all but that S. Bartholomew was an Apostle but the Holy Story taking no further notice of him then the bare mention of his name gave occasion to many both Antient and Modern not without occasion to Suppose that he lies concealed under some other name and that this can be no other than Nathaniel one of the first Disciples that came to Christ accordingly we may observe that as some of the Evangelists never mention Bartholomew in the number of the Apostles so others take no notice of Nathaniel propably But that which renders the thing most specious and probable is that we find Nathaniel particularly reckoned up with the other Apostles to whom our Lord appeared at the Sea of Tiberias This difficulty being cleared we proceed to a more particular account of him By some he is thought to have been a Syrian of a Noble Extract and to have derived his extract from the Ptolemes of Aegypt But it is plain that he as the rest of the Apostles was a Galilean and of Nathaniel we know it is particularly said that he was of Cana in Galilee the Scripture takes no notice of his Trade or way of life though some Circumstances might seem to intimate that he was a fusherman At his first coming to Christ he was conducted by Philip who told him that they had found the long-looked-for Messiah and when he observed that the Messiah could not be born at Nazareth Philip bids him come and satisfie himself at his first appearance the Lord entertains him with the Character of a man of true simplicity and Integrity Surprized he was at our Lords Salutation wondring how he could know him so well at first sight whose face he had never seen before But he was answered that he had seen him while he was under the Fig Tree before Philip called him Convinced with this instance of our Lords Divinity he presently made his confessions that now he was sure that Jesus was the promised Messiah the Son of God whom he had appointed to be the King and Governour of his Church Our Saviour told him that if upon these inducements he could believe him to be the Messiah he should have far greater arguments to confirm his faith yea that err long he should behold the Heavens opened to receive him thither and the Angels Visibly appearing to wait and attend upon him Concerning our Apostles Travels up and down the world to propagate the Christian Faith we shall present the reader with a brief account of them from Antiquity that he went as far as India is owned by all which must be meant only of that part of India lying next to Asia yet others say it was the India bordering upon Aethiopia and also tell us that here he left St. Mathews Gospel The particular relation of which a famous Author giveth thus that when Pantenus a man famous for his skill in Philosophy and especially in the institutions of the stoicks but much more for his hearty affection to Christianity in a devout and Zealous imitation of the Apostles was inflamed with a desire to propagate the Christian Religion unto the Eastern Countrys He came as far as India it self here among some that yet retained the knowledge of Christ he found St. Mathews Gospel written in Heâ—reâ— left here as the Tradition was by St. Bartholomew one of the Twelve Apostles when he Preached the Gospel to these Nations After his Labours in these parts of the world he returned to the more Western and Northern parts of Asia At Herapolis in Phrygia we find him in company with Philip instructing that place in the principles of Christianity and convinceing them of the folly of their blind Idolators Here by the inraged he was at the same time with Philip designed for Martyrdom in order thereunto he was fastned upon the Cross with intent to dispatch him but upon a sudden Conviction that the Divine Iustice would Revenge their death he was taken down and dismissed Hence it is probable that he went to Lyconia His last remove was to Albanople in Armenia the great a place miserably over-grown with Idolatry from which while he sought to reclaim the people he was by the Governour of the place commanded to be Crucified which he Chearfully under-went comforting and confirming the convert-Gentiles to the last minute of his life some add that he was Crucified with his head downward others that he was flead and his skin first taken off which might consist well enough with his Crucifixion Exeoriation being a punishment in use not only in Egypt but among the Persians and from whom they might have borrowed this piece of Barbarous Cruelty The Life of St. Mathew St. Matthew St. Mathew called also Levi was though a Roman officer an Hebrew of the Hebrews and probably a Galican he was the Son of Alpheus and Mary Sister or Kinswoman to the blessed Virgin His way of life was that of a publican or toll gatherer to the Romans an office of bad report among the Jews indeed among the Romans it was a place of power and credit and Honourable â—â—â—â—tation not ordinarily conferred upon any bâ—â— Roman Knights The Jews thought this Office odious upon these two accounts first that the persons that managed it were usually covetous and great exacters which doubtless