3. The church at Jerusalem, the pattern and mother of all churches, was taught and governed by the apostles themselves. And all the members thereof continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayer. All who believed were together and had all things common. They sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, as every man had need. They continued daily with one accord in the temple, and in breaking bread in the house or chamber appointed for it: and eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. Again we read, The multitude of them that believed, were of one heart, and of one soul, neither said any, that ought of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common. And great grace was upon them all, neither was there any among them, that wanted: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles feet. And distribution was made to every man, according as he had need.
4. This community of goods the ancient philosophers and law-givers often endeavoured, but could never effect: having only punishments to constrain, or reasonings to persuade men to it. And both these were too weak to prevail. Only the grace of Christ could effect it. When this was shed abroad in their hearts, they all looked on each other as brethren, all united in one family, and fed alike by the common care of their Father. The law of love, so often repeated by their Lord, was continually before their eyes, and by this did all men know they were his disciples, by their love to one another.
5. It is said, that they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine; and they are often called, the disciples or learners. They diligently applied themselves to learn all the truths of God, whether by hearing the apostles both in public and private, or by reading and comparing together the holy scriptures, and meditating upon them. It is likewise said, that they continued in prayer, and went daily for that purpose to the temple: probably at the solemn hours of prayer, the third, sixth and ninth, which the Christian church observed for many ages.
6. The other part of their daily service mentioned here, is the breaking of bread, or the Lord’s supper, as the phrase signifies, not in this place alone, but in many others of the New Testament. It was followed by a repast, the use of which continued long in the [♦]church, under the name of Agapæ, or feasts of love. And these it is said, They eat with gladness and singleness of heart. In a word, all the Christians were as little children, in humility, disinterestedness and purity. By renouncing worldly good and hopes, they had cut off the occasions of passions and of the uneasinesses of life: so that their minds were wholly taken up with heaven, and their hope full of immortality. Thus the church of Jerusalem subsisted near forty years, under the conduct of the apostles and St. James (the bishop of it) in particular: till the Christians seeing the ruin of that unhappy city to approach, according to the prediction of their Master, retired out of it to the little town of Pella, where they continued in peace and safety.
[♦] “chuch” replaced with “church”
CHAPTER III.
The state of the Heathens before their conversion.
1.THEY who are unacquainted with history, suppose, that the men who lived seventeen hundred years ago, were more artless, more innocent and more teachable, than those that are now alive. But the writings of those times which still remain, clearly prove the contrary. The crimes, whereof they give us to full accounts, were committed in the face of the sun. No one ran into a corner to commit them, or endeavoured afterwards to conceal them. And the providence of God seems to have preserved these accounts, on purpose to shew, from what an abyss of corruption (described in short by St. Paul in the beginning of his epistle to the Romans) Jesus Christ delivered the world.
2. The ordinary diversions of the people of Rome, were to see men kill one another, or torn in pieces by wild beasts. And the governors of the provinces, daily exercised the greatest cruelties upon those who were not Romans. The emperors put to death whom they pleased, without any process or trial; whence it was that bad princes shed so much blood, even of the most noble Romans. Their avarice was equal to their cruelty; so that all places were full of frauds, of falshoods, of perjuries, of calumnies, of violences and oppressions.