that those diabolical spirits might have died, or been driven away from their old place of residence, by some spirit of a superior rank.

Poor Plutarch, with all his acquirements, was ignorant, that the time was come when the strong man's house was to be entered, his goods spoiled, and himself bound; the devil, who before was the prince of this world, came now to be dethroned, and tumbled into hell, upon the approach of that true light which illumines every believer that cometh into the world.

The account which Pliny the younger gives of our blessed Lord is as follows: "That Christ was worshipped as a God among the Christians; that they would rather suffer death than blaspheme him; that they received a sacrament, and by it

entered into a vow of abstaining from sin and wickedness."

Pontius Pilate, the very man who condemned Jesus to suffer death, mentions also that he was worshipped.

It was customary for the governors of provinces under the Roman states, to keep an exact register of all the memorable events that occurred during the time of their administration. Shortly after the crucifixion of Jesus, Pontius Pilate wrote to Tiberius, and transmitted to him an account of Christ's resurrection, together with a relation of the many miracles that had been done by him, and by his disciples in his name; adding, that the multitude of converts to his faith was daily increasing, and that he was worshipped as a God.

Now the testimony of those men is

most important, for having no interest in the matter, standing as it were upon neutral ground, they faithfully stated facts, without any regard as to whether they made for or against the Christian cause.

Can those who never bowed the knee in worship to Christ expect that a favourable sentence will be passed upon them? But let them not despair, co-operating grace, even at the eleventh hour will save them. Seek then, seek, poor infidel, knowledge of God, and grace to believe in God the Son; since there is no other name given under heaven, by which man can be saved but the name of Christ Jesus, and therefore all men are to honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.

71

CHAPTER III.

CHRIST'S MIRACLES, A FURTHER PROOF
OF DIVINITY.

WE know we shall be told that the disciples of Christ performed miracles as well as their Lord: but mark the wide difference the disciples worked them in the name of Jesus, but our Saviour did miracles in his own name. "I will, be thou whole," and immediately the diseased person was cured.

If the reader will look into Matthew, chap. x. ver. 1, he will find it written: "And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness, and all manner of disease."

In the Acts of the Apostles, chap. iii., it is written: "A certain man, lame from his mother's womb, was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple, which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked them alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk: and he took him by the right hand and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle-bones received strength. And he, leaping up, stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and