It is not, indeed, by any means a complete history of the Church of Christ even during its infant state, nor was it intended to do more than first to give a sketch of the important transactions which took place in Jerusalem immediately after our Lord's crucifixion, and then to confine the narrative, for the most part, to the principal events in the lives of St. Peter and St. Paul,--comprising a period of about thirty

years.

As a history of undoubted authenticity, it affords the most abundant evidence of the truth of Christianity, and of its heavenly and divine origin. It shews us in the most satisfactory manner that the religion of Jesus, unlike that of Mahomed, made its mighty progress through the world, not by fraud and violence, but by "speaking the truth in love" amidst every species of obloquy, hardship, and persecution. It was not by the power of the sword, but in spite of the sword-not by cunningly devised fables, but by the manifestation

of the truth to every man's consciencenot by the tinselled eloquence of man's wisdom, but by the foolishness of preaching-not by state patronage and preferment, but by that exhibition of Christ crucified, which was to the unbelieving Jew a stumbling block, and to the reasoning Greek the climax of folly-but to them that believe, whether Jews or Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

How admirably is this sublime triumph of Christianity over all that lets and hinders in this lower world exhibited in the narratives of the Apostles! Though men of like passions with ourselves-though poor, and, for the most part, unlearned in the estimation of "philosophy falsely so called" -they made such an impression upon the hearts and minds of myriads of all classes of mankind throughout the greater part of the Roman empire, as had never before been heard or seen. Yet it was not they -it was their testimony that gained the

triumphs of Christianity. They took no credit to themselves-they affected no reputation for consummate skill, or profound judgment, or exalted genius. It was to their testimony that they called the attention of the world-a testimony which they declared to be faithful and worthy of all acceptation, and which they challenged all men every where to disprove, that "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners," and that as he "died for our sins," so also he "rose again for our justification," ascended into heaven, and now sitteth at the right hand of God, angels and authorities being made subject to him.

Nor was it their testimony alone that effected so mighty a revolution in the opinions, and character, and conduct of mankind—it was that marvellous outpouring of supernatural influence, of which we shall have soon to speak, and which rendered their testimony like a "fire that melteth, and like a hammer that breaketh

the rock in pieces." Hence it was that their statements of gospel truth, which are no other than those which the ordinary ministers of Christianity now employ, produced such gigantic effects-overcoming obstacles that nothing human could overcome, and spreading conviction with the speed of lightning from one region to another, from one nation to another people. "The weapons of their warfare were not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

In addition to some very interesting

details connected with this marvellous conversion of "Jews and Greeks, Barbarians, Scythians, bond and free," we have frequent intimations in this history of the evidences which the Apostles gave of the truth of their doctrines-of the manner in which they appealed to the history

and prophecies of the Old Testamentand of the patient continuance in every good work, which they inculcated upon their converts, and exemplified in their own conduct.

And then the coincidences between this sacred narrative and the several Epistles, written by different Apostles, at different times, under different circumstances, and from different and distant places, are too many and too striking, not to render every inquiring mind on the subject of the truth of Christianity most grateful to that divine Providence which has so carefully preserved it in the Church, after having assigned it an early admission into the sacred canon.

To any one acquainted with the writings of Dr. Paley, it is sufficient to refer to his "Horæ Paulina" to shew how strong and irrefragable an argument to the truth of Christianity is furnished by such incidental circumstances as are here recorded, and which tally with the Epistles in circum