Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to wit:. BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-third day of August, in the forty-eighth year of the independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1823, the Rev. Benjamin Allen, of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, to wit: "History of the Church of Christ. By the Rev. Benjamin Allen, Rector of St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia. In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, intituled, "An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned"-And also to the act, entitled, "An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled, An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned,' and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." D. CALDWELL, Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. Eighth Century. CHAPTER I. Venerable Bede.-Saracens.-Image-Worship.-Popery.-Mis. sionaries. THE two evils which have risen to view during the last century, will not soon be paralleled. The papacy, gathering its foul exhalations to quench the light of truth; and the imposture of Mahomet, like a cloud from the bottomless abyss, withering wherever it falls with instant desolation. Both alike prove the corruption of the human heart, and the importance of relying alone upon Him whose promise still is, The gates of hell shall not prevail. Both the Eastern and the Western churches given up to darkness!-the whole orb of Christianity!-But THE LORD REIGNETH. England was distinguished during part of this century by "venerable Bede." He was looked upon as the most learned man of his time. Prayer, writing, and teaching, were his familiar employments during his whole life.* 5405 Life of Bede, prefixed to his works. Cologne edition. 1195 Viz (RECAP) He was ordained deacon in the nineteenth, and presbyter in the thirtieth, year of his age. He gave himself wholly to the study of the Scripture, the instruction of disciples, the offices of public worship, and the composition of religious and literary works. Constantly engaged in reading or writing, he made all his studies subservient to devotion. As he was sensible that it is by the grace of God, rather than by natural faculties, that the most profitable knowledge of the Scriptures is acquired, he mixed prayer with his studies. He never knew what it was to do nothing. His church history is particularly valuable, though he fell into the too fashionable errors of Rome. In his last sickness he was afflicted for two weeks with a difficulty of breathing. His mind was, however, serene and cheerful, his affections were heavenly; and, amidst these infirmities, he daily taught his disciples. A great part of that night was employed in prayer and thanksgiving; and the first employment of the morning was to ruminate on the Scriptures, and to address his God in prayer. "God scourgeth every son whom he receiveth," was frequently in his mouth. Even amidst his bodily weakness he was employed in writing two little treatises. Perceiving his end to draw near, he said, “If my Maker please, I will go to him from the flesh, who, when I was not, formed me out of `nothing-my soul desires to see Christ my king in his beauty." He sang glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and expired with a sedateness, composure, and devotion, which surprised all who were present at this scene. The following extract from his writings shows the soundness of his faith. "Other innumerable methods of saving men being set aside, this was selected by Infinite Wisdom, namely, that, without any diminution of his divinity, he assumed alsó humanity; and in humanity procured so much good to men, that temporal death, though not due from him, was yet paid, to deliver them from eternal death, which was due from them. Such was the efficacy of that blood, that the devil, who slew Christ by a temporary death which was not due, cannot detain in eternal death any of those who are clothed with Christ, though that eternal death be due for their sins."* In the year 713, the Mahometans passed over from Africa into Spain, and put an end to the kingdom of the Goths, which had lasted near three hundred years. The Christians were there reduced to slavery; and thus were scourged those wicked professors of religion who had long held the truth in unrighteousness; called on the name of Christ, while in works they denied him, and buried his faith under an enormous heap of superstitions. A remnant, however, preserved their independency in the Austurian mountains, who chose Pelagius, a person descended from the royal family, for their king. He expressed his hope, that, after God had chastised them for their sins, he would not give them up wholly to the Mahometans. His confidence in God was not disappointed. Under circumstances extremely disadvantageous, he defeated the enemy, repeopled the cities, rebuilt the churches, and, by the pious assistance of several pastors, supported the gospel in one district of Spain, while the greatest part of the country was overrun by the Arabians. But the successors of Pelagius, by degress, recovered more cities from the enemy. Christendom at this time presented a very grievous On Rom. v. |