Romans 10:18 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Their sound went into all the earth— As the passages in the Gospels and Epistles relating to the extensive spreading of religion during the dispensation or reign of the Messiah, have a reference to the ancient prophesies, this may be the full and proper import of them;—that, asthe Gospel is a scheme of instruction commensurate to all the wants and circumstances of all, both Jews and Gentiles, it seems to have been the grand object of the grace and providence of God in this constitution, that a gradual conveyance of these salutary benefits should be vouchsafed in different ages and nations; so that, before the kingdom of the Messiah should terminate, effectual means should be used for the most extensive propagation of its light and truth: and that all knowledge of Christ is not confined within such narrow bounds as infidels imagine, will appear from the following observations: The Mohammedan, Turk, or Persian, acknowledges the miraculous birth of Christ; and the Jew, before he is permitted to embrace Mohammedanism, must profess his belief in Christ. The Mohammedan expects a second appearance of our Lord from heaven, and believes that all men will then unite in one religion. The opinion of other people in the Eastern world, who have long been considered as pagans only, may be known for certainty from their writings and religious ceremonies. Porphyry, a Grecian philosopher who wrote against Christianity, assures us, that the Indians believed that God created the world by his Son; and in their sacred book called VEDAM, whatever may be the practice of the Indians, nothing is to be found that encourages idolatry. We will now consider those opinions and practices of these people, which will shew that they are not entirely strangers to the history and doctrines of our Lord, though intermixed with pagan notions, and grossly corrupted. The Indians have applied to their god XACA, almost everycircumstance in the life of Jesus. "He was born of a virgin, washed with the dew of heaven; the whole world shines with unusual splendour at his birth; the earth trembles; chosen hymns are sung; the infant is adored, and gifts are offered to him. He is presented in the temple, and worshipped. They who are inspired, foretel many miracles to be performed by him; and the most ancient prophet, taking him in his arms, embraces him with tenderness, speaks of the wonders that he is to perform, the divine truths that he is to unfold, and particularly what was to happen to him in the desert. From his mother's womb he is endowed with the knowledge of all things, self-taught, astonishing the most learned. He is led into the wilderness, where he continues a long time praying and fasting.—Again he returns to the wilderness; the adversary of mankind is astonished at the greatness of his contemplation, and, surrounded by his infernal agents, assails him. XACA is victorious, and the evil-one with his followers leave him. After this, he chose disciples, gave them a new law, and provided the proper remedies against sin. Infinite and most marvellous were the works that he performed upon the minds of unbelievers, to convert them to his religion. His doctrine is preached to all nations, and, supported by miracles, is universally embraced.—The law being restored, he dies! the earth shakes with dreadful concussions! a thick darkness obscures the sky! After the death of Xaca, his disciples commit all the actionsof their master to writing."—If any difficulty arises in ascribing the actions of Christ to XACA, from the change of names only, we shall find that these eastern people are not absolutely strangers to the name of Christ and other persons recorded in the Gospel.—They speak of CHRIST, whom they expressly call Krisnu, as one whose conception was miraculous, born under the constellation of the Virgin in the Agiodia, or Judea, of whom it was foretold by Aggr, an angel,—"He shall save his nation Judah, of the race of shepherds." Sridoroh, or Herod, feigning a desire to see the infant, commands the slaughter of the innocents. This KRISNU of the Indians performed many miracles exactly the same with those recorded of Jesus. The transfiguration upon mount Tabor is related intheir histories, and John in particular is said to have been one of those who were present.—KRISNU, before his death, sups with his disciples, and they are washed: after this, near Gethsemane, a tumult arises; he is embraced by Judas, whom they call Giudistira, and he recommends the women to the care of ARGIUN, or John.