Paul, he and his companions returned back to Antioch; and soon after Peter himself came down. On reading the decretal epis tle in the church, the converts conversed freely and inoffensively with the Gentiles, till some of the Jews coming thither from Jeru salem, Peter withdrew his conversation, as it had been a thing unwarrantable and unlawful. By such a strange method of proceeding the minds of many were dissatisfied, and their consciences very uneasy. St. Paul with the greatest concern observed it, and publicly rebuked Peter, with that sharpness and severity his unwarrantable practice deserved.

Soon after this dispute, Paul and Barnabas resolved to visit the churches they had planted among the Gentiles, and Barnabas was desirous of taking with them his cousin Mark; but this Paul strenuously opposed, as he had left them in their former journey. This trifling dispute arose to such a height, that these two great apostles and fellow-labourers in the gospel parted; Barnabas, taking Mark with him, repaired to Cyprus, his native country, and Paul having made choice of Silas, and recommended the success of his undertaking to the care of divine providence, set forward on his intended. journey.

They first visited the churches of Syria and Cilicia, confirming the people in the faith, by their instructions and exhortations. Hence they sailed to Crete, where Paul preached the gospel, and constituted Titus to be the first bishop and pastor of the island, leaving him to settle those affairs of the church which time would not permit the apostle to settle himself. From hence Paul and Silas returned back into Cilicia, and came to Lystra, where they found Timothy, whose father was a Greek, but his mother a Jewish convert, and by her he had been brought up under all the advantages of a pious and religious education, especially with regard to the holy scriptures, which he had studied. with the greatest siduity and success. This person St. Paul

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designed for the companion of his travels, and a special instrument in the ministry of the gospel. But knowing that his being uncircumcised would prove a stumbling-block to the Jews, he caused him to be circumcised; being willing in lawful and indifferent matters, to conform himself to the tempers and apprehensions of men in order to save their souls. In this instance the apostle evinced much prudence, well knowing that inveterate prejudices in religious matters are not easily overcome; for which reason he is said to become all things to all men.

of the Holy Spirit converted many, especially a certain woman named Lydia, a Jewish proselyte, a seller of purple in that city, but a native of Thyatira. This woman, being baptized with her whole family, was so importunate with St. Paul and his companions to abide at her house, that they were constrained to accept of her invitation.

and

During the time of the apostles residing in this city, they continued their daily course. of worshipping at the same oratory after several days, as they were repairing to the same place of devotion, there met him a damsel who possessed a spirit of divination, by whom her masters acquired very great advantage. This woman followed Paul and his companions, crying out, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation." Paul, at first, took no notice of her, not being willing to multiply miracles without necessity. But when he saw her following them several days together, he began to be troubled, and in imitation of his great Master, who would not suffer the devil to acknowledge him, lest his false and lying tongue should prejudice the truth in the minds of men, commanded the spirit, in the name of Jesus, to come out of her. The evil spirit, with reluctance, obeyed, and left the damsel that very instant.

This miraculous cure proving a great loss to her masters, who acquired large gains from her sooth-saying, they were filled with envy and malice against the apostles; and, by their instigation, the multitude arose, and seized upon Paul and his companions, hurried them before the magistrates and governors of the colony; accusing them of introducing many innovations which were prejudicial to the state, and unlawful for them to comply with as being Romans.

The magistrates being concerned for the tranquillity of the state, and jealous of all disturbances, were very forward to punish the offenders, against whom great numbers

of the multitude testified; and therefore commanded the officers to strip them, and Scourge them severely, as seditious persons.

This was accordingly executed; after which the apostles were committed to close custody, the jailer receiving more than ordinary charge to keep them safely; and he accordingly thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. But the most obscure dungeon, or the pitchy mantle of the night, cannot intercept the beams of divine joy and comfort from the souls of pious men. Their minds were all serenity; and at midnight they prayed and sung praises so loud, that they were heard in every part of the prison. Nor were their prayers offered to the throne of grace in vain; an earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, opened the doors, loosed the chains, and set the prisoners at liberty.

