A. Many Greeks and Jews were converted there; but the unbelieving Jews there rose up against them, and almoft in every City where they came; and they went next to Berea, Acts xvii. 1-10.

48 Q. What was the wife and generous Conduct of the Bereans?

A. They, that is, the Jews of Berea, fearched the Scriptures daily, to find whether Paul and Silas taught the Truth; and by this Practice many of them were led to believe in Chrift, ver. 10—13.

49 Q. In what Manner did Paul preach, when he came to Athens ?

A. He difputed with the Jews in their Synagogues, with the devout Perfons, and with the Heathen Philofophers in the Market-place; and on Mars's Hill he took Occafion to preach the true God to the People from an Altar he found infcribed, To the Unknown God, ver. 16-30.

50 Q. But did he not also preach Jefus Chrift and the Gospel?

A. Yes; by preaching Natural Religion first, he led them by Degrees to the Doctrine of Christ, and affured them that Jefus Chrift was appointed to be the Judge of the World, and that God had raised him from the Dead, as a fureToken of it, ver. 30,31. 51 Q. What Employment had Paul at Corinth? A. He there met with Aquila, a believing Jew, and his Wife Prifcilla, and wrought with him at his Trade, for they were both Tent-makers; but he preached in the Jewish Synagogue every Sabbath, Acts xviii. 1-4.

52 Q. What Effect had his Preaching there? A. He continued there by Orders received from Chrift in a Vifion a Year and fix Months; and ome Jews and many Gentiles believed and were baptifzed, vr. 5-II.

53 Q. What

53Q What Perfecution did he meet with there? A. The Jews brought him before Gallio the Deputy Governor, but he wifely refused to take Cognizance of any of their Controverfies about Religion, unless they could have charged him with fome Wickedness or Injustice, ver. 12-16.

Note, 1. Though Paul found fuch great and remarkable Succefs in his Miniftry among the Corinthians, yet by the Means of fome false Brethren, and fome ambitious Pretenders to Apoftlefhip, there were fuch Factions and Contentions raised in this Church, that coft him much Sorrow of Heart: And this was increased by the irregular Lives and immoral Practices of fome of his Converts there, which occafioned his 'writing two large and excellent Epiftles to them.

Note, 2. It is thought most probable that Paul, who went from Corinth toCenchrea, and to Ephefus,left Aquila and Priscilla at Ephefus, wheretheyinftructed Apollos,a fervent Preacher, a Difciple of John Baptift,in the Gospel of Chrift: But that Paul himself went to Jerufalem to the Feaft, and returned to Ephefus again before Aquila went thence, and before his greatSuccefs at Ephefus began; which is related in the very next Chapter, namely, the xixth. 54 Q. When Paul came to Ephesus, what re'markable Occurrences did he meet with there?

A. He found fome Perfons who were baptized only unto John's Baptifm, and he preached Jefus Christ to them, and they believed, and were baptized in the Name of Chrift; and when Paul laid his Hands on them, they received the Holy Ghoft, and fpake with Tongues, Acts xix. 1-7.

55 Q. How did he perform the rest of his Miniftry there?

A. Three Months he preached the Gospel in the Jewish Synagogue; but when the Jews were hardened against him, he taught the fame Gospel Q2

in

in the School of one Tyrannus for near two Years, and healed many Diseases, and caft out evil Spirits, Der. 8-12

57 Q Was he not perfecuted by the Heathens in this Place?

A. When Demetrius, a Silversmith, who made Silver Shrines for the Goddefs Diana, (whofe famous Temple ftood at Ephefus) found that the Worship of the Goddess declined through Paul's Preaching, he ftirred up the Men of his Trade, and by them a Multitude of People were raifed against Paul, fo that he was in Danger of his Life, ver.

24-29.

58 Q. How did he efcape here?

A. The Town Clerk finding fuch a rude Tumult, with foft Words compofed and quieted them, and bid Demetrius go fairly to Law. if any Man had injured him, ver. 29-41. The Uproar being thus compofed, Paul took his Leave of the Difciples, and after feveral fhort Journeys and Labours in the Gospel in thofe Parts he came to Troas, Acts xx. 1- --6%

59 Q. Was there any Thing of Importance fell out in the feven Days while Paul tarried at Troas ?

A. Paul.preached and broke Bread on the first Day of the Week, and continuing his Speech till Midnight, a young Man,-named Eutychus, flept and fell down from the third Story, and was taken up dead, As xx. 6—9.

