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John vi.

Discourse he made to his Disciples; but was afterwards recalled by St. Paul. And upon no better Ground it is said, he was one of the two Disciples going to Emmaus; for, besides the Silence of Scripture, St. Luke seems to contradict it himself, by Luke i. 2. confessing he was not from the Beginning an Eye-witness and Minister of the Word. Most probable it is, he was converted by St. Paul during his Abode at Antioch.

Q. How did he bestow his Labours after his Conversion?

A. He became an inseparable Companion and Fellow-labourer of St. Paul in the Ministry of the Acts xvi. Gospel; especially after St. Paul's going into Macedonia; from which Time, in recording St. Paul's Travels, St. Luke always speaks of himself in his own Person.

Q. How did he endear himself to St. Paul?

A. By attending him in all his Dangers; by being present with him in his several Arraignments at Jerusalem; by accompanying him in his hazardous Voyage to Rome; where he served his Necessities, and supplied those ministerial Offices, which the Apostle's Confinement would not suffer him to discharge, especially in carrying Messages to those 2 Tim. iv. Churches, where he had planted Christianity; and in sticking to him when others forsook him.

21.

Q. Where did St. Luke preach the Gospel?

A. Some say he left St. Paul at Rome, and returned back into the East, and travelled into Egypt, and the Parts of Lybia, where he converted many to Christianity, and took upon himself the Episcopal Charge of the City of Thebais; though it is most probable, he did not wholly leave St. Paul till he finished his Course with Martyrdom.

Q. What Account do others give of his Labours? A. That he first preached in Dalmatia and Galatia, then in Italy and Macedonia; where he spared no Pains, declining no Dangers in the faithful Discharge of the Trust committed to him?

Q. About what Time, and in what Manner did he die?

A. The Ancients are not very well agreed about either: Some affirming him to die in Egypt, others in Greece; some in Bithynia, others at Ephesus; some make him die a natural, others a violent Death.

Q. What Account is given of his Martyrdom? A. That he successfully preached the Gospel in Greece, till a Party of Infidels, making Head against him, drew him to Execution; and for want of a Cross whereon to dispatch him, presently hanged him upon an Olive-tree, in the Eightieth Year of his Age, though St. Jerome makes it the Eightyfourth.

Q. Where is his Body interred?

A. At Constantinople, whither it was removed by the Command of Constantine, or his Son Constantius, and buried in the great Church built in Memory of the Apostles.

Q. What Writings did he leave behind him?

A. His Gospel, and his History of the Acts of the Apostles, both dedicated to Theophilus.

Q. Who was this Theophilus?

4. Many of the Ancients supposed it to be a feigned Name, denoting no more than a Lover of God, a Title common to every Christian; though others, with better Reason, conclude it the proper Name of a particular Person; especially since the Title of Most Excellent is attributed to him, the usual Form of Address in those Times to great Men. We may probably suppose him to have been some Magistrate, whom St. Luke had converted; to whom he dedicates these Books, not only as a Testimony of Respect, but as a means of giving him farther Assurance of those Things wherein he had Luke 1.4. been instructed.

Q. What may we learn from the Manner of these Dedications?

A. That in Addresses of this Nature, though Authors should not neglect the giving those Titles

Acts xxiv.

3.

that are due to Men's different Qualities (as Most Excellent seems to be given by St. Luke upon that Account, it being the same Word in the Original, which St. Paul applies to the Roman Governors, Acts xxvi. Felix and Festus) yet they should be very sparing in personal Commendations, for fear of contracting the Guilt of Flattery, so pernicious to themselves, as well as their Patrons.

Κράτιστε.

25.

Q. When was St. Luke's Gospel supposed to be writ? A. During his Travels with St. Paul in Achaia, whose Help he is generally said to have made Use of in the composing of it. And that this the Apostle primarily intends, when he so often speaks of his Gospel. Besides this Advantage, we are assured by the Evangelist himself, that he derived his Intelligence from those who from the Beginning had been Luke i. 2. Eye-witnesses and Ministers of the Word.

