able appellation, that he was "an Israelite indeed, in whom there was no guile."

He was greatly surprised at our Lord's salutation, wondering how he could know him at first sight, thinking he had never before seen his face. But he was answered that he had seen him while he was yet under the fig-tree, even before Philip called him.

Convinced by this instance of our Lord's divinity, he presently made this confession, that he was now sure that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Son of God, whom He had appointed to govern his church.

Our blessed Saviour told him that, if from this instance he could believe him to be the Messiah, he should have far greater arguments to confirm his faith; for that he should hereafter behold the heavens opened to receive him, and the angels visibly appearing to attend his triumphant entrance into the heavenly Canaan.

This apostle having his peculiar spot allotted him, for the promulgation of the gospel of his blessed Master, after the fulfillment of Christ's words, visited different parts of the world to preach the truth, and penetrated as far as higher India.

After spending considerable time at this place, and the eastern extremities of Asia, he returned to the northern and western parts, and we find him at Hierapolis, in Phrygia, laboring in concert with Philip, to plant christianity in those parts; and to convince the blind idolaters of the evil of their ways, and direct them in the paths that lead to eternal salvation.

This enraged the bigoted magistrates, and he was, together with Paul, designed for martyrdom, and in order to this, fastened to a cross; but their consciences pricking them for a time, they took him immediately down from the cross, and set him at liberty.

From hence he returnel into Lycaonia, and St. Chrysostom assures us that he instructed and trained up the inhabitants in the christian discipline. His last remove was to Albanople, in great Armenia, a place miserably overrun with idola

try, from which he labored to reclaim the people. But his endeavors to "turn them from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God," were so far from having the desired effect, that it provoked the magistrates, who prevailed on the governor to put him to death, which he cheerfully underwent, sealing the truth of the doctrine he had preached, with his blood.

CHAPTER XXI.

James the Great.

JAMES' PARENTAGE; CALL TO THE APOSTLESHIP; CHANGE OF NAME, AND PROBABLE CAUSE; HEROD PASSES SENTENCE OF DEATH UPON

HIM, AND HE IS FINALLY EXECUTED.

Y way of distinction from another of that name, this apostle was surnamed the Great. He was the son of Zebedee, and by trade a fisherman, to which he applied himself with remarkable assiduity, and was exercising his employment when the Saviour of the world, passing by the sea of Galilee, saw him with his brother in the ship, and called them both to be his disciples. Nor was the call in vain; they cheerfully complied with it, and immediately left all to follow him; readily delivering themselves up to perform whatever service he should appoint them.

Soon after this, he was called from the station of an ordinary disciple, to the apostolical office, and was even honored with some particular favor beyond most of the apostles, being one of the three whom our Lord made choice of as his companions in the more intimate transactions of his life, from which the rest were excluded. Thus, with Peter and his brother John, he attended his Master when he raised the daughter of Jairus from the dead. He was admitted to Christ's glorious transfiguration on the mount; and when the holy Jesus was to undergo his bitter agonies in the garden,

as preparatory sufferings to his passion, James was one of three taken to be a spectator of them. Nor was it the least instance of that particular honor our Lord conferred upon. these apostles, that, at his calling them to the apostleship, he gave them a new name and title: Simon he called Peter, or a rock; and James and John, who were brothers, Boanerges, or the sons of thunder.

Some think that this name was given them on account of their loud and bold preaching the gospel to the world, fearing no threatenings, despising all opposition, and going on thundering in the ears of a drowsy and sleepy world; rousing and awakening the consciences of men with the earnestness and vehemence of their preaching, which resembled thunder, as the voice of God powerfully shakes the natural world, and breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. Others think it relates to the doctrines they delivered, teaching the great mysteries, and promulgating the gospel in a more profound and lofty strain than the rest. But however this be, our blessed Saviour doubtless alluded, by this term, to the naturally furious and resolute disposition of these two brothers, who seem to have been of a more fiery temper than the rest of the apostles, of which we have this memorable instance: when our Lord was determined on his journey to Jerusalem, he sent some of his disciples before him to make preparations for his coming; but on their entering a village of Samaria, they were rudely rejected, from the old grudge that subsisted between the Samaritans and Jews, and because our Saviour, by going up to Jerusalem, seemed to slight their place of worship on Mount Gerizim. This piece of rudeness and inhumanity was so highly resented by James and his brother, that they came to Jesus, desiring to know if he would not imitate Elias, by calling down fire from heaven to consume this barbarous, inhospitable people. Thus we find that the best of men are but men, and that corrupt nature will sometimes appear even in renewed minds. But the holy Jesus soon convinced them of their mistake, by telling them that, instead of destroying, he was come to save the lives of the children of men.

Sophronius tells us that after the ascension of the blessed Jesus, this apostle preached to the dispersed Jews,—that is, to those converts who were dispersed after the death of Stephen.

The Spanish writers affirm that, after preaching the gospel in several parts of Judea and Samaria, he visited Spain, where he planted christianity, and appointed some select disciples to perfect what he had begun; but if we consider the shortness of James' life, and that the apostles continued in a body at Jerusalem, even after the dispersion of the other christians, we shall find it difficult to allow time sufficient for so tedious and difficult a voyage as that was in those early ages; and therefore it is safest to confine his ministry to Judea and the adjacent countries.

Herod, who was a bigot to the Jewish religion, as well as desirous of acquiring the favor of the Jews, began a violent persecution of the Christians, and his zeal against them animated him to pass sentence of death immediately on the apostle James.

As he was led to the place of execution, the officer that guarded him to the tribunal, or rather his accuser, having been converted by that remarkable courage and constancy shown by the apostle at the hour of trial, repented of what he had done, came and fell down at the apostle's feet, and heartily begged pardon for what he had said against him.

The holy man, after recovering from his surprise, tenderly embraced him. "Peace," said he, "my son; peace be unto thee, and pardon of thy faults."

Upon which the officer publicly declared himself a christian, and both were beheaded at the same time.

Thus fell the great apostle James, being the first who gained the crown; and taking cheerfully that cup of which he had long since told h's Lord he was ready to drink.

CHAPTER XXII.

James the Less.

DOUBT AS TO HIS IDENTITY; FAITHFULNESS AS A BISHOP; HIS ENEMIES, IN CONSEQUENCE, PUT HIM TO A CRUEL DEATH.

T has been doubted by some whether this was the same with that James who was afterward bishop. of Jerusalem, two of this name being mentioned. in the sacred writings-namely-James the Great, and James the Less, both apostles.

Opinions, however, to the contrary, are built upon a sandy foundation; for nothing is plainer than that James the apostle, whom Paul calls our Lord's brother, and reckons, with Peter and John, one of the pillars of the church, was the same who presided among the apostles, doubtless by virtue of his episcopal office, and determined the causes in the synod of Jerusalem.

After the resurrection, he was honored with a particular appearance of our Lord to him, which, though passed over in silence by the evangelists, is recorded by Paul.

Some time after this appearance, he was chosen bishop of Jerusalem, preferred before all the rest for his near relation to Christ; and when Paul came to Jerusalem, after his conversion, he applied to him, and was by him honored with the right hand of fellowship.

It was to James, that Peter sent the news of his miraculous deliverance out of prison; "Go," said he, "show these things unto James, and to the brethren" that is, to the whole church, especially to James, the pastor of it.

He performed every part of his duty with all possible care and industry, omitting no particular necessity to be observed by a diligent and faithful guide of souls; but a person so careful, so successful in his charge, could not fail of exciting the spite and malice of his enemies.