was rather exasperated than lessened at loosing their prey; and as they could not find the apostles of the blessed JESUS, they determined to be revenged on Jason, who had concealed them. Accordingly they seized on him and some others of the brethren, and carried them before the magistrates of the city, accusing them, as they had before done the apostles themselves at Philippi, of disturbing the peace of the empire, and setting up Jesus as a king, in derogation of the emperor's dignity and authority. This accusation induced both people and magistrates to be their enemies; and though Jason was only accused of harbouring those innovators, yet the magistrate could not be prevailed upon to dismiss him and his companions, till they had given security for their appearance when called upon. When the tumult was over, the Thessalonians, who had been converted by them sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea a city about fifty miles south of Thessalonica, but out of the power of their enemies. Here also Paul's great love for his countrymen the Jews, and his earnest desire for their salvation, excited him to preach to them in particular: accordingly, he entered into their synagogue, and explained the gospel unto them, proving out of the Old Testament the truth of the doctrines he advanced. These Jews were of a more candid & ingenuous temper than those of Thessalonica; and as they heard him with great reverence and attention expound and apply the Scriptures, so they searched diligently, whether his proofs were proper & pertinent, and consonant to the sense of the texts he referred to: and having found every thing to be agreeable to what Paul had advanced, many of them believed ; and several Gentiles following their example, became obedient to the faith, amongst whom were several women of quality. The news of this remarkable success was carried to Thessalonica, and greatly incensed the inveterate enemies of the gospel there; who accordingly repaired to Berea, and raised tumults against the apostles, so that Paul, to avoid their fury, was forced to leave the town; but Silas and Timothy, either less known, or less envied continued still in the place. Leaving Berœa under the conduct of certain guides, it was pretended that Paul designed to retire by sea out of Greece that his restless enemies might cease their persecution: but the guides according to his desire, brought him to Athens, and left him there, after receiving from him an order for Silas and Timothy to repair to him as soon as they conveniently could. At this time Athens was the most famous academy of all Greece, and abounding with philosophers illustrious for their learning. Amongst the several sects that now flourished at Athens, the Stoics and Epicureans were the most remarkable for their opposition to Christianity. The Epicureans because they found their pleasant and jovial humour, and their loose and exorbitant course of life, so greatly checked and controlled by the strict and severe precepts of the gospel; and because the doctrines of it so plainly and positively asserted a Divine Providence governing the world and which at the last day will reward or punish every man according to his works. The Stoics on the other hand, though pretending to principles of great and uncommon rigour and severity, and such as had the nearest affinity to the doctrines of the gospel, yet they found them very different in practice. That meek and humble temper of mind, that modesty and selfdenial, which the gospel so earnestly recommends, and so strictly requires, were directly opposite to the immoderate pride and ambition of that sect, who were not ashamed to affirm, that their sages and philosophers were not inferior to God himself in wisdom, During Paul's abode at Athens, expecting the arrival of Silas and Timothy, he walked up and down, to take a more accurate survey of the city, which he found miserably over-run with superstition and idolatry. The inhabitants were remarkably religious and devout: they had a great num. ber of gods, whom they adored; false, indeed they were, but such as they being destitute of revelation, accounted true: and so very careful were they, taht no deity should want due honour from them, that they had an alter inscribed TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. A great variety of reasons are given for this inscription: some affirm, that it was the name which the Pagans generally gave to the God of the Jews; but others think that, besides the unknown God, it included all the gods of Asia, Europe, and Africa. The spirit of the apostle was grieved at these superstitious practices: he Jamented to see so much zeal and devotion misplaced; and flattered him. self, if he could but direct it to it's proper object, it would be of eminent service to the church of CHRIST. Accordingly, he exerted all his strength for their conversion; disputing on the sabbath days in the synagogues of the Jews; and at other times took all opportunities of preaching