This convulsion of nature roused the jailer from his sleep; and concluding from what he saw, that all his prisoners were escaped, he was going to put a period to his life; but Paul observing him, hastily cried, Do thyself no harm, for we are all here. The keeper was now as greatly surprised at the goodness of the apostles, as he was before terrified at the thoughts of their escape and calling for a light, he came immediately into the presence of the apostles, fell down at their feet, took them from the dungeon, brought them to his own house, washed their stripes, and begged of them to instruct him in the knowledge of that God who was so mighty to save.

St. Paul readily granted his request, and replied, That, if he believed in Jesus Christ, he might be saved, with his whole house: accordingly the jailer, with all his family, were, after a competent instruction, baptized, and received as members of the church of Christ. How happy a change does the doctrine of the gospel make in the minds of men! How does it smooth the roughest tempers, and instil the sweetest

principles of civility and good nature into the minds of men; he who, but a few moments before, tyrannized over the apostles with the most cruel usage, now treats them with the greatest respect, and the highest marks of kindness.

As soon as it was day, the magistrates either hearing what bad happened, or reflecting on what they had done as too harsh and unjustifiable, sent their serjeant to the jailer with orders to discharge the apostles. The jailer joyfully delivered the message, and bid them depart in peace; but Paul, that he might make the magistrates sensible what injury they had done them, and how unjustly they had punished them without examination or trial, sent them word, that, as they thought proper to scourge and imprison Romans, contrary to the laws of the empire, he expected they should come themselves, and make them some satisfaction.

his custom, went into the synagogue of the Jews, and preached unto his countrymen; the ungrateful usage he had met with in other places, not discouraging him in persevering in so glorious a work. His doctrine, however, was strenuously opposed by the Jews, who would not allow Jesus to be the Messiah, because of his ignominious death.

During the stay of the apostles at Thessalonica, they lodged in the house of a certain christian named Jason, who entertained them very courteously. But the Jews would not suffer the apostles to continue at rest. They refused to embrace the gospel themselves, and therefore envied its success, cordingly, they gathered together a great and determined to oppose its progress. Acnumber of lewd and wicked wretches, who beset the house of Jason, intending to take Paul, and deliver him up to an incensed multitude. But in this they were disappointed, Paul and Silas being removed from thence by the christians, and concealed in some other part of the city.

Their fury however was rather exasperated than lessened at losing 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, with 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 the people and the magistrates to be their enemies; and though Jason was only accused of harbouring those innovators, yet the magistrates could not be prevailed upon to dismiss him and his companions, till they had given security for their appearance.

As soon as the tumult was over, the Thessalonians, who had been converted by

These

them, sent away Paul and Silas by night to Beræa, 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 of 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 scriptures of the Old Testament, the truth of the doctrines he advanced. Jews were of a more ingenuous and candid 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 and 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, among 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 Beræa, and raised tumults against the apostle; 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 there.

Paul leaving Beræa, under the conduct of certain guides, it was said he designed to retire by sea out of Greece, that his restless enemies might cease their persecution; but the guides, according to Paul's order, brought him to Athens, and left him there, after receiving from him an order for Silas and Timotheus to repair to him as soon as possible.

While St. Paul continued 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 overrun with superstition and idolatry. The inhabitants were remarkably

religious and devout; they had a great number 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, that no deity should want due honour from them, that they had an altar 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 it included all the gods of Asia, Europe, and Africa.

These superstitious practices grieved the spirit of the apostle; accordingly he exerted all his strength for their conversion; he dis puted 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.

This 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.

Paul being placed before the judges of this high assembly, readify gave them an account of his doctrine, in a grave and elegant speech; wherein he did not tell them they were horrible and gross idolators, lest 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 altar inscribed to the unknown God,to make a pro