Wherein the state of things is altered for the worse: and, 2. How it is altered for the better.

1. The state of things is altered from what it was in the beginning of the Reformation, for the worse; especially in these three respects.

(1.) The reformed church is much diminished. The Reformation in former times was supposed to take place through one half of Christendom, excepting the Greek church; or that there were as many Protestants as Papists. But now it is not so; the protestant church is much diminished. Heretofore there have been multitudes of Protestants in France; many famous protestant churches were planted all over that country, who used to meet together in synods, and maintain a very regular discipline. The protestant church of France was a great part of the glory of the Reformation. But now it is far otherwise; this church is all broken and scattered, and there are now few protestant assemblies in all that kingdom. The protestant interest is also greatly diminished in Germany. There were formerly several protestant sovereign princes, whose successors are now Papists; as, particularly, the Elector Palatine, and the Elector of Saxony. The kingdom of Bohemia was formerly a protestant kingdom, but is now in the hands of the Papists. Hungary was formerly a protestant country; but the Protestants there have been greatly reduced, and in a great measure subdued by persecutions. And the protestant interest has no way of late remarkably gained ground of the church of Rome.

(2.) Another thing is the prevailing licentiousness in principles and opinions. There is not now that spirit of orthodoxy which then prevailed; there is

very little appearance of zeal for the mysterious and spiritual doctrines of Christianity; and they never were so held in contempt as they are in the present age; and especially in England, the principal kingof the Reformation. In this kingdom, those principles on which the power of godliness depends are in a great measure exploded.*** History gives no account of any age wherein there was so great an infidel apostasy of those who had been brought up under the light of the Gospel; never was there such a disavowal of all revealed religion; never any age wherein there was so much scoffing and ridiculing of the Gospel of Christ by those who have been brought up under its light.

(3.) There is much less prevalence of the power of godliness than there was at the beginning of the Reformation. A glorious out-pouring of the Spirit of God accompanied the first Reformation, not only to convert multitudes in so short a time from Popery to the true religion, but to turn many to God and true godliness. But now there is a great decay of vital piety; yea, it seems to be despised, called enthusiasm, and fanaticism. Those who are truly religious, are commonly looked upon to be beside themselves; and vice and profaneness dreadfully prevail, like a flood which threatens to bear down all before it. -But I proceed now to show,

2. In what respects things are altered for the better from what they were in the beginning of the Reformation.

(1.) The power and influence of the Pope is much diminished. Although, since the former times of the Reformation, he has gained ground in extent

of dominion, yet he has lost in degree of influence. The vial which in the beginning of the Reformation was poured out on the throne of the beast, to the great diminishing of his power and authority in the world, has continued running ever since. The Pope, soon after the Reformation, became less regarded by the princes of Europe than he had been before; and he has been since less and less. Many of the popish princes themselves seem now to regard him very little more than they think will serve their own designs; of which there have been several remarkable proofs and instances of late.

(2.) There is far less persecution now than there was in the first times of the Reformation. Some parts of the protestant church are at this day under persecution, and so probably will be till the day of the church's suffering and travail is at an end, which will not be till the fall of Antichrist. But it is not now such as it was heretofore. There does not seem to be the same spirit of persecution prevailing; its virulence is abating, even among popish princes. The wickedness of the enemies of Christ, and the opposition against his cause, seem to run in another channel. The humor now is to despise and laugh at all religion; and there seems to be a spirit of indifference about it. However, so far the state of things is better than it has been, that there 18 so much less of persecution.

3. There is a great increase of learning. In the dark times of Popery, before the Reformation, learning was so far decayed that the world seemed to be overrun with barbarous ignorance. The very priests were many of them grossly ignorant. Learning began to revive with the Reformation, owing

very much to the art of printing, which was invented a little before that period. Since then, learning has increased more and more, and at this day is undoubtedly raised to a vastly greater height than ever it was before and though no good use is made of it by the greater part of learned men, yet the increase of learning in itself is to be rejoiced in, because it is a good, and, if duly applied, an excellent handmaid to religion. It is a talent which, if God gives men a heart, affords them great advantage to do much for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ and the good of the souls of men. That learning and knowledge should greatly increase before the glorious times, seems to be foretold, Dan. 12: 4. " But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." And however little learning is now applied to the advancement of religion, yet we may hope that the days are approaching wherein God will make great use of it for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ.

God in his providence seems now to be acting over again what he did a little before Christ came. When Christ came into the world, learning greatly prevailed; and yet wickedness never prevailed more than then. God was pleased to suffer human learning to come to such a height before he sent forth the Gospel into the world, that the world might see the insufficiency of all their own wisdom for obtaining the knowledge of God, without the Gospel of Christ and the teaching of his Spirit. When, "in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of preach

ing, to save them that believe." And when the Gospel came to prevail first without the help of man's wisdom, then God was pleased to make use of learning as a handmaid. So now learning is at a great height in the world, far beyond what it was in the age when Christ appeared; and the world, by their learning and wisdom, do not know God, and seem to wander in darkness and to be miserably deluded, to stumble and fall in matters of religion, as at midnight. Trusting to their learning, they grope in the day-time as in the night. Learned men are exceedingly divided in their opinions concerning religion, running into all manner of corrupt, pernicious and foolish errors. They scorn to submit their reason to divine revelation, to believe any thing that is above their comprehension; and so being wise in their own eyes, they become fools, and even vain in their imaginations; they turn the truth of God into a lie, and their foolish hearts are darkened. Rom. 1: 21, &c.

But yet, when God has sufficiently shown men the insufficiency of human wisdom and learning, and when the appointed time comes for that glorious outpouring of the Spirit of God, when he will himself by his own immediate influence enlighten men's minds; then may we hope that God will make use of the great increase of learning as a handmaid to religion, as a means of the glorious advancement of the kingdom of his Son. Then shall human learning be subservient to the understanding of the Scriptures and to a clear explanation and a glorious defence of the doctrines of Christianity. And there is no doubt that God in his providence has of late given the world the art of printing, and