Q. Was there nothing in the Temper of thefe Apoftles that might give Occafion to this Title?

A. Yes; the Inftance of their defiring our Saviour, that they might pray down Fire from Hea

ven, as Elias did, upon the inhofpitable Samari- Luke ix. tans, that refufed to receive him, fhews that the 54. Name might have fome Respect to their fierce and furious Difpofition.

Q. What was probably the Reason why the Samaritans refufed our Saviour the common Accommodation of Travellers?

Antiq.

lib.

A. Because our Saviour feemed to flight Mount Gerizim, the Solemn Place of their Worship; his Luke ix. Face being as though he would go to Jerufalem. Which different Places of Worship had created an inveterate Quarrel between the Jews and the Samaritans; the Occafion whereof was this; that after the Tribe of Judah were returned from the Captivity of Babylon, and the Temple of Feru- Jofeph. falem was rebuilt; the Jews were, by a folemn 1.11. Covenant, obliged to put away their Heathens c. 8. Wives. But Sanballat, Governor of Samaria, having married his Daughter to Manaffes, a Jewish Prieft, who was unwilling to put away his Wife, excited the Samaritans to build a Temple upon Mount Gerizim, near the City of Samaria, in oppofition to the Temple at Jerufalem, and made his Son-in-law Manaffes Prieft there; which laid the Foundation of that Feud between the Jews and Samaritans, which, in Procefs of Time, grew fo great, that they would not fo much as fhew common Civility to one another.

Q. How did our Saviour refent the warm Zeal of thefe Apoftles?

55, 56.

A. He feverely rebukes the Fiercenefs of their Luke ix. Temper, as contrary to the Nature of the Gospel Inftitution, and his Defign of coming into the World; which was to fave Mens' Lives by eftablishing

X 4

Matt. xx.

22, 23.

Mat xx 2-, 26.

lifhing a Religion, that not only confults their eternal Salvation, but their temporal Peace and Security.

Q. How did our Saviour correct the Ambition of thefe two Apoftles, in prompting their Mother Salome to petition for the principal Places of Honour next his Perfon?

A. By making them fenfible of the Rashness of their Demand; and that in his Kingdom, the highest Place would be to take the greatest Pains, and to undergo the heaviest Troubles and Sufferings; and that, as for any Dignity, it was to be difpofed of to thofe for whom it was prepared by the Father.

Q. How did our Saviour calm the Paffions of the reft of the Difciples offended at this Request?

A. By inftructing them in the Nature of his Kingdom, and fhewing them how different it was from that of worldly Potentates; that in his Service Humility was the Way to Honour; and that he who took most Pains, and did moft Good, would be the greatest Person; and that his own Example was a Pattern of it, who came into the World not to be ferved himself, but to ferve others even at the Expense of his own Life.

Q. What became of St. James after our Saviour's Afcenfion?

A. The Spanish Writers contend, that after he had preached the Gospel in Judea and Samaria, he planted Chriftianity in Spain. But of this there is no Account earlier than the middle Ages of the Church; therefore it is fafeft to confine his Miniftry to Judea and the Parts thereabouts.

Q. How did be fuffer Martyrdom ?

A. Herod being defirous, upon his Entrance into the Government, to please the People, caufed A&ts xii. 2. St. James to be apprehended at Jerufalem, and then commanded that he fhould be beheaded. And

fo he became the first Apostle that laid down his Life for the Testimony of Jesus..

Q. What happened as he was led to the Place of bis Martyrdom?

lib. 2. c.

A. His Accufer being enlightened by the Cou- Eufeb. rage and Conftancy St. James fhewed at his Trial, repented of what he had done, and falling at the Apoftle's Feet, heartily begged his Pardon for what he had teftified against him. The holy Man, after a little Surprize, raifed him up, and embracing him, faid, Peace be to thee. Whereupon he publicly profeffed himself a Chriftian, and was beheaded at the fame Time.

Q. Why do the Spaniards exprefs fo great a Veneration for this Apostle?

A. Because they do not only fuppofe that he planted Chriftianity in thofe Parts, but that his Body, after his Martyrdom at Jerufalem, was tranflated from thence to Compoftella in Gallicia ; though the Account of both these Paffages have little or no Foundation in History.

