A. James, the Son of Zebedee, and John his Bro- Mark iii. ther, he surnamed Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder. 17. Q. What is probably intended by this Title? A. It is easier to conjecture than determine. Some think it was upon the Account of their rouzing the sleepy World with the Vehemency of their Preaching, as Thunder, which is called God's Voice, Ps. civ. 7, powerfully shakes the natural World. Or, if it relates to the Doctrines they delivered, it may signify their teaching the great Mysteries of the Gospel in a profounder Strain than the Rest; which is certainly verified in St. John; upon which Account he is affirmed by the Ancients not so much to speak as to thunder. Probably the Expression may denote no more than that in general they were to be eminent Ministers under the Gospel Dispensation, which is called a Voice shaking the Heavens and the Heb. xiii. Earth, and so answers the native Importance of the 26. Word signifying an Earthquake, or a vehement Commotion that makes a Noise like Thunder. Q. Was there Nothing in the Temper of these Apostles that might give Occasion to this Title? Hag. ii, 6 A. Yes; the Instance of their desiring our Saviour, that they might pray down Fire from Heaven, as Elias did, upon the inhospitable Sama- Luke iz, ritans, that refused to receive him, shews that the 54. Names might have some Respect to the Warmth and Heat of their Disposition. Q. What was probably the Reason why the Samaritans refused our Accommodation of Travellers? Saviour the A. Because our Saviour seemed to slight Mount Gerizim, the solemn Place of their Worship; his Luke is. Face being as though he would go to Jerusalem. Which 53. different Places of Worship had created an inveterate Quarrel between the Jews and the Samaritans; the Occasion whereof was this: that after the Tribe of Judah were returned from the Captivity of Baby- Joseph. lon, and the Temple of Jerusalem was rebuilt, the Antiq Jews were, by a solemn Covenant, obliged to put c. s. lib. 11. Luke ix. 55, 56. Mat. xx. 22, 23. Mat. xx. 26. away their Heathen Wives. But Sanballat, Governor of Samaria, having married his Daughter to Manasses, a Jewish Priest, who was unwilling to put away his Wife, excited the Samaritans to build a Temple upon Mount Gerizim, near the City of Samaria, in opposition to the Temple at Jerusalem, and made his Son-in-Law Manasses Priest there; which laid the Foundation of that Feud between the Jews and Samaritans, which, in Process of Time, grew so great, that they would not so much as shew common Civility to one another. Q. How did our Saviour resent the warm Zeal these Apostles? al of A. He severely rebukes the Fierceness of their Temper, as contrary to the Nature of the Gospel Institution, and his Design of coming into the World; which was to save Men's Lives by establishing a Religion, that not only consults their eternal Salvation, but their temporal Peace and Security. Q. How did our Saviour correct the Ambition of these two Apostles, in prompting their Mother Salome to petition for the principal Places of Honour next his Person? A. By making them sensible 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 disposed of to those for whom it was prepared by the Father. Q. How did our Saviour calm the Passions of the Rest of the Disciples offended at this Request? A. By instructing them in the Nature of his Kingdom, and shewing 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 most Good, would be the greatest Person; and that his own Example was a Pattern of it, who came into the World not to be served himself, but to serve others even at the Expence of his own Life. Q. What became of St. James after our Saviour's Ascension? A. The Spanish Writers contend, that after ne had preached the Gospel in Judea and Samaria, he planted Christianity in Spain. But of this there is no Account earlier than the middle Ages of the Church; therefore it is safest to confine his Ministry to Judaa and the Parts thereabouts. Q. How did he suffer Martyrdom? 2. A. Herod being desirous, upon his Entrance into the Government, to please the People, caused St. Acts xii. James to be apprehended at Jerusalem, and then commanded that he should be beheaded. And so 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 his Martyrdom? 