heart with so big a wickedness, as, by keeping back of his estate, to think to "deceive the Holy Ghost?" That before it was sold, it was wholly at his own disposure; and after, it was perfectly in his own power fully to have performed his vow: so that it was capable of no other interpretation, than that herein he had not only abused and injured men, but mocked God, and, what in him lay, lied to and cheated the Holy Ghost; who, he knew, was privy to the most secret thoughts and purposes of his heart. This was no sooner said, but suddenly, to the great terror and amazement of all that were present, Ananias was arrested with a stroke from heaven, and fell down dead to the ground. Not long after, his wife came in, whom Peter entertained with the same severe reproofs wherewith he had done her husband; adding, that the like sad fate and doom should immediately seize upon her, who thereupon dropped down dead; as she had been copartner with him in the sin, becoming sharer with him in the punishment: an instance of great severity, filling all that heard of it with fear and terror, and became a seasonable prevention of that hypocrisy and dissimulation wherewith many might possibly think to have imposed upon the church.

IX. This severe case being extraordinary, the apostles usually exerted their power in such miracles as were more useful and beneficial to the world; curing all manner of diseases, and dispossessing devils: insomuch that they brought the sick into the streets, and laid them upon beds and couches, that at least Peter's shadow, as he passed by, might come upon them. These astonishing miracles could not but mightily contribute to the propagation of the gospel, and convince the world that the apostles were more considerable persons than they took them for, poverty and meanness being no bar to true worth and greatness. And, methinks, Erasmus's reflection is here not unseasonable: a that no honour or sovereignty, no power or dignity, was comparable to this glory of the apostle; that the things of Christ, though in another way, were more noble and excellent than any thing that this world could afford. And therefore he tells us, that when he beheld the state and magnificence wherewith pope Julius the Second appeared first at Bononia, and then at Rome, equalling the triumphs of a Pompey or a Cæsar, he could not but think how much all this was below the greatness and

z Acts v. 12.

a Annot. in loc.

majesty of St. Peter, who converted the world, not by power or armies, not by engines or artifices of pomp and grandeur, but by faith in the power of Christ, and drew it to the admiration of himself; and the same state (says he) would no doubt attend the apostles' successors, were they men of the same temper and holiness of life. The Jewish rulers, alarmed with this news, and awakened with the growing numbers of the church, send to apprehend the apostles, and cast them into prison. But God, who is never wanting to his own cause, sent that night an angel from heaven to open the prison doors, commanding them to repair to the temple, and to the exercise of their ministry: which they did early in the morning, and there taught the people. How unsuccessful are the projects of the wisest statesmen, when God frowns upon them! how little do any counsels against heaven prosper! In vain is it to shut the doors, where God is resolved to open them: the firmest bars, the strongest chains, cannot hold, where once God has designed and decreed our liberty. The officers returning the next morning, found the prison shut and guarded, but the prisoners gone wherewith they acquainted the council, who much wondered at it: but being told where the apostles were, they sent to bring them, without any noise or violence, before the Sanhedrim; where the high-priest asked them, how they durst go on to propagate that doctrine which they had so strictly commanded them not to preach? Peter, in the name of the rest, told them, that they must in this case "obey God rather than men:" that though they had so barbarously and contumeliously treated the Lord Jesus, yet that God had raised him up, and exalted him to be a prince and a Saviour, to give both "repentance and remission of sins:" that they were witnesses of these things, and so were those miraculous powers which the Holy Ghost conferred upon all true Christians. Vexed was the council with this answer, and began to consider how to cut them off. But Gamaliel, a grave and learned senator, having commanded the apostles to withdraw, bade the council take heed what they did to them; putting them in mind, that several persons had heretofore raised parties and factions, and drawn vast numbers after them; but that they had miscarried, and they and their designs come to nought: that therefore they should do well to let these men alone: that if their doctrines and designs were merely human, they would in

time of themselves fall to the ground; but if they were of God, it was not all their power and policies would be able to defeat and overturn them: and that they themselves would herein appear to oppose the counsels and designs of heaven. With this prudent and rational advice they were satisfied; and having commanded the apostles to be scourged, and charged them no more to preach this doctrine, restored them to their liberty: who, notwithstanding this charge and threatening, returned home in a kind of triumph, that they were accounted worthy to suffer in so good a cause, and to undergo shame and reproach for the sake of so good a master. Nor could all the hard usage they met with from men discourage them in their duty to God, or make them less zealous and diligent both publicly and privately to preach Christ in every place.

b

SECTION VIII.

OF ST. PETER'S ACTS, FROM THE DISPERSION OF THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM TILL HIS CONTEST WITH ST. PAUL AT ANTIOCH.

