his life, we shall find that he came hither about the beginning of Nero's reign; and he particularly sets down the strange things that were done by him, especially his clearing the city of a grievous plague; for which the people of Ephesus had him in such veneration, that they erected a statue to him as to a particular deity, and did divine honor to it. But whether this was before St. Paul's going thence, I will not take upon me to determine; it seems most propable to have been done afterwards. SECTION V. by no better a title than that he has joined himself to this man's church, or that man's congregation, and is zealously earnest to maintain and promote it; to be childishly and passionately clamorous for one man's mode and way of administration, or for some particular humor or opinion; as if religion lay in nice and curious disputes, or in separating from our brethren, and not rather "in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." By this means schisms and factions broke into the Corinthian church, whereby many wild and extravagant opinions, and some of them such as undermined the fundamental articles of Christianity, were planted, and had taken root there. As the envious man never fishes more successfully than in troubled waters. To cure these distempers St. Paul (who had received an St. Paul's acts, from his departure from Ephesus account of all these by letters which Apollos and till his arraignment before Felix. some others had brought to him from the church of Corinth) writes his first epistle to them; where- Ir was not long after the tumult at Ephesus, when in he smartly reproves them for their schisms and St. Paul having called the church together, and parties, conjures them to peace and unity, corrects constituted Timothy bishop of that place, took his those gross corruptions that were introduced leave, and departed by Troas for Macedonia. And among them, and particularly resolves those many at this time it was, that, as he himself tells us, he cases and controversies wherein they had request-"preached the gospel round about unto Illyried his advice and council. Shortly after Apollos designing to go for Crete, by him and Zenas St. Paul sends his epistle to Titus, whom he made bishop of that island, and had left there for the propagating of the gospel. Herein he fully instructs him in the execution of his office, how to carry himself, and what directions he should give others, to all particular ranks and relations of men, especially those who were to be advanced to places of office and authority in the church. 10. A little before St. Paul's departure from Ephesus, we may not improbably suppose, that Apollonius Tyaneus, the famous philosopher and magician of the heathen world, (a man remarkable for the strictness of his manners, and his sober and regular course of life, but especially for the great miracles said to have been done by him; whom therefore the heathens generally set up as the great co-rival of our Saviour: though some of his own party, and particularly Euphratus* the philosopher, who lived with him at the same time at Rome, accused him for doing his strange feats by magic) came to Ephesus. The enemy of mankind probably designing to obstruct the propagation of Christianity, by setting up one who by the arts of magic might, at least in the vogue and estimation of the people, equal, or eclipse the miracles of S. Paul. Certain it is, if we compare times and actions set down by the writer of Euseb. lib. iv. contra Hierocl. p. 530, ad calc. Demonstr. Evang. Lardner observes on a passage in Cudworth, which nearly agrees with the words of our author, that he cannot assent to the opinion it conveys, though he believes it to be that of many other learned men: "With due submission," says he, "I do not think that Apollonius was a man of so great importance as is here supposed; for it does not appear that any adversaries of the Christians, either Celsus or Porphyry, or any other, before Hierocles, at the beginning of the fourth century, under Dioclesian's persecution, ever took any notice of him in any of their arguments."-Works, vol. viii. p. (21) 264. 91 cum,"* since called Sclavonia, some parts of Macedonia bordering on that province. From Macedonia, he returned back unto Greece, where he abode three months, and met with Titus, lately come with great contributions from the church at Corinth. By whose example he stirred up the liberality of the Macedonians, who very freely, and somewhat beyond their ability, contributed to the poor Christians at Jerusalem. From Titus he had an account of the present state of the church at Corinth; and by him at his return, together with St. Luke, he sent his second epistle to them. Wherein he endeavors to set right what his former epistle had not yet effected; to vindicate his apostleship from that contempt and scorn, and himself from those slanders and aspersions, which the seducers, who had found themselves lashed by his first epistle, had cast upon him, together with some other particular cases relating to them.Much about the same timet he writ his first epistle to Timothy, whom he had left at Ephesus, wherein at large he counsels him how to carry himself in the discharge of that great place and authority in the church, which he had committed to him; instructs him in the particular qualifications of those whom he should make choice of, to be bishops and ministers in the church; how to The heathen writer, Maragenes, does not simply call him a magician, but accuses him of practising arts that were infamous and diabolical; which scarcely agrees with our author's panegyrical expressions, evidently founded on his history by Philostratus; from which, however, Eusebius did by no means draw a similar conclusion, for he says, it will of itself afford sufficient proof that Apollonius was so far from deserving to be compared with our Lord, that he did not deserve to be ranked with even moderately honest men.