Darius king of Assyria, long after ten in the Chaldaic language; and that empire was utterly dissolved; from thence Jerome made his translaand makes some things to be done tion. But where to place this history under Darius, which were done un-consistently with itself, we know not. der Cyrus, compare chap. iv. xlviii. This noted deliverance is said to have Ivii. Iviii. with Ezra i. and iii. 1.- happened after the Jews returned The second book of Esdras never ap- from their captivity; and after the peared so much as in the Greek, but temple was rebuilt; and yet about in Latin; and is a collection of fables, the 18th year of Nebuchadnezzar, dreams, and visions, so bad that even and after it, they had no trouble for the council of Trent were ashamed eighty years or above, chap. ii. 1. to acknowledge it divine. From and iv. 3. and v. 18, 19. and xvi. abundance of passages therein, the 20-25. How impossible to reconauthor appears to have read the New cile these things with one another, Testament, and hence speaks of the or with truth!-How improbable signs of the times and of the third trumpet.

that Bethulia, a small town, should stand out against so powerful an arWhether the book of Tobit was ori- my! or that the death of the general ginally written in Hebrew, we know should make all the troops betake not; but are rather inclined to think themselves to a shameful flight! How the Chaldee, from which Jerome surprising to commend a woman as made his translation, was the origi- a fearer of the Lord, who was guilty nal. The Grecisms observable in of notorious lying; of acting the Castalio's copy, or in the Hebrew part of a bawd; of profane swearcopies published by Munster and Fa-ing; of murder; and of speaking in gius, too plainly prove them no ori-praise of that committed by Simeon; ginals, but versions from the Greek. chap. ix. and xi. and xiii. The book is perhaps entirely a fable. The additions to Esther contain It is not probable, that in the time of almost seven chapters, and are not a Sennacherib and Esarhaddon, the fa- whit better than the former; nor ther should live 158 years, and the were they ever found in the Hebrew son 127. It is certain no angel of language. How contrary to the inGod could falsely call himself Azarias spired history doth this author affirm, the son of Ananias, as that writer af- that the eunuchs' attempt to take firms. How fabulous the story of Sa- away the life of Ahasuerus was in the rah's seven husbands being succes-second year of his reign; that Morsively killed on their marriage-night decai was at the very time rewarded by an evil spirit! and of that spirit's for his discovery; that Haman had being driven away by the smell and been advanced before this event, and smoke of the roasted heart and liver was provoked with Mordecai for his of a fish, and bound in the uttermost discovery of the eunuchs; that Haparts of Egypt! and of the cure of man was a Macedonian, and intendTobit's blindness with the stroke of ed to transfer the government of Perthe gall of a fish; and of his and the sia to the Macedonians! Compare angel's taking such a bellyful of the chap. xi. 2. and xii. 1. with Esth. i. rest of it! and of the angel Raphael's 3. and ii. 16-21. and chap. xi. 3. presenting to God the prayers of the and xii. 5. with vi. 3. and chap. xii. saints, chap. v. 12. and ii. 8. and viii. 6. and xvi. 10, 11. with iii. 1-5, 2, 3. and xi. 8—13. and xii. 15. How stupid to represent Ahasuerus The book of Judith is an history or as looking upon Esther as a fierce lion, romance, of a great deliverance and yet with a countenance full of wrought for the Jews by a woman grace! chap. xv. 7, 13, 14. as calling of this name in craftily cutting off the Jews the children of the Most the head of Holofernes, the Assyrian High, and most mighty living God, general. It seems to have been writ- chap. x. 16. or as ordering the

