And sometimes Christ preached in the synagogues, and in the temple, and in houses, and in the wilderness, and on ship-board, and upon the sea-shore, and upon the mountains; and the apostles did likewise preach not only in the synagogues, but in other common houses. And the primitive christians, you do not read that they gave titles of synagogues, or temples, or churches to their meeting houses, as were given to the Jews synagogues and temple, in the old testament; for a church was Christ's believers, and Christ was the head of them. Now they that profess the scriptures of the New Testament, and say, it is their rule, they may see by the scripture that follows, it is no strange thing for God's people to meet in mountains, or deserts, or in ships, or in common houses. And did not John the Baptist preach in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 'Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,' in his raiment of camel's hair and leathern girdle, and then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and the regions round about Jordan. Matt. iii. 3, 4. and Mark i. 3, 4. John was a voice crying in the wilderness, saying, 'Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his path straight.' And Luke iii. 4, 5. The word of the Lord came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the wilderness, who preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,' and said, 'Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough shall be made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, &c. for now is the axe laid to the root of the trees, and every tree therefore which brings not forth fruit, is to be hewn down and cast into the fire.' And John was a man sent from God, who bore witness to the light, and said, 'He was not that light; but that was the true light which enlightens every man that comes in the world.' John i. 6, 7, 8, 9. And the wise men that came from the east, who saw the star in the east, that came to see the young child Jesus, and the star stood over the house, where Christ was born in Bethlehem, and when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshipped him. Had not the wise men a meeting with Christ Jesus and Mary in the stable in Bethlehem, though he lay in a manger? And Herod was in such a rage, because that the wise men did not tell him where Christ was born, that he sent forth and slew all the men children that were in Bethlehem, and in the coast thereof, from two years old and under, &c. For the wise men were warned of God, not to go to Herod, but to depart into their own country, by another way. "And Jesus walked by the sea side of Galilee, and saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting their nets into the sea, for they were fishermen; and going from thence, he saw other two VOL. VI. 24 brethren, James, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them, and they immediately left their ship and nets, and their father, and followed him.' Here did not Christ preach by the sea-side of Galilee, and convert those four persons, and made them his disciples? Matt. iv. 18, 19, 20, 21. And there followed Christ a great multitude from Galilee, and Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan; and Jesus seeing the multitude, he went upon the mountain, and when he was sat down, his disciples came unto him, and he opened his mouth and taught them and the multitude, as you may see, in Matt. v. to Matt. viii. and how he expounds the law, and makes a distinction between the old testament and the new; there you may see his large sermon upon the mountain, to the great multitude and his disciples: so he preached upon a mountain. And Christ, after he had given power to his twelve apostles, he said unto them, ' As you go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand;' mark, as you go, preach; so they were to preach as they went; ' and into whatever city or town ye enter, inquire who is worthy, and there abide until ye go thence; and when ye come into any house, salute it; and if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it, &c. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of the house or city, shake off the dust of your feet for a testimony against it,' &c. Matt. x. Mark vi. 11. Here you may see, that Christ's disciples preached in houses; and Christ bid them, Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues.' That was their portion they should have there; and that was and is the portion of Christ's disciples, that they have from the outward professors, in their outward synagogues, and haling of them before the rulers and governors for Christ's sake, and for a testimony against them. 6 6 And Jesus went through the corn-field on the sabbath day, and his disciples were hungry, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat; and when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.' And you may see how Christ preached to them, and reproved their blindness. Matt. xii. And Jesus sat by the sea shore, and a great multitude were gathered together unto him, and he went into the ship, and sat, and the whole multitude stood on the shore, and Christ spake many things in parables to them, and taught them out of the ship. Matt. xiii. And Jesus came nigh unto the sea of Galilee, and went into a mountain, and sat there, and a great multitude came unto him, and they continued with him three days; and he commanded the multitude to sit on the ground in the wilderness, and took the five loaves and three little fishes, and he gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitude; and they that did eat were four thousand men, besides women and children. And was not here a great meeting that Christ both fed, taught, and wrought this great miracle upon the mountain, and in the wilderness? Matt. xv. 29. Mark viii. And Jesus taketh Peter, and James, and John, and brings them up into an high mountain apart, where he was transfigured before them, and as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. Matt. xvii. Mark ix. 2. Luke ix. 28. Here you may see Christ prayed with his disciples in the mountain; and was not here a meeting? And Jesus came into the coasts of Judea, beyond Jordan, and a great multitude followed him, and he taught them. Matt. xix. 12. Mark x. 1, 2. And the Pharisees came and tempted him, that were in a profession without possession. And Christ saith in his parable, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, who made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants, and said, go ye into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.' Matt. xxii. 9. And is not this a parable of the marriage to Christ, the son of God? And did not they that made light of his marriage, entreat his servants spitefully, and