God in history: or, The accomplishment of His purposes as declared by His servants the prophets, exemplified in the civil and ecclesiastical history of the world

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GOD IN HISTORY:

Introduction

The plan proposed for this work, is to bring up the civil and political history of the world from the beginning of the Christian Era — noticing the political changes which have taken place in each century — the Sovereigns who reigned — their character — the length of their reign — the changes and revolutions which occurred, and by what means, and by whom effected. These are to be given in sufficient detail to afford a general view of the state of the Roman world, in the different periods, as we pass over them — comparing the transpiring events with the prophecies, which are supposed to have reference to them.

The Saviour forewarned the disciples that the first sign of the approach of the destruction of Jerusalem, would be that "they should hear of wars and rumors of wars." Instead of simply saying that from eight to ten years prior to that event, the Roman Empire was fearfully convulsed with revolutions, our plan is to give some details of the particular manner in which it was convulsed, the principal actors, and the character of these "wars a-Tid rumors of wars." — The same course will be pursued in relation to the x ^phetic vision seen by John when he was called up into Heaven, to be shown those things which should be hereafter — the book with seven seals, which contained the whole mystery of God that remained to be fulfilled, as had been declared by his servants, the Prophets; that is, the whole purpose of God concerning the world to its consummation.

In the Book of Seven Seals, six of them contained specified events following each other in regular succession. The first of these emblems was a white horse, "and he that sat on him had a bow ; and a crown was given unto him and he went forth conquering and to conquer." These emblems denote peace and victory. Peace in the world, and the triumphs of the gospel in the period to which it relates. Instead of simply declaring that such a state of things did follow, soon after the publication of this prophecy, our plan will ensure sufficient of detail to show in what manner, and at what time the events occurred answering exactly to the emblem. The same course will also be pursued in relation to the three following seals : the Red, the Black, and the Pale Horse, and the riders who sat on them. All these symbols represent varied and dire calamities which were to come upon the world, and our aim will be to show the particulars of their fulfilment. The fifth seal does not relate, strictly speaking, to particular events, but represents the sufferings of the martyrs during the period which will be passed over in considering the first four. It rather belongs to the history of the church, and will be treated of in another division of our subject. In the sixth seal, the emblems denote great events — fearful revolutions, overturnings and casting down from high places. As in the other A

4 INTRODUCTION.

seals, our object will be, from historical facts, to show events, answering to the bold emblematical figures of the prophecy. In the seventh seal there are no specific events. It contains seven trumpets ; six of these represent as manyspecific events : or in their progress, consummating six epochs. As in the seals, we shall present historical facts corresponding to the emblems. These trumpets embrace the prominent political events which are to take place to the end of the world, except those contained in the seven last vials, and Ezekiel's Gog and Magog, in the 30th and 39th chapter of his prophecy — which is still future — as nothing like it is to be seen in the Revelation. It appears an isolated event preceding the vials.

After having completed the political history according to the outline of the plan above given, we shall proceed to take up the history of the Church through the same period: — the eminent men in the church — their doctrines and practice — the errors and heresies propagated in different centuries — the great falling away — the rise of the " Man of Sin," — his long continuance, and the witnesses who have prophesied in sack cloth in every age since his rise — where they had suffered and who they have been. But our plan will be more fully unfolded as we proceed.

It should be observed that as Israel, under the Old Dispensation, was the "Valley of Vision," in which God was pleased to manifest His moral perfections, in actual life, the "Lord, Lord God, merciful and gracious — long suffering, and abundant in goodness and in truth, keeping mercy for thousands — forgiving iniquity, and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty."* So under the gospel dispensation, He chose the Roman Empire in which to display the like attributes in the fulfillment of the prediction of His Prophets, as well as the character of man under every variety of circumstances. Therfore the history of the affairs of other nations will not be embraced, only as they are connected with that Empire.

