50 Q: How did he reveal himself to the Apofles when Thomas was abfent the fame Evening?·

A. When the Doors were fhut for Fear of the Jews, Jefus came and stood in the Midst of them; he bleffed them, and gave them a Commiffion to preach the Gospel; he breathed on them, and bid them receive the Holy Ghoft, John xx. 19-23.

51 Q. How did he appear to them when Thomas was with them? A. A Week after, Jefus ftood in the Midft of them again, when the Doors were fhut, and bid Thomas fee and feel the Marks of the Nails in his Hands, and of the Spear in his Side, and rebuked his Unbelief, John xx. 24-27.

52 Q. Did Thomas confefs him then?

A. Thomas with Surprize and Joy acknowledged him, he broke out into a Rapture of Zeal and Worship, and said to him, My Lord and my God, ver. 28.

53Q How did he fhew himself to them at the Sea of Tiberias? A. Some of them went a fishing and caught nothing all Night: Jefus stood on the Shore in the Morning, and bid them caft the Net on the right Side of the Ship; and they took a Multitude of Fishes, John xxi. 1-6.

54 Q. What remarkable Occurrence happened at this Meeting? A. When they knew it was the Lord, Peter caft himself into the Sea; and when they were come to the Shore, they eat fome broiled Fish, and Jefus eat with them, John xxi. 7, 13.

55 Q. How did Jefus reprove Peter for his Want of Love to him, and denying his Mafter? A. He rebuked him in a very gentle Manner of Speech, by afking Peter three Times, whether he loved him or no ; and then he foretold that Peter fhould love him fo well as to fuffer and die for his fake, ver. 15—19.

56 Q. How did he appear to them on the Mountain in Galilee? A. Jefus appointed them to meet

him there; he told them that all Power in Heaven and Earth was given into his Hands, he gave them their Commiffion to preach the Gofpel to all Nations; and promifed his Prefence with them, and a Power to work Miracles, for the Vindication of their Doctrine, Mat. xxviii. 16-20.

SECT. III. Of his Afcenfion to Heaven.

W did he manifeft himself to them near Jerufalem?

A. He met them and led them out as far as to Mount Olivet, near Bethany; he bid them to tarry at Ferufalem till the promised Spirit should fall upon them; he repeated their Commiffion, appointed them to be Witnefies for him in the World, and, having bleffed them, he afcended to Heaven in a bright Cloud, Luke xxiv. 49-51. Acts i. 4—11.

.. 58. Q. Did he not appear to five hundred Brethren

at once?

A. St. Paul afferts it, I Cor. xv. 6. and it was neither the first nor the laft Time of his Appearance ; but when it was, is uncertain, Aɛs i. 12.

59 Q. What Notice was there given from Heaven of his Return again?

A. While they were gazing towards Heaven, two Angels appeared, and affured them, that they should fee him return in the fame Manner as he afcended, Acts i. 10, 11.

60 Q. Whither went the Difciples then?

A. They worshipped Chrift when he afcended to Heaven, and returned to Jerufalem with great Joy, praising God, Luke xxiv. 52, 53*

CHA P. XXV.

Of the Acts of the Apofiles, chiefly PETER and JOHN, and the Deacons STEPHEN and PHILIP.

10. WHAT was the firft remarkable Thing the Apoftles did toward their future Miniftry, after they returned to Jerufalem?

A. They chofe two out of their Company at Jerufalem, (which was one hundred and twenty) that one of them might be an Apoftle and Witness of the Refurrection of Chrift, in the Room of Judas the Traytor, As i. 15-22.

2 Q. How did they determine which of those two fhould be the Man?

A. They called on the Lord by Prayer, then caft Lots, and the Lot fell upon Matthias, who was numbered with the eleven Apoftles, Acts i. 24, 25, 26.

3 Q. How long did they wait for the promised Spirit to fall on them?

A. On the Day of Pentecoff, which was ten Days after the Afcenfion of Christ, the Spirit of God was fent down upon them, As ii. 1, &c.

4 Q. In what Manner did the Spirit come upon

them?

A. The House where they were met was filled with the Sound of a rufhing Wind, and Cloven Tongues of Fire appeared as fitting on all their Heads, ver. 2, 3. 5Q. What was the first Effect of the Defcent of the Holy Spirit upon them?

A. They all fpaké with various Tongues the wonderful Works of God, to the Amazement of the Jews, and a Multitude of Profelytes of all Nations that were then at Jerufalem, ver. 4-11.

6 Q. Which of the Apostles feemed to be the chief Speaker at that Time, and what was their Doctrine?

A. Peter preaches to this Multitude, bears Witnefs to the Refurrection and Exaltation of Christ, and the pouring out of the Spirit of God on Mn, partly from his own Knowledge, and from these prefent vifible Effects thereof among them, and partly from the Prophecies and Promifes of Scripture; he leads them to Christ as a Saviour and Lord, calls them to Repentance of their Sins, and a Profeffion of their Faith in Jefus, by being baptized in his Name, ver. 14—41.

7Q. What Success had this Sermon?

A. Three thoufand Souls were added to the Difciples of Chrift, and baptized on that Day, ver. 41. 8 Q. What was the Temper of Spirit which was admirable in thefe primitive Converts?

A. A Spirit of Devotion toward God and Chrift, with a Spirit of Benevolence and intimate Friendship toward each other; fo far, that they were daily in the Temple praifing God, they were moft frequently, or rather continually engaged in Prayer, and in remembering the Death of Chrift, by breaking Bread with Joy; and they fo liberally diftributed to the Poor, that none was in want. These were the glorious Effects of Christianity in its firft Appearance, ver. 42-47.

9 Q. How did the Apofties effectually prove their Doctrine and their Commiffion to preach?

A. By doing many Signs and Wonders among the People, which were the Gifts of the Spirit proceeding from a rifen Saviour, ver. 33-43.

Note, This was the proper Beginning of the Kingdom of Chrift, or the CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION; which was fet up in the World in its Glory, at the pouring down of the Spirit, after the Afcenfion of Chrift, and his Exaltation to the Government of the World and the Church.

10 Q. What remarkable Miracle was wrought by Peter and John at the Temple Gate?

A. A Leggar that was born a Cripple received the Ufe of his Limbs, when they bid him rife up and walk, in the Name of Jefus of Nazareth, Acts iii. 19.

11 Q. What Use was made of this Miracle?}&

4. Peter took Occafion from it to preach up this new Doctrine, viz. the Refurrection of Chrift, and Salvation in his Name, citing the ancient Prophets to confirm it, Acts iii. 12- -26.

12 Q. What was the Effect of this Sermon?

A. Five thousand were converted by it to the Faith of Chrift; but, the Priests and Rulers put the Apoftles in Prifon, As iv. 1-4.

13 Q. What Defence did the Apefiles make when they were brought the next Day before the Priefs and Rulers?

A. They took Courage again, and preached to this Court the Doctrine of the Gofpel of Christ; and filenced their Enemies, by having the Cripple that was healed ftand among them, ver. 5—14.

14 Q. What became of them after this their Defence?

A. They were difmiffed, and charged to preach no more in the Name of Jefus, but Peter and John declared they would obey God rather than Man, ver. 15-20.

15Q. Whither went the Apostles after their Dif charge?

A. They went to their own Company and gave Glory to God in Prayer and Praife; and their whole Affembly was filled with the Holy Ghoft, and boldly fpake the Word of God, ver. 23-31.

16 Q. What remarkable Inftance of Goodness and Compaffion was practised by these first Believers?.

A. The Souls of all of them were fo united in Love to Chrift, and one another, that they fold their Poffeffions