cannot resist the power and spirit of God, then they murder. And Saul made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women, committing them to prison. Acts viii. 3. And had not Saul, who was a great outward professor, his authority from the chief priests, to hale, imprison, and disturb the true Christians in their meetings? And was not Philip commanded to preach to the eunuch? And did not he go into the chariot, and preach to him Christ Jesus, and opened to him the scriptures, and converted him? And had not Peter a meeting at Cornelius' house at Cæsaria? and did not he call together his kinsfolks and near friends, and said unto Peter, We are all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God;' and Peter opened his mouth, and preached Jesus Christ unto them, and converted them. Acts x.

Was not this in Cornelius' house, the centurian at Cæsaria? And do ye think he had not a christian meeting in his house, after he and his friends were converted? And Herod apprehended Peter, and put him in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church for him, and the Lord heard them, and he sent his angel and delivered Peter, and he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John, where many were gathered together, praying. Acts xii. Here you may see, here was a christian meeting in Mary's house, in the night, when they had killed James, and persecuted Peter; but the angel of the Lord smote Herod, the persecutor, and he was eaten of worms that he died.'

And when the apostles had gone through the isle unto Paphos, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man, deputy of the country, called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God; but Elymas, the sorcerer, which was with the deputy, withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith; but the Lord struck him blind, and the deputy believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord. And had not Paul and Barnabas a meeting at the deputy's house, for them to hear the word of God? Acts xiii. 7. &c. And at Antioch, after the

reading of the law and prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent unto Paul, and his company, saying, 'Ye men and brethren, if ye have a word of exhortation for the people, say on.' Acts xiii. 15.

And here you may see what a large sermon the apostle preached to them. And the apostle went to a colony in Macedonia, and he went out of the city to a river side, where prayer was wont to be made, and the apostle sat down, and spoke unto the women by the river side, which resorted thither, and a certain woman named Lydia, of the city Thyatyra, whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto things which were spoken by Paul,' and she besought them, saying, 'If judge me faithful to the Lord, come to my house, and abide there; and she constrained them.' Acts xvi. 13, 14, 15. Here you may see, the

ye

apostles had a meeting by the river side; and had they not another in Lydia's house? (Paul and his company,) and then the magistrates of that country cast them into prison, &c.

And had not Paul and Silvanus a meeting in the prison? And did not they preach the word of the Lord to the jailer, and all that were in his house? and did not they believe in God with all his house? So had not they a meeting here in the jailer's house? Acts xvi. And they went out of the prison, and went into the house of Lydia again; and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them and departed. Acts xvi. 40. And here, had not the apostles another christian meeting in Lydia's house?

And Paul, and Silas, and their company, came to Thessalonica; and did not Jason receive them? And the unbelieving Jews, which believed not, moved with envy, with certain lewd fellows, assaulted Jason's house; and they drew Jason, and certain brethren, unto the rulers, crying and saying, These are they which have subverted the state of the world.' And when the rulers had taken security of Jason, and of others, they let them go. Acts xvii. from verse 1 to 9.

And Paul disputed at Athens, in the synagogue of the Jews, and in the market place, daily; and he stood in the midst of Mars-hill: it was the highest court in Athens where Paul preached to them. Acts xix. from verse 22 to 33. And Paul came to a man's house, whose name was Justus, one that worshipped God, and Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord, with all his house, and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed; and the apostle continued there a year and six months, preaching the word of God amongst them. Acts xviii.

And do you think that Paul had not Christian meetings at Crispus' and Justus' house? And the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him before the judgment seat, and they brought him before Gallio, who was deputy of Achaia; and Gallio said to the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews! reason would that I should bear with you; but if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look you to it, for I will be no judge of such matters.' And he drove the Jews away from the judgment seat. Acts xviii. 14, 15, 16. Here you may see, that the heathen governor had more reason and moderation, (to the apostle Paul,) than the professing Jews. And Priscilla and Aquila took Apollo unto them, and expounded to him the way of God more perfectly; therefore, had not Priscilla and Aquila a meeting at their house? Acts xviii. 26.

And Demetrius, the silversmith, made a great uproar, and through him the city was filled with confusion, and said, 'This Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying, That they are no gods

which are made with hands; and cried out, great was Diana.' And having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, the town-clerk appeased the people, and said, 'Ye have brought hither these men, neither robbers of your churches, nor blasphemers of your goddess; wherefore if Demetrius and the craftsmen, which are with him, have any matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies, let them implead one another; for if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly;' and said, 'Ye ought to be quiet, and do nothing rashly.' And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the people. Acts xix. 23 to 41. And here you may see the moderation of the townclerk to the apostles; but Demetrius for love of gain, raised an uproar against Paul and his companions, which was appeased by the townclerk, who showed more moderation and reason than the professing Jews and priests. And Paul disputed daily in the school of one Tyrannus. Acts xix. and this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. So here you may see Paul both preached and disputed in a school house.

