three thousand fouls *." But here, it is not, I think, to be taken, that these three thoufand were all converted by this fingle miracle; but rather that many, who were before believers in Chrift, became now profeffors of Christianity: that is to say, when they found that a religion was to be established, a fociety formed and fet up in the name of Chrift, governed by his laws, avowing their belief in his miffion, united amongst themselves, and feparated from the reft of the world, by visible diftinctions; in pursuance of their former conviction, and by virtue of what they had heard and feen and known of Chrift's hiftory, they publicly became members of it.

We read in the fourth chapter of the Acts, that, soon after this," the number of the men," i. e. of the fociety openly profeffing their belief in Christ, was about five thoufand." So that here is an increase of two thousand within a very short time. And it is probable that there were many, + Verse 4.

Acts ii. 41.

both now and afterwards, who, although they believed in Chrift, did not think it necessary to join themselves to this fociety;. or who waited to fee what was likely to become of it. Gamaliel, whofe advice to the Jewish council is recorded Acts iv. 34, appears to have been of this description; perhaps Nicodemus, and perhaps alfo Jofeph of Arimathea. This clafs of men, their character and their rank, are likewife pointed out by St. John, in the twelfth chapter of his gospel: "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharifees they did not confefs him, left they fhould be put out of the fynagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praife of God.". Perfons fuch as thefe, might admit the miracles. of Chrift, without being immediately convinced that they were under obligation to make a public profeffion of Chriftianity, at the risk of all that was dear to them in life, and even of life itfelf*.

Christianity,.

* "Befide those who profeffed, and thofe who rejected and oppofed, Chriftianity, there were, in all probability,

Christianity, however, proceeded to increase in Jerufalem by a progrefs equally rapid with its first fuccefs; for, in the next* chapter of our history, we read that "believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women."

And

bability, multitudes between both, neither perfect Chriftians, nor yet unbelievers. They had a favourable opi nion of the gofpel, but worldly confiderations made them unwilling to own it. There were many circumftances which inclined them to think that Christianity was a divine revelation, but there were many inconveniences which attended the open profeffion of it, and they could not find in themselves courage enough to bear them, to disoblige their friends and family, to ruin their fortunes, to lofe their reputation, their liberty and their life, for the fake of the new religion. Therefore they were willing to hope, that if they endeavoured to obferve the great precepts of morality, which Chrift had represented as the principal part, the fum and substance of religion; if they thought honourably of the gofpel, if they offered no injury to the Chriftians, if they did them all the services that they could fafely perform, they were willing to hope that God would accept this, and that he would excuse and forgive the reft." Jortin's Dif. on the Chrift. Rel. p. 91, ed. 4.

* Acts v. 14.

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this

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this enlargement of the new fociety appears in the first verse of the succeeding chapter, wherein we are told, that, "when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected";" and, afterwards in the fame chapter, it is declared exprefsly, that "the number of the difciples multiplied in Jerufalem greatly, and that a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."

This I call the first period in the propagation of Christianity. It commences with the afcenfion of Chrift; and extends, as may be collected from incidental notes of time +, to fomething more than one year after that event. During which term the preaching of Chriftianity, fo far as our documents inform us, was confined to the fingle city of Jerufalem. And how did it fucceed there? The firft affembly which we

* Acts vi. I.

+ Vide Pearson's Antiq. I. xviii. c. 7. Benfon's Hift. of Chrift. book i. p. 148.

meet

meet with of Chrift's difciples, and that a few days after his removal from the world, confifted of "one hundred and twenty.' About a week after this "three thousand were added in one day; and the number of Chriftians, publicly baptized, and publicly affociating together, was very foon increafed to " five thoufand." "Multitudes both of men and women continued to be added:" "difciples multiplied greatly," and 66 many of the Jewish priesthood, as well as others, became obedient to the faith ;" and this within a space of less than two years from the commencement of the institution.

By reafon of a perfecution raised against the church at Jerufalem, the converts were driven from that city, and difperfed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria *. Wherever they came, they brought their religion with them; for our hiftorian informs ust, that "they, that were scattered abroad,

went every where preaching the word."

*Acts viii. 1.

+ Verse 4.

The

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