be sent, to preach the glad tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ; but Peter's own heart must be changed before he can undertake the commission. His deep-rooted prejudices must be removed, and his charity and love enlarged by an express revelation from heaven. As he was praying, according to his usual custom, about the sixth hour, (answering to our twelve o'clock at noon,) suddenly, " he fell into a trance, and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet, knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth; wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air." I perfectly agree with Dr. Doddridge, in supposing, that the clean beasts, permitted by the Jewish law, were not among the number. The answer of Peter, when commanded to "kill and eat," proves that the expression, "all manner of beasts," was used only in a general sense, and was not peculiarly correct. "And Peter said, Not so, Lord, for I have. never eaten any thing that is common or unclean." And the voice said, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice; and the vessel was received up again into heaven." While Peter meditated on this vision, three times repeated, the servants of Cornelius are

R

knocking at the gate; " and the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee." And he entertained them one night, and the next day went with them to their master's house; it is added, "and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him." A striking proof, this, both of the modesty of Peter, and of the laudable curiosity of these disciples.

And when he reached the centurion's house, Cornelius himself came forth to receive him; and, so great was the respect he entertained for his character, that he fell at his feet, and would have worshipped him. But Peter, with the same diffidence which he had shown, together with John at the gate of the temple,

raised him, saying, "Stand up; I myself

also am a man." And when he had entered the house, he inquired of the master wherefore he had sent for him; choosing to hear the message from his own mouth. And Cornelius related the account of the vision he had experienced; and concluded, by requesting that Peter would instruct them in the things which were commanded him of God. "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said; Of a truth, I perceive, that God is no respecter of persons; but, in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." He proceeded to rehearse the account of the mission of Jesus, with his miracles, preaching,

sufferings, and death; and finished, by declaring, that, "to him give all the prophets witness, that, through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."

While Peter yet spake, the Holy Ghost fell on them all. "And they of the circumcision, which believed, were astonished, because that, on the Gentiles also, was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then, answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord."

I consider this verse as holding out an unanswerable argument against that sect of Christians who deny the necessity of baptism and the Lord's supper. They say, in support of their opinion, “We have the Spirit, and we want no outward signs." Here we find a large company baptized after the Holy Ghost had fallen on them; which shows plainly, that it has no reference whatever to the institution.

III. We are to trace the further progress of the gospel, with the name given to the disciples at Antioch.

"And when the Apostles and brethren,

that were in Judea, heard that the Gentiles also received the word of God, they contended with Peter, saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. Then Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning," and repeated to them the account of the vision, and of his subsequent reception in the house of Cornelius. And they were perfectly satisfied with this explanation, and they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."

66

It is worthy of remark, that St. Peter (who has since been deemed infallible by the Church of Rome) should have been thus called to account for his conduct by the early Christians.

"Now they which were scattered abroad travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them; and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord." Then tidings of this glorious increase of gospel light "came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem; and they sent forth Barnabas," (as a man of great weight and consequence in the church,) "that he should

go as far as Antioch;" and his preaching in that city was followed with abundant success; and finding there so rich an harvest, (for Antioch was one of the largest cities at that time,) "he departed to Tarsus to seek Saul," that he might co-operate with him in the great work of salvation.

We shall perceive the wisdom of this step, if we recollect that, though Saul himself was a Jew, his parents were Greeks. The Greek language was commonly spoken in Antioch, consequently, he would prove a useful auxiliary to Barnabas in the instruction of the people. And we find that he immediately accepted the invitation, and returned with Barnabas to Antioch; and was there made an instrument in the conversion of many to the faith.

"And the disciples were called christians first in Antioch." There is more in this change of name than may at first appear. The disciples had hitherto been distinguished by the general appellation of saints, brethren, or believers; but the converts at Jerusalem, though they had been brought to acknowledge the propriety of the Gentiles being made partakers of the salvation by Christ, might not immediately consider them as brethren, or admit of their being ranked under the same title as themselves;

therefore a