A discourse concerning meekness and quietness of spirit to which is added, A sermon…

Secondly, Let us acknowledge the Power of Divine Grace, in keeping up the Christian Religion in the World, notwithstanding the universal Contradiction, and Opposition it hath met with. One would think that a way thus spoken against every where should have been long ere this lost and ruined, and the Christian Name cut off, to be no more in remembrance;¹ which its Adversaries have so industriously endeavoured; if it had been of Men, it had certainly come to naught quickly,² though they had let it alone, but being of God, it was to admiration Victorious over all opposition. A Sect, a Cheat could never have supported it self against so much Contradiction; no Human Power or Policy could have kept it up, nor any thing less than an Almighty Arm. The continuance of the Christian Religion in the world to this day is a standing Miracle for the Conviction of its Adversaries,³ and the Confirmation of the Faith of those that adhere to it. When we consider what a mighty Force was raised by the Powers of Darkness against Christianity when it was in its Infancy, how many they were that spoke against it, learned Men, great Men, Books were written, Laws were made against it; those that spoke for it, how few were they? and how mean and despicable! the foolish things of the World, and the Weak, and yet we see the ⟨p. 31⟩Word of God mightily growing and prevailing. Must we not needs say,⁴ this is the Lord's doing, & it is marvellous in our eyes? The several false Religions of the Heathen with their various Superstitions and Idolatries, though they gave very little Opposition one to another, but agreed together well enough, yet having no foundation in Truth they all withered away, and dwindled to nothing, and after the mighty sway they had born, and all means possible used to support 'em, at length their Day came to fall, their Oracles silenced, their Altars deserted, and the Gods themselves were famished, (Zeph. 2. 11.) and perished from the Earth, according to that Prediction,