and SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST, and his APOSTLES, &c. 335 of happinefs which the Almighty bath pre- pared for good men in the maniions of eternity. You well know that I have from the beginning dealt faithfully and uprightly with you; that I have had no covetous defigns, or ever defired the riches ofother men ; nay, I have laboured with mine own hands, to fupport me and my companions; you ought therefore to fupport the weak, and relieve the poor, rather than be your- felves chargeable to others, according to that incomparable rayingof the great Re- deemer ofmankind, It is moreblued to give than to receive. After having finifhed his difcourfe, St. Paul kneeled down, and joined with them in prayer; when they all melted into tears, and, with the greateft expreffions of for- row, attended him to the (hip ; grieving in the molt paffionate manner for what he had told them, That theyfhould fee his face no snore. Departing from Myletus, Paul and his companions arrived at Coos, from whence they failed the next day to Rhodes, two Wands in the ./Egean fea. From whence they came to Patra, the metropolis of Lycia, where they went on board another veffel bound for Tyre in Phoenicia. On his arrival he vifited the brethren there, and continued with them a week, and was advifed by fome of them, who had the gift of prophecy, not to ,go up to Jeru- falem ; but the apofile would by no means abandonhis defign, or refute to fuffer any thing, provided he might fpread the gofpel of his Saviour. Finding all perfuafions were in vain, they all accompanied him to the fhore, where he kneeled down and prayed with them ; and after embracing them with the utmoft affeftion, he went on board, and came to Ptolemais, and the next day to Cefarea. Here Paul and his companions lodged in the houfe of Philip, the Evangelift, one of the feven deacons fet apart by the apollles, and who had before converted the Samtiritans. Philip had four daughters, all virgins, each of whomhad a prophetic fpirit, While they were in this pláce; Agabus, a Chriftian prophet, came thither from Judea, who taking . Paul's girdle, bound his own hands and feet with it; fignifying by this external fymbol, that the Jews would bind Paul in that manner, and deli- ver him to the Gentiles. Whereupon, both his own companions and the Chriffians of Cefarea, earneflly befought him, that he would not go up to Jerufalem ; but the apoftle afked them, if they intended by there paffionate dilfuafives to add more affliction to his forrow? For I ans ready, continued he, not only to be bound, but alto to die at 3'erufalem, for the name of the Lord 3'efus. When the difciples found that his refolution was not to be fhaken, they importuned him no further, leaving the event to be determined according to the pleafure of the Molt High. And all things being ready, Paul and his com- panions fet forwards on their journey, and were kindly and joyfully received by the Chriffians at Jerufalem, on their arrival. Paul and his companions, the next day after their arrival, went to the houfe of St. James the apoftle, where the reff of the bifhops arid governors of the church were met together. After mutual faluta- dons, the apoftle gave them a particular account of the fuccefs with which God had bleffed his endeavours in propagating Chriftianity among(( the Gentiles ; for which they all joined in thankfgiving to God ; but withal told him that he was now come to a place, where there were many thoufands of Jewifh converts, who were all zealous for the law ofMofes, and who had beeninformed, that he taught the Jews whom he had converted, to renounce circumcifion, and the ceremonies of the law; that as foon as the multitude heard of his arrival, they would all affemble to fee how he behaved himfelf in this matter and therefore, to prevent difturbance, they thought it advifable for him to join him- felf with four perfons, who were at that time to accompli(h a vow, and perform the ufual rites and ceremonies with them, and provide
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