the_o christian_a religion_n increase_v by_o miracle_n a_o sermon_n before_o the_o queen_n at_o whitehall_n october_n 21._o 1694._o by_o francis_n atterbury_n student_n of_o christ-church_n and_o chaplain_n in_o ordinary_a to_o their_o majesty_n publish_a by_o her_o majesty_n special_a command_n london_n print_v for_o thomas_n bennet_n at_o the_o half_a moon_n in_o st._n paul_n churchyard_n 1694._o a_o sermon_n on_o isaiah_n 1x_n 22._o a_o little_a one_o shall_v become_v a_o thousand_o and_o a_o small_a one_o a_o strong_a nation_n i_o the_o lord_n will_v hasten_v it_o in_o his_o time_n the_o evangelic_a prophet_n be_v very_o particular_a throughout_o this_o chapter_n in_o describe_v the_o sudden_a and_o mighty_a increase_n of_o christianity_n its_o triumphant_a progress_n through_o all_o nation_n and_o its_o prevalence_n over_o all_o other_o religion_n in_o the_o world_n and_o this_o wondrous_a enlargement_n of_o it_o he_o take_v occasion_n at_o the_o close_a of_o the_o chapter_n 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he_o shall_v catch_v man_n after_o this_o the_o number_n of_o the_o disciple_n multiply_v in_o jerusalem_n great_o say_v the_o same_o holy_a pen_n great_o even_o in_o proportion_n to_o their_o first_o increase_n indeed_o so_o much_o and_o so_o fast_o that_o even_o the_o act_n of_o the_o apostle_n which_o be_v write_v by_o s._n luke_n the_o companion_n of_o s._n paul_n be_v spend_v chief_o in_o give_v a_o account_n of_o that_o particular_a apostle_n labour_n and_o travel_n and_o of_o those_o of_o they_o only_o which_o he_o undergo_v in_o some_o few_o first_o year_n of_o his_o ministry_n i_o say_v the_o act_n of_o the_o apostle_n do_v however_o contain_v a_o account_n of_o the_o spread_a of_o the_o gospel_n forward_a through_o many_o eastern_a country_n and_o backward_o through_o a_o great_a part_n of_o the_o west_n of_o its_o pierce_a on_o the_o one_o side_n into_o all_o the_o civilise_v and_o some_o of_o the_o barbarous_a province_n of_o asia_n and_o on_o the_o other_o as_o far_o as_o 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that_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o extirpate_v they_o without_o destroy_v the_o far_o great_a part_n of_o their_o subject_n thus_o do_v the_o christian_a faith_n diffuse_v itself_o like_o lightning_n from_o east_n to_o west_n with_o a_o unconceivable_a swiftness_n gain_v as_o it_o go_v along_o mighty_a spoil_n from_o all_o religion_n and_o gather_v vast_a multitude_n of_o every_o country_n under_o its_o banner_n and_o therefore_o well_o do_v the_o founder_n of_o this_o kingdom_n thus_o prophesy_v concern_v it_o unto_o what_o be_v the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n like_a and_o whereunto_o shall_v i_o resemble_v it_o it_o be_v like_o a_o grain_n of_o mustardseed_n which_o a_o man_n take_v and_o throw_v into_o his_o garden_n and_o it_o grow_v and_o wax_v a_o great_a tree_n and_o the_o fowl_n of_o the_o air_n lodge_v in_o the_o branch_n of_o it_o and_o again_o he_o say_v whereunto_o shall_v i_o liken_v the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n it_o be_v like_o leaven_n which_o a_o woman_n take_v and_o hide_v in_o three_o measure_n of_o meal_n until_o the_o whole_a be_v leaven_v but_o because_o the_o matter_n of_o fact_n itself_o that_o there_o be_v such_o a_o sudden_a and_o prodigious_a increase_n of_o convert_v to_o christianity_n be_v so_o well_o agree_v upon_o on_o all_o hand_n as_o to_o need_v no_o set_a proof_n it_o