Page:The Parochial System (Wilberforce, 1838).djvu/145

 Let experience decide. Where are those of Asia, and of Greece, once so illustrious? where is the glory of Antioch where the disciples were first called Christians? where is the church and city of Tyre, whither the ships of all the earth flocked with their burdens, and where the blessed Apostle found brethren to refresh his heart seven days on his martyr voyage? where is the church of Alexandria, the seat of the great Athanasius? where is Hippo, and Carthage, and Nicæa once the centre of Christendom, whence shone a light that has reached even to us? Their candlesticks are removed. "Their lamp is put out in obscure darkness." And shall we Christians think that such things as these have happened by chance, or some blind necessity? The world is governed by no inanimate system, by no dark inflexible destiny; but by His power and love who "waiteth to be gracious unto us," but yet, who "will bend His bow, if we will not turn, and will whet His sword, and make it ready;" and even far earlier He had given us another similar example in the history of the patriarchal Church, the church of Abimelech, and probably of Melchisedec; and that history too written by inspiration: "because when they knew God they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; therefore God gave them over to a reprobate mind ."