The Author, like all others, except those who have written the history of their our times, is indebted to those who have gone before him, for the facts and incidents whereof he writes. The authorities from which he has drawn most largely, are Gibbon, for his secular history. First because his is a work of deep research. Second : because those who have read him will not suspect that he has shaped his narative of events to accommodate prophecies.

For his eclesiastical history, he has consulted Milner, Neander, and Fuller's British Church History. Of Milner he has made more use than of any other. His object has been to condense these histories and show by them the progress and the accomplishment of the several prophecies. He frequently uses their own language, and often without the usual marks of quotations.

On the prophecies he has consulted Newton, Scott, Faber and Townsend. While he would acknowledge his indebtedness to those authors, it will be seen that he differs in some respects, materially from them.

Chapter. I Secular History. — First Century

THE EMPERORS WHO REIGNED IN THIS CENTURY THEIR CHARACTER THE

PROMINENT EVENTS OF THE PERIOD AND THE PROPHECIES FULFILLED IN THEM.

B. C. 30. — Augustus was the first Emperor of Rome, and reigned forty four years. About the thirtieth year of his reign " the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." This is the beginning of the Christian Era. Tiberius succeeded Augustus and reigned twenty-three years. Luke says that John the Baptist began his ministry in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius. Christ was crucified during his reign, and it, is related that Pilate wrote to him on account of the Life, Miracles and Passion of the Lord Jesus, which Tiberius communicated to the Senate, with a request that Jesus should be honored among the gods of the Romans, which the Senate refused on account of the recommendation coming from the Emperor — as that body was exceedingly jealous of its rights and prerogatives. Caligula, a weak, cruel and rash prince, succeeded Tiberius and' reigned four years. Next came Claudius, who reigned fourteen years. Now succeeded Nero, and reigned also fourteen years. "Nero," says Gibbon, " involved the whole empire in his ruin. In the space of eighteen months, three princes perished by the sword, and the Roman world was shaken by the fury of contending armies." These three princes were Galba, Otho, and Vitellus. These fearful scenes were enacted a few years before the destruction of Jerusalem. Why may not these be the "wars and rumors of wars" which the Saviour forewarned his disciples they should hear as the first sign which was to precede that event ? The whole reign of Nero was marked with cruelty and blood. The christians were persecuted with unrelenting violence and thousands suffered death in all the forms of torture which the malice and ingenuity of their persecutors could invent.

The closing up of these bloody scenes, was the establishment of Vespasian on the throne of the Csesars. He reigned ten years in much mildness, and was succeeded by his son Titus, who appears to have been the chosen instrument of God, to execute the threatenings of our Saviour against Jerusalem. This was, however, before he was Emperor, and while he was chief commander of the Roman armies. Titus reigned but three years, and was succeeded by Domitian, who occupied the throne fifteen years. Nerva, a virtuous prince succeeded him — but his reign was short, being only sixteen months. This completed the first century — a period before John was shown the things that should be hereafter and consequently will not be found in his book of prophecies — Revelations.

A celebrated Historian (Gibbon) in speaking of the characters of the Emperors who succeeded Augustus, says. "Their unparalleled vices and the splendid theatre on which they acted, have saved them from oblivion. The dark and unrelenting Tiberius, the furious Caligula, the feeble Claudius, the profligate and cruel Nero, the beastly Vitellus and the timid, inhuman

Domitian, are condemned to everlasting infamy." During the four score years — excepting the short and doubtful reign of Vespasian — Rome groaned beneath an unremitting tyranny which exterminated the ancient families of the Republic, and was fatal to almost every virtue, and every talent which arose in that unhappy period.

It was in this untoward state of the world, that the gospel was promulgated amidst these moral ruins, and that with great success in reclaiming great numbers during that period, and forming a noble band of martyrs. Had not Gibbon's eyes been holden by prejudice and enmity to the gospel, he would have seen that virtue had not left the earth, but shone with a humble lustre, before unknown in the heathen world. During the reign of these tyrants, the church had peace excepting a few years of the persecution of Nero, and the latter part of the reign of Domitian — yet, all along, was subject to violent popular outbreaks, as in the days of the Apostles.

