But

tiles that were fo far perfuaded of the Truth of Mofes's Law, and the Privileges it did entitle them to, that they intirely entred themselves into that Covenant, becoming circumcifed, and obliging themselves to obferve all the Laws of Mofes. Now thefe Profelytes were, in all refpects, accounted as natural-born Jews; and these were called Profelytes of the Covenant. there were but few of this Sort. The Profelytes in a larger Senfe, were those that fo far joined with the Jews, as to worship the one Supream God, and to frame their Lives according to the Laws of Nature, which were delivered by God to the Children of Adam and Noah, tho' yet they never circumcifed themselves, nor entred into the Mofaical Covenant. For by the Laws of God in the Old Teftament, all People, that would come thus far, were allowed to live among the Jews, and to worship God with them: Nay, and in the very Temple they had a Place appointed them to worship God in, which was called the Court of the Gentiles; and these are thofe that are fo often mentioned in the Old Teftament by the Name of the Strangers among them; as particularly in the fourth Commandment, where God having ordered that they fhould do no manner of Work on the Sabbath-day, he adds, Neither Thou, nor thy Son, nor thy Daughter, VOL. VI. G g

nor

nor thy Man-fervant, nor thy Maid- fervant, nor thy Cattle, nor the Stranger that is within thy Gate: from which Expreffion the Jews used to call this latter fort of Profelytes by the Name of the Profelytes of the Gate, as they did the former by the Name of the Profelytes of the Covenant. Now this latter fort of Profelytes continued Gentiles ftill, notwithstanding their being Profelytes; and of this Sort there was always a great Number, both in Judaa and in all other Countries where the Jews came to inhabit. Of this Sort, for Inftance, was the Centurion in the Gofpel, of whom the Jews faid, that he loved their Nation, and had built them a Synagogue. Of this Sort likewife was Cornelius, a Roman Captain in Cæfarea, who is called a devout Man, and one that feared God, with all his House. Of this Sort, again was Lydia, the Seller of Purple in Thyatira, who is faid to be a Worshipper of God. In a Word, where-ever in the Acts of the Apostles you meet with devout Perfons, or devout Greeks, or worshipping Greeks, you are always by thofe Expreffions to understand thofe Gentile Profelytes we are now fpeaking of; and that the Gentiles here mentioned in the 42d Verfe of this Chapter, I am now upon, were of this Sort, is abundantly evident from the next (43d) Verfe, where thofe that are called Gentiles in the former Verfe,

are

are called Religious Profelytes; or rather, it ought to be render'd Worshipping Profelytes in this Verse.

Having now thus cleared this Difficulty, let us go on with the Story. The Gentiles having defired St. Paul to preach on the fame Argument the next Sabbath-day; when that Day came, as appears in the 44th Verfe, almoft the whole City came together to hear the Word of God. But then it follows in the 45th Verfe, that when the Jew's faw the Multitude, they were filled with Envy, and fpake against thofe Things which were spoken by Paul, Contradicting and Blafpheming. Upon this it follows in the next Verfe, that then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and faid, It was neceffary that the Word of God fhould first have been spoken to you; but feeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal Life, Lo! we turn to the Gentiles. Exactly did the Apostles here obey their Orders; for, by Chrift's Commiffion, they were firft in every Place to preach the Gospel to the Jews, and afterward to the Gentiles; and for this St. Paul vouches a fufficient Warrant out of the Old Teftament, as you may fee in the next (47th) Verfe.

But what came of all this? Why that follows in the 48th Verfe: When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glòriGg 2

fied

fed the Word of the Lord. And as many as were ordained to eternal Life, believed. This was the Effect of St. Paul's fecond Sermon.

He preached to the Jews, and endeavoured to convince them, out of Mofes and the Prophets, that Jefus Chrift was the Saviour of the World. But they made light of this, and judged themselves unworthy of eternal Life. Upon this he turns to the Gentiles, and they were very glad of the good News, and embraced it heartily, and glorified God for it, And accordingly as many among them as were ordained to eternal Life, believed.

This is the Hiftory of my Text, as it lies in the Chapter. Let us now examine what is the true Meaning of thefe last Words of it-As many as were ordained to eternal Life, believed. The Senfe that many of us, when we hear thefe Words, are apt to pitch upon, is this; That all thofe in that City that were particularly and by Name decreed and elected by God from all Eternity to everlafting Life, all thofe did, upon St. Paul's Preaching, believe the Gofpel.

I do not here pretend to difpute the Doctrine of Particular Election; I account it an arrogant Thing to meddle with those Secrets. God may, or may not, have or dained particular Perfons to eternal Life, for any thing that we can fay on either

fide: This therefore I do not meddle with; all that I fay, is this; That whatever God hath done in this Matter, yet this Text doth not fpeak any thing of it. So far from that, that there are unanswerable Proofs to be given, that it relates to a quite different Purpose. Two Things I will here offer.

First of all, let it be confidered that the Word that is here ufed, will not well bear fuch a Signification. The Word is TεTayμvo. We render it Ordained. But if by ordaining we mean predeftinating from all Eternity, it is certain the Word hath no fuch Signification, either in Scripture or any other Author. The proper English of it, is Ordered---commanded---appointed ---put in battle array---prepared---difpofed ---fet in readiness. Any of these Words doth exprefs its Senfe: But no where (as the Criticks do obferve) is it used to express any eternal Decree of God.

The Scripture always makes ufe of other Words for that Bufinefs. Befides, if we should be willing to take this Word in that Senfe in this Text, tho' it be no where else taken fo, yet there is a main Thing wanting to make it capable of that Senfe, for God is not here mentioned. It is not faid, As many as were ordained of God to eternal Life, believed; which certainly had been neceffary, if St. Luke had Gg3

meant