The book of Baruch is an arrant ro

Heathens to keep the feast of Purim.ment for sin: it affirms that Samuel The book of Wisdom was not pen-prophesied after his death, and showned by Solomon, as its author falsely ed Saul his end: and that Elias the pretends; nor was it ever found in Tishbite is ordered to pacify the Hebrew. It appears this author had wrath of the Lord, and to turn the read Plato, and the Greek poets; and father to the son, chap. xxiv. 9. and borrowed expressions from them; as iii. 3, 30. and xii. 4, 5. and xlvi. Ambrosia; the river of forgetfulness; 20. and xlviii. 10. the kingdom of Pluto, &c. chap. i. 14. vii. and xiii. and xix. 20. Sun-mance. It absurdly pretends to have dry phrases of it seem to have been been written by Baruch at Babylon, taken out of the Prophets, and even when, it is probable, he never went the New Testament; compare chap. thither: that it was read to Jeconiah vii. 26. with Col. i. 15. Heb. i. 3. at the river Sud, which is never elseSome will have Philo the Jew to be where mentioned: nor could Jeconithe author of it; but he rather seems ah hear it there, when he was conto have been a fraudulent Christian. fined in prison. It mentions a colHe condemns the marriage-bed as lection to buy sacrifices, gathered by sinful; and excludes bastards from the captives in Babylon, and sent to the hopes of salvation; talks as if Joakim, the priest, along with the souls were lodged in bodies accord-sacred vessels which Zedekiah had ing to their former merits; makes the made: but, how could the captives, murder of Abel the cause of the flood; newly enslaved in Babylon, be able represents the Egyptians as plagued to make collections? how could they by their own idols, though it is certain they never worshipped frogs, locusts, or lice; and calls the divine LOGOS, or second Person of the Trinity, a vapour and stream, chap. iii. 13, 18. and viii. 20. and x. 3, 4. and xii. 23, 24. and vii. 25.

send it to an high priest that did not then exist; how could the sacred vessels, which Zedekiah made, be returned from Babylon, when it does not appear that he made any? or how could they be returned before they were carried away, along with The book of Ecclesiasticus is a much himself? The author borrows a vamore valuable work than the former. riety of expressions from Daniel; One Jesus, the son of Sirach, by and so must have lived after Baruch reading the scriptures, and other was dead. The epistle ascribed to good books, attained to a considera- Jeremiah is neither written in his ble share of knowledge. He collect- style, nor in the style of the scriped the grave and short sentences of tures; and ridiculously turns seventy such as went before him, and added years into seven generations. sundry of his own. His book was The Song of the Three Children originally written in Hebrew or Chal- in the furnace, is partly a poor imitadee; but Jesus, his grandson, trans- tion of the 148th Psalm; and partly lated it into Greek, during the reign deprecatory, not suited to such a deof Ptolemy Euergetes, king of Egypt, liverance. The account of the flame about 240 years before our Saviour's streaming above the furnace forty birth; and begs pardon, if he had and nine cubits;' and of the angels done any thing amiss; which plainly smiting the flame out of the oven, shows that he was not inspired. and making a most whistling wind,' And indeed, though it is by far the in it, seems entirely fabulous and robest of all the apocryphal books, yet mantic; nor is it very consistent with it hath a variety of things contrary to the fire's loosing their bands. Nor sound doctrine. It represents the has the story of Susanna the least ap divine Logos or Son, as created by pearance of truth. That it was oriGod: it makes honouring of parents, ginally in Greek, is manifest from and giving of alms, to be an atone-the allusion in the punishment pro

nounced on the elders, to the mastic ably useful. It seems to have been and holm trees, under which, they originally written in the Hebrew or said, they found Susanna and the Chaldee: in this language Origen young man together. How absurd saw it: and from this language Jeto affirm, that in the beginning of the rome seems to have made his transla captivity, Joakim, the husband of tion. It could not be wrote by inSusanna, was become considerably spiration: the writer often observes, rich; that there were Jewish judges that there was no prophet in his times, of life and death in Chaldea; that chap. iv. 46. and ix. 27. and xiv. 41. Daniel, who was brought up in the and indeed he has blundered into secourt, had leisure, or, being so young, veral mistakes; as, that Alexander was admitted to be a judge; that Su- the great parted his kingdom among sanna went into her garden to wash at his honourable servants while he was noon-day, and did it without search- yet alive; that Antiochus the Great ing if any body was there; or that the was taken alive by the Romans; that elders attempted to force her, when they gave India and Media, parts of they could not but every moment his kingdom, to Eumenes, king of expect the return of her maids! Pergamus; that the Roman senate

