and the History of the Acts of the Apostles both which he Dedicated to Theophilus Now it is debated among the Ancients what this Theophilus is some conclude it to have been a feigned Name made use of by St. Luke in this place denoting no more than a Lover of God a Title common to every Christian But others with more appearance of Reason conclude it the proper Name of a particular Person and that which satisfies them abundantly in their Iudgment is That the Title and Stile of Most Excellent is bestowed upon him which was in those times the particular Title and proper Form of Address to Princes and great Men Yea some of the Primitive Fathers do expresly term him a Man of Consular Dignity and probably a Prince and others are yet more particular in their Account of him saying That he was a Noble-man of Antioch who was Converted by Peter and who upon his Conversion gave his House to the Church for the place of their publick and solemn Meeting But it may as probably be supposed that this Theophilus might have been some Magistrate or a Chief Man in Authority whom St. Luke had brought in to the Faith and Baptized and to whom he now dedicated these Books not only as a Testimony of honourable Respect but also as a means of giving him further Light into the certainty and assurance of these things wherein he had been instructed by him As for his Gospel St. Jerome and some others suppose it to have been Written in Arabia during his Travels with St. Paul in those Parts whose help he is generally said to have made use of in Composing of it and that this the Apostle primarily intends when he so often speaks of his Gospel but whatever Assistance the Apostle might contribute to the Work it is clear that the Evangelist himself tells us expresly That he derived his Intelligence in those matters from those who had from the Beginning been Eye-Witnesses and Ministers of the Word Nor does it in the least detract from the Authority of his Relation that he himself was not present at the doing of them for if we consider who they were from whom he derived his Intelligence of those things it may give abundant Satisfaction he had a Stock both of Credit and Intelligence to proceed upon the Authentickness and Sufficiency of which is beyond Expectation for he delivered nothing in his whole History but what he had immediately recovered from Persons present at and particularly concerned in the things which he has left upon Record The occasion of his Writing his Gospel is conceived to have been partly to prevent those false and scandalous Rumors and Reports which even at that time began to be obtruded upon the World and partly to supply what was wanting in those two Evangelists that Wrote before him which Supplement is particularly noted throughout the whole History by some of the Primitive Fathers The subject Matter of the whole History is an Account of what relates to Christ's Priestly Office and though when he Recordeth other passages in the Evangelical Story he is very particular in his Relation yet we may easily observe that it is always with a peculiar Respect to Christ's Preist-hood upon which account the Ancients in accommodating the four symbolical Representments in the Prophets Vision to the four Evangelists assigned the Oxe or Calf to St. Luke His History of the Apostolick Acts was undoubtedly written at Rome at the end of St. Paul's two Years Imprisonment there with which he concludes his Story it contains the Actions and sometimes the Sufferings of some of the greatest Apostles but more particularly of St. Paul for besides that his activity in the cause of Christ and the Gospel made him have a deeper share both in doing and suffering St. Luke was his constant Attendant an Eye-witness of all the most famous transactions of his Life after his Conversion yea was privy to his most secret Concerns and therefore was capable of giving a more accurat and satisfying Account and Relation of them seeing no Evidence or Testimony in matters of Fact is so convictive and rationally pungent than his who Reports nothing but what he hath heard and seen Among other things he gives a particular and exact account of those great and wonderful Miracles which the Apostles did Work for the Confirmation of the Doctrine of the Gospel which they daily Preached And this as one of the Fathers enformeth us was the reason why in the primitive Times the Book of the Acts though containing those Actions of the Apostles which were done after Pentecost were yet usually read in the Church before it in the space between that and Easter when as at all other times those parts of the Gospel were Read which were proper for the Season It was sayes he because the Apostles Miracles were the grand Confirmation of the Truth of Christ's Resurrection and those Miracles were Recorded in that Book it was therefore thought most proper to be Read next to the Feast of the Resurrection In both these Books his way of Writing is exact and accurat his Stile polite and elegant sublime and lofty and yet clear and perspituous flowing with an easy and natural Grace and Sweetness admirably accommodated to an Historical Design all along expressing himself in a Vein of purer Greek than is to be found in the other Writers of the Holy Story Indeed being Born and Educated at Antioch then which no place more famous for Oratory and Eloquence he could not but carry away a great share of the Native Genius of that place though his Stile is sometimes allayed with a mixture of the Syriak and Hebrew Dialect It was observed of old as St. Jerome tells us that his Skill was greater in Greek than in Hebrew that therefore he always makes use of the Septuagint Translation and refuses sometimes to render words when the Propriety of the Greek Tongue will not bear it To Conclude As an Historian he was Faithful in his Relations Elegant in his Writings As a Minister careful and diligent for the good of Souls As a Christian devout and pious And who Crowned all the rest with the laying down his Life for the Testimony of that Gospel which he had both Preached and Published to the World FINIS
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
