and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, and his APOSTLES, &c. 827 induced both people and magiftrates to be their enemies and though Jafon was only accufed of harbouring thofe innova- tors, yet themagiftrate could not be prevail- ed upon to difmifs him and his companions, till they had given fecurity for their ap- pearance when called upon. When the tumult was over, the Theffa- Ionians, who had been converted by them, fent away Paul and Silas by night to Berrea, a cityabout fifty miles fouth ofTheffalonica, but out of the power of their enemies. Here alto Paul's great love for his country- men the Jews, and his earneft defire for theirfalvation, excited him topreachto them in particular: accordingly, he entered into theirfynagogue, and explained the gofpel un- to them, proving out of the Old Teflament the truth of the doétrines he advanced. There Jews were of a more candid and ingenuous temper than thofe of Theffalo- nica ; and as they heard him with great reverence and attention expoundand apply the Scriptures, fo they fearched diligently, whether his proofs were proper and perti- nent, and confonant to thefenfe ofthe texts he referred to: and having found every thing to be agreeable towhat Paul had advanced, many of them believed ; and feveral Gen- tiles, following their example, became o- bedient to the faith, amongfl whom were feveral women of quality. The news of this remarkable fuccefs was carried to Thef- falonica, and greatly incenfed the inveterate enemies of the gofpel there ; who accord- ingly repaired to Berrea, and raifed tumults againft the apoftles ; fo that Paul, to avoid their fury, was forced to leave the town; but Silas and Timothy, either lefs known, or lefs envied, continued fill in the place. Leaving Berrea under the conduct of certain guides, it was pretended that Paul defigned to retire by fea out of Greece, that his reftlefs enemies might ceafe their perfe- cution : but the guides, according to his defire, brought him to Athens, and left him there, after receiving from him an order for Silas and Timothy to repair to him as foon as they conveniently could. At this time Athens was the moft famous academy of all Greece, and abounding with philofophers illufirious for their learn- ing. Amongfl the feveral fells that now flourifhed at Athens, the Stoics and Epi- cureans were the moll remarkable for their oppofitionto Chriflianity. The Epicureans, becaufe they found theirpleafant andjovial humour, and their loofe and exorbitant courfe of life, fo greatly checked and con- trolled by the ftri&t and fevere precepts of the gofpel ; and becaufe the doéirines of it fo plainly and pofitively afferted a Divine Providence governing the world, and which at the Tall day will reward or punifh every man according to his works. The Stoics, on the other hand, though pretending to principles of great and uncommon rigour and feverity, and fuch as had the neareft affinity to the doctrines of the gofpel, yet they found them very different in practice. That meek and humble temper of mind, that modefty and felf- denial, whièh the gofpel fo earneftly recommends, and fo ftrift.ly requires, were direétly oppofite to the immoderate pride and ambition of that feét, who were not afhamed to affirm, that their fages and philofpherswerenot inferior to God himfelf in wifdom. DuringPaul's abode at Athens, expeéting the arrival of Silas and Timothy, he walked up and down, to take a more accurate Purvey of the city, which he found mifera- bly over-run with fuperftition and idolatry. The inhabitants were remarkably religious and devout : they had a great number of gods, whom they adored ; falfe, indeed, they were, but fuch as they, beingdeftitute of revelation, accounted true: and fo very careful were they, that no deity fhould want due honour from them, that they had an altar infcribed, TO THEUNKNOWN GOD. A great varietyof reafons are given for this infcription : fome affirm, that it was the name which the Pagans generally gave to the God of the Jews ; but others think that, befides the unknown God, it included all the gods of AGa, Europe, and Africa, The
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