Page:A Beacon to the Society of Friends.djvu/47

SER. I. it.—Cornelius must send for Peter, and he must tell him the words whereby he should be saved: Peter is prepared by divine interposition; and is sent by the to Cornelius, to communicate the word of life and salvation.

Now let the reader deliberately and seriously consider and determine the question. Whether for nearly eighteen hundred years since the days of the Apostles; among all the nations of the earth, there has been a single well authenticated instance of a people being converted to Christianity, or bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit, who have not previously been made acquainted with the Scripture revelation? And if at this day, when through missionary efforts, our knowledge of heathen nations is so vastly extended, history furnishes not one such instance; then let him determine what ground there is for hesitation in coming to the conclusion, that, it is the appointment of Infinite wisdom, that by the revelation of the Holy Spirit which we have in Scripture, (communicated either directly or remotely,) mankind shall be brought to the know ledge of the truth.

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless yo have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." 1 Cor. xv. 1-4.

"Many of the Corinthians, believed, and were baptized." Acts, xviii. 8.