think, relating to St. Paul. In the first, A&sxviii. he is faid, to have fhorn his head in Cen

chrea; for he had a vow. Not, that the Term, for which he had vow'd, was expir'd; but because he had been polluted by fome accidental Impediment, and was to purify himself, and fo proceed in his Separation. In the fecond, we find him at Jerufalem; where, because he had given Offence to fome Judaizing Chriftians, in admitting the Gentiles without obliging them to be circumcis'd, St. James, (who, probably, knew of his Vow) advifes him to clear himself from all fuch cenforious Afperfions, by a favourable Opportunity; ib. xxi. Do this therefore, fays he, that we say to thee; we have four men which have a vow on them: them take, and purify thy felf with them, and be at charges with them (be at the Expence of procuring Offerings for them, for they are poor) that they may have their heads: and all may know, that thofe things whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thy felf, walkeft alfo orderly and keepeft the law.

23.

And, accordingly, this good-natur'd Apoftle, (who was all things to all Men, in

all

all indifferent Matters, especially if thereby he might gain fome) readily complied with the Propofal of St. James; and took the men; and the next day, purifying himSelf with them, entred into the temple, to fignify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them. And when the feven days were almost ended, &c. It was reckon❜d a very meritorious Act in any Perfon of Ability to be at Charges with any poor Nazarite, in providing the best Offerings for him, when the Days of his Separation were fulfill'd; and fhew'd that they were zealous of the Law.

This Opportunity therefore St. Paul 1 takes, for the Prefervation of Peace and Charity, among the froward infant Members of the Primitive Church; though his own private Opinion, was on the other fide of the Question: And which, we find, hecommunicated privately to them which were Gal. ii, 2, of reputation; (the other Apostles, James and Peter and John) to whom, great as they were, he gave place by fubjection, no, 5. not for an hour; that the truth of the Gof

X 3

pel

II.

pel might continue with the Gentiles, And Gal. ii. afterwards, when Peter was come to Antioch, he tells us, be withstood him to the face, upon this very Account.

Acts xxi.

20.

In short, the whole Point in Question was; whether, that Liberty, which, by the Gospel of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, accrued to the Profeffors of Christianity, particularly the Gentile Profelytes, was to be afferted then, immediately, in all Places; or forborn and diffembled, for a while, to avoid the Fury and Perfecution of the enraged Jews: Stephen having been condemned to be stoned to Death, upon that very Account.

Those of the Apostles, whofe Province lay in Jerufalem and the Parts adjacent, being Men of like Paffions with others, and confequently fubject to human Frailties, were inclin'd to temporize in the Matter; for Fear of hazarding not only their own Lives but the Lofs of many Thousands of Jews, who, at that Time,were Converts to Chriftianity, and yet zealous of the Law.

On the other fide, St. Paul, whose Preaching had been altogether among the

4.

Gentiles,

in affert

Gentiles, was quite bold and open ing that the ceremonial Law had, by CHRIST's Coming, received its full Completion and final Determination: and therefore the Word, with him, was; Stand Gal. v. 1, faft in the liberty wherewith CHRIST has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul fay unto you, that, if ye be circumcised, CHRIST fhall profit you nothing.

1

3 That this was really the Opinion of all the Apostles, we may fee from the Refolution of St. James, at a Great Council held at Jerufalem long before, upon this very Queftion; My fentence, is, that we Acts xv. trouble not them, (to keep the Ceremonial 19. Law) which from among the Gentiles are turned to God. To this, the rest of the Council affent; and a Decree is fent away to the Cities of the Gentiles accordingly; in which are thefe Words; It seemed good, Acts xv. to the Holy Ghoft, and to us, to lay upon you 28, 29, no greater burden than these necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things ftrangled, and from fornication; from which, if ye keep your felves, ye shall do well

X 4

And,

to And, to balance the Matter fairly, it must be confefs'd that St. Paul had, upon

occafion, temporiz'd in this Point, as well as the rest of the Apoftles: When, at Acts xvi. Lyftra, he took Timothy, whofe father was a Greek, and circumcifed him, because of the Jews which were in those quarters.

3.

*

This Digreffion cannot be thought unfeasonable, fince it fuggefts to us a very convenient Doctrine; That Ceremonies, merely indifferent, however they may be unneceffary, or even burdenfom, ought to be complied with, to humour a Majority: And, at the fame Time, That, where People can use their own Liberty without hurting themselves, the lefs they are troubled with them, the better.

The Prophets were Perfons whom God was pleas'd to honour with a divine Spirit of foreseeing fome extraordinary Occurrences, and foretelling them to the World, long before they came to pass, or were even thought of. And from hence, originally