inftructed in the way of the Lord; and, being fervent in the Spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptifm of John. And he began to speak boldly in the fynagogue. Whom when Aquila and Prifcilla had beard, they expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was difpofed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the difciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace; for he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, fhewing by the Scriptures that Jefus was Christ. This portion of Scripture, though a little abftrufe, is replete with matter for our observation. Apollos is here faid to have been mighty in the Scriptures; to have been inftructed in THE WAY OF THE LORD; and to have spoken, and taught diligently the THINGS OF THE LORD; i. e. beyond all controversy, the things of the Lord Jefus Chrift. Nevertheless he is only called a Jew; and why, but because he was not baptized in the name of Jefus Chrift? He was not a Chriftian in the full fenfe of the term, as we understand it;

he

he knew only the baptifm of John; he knew, as we cannot but fuppofe from this account of him, he knew Jefus Chrift to be the prophet, the Meffiah that was to come, whofe way John had prepared by preaching the baptifm of repentance, &c; but he knew not the whole mystery of godlinefs, the grand fecret of human redemption by the Son of God, coexiftent with his Father, before the foundation of the world. And accordingly, we may safely conclude, that it was with refpect to this great myftery, that Aquila and Prifcilla expounded to him the WAY OF GOD more perfectly. If we do not infer from hence, that he expressly and directly preached the great mystery in question to thofe Jews whom he mightily convinced, &c. every difficulty under this head is fairly folved by preceding confiderations.

The cafe of the difciples whom St. Paul found at Ephesus is very fimilar to that we have just despatched. Have ye received the Holy Ghost, fays he, fince ye believed? And they faid unto him, we have not fo much as beard whether there be any Holy Ghost. ‡ And

Acts xix. 2, &c.

be

be faid, unto them what then were ye baptized? And they faid, unto John's baptifm. Then faid Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, faying unto the people, that they fhould believe on him which should come after bim, that is, on Chrift Fefus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jefus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghoft came on them; and they fpake with tongues, and prophefied. The paffage is not wholly free from obfcurity; but we cannot do lefs than collect from it, that thefe difciples knew as much of Christ Jefus antecedently to this interview as Apollos did before his acquaintance with Aquila and Prifcilla; and confequently, that when they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jefus, they were baptized in the name of a greater person than a prophet; and when the Holy Ghoft came on them, and they spake with tongues and prophefied, had, like Cornelius and his houfhold, an immediate infight into the profound myftery of the Chriftian faith. I just add that, in the chapter before us, the name of the Lord Jefus is faid to have been magnified;

and

and that the wORD OF THE LORD JESUS, and the WORD OF GOD are different modes of expreffion which at firft fight will be found to import one and the fame thing..

But to proceed. I fee nothing of confequence enough to our argument to detain us, till we find St. Paul at Miletus, from whence he fent to Ephefus, and called the elders of the Church. And when they were come to him, fays the history, be faid unto them, ye know from the first day that I came into Afia, after what manner I have been with you; ferving the LORD with all humility; and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you; testifying both to Jews and Greeks, repentance towards GOD, and faith toward our LORD Jefus Chrift. And now behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerufalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me; fave that the HOLY GHOST witneeth in every city, faying, that afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, fo that I might finish my course, and the miniftry which I have received of the LORD

* A&ts xx. 17, &c.

Jefus,

Jefus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of GoD. And now I know, that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of GOD, shall fee my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record, that I am pure from the blood of all men ; for I have not shunned to declare unto you ALL THE COUNSEL OF GOD. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the HOLY GHOST hath made you. overfeers, to feed the Church of GOD, which he hath purchased with his OWN BLOOD. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not Sparing the flock alfo of your own felves fhall men arise, Speaking perverfe things, to draw away difciples after them. Now if we fuppofe this Apoftolical charge to have been delivered to persons pre-instructed in the mystery of the Gospel, agreeably to our representation of it, i. e. to have been believers in the Holy Trinity, it must be acknowleged to contain words of perfpicuity, truth, and foberness; but on every other fuppofition, muft not St. Paul have been thought by his audience to have been indeed befide himself? I would recommend

the