ingly they sold all their possessions, and brought part of the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet; hoping to deceive them, though guided by the spirit of Omnipotence. But Peter, at his first coming in, asked Ananias, how he could suffer Satan to fill his heart with such enormous wickedness, as to think to deceive the Holy Ghost. That before it was sold, it was wholly in his own power, and afterwards the money entirely at his own disposal; so that his action was capable of no other interpretation, than that he had not only abused and injured man, but mocked the Almighty himself, who he must know was privy to his most secret thoughts.

The apostle had no sooner finished, than Ananias, to the great terror of all that were. present, fell down dead, by a stroke from heaven.

Not long after, his wife came in, whom Peter reproved in the same manner he had done her husband, adding, that she should immediately end her life in the same awful manner; upon which she was smitten by the hand of Omnipotence, and fell down dead; sharing with her husband in the punishment, as she had before in the heinous crime. This

remarkable instance of severity filled all the converts with fear and trembling, and prevented, in a great measure, that hypocrisy and dissimulation, by which others might flatter themselves to deceive the church.

But such instances of severity were very extraordinary; the power of the apostles was generally exerted in works of mercy and beneficence towards the sons and daughters of affliction. They cured all kinds of diseases, and cast out devils; so that they brought the sick into the streets, and laid them upon beds and couches, that the shadow at least of Peter as he passed by might cover some of them; well knowing a single touch or word, from either of the apostles, was sufficient to remove the most inveterate diseases.

Such astonishing miracles could not fail of contributing to the propagation of the gospel, and to convince the world, that the apostles were far more considerable persons than they at first took them to be; and that poverty and meanness may be blended with true worth and genuine greatness. How small and insignificant is the power and dignity of all earthly monarchs, when compared to the glory of this apostle! and how contemptible were the triumphs of a Pompey and a Cæsar, when placed in competition with the greatness and majesty of St. Peter, who converted the world from idolatry and the worship of devils, and withdrew the veil of ignorance from the understanding of the human race; not by the power of armies, nor the insinuating artifices of pomp and grandeur; but by faith in the power of his Saviour.

But the stupendous works of the apostles, and the growing numbers of the church, alarmed the rulers of Israel, who seized the Their apostles, and cast them into prison. power, however, was limited, like the dropof a bucket to the ocean, when opposed to the Almighty arm of the great Jehovah. The prison doors, though fastened with the utmost caution, opened of themselves at the approach of a messenger from the courts of leave the dungeon, repair to the temple, heaven, who commanded the apostles to and preach the glad tidings of the gospel to the people.

The officers, returning in the morning, found the prison doors shut and guarded, but the prisoners gone. This remarkable circumstance greatly alarmed them, and they repaired to the council to acquaint them with what had happened. The rulers were astonished at the news; but hearing that the apostles were preaching in the temple, they sent an officer to bring them, without the least violence to their persons, before the Sanhedrim. Their order was soon obeyed, and the disciples of Jesus placed beforethe same court that had so lately condemn ed their Master.

The apostles being thus brought before the Sanhedrim, the high priest asked them, How they dared to propagate a doctrine they had so strictly charged them not to preach? To which Peter in the name of the rest, replied, "We certainly ought to obey God rather than man. And though you have so barbarously and contumeliously treated the Saviour of the world, yet God hath raised him up to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give both repentance and remission of sins. And of these things both we, and the miraculous power which the Holy Ghost hath conferred on all christians, are witnesses.”

This answer, delivered with remarkable boldness, exasperated the council, and they began to consult how they might destroy them. But Gamaliel, a grave and learned counsellor, after commanding the apostles to withdraw, desired them to proceed with caution in an affair of this nature; remanding them, that several persons had already raised parties, and drawn great numbers of persons after them; but that every one of them had miscarried, and all their designs were rendered abortive, without the interposition of that court; that they would therefore do well to let the apostles alone; for if their doctrines.and designs were of human invention, they would come to nothing; but if they were of God, all their powers and policies would be of no effect, and sad experience would too soon convince them, that they had themselves opposed the councils of the Most High.

This prudent and rational advice had the desired success; the council were satisfied and, after commanding the apostles to be scourged, they strictly charged them to preach no more in the name of Jesus, and set them at liberty.

But this charge had little effect on the disciples of the blessed Jesus; they returned home in triumph, rejoicing that they were thought worthy to suffer in so righteous a cause, and undergo shame and reproach

for so kind and so powerful a Master. Nor could all the opposition of men blended with the malice of the power of darkness, discou. rage them from performing their duty to the Almighty, or lessen their zeal for preaching both in public and private, the doctrines of the gospel.

CHAP. VII.

Concluding Scenes of St. Peter's Life.

HE christian doctrine had been propagated hitherto without much violence or opposition, in Jerusalem, but now a storm commenced with the death of the Proto-martyr Stephen, nor did it end but with the dispersion of the disciples, by which means the glad tidings of the gospel which had till now been confined to Judea, was preached to the Gentile world, and an ancient prophecy fulfilled, which says, "Out of Sion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Thus does the Almighty bring good out of evil, and cause the malicious intentions of the wicked to redound to his praise.

Among the dispersed followers of the blessed Jesus, Philip, the deacon, retired to Samaria, where he preached the gospel, and confirmed his doctrine by many miraculous cures, and casting out devils. In this city was one Simon, who, by magic art and diabolical sorceries, was beheld with admiration by the people; and some considered him as the great power of God, a name he blasphemously gave himself, pretending to be the first and chief deity, or what every nation considered as the supreme God.

