52. Q. Were not the apostles greatly persecuted? A. Yes, they were put in prison by the high-priest, they were beaten by order of the council, James the brother of John was slain by Herod, and Peter was put in prison again, in order to be put to death; Acts v. 18, 19, 40. and xii. 2, 3, 11. 53. Q. Did God give them any miraculous deliverances ? A. Several times when the apostles were imprisoned they were released by angels; Acts v. 18, 19. and xii. 7. and xvi. 25, 26. 54. Q. Who was one of the chief persecutors of the christians at this time? A. Saul, a young man, a zealous pharisee, who was afterwards called Paul; Acts vii. 58. and viii. 1, 3. 55. Q. Did he live and die a persecutor? A. No, he was struck down to the ground by a blaze of light as he was going to Damascus to imprison the christians, and Jesus Christ called him with a voice from heaven; Acts ix. 1-8. 56. Q. What is afterwards related of him? A. That he became a zealous preacher of the gospel, he was made the apostle of the Gentiles, and spent his days in travelling to convert the heathen nations; Acts ix. 20-22. Gal. ii. 7, 8. Rom. xv. 16-21. 57. Q. What became of Paul at last? A. After he had done more service for Christ by preaching and writing than any of the other apostles, and endured more sufferings in his life he was put to death as a martyr for Christ; 2 Cor. xi. 23-27. 2 Tim. iv. 6. 58. Q. Is there any further account given of Peter? A. When he had laid out his life in preaching the gospel, and had writ letters to the christians, he was crucified in his old age as Christ foretold him; John xxi. 18, 19. 2 Pet. i. 14. 59. Q. What is recorded concerning John the apostle ? A. After many labours in the ministry he was banished to the isle of Patmos, where Jesus Christ appeared to him in visions, and instructed him by his angels to write the book of the Revelation; Rev. i. 1, 2, 9. 60. Q. What became of the other apostles? A. Ancient histories give us some uncertain account of their travels and their sufferings, but there is very little written in scripture concerning them. Vol. V. PREFACE TO THE CATALOGUE OF REMARKABLE NAMES IN SCRIPTURE." THESE HESE two foregoing Catechisms of Scriptural Names and of Sacred History, may be sufficient for the instruction of those children in their younger years of life, who have either low capacities, short memories, or few advantages and opportunites for their acquaintance with the historical part of the bible. But there are other young creatures of brighter genius who make learning their delight, or whose memories are stronger to retain what they learn, or who are furnished by the Providence of God with more time and happier advantages for knowledge: Now for the entertainment and improvement of these children, I have collected a larger Catalogue of the most remarkable names and things in Scripture, most of which are entirely omitted in the two Catechisms, for fear lest if these things had been proposed to be learned by all children it should have been too great a burthen for many of them. Those that please may supply what is wanting in the Catechisms out of the following Catalogue, and turn it into questions and answers with the greatest ease. A LARGE CATALOGUE OF REMARKABLE SCRIPTURE NAMES, Set down and explained for the better Understanding of the Holy Scriptures. SECTION I.-Names of God, Christ, Angels, Spirits, &c. JEHOVAH, The name of the true God, the God of Israel; Ps. lxxxiii. 18. Jah, The same with Jehovah, shortened; Ps. lxviii. 4. I am that I am, The name by which God sent Moses to release Israel from bondage; Exod. iii. 14. The Lord of Hosts, Another name of God, signifying his government over the armies of creatures. Alpha and Omega, A name of God, signifying the first and the last. Jesus Christ, The Son of God, and Saviour of men. Messiah, The same in the Hebrew as Christ is in the Greek. Emanuel, A name of Christ, signifying God with us. The word of God, A name of Christ, because he reveals the mind of God to men. The Lamb of God, A name of Christ, because he was a sacrifice for sin, and he appeared to the apostle John in the form of a lamb. The Holy Ghost, The Spirit of God, who makes his people holy. Michael, The archangel, that is, the chief angel, or the prince of angels, supposed to be Jesus Christ. Gabriel, The angel who was sent to give notice that Christ was coming into the world. Satan, Appollyon, Different names for the devil, or the prince of devils. The old Serpent or Dragon, The devil so called, because he hid himself in a serpent to tempt Adam and Eve. SECT. II.