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 much 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 prophet Moses, and prescribed them a law, wherein he would have maintained them, if they had not been obstinate and rebellious in falling to idolatry; whereupon be gave them over and dispersed them upon the face of the earth. Then presently after, God seat a new prophet, who taught the Christian religion. This good man the Jews condemned and crucified, for a seducer of the people, not being moved with the piety of his life, his great miracles, nor his doctrine; yet after his death a few fishermen so moved the hearts of the people, that the monarchs 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 corrupt as the Jews, the church being disjoined with the names of Eastern and Western, commiting idolatry again, by setting up-images, with many other 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 hath himself raised up another prophet and people, even our Mahomet, giving, him our nation; so that no doubt we shall be happy for ever, if we can but serve God aright: and take warning from the fall of others. But, alas! I tremble to speak of it; we have erred in every point, and wilfully broke our first institution; So that God bath 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 forty years past by our account. And doubtless