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cluded, that the gods were come down to them in the likeness of men. Through this whole country of Afia Minor, the Greek literature, and with it the numerous fables of Hellenistic vanity, abounded. They had heard of Jupiter and Mercury particularly as vifiting mankind; and now Barnabas, as the elder perhaps, and more majestic figure of the two, muft, they conceived, be Jupiter; and Paul, as the more eloquent speaker, must be Mercury, the claffical god of eloquence. The prieft of Jupiter brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and, together with the people, would have done facrifice to the Apoftles. It was a grievous circumstance; but our grief and regret is mitigated, when we reflect that one of the finest opportunities was given to Paul and to Barnabas of demonftrating the spirit of real godlinefs However pleafing it might be to corrupt nature to receive the idolatrous homage of a deluded people, nothing could be more abhorrent from the nature of the Gospel itself, and from the humble character of its teachers. They could not bear the fight: they rent their clothes; and ran in among the people, and expoftulated with them on the abfurdity of their conduct; affuring them that they were no more than frail men like themselves, and that their intention in preaching to them was, to turn them from thefe vanities to the living God, who formerly indeed had left all nations to follow their own ways, but now had fent His fervants to preach a method of falvation from fuch idolatries. Not that the worship of falfe gods was excufable;

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The historical reader can scarcely fail to contraft with this behaviour of the Apoftles the ambitious arts of Jefuit miffionaries, and to regret the want of a fimilar piety and integrity in a late celebrated naval commander in a scene of trial of the fame kind, which happened a little before his lamented cataftrophe.

the conftant benefits of Providence calling for thankfulness, and pointing out the Supreme Creator to the confciences of men. Thus faithfully did they preach conviction of fin to the Lycaonians, and with difficulty prevent the actual performance of the facrifice, which would have given them more pain than the perfecution that followed.

The fickle multitude, who had fo recently been even idolatroufly attached to Paul and Barnabas, were foon perfuaded by fome Jews, who came from Antioch and Iconium, to harbour the worst opinion of them; and doubtless the dislike of feeular glory, which these excellent Apoftles, with a truly Chriftian spirit, fhewed on all occafions, would not a little contribute to increase this alienation of mind. In a tumult Paul was ftoned and dragged out of the city, as a dead corpfe; and while the disciples flood round about him, he rofe up, and came into the city, miraculously restored, it may feem: and he departed the next day with Barnabas to Derbe. There many were converted; and the perfecuting fpirit intermitting, they vifited again, in circuit, the regions of Pifidia and Lycaonia, encouraging the difciples to perfevere in the faith of Jefus in confidence of divine fupport, and in full expectation of the kingdom of heaven, into which real Chriftians muft not expect to enter without much tribulation.

They now ordained fome of the brethren to minister in every Church, and devoutly recommended both paftors and flocks to the care of that gracious Lord on whom they believed: Solemn fafting and prayer were used on this occafion. Returning through Pamphylia, they preached again at Perga, and from Attalia failed to the great Antioch, whence they had been, by the prayers of the Church, recommended to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.

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Here they remained a confiderable time previous to their attendance at the council of Jerufalem, after which they returned to the fame Church in company with Judas and Silas, who, with authority from the mother-church, confirmed them in the liberty of the Gofpel, in conjunction with many other teachers. The Chriftians of Antioch walked now in genuine confolation, and while they dared to reft on Chrift alone, they practifed good works in a filial fpirit. Thankful for the affiftance of Judas and Silas, they dif miffed them to the Apoftles who had fent them*. Silas, however, loved his fituation, and remained in the service of the Gentiles.

Some days after Paul propofed to Barnabas a fecond circuitous vifit of the Afiatic Churches. Barnabas, fond of Mark his nephew, proposed to take him with them. Paul, remembering his former desertion, thought him unfit for the work. On which fide there was more blame in this contest may be hard to determine. Probably both were too pofitive; but to us at this distance of time Paul's view of the question feems the more juft. The confequence was a feparation between these two Christian leaders; and it does not appear that they ever faw one another after, though it ought not be to doubted, but that, on the whole, their mutual esteem and regard continued: the best men are but men. The progrefs of the Gospel was not, however, retarded. Barnabas failed with Mark to Cyprus, and here he is difmiffed from the facred memoirs. Paul took with him Silas, having the recommendation of the brethren to the Grace of God, which would lead one to conclude, that the Antiochians preferred his caufe to that of Barnabas.

• Acts xv. 33.

Barnabas. He now went through Syria and Silicia, confirming the Churches.

In Lycaonia he found the pious Timothy, whom he took as an affociate, and confirmed the Gentile converts every where in Chriftian liberty: Thus the Churches were established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

CHAP.

CHA P. VII.

GALATIA.

THE Love of God, where it rules in an ardent degree, is infatiable. The Apostle's heart is not content with the trophies already erected in many parts of Afia Minor. As the miter thinks no acquifitions great, while any profpects of farther gain are still open to his view, fo Paul could not with complacency reft in the attainments already made, while fo much ground ftill lay before him, to the north and to the weft, in the hands of Satan. He travelled throughout Phrygia and Galatia*. The plantation of the Churches in the former country will afterwards engage our attention; the latter, whofe hiftory in point of time is much fooner concluded in facred ftory, will be now moft conveniently exhibited. The epiftle written to that Church affords us almoft the only materials we have; but little as they are, they are ineftimable. I am entirely convinced by Dr. Lardner, that this was an early epiftle, and by no means dated from Rome, as the fubfcription at the end of the epiftle intimates. Nor is this the only place in which thofe fubfcriptions, which the unlearned reader fhould know make no part of the Apostolical writings, deceive us.

The people of this country received the Gospel in great numbers, infomuch that feveral Churches were planted through the diftri&t. They underftood St. Paul's doctrine, and received it in its true fenfe, namely, that juftification before God is attainable only by faith in Chrift crucified. He clearly

• Acts xvi. 6.

VOL. I.

+ See his Supplement.

E

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