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 surprised 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; 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 Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; and after the apostle had prayed and laid his hands over them, they received the gifts of tongues, and other miraculous powers.

After this, he entered into the Jewish synagogues, where, 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 be continued to preach the gospel two whole years; by which means the Jews and proselytes had an opportunity of hearing the glad tidings of salvation: and because miracles are the clearest evidence of a divine commission, the Almighty was pleased to tes

tify the doctrine which St. Paul delivered by amazing and miraculous operations, many of which were of a peculiar and extraordinary nature; for he not only healed 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 them that were possessed by them.

About this time the apostle wrote his Epistle to the Galatians; for he had heard that, since his departure, corrupt opinions had crept in among them, with regard to the necessity of observing the legal rites: and that several impostors had found admitance into the church, who knew no better method of undermining the doctrine he had planted there, than by vilifying his person, slighting him as an apostle only 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, therefore, 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 suffering 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, wherein 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.

During St. Paul's stay 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 its fame and reputation, was an image of Diana kept there, which the idolatrous

priests persuaded the people was made by Jupiter himself, and dropped 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, and, 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 the people, as he did, that they were no gods which were made with hands.

This speech of Demetrius fired them 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 him. But interest and superstition combining in the minds of a bigotted multitude, admitted of no reason. They were all fired with zeal for their goddess, and determined, if they could find Paul, to expose him to the beasts in the theatre, for it was customary in those days, at the celebration of their public games and festivals, to expose slaves to the ravage of wild beasts, for the diversion of the spectators. The whole city was filled with the tumult; and the crowd missing Paul, laid hold on Gaius and Aristarchus, two Macedonians of Paul's company, and hurried them into the theatre, with a design to throw them to the wild beasts. Paul, who was at present in a place of security, hearing of the

danger to which his brethren were exposed, was very desirous of venturing after them, in order to speak in their behalf; but he was at last dissuaded from it, not only by the christians, but also by the Gentile governors of the theatrical games, who were his friends, and who assured him that he would only endanger himself without rescu-> ing his friends.

The noise and confusion of the multitude was now prodigious, most of them not knowing the reason for which they were come together; and therefore some said one thing. and some another. In this distraction Alexander, a Jewish convert, was singled out by the multitude, and by the instigation of the Jews, was going to make his defence, in which, doubtless, he would have laid the whole blame upon Paul; but the multitude perceiving him to be a perceiving him to be a Jew, and therefore suspecting he was one of Paul's associates, raised another outcry for near two hours together, wherein nothing could be heard, but Great is Diana of the Ephesians! This confusion brought the town-clerk, who kept the register of the games, into the theatre, to suppress, if possible, so uncommon a tumult. And having, with great difficulty obtained silence, he calmly and discreetly told them, "That the world was sufficiently acquainted with the devotion paid by the Ephesians to the great goddess Diana, and the image which fell down from Jupiter; and therefore it was absolutely needless for them to publish it at that time. That if Demetrius and his fraternity had any thing to alledge against Paul and his companions, the courts were open, and they might bring their accusation against them. Or, if they were questioned, with regard to the breach of any of their laws, the cause ought to be heard in a regular assembly. That they would do well to consider this, and be quiet; having already rendered themselves obnoxious to the displeasure of the magistrates, if they should think proper to call them to an account for that day's tumult."

This discourse had the desired effect; the multitude were convinced that they had acted very improperly, and, therefore, repaired to their respective habitations; and Gaius, Aristarchus, and Alexander, were released without any hurt. But the escape of Paul was so very remarkable, that he mentions it as a miraculous deliverance : We had, says he, the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raised the dead, who delivered us from so great a death. And in another place he tells us, "he fought with beasts at Ephesus ;" alluding either to the design of the enraged multitude of throwing him to the wild beasts in the theatre, though their intention was not executed, or to the manners of the people, who sufficiently deserved the character of being savage and brutal in the highest degree.

About this time Paul was informed of some disturbances in the church at Corinth, hatched and fomented by a company of false teachers, crept in among them, who endeavoured to draw them into parties and factions, by persuading one company to be for Peter, another for Paul, and a third for Apollos as if the principal part of religion consisted in being of this or that denomination, or in a warm active zeal to depreciate and oppose whoever was not of the same sect.