-ED. i order the deaconesses, and to instruct servants; life, and a hearty entertainment of the faith of warning him withal of that pestilent generation of heretics and seducers that would arise in the church. During his three months' stay in Greece, he went to Corinth, whence he wrote his famous epistle to the Romans, which he sent by Phoebe, a deaconess of the church of Cenchrea, nigh Corinth; wherein his main design is fully to state and determine the great controversy between the Jews and Gentiles, about the obligation of the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish law, and those main and material doctrines of Christianity, which did depend upon it, such as of Christian liberty, the use of indifferent things, &c. And which is the main end of all religion, instructs them in, and presses them to the duties of a holy and good life, such as the Christian doctrine does naturally tend to oblige men to. 2. St. Paul being now resolved for Syria, to convey the contributions to the brethren at Jerusalem, was awhile diverted from that resolution, by a design he was told of which the Jews had to kill and rob him by the way. Whereupon he went back into Macedonia, and so came to Philippi, and thence went to Troas; where having stayed a week, on the Lord's-day, the church met together to receive the holy sacrament. Here St. Paul preached to them, and continued his discourse till midnight, the longer probably, being the next day to depart from them. The length of his discourse, and the time of the night, had caused some of his auditors to be overtaken with sleep and drowsiness, among whom a young man called Eutychus being fast asleep, fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead, but whom St. Paul presently restored to life and health. How indefatigable was the industry of our apostle; how close did he tread in his master's steps, who "went about doing good." He compassed sea and land, preached and wrought miracles wherever he came. In every place, like a wise master-builder he either laid a foundation, or raised the superstructure. He was "instant in season and out of season," and spared not his pains, either night or day, that he might do good to the souls of men. The night being thus spent in holy exercises, St. Paul in the morning took his leave, and went on foot to Assos, a sea-port town, whither he had sent his company by sea. Thence they set sail to Mitylene; from thence to Samos, and having stayed some little time at Trogyllium, the next day came to Miletus, not so much as putting in at Ephesus, because the apostle was resolved, if possible, to be at Jerusalem at the feast of Pente cost. 3. At Miletus he sent to Ephesus,* to summon the bishops and governors of the church, who being come, he put them in mind with what uprightness and integrity, with what affection and humility, with how great trouble and danger, with how much faithfulness to their souls he had been conversant among them, and had preached the gospel to them, ever since his first coming into those parts; that he had not failed to acquaint them, both publicly and privately, with whatever might be useful and profitable to them, urging, both upon Jews and Gentiles, repentance and reformation of * Acts xxi. 17. Christ; that now he was resolved to go to Jerusalem, where he did not know what particular sufferings would befall him, more than this, that it had been foretold him in every place by those who were endued with the prophetical gifts of the Holy Ghost, that afflictions and imprisonment would attend him there; but that he was not troubled at this, no, nor unwilling to lay down his life, so he might but successfully preach the gospel, and faithfully serve his Lord in that place and station wherein he had set him; that he knew that henceforth they should see his face no more; but that this was his encouragement and satisfaction, that they themselves could bear him witness that he had not, by concealing from them any parts of the Christian doctrine, betrayed their souls; that as for themselves, whom God had made bishops and pastors of his church, they should be careful to feed, guide, and direct those Christians under their inspection, and be infinitely tender of the good of souls, for whose redemption Christ laid down his own life; that all the care they could use was no more than necessary, it being certain, that after his departure, heretical teachers would break in among them, and endanger the ruin of men's souls; nay, that even among themselves, there would some arise, who by subtile and crafty methods, by corrupt and pernicious doctrines would gain proselytes to their party, and thereby make rents and schisms in the church; that therefore they should watch, remembering with what tears and sorrow he had, for three years together, warned them of these things; that now he recommended them to the divine care and goodness, and to the rules and instructions of the gospel, which if adhered to, would certainly dispose and perfect them for that state of happiness which God had prepared for good men in heaven. In short, that as he had all along dealt faithfully and uprightly with them, they might know from hence, that in all his preaching he had no crafty or covetous designs upon any man's estate or riches; having (as themselves could witness) industriously labored with his own hands, and by his own work maintained both himself and his company; herein leaving them an example, what pains they ought to take to support the weak, and relieve the poor, rather than to be themselves chargeable unto others; according to that incomparable saying of our Saviour, (which surely St. Paul had received from some of those that had conversed with him in the days of the flesh,) "It is more blessed to give than to receive." This concio ad clerum, or visitation sermon being ended, the apostle kneeled down, and concluded all with prayer. Which done, they all melted into tears, and