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Church there, while the rest of the Apostles travelled into other countries. His near relation to our Saviour was probably the cause of his being selected for this honourable station, the duties of which he discharged with such inflexible integrity and holy zeal, that he obtained the appellation of James the Just. By ancient writers he is called Bishop of Jerusalem, and is considered as presiding in that character at the Council held at Jerusalem, for the purpose of determining whether it was necessary that Gentile converts to the Gospel should be initiated by the Jewish rite. Upon this occasion he spoke last, summing up the arguments, and proposing the substance of the decree, to which the whole assembly readily acceded. He was put to death in a tumult, raised by the unbelieving Jews, during an interregnum in the Roman government of Judæa'. It is supposed that they were enraged at St. Paul's having been removed from their vengeance by his appeal to Cæsar, and visited it on St. James, who was summoned before the Sanhedrim, and called upon to renounce the Christian faith; but, having in the face of those who came to hear his renunciation, not only confessed the faith of Christ, but exhorted others to do so likewise: they cast him down headlong from the battlements of the Temple, and, findBishop Tomline.

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ing him not quite killed by the fall, one of them beat out his brains with a fuller's club. This was so disgusting to the honest and conscientious part of the city, that they complained of the High Priest to King Agrippa, who accordingly removed him from his office. This Epistle is generally thought to have been written a short time before the death of James. Many of the Jewish believers in Christ, to whom he wrote this Epistle, were not sufficiently apprised how grievously the traditions of the elders had corrupted religion. These new converts being accustomed from their infancy to think very highly of that purity of faith and worship, which was their principal distinction from the heathen world, continued, even after they were Christians, to give it an undue preference to the weightiest duties of common life. He, therefore, shows the inefficiency of faith, without a performance of the moral duties; and inculcates the necessity of a strict government of the tongue, cautioning them against censoriousness, and rash judgment; for these converts contented themselves with a speculative belief, and formal devotion, and thought and spoke ill of those who differed from them, by laying great stress on moral practice. Had the Apostles indulged imaginations and behaviour, so agreeable to corrupt nature, undoubtedly they might have gained more disciples; but each, as op

portunity presented itself, diligently opposed this sad perversion of the doctrine of Christianity, and none with a warmer zeal than St. James, who, presiding over the Christians of Jerusalem, must have had the most experience of it. He, therefore, throughout his Epistle, pleads earnestly for observing the moral duties, beneficence, and self-government; the latter to be exercised in our words, as well as our actions".

SECT. CCLXII.—The First Epistle of Peter.-1 Pet. i.—v. In what manner St. Peter employed his time after his escape out of prison, consequent upon Herod's persecution, we have no certain account; but, it is generally agreed, that about the second year of the Emperor Claudius, he went to Rome, and there continued, until that emperor, taking the advantage of some seditions and tumults, raised by the Jews, banished them from Rome; at which time Aquila and Priscilla removed to Corinth, where Paul found them. Upon this occasion St. Peter returned back to Jerusalem, and was present at the great Apostolic synod held there. Nothing further is known of him, except that he again returned to Rome, towards the end of Nero's reign. His first Epistle is addressed "to the strangers throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia." The word " strangers," or

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Archbishop Secker.

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Stackhouse.

foreigners, chiefly belongs to the dispersion of the Jews, including also many devout Greeks and proselytes of the Gentiles, converted with them to the Christian faith'. It is most probably addressed to the Christians in general, living in different parts of these countries of Asia Minor. It is said by the Apostle to have been written from Babylon; concerning which the general opinion is, that Babylon is here used figuratively for Rome. This Epistle is generally admired as a composition: as it is full of Apostolical dignity and majesty, and has been considered one of the finest works of the

New Testament. Whoever will Whoever will compare this Epistle with those of St. Paul, will find so exact a conformity between the sentiments and precepts contained in them, that he will be convinced that the doctrine of both proceeds from one and the same Spirit of God3.

SECT. CCLXIII.-The Second Epistle of Peter.-2 Pet. i.—iii.

It was about the twelfth or thirteenth year of Nero's reign when St. Paul arrived at Rome the second time; and, here meeting and joining with Peter, they both exerted themselves to instruct the Jews, and convert the Gentiles. This soon raised the malice and indignation of the magistrates; and they were both apprehended and cast into prison. During the time

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Bishop Tomline.

of the Apostle's confinement, St. Peter wrote his second Epistle', which is addressed to the same persons as the former Epistle. That this Epistle was written by St. Peter, is evident, both from the inscription it bears, and the concurrence of circumstances in it, relating to that Apostle, and to none else; and, therefore, we may suppose, that the true reason of its late reception into the list of the Holy Scriptures was, that it was not addressed to any particular Church, that might have taken care to preserve it, and in due time to have entered its claim for a place in the Canon2. The design of it was to encourage the Church to adhere to the genuine faith and practice of the Gospel. It was written when the Apostle foresaw that his death was at no great distance; and he might hope that advice and instruction, given under such circumstances, would have the greater weight. It was a farewell Epistle, the writer "knowing," as he tells them," that shortly he must put off this tabernacle." The great topic of consolation he urges therefore, is the second coming of their Lord and Master ;—“ for we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:" and he confidence in the

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