his want of it was made up abundantly in his Excellent Temper of mind and the furniture of divine graces which he was adorned withall His Humility was admirable studiously concealing his own Worth and Honour He shewed a mighty care to the souls of men unwearied by spending himself in the service of the Gospel Travelling from East to West to leaven the world with the principles of that Holy Religion which he was sent to propagate He was infinitely Vigilant against Hereticks Countermining there Artifices Antidoting against the poyson of their errors and shuning all communion and conversation with their persons The Life of St. PHILIP S. PHILIP OF all parts of Palestine Galilee seems to to have passed under the greatest character of Ignominy Reproach therefore called Galilee of the Gentiles both Jew and Gentile conspiring in this that they thought they could not fix a greater title of reproach upon our Saviour and His followers than that of Galilean But to confute this our Lord chose hence those excellent Persons whom he made the great instruments to Convert the World some of which we have already given account of and more are yet behind Of this number was Philip born at Bethsaida a Town near the Sea of Tiberias Of his Parents and way of Life the History of the Gospel takes no notice though probably he was a Fisherman the common Trade of that place He had the honour to be the first called to be Christs Disciple which came thus to pass Our Lord after His return from the Wilderness having met with Andrew and his brother Peter after some short discourse parted from them and the next day passing through Galilee he found Philip whom he commanded presently to follow him which he accordingly did No sooner had Religion taken possession of his mind then away he goes and Finds Nathaniel acquaints him with the tydings of the new-found Messiah and conducts him to Him After his call to the Apostleship there is not much recorded of him in the Holy Story It was to him that the Lord propounded the question what they should get in the Wilderness as would feed so vast a multitude To which he answered That so much was not easily to be had It was to him that the Gentile Prosylites that came up to the Passover addressed themselves when they desired to see our Saviour It was with him that our Lord discoursed concerning himself a little before the last paschal Supper The Lord Iesus had been fortifying their minds with fit considerations against his departure from them He told them That no man could come to the Father but by Him Philip not duely understanding the force of our Saviours reasonings begged of him that he would shew them the Father Our Lord gently reproved his ignorance that after so long attendance upon his instructions he should not know that he was the Image of his Father the express character of his infinite Wisdom Power and Goodness appearing in him that he said and did nothing but by his Fathers appointment which if they did not believe his Miracles were a sufficient evidence that therefore such demands were unnecessary and impertinent and that it argued great weakness after more than three years education under his discipline and instruction to be so unskilful in those matters In the distribution of the several Regions of the World made by the Apostles some think that the upper Asia was the Province which was assigned to Philip where he applyed himself with an indefatigable diligence and industry to recover men out of the snare of the Devil to the imbraceing and acknowledgment of the Truth by constancy of his Preaching and Efficacy of his Miracles he gained numerous Converts whom he Baptized to the Christian Faith at once Curing both Souls and Bodies their Souls of Error and Idolatry their Bodies of Infirmities and Distempers healing Diseases dispossessing Daemons settling Churches and appointing them Pastors and Teachers Having for many years succesfully managed his Apostolical Office in those parts he came towards the latter part of his life to Hierapolis in Phrygia a Rich and Populous but most Idolatrous Place Amongst the many Vain and Trifleing Deities to whom they payed Religious Worship was a Serpent or Dragon which they Worshipped with great and solemn Veneration the Apostle was grieved to see them so grosely inslaved to Error and therefore continually solicited Heaven till by Prayer he had protured the death at least vanishing of this Famed Creature Which done he told them how unbecoming it was to give Divine honours to such odious creatures and thence took occasion to discourse at large of Christianity The success was That the People were ashamed of their gross Idolatry and many broke loose from their Chains of Idolatry and ran over to Christianity whereupon the great enemy of Mankind betook himself to his old Methods Cruelty and Persecution the Magistrates of the City seized the Apostle and having put him into Prison caused him to be severely Scourged This preparatory Cruelty passed he was led to Execution and being bound was hanged up by the Neck against a Pillar though others tell us that he was Crucified the Apostle being dead his body was taken down by St. Bartholomew his fellow Sufferer and his own Sister who is said to have been the constant companion of his travels and decently buried after which having Confirmed the people in the Faith of Christ they departed from thence It is generally affirmed that St. Philip was Married and that he had Daughters whom he disposed in Marriage but though this be granted as it is not improbable yet the not carefully distinguishing between Philip the Deacon Philip the Apostle has bred some confusion among the Antients in this matter insomuch that some have concluded them to be one and the same person but with how little reason will appear to any that shall consider that Philip who was chosen to be one of the Seaven Deacons could not be one of the Apostolical Colledg the Apostles declaring upon that occasion that they had affairs of a higher nature to attend upon So then upon the Persecution that arose upon St. Stephens death the Church was dispersed they were all scattered abroad throughout the Regions of Judea and Samaria and Philip the Deacon among the rest who went down to the City of Samaria except the Apostles who tarried behind at Jerusalem when Philip had Converted and Baptised a considerable number in that place he was forced to send for two of the Apostles from Jerusalem that so by their hands they might receive the Holy Ghost which had been wholly needless had he himself been of the twelve Apostles St. Philip was one of the Apostles who left no sacred writings behind him the greater part of the Apostles having little leasure to write Books being imployed in the Ministry more immediately useful and subservient to the happiness of Mankind The Life of St. BARTHOLOMEW S BARTHOLOME IT is not questioned at