with the greatest expressions of sorrow attended him to the ship, though that which made the deepest impression upon their minds was, that he had told them, "that they should see his face no more." 4. Departing from Miletus, they arrived at Cos, thence came to Rhodes, thence to Patara, thence to Tyre;* where meeting with some Christians, he was advised by those among them who had the gift of prophecy, that he should not go up to * Acts xxi. 1. Jerusalem; with them he staid a week, and then | such observances at their hands, nor expected going all together to the shore, he kneeled down any thing more from them in these indifferent and prayed with them; and having mutually em- matters, than what had been before determined by braced one another, he went on board, and came the apostolical synod in that place. St. Paul (who to Ptolemais, where only saluting the brethren, in such things was willing "to become all things they came next day unto Cæsarea. Here they to all men, that he might gain the more") conlodged in the house of Philip the evangelist, one sented to the counsel which they gave him; and of the seven deacons that were at first set apart taking the persons along with him to the temple, by the apostles, who had four virgin daughters, all told the priests that the time of a row which they endued with the gift of prophecy. During their had made being now run out, and having purified stay in this place, Agabus, a Christian prophet, themselves, as the nature of the case required, came down hither from Judæa, who taking Paul's they were come to make their offerings according girdle, bound with it his own hands and feet, to the law. telling them, that by this external symbol the Holy Ghost did signify and declare, that St. Paul should be thus served by the Jews at Jerusalem, and be by them delivered over into the hands of the Gentiles. Whereupon they all passionately besought him that he would divert his course to some other place. The apostle asked them what they meant by these compassionate dissuasives to add more affliction to his sorrow; that he was willing and resolved not only to be imprisoned; but, if need were, to die at Jerusalem for the sake of Christ and his religion. Finding his resolution fixed and immovable, they importuned him no further, but left the event to the divine will and pleasure. All things being in readiness, they set forwards on their journey; and being come to Jerusalem, were kindly and joyfully entertained by the Christians there. 6. The seven days wherein those sacrifices were to be offered being now almost ended, some Jews that were come from Asia, (where, probably, they had opposed St. Paul,) now finding him in the temple, began to raise a tumult and uproar; and laying hold of him, called out to the rest of the Jews for their assistance; telling them, that this was the fellow that every where vented doctrines derogatory to the prerogative of the Jewish nation, destructive to the institutions of the law, and to the purity of that place, which he had profaned by bringing in uncircumcised Greeks into it; positively concluding, that because they had seen Trophimus, a Gentile convert of Ephesus with him in the city, therefore he had brought him also into the temple. So apt is malice to make any premises from whence it may infer its own conclusion. Hereupon the whole city was presently in 5. The next day after their arrival, St. Paul and an uproar, and seizing upon him, they dragged his company went to the house of St. James the him out of the temple, the doors being presently apostle, where the rest of the bishops and gover- shut against him. Nor had they failed there to nors of the church were met together; after mu- put a period to all his troubles, had not Claudius tual salutations, he gave them a particular account Lysias, commander of the Roman garrison in the with what success God had blessed him in propa- tower of Antonia, come in with some soldiers to gating Christianity among the Gentiles; for which his rescue and deliverance; and supposing him to they all heartily blessed God; but withal told him be a more than ordinary malefactor, commanded that he was now come to a place where there a double chain to be put upon him, though as yet were many thousands of Jewish converts, who all altogether ignorant, either who he, or what his retained a mighty zeal and veneration for the law crime was, and wherein he could receive little saof Moses; and who had been informed of him, tisfaction from the clamorous multitude, who called that he taught the Jews, whom he had converted for nothing but his death, following the cry with in every place, to renounce circumcision and the such crowds and numbers that the soldiers were ceremonies of the law; that as soon as the multi- forced to take him into their arms, to secure him tude heard of his arrival, they would come toge- from the present rage and violence of the people. ther to see how he behaved himself in this mat-As they were going up into the castle, St. Paul ter; and therefore to prevent so much disturbance, it was advisable that, there being four men there at that time who were to accomplish a vow, (probably not the Nazarite vow, but some other, which they had made for deliverance from sickness, or some other imminent danger and distress, for so Josephus tells ust they were wont to do in such cases, and before they came to offer the accustomed sacrifices, to abstain for some time from wine, and to shave their heads,) he should join himself to them, perform the usual rites and ceremonies with them, and provide such sacrifices for them as the law required in that case; and that, in discharge of their vow, they might shave their heads; whereby it would appear, that the reports which were spread concerning him were false and groundless, and that he himself did still observe the rites and orders of the Mosaical institution; that as for the Gentile converts, they required no * Acts xxi. 18. + De Bell. Jud. lib. ii. c. 15. asked the governer whether he might have the liberty to speak to him, who finding him to speak Greek, inquired of him whether he was not that Egyptian which a few years before had raised a sedition in Judæa, and headed a party of four thousand debauched and profligate wretches. The apostle replied, that he was a Jew of Tarsus, a freeman of a rich and honorable city, and therefore begged of him, that he might have leave to speak to the people; which the captain readily granted and standing near the door of the castle, and making signs that they would hold their peace, he began to address himself to them in the Hebrew language: which when they heard they became a little more calm and quiet, while he dis coursed to them to this effect. 