A. He found fome Perfons who were baptized only unto John's Baptifm, and he preached Jefus Chrift to them, and they believed, and were baptized in the Name of Chrift: And when Paul laid his Hands on them, they received the Holy Ghost, and spake with Tongues, Acts xix. 1-7.

56 Q. How did he perform the rest of his Minifry there? A. Three Months he preached the Gofpel in the Jewish Synagogue, but when the Jews were hardened against him he taught the fame Gofpel in the School of one Tyrannus for near two Years, and healed many Diseases, and caft out evil Spirits, ver. 8-12.

57 Q: Was he not perfecuted by the Heathens in this Place? A. When Demetrius, a Silversmith, who made Silver Shrines for the Goddefs Diana, (whofe famous Temple ftood at Ephefus) found that the Worship of the Goddess declined through Paul's Preaching, he ftirred up the Men of his Trade, and by them a Multitude of People were raised against Paul, fo that he was in danger of his Life, ver. 24-29.

58 Q. How did he escape here? A. The TownClerk finding fuch a rude Tumult, with foft Words compofed and quieted them, and bid Demetrius go fairly to Law, if any Man had injured him, ver. 29-41. The Uproar being thus compofed, Paul took his Leave of the Difciples, and after several short Journeys and Labours in the Gospel in thofe Parts he came to Troas, Acts xx. I-6.

59 Q. Was there any thing of Importance fell out in the feven Days while Paul tarried at Troas? A. Paul preached, and broke Bread on the firft Day of the Week, and continuing his Speech till Midnight, a young Man named Eutychus flept

and

and fell down from the third Story, and was taken up dead, Acts xx. 6-9.

60 Q. How was the young Man recovered? A. Paul fell on him and embraced him, and brought him alive before them, ver. 10-12.

61Q. What Exhortation did Paul give at Miletus? A. He fent to Ephefus, and called the Elders of the Church, made a moft affectionate Difcourfe to them; bid them, Take heed to themfelves and to the Church of God, which he had purchafed with his own Blood; warned them of grievous Wolves that should enter into the Flock, encouraged them to perfevere in Faith and Holinefs, and recommended them to God and the Word of his Grace, ver. 17-35.

62 Q. Whither did Paul travel next? A. He haftened to Jerufalem by many Journeys and Voyages, travelling through feveral Cities, though he was diffwaded from it by many Difciples, and was particularly told by Agabus, a Chriftian Prophet, that he fhould be bound at Jerufalem, and delivered into the Hands of the Gentiles, Acts xx. 16. and -xxi. 1-15.

63 Q. In what manner did Agabus deliver this Prophecy? A. He bound his own Hands and Feet with Paul's Girdle, and faid, Thus faith the Holy Spirit, fo fhall the Jews at Jerufalem bind the Man that owns this Girdle, ver. II.

64 Q. What was the noble Speech and Refolution of Paul on this Occafion? A. When the Brethren wept at the Thoughts of his Sufferings, he answered, "What mean ye to weep and to break my

Heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, "but to die at Jerufalem for the Name of the Lord Jefus," Acts xxi. 12, 13.

65 Q. What was the first thing he did when he came to Jerufalem? A. He went to James the Apoftle, and to the Elders, and declared what God had wrought by his Ministry among the Gentiles, Acts xxi. 17-20.

Note, Here he now published freely to the whole Church his Succefs among Idolaters, which he had communicated only before privately, and to a few, ¡Gal. ii. 2.

66 Q. What Advice did the Elders at Jerufalem give him? A. They advifed him to fhave and pu rify himself by an Offering after the manner of the Jews who had the Vow of the Nazarite upon them, Numb. vi. that he might not be fufpected of difobeying the Jewish Law, either by the believing or unbelieving Jews, who were all zealous for it, ver. 20-25.

