ably to his former promife, with a defign of continuing there fome time: this was, according to fome chronological accounts, in less than a year after his departure from Corinth, and twenty-five after the afcenfion. He fixed his ftation there, and remained in or about the city for the fpace of three years; and was fuccefsful in raising a very flourishing Church. At his entrance, he found twelve Difciples, who were acquainted only with John's baptifm, whom he further inftructed in the nature and privileges of the. Gospel; and, by the impofition of hands and prayer, was inftrumental of their receiving the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Some think thefe were afterwards called by the Apostle, elders, prefbyters, or bishops. He went into the fynagogue and fpake boldly for three months, (which was, as far as we know, longer than he had preached in any other,) difcourfing on the things concerning the Meffiah's kingdom, and rectifying their mistaken notions thereof. But, at laft, feveral of them being hardened, and refufing to believe, openly and publicly before the multitude Spoke evil of that way to everlafting life. Hereupon, feparating the Difciples he had made, from their fociety and communion, he departed, and chose the school of one Tyrannus, who probably was a converted Jew, and fome think a teacher of philofophy---others of intricate and difficult doctrines in divinity. There he kept his affembly for two years; and the learned fay, according to different readings in two ancient MSS. he taught five hours a day, viz. from eleven in the morning, to four in the afternoon. As this city was much reforted to, both by Jews and Gentiles from all parts of proconfular Afia, and the fchool admitted of Idolaters as well as worthippers of the true God, very many heard the word of the Lord Jefus this probably is what is meant where he fays, a great door and effectual is opened unto me.---And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: fo that from his body were brought handkerchiefs or aprons, and the difeafes parted from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Thefe were divine feals fet to the Chriftian doctrine, inconteftible proofs of its heavenly ori

gin, and as fo many arguments of his authority to preach the fame. This was alfo an extraordinary exertion of the power of Chrift, that the people might hereby learn how to eftimate the Gospel, and know, although he is perfonally in heaven, his prefence is on earth, and can, not only free men from the dominion. of Satan, but heal all the moral diftempers of the foul.

Several vagabond Jews, who pretended to a power of cafting out demons, particularly by fome arts and charms derived from Solomon, attempted to imitate the Apostle; but this ended in their difgrace and confufion, and became the public talk of the city. Others of a like fort, being moved by fear, of what had happened, went to him, confeffing the character they had affumed, and the wicked deeds they had committed; while fome of them brought their books, which contained Ephefian Letters, or the myfteries and inftitutions of that pretended art; fuch as the methods of incantation, the words to be used, and the proper feafons when, and places where they might be exercised; and burned them publicly in the face of the whole city. The value whereof being computed, was found to be fifty thousand pieces of filver: if thefe were the Jewifh fhekels, one, according to Dr. Arbuthnot, is equal to two fhillings, three pence, and three-eighths of a penny of our money, hence the fum would amount to 57031. 2s. 6d. but if the Attic drachm, which Dr. Prideaux reckons at 9d. only to 18751. Since authors are not agreed whether thefe pieces were of Roman or Greecian coin, we cannot give the aggregate with certainty. From the effects of St. Paul's preaching, as well as the uncommon miracles wrought by him for the confirmation of his doctrine, the facred Hiftorian remarks, So mightily grew the word of God, and prevailed!

Lord Barrington fuppofes, that after the Apoftle had been fome time at Ephefus, he vifited the neighbouring towns of Afia, thence returned to the city again; and it feems not improbable that the foundation of fome others of the feven Churches in Afia, fo

particularly favoured by the Epiftles of Jefus Chrift, might then be laid. About the time of this remarkable fuccefs of the Gospel at Ephefus, Philemon and Epaphras were converted, the latter afterwards a minifter of the Church at Coloffe. Several Chriftians from different parts in the neighbourhood, vifited St. Paul while there; and it is a received opinion that he wrote his first Epistle to the Corinthians from hence at the fame time. After continuing two years and three months in and about this city, he purposed to depart and go through Macedonia and Achaia, to vifit the Churches he had planted in thofe countries, thence to Jerufalem, after that to Rome, and lastly to Spain. No Cæfar, no Alexander the Great, nor other Hero, fays a writer, comes up to the magnanimity of this little Benjamite. Faith and love to God and man had enlarged his heart, even as the fand of the fea. So he fent Timothy, and Eraftus, (this is the first time we have heard of the latter,) into Macedonia, to acquaint the Churches there of his coming, and perhaps with orders to defire them to provide fome contributions for the faints in Judea. But contrary to his first intention, he continued nine months longer, which made the whole three years.