The story of Bel and the Dragon consisted of 320 persons; that Alexis still more romantic. How impro-ander Balas was the son of Antiobable, that Cyrus, a Persian, would chus Epiphanes, &c. chap. i. 6. and worship a Babylonian idol; nay, an viii. 68, 15, 16, and x. 1. idol that was broken to pieces at the The second book of Maccabees is taking of the city? How absurd to much inferior to the first. It is a imagine, that a man of his sense history of fifteen years; and an could believe an image of brass and abridgment of the work of one Jason clay did really eat and drink! How of Cyrene. The author concludes it, pitiful for Daniel to discover the begging excuse, if he had said any priests' coming and devouring the thing unbecoming the story; and inprovisions, by making the king's ser- deed he had reason to do so, consivants strew ashes on the floor, when dering what a number of false and the priests might so easily perceive wicked things he retails; as, that Juthem, or the servants so readily in- das Maccabæus was alive in the 188th form concerning them? How absurd year of the Selucida, when he died that the newly conquered Babyloni- in the 152d year; that Antiochus ans should, by menaces, oblige Cyrus Epiphanes was killed at the temple of to deliver up his beloved Daniel to Nanea in Persia, whereas he died on them, to be cast into the den of lions! the frontiers of Babylon, of a terrible How absurd, that Habakkuk should disease; that Nehemiah built the sebe then alive to bring him food! or, cond temple and altar, whereas they that Cyrus should be seven days be- were built sixty years before he came fore he went to the den, to see what from Persia; that Jeremiah hid the was become of his favourite minion! tabernacle, ark, and altar of incense, The Prayer ascribed unto Manasseh in a cave; that Persepolis was in benever appeared in the Hebrew lan- ing 100 years after Alexander had guage; and seems to be the product burnt it to ashes; that Judas did well of some pharisaical spirit. The author in offering prayers and sacrifices to speaks of just persons, as Abraham, make reconciliation for the dead; Isaac, and Jacob, as without sin, and that Razis did well in murdering not called to repent. himself, to escape the fury of the SyThe books of the Maccabees are an rians, chap. i. and ii. and ix. 2, 26 history of events relative to the Jews-28. and xii. 43-45. and xiv. 37. under the government of the priest The third book of the Maccabees is Mattathias, and his descendants; and an history of a persecution intendare, especially the first book,consider-led against the Jews in Egypt, but

miraculously prevented. Some call and was there when Paul wrote his Josephus's account of the martyrs, first epistle to Corinth; whither he who suffered under Antiochus, the could hardly be prevailed on to return, fourth: but that which Calmet calls Acts xviii. 24-28. 1 Cor. i. 12. and 80, to me appears nothing else than iii. 4-6. and xvi. 12. Tit. iii. 15. the Arabic history of the Jewish na- APOSTLE, a messenger, sent on tion, which we have in the London a peculiar and important errand.Polyglot. If extends to about 160 Jesus Christ is called the apostle of years; begins at Seleucus's attempt our profession: God sent him to deto pillage the temple; and ends just clare his will, and erect his church; before the birth of Jesus Christ. and he is the author, matter, and

APPOLLONIA, perdition, de-end, of these divine truths, which we struction. There was a city of this are required to believe and profess, name on the west of Canaan; but Heb. iii. 1. that mentioned in scripture was a Correspondent to the twelve patricity of Macedonia, founded by the archs, or twelve tribes of Israel, our Corinthians, and scarcely noted for Saviour, in the second or third year any thing, but that Cesar Augustus of his public ministry, first appointthere learned the Greek language. ed, and then sent forth, twelve of his It stood near Amphipolis, to the followers, whom he named APOSsouth, Acts xvii. 1. TLES. These he sent out by two and APOLLOS, one that destroys or two: Simon Peter, and Andrew his lays waste, a Jew of Alexandria, brother; James the son of Zebedee, who came to Ephesus just when Paul and John his brother; Philip and set off on his third journey to Jeru- Bartholomew; Thomas and Matsalem. He was a very eloquent man; thew; James the son of Alpheus, and had a great acquaintance with and Jude his brother; Simon the Cathe scriptures. With distinguished naanite, and Judas Iscariot. Of fervour and diligence, he taught the these apostles, Matthew had been a things of the Lord Jesus, knowing publican; other four, if not all the only the baptism of John. Aquila rest, Galilean fishermen. The New and Priscilla having heard him boldly Testament church not being founded preach in the synagogue, and show- till after our Saviour's resurrection; ing that Jesus was the promised Mes- their first mission was but temporary, siah and Saviour, took him home confined to the cities of Israel; and in with them, and instructed him more nothing superior to that of the sefully in the Christian faith. He de- venty disciples, afterwards sent on parted thence, with letters of recom- the same errand. Their work was mendation, to Achaia; where he was to preach that the kingdom of heavery useful in strengthening the new ven, or gospel-dispensation, was at converts, and demonstrating from hand; and to confirm their doctrine scripture to the Jews, that Jesus of by a miraculous healing of diseases, Nazareth was indeed the Messiah and casting out devils: they were promised to their fathers. Here, as to provide no subsistence for their at Ephesus, he watered the churches journey, but to expect it from their which Paul had planted. His know- hearers; nor were they to use any ledge and eloquence had nearly oc- fawning courtesy to gain favour; but casioned a schism at Corinth; some were to shake off the dust of their pretending to be of Paul's party, feet, as a testimony against the city others of Apollos, others of Cephas, or family which rejected them. In and others, pretending yet higher, to the execution of their mission, they be of Christ's. Grieved at this, had great success. When Jesus Apollos left Achaia, and in company travelled, they were his ordinary with Zenas the lawyer sailed for attendants; and when he multiplied Crete. Thence he went to Ephesus; the loaves, they, as his servants, disVOL. I.

