to have been the sons of His mother's sister, the wife of Cleophas; it being consistent with the language of the Jews to call cousins by the name of brethren. The number of the disciples in constant communion with the Apostles at the Ascension of our Lord is stated to have been "about one hundred and twenty."

SECT. CLXXIX.-Matthias elected to be an Apostle.— Acts i. 15-26.

IN one of these assemblies "in those days," that is, prior to the day of Pentecost, St. Peter, always eager and foremost, stood up," and reminded the disciples that the number of Apostles had been diminished from the original appointment of Christ by the falling away of Judas Iscariot in the fulfilment of prophecy; which same authority determined that another should take his office; and he accordingly proposed that one should be ordained to supply his place "in the ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression had fallen." We see in this first act of the disciples of Jesus how completely different their conduct was from that which deceivers would have adopted. If a monopoly of power or influence was designed, is it reasonable to suppose that the men who possessed this monopoly would themselves propose or consent, without any apparent necessity, to admit an obscure individual from the 9 Dr. Whitby.

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rank of converts below their own, to take place in that which they themselves enjoyed? The qualifications too which were required in the person to be elected, were not such as enthusiasts would naturally have selected. They required those qualities which would give to the new Apostle's testimony the greatest weight in the judgment of sober reason; but which enthusiasm would either have neglected or despised'. The qualifications were, that he should have accompanied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John unto the same day that he was taken up from us." They then appointed two candidates, and solemnly prayed to the Lord that He would guide them aright in their selection of the fittest of the two. This example of a congregation of Christians making a solemn address to God, that He would condescend to direct their choice, and that He who knew the hearts of men would be pleased to show to His disciples which of the two selected was best qualified for so sacred a function, is instructive to those who are to be ordained to the ministry, and serviceable to the governors of the Church in all time. For these, in order to be careful to admit persons duly qualified, should at all times beg the guidance and direction of

1 Dr. Graves.

God that they may wisely make choice of fit labourers for His vineyard. And all Christians are alike interested in the same prayers, since the welfare of the Church depends on the piety and capacity of those who serve it. A little obscurity is thought to rest on one expression of the prayer, "that he might go to his own place." Some have thought that it applies to Judas, and means, that the consequence of his conduct was, that he went to the place of destruction fit for him; that he went "to his own place," a place more fit for him than the Apostleship. Others think that the words do not relate to Judas, but to the new Apostle ; Judas, by his transgression, had forfeited his share in the ministry; another was to be chosen into it; this person, when chosen, succeeds him in his ministry, and so is now to go to his proper place; that is, he should go and take possession of the place or office which Judas had forfeited; and not that Judas should go to his place of punishment. "And they gave forth their lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apostles." SECT. CLXXX.-Descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost.Acts ii. 1-13.

THE disciples continued to remain at Jerusalem, according to their blessed Master's injunction,

on.

for ten days, when the feast of the Jews drew This feast is styled in the New Testament, Pentecost, from a word signifying fiftieth in Greek. It is also called in Exodus "the feast of weeks," because it was celebrated seven weeks, or, a week of weeks, after the passover. It is also called in Exodus "the feast of harvest," and in Numbers "the day of the first fruits." The Rabbins also call it the day of the giving of the law; for it is the constant opinion of the Jews that on this day, that is, the fiftieth day of their departure from Egypt, the law was given on Mount Sinai. It was first instituted as an obligation on the Jews to acknowledge God's dominion and sovereignty over all their labours, and to render thanks to Him for the law which He had vouchsafed to give them. In like manner the Christian Church keeps this day holy, to put us in remembrance that the gifts of the Spirit were, as at this time, poured out in a plentiful manner as the first fruits of our Saviour's ascension, and that the Gospel was began to be published by the Apostles on the same day that the ancient law was given to the Jews'. We should observe that this was the first day of the week, on which the Apostles were thus assembled, since it was on the first day of the week that our Lord rose from the dead; and the fiftieth day inclusive from that Mant and D'Oyly.

• Dr. Jennings.

was also of necessity the first day. Hence we learn why the Church had made this their day for solemn worship; and rather to conclude that God had made it so to Christians, when His wise providence so ordered matters that the old Jewish Sabbath, or seventh day, should be passed over, and that choice should be made of the first day of the week, to be honoured with two such glorious miracles as the Resurrection and the coming of the Holy Ghost. It has been surmised, with some reason, that the first day of the week was kept sacred by the ancient practice before the time of Moses, who first established the seventh as the Sabbath day.

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The day of Pentecost was a high festival of the Jews; and as the disciples were continually in the Temple praising and blessing God," it is probable they were there assembled on this solemn day, in this place, "with one accord." It was the third hour of the day, which was the Jewish hour of morning prayer in the Temple 10; and it is stated "they were all' present. It is a question much debated, whether to the one hundred and twenty who are stated as the number of the disciples, or to the twelve Apostles only; it seems unreasonable to think, that persons who had been constant companions of Christ and His Apostles, and who were to be the great preachers of the Gospel 10 Bishop Pearce.

8
* Dean Stanhope.

9 Dr. Jennings.