to the Athenians the coming of the Messiah to save the world from sin and misery. The apostle's doctrine was equally new and strange to the Athenians; and though they did not persecute him as the Jews did, yet his preaching JESUS was considered by the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers as a fabulous, legend; and by the more sober part as a discovery of some new gods, which they had not yet placed in their temples: and though they were not unwilling to receive any new deities, yet as the Areopagus, the supreme court of the city, was to judge of all gods, to whom public worship might be allowed, they brought him before those judges, to give an account of his doctrine in their hearing. Being placed before the judges of this high assembly, St. Paul readily gave them an account of his doctrine, in a graye and elegant speech, wherein he did not tell them they were horrible and gross idolators, Jest he should offend them, and thereby prevent them from listening to his reasons; but having commended them for their religious dispositions, he took occasion from the alter inscribed to the unknown God, to make a proper defence of his doctrine. " I endeavour, said he, only to explain that alter to you, and manifest the nature of that God whom ye ignorantly worship; which is the God that made the world, and all things therein : and who being Lord of all, dwelt not in temples made with hands, nor is to be worshipped in lifeless idols. As he is the Creator of all things, he cannot be confined to the workmanship of man, whether temples, or statues; nor stands in need of sacrifices, since he is the fountain of life to all things. He made from one common original the whole race of mankind, and hath wisely determined their dependence on him, that they might be obliged to seek after him and serve him. A truth perceiveable in the darkest state of ignorance, and acknowledged by one of your own peets. If this be the nature of God, it is surely the highest absurdity to represent him by any image or similitude. The divine patience hath been too much exercised already with such gross abuses in religion; but now expects a thorough reformation, having sent his Son JESUS CHRIST to make him known to the world, and at the same time to inform them that he hath ap? pointed a day of general judgment, when the religion of mankind shall be tried by the test of the gospel, before his only begotten Son, who is appointed, sole Judge of quick and dead, and whose commission to that high office hath been ratified by the Almighty, in raising him from the dead by his almighty power." He had no sooner mentioned the resurrection, than some of the philosophers mocked and derided him; others more modest, but not satisfied with the proofs he had given, gravely answered, "We would hear thee again of this matter." After which Paul departed from the court; but not without some success: for a few of his auditors believed and attended his instructions; amongst whom were Dionysius, one of the Judges, and Damaris, thought by some to have been his wife. And it is generally bew lieved that Dionysius was afterwards constituted the first bishop of Athene by this apostle. While St, Paul remained at Athens, Timothy according to the order he had received, came to him out of Macedonia, and brought an account that the Christians at Thessalonica were under persecution from their fellow cit izens ever since his departure, at which St. Paul was greatly concerned, and at first inelined to visit them in person, to confirm them in the faith they had embraced; but being hindered by the enemies of the gospel, he sent Timothy to comfort them, and put them in mind of what they hey had first heard, namely, that persecution would be the constant attendant on their profession. at St. Paul left Athens on Timothy's departure, and travelled to Corinth, a very populous place, and famous for it's trade. Here he found Acquila, and Priscilla his wife, lately come from Italy, after having been ban ished from Rome by a decree of Claudius; and they being of the same trade he himself had learned in his youth, he wrought with them that he might not be burdensome to the new converts in that city. The apostle after some stay in Corinth, was joined by Silas and Timothy and disputed frequently in the synagogue, reasoning and proving that JESUS was the true Messiah. This exasperated the Jews to the greatest degree, and what they could not conquer by argument and force of reason, they endeavoured to carry by noise and clamour, blended with blasphemies and revilings; the last refuge of an impotent and baffled cause. But St. Paul, to testify his resentment, shook his garment, and told them, that since they were determined to pull down the vengeance of heaven upon their own heads, he was absolutely guiltless and innocent, and would henceforth address himself to the Gentiles: accordingly he left them, and repaired to the house of Justus, a religious proselyte, where by his preaching and miracles, he