ing the glad Tydings of the Gospel whereever he came with undaunted Courage and Refolution. Notwithstanding he was frequently fcourged and imprifon'd, and even brought to the Confines of Death both by Sea and Land, yet he perfever'd for the Space of 35 Years together, in the good Fight of Faith till he had finish'd his Courfe. Being at Rome, and joyning with St. Peter in procuring the Fall of Simon Magus, he incurr'd the Displeasure of the Tyrant Nero, by whofe Order he was beheaded, in the 68th Year of his Age. He left behind him 14 Epistles, which contributed very much towards confirming the Churches of Chrift at first, and has been highly serviceable ever fince to the Caufe of Religion.

The CATECHISM.

Q. W Hat Account have we of the Nativity

of St. Paul, otherwife called Saul? A. That he was born at Tarfus, the Metropolis of Cilicia; that he was a Jew by Extraction, and of the Tribe of Benjamin. Q. Had he a liberal Education ?

A. Yes; after he had laid the Foundation of human Learning in the Place of his Nativity, he was fent by his Parents to Jerufalem, in Order to pursue the Study of the Law at the Feet of Gamaliel, in which Science be became a great Proficient.

Q. Did he follow any other Calling or Profeffion?

A. Yes; that of a Tent-maker..
Q. For what Reafon ?

A. Becaufe 'twas customary amongst the Jews to inftruct their Children in fome mechanical Employment, not only to keep them from Idlenes, but to fecure a comfortable Subfiftence in Cafe of future Misfortunes.

Q. Of what Sect was our Apoftle before his Converfion?

A. A Pharifee, the ftricteft Sect amongst the Jews.

Q Was he an inveterate Enemy of the Chriftians at that Time?

A. Yes; be perfecuted them with the utmoft Rigour at Jerufalem; and procured a Commiffion to imprison all fuch as he could find at Damafcus.

Q. By what Means did St. Paul become a Convert to the Chriftian Faith?

A. By a Vifion from Heaven.

Q. What Influence had that heavenly Vifion upon him?

A. The Luftre of it truck him blind for three Days, and be and bis Companions fell to the Ground with Terror and Amazement. Q. What other Circumftance attended this extraordinary Vifion?

A. He heard a Voice faying to him, Saul, Saul, why perfecuteft thou me?

Q. What Anfwer did.he make thereto ?
A. LORD, faid he, who art thou?
Q. What Reply was made thereto ?
A. Iam JESUS whom thou perfecuteft.

Q. Did St.Paul refift this fupernatural Evidence of our Saviour's Divinity?

A. No; he became obedient to the heavenly Vifion, and upon this Discovery of his Sa viour, begg'd to know his Divine Will and Pleafure, and followed the Directions be received.

Q. How did he behave himself before his Admiffion into the Chriftian Church? A. He fafted three Days together, by Way of Humiliation, for the Outrages he had committed against the Church of Gov.

Q. Who admitted him afterwards?

A. Ananias, a Devout Man, one of the o Difciples.

Q. What Form or Ceremony was observed in St. Paul's Admiffion?

A. Ananias first baptized him, and then laving his Hands upon him reftor'd his Sight, and conferr'd on him the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Q. What Demonftration did he give of the Sincerity of his Conversion?

A. He preached that very JESUS whom be bad before perfecuted; and prov'd, to the Anazement of the Jews at Damafcus, that Chrift was the Mediah, the Son of GOD.

Q. What Account have we of the Travels of this Apostle?

A. That be over-ran, as it were, the whole Roman Empire; paffing from Jerufalem thro' Arabia, Afia, Greece, and fo round about to Illyricum, Rome, and even to the ut

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moft Bounds of the Western World; in all which Parts, he preached the Gospel of Chrift with undaunted Courage and Refolu

tion.

Q. Did he meet with no Obstruction in the Exercise of his Apoftolical Office?

A. Yes; he frequently fuffered fevere Scourgings and Imprisonments; was in frequent Perils both by Sea and Land; yet he defpifed them all for the Propagation of the Gofpel.

Q. How long did he continue in these Labours?

A. Thirty-five Years.

Q. Where, and by whofe Direction did he fuffer Martyrdom?

A. At Rome, by the exprefs Order of the Tyrant Nero.

Q. For what Reason ?

A. Because he joyned with St. Peter in procuring the Fall of Simon Magus.

Q. When, and in what Manner did he fuffer Martyrdom?

A. He was beheaded about the 9th Year of Nero's Reign, and in the 68th Year of bis Age.

Q. What Writings did he leave behind him?

A. Fourteen Epiftles, which contributed very much at firft towards the Confirmation of the Chriftian Church, and has ever fince been highly ferviceable to the Cause of Religion.

LES

LESSON VII.

The Life of St. Andrew.

Saint Andrew, as before mentioned, was the Brother of Peter, and Son of Jonah a Fisherman. He was born at Bethfaida in Galilee, and followed the fame Profeffion as his Father did before him. He was a Difciple of St. John the Baptist; by whofe Means he became acquainted with our bleffed Saviour. He and his Brother Simon being fome Time afterwards Eye-Witneffes of the Miracle which JESUS wrought of a great Draught of Fifhes, were fufficiently_convinced of his Divinity, and from that Time became his conftant and infeparable Difciples. After our LOR D's Afcenfion, St. Andrew travelled into Scythia and the Parts adjacent, as being thought the Province peculiarly allotted to him, and by his indefatigable Labours there, made many Profelites to the Chriftian Religion. Towards the latter End of his Life he remov'd to Patre in Achaia, where he confirmed the Truth of his Doctrine by fuffering Martyrdom under Egeas the Proconful of that Place, who commanded him to be firft feverely fcourg'd, and then faften'd to a Crofs with Cords, and not Nails, in Order that his Death might be M 2

the