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able to that strong figure, would be made, MODERN to eradicate or overwhelm his Church; but that their utmost malice, though long and powerfully exerted, should be ineffectual, because HIS CHURCH should, in the end, rise victorious over every adversary. The age of AUGUSTUS, was the age prepared in the eternal counsels of the divine prescience, for founding the Christian church, and for setting up that "LIGHT of the Gentiles," which was "not to be hid*." Afterwards, it was apparently abandoned to the evil passions of men, and to the malignant artifices of infernal powers; and it was left to struggle, through ages of "igno66 rance, stupidity, and superstition; till "the light of ancient science had very "nearly suffered a total extinction, in "all the European nations." But that abandonment of the church was only apparent; for THE DISPENSATION, which Hume denominates justly, though not

Matth. v. 14.

MODERN with entire consciousness," the FULL

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MORNING of light," and which was ushered into the world by "the REVIVAL "OF LETTERS in the Fifteenth Century," was ordained for the illustration and reintegration of the Christian church; and for the deliverance of "the people of "Christendom," from the bondage of "ignorance, stupidity, and superstition."

No third such period of general illumination can be shown in the universal history of mankind, either before or since the age of Augustus, by which those Two signal instances can be reduced into any revolving course of natural order. And therefore since they are undeniably and inseparably connected with the Foundation and the Restoration of the religion of CHRIST, we may freely leave it to the school of Hume (if any such there is) to endeavour to reconcile them to the mechanical alternations of Nature; being thoroughly persuaded, that the circumstan ces attending them depended wholly upon the intelligent economy of Grace; that is

to say, upon the great, eternal scheme of MODERN the GOSPEL DISPENSATION,

Q. And what is the peculiar character which distinguishes THE FIFTH and LAST COMMON PERIOD of modern history?

A. The FIFTH and LAST PERIOD commences, from the extinction of THE GREEK, or Eastern, head of ROMAN EMPIRE by THE TURKS, and from the first dismemberment of the papal monarchy by the REFORMATION, in A. D. 1453 -1519; and it extends, to the fall of the GERMANIC, or LAST HEAD of ROMAN EMPIRE, and to the subversion of the PAPAL MONARCHY, by THE FRENCH, in 1806-1810. This period is therefore marked,

1. As to its SECULAR history, by the declension of the Imperial dignity of Rome; until the fall of its FOURTH and LAST head of empire, and the oblite ration of THE IMPERIAL ROMAN NAME from EUROPE: which event was accompanied by the rise of a NEW and

HISTORY.

MODERN unheard of IMPERIAL NAME, that of HISTORY. France. And,

2. As to its RELIGIOUS history, by the various fortunes of the Christian Church; until the extinction of the ancient PAPAL MONARCHY, and the usurpation of the city of ROME, or HOLY SEE, by THAT POWER, which just before had extinguished its IMPERIAL DIGNITY.

THIS PERIOD is the most eventful, and to us the most awfully interesting, of any in the series of time past; because it brings down that series to our own PRESENT TIME, and because it turns our view forward, to the events which must And it is not in the nature

next ensue.

of man to be an indifferent speculator of what may succeed to the present mysterious time; or to divest himself of a thoughtful and rational anxiety, concerning "those things which may, and which must, be now coming upon the earth* ” In tracing the series of events which

* Luke, xxi. 26.

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fill up this last momentous period, we MODERN first behold the light of CHRISTIAN RELIGION, revived in the world in all its primitive simplicity, purity, and splendour; and attended by the ministering services, of science, learning, and philosophy. We discern the operation of all those lights in the conduct of the REFORMATION, and in the emancipation of a considerable portion of CHRISTIAN EUROPE from the spiritual bondage of ROME. We see THE EMPIRE and THE PAPACY conspiring, with every effort of secular and spiritual power, to extinguish the newly risen day-spring of LIGHT; but altogether in vain. We behold the great powers of FRANCE and ENGLAND advancing to their maturities of strength and vigour, under a principle of essential rivalship and jealousy, most salutary for the future interests of the world. We see the age of religion and learning succeeded by an age of refinement and licentiousness; which is followed by an age of irreligion and infide