may_v suffice_v to_o have_v give_v this_o short_a account_n of_o it_o i_o go_v on_o now_o in_o the_o second_o place_n to_o prove_v that_o this_o increase_n be_v certain_o miraculous_a and_o owe_v chief_o to_o the_o mighty_a operation_n and_o effectual_a assistance_n of_o the_o holy_a spirit_n of_o god_n and_o that_o for_o this_o plain_a reason_n because_o the_o natural_a and_o visible_a cause_n which_o concur_v to_o the_o production_n of_o this_o great_a effect_n be_v not_o at_o all_o equal_a to_o the_o effect_v produce_v and_o therefore_o there_o must_v needs_o have_v be_v some_o supernatural_a and_o invisible_a cause_n at_o the_o bottom_n of_o it_o the_o appear_v cause_n 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evident_o assure_v we_o that_o the_o preach_v of_o the_o apostle_n be_v in_o the_o demonstration_n of_o the_o spirit_n and_o of_o power_n as_o if_o we_o have_v hear_v they_o speak_v with_o strange_a tongue_n see_v they_o heal_v the_o blind_a and_o lame_a and_o revive_v the_o dead_a which_o truth_n that_o we_o may_v be_v yet_o further_o confirm_v in_o let_v we_o consider_v as_o i_o propose_v in_o the_o three_o place_n what_o shift_n the_o enemy_n of_o the_o gospel_n make_v use_v of_o to_o evade_v the_o force_n of_o this_o argument_n this_o then_o be_v the_o utmost_a that_o any_o of_o they_o pretend_v to_o say_v it_o be_v true_a they_o will_v own_v christianity_n multiply_v very_o fast_o and_o this_o increase_n of_o it_o be_v in_o some_o sense_n miraculous_a that_o be_v it_o be_v wonderful_a as_o every_o unusual_a thing_n be_v to_o those_o who_o do_v not_o know_v or_o consider_v the_o cause_n of_o it_o but_o to_o a_o man_n they_o say_v that_o will_v dare_v to_o go_v out_o of_o the_o 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will_v for_o the_o profession_n of_o which_o man_n be_v us'dill_n then_o the_o purity_n of_o the_o christian_a moral_n be_v a_o mighty_a argument_n to_o bring_v in_o the_o man_n of_o probity_n and_o virtue_n into_o the_o interest_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o so_o also_o be_v the_o analogy_n of_o some_o of_o its_o mystical_a truth_n to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o plato_n then_o in_o great_a esteem_n and_o vogue_n a_o very_a good_a bait_n to_o the_o man_n of_o philosophy_n and_o learning_n the_o distribution_n of_o good_n which_o the_o first_o christian_n make_v and_o their_o live_n together_o in_o common_a be_v a_o good_a reason_n for_o many_o man_n embrace_v that_o truth_n which_o they_o be_v sure_a will_v maintain_v they_o the_o casual_a cessation_n of_o oracle_n be_v immediate_o turn_v to_o the_o advantage_n of_o the_o christian_a religiou_n as_o if_o that_o have_v procure_v it_o and_o the_o destruction_n of_o the_o jewish_a state_n contribute_v great_o to_o the_o increase_n of_o the_o christian_a number_n because_o it_o seem_v to_o have_v be_v foretell_v by_o christ_n and_o therefore_o lucky_o come_v to_o pass_v about_o that_o time_n raise_v a_o high_a opinion_n in_o man_n of_o his_o person_n and_o doctrine_n and_o make_v they_o willing_a to_o think_v that_o the_o christian_a estabishment_n now_o new_o set_v up_o be_v design_v by_o god_n to_o come_v into_o the_o room_n of_o the_o jewish_a one_o which_o then_o happen_v to_o be_v pull_v down_o and_o thus_o say_v they_o several_a extraordinary_n and_o accidental_a advantage_n conspire_v to_o advance_v the_o growth_n of_o christianity_n it_o grow_v indeed_o mighty_o and_o prevail_v as_o a_o