The great care of the Divine Providence over the church. Peter despatched by the apostles to confirm the church newly planted at Samaria. His baffling and silencing Simon Magus there. His going to Lydda, and curing Æneas. His raising Dorcas at Joppa. The vision of all sorts of creatures presented to him, to prepare him for the conversion of the Gentiles. His going to Cornelius, and declaring God's readiness to receive the Gentiles into the church. The baptizing Cornelius and his family. Peter censured by the Jews for conversing with the Gentiles. The mighty prejudices of the Jews against the Gentiles noted out of heathen writers. Peter cast into prison by Herod Agrippa: miraculously delivered by an angel. His discourse in the synod at Jerusalem, that the Gentiles might be received without being put under the obligation of the law of Moses. His unworthy compliance with the Jews at Antioch, in opposition to the Gentiles, severely checked and resisted by St. Paul. The ill use Porphyry makes of this difference. The conceit of some that it was not Peter the apostle, but one of the Seventy.

C

THE church had been hitherto tossed with gentle storms, but now a more violent tempest overtook it, which began in the protomartyr Stephen, and was more vigorously carried on afterwards; by occasion whereof the disciples were dispersed : and God, who always brings good out of evil, hereby provided that the gospel should not be confined only to Jerusalem.

b Vid. Arrian. dissert. 1. i. c. 29.

e Acts viii. 1.

Hitherto the church had been crowded up within the city walls, and the religion had crept up and down in private corners; but the professors of it being now dispersed abroad by the malice and cruelty of their enemies, carried Christianity along with them, and propagated it into the neighbour countries, accomplishing hereby an ancient prophecy, that "out of Sion should go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." Thus God overrules the malice of men, and makes intended poison to become food or physic. That Divine Providence that governs the world, more particularly superintends the affairs and interests of his church, so that no weapon formed against Israel shall prosper; curses shall be turned into blessings, and that become an eminent means to enlarge and propagate the gospel, which they designed as the only way to suppress and stifle it. Amongst those that were scattered, Philip the deacon was driven down unto Samaria; where he preached the gospel, and confirmed his preaching by many miraculous cures, and dispossessing devils. In this city there was one Simon, who, by magic arts and diabolical sorceries sought to advance himself into a great fame and reputation with the people, insomuch that they generally beheld him as the great power of God; for so the ancients tell us, he used to style himself, giving out himself to be the first and chiefest deity, the Father, who is God over all; that is, that he was that which in every nation was accounted the supreme deity. This man hearing the sermons, and beholding the miracles that were done by Philip, gave up himself amongst the number of believers, and was baptized with them. The apostles, who yet remained at Jerusalem, having heard of the great success of Philip's ministry at Samaria, thought good to send some of their number to his assistance; and accordingly deputed Peter and John, who came thither: where having prayed for, and laid their hands upon these new converts, they presently received the Holy Ghost. Simon the magician, observing that by laying on of the apostles' hands miraculous gifts were conferred upon men, offered them a considerable sum of money to invest him with this power, that on whom he laid his hands they might receive the Holy Ghost. Peter perceiving his rotten and insincere intentions, rejected his

d Isai. ii. 3.

e Just. Mart. Apol. i. s. 11. Iren. 1. i. c. 20. Tertull. de præscript. Hæret. c. 46.

impious motion with scorn and detestation: "thy money perish with thee." He told him that his heart was naught and hypocritical; that he could have no share nor portion in so great a privilege; that it more concerned him to repent of so great a wickedness, and sincerely seek to God, that so the thought of his heart might be forgiven him; for that he perceived that he had a very vicious and corrupt temper and constitution of mind, and was as yet bound up under a very wretched and miserable state, displeasing to God, and dangerous to himself. The conscience of the man was a little startled with this, and he prayed the apostles to intercede with heaven, that God would pardon his sin, and that none of these things might fall upon him. But how little cure this wrought upon him, we shall find elsewhere, when we shall again meet with him afterwards. The apostles having thus confirmed the church at Samaria, and preached up and down in the villages thereabouts, returned back to Jerusalem, to join their counsel and assistance to the rest of the apostles.

f

II. The storm, though violent, being at length blown over, the church enjoyed a time of great calmness and serenity; during which Peter went out to visit the churches lately planted in those parts by those disciples who had been dispersed by the persecution at Jerusalem. Coming down to Lydda, the first thing he did was to work a cure upon one Æneas, who being crippled with the palsy, had lain bed-rid for eight years together. Peter coming to him, bade him, in the name of Christ, to arise; and the man was immediately restored to perfect health: a miracle that was not confined only to his person, for, being known abroad, generally brought over the inhabitants of that place. The fame of this miracle having flown to Joppa, a sea-port town, some six miles thence, the Christians there presently sent for Peter upon this occasion. Tabitha, whose Greek name was Dorcas, a woman venerable for her piety and diffusive charity, was newly dead, to the great lamentation of all good men, and much more to the loss of the poor that had been relieved by her. Peter, coming to the house, found her dressed up for her funeral solemnity, and compassed about with the sorrowful widows, who shewed the coats and garments wherewith she had clothed them, the badges of her charitable

f Acts ix. 32.