from the chambers of the dust, and no more be subject to corruption: I will give him, said he, the sure mercies of David. And again, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Now this prophecy must relate to the Messiah, for David himself, after he had swayed the sceptre of Israel a certain time, fell asleep, was deposited in the chambers of the grave, and his flesh saw corruption: but the great Son of David, whom the Almighty raised from the dead, never saw corruption, as it was written of him.

"Therefore, be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this Saviour is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: it is by his merits we are justified from all things, which was impossible by the law of Moses. Be careful, therefore, lest what was foretold by the prophets come upon you, Behold, ye des pisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you."

The apostle's speech had the desired effect; for several of the Jews, who were convinced of the truth, desired to hear him on the next Sabbath, and the apostles persuaded them to continue firm in the belief of these things. The ensuing Sabbath, almost the whole city flocked to hear the apostles; at which the Jews were filled with envy, and contradicted Paul, uttering many blasphemous expressions against the name of JESUS of Nazareth: but their opposition could not daunt the apostles, who boldly declared, that our blessed Saviour had charged them to preach the gospel first to the Jews; but as they so obstinately rejected it, they were now to address themselves to the Gentiles; who, hearing this, rejoiced exceedingly, magnifying the word of the Almighty, and many of them embraced the doctrines of the gospel. This increased the malice and fury of the Jews, who, by false and artful insinuations, prevailed on some of the more devout and honourable women to bring over their husVOL. ii.

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bands to the party; by which means, Paul and Barnabas were driven out of the city. At which the apostles departed, shaking off the dust from their feet, as a testimony of their ingratitude, infidelity, and rejection of the gospel.

They went from Antioch to Iconium, the metropolis of Lycaonia, a province of the Lesser Asia, where they again entered into a synagogue of the Jews, notwithstanding the ill-treatment they had met with from the Jews in other places; for so great was their zeal for the gospel, that they were not to be deterred from preaching it by ill usage, however great. Therefore, according to their usual method, they began their preaching in the assembly of Israelites; and the Almighty so far assisted their endeavours, that many, both Jews and proselytes, believed. Their success encouraged them to continue a considerable time in this city, to instruct the converts, and confirm their faith by miracles. But, though they had gained a considerable part of the city to the faith, yet many continued in their infidelity: the old leven of Jewish malice began again to ferment, and the unbelieving Jews have stirred up the Gentiles against the apostles, at last prevailed on the multitude to stone them: but the apostles having timely notice of their design, fled from the city, and travelled to Lystra, where they preached the gospel to the inhabitants, and those who dwelt in the country adjacent.

At Lystra, there was a man amongst the converts, who had been lame from his mother's womb, and never had walked and Paul, perceiving that he had faith to be saved, thought proper to add the cure of his body to that of his soul, knowing that it would not only be beneficial to him, but to all the rest of the believers, by confirming their faith: and, that the miracle might be wrought in the most conspicuous manner, he, in the midst of the congregation, said in an audible voice to the man, Stand upright on thy feet:

and the words were no sooner pronounced, than his strength was at once restored, and he leaped up and walked, praising God.

They who were eye-witnesses to this miracle well knew, that it was not wrought by any human power; but having been initiated into the superstitious customs of the Heathens, cried out, in the speech of Lycoania, The Gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And accordingly they called Barnabas Jupiter, because of his venerable gravity, and Paul Mercury, from his eloquence. Nor was it long before the whole city resounded with acclamations; so that almost all the inhabitants gathered themselves together, and and preceded by the priest of Jupiter, and oxen dressed in garlands, they came to the house were the apostles were, intending to do sacrifice to them: But as soon as Barnabas and Paul understood their intentions, they were greatly affected at this superstitious attempt; and rending their clothes to express their grief and abhorrence of the action ran to them, crying out, " Ye men of Lystra, ye are mistaken in the object of your worship; for though we have done many miracles in the name, and by the power of CHRIST, yet we are no more than men, and subject to the same passions as yourselves, and preach unto you the glad-tidings of salvation, that ye may forsake the vanities of this world, and turn to the living God, who created the heaven and the earth, the sea, and all the creatures they contain. This Omnipotent Being suffered all nations formerly to walk in their own ways, though he never left himself without a witness, doing the greatest good to the children of men; it is he that sendeth rain from heaven, and crowneth the year with fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with joy and gladness."

The apostle's arguments had the desired effect: and the people were at last, though with difficulty, persuaded to lay aside their intended idolatrous sacrifice; and surely no argument could be more proper to affect

the minds of the audience. Is it possible to survey the several parts of the creation, and not discover in every place, evident traces of an infinite wisdom, power, and goodness? Who can contemplate the heavens and not discern the wisdom of Omnipotence, adorning in the most beautiful manner those lofty regions? Behold the sun, how justly is that source of light and heat, placed in the centre of the planetary choir, that each may enjoy its destined share of his prolific beams; so that the earth is not burnt by a too near approach, nor chilled by the northern blasts from too great a recess; but impregnated with fruits and flowers, by the happy influence of a vital heat, and crowned with luxurient plenty by the benign influences of the seasons, Who but an infinite Being could launch these massive globes through the immense regions of space and confine their motions to their respective orbits? Who poizes the balancings of the clouds, that divides a water course for the overflowing of waters, and a way for the lightning of thunder? Who can bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Or who can bring forth Mazaroth in his season, or guide Arcturus with his sons? Do these happen by chance, or by the secret appointment of Infinite Wisdom? Who can contemplate the wonderful properties of the air, the great treasury of vital breath, and not reflect on the Divine Wisdom that formed it? If we survey the earth, we there discover the footsteps of an Almighty Being, who stretchest the North over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing; filling it with a great variety of admirable and useful creatures, and maintaining them all by the bounty of his hand. It is he that clothes the grass with delightful verdure, that crowns the year with his loving kindness, and causes the valleys to stand thick with corn. It is he that maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and herb for the service of man: he adorns the lilies of the field, that neither toil nor spin, with a glory that excels the pomp and grandeur of Solomon's court: He shuts up the sea with doors, and said, Hitherto shalt thou come,

but no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed. It is this Almighty Being that arrests the storm, and smooths the tempestuous billows of the deep; that delivereth the mariner from all his troubles, and bringeth his ship into the desired haven of safety. How reasonable, therefore, is it that we should worship and adore this Omnipotent, this kind Creator, and not transfer the honours due to him alone, to frail mortals, much less to dumb idols, the works of mens' hands, which cannot profit.

Thus having persuaded the people to desist from the idolatrous worship they would have paid them, the apostles continued their labours in instructing the people, and planting in this city the gospel of the Son of God: but the malice of the Jews still pursued them; for some of these bigotted Israelites coming from Antioch and Iconium, exasperated and stirred up the multitude; so that those very persons who could hardly be restrained from offering sacrifice to them, now used them like slaves, stoning them in so cruel a manner, that Paul was thought to be dead, and as such they dragged him out of the city; but while the Christians of Lystra were attending on his corpse, probably in order to carry him to his grave, he arose and returned with them into the city; and the next day departed with Barnabas to Derbe where they preached the gospel, and converted many; no danger being able to terrify them from the work of the ministry, and publishing the glad-tidings of salvation in every place they

came to,

However, they did not long continue at Derbe, but returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, confirming the Christians of those places in the faith, earnestly persuading them to persevere, and not be discouraged with those troubles and persecutions which they must expect would attend the profession of the gospel. And that the affairs of the church might be conducted with more regularity, they ordained elders