Zacheus was sensible of whâ—n after his conversion he offered fourfold Restitutions to any man from whom he had taken any thing by fraud and evil arts and upon this account they became unfamous even among the Gentiles themselves The other thing that made the Jewes detest them was that this Tribute was not only a grievance to their purses but an affront to the liberty and freedom of their nations for they looked upon themselves as a free-born people invested in this priviledge immediately by God himself and therefore looked upon this as a daily and standing instance of their slavery Hereby Publicans became Vniversally to be abhorred by the Jewish Nation that it was accounted unlawful for them to shew such men any Courtesie or Common kindness Of this Trade and Office was our St. Mathew and it seems more particularly to have consisted in gathering the Customs of Commodities that came by the Sea of Galilee and the Tribute the Passengers were to pay that went by water a thing frequently mentioned in the Jewish writings For this purpose they kept their Office or Custome-house by the Sea side that they might always be near at hand and here it was that St. Mathew had his Tol-booth where he sate at the receipt of Custom Christ having lately cured a famous Paralitick retired out of Capernaum to walk by the Sea-side where he taught the people that flocked after him Here he espyed Mathew sitting in his Custome-Office whom he called to come and follow him the man was rich had a wealthy and gainful Trade but he overlooked all these considerations left all his interests and Relations to become our Lords Disciple and to shew that he was not discontented with
THE Lives Deaths Of the Holy APOSTLES Of Our Lord Saviour Iesus Christ Together With the Two Evangelists SAINT Mark and Luke THE Lives Deaths Of the Holy APOSTLES Of Our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ Together with the Two Evangelists St. MARK and St. LUKE As Also Some other of our Saviours Disciples Containing An Account of Their Travels Sayings Miracles Sufferings and Martyrdoms All Collected from the Best Authors for Publick Use and Benefit LONDON Printed for Dorman Newman at the Kings Armes in the Poultry 1685. TO THE READER Courteous Reader THou art here Presented with the Lives of the Holy Apostles Men â—ho as they were Honour'd â—ith the highest Offices in â—he Church so they are â—f highest Renown in the â—hristian World both for their Lives and Deaths Great Subject and a Noâ—â— Study in the managiâ—â— whereof I have gleanâ— what I could meet wiâ—â— that I thought was most mâ—terial for the Reader to knoâ— That which first put me upâ—â— Writing it was the Acceâ—tance the Book Intituled Tâ—â— Testament of the Twelve Pâ—triarks found amongst moâ—â— men But this as the Authoâ—â— are more Venerable amoâ—â— Christians so I have puâ—posely omitted all things thâ—â— might occasion any Dispuâ—â— concerning them This Book being calculated as well for delight as profit indeed it can be no small pleasure to have so many great pieces of Antiquity as you will find in this small Book brought to speak English whereby a common eye may look into Divine Inestimable Treasure of the Wisest and best Ages of the World In these Lines the Reader will see the first and purest Ages of the Christian Religion when Men were really what they pretended to be when a solid Piety and Devotion a strict Temperance and Sobriety a Catholick and unbounded Charity an exemplary Honesty Integrity a great Reverence for every thing that was Divine and Sacred rendred Christianity beautiful lovely to the World Here thou wilt see the Reasons and Occasions of the Feasts and Fasts of the Church and what made those Primitive Times thrive To provoke thy imitation my business was to deliver this Work in that Form and Order that I think it may not be unfitly styled the Story of Stories wherein you will find contrived in one continual Order of Historical Reading those Famous and Glorious Acts which are contained in the Lives of these Holy Apostles He that reads these great Saints Lives will see the Grounds of the Christian Religion to be so noble and excellent all its Laws so iust and rational all its designes so Divine and Heavenly that he cannot but conclude the Principles to be perfect and conducive to the happiness of Humane Nature a Religion so worthy of God so Advantagious to Human Nature built upon the strongest evidence cloathed with such strong and powerful Arguments that he will presently be convinced of the Decency that resides in it And certainly nothing can be of more efficacy to perswade Christians to and engage them in a Pious Godly and Religious Life Then the Considerations they may be able to make upon reading the Lives and Actions of these Holy Saints and Martyrs when we reflect upon their extraordinary Self-denial Piety Charity Justice Moderation and all other Vertues so Conspicuous in the whole course of Their Apostleships If to be Short will please thee here is Brevity If Change will please here is Variety If Profit will please I dare say it shall be thy fault