SECOND CENTURY.

This century began with the renowned Trajan, who reigned seventeen years and was succeeded by Adrian, who reigned twenty-one years. He was succeeded by Antonius Pius, who reigned twenty-three years, and was succeeded by Marcus Antonius, who reigned nineteen years. Commodus succeeded him and reigned thirteen years, and was succeeded by Pertinax, a prince renowned for his virtue, who reigned but eighty-six days, when he was overcome and slain by Severus, who reigned eighteen years in cruelty and savage ferocity. During the last eight years of his reign, he was a violent persecutor of the church. This brings us to . the close of the second century, and live or six years into the third.

THIRD CENTURY,

Before entering upon the events of this century, we will quote from Gibbon, a passage, relating to the condition of the world. " If a man were called upon to fix a period in the history of the world, during which the condition of the human "race was the most happy and prosperous, he would, without hesitation, name that which elapsed from the death of Domitian to the succession of Commodus. The vast extent of the Roman Empire, was governed by absolute power, under the guidance of virtue and wisdom. The armies were restrained by the firm and gentle hand of four successive Emperors, whose character and authority commanded involuntary respect. The forms of civil administration were carefully preserved by Nerva, Trajan, Adrian, and the Antonies, who delighted in the image of liberty, and were pleased with considering themselves as the accountable ministers of the law." Yet Trajan and Marcus were persecutors of the christians — Trajan the last half of his reign and Marcus the whole of his — facts which will be considered in the history of the church.

The eighty years embraced in the reigns of Trajan, Adrian, Antonius Pius, and Marcus Antonius, there can be no doubt, is the period under the emblem of the White Horse, — the first seal of Revelations. The Chronology exactly agrees as it immediately follows the publication of the prophecy, which must have been the very last of the first — or the begining of the second century. The emblems denote peace and victory. Peace to the world and the triumphs of the Gospel. Both were conspicuous at this period, as will be shown in the history of the church. " And I saw, and behold, a white horse ; and he that sat on him had a bow ; and a crown was given unto him and he went forth conquering and to conquer."

But different scenes awaited the world for nearly another century from the accession of Commodus, about A. D. 181. They cannot be better described than in the language of the second seal ; " and there went out another horse that was Red ; and power was given him that sat thereon to to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another ; and there was given unto him a great sword."

Of Commodus it may be said, as of Manassah of old, at Jerusalem : he filled Rome with innocent blood — the best families were almost exterminated — great numbers of Senators fell by his hand. The worst part of the French revolution, in its executions and murders, did not exceed those of Commodus during the last half of his reign. And then the fall of Pertinax and Julianus ; with the accession of Severus, wading to a throne in blood — by vanquishing, after several hard fought battles, two rival generals — Albinus and Niger, each equaling him in military skill and in the number and discipline of their respective armies ; and not only this but destroying the cities, and provinces which favored them.. Here was an accomplishment, in part, of the commission of the Red Horse ; " that they should kill one another"

As before remarked, Severus reigned eighteen years — extending five or six into the third century. This century therefore commences in his reign. He left the empire to his two sons, Caracalla and Geta. Caracalla murdered Geta in the arms of their mother, who attempted to protect her son.

Caracalla was a most wretched man. Gibbon says " that neither business nor pleasure, nor flattery, could defend him from a guilty conscience ; and he confessed, in the anguish of a tortured mind, that in his disordered fancy he often beheld the angry forms of his father, and brother rising into life to threaten and upbraid him. The tyranny of Tiberius, Nero and and Domitian, who resided mostly at Rome, or in the adjacent villas, was confined to the Senatorial and equestrian orders : But Caracalla was the common enemy of mankind. He left the capital (and never returned to it) about a year after the murder of Geta. The rest of his reign was spent in the several provinces of the empire ; particularly those of the east, and every province was by turns the scene of his rapine and cruelty, The Senators, compelled by fear to attend his capricious motions, were obliged to provide daily entertainments at an immense expense, which he abandoned with contempt to his guards ; and to erect in every city magnificent palaces and theatres which he either disdained to visit, or ordered immediately thrown down. The most wealthy families were ruined by partial fines and confiscations and the great body of the subjects were oppressed by ingenious, and aggravated taxes. In the midst of peace and upon the slightest provocation, he issued his command at Alexandria, in Egypt, for a general massacre. -From a secure part in the temple of Serapis, he viewed and directed the slaughter of many thousand citizens as well as strangers, without distinguishing either the number or the crime of the sufferers. Since, as he coolly informed the senate, "all the Alexandrian's those who had perished, and those who had escaped were alike guilty.

