fplendour, than before. He is described, as continuing in holy fellowship with his brethren, refolutely adhering to the cause of his Mafter, amidst formidable dangers, boldly and vigorously pursuing the grand objects of his facred function. On the day of Pentecoft, he, together with the other Apoftles, received the miraculous effufion of the Spirit, and was employed in gathering in the remarkable harvest, when three thoufand fouls were converted. He is exhibited to our notice, as the companion of St. Peter in many of his labours and perfecutions. They two were going up to worship at the temple, when the lame man attracted their benevolent regard, and experienced their power of healing *. They were preaching to the people, when the priests and rulers apprehended them, and caft them into prifon +. With undaunted courage they stood together before the council, defpifed their threatenings, and expreffed a firm determination "to obey God rather than men." Again they were thrust into a dungeon, and rescued by an Angel t. Being fcourged and menaced, they rejoiced in the honour, to which they were called, "and daily in the temple and in every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jefus Chrift." St. John, likewife, was commiffioned as the affociate of Peter, to go down from Jerufalem to confirm the young converts in Samaria §. There they imparted fpiritual gifts, and declared the tidings of peace and falvation through the Redeemer's name, in many towns and villages. The chief refidence of our Apoftle was at Jerufalem, where St. Paul diftinguished him as one of the main pillars of the Church . But after fome time he removed to Ephefus, and thence took his circuits for the promulgation of the Gospel in Asia, “labouring in word and doctrine," and esta I v. 1, &c. *Acts iii. 1, &c. † iv. 1, &c. § viii. 14---250 blishing blifhing many Christian societies *. At length, when the Roman Emperor Domitian raised a violent persecution, it is faid that John was fent to Rome, that he might be put to death, and, being plunged into a caldron of boiling oil, came out unhurt. Whether or no that tradition be well founded, he was banished to Patmos, a small ifland in the Egean fea, to which he was condemned, as he himself affirms, "for the word of God, and for the teftimony of Jefus Chrift +." In that dreary fituation he continued for nearly two years, and then, upon Domitian's decease, returned to his charge at Ephefus, where he long remained a bleffing to the Church, a faithful witness and ftrenuous advocate for the truth of the Gospel. It is recorded, that at a very advanced age, being unable to walk or preach, he was conftantly carried to the public affemblies, and there exhorted the people by that fhort fentence, fo expreffive of his general fpirit, "My little children, let us love one another." At last he died in peace, having been a martyr in his life, and wonderfully preferved from violence, for the benefit of others, till he had attained almost a hundred years. Let us admire and praife the grace of God, exhibited in this eminent Apostle, and confider our obligations to imitate his example. There are thofe, perhaps, who plead, that they are not called to the fame high function. But do you, therefore, juftify your carnal affections and pursuits? Or do you think it allowable, in a private fituation, to be proud, felfifh, indolent, and revengeful? If you profess Chriftianity, you ought to be followers of St. John, fo far as to manifeft fimilar difpofitions. In your place, and according to your meafure, you fhould be kind and gentle, bold and active, faithful and perfevering in the fervice of Chrift. But if the corrupt defires of the flesh predominate in *See Cave's Lives of the Apostles. + Rev. i. 9. your your minds, if you love the world and the things of the world, if you are afhamed of, or averse to, the exercifes of devotion, your pretences to religion are vain. Our Apoftle lived to fee the Gofpel propagated to a large extent, yea, through the greater part of the known world. But he beheld, alfo, the corruption, as well as the increase, of the Chriftian Church. Many pernicious errors were, even in that early age, broached and diffeminated, relating to the perfon of the Redeemer: among others, there were thofe, who denied the doctrine of his Divinity. An opinion fo dangerous could not but excite the notice and the grief of this venerable preacher of the faith: accordingly, he fet himself in firm oppofition. "This," faid he, " is that fpirit of Antichrift, whereof you have heard, that it should come, and even now already is it in the world." Ought we not to lament, that ancient herefies are revived in the prefent day, and threaten to deluge our land? Or fhall we be indifferent about the confequence? Is it of no importance, in what light the Saviour is regarded? Whether he be worshipped and adored as God over all, or degraded into a mere man like ourselves? Ah! where is our zeal for the truth? We blefs God for the writings of the Apostle, which will enable us to refift and confute the erroneous and deftructive reprefentations of perverfe and ungodly men. He was honoured in being employed as one of the facred authors of the New Testament: and, while we confess that "all fcripture is given by infpiration of God," and claims our regard, we perceive a peculiar fweetness, fpirituality, and fublimity in St. John's compofitions. Probably for the 1 John iv. 3. See Dr. Horfiey's Charge and Letters, in which it is proved, that St. John's affertions were exprefsly levelled against thofe who denied the Deity of Chrift, as well as against them, who allowed not his humanity. clear and comprehenfive revelations, with which he was favoured, the profound myfteries, which he has delivered, and the heavenly manner, in which he has treated them, he has been called the Divine. His Gospel was published after all the others, not only for the purpose of recording many things, which they had omitted, but with an efpecial view to oppose the herefies of the Gnoftics, and to affert the Godhead of Chrift. He introduces the history with an elevated preface, in which he has explicitly declared the excellency and Deity of his Matter; and he relates many of thofe wonderful difcourfes, which prove and difplay the fupreme perfections of Jefus. He bears a decided teftimony, even towards the close of life, not only that the Word, which was made flesh, originally was with God and was God, but also that he himself "beheld his glory," and "received of his fulness *." Let us pray for more enlarged conceptions of the great mystery of godlinefs;" and, as we advance in the knowledge and love of Chrift, these authentic memorials will become more and more precious in our estimation. The Epiftles of St. John difcover the diftinguishing part of his character. Must not every reader acknowledge, that the infpired author breathed nothing but love? And is not this allowed to be the peculiar badge, of our profeffion? Yet alas! we lament that contrary difpofitions prevail in the Chriftian world. What confufion is produced among us by envy, ftrife, and revenge? We would, therefore, enforce the exhortations of the Apoftle: "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God: He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love +." According to this decifion, but few have attained the right * John i. 1---16. † 1 John iv. 7, 8. knowledge knowledge of the Gospel, and those, who have made the greatest progrefs, have yet much more to learn. The fublime and mysterious book of the Revelations was written by St. John during nis banishment in the isle of Patmos. The Lord God vouchfafed to favour him with fingular vifions and discoveries, and to place him, as it were, in the verge of heaven, when excluded from fociety. The counfels of Jehovah, refpecting future ages, were declared to him: and thefe he has faithfully recorded. Here, then, is exhibited a feries of prophecy, which unfolds the grand fchemes of Providence, even to the end of the world. May we read and contemplate with holy reverence and admiration! The glories of the celeftial ftate were, in fome meafure, difclofed to the Apoftle's view. He faw the throne of God, and heard the high praises of the Redeemer, which are continually chanted by innumerable myriads of faints and Angels. No other part of the Bible contains fuch exalted defcriptions of God and his kingdom, as this infpired book. Do they not excite wonder, love, and joy? Do we not exult in the prospect of that felicity, which is here brought before us? Or does the earth yield us full fatisfa&tion? Ra ther, are we not wearied and difgufted with its beft poffeffions? And do we not long to join "the glorious company of the Apoftles," who are now admitted into the beatific prefence of God? We fay not, who out of this number is accounted firft in dignity: but we prefume, that He, who by way of eminence was ftyled "the difciple whom Jefus loved," is placed near to his adorable Lord. However bright the views of St. John in this life, they were comparatively faint and obfcure. He "faw through a glafs darkly; but now face to face." Now he is favoured with clearer and larger difcoveries of |