little_a river_n will_v swell_v high_a and_o spread_v itself_o wide_a and_o run_v far_o if_o a_o great_a many_o other_o stream_n shall_v at_o once_o happen_v to_o empty_v themselves_o into_o it_o and_o these_o second_o cause_n they_o think_v have_v of_o themselves_o force_n enough_o without_o our_o have_a recourse_n to_o a_o first_o to_o solve_v the_o appearance_n but_o now_o in_o opposition_n to_o this_o that_o these_o cause_n assign_v be_v utter_o insufficient_a to_o produce_v the_o event_n for_o which_o they_o be_v assign_v a_o short_a review_n of_o they_o i_o think_v and_o the_o time_n will_v allow_v of_o but_o a_o short_a one_o will_v easy_o satisfy_v we_o the_o blood_n of_o the_o martyr_n be_v indeed_o according_a to_o that_o well_o know_a saying_n the_o seed_n of_o the_o church_n but_o how_o not_o sure_o by_o allure_a man_n to_o the_o profession_n of_o christianity_n at_o the_o time_n when_o those_o martyr_n suffer_v for_o certain_o nothing_o be_v more_o apt_a to_o frighten_v and_o discourage_v man_n from_o profess_v the_o gospel_n then_o to_o find_v they_o shall_v be_v persecute_v for_o it_o but_o the_o meaning_n of_o that_o say_n be_v that_o the_o suffering_n and_o torment_n which_o the_o first_o christian_n undergo_v so_o willing_o and_o so_o brave_o be_v a_o strong_a evidence_n of_o the_o truth_n of_o that_o doctrine_n which_o can_v inspire_v its_o follower_n with_o so_o much_o courage_n constancy_n and_o resolution_n and_o dispose_v man_n mighty_o to_o embrace_v the_o religion_n of_o christ_n afterward_o in_o better_a and_o more_o quiet_a time_n but_o before_o this_o motive_n can_v have_v any_o great_a force_n and_o influence_n the_o gospel_n have_v already_o spread_v and_o settle_a itself_o every_o where_o and_o therefore_o nothing_o can_v well_o be_v account_v for_o on_o this_o head_n but_o the_o accession_n that_o be_v make_v to_o christianity_n after_o it_o be_v sufficient_o establish_v and_o this_o have_v confess_o nothing_o extraordinary_a in_o it_o and_o be_v not_o the_o thing_n which_o we_o be_v at_o present_a inquire_v after_o the_o same_o answer_n serve_v to_o that_o other_o pretend_a account_n of_o this_o increase_n from_o the_o destruction_n of_o the_o jewish_a state_n it_o do_v indeed_o add_v to_o the_o number_n of_o christian_a convert_v when_o it_o happen_v but_o 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the_o yoke_n of_o it_o for_o tho'_o most_o man_n have_v a_o esteem_n for_o strict_a rule_n and_o strict_a liver_n yet_o few_o care_n to_o practice_v the_o one_o or_o to_o imitate_v the_o other_o and_o nothing_o i_o think_v can_v be_v contrive_v so_o effectual_a next_o to_o the_o former_a wise_a motive_n from_o the_o suffering_n of_o the_o martyr_n to_o deter_v man_n from_o christianity_n as_o to_o tell_v they_o that_o when_o they_o take_v it_o upon_o they_o they_o must_v renounce_v their_o dear_a appetite_n and_o passion_n and_o deny_v their_o very_a self_n and_o i_o desire_v the_o man_n who_o raise_v these_o objection_n against_o the_o divinity_n of_o the_o gospel_n to_o tell_v we_o fair_o whether_o if_o they_o have_v live_v at_o that_o time_n they_o think_v they_o shall_v have_v come_v in_o upon_o this_o principle_n i_o be_o sure_a they_o will_v not_o because_o it_o be_v this_o principle_n alone_o that_o they_o must_v part_v with_o their_o satisfaction_n and_o pleasure_n if_o they_o do_v that_o keep_v they_o out_o of_o it_o now_o therefore_o neither_o can_v this_o be_v any_o sufficient_a reason_n for_o the_o