་ This I call the first period in the propagation of Christianity. It commences with the ascension of Christ, and extends, as may be collected from incidental notes of time*, to something more than one year after that event. During which term, the preaching of Christianity, so far as our documents inform us, was confined to the single city of Jerusalem. And how did it succeed there? The first assembly which we meet with of Christ's disciples, and that a few days after his removal from the world, consisted of "one hundred and twenty." About a week after this, “three thousand were added in one day ;" and the number of Christians, publicly baptized, and publicly associating together, was very soon increased to "five thousand." "Multitudes both of men and women continued to be added;" " disciples multiplied greatly," and "many of the Jewish priesthood, as well as others, became obedient to the faith;" and this within a space of 66 * Vide Pearson's Antiq. 1. xviii. c. 7. Benson's History of Christ, book i. p. 148. less than two years from the commencement of the institution. By reason of a persecution raised against the church at Jerusalem, the converts were driven from that city, and dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria*. Wherever they came, they brought their religion with them: for, our historian informs us, that "they, that were scattered abroad, went every where preaching the word." The effect of this preaching comes afterwards to be noticed, where the historian is led, in the course of his narrative, to observe, that then (c. e. about three years posterior to this) "the churches had rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied." This was the work of the second period, which comprises about four years. Hitherto the preaching of the Gospel had been confined to Jews, to Jewish Acts, viii. 1. † Verse 4. Benson, book i. p. 207. proselytes, and to Samaritans. And I cannot forbear from setting down in this place, an observation of Mr. Bryant, which appears to me to be perfectly well founded; -"The Jews still remain: but how seldom is it that we can make a single proselyte! There is reason to think, that there were more converted by the apostles in one day, than have since been won over in the last thousand years*." It was not yet known to the apostles, that they were at liberty to propose the religion to mankind at large. That "mystery," as Saint Paul calls it, and as it then was, was revealed to Peter by an especial miracle. It appears to have been about seven years after Christ's ascension, that the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles of Cesarea. A year after this, a great multitude of Gentiles were converted at Antioch in Syria. The expressions employed by the historian are these:-"A great number believed, and turned to the Lord;" Bryant on the Truth of the Christian Religion, p. 112. † Eph. iii. 3-6. Benson, book ii. p. 236. "much people was added unto the Lord;" "the apostles Barnabas and Paul taught much people*." Upon Herod's death, which happened in the next year, it is observed, that "the word of God grew and multiplied." Three years from this time, upon the preaching of Paul at Iconium, the metropolis of Lycaonia, "a great multitude both of Jews and Greeks believed §:" and afterwards, in the course of this very progress, he is represented as "making many disciples" at Derbe, a principal city in the same district. Three years || after this, which brings us to sixteen after the ascension, the apostles wrote a public letter from Jerusalem to the Gentile converts in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, with which letter Paul travelled through these countries, and found the churches "established in the faith, and increasing in number daily." From Asia, the apostle proceeded into Greece, where, soon after his arrival in Macedonia, we find him at Thessalo * Acts, xi. 21. 24. 26. + Benson, book ii. p. 289. Benson's History of Christ, book iii. p. 5Q. nica; in which city, 66 some of the Jews believed, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude*." We meet also here with an accidental hint of the general progress of the Christian mission, in the exclamation of the tumultuous Jews of Thessalonica, "that they, who had turned the world upside down, were come thither also." At Berea, the next city at which Saint Paul arrives, the historian, who was present, informs us that "many of the Jews believed +." The next year and a half of Saint Paul's ministry was spent at Corinth. Of his success in that city, we receive the following intimations; "that many of the Corinthians believed and were baptized;" and "that it was revealed to the apostle by Christ, that he had much people in that city§." Within less than a year after his departure from Corinth, and twenty-five years after the ascension, Saint Paul fixed his.station at Ephesus, for the space of two years ¶ and something more. The effect of his ministry * Acts, xvii. 4. § Ib. xviii. 8-10. ¶ Acts, xix. 10. + Ib. xvii. 6. Ib. xvii. 12. || Benson, book iii. p. 160. 2. |