This wicked mortal, hearing the sermons of Philip, and beholding the miracles wrought by him, became a convert to the religion of Jesus, and was baptized with the others, who had embraced the principles of the christian doctrine.

The apostles who continued at Jerusalem, were soon informed of this remarkable success of Philip's ministry in Samaria, and thought it necessary to send him assistance. Accordingly Peter and John were deputed to this infant church, who having prayed, and laid their hands on the new converts, they received the Holy Ghost.

Such miraculous gifts astonished the magician and desirous of obtaining the same privilege, he offered the disciples money to invest him with the power, that on whomsoever he laid his hand, they might they might receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter who perceived the insincerity of his heart, rejected his offer with scorn and detestation. Thy money, said the great apostle, perish with thee. And as thy heart is full of hypocrisy and deceit, thou canst have no share nor portion in so great a privilege. Thou wouldst do well to repent of so monstrous a crime, and sincerely apply thyself to seek the Almighty, that the thoughts of my heart may be forgiven thee: for I perceive that thy temper and disposition of mind is still vicious and corrupt, and thou art yet bound by the chains of iniquity, and in a state displeasing to the Almighty, and dangerous to thyself.

Simon was terrified at this speech of St. Peter: his conscience flew in his face, and he prayed the apostles to make intercessions for him to the throne of grace, that the Almighty might pardon his sin, and not inflict on him those heavy judgments.

The apostles did not stay any longer in Samaria than was necessary to confirm the new converts in the faith they bad embraced, and to preach the glad tidings of salvation in the adjacent villages; after which they returned to Jerusalem, to assist the rest of the disciples with their power.

The storm, though violent, being at length blown over, the church enjoyed a time of calmness and security; during which, Saint Peter went to visit the churches No. 19.

lately planted in those parts, by the disciples whom the persecution had dispersed. Andon his arrival at Lydda, he miraculously healed Æneas who had been afflicted with the palsy, and confined to his bed eight years; but on Peter bidding him arise, in the name of Jesus, he was immediately restored to perfect health. Nor was the success of his miracle confined to Æneas and his family; the fame of it was blazed through all the neighbouring country, and many believed in the doctrine of the Son of God. It was even known at Joppa, a sea-port town about six miles from Lydda, and the brethren immediately sent for Peter, on the following melancholy occasion.-Tabitha, whose Greek name was Dorcas, a woman venerable for her piety, and extensive charity, was lately dead, to the great loss of mankind, who loved genuine benevolence, especially the poor and afflicted, who were supported by her charity.

At Peter's arrival he found her dressedfor funeral solemnity, and surrounded by mournful widows, who shewed the coats and garments wherewith she had clothed them, the monuments of her liberality. But Peter put them all out, and, kneeling down, prayed with the utmost fervency; then turning to the body, he commanded her to arise, and taking her by the hand, presented her in perfect health to her friends and others, who were assembled to pay their last duties to so good a woman. This miracle confirmed those who had newly embraced the doctrine of Jesus, and converted many more to the faith. After which he stayed a considerable time at Joppa, lodging in the house of one Simon, a tanner.

During his abode in this city, one day when he was offering up his prayers to the Almighty, he found himself hungry, and called for meat: but while it was dressing for him he fell into a trance, wherein was represented to him a large sheet let down from heaven, containing all sorts of creatures, clean and unclean; and at the same 4 G

time a voice said to him, "arise Peter, kill and eat." But the apostle, as yet tenacious of the rights and institutions of the Mosaic law, answered, that his conscience refused to comply, having never eaten any thing that was common or unclean. To which the voice replied, That it was unjust to consider that as common which God had cleansed. This was done thrice, after which the vessel was again drawn up to heaven, and the vision disappeared. By this symbolical representation, St. Peter was given to understand, that the Almighty was now going to send him on a new embassy, which the Spirit at the same time commanded him to undertake. While he was still wondering with himself what the event would prove, three messengers knocked at the gate, enquiring for him; and from them he receiving the following account:-That Cornelius, a Roman, captain of a band of Italian soldiers at Cæsarea, a person of great piety and religion, one who had been long a proselyte, had, by an immediate command from God, sent for him.

same time ordered me to send to Joppa for one Simon Peter, who lodged in the house of a tanner near the sea-side, who would give me farther information in the mysteries of salvation, Accordingly I made no hesitation to obey the heavenly messenger; I sent immediately for thee; and now thou art come, and we are met together to hear what instructions thou hast to communicate.

The relation of the Roman centurion astonished the apostle; but he was soon convinced that God had broken down the partition wall, and no longer maintained a peculiar kindness for the sons of Jacob; that it was not the nation, but the religion; not the external quality of the man, but the internal temper of the mind, that recommended the human race to the favour of Omnipotence: that the devout and pious, the righte ous and the good men, whatever part of the earth they may inhabit, are the favourites of heaven; that God as highly respects a just and virtuous man in the barren wastes of Scythia, as on the mountain of Sion; that the reconciling and making peace between God and man by Jesus Christ, was the doctrine published by the prophets of old; and that God had now anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with divine powers, in the exercise whereof be went about doing good to the children of men; that they had seen all he had done among the Jews, whom though they had slain and crucified, yet that God had raised him again the third day, and had openly shewed him to his apostles and followers, whom hẹ had chosen to be his peculiar witnesses, and whom he had accordingly permitted to eat and drink with him after his resurrection, commanding them to preach the gospel to all mankind, to testify that he was the person whom God had ordained to be the great judge of the world; that all the prophets with one consent bore witness of him ; and that this Jesus is he, in whose name whosoever believes, would certainly receive remission of sins.