Page:New historical catechism (1).pdf/22

 inuch amazed to understand the meaning of it, when one of the priests made this oration : The world never had but three true religions, every one of which had a prophet. First, God chose the Jews, and did wonders for them in Egypt, and brought them thence by their piophet Moses, and prescrib- ed them a law, wherein he would have niaintained them, if they had not been obstinate and rebellious, in talling to idolatry; whereupon he gave them o ver and dispersed them upon the face of the earth. Then presently after, God sent a new prophet, who : taught the Christian religion. This good man, the Jews condenined and crucifel, for a seducer of the people, not being mored with the piety of his life, Tiis great miracles, nor lois doctrine : yet after his death a few fishermen so moved the hearts of the people, that the monarchis of the world bowed down to his very title, and yielded to the command of his ministers. But in process of time they grew as cor- rupt as the Jews, the church being disjoined with the names of Eastern and Western, committing I- dolatry again, by setting up images, with many o- ther idle ceremonies, and corrupting their lives, so that God was weary of them, and forsook them. Yet God is still the governor of the world and liath linself raised up another prophes and people, eren our Maboniet, giving him our nation; so 'lat no - douut we shall be happy for ever, if we can but serve God aright: and take warning from the fall of others. Bet, 'alas ! I tremble to speak of it; we have erred in every point, and wilfully broke our first-institution': So that God hath manifested his wrath by eminent signs and tokens, keeping our prophet from us, who prefixed a time to return with all happiness to his people ; so that there are ferty years past by our account. And doubtless