Q. What may we learn from the Obfervation of this Festival?

A. That God's Bleffing attends thofe that de pend upon his Providence, in a diligent and faithful Difcharge of the Duties of their Calling, That we ought to quit all worldly Accommodations, and our Father's House, rather than make Shipwreck of Faith and a good Confcience. That no Difference of Religion, nor Pretence of Zeal for God and Christ, can warrant and juftify a paffionate and fierce, a vindictive and exterminating Spirit. That we ought to treat all that differ from us with Kindnefs and Affability, and to fhew our Moderation, not by parting with our Principles, but by increafing our Charity. That the great Honour of a Chriftian is to take Pains in doing good; and that the highest Pitch of

C.g.

4.

his Preferment is to fuffer for the Name of Chrift, being moft bleffed when he is reviled and persecuted for his Sake. That the Crown of Martyrdom exceeds all the Pomp and Splendour that attends ecclefiaftical Preferments.

Q. What do you mean by a Martyr?

A. One that bears. Witness to the Truth at the Expense of his own Life. Thofe that fuffered Imprisonment, the Spoil of their Goods, and Banishment, and feveral other fevere Torments, if they efcaped without dying, were called ConfefHeb. xii. fors. But it was neceffary to refft unto Blood, to acquire the glorious Privilege of a of a Martyr ; though, in a large Senfe, they who died in Prifon, or during their Sufferings by Want, or in their Banishment were killed by Thieves or wild Beasts, and even those who, administering to their FellowChriftians in the Time of a Plague, loft their Lives, were called Martyrs, and intitled to the Privileges that were thought to belong to that State.

Q. What Privileges were affigned to Martyrs by the Primitive Chriftians?

A. That upon their Death they were immediately admitted to the Beatific Vifion; while other Souls waited for the Day of Judgment to complete their Happinefs. That God would grant chiefly to their Prayers the haftening of his Kingdom, and the fhortening of the Times of Perfecution. That they fhould have the greatest Share in the Refurrection of the Juft, which was called the first Refurrection; which was the most confiderable, because the Primitive Chriftians looked upon the End of the World as near at hand; And many believed that those who were Partakers of the first Refurrection fhould reign with Christ a thousand Years upon Earth. That the Martyrs, and fome other perfect Souls, should re

ceive no Hurt or Prejudice from the general Conflagration of the World, when others lefs perfect fhould be purged by that univerfal Fire from the Drofs they had contracted in Life. That Martyrdom fupplied the Grace conveyed both by Baptifm and the holy Eucharift, and intitled Men to the Benefit of thofe Sacraments, viz. Remiffion of Sins. The Martyrs had alfo à confiderable Hand in abfolving Penitents, who, through Fear of fuffering, had lapfed into Idolatry, and in restoring them to the Communion of the Church.

Q. Wherein appears the Reasonableness and Happinels of chufing Martyrdom?

A. In that a Man prefers a future Good, infinitely valuable in itself, and eternal as to its Duration, before a prefent Satisfaction, which in its own Nature is mixed and imperfect, as well as fhort and uncertain in refpect of its Continuance, the Sufferings of the prefent Time being not worthy to Rom. viii. be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed. 18. Now this was always, in the Account of the wifeft Men, efteemed a great Piece of Prudence, to part with a little at prefent for a far greater future Advantage. Befides God, who hath a Right in us, both by Creation and Redemption, and thereby hath Power to difpofe of us as he pleaseth, hath declared he will not endure any Rival, and that we ought to be his without Referve. And Luke xiv. the Happiness of Martyrdom confifts in having an Opportunity to give the utmost Evidence of a fincere Love, and fervent Affection to our great and mighty Benefactor; in being conformed to the Likeness of Chrift's Sufferings, which were endured purely upon our Account; and in ac- Rev. vii. quiring a Title to a Degree of Glory fuperior to 13, 14, what other Saints fhall be made Partakers of. Mat. v. Which made the bleffed Martyr St. Ignatius proEpift. adi fefs, that till the Sentence of Condemnation was paffed Rom.

upon

26, 27.

10.

c.