if thou be not the Better for it May these Lines be as so many Sparks from Heaven collected thus together which may not only afford Light to our Understandings but Divine love to all sincere Souls That as it had a Heavenly heat in them it may influence all the lovers of Devotion and Piety is the hearty desire of the Publisher P. D. BOOKS Printed for and Sold by Dorman Newman at the Kings-Armes in the Poultry THe History of the Seaven Wise Masters The History of St. Patrick of Ireland The Lives and Deaths of the Holy Apostles c. The History of Fortunatus The Crown Garland Poor Robins Preambulations Small Histories A Merry Book of All Fives Crossing of Proverbs Sir Laurance Lazie The Unfortunate Welsh-Man Venus Turtle Doves Unfortunate Jack Vinegar and Mustard The History of Valantine and Orson The History of Fryer Bacon The History of the Seven Champions of England With most other both Large and Small Histories The Life of St. PETER St PETER IN the Land of Palestine stood a Village called Bethsaida formerly an obscure and inconsiderable place belonging to the Tribe of Nepthali but lately re-edified and greatly enlarged by Phillip the Tetrarch and by him advanced to the Place and Dignity of a City replenished with many Inhabitants and strongly Fortified with Power and Strength which Augustus Caesar in honour of his Daughter called Julias It was scituated upon the Sea of Galilee and had a Wilderness upon the other side thence called The Desert of Bethsaida But for as great as its Splendor was at this time late Travellers assures that now it is become a most desolate and contemptible Village consisting of a few Cottages of Moors and Wild Arabs And later Travellers have since assured us that even these are dandled away into one poor Cottage at this day So fatally does Sin undermine the greatest and goodliest pleces so heavily did our Saviours old Predict one for their contempt of the Gospel light on them Next to the Honour that this place had by our Saviours presence who living most in these parts did often resort hither It had nothing greater to recommend it to the Notice of Posterity then that besides some other of the Apostles it was the Birth-place of St. Peter a Person how inconsiderable soever in his private Fortunes yet of great Note and Eminency as one of the prime Ambassadors of the Son of God to whom both Sacred and Ecclesiastical Stories gives high and Eminent Elogies among the Apostles We are much in the dark as to the particular time of his Birth no probable Foot-steps nor intimations of it being found in Antiquity yet in the general we may conclude him at least to have been about Ten Years Elder then his Master his Marryed Condition and settled course of Life when he first came to Christ and the great Authority and respect which the Gravity of his Person did procure him amongst the rest of the Apostles with other such Circumstances can speak him no less But for any thing more positive and particular in this matter we cannot affirm for a certain truth though one positively tells us that he was Born three Years before the Mother of our Lord and just Seventeen Years before the Incarnation Being Circumcised according to the rites of the Mosaick Law the Name given him at his Circumcision was Simon or Simeon a Name common among the Jews especially in their latter times This Name was afterward not abolished by our Saviour but additioned with the Title
advantageously placed upon a Pinacle or Wing of the Temple they made this Address to him Tell us O Iustus whom we have all the reason in the world to believe that seeing the People are thus generally led away with the Doctrine of JESUS that was Crucified tell us what is this Institution of the Crucified JESUS To which the Apostle answered with an audable voice Why do ye inquire concerning JESUS the Son of Man He sits in Heaven on the right Hand of the Majesty on high and will come again in the Clouds of Heaven The People below hearing it glorifi'd the Blessed Jesus The Scribes and Pharisees Perceiving now that they had overshot themselves and that instead of reclaiming they confirmed the People in their supposed Error thought that there was no way seft but presently to dispatch him that by his sad fate others might be warned not to believe him Whereupon suddenly crying out that Justus himself was seduced and become an Impostor they threw him down from the place where he stood though bruised he was not killed by the fall but recovered so much strength as to get upon his knees and pray to Heaven for them vexed that they had not done his work they fell fresh upon the poor remainders of his Life and while he was yet at prayer and One stepping in and intreating them to spare him a Iust and Religious man and who was then praying for them they began to load him with a shower of stones till one more mercifully cruel than the rest with a Fullers Club beat out his Brains Thus dyed this good man in the Nintyeth year of his Age and about Twenty four years after Christs Ascension being taken away to the great grief and regret of all good men yea of all Sober and Iust Persons even among the Jews he was buried upon Mount Olivet in a Tombe which he had built for himself and therein he had buried Zacharias and Old Simeon He was of exemplary and extraordinary Piety educated under the strictest Rules and Institutions of Religion being as is supposed of the Antient Order of the Rechabites Prayer was his constant business and delight he seemed to live upon it and to trade in nothing but the frequent returns of Converse with Heaven and was therefore wont to retire alone to the Temple to pray which he alwayes performed kneeling and with the greatest Reverence till by his Devotion his knees were become as hard and brawny as a Camels Nor was his Charity towards Man less than his Piety towards God he did good to all watched over mens Souls and studied to advance their eternal interest He was of a meek and humble temper honouring what was excellent in others concealing what was valuable in himself His Temperance was admirable he wholly abstained from Flesh nor drank neither Wine nor strong Drink His holy and mortified mind was content with the meanest accommodation he went barefoot and never wore other than Linnen Garments He wrote only one Epistle probably not long before his Martyrdom he directed it to the Jewish Converts dispersed up and down those Eastern Countries to comfort them under Sufferings and to confirm them against Error The Life of SIMON the Zealot S SIMON ST Simon the Apostle was as some think one of the four Brothers of our Saviour Sons of Joseph by his former Marriage In the Cataâ—â—gue of the Apostles he is styled Siâ—on the Cananite as also Simon â—â—elotes or the Zealot probably from â—â—s warm active temper and Zealous â—rwardness in some particular way â—nd profession of Religion before his â—oming to our Saviour But that â—â—e may the better understand this we must know that there was a distinct sect among the Jewes called the sect of the Zealors they were mighty assertors of the honour of the Law and of the strictness and purity of Religion insomuch that they took upon themselves to question notorious Offenders without staying for the ordinary Formalities of the Law yea when the case required executing Capital vengeance upon them till at length their Zeal degenerating unto all manner of licenciousness and extravagance that they not only became the pests of the Common-Wealth at home but opened a door for the Romans to break in upon them to their final and irrecoverable ruine Theâ— were continually prompting the People to throw off the Roman Yoak and vindicate themselves into their Native Liberty and when they had turned all things into hurry and confusion themselves in the mean while fished in these troubled Waters Josephus gives a large account of them and every where bewailes them as the great Plague of the Nation Nay when Jerusalem was straitly besieged by the Romans they ceased not to create tumults and factions within and were indeed the main cause of the Jewes ill success in that fatal War It is probable that all who went under the notion of this Sect were not of this wretched and ungovernable temper but that some of them were of a more sober and peaceable disposition and as it is not to be doubted but that our Simon was of that sect in general so there is reason to believe he was of the better sort However this makes no more reflection upon his being called to the Apostleship than it did for St. Mathew who was before a Publican or St. Paul's being a Pharisee and so Zealously persecuting the Church of God Being invested in the Apostolical Office no further mention appears of him in the History of the Gospel containing what the Apostles did till their dispersion up and down the World he then applied himself to the execution of his charge He is said to have diverted his Iourney towards Aegypt thence to Cyrene and Africk and throughout Martania and all Lybia Preaching the Gospel to those remote and barbarous Countries Nor could the coldness of the Climate benumb his Zeal or hinder him from Shiping himself over into the Western Islands yea even to Britain it self Here he is said to have Preached and wrought many Miracles and after infinite troubles and difficulties which he underwent suffered Martyrdom for the Faith of Christ being Crucified by the Infidels and buried among them Others indeed affirm that after hâ— had Preached the Gospel in Aegypt he went into Mesopotamia where hâ— met with St. Jude the Apostle and together with him took his Iourney in to Persia where having gained a considerable harvest to the Christian Faith they were both Crowned with Martyrdom but this is granted by alâ— Learned Men to be fabulous wanting all clear Foundation in Antiquity to stand on The Life of St. JUDE S IUDAS THADEVS THere are three several names by which this Apostle is described in the History of the Gospel Jude Thaddeus and Lebbeus It being usual in the Holy Volumes for the same Person to have more Proper Names than one as for the first it was a name common among the Jewes recommended to them as being the name of one of the great Patriarks of