25.

A. The Leisure and Opportunity he had for this Purpofe; it being about eight Years between the Time of obtaining his Freedom at Rome, and his Return thither again; in which Time he preached the Gofpel in the Weft, according to the common and received Opinion of all the Fathers: It being not likely that a Person so indefatigable in his Labour before his Imprisonment at Rome, fhould lie ftill afterwards; and it is probable he did not return to the Eaft, having fo folemnly taken his Leave of those Churches, faying, That they should fee his Acts xx. Face no more. St. Paul might have Encouragement to this Undertaking from the great Number of the Inhabitants, and from the Settlement of Colonies, both Trading and Military, here by the Romans. And from Pomponia Græcina, who was probably a Christian, and Wife to A. Plautius, the Roman Lieutenant in Britain. And it is not unlikely but that fome of the British Captives, carried over with Caractacus and his Family, might be among the confiderable Converts St. Paul made at Rome; who would certainly promote the Conversion of their Country, by fo great an Apoftle. None of the rest of the Apoítles ftand in any reasonable Competition with St. Paul for this Miflion, but St. Peter, whose Bufinefs lay quite another Way; being the Apostle of the Circumcifion, he was to attend the Jews, and confequently his chief Employment must be where the greatest Numbers of the Jews were: And the Hiftorians that affirm St. Peter's coming into BriLain, are of no great Authority, being often flighted by thofe that produce them. A more exact and full Account of this Matter may be found in Bifhop Stilling fleet's Orig. Brit.

Q. Where did St. Paul Juffer Martyrdom?

A. At Rome under Nero, in that general Persecution raised against the Chriftians, upon Pretence that they fired the City. Some of the Ancients

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affirm he drew upon himself the Fury of that cruel Emperor, by joining with St. Peter in procuring the Fall of Simon Magus; others by converting a Concubine of Nero's, that he extremely loved and careffed. He was beheaded in the Sixty-eighth Year of his Age; and from the Inftrument of his Exccution, the Custom arose always in his Pictures to draw him with a Sword in his Hand.

Q. What Writings did St. Paul leave behind him? A. Fourteen Epifles, which were not only instrumental in confirming the Churches at first, but they have been highly useful ever fince, to the Service of Religion in all Ages. These holy Writings must be read with Humility and Modesty, because St. Peter hath long fince obferved, that in them 2 Pet. iii. are fome Things hard to be underflood, which the Unlearned and Unstable wreft to their own Destruction.

16.

Acts xv.

28, 29.

Q. What Controverfies exercifed the Church in this Apoftle's Time?

A. The damnable Herefies of Simon Magus and his Followers, who were afterwards known by the Name of Gnoftics, who placed the Main of Religion in Knowledge, neglecting the Practice of it; and who, in Times of Perfecution, thought it lawful to deny the Faith. But the most confiderable Controverfy was, whether Circumcifion and the Obfervation of the Mofaic Law, or only the Belief and Practice of Christianity, be neceffary to Salvation; the last was maintained by the Apostles, the former by the Judaizing Chriftians. And St. Paul's Difcourfes about Juftification and Salvation immediately refer to this Controversy.

Q. How was this Controverfy determined?

A. By the Apoftolic Synod at Jerufalem; where it was declared,that the Gentiles were under no Obligation to obferve the Jewish Law; God having clearly manifefted his Acceptance of them. Yet, not to provoke the Jews, the Gentile Converts were

fomewhat

fomewhat reftrained in the Exercife of their Chrif tian Liberty.

Q. What may we learn from the Commemoration of St. Paul's Conversion?

A. To adore that miraculous Grace which called him to be an Apoftle. To blefs God for the Advantages we have had from his laborious and indefatigable Pains. And though we have been great Sinners, to encourage ourselves from his Example with Hopes of Acceptance, provided we fincerely repent. That the best Way to fhew the Sincerity of our Converfion, is by Actions oppofite to our former Sins, that thofe Virtues may be most confpicuous in our turning to God, which have been most neglected in our State of Folly. That when we charge ourselves with the Breaches of God's Law, we always remember that Guilt which we have contracted in partaking of other Men's Sins; which St. Paul fo fervently bewailed upon the Acts xxii. Account of confenting to St. Stephen's Death.

