had planted in those countries.

Some have

supposed that he also preached the Gospel in Spain at this time. It was the unanimous tradition of the Church, that St. Paul returned to Rome, that he underwent a second imprisonment there, and, at last, was put to death by the Emperor Nero. The Roman historians mention a dreadful fire which happened at Rome at the time of Nero; and it was believed that the emperor himself was the author of that fire and that, in order to remove the odium from himself, he chose to attribute it to the Christians; and, to give colour to that unjust imputation, he persecuted them with the utmost cruelty. In this persecution St. Peter and St. Paul are said to have suffered martyrdom; and, if we may credit a writer of the fifth century, the former was crucified, and the latter beheaded o. This was the first of the ten general persecutions which are reckoned to have been raised against the Christians, between the end of this New Testament history, and the time when Christianity became established, by the conversion of the empire in the fourth century'.

SECT. CCLVIII.-Paul writes his First Epistle to Timothy. -1 Tim. i.-vi.

THE learned are by no means agreed as to the time when St. Paul wrote his two Epistles to

Timothy, and that to Titus. It is therefore

9

9 Bp. Tomline.

1

Mant and D'Oyly.

2 Bp. Tomline.

supposed, that after he was released from his confinement at Rome, he returned into Asia, and made some stay at Ephesus; but that he went from thence into Macedonia, and thence wrote to beseech Timothy to abide still at Ephesus. The principal design of this first Epistle was to give instructions to Timothy concerning the management of the Church at Ephesus; and it was probably intended to be read publicly to the Ephesians, that they might know on what authority Timothy acted. He therein lays down the duties and qualifications of a Bishop, as well in respect of his ministry, as of his private conversation, and instructs him in the office of a true Christian pastor *.

SECT. CCLIX.-Paul writes his Epistle to Titus.-
Tit. i.-iii.

THE same uncertainty exists with regard to the Epistle to Titus. That it was written after St. Paul had left Titus at Crete, cannot be denied; but then the question is, When was St. Paul at Crete? since, in all the Acts of the Apostles, we find no sure ground of his having ever been there, excepting that he touched at the coast on his voyage to Rome; but considering that at that time he was a prisoner in bonds, he could not then have attempted to preach the Gospel there. This Epistle, then, must have been written after the Apostle obtained

Dr. Whitby.

• Stackhouse.

his release, as he makes no mention of his bonds and temptations, as he does in most of his other Epistles'. It is remarkable that Titus is not mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles: all that is known of him in Scripture, is to be collected from the Epistles of St. Paul. The earliest mention of Titus, is in that to the Galatians, where it is mentioned that he accompanied the Apostles from Antioch to Jerusalem. St. Paul afterwards employed him on several occasions, and appears to have regarded him with great affection. He is often called Bishop of Crete by ecclesiastical writers. The Apostle describes to Titus, as he had done to Timothy, the qualifications which a Bishop ought to have, and more especially a Bishop of Crete, where some sharpness and severity was necessary amidst a people of their perverse and obstinate tempers he admonishes him not to suffer the flock, committed to his charge, to be led away by the delusions of Judaizing Christians; and lays down precepts for people of all conditions of life, even not forgetting servants, because Jesus Christ has poured out His grace upon all men'. SECT.CCLX.-Paul writes his Second Epistle to Timothy.2 Tim. i.-iv.

THE second Epistle to Timothy was written during St. Paul's second confinement at Rome".

Mant and D'Oyly.

7 Stackhouse.

• Dr. Doddridge.

8

Bishop Tomline.

That he was at two different times a prisoner at Rome, although not directly related in Scripture, is evident from many circumstances incidentally mentioned by himself in this Epistle, compared with statements of his in former Epistles, more particularly in respect to the persons and conduct of his companions. This Epistle was the last that ever he wrote. He informs his well-beloved friend of the near approach of his death, and desires him to come to him before winter, because most of his companions, upon one affair or other, were departed from him: he admonishes him not to forget the doctrine which he had taught him, nor to be disturbed at the apostasy of some from the faith, but to preach the more zealously against such opposers. The influence of the ungodly doctrines and superstitious practices of the promoters of this apostasy, in corrupting the morals, both of the teachers, and the people, are foretold in this Epistle; and doubtless the prediction of these evils, recorded in Scripture, were designed by the Spirit of God, to convince the faithful in after times who were to be witnesses of the apostasy, that it had happened by the permission of God, who often makes the wickedness of men instrumental in accomplishing His greatest purposes'. If pursuant to this letter, Timothy went to Rome, as probably he Dr. Macknight.

9

Dr. Whitby.

10 Stackhouse.

did, he must have been there when the Apostle was led out to suffer, and finish his course by a glorious martyrdom. After the death of St. Paul, Timothy returned to Ephesus, and continued to govern that Church, in the capacity of their Bishop, until, in his endeavour to oppose and reprove a pagan festival, the people fell upon him with stones and clubs, and put an end to his life 2.

SECT. CCLXI.-The Epistle of James.-James i.—v. EVER since the fourth century, the Epistles of St. James, St. Peter, St. John, and St. Jude, have obtained the name of Catholic, because they are directed to all the faithful, and not to any particular Church, as the Epistles of St. Paul generally are; and this may explain why that of St. James, which is placed first of them in the sacred Canon, did not at first meet with a general reception: for, being in the nature of a circular letter, and addressed to no one Church, who might take care to preserve it, it was perhaps some time before it obtained a place in the Canon3. James, called "the Less," also called "the Lord's brother," was the author of this Epistle. In the Acts and in St. Paul's Epistles he is often mentioned with great distinction. He seems to have been appointed by the other Apostles to reside at Jerusalem, and to superintend the affairs of the 2 Mant and D'Oyly. 3 Dr. Whitby.