This monster, Caracalla, reigned six years, and was assassinated without any popular outbreak. Macrinus succeeded him and reigned nearly one year when he was overthrown in battle, and was succeeded by Bassianus, grand son of Severus, in the female line, but known in history as Elagabulus or Heliogabulus, priest of the Sun, claiming to be pontiff and favorite of that deity, he assumed the sacred name (Elagabulus.) He professed to perform all things in a religious manner; but his debaucheries, infamy and degradation are almost incredible. He was slain by the praetorian guards, after an infamous reign of three years and nine months, without any popular tumult, his body was dragged through the streets of Rome and thrown into the Tiber, and his memory branded with eternal infamy by the Senate and ratified by posterity. This monster was succeeded by his cousin Alexander, who, with his mother Mamea, reigned thirteen years. These were persons of another character. For in the midst of wrath God remembereth mercy ; he does not proceed to extremes in this world, that men should not perish from off the earth. He says to the destroyer "see that thou hurt not the oil and the wineT God will spare some comforts in the greatest extremities, to most ill deserving communities and individuals, until they shall be given up. "He stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind." even over the Roirian world sinking in her dissoluteness, even in a time when it was given up to kill one another with the sword. And during the reign of these monsters the church had enjoyed repose and protection. Caracalla did not repeal the edicts of his father Severus against the christians,, but issued another edict, that any person complaining of christians as such should be capitally punished. We shall meet with a curious case in the history of the church under his reign where the informer, and the christian, were both put to death by law — the one for informing against a christian, and he for avowing he was one. Elagabulus was tolerant to christians, and previous to being cut off, was purposing to build a splendid temple for the Jews and christians, over which doubtless he intended to preside.

That we may better see the providence of God in this affair, and the work of his hand, and the instruments he employs, we will turn back to Severus : Though in his youth, under Marcus, he was a bitter persecutor of the christians, at Lyons where he acted as Judge, he was afterward, through the influence and kindness recived from Proculus, through whose instrumentality he was raised from a dangerous sickness, favorably disposed towards them, until the tenth year of his reign. Returning from his victories in the east, he established himself absolute master of the Roman world. In his pride he forbid christians to proselyte to their faith. The christians refused to obey : for this refusal he felt his honor concerned to bring them to submission, which resulted in a cruel persecution af all ages and sexes. Proculus, he retained in his family while he lived, but he died before this change in Severus. Julia, Caracalla's mother, was a superior woman, whatever might have been her views of Christianity, probably favorable, though she sunk under her afflictions in the conduct and loss of her sons. On the accession of Macrinus, finding herself degraded from an empress to a subject, she withdrew herself by taking her own life. But Caracalla was early impressed in favor of christians. On one occasion while in play with one of his mates the lad was accused and beaten as a christian, not only by the rabble around him, but his own father joined in the persecution. Severus looking on, and approving their conduct. Caracalla was so grieved and indignant at the deed, that for a long time he could not see his father but with abhorence and detestation ; and very probably here was the germ of that deadly hate, which led Caracalla to seek the life of his father ; however that may be, with all the desperation and profligacy of his character, his prepossessions were in favor of Christianity. Perhaps this is not a solitary case, for other desperate men in other ages, who in early life have been impressed in favor of the gospel, in all their subsequent abandonment may not wholly loose that impression, and if not brought to repentance their impressions may remain in favor of Christianity, as the true religion.