converted great numbers to the faith; amongst which were Crispus the chief ruler of the synagogue, Gaius, and Stephanus, who with their families were baptised and admitted members of the church of Christ. -Inasmuch as the constant returns of malice and ingratitude are sufficient to tire the largest charity, and cool the most generous resolution; our dear Redeemer, therefore, that the apostle might not be discouraged by the rest less attempts and machinations of his enemies, appeared to him in a vision, and told him, that notwithstanding the bad success he had hitherto met with, there was a large harvest to be gathered in that place, that he should not be afraid of his enemies, but preach the gospel boldly and faithfully, for that he himself would protect and preserve him from every danger. St. Paul seems about this time to have written his first epistle to the Thessalonians, Silas and Timothy being lately returned from thence, and delivered the message for which he had sent them thither. The principal design of this epistle is, to confirm them in the belief of the Christian religion, and excite them to persevere in it, notwithstanding all the malice of their enemies, and the persecutions they must expect to suffer; and to instruct them in the duties of their high vocation. During these transactions, the malicious Jews were plotting his destruc tion: but being for some time disappointed, their malice changed into fury, and they hurried the apostle before the tribunal of Gallio, elder brother to the famous Seneca, and proconsul of the province, accusing him of being an innovator in religion, && of endeavouring to introduce a method of worshipping God contrary to law. Paul was ready to have made his defence; but Gallio prevented him, by telling his accusers, that if he had been guilty of any injustice he would have heard their complaint and redressed their grievance; but as it was nothing but a controversy about words and names, he would have nothing to do with it. But the Jews continuing their clamour, he commanded his officers to drive them from the tribunal; which was accordingly done, and some of the townsmen seized upon Sost hens one of the rulers of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgmentseat, the proconsul giving himself no concern about it. Thus were the de signs of the apostle's enemies rendered abortive; and Paul continued with out any further opposition, to preach the doctrine of the gospel during af year and a half, when he left the church at Corinth, to visit others he had planted in different parts of the east. While the apostle continued at Corinth he wrote his second Epistle to the Thessalonians, to supply his absence. In this Epistle he again endeavours to confirm their minds in the truth of the gospel, and prevent their being shaken with those troubles which the wicked and unbelieving Jews would be continually raising against them. And because some passages in his former Epistle relating to the destruction of the Jews had been misunderstood, as if the day of the Lord was near at hand, he rectifies these mistakes, and shews the sign that must precede our Lord's coming to judgment in the latter days. Leaving the church at Corinth, St. Paul took ship at Cenchrea, the port of Corinth, for Syria, taking with him Aquila and Priscilla ; and on his arrival at Ephesus, he preached a while in the synagogue of the Jews, promising to return to them after keeping the passover at Jerusalem. Ac cordingly, he again took ship, and landed at Cæsaria, and from thence travelled to Jerusalem, where he kept the feast, visited the church, and then repaired to Antioch: here he stayed some time, and then traversed the countries of Galatia and Phrygia, till he came to Ephesus, confirming the new converted Christians. While the apostle was taking this large circuit, Providence took care of the churches of Ephesus and Corinth, by means of one Apollos, and eloquent Jew of Alexandria, and well acquainted with the law and writings of the prophets. This man coming to Ephesus, though he was only instructed in the first rudiments of Christianity, and John's baptism; yet he taught with great courage, and a most powerful zeal. After being fully instructed in the faith by Aquila and Priscilla, he passed over into Achaia, being furnished with recommendatory letters by the churches of Ephesus and Corinth.He was of the greatest service in Achaia, in watering what Paul had planted, confirming the disciples, and powerfully convincing the Jews, that JESUS was the true Messiah promised in the Scriptures of the Old Testa ment. Leaving Apollos thus usefully employed, St. Paul returned to Ephesus, where he fixed his abode for three years, bringing with him Gaius of Derbe, Aristarchus a native of Thessalonica, Timotheus and Erastus of Corinth, and Titus. The first thing he did after his arrival was to examine certain disciples, whether they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed? To which they answered, "That the doctrine