that his very bones might be told and lots should be cast for his garment Is not this Jesus whose doctrine I preach unto you This is the Master whom David invites us to hear speaking in the person of God To day if you hear his voice harden not your hearts as your Fore-fathers have done in the desart where I was made angry against those who durst distrust my power and censure all my workes for the space of forty yeares Their infidelity shall not go unpunished I will make them know that I can revenge my self in my wrath I sweare they shall not enter into the place of rest which I had prepared for them Behold dreadfull words and you will doe well to be warned by their loss lest you be excluded also from that place of repose which is offered to you As it availed them little to give ear to the relation of those who returned from the land of Promise and informed them of the true state of it because they would not believe what was said so it is not enough to heare the Gospel preached it must be received humbly to the end you may obtaine by faith the fruition of that repose which is spoken of in the passage I alledged It cannot be that repose which God assumed after he had made the world that being no other thing then a cessation from work nor is it likewise the repose of the Sabbath whose institution was before the birth of David In summe it is not that repose which our Fathers tasted in the Land whereinto they were led by Ioshua for that long since is past therefore it must needs be that the Psalmist speaks of another repose more holy a Sabbath more excellent which appertains to the people of God and in which the Just do eternally repose from all their labours as formerly our Lord did repose the seventh day from all his works Moyses could not bring us into that place where this divine Sabbath is celebrated Jesus Christ entred there the first to open it to those who should receive his doctrine This is the Priest deserving adoration who to purifie heaven and earth and to reconcile man to God has not not made use of the bloud of goats and bulls but of his owne which he has shed to the last drop upon the Altar of the Cross The high Priest of the Law was obliged to offer Sacrifices for his own sins as well as those of the People Jesus Christ is the Sovereign high Priest pure holy unpolluted uncapable of any spot consequently needs not offer any victime for himself he hath not received his Priest-hood by way of a carnall birth and succession as the Priests according to Aaron did but hee has been established eternal Priest according to the order of Melchisedec as we learn by those words of the Psalmist which you confess are to be understood of the Messias Our Lord hath sworne thou art an eternal Priest according to the order of Melchisedec If the Levitical Priest-hood which the people received together with the Law guided to perfection that is to say gave true Justice what need was there that another Priest should come according to the order of Melchisedec and if the Priest-hood be transferred it then follows that the Law is also changed because these two things are inseparably linked together Now that there has been a translation of the Priest-hood 't is not to be doubted since he of whom that passage I alledged speaks was of the Tribe of Iuda and not of Levi out of which Moyses ordained that the Priests should be chosen Observe also that the Leviticall Priest-hood was not established by oath as is that which I treat and this circumstance shewes the sanctity and immutability of that thing unto which God has pleased to unite it There were to be many Priests according to the order of Aaron because they were mortal But the Priest-hood of Jesus Christ is eternall as well as himself he has alwaies power to guide those to eternall salvation who believe in him He is alwaies in the functions of his Priesthood that is to say in continual oblation of himself to God and in prayer without intermission for hee that sayes Eternal Priest sayes also Eternal Oblation The Levitical Priests stood during the exercise of their Functions Jesus Christ having once offered the Hoast of his body is seated at the right hand of God according to the words of the Psalmist The Lord said to my Lord Take thy place till I have put thy enemies under my feet Be not you of that number my deare Brethren you that are descended from Abraham the Father of the Faithfull you whose Ancestours have been so holy you to whom those promises were made and for whom Jesus Christ principally came doe not permit strangers to carry away the benediction due to lawful children and having hitherto born the heavy yoke of Moyses doe not fear now to submit your selvs to that of Jesus Christ which is so light and pleasing And in this you will even obey Moyses by whom as you know God promised That after many ages hee would raise a Prophet of your Nation to whom hee would have you attend as to himself The Apostle spake much after this manner his discourse raised great Disputes amongst his Auditours some blaming what others approved some believing others continuing obstinate S. Paul finding hee could gaine little upon them hee told them freely I know well that ye will fulfill the prophesie of Esay to whom God spake in these tearms Goe to the Children of Israel and tell them You shall hear with