Books and other items printed in Gaelic from 1801 to 1840 > Sacred lessons and exercises, English and Gaelic

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on his disciples. And then they were to witness for him in Je¬
rusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the utter¬
most parts of the earth. Acts i. 8. and ii. 5—15. Then were
they to remember what he had taught them; to understand
the nature and extent of their commission • and to execute it
in their being enabled to publish the Gospel in the language of
each of the nations.
There were dwelling at Jerusalem, (says the historian of the
Acts,) Jews devout men, out of very nation under heaven :
and when the report of the miraculous influence of the Spirit
was noised abroad, the multitudes came together, and were
, confounded, because that every man of them heard shem speak
in their own language wherein they were born, Parthians, and
Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and
Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and
Pamphylia, in Egypt, and the ^arts of Lybia about Gyrene,
and strangers of Rome, Jews, and Proselytes, Cretes, and Ara¬
bians—They were astonished when they heard them speak in
their own tongues, the wonderful works of God.
Through the influence of grace and the wonderful effects of
the Spirit, under the guidance of Divine Providence, how
have the numerous churches of Christ been planted and esta¬
blished : and though persecuted, yet preserved and supported !
After various troubles* how have they obtained rest and been
edified!
* Who ever reads the Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius, and the works of
his contemporaries, will be convinced that C hristianity suffered as much
from the intolerance of Polytheism as from any other cause. Toleration was
not the character of Paganism in practice, or in principle. The first Chris¬
tians were held in contempt—Their numbers excited the suspicion of the ci¬
vil power—The -Philosophers conceived them enthusiasts—The Priests op¬
posed them as innovators—The learned ridiculed them—And the calm, the
patient, and the diligent alone believed them. They were charged with most
improbable and impossible crimes—us being the authors of earthquakes, and
of every calamity, national or private; at one time represented as Atheists.
Having no visible object of worship—us guilty of human sacrifices, Thyes-
tian feasts, and incestuous intercourse—as obstinate and unsocial—haters of
mankind, and enemies of public tranquillity. The prejudiced and credulous
multitude received and admitted the calumnies against them, and beheld with