-Heathen Idols, Gods and Goddesses. Baal, An idol of the Canaanites, worshipped by some of the kings of Israel. Ashtaroth, A goddess of the Sidonians. Dagon, An idol of the Philistines which fell down and was broken to pieces before the ark of God. Moloch, An idol of the Ammonites, to whom children were burned alive in sacrifice. Mammon, The god of riches among the Syrians, as some have supposed; others say, it is only a name for riches. Jupiter, The chief god among the Grecians and Romans. Diana, A heathen goddess, who had a noble temple at Ephesus: She was the goddess of hunting. Mars, The heathen god of war. SECT. III. Characters and Conditions of Men in general. Kings, A special title of honour for the chief rulers of a nation. Priests, Those who offered sacrifices, and where chief managers in the things of religion and worship in every nation. ISRAELITES, or JEWS.-Israelites, Those who came from Jacob or Israel, and God chose them for his people. Hebrew of Hebrews, One whose father and mother were Israelites. Jews, The same as Israelites, so called after their return from the captivity in Babylon, because most of them were of the tribe of Judah. Patriarchs, Fathers of families, such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and his twelve sons. Judges extraordinary, Governors whom God raised up in an immediate manner to take care of his people Israel. Judges ordinary, Rulers of the several cities and tribes of Israel, chosen by the people. Prophets, Men taught of God, who foretold things to come. Elders, Seventy grave and wise men who had a hand in the government. Priests, The sons of Aaron, who offered sacrifice, explained the law to the people, prayed for them, and blessed them. High priest, The chief of the priests, who should be always the eldest son in Aaron's family. Levites, The tribe of Levi; those of them who were not of Aaron's family, were assistants in the ceremonies of worship, and teachers of the people. Nazarites, Persons who put themselves under a vow of abstaining from wiue, and letting their hair grow long, &c. Rulers of the synagogues, Elder or grave men, who were to take care of order and decency in the synagogue-worship. Scribes, Those who wrote and taught the law of Moses. Pharisees, A sect among the Jews, the chief pretenders to religion, precise and zealous for ceremonies. Sadducees, Some Jews who believed neither angel, nor spirit, nor a world to come, and thought all God's promises regarded this life only. Herodians, Jews who formed their opinions and religion to please Prerod. GE TILES.-Gentiles or Heathens, All the nations besides the Jew's. Greeks or Grecians, A learned people amongst the heathens. Barbarians, All the unlearned people amongst the heathens. Note, Jews and Greeks signify Jews and Gentiles; but Greeks and barbarians signify the learned and the unlearned Gentiles. Proselytes, Heathens who received aud owned the God of Israel. Governors, Those who ruled the provinces under the Roman emperors, were sometimes called governors, sometimes kings, or sometimes deputies, as the emperor pleased. Tetrarchs, Such deputy governors as had kingly power in four provinces. 7 Publicans, Those who gathered the taxes: They were chiefly Gentiles. phers. Centurions, Captains of a hundred soldiers. Philosophers, Professors and teachers of wisdom. Epicureans and Stoics, Different sects of heathen philoso CHRISTIANS.-Disciples of Christ, Those who learned the doctrine of Christ, and took him for their Teacher and Master. Apostles, Those twelve disciples whom Christ chose for his chief ministers, and sent them abroad to preach the gospel. Prophets, Those who spoke by inspiration of God, especially such as foretold things to come. The four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, who wrote the history of Christ. Note, Sometimes the word evangelist signifies an inspired preacher of the gospel. Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Extraordinary ministers in the first age of the christian church. Bishops, Elders, Pastors, Teachers, Ordinary ministers to continue in all ages in the church for teaching and govern ment. Deacons, Officers chosen and appointed to take care of the poor in the church. SECT. IV.-Names of the Twelve Patriarchs, the Fathers of the Tribes of Israel. Reuben, The first-born; but he defiled one of his father's wives. |