they had received, promised nothing of that nature; nor had they ever heard that such an extraordinary spirit had of late been bestowed upon the church." This answer surprized the apostle who asked them in what name they had been baptized; since, in the Christian form, the name of the Holy Ghost was always expressed? They replied, that they had only received John's baptism; which, though it enjoined men to repent, yet mentioned nothing expressly concerning the Holy Ghost, or it's gifts or powers. Upon which the apostle informed them, that though John's baptism commanded nothing but repentance, yet it tacitly implied the whole doctrine of CHRIST and the Holy Ghost. When they heard this, they were baptized according to the form prescribed by CHRIST himself, that is, in the name of the blessed Trinity; and after the apostle had prayed and laid his hands upon them, they received the gifts of tongues and other miraculous powers. St. Paul, after this, entered into the Jewish synagogues, were for the first three months, he contended and disputed with the Jews, endeavouring with great earnestness and resolution to convince them of the truth of the Christian religion. But when instead of success he met with nothing but obstinacy and infidelity, he left the synagogue, and taking those with him whom he had converted, instructed them and others who resorted to him, in the school of one Tyrannus, a place where scholars used to be instructed. In this manner he continued to preach the gospel two whole years; by which means the Jews and proselytes of the whole proconsular Asia had an opportunity of hearing the glad-tidings of salvation. And because miracles are the clearest evidence of a divine mission, the Almighty was pleased to testify to the doctrine which St. Paul delivered by amazing and miraculous operations, many of which were of a peculiar and extraordinary nature; for he did not only heal those that came to him, but if napkins or handkerchiefs were only touched by him, and applied to the sick, their diseases immediately vanished, and the evil spirits departed out of those whom they had possessed. The apostle about this time wrote his Epistle to the Gallatians; for he had heard that since his departure, corrupt opinions had crept in amongst them, with regard to the necessity of observing the legal rites; and that several impostors had found admittance into that church, who knew no better method of undermining the doctrine he had planted there, than by vilifying his person, slighting him only as an apostle at second hand, not to be compared with Peter, James, and John, who had familiarly conversed with CHRIST in the days of his flesh, and been immediately deputed by him. In this Epistle he reproves them with some necessary severity, for their being so soon led out of the right way, wherein he had placed them, and so easily suffered themselves to be imposed upon by the crafty artifices of seducers. He vindicates the honour of his apostleship, and the immediate receiving his commission from CHRIST, he shews, that he was not inferior to the very best of the apostles. He largely refutes those Judaical opinions that had tainted and infected them; and, in the conclusion, instructs them in the rules and duties of a holy life. While St. Paul resided at Ephesus, an accident happened which was attended with great trouble and danger. In this city was the celebrated temple of Diana, a structure so magnificent for beauty, riches, and magnitude, that it was reckoned one of the seven wonders of the world: but what increased it's fame and reputation was an image of Diana kept there, which the idolatrous priests persuaded the people was made by Jupiter himself, and dropt down from heaven; for which reason it was held in great veneration, not only at Ephesus, but throughout all Asia: so that people procured silver shrines, or figures of this temple; of such a size as to carry in their pockets, either for curiosity, or to stir up their devotion. This proved the source of a great deal of business to the silversmiths of Ephesus, of whom one Demetrius was the chief: this man plainly perceiving, that Christianity tended to the subversion of idolatry, &, consequently, to the ruin of their gainful employment, called all the artists together, and pathetically represented to them, "How inevitably they must be reduced to a state of poverty, if they suffered Paul to bring their temple and goddess into contempt, by persuading people, as he did, that they were no gods which were made by the hands of men." On hearing this speech of Demetrius, the people were fired with a zeal which they could no longer contain; so that they cried out with one voice, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians. They should, indeed, have considered, that if their goddess was able to defend herself against the doctrines preached by Paul, neither she nor the temple were in any danger; whereas, if Paul was able to destroy their gods, it was in vain for them to resist |