your ears but shall not understand with your mindes you shall see with the eyes of the body but not with those of the soule for the heart of this people is suffocated with fat they have heard with their ears against their wills being incensed have shut their eyes for feare they should see by their eyes take in by their eares consent by their hearts and wills and so work their conversion and their cure The incredulous Jewes were extreamly offended at these words and more which he added viz. That the news of salvation should be carried to the Gentiles who would imbrace it This discourse gave occasion of much dispute to the Audience who not being able to come to an agreement every one returned home possessed with different thoughts and opinions Hitherto we have proceeded securely following the steps of Saint Luke who ends here his story and leaves the Apostle in the Confusion of Rome where he saies he remained two years and during that time preached the Doctrine of Jesus Christ without any let Receiving with freedome all those who came to see him Hence what concerns the rest of his life we know little yet I will endeavour to ground what I shall adde more of this Subject either upon certaine traditions or from his owne Epistles In the second Epistle which he writes to Tymothy his dear
might take them all and he exhorted himself to use nothing of mercy either to old or young to whom even the most barbarous are wont to shew some compassion and pitty He was entring into the thirty third year of his age and the heat of his youth joyned with the temper of his minde and zeal of Religion easily transported him to resolutions that were extream He was neer to Damasco when an extraordinary light comming from Heaven and invironing him he was thrown downe to the earth and heard a voice that said to him Saul Saul why dost thou persecute me Jesus Christ was uncapable of suffering persecution in his person but he suffered it in his members that were so strictly united to him as he reputed all injuries done unto them done unto his own person This persecutor being affrighted answered Lord who art thou I am Jesus of Nazareth whom thou dost persecute continued the voice and it is in vain for thee to kick against the pricks Then Saul astonished trembling and out of himself cryed Lord what wilt thou that I doe It was answered him Rise up and goe into the City and there I will make known to thee what thou oughtest to doe Those who accompanied him were wonderfully astonished at this conference For they heard the sound of a voice but could not distinguish the words nor saw they any body Saul rising up found himself blind The brightness of Heaven had exteriourly blinded him but his soul was delivered from his former darkness and this glorious blinde man shall appear ere long one of the bright Stars of the Church He enquired not what should become of him but made an humble Sacrifice of himself to him whom but a moment before he had persecuted His Conversion was sudden and compleat and so it shall continue to his death He was led by the hand into the City of Damascus where he was three dayes and three nights without eating or drinking but not without receiving the nourishment of heavenly consolations and those great verities whereof he was to be the Apostle Here humane prudence is at a stand that God should choose him a Preacher of faith who but a little before was so furious an enemy to it But the wisedome of heaven wonderfully shewes it self in this conduct for by this appears the efficacy of the grace of Jesus Christ which can soften a heart thus hardened without infringing our liberty and of a mortal adversary make him his most faithful couragious Champion He was to be the Doctor of this new grace necessary to the state of corrupted nature He was to heal the infirmity of the will captivated to concupiscence and rectifie the ignorance of the understanding And how could he better conceive the necessary and efficacy of this celestial remedy then by his own experience Certainly he who had so long time before the heavy yoak of the Law and having his inclinations so contrary to the faith of Christ had yet received it by a meanes so extraordinary whereby the Soule was illuminated and the heart so suddenly mollified so strongly and yet nevertheless so gently could not beleeve that man had the cheifest part in his own conversion and that grace was not a slave to the will but rather a gentle and amorous Mistress which prevents fortifies moves and makes the Soule active He was far from imagining there was any merit in him in order to his election and therefore he might with more efficacy announce unto the Jewes That the works of the Law did not render them worthy to receive the Gospel and to the Gentiles likewise If they were called that it was out of the meer choice and pure goodness of God He was to labour in the conversion of sinners and God to shew him that he must deale mildly and sweetly with them made choise of him even when he was guilty of the greatest sin that man could commit Before for the same reason he had established Saint Peter Head of the Church after he had thrice denyed him Ananias a Priest of very great piety governed then the Infant Church of Damasco Jesus Christ by apparition commanded him to goe into the house of one Jude and told him