_Of the church at_ Jerusalem.
1. AFTER the apostles had received the Holy Ghost, they were living
images of Jesus Christ. And by them all the following servants of
Christ were to form their hearts and lives. So St. _Paul_ to the
_Corinthians_, _Be ye followers of me, as I am of_ Christ: and to the
_♦Philippians_, _Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them
which walk so, as ye have us for an example_.
♦ “Phillippians” replaced with “Philippians”
2. Thus they taught by their lives as well as their words. But they
chose out some of the believers, whom they taught in a more particular
manner, as Jesus Christ had instructed them. These were with them
continually wherever they went: these followed them in all their
journies, and were appointed by them to reside in, and to govern the
churches as they were formed. So with St. _Peter_ was _Mark_, whom he
calls his son (_1 Peter v. 13._) and St. _Clement_, well known in all
the churches. With St. _Paul_, were _Timothy_, _Titus_, St. _Luke_,
and sometimes the same St. _Clement_. Thus _Polycarp_ accompanied
St. _John_. These holy men applied themselves with all care to learn
the doctrine, and to imitate the lives of the apostles. And hereby
they were themselves examples to other believers, both by word and
conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. They likewise
themselves formed disciples, capable of instructing and forming others.
And this St. _Paul_ directs _Timothy_ to do (_2 Timothy ii. 2._) _The
things which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same
commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also._
Thus was the faith once delivered to the saints: thus was the church,
the whole body of Christians from the beginning, the ground and pillar
of truth, of all the truths contained in the oracles of God. In the
writings therefore of these, not of modern reasoners and disputers, are
we to search for that sense of scriptures hard to be understood, which
they received from the apostles, and the apostles from Christ.
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”