Note, This Compliance of St. Paul being recommended to him by one Apostle, (viz.) James, and by the Elders at Jerufalem, Acts xxi. 18, 20, &c. and being put in practice by himself, who was, perhaps, the chief of the Apostles, we cannot reasonably fuppofe it finful or blame-worthy, efpecially fince the Scripture paffes no Cenfure on it; and yet muft we not fay the religious Ceremonies of the Jews, and particularly all the Sinofferings, (fuch as this was, Numb. vi. 14.) were abolished by the great Sacrifice of Chrift, and the Introduction of Christianity by the Holy Ghoft at Pentecoft.

In order therefore to vindicate this Practice of St. Paul, we may confider the Jewish Ceremonies under a two-fold Afpect, (1.) as they were part of their national Laws, under God as their King; and (2.) as part of their religious Worfhip paid to him as their God. Now the Ferih State being not yet destroyed, may we not fuppofe that St. Paul might comply with thefe Practices as a part of the national Jewish Laws, rather than as religious

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religious Worship, for he every where declared the Gentiles to be free from them.

Or, if we confider thefe Ceremonies only in their religious Defign, may we not fuppofe, that from the Death of Chrift, which was the fubftantial Sacrifice, thefe Shadows fo far vanished that they ceased to be neceffary, but were left, for a Seafon, as indifferent things to the Jews, which, as the Apostle expreffes, Heb. viii. 13 were decaying and waxing old, and ready to vanish away? May we not fuppofe the divine Indulgence of them for a Season, because of the Weakness of Mankind, who cannot eafily bear an universal Change of their ancient Customs all at once? and for this Reason, left the Jews should take too great Offence, St. Paul took Timothy and circumcifed him, in order to make him a Preacher, fince his Mother was a Jewess, A&s xvi. 1, 3. this being a lawful thing to him, though not neceffary. At the fame time he would not have Titus circumcifed because he was a Gentile, and had nothing to do with the Jewish Law, Gal. ii. 3. And the fame Apoftle being a Jew, for the fame Reafon might comply with the Jewish Rites of fhaving his Head, and facrificing, as things left indifferent to the Jews, for a Seafon, by the Will of God, in compliance with the Weakness of Man.

67 Q. Did this piece of Compliance fecure Paul from the Perfecution of the Jews? A. The unbelieving Jews had fuch a rooted Hatred against him for his Zeal and Succefs in preaching up Chriftianity, that they seized him under pretence of his having brought Greeks into the Temple, though it was not true; and they were ready to tear him to pieces till the chief Captain refcued him, and gave him leave to give an Account of himself to the Multitude, ver. 27-40.

68 Q. What Defence did Paul then make? A. He gave them the Hiftory of his being a Few by Birth,

and

and brought up at the Feet of Gamaliel in Ferufalem, of his former Zeal against Christ, his being ftruck down to the Ground on the Road, and called from Heaven by Jefus Chrift, and also of his Vifion of Christ in the Temple, fending him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles, Acts xxii. 1-21.

69 Q. How did the Jews bear this Speech? A. When he fpake of being fent to the Gentiles, they lift up their Voices and faid, Away with fuch a Fellow from the Earth, for it is not fit he should live, ver. 22.

70Q. How was he fecured from their Rage? A. The chief Captain again feized him, and brought him into the Caftle, and the next Day he ordered the chief Priests and the Council to appear, that Paul might give an Account of himself to them, ver. 24-30.

71Q. How did Paul plead his own Cause here before the Council? A. He found one Part was Sadducees, who denied the Refurrection, and the other Part Pharifees who believed it; and therefore he artfully, and yet truly declared, It is for the Hope of the Refurrection of the Dead I am called in queftion: for indeed the Refurrection of Chrift from the Dead, and our Refurrection by him, were fome of the greatest Articles of the Chriftian Faith, and that which Paul preached, Acts xxiii. 6, 7.

72 Q. What Effect had this upon the Council? A. They fell into Contention among themfelves, and the Pharifees faid, they found no Evil in him; and again the chief Captain fecured him in the Caftle, ver. 9, 10.

73Q. What particular Encouragement had Paul from Heaven under thefe Sufferings? A. It was this Night that the Lord Jefus appeared to him. and faid, Be of good cheer, Paul, for as thou haft teflified

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