It is a very weak and slender claim, when a man holds his religion by no better title than his having joined himself to such or such a sector congregation, and is remark. ably zealous to promote it, to be childishly and passionately clamorous for some person's particular mode of administration, or some particular opinion; as if religion rather consisted in disputes, or in separating from our brethren; than in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

By these means schism and factions broke into the Corinthian church: whereby many wild and extravagant opinions, some No. 21.

of them such as tended to undermine the fundamental articles of Christianity, were planted, and had taken root. To cure these dissentions, St. Paul wrote his first epistle to the Corinthians, wherein he smartly reproves them for their schisms and parties, conjures them to peace and unity, corrects those gross corruptions that had been introduced among them, and particularly resolves those many cases and controversies, wherein they had requested his advice and counsel. Soon after, Apollos determining to go to Crete, together with Za nos, St. Paul sent by them his epistle to Titus, whom he had made bishop of that island, and had left there for propagating the gospel. In this epistle he instructs him fully in the execution of his office, both with regard to himself and others.

CHAP. V.

Transactions of St. Paul during the farther Progress of his Ministry, to the Time of his Arraignment before Felix.

OON after the tumult at Ephesus, Paul

SOON

called the Christians together, and took his leave of them with the utmost tender expressions of love and affection. He had now spent almost three years at Ephesus, and founded there a very considerable church, of which he had ordained Timothy the first bishop. He first travelled about two hundred miles northward, to Troas, before he took ship, expecting to meet Titus there. But missing him, he proceeded on his voyage to Macedonia.

On his arrival there he preached the gos pel in several places, even as far as Illyricum, now called Sclavonia. During this journey, he met with many troubles and daugers, without were fightings and within fears; but God who comforteth those that are cast down, revived his spirits by the arrival of Titus, who gave him a pleasing

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account of the good effect his epistle had produced at Corinth. This worthy bishop came thither with large contributions from the church at Corinth: and from the example of those liberal Christians, St. Paul stirred up the Macedonians to imitate their charity, intending to assist the poor Christians at Jerusalem.

During the stay of Titus in Macedonia, Paul wrote his second epistle to the Corinthians, and sent it to them by Titus and Luke. In this epistle he endeavours to rectify what his former Epistle had not effected, to vindicate his apostleship from that contempt and scorn, and himself from those slanders and aspersions, which the seducers, who found themselves lashed by his former letter, had cast upon him, together with several other particular cases relative to the church.

About this time also he wrote his first epistle to Timothy, whom he had left at Ephesus; wherein he gives him directions how to conduct himself in the discharge of that great office and authority in the church committed to his care: and instructs him in the particular qualifications of those heshould make choice of as bishops and ministers in the church. He likewise gives him instructions with regard to his giving orders to deaconesses, and instructing servants; warning him at the same time against that pestilent generation of heretics and seducers that would arise in the church..

During his stay in Greece, he went to Corinth, where he wrote his famous epistle to the Romans, which he sent by Phoebe, a deaconess of the church of Cenchrea, near Corinth His principal intention in this epistle is fully to state and determine the great controversy between the Jews and Gentiles, with regard to the obligations of the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish law, and those principal and material points of doctrine depending upon it, namely, Christian liberty, the use of indifferent

things, and the like. And, which is the chief intention of all religion, instructs them, and presses them to perform the duties of a holy and pious life, such as the Christian doctrine naturally recommends.

St. Paul being now determined to return. into Syria, in order to convey the contribu tions to the brethren at Jerusalem, set out on his journey; but being informed that the Jews had formed a design of killing and robbing him by the way, he returned back into Macedonia, and came to Philippi, from thence he went to Troas, where he stayed seven days. Here he preached to them on the Lord's day, and continued his discourse till midnight, being himself to depart in the morning. The length of his discourse, and time of the night, caused some of his audience to be overtaken with sleep, and among them a young man named Eutychus, who fell from the third story, and was taken up dead; but the apostle, by his prayers to the throne of grace, presently restored him to life and health.

How indefatigable was the industry of this great apostle! How closely did he tread in the steps of his great Masier, who went about doing good. He preached, and wrought miracles, wherever he came. As a masterbuilder, he either laid a foundation, or raised the superstructure. He was instant, in season and out of season, and spared no pains. to assist the souls of men..

The night being thus spent in holy exereises, St. Paul took his leave of the brethren, in the morning travelling on foot to Assos, a sea port town, whither he had before sent his companions by sea. From thence they sailed to Mytilene, a city in the isle of Lesbos. The next day they sailed from thence, and came over against Chios, and the day following landed at Trogyllium; a promontory of Ionia, near Samos. The next day they came to Miletus, not putting in at Ephesus, because the apostle was resolved, if possible, to be at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost..