Saviour, after his return from the wilderness, first met with Andrew and his brother Peter, and had some conversation with them, yet they immediately returned to their trade; and the next day, as he was passing through Galilee, he found Philip, whom he commanded to follow him; the constant form he used in choosing his disciples. And it was a whole year after, that the other two were called to be disciples, when John was cast into prison.

Q. Did St. Philip readily comply with our Lord's command?

A. Yes, he immediately engaged in his service, though he had not seen any miracle. But it is reasonable to believe, that he was acquainted with Moses and the Prophets, and that he was awakened with the general expectation then among the Jews that the Messias would immediately appear; besides, we are to suppose the divine grace did particularly accompany the command of Christ, and dispose those that he called, to believe him to be the Messias.

Q. What was the first effect of his faith in the Messias?

A. A forwardness of mind to direct others in the same way of happiness with himself; for he finds Nathanael, a person of note and eminence, and acquaints him with the welcome news of his discovery, that he had found him of whom Moses and the Prophets did write, the anointed of God, the Saviour of the world, and conducts him to him.

Q. What is recorded of this Apostle in the history of the gospel?

A. That, to try his faith, our Saviour propounded to him that question: What they should do to procure so

much bread as would feed the vast multitude that followed him ? That it was to him the Gentile proselytes addressed themselves, when desirous to see our Saviour, of whom they had heard so great a fame. And that it was with him our Lord had that discourse concerning himself before the last Paschal Supper; wherein our Saviour gently rebukes him for the small improvement he had made, after having attended so long upon his instructions.

Q. What part of the world is thought to have fallen to the care of this Apostle?

A. The upper Asia, where he took great pains in planting the gospel, and by his preaching and miracles made many converts. In the latter end of his life he came to Hierapolis in Phrygia, a city rich and populous, and very much addicted to idolatry; and particularly to the worship of a serpent or dragon of a prodigious size. St. Philip, by his prayers, procured the death, or at least the vanishing of this famous serpent, and then by his discourses, made them sensible, how unbecoming it was to give divine honours to such odious creatures.

Q. Where did he suffer martyrdom?

A. At this city of Hierapolis; for the magistrates being provoked by the success Christianity found among the people, put St. Philip into prison, and caused him to be severely whipped and scourged, and then led to execution; where he was, as some say, hanged up by the neck against a pillar, though others affirm he was crucified.

Q. Is St. Philip reckoned among the married Apostles?

A. The ancients generally affirm it, and say, that he

had three daughters; two whereof persevered in their virginity, and died at Hierapolis; the third, after having lived a very spiritual life, died at Ephesus.

Q. What writings did he leave behind him?

A. None: the gospel that was forged under his name, was produced by the Gnostics, to countenance their bad principles and worse practices.

Q. What account have we of St. James?

A. There is no mention in the sacred history of the place of his birth; but he is in Scripture styled the brother of our Lord; and by Josephus, eminently skilful in matters of genealogy and descent, expressly called the brother of Jesus Christ.

Q. In what sense was St. James brother of our Lord? A. The language of the Jews includes in the name of brethren, not only the strict relation of fraternity, but also the larger of consanguinity; so that any degree of relation justifies the expression. But the ancient fathers, especially of the Greek church, make St. James, and them that were styled brethren of our Lord, children of Joseph by a former wife; and then, as he was reputed and called our Saviour's father, so they might well be accounted and called his brethren.

Q. Why was this St. James styled the Less?

A. It was thought he had the surname from the stature of his body, to distinguish him from St. James that was of greater height and bulk, and therefore called the Major: though others will have this distinction founded in their different ages. But he got himself a more honourable name by the piety and virtue of his life, which was St. James the Just, by which he is still known all over the world.

Q. What is recorded concerning our Saviour's

Gal. i. 19.

particular appearance to him after his resurrection mentioned by St. Paul?

A. St. Jerom relates, out of the Hebrew gospel of the Nazarenes, that St. James had solemnly sworn, That from the time he had drunk of the cup at the institution of the sacrament, he would eat bread no more till he saw the Lord risen from the dead. That our Lord, when he appeared to him, said, bring hither bread and a table; and he took the bread, and blessed and brake it, and gave it to James the Just, and said unto him, my brother, eat thy bread, for the Son of Man is risen from among them that sleep.

Q. What became of St. James after our Saviour's ascension?

A. He was chosen bishop of Jerusalem, some say by our Saviour, before his departure from his disciples; others hold he was elected by the Apostles, possibly by some particular intimation concerning it, which our Lord might leave behind him; whither way he was preferred, it is certain he was bishop of Jerusalem, the mother of all other churches; and preferred upon the account of his relation to our Saviour, as for the same reason was Simon chosen his immediate successor.

Q. What particulars are related in Scripture concerning him?

A. That St. Paul after his conversion made his address to this Apostle, by whom he was honoured with the right hand of fellowship." That to him St. Peter sent the news of his miraculous deliverance out of prison; Go shew these things unto James and to the brethren ;° that is, to the whole church, especially St. James the bishop and pastor of it.

Gal. i. 20. ii. 9.

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