with this step, he proceeded to imprison Peter, intending to delay his execution till after the passover, [A. D. 44.], that his zeal against these innovators might be applauded by a greater number of spectators. This stroke, though very afflictive to the church, was wisely permitted, to illustrate the courage and fidelity of the apostles. It showed, that their miraculous powers and high office afforded them no sure exemption from persecution; but that they ventured and acted upon the same principles of faith and love to Jesus, in common with other believers. Thus James finished his course, and received the crown the first of the apostles. But Peter, being designed for farther services, was still safe; though, to an eye of sense, he seemed marked out for a speedy sacrifice. Incessant prayer was made on his behalf by the disciples; and the united prayers of God's people have an efficacy which can be withstood by no human power: when he inclines them to join with earnestness and perseverance in prayer, it is because he has already determined to grant their petition. In this case the answer was signal, though not immediate. The night before Peter was to have been brought forth to suffer, he was sleeping between his keepers, with that serenity which is peculiar to those who have a good cause, a good conscience, and a steady faith in God. Neither the inconveniences of a prison, nor the expectation of death, could discompose him, for he knew in whom he had believed; but he was awakened by an angel, who freed him from his chains, opened the prison doors, and brought him into the street, unperceived by the guards. After the angel had thus set him at liberty, and was departed, Peter went to the house where his friends were at that instant praying for his

deliverance. Thus they had a remarkable proof that the Lord is indeed a God that heareth prayer; and it is recorded for our encouragement.

In the morning, Herod found himself disappointed of his prey. The guards, upon examination, being unable to give an account of their prisoner, he commanded them to be put to death. It is probable that Herod, or his advisers, might suspect a miraculous interposition (as the apostles had been delivered the same way a few years before); but to punish the keepers, as if they had been guilty of conniving at his escape, was the most likely method to stop farther inquiry, and prevent the people from supposing any thing extraordinary in the affair.

Herod did not long survive this event. He lived and died a monument of the instability of human greatness. He was much devoted to his Roman masters, and had a taste for their magnificence. This induced him to celebrate games and shows at Cæsarca, in honour of the emperor here he laboured to display the utmost of his. grandeur. His pride was farther flattered, by the arrival of an embassy from Tyre and Sidon. These cities had incurred his displeasure; but, as they chiefly drew their subsistence from his dominions, they were compelled to supplicate peace; which, though they had highly offended him, they obtained, by their interest with Blastus, his chamberlain. The king appointed a day to receive their submission, when he appeared with

Herod examined them himself. It is probable he found strong reason to think Peter had been miraculously delivered; but, like a wise politician, he dissembled his conviction, and, to stifle all suspicion, wreaked his resentment upon the soldiers. They, without doubt, believed there was something extraordinary in the case, and might have said so if they had lived;—but dead men tell no tales.

a splendour that dazzled the eyes of the spectators. He addressed himself to the ambassadors in a pompous oration, suited, we may suppose, to give them the highest idea both of his power and his clemency. When he had ended, he heard his praises resound from every quarter; the multitude shouted, "It is the voice of a god, "not of a man." His vain heart was elated with this impious compliment, which, indeed, was no more than had often been used upon such occasions among the Heathens; but when it was now adopted by those who professed a knowledge of the true God, the proud worm, who durst be pleased with it, was made a sudden and awful example of the divine displeasure: the avenging angel of the Lord smote him with an irresistible, though invisible stroke; and, while surrounded with the fancied insignia of majesty, and in the midst of their idolatrous acclamations, he found and confessed himself a mortal. He was seized with excruciating pains, and expired in a few days, being, in a manner, devoured by vermin bred from his bowels. With his death the persecution ceased. He perished, and was quickly forgot; but the word of God, which he had attempted to suppress, grew and multiplied as before.

The church of Antioch during this time greatly increased, and enjoyed the benefit of many excellent teachers; some of whom were endued with a prophetical spirit, by which the Lord intimated his will to them in particular cases. In this way they had been informed of an approaching dearth, and, as seasons of scarcity would severely affect the disciples in Judea, who laboured under peculiar difficulties, they cheerfully contributed to their relief, and sent the collection to Jerusalem by Saul and Barnabas, who, having fulfilled their commission, returned to Antioch about this

time. [A. D. 45.] These two were soon afterwards appointed, by an express revelation, to propagate the knowledge of the Gospel in other countries: they were set apart to this service by the solemn prayers of the church, and attended by John, surnamed Mark, who had accompanied them from Jerusalem. Thus they went forth, like Abraham, uncertain whither they were to go, but assured of an infallible guidance and power to direct and prepare the way.

It is generally believed, that nearly about the same time, the apostles at Jerusalem likewise separated to preach the Gospel, in the districts respectively allotted them by the direction of the Holy Spirit; and we have some account from antiquity of their several provinces, according to which, they divided among them the greatest part of the known world, from India to Barbary, and from Abyssinia to Scythia. Indeed there is no doubt but they executed their commission as apostles, and spread the Gospel far and wide; but the particulars recorded of their labours, sufferings, and circuits, are not transmitted with such authenticity and clearness as to give entire satisfaction. The only certain history we have of the apostolic age is that of Luke, which we call the Acts of the Apostles; and this, from the period we are now come to, is confined to those events in which Paul was personally concerned, and does not even carry on his history to the end of his life. The wisdom of God having given us, both in the life of Jesus and of his first servants, rather a specimen sufficient for our instruction, than a complete history to gratify our curiosity, to this plan we shall conform; and, while we have the light of an inspired writer, we

shall not wander after the glimmerings of tradition. I shall therefore, in the progress of this chapter, confine myself to the evangelist's narration, so far as it goes; and when he leaves us, it will be sufficient to comprise, in a very narrow compass, the most certain, or most probable, incidents which we can recover to complete the records of the first century.

Saul and Barnabas embarked at Seleucia, a sea-port in the neighbourhood of Antioch, and sailed to Cyprus. They landed at Salamis, on the east side, and proceeded through the island to Paphos, in the west, making the first tender of the Gospel in every place to the Jews. At Paphos, the Roman governor, Sergius Paulus, was desirous to hear the apostles' doctrine. He was attended by Elymas, a pretended magician and prophet; who, fearing the discovery of his impostures, laboured to divert the governor from his purpose, and to prejudice him against them. But Saul sharply rebuked his wickedness, and, by the 'impulse of the Holy Spirit, denounced a sentence against him suitable to his crime; he who endeavoured to detain others in darkness and ignorance, was suddenly struck blind himself. This punishment, which he could neither foresee nor avoid, discovered the vanity of his claims, and convinced the governor that the preachers spoke by an authority

It is expressly said, Saul, or Paul, was filled with the Holy Ghost; therefore the severe expressions in his reprimand were not the effects of intemperate anger, but a solemn declaration of the sorcerer's true character: yet it is safer to imitate the apostle in his patience and humility, than in this singular instance. The power of God, which accompanied his words, proved by what impulse and authority he spoke. We, who are not apostles, and who make no claim to apostolic power, shall act more in character, to conform to the general rule St. Paul has given us: 2 Tim. ii. 24, 25.