who thus ventured to establish themselves without the confines of Palestine, were every where successful in obtaining that general sort of encouragement and protection from violence, which was to be derived from various regulations, and edicts of the emperors and magistrates in their favour: but the peculiarities of their religion and manners caused them to be held in very general contempt, and not unfrequently exposed them to much vexation and annoyance from the jealousy and indignation of a superstitious populace. Many of them, in consequence of their long residence and intercourse among foreign nations, fell into the error of attempting to accommodate their religious profes

shipping the true God than themselves. Hence came the Samaritan Pentateuch in the old Phoenician character, which confirms that of the Jews. Hence also went a Greek version of the Pentateuch, for the use of Hellenistic Samaritans resident in other countries, and especially for those at Alexandria; and of course the conversion of the Samaritans was an event in providence favourable to the general knowledge and worship of the one true God." Robinson's Ecclesiastical Researches, p. 27. ̧

sion to the principles and institutions of some of the different systems of heathen discipline, of which it would be easy to adduce numerous instances. On the other hand, however, it should not be overlooked, that the Jews were often successful in proselyting to their faith many of those among whom they sojourned, giving them to perceive the superiority of the Mosaic religion to the Gentile superstition, aud were highly instrumental in causing them to forsake the worship of a plurality of gods.

HISTORY

OF THE

CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

Chapter X.

A VIEW OF THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF CHRISTIANITY FROM THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE CLOSE OF THE FIRST CENTURY.

SECTION I.

From the Birth to the Death of Christ.

THE kingdom of the Messiah forms an important article in the writings of the Hebrew prophets. Those holy men who, from time to time, were raised up to exercise their ministry in the Jewish church, had foretold the advent of this illustrious personage, and described, in the most glowing colours, the majesty of his character, the extent and perpetuity of his empire, the blessings of his government, and the happiness which his subjects should enjoy under his mild and gentle reign. Accordingly, the chosen tribes, throughout successive ages, anticipated his appearance with eager expectations.*

It was a custom among the eastern monarchs, when entering upon an expedition, to send harbingers before

*2 Sam. vii. 11-16. Psal. ii. 8. and xxii. 27. and lxxii. passim and lxxxix. 19—36. Isai. ix. 6, 7. and chap. xi. 1--9. chap. lx. Jerem. xxiii. 5, 6. chap. xxxiii. 15. ad finem. Dan. ii. 44. and vii. 14.

them to announce their approach, and prepare for their reception. Isaiah had taught the Jews to expect that such also should be the case with their promised Messiah; that he should be preceded by "the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a high way for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight and the rough places plain; and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it."*

In conformity with this prediction, the sacred historian informs us, that the joyful intelligence of the Messiah's immediate appearance, was announced, in the fifteenth year of the reign of the Roman emperor Tiberius, by the preaching of John the Baptist in the wilderness of Judea.t

The leading object of John's ministry was to proclaim the kingdom of heaven at hand; in virtue of which he called upon all who heard him to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins; whilst the testimony that he bore to the character of his divine Master was the most honourable that can be conceived.‡

The Jewish Sanhedrim hearing of his fame, sent to interrogate him, whether he were the promised Messiah; and if not, to inform them what he professed himself to be. John immediately directed their attention to the prophecy of Isaiah, declaring that he was merely the herald of his Sovereign-"the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of Jehovah."-That there stood among them one whom they knew not, whose character was infinitely more dignified than his own-one who, though he came after him, was preferred before him, and so much his superior that he considered himself not worthy to loose even the latchet of his shoe.§

*Isai. xl. 3.

+ Luke iii. 1.

Matt. iii. 1.

John i. 19-27.