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St. Paul and his companions now departed from Lystria, passed through Phrygia and the country of Gallatia, where the apostle was entertained with the greatest kindness and veneration, the people looking upon him as an angel sent inmediately from heaven, and being by revelation forbid. den to go into Asia, he was commanded by a second vision to repair to Macedonia, to preach the gospel.

Accordingly, our apostle prepared to pass from Asia into Europe. Here St. Luke joined them, and became ever after the inseparable companion of St. Paul, who, being desirous of finding the speediest passage into Macedonia, took ship with his companions Silas, Luke and Timothy, and came to Samothracia, an island in the Agen sea, not far from Thrace; and the next day to Neapolis, a port of Macedonia. Leaving Neapolis they repaired to Philippi, the metropolis of that part of Macedonia, and Roman colony, where, for some days, they resided.

Paul, according to his constant practice, preached in a Proseucha or oratory of the Jews, which stood by the river's side, at some distance from this city, and was much frequented by the devout women of their religion, who met there to pray and hear the law. To these St. Paul preached the glad tidings of the gospel; and, by the influence 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.

While the apostles resided in Philippi, they continued their daily course of worshipping at the same oratory. And after several days, as they were repairing to the same place of devotion, there met them a damsel who had a prophethic 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 to 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 acknowl edge 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 devil with reluctance obeyed, and left the damsel immedi ately.

As this miraculous cure proved a great loss to her masters, who acquired large gains from her soothsaying, they were filled with malice and envy against the apostles; and, by their instigation, the multitude arose, and, seizing upon Paul and his companions, hurried them before the magistrates and governors of the colony; accusing them of introducing many innovations which where prejudicial to the state, and unlawful for them to com ply with, as being Romans. The magistrates being concerned for the tranquility of the state, and jealous of all disturbances, were very forward to punish the offenders, against whom the whole multitude testified; and therefore commanded the officers to strip them and scourge them severely, as persons who stirred up seditions.

The sentence was accordingly executed; after which the apostles were committed to close custody, the gaoler 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 mantel of the night, cannot intercept the beams of divine joy and comfort from the souls of such 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 founda

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tions of the prison, opened the doors, loosed the chains, & set the prisoners at liberty. This convulsion of nature roused the gaoler from his sleep; and concluding from what he saw, that all his prisoners were escaped, was going to put a period to his life; but Paul observing him, hastily cried oat,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 into his own house, washed their stripes, and begged of them to insruct him in the knowledge of that God who was mighty to save and deliver.

The gaoler's request was readily granted by St. Paul, who replied, That if he believed in JESUS CHRIST, he might be saved, with his whole house. Accordingly, the gaoler 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 instill the sweetest princi-t ples of civility and good-nature into the minds of men! He who, but a few moments before tyrannized over the apostles now treated them with the greatest respect and the highest marks of kindness he was capable of shewing. When it was day, the magistrates, either hearing what had happened, or reflecting on what they had done, as too harsh and unjustifiable, sent their serjeant to the gaoler with orders to discharge the apostles. The gaoler 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 had thought proper to scourge and im-1 prison Romans, contrary to the laws of the empire, he expected they should come themselves, and make them some satisfaction for the illegal treatment they had received.

This message terrified the magistrates who well knew how dangerous it was to provoke the formidable power of the Romans, who never suffered any freeman to be beaten uncondemned; they came therefore to the prison, and very submissively entreated the apostles to depart without any further disturbance. This small recompence for the cruel usage they had received was accepted by the meek followers of the blessed JESUS; they left the prison, and retired to the house of Lydia, where they comforted their brethren with an account of their deliverance, and departed; having laid the foundation of a very eminent church, as appears from St. Paul's epistle to the church of Philippi.

Paul & his companions leaving this city, continued their journey towards the West, till they came to Thessalonica, the capital of Macedonia, about an hundred and twenty miles from Philippi. On their arrival at ThessaJonica, Paul, according to 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 from 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 the ignominious to death which he had suffered.

The apostles during their stay at Thessalonica, 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 to rest; they refused to embrace the gospel themselves, & therefore envied it's success, & determined to oppose it's progress; accordingly, they gathered together a great number of lewd & 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 eity. Their fury however

was rather exasperated than lessened at loosing 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 and some others of the brethren, and carried them before the magistrates of the city, accusing them, as they bad 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 people and magistrates to be their enemies; and though Jason was only accused of harbouring those innovators, yet the magistrate could not be prevailed upon to dismiss him and his companions, till they had given security for their appearance when called upon.

When the tumult was over, the Thessalonians, who had been converted by them sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berca 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 for 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 Old Testament the truth of the doctrines he advanced. These Jews were of a more candid & ingenuous 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 & 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, amongst 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 Bercea, and raised tumults against the apostles, 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 in the place.

