to what infallible Authority delivers to us concerning thofe venerable Dotrines. The Logos, fays he, has this Privilege granted him by his Father, that he fhould ftand the uεdoe@, in the midft between God and his Creatures; that is, an Interceffor for Mortals with the Immortal, a Legate of the Ruler to his Subjects: He is neither begotten as Mortals, nor unbegotten as God. He intercedes with God, that he will not deftroy his Creature; and affures the Creature, that the merciful God will not lay afide the Care of his own Work and Creation. St. Paul, in the firft Chapter of his fublime Epiftle to the Hebrews, afferts, that the Son of God is the Brightness of his Father's Glory, and the exprefs Image of his Perfon; and that by him he firft created, and ever fince preferves and fuftains the Frame of the Universe: Which wonderful Paffage is illuftrated by that excellent Remark of Philo: Abjes iv incer Θεό, δι' ξ σύμπας ο κόσμος ἐδημιεργείτο. F That That a Man cannot attain to the full Knowledge of his Duty, nor be able rightly to discharge it, without fupernatural Affiftance, and the Directions of God's Eternal spirit, is an important Doctrine in the facred Volumes, prefs'd and inculcated almoft in every Page. Pythagoras, Plato, Cicero, and all the approv'd Moralifts in the Pagan World, acknowledge the Soundness and Neceflity of this Doctrine. Xenophon, in the Conclufion of his OEconomics, affirms, that no Man can fuccessfully govern Mankind, unlefs he be a divine Perfon; that is, affifted in the Adminiftration, as well as rais'd to the Honour, by God. Seneca fays, a Mind moderate and excellent is mov'd and influenc'd by celeftial Power. We learn the wonderful Propagation of Chriftianity from the forenam'd Epiftle of Pliny to his Mafter Trajan, from Suetonius, Tacitus, and Lucian. The invincible Courage of the Primitive Chriftians, and their steady Ad Adherence to their Religion, notwithstanding all manner of Torments, and Death in its most formidable Shapes, was the Triumph of their Caufe, and the Aftonishment and Confufion of their Pagan Perfecutors. Pliny is more full upon this Point than any other relating to the Chriftians. The Royal Philofopher takes notice of the Christian Bravery; but thro' Mifrepresentation and Prejudice afcribes it to Obftinacy and Sullennefs of Temper *. Their exceffive Charity and Goodness to their Fellow Chriftians, and to their most fierce Enemies and Perfecutors, is acknowledg'd by Lucian and Julian; and their Example is by the latter of these recommended to the Imitation of the Pagans, in a Letter to the High Prieft of Galatia. Their Intereft with Heaven, and the Efficacy of their Prayers, is evi * M. Ant. Med. lib. xi. cap. 3. + De Morte Peregrini, tom. 2. p. 566, 567. Ed. Amftel. 1687.. dent from the furprising Victory gain'd by them for the Emperor Antonine against the Marcomanni. 'Twas infifted upon by the Chriftian Apologifts with fuch Circumftances of full Affurance, as no Men, who had either regard to their Safety or Honour, would do, if they were not certain they could invincibly prove what they fo confidently affirm'd *. Claudian the Heathen Poet takes notice of this Victory obtain'd not by human Force, but the vifible and peculiar Favour of Heaven. St. Austin, and fome other Chriftian Writers †, have spoken of the miraculous Victory of Theodofius, against the Rebels Eugenius and Arbogaftes, in ftrong and triumphant Expreffions. But what is more to our Purpose, the foremention'd Heathen Port owns the Mira * Eufeb. Ecclef. Hift. 5. cap. 5. 5. Juftin. Martyr. 1. Apol p: 138. 1.700. Tertul. Apol. cap. Sozomen. Ecclef. Hift. 7. cap. 24. cles cles of this Victory in that fine Addrefs to the Emperor : O nimium dilecte Deo, cui fundit ab antris Æolus armatas hyemes, cui militat æther, Et conjurati veniunt ad claffica venti! T CHA P. II. Hofe Excellencies of the Ancients, which I accounted for in the former Chap ter, seem to be fufficient to recommend them to the Efteem and Study of all Lovers of good and polite Learning: And that the young Scholar may ftudy them with fuitable Succefs and Improvement, a few Directions may proper to be observ'd; which I hall lay down in this Chapter. 'Tis in my Opinion a right Method to begin with the best and most apF 3 prov'd be |