BY Y the poor are not meant thofe merely in indigent circumftances; but fuch as bear indigence with religious refignation. To them the Gospel (for David's remark is purely evangelical) thus fpeaks: "Though, ye patient fufferers, ye appear to be thus forfaken, depend upon it, your gracious Father has you in his eye. He afflicts you no farther than is neceffary. Envy not those whom you fee, in appearance, happier than yourselves. Be refigned, and receive with piety all the dispensations of your heavenly Father, and your time of alleviation will certainly come. That merciful God, whom you ferve, will not fuffer the patient abiding of the meek to perish for - ever." N. B. Some fuch encouragement as this might be detailed from this text, under two or three ufeful heads. XLV. ISAIAH, xi. 9. THE EARTH SHALL BE FULL OF THE KNOW LEDGE OF THE LORD, AS THE WATERS THIS is an ancient prophecy, among many others, denoting the univerfality of the Chrif tian religion; and in the New Testament we have various correfponding paffages, in which the progrefs of Chriftianity, from one end of the earth to the other, is held out. But, fays the objector, we do not fee these prophecies and intimations realized. Great part of the world is now in a heathen state-great part or it receives the koran-and feveral countries of the Eaft have a religion of their own. We answer, that we conceive the prophecies are fulfilled, when all parts of the world shall have had the offer of Christianity; but, by no means, that it shall be upheld among them by a miracle. That is contrary to the whole analogy of nature. God gives increase to the tree, but does not prevent its decay. He gives increase to a man, but does not prevent his growing infirm. Thus religion, when planted in a country, is left to the natural course of things; and if that country grow fupine, and does not cherish the bleffing, it must · take on itself the confequence. We conceive, therefore, that with regard to all those countries which receive the koran, where the Gospel once flourished, the prophecy hath already been fulfilled. Great part of Germany, France, and Italy, may be in the same state of dereliction. They have had the Gospel, and if they should nationally expel it, as in France they seem to have done, it is their own fault: the prophecy has been fulfilled. As to thofe countries which never have received the Gofpel-great part of America, Afia, and Africa, we have no doubt but it will be offered to them all. We fee Christianity has made great ftrides in those countries, even in our own times, and given us a fufficient earnest that prophecy will be fulfilled in every one of them. In |