Julia had two daughters, both widows each having a son : Soaemies the mother of Elagabulus, and Mamaea the mother of Alexander. He was a modest and dutiful son, seventeen years of age when invested with the purple. Mamaea was virtualy at the head of the government, though she declined the useless prerogative, and a solemn law was enacted excluding women forever from the senate, and devoting to the infernal gods, the head of the wretch by whom this section should be violated. The substance not the pageantry of power was the object of Mamaea's only ambitior. She maintained an absolute and lasting empire over the mind of her son, and in his affection the mother could not brook a rival. She persuaded him to divorce a wife he had married with her consent before his elevation, drive her from the palace and banish her to Africa.

Notwithstanding this act of jealous cruelty as well as some other instances of wrong with which she is charged, the general tenor of her administration was equally for the benefit of her son, and of the empire. With the approbation of the senate, she chose sixteen of the wisest and most virtuous of that body as a perpetual council of state, before whom every public business of moment was to be debated and determined. The celebrated Ulpian, equally distinguished for his knowledge of, and respect for the laws of Rome, was the head, and the prudence and firmness of this aristocracy restored order, and authority to the government As soon as they had purged the State from foreign superstitions, and luxury the remains of the capricious tyranny of Elagabulus, they applied themselves to remove the worthless creatures from every department of public administration and to supply their places with men of virtue and ability. Learning and the love of justice became the only recommendation for civil office. Valor and the love of discipline, the only qualification for military employment.

But the most important care of Mamaea and her wise counsellors, was to form the character of the young emperor, on whose personal qualities the happiness or misery of the Roman world must ultimately depend. The fortunate soil assisted, and even prevented the hand of cultivation. An excellent understanding soon convinced Alexander of the advantage of virtue, the pleasure of knowledge, and the necessity of labor ; natural mildness of temper and moderation, preserved him from the assaults of passion and the allurements of vice. His unalterable regard for his mother, and his esteem for the wise Ulpian, guarded his inexperienced youth from the poison of flattery.

Alexander answered the expectation caused by such a beginning, and training in one of the best moral characters found in profane history. — A great blessing to the Roman world, in delivering it from that tyranny, dissoluteness, and misrule which had become intolerable. While God gave the empire a breathing spell under the administration of these excellent princes, they showed that they were unworthy of such a blessing. The dissolute became impatient under the wholesome restraint, and exclusion from offices of trust and emolument. They first murdered Ulpian in the presence of Alexander. He however put down that insurrection and brought the ringleaders to justice. They murmured at the influence of the mother in state affairs. They desired to be commanded by a chief of more military renown. A mutiny was excited in the camp, and Alexander and his mother were assasinated in their tent by Maximian, his general, who began his reign A. D. 235. We are destitute of evidence that Alexander and his mother were truly christians. Yet doubtless their outward characters were greatly improved by what they had learnt of christian ethics. The providence of God is observable in his compassion for dissolute and and ungrateful Rome in giving such princes, and for the church in preserving her from persecution, and giving her rest. Alexander had a domestic chapel, where he every morning worshipped those princes who had been placed among the gods whose characters were most esteemed. Among whom were placed Apollanius of Tyana, Jesus Christ, Abraham, Orpheus. This was incompatable with his being a devoted servant of Christ. Eusebius says Mamaea was a most godly woman. In the history of the church we shall have better opportunity to consider this.

God gratified the Romans, who had become impatient under the mild and excellent government of Alexander in prefering a man more distinguished as a military chief. This they had in Maximinus to their hearts content. He was a savage raised up out of the dregs of society. A monster in stature, being more than eight feet in height, his muscular strength and the celerity of his motions first brought him to the notice of Severus, " who appointed him to serve in the horse guards which always attended on the person of the Sovereign. He was born within the territory of the empire and descended from a mixed race of barbarians. His father a Goth and his mother of the nation of the Alani. He displayed, on every occasion, a valor equal to his strength ; and his native fierceness was soon tempered or disguised by a knowledge of the world. Under the reign of Severus and his son he obtained the rank of centurion, with the favor and esteem of both these princes, the former of whom was an excellent judge of merit. Gratitude forbade Maximinus to serve under the assassin of Caracalla. Honor taught him to decline the effeminate, insult of Elagablus. On the accession of Alexander, he returned to court, and was placed by that prince in a station useful to the service and honorable to himself. The fourth legion, to which he was appointed tribune, soon became under his care, the best disciplined of the whole army. With the general applause of the soldiers who bestowed on him, the names of Ajax and Hercules, he was successively promoted to the first military command.

