The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…

2. The suddenness and universality of the change effected by the Gospel, is a signal Evidence of the Divine Power that attended it. The Apostle declares the admirable progress of it in all the world, during his time.¹ In a few years with incredible swiftness it past through Judea, Samaria, Syria, Greece, and all the parts of the known habitable World. Tacitus acknowledges that in the eleventh year of Nero, great numbers of Christians were at Rome, at a great distance from the place where the Gospel was first preached. It appears from the Writings of the Primitive Christians, that in the Second Century after the Death of Christ, the Roman Empire was filled with Christian Churches. The World was peopled with a new Generation. Now what Secret Power produced that sudden and universal Change? How came it to pass that the Gospel, contrary to the order of new Things, should be so readily received, and in those places where the most insuperable obstacles opposed it? In Corinth the Seat of Luxury and Voluptuousness; in Ephesus where Idolatry had its Throne; in Rome it self where Honours, Riches, Pleasures were adored. Moses with all his great Miracles never conquered one Nation to the true God. The Pharisees compassed Sea and Land to make a Proselyte: ²But the Gospel in a little time converted many Nations from their Opinions and Manners wherein they had been instructed and educated, to those that were not only different but contrary. The wonder in Isaiah was exceeded, That a Nation was born in a day. For the World was renewed as it were in a moment. Such a quickening universal Efficacy was joined with ⟨p. 456⟩the Preaching of the Gospel, that the Power of God was •ver more visibly manifested in any work. Therefore the Apostle mentions it as one part of the great Mystery of Godliness,³ that Christ was believed o• in the World. There is nothing but Supernatural, as in the birth, so in the progress of Christianity.

2. The suddainness and universality of the change effected by the Gospel, is a signal Evidence of the Divine Power that attended it. The Apostle declares the admirable progress of it in all the world, during his time.