the Jews to gather in, knew how to prepare the minds of his ministers for so rich a work.

In Cesarea, the residence of the Roman governor, lived Cornelius, a centurion, a devout man who had been reclaimed from idolatry, and who, according to the light which had been afforded him, worshipped God; was just, exemplary, and eminently charitable. This man was warned of God, to send for Peter, and hear from him the words of eternal life. At the same time, Peter was instructed by a vision from heaven, not to call any man common or unclean. When, therefore, the messengers of Cornelius came to him at Joppa, he went with them without delay, and declared to the centurion and his household, the glorious Gospel of the grace of God. While he was preaching, the Holy Ghost fell on all his hearers, and they were converted to the Lord, and by the ordinance of baptism, admitted to the Christian Church. Such were the first fruits of the Spirit among the Gentiles. Thus was the wall of partition, which had stood for ages between Jews and heathen, broken down. How valuable was the Gospel to one of the best men the heathen world could boast! Before he heard it, he was highly esteemed among men, but he had no peace in his own breast. He had been daily an anxious inquirer at the throne of grace for peace and life. He now found them in the doctrine of forgiveness, through the blood of Christ. The best men in heathen lands deserve our compassion, for they know nothing of pardoning mercy, or the consolations of the Holy Ghost. Let the pride of narrow-minded, selfish men, who have long considered themselves the sole favourites of heaven, be rebuked. Among those whom such hate and view as outcasts, may be some of the brightest jewels in the Redeemer's crown.

The Christian temper was happily exhibited by the brethren at Jerusalem, when they heard of this unexpected enlargement of the Church. They viewed it at first indeed as irregular, and were disposed to censure Peter; but no sooner had he declared his divine commission and related to them the operation of the Spirit, than they glorified God for his mercy. Some measures may often be accounted inconsistent with long established principles and customs; and men may be brought into the kingdom of Christ, who, for various reasons, we might have supposed would never have a place there; but when satisfactory evidence is given that such, even through these means, are truly converted to the Lord, all prejudices are by the correct mind, sacrificed; the hand of fellowship is extended, and God is glorified.

Herod sat at this time on the throne of Judea. He was a vile prince; and was surrounded by no less vile Sadducees and Herodians, whom he found it for his interest continually to gratify. They hated the Christians, and he therefore commenced against them a violent persecution. He first seized James, the son of Zebedee, and condemned him to death. Eusebius relates that his accuser, beholding his faith, was struck with remorse, and by the Power of the Spirit, was suddenly brought to repentance and confessed Christ, and that both were carried to execution and beheaded together. The tyrant next seized Peter, and confined him in chains. But God had further need of him in the Church below; and while the brethren were engaged in prayer for him, the Angel of the Lord delivered him from his chains, set open the prison doors, and restored him to the disciples. The miserable monarch was soon after brought for his pride and cruelty to a most horrid death. His intended victim lived to old age, and preached the Gospel throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.

For five years, Saul of Tarsus remained in his native city and province, preaching the Gospel;-with what success is not known. But he was not forgotten by the brethren. Some of the disciples had fled from Jerusalem in the persecution, to Antioch, the metropolis of Syria, where they preached the Lord Jesus. Their labours were crowned with great success. Tidings of this were received with joy by the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas, "a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith," to assist them. No sooner had he reached the city, than he saw the need of more labourers, and he went to Tarsus for this powerful advocate of the cause of Christ, and brought him to Antioch; where they laboured together with much success for a whole year. The Church was enlarged and prosperous; and as many of its members were wealthy and actuated by holy love, they made liberal contributions for the poor saints at Jerusalem-distressed by a famine. Here, as an epithet of opprobrium, the followers of Jesus were first called CHRISTIANS;-an epithet which is, in truth, the most honourable and blessed a man can sustain.

To remain there, where many teachers of reputation had assembled, and where seasons of refreshment were afforded, would have been pleasant. But the head of the Church had a great work for these disciples to perform; and the prophets and teachers at Antioch were directed by the Holy Ghost to set apart Saul

Barnabas to the great work of evangelizing the heathen. rdingly, they were ordained as missionaries of the cross

and ministers of salvation to the Gentiles, by fasting and prayer and imposition of hands, and sent forth to their field, which was the world.

Here properly commences the mighty Apostolic work of him who was the most distinguished instrument ever employed of bringing this fallen world to the knowledge of Christ.**

His course may be divided into three parts. The first reaching from the ordination to the council at Jerusalem. The second, from this council to the close of his labours in Greece. The third, from his last visit at Jerusalem to his death.