7. He gave them an account of himself from his birth; of his education in his youth, of the mighty zeal which he had for the rites and customs of their religion, and with what a passionate earnestness he persecuted and put to death all the Christians that he met with, whereof the high- of our apostle, as if by asserting his own innopriest and the Sanhedrim could be sufficient wit- cency he had reproached the justice of their tri nesses.* He next gave them an entire and punc-bunal, commanded those that stood next him, to tual relation of the way and manner of his conversion; and how that he had received an immediate command from God himself to depart Jerusalem, and preach unto the Gentiles. At this word the patience of the Jews could hold no longer, but they unanimously cried out to have him put to death, it not being fit that such a villain should live upon the earth. And the more to express their fury, they threw off their clothes, and cast dust into the air, as if they immediately designed to stone him; to avoid which the captain of the guard commanded him to be brought within the castle, and that he should be examined by whipping, till he confessed the reason of so much rage against him. While the lictor was binding him in order to it, he asked the centurion that stood by, whether they could justify the scourging a citizen of Rome, and that before any sentence legally passed upon him This the centurion presently intimated to the governor of the castle, bidding him have a care what he did for the prisoner was a Roman. Whereat the governor himself came, and asked him, whether he was a free denizen of Rome; and being told that he was, he replied, that it was a great privilege, a privilege which he himself had purchased at a considerable rate. To whom St. Paul answered, that it was his birth-right, and the privilege of the place where he was born and bred.+ Hereupon they gave over their design of whipping him; the commander himself being a little startled, that he had bound and chained a denizen of Rome. 8. The next day the governor ordered his chains to be knocked off; and that he might thoroughly satisfy himself in the matter, commanded the Sanhedrim to meet, and brought down Paul before them were being set before the council, he told them, that in all passages of his life he had been careful to act according to the severest rules and conscience of his duty. "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." Behold here the great security of a good man, and what invisible supports innocency affords under, the greatest danger! With how generous a confidence does virtue and honesty guard the breast of a good man! as indeed nothing else can lay a firm basis and foundation for satisfaction and tranquillity, when any misery or calamity does overtake us. Religion and a good conscience beget peace and a heaven in the man's bosom, beyond the power of the little accidents of this world to ruffle and discompose. Whence Seneca compares the mind of a wise and good man to the state of the upper region, which is always serene and calm. The high-priest Ananias being offended at the holy and ingenuous freedom Acts xxii. 1. Tarsus, it is supposed, derived its privileges as a free Roman city from a grant made by Julius Cæsar; and there is every reason to believe that Paul owed his Roman citizenship to his birth in this place; but some learned men have conjectured that he derived it from his father, who is thought to have been made free of Rome for his services to the state.-ED. + Acts xxiii. 1. strike him in the face; whereto the apostle tartly 9. Great were the dissentions in the council about this matter, insomuch that the governor fearing St. Paul would be torn in pieces, commanded the soldiers to take him from the bar, and return him back into the castle. That night, to comfort him after all his frights and fears, God was pleased to appear to him in a vision, encouraging him to constancy and resolution, assuring him, that as he had borne witness to his cause at Jerusalem, so, in despite of all his enemies, he should live to bear his testimony even at Rome itself. The next morning the Jews, who could doctrine and behavior, that if he refused to own * It is plain from the general tendency of Paul's Ananias as high-priest, he did so not from his own private opinions of his demerits, but from the cer tainty that the law was against his holding that office; and it is scarcely to be believed, that if he thus solemnly disputed his authority he would have so suddenly softened his rebuke. The more pro bable supposition is, that Paul's long absence from Jerusalem, the changes which had taken place in the high offices of the nation, together with the confusion that prevailed in the assembly described did really prevent him from knowing the person o the high-priest, who it is to be remembered was no clad as if he had been ministering in the temple.ED. as well cease to be as to be mischievous and ma- tended by them, yet were they never able to make licious, finding that these dilatory proceedings it good. As for the charge of heresy, that he was were not like to do the work, resolved upon a