M

tributed the bread to the multitude, | his ascension, gave them a formal Matt. x. Mark iii. and vi. 7-13. commission, to go into all the world, Luke vi. Matt. xiv. and xv. and preach the gospel to every crea

At their request he set them a pat-ture; and assured them of his pretern to regulate their prayers: what sence and protection; and that he he publicly preached to the multi-would confirm their doctrine by mitude, he privately explained to them; raculous proofs: he bade them tarry often discoursed to them of his suf-at Jerusalem for the effusion of the ferings: and committed to them the Holy Ghost, which would happen in keys of the kingdom of heaven. a few days: After they had witWhen James and John showed their nessed their Master's departure to the ambition for some high post in his heavenly mansions, they chose government, the rest were highly of- Matthias in the room of Judas. On fended; for as yet they knew not the the day of Pentecost, a feast appointnature of his kingdom. Just before ed to commemorate the giving of the his death, Jesus informed them of law, the Holy Ghost, in the form the approaching destruction of the of cloven tongues of fire, descended Jewish church and state; and of his on each of them; rendered them own coming to judgment: he assur- bold and infallible in preaching the ed them, that, in a few days, one of gospel, qualified them with power them would betray him into the hands to speak in every language, to disof his enemies to be crucified. It cern men's tempers, and to confer seems the most of them at first con- the miraculous influence of speakcurred with Judas, in taking offence ing with tongues on others, by the at Mary's expensive mode of anoint- laying on of hands. They preached ing their Master. With all of them to the multitude, and thousands were he celebrated his last passover: with converted. They daily repaired to all of them, except perhaps Judas, the courts of the temple, where, he observed his first sacred supper; amidst vast numbers, they proved and entertained them with a vast Jesus to be the true Messiah, who number of suitable exhortations, and had risen from the dead, and was consolatory promises, particularly of ascended to glory, They confirmed the Holy Ghost to be poured out upon their mission by miracles unnumberthem. With these, they were so ed. Stung with indignation at their satisfied, that whatever impertinent extolling one whom they had put to questions they had formerly asked, death as a malefactor, and at their they now owned that he spoke plain- bold charges concerning the guilt of ly. When Jesus was apprehended, his murder, the Jewish sanhedrim he desired his persecutors to abstain imprisoned them; an angel liberated from touching them; they however, them; and they returned to their ungenerously forsook him and fled: preaching work. They were again his crucifixion threw them into pro-apprehended, and furiously forbiddigious perplexity, as they had all den to preach in their Master's name. along dreamed of his erecting a tem- With amazing joy, they endured poral kingdom. Judas being dead, their sufferings; and went on with and Thomas absent, he, on the even- their work, both in public and priing after his resurrection, appeared vate. When they were next apto ten of them, amidst their perplexi- prehended, the sanhedrim had almost ty; he renewed their mission, and agreed to put them to death; but, breathed on them, as a token of his advised by Gamaliel, they dismissed sending the Holy Ghost, Luke xi. them with a solemn charge, never Matt. xvi, and xx, and xxiv. to xxvi. more to preach in our Saviour's John xii.-xviii. and xx. name. Soon after this, they ordainAfter giving them repeated proofs ed a number of deacons to manage of his resurrection, he just before the alms of the church. A furious