admitted to partake of the blessings of the gospel. The doctrine which hath been preached through all Judea, and took its rise from Galilee, just in your neighbourhood, after John's preaching and baptizing, concerning Jesus of Nazareth, is no strange thing to you; how by the tes timony of the Holy Ghost descending on him, and by the power of working miracles, God authorized him; and accordingly he hath executed his office, in calling to re pentance, curing diseases, and casting, out devils, by the power of God, which was present with him. Of all which wonderful things performed by him we are witnesses, and likewise of his crucifixion and resurrection, that grand triumph over death. But this manifestation was not immediately made to all the Jews, but only to his disciples, whom God had inclined to leave all and follow Christ; and as he had chosen them to be witnesses of all that Christ did when he was living, so he ordained them witnesses of his resurrection, giving them the honour of eating and drinking with him after he rose from the dead. And this God hath appointed us to publish, and to proclaim to all the world, that this crucified Christ is raised to God's right hand, to be Judge of all men. This is he, of whom all the prophets foretold, that whosoever believeth in him shall receive the forgiveness of their sins by his name, though their crimes be ever so heinous."

Whilst Peter was thus speaking, the Holy Ghost came down upon the whole audience, and inspired them with his gifts and graces; which was a wonderful confirmation of the preceding visions, and that part of Peter's dis course concerning the removal of the distinction between the Jews and Gentiles. And this more particularly af fected the Jews who had received the gospel, who seeing the Holy Ghost equally inspiring this assembly, were convinced, and praised God for this impartial distribution of his mercies. Then Peter, by way of application of what he had before preached, says, "There is no scruple to be made of receiving these to the privileges of the gospel, although they be Gentiles, since God, by the imme. diate descent of the Holy Ghost, hath granted them." Upon which they were all baptized in the name of the VOL. II.

Blessed Trinity; Peter, at their earnest request, tarrying some time with them.

Before Peter's return from Cæsarea, the apostles and disciples at Jerusalem had heard that the people of other countries, who were not Jews, had embraced the doctrine of Christ. And at Peter's coming to Jerusalem, the Jewish Christians, who still adhered strictly to the observation of the Mosaical law of circumcision, of abstaining from unclean things, and conversing with men of other nations, accused Peter of too much freedom in conversing with those that were not circumcised, and eating with them, which, according to the law of the Jews, was forbidden. But Peter made his apology by giving them an exact account of the whole proceeding, with the occasion of it: and at last draws this conclusion from it; " Since God hath been pleased to allow these Gentiles the same privileges with us who have been his constant disciples, and since the gift of the Holy Ghost hath been likewise imparted to them, it must in me have been direct disobedience to God, if I had declined receiving them into the church, or refused to preach to and converse with them." With this account of the matter they were perfectly satisfied, and blessed God, who had communicated the same mercy to the Gentiles as to the Jews. But still the disciples, who were dispersed upon the persecution and death of Stephen, preached the gospel to the Jews only.

After this, the apostles being informed of the further progress of the gospel at Antioch, and desirous of confirming them in the faith, sent thither Barnabas, a pious man endued with many excellent gifts, who, being highly delighted with the pleasing effects of the word among them, exhorted them all to adhere to the Lord with full determination of heart. The exhortations of this worthy man were attended with a peculiar blessing; for those who had embraced the gospel were confirmed in the faith, and a considerable number believed, and were received into the church.

Barnabas having effected his design at Antioch, and wishing for an assistant in his labours, left that place for Tarsus in search of Saul, and finding him there, returned

with him to Antioch, where, for a whole year, they resorted to the place of public assemblies, instructing and confirming all that came. And those that had received the faith of Christ being before called Nazarites or Galileans, were first of all in Antioch styled Christians.*

About this time, some of the chief men, who possessed the gift of prophecy, came by the appointment of the church at Jerusalem to Antioch; and one of them named Agabus, by revelation from the Spirit of God, foretold that there should shortly be a very great famine through all the adjacent countries; which accordingly came to pass in the reign of the Emperor Claudius; upon which the Christians in all places, according to their ability, resolved to send relief to the Christians in Judea in this time of dearth; and this accordingly they did, forwarding their bounty to the care of the elders of the church at Jerusalem, by the faithful hands of Barnabas and Saul.