a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarenes, he inquicker despatch. To which end above forty of genuously acknowledged that after the way which then entered into a wicked confederacy, which they counted heresy, so he worshipped God; the they ratified by oath and execration, never to eat same way in substance wherein all the patriarchs or drink till they had killed him; and having ac- of the Jewish nation had worshipped God before quainted the Sanhedrim with their design, they him, taking nothing into his creed, but what the entreated them to importune the governor, that authentic writers of the Jews themselves did own he might again, the next day, be brought down and justify; that he firmly believed what the betbefore them, under pretence of a more strict trial ter of themselves were ready to grant, another of his case, and that they themselves would lie in life, and a future resurrection; in the hope and ambush by the way, and not fail to despatch him. expectation whereof he was careful to live unBut that Divine Providence which peculiarly su- blamable, and conscientiously to do his duty both perintends the safety of good men, "disappoints to God and men. As for the third part of the the devices of the crafty." The design was dis- charge, his profaning of the temple, he shows how covered to St. Paul by a nephew of his, and by little foundation there was for it; that the design him imparted to the governor, who immediately of his coming to Jerusalem was to bring charitable commanded two parties of foot and horse to be contributions to his distressed brethren; that he ready by nine of the clock that night, and provision was indeed in the temple, but not as some Asiatic to be made for St. Paul's carriage to Felix, the Jews falsely suggested, either with tumult or with Roman governor of that province to whom also multitude; but only purifying himself according he wrote, signifying whom he had sent, how the to the rites and customs of the Mosaic law; and Jews had used him; and that his enemies also that if any would affirm the contrary, they should should appear before him to manage the charge now come into open court and make it good.and accusation. Accordingly he was, by night, Nay, that he appealed to those of the Sanhedrim conducted to Antipatris, and afterwards to Casa-that were there present, whether he had not been rea, where the letters being delivered to Felix, acquitted by their own great council at Jerusalem, the apostle was presented to him; and finding where nothing of moment had been laid to his that he belonged to the province of Cilicia, he charge, except by them of the Sadducean party, told him, that as soon as his accusers were arrived who quarrelled with him only for asserting the he should have a hearing; commanding him in doctrine of the resurrection. Felix having thus the mean time to be secured in the place called heard both parties argue, refused to make any Herod's Hall. final determination in the case, till he had more fully advised about it, and spoken with Lysias, commander of the garrison, who was best able to give an account of the sedition and the tumult; commanding, in the mean time, that St. Paul should be under guard; but yet in so free a custo SECTION VI. Of St. Paul, from his first trial before Felix till dy that none of his friends should be hindered from his coming to Rome." visiting him, or performing any office of kindness and friendship to him. NOT many days after, down comes Ananias* the 3. It was not long after this before his wife, high-priest, with some others of the Sanhedrim, to Drusilla, (a Jewess, daughter of the elder Herod; Cæsarea, accompanied with Tertullus, their advo- and whom Tacitus, I fear by a mistake for his forcate, who, in a short, but neat speech, set off mer wife, Drusilla, daughter to Juba, king of Mauwith all the flattering and insinuative arts of elo-ritania, makes niece to Anthony and Cleopatra,) quence, began to implead our apostle, charging him with sedition, heresy, and the profanation of the temple, and adding, that they would have saved the governor the trouble of this hearing, by judging him according to their own law, had not Lysias the commander violently taken him from them, and sent both him and them down thither. To all which the Jews that were with him gave in their vote and testimony. St. Paul having leave from Felix to defend himself; and having told him how much he was satisfied in having to plead before one who, for so many years had been governor of that nation, distinctly answered to the several parts of the charge. 2. And first, for sedition: he point-blank deaied it, affirming that they found him behaving himself quietly and peaceably in the temple, not so much as disputing there, nor stiring up the people either in the synagogues, or any other place of the city. And though this was plausibly pre * Acts xxiv. came to him to Cæsarea. Who being present, he sent for St. Paul to appear before them, and gave him leave to discourse concerning the doctrine of Christianity. In his discourse he took occasion particularly to insist upon the great obligation which the laws of Christ lay upon men to justice and righteousness toward one another, to sobriety and chastity both towards themselves and others; withal urging that severe and impartial account that must be given in the judgment of the other world, wherein men shall be arraigned for all the actions of their past life, and be eternally punished or rewarded according to their works. A discourse wisely adapted by the apostle to Felix's state and temper. But corrosives are very uneasy to a guilty mind: men naturally hate that which "brings their sins to their remembrance," and sharpens the sting of a violated conscience. The prince was so nettled with the apostle's reasonings, that he fell a trembling, and caused the apostle to break off abruptly, telling him, he would hear the rest at some other season. And good |