population of British America, even now, is almost equal to that of the thirteen American colonies at the middle of the last century. Finally, the Polynesian Archipelago under the protection of Great Britain, and that vast island in the Southern sea, which has been styled a "fifth continent," where the British settlements are assuming a new character, together with the Malayan peninsula, complete that zone of maritime sovereignty which embraces the circumference of the globe. And besides all this, the language which, beyond comparison with any other, is now spreading and running through the earth, is the English; that language which is the principal medium of Christian truth and feeling, and the spread of which, almost apart from missionary labor, it has been remarked, insures the spread of the religion of the Bible "If the two expansive principles of colonization and commercial enterprise once diffused the language and religion of Greece completely round every sea known to ancient navigation, it is now much more probable that the same principles of diffusion will carry English institutions and English opinions into every climate." Never was this character of universality so strongly impressed upon any political dominion; and never was political empire so immediately adapted to subserve the universal spread of the reign of Him to whom all the kingdoms of the earth belong, and in whom it is predicted, that the "multitude of isles" shall rejoice. The inference is irresistible, that for no lower purpose this last and best of empires has been built up, and for this it stands. Whatever be the fate of England, she is planting in the desert, and stretching over both hemispheres, a kingdom that cannot be moved. Nor is the existence of this great political facility for the extension of Christianity, the only circumstance in the aspect of the times, in which an analogy may be traced to the state of the world at its first promulgation. At the advent of the Savior, the temple of Janus was shut by the longest peace known to the Roman empire. The general peace of modern Europe has seldom remained so long undisturbed as since the fall of Bonaparte; and even among the warlike hordes of the East, the spirit of conquest seems rusted or slumbering. The sword of Mahomet is rusting in its scabbard. "Mahometan empire is decrepit; Mahometan faith is decrepit; and both are so by confession of the parties." Comparatively speaking, the whole earth is still. And with this stillness is combined a very general expectation, vague and erring though it may be, of great remedial changes, of a season of moral restoration fatal to the waning superstitions and crumbling systems of the old world. This expecta tion, so strikingly analogous to that which preceded the birth of Messiah, is not confined to the Church. A dim reflection of the Christian hope seems to be cherished by the votaries of every creed. Not only does the infatuated Jew still cling to his dream of a Messiah Ben David, but the return of the last Imaum is expected by the Persian; the fifth and last Boudh is awaited by the millions of the Boodhic faith; and the Hindoo superstition points to a future avatar of Vishnoo the Preserver. The Brahmin and the Mussulman alike anticipate the approaching fall of their respective systems; and the obscure tidings of the Christian doctrine of a Redeemer have pene. trated to the inmost recesses of the heathen world. "The earnest expectation of nature awaits the manifestation of the sons of God;" and the Church, as the films of unbelief are falling from her eyes, recalled to her allegiance and her duty, is "looking out" with a more intense eagerness for "that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Thou art the King of glory, blessed Lord! And now, for victories won In human flesh, Thee all the heavens adore, All power in heaven and earth Thou wieldest there. The Lord of hades and of death, The keys of that dark empire Thou dost bear. O'er all things that have breath, Thy rule extends, by hell in vain opposed: Thou openest, none can shut, nor force what Thou hast closed Not yet are all things put beneath Thy feet; Not yet the kingdoms of this world Are Thine; nor yet, consummate his defeat, The Prince of darkness hurled Down into hell's unfathomable void, Nor Death, man's final foe, with Death's dark king, destroyed. But heaven and earth and hell, or with glad zeal Or blind concurrence, work thy will. The day that shall the perfect scheme reveal, And all Thy word fulfil, Le drawing on; and earth is ripening fast As for the sickle. Soon shall sound that signal blast. We know that Thou art coming, mighty Lord! To be the judge of quick and dead; To give thy faithful servants their reward; Lord, in thy merits and thy grace unbounded CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF IMPORTANT EVENTS, BELONGING TO ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA, TO THE PRESENT 11ME. A. D. 4. JESUS CHRIST, the Savior of mankind, is born, four years after the commencement of the vulgar era, in the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Augustus Cæsar. 28. John the Baptist preaches, in Judea, the coming of the Messiah. 