only of circumcision, but of observing the whole law of Moses, with its burdensome rites and ceremonies.

ACTS XV. 1—5.

1. And certain men which came down from Judea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissention and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3. And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. 4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the Apostles and elders; and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5. But there rose up certain of the

a Gal. i. 18, 19. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem, to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. But other of the Apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

Acts xv. 4. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders; and they declared all things that God had done with them.

Gamaliel Smith says, p. 161, there is a contradiction between these two passages, and with his usual habit of invention, he proceeds to assign motives for the contrariety: but he must be a careless reader, indeed, who does not know, that the two passages relate to two different visits; that in the Epistle to the Galatians, to Paul's first visit, and that in The Acts, to Paul's third visit to Jerusalem.

sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

On account of the conduct of the Pharisees in question, it was the more necessary, in order to check the growing mischief, that the Apostles and elders should hold a speedy consultation on the subjects respecting which, Paul and Barnabas had been deputed, by the Antioch disciples, to confer with them. Accordingly, a council of the church at Jerusalem was immediately assembled, and the following is the account of what took place on the occasion:

ACTS xv. 6-29.

6. And the Apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. 7. And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9. And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11. But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 12. Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and

Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them. 13. And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me; 14. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16. After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17. That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20. But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath-day. 22. Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch, with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23. And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law : to whom we gave no such commandment; 25. It

seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26. Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29. That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

We see from the above account, that it was determined by a decree of the whole council, not to impose circumcision, or other Jewish rites upon the Gentile converts. The decree, however, enjoined, that the Christian churches in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, should abstain from meats offered to idols, from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication. The three first of these prohibitions, could not be said to contain any thing "burdensome;" the fourth had reference to a sin which was not only prohibited in the law of Moses, but which was utterly incompatible with the holiness and purity required by the Gospel. This prohibition too was the more necessary, as it related to a vice, which was not only lightly esteemed by the heathens, but was sometimes even practised as a part of their idolatrous

Holy Spirit,

worship. In the decision adopted by the council, under the guidance of the prudence was united with wisdom. converts to Christianity were

The Jewish

numerous in

various parts of the world, and having been brought up in a zealous regard for the law of Moses, they could not easily be induced to lay aside their prejudices; so that had the Apostles and elders decreed a total neglect of the Jewish law, they would have increased those divisions in the Christian Church, which it was their grand object to heal and prevent. It was, therefore, equally the part of kindness and condescension, thus to pay regard to the prejudices of those weak and scrupulous, though well meaning persons, who were still attached to the Mosaic institutions. On the other hand, the prohibitions enjoined to the Christian converts in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, were of a nature so reasonable and simple, that they could not well object to them. Speaking of the decision of the council, Gamaliel Smith says, "Spite of reason, religion and Jesus, the victory is, in this account, given to James"." In vain, however, do we look into the account itself for any thing to warrant this conclusion. With as much propriety might we say, that the