Q. When was his Hiftory of the Acts of the Apostles writ?

A. It is generally agreed, that it was writ at Rome, at the end of St. Paul's two Years Imprifonment, which makes the Conclufion of it. In this History he relates not only the Actions, but the Sufferings of fome of the chief Apoftles, efpecially of St. Paul, of whofe Carriage and moft intimate Tranfactions St. Luke was best able to give a true Account, having been his conftant Attendant.

Q. What is obferved of St. Luke's Style and Manner of Writing?

A. That it was clear and perfpicuous, polite and elegant, exact and accurate; which fhews how great a Share he had in the native Genius of Antioch the Place of his Birth. He compleated the Character of a true Hiftorian, being faithful in his Relations and elegant in his Writings.

Q. What may we learn from the Obfervation of this Feftival?

A. To rejoice in those glad Tidings, which this Evangelift published to the World; and not only attentively and reverently to read his Gofpel, but to practice, as he did, that Doctrine which he taught. To be careful to avoid all Flattery in our Addreffes to great Men, which is contrary to that Truth and Sincerity that is fo effential to the Character of a good Chriftian. To be exact and faithful in all our Relations of Matters of Fact, without favouring Parties and Factions. To ftick clofe to the Profeffors of Religion, when they are encompaffed with Variety of Perfecutions; which is an Effect of true Charity, fince Friendship only to Perfons · D d 2

in

26.

2 Cor.8.9.

in Power and Plenty, might be fufpected of SelfInterest.

Q. What Duties do Chriftians owe to their Fellow Members, when they are perfecuted for Righteoufnefs fake?

A. To vifit them in their Afflictions; and by feafonafable Advice to encourage them to perfevere in the Faith. To pray to God for them, that he would be pleased to fupport them under all their Trials, with the Affiftance and Comfort of his Holy Spirit. To vindicate them from the falle Afperfions of wicked and malicious Men. According to our Abilities to adminifter to their Neceffities; and by our Intereft with others, to procure them that Relief which our own narrow Circumstances cannot fupply them with.

Q. Whence arifes our Obligation to these Duties?

A. From that Love and Zeal we ought to have for Religion; whose Destruction is fought for by those who opprefs the Profeffors of it. From that spiritual Union there is among Chriftians under their Head Christ Jesus: So that if 1 Cor. 12.one Member fuffers, all the Members fuffer with it. From the Example of our Saviour, who, out of his great Grace and Kindness, being rich, for our fakes became poor; emptied himfelf of his Glory, that we through his Poverty might be made Partakers of spiritual and durable Riches. From that Charity we owe to all that are in want, especially to thofe that are of the Houshold of Faith. And from the Senfe of being liable ourselves to the fame Diftrefs; and therefore Heb.13.3.remembring them that fuffer Adverfity, as being ourfelves alfo in the Body.

The

A

The PRAYERS.

I.

Lmighty God, who calledt Luke the Phy-For the fician, whofe Praife is in the Gospel, to Health of be an Evangelist and Physician of Souls; May ourMinds. it please thee, that by the wholesome Medicines

of the Doctrine delivered by him, all the Diseases
of my
Soul may be healed, through the Merits
of thy Son Jefus Christ our Lord. Amen.

II.

God.

unruly Wills and Affections of finful Men; Love of Grant that I may love the Things which thou commandeft, and defire that which thou doft promife; that fo, among the fundry and manifold Changes of this World, my Heart may surely there be fixed, where true Joys are to be found, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

III.

Yield thee hearty Thanks, moft merciful Fa-Thankf-' ther, for those glad Tidings of Salvation thy giving for Evangelift St. Luke hath published to the World; the Goffor all the Manifestations of thy holy Will, and pel. of that inestimable Redemption thou haft graciously condefcended to work out for us; and for that thou haft been pleased to regenerate us by thy Holy Spirit, to receive us for thy own Children by Adoption, and to incorporate us into thy Holy Church: And I humbly befeech thee to grant, that I being dead unto Sin, and living unto Righteoufnefs, and being buried Dd 3 with

Mr. Ket

tlewell.

For the

Owe to

cuted.

with Chrift in his Death, may crucify the old Man, and utterly abolish the whole Body of Sin; and that as I am made Partaker of the Death of thy Son, I may also be Partaker of his Refurrection: So that finally, with the Residue of thy holy Church, I may be an Inheritor of thine Everlasting Kingdom, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. Amen.

IV.

Righteous Lord, who trieft thy People with heavy Sufferings for thy Truth and Duties we Rightcoufnefs fake: Give me the Heart conftantly to own thy Ways, and thofe who fuffer thofe that for them. Oh! that whenever I fee a Member are perfe- of thine fuffering, as a good Fellow-member, I may fuffer with it. That I may be among thofe who grieve for the Afflictions of Jofeph, and come in to bear a share of their Adverfity, who are enduring Afflictions for thee; and remember thofe who are in Bonds, as bound with them. Let me not be ashamed of the Teftimony of the Lord, nor of any of thofe that are his Prifoners; but rejoice to make myfelf a Companion of fuch as are bearing Tribulations for his Truths, and be glad when I can minifter to their Neceffities, and relieve the fame. When they are fick and in Prifon, give me the Heart to vifit them; when they are Strangers and in Want, make me ready to affift them with Supplies fitting for their Circumftances. And Oh! that I may look upon fuch Services as the most bleffed Opportunities of fhewing my Love unto thee, O bleffed Jefus! knowing that thus to communicate is accepted by thee, as done to thy Self; and that by having a Fellowship with

the

the Saints in their Sufferings, I may have a Feldowship with them in that Bleffedness, wherewith Thou, O Father, wilt crown both the Sufferers and their Partakers in the End; thro' the Merits of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. Amen.

St. Simon and St. Jude, Oct. 28.

HAT Festival doth the Church ce

QW lebrate this Day?

A. That of St. Simon and St. Jude the Apostles.

Q. Why was St. Simon called the Canaanite? A. This Surname hath given Occafion to feveral Conjectures. Some fay he was fo called from Cana, a Town in Galilee; and for that Reason they will have him born there. But St. Luke Luke 6. calling him Simon Zelotes, or the Zealot, plainly 15, Thews, that the Word Canaanite defcends from Mat.c.10. the Hebrew, which fignifies to be zealous, and denotes his hot and fprightly Temper.

Q. Upon what other Account is he thought to

have been called the Zealot?

A. Either becaufe before his Conversion he was one of the Sect of the Zealots; or, as fome who keep ftill to the fame Sense of his Name, because after his Converfion he fhewed great Zeal for the Chriftian Faith, and a pious Indignation against those who profeffed Religion with their Mouths, but difhonoured it by their vicious Lives. Q. What

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