Q. WHY

The CATECHISM.

Hy was St. Simon call'd the Canaanite, or Zelotes ?

A. On Account of the Warmth of his Temper, and his ardent Zeal, after his Converfion, for the Chriftian Faith; both those Terms bearing that Senfe and Signification. Q. What Account have we of his Country and Kindred?

A. Some imagine, that he was the Son of Jofeph by his first Wife Efcha, and that he was born in Cana of Galilee; but there is no fubftantial Authority for thofe Conjectures. O. Where did he refide after our LOR D'S Paffion?

A. At Jerufalem, where he continu'd to join in Worship and Communion with the other Apoftles and Difciples of our bleed

Saviour.

Q. How long did he thus live in Communion with them?

A. Till after the Feast of Pentecoft, when they were all plentifully furnish'd with the Gifts of the Holy Ghost.

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

A. He went firft into Egypt, Cyrene, and Africa; and afterwards into Lybia, and Mauritania; in all which Places he met with great Succefs in his Apoftolical Function.

Q. Where did he refide towards the latter End of his Life?

A. In Britain.

Q. How was he receiv'd there

A. Tho' be made many Converts amongst the Inhabitants; yet he went thro' a long Series of Trials and Afflictions for the Caufe of Chrift, and was at last crucify'd and bury'd there by the Infidels.

LESSON XV.

The Life of St. Matthias.

AS to the Parentage or Place of this Apoftle's Nativity, we have no Account either in the Sacred Scriptures, or in any other Writings whatfoever. He was chofen, however, into the Apoftolical Office after our LOR D's Afcenfion, by Lot, in the Room of Judas Iscariot who betray'd his Mafter. St. Matthias was doubtlefs duely qualify'd for the Dignity conferr'd on him, fince he had been a conftant Attendant on our Saviour all the Time of his Miniftry till his Crucifixion, of which, and of fome of the most material Tranfactions of his Life, he had been an Eye-Witnefs. He continu'd at Ferufalem till the Defcent of the Holy Ghoft upon the Apostles, and after that preach'd the Gospel of Christ in Judea with great Succefs. Towards the latter End of his Life he travell'd to Cappadocia, and fix'd his Place of Refi

dence

:

dence near the Irruption of the River Apfarus and the Haven Hyfus. He was there treated with the utmost Rudenefs and Inhumanity by the favage Natives and after having been indefatigable in the Propagation of the Gofpel in those Parts, and run thro' many Difficulties and Dangers in making Profelites to the Chriftian Faith, he died a Martyr; but the Manner of his Death is very uncertain. Some are of Opinion, that he was taken into Cuftody by the Jews, and by them first stoned, and then beheaded: Others again, imagine, that as Judas hung upon a Tree, fo his Succeffor fuffer'd upon a Crofs. There are no Writings of this Apoftle extant S for tho' there was a Gofpel publifh'd under his Name; yet 'tis rejected by the Learned as fpurious and apocryphal.

The CATECHISM,

hat Account have we of the Nati vity and Kindred of St. Matthias? A None at all.

Q. By what Means did he attain to the Dignity of the Apoftolical Office?

A. The Apostles chofe him by Lot, in the Room of Judas Iscarior.

Q. Was he duely qualify'd for that important Poft ?

A. Yes doubtlefs; for he had been a conftant Attendant on our Saviour till his Crucifixion, of which, and of the most material Tranfactions of his Life, he had been an Eye-Witness. Q. What

Q. What Account is given of him after our LOR D's Paffion?

A. He continu'd at Jerufalem till the Defcent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles. Q. Where did he remove from thence? A. Into Judea; where he preached the Gofpel of Chrift with great Success..

Q. Where did he refide towards the latter End of his Life?

A. In Cappadocia.

Q. What Reception did he meet with

there?

A. He was treated with the utmost Rudenefs and Inhumanity by the barbarous Natives; and after a long Series of Perfecutions, died a Martyr to the Caufe of Chrift.

Q. In what Manner did he fuffer Martyrdom?

A. The Manner of his Death is very uncertain: Some imagine he was first stoned, and then beheaded by the Jews: Others, that be fuffer'd on a Crofs.

Q. What Writings did he leave behind him?

A. None at all; for tho' there was a Gofpel afcrib'd to him, yet the Learned have rejected it as fpurious and apocryphal..

No

LESSON XVI.

Of the Destruction of Jerufalem.

OT only the City of Jerufalem, but the Republick of the Jews fubfifted for fome Time after the Promulgation of the Gofpel, till the New Church of the Gentiles was eftablished ; fince that of the Ifraelites of Old was to be the Bafis or Foundation, and perhaps the Model of it. At length the Time was fully come, when, according to the Prophecy of Chrift himself, Ferufalem was to be deftroy'd. The Jews took up Arms against the Romans, and a bloody War enfued thereupon. Jerufalem was befieged, and the Famine was fo fore in the City, that there were fome unnatural Mothers who eat the very Flefh of their own Children. In that great Siege eleven hundred thoufand Lives were utterly deftroy'd. The City was taken and demolish'd by Titus, Son of the Emperor Vefpafian, who burnt the Temple. Thus GoD punish'd that unfortunate City, where not only the Blood of fo many Prophets had been fpilt, but above all, the precious Blood of the LORD JESUS, its King and Saviour. The Fews, who obftinately refused to acknowTedge him for their Deliverer, became Vaf

fals