4. His Accuser being enlightened by the Euseb. lib. Courage and Constancy St. James shewed at his 2. c. 9. Trial, repented of what he had done, and falling at the Apostle's Feet, heartily begged his Pardon for what he had testified against him. The holy Man, after a little Surprise, raised him up, and embracing him said, Peace be to thee. Whereupon he publicly professed himself a Christian, and was beheaded at the same Time. Q. Why do the Spaniards express so great a veneration for this Apostle? A. Because they do not only suppose that he planted Christianity in those Parts, but that his Body, after his Martyrdom at Jerusalem, was translated from thence to Compostella in Galicia; though the Accounts of both these Passages have little or no Foundation in History. Q. What may we learn from the Observation of this Festival? A. That God's Blessing attends those that depend upon his Providence, in a diligent and faithful Discharge of the Duties of their Calling. That we ought to quit all worldly Accommodations, and our 4. Father's House, rather than make Shipwreck of Faith and a good Conscience. That no Difference of Religion, nor Pretence of Zeal for God and Christ, can warrant and justify a passionate and fierce, a vindictive and exterminating Spirit. That we ought to treat all that differ from us with Kindness and Affability, and to shew our Moderation, not by parting with our Principles, but by increasing our Charity. That the great Honour of a Christian is to take Pains in doing good; and that the highest Pitch of his Preferment is to suffer for the Name of Christ, being most blessed when he is reviled and persecuted for his Sake. That the Crown of Martyrdom exceeds all the Pomp and Splendour that attend ecclesiastical Preferments. Q. What do you mean by a Martyr? A. One that bears Witness to the Truth at the Expence of his own Life. Those that suffered Imprisonment, the Spoil of their Goods, and Banishment, and several other severe Torments, if they Heb. xii. escaped without dying, were called Confessors. But it was necessary to resist unto Blood, to acquire the glorious Privilege of a Martyr; though in a large Sense, they who died in Prison, or during their Sufferings by Want, or in their Banishment were killed by Thieves or wild Beasts, and even those who, administering to their Fellow-Christians in the Time of a Plague, lost their Lives, were called Martyrs, and intituled to the Privileges that were thought to belong to that State. Q. What Privileges were assigned to Martyrs by the Primitive Christians? A. That upon their Death they were immediately admitted to the Beatific Vision; while other Souls waited for the Day of Judgment to complete their Happiness. That God would grant chiefly to their Prayers the hastening of his Kingdom, and the shortening of the Times of Persecution. That they should have the greatest Share in the Resurrection of the Just, which is called the first Resurrection, which was the most considerable, because the Primitive Christians looked upon the End of the World as near at Hand: And many believed that those who were Partakers of the first Resurrection should reign with Christ a thousand Years upon Earth. That the Martyrs, and some other perfect Souls, should receive no Hurt or Prejudice from the general Conflagration of the World, when others less perfect should be purged by that universal Fire from the Dross they had contracted in Life. That Martyrdom supplied the Grace conveyed both by Baptism and the Holy Eucharist, and entitled Men to the Benefit of those Sacraments, viz. Remission of Sins. The Martyrs had also a considerable Hand in absolving Penitents, who, through Fear of suffering, had lapsed into Idolatry, and in restoring them to the Communion of the Church. Q. Wherein appears the Reasonableness and Happiness of chusing Martyrdom? A. In that a Man prefers a future Good, infinitely valuable in itself, and eternal as to its Duration, before a present Satisfaction, which in its own Nature is mixed and imperfect, as well as short and uncertain in respect of its Continuance, the Sufferings of the present Time being not worthy to be Rom. viii. compared with the Glory that shall be revealed. Now 18. this was always, in the Account of the wisest Men, esteemed a great Piece of Prudence, to part with a little at present for a far greater future Advantage. Besides, God, who hath a Right in us, both by Creation and Redemption, and thereby hath Power to dispose of us as he pleaseth, hath declared that he will not endure any Rival, and that Luke xiv. we ought to be his without Reserve. And the 26, 27. Happiness of Martyrdom consists in having an Opportunity to give the utmost Evidence of a sincere Love, and fervent Affection to our great and mighty Benefactor; in being conformed to the Likeness of Christ's Sufferings which were endured purely |