25. Rome, and his Return thither again; in which Time he preached the Gofpel in the Weft, ac. cording to the common and received Opinion of all the Fathers; It being not likely that a Perfon fo indefatigable in his Labour before his Imprisonment at Rome, fhould lie ftill afterwards; and it is probable he did not return to the East, having fo folemnly taken his Leave Acts 20. of thofe Churches, faying, That they should fee bis Face no more. St. Paul might have Encouragement to this Undertaking from the great Number of the Inhabitants, and from the Settlement of Colonies, both Trading and Military, here by the Romans. And from Pomponia Gracina, who was probably a Chriftian, and Wife to A. Plautius, the Roman Lieutenant in Britain. And it is not unlikely but that fome of the British Captives, carried over with Charactacus and his Family, might be among the confiderable Converts St. Paul made at Rome; who would certainly promote the Converfion of their Country, by fo great an Apoftle. None of the reft of the Apostles ftand in any reasonable Competition with St. Paul for this Miffion, but St. Peter, whofe Bufinefs lay quite another Way; being the Apostle of the Circumcifion, he was to attend the Jews, and confequently his chief Employment must be where the greatest Numbers of the Jews were: And the Hiftorians that af firm St. Peter's coming into Britain, are of no great Authority, being often flighted by thofe that produce them. A more exact and full Account of this Matter may be found in Bishop Stillingfleet's Orig. Brit. Q. Where did St. Paul fuffer Martyrdom? fecution fecution raised against the Chriftians, upon pretence that they fired the City. Some of the Antients affirm he drew upon himself the Fury of that cruel Emperor, by joining with St. Peter in procuring the Fall of Simon Magus; others by converting a Concubine of Nere, that he extremely loved and careffed. He was beheaded in the Sixty-eighth Year of his Age; and from the Inftrument of his Execution, the Custom arose always in his Pictures to draw him with a Sword in his Hand, Q. What Writings did St. Paul leave behind bim? A. Fourteen Epistles, which were not only inftrumental in confirming the Churches at first, but they have been highly useful ever fince, to the Service of Religion in all Ages. These holy Writings must be read with Humility and Modefty, because St. Peter hath long fince obferved, that in them are fome Things hard to be under-2 Pet. 3, food, which the Unlearned and Unstable wrest to 16, their own Deftruation. Q. What Controverfies exercised the Church in this Apoftle's Time? A. The damnable Herefies of Simon Magus and his Followers, who were afterwards known by the Name of Gnofticks, who placed the Main of Religion in Knowledge, neglecting the Practice of it; and who, in Times of Perfecution, thought it lawful to deny the Faith. But the moft confiderable Controverfy was, whether Circumcifion and the Obfervation of the Mofaick Law, or only the Belief and Practice of Cbrifianity, be neceffary to Salvation; the laft was maintained by the Apostles, the former by the Judaizing Chriftians And St. Paul's Discourses Acts 15. 28, 29. Discourses about Justification and Salvation immediately refer to this Controversy. Q. How was this Controverfy determined? A. By the Apoftolick Synod at Jerufalem; where it was declared, that the Gentiles were under no Obligation to obferve the Jewish Law; God having clearly manifefted his Acceptance of them. Yet not to provoke the Jews, the Gentile Converts where fomewhat reftrained in the Exercife of their Chriftian Liberty. Q. What may we learn from the Commemoration of St. Paul's Converfion? A. To adore that miraculous Grace which called him to be an Apostle. To blefs God for the Advantages we have had from his laborious and indefatigable Pains. And though we have been great Sinners, to encourage ourfelves from his Example with Hopes of Acceptance, provided we fincerely repent. That the best Way to fhew the Sincerity of our Converfion, is by. Actions oppofite to our former Sins, that thofe Virtues may be moft confpicious in our turning to God, which have been moft neglected in our State of Folly. That when we charge ourselves with the Breaches of God's Law, we always remember that Guilt which we have contracted by partaking in other Mens Sins; which St. Paul Acts 22. fo fervently bewailed upon the Account of confenting to St. Stephen's Death. 20. Q. Since partaking in other Mens Sins makes us liable to fhare in the Guilt and Punishment of them; pray what is meant by partaking in other. Mens Sins ? . A. When, before any wicked Action is committed, we are any ways knowingly aiding or abetting abetting towards the committing of it: Or when after it is committed, we are any ways approving or juftifying of it; by either of which Means we partake in other Mens Sins, though we are not the immediate Actors of them. Q. What are the ufual Ways whereby we partake in Mens Sins before they are committed? A. Thofe that are Superiors, as Magiftrates, Masters, and Parents, fhare in the Guilt by ordering and commanding any evil Thing; or by not using their Power to prevent and punish it; or by not exprefsly refufing to concur in fuch evil Things as are proposed to be enacted by mutual Confent. Thofe that are Minifters, by neglecting to teach others their Duty, or by forbearing to warn their Flocks, as careful Watchmen should, against approaching Danger. Those that are in any fubordinate Office, by miniftring in any unlawful Bufinefs, helping it forward by advice and Counsel, by furnishing Provifions, by wishing or praying for the Succefs of it. And all others, by the Influence of their own ill Example, which is powerful of itself, but more fatal when the Example is eminent for Power, Parts, and Learning. Q. What are the ufual Ways whereby we partake in Mens Sins after they are committed? By A. By approving a wicked Thing after it is acted, inwardly delighting in it, which is to take Part thereof in Will and Affection. appearing to praise it; which fets off the Wickedness not only as innocent, but as worthy and honourable. By justifying and defending it; which in fome Senfe makes a Man more guilty than he that committed it; for that might be through the Strength of Temptation, For true and through the Infirmity of Paffion, the other is the Effect of Judgment and Confideration. Every Expreffion of Approbation, in Proportion to its Degree, puts the Approver into the Evildoer's Cafe, and makes it his own. The PRAYERS. I. fulness for God, who through the Preaching of the O fion. bleffed Apoftle St. Paul haft caused the St. Paul's Light of thy Gospel to fhine throughout the Conver- World; grant, I beseech thee, that I having his wonderful Conversion in Remembrance, may fhew forth my Thankfulness unto thee for the fame, by following the holy Doctrine he taught ; through Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen. ForPower to refift tion O' II. Lord, raise up, I pray thee, thy Power and come among us, and with great Might Tempta fuccour us, that whereas through my Sins and Wickedness, I am fore let and hindered in running the Race that is fet before me, thy bountiful Grace and Mercy may speedily help and deliver me, through the Satisfaction of thy Son our Lord; to whom with thee and the Holy Ghoft be Honour and Glory, World without End. Amen. For Abili ty to live well. III. God, who declaret thy Almighty Porter moft chiefly in fhewing Mercy and Pity; mercifully grant unto me fuch a Measure of thy Grace, that I running the Way of thy Command ments |