About this time, being the forty-third year of Christ, Herod Agrippa, grandson to Herod the Great, having obtained great part of his dominions, and so calling himself by his name, resolved to persecute the Christians, especially the apostles at Jerusalem, merely to gratify the Jews. And in this persecution, James the apostle, the son of Zebedee, was beheaded by Herod's command. † Perceiving that this cruel action was very acceptable to the Jews, whose favour he was fond of conciliating, he was determined to proceed, and therefore apprehended Peter also about the time of the Passover: and having imprisoned him, he set a guard of sixteen soldiers over him, intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the Jews, and, if they approved of it, to put him to death. During Peter's confinement, the church ceased

Christians. So denominated, as many think, by an intimation from heaven: the name, however, is eminently significative, and should remind all who bear it of the propriety of resembling that holy person from whom they derive it.

†Thus was our Lord's prediction concerning him fulfilled, Matt. xx. 23; and thus would the heroic courage of the rest of his ministers be displayed in proceeding with their work, as it would plainly shew that their miraculous powers did. not secure them from dying by the sword of their enemies.

not to offer up their constant prayers for his preservation. And the night before Herod intended to bring him to the assembly, to have their suffrage to condemn him, whilst Peter was sleeping, more securely under the protection of heaven than his double chains and guard, an angel descended in a bright cloud, which illuminated the prison, and touching his side, bid him ariser Upon which, awaking, he found his fettered limbs at liberty. Then the angel commands him to dress himself, and fol low him. Peter, in some disorder obeyed, not knowing what was really done, but thought he had been in a dream or trance. The prison being in the suburbs, they passed the first and second wards, where watch was kept every night without the gates; and at last they came to the iron-gate that led to the city, which opening to them of its own accord, they passed; and when they had gone through it into the street, the heavenly guide having carried his sacred charge out of danger of the guards, disappeared, leaving Peter alone. By this time Peter: was perfectly awake, and considering what had happened he said to himself, "Now I am satisfied that God hath sent his angel to deliver me from the hands of Herod, and from the expectation of the Jews." And as he was ruminating on his miraculous escape, he came to the house of Mary, a place where many Christians were spending the night in earnest prayer for his deliverance; and God had graciously answered them, for he had discharged the prisoner for whom they were so much concerned. Peter knocking at the door, a damsel, named Rhoda, came to know who it was, and hearing Peter answer, she, overjoyed to hear his voice, ran into the house, and acquainted the company that Peter was at the door. They told her she was mad: but she persisted in her first report. Then they being moved with her constant af firming of it, thereupon concluded, that though Peter himself could not be there, yet there was some * inessen

Messenger. The word angel, which, by way of excellence, is put to denote the immortal spirits attending on God, doth primarily, and in the common use, signify a messenger, and from thence only denote those spirits, because they are

ger sent from him, who might mention his name. But whilst they were thus debating among themselves, Peter continued knocking; and when they had let him in, they were exceedingly surprised to see him in person. But lest their joy might discover his escape to the neighbourhood, he beckoned to them with his hand to be silent, whilst he related how wonderfully God had delivered him out of the hands of his enemies. He also bid them go and immediately acquaint James with this good news, that it might be communicated to the rest of the brethren; he then, very prudently, separated from them,: and went to a place of greater security, to avoid the search which he knew would of course be made among his friends and acquaintance; and therefore he departed to Cæsarea, where he staid till the noise of his escape was

over.

The next morning, as soon as it was day, the soldiers missing their prisoner, were in the utmost confusion, none being able to imagine by what means he could escape; which Herod hearing of, he sent for the guard, and strictly examined them; but they being unable to give any satisfactory account of the matter, and thinking it unsafe to admit any idea of a miraculous interposition in favour of a man whom they had devoted to destruction, ordered them to be immediately led away to execution for their negligence.

*

At this time there was some misunderstanding between Herod and the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon, against whom he was about to declare war. But they, dreading his power, made interest with Blastus, Herod's chamberlain, to intercede for them, and make up the matter; for they could not subsist without his favour. Upon this occasion Herod appointed a day to hear and determine the business; and being dressed in his royal robes, and seated on his throne, he made a speech to them.

messengers of God, employed by him: and consequently, it may signify here no more than a messenger from St. Peter; so it doth Matthew xi. 10, Mark'i. 2. Luke vii. 27, &c. And so the angels of the churches were not those immortal * spirits, Rev. i. 19, but ministers, the messengers of God to the people.