Sermons on Various Important Subjects | Page 5

Gentiles against it, and often with success.
In treating of the means used to propagate the gospel. We may observe
the powers imparted to those who were employed in the work. These
Were not such as human wisdom would have chosen. "Their weapons
were not carnal, though mighty through God." They had none at their
command, prepared to punish those who would not receive them, or the
doctrines which they inculcated--none to retaliate injuries done them.
To abuse they had nothing to oppose, except a patient exhibition of his
temper, who "when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered
threatened not, committing himself to him who judgeth righteously,"
and praying for his murderers on the cross.
False religions have often been propagated with the sword
--particularly that of Mahomet, and the Romish corruptions of
Christianity. These, especially the latter, were urged with every species
of cruelty--a mode of attempting to proselyte, evincive of human folly.
Arguments totally diverse are requisite to enlighten the mind and
produce conviction of a divine mission. With these came the apostles of
the Lamb. They were "endowed with power from on high;" and
forbidden of their Lord to enter on their ministry until it was conferred
upon them. This was accomplished on the day of Pentecost.
They had been previously convinced of Christ's truth. They seemed
indeed to waver when he suffered, but his resurrection, the
opportunities which they had with him after that event, and his
ascension, which they had witnessed, must have removed every doubt.
But this did not quality them for their work. It did not furnish them
with means to convince others, who had not witnessed those things.
But when the Holy Ghost came upon them, on that memorable
occasion, they were furnished. The gift of miracles was then, more
abundantly than before, imparted to them. In some respects, new and
very necessary communications were then made to them---particularly

that of speaking in tongues, which at once carried evidence of their
divine mission, and enabled them to go into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature. This was the order of their Lord, but
devoid of this gift they could not have obeyed it.
This gift, as imparted to them, seems to have carried greater evidence
of their truth, than their barely speaking all languages. Men out of
every nation heard them speak on the day of Pentecost, _every man in
his own tongue_! Therefore were they amazed, and convinced that the
apostles were sent of God and that the gospel was of heavenly
derivation.
Those heralds of gospel grace were also inspired with courage to speak
boldly in the name and cause of Christ, nothing terrified by their
enemies; and "when brought before kings and rulers for his sake, a
mouth and wisdom were given them, which all their adversaries were
unable to gainsay or resist."
Such were the means used of God to propagate the gospel? such the
agents whom he employed and such their qualifications.
We are next to consider the opposition which was made to its
propagation.
Various circumstances combined the worlds against it. So far as
Christianity prevailed, every other religion must fall. No other could
stand in connexion with it. The Jewish was not to be overthrown; but
such changes were to take place in its outward form, that those who did
not know it to be typical of a better dispensation, considered it as
included in the general proscription; as doomed to destruction if
Christianity prevailed Against Stephen that was a principal charge
--"We have heard him say, that this Jesus, shall change the customs
which Moses hath delivered us."
The different systems of Paganism were not opposed to one another, as
they were to that of the gospel. They admitted a plurality of God
--some superior? others subordinate. They considered them not only as
holding different ranks, but as reigning over different countries and

nations. If one of their systems was true another might be so. But
Christianity admitted only "one God and one Mediator between God
and man, the man Christ Jesus." It declared that all others who had
been called Gods and worshiped as such, were not Gods---that those
who sacrificed to them, sacrificed to demons---and it denounced utter,
eternal ruin against those who did not forsake them and acknowledge
Jehovah. Those peculiarities, apart from the nature of this religion,
which is opposed to the lusts of men which rule in their members,
would, of course, unite the world against it. Those of every other
religion would make a common interest in opposing this, which had
fellow-ship with none of them, but tended to their entire subversion and
utter ruin. And it is a fact, that the world did unite against the religion
of Jesus, and against those