Imatges de pàgina
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the Opinion, that it is the same Person under two Names, the one proper, the other relative.

Q. What is the chief Thing objected in this Mutter?

A. What was anciently hinted by St. Austin, that it is not probable that our Saviour, who designed to confound the Wisdom of the World by the Preaching of illiterate Men, would chuse Nathanael, a Doctor of the Law, to be one of his Disciples. Q. How is this Objection answered?

A. That it equally lies against St. Philip, for whose Skill in the Law and the Prophets, there is as much Evidence in the History of the Gospel, as for that of Nathanael; and it may be still urged with greater Force against St. Paul, who was considerable not only for his Skill in the Jewish Law, but famous also for the Advantages of human Learning.

Q. What Character doth our Saviour give of him, when Philip first brought him to our Lord?

A. That he was a Man of true Simplicity and John i. 47. Integrity; an Israelite indeed, in whom was no Guile, no Art of Hypocrisy and Deceit.

Q. Wherein appears the Simplicity of his Mind? A. In that when he was told of Jesus, he did not object against the Meanness of his Original, the low Condition of his Parents, the Narrowness of their Fortunes; but only against the Place of his Birth, which could not be Nazareth, the Prophets having foretold he should be born at Bethlehem; John i. 46. and yet he was not so far carried away with this popular Prejudice, as not to enquire farther concerning our Saviour, and when he was satisfied he was the Messias, he presently owns him for such, calling him the Son of God, and the King of Israel! John i. 49. Q. Whither is it thought this Apostle travelled to propagate Christianity?

A. As far as India, that Part of it that lies next to Asia; for, as Eusebius relates, when Pantanus, a Man famous for Philosophy as well as Christianity,

Euseb. lib. desiring to imitate the Apostolical Zeal in propagat. c. 10. ing the Faith, travelled as far as India itself; there, among some that yet retained the Knowledge of Christ, he found St. Matthew's Gospel written in Hebrew, left there, as the Tradition asserts, by St. Bartholomew, one of the twelve Apostles, when he preached Christianity to those Nations.

Q. What farther Account is there of him?

A. That he returned from thence to the more northern and western Parts of Asia, instructing the People of Hierapolis in the Doctrine of the Gospel; from thence he went into Lycaonia, where he employed himself upon the same Account. And at last removed to Albanople in Armenia the Great; where, endeavouring to reclaim the People from Idolatry, he was, by the Governor of the Place, put to death.

Q. How did he suffer Martyrdom?

A. He was crucified, some say, with his Head downwards; others, that he was flayed, and his Skin first taken off; which might consist well enough with his Crucifixion, Excoriation being a Punishment in Use not only in Egypt, but among the Persians, next Neighbours to these Armenians, from whom they might easily borrow it. He cheerfully bore their cruel Usage, and comforted and confirmed his Christian Converts to the last Minute of his Life.

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

A. That a Mind free from Prejudice is the best Preparative for the Reception of Truth. That the Nature of Faith doth not require such self-evident Arguments as force an Assent, but such as leave Room for the Praise and Reward of believing, That true Zeal stops at no Difficulties, and is frightened by no Dangers, and parts with Life cheerfully, when the Providence of God makes it our Duty. That Sincerity is absolutely necessary to make our Obedience acceptable to God, and

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our Conversation valuable among Men; Integrity of Mind being the highest Character and Commendation of a good Man.

Q. What is Sincerity, as it respects God?

A. It implies both the Reality of our Intention in God's Service, or our performing it truly for God's Sake, as we pretend to do; and also the Uncorruptness of it, or our performing it for his Sake more than any Thing else whatsoever; and without any Regard to any other Advantages of our own, but such as are allowed by God, and are subordinate under him. And the most certain Rule to examine our Sincerity by is the Integrity of our Obedience. For he that obeys God at all Times, and in all Instances, cannot but serve him with both the Ingredients of Sincerity, viz. Truth and Pre-eminence.

Q. What is Sincerity, as it respects Man?

A. It implies a Simplicity of Mind and Manners, in our Conversation and Carriage one towards another. Not seriously to advance any Thing contrary to the true Sense of our Minds, by our Words or Gestures. Not to pretend to greater Love and Kindness for our Neighbour, than we really feel. In short, it is to speak as we think, to do what we pretend and profess, to perform what we promise, and really to be what we would seem and appear to be.

Q. What is the best Method to attain that Sincerity which is so necessary in God's Service?

4. To consider that all our Religious Actions are of no Value in the Sight of God, except they are performed with a Respect to his Authority, and out of Obedience to his holy Will; and that, by designing other By-ends, as our own Profit, or the Praise of Men, we lose our Title to that Reward which he has promised. To possess ourselves likewise with the Apprehension of God's Presence always with us; that all our Ways are before the Prov. v. 22. Eyes of the Lord, and that he pondereth all our

For the Preservation of

true Faith

Goings. Which, with devout Prayer for his Assistance, will keep us upright before him.

THE PRAYERS.

I.

O ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who didst give to thy Apostle Bartholomew, Grace truly to believe and to preach thy Word; grant, I beseech Church. thee, unto thy Church, to love that Word which he believed, and both to preach and receive the same, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

in the

giving for

being a

II.

Thanks ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, heavenly Father, I give thee humble Thanks that thou hast Christian. vouchsafed to call me to the Knowledge of thy Grace and Faith in thee, increase this Knowledge and confirm this Faith in me evermore. Give me thy holy Spirit, that being born again, and made an Heir of everlasting Salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, I may continue thy Servant, and attain thy Promises, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

For Sincerity towards God.

III.

GOD, who art the great Searcher of Hearts, who dost not only require outward Acts of Duty, but the inward Disposition of the Mind; teach me, in all my religious Actions, to have an Eye to thy Authority; to obey thy Laws, because thou hast enjoined them; to make the Sense of my Duty the prevailing Motive of my Piety, and not the Praise of Men, nor Regard to temporal Advantages. Let me, in all Times, and in all Places, have a Respect to all thy Commandments, that no Privacy or Retirement may encourage me to offend thee, that no Losses nor Crosses may hinder me from doing or suffering thy blessed Will. Let not

my Devotion be made a Pretext to cheat and defraud my Neighbour; neither let the Exercise of Justice and Morality towards Men be a Plea for the Neglect of my Duty towards thee. Let my Charity to the Poor never serve to cover my Intemperance; nor my Sobriety exempt me from feeding the Hungry, and cloathing the Naked. Make my Life uniform and of a Piece, that the Duties of both Tables may take Place in all my Actions; that my great Design being thy Glory, I may, through thy infinite Mercy, be accepted by thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

IV.

TEACH me, O Lord, in all my Dealings and For Sin

towards

Intercourse with others, to exercise true Simplicity cerity and Singleness of Heart; never to compass any Man. Design by insiduous Devices and false Appearances; nor to betray my Neighbour by not performing what I have promised. Let me never abuse Men into a false Opinion of themselves, by representing them better than they are. Let my Tongue be the true Interpreter of my Mind, and my Expressions the lively Image of my Thoughts and Affections, and my outward Actions exactly agreeable to my Purposes and Intentions; that so, when the Secrets of all Hearts shall be discovered at thy dreadful Tribunal, I may not be confounded, O blessed Jesus, with the Workers of Iniquity, who will not be able there to hide themselves. Grant this, O Lord, for Jesus Christ's Sake. Amen.

CHAP. XXX.

SAINT MATTHEW.-SEPTEMBER 21.

Q. WHAT Festival doth the Church celebrate this Day?

A. That of St. Matthew the Apostle and Evan-Luke v. 27. gelist, who was also called Levi.

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