temple, to satisfy the doubting minds of the people concerning the faith of Christ; but being enraged that his doctrine was received by many, they threw him down from the battlements; and, while he was praying for his barbarous murderers, some of them beat him on the head with a fuller's club, and killed him on the spot. Thus he was martyred by the lawless Jews, while the Roman governor was absent from Jerusalem, A. D. 62. This apostle wrote the epistle which bears the name of James. 7. PETER.

Peter, son of Jonas, and brother of Andrew the apostle, was a native of Bethsaida. His original name was Simon, but Jesus called him Cephas, or, as it is interpreted, Peter, both words having the like signification denoting a stone or rock, and intimating the great necessity of stability in faith and duty. Peter was among the most faithful and zealous of the disciples of Christ: but his zeal, on some occasions, led him even to precipitancy and rashness, which occasioned his dreadful fall and criminal denial of his Lord, and brought a foul blot upon his memory. His repentance, however, was equally remarkable, and his subsequent life and labours prove him to have been one of the most eminent of the disciples, and most useful of the apostles of Jesus Christ. Very little is known for certain of this distinguished minister of the gospel, besides what is mentioned in the New Testament, until the admission of the Gentiles into the church of Christ, Acts xv. The Roman catholics assert that he was bishop of Rome for twenty-five years; but we have no evidence, beyond contradictory tradition, that he ever was at Rome, much less that he was bishop of the christian church in that city. Tradition reports that he came to Rome during the persecution under Nero; and that he was apprehended and put to death about three miles from the city. It is also said, that being sentenced to be crucified, and remembering his shameful denial of his Saviour, he requested that he might be allowed to suffer with his head downwards, as unworthy to die in the same position as his Mascer, which was the manner

of his punishment, A. D. 66. We possess two epistles written by this devoted apostle.

8. JUDE.

Jude, or Lebbeus, the apostle, surnamed Thaddeus, was the brother of James the Less, and the writer of the epistle which bears his name. At the commencement of his ministry, he preached the gospel in Judea, Samaria, Galilee, and Iduinea, and afterwards in Arabia, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia, confirming his doctrine with miracles. We have no certain information as to the place where he terminated his ministry, though it is related by some that the magi put him to death in Persia.

CH. III.-ANALYSIS OF THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

MATTHEW.

MATTHEW Wrote his gospel for the use of the Hebrew believers, and, as is supposed by some, in their own language, about five years after the ascension of Christ. This book is the only part of the New Testament which is believed to have been written in Hebrew: but as it existed very early both in Hebrew and Greek, it is concluded by judicious critics that it was translated into Greek while Matthew was living, either by himself, or under his own direction, about a. D. 60.

Matthew is divided into twenty-eight chapters, containing five principal sections.

Section I. Contains two chapters, which relate the genealogy of Christ from Abraham, and some particulars of his birth and infancy. In this section two things are remarkable.

1. The coming of the wise men to worship the child Jesus, and to offer gifts to him as the promised Messiah. 2. The special providence of God in frustrating the wicked designs of King Herod, while seeking to destroy the infant King and Saviour, ch. ii.

Sec. II. Includes two chapters, containing an account of John the Baptist, and of the entrance of Christ upon his public ministry, ch. iii. iv. In this section there are two things worthy of remark.

1. The character and ministry of John, ch. iii.

2. The baptism and temptation of Christ, ch. iii. iv. Sec. III. Contains a record of the discourses and miracles of Christ, until his transfiguration, ch. v.-xvii. The most remarkable things in this section are,

1. Our Lord's sermon on the mount, ch. v.—vii, 2. A record of a series of miracles performed by Christ, ch. viii. ix.

3. The commission of the twelve apostles to preach the gospel, ch. x.

4. The confession of faith made by the apostles, ch. xvi.

5. The transfiguration of Christ, when Moses and Elijah appeared conversing upon the manner and design of his death, at Jerusalem, for our redemption, ch. xvii.

Sec. IV. Relates various discourses and miracles of Christ, from his transfiguration to two days before his crucifixion, ch. xviii.-xxv. The most remarkable things recorded in this section are.

1. The entrance of Christ into Jerusalem, ch. xxi.

2. The Saviour's prophecy of the destruction of the city and temple, on account of the infidelity and wickedness of the Jews, ch. xxiv.

3. The description of the general judgment, ch. xxv. Sec. V. Relates the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ. The most remarkable things contained in this affecting section are,

1. The awful wickedness of Judas, in betraying his Master with a kiss, ch. xxvi.

2. The sinful weakness of Peter in denying his Lord,

ch. xxvi.

3. The dreadful criminality of the Jews and of Pilate, in condemning and crucifying Christ, ch. xxvii.

4. The remorse of Judas, and his testimony to the innocency of Jesus, ch. xxvii.

5. The resurrection of Christ, the miracles by which

t was attended, the proofs of its reality, and his commission to his apostles, ch. xxviii.

As Matthew wrote for the confirmation of the Hebrew christians, it was with peculiar propriety that he was directed to show how Christ descended from Abraham, by David; and that he was born at Bethlehem as foretold by the prophet Micah. Those passages also in the prophetical writings, which refer to the various offices and works of the Messiah, are more particularly noticed by this evangelist than by the others, for the satisfaction of the Jews

The gospel according to Mark is supposed to have been written about A. D. 61, under the direction of the apostle Peter, for the use of the Gentiles; to whose conversion the ministry of that apostle had been effectual. It records most of the things contained in Matthew, with some few additional particulars, but in a more concise form. Considering the simplicity and perspicuity of the writing, and the momentous subjects which it narrates,

this gospel has been called " the shortest and clearest, the most marvellous, and at the same time the most satisfactory history in the world."

Mark is divided into sixteen chapters, containing three principal sections.

Section I. Records an account of the ministry of John the Baptist, and of the baptism and temptation of Christ, ch. i. 1-13.

Sec. II. Relates the miracles and discourses of Christ, from the commencement of his public ministry, to his visit to Jerusalem at the last passover, ch. i. 14.-x. In this section some of the most remarkable things recorded are,

1. Some particulars relating to John the Baptist, ch. vi. 2. The account of the young ruler, who sacrificed the kingdom of heaven from his attachment to his worldly wealth, ch. x.

Sec. III. Contains an account of the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem, his parables and discourses there, and his condemnation, death, resurrection, and commission to his apostles, all of which are most important and remarkable, ch. xi.-xvi.

The gospel according to Luke, was written for the use of the Gentile christians, and dedicated to Theophilus, a nobleman converted to the faith of Christ. It is divided into twenty-four chapters, containing four principal sec

tions.

Section I. Relates the particulars of the birth of John the Baptist, and of Jesus, and of their early history until