Leaving Bercea under the conduct of certain guides, it was pretended that Paul designed to retire by sea out of Greece that his restless enemies might cease their persecution: but the guides according to his desire, brought him to Athens, and left him there, after receiving from him an order for Silas and Timothy to repair to him as soon as they conveniently could.

At this time Athens was the most famous academy of all Greece, and abounding with philosophers illustrious for their learning. Amongst the several sects that now flourished at Athens, the Stoics and Epicureans were the most remarkable for their opposition to Christianity. The Epicureans because they found their pleasant and jovial humour, and their loose and exorbitant course of life, so greatly checked and controlled by the strict and severe precepts of the gospel; and because the doctrines of it so plainly and positively asserted a Divine Providence governing the world and which at the last day will reward or punish every man according to his works. The Stoics on the other hand, though pretending to principles of great and uncommon rigour and severity, and such as had the nearest affinity to the doctrines of the gospel, yet they found them very different in practice. That meek and humble temper of mind, that modesty and selfdenial, which the gospel so earnestly recommends, and so strictly requires, were directly opposite to the immoderate pride and ambition of that sect, who were not ashamed to affirm, that their sages and philosophers were not inferior to God himself in wisdom,

During Paul's abode 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 over-run with superstition and idolatry. The inhabitants were remarkably religious and devout; they had a great num

tions of the prison, opened the doors, loosed the chains, & set the prisoners at liberty. This convulsion of nature roused the gaoler from his sleep; and concluding from what he saw, that all his prisoners were escaped, was going to put a period to his life; but Paul observing him, hastily cried bat, "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 into his own house, washed their stripes, and begged of them to insruct him in the knowledge of that God who was mighty to save and deliver.

The gaoler's request was readily granted by St. Paul, who replied, That if he believed in JESUS CHRIST, he might be saved, with his whole house. Accordingly, the gaoler 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 instill the sweetest principles of civility and good-nature into the minds of men! He who, but a few moments before tyrannized over the apostles now treated them with the greatest respect and the highest marks of kindness he was capable of shewing. When it was day, the magistrates, either hearing what had happened, or reflecting on what they had done, as too harsh and unjustifiable, sent their serjeant to the gaoler with orders to discharge the apostles. The gaoler 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 bad 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 for the illegal treatment they had received.

This message terrified the magistrates who well knew how dangerous it was to provoke the formidable power of the Romans, who never suffered any freeman to be beaten uncondemned; they came therefore to the prison, and very submissively entreated the apostles to depart without any further disturbance. This small recompence for the cruel usage they had received was accepted by the meek followers of the blessed JESUS; they left the prison, and retired to the house of Lydia, where they comforted their brethren with an account of their deliverance, and departed; having laid the foundation of a very eminent church, as appears from St. Paul's epistle to the church of Philippi.

Paul & his companions leaving this city, continued their journey towards the West, till they came to Thessalonica, the capital of Macedonia, about an hundred and twenty miles from Philippi. On their arrival at ThessaJonica, Paul, according to 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 from 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 the ignominious death which he had suffered.

The apostles during their stay at Thessalonica, 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 to rest; they refused to embrace the gospel themselves, & therefore envied it's success, & determined to oppose it's progress; accordingly, they gathered together a great number of lewd & 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 eity. Their fury however

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

When the tumult was over, the Thessalonians, who had been converted by them sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berga 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 for 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 Old Testament the truth of the doctrines he advanced. These Jews were of a more candid & ingenuous 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 & 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, amongst 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 Bercea, and raised tumults against the apostles, 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 in the place.

Leaving Bercea under the conduct of certain guides, it was pretended that Paul designed to retire by sea out of Greece that his restless enemies might cease their persecution: but the guides according to his desire, brought him to Athens, and left him there, after receiving from him an order for Silas and Timothy to repair to him as soon as they conveniently could.

At this time Athens was the most famous academy of all Greece, and abounding with philosophers illustrious for their learning. Amongst the several sects that now flourished at Athens, the Stoics and Epicureans were the most remarkable for their opposition to Christianity. The Epicu reans because they found their pleasant and jovial humour, and their loose and exorbitant course of life, so greatly checked and controlled by the strict and severe precepts of the gospel; and because the doctrines of it so plainly and positively asserted a Divine Providence governing the world and which at the last day will reward or punish every man according to his works. The Stoics on the other hand, though pretending to principles of great and uncommon rigour and severity, and such as had the nearest affinity to the doctrines of the gospel, yet they found them very different in practice. That meek and humble temper of mind, that modesty and selfdenial, which the gospel so earnestly recommends, and so strictly requires, were directly opposite to the immoderate pride and ambition of that sect, who were not ashamed to affirm, that their sages and philosophers were not inferior to God himself in wisdom,

During Paul's abode 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 over-run with superstition and idolatry. The inhabitants were remarkably religious and devout: they had a great num ·

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