THE EPISTLES:

ARE letters, either to particular persons or churches; or, are what is sometimes called "circular letters" to the churches in general. It is believed they were all written by apostles; and, indeed, each has the name of an apostle affixed to it, excepting that to the Hebrews, and the two ascribed to John. Paul is named as the writer of thirteen of them. The epistles were certainly divinely inspired. The churches, in the early times, received them as the word of God; and neither heretics nor opposers of the ancient churches denied that they were the genuine writings of the apostles, and the plain truths of Christianity. All the epistles, excepting the several mentioned above, begin with the names of the writer, and of those to whom the epistle is addressed; then follows the salutation; then the letter; and then the individual messages. It is everywhere agreed to that this part of the New Testament shows the fulfilment of the ancient prophecies even more than what is called the historical part. These epistles also contain a number of wonderful prophecies, thus proving that they were inspired by our God, who alone sees the end from the beginning.

THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS.

HIS Epistle is placed first in the list of the Epistles, probably because Rome was a place of very great importance, but the Epistles to the Thessalonians, Corinthians, and the first Epistle to Timothy, that to Titus, and perhaps some others, were all written before it.

It is generally thought that the apostle Paul had never seen the Roman Christians when he wrote to them, but he felt a great interest in them; and they must have loved him

much for it, for they travelled from thirty to fifty miles from that city to meet him, when he was going as a prisoner there.

You are not to suppose from the title, that the people to whom this Epistle was written were native Romans; some of them were so, and were converted from heathenism-but they were merely persons dwelling in Rome, most of whom were converted Jews. The apostle calls them neither Jews nor Romans, but addressed them, as "all that be at Rome, beloved of God, called to be Saints."

The chief design of this Epistle was to show these dwellers at Rome and us, how a poor sinner may be justified or accounted righteous and good in the sight of God. Then, as in the other Epistles, after having explained

the grand subject he had in his mind, he exhorts the Christians to practise various duties. These duties are named frequently in his various Epistles, and are such as, obedience to parents and rulers, respect to ministers, kindness and charity toward each other, and love to all saints.

THE FIRST AND SECOND EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE

CORINTHIANS.

YORINTH has been noticed when we treated on the Acts. It was a

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large and crowded city, and the capital or chief city of Achaia; and Achaia was a province of Greece. The apostle Paul was at this place about two years, and having converted many Jews and Gentiles, and left them

united together in a Christian church, he now wrote to them to correct some wrong things which he heard were practised among them.

Corinth was celebrated for its games, called the Isthmian games, because the place itself stood on an isthmus, or neck of land joining it to a continent, or very great extent of land, containing many countries. These games were practised every fourth year. There were other games of a similar kind celebrated in Greece, called the Olympic, Pythean, and Nemaan. Those who engaged in these games were trained for twelve months before; and they had suitable food and exercise, to prevent them from growing too fat, or too indolent, and so becoming unfit to endure the hardships they had

to undergo; for they had to run, to wrestle, to leap, and to box. The boxers used their arms, frequently beating the air, as if they were beating their opponents, that so they might be skilful and strong. The path of the racers was marked out by white lines, or posts; he who did not keep within them, though he was first at the goal, or winning post, lost the prize. Garlands or crowns made of pine leaves, olives, laurel, and parsley, were given to the conquerors by the judges appointed to decide who had won; and other honors and privileges belonged to them. Large numbers of spectators were present to see these games, which drew as much attention in Greece as the greatest sights do among us.

The apostle Paul often alludes to these games, to show how much the Christian should struggle, by prayer, self-denial, and other means, against sin, in order to obtain superior honors. So you will, from knowing what has been here mentioned about them, understand his meaning in many parts of his Epistles, where otherwise it would not have appeared quite plain. The following texts are among those in which the apostle alludes to these games. 1 Cor. ix. 24, Gal. v. 7, Phil. ii. 16, iii. 13, 14, Heb. xii. 1.

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THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE GALATIANS.

ALATIA was a province of Asia Minor, and this Epistle was not written to the inhabitants of any particular city or town, but to the Christians in the whole province. It is not certain by whom their several churches were founded, but it is thought probable that they were founded by the apostle. The reason why the Epistle was written was this: some converted Jews had joined the Galatians, and not having a clear knowledge of the gospel of Christ had taught them they must, in becoming Christians, attend to some things which were peculiar to the religion of the Jews. Now as Christ had done away with all the rites of the Jewish Church, which were only shadows or types and figures of the spiritual worship of his new church, this was a great mistake; and the apostle wrote to correct it.

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THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS.

OME account of the city of Ephesus has been given in the remarks on the nineteenth chapter of the Acts. The apostle Paul went to this city after he had been at Corinth, but he made only a short stay. The next time he visited it he found twelve disciples, and made many more. He continued two or three years, and formed a Christian church, to whom this

Epistle was written. The apostle foresaw that teachers of untruths would spring up after his death, and his design in writing to the Ephesians was to fix their minds in the pure truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE PHILIPPIANS.

YOU read something about Philippi in the commentary on the sixteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Philippi was a Roman colony, which had, for several reasons, received great favors from the Roman emperors and senate. It was situated in Macedonia, a country near Greece. The gospel was first preached here by the apostle Paul. The design of this Epistle was to exhort the Philippians to live in love towards each other, and to comfort them under those troubles which they were called to endure from the persecutors of the Christians.

THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE COLOSSIANS.

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NOLOSSE was a city in Asia Minor, which perished by an earthquake with several other cities. Soon after this Epistle was written a new city was built on its ruins. It is not known how the Christian faith reached this place, and it is thought by some that the apostle Paul was not known there in person, because in the second chapter and first verse, he seems to imply that they had not seen his face in the flesh; but this language is not quite certain, and does not exactly state any such thing. Some, therefore, think, that the apostle Paul did preach here, for during three years that he dwelt at Ephesus, he employed himself with so much zeal and diligence, that we are told in the nineteenth chapter of the Acts, that "all they that dwelt in Asia, heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." This, like some of the Epistles, is chiefly written to warn against making mistakes in religion, and to encourage to constancy in the profession of faith in Christ. It is to be noticed, that this Epistle, and that to the Ephesians, are very much alike, from which it is thought that they were both written at the same time, while the same inspired thoughts were fresh on the mind of the apostle.

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THE FIRST & SECOND EPISTLES OF PAUL TO THE THESSALONIANS. HESSALONICA was a very large and flourishing city, where trade was free, and the capital of Macedonia. The place is now called Salonica. Here the apostle came after he had been at Philippi, and stayed