In the first, Paul and Barnabas went to Cyprus, where Sergius Paulus, the Roman governor was converted, and Bar-jesus, for his opposition, was struck blind; then to Perga in Pamphylia; then to Antioch in Pisidia, where Paul preached a long and powerful sermon by which multitudes were converted to the Lord, but which so exasperated the Jews that they expelled him out of their coasts. Driven thence, they went to Iconium; but, being in danger of stoning, they retired to Lystra and Derbe. There they healed a man who had been lame from his birth, and were taken by the people for gods in the likeness of men. But no sooner had they quieted the adoring populace, than that same populace, stirred up by the envious and base Jews, turned against them and stoned them, so that Paul was supposed to be dead. But God had designed him for great purposes; and he rose up, by divine power, and returned to Antioch. Such was the first mission of the Apostle. organized many churches, and then the bread of life.

In it he made many converts; ordained ministers to break to

But these churches, especially the church at Antioch, were infested with men who would compel the Gentile converts to observe circumcision and the ceremonial law. It was a bold and wicked attempt, which however has been often repeated from that day to this, to substitute external righteousness for faith in Christ as the ground of justification. Discerning saints saw that the evil must be withstood, and Paul and Barnabas were deputized to go to Jerusalem and ask advice of the Apostles and elders. A council was called, the first known in the Christian Church, in which it was determined, That such observances should not be required, only that Gentile converts

*He who had been called Saul is now in the Scriptures called Paul; some think from Paulus Sergius, who was converted under his preaching; but it is most probable Paul was his Roman and Saul his Grecian name.

were filled with more love and zeal for Christ, they were strengthened, animated, and joyful; and to their own utter amazement, were enabled to speak the various languages of man

kind.

This descent of the Holy Spirit formed a new Era in the lives of the Apostles, and of the Church of God. We no longer find the Twelve, the ignorant, timid, worldly-minded men they had been. The nature of Christ's kingdom; the benevolence of his errand; the perishing condition of the world; their high and holy office; were all full before them and took an amazing hold of their minds and hearts. They now cheerfully sacrificed the world, were ready to go forth and stand before kings and Gentiles and Jews, preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to lay down their lives, if Christ might be glorified in them.

They instantly commenced their ministry, by preaching the gospel according to Christ's express command, first to the Jews, that, if possible, they might bring that deluded people to the saving knowledge of the truth. Astonishment filled the minds of all who heard them. Jerusalem was at that time crowded with Jews from every country. In consequence of the numerous wars in which they had for centuries been engaged, with the heathen nations, the people were scattered in all parts of the Roman empire. Multitudes had from time to time been carried away captive, and not a few had gone from their own land for security and peace. These generally adopted the language of the people among whom they resided; but strictly adhered to the religion of their fathers; and, as much as possible, the pious among them went annually to Jerusalem, to the feast of Pentecost. At the very moment, therefore, that the Apostles were endued with the wonderful powers of speaking in divers tongues, there were devout men out of every nation in Jerusalem ;-Parthians and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Lybia, about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and Proselytes, Cretes and Arabians ;-all these heard the Apostles speak, every man, in the tongue in which he was born. The native Jews who understood not these languages, and were disposed to ridicule the Apostles, said, "These men are full of new wine." The charge roused the spirit of Peter, and, in an ever memorable sermon, he showed them the utter improbability of the thing, from its being only the third hour of the day, when no Jew was ever found in that situation; that this was an

accomplishment of a prophecy of Joel, by the power of that Jesus whom they had rejected before Pilate, and with wicked hands crucified and slain; but who, according to the prediction of David, God had raised up to sit on his throne. A close application of truth to their consciences; a bold charge upon them as murderers of the Lord of life and glory, was not made in vain. The multitude were pricked in the heart. Curiosity at the wonderful miracle, was turned into distress for themselves. They felt that they were exposed to the wrath and curse of God for their vile treatment of his Son; and exclaimed, in the anguish of their souls, Men and brethren what must we do? Peter opened to them the treasures of the gospel, and directed them to that same Jesus whom they had crucified, for eternal life. He called them to immediate repentance, and submission to God in the ordinances of the gospel; assuring them of the remission of their sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. The effect was glorious. Three thousand were converted to the Lord, and, on a profession of faith and repentance, were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

This was the first administration of Christian baptism, and the commencement of the

CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

And as it was begun through the instrumentality of Peter, in this event was fulfilled the declaration of Christ, "Thou art Peter, and on this rock will I build my Church."

To us, it may appear surprising that so much should have been effected in one day. It was nine in the morning when Peter began his sermon, and with many other words besides those which are recorded, did he exhort the people to salvation. It could have been only therefore in the after part of the day, that their confession was received and they were baptized and admitted into a covenant relation with God. But the Apostles were full of the Holy Ghost, and able, probably, to discern spirits; and, if some were received, who were not sincere converts, it was only in accordance with a well known principle of Christ's Church, that there must be tares with the wheat. The conduct of the Apostles, however, cannot be viewed as a warrant for ministers in succeeding outpourings of the Spirit, to receive a multitude upon their first expression of penitence and faith, into the Church; for, by their fruits, we must know them.

This glorious work of grace resulted not only in the submission of multitudes to Christian ordinances; but in much holiness of heart and life. The enmity of the heart to divine truth,