slew them, and went away, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise, &c.? And as Jesus sat at meat in his house, behold many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples; and when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto the disciples, why eateth your master with publicans and sinners? But Christ, when he heard that, said unto them, that the whole need no physician, but them that are sick;' for, said he, I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' Matt. ix. 10, 11, 12, 13. And did not he preach in a house here? And again, as Christ sat upon the Mount of Olives, and his disciples came to him, Christ foretold them the destruction of the temple, and what great calamity should come, as you may see in Matt. xxiv. to the end. And had not Christ and his disciples a meeting there upon the Mount of Olives, over against the temple? Mark xiii. 1. Luke xxi. 5. And had not Christ a meeting with his disciples in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, when the woman poured the precious box of ointment upon his head? And did not Christ instruct his disciples largely about that, and said, Verily, I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her? For in that she hath poured this ointment upon me, she did it for my burial.' Matt. xxvi. and Mark xiv. 6. to the 10th. And did not Christ preach this doctrine in the house of Simon the leper at Bethany? And did not Christ keep the passover in a house with his disciples? For when the evening was come, he sat down with the twelve. Matt. xxvi. 19, 20. and Mark xiv. 18. Luke xxii. 24. John xiii. And here did not Christ keep an evening meeting in a house with his disciples concerning the passover, and taught them, and instructed them? And he did not keep this meeting in the temple, or the Jews' synagogues, but in a chamber in a house, as you may see in the scriptures. And had not Christ a meeting in the house of Simon, and healed his wife's mother, who lay sick of a fever, and at evening, when the sun was set, all the city were gathered together at Simon Peter's house door? And had not they here an evening meeting? Mark i. 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. In Mark iii. 13, 14. 'Christ he goeth up into a mountain, and calls to him whom he would;' and there Christ ordained twelve disciples, 'that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach the gospel,' &c. And they went into an house, and the multitude came together, so that they could not so much as eat meat; verse 19, 20. to the end. Here you may see Christ ordained his twelve disciples on a mountain, and they had a meeting in a house. And again in Mark iv. Christ begins to teach by the sea-side, and there were gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the ship on the sea-side, and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land, and he taught them many things,' &c. Here you may see again Christ taught by the sea-side in a ship. And again,' Christ entered into Capernaum, and it was noised that he was in the house, and straightway many gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them; no, not so much as about the door.' You may see here Christ preached in a house, and unto them that were without doors. And when Jesus was passed over again by ship, unto the other side, much people were gathered unto him,' and 'he was nigh unto the sea.' Mark v. 21. Here you may see Christ had a great meeting nigh unto the sea. And Jesus taught his disciples in a house, as you may see, Mark ix. 28. 33. And also when he came to Capernaum, here you may see how he taught his disciples in that house. Also, Mark ix. 31, 32, 33. 35. And again, in Mark x. 17. Christ taught his disciples in a house. And as Jesus went, with his disciples, into the towns of Cæsaria and Philippi, by the way he asked some questions, and taught them many things.' Mark viii. from verse 27 to 34. So here you may see Christ's disciples asked him questions, and he taught them by the way. And Christ sent two of his disciples into the city, and they were to say to the good man of the house, The master saith, Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And they show ed him a large upper room, furnished and prepared, and they made ready the passover; and in the evening he cometh with the twelve, and as they sat at meat, Jesus taught them.' Mark xiv. from verse 18 to 32. Here you may see Christ and his disciples had a meeting in a house, in an upper chamber, in the evening. And in Luke i. 40. when Mary entered into the house of Zachariah, and saluted Elizabeth, what a heavenly meeting was there when they met together in Zachariah's house, (from verse 40 to 56.) And Levi made a great feast in his house, and there was a great company of publicans, and others, that sat down with them, to wit, Christ and his disciples; but the scribes and Pharisees, murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners?' And Jesus answered, and said, 'They that are whole need no physician;' and preached to them in a Levite's house. Luke v. 29 to the end. And the shepherds that were in the country of Bethlehem, which abode in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and they came and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger, because there was no room in the inn; and the shepherds returned, and glorified and praised God for the things which they had heard and seen.' Here you may see the shepherds had a meeting, and met with Christ and his mother, though he was wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Luke ii. And again, Christ went into a desert place, and the people sought him, and came unto him, and staid with him.' Christ and the people had a meeting in the desert. Here you may see again, Christ taught the people out of Peter's ship. And again, in Luke v. Christ withdrew himself in the wilderness, and prayed, and it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, there were Pharisees and doctors of the law came out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem,' &c. and they brought a man in a bed, which was taken with the palsy, and because of the multitude they went upon the house-top, and let him down through the tiling in the midst before Jesus, and he healed him.' Here you may see Christ had a great meeting in a house in the wilderness. And Christ and his disciples went into the desert of Bethany, and there they had a great meeting of five thousand men, and he made them to sit down, and he took the five loaves and two fishes, and looking up to heaven, blessed them, and gave them to his disciples to set before the multitude, and they did all eat, and were all filled, and there were taken up of fragments that remained, twelve baskets.' Here you |