Had he not retained so much of his savage origin, the emperor would have given his sister to his son in marriage. Instead of securing his fidelity, these favors served only to inflame his ambition, and he deemed his fortune inadequate to his merit, as long as he was constrained to acknowledge a superior. Though a stranger to real wisdom, he was not devoid of selfish cunning, which shewed him, that the emperor had lost the affection of the army, and taught him to improve their discontent to his own advantage. It is easy for faction and calumny to shed their poison on the administration of the best of princes and to accuse even their virtues, by artfully confounding them with those vices to which they bear the nearest affinity. The troops listened with pleasure to the emissaries of Maximinus ; their arts succeeded ; Maximinus was saluted Emperor by the army,and immediately they disposed of Alexander and his mother. On his elevation, says Gibbon, his dark and sanguinary soul was open to every suspicion against those among his subjects who were most distinguished by birth or merit. Whenever he was alarmed with the sound of treason his cruelty was unbounded and unrelenting. A conspiracy against his life was either discovered or imagined, and Magnus, a consular Senator, was named as the principal author o f it. Without a witness, without a trial, without an opportunity of defence. Magnus with four thousand of his supposed accomplices were put to death. Italy and the whole empire were infested with innumerable spies and informers. On the slightest suspicion, the first of the Roman nobles, who had governed provinces, commanded armies, and been adorned with consul, and triumphal ornaments, were chained on the public carriages and hurried to the emperor's presence. Confiscation, exile, or simple death, were considered uncommon instances of lenity. Some of the unfortunate sufferers were ordered to be sewed up in the skin of slaughtered animals, others to be exposed to the wild beasts, others again to be beaten to death with clubs. During the three years of his reign, he disdained to visit either Rome or Italy. His camp, occasionally removed from the banks of the Rhine to those of Danube, was the seat of his stern despotism : which trampled on every principle of law and justice, and was supported by the avowed power of the sword. No man of noble birth, elegant accomplishments or knowledg of civil business was suffered near his person : and the court of a Roman Emperor revived the idea of those ancient chiefs of slaves and gladiators.

As long as these cruelties were confined to the illustrious, the rich, and the adventurous in the court or army, the body of the people looked on with indifference, and perhaps an envious pleasure ; but he seized the public revenue of the cities, destined to purchase corn for the multitude, and to supply the expences of secular games, and entertainments. By a single act of authority, the whole mass of wealth was confiscated for the use of the imperial, treasury. The temples were stripped of their most valuable offerings of gold, silver statutes of gods, heroes, and emperors, were melted down and coined into money. These impious orders could not be executed without tumult and blood. The whole Roman world groaned under the cruel oppression of Maximinus. Gibbon says "his body was suited to his soul, and circumstances almost incredible, are related of his matchless strength and appetite. Had he lived in a less enlightened age, tradition arid poetry might well have described him as one of those monstrous giants who se supernatural power was constantly exerted for the destruction of mankind. During the ravages of this monster, four emperors were made and slain ; two in opposing Maximinus ; and two deposed and slain by their own troops : viz. the two Gordans, Maximius and Balbianus ; Maximinus was finally slain by his own troops. After him the younger Gordian reigned four years. He was cut off by violence, and was succeeded by Philip the Arabian who reigned five years, a friend of christians, who desired admission among them. But his conduct in the murder of Gordian, and the pomp with which he solemnised the secular games, looked like any thing but Christianity.