Q. Since partaking in other Men's Sins makes us liable to share in the Guilt and Punishment of them; pray what is meant by partaking in other Men's Sins?

A. When, before any wicked Action is committed, we are any Ways knowingly aiding or abetting towards the committing of it: Or when after it is committed, we are any Ways approving or juftifying it; by either of which Means we partake in other Men's Sins, though we are not the immediate Actors of them.

Q. What are the ufual Ways whereby we partake in Men's Sins before they are committed?

A. Thofe that are Superiors, as Magiftrates, Mafters, and Parents, thare in the Guilt by ordering or commanding any evil Thing; or by not ufing their Power to prevent and punith it; or by not exprefsly refufing to concur in fuch evil Things as are propofed to be enacted by mutual Confent. Thofe

that

20.

For true Thankfulnefs for

Conver

Lon.

that are Minifters, by neglecting to teach others their Duty, or by forbearing to warn their Flocks, as careful Watchmen fhould, against approaching Danger. Thofe that are in any fubordinate Office, by miniftring in any unlawful Bufinefs, helping it forward by Advice and Counfel, by furnishing Provifions, by wifhing or praying for the Succefs of it. And all others, by the Influence of their own ill Example, which is powerful of itself, but more fatal when the Example is eminent for Power, Parts, and Learning.

Q. What are the ufual Ways whereby we partake in Men's Sins after they are committed?

A. By approving a wicked Thing after it is acted, inwardly delighting in it, which is to take Part thereof in Will and Affection. By appearing to praise it; which fets off the Wickednefs not only as innocent, but as worthy and honourable. By jus tifying and defending it; which in fome Senfe makes a Man more guilty than he that committed it; for that might be through the Strength of Temptation, and through the Infirmity of Paflion, the other is the Effect of judgment and Confideration. Every Expreffion of Approbation, in Proportion to its Degree, puts the Approver into the Evil-doer's Cafe, and makes it his own.

GOD, who through the Preaching of the bleffed Apoftle St. Paul haft caufed the Light St. Paul's of thy Gofpel to thine throughout the World; grant, I befeech thee, that I, having his wonderful Converfion in Remembrance, may fhew forth my Thankfulness unto thee for the fame, by following the holy Doctrine he taught; through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

II.

to refift

LORD, raise up, I pray thee, thy Power, For Power and come among us, and with great Might Temptafuccour us, that whereas through my Sins and tion." Wickedness, I am fore let and hindered in running the Race that is fet before me, thy bountiful Grace and Mercy may fpeedily help and deliver me, through the Satisfaction of thy Son our Lord; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghoft, be Honour and Glory, World without End. Amen.

III.

well.

GOD, who declareft thy Almighty Power For Abili moft chiefly in fhewing Mercy and Pity; ty to live mercifully grant unto me fuch a Meafure of thy Grace, that I, running the way of thy Commandments, may obtain thy gracious Promifes, and be made Partaker of thy heavenly Treafure, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

IV.

Repent

ADORE, O Lord, that miraculous Grace For the which thou wert pleafed to manifeft to thy bleffed Effects of Apoftle: And I praife thy holy Name for that ance. powerful Affiftance thou haft promifed, to all thofe that follow the Example of his Piety. Send forth thy Light into my Heart, and make me fenfible of all my wicked Ways. Stir me up carefully to attend to what thou requireft of me, and make me ready to perform it. Let the Practice of thy holy Law's bear Witnefs to the inward Change of my Mind; that no Advantage of Nature or Grace may make me proud and haughty; that no Plenty and Abundance may make me fenfual and carnal; that when Riches increafe, I may not fet my Heart upon them, but be ready to relieve thy poor and diftreffed Members both in their Souls and Bodies. Let

no