sudden_a and_o wide_a growth_n of_o christianity_n the_o analogy_n of_o some_o mystical_a truth_n of_o christianity_n to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o plato_n be_v a_o yet_o a_o weak_a plea._n for_o this_o motive_n be_v calculate_v to_o touch_v but_o very_o few_o only_a the_o philosopher_n of_o the_o academic_a school_n and_o with_o those_o it_o can_v have_v no_o great_a weight_n sure_o or_o at_o least_o not_o enough_o to_o over_o balance_n that_o scorn_n and_o contempt_n which_o upon_o other_o account_n they_o have_v of_o the_o christian_a religion_n and_o its_o promulger_n of_o that_o for_o its_o short_a unphilosophical_a way_n of_o propose_v its_o truth_n without_o demonstration_n and_o reason_v and_o of_o those_o for_o their_o ignorance_n and_o the_o meanness_n of_o their_o
education_n and_o according_o we_o find_v the_o event_n be_v for_o we_o have_v no_o absolute_a certainty_n that_o any_o one_o philosopher_n of_o note_n embrace_v the_o christian_a faith_n till_o it_o have_v be_v for_o many_o year_n preach_v and_o disseminated_a and_o have_v take_v deep_a root_n in_o the_o world_n the_o casual_a cessation_n of_o oracle_n as_o it_o be_v call_v about_o the_o time_n of_o promulge_v the_o gospel_n be_v not_o casual_a but_o direct_o cause_v by_o that_o promulgation_n and_o we_o own_o have_v man_n understand_v it_o to_o be_v so_o then_o and_o impute_v this_o cessation_n to_o its_o true_a principle_n it_o will_v have_v be_v very_o effectual_a to_o have_v bring_v in_o the_o heathen_a world_n to_o the_o acknowledgement_n of_o christ._n but_o we_o deny_v that_o they_o do_v at_o all_o understand_v or_o allow_v it_o to_o be_v so_o and_o for_o a_o plain_a proof_n of_o this_o we_o refer_v ourselves_o to_o that_o discourse_n in_o plutarch_n about_o the_o cessation_n 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thing_n well_o then_o the_o christian_a religion_n from_o small_a and_o weak_a beginning_n spread_v itself_o far_o and_o wide_a after_o a_o sudden_a and_o strange_a manner_n and_o this_o it_o do_v against_o all_o probability_n and_o contrary_a to_o all_o the_o rule_n of_o success_n that_o all_o other_o rise_v opinion_n have_v ever_o set_v up_o with_o it_o have_v no_o one_o of_o those_o great_a advantage_n some_o of_o which_o recommend_v every_o new_a sect_n that_o stand_v and_o prevail_v and_o as_o for_o all_o other_o lesser_a help_n and_o assistance_n towards_o its_o increase_n which_o the_o wit_n of_o man_n can_v assign_v they_o be_v apparent_o too_o weak_a to_o sustain_v the_o weight_n that_o be_v lay_v on_o they_o it_o remain_v therefore_o that_o this_o wondrous_a effect_n spring_v undoubted_o from_o the_o immediate_a influence_n of_o the_o first_o cause_n actuate_a after_o a_o extraordinary_a manner_n the_o industry_n and_o blessing_n the_o endeavour_n of_o the_o apostle_n stir_v up_o the_o mind_n of_o man_n to_o attend_v to_o and_o dispose_v their_o heart_n to_o embrace_v the_o truth_n of_o the_o gospel_n in_o a_o word_n accompany_v all_o they_o say_v and_o do_v with_o mighty_a sign_n and_o wonder_n with_o the_o demonstration_n of_o the_o spirit_n and_o of_o power_n finis_fw-la advertisement_n print_a for_o tho._n bennet_n a_o sermon_n on_o praise_n a_o thanksgiving_n before_o the_o queen_n at_o white-hall_n '_o may_v 29._o 1692._o the_o power_n of_o charity_n to_o cover_v sin_n a_o sermon_n before_o the_o governor_n of_o bridewell_n and_o bethlehem_n august_n 16._o 1694._o both_o by_o the_o same_o author_n