—XACA (Sesac), BISNU, the Chinese FO, and KRIS, or KRISTNU, is Christ; who is crucified in every mind; the first man; the first offspring; only Son; lawgiver; deliverer; Saviour! The many crosses erected by the Indians of Nepal, seem originally to have been in commemoration of the crucifixion of ourLord. These Indians of Nepal erect crucifixes, with nails through the hands and feet; and the grand lama celebrates a sacrifice with bread, and what he is permitted to drink, (wine being forbidden,) of which he takes a small portion himself, and distributes the rest to the lamas who assist at that ceremony. Hence it is evident, that these nations, though Persians, Indians, Tartars, and Chinese, have some knowledge of Christ, his history, doctrines, and institutions; and there Christianity has been more universal than many imagine. It is said that the patriarch of Mousul had under him one of the most numerous sees of the world; for he had under his jurisdiction all the north of Asia, the ancient churches of China, Ceylon, Malabar, and other Christian nations among the Indians, exclusive of the churches of Persia, Zocotora, Chaldea, Syria, Arabia, and perhaps other provinces which are unknown. We have a more particular account by Cosmas Indicopleustes, an author who lived in the middle of the sixth century. "The Christians," says he, "having been at first severely persecuted by Greeks and Jews, conquered and converted those who persecuted them; thus the church is not overthrown but multiplied; so that the whole earth is filled with the doctrine of the Lord Christ, and yet it increases; and the Gospel is preached throughout the world, which in many places, when present, I have seen, and, having learned, I therefore declare the truth. In the island of Taphrobane [Ceylon] in the interior India, surrounded by the Indian sea, is a church of Christians. In like manner, in the country called Male [Malabar], and in Kalliana [Calecut], is a bishop, who is consecrated in Persia. Also in the island called Dioscorides [Zocotora] are clergy ordained in Persia, and sent from thence into this island. Also amongthe Bactrians, Hunns, Persians, and other Indians, Pers-Armenians, Medes, Elamites, throughout all the region of Persia are churches innumerable, and bishops, and many martyrs: likewise, in Ethiopia, in Axomi, and in all that country. Among the inhabitants of Arabia-Felix, now called the Homeritae, throughout all Arabia, Palestine, Phoenicia, and all Syria, and Antiochia, to Mesopotamia, among the Nobatae and Garamantae in Egypt, Lybia, Pentapolis, Africa, and Mauritania, as far as Gades to the south, are Christian churches wherein the Gospel of Christ is preached: again also, in Cilicia, Asia, Cappadocia, Lazica, Pontus, and the northern parts of Scythia, among the Hyrcani, Heruli, Bulgarians, Helladici,Illyrians,Dalmatians,Goths,Spaniards,Romans,Franks,andothernations, as far as Gades in the South-sea, all believing and preaching the Gospel of Christ. And thus we see the prophesies accomplished in the whole world!" Upon the whole, the amazing progress that Christianity made in the world, when first promulgated, is a very strong argument in its favour. It was not propagated, at its commencement, during its grand increase, and while in its glory, by the sword, nor by tumult; nor enforced by the arts of vain philosophy, or the enticing words of man's wisdom: it derived all its force and evidence from the power of God exerted in the performing of miracles; from the veracity of God in accomplishing the ancient prophesies; from the Spirit of God; from the voice of reason and truth, the blameless lives and heroic martyrdom of its professors, its own superior excellence, and the suitableness of it to the exigencies of mankind. When we consider the number and characters of the Apostles,—how few! how unqualified by education for the conversion of the world! when we know that some few fishermen, and others of the lower class, undertook and succeeded in the establishing of a new religion in the world; we cannot deny them to have had the gift of tongues, and the power of working miracles. It is credulity unworthy of the most superstitious to believe, that such men as the apostles were, withoutthose extraordinary powers which the Jews and Pagans, and more particularly such an artful impostor as Simon Magus, confessed them to have had,should be able, in a short time, to propagate Christianity throughout the world. What have other men of superior parts and education been able to perform without miracles or force? See Raverette, Sharpe's Discourse on Want of Universality, Matthew 24:14.Acts 2:5; Acts 13:47.