and Stwioua, ]ESUS CHRIST, and his APOSTLES, &C. 333 fundamental articles of Chriffianity, were planted and had taken root there. To cure thefe difiempers, St. Paul wrote his firfi'Epill.leto the Corinthians, wherein he finartly reproves them for their fchifins and parties, conjures them to Follow after peace and unity, correas thofe grofs cor- ruptions that had been introduced amongfi them, and particularly réfolves thofe many cafes and controverfies, wherein they had requeffed his advice. Apollos foots after determining to go to Crete together with Zenos, St. Paul tent by them his Epiftle to Titus, whom he had made bifhop of that ifland, and had left there for propagating the gofpel. In this Epiftle, he infiruas him fully in the execution of his office, how to behave himfelf, and what direaions he fhould give to others, in the feveral relations and ranks ofmen, efpecially thofe who were to be advanced to places of office and au- thority in the church, amongR the Gen- tiles. The tumult at Athens had not long fubfided, before Paul called the Chriflians together, and took his leave of them with the moll tender expreflions of love and affeaion. He had now fpent alniòff three years at Ephefus, and founded there a very confiderable church, of which he had or- dained Timothy the fiat bifhop. He firff travelled about two hundred miles north- ward to Troas, before he took fhip, ex- peaing to meet Titus there : but miffing him, he purfued his voyage to Macedonia, where, on his arrival, he preached the gofpel in feveral places, even as far as Illyricum, now called Sclavonia. During this journey, he niet with many troubles and dangers, without mere fightings, and within mere fears : but God, who cony forteth thole that are call down, revived his fpirits by the arrival of Titus, who gave him a pleafing account of the good effeas his Epifile had produced at Corinth, This worthy bifhop came thither with large contributions frosts that church; and from the example of thofe liberal No. al. Chrifiians, St. Paul furred up the Macedo- nians to imitate their charity, intending to affifl the difireffed Chriflians at Jerufalem, who were then in an indigent and perfe- cuted fate. While Titus continued in Macedonia, Paul wrote his fecond Epifile to the Co- rinthians, and fens it to them by Titus and Luke. In tisis, lie endeavours to ready what his former Epiftle had not effeaed, to vindicate his apolllefhip from that con- tempt and fcorn, and himfelf from thofe flanders and afperfions which the feducers, ívho found themfelves lathed by his former letter, had call upon him; together with feveral other particular cafes relating to the church. About this time alfo, he wrote his firfi Epiftle to Timothy, whom he had left at Ephefus, wherein he'gives him large direaions how to carry himfelf in the dif- charge of that great office and authority in the church, committed to his care; and infiruas him in the particular qualifications of thofe he fhould make choice öf as bi- fhops and miniffers in the church. He likewife gives him infiruaions with regard to his giving orders to deaconeffes, and inflruaing fervants ; warning him at the fame time againil that pefülent generation of heretics and reducers that would arife in the church, after his departure. While Paul remained inGreece, hewent to Corinth, where he wrote his excellent Epiftle to the Romans, which he fent by Phoebe, a deaconefs of the church ofCen- chrea, near Corinth. His principal inten- tion in this Epiftle is, fully to Rate and determine the great controverfy between the Jews and Gentiles, with regard to the obligations of the rites and ceremonies of the Jewifh law, arid thofe principal and Material points of doarine dependingupon it; namely, Chriffian liberty, the ufe of indifferent things, and the like ; and, which is the chief intention of all religion, in- fruc"ls them, and prefes them to perform the duties ofa holy and pious life, fuch as the Chriflian doarine naturally recom- mends and enforces. 4 M Being
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