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THE

APPENDIX.

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A Short Account of the Lives, Actions, Travels, and Perfecutions of the Holy Evangelifts and Apoftles; extracted from the Writings of the Primitive Fathers, and the most approved Ecclefiaftical Hiftorians.

S

LESSON I..

The Life of St. Matthew the Evangelist. Aint Matthew the Evangelift,who was alfo called Levi, was an Hebrew of the Hebrews, the Son of Alpheus and Mary, a Relation of the bleffed Virgin, and probably was born either at, or near Capernaum. He was a Publican, and by Profeffion a Collector of the Customs to the Romans, an Office odious to the Jews, on Account of the Covetoufnefs and Extortion of thofe concern'd in the Direction. His particular Province

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confifted in gathering the Duties on all Merchandize that came by the Sea of Golilee, and receiving the Tribute which all Paffengers paid who went by Water; for which Reafon he had a commodious Office erected by the Sea Side. There it was that our Apoftle was fitting, when our Saviour firft called him to be his Difciple. Notwithfanding he was a rich and fubftantial Man, and established in a very profitable Poft, he readily obey'd his Mafter's Call, and chofe rather to attend on the Son of Man who had not where to lay his Head, than to live amongft his Relations in the full Poffeffion of all fenfual Enjoyments. His Contempt of the World was not only confpicuous from. this fudden Exchange to all outward Appearance for the worfe; but from his extraordinary Abftemioufnefs during the Remainder of his Life. He refufed to indulge himfelf in any Flesh-Mears whatfoever, and fubfifted wholly on Herbs, Roots, Seeds, and Berries. However, in Order to exprefs the Veneration, and high Efteem he had for our Saviour, he made an elegant Entertainment for him and his Apoftles, and invited feveral of his Relations and Brother Officers at the fame Time, with the pious View of their becoming Converts like himself, thro' the prevailing influence four LORD's good Company and Converfation. He continued with the Reft of the Apofties till fome Time after our Saviour's Afcenfion. He spent

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eight Years in preaching to the Jews in Fudea, and the Parts adjacent; but after that he travelled into Ethiopia, that being the Province of his Apoftolical Office by Allotment. There he preached the Gospel of Chrift with great Succefs, and by working of Miracles, triumph'd over Error and Superftition. He is thought to have suffer'd Martyrdom at Naddaber in Ethiopia; but as to the Manner of his Death, and the Place of his Burial, Hiftorians are not determined. He wrote his Gofpel during his Refidence in Palestine, about eight Years after our Saviour's Crucifixion, at the Request of the Jewish Converts, and by the exprefs Orders of the Apostles, in which great Work he was affifted by the Holy Ghoft. Though 'tis thought he wrote it originally in the Hebrew Language for the Ufe of his Countrymen, yet it was foon afterwards tranflated into Greek; which Verfion was approved of by the Apoftles, and hath ever fince been received by the Church as genuine and authentic.

Q.OF

The CATECHISM.

F what Country and Kindred was St.
Matthew the Evangelist?

A. He was an Hebrew of the Hebrews, the Son of Alpheus and Mary, a Relation of the bleed Virgin, and thought to be born either at, or near Capernaum. Q. Wha

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