The Miscellaneous Works Of The Late Reverend And Learned Conyers Middleton Conyers Middleton by Conyers Middleton 9780332883427, 0332883426 instant download after payment.

This faé'c is not mentioned in any other part of the New Tefta-i ment: for St. Lulze, who wrote the A575 of the fife/hes, under the immediate direétion of St. Paul, and defcribes the a€tions Of this Apoftle more largely than of all the reft, has not given the lcail hint of it, fo that it is difficult to determine the time when it hap pened. We read indeed of great numbers converted to the faith of Chrifi at Antzoch, by the minifiry of Paul and Barnabas, and of very high debates fubfif'ting there, between the Jewifh and Gentile con verts, about the obfervance of the Mofaic rites [a]. But it is certain, that Peter was not concerned in thofe debates, for Barnabas, who was now carried away by his authority into the fame difiimula tion with him, was, at the time of mole other difputes, a fire nuous Advocate for Chrifiian liberty, and being fent up with Paul to jerufalenz, to confult the Apofiles and\elders concerning this very quzeftion, found Peter there, the firf'c and forwardefi in that Council, to declare his Opinion, which the ref): of them followed, that fince an end was now put to the d firence between few and Genti,le they ought not to tempt God, by zmpo/ing that yeah upon the Gentiles which the jews themjelves had not been able to hear [b]. And 1n truth, all that we read concerning Peter, ex cept in this fingle infiance related by Paul, is intirely confonant to that declaration at jerufalem, and fhews him, to have been more eminently convinced than the reft of his brethren, of the utter abolition of the Jewifh ceremonies. For this was fignified to him by a particular revelation from heaven, in confequence of which, he was the firfi, who opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, by baptizing Cornelius and his family [c] And in the Council at jerufalenz,