The Use, which I intended from this Subject, is, that as _Christians_, who have more invaluable Obligations to remember, we should suffer our Faith and Gratitude to extend as least as far as the _Pagans_ did. There was a dread Time (for the Commemoration whereof a Day is annually set a-part) _when the Sun was eclipsed, and Darkness was over all the Land; when the Vail of the Temple was rent asunder from the Top to the Bottom; when the Earth quaked, and Rocks were split; when the Graves were opened, and the Bodies of Saints, which slept in Death, arose and walked_. Let _Atheists_ alone, and _Freethinkers_ disbelieve the Terrors of that Hour. 'Twas fit that Nature should feel such Convulsions, when the Lord of Life suffered such Indignities. I almost fear least my Readers should suspect that I am usurping the Province of the Pulpit, and therefore I shall continue this Discourse in the Words of a Poet, who will ever be esteemed in the _English_ Tongue. When _Adam_ is doom'd to be turn'd out of Paradise, _Milton_ has by a happy Machinery supposed, that the Angel _Michael_ is dispatched down to pronounce the Sentence, and mitigate it by shewing _Adam_ in Vision, what should happen to his Posterity. Amongst the rest, the _Incarnation_ is shadowed out; and the Angel tells him, that the _Messiah_ shall spring from _his_ Loins, and make a Satisfaction for the Punishment, which _he_ by his Transgression had earned on himself and his Race. _For this he shall live hated, be blasphem'd, Seis'd on by Force, judg'd, and to Death condemn'd, A shameful and accurst, nail'd to the Cross By his own Nation, slain for bringing Life; But to the Cross He nails thy Enemies The Law that is against thee, and the sins Of all Mankind, with him there crucified, Never to hurt them more, who rightly trust In this his Satisfaction: So he dies, But soon revives; Death over him no Power Shall long usurp: e'er the third dawning Light Return, the Stars of Morron shall see him rise Out of his Grave, fresh as the dawning Light, The Ransom paid, which Man from Death redeems._ I cannot better conclude the Triumph of this Promise, than by the Speech, in which _Adam_ expresses his Joy and Wonder at these glad Tidings. _'O Goodness infinite! Goodness immense, That all this Good of Evil shall produce, And Evil turn to Good; more wonderful Than that, which by Creation first brought forth Light out of Darkness! Full of doubt I stand, Whether I should repent me now of Sin By me done and committed, or rejoice Much more, that much more Good thereof shall spring._ * * * * * Printed for W. BOREHAM, at the _Angel_ in _Pater-Noster-Row_, where Advertisements and Letters from Correspondents are taken in. Numb. XX. THE THEATRE. By Sir _JOHN FALSTAFFE_. _To be Continued every_ Tuesday _and_ Saturday. Price Two-pence.