60 Q. How was the young Man recovered? A. Paul fell on him, and embraced him, and brought him alive before them, ver 10-12.

61Q. What Exhortation did Paul give at Miletus? A. He fent to Ephefus, and called the Elders of the Church, made a most affectionate Difcourse to them; bid them, Take heed to themfelves, and to the Church of God, which he had purchased with his own Llood; warned them of grievous Wolves that should

enter into the Flock, encouraged them to perfevere in Faith and Holiness, and recommended them to God and the Word of his Grace, ver. 17-35.

62 Q. Whither did Paul travel next?

A. He haftened to Jerufalem by many Journies, and Voyages, travelling through feveral Cities, though he was diffuaded from it by many Difciples; and was particularly told by Agabus, a Chrif~tian Prophet, that he fhould be bound at Jerufalem, and delivered into the Hands of theGentiles, Acts xx 16. and xxi. 1-15.

63 Q. In what Manner did Agabus deliver this Prophecy?

A. He bound his own Hands and Feet with › Paul's Girdle, and faid, Thus faith the Holy Spirit, So Shall the fews at Jerufalem bind the Man that e owns this Girdle, ver. 11.

64Q What was the noble Speech and Refo-lution of Paul on this Occafion?

A. When the Brethren wept at the Thoughts of his Sufferings, he anfwered, What mean ye, to weep and to break my Heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but to die at Jerufalem for the Name of the Lora fefus, Acts xxi. 12, 13..

65 Q. What was the firft Thing he did when he came to Jerufalem?

A. He went to James the Apoftle, and to the Elders, and declared what God had wrought by his Miniftry among the Gentiles, Asxxi. 17-20. Note, Here he now publifhedfreely to thewhole Church his Success among Idolaters, which he had communicated only before privately, and to a few, Gal. ii, 2.

66 Q. What Advice did the Elders at Jerufa-.lem give him?

A They advised him to fhave and purify him. felf by an Offering, after the Manner of the Jews

1

who had the Vow of the Nazarite upon them, Numb. vi. that he might not be fufpected of difobeying the Jewish Law, either by the believing or unbelieving Jews, who were all zealous for it, vr. 20-25.

Note, This Compliance of St Paul being recommend. ed to him by one Apoftle, namely, James, and by the Elders at Jerufalem, Acts xxi. 18, 20, &c. and being put in Practice by himself, who was, perhaps, the chief of the Apoftles, we cannot reafonably fuppose it finful or blameworthy, efpecially fince the Scripture paffes no Cenfure on it: And yet we muft not fay the religious Ceremonies of the Jews, and particularly all the Sin-offerings (fuch as this was, Numb. vi. 14.) were abolished by the great Sacri fice of Chrift, and the Introduction of Chriftianity by the Holy Ghoft at Pentecoft.-In order therefore to vindicate this Practice of St Paul, we may confider the Jewish Ceremonies under a twofold Af pect; 1. As they were Part of their national Laws,under God as their King; and, 2 As Part of their Religious Worship, paid to him as their God. Now the Jewish State being not yet destroyed, may we not fuppofe that St Paul might comply with thele Practices as a Part of the national Jewish Laws, rather than as a religious Worfhip? for he every where declared the Gentiles to be free from them. Or, if we confider these Ceremonies only in their religious Defign, may we not fuppofe, that from the Death of Chrift, which was the fubftantial Sacrifice, these Shadows fo far vanished, that they ceafed to be neceffary, but were left, for a Season, as indifferent Things to the Jews, which, as the Apoftle expreffes, Heb. viii. 13. were decaying and wnxing old, and ready to vanifh away? May we not fuppofe the divine Indulgence of them for a Seafon, because of the Weakness of Mankind, who cannot eafily bear a univerfal Change of their ancient Cultoms all at once? and for this Reason, left the Jews fhould take too great Offence, St Paul took Timothy and circumcifed him, in order to make him a