TO THE READER. THE design of the following Apparatus is only to present the reader with a short scheme of the state of things in the preceding periods of the church, to let him see by what degrees and measures the evangelical state was introduced, and what methods God in all ages made use of to conduct mankind in the paths of piety and virtue. In the infancy of the world he taught men by the dictates of nature, and the common notices of good and evil, (τò πρeσßúтaтоv vóμiμov, as Philo calls them,a “the most ancient law,") by lively oracles, and great examples of piety. He set forth the holy patriarchs (as Chrysostom observes ") as tutors to the rest of mankind; who by their religious lives might train up others to the practice of virtue, and, as physicians, be able to cure the minds of those who were infected and overrun with vice. Afterwards, (says he,) having sufficiently testified his care of their welfare and happiness by many instances of a wise and benign providence towards them, both in the land of Canaan and in Egypt, he gave them prophets, and by them wrought signs and wonders, together with innumerable other expressions of his bounty. At last, finding that none of these methods did succeed, not patriarchs, not prophets, not miracles, not daily warnings and chastisements brought upon the world, he gave the last and highest instance of his love and goodness to mankind: he sent his only begotten Son out of his own bosom, a Lib. de Abrah. p. 350. b Homil. xxvii. in Genes. s. 1. vol. iv. p. 256. b τῶν ψυχῶν καὶ τῶν σωμάτων ἰατρὸν, “ the great physician both of soul and body;" who taking upon him the form of a servant, and being born of a virgin, conversed in the world, and bore our sorrows and infirmities, that by rescuing human nature from under the weight and burden of sin, he might exalt it to eternal life. A brief account of these things is the main intent of the following discourse; wherein the reader will easily see, that I considered not what might, but what was fit to be said, with respect to the end I designed it for. It was drawn up under some more disadvantageous circumstances than a matter of this nature did require; which, were it worth the while to represent to the reader, might possibly plead for a softer censure. However, such as it is, it is submitted to the reader's ingenuity and candour. W. C. CONTENTS. An Apparatus, or Discourse Introductory to the whole Work, concerning the three great Dispensations of the Church, Patriarchal, Mosaical, and Evangelical. PAGE - - SECTION I.-Of St. Peter, from his Birth till his first coming to Christ SECTION II.-Of St. Peter, from his first coming to Christ till his being called SECTION III.-Of St. Peter, from his Election to the Apostolate till the Con- fession which he made of Christ SECTION IV. Of St. Peter, from the Time of his Confession till our Lord's SECTION V.-Of St. Peter, from the last Passover till the Death of Christ SECTION VI. Of St. Peter, from Christ's Resurrection till his Ascension SECTION VII.-St. Peter's Acts, from our Lord's Ascension till the Dispersion SECTION VIII.-Of St. Peter's Acts, from the Dispersion of the Church at - SECTION XI.-An Inquiry into St. Peter's going to Rome An Appendix to the preceding Section, containing a Vindication of St. Peter's being SECTION 1.-Of St. Paul, from his Birth till his Conversion SECTION II.-Of St. Paul, from his Conversion till the Council of Jerusalem 242 SECTION III.-Of St. Paul, from the Time of the Synod at Jerusalem till his PAGE SECTION VII.-St. Paul's Acts, from his coming to Rome till his Martyrdom - 292 SECTION VIII.-The Description of his Person and Temper, together with an Dyptycha Apostolica: or, a brief Enumeration and Account of the Apostles and their Successors, for the first three hundred Years in the five great Churches, said to have been founded by them, thence called by the Ancients, Apostolical Churches, viz. Antioch, Rome, Jerusalem, Byzantium or Constantinople, and AN APPARATUS, OR DISCOURSE INTRODUCTORY TO THE WHOLE WORK, CONCERNING THE THREE GREAT DISPENSATIONS OF THE CHURCH, PATRIARCHAL, MOSAICAL, AND EVANGELICAL. SECTION I. OF THE PATRIARCHAL DISPENSATION. The tradition of Elias. The three great periods of the church. The patriarchal age. The laws then in force natural or positive. Natural laws, what, evinced from the testimony of natural conscience. The seven precepts of the sons of Noah. Their respect to the law of nature. Positive laws under that dispensation. Eating blood why prohibited. The mystery and signification of it. Circumcision, when commanded, and why. The laws concerning religion. Their public worship, what. Sacrifices, in what sense natural, and how far instituted. The manner of God's testifying his acceptance. What the place of their public worship. Altars and groves, whence. Abraham's Oak, its long continuance, and destruction by Constantine. The original of the Druids. The times of their religious assemblies. "In process of time," Genes. iv. what meant by it. The seventh day, whether kept from the beginning. The ministers of religion, who. The priesthood of the first-born. In what cases exercised by younger sons. The state of religion successively under the several patriarchs. The condition of it in Adam's family. The sacrifices of Cain and Abel, and their different success, whence. Seth, his great learning and piety. The face of the church in the time of Enos. What meant by “Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord." No idolatry before the flood. The sons of God, who. The great corruption of religion in the time of Jared. Enoch's piety, and walking with God. His translation, what. The incomparable sanctity of Noah, and his strictness in an evil age. The character of the men of that time. His preservation from the deluge. God's covenant with him. Shem or Japhet, whether the elder brother. The confusion of languages, when, and why. Abraham's idolatry and conversion. His eminency for religion noted in the several instances of it. God's covenant with him concerning the Messiah. The piety of Isaac and Jacob. Jacob's blessing the twelve tribes, and foretelling the "Messiah. B |