And Paul and his company came to Troas, and upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together, Paul continued his speech until midnight, and there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together, and there sat a young man in a window, named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep, as Paul was long preaching in an upper chamber, he sunk down with sleep, and fell from the third loft, and was taken up dead; but Paul went down and embraced him, and he was brought to life again, to their comfort. Acts xx. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Here you may see Paul had a night-meeting in a chamber; and would not many professors, without possession, say, he was a house-meeter? And again, the apostle said to the christians at Ephesus, 'I have kept nothing back that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.' Acts xx. 20.

Here you may see the apostles taught the Ephesians, from house to house, as well as publicly. And the apostle and his company came to Tyre, and stayed there seven days, finding disciples there; and when they went away, their wives and children brought them out of the city, and Paul kneeled down on the sea-shore, and prayed; so they had a meeting on the sea-shore. Acts xxi. 3, 4, 5.

And Paul and his company came unto Cæsaria, and went to the house of Philip the evangelist; and the same man had four daughters, which did prophesy, and they tarried there many days, and the prophet named Agabus, came to them, and took Paul's girdle, and bound his

own hands and feet, and said, 'Thus saith the Holy Ghost, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.' And much of it came to pass when Paul came to Jerusalem; for had not the chief captain and his soldiers rescued Paul, and sent him to Cæsaria, to Felix, the governor, the Jews and the priests would have destroyed him, as in Acts xxi. 22, 23. Do you think that the apostle and his company had not a meeting in Philip the evangelist's house, with him and his four daughters, and Agabus and others? Acts xxi. 8, 9. And the city of Jerusalem was moved, and ran together, when Paul came into the temple, and they took Paul and drew him out of the temple, and as they went about to kill him, tidings came to the chief captain, 'that all Jerusalem was in an uproar,' who saved his life, who was more moderate than the professing Jews. And Paul stood upon the stairs of the castle, and preached to the Jews, that Jesus was Christ; as you may see, Acts xxi. xxii. chap.

And Ananias, the high priest, with the elders, informed Felix, the governor, against Paul, and said, 'We have found this man, a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of Nazarites.' Acts xxiv. Here you may see true christianity, and preaching the gospel of Christ Jesus, is called a sect and sedition, by the professors of the scriptures without possession. And when Paul was brought before Festus, he being willing to do the Jews a pleasure, said to Paul, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, there to be judged of these things before me,' (to wit, the things that the Jews accused him of,) then said Paul, 'I stand at Cæsar's judgment-seat, and where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, thou knowest it very well.' Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, said unto Paul, To Cæsar thou hast appealed, and unto Cæsar thou shalt go.' Acts xxv.

And Paul preached a brave sermon to king Agrippa, that Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou hast persuaded me to be a christian,' &c. Acts xxvi. And was not that in an house? And then they sent Paul away by shipping, towards Rome, and the ship touched at Sidon, and Julius, a centurian of Augustus's band, courteously entertained Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends at Sidon, to refresh himself; and had not he a meeting there with his friends? And Paul admonished the people in the ship, and the centurian believed Paul more than the master of the ship, as in Acts xxvii. 22. And there was in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls; and had not he a meeting in the ship there? And when they were cast upon Melita, the chief man of the Island, whose name was Publius, received them, and lodged them courteously three days; and when Paul came to Rome,

the centurian suffered Paul to dwell by himself with a soldier, that kept him; and Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concerned the Lord Jesus, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.' Acts xxviii. 16. 30, 31.

Here you may see Paul kept a christian meeting in his own hired house at Rome, and preached in it; so that they were more kind to him than the Jews, that haled him out of the temple, and would have killed him. Acts xxi. 30, 31. And the apostle saith, 'Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ; likewise greet the church that is in their house.' Rom. xvi. 3, 4, 5. 1 Cor. xvi. 19. So here you may see the church was in Aquila's and Priscilla's house; their house was a meeting house for the true christians.

And the apostle in his epistle to the Colossians, saith, Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.' Col. iv. 15. Here you may see the church was in Nymphas's house; and they met in a house, and did not call the house a church. Paul's epistle To Philemon, and Apphia, and Archippus, &c. and to the church which is in thy house.' So here you may see the church of Christ was in Philemon's house. Phil. ver. 2.

And John writes to the seven churches in Asia, and he saith to every church, 'He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith to the churches.' So it is the spirit of God that speaks to the churches; and the churches are not the outward temple or steeple-house, but the people of God; and the people of God are the church, who are to hear what the spirit of God saith to them. So they that have a spiritual ear, are to hear what the spirit saith.

POSTSCRIPT.

AFTER Christ was risen, he said unto Mary, 'Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended unto my Father; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God and your God.' And she came and told the disciples, that he had spoken these things unto her; and the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled, came Jesus, and stood in the midst, and said, 'Peace be unto you.' John xx. 19. Mark xvi. 14. You may see Christ met with his disciples in the evening, on the first day of the week, who did rise on the same first day. So he had a meeting with the disciples in