Rom. ii.

16.

2 Tim. ii.

8.

Ezek. i. 10.

Q. Upon what Occasion did he write his Gospel? A. Partly to prevent those false and fabulous Relations, which even then began to be intruded upon the World; and partly to supply what seemed wanting in those two Evangelists that wrote before him, in relation to some Particulars concerning our Saviour's Birth, Preaching, and Miracles. mainly insisteth upon what belongs to Christ's Priestly Office; upon which Account the Ancients, in accommodating the four symbolical Representments in the Prophet's Vision to the four Evangelists, assigned the Ox or Calf to St. Luke.

He

Q. When was his History of the Acts of the Apostles writ?

A. It is generally agreed, that it was writ at Rome, at the End of St. Paul's two Years Imprisonment, which makes the Conclusion of it. In this History he relates not only the Actions, but the Sufferings of some of the chief Apostles, especially of St. Paul, of whose Carriage and most intimate Transactions, St. Luke was best able to give a true Account, having been his constant Attendant,

Q. What is observed of St. Luke's Style and Manner of Writing?

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A. That it was clear and perspicuous, polite and elegant, exact and accurate; which shews how great a Share he had in the native Genius of Antioch, the Place of his Birth. He completed the Character of a true Historian, being faithful in his Relations, and elegant in his Writings.

Q. What may we learn from the Observation of

this Festival ?

A. To rejoice in those glad Tidings, which this Evangelist published to the World; and not only attentively and reverently to read his Gospel, but to practise, as he did, that Doctrine which he taught. To be careful to avoid all Flattery in our Addresses to great Men, which is contrary to that Truth and Sincerity that is so essential to the Character of a good Christian. To be exact and faithful in all our Relations of Matters of Fact, without favouring Parties and Factions. To stick close to the Professors of Religion, when they are encompassed with Variety of Persecutions; which is an Effect of true Charity, since Friendship only to Persons in Power and Plenty, may be suspected of SelfInterest.

Q. What Duties do Christians owe to their Fellow Members, when they are persecuted for Righteousness Sake?

A. To visit them in their Afflictions; and by seasonable Advice to encourage them to persevere in the Faith. To pray to God for them, that he would be pleased to support them under all their Trials, with the Assistance and Comfort of his Holy Spirit. To vindicate them from the false Aspersions of wicked and malicious Men. According to our Abilities to administer to their Necessities; and by our Interest with others, to procure them that, Relief which our own narrow Circumstances cannot supply them with.

Q. Whence arises our Obligation to these Duties?

6.

4. From that Love and Zeal we ought to have for Religion; whose Destruction is sought for by those who oppress the Professors of it. From that spiritual Union there is among Christians under 1 Cor. xii. their Head Christ Jesus: So that if one Member suffers, all the Members suffer with it. From the Example of our Saviour, who, out of his great Grace 2 Cor. viii. and Kindness being rich, for our Sakes became poor; emptied himself of his Glory, that we, through his Poverty, might be made Partakers of spiritual and durable Riches. From that Charity we owe to all that are in Want, especially to those that are of the Household of Faith. And from the Sense of being liable ourselves to the same Distress; and therefore Heb. xiii. remembering them that suffer Adversity, as being ourselves also of the Body.

3.

For the

Health of

THE PRAYERS.

I.

ALMIGHTY God, who calledst Luke the

our Minds. Physician, whose Praise is in the Gospel, to be an Evangelist and Physician of Souls; may it please thee, that by the wholesome Medicines of the Doctrine delivered by him, all the Diseases of my Soul may be healed, through the Merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the
Love of
God.

Thanks

giving for

II.

O ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly Wills and Affections of sinful Men; grant that I may love the Things which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold Changes of this World, my Heart may surely there be fixed, where true Joys are to be found, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

III.

I YIELD thee hearty Thanks, most merciful the Gos- Father, for those glad Tidings of Salvation thy Evangelist St. Luke hath published to the World,

pel.

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