Towards the latter end of which time, one Demetrius, who made filver fhrines for Diana, and perhaps had already fuffered lofs, called together a large company of men who were of the fame trade, to whom he expreffed his alarm at the great progrefs of the Gofpel, and fear left the craft fhould fail, by the goddess finking into disrepute. This reprefentation, both of their trade and religion being in danger, anfwered every purpose he intended, for immediately they were full of wrath*, fury, and indignation, and cried out, faying, Great is Diana of the Ephefians*; to fhew their

* The Greek word Ovuo fignifies a hot and fiery anger.

+ As Diana was known by a variety of titles and characters, as the goddess of hunting, travelling, child-birth, inchantments, &c. as Luna, Hecate, Lucina, Proferpine, &c. fhe had undoubtedly, in one or other of thefe views, a vast number of votaries. Her temple was 220 years in building, 425 feet long, 220 broad, fupported by 127 marble pillars, each of them 60 feet high, and the work of a King; this was reared at the common charge of Afia Propria, and

abhorrence of St. Paul's doctrine, and that they were refolved to fupport her honour and majefty. Prefently the city was in an uproar and filled with confufion: and having caught Gaius, who was born in Derbe, but had lived in Macedonia, and Ariftarchus of Theffalonica in the fame province, companions of Paul, as it was probably the time of celebrating the games in honour of Diana, they rufhed with them into the theatre, that there they might abufe, or, as fome fay, affright them with wild beafts. The courage and generofity of the Apostle prompted him to enter alfo, either to make an apology for them, or to expofe his own life, rather than fuffer his friends to be facrificed on his account: but the Difciples permitted him not. And certain of the Afiarchs or Primates of Afia, who were either perfons fent from the fmaller cities, as procurators in public bufinefs, fimilar to our folicitors; or officers prefiding over the theatre, many of whom were priests, because most of the plays were acted in honour of the gods; fent him a meffage, which is a proof of their candour, defiring him not to venture in. The crowd was in great confufion, fome crying one thing, fome another, and the greater part knew not who had begun the tumult, nor for what purpose: yet the filverfmiths were not unacquainted therewith. The Jews feeing Alexander, who alfo was a Jew, and, fome think, the coppersmith, (a violent judaizing Chriftian, confequently one of the greatest enemies of St. Paul, and moft in favour with them of any who profeffed Christianity,) prevailed with him to make an apology for them; and he endeavoured to turn the rage of the multitude against Paul and the other Chriftians. Apoftates are ufually the bittereft perfecutors *; but when

was accounted one of the feven wonders of the world. It was burned down on the day in which Socrates was poifoned; then again, on the night when Alexander the Great was born, by Eroftratus, purely that he might be remem bered in after ages; and deftroyed the last time in the reign of Conftantine, pursuant to the edict of that emperor, commanding all the Heathen temples to be demolished.

* Apoftates are the bittereft enemies to thofe from whom they go out.Alexander firft put away a good confcience, and then made shipwreck of faith. If the confcience be defiled by fin, the mind will foon be corrupted with error; the mystery of faith must be held in a good confcience. For his apoftacy, St

A

the idolatrous Pagans knew that he was a Jew, confequently an enemy to their worship as well as the Chriftians, they would not fuffer him to speak, and to prevent his being heard, fhould he attempt, with one voice, for about the fpace of two hours, they cried out, as before, Great is Diana of the Ephefans! But though he was hereby prevented in public, he afterwards did the Apoftle and the Chriftian intereft confiderable harm by his private treachery. However at laft the town-clerk, whom fome Expofitors think was the perfon appointed to keep a register of the public games, of the names of the victors, and of the prizes won, appeafed the people, and prevailed with them to be filent. Then in a fpeech, from which he appears to have been a perfon of confiderable prudence and ability, he intimated in a few words, that there certainly was no need of a public declaration of their being votaries of Diana, fince this was known to all; that the perfons accufed were not guilty of any breach of the law, nor any public offence,---had offered no violence to the Temple of the Goddess, nor fo much as fet a foot therein; that if they were, this was not a legal method of proceeding, as court days were held, and deputies appointed, for that purpose; and that they themfelves were in danger of being complained of as a factious feditious people. They were under the Roman Emperor, and making a general tumult, unless in cafe of fire, inundations, or the fudden invafion of an enemy, expofed them to the lofs of their charter. And he put them in mind, that the time aggravated their danger, this happening upon the ac

Paul excommunicated him, by which he was fo exasperated, that he did him much evil. Thus grace abufed brings forth the fouleft deeds,

As richeft foil the most luxuriant weeds.

Cowper.

He alfo delivered him unto Satan, that he might learn not to blafpheme, i.e. for the devil to torment and terrify him, that he might learn not to revile Chrift and his Gofpel, but be brought to repentance, and faved in the day of the Lord. 1 Tim. i. 19, 20. 2 Tim. iv 14. The fevereft cenfures in the Primitive Church, were primarily defigned for the falvation, and not the destruction of the offenders: and that was happily the cafe with the incestuous perfon, of whom we read,

Cor. v. 5.