2. I would take notice what success the gospel had in the world before the time of Constantine, notwithstanding all this opposition. —Though the learning and power of the Roman empire were-so great, and both were employed to the utmost against Christianity to put a stop to it, and to root it out for so long a time, and in so many repeated attempts; yet all was in vain; they could neither root it out, nor put a stop to it. But still, in spite all that they ⟨p. 203⟩could do, the kingdom of Christ wonderfully prevailed, and Satan's Heathen kingdom mouldered and consumed away before it, agreeable to the words of the text, "The moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool." It was very observable, that for the most part the more they persecuted the church, the more it increased; insomuch that it became a common saying. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Herein the church of Christ proved to be like a palm-tree; of which tree it is remarked, that the greater weight is laid upon it, or hung to its branches, the more it grows and flourishes; on which account probably the church is compared to a palm-tree in Cant. vii.7. "This thy stature is like to a palm-tree." Justin Martyr, an eminent father in the Christian church, who lived in the age next after the apostles, in some writings of his, which are yet extant, says, that in his days there was no part of mankind, whether Greeks or barbarians, or by what name soever they were called, even the most rude and unpolished nations, where prayers and thanksgivings were not made to the great creator of the world, through the name of the crucified Jesus. Tertullian, another eminent father in the Christian church, who lived in the beginning of the following age, in some of his writings which are yet extant, sets forth how that in his day the Christian religion had extended itself to the utmost bounds of the then known world, in which he reckons Britain, the country of our forefathers; and thence demonstrates, that the kingdom of Christ was then more extensive than any of the four great monarchies; and moreover says, that though the Christians were as strangers of no long standing, yet they had filled all places of the Roman dominions, their cities, islands, castles, corporations, councils, armies, tribes, the palace, senate, and courts of judicature;
2. I would take notice what success the gospel had in the world before the time of Constantine, notwithstanding all this opposition. —Though the learning and power of the Roman empire wer-so great, and both were employed to the utmost against Christianity to put a stop to it, and to root it out for so long a time, and in so many repeated attempts; yet all was in vain; they could neither root it out, nor put a stop to it. But still, in spite all that they ⟨p. 203⟩could do, the kingdom of Christ wonderfully prevailed, and Satan's Heathen kingdom mouldered and consumed away before it, agreeable to the words of the text, "The moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool." It was very observable, that for the most part the more they persecuted the church, the more it increased; insomuch that it became a common saying. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Herein the church of Christ proved to be like a palm-tree; of which tree it is remarked, that the greater weight is laid upon it, or hung to its branches, the more it grows and flourishes; on which account probably the church is compared to a palm-tree in Cant. vii.7. "This thy stature is like to a palm-tree." Justin Martyr, an eminent father in the Christian church, who lived in the age next after the apostles, in some writings of his, which are yet extant, says, that in his days there was no part of mankind, whether Greeks or barbarians, or by what name soever they were called, even the most rude and unpolished nations, where prayers and thanksgivings were not made to the great creator of the world, through the name of the crucified Jesus. Tertullian, another eminent father in the Christian church, who lived in the beginning of the following age, in some of his writings which are yet extant, sets forth how that in his day the Christian religion had extended itself to the utmost bounds of the then known world, in which he reckons Britain, the country of our forefathers; and thence demonstrates, that the kingdom of Christ was then more extensive than any of the four great monarchies; and moreover says, that though the Christians were as strangers of no long standing, yet they had filled all places of the Roman dominions, their cities, islands, castles, corporations, councils, armies, tribes, the palace, senate, and courts of judicature;