the street where he should finde a man named Saul borne at Tarsis who was earnest in prayer Ananias astonished took the boldness to answer him in a manner which shewed he was accustomed to the like Visions Saying Lord I have understood from divers persons of the great harm this man hath done to your Church and now he is here in this place with commissions to apprehend all those who invocate thy name Fear nothing answered the Son of God he is no more a persecutor but a vessel of election and an instrument by whom I will work great wonders I have chosen him to announce my doctrine to Nations and to Princes without fearing the fury of one or the power of the other He shall preach to the Children of Israel those truths which he hath endeavoured to abolish and I will let him know what he is to suffer for my name Ananias replying no more went presently and obeyed He found this new Convert and approaching to him laid his hands upon his head saying Saul my dear Brother the Lord Jesus who appeared himself unto you on the way to Damascus that you may see how dear to him your salvation is has sent me to you to the end that in his name you should recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost that you may afterwards pour it forth upon others and acquit your self of the Ministery to which he hath ordained you Immediatly the Scales which covered the eyes of Saul fell from them and he saw as he did before and at the same instant of this miracle he was baptized and received it with such disposition of minde as we may imagine to be in one whose Conversion was so extraordinary and whom Jesus Christ himself took the pains to instruct For Ananias did neither Catechise him nor send him to the Apostles to be Catechised knowing well that he who had drawn him out of the darkness of the Law would have him immediately to receive from him the Heavenly Doctrine of the Gospel as being particularly his Apostle He issued from the water of Baptisme not onely pure but full of courage And unwilling to lose one hour of time without imploying it to the honour of his new Master he began his Function going into the Synagogues and there teaching that Jesus Christ was the Son of God His condition his Doctrine the fame which was spread amongst the Jewes of his zeal for the Law and the designe upon which he came to Damascus made them at the first to hear him with great attention But when he was heard to speak of Christ crucified as of the Messias it was strange to see the astonishment amongst his Audience they could hardly beleive their own eares What said they this man who does now
Angel descended from Heaven into the prison where he was and found him betwixt two Souldiers of his guard oppressed with sleep The Dungeon was instantly filled with a great light and awaking him by a touch on the side at his command to follow him the chains fell from his hands He obeyed and passing the first and second watch came to the iron gate that led to the street which of it self also opened After he had gone some few steps this Messenger of Heaven vanished and the prisoner who till then thought he was in a dream found indeed that he was delivered out of the hands of Herod and from the fury of the Jewes He came and knockt at the door of Mary the Mother of John sirnamed Mark where many faithfull were gathered together praying for his delivery A young Maid named Rhodes knew him by his voice and presently went up to tell the Assembly some told her she was mad but she affirming that it was certainly he they replyed t is his Angel meaning him whom we call our Angel Guardian and who is given to every one of us When the door was opened and that they saw him they could yet scarce beleive their own eyes He recounted to them what had happened in the prison And giving order to make known this good newes to James the Brother of our Lord who was Bishop of Hierusalem and to the rest of the Faithfull he departed towards the Coast of Palestine there to preach the Gospel From thence he went to Rome where he began to make war against Idolatry and to establish the Seat of his Successors which might be through all Ages of the Church the Center of Ecclesiastical Unity Herod advertised of his delivery grew inraged astainst the Souldiers to whose custody he was committed He caused diligent search to be made after him but in vain and the Divine Vengeance not long after failed not to punish Herod himself For he being at Cesarea the Inhabitants of Tyre and Sydon with whom he was angry the cause is not mentioned in the History of the Acts sent Deputies to him to make their peace He gave them publick audience and to render this action more solemn would appear adorn'd in all the Royal ornaments of Majesty At his Entry the flattering people clapt their hands and when he spake they cryed T is a God that speakes and not a man This unfortunate Prince took pleasure in this Sacrilegious Adulation and with joy received the honour which is onely due to the King of Kings But at the same time the Angel of our Lord strook him with a horrible disease that from his Throne he was carried to his Bed where the worms eating his flesh made it appear that it was the flesh of a mortall man and that God is more elevated above Sovereigns then Sovereigns are above their subjects that by the least of creatures he knowes