30. Jesus Christ baptized by John. 34. Jesus Christ crucified, in the eighteenth year of Tiberius Cæsar. Effusion of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and organization of the first 35. Martyrdom of Stephen-violent persecution of the followers of Christ-rapid spread of the Gospel. 36. Conversion of Paul. 39. Matthew writes his Gospel. 40. Paul returns from Arabia, whither he had retired after his conversion. 43. First Gentile. Church gathered at Antioch. James put to death by Herod. 44. Famine prevails in Judea-Christians there helped by converts in Antioch. 45. First apostolical journey of Paul. 49. Council at Jerusalem. 50. Second journey of Paul. 51. Death of Claudius, and accession of Nero. 53. Third journey of Paul. 61. Paul goes as a prisoner to Rome. 64. First of the ten persecutions under Nero. 67. Martyrdom of Paul and Peter. 70. Accession of Vespasian-Jerusalem destroyed by Titus. 72. Mark writes his Gospel. nd general persecution under Domitian. 98. Third general persecution under Trajan. The apostle John writes his Gospel. A. D. 107. Ignatius put to death by order of Trajan. 140. Justin Martyr writes his first apology for Christians. 150. Canon of Scripture fixed about this time. 161. Fourth persecution under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. 166. Martyrdom of Polycarp-Justin writes his second apology-martyrdom of Justin Martyr. 177. Dreadful persecution of the Christians at Vienne and Lyons in France. 202. Fifth persecution under Septimus Severus. 236. Sixth persecution under Alexander Severus. 250. Seventh persecution under Decius. Origin of monastic life. 254. Death of Origen. 257. Eighth persecution under Valerian. 259. Martyrdom of Cyprian. 272. The ninth persecution of the Christians under Aurelian. The Jewish Talmud and Targum composed in the third century. The Jews are allowed to return into Palestine. Many illustrious men and Roman senators converted to Christianity. Public churches built for the celebration of Divine worship. The Pagan mysteries injudiciously imitated in many respects by the Christians. The tasting of milk and honey previous to baptism, and the person anointed before and after that holy rite, receives a crown and goes arrayed in white for some time after. 303. Tenth persecution under Dioclesian. 306. Constantine the Great becomes emperor of Rome, and stops the persecution. 313. Edict of Milan published by Constantine. Christianity tolerated throughout the empire. 321. Sunday appointed to be observed. 323. Christianity alone tolerated by Constantine throughout the Roman empire. 325. Constantine assembles the first general council, by which the doctrines of Anus ⚫are condemned. The Nicene creed adopted. 341. Public churches begin to be built. 336. Death of Arius. 337. Death of Constantine. 338 Death of Eusebius. 356 Death of Anthony, who may be considered the father of monastic life. 361. Julian, emperor of Rome, abjures Christianity, and is elected Pontifex Maxi mus.-Attempts fruitlessly to rebuild Jerusalem. About this time the bishop of Rome becomes distinguished above all others 373. Death of Athanasius. 379. Death of Basil of Cæsarea. 383. Council assembles at Constantinople, under Theodosius. 387. Jerome dies. A. D. 395 Theodosius dies, and is succeeded by his two sons, Arcadius and Honorius, who divide the empire; the former presiding at Constantinople, the latter removing the government from Rome to Ravenna 397. Death of Ambrose. St. Chrysostom chosen patriarch of Constantinople. In the fourth century, the Athanasians or orthodox persecuted by Constantius, who was an Arian, and by Valens, who ordered eighty of their deputies, al ecclesiastics, to be put on board a ship, which was set on fire as soon as it was got clear of the coast. Remarkable progress in this century of the Christian religion among the Indians, Goths, Marcomanni, and Iberians. Theodosius the Great is obliged, by Ambrose, bishop of Milan, to do public penance for the slaughter of the Thessalonians. The eucharist was during this century administered, in some places, to infants and persons deceased. Something like the doctrine of transubstantiation is held, and the ceremony of the elevation used in the celebration of the eucharist. The use of incense, and of the censer, with several other superstitious rites, introduced. The churches are considered as externally holy, the saints are invoked, images used, and the cross worshipped.-The clerical order augmented by new ranks of ecclesiastics, such as archdeacons, country bishops, archbishops, metropolitans, exarchs, &c. 404. Pelagianism begins to be propagated. 407. Death of Chrysostom. 410. Rome besieged and taken by Alaric, king of the Goths. 430. Death of Augustine. 432. Christianity introduced into Ireland by Patrick. 476. Western empire dissolved. 496. Clovis, king of Gaul, converted to Christianity. During the fifth century, terrible persecutions were carried on against the Felix III. bishop of Rome, is excommunicated, and his name struck out of the 516. The computation of time by the Christian era, introduced by Dionysius the monk. 519 Justin restores the orthodox bishops, and condemns the Eutychians. 525. The emperor Justin deposes the Arian bishops. 530. The order of Benedictines instituted. 565. The Picts converted to Christianity by St. Columbia. 576. Birth of Mahomet the false prophet. |