how to abate the pride of the most formidable Tyrants and that piety and justice are the most solid Bases of an Empire The persecution of this wicked man gave occasion to the Apostles to leave Judaea and divide themselves into all parts of the world for till then they had resided in Jerusalem Before they separated themselves they composed a Summary of Christian Doctrine which is called the Apostles Creed whether it were that every one made an Article or because it was the mark or as it were the watch-word whereby Christians might know one another as being souldiers of one Band. Saint Matthew wrote also before this separation the Gospel which bears his name and of which St. Hierome sayes he saw the Original in Hebrew in the Library of Pamphilius the Martyr Saint Bartholomew going into the Indies transcribed it with his own hand and it was found in the time of Zeno the Emperor with the body of Saint Barnaby In the mean time the Apostle returned to Antioch with Barnaby and another companion called John sirnamed Mark. Their return caused great joy to that Church but she enjoyed not long their presence for the Prophets and Doctors of which that Church was composed amongst whom was Simon sirnamed the Black Lucius the Cyrenian and Manahem Foster-Brother to Herod the Greek word signifies brought up with him Whilest they fasted and were busied in the Ministery of our Lord they received command from the Holy Ghost to separate from amongst all the rest Saul and Barnabas Saint Luke places them in the rank of Doctors for the work unto which he had designed them They presently obeying imposed hands upon them after fasting and prayer There is a great diversity of opinions amongst Interpreters in Explicating what the Imposition of hands signifies in this passage of the Acts and what was the Ministery in which those here named were imployed The word of the Liturgy according to some signifies the celebrating of the Sacrifice of the Mass Saint Chrysostom Explicates it of Preaching Others of any kinde of Ecclesiastical Function By imposition of hands divers modern Interpreters understand Ordination to Episcopacy Their ground is upon this circumstance of the Liturgy because the Church of Antioch did always accompany this action with fasting and prayer But although the Church doe at this day celebrate Ordinations with these Ceremonies it is not therefore to be said they were practised from the beginning nor that every time they were practised it was for Ordination They add also that there is no other passage in the New Testament which shewes St. Paul and St. Barnabas to be consecrated either Priests or Bishops One might answer that the Apostleship containes these two Orders by that power which is called per Excellentiam for the Apostles were to found particular Churches which composed the Universal Now those could not be founded without Bishops the Church being defined to be a people joyned to their Bishop They ought therefore to have that Character which is necessary for the Ordination of Bishops Certainly it connot be shewed in the Gospel that the other Apostles sent by Jesus Christ were first made Bishops and afterwards Apostles nor is there any likelyhood that the Apostleship of Saint Paul who as St. Ambrose and St. Austin say was not called by Jesus Christ mortal but by Jesus Christ totally God that is to say living by a divine life after his Resurrection did not comprise the excellency which the others had and was less extraordinary Saint Chrysostom whose authority is of great weight in what concernes the Doctor of Nations sayes that he was ordained Apostle in the time we speak of This opinion may be grounded upon this that Saint Luke in this passage ranks him amongst the other Doctors of the Church of Antioch Whence 't is probable if he had been considered as an Apostle and an Apostle of the Gentiles by eminency or if he had exercised that Function he would not have given him a Title much inferiour to the Apostleship For Saint Paul speaking of the Orders of Ministers of the Church
felicity and an entire plenitude of all things It is he who has formed the body of the first man and by the breath of his mouth infused into him a soule not drawne from his substance or from an universal soule but created of nothing by his omnipotent power to make the most noble composition that was in the world He has ingraved in him his own image making it intelligent as he is intelligent spiritual and immortall as he is a Spirit immortall All men are descended from this one man and God has given them the whole Earth for their habitation dividing it amongst them according to the designes of his providence They cannot excuse themselves who know him not for on which side soever they cast their eyes they behold in every creature the greatness of him that made them It is to that end he has made them for he being a pure spirit corporeal men could not know him but by corporeal things He would if it be lawful to say so that they should touch him as it were with their finger and as blinde men know and discerne those objects by their touch which they see not So likewise by sensible and visible things we arrive to the knowledge of a being invisible and immortal And truly herein we need no forreign Master to instruct us nor any other looking-glass then our selves For if we will attentively consider what we are and what happens in us the wonderful aeconomy of our soul and body the variety of their faculties and operations we shall be inforced to acknowledge that God is not far distant from every one of us What do I say He is in the very Centre of our being which he fills which he conserves which he makes to act so that it is by him we live by him we move and by him we are Your Poets were not ignorant of this verity for one of them has said we are the posterity and race of God If we have so great an honour if we bear the resemblance of our Creatour and Father how is it possible that being more noble not onely in respect of our soule but of our body also then either Gold or Silver we can think that a statue made of those Mettles is a God who is so much elevated above all men How can those of the weakest judgements believe that the most Supream being resembles those extravagant figures which depend upon the invention and conceipts of Gravers How can they admit for a Religious worship that worship which is ridiculous How can they think that Idols which have no eares can heare them The true God has taken pitty of that unhappy ignorance in which all the Nations of the world were involved and in which by his just Judgement he left them untill he thought it fit to discover the truth unto them to the end they might doe pennance and avoid his wrath in that dreadful day where Jesus Christ whom by his order I announce unto you shall judge the living and the dead with as much rigour as justice The Jewes instead of hearing him called him a seducer and in acknowledgement of the miracles he wrought amongst them by curing their sick raising their dead fastned him to the Cross But God his Father raised him again the third day and made him Judge of all men to pronounce that Sovereigne decree of a life eternally happy or of miseries which shall never end In the mean time he will for a while suffer the Devels to triumph and exercise their rage against him They shall oppose his Doctrine by Kings by the People and by the wise of the World by Threats by Promises and by such cruel torments as the Executioners themselves shall have a horror of them But in the end his day shall come and he at once shall reveng e himselfe of all his enemies At the dreadfull sound of a Trumpet all the dead who sleep in their graves shall come forth and appear before the Tribunal of th is terrible Judge and render an accompt of all their actions The Audience taking these last words of the Apostle to be very extravagant interrupted him with great laughter but some amongst them were modest and more discreet told him they would hear him another time speak of this subject so he went out of the Areopage notwithstanding his preaching was not without fruit for one of the most considerable Magistrates called Denis imbraced the Gospel Saint Luke also adds that a Woman called Damaris was also converted and some Fathers say that she was the Wife of this Denis but others hold the contrary The Greekes in their Menology make mention of one Hierotheus whom the Apostle also converted and who was one of the Nine Senators of the Areopage but besides that the number of them is not determined it is not likely also Saint Luke would forget to note the Conversion of so considerable a man whom Saint Denis calls his Master France glories to have Denis for her Apostle and Paris for her first Bishop This tradition is not so constantly received of all the world but that many objections which seem very strong are brought against it the writings which are attributed to him give also great occasion of controversie both in respect of their matter and form for in the stile in the judgements of many learned men corresponds not with the simplicity and plainness of the Ecclesiastical writers of those primitive times And for the matter which concernes the Ceremonies in administration of the Sacraments some are of opinion they are more Modern But I leave this nice dispute and content my self to note the diversity of opinions which are upon this subject as an Historian without interposing my judgement to decide them either in favour or against an ancient tradition which to many seems so venerable The Apostle leaving the Church of Athens under the government of this Denis newly converted went to Corinth There he met with Aquila and Priscilla his Wife whom the Edict of Claudius had driven from Rome They were not onely of the faithful and of the same Nation with him but also of the same trade in making of Tents and Pavilions which he had learnt according to the custome of the Pharisees whose Sect obliged the followers to know and practise some Mechanique Art This was the occasion which drew him to lodge with them nor disdained he to labour with his hands and get his bread by the sweat of his browe to fulfill the first precept which he gave to others That he who would not labour should not eat He might by the right of a spiritual Minister demand of those he instructed things necessary for the entertainment of his life For who is that Souldier as he himself saies that fights at his own cost and does not receive pay of him for whom he exposes his life What Sheepheard lookes to a flock and watches for their preservation that has not right to feed on their Milke and to cloath